Monday, June 15, 2015 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

More Nigerians call for fuel subsidy removal TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND KEMI OLAITAN

Dawha

Vol. 5 N0. 1134

resident Muhammadu Buhari may ride on the crest of favourable public opinion by taking immediate steps, in collaboration

THE

BUSINESS SECTION

Abacha loots tear EFCC, AGF, NSA apart

with other arms of government, to end decades of the fiscal scam called fuel subsidy. At the moment, only few

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P.6

Free inside

Monday, June 15, 2015

APC worried over L delayed ministerial list

N150

OBIORA IFOH AND OLAJIDE

OMOJOLOMOJU

...to meet Buhari on silence

Saraki, Dogara's emergence alters zoning arrangement

eaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have scheduled a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to expedite action and achieve a harmonious selection of cabinet members and other top political officers. A highly-placed source, who is also a member of the party’s National WorkCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Insurgents burn police station, mast in fresh Yobe attack P.4 Don't pay $50,000 to see me or my husband, First Lady warns

P.5

President Muhammadu Buhari and President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone (back) during opening of the 25th AU Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday.

ABUAD: Template for engineering education in Nigeria –NSE boss AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD)

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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APC worried over delayed ministerial list CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ing Committee, NWC, told National Mirror that the continued silence of President Buhari over the composition of the new cabinet remains a source of worry to the APC leadership. The meeting, which will hold later in the week after the return of the President from the Africa Union, AU, meeting in South Africa, will centre on the need to streamline the party’s position on the new cabinet. It is also expected that the meeting will enable the party’s hierarchy vet the list being put together and eliminate the impression in some quarters that the President constituted the cabinet in isolation of the party leadership. It was learnt that more than two weeks after he has been sworn in, President Buhari is yet to discuss potential ministerial nominees with leaders of the party. Some of the leaders were said to be uncomfortable with the lack of communication with the President over the ministerial list and other top appointments in the administration. The source said: “Neither John Odigie-Oyegun, Abubakar Atiku nor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the acclaimed leaders of the party, has been privy to the ministerial consideration of Buhari.” There have been speculations that former governor of old Abia State, Dr, Ogbonnaya Onu, would be the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF; former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, was variously tipped to be either Petroleum Minister or Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; while immediate past governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, was also tipped to play a major role in the new government. But Buhari is yet to give the slightest hint of such roles. Immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is also being tipped to hold strategic position in the incoming cabinet, following his roles in the success of the party’s national convention held last December, which picked Buhari as presidential candidate without any rancour. However, competent sources disclosed to National Mirror that part of what is delaying the list is the overbearing attitude of

one of the party’s leaders, who is said to be against the candidacies of some former governors in the new Federal Executive Council, FEC, a development which sources said did not go down well with the President. However, barring any last minute change, the ministerial list will be unveiled

before the end of this week, according to sources, which confided in National Mirror that the President had actually concluded on what his cabinet will look like. Meanwhile, the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representa-

tives respectively, has altered the party’s zoning arrangement in respect of key appointments and made the selection of key executive members of the Buhari administration more difficult and may have been responsible for the delay in announcing the positions. A source said: “The SGF

positions believed to have been ceded to the South East may likely be relocated owing to the fact that the zone, against all odds, has produced the Deputy Senate President. The South South is now the only major zone not in the reckoning in the new dispensation and it is believed the party will take into

consideration the sacrifice and the contribution made by the zone.” Buhari has reportedly said governors would not nominate ministers for him since he does not nominate commissioners for them and that any ministerial list in circulation is false as he had not put a single name on paper.

L-R: Wife of Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and wife of Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, during a dinner at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.

More Nigerians call for fuel subsidy removal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

retail outlets sell fuel at the official rate of N87 per litre. Others still sell for as high as N120 per litre, but the common price now is N100. Before now, the debate for or against the subsidy had been polarised along primordial socio-economic hard lines, with the organised private sector, OPS, seeking its removal, while the organised labour, as expected, maintained a different stance, claiming that removing it would hurt workers and the vulnerable groups in the society. The tones have changed radically as at yesterday with most stakeholders calling for an end to the fuel subsidy debacle. For instance, while most of the investors in the nation’s oil and gas sector have not spoken specifically on fuel subsidy removal, they however are using a more subtle terminology to canvass total removal of the subsidy regime. President of the Lagos

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Remi Bello, whose group has been in the vanguard of the campaign against fuel subsidy in the past two years because of the fraud it symbolises, advised the Federal Government to immediately deregulate the oil and gas downstream sector in order to provide an enduring solution to the recurring problem of petroleum products’ scarcity. According to him, the measure would also help to tackle the menace of corruption inherent in the subsidy regime, the collapse of refineries, lack of investment in the downstream sector, loss of jobs and so on. Noting that options open to government on the subsidy saga remains few, the LCCI boss pointed out that the current regime of subsidy and government’s direct involvement in the operations of oil and gas sector is undesirable for the economy. Analysts at the Financial

Derivatives Company, FDC, Ltd believe that the massive corruption that characterised the nation’s public and private sectors had defeated the purpose of the subsidy as a fiscal tool for social reengineering. The leading financial consulting outfit identified two major components of the subsidy regime, namely, the amount spent on it and its direct, consequential and opportunity cost, and the structural weakness in the system that has become the exploitative channels for perpetuating corruption by some fraudsters and their cronies who ensured that the refineries never worked. Painting a sordid picture of the nation’s corrupt subsidy regime, the FCD stated: “The sharp decline in oil prices, which started in 2014, pushed many oil exporters to embark on austerity measures to mitigate the impact of lower prices on their fiscal revenues. “Ghana partially removed its fuel subsidy, while

Angola has fully removed its fuel subsidy payment effective September 2015. “The Nigerian government on the other hand reduced the pump price of petrol by 10 per cent to N87 in 2015. The current fiscal problem facing Nigeria is further impetus to remove the subsidy. “Between 2006 and 2013, the government spent over N5.42trn on subsidy, which was 15.57 per cent higher than the 2014 national budget of N4.69trn. “For the 2015 budget, a total sum of N220bn has been allocated to the subsidy. Yet, the economic growth and development resulting from the subsidy is negligible at best. “Therefore, it is imperative to analyse the potential costs and benefits associated with subsidy removal.” Expatiating further, the company noted that the benefits of subsidy removal were usually long term and would be determined by how efficiently utilised are

the savings, especially in supporting productivity. Specifically, it pointed out that if the subsidy is removed, the pump price would jump to approximately N130, which is the total open market price, when one considers both the landing cost of petrol at N115.77 and the margin for transporters and exporters of N15.49 as at May 10, 2015. It stated further: “In the long run, subsidy removal will assist the government financially and create a path to addressing the problems in the oil sector. “At the core of the petroleum crisis is the state of the downstream infrastructure. The refineries as well as the distribution network were all built between 1978 and 1988. “Subsidy removal presents the government with the funds needed to reassess the state of the country’s refineries. Boosting refining capacity to above 50 per cent of domestic consumpCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Monday, June 15, 2015

Good Health

Artificial meat now on sale

egetarians who will have nothing to do with dead animals, now have cause to smile. Researchers in The Netherlands have created in-vitro meat or in layman’s language meat grown in the laboratory – now being sold in some vegetarian shops in some cities around the world. Already, one of the searchers Mark Post has created a lab-grown hamburger for sale at a princely sum of $345 or about N69,000. Post announced his achievement two years ago at the American Association for the Advancement of Science saying his research team had created the meat, using stem cells from discarded animal parts at livestock processing facilities. They have created stripes of fleshy muscles that are about one inch long and thin enough that you can almost see them. It is not very tasty yet, post told Reuters of his lab grown concoction. “That’s not a trivial thing and it needs to be worked on.” In the further research on taste, Post and his team mates will be looking for ways to make the meat healthier as well. “The idea is that since we are now producing it in the lab, we can play with all these variables and we can eventually, hopefully turn it in a way that produces healthier meat,” he said. The cost of the burger comes from the very time-intensive process of putting the first prototype together. Post says that with time and a streamlined production process, the cost of these artificial burgers could come down significantly and with the addition of a little lab-grown blood, they could actually become appetising. The researchers say the main reason for creating the artificial meat which they described as “suggy pork” is mainly to eliminate the “land-hogging; gas emissions, spewing unethical meat production industry. They believe that artificial meat could slash carbon emissions by a staggering 96 percent, offering a greener alternative to the tremendous environmental impact of the livestock industry. Indeed, researchers at Oxford University and Amsterdam say growing meat in the lab rather than slaughtering animals would generate only a tiny fraction of the greenhouse emissions associated with conventional live-

... burger costs N69,000

stock production. It could also help to feed the world’s ever-growing population which is currently suffering from food crisis. According to them, growing meat in the lab would require between 7% and 45% less energy than the same volume of conventionally produced meat such as pork, beef or lamb. It would also only use one percent of the lamb and four percent of water associated with breeding livestock. “The environment impacts of cultured meat could be substantially lower than those of meat produced in the conventional way,” said Hanna Tuomisto, the researcher at Oxford University who led the study. “We are not saying that we could or would necessarily want to replace conventional meat with its cultured counterpart right now. However, our research shows that cultured meat could be part of the solution to feeding the world’s growing population and at the same time cutting emissions and saving both energy and water. Simply put, cultured meat

DID YOU KNOW?

Why pregnant women should maintain healthy weight

regnant women can improve their health and even reduce the risk of complications during childbirth by maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise. Research has shown that gaining too much weight during pregnancy increases the risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, large babies, and delivery by caesarean section; and newborns with large birth weights are at risk of childhood obesity. An updated systematic review published in The Cochrane Library reveals that diet or exercise interventions, or a combination of both, can prevent excessive weight gain in pregnancy. The original version of the review published in 2012 found only inconclu-

sive evidence, that dietary and exercise programs had beneficial effects for pregnant women and their babies. In the updated version of the review, the research team incor porated evidence from 37 new studies published between October 2011 and November 2014. The review findings are now based on evidence from 11,444 women.

is potentially a much more efficient and environmentally friendly way of putting meat on the table.” According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia, in-vitro meat may be one of the several new technologies needed to maintain food supplies by the year 2050 in view of the conventional meat farming techniques and an increased demand from a rising world population. Also, conventional meat production may simply become too expensive for the average consumer, given the increasing world population which is expected to reach 8.9 billion people by that year. The encyclopaedia reveals that modern research into in-vitro meat arose out of experiment conducted by the US National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) in an attempt to find improved form of long-term food for astronauts in space. The technique was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995 and NASA has been conducting exper-

iments since 2001 producing in-vitro meat from turkey cells. The first edible form was produced by the NSR/Touro applied bioscience research consortium in 2000. In 2001, dermatologist Wiete Westerhof from the University of Amsterdam, medical doctor William Van Eelen and business man William Van Kooten announced that they had filed for a worldwide patent on a process to produce in-vitro meat. So far, not much has been said about the health implication of artificial meat, especially in developing countries like Nigeria where meat is sold in mostly dirty and unhygienic environment. Although the idea of artificial meat is still novel, especially the fact that it could be one of the answers to the world’s hunger problems. There are fears however that the meat could be another source of cancer in view of its artificial nature. Obviously, more research would be needed in years to come for it to be embraced by the world.

Brain-computer interface reverses paralysis in stroke victims

o help people suffering paralysis from injury, stroke or disease, scientists have invented brain-machine interfaces that record electrical signals of neurons in the brain and translate them to movement. Usually, that means the neural signals direct a device, like a robotic arm. Cornell University researcher Maryam Shanechi, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, working with Ziv Williams, assistant professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School, is bringing brain-machine interfaces to the next level: Instead of signals directing a device, she hopes to help paralyzed people move their own limb, just by thinking about it. When paralyzed patients imagine or plan a movement, neurons in the brain’s motor cortical areas still activate even

though the communication link between the brain and muscles is broken. By implanting sensors in these brain areas, neural activity can be recorded and translated to the patient’s desired movement using a mathematical transform called the decoder. These interfaces allow patients to generate movements directly with their thoughts. In a paper published online Feb. 18 in Nature Communications, Shanechi, Williams and colleagues describe a corticalspinal prosthesis that directs “targeted movement” in paralyzed limbs.

Photo News

Monday, June 15, 2015

L-R: Artistes, Patoranking, Phyno, TuFace Idibia, Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, on-air personality, IK Osakioduwa and comedian, Akpororo, during the unveiling of Airtel Nigeria’s Smart Icons in Lagos, at the weekend.

L-R: Director, University of Benin Centre of Excellence in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Kenny Ladipo; Vice Chancellor, UNIBEN, Prof. Osasere Orumwense and Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, during donation of equipment to the centre by Schlumberger in Benin, recently.

National News Rotimi Fadeyi and Inusa Ndahi

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday disclosed that he has directed the release of $21 million of the $100 million pledge Nigeria made to support the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, fighting Boko Haram insurgency. Speaking in South Africa when he chaired the Peace and Security Council, PSC, of the African Union, Buhari said the money would be released within the next one week. The President said considering the dimension of global terror, Africa must act in brotherhood and partnership to fight common goals against agents of evil. He explained that the commitment of African leaders to the objective of silencing the local guns in Africa by 2020 was doubtful with pockets of incidents in individual countries and the continent as a whole. Buhari, however, chal-

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L-R: Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Daniel; Head, Events and Sponsorships, Modupe Thani; winner of Nigerian Idol Season 5, Ogunrombi Olakunle (a.k.a K-Peace); Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone and Director, Brands and Experience, Enitan Denloye, during the grand finale of the Nigerian Idol Season 5 in Lagos, at the weekend.

Guest of Honour, Hajia A’ishatu Garba (left), presenting an award to overall student, Abdulsamad Auwal, during 2014/2015 graduation of Garba Ibrahim Memorial Islamic Academy in Dougirei, Jimeta, Yola, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Boko Haram: Buhari orders release of $21m to Multinational Force

•Insurgents torch police station, masts in fresh Yobe attack lenged African leaders to change the face of the continent, stressing that hope must be given to the hopeless, while they must also deliver a continent that is at peace with itself, prosperous, a global partner and a democratic show case. Buhari said: “This is my first time of attending the AU Peace Security Council. I have the responsibility of presiding over this meeting by virtue of the fact that Nigeria is the chair for the month of June 2015. “Our continent is inundated with conflicts of diverse forms. They include the crisis in Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and more recently, Burundi. “As you are aware in 2013, during the 50th anniversary celebration of our

union, we as African leaders committed ourselves to the objective of silencing the local guns in Africa by 2020. “With just five years remaining, the prospect of realising this objective looks doubtful with pockets of incidents in individual countries and the continent as a whole.” The president noted that Cameroon, Chad and Niger were cooperating alongside Nigeria under the umbrella of the Multinational Joint Task Force to defeat Boko Haram. He noted that Boko Haram insurgency, which has extended to Nigeria’s neighbours, was not necessarily limited to the immediate countries as terrorism is a global phenomenon with linkages across the globe.

He urged the Peace and Security Council to put in proper context the situations of South Sudan and Burundi Buhari noted that the people of these countries are suffering while their political leaders are bickering among themselves. “I believe it is incumbent upon us as leaders to always place the interest of our countries above narrow and personal interest. “It is therefore my expectations that at the end of this summit, the PSC will come out with a united message to call on all parties to act in the interest of their people and the entire continent,” Buhari said. Meanwhile, suspected Boko Haram terrorists in a convoy of Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles

laden with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, and petro-bombs attacked Babangida council headquarters in Yobe State yesterday, torching the Divisional Police Station, secretariat complex, telecom masts and several other houses and buildings. The gunmen, according to the District Head of Babangida, Alhaji Isa Musa Gumcho, also carted away food items, petrol and diesel retrieved from the stores and granaries of residents, and loaded them into waiting pickup vans. “The terrorists attempted to attack our town on Saturday night, but the soldiers repelled them towards Bayamari and into Sasawa Forest, northeast of this council headquarters. “But we were, however,

shocked and terrified when the same insurgents regrouped within six hours to attack us this morning (Sunday), burning many houses, shops and our council secretariat,” Gumcho said. He said as the insurgents were being repelled by the military, some residents started fleeing for fear of being killed in the cross fire. He, however, said no causalities were recorded during the attack. Gumcho said: “No lives were lost in the multiple attacks, but many of our houses, shops and public buildings, including telecom masts; were burnt down by the terrorists.” The the state Police Command also confirmed the incident yesterday.

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Monday, June 15, 2015

More Nigerians call for fuel subsidy removal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tion could put Nigeria in a position of being both a producer of crude products and an exporter of refined crude products. “Subsequently, economic stability will ensue as pump prices will not be determined by external factors arising from the international oil community but rather economic activities within the country.” Chairman, Capital Oil and Gas Industries, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has also advocated the deregulation of the downstream sector as a strategic option of ensuring its efficiency, transparency and improved services and returns on investments. While saying that he had identified the corruption in the present regulated system in the past, he urged the new administration to frontally tackle the monster by totally deregulating the downstream sector. Similarly, the chairman of International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawibe, had during a chat with National Mirror pointed out that deregulation was desirable for the economy as it would help in attracting substantial investments into the downstream sector in the medium and long terms. In what appeared a po-

litical advocacy angle to the controversy, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Buhari Volunteers Network, BVN, yesterday pitched its voice with groups advocating total removal of subsidy, saying doing so would be in the interest of the country. The NGO stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its seminar titled, “Fuel subsidy removal as a mechanism for plugging waste and spurring job creation,” held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. In the communiqué signed by its South West Coordinator, Mr. Ismaeel Odulana, the group maintained that oil subsidy was fictitious and therefore has not had any positive effect on the lives of the masses. While calling for transparency in the petroleum sector, especially the sale of crude and the distribution of the various products locally required, the nongovernmental organisation urged the Federal Government take a critical look at the business of procuring the various products with a view to uncovering how other by-products of crude were disposed off or not been accounted for over the years. The group canvassed the need for the Federal Government to create jobs through the new order expected to

emerge through the removal of subsidy, while assuring of its readiness to ensure that the masses are well informed about the logic in removing the subsidy when government finally takes the decision. Even after its initial opposition, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, recently reversed itself by declaring support for the subsidy removal. NUPENG however would like what is saved from the subsidy to be channelled towards the rehabilitation of

the nation’s refineries and infrastructure. President of the organised labour group, Mr. Igwe Achese, told National Mirror that if government continued to fund the businesses of fuel marketers through subsidy and interest payments, the lingering fuel crisis in the country would continue to the detriment of the economy. However, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, remained one of the major stakeholder groups that

still maintain that fuel subsidy should be sustained. PENGASSAN’s spokesperson, Mr. Emmanuel Ojugbana, in a statement, argued against the removal of subsidy, claiming that it would push fuel price beyond the reach of Nigerians. Ironically, Nigeria remains the only oil-producing country that sources substantial part of its domestic fuel needs through importation. “Sadly too, the imported fuel comes with socio-

economic costs that have continued to hurt Nigerians and the economy, with the attendant implications for rising unemployment and deepening poverty for millions. A few weeks ago, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, puts the landing cost, including the product cost, plus freight rate at N107.66. When other cost elements, including margins are added, the open market price is estimated at N135.15 per litre.

L-R: Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Ekiti State governor Olusegun Oni, Osun State Deputy Governor State, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at Ibadan airport, at the weekend.

Don't pay $50,000 to see me or my husband, First Lady warns ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

ife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has warned that anyone who demands $50,000 to enable him see her or her husband should be disregarded. Speaking at an appreciation dinner she hosted for women and youths at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa on Saturday, she said whoever demands money to facilitates his or her seeing her or her husband was neither working for the President nor the All Progressives Congress, APC. She said: “I will like to inform you that in the past regime, whether it is true or false, only God knows. Some people were going round, parading themselves as personal

assistants. If you wanted to see the First Lady, you will pay $30,000 or $50,000; and if you are seeing the President, you will pay all that you have gathered in your lifetime. “This will not happen in our regime. Whoever asks you to give a single penny in the name of coming to see the President or his wife is not our staff. He is not an APC member; it is a lie. Don’t be deceived.” She stated that there was nothing people did not say about the past administration, stressing that it was not former President Goodluck Jonathan that was not good but the people around him. The President’s wife said the people that are going to be around her husband have to be very careful because the election

ended peacefully. “We are praying and hoping that people around him should know that it took him 12 years to get to that position and they must know that they are coming to serve the masses, not President Muhammadu Buhari in person. “It is the people that are around him that will determine the political health of our state. “I am so delighted to stand before you today as the wife of a former Head of State and today being called the wife of the President. It was such a long journey and we thank God it ended this way; we really thank God. “I want to thank all Nigerian women and youths for the crucial roles they played towards the success of the last elections. I am very much aware

of your steadfastness during the election campaigns up till the elections proper,” she said. She explained that in line with the philosophy of her husband, the administration would be open to all Nigerians. While noting the challenges faced by the country in the areas of security, unemployment and corruption, she said the responsibility to solve the problems should not be left for the government alone. Mrs. Buhari also used the occasion to explain that her husband never put her in purdah. She urged Nigerians to come up with practical solutions, collectively and individually, that would facilitate answers to the ills of the society, especially women is-

sues. “Even, by the recent campaigns, it was Bola Ahmed Tinubu who insisted that I should come out and support my husband. Not that I never liked supporting my husband but it all depended on the people around him. And now, it is the people around him that said they wanted me to participate; we did and we have seen the difference. “My husband is a gender-sensitive being, having so many girls as his own biological children and then having me as his wife. Then, you can see the generation gap. He allowed me to go to school. To cut the story short, he is the pillar of my success. “The women of Nigeria are not asking for equal representation but a fair representa-

tion. “As you are all aware, they were the major voters; we constitute more than 50 per cent and in the end, we found out that the number of female legislators that we used to have declined. I do not think this is fair to women. We feel we are not adequately represented. “We should now make it as a mission in the next four years, to fight for fair representation of women in both leadership and decision-making bodies,” she said. She also spoke on the high rate of divorce in the North, widowhood in the South and female students’ harassment in higher institutions, demanding that something be done to solve the problems.

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Monday, June 15, 2015

‘Non-passage of PIB may threaten $80bn investment’

roposed fiscal terms under the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, may threaten $80 billion worth of investment if not passed into law by the National Assembly, NASS. Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN Producers Forum, Mr Emmanuel Onuorah, stated this yesterday at a news briefing in Lagos. Onuorah said: “The non-passage of the bill will threaten $80 billion worth of investment in the nation’s oil and gas sector between 2015 and 2020.’’ He said the proposed fiscal term was based on $100 per barrel model. According to him, the development would also cause $44 billion reduction in accruable revenue to the Federal Government in the sector within the period. He said this would affect the sector as no deepwater Production Sharing Contract production would be viable. Onourah also said production of gas under the Joint Venture with the government would reduce by 90 per cent. Also, production of oil

under the Joint Venture with government would reduce by 30 per cent, while there would be an overall decline by 25 per cent, he said. Onuorah, while expressing concern over non-passage of the PIB by the 7th National Assembly, advised the present administration to re-present the bill to the current Assembly for accelerated passage and assent by the president. He suggested that the bill should be broken into manageable portions to allow the needed reforms to commence. He said the more controversial issues like host community fund, frontier exploration and fiscal terms could be further debated before being passed. “We also advocate that the gas policy for Production Sharing Contracts and appropriate domestic gas should be addressed because it affects gas supply to Independent Power Projects, which impacts negatively on electricity,’’ he said. He implored President Muhammadu Buhari to unveil his plans for the nation’s oil and gas industry within the first 100 days of his administration.

EFCC, AGF, NSA fight over Abacha loot ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA

onfusion emerged at the weekend over how much had so far been recovered from the money looted from the nation’s treasury by former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, its whereabouts or how the recovered funds were spent. Agencies of the Federal Government, who played one role or the other in the recovery and custody of the loot, are currently passing bucks over the loot. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had claimed that the Offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice and the National Security Adviser, NSA, know how much had been recovered and the money’s whereabouts. The EFCC disclosed this in an affidavit. Strangely though, Offices of the AGF and NSA have disowned EFCC’s affidavit. They told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that they did not know how much of Abacha loot was recovered or had been spent. The EFCC itself had passed the buck when a non-governmental or-

NSITF plans centre for injured workers OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

igeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, is planning establishment of rehabilitation centres for injured workers across the country. Managing Director of NSITF, Munir Abubakar, who disclosed this, stated that the proposed centres would be in each geo-political zone of the country. He said, “We are in talks with some state governments to establish rehabilitation centres in each of the six geo-political zones. We want to take the issue of injured workers beyond just paying for treatment and paying compensation and rehabilitation. “Experience has shown that some workers no longer have the ability to continue in their area of specialisation after sustaining injury, which is

why we are also going to add re-orientation and retraining of injured workers in professions they would be able to cope. Injured workers will no longer entertain fear of job loss as a result of workplace injury.” Abubakar also said NSITF would collaborate with foreign manufacturers of artificial limbs and legs to ensure easy training of workers who may need to use them. The NSITF boss added that the agency was also working on locating treatment centres close to premises of employers to ensure timely response to injured workers, saying, “Lives could easily be lost if hospitals or treatment centres are far from workplaces.” The NSITF chief disclosed that the annual discussion of social security issues indicate the rising importance of social safety among nations

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of the world. He added that implementation of Employees Compensation Scheme, ECS, though relatively new in Nigeria, has made tremendous progress in the last four years. “The implementation of Employees Compensation Scheme is now stabilising in the country and we have indeed gone very far in this journey. There are countries that indicated interest in coming to Nigeria to see what we are doing.” He revealed that the scheme has over 28,000 employers registered under it. Abubakar, who commended the Federal Government for showing faith in the Scheme by consistently paying for its staffers in its Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, also lauded the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, for its cooperation in getting employers on board.

ganisation, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, LEDAP, invoked provisions of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to demand information on how much had so far been recovered from the loot and its whereabouts. The anti-graft agency said it had no such information and directed the organisation to the AGF and NSA. The development made LEDAP to join both NSA and AGF to the suit. LEDAP had in 2011 instituted the suit with EFCC as sole defendant after the commission refused its request for information. But LEDAP decided to join AGF, who was then Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the NSA, Col. Sambo Dansuki, after the EFCC in its counter-affidavit opposed the suit and directed LEDAP to seek the information from offices of the AGF and NSA. A lawyer in the Legal and Prosecution Unit of EFCC, Mr. Austin Emmumejakpor, stated in the counter-affidavit dated March 5, 2012, “That I am

informed that remittances relating to the estate of the late Gen. Abacha was coordinated by the offices of the National Security Adviser and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and not the respondent (EFCC) as erroneously thought by the applicant.” But both the offices of AGF and NSA through their lawyer, Godwin Onwusi, opposed the application seeking an order joining them as respondents in the suit. They predicated their opposition to being joined to the suit on grounds that contrary to EFCC’s claim, they did not coordinate the recovery of the loot. A counter-affidavit dated January 28, 2015, and deposed to by a lawyer from Onwusi’s law firm, Austin Nwaroh, opposing LEDAP’s application for joining the new respondents, also denied any involvement of NSA in the remittances. It reads: “That the 2nd party sought to be joined (NSA) did not coordinate the remittances relating to the estate of the late

Gen. Sani Abacha. “That the 2nd party sought to be joined is neither in custody nor in possession of information relating to the remittances referred to in paragraph 5 above. “That the 2nd party sought to be joined is neither a necessary party nor an indispensable party in this suit.” An earlier counter-affidavit deposed to by another lawyer from Onwusi’s law firm, Ifeanyi Umeji, on March 25, 2014, also denied custody of the requested information on behalf of the AGF and NSA, stating, “That the 1st and 2nd parties sought to be joined (AGF and NSA) did not coordinate remittances relating to the estate of the late Gen. Abacha.” In a reply, plaintiff’s counsel, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, insisted that the AGF and NSA were necessary parties, arguing that by virtue of the provisions of section 21 of the FoI Act, 2011, “the onus is on such body to prove the information is not within its control.” The case comes up on October 8.

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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ABUAD students to represent Africa in global contest

…invent asthma management device

Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

our students of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, who invented Asthmavisor, a device for efficient management of asthma, particularly among children, have qualified for the finals of the 2015 Microsoft Incorporation-organised Imagine Club competition. For the rare invention, the four students will represent Africa in the finals of the “most prestigious global students technology programme” holding next month in the United States of America. They are three Computer Science students and a Mechanical Engineering student of the five-year-old university. ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola, said at the weekend that “the foursome of Adeyemo Kayode, Raymond Obinaju, Sobola David and Ahwin Kevin with a joint passion for saving lives, have continually been seeking to leverage on technology to make healthcare more efficient, accessible and reliable, particularly as it affects rural

dwellers.” Babalola said the institution’s focus on research, entrepreneur development, functional areas of life and learning was paying off with “groundbreaking achievements.” He said the solution proffered by the four students under the aegis of Team Lifewatch “will help patients to be more conscious of their environment and will provide a reminder of what their physician has advised them to avoid. “The software also provides an automatic alert, which is triggered by change in environmental condition as detected by the sensors in the wearable device. Asthmavisor further helps the patient alert a selected list of emergency contacts in case he or she is not able to handle an attack.” According to him, other benefits of Asthmavisor to asthma patients include provision of helpful healthy tips that could prolong the life of patients and crucial supervisory role-playing and monitoring as well as creating avenue for patients to track their attacks and log crucial information.

Ambode greets Vanguard’s boss at 80

agos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday paid tribute to Chairman of Vanguard Media Limited and veteran journalist, Sam Amuka-Pemu, who turned 80 on Saturday. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor conveyed warm felicitations, saying Amuka-Pemu had contributed largely to uplift journalism in the country. Ambode said the publisher’s strides towards the growth of the Nigerian press were not only evident in how he has spearheaded his newspaper to enviable heights, but also his stance on political stability, accountability and the rule of law. He said, “Nigeria has benefitted immensely by the presence of Uncle Sam

Amuka in the media, both as a journalist and columnist from the days of Daily Times group, where he served as Editor of the Sunday Times. “His then column, ‘SadSam’, stood tall among equals as he continuously kept his readers glued to his satirical and literarystyled articles, a model he has maintained over the years. “It is not surprising that he has brought his wealth of experience to bear in Vanguard newspapers, one of the newspapers to reckon with in the country today. “On behalf of my family, government and people of Lagos, I wish you a happy 80th birthday and many more years of good health, God speed and new heights going forward.”

Flood sweeping vehicles from the main road at Owode-Onirin, Ikorodu road, Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Nigeria storms China for Digital TV summit Ngozi Emedolibe

igeria is leading 11 other African countries to China for the 5th edition of African Digital TV Development Summit in Tianjin, China. The event will have leaders of broadcasting and TV administrations, heads of national TV stations from Nigeria, Tanzania, Guinea, Kenya, Mo-

zambique, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Zambia, Republic of Congo, Togo and Sudan. Others are Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Chinese leaders from Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, State Administration of Radio Film and Television, Beijing Municipal, Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Beijing Cultural Bureau in at-

tendance. The event provides opportunity for cultural exchange and commercial trade, as well as interprets and communicates Chinese culture and its strategy of peaceful development, with StarTimes playing a lead role with digital TV network across 22 African countries. In addition, leaders from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Com-

merce, Beijing Economic and Technological Zone, Export-Import Bank, China-Africa Development Fund and China Export Credit Insurance Corporation, all will address participants. According to Pang Xinxing, chairman of StarTimes Group, June 2015 is expiration date of switching off analogue TV, which is regulated by Information and Technology Unit, ITU.

Cultism: Police arrest 30 in Ijebu Femi Oyeweso ABEOKUTA

gun State police command has arrested no fewer than 30 suspects for cultism and other related activities in Ijebu-Ode axis of Ogun East area. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrests to National Mirror yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, also said the arrests were in line with the command’s renewed war against cultism and related activities, particularly in Ijebu-Ode and environs. The PPRO also said those arrested were prime suspects and ring leaders of some cult groups on police watch-list, having been involved in many criminal

acts that included series of killings of people in the area and other parts of the state. Adejobi explained that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Val Ntomchukwu, had earlier inaugurated over 10 security teams comprising officers from Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Anti-Robbery unit of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Mobile Police Force, State Investigation and Intelligence Bureau, among others, on a special anti-cultism operation in Ijebu-Ode and environs. Headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, CIID, DCP Shina Olukolu, and other top police officers, the teams within one week of its special operation in Ijebu-Ode,

raided many black spots and hideouts of the suspected cultists, which included hotels and other communities in Ijebu-Ode, where it arrested the 30 suspects. The PPRO gave names of some of the suspected cultists arrested to include one Gbenga Banjo popularly called “Solution”, Dammy, and a notorious suspect called “Jawando” whose real names were unknown. Others are one Kazeem Akeem, also called “Obalofin”, Oluwatimileyin Akintunde aka “Majek”, Olootu Lukman alias “Eba”, “Neyo” and Oladele Oluniga, among others. Adejobi also said some of the suspects have been arraigned at the High Court in Ijebu-Ode, while investigation was still on

to ascertain the degree of culpability of other suspects and more of the incidences recorded in Ijebu area of the state as directed by CP Ntomchukwu. The image-maker emphasised that the police boss vowed to take the fight against cultism and other vices to the door steps of the hoodlums, stressing that the command will not allow any individual or group of hoodlums to truncate the existing peace and security arrangement enjoyed in the state. The police, however, appealed to the general public, particularly people of Ijebu-Ode and environs, to cooperate with the command in its war against criminality in the area.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Investments in culture, tourism, tool for job creation –Lawmaker Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ember representing Obokun State Constituency in Osun House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, yesterday said investments in culture and tourism by the federal and state governments will create jobs and boost the economy. He made the submission in Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area while speaking at the 2015 Obokun Festival. According to him, tourism development would not only serve as alternative source of income, but would reinforce the fight against social vices and help address societal ills by instilling high moral standards and cultural values. Oyintiloye lamented the economic challenge currently experienced in the country, attributing it to heavy dependence on revenue from petroleum products. He called for measures towards diversifying the economy towards agriculture and tourism to prevent recurrence of the economic meltdown. Outlining areas of job creation in the sector to include tour guide, horticulture, food services, entertainment industry, craft and arts productions, and waste recycling, he maintained that it was the prerogative of Nigerians to take advan-

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Monday, June 15, 2015

tage of these opportunities. While lauding Osun for developing a tourism master plan with robust and global outlook, Oyintiloye said the blueprint had the mindset of economy of scale as it focused on development of local content. He therefore, expressed optimism that the master plan, which was developed by the state’s Tourism Board, when fully implemented would set the pace for others to follow. Oyintiloye cited example of Olumirin Water Falls, saying through effective management by agency of the state government over 50,000 tourists were attracted to the site in 2014. The lawmaker, who noted that Obokun cultural value and tourism potentials were enormous, called all stakeholders, including sons and daughters of Ibokun at home and in Diaspora to contribute their quota towards its development. Also, Oba Ibokun of Ibokun, Festus Awogboro, charged government to encourage the Obokun festival and other cultural events in the state, saying they were sources of revenue generation for government. Describing Ibokun as the source of Ijesa people, the monarch called on sons and daughters of the town to also find ways of attracting development to the town.

‘Naijalight’ website still giving answers to NECO students

Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ays after it was unearthed, controversial website that has been providing solutions to public examination papers named ‘naijalight’ is still operating at full swing. National Mirror had in an exclusive report published on page 38 of its Thursday, June 11 edition, exposed the website and how it provided nearly 100 per cent correct answers to all papers of the recent-

ly concluded West African Examination Council, WAEC. Details of how the website works, its administrator, bank account and to register were also stated in the report, drawing a lot of reactions from different quarters. But checks yesterday revealed that naijalight not only gave all specimens for Biology, Agricultural Science and Physics practical for the ongoing National Examination Council, NECO, it also advertised “expos” for pa-

ice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Charles Ayo, has urged government at all levels to embrace e-governance in its totality through adoption of Information Communication Technology, ICT, in management and in every sphere of administration. He said if adopted, ICT will reduce or completely eliminate the bureaucracy found in most offices and corruption that is ravaging the nation. The vice chancellor stat-

ed this at the weekend in the institution during the 2nd Covenant University conference on e-governance in Nigeria, themed, ‘Prospects and Challenges for Civic Engagement and Participation.’ According to him, e-governance will also enhance participation and engagement of citizens through e-democracy and would go a long way to solve myriad problems facing the nation, especially insecurity. Ayo also said that though the 2015 election has gone, it is important to put down structures for the 2019 elec-

ogbo-based Information Communication Technology, ICT expert, Matthias Adeyemi, stated that it may be impossible to close down the controversial website unless government or concerned examination bodies trace its hosting company and report its activities. He explained: “All WAEC and NECO need to do to track the website is to identify its hosting company and report its activities before more damage is done. Obviously, that has not been done.”

L-R: Miss Tourism Nigeria (World), Ifeoma Sharon Anya; Managing Director, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Sunday Olajide and Miss Tourism Nigeria (South West), Mariam Akanbi, during a visit of the pageant team to Global Mirror Media in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Institute boosts South West farmers Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

ith a view towards boosting dry season farming in the South-West, the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, IAR&T, Ibadan, has es-

tablished what it tagged ‘Sustainable partnership for innovations in soil and water management with farmers.’ Executive Director of the institute, Prof. James Adediran, disclosed this at the weekend in Ibadan during the Integrated Land

Adoption of e-governance will reduce corruption, says VC Saidat Alausa

pers that would be written in the coming days. Subscriptions were invited for prepared solutions to yet-to-be written papers like Maths, English and others for as low as N1,000 either through payment into a bank account of the website administrator called Shuaib Abdulrahaman, or by sending recharge cards to a phone number stated on the website, at least, one hour before commencement of the paper. When contacted, an Os-

tions that would guide participatory democracy where all would be happy to partake in. He, however, said the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari may not be able to do much due to paucity of funds. “But the easiest way to accomplish much with the little fund available is the adoption of ICT, which the previous government procured before his coming on board. He can use this to improve on what he met on ground and move the nation forward.” The vice chancellor warned that individuals

that are so corrupt would resist the change except the president shows greater determination to finish the job he began decades ago as head of a military junta. Keynote speaker, DG, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Peter Jack, represented by Director of Corporate Strategy and Research, Vincent Olatunji, said the adoption of ICT in all spheres of government will go a long way to fight corruption within the system, adding, however, that political will to drive the programme was very important.

and Water Management for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change, ILWAC, Mid-Term Review and workshop. He said the IAR&T team has already constructed check dams and water pans for farmers in the zone, adding that “appropriate tools for soil resource mapping were developed and promoted while technologies for soil-water-nutrient management were also identified and promoted.” Revealing that a lot of progress has been recorded by the team in the South West since the project’s inception in 2013, Adediran said IAR&T alongside other institutions in BurkinaFaso and Cote d’ Ivoire won the grant to conduct research on the project titled, ‘Sustainable Soil-water nutrient management under increasing climatic change and Variability.’ The IAR&T boss stated that the objective of the project funded by CORAF/ West and Central African

Council for Agricultural Research and Development, WECARD, is to improve agricultural resilience to climatic variability through deployment of improved soil and water management technologies that would mitigate the impact of climatic variability. The ILWAC Regional Coordinator, Dr. Vincent A d u r a m i g b a - M o d u p e, said no fewer than 10,000 farmers, including women had been empowered with inputs, climate SMART soil and water conservation measures. He added that part of the objective was to provide farmers, especially vegetable farmers, with irrigation water for dry season farming. Head of the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture, University of Ibadan, Prof. Bamidele Omitoyin, at the review lauded the donor and stakeholders in the project for improving farmers’ livelihood through the ILWAC project.

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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Obiano canvasses fire-fighting trucks, equipment on highways

L-R: Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano; Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, during a memorial service for the late wife of Chairman of board of directors, Lolo (Mrs.) Rose Ijeoma Ezeh, yesterday.

Medical services in FMC Owerri worsen

…striking workers remain adamant Chris Njoku OWERRI

ore than a month after, the crisis rocking Federal Medical Centre, FMC Owerri, is yet to be resolved as health workers have remained adamant in their demand for suspension and probe of Medical Director, Dr. Angela Uwakem, for alleged involvement in financial mismanagement of the centre. The lingering crisis has grounded all services in the medical centre, as all patients had been moved out of the hospital to different hospitals for medical attention, while many have died as they were left unattended.

Those who could afford it moved their sick ones to the University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, for medical attention while some patients have also been transferred to private hospitals in the state. It was learnt that many patients have died as a result of the industrial action, especially those who could not afford medical fees in private facilities. It was also gathered that the crisis, which led to locking of all the wards, also affected maintenance of the mortuary as attendants have abandoned the place to join the strike. Investigation during the weekend revealed that the mortuary attendants were shunning people who came to the hospital either to de-

posit or collect corpses of their loved ones. Epileptic power supply at the centre is also worsening the condition of the morgue, as generators to supply electricity have been abandoned. In a meeting at the weekend between the national officers of Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, with the officers of all unions of FMC Owerri, management and entire workers over the current industrial action, the striking health practitioners remained adamant, while calling on the Federal Government to immediately suspend and probe the Medical Director for financial impropriety and maladmin-

istration. They maintained that workers who were unjustly sacked, salaries stopped, improperly placed and or demoted, be immediately reverted to their former positions. The workers also chided the Ministry of Health, particularly in its letter to the National President of NUAHP on FMC crisis, adding that the action of the ministry was coated with insincerity. While calling for investigative panel of people of proven integrity, they maintained that chairman of the probe panel should not be a medical professional. They vowed to continue the fight until all anomalies raised were corrected.

Osun workers to get arrears month end —Aregbesola Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ureau of Communications and Strategy office of Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said the governor’s determination to wean Osun from the culture of dependence on federal allocation was behind the haste with which his administration embarked on key programmes that have been lauded in and outside Nigeria. A statement by the Bureau’s Director, Semiu Okanlawon, said the government’s approach to agriculture, industrialisation and tourism and massive

infrastructure provision, were driven by the clear possibility that the sole reliance on Federal Government for states’ survival would one day throw the country into economic quagmire of immense proportion. Assuring that before end of June workers would be paid their salaries, the statement said from the onset Aregbesola’s administration had set out to ensure it energizes the economy in such a way that proceeds from economic activities and taxes from thriving companies in Osun would drive the economy and not reliance on allocations from Abuja.

The statement reminded all that Aregbesola had repeatedly said that only a lazy administration would accept the tag of Osun as a “civil service” state as excuse for not developing initiatives for industrialisation. The statement cited Lagos, which today can pay its workers on time yet, still continues its development projects. The statement added that those making gains out of criticism of Aregbesola failed to ponder over these facts, adding that despite the lingering crisis, the administration would not lose focus. The statement further

noted that Aregbesola had come clean on Osun’s state of finance to ensure nothing was hidden and to assure the people that despite the precarious situation, he was determined to restore the state to the era when his government paid salaries on the 25th of every month.

Aregbesola

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has called on the Federal Government to provide fire-fighting trucks and equipment to avert deaths from oil tanker accidents on the highways. Obiano made the call yesterday in Awka when he met with Director of Relief, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Udemezue Eze. The governor, who maintained that adequate provision of fire-fighting equipment was necessary to avert recurrence of such casualties on the roads, however, rejected reports on the number of deaths caused by the recent petrol tanker accident in the state, saying the figures quoted were incorrect. “I was there. I came immediately the incident hap-

pened. The number was below 25, of both the dead and injured. “I wonder how 69 came about,” Obiano said. According to him, the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, would identify areas of cooperation with the Federal Government to help the victims, who were already receiving treatment in some hospitals in Onitsha. Earlier, NEMA director said the agency officials were in the state to assist hospitals already treating the victims. Eze said the agency had donated medical items to the hospitals to treat the victims, but failed to make public the amount involved. News Agency of Nigeria reports that on May 31, an oil tanker crashed into Asaba Motor Park at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, and exploded.

Cleric seeks collaboration to end kidnapping, robbery Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

eneral Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, Canaan Land, Osun State, Prophet Oladeji Hezekiah, has urged stakeholders in Ekiti State to collaborate with the state government and security agencies to end the spate of kidnapping and armed robbery. Hezekiah, who said the collaboration and urgent end to the menace were necessary to restore confidence of other Nigerians and investors in the state, added that the economy of residents was already being threatened. The cleric spoke yesterday at Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti West local council at a press conference heralding the week-long Babalola Power Explosion Erio 2015, beginning next Monday. Hezekiah urged stakeholders, religious leaders inclusive, to move swiftly to redress the security situation, saying: “We cannot deny the fact that the ugly incidences have been driving investors away from Ekiti. Those who used to ply federal roads in Ekiti to Abuja no longer pass there because of fear they could be kidnapped. It has also affected commerce along the roads. “But I share the belief

that God will intervene in this matter. We are praying and it will be part of our prayers during this year’s revival that God should expose these evil doers.” He said the programme with the theme, ‘The Power of Holiness,’ billed to be attended by ministers of God and others from across the world at the Mountain of Mercy, Erio-Ekiti, would feature prayers for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Hezekiah, who described Buhari as a strong-willed leader, said the problems of the country were so daunting and multifaceted that the president could not single-handedly solve them. This, he said, was why the president need not make any mistake in the choice of ministers for his administration to be successful. He advised Buhari to put those who share his dream into his cabinet, saying that failure to do so would shatter the dream to bring about the needed change in Nigeria. Hezekiah said the president would need the services of like-minded people to restore sanity in the system, adding: “All the presidents elected since 1999 have tried in their own right. But the problem had always been that they used to appoint those who didn’t share their dreams into their cabinets.”

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South South

Monday, June 15, 2015

Former C`River SSG, wife defect to APC Richard Ndoma CALABAR

Akwa Ibom cultural group performing during Sacred Heart Catholic Church Cultural Day in Gwagwalada, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Oil Spill: Ijaw group to petition NJC over judgment Omeiza Ajayi

jaw aborigines in Bayelsa State have concluded plans to petition the National Judicial Council, NJC, over an Appeal Court judgment that reportedly set aside the resolution of two committees of the National Assembly as well as the judgment of a Federal High Court. The Ijaws had through their political leaders and representatives, Chief Pere Ajuwa and Mr. Ingo MacEtteli, instituted a $1.5 billion lawsuit against Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) in December 2000 as compensatory claims for the environmental degradation and multiple oil spillages arising from oil exploration in their area. At a news conference in Abuja over the weekend, Chief Ajuwa said his people had complained to the National Assembly, which consequently constituted a panel to verify the claims of the community in 2003. According to him, separate committees of the two chambers of NASS had set up a panel of retired Supreme Court judges, which recommended $1.5 billion as compensation. He said although Shell had refused to comply with the parliamentary resolutions, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has again ruled in favour of the Ijaws. Ajuwa, however, dis-

agreed with a subsequent judgment of the appellate court, which set aside the earlier ruling of the High Court as well as resolutions of the National Assembly. He said he was in receipt of several incriminating evidence against some judges, vowing to get the NJC to flush them out of the judiciary.

"We have been in battle with SPDC. I was asked to handle the issue because the Ijaw nation said they did not want government to handle it and I gave a condition that if there would be no resort to violence, I would handle it. "We have, however, been undermined by both the agents of government and Shell. The NASS commis-

sion specified that 1, 247 natives of Bayelsa State died due to oil pollution. There was outbreak of all manner of water-borne diseases. "I have never seen a place where blood is shed and law enforcement agencies will shut their eyes to it. Our people have kept their promise not to resort to violence," he said.

Hands off Sylva’s corrupt cases, APC leader warns Buhari Osahon Julius YENAGOA

equel to alleged quashing of cases against former Bayelsa State governor, Timpreye Sylva, by anticorruption agencies, a frontline leader of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State, Chief Richard Kpodo, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stay clear of the corruption charges against him. Kpodo, who was a former security adviser to Sylva, said the President should give the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the courts handling the case a free hand to try his former boss. At a press conference in Yenagoa yesterday, he said the re-arraignment of Sylva in court by the EFCC on charges bordering on corruption allegations was

proper and in order. He said, "Re-arraignment of Sylva in court is a right step in the right direction. I also want to use this opportunity to thank President Buhari for who he is. He said it clearly that he belongs to nobody. So, nobody will think Buhari will support anybody who has a corruption case. "When Sylva was discharged, a lot of people said it was because he is Buhari's man; but we know that Buhari will not support criminality. "Sylva is accused of over N19bn fraud. Look at Bayelsa State - we are still living in slum and squalor - no development, no road, etc. And one man is being accused of stealing N19bn and some people want the case thrown out without trial; that is wrong. Is it because he was in Buhari's transition committee that people want the matter quashed? No, let him

face the full wrath of the law. My appeal is that President Buhari should not interfere in the case. He should give the court and the EFCC free hand to handle it. Sylva should be tried and if they find him guilty, he should be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others." He said Sylva was not tried during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan because of ethnic sentiments and appeals by his kinsmen. Kpodo said: "Now, we are under a new era, an era of a corruption fighter; that is why these cases are coming up now. Remember, Buhari had said he belongs to all Nigerians and to nobody. Kpodo, who was Interim Chairman of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State, asked his former boss to stop nursing any ambition to come back as governor of the state.

ormer Secretary to Cross River State Government, SSG, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, and his wife, Margaret, at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Ebokpo’s wife was also special adviser on Civil Society and Nongovernmental Organisations. The former SSG said he and his wife decided to quit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in order to give his people a sense of belonging. Ebokpo and wife, who addressed a cross-section of APC members and their supporters at the party’s secretariat in Obubra over the weekend, said their movement to APC was timely for continued political

safety and relevance of Obubra people. “We are leaving PDP for the cabal that hijacked the party’s structures for personal gains. We have to move to the APC for continued political relevance and safety of Obubra people,” they said. The former SSG added that they find the APC more conducive for continued harmonious existence of the council wards in Obubra Local Government Area of the state, and assured their supporters that the party has the needed capacity to engender development in the area. “We are leaving the party, but not the presence of the state and we wish Ayade well; it is unfortunate that we are leaving PDP at a time he was coming on board,” Ebokpo lamented.

DPR closes 30 petrol stations, suspend 7 others in A’Ibom

epartment of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, said it has sealed off 30 and suspended seven filling stations from operation over sharp practices. DPR Controller of Operations in Eket, Mr. Asuquo Antai, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Eket that the stations were closed for under-dispensing and over-pricing petroleum products. He added that the suspended petrol stations were given products for their various stations, but diverted same to unknown places. Said he: “In the last one month, we have sealed off 30 petrol stations and suspended seven others from lifting products in the state. “Some were given products for their various stations but they diverted them to unknown places; so we have written to the PPMC, suspending them from lifting until further notice.’’ He, however, expressed regret that petroleum dealers in some areas still sell the products above approved pump prices.

Antai said the DPR also arrested eight station attendants for removing DPR seal after the stations had been sealed off and asked to stop operation. According to the controller, the culprits are being held in police detention. His words: “Some station attendants were also locked up in the last one week for removing DPR seal placed on their stations for over-pricing and under-dispensing of their products." Antai said some of the defaulters have started coming to pay the required fine to DPR fees account and adjusted their prices to reflect the appropriate pricing policy of government. “Violation of DPR seal is a criminal offence by law, and so we have the backing of the law enforcement agents to apprehend promoters of such stations and they would be prosecuted in court,” he said, adding that the department was committed to monitoring activities of filling stations to ensure adherence to Federal Government’s directives.

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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APC to resolve NASS crisis this week –Al-Makura IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

overnor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State said the caucus of All Progressives Congress, APC, will tomorrow meet to resolve the National Assembly leadership crisis. Al-Makura disclosed this yesterday during a chat with journalists in Lafia, the state capital, adding that invitation to that effect has been sent to members of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, leaders and its caucus for a meeting to find a lasting solution.

The governor said: “Already, we, the party leaders, caucus and BoT, have been invited for the meeting, which I believe is a way forward in finding a lasting solution to the problem. I am optimistic that after the meeting, the party will come out stronger and united than ever. “There is nothing abnormal about what happened; it is politics because the APC is a conglomerate of different interests. I consider what happened in NASS as something natural and in spite of the bad blood generated during the elections, we will remain one family.”

No constitutional provision for LG Service Commission –Lawyer

n Ilorin-based constitutional lawyer, Mr. Deji Gbadeyan, said there is no constitutional provision for establishment of Local Government Service Commission, LGSC, in the 1999 Constitution. Gbadeyan told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Ilorin that the establishment of such a commission by various state governments was illegal. He described it as an aberration to the Nigerian 1999 Constitution. He explained that the 1999 Constitution provides for establishment of Federal and State Civil service commissions as well as Judicial and National Assembly service commissions. According to him, these four commissions were constitutionally guaranteed as statutory bodies to undertake the management of affairs of their employees. Gbadeyan said prior to 1979, local governments were under the control and supervision of state governments through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He explained that the LGSC was relevant between 1976 and 1978 through to the 1979 Constitution, which recognised local governments as third tier of government.

“Based on 1976 local government reform, the administration of local councils was under the states, which sets up Local Government Service Commission to exercise discipline and control over local government employees. “Therefore, LGSC employs staff for the local government areas because of the unitary nature of local government administration. “The 1979 Constitution gave local governments autonomy for the first time in the country and allowed each council to directly draw allocation from the Federal Account Allocation Commission (FAAC),” Gbadeyan added. According to him, Section 162 sub-sections 6 and 7 of the 1999 Constitution also preserve local government autonomy. He said the establishment of LGSC to administer local governments as it was before the 1979 Constitution was therefore an aberration of the 1999 Constitution currently in force. “It is wrongful, unimaginable and unlawful of anybody masquerading as LGSC to employ on behalf of any local government council and transfer such a staff to another council to function as a staff,” the legal practitioner declared.

He was optimistic that leaders of the party would find a lasting solution to

the party’s problem and ensure the crisis does not split it.

Al-Makura added that “we in APC consider Bukola Saraki, Mohammed

Lawan, Yakubu Dogara, and Femi Gbajabiamila as brothers.”

A member representing Gumel/Gagarawa/Migatari Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, Alhaji Sani Zoro (right), addressing his constituents in Jobi village of Migatari Local Government Area over a land dispute between the community and Nigeriens, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Patients groan as doctors shut JUTH JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

atients at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, over the weekend bemoaned their situation following the indefinite strike embarked on by resident doctors. National Mirror gathered that since last Wednesday, patients who besieged the institution for health needs met empty hospital as a result of the action, which is the product of JUTH management’s refusal to comply with Federal Govern-

ment’s directive on implementation of skipping allowance for doctors, among others. It was further learnt that although management of the federal health institution was yet to comment on the matter, patients continued to bear the brunt from the industrial action. In the notice of strike by Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, dated June 8, 2015, issued by its chairman, Joseph I. Nankat, and secretary, Kumtap Y. Cashmir, they noted that medical doctors in JUTH were being denied

their ‘skipping’ allowance even when non-doctors are enjoying the privilege, among others. They noted that their members were “working under difficult conditions in JUTH because of lack of consumables such as hand gloves and emergency drugs such as oxytocin.” NARD also decried the non-payment of training allowances to resident doctors. Shortage of house officers and under-payment of the few available have led to many housemen moving out of JUTH. Among their four-point

demands were resumption of ‘skipping’ allowance payment and provision of essential consumables in the hospital. Also, “immediate payment of outstanding training allowances owed members, employment of house officers and payment of their correct entitlements” would enable them return to their duty posts, leaders of the association said. The notice of strike was copied to the board chairman of JUTH, NMA chairman, Plateau State, chairman of MDCAN, JUTH, and president of NARD.

Police arrest three with fake N4.9m notes PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

iger State police command has paraded three suspected fraudsters with counterfeit N4.9m in N1,000 denomination. The suspects include Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Baba Jiya, while two others are at large. Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Niger State Police Command, Mr. Bala Elkana, said Abubakar, the first suspect of Kpakungu area, Minna, the state capi-

tal, was arrested based on a tip-off on June 6. According to him, Abubakar’s confession to committing the crime after his arrest resulted in the arrest of two of his accomplices, Mohammed and Jiya. Said the PPRO: “As at the time of arrest, the suspect who claimed to be an indigene of Kuteri Woro in Lavun Local Government Area of the state, was caught in possession of counterfeit N1,000 notes worth N4.9 million.” On further interrogation by the Special AntiRobbery Squad of the com-

mand, it was discovered that the second suspect, Mohammed, allegedly brought the counterfeit money from two fleeing suspects identified as Alhaji Ali and one Abdullahi (other names withheld) both from Kaduna State. The PPRO advised members of the public who transact businesses with huge sums of money to beware of suspected counterfeiters now on the prowl by transacting their businesses through the banks. During an interview with the three suspects, though they pleaded guilty to the offence, they claimed

that so far, no one has fallen victim of their activities. Mohammed, however, allegedly claimed to be a marketer with a new generation bank (name withheld) with a branch in Minna, stating that their plan was to get customers who were prepared to buy as much as N250,000 of the counterfeit money, while their commission would be N50,000 of genuine Naira notes. Mohammed explained that had the gang succeeded in selling the entire N4.5 million counterfeit money they would have made a profit of N1 million genuine money.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

ftermath of the crisis over the emergence of the leadership of the eighth National Assembly, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been charged to begin the process of reconciling all parties involved in APC’s overall interest. A chieftain of the party in Ogun State, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, gave the admonition at the weekend while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital. He said as a party leader who has contributed im-

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Politics

NASS: APC chieftain tasks Tinubu over reconciliation mensely to the successes so far recorded by the party, it is incumbent on the former governor of Lagos State to have a large heart towards saving the ruling party from what could lead to its factionalisation. Majekodunmi said Tinubu has the political sagacity needed to call a meeting of the major stakeholders of the party where the crisis which erupted over the election of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President

and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as Speaker, House of Representatives, can be settled once and for all. Majekodunmi, a close associate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, maintained that going to court by the aggrieved party will bring further damage to the APC, insisting that with the change that the party promised Nigerians during the electioneering campaign, it cannot afford to start its governance of

the country with what he termed “resolvable crisis.” He said: “It is important for the leadership of the party to learn from and also move a step ahead of what happened when both Hon. Dimeji Bankole and Hon. Aminu Tambuwal were elected Speakers of the House of Representatives even when they were not the preferred candidates of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which did not sanc-

tion them. “With what Tinubu has done in the past, the time has come for him to deploy his political know-how to tilt the leadership of the party towards genuine reconciliation which will make Nigerians not regret voting for the party in the last general elections.” Further enjoining Tinubu not to have any candidate among members of the party for any position, he said that his role in the present political dispensation should be that of father to all with no preferred or anointed member as he has gotten to a level when

the ovation is loudest for him in his political ambition and should take a quiet back seat. He said the APC has to be careful not to give room for the opposition to come to limelight, noting that the PDP will always be happy to capitalise on the foibles of the ruling party to catch Nigerians’ attention, adding: “It is in the interest of the leadership and teeming members of the party not to play into the hands of the opposition party whose major prayer will be for APC to fail and disappoint Nigerians through its actions and in-actions.”

Deborah Didi

property within and outside the country. Gani said: “Mr Ambode is under compelling moral duty to tell Lagosians what he presently has as assets. This is a spice to the requirement of asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Bureau. He must also not conceal the assets declaration of his predecessor. All these facts should be laid bare in the public for the governor to gain the respect and confidence of Lagosians as a genuine servant and not a pretender servant. “The 14-day ultimatum is to allow the governor voluntarily take up this challenge. If he fails to meet up, we will join hands with other well meaning Lagosians to confer the title of ‘Pretender Governor’ on him throughout his tenure.” Reiterating her stance, PDP explains that “this new dimension to demand Ambode’s asset declaration is provoked by the fact of sudden stupendous wealth the two last governors of the state have been linked to within and outside the country, even in the face of underperformance and huge debts now left behind by, especially, the immediate past governor, Raji Fashola.”

Lagos PDP challenges Ambode to declare assets

L L-R: Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ibukunle Amosun (Ogun), and Mr. Nura Rimi accompanying President Muhammadu Buhari during his departure for South Africa for the AU Summit, in Abuja, at the weekend.

Ojudu wins Pan-Yoruba group award Olajide Omojolomoju

enator Babafemi Ojudu who represented Ekiti Central senatorial district in the seventh National Assembly, has been named as the “Most Distinguished Yoruba Senator.” Conferring the award on Ojudu was the Coalition of Pan-Yoruba Groups, CPYG, saying that Ojudu was chosen based on his past and present history of meritorious services to the Yoruba nation. CPYG added that his four years in the Senate remains unparalleled in the recent history of political engagement of the Yoruba

people at the centre. In a statement issued and signed by Abayomi Ogunsona and Oluwole Sule at the weekend, CPYG listed Ojudu as the most remarkable lawmaker in the South-West since 1999, adding that Ojudu stood out and fought on behalf of the entire people of the South-West and all Nigerians who belief in justice, equity and sustainable livelihood. It said: “Senator Ojudu was picked for his integrity, campaign for the freedom of information law, against corruption and his overall zeal for the utilitarian value of the Yoruba people. He stood out like a long standing ally who

understands the predicament of his people and who chose to take the bull by the horn.” It said Ojudu’s programmes, which included women development centre, annual student challenges, mobile clinic and knowledge development initiatives have helped promote self actualisation among many young people across the South-West. CPYG stated that Senator Ojudu remains the most remarkable leader of his people in the Senate, adding: “There is no doubt about this. For instance, Senator Ojudu was the leading figure in the campaign to save Nigerians trapped during the out-

break of the civil war in Libya among which were many Yoruba people. He was the whistle blower in the immigration scam and the oil subsidy fraud. “Senator Ojudu is a man of the people. He has lived up to the expectations of his people. He is accessible, humble and dedicated to the common good of his people. “Even though Senator represented Ekiti State, his achievements echoed throughout the hills and valleys of the Yoruba territory. He fought hard not only in his state of birth but across the entire South West to entrench democracy, human rights and good governance.”

agos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to publicly declare his assets as at when he was sworn-in as the governor of the Centre of Excllence. Giving him up till June 29 to do so, Lagos PDP, in a statement by its Publicity secretary, Taofeek Gani, also challenged Ambode to make public the handing over notes of from his predecessor, saying that “if the governor fails to take up this moral challenge, he will thereafter be labelled ‘Governor Pretender’ throughout his tenure. The deliberate neglect will however compel us and other well meaning Lagosians to explore the relevance of the Freedom of Information, FoI Act on the matter” Lagos PDP posited that the necessity for Ambode to make public his present assets is more ignited by the huge foreign and local debts of almost N1 trillion left behind by the immediate past governor, who yet has been allegedly linked to many personal bank accounts and

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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Speakership: N’East CAN congratulates Dogara Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

hairman of NorthEast Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Shu’aibu Byal, has of behalf of the association congratulated Yakubu Dogara, the member representing Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa/Dass federal constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives over his election as Speaker Byal made the congratulation on behalf of the entire Christians in the region yesterday in Bauchi immediately after an interdomination service organised by ECWA II Church, Railway, Bauchi to celebrate Dogara’s victory. National Mirror recalled that 20 youth associations under the auspices of Joint Youth Political Associations, Bauchi, had staged a rally on Saturday in Bauchi to celebrate Dogara’s victory. He stressed that the North-East, since the assassination of the first Prime Minister, late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had not occupy any prominent position in the political dispensation of the country. Byal asserted that despite that Bauchi State oc-

cupies a special political position within the region; it was robbed of many opportunities in the past. He said that the region needed much higher position than the Speaker, but stated that “the region could still make do with the election of Dogara as Speaker.” Byal called on Nigerians, especially people of the region, irrespective of their religious, political and tribal affiliations, to pray for President Mohammadu Buhari and other leaders to enable them lead the country to the Promised Land. He said that Buhari and other leaders needed prayers to enable them succeed in the war against insurgency as well as to restore the lost glory of the country. Byal called on candidates who contested for the speakership with Dogara as well as parties, groups and individuals who either supported or were against Dogaro before the election to shun sentiment and pray for the success of the Speaker during his tenure. He commended the legislators and Nigerians who stood firmly behind Dogara during the struggle and urged them to give the Speaker more support to enable him excel.

Cracks in Bauchi APC, as Treasurer, guber aspirant get the boot Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

ll may not be well with Bauchi State All Progressives Congress, APC, as the party has expelled the state Treasurer, Harsanu Guyaba and one of its gubernatorial aspirants, Comrade Abdullahi Tanko Ningi, from the party. In a two separates letters, reference numbers APC/SHQ/VL-7/13 and APC/SHQ/VL-7/14, signed by APC state Secretary, Barr Buhari Disina, copies of which were distributed to newsmen in Bauchi, APC said the two party stalwarts have been expelled at the end of the meeting of the caucus of the party and their party membership cards invalidated.

Disina said Guyaba was expelled for anti party activities, while Ningi was expelled over his failure to withdraw his suit against the party and its major stakeholders. When contacted, Guyaba said he heard about his expulsion but he is waiting for the letter before he will makes his position known. Effort to get Comrade Ningi failed, even as his close associate said though they haven’t see, the letter, they heard about it, adding that the party was not fair to Ningi, describing his expulsion as undemocratic, simply because he is challenging the party primary that produced the present governor, adding that they will take the necessary action after they see the letter.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (left) congratulating the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adeyemo, during the inauguration of the 8th Assembly of the state in Ibadan at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Salary delay: Stop deceiving Ekiti workers, APC tells gov Olajide Omojolomoju

kiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop deceiving the state workers over failed promises to pay their salaries, saying endless workers verification exercise by the government is a wicked tactic to secure workers’ cooperation. Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement accused the governor of deliberate falsehood on the state’s financial status, saying the governor had no excuse to owe workers’ salaries. Olatunbosun said: “We have heard the governor say that the state was broke and we can’t find merit in that declaration because savings in all the empowerment schemes cancelled by the governor, thousands of workers that were sacked

and drastic cuts in the allowances and running grants of workers, including traditional rulers, would have saved the state millions of naira.” Noting that Governor Kayode Fayemi carried out verification exercise only once through biometric auditing that brought sanity to wage payment system, APC wondered why after Fayose did verification exercise three times within seven months, the governor was still subjecting workers to unnecessary verification contraption. APC said: “We in APC pity the workers, including pregnant women, who queue endlessly in the sun waiting to do this ill-conceived verification exercise. The governor assured that 48 hours after the exercise, the cleared workers would receive their pay. But two months after some workers completed the exercise, the

governor has refused to pay, instead he is keeping workers on queue for hours in the sun for the salary that would not come. As a result, the workers have become confused, dejected and despondent.” Urging the governor to come clean on how he had been spending Ekiti money, it said rhetoric on the state’s indebtedness was a callous way to deny the workers their entitlements while the governor was enjoying his personal life. He said: “Ekiti people have heard how N650 million is being deducted from source to pay the governor’s election contractors. For six months, Fayose didn’t pay kobo on the purported Fayemi’s over-bloated debts. Savings in millions are made from cuts in workers and Obas’ allowances and running grants, including the savings in millions from thousands that lost their

jobs. Social security for 20,000 elders was also cancelled by the governor. Olatunbosun said: “Many youth’s empowerment schemes that cost Fayemi millions of naira were cancelled by Fayose. Streetlights supply is now for three hours daily. Fayemi ran it for 12 hours. Fayose has stopped funding security agencies which has led to high crime rate in the state. “The dividend of democracy Fayose has given to Ekiti people in the last eight months is brigandage, thuggery, blocking of highways, kidnapping and crushing of the judiciary and the legislative arms of government. “He collected N22 billion refund on federal projects and also collected N2 billion Ecological Fund, which Fayemi did a lot to access without success. The question is: what is the governor doing with Ekiti money?”

NASS election: Group condemns attack on Lai Mohammed Olajide Omojolomoju

group, Kwara Concerned Citizens, KCC, has stoutly rose in defence of the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over the statement he issued on behalf of his party shortly after the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker,

House of Representatives respectively. KCC, in a statement signed by Shaaba Lafiaji and Hezekiah Oyedepo also condemn a statement credited to group in Kwara threatening to deal with Mohammed “for carrying out his duties diligently, as he has always done, by articulating the position of his party.” It said the position of the anti-Mohammed group does not reflect that of the majority of Kwara people who are proud of Moham-

med for being a good ambassador of the state. KCC said: “We are astonished that for carrying out his duties diligently, as he has always done, by articulating the position of his party, Mohammed has become a target of attacks and threats from some perfidious persons in his home state.” Setting the records straight, KCC said that the opinion of the self-serving group does not reflect that of the majority of the good people of Kwara, who are

proud of Mohammed for being a good ambassador of the state. It said: “In the first instance, the opinions expressed by Mohammed in his statements are not his own, but that of his party. Secondly, since he articulates the position of his party at many levels - including intra- and interparty, national as well as international - he is expected, at all times, to put the interest of the party above his own personal interest.”

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Monday, June 15, 2015

We came, we saw, we conquered! D E L E O LUGB EMI

t is fittingly perfect at this point to say goodbye to the good people of Ekiti State. Although we were voted for in 2011 and inaugurated as members of Fourth Ekiti State House of Assembly on June 6, 2011, but the challenge and rescue mission of our effort started in November, 2014. When Ekiti was in dire need of good people of conscience to stand in the gap and we the seven Akonis of Ekiti land put ourselves forward for the service of our fatherland, we were not unaware of our glorious past in Ekiti land, the land that holds tenaciously to fidelity to principles and values, principles and values for which we are so highly regarded. These include, industry, discipline, ascetic disposition, honour, dignity, courage, courteousness and an unrivalled commitment to knowledge and scholarship. In the 19th century, when the Ajeles from Ibadan wanted to debase our core values and principles, our worthy forbears rose up and resisted them with everything in them. Now, when some of our people decided to collaborate with new Ajele

from Lagos to truncate the relative peace we are enjoying in Ekiti, they absconded from their duties, so that the gover nment of Ayodele Fayose would be grounded. They knew that nature avoids vacuum and without them, nothing will work. But, alas! We came and filled the g ap. As in the words of Mar tin Luther King “the ultimate measure of a man is not in where he stands in moment of comfor t and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy.” We did not mind our personals comfor t nor safety, but rather the good of the majority of Ekiti people. The words of God in Esther 5:13-14: “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, think not well theyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou alto gether holdest thy peace at this time, then shalt there enlargement and deliverance to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed and who knoweth whether thou ar t come to the kingdom for such a time as this”, g ave us strength, We also knew that tough times never last, but tough people do, and that once you are in a fight, don’t spare

WE ACTED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EKITI PEOPLE AND WE KNEW THAT POSTERITY WILL BE KIND UNTO US ALL yourself, but give it everything you’ve got. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long dark and shameful cor ridor of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight. We were faced with the fact that tomor row is today. We were confronted with the fierce urgency of action. We acted in the best interest of Ekiti people and we knew that posterity will be kind unto us all. To the newly elected members of the Ffth Ekiti State House of Assembly, I urge you to put Ekiti people, stability of this gover nment led by Peter Ayodele Fayose and the peace of the land as your number one priority. Like the Bible says, “seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other things shall be added to you”, when you seek the peace

of Ekiti, you shall prosper. Let the words of John F. Kenedy be your cor nerstone. He said and I quote: “My fellow citizen of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” Let the freedom of Ekiti be paramount to you. Now, let us begin, now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter but beautiful struggle for a new Ekiti. I appreciate the support and sacrifice of my honourable colleagues, who stood by me during the turbulent time; may the good Lord reward you handsomely. I also thank our royal fathers whose advice and encouragement helped us a lot. We a l s o a p p r e c i a t e t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e I ya l a j e s a n d I ya l o j a s a n d t h e p e o p l e o f E k i t i , wh o r a l lied round us at the trying mom e n t . M ay we h ave t h e E k i t i o f o u r d r e a m . I e n c o u r a g e a l l t o g ive the needed support to our amia b l e g ove r n o r, M r. Pe t e r Ayo d e l e F ayo s e s o a s t o t a ke E k i t i t o n e x t l eve l . I say goodbye and God bless us all. Rt. Hon. Olugbemi was the out gone Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly

Why people enjoy the pains of being used S ANDR A A KUOMA

am drawing the curtain on martyr complex with focus on the ways to manage it. First you have to know when to say NO. You must lear n how to set healthy boundaries, especially if you do not feel like doing something. Let people down in a polite manner and they will respect you for it. In the final analysis you stand up for yourself. Stop pleasing people because people will only walk all over you and you end up being very resentful and bitter. People with a martyr complex often expect that others will recognize their so-called self-sacrificing and either retur n the favour or lavish them with praise. Martyrs seem to think they do everything for everyone else and get nothing in retur n. Speak up! It’s your responsibility to say what’s on your mind. If you have a request, make it; don’t just expect it. Accept responsibility and stop blaming others all the time on how they are taking advantage of your kindness or sacrifice; sit back and look at the big picture, asking yourself these questions: What part am I playing? Am I part of the problem or the solution? Am I the one always doing the giving? Note that relationships should be symbiotic, that is give and tak. Your belief system has a major contribution towards your outlook

YOUR

BELIEF

SYSTEM HAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION T OWA R D S YO U R OUTLOOK IN LIFE in life. When you see yourself being a martyr or trying to please everyone while it is hurting you, stop and reflect! Ask yourself these questions: Why am I doing this? Am I doing it with all my heart? Am I being resentful? Am I trying to be a perfectionist so I can enter paradise when I’m dead? Am I trying to be a Good Samaritan to others while hurting myself ? Most of your answers will probably sound like “Because I want...” or “Because I believe I should... Because the Holy Book says… Because my pastor says… Because I do not want to change the status quo, etc. people Love yourself. Yes, I shout this from the rooftops. Most personality flaws stems from self-esteem issues. Give yourself per mission to do some self-care by making time for yourself every day; read a book, watch a movie, have a nice bubble bath, pedicure, a nice walk, hang out with people you love, exercise, eat healthy, buy yourself that lovely gadget, shoe or dress you have been eyeing, and do not feel guilty about it. Meditate; write in a jour nal (self-reflection).

These are ways of showing yourself some love because these activities serve to replenish you in one way or another. Making self-care a priority will recharge your batteries and help you to have more energy when dealing with others. Always remember you are your own best friend. Stop expecting reward for your sacrifice. This might be part of our culture or belief system that if we suffer for our partner, our kids, our work and so on, there is some kind of reward that will come. In other words, we are living in the future or a past where a reward of some sort happened to us when we made a huge sacrifice and suffered. So, we should ask ourselves some hard questions. Does it make us feel valued, irreplaceable or respected? Is it a feeling of nobility? Feeling a hero? Analyse what we gain each time we act the martyr. Stop holding on to your sufferings. A feeling of unworthiness, fear of change, fear of conflict, inability to see options, stubbor nness, or a belief that life has to be difficult are beliefs that can lead to resentment, anger or depression. Letting go of suffering is like going to the toilet to take a pee, when your body feels like it. When you have these feelings always say this mantra: “I am not what I feel, I am bigger than this, this feeling will pass” Stop bad parenting. I mentioned in one of my previous articles that one of the causes of Martyr Com-

plex is where a parent sacrifices a lot in a marriage or relationship, like abuse physical or verbal and as children we witnessed it. I wrote that we end up copying such behaviour subconsciously thinking it is the right reaction and hence continue the cycle of bad parenting. Our kids seeing this are also not immune from repeating the same behavior. So, we should be aware of what messages we are sending out to our kids. Mothers, fathers stop making your kids feel guilty when they decide to assert their independence by playing the make-them-feel-guilty card. Children have their own lives to live. Parents, stop covering your children’s mistake by being a martyr; allow them to make their own mistakes and lear n from them so they grow into responsible adults. Food for thought Stop trying to be the martyr all the time and take care of yourself. Ms Akuoma wrote from Lagos via sanlifepointers@hotmail.com and could be reached through 0816 558 3876 (SMS ONLY)

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

Editorial

Monday, June 15, 2015

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

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

Corrupt officials and national honours

hief James Okpomwense, the Ezomo of Benin Kingdom, Edo State, was lately on the same page as the out-gone President Goodluck Jonathan government in 2012, when the Federal Government flew a kite that betrayed the public impression that it had truly taken steps to strip ex-convicts of the national honours they were bestowed with before the crimes they committed. The Ezomo, in a recent piece, canvassed that politicians proven to be corrupt, especially those that have started to refund the monies they allegedly stole, be stripped of all their national honours. “We put lions in cages because of their behaviours. The only thing that can cage Nigeria is zero tolerance for the breaking of our laws”, he said. The Benin chief is dead right! We recall that the Presidency in August 2012, indicated that Jonathan had made moves to withdraw national honours bestowed on some eminent Nigerians convicted or indicted for criminal acts. The former President was said to have given directives to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to compile the names of the affected persons for necessary action. The previous month, the House of Representatives had passed a resolution asking the President to strip some former bank chief ex-

ecutives tried or convicted for their roles in the 2009 banks’ collapse of the national honour given them by the FG. “…All former bank executives who are recipients of national honours and who are currently being prosecuted for crimes and unethical practices which led to the collapse of their banks (should) be stripped of their national honours…in line with Section 7 of the National Honours Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) and international norms…The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the courts should hasten their prosecution to serve as deterrent and to help restore investors’ confidence in the (capital) market”, the House Committee report on Capital Market Collapse endorsed by its members stated. By the same token, three defunct opposition political parties - Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) also challenged the Jonathan administration to demonstrate its commitment to its anti-corruption campaign by withdrawing the national honours from all discredited beneficiaries. Cold silence, however, turned out to be the response from the FG, de-

THE EZOMO OF BENIN’S CALL IS, THEREFORE, A THROWBACK ON THE EXTENT THE ANTI-

CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN WAS TRIVIALISED UNDER THE PAST DISPENSATION

spite the positive public response that trailed the reports. Not a few indicted or convicted crooks in the corporate world and the political domain are still adorned with one national honour or the other. Worse still, while the nation awaited government’s next line of action concerning the stripping of honours from errant citizens, the Jonathan government jolted the nation with the state pardon it granted to some Nigerians, among them former Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State, reputed for a nauseating money laundering scandal. State pardon, to public knowledge, is a prerogative the Head of State grants after satisfying certain rules. But the cramp fed Nigerians at the time was that the Council of State over which Jonathan presided, and which comprised of the President, Vice President, all state governors, former presidents, Chief Justice of the Federation, Senate President and Speaker of

ON THIS DAY June 15, 1896 The deadliest tsunami in Japan’s history killed more than 22,000 people. The 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake was highly destructive, generating one of the most devastating tsunamis in Japanese history, destroying about 9,000 homes and causing at least 22,000 deaths. The magnitude 8.5 event occurred at 19:32 (local time). The magnitude of the tsunami was much greater than expected.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

June 15, 1996 The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) exploded a large bomb in the middle of Manchester, England. PIRA is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by the force of arms and political persuasion. It emerged out of the December 1969 split of the Irish Republican Army.

the House, among others, purportedly gave their unanimous approval to the list of those pardoned. However, the aberration did not just draw local and international condemnation, it crashed all hopes that the Jonathan government had anything good to offer the nation on the anti-corruption score. It was, therefore, not surprising, based on a recent statement credited to the former President, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, after he handed over power to his successor that Jonathan merely paid a debt of gratitude to Alamieyeseigha with the state pardon. “I will not forget to thank Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Without him, I would not have been talking about being a former president. At a time I was not thinking about being a commissioner in the state, he came to me and said I should run with him. That is why I am here today. So, without him, it would not have been possible to hear about Jonathan”, the former president said. The Ezomo of Benin’s call is, therefore, a throwback on the extent the anti-corruption campaign was trivialised under the past dispensation. It is a harsh reminder that under the Buhari administration, all that is needful should be done to rein in corruption; and that punishment for a corrupt deed is commensurate with the crime.

x June 15, 2006 Leaders of the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation. The Shanghai Five grouping was created 26 April 1996 with the signing of the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions in Shanghai; purportedly to stifle liberal democracy in the affected countries.

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Cover

Boosting non-oil revenue

through taxpayers’ compliance

Kabir M Mashi, FIRS Boss

Following the recent drop in revenue from oil, Gbenga Odogun takes a look at appropriate tax regime as one of the options open to the country in boosting Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and mitigating the impact of the oil marketed-triggered fiscal deficit on socio-economic well being of Nigerians and public sector

he discovery of oil commercial quantity in 1958 led to the replacement of agriculture as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and raised its contribution to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings to over 80 per cent in recent years. Prior to the period, agricultural produce such as cocoa, coffee, groundnut, cotton and cassava were the major sources of revenue for the country, accounting for about 85 percent of total revenues accruing to the country then. It was also the biggest employment generation source for the country.

However, the discovery of oil in commercial quantity tilted the scale as governments, the organised private sector and other economic agents abandoned agriculture as a national economy heritage for the dollar-spinning hydrocarbon resources sector because its money is easy to come by. Quite expectedly, fiscal calculations in public sector financing gave way to oil which became the benchmark of preparing the yearly budgets by the Federal Government while, in what could be described as loafers’ style. States and local council wait cap in hand for their share of allocation from

the federation account on yearly basis. This killed Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, drives at the national and sub-national levels as capital and recurrent expenditures were computed monthly on what the ‘black gold’ could offer, leaving other areas of revenue collection, particularly taxation, unexplored. Even though some states like Lagos, Delta, Enugu and a few others have been able to expand their revenue collection drives fairly well today, others have not been able to do so though, there are laws on taxation, they are either not being properly

implemented or out rightly left unexplored because of the lack of political will on the part of the affected governments. It is against the backdrop of these fiscal distortions and the increasing havoc on the economy and long term prospects for sustainable national development that analysts are united in their calls for the development of the nation’s non-oil sector to boost growth and public governance at all tiers of government. Even recent development in the world market has however called for a shift in emphasis away from oil as major source of revenue for the gov-

ernment at all levels. The price of oil has continued on a downward trend resulting in budget deficits for those countries that depended on oil as their major source of budget financing. As revenue from oil was significantly reducing so also their ability to meet their budget financing is becoming difficult while borrowing potentials was also being negatively affected. Since Nigeria is not an exemption, the falling oil revenue is having adverse consequences on the economy with ripple effect on the ability of states to meet up with their financial obligations to the people including salary payments. As at today no fewer than 18 states owe salary areas. Figures from the Task Force of the Nigerian Labour Congress revealed that 18 state governors owe civil servants in their states salaries and arrears of pensions running into months. The affected states are; Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti,

Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara states. Abia state was listed as the state that had not paid its civil servants salaries running into nine months. The state is also said to be owing workers of the Hospital Management Board eight months’ salary; Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, six months; Abia State Polytechnic, five months; local government workers, four months; and teachers, three months’ salary arrears. The report stated that while Enugu State had paid salaries of civil servants up to date, parastatals were owed 12 months’ salaries while pension and gratuity remain unpaid since 2010. Others states owing are Osun State with six months’ salary and pension arrears; Plateau with UDO ONYEKA, CO-ORDINATOR BUSINESS COURAGE udonyeka@gmail.com c

Global Media Mirror Limited

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Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor

Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State Governor

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano State Governor

six months salaries and seven months pension; Benue with five months salaries and four months pension arrears; Kogi with four months of pension and salary arrears; and Oyo which owes three months salaries and between five and 11 months of pension arrears. Ekiti state had not paid its civil servants salaries in the last three months. Jigawa owes judiciary workers a month salary arrears in 2015. Ondo state owes its civil servants one month salary and pension arrears while Ogun state owes its civil servants one month salary and 52 months of unremitted pension de-

Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

Okonjo-Iweala

ductions to the Pension Fund Administration. Although Zamfara State has paid workers’ salaries up to date, the salaries of workers who were recruited in 2014 have not been paid. The NLC Task Force also stated that Rivers State owes one month of workers’ salaries and three months of pension while Kano has yet to pay newly employed teachers for three months. Former Finance Minister and the coordinating Minister for the economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also put the debt burden of the country at all levels at $63bn, a development she laid at the

doorstep of the dwindling revenue from crude since last August and which is not showings signs of improvement anytime soon. The constitution, clearly states types of internally generated revenue that are exclusive to states and local government .For the local governments, collection of rates ,radio and television licenses, establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for destitute, bicycle, trucks, canoes, wheel barrows and carts are within their jurisdiction Others are establishments, maintenance and regulation of slaughter

houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences, streets road construction and maintenance, street lightening, and drainages. “Many states are not enhancing their capacities to collect or expand their tax base” said Mallam Nasir El- Rufai, one time Federal capital Territory Minister and now governor of Kano state, he said that every year, the same figures were projected as total internally generated revenue in their budgets while their personnel costs are increasing. As a result of this, without any statutory revenue being collected from the federation

account, personnel costs will remain unpaid and these states which are not economically viable for independence existence. El- Rufai noted. There are states that have more than 85 percent of their revenue generated from the federally allocated sources without any effort to have alternative revenue sources. At the moment, the sharing formula according to the 1999 constitution give 52 percent to the Federal government while the states made do with 26percent and 20 percent respectively in that order. This amount excludes the 13 percent derivation which the oil producing states have to share. Oseni Michael who wrote in the European journal said , government continue to demonstrate total lack of interests in improving their lots towards improved revenue generation by preferring to use consultants rather than modernizing their tax system for enhanced revenue yield and less dependency on allocations from the federation account. However as the price of crude tumbled in the international market, it became a matter of necessity for states to beef up their revenue by looking inward to shore up their income. Edem Edem said the first step toward boosting the revenue base of government at all levels is to institute good governance though accountability to the people. This, he said was necessary to elicit confidence that any revenue thus collected would be judiciously used. Mr. Edem who is a tax analyst with civil society said the states should Endeavour to harness their abundant resources which include human beings, this could be done by empowering them by assisting them to be productive which will in turn create inflow of revenue from them. “There are so many young, old and even some retired people who are still capable of being productive if properly harnessed “Edem said According to him Germany does not have oil; they depend on the populace for their income through fair and progressive tax system. Simi-

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larly the state government should put in place mechanism for fair and progressive tax system; people with high income should be made to pay more as against the low income earners. As a way of invoking the confidence that the tax collected would be judiciously used Mr. Edem calls for transparency in governance. He said that the state should create a data base of taxable adults to identify those that are liable to pay tax, then to find those actually paying out of this group and finally to find out if they are actually paying the right amount. Another way of enhancing revenue generation in the states as identified by Edem is to block all loopholes through which tax evasion takes place. It’s amazing how much is being lost annually to tax evasion in the country, government should put measures in place to block areas through which people who are supposed to pay tax avoid doing so with the attendant result of revenue shortages to run the affairs of the states. The small and medium scale industries have been identified as the driving for o any economy Edem said that this sector should be properly motivated and properly harnessed through creating conducive environment for them to operate to enable them contribute through tax payments. Tax system should also be harmonised to avoid double taxation which one way by which business get discourage and avoid tax payments. Experts were unanimous in their view that reducing the cost of governance at all levels is one sure way through which the revenue base could be expanded. How do you explain a government official having two thousand special assistants whose position comes with the same remunerations and allowances or even surpassed that of civil servants? Analysts believe that with downsizing in the number of personals running the government, more funds will be freed for investment in capital projects, as well as regular payment of workers’ salaries. BC

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News Bosch to focus on food processing, energy, infrastructure

Violence, 2007, as well as the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011, in his renewed effort to wage war against domestic violence against women and rape. “By doing that, we will be sending a strong signal of zero tolerance to such barbaric acts and also conveying a message of assurance to our women of our commitment to their protection”, he said.

By Udo Onyeka

obert Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, has said it would focus on food processing, energy, infrastructure industries in its new office in Lagos Nigeria. According to Bosch Group’s President for Africa, Mr. Markus Thill, Robert Bosch Nigeria is operating sales, marketing and service office in Lagos, covering all of Bosch’s four business sectors Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. “The company will particularly focus on catering to demand in the food processing as well as energy and infrastructure industries – working closely with local partners to ensure the best possible customer benefit and, on a larger scale, the benefit of Nigeria’s economy and society. Speaking at the official opening of Bosch Lagos office, Managing Director, Robert Bosch Limited, Ghislain Noumbessy, said Bosch sees Africa in general and Nigeria in particular as an important long-term growth market. “We see high potential for our business in Africa. Thanks to its rapidly-growing population, low median age, increasing middle class, and optimistic economic forecast we expect a significant demand for Bosch products ‘invented for life’,” he said. Also a member of Bosch’s board of management, Mr. Uwe Raschke, noted that with about 170 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country as well the largest economy in Africa. “By opening a location in Nigeria, we’re taking a decisive step forward in expanding our presence in West Africa. The company generated sales of some 350 million euros in Africa in 2014. The company currently employs more than 760 associates in Africa. Depending on the further business development, Bosch plans

Thill

RUFIN engages Cellulant to develop rural agent banking

L-R: Pro Chancellor, Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Prof. (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri; Delta State Deputy Governor, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro; Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi and the Vice Chancellor, NMU Prof. (Mrs) Maureen Etebu during a visit to the governor by the governing board of the University in Asaba recently

to increase this figure in the next years”, he said.

Gaviscon partners stakeholders on innovative ways to treat reflux disease By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

aviscon, a leading nonprescription pharmaceutical brand from the stables of RB Nigeria Limited, a multinational consumer goods company has partnered with the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, SOGHIN, to host the eight Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the association. In line with the need to collaborate with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector to boost the treatment of GastroOesophageal Reflux Disease, GERD, the scientific conference held in Ilorin, Kwara State recently with the theme, ‘Infectious Disease and Gastroenterology Practice in Nigeria’ featured shrewd expositions on the treatment of Reflux Disease. As an innovative brand, Gaviscon constantly seeks new ways to treat Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease, GERD; hence, the partnership with SOGHIN. In his statement buttressing the vision of RB Nigeria Limited, Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili stated, “Our vision is to have a world where people are living healthier lives in happier homes. Our purpose is to make a difference by providing innovation solutions for healthier lives and happier homes.” “To achieve our purpose and to be a partner for the health-

care community, RB Nigeria Limited continues to increase investment in its brands in health and hygiene, in addition to our home brands” , Silivrili added. Speaking on behalf of RB Nigeria Limited at the conference, a Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Samaila Adamu said, ‘‘Gaviscon contains Alginates which is very essential in the treatment of people with Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease commonly known as heartburn. This Reflux disease is very common in Nigeria. Before the advent of Gaviscon and other forms of alginates, we had antacids which neutralise the acids but do not have the additional property of Alginates that protects the Oesophegus from the reflux content of the stomach by forming a raft.’’ “The discovery of the acid bucket; which is a new insight into the pathogenesis of what causes reflux disease in Nigerians and the availability of Gaviscon would go a long way in the treatment of heartburn. This would improve the quality of life for Nigerians generally” Dr. Adamu added. ‘

Lagos set to increase insurance compensation for Police

agos State government has vowed to increase insurance compensation for Police Officers in the state. The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who made the pledge at the Oduduwa Police Command in Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend, noted that the compensation which covers death and permanent

Ambode

disability to police officers in the line of duty, was deemed for review, after it was reviewed 16 years ago. Before the review, Senior Police Officers receive insurance compensation of N2m; Inspectors get N1.5m while officers in Rank and File are entitled to N1million. Although the Federal Government through the Contributory Pensions Act had made provisions to assure the lives of all Police Officers, former governors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola had subscribed to additional Group Life Scheme for the officers. Ambode added that this kind gesture was borne out of the hazards associated with policing, noting that the value of the compensation had become grossly inadequate. According to him, “Therefore in fulfillment of our resolve to sustain, improve and consolidate on past attainments, I am pleased to announce the upward review of the compensation value as follows; Senior Police Officers, N5m; Inspectors, N3m and Rank and File N2m respectively.” The governor, therefore, pleaded for the support and cooperation of police officers in facilitating the strict enforcement of the Lagos State Law on Protection Against

he Rural Finance Institution Building programme, RUFIN, said it has engaged Cellulant, a technology providing company, to develop rural agent banking platform for Micro Finance Institutions under its programme. Mr Bolaji Akinbode, Chief of Party, e-wallet, Cellulant, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Friday in Abuja. NAN recalls that Cellulant Company designed the popular Growth Enhancement Support, GES, scheme also known as the e-wallet for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2011. Through this scheme, the then Agricultural Transformation Agenda ,ATA of the Federal Government was able to reach 14 million farmers with farm inputs at subsidised rate within three years. Akinbode said that the rural farmer’s do not keep their money in the bank but with cooperatives and other traditional forms of savings like bottles and pots. He said agent banking is that system that will go after the money and the people where they are and encourage them to put their money in the financial system. Akinbode said the strategy adopted by RUFIN is correct, saying that Cellulant had come to help scale it up for more people to benefit in the rural areas. ``We have been contracted by RUFIN to implement an agent banking platform for Micro Finance Banks, MFBs, and Non-Bank Micro Finance Institutions working with RUFIN. ``The organisations working with RUFIN right now do more of institutional and physical transaction but for you to really grow at the right paste; you need to operate beyond the physical location. ``This means one has to bring network marketing principles where you can have agents across the areas with very specific set of activities to be carried out. ``If you train them and it is implemented properly, you will discover MFI with about

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Monday, June 15, 2015

a thousand customers could be scaled to 10 thousand,’’ he said.

2014 Pension Reform Act to accommodate more contributors – Expert

he Managing Director of Legacy Pension Managers, Mr Misbahu Yola, said the 2014 Pension Reform Act would usher in more subscribers into the contributory pension scheme in the country. Yola, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, in Abuja, also identified three major innovations in the new pension reform act. He said the aspect of the act that mandates any employer with a minimum of three employees to enroll into scheme was commendable. Yola noted that the reduction in the number workers an employer could have from five to three before qualifying to participate in the scheme would give opportunity for more people to participate. He said the increase in the joint contributions of the employer and employee would also ensure accumulation of more savings for subscribers on retirement. ``The other innovation is the increase in the rate of contribution from 15 per cent to 18 per cent. `` Now, the employer pays 8 per cent and employee pays 10 per cent, which saves more for the contributor and the value of the pension that the employer will get when he or she retires will be enhanced, so, it is a positive thing for the contributor.’’ According to him, although the new act makes provision for the inclusion of the informal sector, however certain modalities must be put in place to ensure its workability. He said that the National Pension Commission and stakeholders in the industry were devising a workable mechanism for practical incorporation of the informal sector. ``The informal sector, the operators and PenCom are in discussion, draft guidelines have been approved and we have made comments,’’ he said. He also said that efforts were being made to mitigate the envisaged challenges that might arise in the inclusion of the informal sector. Yola noted that some of the envisaged issues identified include mode of collection of contributions and payment. He, however, expressed believe that effective measures were being worked out to ensure its success; ``but between

L-R: Representative of Group Head, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Heritage Banking Company Limited, Olaide Okubanjo; Publisher Genevieve Magazine, Betty Irabor; Former Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Arunma Oteh, and Becoming Financially Fearlessand Co- Founder/Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole, during the One-Day Women Empowerment Workshop by Genevieve Magazine titled “Becoming Financially Fearless” held at Eko Hotel and Suites

us the operators and the PenCom, we are working on how to do that effectively.’’

ExxonMobil donates geological equipment, cash to six Nigerian varsities

sso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd, EEPNL, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, on Friday in Abuja donated geological equipment and cash to six Nigerian universities. e News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the benefiting universities are: Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpat-Enin; Anambra State University, Uli; University of Jos and Federal University of Technology, Akure. Others are University of Ilorin and Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta. The equipment donated are six Logitech thin section making machines, 54 petro graphic microscopes, 300 treated mosquitoes nets and 24 digital cameras. Each of the universities also got a cheque of N5.77m to pay students’ and lecturers’ logistics. Speaking at the event, Mr Michael Udoh, the General Manager, Operations, Technical, ExxonMobil, said that the donation was an important step in the partnership the company started with Nigerian universities eight years ago. ``We commenced this partnership eight years ago in the area of geosciences education in our collective and determined quest to help advance the quality of education in Nigeria to internationally competitive levels. ``Since we started the Uni-

versity Partnering Programme, UPP, in 2007, we have donated vehicles, geosciences equipment to 14 universities to facilitate geological fieldwork training and analysis for their students. ``To date, we have committed over N900 million to the UPP and our long term goal is to ensure that every public university in Nigeria offering geosciences benefits from the programme.’’ Udoh said that universities enrolled under the UPP were required to prepare a map of the area in their proximity for review and publication by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, NGSA. He said that the company was pleased by the progress made so far as 12 maps had been published by NGSA, while another four were under review. Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, said that EEPNL had demonstrated that education was a collective responsibility of government and the private sector.

FG urged to invest more in non-oil export

he Chief Executive Officer of X-Projects Logistics Ltd, Mr Kola Awe, has advised the government to invest more on the training of non-oil exporters. Awe, who is also the Project Coordinator of Zero to Export Project of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos. He said that adequate training in logistics, documentation and shipping procedures was necessary at a time when the focus of the nation was shifting from oil-based to non-oil

exports. Awe said that more training would afford the nation a better opportunity to reap the benefits of the larger volume of non-oil exports in the future. “There is a trend I have noticed and I think it is an area the government needs to focus on. “Now that the focus of the nation is shifting to non-oil exports, we realise that so many individuals and companies who know next to nothing about exports, are now trying to go into the business. “So the effect of this heavy influx is that we will see a lot of quacks, inexperienced people and those who are ready to cut corners in the business. “This will eventually defeat the purpose of the sub-sector,” he said. According to him, there is the likelihood that bigger companies and large-scale operators will begin to take charge of the export business. Awe said this would pose a threat to small-scale exporters. “For instance, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that ginger is selling for N450, 000 per metric tonne, few years back it was N26, 000. “Cashew now sells for N250, 000 per metric tonne. “To export a container of ginger, an operator needs N5m, while N4.5m is needed for cashew.

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cial inclusion through mobile technology. Since introducing mobile banking to clients in Tanzania over a year ago, with support from The MasterCard Foundation, the study shows that nearly one-third of FINCA Tanzania’s clients are now using the service for savings deposits and other transactions. Mobile technology and e-wallet applications, according to FINCA, have tremendous benefits for clients in Sub-Saharan Africa, including reduced travel time to bank branches, lower risks associated with carrying cash—such as loss or theft—and no more need for third-party banks. FINCA Tanzania had earlier partnered with mobile operators so that clients can access a mobile wallet platform like MPESA to make safe, convenient and cost-effective transactions. One of the challenges FINCA faced working with a large mobile operator like Vodacom was the company’s sheer size and market power. It is important to discuss not only technical issues like system compatibility, but also to stipulate how the relationship will be managed, it stated. The case study outlines that a Service Level Agreement is critical for laying out the terms and expectations for both parties and ensuring the best customer experience for FINCA’s clients. Another important recommended practice, according to the study, is to develop an effective customer awareness and education campaign to provide clear, step-by-step instructions and information on how the channel works. These were made available in English as well as Kiswahili, and were shared not only in print format but also as live demonstrations, for the benefit of illiterate clients. “By publishing these lessons learned from experiences in Tanzania, we and FINCA hope to help other microfinance organizations who might be considering developing this type of channel,” said Director of Programmes, Economic Opportunities for Youth & Financial Inclusion at The MasterCard Foundation, Ann Miles. BC

Mobile technology enhances financial inclusion – FINCA study

case study released by FINCA last week shows ways to which microfinance institutions can enhance finan-

Rupert Scofield, President and CEO, FINCA International

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Companies & Markets

Heritage Bank canvasses stronger support for women entrepreneurs By Udo Onyeka

or the nation to achieve desired economic growth and stability in the medium to long term, more efforts would have to be devoted to empowerment of women entrepreneurs. This was the major view canvassed by Heritage Bank at the one-day workshop on Women Empowerment organised by Genevieve Gatherings, an offshoot of Genevieve Magazine. The theme of the workshop which held in Lagos was “Becoming Financially Fearless”. Speaking on behalf of Heritage Bank at the event, Olaide Okubanjo who stood in for the Group Head, SME Banking, Bayo Ogunnusi, noted that the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME, sector in the country is largely dominated by female entrepreneurs whose activities as pivot of national economic growth and stability deserve support. He observed that the MSME sector needs to be encouraged

through provision of massive financial and other logistic supports because it has huge potentials to stimulate overall national economic growth. “Women entrepreneurs have proved to be very resourceful, pragmatic and focused as can be seen in the dynamics of the growth and evolution of the MSME culture in the country, especially in the past decade. This trend needs to be sustained for the nation to benefit greatly. In this regard, empowerment of women entrepreneurs needs to be given greater attention by financial services providers” “Heritage Bank is always willing and ready to provide loan and other financial advisory supports to women and other entrepreneurs who are looking for ways to start and grow their businesses and we shall continue to encourage women to avail themselves of the financial services available for small and medium enterprises”. Another speaker at the event, Mr. Tonye Cole who is the co-founder and Group Execu-

Nigeria is West Africa’s most viable investment destination -Oyebola

anaging Director and Chief Investment Officer of FBN Capital Asset Management Limited, Michael Oyebola, has highlighted Nigeria’s position as one of the top foreign institutional fund destinations in West Africa. He made this known as part of a presentation titled “Nigeria: West Africa’s most viable destination for US institutional funds” during the 2015 edition of the Africa Institutional Funds & Managers Series, AIFMS, in New York, last Wednesday. Speaking at the event, Oyebola said Nigeria has a compelling investment business case, despite the socio-economic challenges currently being faced.

Oyebola

“The country continues to show great potential in core areas of interest to traditional institutional fund managers, while its burgeoning middleclass and status as Africa’s largest economy following the rebasing establishes it as the sub-region’s most viable investment destination”, he said. Oyebola said highlighted the country’s ongoing revival in agriculture, the vast and untapped power resources, a progressive financial services sector, the untold potential which remains in oil and gas, as well as a vibrant telecoms and ICT industry, among other investment-stimulating factors. According to him, ‘in agriculture the investment opportunities which exist in food processing and storage facilities, crop production, and animal husbandry due to a huge domestic demand are many, while in the power sector, the nation’s gas agenda facilitates a potential for aggressive gas-based industrial growth. He noted that crucial to the successful performance of institutional fund investment from the US and other continents to Nigeria, is partnership with leading investment and asset management firms in the subregion to ensure knowledge and expertise of the local operating environment. BC

tive Director of Sahara Group, revealed that most women naturally have the potentials to be successful but only need to carefully study their environment and strategically identify business opportunities that would eventually translate to wealth. Also Founder and Chief

Executive officer of Bestman Games Ltd, Nimi Akinkugbe, advised women to take charge of their finances by understanding the financial planning process as this enables them steer their businesses along the path of long term financial stability. The workshop, which was an initiative of Genevieve Gather-

ings, an offshoot of Genevieve Magazine by Betty Irabor, is an empowerment forum for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, to learn viable and successful business tips from industry experts and to also empower them on how to improve their businesses and financial future. BC

L-R: Obinna Nwosu (Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank), Dave Umahi (Executive Governor, Ebonyi State), Herbert Wigwe (Group Managing Director, Access Bank), Roosevelt Ogbonna (Executive Director, Commercial Banking Division, Access Bank) at the Access Bank Head Office

Sterling Bank boss advices SME operators on Risk Management

he Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman has called on operators of Small & Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the country to ensure proper risk identification, assessment and analysis with a focus on minimizing revenue loss for continued business survival. Mr. Suleiman who spoke at the 10th Annual CEOs Forum organised by LEAP Africa in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Staying Ahead: Maximizing Profit And Mitigating Risk’ ,commended the organisers for focusing on the SMEs “as the national economic development prospects of any country is hinged on the entrepreneurial energy of vibrant SMEs” The Bank Director who advised SME operators to ensure that their risk profile is adequately assessed also advised that they ,the SME operators, must improve on their reporting standards and the day-to-day management of their organizations to ensure the growth of their business. He also encour-

aged economic awareness to fully mitigate risks associated with foreign exchange fluctuations. He informed the participants drawn mainly from the SME segment about the Bank’s support for SMEs by constantly educating them through workshops and seminars on capacity building training. Mr. Suleiman further stated that the Bank organized a capacity training programme in 2014 aimed at enhancing the managerial and entrepreneurial qualities of SME operators with a view to building sustainable businesses in view of the critical roles they play in the development of an economy. The Sterling Bank Director who stated that the workshop achieved the desired objective assured that the Bank would continue to support SMEs in the country as they constitute over 90 percent of businesses in the country. His words: “We are totally focused on the growth of SMEs in the country and we will continue to assist in taking their

businesses to another level. The process for transforming SMEs to become bigger players and a key part of national development does not start and end with finance. A huge part of it starts with education.” He was also of the opinion that the type of education provided for SMEs needs to be improved. “Nigeria still has a lot to do and a long way to go when it comes to our legal environment, the process of securing approvals and setting up businesses”, he explained. He however noted that the expected growth of small and medium scale enterprises ,SMEs, in the country would not be achieved unless there is an improvement in the quality of infrastructure in the country. In her opening remarks, a LEAP Board member and Google Country Manager, Mrs. Juliet Chiazo noted that the posture of a company regarding risk management should not be reduced to a checklist. It should be imbibed in the DNA and seen as the responsibility of all employees, she advised. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

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Companies & Markets Access Bank assures customers of Visa Card’s service benefits Stories by Udo Onyeka

ccess Bank Plc has reaffirmed the uniqueness of its range of Access Visa cards especially for holidaymakers during the summer period. Specifically, the Bank has assured customers of the security and convenience of electronic payments when they use Access Visa card. According to the bank Access Visa card is an international card which allows cardholders to securely pay for goods and services across all electronic payment channels globally, adding that it is a safe and convenient alternative to cash. “The Card, which is available in Classic, Gold, Platinum and infinite variants is accepted on POS terminals globally free of charge and can be used for web transactions. It is accepted in over 30 million merchant lo-

cations, 2 million ATMs in 220 countries”, the bank said. Head Card Products, Access Bank Plc,Mr. Justin Ijeh said the Card relieves customers of the stress associated with foreign exchange. “Access Bank cards are internationally acceptable and can compete favourably with any payment card either locally or internationally. There is no need for our customers to bother about the stress associated with foreign exchange rate and carrying wads of cash whenever they travel. The Access Visa card is a convenient and acceptable alternative to cash,” he stated. According to him, Access Bank is at the forefront of driving the Cashless initiative in Nigeria, and has continued to raise the bar through the provision of innovative financial products and services. BC

Nigerite launches new Kalsi building board solutions By Abolaji Adebayo

igerite Limited, a complete building solutions company, has concluded plans to formally launch Kalsi, a new innovative product which is the major component in the dry construction system, with professionals in the Nigerian built sector. The Kalsi product launch which has been slated to hold at Lagos Oriental Hotel in Lagos is being packaged as an elaborate event in view of its pre-eminence in providing sustainable and modern building solutions with a view to achieving the nation’s quest for resolving housing deficit in the country. Already, major players in the built sector have been contacted to be part of the ceremony, which will herald a new dawn in the country. Besides the unveiling of Kalsi to the target audience, the event will also witness a key note address by Nigerite’s Managing Director, Mr. frank Le Bris and a short presentation of Kalsi Building board solutions as a major component of the Dry Construction system by Builder Wale Ogungbe on the company’s resolve to maintain its market leadership as a complete building solutions company. Commenting on the proposed Kalsi launch, Marketing Manager, Nigerite, Mr. Abayomi Lawal said the launch of this product is the outcome of the momentum that has long been built around the product over time, stating that with the introduction of Kalsi, Nigerians and prospective home owners are guaranteed quality and afford-

able products for their dry construction building systems. “We have been building momentum for the eventual launch of Kalsi for a long time and the launch we are planning to do is therefore a major step towards offering prospective home owners quality and affordable options in their dry construction drive”, Lawal said. The Marketing Manager assured the quality and standard of all products on Nigerite’s stable, noting that the new Dry construction solutions would showcase another system to the built professionals and contractors as a worthwhile alternative to the conventional method of building with bricks, blocks and concrete. He added this method could also be used to complement existing structures built with the conventional system where there is need for renovations and facelifts. “Our products are time tested and have come of age as can be seen in numerous private and commercial buildings that have witnessed the test of time all over the country.” He said. BC

L – R: Elizabeth Okonji, Talent Manager, InterSwitch; Irumhekha Oshiomha, Head of FirstAcademy, FirstBank; and Nkechi Juwah, Area Head of Talent Management, British American Tobacco at the HR Leaders Africa 2015 Conference held in Lagos

Operators warn MfBs on selective lending O

perators of Microfinance Banks, MfBs, have warned their colleagues to avoid selective lending as this is against banking ethics. The operators, who spoke in Lagos, noted that unless the borrower exceed the age limit prescribed in the banking law, no microfinance bank should deprive borrowers of credit facilities, especially when such person meets the needed requirements. The Managing Director, Infinity Microfinance Bank, Mrs. Clara Oloniniyi said there should be no selective lending of credit in microfinance banks nationwide. Oloniniyi, while debunking the erroneous belief that microfinance banks in the country are selective in granting of credit, said: “We all know the rationale for establishing the subsector, which is to extend credit facilities to the active poor. The sub-sector is crucial to the development of the country, so, we must kick against any-

thing that could cause its downturn. And one of such thing is not adhering to rules stipulated by the regulators to guide the sub-sector.” She said the Central Bank of Nigeria ,CBN, operational guidelines put the age limit for accessing loan in banks between 18 and 65 years.“If you are below 18 or above 65 years though active, we can’t grant you credit. Apart from CBN guidelines, it is generally assumed that people in their 60’s get sick and any money granted to such persons may fall under bad debt,” she stressed. Since bad debts is a bad omen in lending and, in most cases, leads to the collapse of a bank, she said operators are trying to be cautious on who they lend money to. “So, any practitioner that went outside the age limit stipulated by CBN is doing that at his or her own risk,’’ she said. Former President, the National Association of Microfinance Banks, NAMB, Mr. Mathias Umeh, said the approved

age limit for accessing loans in microfinance banks is between 18 years and 60 years. Anyone below 18 years, he added, is adjudged incompetent in money management and anyone above 60 years is adjudged inactive. To him, “Remember that in this country’s constitution the retirement age is 60 years, meaning once you clock 60 years you must go and rest. Microfinance banks deal with the active poor, people who still have the required strength to run business which the loan was taken for.’’ Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Bosak Microfinance Bank, Mr. Kola Bello, said microfinance institutions are not discriminating in lending, but following the microfinance guideline. He stated that once a person is below 18 and above 60 years, he cannot access loan from MfB. He advised his colleagues not to be too bullish in their tasks, but to be cautious in their risk management approach. BC

Edo to partner brokers on insurance cover

T Le Bris

he Edo State government has promised the engagement of insurance brokers in the insurance and risk protection of its human and material assets. The Governor, Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,

who made the promise at the 2015 Chief Executive Officers’ Retreat of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers ,NCRIB, in Benin City, Edo State, said the poor awareness on the value of insurance had militated again BC

Oshiomhole

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News Standard & Poor’s cuts its outlook for the UK economy

he ratings agency Standard and Poor’s, S&P, has cut its outlook for the UK economy because of a planned referendum on EU membership. The referendum “represents a risk to growth prospects” for the country’s economy, S&P said in a statement. S&P changed its outlook to negative from stable but kept its current rating on the UK the same. Prime Minister David Cameron has promised an in-out referendum on the UK’s membership in the EU by 2017. Responding to the move, the Treasury said: “We are the first to say that this is a time of heightened risk that threatens the recovery, which is why we need to go on working through the plan that is delivering economic security. “Central to that plan is giving the British people their first say on our EU membership in forty years and resolving the uncertainty around Britain’s relationship with the EU,” it added. However, S&P warned that it wasn’t just the referendum that was causing concern. “We believe a possible UK departure from the EU also raises questions about the financing of the UK’s large twin deficits and its high private short-term external debt,” it added. S&P warned that the City’s financial services could be adversely affected by the EU referendum Furthermore, S&P cautioned that a lack of political consensus could affect UK economic policy in the future. “It is also our view that the calling of a referendum on EU membership indicates

Cameron

that economic policymaking could be at risk of being more exposed to party politics than we had previously anticipated,” it continued. A lower credit rating makes it more expensive for a country to borrow money. A negative outlook means a one-in-three chance of a downgrade in the next two years. S&P is the only major ratings agency to still give the UK a top rating of AAA, because it views the UK economy as flexible and diversified. The other two, Moody’s and Fitch, both downgraded the UK in 2013 over worries about its economic growth and the country’s ability to repay its debt. Earlier this week, the independent watchdog the Office of Budget Responsibility warned that years more spending cuts would be needed in order to bring the national debt under control.

Obama quest for fast-track trade bill defeated for now in House

he House of Representatives on Friday delivered a blow to President Barack Obama’s signature goal of strengthening ties with Asia but could try again as soon as Tuesday to reverse defeat of a measure central to a Pacific Rim trade pact. In a dramatic vote, Obama’s own Democrats, as well as Republicans, rejected a program to give aid to workers who lose their jobs as a result of U.S. trade deals with other countries. The measure was soundly defeated in a 302-126 vote. That was quickly followed by the House’s narrow approval of a separate measure to give Obama “fast-track” authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. But the legislation is stuck in the House because of the defeat Obama and House Speaker John Boehner suffered on the first vote. A House Republican aide told reporters Republican leaders hope to try again Tuesday to pass the worker aid portion of the bill. That would allow the entire trade promotion authority ,TPA, legislation to be signed into law by Obama, but its

Obama

chances were unclear. White House spokesman Josh Earnest dismissed the failed vote as a “procedural snafu” and was confident Democrats would come around to support the measure. Republican Pete Sessions said Democrats would have to do some “soul-searching this weekend” to figure out the future of the worker support program, known as trade adjustment assistance, TAA. “We’re going to pass TPA,” said Sessions, the head of the powerful House rules committee. “The question is going to be whether TAA is going to be in it.” The worker aid program drew heavy opposition from both parties, with 158 Republicans joining 144 Democrats in voting “no.” Trading partners such as Japan have urged the U.S. Congress to pass fast-track to help wrap up a Pacific Rim trade deal covering 40 percent of the world’s economy. Obama had lobbied hard to win over sceptical Democrats and forged an unusual alliance with the Republicans who control Congress and made a last-ditch personal appeal to congressional Democrats to back his trade agenda on Friday. Hours before lawmakers were due to vote on legislation central to the trade accord, Obama arrived at Capitol Hill with Labor Secretary Thomas Perez for the culmination of an intense effort to build support among Democrats. Republican support was always weak for the worker aid part of the “fast-track” trade legislation and Democrats’ support eroded this week following an intensive lobbying campaign by U.S. organized labor leaders. The AFL-CIO, the country’s largest labour organisation, argued that funding for the worker aid program, which runs out in September,

would be insufficient. But it also rallied support for its cause by arguing that a vote against worker aid would be the perfect tactic for stopping fast track dead in its tracks. Fast-track authority would let lawmakers set negotiating objectives for trade deals, but restrict them to only a yes-or-no vote on the finished agreement. Many Democrats have worried that giving Obama fast-track authority to finish the TPP would result in job losses in their home districts just as the United States was making economic gains that have led to a brightening jobs picture nationally. Boehner, the top Republican, in consultation with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, is expected to weigh next steps. For example, they could try to make some changes to the worker training program or schedule more one-on-one meetings with lawmakers to allay their concerns.

Merkel

European shares fall amid Greek default fears

hares on European stock markets have fallen sharply amid reports that senior EU officials have discussed a possible Greek default for the first time. The Athens stock exchange closed nearly 6 per cent lower, while Germany’s Dax and France’s Cac 40 closed more than 1 per cent lower. Stocks in the National Bank of Greece fell by more than 10 per cent, while Piraeus Bank fell more than 11.5 per cent. Cash-strapped Greece is trying to reach a deal that will unlock bailout funds. According to official sources quoted by news agencies, senior eurozone

officials meeting in Bratislava on Thursday held their first formal talks on the possibility that Greece might default on its debt payments. Also on Thursday, officials from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, pulled out of talks with Greek politicians in Brussels, citing “major differences”. Greece is seeking to avoid defaulting on a €1.5bn debt repayment to the IMF. The payment is due by the end of the month. Shares on the Athens Stock Exchange had soared on Thursday amid renewed optimism about Greece’s talks with its creditors. The index climbed more than 14 per cent - the best performance in several weeks. But the IMF’s withdrawal has dampened investors’ moods. On Friday, president of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said a deal without the IMF was “unimaginable”. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged all parties to continue negotiations. Speaking at a business conference in Berlin, Ms Merkel said: “Where there’s a will there’s a way, but the will has to come from all sides, so it’s important that we keep speaking with each other.”

Power crisis strikes small businesses in South Africa

outh Africa is the continent’s most advanced economy. It has transport and telecommunications infrastructures that are the envy of other African nations, as well as some of the most sophisticated mining and banking operations in the world. But to function properly, it needs power and South Africa has been experiencing a power crisis for some months. A lack of investment and maintenance over the past decade has brought the country’s main electricity provider, Eskom, to its knees and power outages or loadshedding are commonplace. Businesses - both large and small - have been battling to survive and many smaller firms have gone under.BC

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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Brand Watch unveils ‘Billion Life beer doles out N3m to Coca-Cola Reasons to Believe’ campaign budding entrepreneurs I Stories by David Audu

ife Continental Beer under the stable of Nigeria Breweries on recently doled out N3m cash grant to 12 young entrepreneurs to boost their business ideas submitted as a proposal to the company. It would be recalled that Life Beer under its current ``Life Continental Beer Progress Booster Radio Project’’ had earmarked N12.5 million grant to boost 50 young entrepreneurs, who hails and are residents within the South-East States. The states included: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Presenting the cash grant of N250,000 to each of the 12 winners in Nigeria Breweries, Ama, Enugu, the Brewery Manager, Mrs Ethel Emma-Uche, urged the winners, who are among the beneficiaries of the N12.5 million, to utilize the funds wisely. ``As you receive these cash grants today, we expect you to succeed in the business line you have chosen. ``Make judicious investment of the money given to you and ensure that your investment is yielding returns and your business capable of making you an employer of labour as you trudge on in your business journey. ``If you succeed in taking your business idea to the next desirable level, you stand a chance of winning more money (additional N250,000 to be won each by eight prosperous recipi-

ents of the initial cash grant). ``Let me assure you that we will not be leaving you all to yourself on this journey. ``The panel of experts that assessed and judged your business proposals will be monitoring your progress. ``They will be there to mentor and provide valuable advice when necessary as we follow up on your progress,’’ Emma-Uche said. She noted that the project was aimed to empower 50 budding entrepreneurs, who have sound and workable business ideas; adding that these entrepreneurs from the South-East extract must be residing in the zone as well as attained 18 years. ``Once again, I congratulate all our winners today and wish you success in your propose business endeavour. Life for

Emma-Uche

Progress,’’ the manager added. Responding on behalf of the winners, Mr Augustine Nnaoma, whose business proposal was welding and iron fabrication services, thanked the Nigeria Breweries and Life Beer beverage for the opportunity granted to them under the project. ``On behalf of my co-winners, we promise not to let Nigeria Breweries and Life Beer beverage down with this golden and once in a life time opportunity given to us with these cash grant as well as established business moguls to mentor us. ``This shows that the company feels the pulse of the plight of most youths in the country and they are ready as a good corporate entity to help Nigeria overcome its youth unemployment,’’ Nnaoma, who hails from Awo-mama in Imo State, said. The Marketing Manager Lager and Stout of Nigeria Breweries, Mr Emmanuel Agu, noted that the business proposal could be on trading, handicraft, small scale manufacturing and provision of social services, which must have ways of yielding money and pulling the recipients of the cash grant out of poverty to being employer of labour later on. ``The project was designed to rejuvenate and celebrate the quintessential Igbo culture that places emphasis on individualism and competitiveness as essential ingredients of industry, enterprise and spirit to succeed and excel. BC

Nestle loses battle over trade mark

he European Union Court of Justice has advised Nestle that its attempts to register the four-finger shape of its KitKat as a trademark do not comply with EU law. Nestle has been locked in a fierce battle to register the shape of its four finger Kit Kat bar since its application was first blocked by rival Cadbury in 2013. Following an appeal to the High Court the matter was passed on to the CJEU for recommendation, which on Tursday advised the application does not comply with EU law, a move that proves a blow for Nestle. This ‘war’ is an attempt by both companies to monopolise certain aspects of the way they market their chocolate The High Court in the UK will now make the final ruling. However, as the CJEU is a higher court, it is expected the High Court will follow the decision when it announces a final ruling in the next three to four months.

Lee Curtis, trade mark attorney and partner at intellectual property law firm HGF said that Nestle was attempting to register the shape to gain “monopoly rights” and “carve out the market” to prevent rivals cashing in on the shape of the popular bar. He added the battle was also a game of historical “tit for tat” because Nestle blocked Cadbury’s application to trademark the distinctive purple colour of its chocolate brand in 2014. Curtis added that he expected Nestle would lose the case but that he might find himself “utterly surprised” if the court ruled in favour of Kit Kat. This is because whilst in the region of 90 per cent of consumers associate the brand with the four-finger bar, Cadbury argues that it is not distinctive enough without the branding and logo to warrant a trademark. “This is a further chapter in the ‘tit for tat’ legal trade mark war between Nestle and Cadbury

following on from Nestle’s successful challenge to Cadbury registering the colour purple for milk chocolate bars,” he said. “This ‘war’ is an attempt by both companies to monopolise certain aspects of the way they market their chocolate, whether that be a colour of a Dairy Milk bar or the shape of a Kit Kat bar.” Curtis added he expected Nestle would continue to use all weaponary in its arsenal to register the shape and that this would not “be the end of the story”. If successful, the chocolare brand could prevent rivals from innovating in this shape, renderering any other existing four-finger chocolate brands in infringement of copyright. A spokesman for Nestle said: “Nestle will review the Advocate General’s opinion with interest and look forward to the full decision of the Court. Kit Kat is much loved and its unique shape, which has been used for 80 years, is well known by consumers”. BC

n line with Coca-Cola’s commitment to inspire and empower the Nigerian youth, the brand has unveiled a new campaign tagged “Billion Reasons to Believe”. The campaign is aimed at inspiring optimism among young people, challenging them to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams. Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Patricia Jemibewon, explained that Coca-Cola beliefs in the potentials and creative ingenuity of teenagers, noting that all that teens needed to blossom is the courage to believe in themselves and the knowledge that the limitations they perceive had been the stepping stones to success for some other persons She said the campaign seeks to fulfill Coca-Cola’s corporate mission to inspire optimism and happiness and to make a difference in the communities where it operates. It will achieve this by motivating young persons, particularly teenagers, to aspire and reach for their dreams with an ‘I-can-do-spirit’ through learning about inspiring stories of other Nigerians who achieved success despite the odds. She said the campaign would serve as a stimulus for young people through its message of optimism and by showcasing true stories of remarkable Nigerians who have leveraged limitations or challenges to leapfrog to success. According to Jemibewon, teenagers represent about 43

Jemibewon

percent of the population in Nigeria; and the societyneeds to help them to build self-confidence and to see the worldin coloursthrough the right lense, so they can take ownership for creating the future of their dreams. “This campaign is about the everyday Nigerian and they feature prominently in all our adverts on traditional and digital media. We have inspiring stories of people like Aisha Tunmisa who is a fashion entrepreneur while still in medical school as well as IK Ogbonna, a fast rising actor, despite speech difficulty and other challenges”, Jemibewon said. Teens and other Coca-Cola fans can follow the ‘Billion Reasons to Believe’ stories on the campaign websitehttp:// ng.iamareason.com/and via the hashtag #iamareason. Teens also have the opportunity to tell their own stories of perseverance and breakthrough on those platforms, to inspire others. BC

‘Kids Say the Darndest Things’ hits Nigerian screen

igerian adaptation of American children’s television comedy series ‘Kids Say the Darndest Things’ will hit TV screens on Father’s Day, a special on Sunday to commemorate fathers worldwide. The programme is being sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria. The premise of Kids Say the Darndest Things is that children often respond to life’s questions in the most unexpectedly smart and amusing ways. The programme features kids between the ages of 2 and 10 as they respond to these posers thrown at them by the host of the show, Tony Okungbowa. Head, Sponsorship and Events, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani said, Etisalat Nigeria recognizes the importance of education, learning and the wholesome development of children which is why they support education at various levels. The Etisalat payoff line is ‘Now you’re talking’ and this show will offer Nigerian children the opportunity to communicate better and talk better, express themselves, in-

teract with, and learn from their peers. Helping to bring Kids Say the Darndest Thingsto Nigeria through Cliqlite is yet another way to practice what we preach.” Speaking on the show, its Executive Producer, Chichi Nwoko noted that Nigerians are in for a fantastic show that would delight both kids and adults, stressing that Nigerians would be amazed at how knowledgeable Nigerian kids are, particularly, about Nigeria. Nwoko added, that a show of this magnitude, which celebrates children and focuses on family is new in Nigeria. Our key objective is to deliver a topquality family entertainment television show.” Parents of the children who auditioned for the show in December commended the initiative and said they looked forward to an entertaining show in the standard of the American version. One of the parents, Mrs. Lade Babalola said: “I have seen several episodes of the American version of the program and it is a very hilarious children’s program and I like it. BC

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Energy Review

Pipeline vandalism poses new threat to fuel, electricity supply nationwide With Nigerians going through harrowing experiences over the lingering fuel crisis in the country that has remained unabated in over three months, the recent cases of pipeline vandalism have opened a new dimension to the debacle, heightening stakeholders’ concern about timely ending to the fuel saga with its attendant implications for electricity supply to consumers in the immediate term. Gbenga Odogun reports

he last two weeks of Jonathan’s administration were not pleasant for millions of under-privileged Nigerians as the biting pangs of fuel scarcity and other socio-economic burdens took huge toll on their well being. This follows the crippling effect of chronic fuel shortage due mainly to the face-off between the Federal Government and oil marketers over unpaid subsidy claims, an ugly development that ultimately compelled oil marketers and the labour unions in the petroleum industry to down tools to the detriment of the people and the national economy. As the feud between the parties rages, a new twist was introduced to the crises with renewed attacks on pipelines by hoodlums who, conscious of the economic gains they could make in such a season of fiscal anomie, took the nation to ransom by bursting the pipes, siphoning what should ordinarily be supplied to the market and cutting short the hopes of Nigerians of timely solution to the fuel scarcity saga. Indeed, the damages to the pipelines are not limited only to petroleum products supply line, it also extended to that of gas thereby disrupting supply to power stations, dropping generated power to 1200 megawatts, the least level in

over five years. Industry watchers have blamed the act of vandalism especially that of gas pipelines on nothing other than act of sabotage. While petroleum pipeline vandalism could be attributed to the desire to steal refined product, that of gas could not be explained especially as gas cannot be stored like petrol. Figures from the Nigeria Gas Company NGC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC shows that Nigeria has lost a minimum of N8.1 billion since January due to the incessant vandalism of the country’s pipelines. NGC’S Managing Director Mr. Dafe Sejebor said that since the beginning of this year the country has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the spate of pipeline vandalism with three major incidents recorded within the last two months mainly in the Niger Delta region leading to forced shut down and the deferment of 200million Standard Cubic Feet SFC of gas per day. He put the cost of repair at about N160million which when added to the cost of gas lost due to vandalism is in the region of N8.1 billion. This translates to the loss of 1,500 megawatts from the national grid.

Just last week Tuesday, there was an explosion at the NNPC pipeline at Ije Ododo area of Lagos, after suspected vandals punctured the facility. “The spate of vandalism is negatively affecting the economy and the operations of the company”. Said Sejebor According to him, “The spate of vandalism of our pipelines has been on the increase and this is alarming. We are hurting, especially as it has affected us negatively. It is a willful damage and not as a result of our inability to maintain our pipelines.” He further stated that the NGC is already holding talks

with all its key stakeholders, such as its contractors, security agencies and leaders of communities in its areas of operations, on ways to ensure the safety of the pipelines. The increasing wave of vandalism also calls to question the success of the engagement of militants in the protection of the pipelines. Analyst were of the view that the award of contract to secure the pipeline to militants at the expense of the conventional security agents of the police, army, navy, air force and civil defense was counterproductive as it only serves to favor supporters of the ambitions of those in power then,

Sejebor

Fasehun

a position which the founder of Odua people’s congress Dr Fred Fasheun rejected saying “I do not see anything wrong in getting the contract as a payback for supporting Jonathan’s political ambition “Does anybody grant favor to his or her enemy? We don’t even need to answer that. It is the law of nature,” he quipped, unapologetically. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC also rejected the claim that awarding contract of pipeline surveillance to the militants is counterproductive. The corporation in a statement said “The contracts do not in any way obviate or undermine the responsibility of the police and other security agencies to protect the pipelines. Rather according to them “They are actually designed to complement the work of the security agencies by raising the alarm and drawing the attention of security agencies to any suspicious movements around the pipelines right of way,” Industry watchers however posited that the new administration under the leadership of president Muhamadu Buhari will have to review the entry process with a view to determining whether or not to continue with the project of giving the responsibility to the militants.BC

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Monday, June 15, 2015

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CEOs’ jobs under threat as smart machines take over roles By Isaiah Erhiawarien

he growth of sensorbased data combined with advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) are enabling smart machines to make increasingly significant business decisions over which humans have decreasing control may soon begin to affect the job of most top executives. A new study by Gartner Incorporated, a business intelligence company in the IT industry observed that there is a growing trend in what it claimed are smart machines that rob chief executive officers of their managerial control in their organisation . Vice President and Gartner Fellow, Stephen Prentice in a review of the new study disclosed that as smart machines become increasingly capable, they will become viable alternatives to human workers under certain circumstances, which will lead to significant repercussions for the business and thus for CIOs. According to him, in the 2015 Gartner CEO and business leader survey, opinions were equally divided on this issue and indicate that business leaders are starting to take notice of the advances being made and more readily acknowledge that the threat to knowledge work is real. He said that already the growing capabilities of automation and robotics have led to their increasing deployment in a wide range of industrial and business environments, which has prompted debate as to their impact on existing jobs in sectors such as manufacturing. “As smart machines become more capable, and

more affordable, they will be more widely deployed in multiple roles across many industries, replacing some human workers. This is nothing new. The deployment of new technology has eliminated millions of jobs over the course of history,” said Prentice. More worrisome according to him is the fact that at the same time, entirely new industries have been developed by those technologies, almost always creating millions of new jobs. He stated that organisations must balance the necessity to exploit the significant advances being made in the capabilities of various smart machines with the perceived negative impact of resulting job losses. The study showed that during the next five years, Gartner predicted that smart machines will inevitably be relied on to make more de-

Prentice

Smart machine at work

cisions that are of growing significance to the business, raising the fear that they may become “unstoppable” or run out of control. Prentice explained that, “The fear among many individuals is that the machines will ‘take over,’ start making decisions on their own and run out of control, pos-

ing a threat to individuals, society and even humanity itself.” He said: “However, within the confines of currently known technology, the idea of machines attaining some level of ‘selfawareness,’ ‘consciousness’ or ‘sentience’ is still the stuff of science fiction. Even with the coming generation of smart machines, which actively ‘learn’ and will be able to adapt their actions to optimize their progress toward a goal, humans can choose to remain in control.” The study further revealed the explosive growth of sensors, both physical and virtual, will provide smart machines with more “perception” and context of the physical world, enabling them to work more autonomously in support of business goals, leaving CIOs to highlight the risks and opportunities involved. According to Gartner, in the early days of computing, human operators “fed” the system with relevant data, thereby effectively controlling the machines’ knowledge of the physical world. With the increasing availability of low-cost computing devices, increased connectivity, sensor networks

and the Internet of Things, computing “complexes” are now collecting data about the physical world without direct human involvement (other than the initial launch of the system and sensor devices). Gartner predicted that the number of sensors, each collecting data in an automated fashion, is set to grow rapidly estimating that more than 25 billion devices will be connected by 2020, and it will create a massive increase in this background data collection. “In effect, smart machines are now collecting information about practically every facet of human activity on a continual, pervasive and uncontrollable basis, with no option to ‘turn off’ the activity. The potential reputational damage arising from uncontrolled and inappropriate data collection is well-established and can be substantial,” said Prentice. “CIOs should work hard to increase awareness of this issue inside the organization and ensure that the implications of this activity are fully understood and that appropriate controls, processes and procedures are established.” BC

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Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

Mobile subscriptions in Africa hits 910m Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

indings from the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, revealed that the total number of mobile subscriptions in Q1 2015 was around 910 million for all of Africa, including 21 Million new subscriptions. The report further showed that by 2020 advanced mobile technology will be commonplace around the globe: smartphone subscriptions will more than double, reaching 6.1 billion, 70 percent of the world’s population will be using smartphones, and 90 percent will be covered by mobile broadband networks. The reporter further said that in Sub-Saharan Africa, GSM/EDGE-only subscriptions will remain predominant up to 2020, due to the high number of lower income consumers using 2G-enabled handsets. According to Ericsson, with the continued rise of smartphones comes an accelerated growth in data usage: smartphone data is predicted to increase ten-fold by 2020, when 80 percent of all mobile data traffic will come from smartphones adding that average monthly data usage per smartphone in North America will increase from 2.4 GB today to 14 GB by 2020. Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Ericsson, Rima Qureshi, said “This immense growth in advanced mobile technology and data usage, driven by a surge in mobile connectivity and smartphone uptake, will

makes today’s big data revolution feel like the arrival of a floppy disk. We see the potential for mass-scale transformation, bringing a wealth of opportunities for telecom operators and others to capture new revenue streams. But it also requires greater focus on cost efficient delivery and openness to new business models to compete and remain effective.” He said that an expanding range of applications and business models coupled with falling modem costs are key factors driving the growth of connected devices. Added to this, new use cases are emerging for both short and long range applications, leading to even stronger growth of connected devices moving forward. Ericsson’s forecast, outlined in the report, points to 26 billion connected devices by 2020, confirming we are well on the way to reaching the vision of 50 billion connected devices. The report said that each year until 2020, mobile video traffic will grow by a staggering 55 percent per year and will constitute around 60 percent of all mobile data traffic by the end of that period saying that growth is largely driven by shifting user preferences towards video streaming services, and the increasing prevalence of video in online content including news, advertisements and social media. Ericson observed that data consumption in advanced mobile broadband markets, findings showed a significant

tisalat has said that the winner of the 2015 edition of the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation will go home with N5,000,000 is for the most innovative product or service launched in the last 12 months and while the second prize of N2,000,000 is for the most innovative idea. The company disclosed this while calling for entries for the contest, which was launched in 2012 to reward the most innovative mobile broadband product, idea or service that positively impacts on mobile users in Nigeria. According to the telecoms company, the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ is aimed at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovation in the Nigerian market and is awarded in two categories.

Announcing the commencement of the 2015 competition, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher said that the Etisalat Prize for Innovation is a reflection of the character of Etisalat aimed at promoting and

Qureshi

with Esther Ozue (ozueesther@nationalmirroronline.net) 08059234648 (sms only)

Online Collaboration Tools

Qureshi

proportion of traffic is generated by a limited number of subscribers. It added that these heavy data users represent 10 percent of total subscribers but generate 55 percent of total data traffic noting that video is dominant among heavy users, who typically watch around one hour of video per day, which is 20 times more than the average user. The Ericsson Mobility Report shares forecast data, analysis and insight into mobile traffic, subscriptions, and consumer behavior to provide insight into current traffic and market trends in today’s Networked Society. Ericsson regularly performs traffic measurements in over 100 live networks in all major regions of the world. Detailed measurements are made in a selected number of commercial WCDMA/HSPA and LTE networks with the purpose of discovering different traffic patterns. BC

Etisalat dangles N5m for 2015 for innovation Competition

Technotalk

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nurturing talent He added, ’’Our core business is to develop innovative initiatives, products and services and we recognise the importance of broadband in different sectors of the economy including, education and business.’’ Anthony Oniwon, the developer of Exammate, an Exam preparatory programme for JAMB candidates, won the first prize of $25,000 for the Most Innovative Product or Service in 2014 while the second prize of $10,000 for the Most Innovative Idea was presented to Abdulganiyu Onabanjo, the developer of Interactive Media Interface Design (IMID), a remote communication interface for GPRS-enabled pre-paid meters. BC

ndeed, the emergence of online collaboration tools has revolutionised the way individuals and businesses work together. Most online collaboration tools are simple, easy to use and inexpensive. If you haven’t taken advantage of these powerful tools, here are few types for your communication exploits: Kanban board- This is a visual online collaboration software that enables teams to share a collaborative style of working, by keeping everyone on the same page to achieve same goal. Wiki technology- It is an online collaboration tool which helps to manage multiple contributors to documents or projects. It creates a webpage that anyone with permission to access can modify quickly and easily. Users can add to and edit documents on a wiki and can also view changes made by different users. Cloud storage- This is a system that backs up data on a server instead of using a hard drive or compact disc and is accessible to a single or multiple users via an internet connection. Email is an example of cloud storage. Services like google drive exit disclaimer allow real-time file access and editing by multiple users using desktop computer, tablet and mobile phone. Other services that allow shared access to documents include dropbox. Basecamp- Like other tools listed above, this is an extremely powerful and useful online collaboration system designed for entrepreneurs, small businesses, freelancers and business groups. This application allows you to upload, store, edit and share documents and files online. The interface also provides users with a convenient overview of the project schedule, as well as an account of who is working on what, to-do lists and time tracking ensuring that everything is kept in order and on schedule, while an in-built messaging system allows for effective communication between team members. Skype-This is an online video conferencing tool. It has become widespread in the modern professional world, helping to cut down dramatically on travel costs and expensive long distance phone calls. Although many online video chat services have emerged but skype remains the most widely used and convenient. Apart from the standard face-to-face video conference chat, Skype’s screen sharing feature allows users to show others whatever is on their screen, which is perfect for presenting slideshows or making visual presentations. Trello: It’s an effective tool for individual or smaller group projects. Trello’s friendly interface allows users to create a project by adding items and lists, and assigning people to specific tasks. It then provides real time updates on all actions and progress to members of the project team. Sync.in- This is a web-based word processor that enables users to view and co-edit the same notes and documents in real time from anywhere in the world. Numerous users can collectively plan projects, brainstorm and compose documents, while color coded text allows people to easily identify who made which edits. A handy timeslider also allows users to recount earlier versions and edits of the document and edit any changes made, while a chat box enables communication between the various collaborators. Asana- It’s a webapp collaboration tool for people with multiple projects, it organizes your project, helps you keep on top of updates, captures everything you and your team are doing in one place so that everyone can refer to it quickly. You can also track your own responsibilities and projects and everyone can see updates in real time. All these tools have been tried and found to be useful and highly supportive for individual, professionals, corporate and public sector communication collaboration in the increasingly changing ICT- driven societies we all live in today. It is expected that the years ahead will see more of innovative collaboration tools released to the market. Users of these tools are advised to keep themselves abreast to the changes as they occur. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, June 15, 2015

Business Courage

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Uchechukwu Ogah:

An oil tycoon cum industrialist with a heart of gold By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

he story of Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, OON, is that of courage combined with determination, faith in God mixed with tireless efforts borne out of conviction. His achievements as an entrepreneur speak louder than amplified percussion in an orchestra held inside a massive ampi-theatre. While he has been able to touch many lives through his business ventures as well as rare philanthropy, he hardly take credit for anything, as according to him, he is merely “crystallizing God’s vision in him.” Surprisingly however, he is a man with a humble beginning, as he was not born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. His father was a retired sanitary inspector and railway worker. Born on 22 December 1969 to Chief Wilson and Ezinne Pauline Ogah of Onuaku Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, today, Ogah has risen to become one of the Nigerian oil magnates, entrepreneurs, investors and philanthropists. Ogah, the President of Master Energy Group, a conglomerate with over 15 subsidiaries and interests across a variety of industries attended Ishiagu High School, after which he worked at West African Examination Council (WAEC) from 1986 to 1989. He proceeded to the Institute of Management and Technology ,IMT, Enugu State where he obtained Upper Credit at Ordinary National Diploma ,OND, in 1992 and Distinction at the Higher National Diploma ,HND, Level in 1995 in Accounting. He attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka ,UNN, where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in 2005. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree (Banking and Finance) from Ogun State University and a Masters in Business Administration ,MBA, from University of Lagos. AFellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria ,ICAN, Ogah obtained his ACA in 2007. He is also a Fellow, Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria; Fellow, Nige-

He is a man who has an excellent track record of performance. A very successful entrepreneur and businessman with a heart of gold, enterprising, articulate, humane and a goal getter, and above all, a quintessential gentleman, his belief in the Nigerian economy is strong and unequivocal. Standing like a colossus, through rare courage, determination and never-say-die spirit, he has been able to transform the company he founded only few tears ago into becoming one of the most formidable, dynamic and vibrant brands in the oil and gas sector of Nigeria. His conglomerate with over 15 subsidiaries has interest spanning across oil & gas, banking, insurance, aviation, shipping, dredging, logistics, construction, travel agency and power. This is the amazing story of Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, OON, President of Masters Energy Group

Ogah

rian Institute of Shipping; Fellow, Employment & Career and member, Chartered Institute of Bankers. Regarded as a banker of distinction having spent over 10 years in banking sector during which he received many commendations and awards as proof of his diligence and high rated performance, Ogah began his career as a banker with NAL Bank Plc during compulsory one year National Youth Service year at NAL Bank Plc. Thereafter, he took up full employment at All States Trust Bank where he worked for around two years before joining Zenith Bank in 1997. At Zenith Bank, he set a record of growing a new branch from zero balance sheets to over N9 billion and rose to the position of an Assistant General Manager (AGM) in Zenith Bank. He resigned in 2007 to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. As he left Zenith bank, Ogah founded Master Energy Group where he is currently the group President. Master Energy Group is today a conglomerate with workforce of about 42, 000 with interests in oil & gas, banking, insurance, aviation, shipping, dredging, logistics, construction, travel services, and power. Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited has grown into a conglomerate with investments worth tens of billions of naira. At a time when investors were exiting the Niger Delta because of its security challenges, Masters Energy City invested billions of naira in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A single investment, a 158,000 tonne petroleum products storage facility Continued on pg A14

Business Courage

provided direct employment to over 600 citizens of the Niger Delta region, and over 4,000 ancillary positions. Masters Energy City contains a fabrication yard, established in 2005. It fabricates and constructs equipment for use in the oil and gas industry and other sectors. The fabrication yard has constructed two different 1,000 MT capacity barges and is presently constructing additional three barges. Masters Energy sells petroleum products at over 60 retail outlets in Nigeria at government’s approved pump price. Its depot in Port Harcourt also sells products at government’s approved depot price. Already about seven companies are springing up within the Masters Energy Industrial City. These companies include: Fertiliser plant, plastic plant, lubricant plant- producing seven product lines – engine oil, grease, hydraulic, cooking gas, transmission oil, gear oil; noodles plant, steel manufacturing (which produces pipe for offshore drilling) and mechanised palm production plants. In order to add great value to the nation’s economy, the company has also launched engine oil and cheap cooking gas as it officially opens its gas plant in Lagos. Like a little acorn, Masters Energy, which at inception started oil trading activities ranging from Premium Motor Spirit ,PMS, Automotive Gasoline Oil ,AGO, Dual Purpose Kerosene ,DPK and Low Pour Fuel Oil ,LPFO , has grown into a conglomerate and a volume player in bulk petroleum sales through vessel trans-shipments, coastal bunkering, etc. As it stands, Masters Energy occupies a conspicuous position in the list of corporate pillars that are sustaining and contributing to the national economic stabilisation. When the founder, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah incorporated Masters Energy Oil and Gas Ltd in 2005 to operate fully in the oil and gas sector, he probably might not have anticipated such growth within a short period of time. The company has expanded and diversified to assume leading positions not only in the oil and gas sector, that it started with, but also in power, EPC, petrochemicals, aviation, shipping and marine businesses. The group sources its products principally from overseas and through NNPC/PPMC coastal allocations. The company since inception has not just remained relevant in petroleum products trading through constant importation of petroleum products at competitive price, thereby impacting positively on the economy of the nation. It is today, one of the biggest forces in the downstream petroleum sector. Being piloted by astute lead-

ership that is a highly innovative, and desirous to create superior values for stakeholders and partners, every year, the group continues to break new grounds and attains greater heights. From available business indications, in the next few years, Masters Energy is expected to be the world’s bench-mark in oil and gas industry as it is working to be in position to provide a world-class service delivery to its clients through sound management system, innovation and technology; while ensuring adequate returns to our stakeholders. Today, Masters Gas, a fledgling subsidiary of Masters Energy Group, is becoming Nigeria’s foremost premium Liquefied Petroleum Gas ,LPG – cooking gas. With an ultra modern gas filling facility in Lagos and another major LPG plant under construction in Port-Harcourt, Masters Gas is positioning itself to meet nearly 60 percent of Nigeria’s LPG needs at very cost effective and affordable prices especially for Nigeria’s growing population and middle class. It is also currently constructing smaller plants in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to effectively meet the growing demand. Masters Gas LPG plants, products and accessories meet the strictest Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) policies and customer service standards and guarantee premium safety, quality, quantity, reliability. Its after sales services ensure that millions of customers across the country derive utmost benefits of its products. With a customer feedback system that ensures that its gets to know exactly how customers feel about its service, which helps them to serve the people better. Masters Gas has also invested hugely in an effective distribution network via product pipelines and trucks for its products that will at its completion serve the entire nation’s state capitals and cities. In line with this vision, its strategic plan includes a natural gas distribution network and captive power solutions for distribution to industrial and commercial consumers and also harnessing the potential of distribution that transverses the West African region especially, Ghana, Cote D’ Ivoire, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone,

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Monday, June 15, 2015

Ogah

and Gambia, where it also operates and contributes gas supplies for Nigeria’s and West Africa’s gas powered power generation plants. In December 2011, the immediate past Executive Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore A. Orji, laid the foundation stone of Masters Energy Industrial City in Isikwuato. This industrial complex is expected to grow the economy of Abia State by attracting investment from across Africa. This particular facility sits on a total of 623 hectares of virgin land donated by the local community for the purpose of development. Speaking on the key motivation behind this new project, Ogah, said, “It was mainly to create more jobs. A whole lot of youths are idle. Today, we have over 200 people for a start working on the project on a daily basis. If you look at the lives of the people that have been employed by this project you can see considerable improvement. That is why we don’t experience vices such as kidnapping and armed robbery around here because everybody is engaged. To be honest, that is what really motivated the idea of setting up this project.” “ At the end of the day we should be able to generate a minimum of 5,000 jobs and you will see a big difference in the lives of the people working there and difference in the community. “If you pay N100, 000 a month to someone in Lagos and pay the same amount to some-

It was mainly to create more jobs. A whole lot of youths are idle. Today, we have over 200 people for a start working on the project on a daily basis. If you look at the lives of the people that have been employed by this project you can see considerable improvement

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one in Abia around here, you will see that the person from Abia will appreciate it more and his own N100, 000 will be able to do more than that being paid to someone living in Lagos. It contributes to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government and if you take a look at the entire place, I believe this is what you will call real transformation. Transformation you can see, verify and feel.” “For me, as I have said, it is the vision that God gives you that you carry on. It is God that drives me and whatever he says I should do is what I do. For us everywhere we go and everything we touch we always aim to achieve real transformation. We started transformation in Port Harcourt when it was a militant zone. Now, if you go there it has attracted so many companies. At the end of the day our interest is how we can maximize investment towards the South-East, so the region can develop economically and we can arrest the restiveness of the youth in the region. We want people to be gainfully employed, live a better quality of life and we want to reduce the rate of vices within the region.” The Masters Energy boss said in an interview. Already, about seven companies are springing up within the Masters Energy Industrial City. These companies include: fertiliser plant, plastic plant, lubricant plant- producing seven product lines – engine oil, grease, hydraulic, cooking gas, transmission oil, gear oil; noodles plant, steel manufacturing ,which produces pipe for offshore drilling and mechanised palm production plants. All these plants are at 75 percent completion stage. The products of these companies will contribute greatly to the economic development of Abia State, Nigeria and West African states; in addition to the creation of new jobs for the unemployed. It is projected that

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over 42,000 direct and indirect work force will be generated when these projects come on stream. Recently they acquired 300 hectares of land in Abia State for massive agricultural development to be known as Masters Energy Agricultural City. It will have green houses, poultry, fisheries, biogas units. As a renowned philanthropist, Ogah, ‘a real man of the people’ as he is being referred to by associates established Uche Ogah Foundation which aims to provide empowerment, poverty alleviation, and providing education for the less privileged in December, 2001. He had sponsored free medical services in different parts of Nigeria, in addition to building and equipping a number of modern hospitals in his native community, Uturu and other communities in Nigeria. Ogah also partnered with a number of medical centres, including the Hopeville Rehabilitation Centre, to fabricate artificial limbs and calipers for people with a disability. In addition, he is noted to have offered scholarships to both primary and secondary students across Nigeria since 2006. He instituted a chair at the Abia State University and is building a 5,000 capacity auditorium in the same university. In recognition of his immense contributions across all strata of lives, Ogah is a recipient of many awards and recognitions with included national award - the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, by the Federal government of Nigeria awarded to him in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. His other awards and honours include: Honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration by Abia State University, Ambassador, Governing Council of the NigeriaTurkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigerian – American Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Entrepreneur by Nigerian - American Chamber of Commerce, Pride of Abia by Hallmark Newspaper Ltd, Ambassador of Peace, UNPOLAC and Effective Leadership Award by Global Youths Awareness & Development Initiative ,GYADI. Others include Ikenga Award for Excellence on Entrepreneurship by Ikenga, Award for Excellence Foundation Entrepreneurship Promoter of the Year by Entrepreneurship Promotions Academy Africa, Peace Award by Global Achievers Media Ltd among many others. Ogah took a shot into politics recently, as he desired to lead his people and provide them with good governance and qualitative leadership. He was one of the the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirants for Abia State in the PDP primary election held in December 8, 2014. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

A15 31

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs BUSINESS

Improve on social good

KLINIC

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

e-mail: olusegunmamora@gmail.com

needs to form a company of peoples who have value for peoples and environment development. Dave Packard, Co-founder of Hewlett Packard Company in 1939 said as stated below “I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists simply to make money. While this is an important result of a company’s existence, we have to go deeper and find the real reasons for our being. As we investigate this, we inevitably come to the conclusion that a group of people get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so that they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately – they make a contribution to society, a phrase which sounds trite but is fundamental.” My question to you is that what is your organisation deliberate effort to make contribution to society without thinking financial profits? Sometimes voluntary support for a noble cause might be your corporate social responsibility and especially for small size enterprise of five employees. It is basically

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There is a serious connection between business sustainability and compassion for humanity and her environment. Every company should be compassionate about people and make deliberate effort to contribute towards programs that improve social good

meeting the need of stakeholders who don’t directly benefits from corporate profits. An example is people living in the neighborhood you operate business. More specifically, corporate social good involves a business identifying its stakeholder groups such group of investors, workers, and neighbours, and incorporating their needs and values within the strategic and day-to-day decision-making process. Therefore how does your car parking, waste disposal, noise decibel affects group of neigbours within the community your business operate? What are the efforts your organisation is putting in place to be involved in repairs of roads or provide whole community with waste disposal tools as a way of giving back to the

you in their good account and room to relate with you on matters that affect both your business and the community.

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certain man travelled between two ancient cities, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up, looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he set him on his own donkey, and brought him to a public house, and took care of him. On the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the public house host, and said unto him, “Take care of him; and whatsoever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you”. Dear entrepreneur, social good thrive on the premise of compassion for humanity. There is a serious connection between business sustainability and compassion for humanity and her environment. Every company should be compassionate about people and make deliberate effort to contribute towards programs that improve social good. The word company is derived from two Latin words, “cum and panis”, which mean breaking bread together. It simply translates to people of shared values taking responsibility for the good of one another. I believe every entrepreneur building a business system should be guided by this idea that business, although at profit, must factor into activities responsibilities to humanity. Therefore entrepreneur

community that allowed for your business operation? What are the smart ways for a small size company to improve on social good? I will mention two ways in this edition. First: Show friendship to people in your host community Relationship is core tool for the success of any entrepreneur. Building relationship with people in your host community gives you opportunity to understand the perception of people about your business function and how it affects them. It also gives an opportunity to understand, select and lessen the core challenges the people face in day to day life. Sometimes as simple as greeting residents in your host community on your way in and out of office put

Motivational Business Quotes

you think you can’t, you’re right! – Henry Ford

The man who does not work for the love of work but only for money is not likely to neither make money nor find much fun in life. – Charles M. Schwab

You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills. – Jim Rohn

he noblest search is the search for excellence – Lyndon B. Johnson

You must remain focused on your journey to greatness. – Les Brown Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. – Theodore Roosevelt Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier. – Charles F. Kettering Whether you think you can or whether

Who likes not his business, his business likes not him. – William Hazlitt The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many. – John Naisbitt The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed. – Henry Ford BC

Second: Volunteer and encourage your team to be involved in community services I’m directly involved in faith based organisation that encourages the people to get involved in community services. This act is one of the most attractive to the residents of host community where the faith based organisation has leaders and cell meetings. During the monthly environmental sanitation exercises in the city of Lagos, south west Nigeria, the church members are encouraged to clean the drainages within the community where the church has cell meeting systems as this acts helps free flow of water during the raining season and reduces health risk to the people. The residents in the community appreciate this gesture and sometimes it influences their listening to message of the church. The lesson for an entrepreneur is to get conscious of social good through community services. It could be as simple as orgnaising health talk for elders in the community or making yourself available to counsel the youths who lives in the community. My encouragement is that you can protect your business interest by getting involved in strategic activities to improve social goods. Get involve in improving security within your host community and you are better operating business in a secure environment. Be deliberate to be likeable by the residents within community of your business offices and they will protect your properties in your absence. Increase your influence now by improvement on social good. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

A dogged

infopreneur Bamidele Onibalusi, 20, is one of Nigeria’s fast rising internet entrepreneur who earns a living through blogging and writing. He runs YoungPrePro.com as Managing Director/CEO. His passion is to show as many young Nigerians as possible, how not to depend on government, corporations or even their parents for a living as he believes the only way to live a fulfilled life is by embracing entrepreneurship. Onibalusi hopes one day to become a computer scientist

amidele Onibalusi simply known as Oni in the internet world stumbled on his present business, an online information marketing through blogging and writing. His adventure into the world of infopreneurs begun three years ago when he learnt he could make money online. “I was a big Bill Gates fan then, due to the fact that he was the richest man in the world and his success was largely due to working with computers. I wanted to be like him; I wanted to be rich, to have the kind of lifestyle I want without working for anybody, so I was so excited when I first heard about the concept of making money online,” he said in a recent interview. Having discovered his passion, Oni was ready to give it all it takes to become very successful in the online business as his ambition from the onset was clear- ‘to become a very wealthy infopreneur’. To begin the long journey into greatness, Oni disclosed that he invested about 20 hours at a stretch creating his first website. And having come up with what he considered an exciting creation, he had hoped to see the money rolling in almost immediately as he started to write and create contents to attract clients. But that would not happen

in spite of his excitements and great hopes. Yet, being a dogged internet entrepreneur, he was ready to go back to the drawing board to review his strategies after a seemingly futile effort in the first three months of starting the business. In a bid to discover what was wrong with his style, Oni started reading various blogs and articles about how to make money online, and it was then that he discovered an article by Steve Pavlina. “It was an article that changed everything”, he said. “The article made me realize how blogging works, and, most importantly, it also made me realize the importance of giving free value without expecting anything in return. That was when I discovered blogging and writing online, and that was when everything changed. Bill Gates was a big inspiration in terms of mentality, but Steve Pavlina gave me the kick I needed to get started” he added. However, after discovering the secrets of becoming a successful blogger and writer as shared by his business mentor, a myriad of challenges still stirred Oni in the face, but one after the other, he cleared them out of his way, as he was bent on achieving success at all cost. Perhaps the most threatening of the challenges that

Onibalusi

stood on his way was the need to be connected online almost 24 hours of the day in an environment where electricity and internet connection still

remain a big issue. But Oni being a die-hard entrepreneur who would not take no for an answer simply entered into a partnership with a cafe owner

in his area which offered him free access to the computer and internet since he lacked the financial wherewithal to acquire a computer and internet facility at the start-up stage. “My mother is a widow with six children, so burdening her with a “new” business that I’m the only one who believes will work won’t cut it. I was a little bit familiar with how computers work then, and I was into hacking and networking, so I started offering my skills as a freelancer locally, and to individuals that needed help with their computers; this made it easy for me to get money for hosting and maintaining my blog. I also participated in a few online contests to fund my business”, he recollected. Meanwhile, getting people to trust him enough to patronise the products he is offering them online turned out to be another big obstacle he had to surmount before the business would thrive. This is because of the perception of the global community about Nigeria especially as it relates to doing business online. But that again, he was able to put behind him by choosing to be consistent in the value he offers, and by leveraging the brand and platform of other

Management Principles

The four silent business killers

hen it comes to your health, high blood pressure is known as the silent killer. Left untreated, it can combine with other conditions, such as high cholesterol or diabetes, and lead to heart disease and stroke. But what about your business? Are there silent killers there, too? YES!!! Below are four warning signs that the health of your business may be at risk:

Meetings are love-fests When you have a meeting or conference call, does your team make nice and smile or do they feel comfortable enough to challenge each other? Meetings that are too nice – with no disagreements, conflicts or debates – can be a sign that something is wrong. If there isn’t any conflict, it could be a sign that your people don’t care or they don’t have passion for what they’re doing. You can’t move a business forward without conflict. The absence of conflict should not be your goal. Productive conflict should be. Entrepreneurs should encourage and train their staff to engage in managed, measured and meaningful discussions. Innovation is on vacation What percentage of your sales is from products or services introduced in the past two years? If it’s less than 20 per cent, your company’s innovation may be DOA, and it’s time to re-energize. Innovation isn’t a goal, it’s an absolute requirement. Innovation isn’t just new products; it’s also internal and external processes and procedures.

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Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

successful bloggers to grow his business. Marketing, being a major problem every entrepreneur especially infopreneurs face in business, Oni was able to overcome it by writing guest posts for popular blogs in my niche. Yet, he had to write as much as 270 guest posts before his business began to take off. “It

was around then that I got my first client, and that I started to notice significant increase in my traffic. The problem with my approach then was that my guest posts were focused mostly on smaller blogs, and I had little to no SEO knowledge so I didn’t maximize my guest posts”, he confessed. Today, in spite of the initial

The customer is always right When a conflict arises between your company and a customer; does your salesperson side with the customer? While “the customer is always right” has been a business motto for a long time, entrepreneurs should tread cautiously. Your customer can put you out of business by squeezing your margins to nothing if they can get away with it. Your customers may also abandon you in a minute if they find a better deal somewhere else. So why on earth would you want salespeople who work for your customer? Instead, train your sales people to develop deep relationships with their customers, so when it’s time to give them bad news, such as a price increase, the relationship and service factor will be worth the cost. While you want your staff to take care of your customers, their loyalty should be to your company. Customers don’t pay the bills, profits do. Toxic employees We’ve all encountered rude flight attendants, clerks and waiters who act as if your requests are an imposition, but do you have any of these toxic people on your staff? Just one can impact repeat business and destroy years of customer loyalty. In fact, it’s the worst of the silent killers. Go through your organization one layer at a time, asking your staff and customers who the toxic people are. Someone knows. Once you have identified them, tell them they must change their behavior immediately or they can’t stay. Set a new standard of behavior for the entire company, and offer training to employees on proper customer engagement. Once you have cleaned house, be mindful that weeds always grow back; be prepared to prune the garden often. BC

challenges and a stifling operating environment in the country, Oni says the tide has turned, as he has finally discovered the secret of making money almost effortlessly in the business. Though making money is very dear to him, the youngster acknowledges that life does not start and end with generating cash. Therefore, one of the things he does to give back to his immediate community is to offer assistance by teaching people how to also make money from the internet business. This is how he puts it: “I have a passion for helping people, and the majority of my income comes from client work. In fact, even when I sometimes mentor people offline, I do it for free. I believe that the more you give, the more you get. Also, it is not that I have no plans to charge. Everything is a matter of time, and I believe now isn’t the right time to charge; I’m still taking my time to understand the real problems writers face online, and I’ll be happy to charge when I have something worth paying for”. Above all, he said his greatest joy as an entrepreneur is the freedom he joys. Meanwhile his focus at the moment is to generate more valuable contents that will help drive more traffic to his blog. “One article I’m writing right now will take at least 30 hours to complete, and I type at around 70 words per minute; it’s content like this that I want to focus on, and that I believe can impact my brand”, he enthused. Being an entrepreneur driven by passion for what he does, Oni, in spite of his abhorrence for routines would leave no stone unturned to achieve his goals once he has set them. “I hate routines, and that has been a problem for me. I’ve tried it several times to create a schedule to follow, but it makes it impossible for me to get anything done. My typical day is so erratic, and I don’t think I have a “working day”. I can work for a whole week sometimes, and the next week might be spent watching movies. Usually, I start my day by checking my emails, and I sometimes start the day by writing when I’m on a deadline. I spend an average of 40 hours working in a week, and it can be as much as 80 hours depending on my mood” he said. But while Oni hopes to concentrate on his blog in the short term, his long term plan is to become a computer scientist. He said his plan is to replicate what one of his mentors; Bill Gates did with Microsoft in the field of computing. BC

Personal Finance The biggest challenges for start-ups Finding a great idea olid business and management skills are the keys to long-term growth, but every successful business begins with an inspiring idea. When brainstorming the product or service that will make your fortune, start-up guru Steve Blank suggests that it is important to consider whether your product solves a problem or helps people connect with one another. Successful start-ups find a way to do either of these things better than their competitors do.

Writing a Plan and sticking to It: After the inspiration comes perspiration. Put your vision into words in the form of a thorough business plan. The essential elements of a plan include, among other things: ∗ A market analysis: This describes your niche in the economic food chain. What does your industry look like? Who are your competitors? ∗ Company description: Present a clear vision of who you are, what you do -- and most importantly, who you serve. ∗ Sales and marketing plan: How will you interest consumers in your product, and how will they purchase it? ∗ Life cycle of your product or service: Describe what you are selling, how customers will engage with it, and how you plan to bring them back to do repeat business with your company. ∗ Funding request: Develop a pitch that will appeal to investors. Writing a business plan is a way to translate your big dreams into baby steps. It’s not the most exciting part of masterminding a start-up, but a good plan can attract investors and give you a road map to come back to when the details of executing your vision become overwhelming. Just remember that your business plan is a living document, not set in stone. You will confront challenges that you plan does not account for, incur unforeseen expenses, and tweak your product to meet customer needs. You don’t get to consult a crystal ball when writing a business plan, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t have all the answers. Brace-up for losses before profitability: It’s conventional wisdom that you should expect to lose money for at least a year before your start-up turns a profit, or at least breaks even. But it’s also important to figure out how much you’ll need to spend to get off the ground. When budgeting how much capital you’ll need to launch your business, account for: •Start-up expenses: If you need to hire a lawyer to help you incorporate or comply with regulations that are a start-up expense. So is hiring a graphic designer to develop a logo, or contracting with a marketing firm to plot out a marketing plan. • Start-up assets: These are purchases that you need to run your business, which you must buy before you can open your door, launch your website or meet with a client. Start-up assets include machinery for heavy industry, computers and servers for a web start-up, and inventory for a retail outlet. • Start-up financing: Entrepreneurs notoriously underestimate the amount of capital they should raise. How much will it truly cost to cover your start-up expenses and assets? Entrepreneurs launch start-ups because they believe that their idea will one day save the world and earn a fortune along the way. They sometimes forget that they’ll need something to eat in the meantime. But when budgeting for those salad days, remember that you’ll need something to live off of, as well. If you can’t afford your living expenses, you can’t afford to run your business. Positioning for growth: If your start-up is successful, you might expand to new markets or broaden your product line -- and that will probably mean hiring more employees. But sometimes, the biggest barrier to growth isn’t lack of funding or demands for your product, it’s building a strong internal organization of people who are working towards the same vision. Developing an efficient system begins with documenting everything you do. BC

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Business Courage

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

ere comes Grand Cherokee’s limited-edition Summit Platinum. With a kick-arse audio system, loads of driver aids, heated and cooled leather seats and a huge panoramic roof model sitting above the Overland CRDi on which it is based, Limited-edition Summit Platinum peaks Grand Cherokee range with added bling and torque-rich diesel engine.

Compared to its European rivals, the Grand Cherokee includes a generous level of equipment as standard fit, leaving options to a choice of paint colour or maybe a couple of DVD screens for the kids. Now, Jeep has loaded its new limited-edition WK-series Grand Cherokee Summit Platinum with not only one of the longest nameplates in the business, but a surfeit of technology and equipment well worth its asking price.

The limited-edition model adds acoustic front, rear and second-row window glazing, body-colour lower body trim as well as mirror caps and door-handles, unique 20-inch alloy wheels and a host of other Platinum Chrome exterior enhancements including accents for the grille, lower fascias, side sills, foglight bezels, rear step pad and front door badging. It also comes with illuminated ‘Summit’ door sills and

a deluxe Berber carpet cargo compartment floor mat, in addition to the extensive equipment list of the Grand Cherokee Overland luxury flagship, as well as Active Noise Cancelling technology which Jeep says lowers cabin noise by as much as 10db(A). Like a pair of fancy brandname headphones, the noise cancelling technology uses a series of microphones placed throughout the cabin and transmits a frequency to ‘block’ the frequencies we hear as noise. These include tyre,

wind and driveline noise, each attenuated via the GCSP’s standard 825-watt, 19-speaker, 12-channel-amp and three sub-woofer-equipped harman kardon audio system. This is a pearler of an audio unit – especially if you have a penchant for high-fidelity sound or bass-rich beats. Playing via DAB+ digital radio or via Bluetooth, the system drives an extraordinary volume of crisp high ends and dense, thunderous lows through the cabin – all completely distortion free and without the interruption of un-

NEWS

Kia partners Bi-Courtney on the MMA2KiaRace Instagram Competition

ia Motors Nigeria, the leading Korean brand in the country has collaborated with Bi-Courtney Aviation Limited, owners of MMA 2 Airport to organise the first ever Instagram competition tagged MMA2KiaRace in Nigeria. The company recently has over the years, been at the fore of urban culture with innovative and youthful designs of its best in class models. With the final competition held recently at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, it recorded a remarkable feat as over 2000 contestants participated for the grand prize, the Kia Rio dubbed the people’s car. It was both an exciting and intriguing ceremony where 20 finalists competed for the Kia Rio in the grand finale of the competition.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

wanted ambient noise. The top-drawer Grand Cherokee is powered by a direct-injected 3.0-litre turbodiesel built by Italian manufacturer VM Motori and makes a decent 184kW and Ford Falcon XR8 rivalling 570Nm. Delivering drive to all four wheels via a decisive eightspeed automatic, the heft of torque comes on strong and smooth, and with plentiful abundance. It’s a vehicle whose performance belies its 2327kg (tare) weight with grunt on tap at all times, and in all conditions. Feeling the road beneath the GCSP is, however, a little tenuous at times. The steering offers a lot of weight but little in the way of feel or feedback.

It’s a capable beast for its size all the same, but a few degrees more communication through the tiller would really deliver the level of confidence needed to pilot it more accurately. However, it’s not like the GCSP is a slouch when it comes to handling. Get your head around the steering and the body responds honestly to corner input, feeling well supported on its adjustable dampers with little in the way of pitch and roll. The trade-off is that the ride is a little brusque, though we suspect the fitment of 20 x 8.0-inch alloys shod with 265/50-series rubber does little to help the cause. If you prefer a firmer ride, you’ll probably also appreciate the GCSP’s supportive heated

After a keenly contested game of intelligence, smartness and luck, a 23 year old Business Admin Student of University of Lagos, Ms Scarlet Gbemisola Shotade emerged the lucky winner of the people’s car, Kia Rio. The social interaction of both individuals and brands in the world has moved beyond the face-to-face communication to easier and digitalised platforms like the social media where people can interact with brands at the comfort of their homes. Flowing from this dynamics, Kia Motors Nigeria as a brand noted that it is committed to connecting with its teeming customers by deepening its social media campaign with the partnership with Bi-Courtney to organise the Instagram competition. It would be recalled that Kia Motors Nigeria is the first automobile company to embrace the digital media particularly the ecommerce for all its transactions and interactions in Nigeria by listing all its models from Kia Picanto to Kia Mohave on the Konga.com platform amongst others. As a technology-driven company, that is undoubtedly at the vanguard of mobile and digital marketing, Kia Motors Nigeria has continuously key into the digital communication to save a lot of time and resources currently being expended doing businesses that can easily be conducted within the confines of its customers’ homes and offices. BC

and cooled electrically-adjustable leather seats and heated leather and woodgrain steering wheel. Personally speaking, the steering wheel felt a little odd in the transition from leather to varnish as you twirl it from left to right, but the accessibility of infotainment and radar cruise control settings from the wheel are thoroughly welcomed. The Jeep’s voice recognition is also spot-on and like the infotainment and nav systems is easy to use. Little touches like electrochromatic (self-dimming) mirrors all the way around and auto headlights and wipers that function entirely as expected are also appreciated. A shame then the foot-operated park brake all-but omits the dead pedal (there’s a bump in the carpet instead) and that some people may find the narrow windows a little hard to see out of. As a five-seat family hauler and potential tow vehicle, (braked towing capacity is 3500kg) the GCSP would make a handy companion. Oddment storage is great for those holiday road trips and with 782 litres of cargo space offered behind an electricallyoperated tailgate, the hauling prospects of Jeep’s luxe lugger are pretty plain to see. It’s also pretty plain to see at night with fantastic headlights and a uniformly dimmable cabin aiding night vision no end. The GCSP offers a reasonable level of off-road ability though on this occasion we didn’t venture off the blacktop. I’d suggest the low-profile rubber could make venturing beyond the tar a little uncomfortable, though the auto-levelling Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain Quadra Drive II 4WD system will certainly help you get as far from civilisation as any similarlyspecified rival. On test, the GCSP returned an average fuel consumption figure of 7.8L/100km in mixed town and highway driving. With a 93-litre fuel tank that number gives the Jeep a theoretical range of nearly 1200km. In spite of seven airbags and a suite of electronic driver aids, the GCSP only receives a four-star ANCAP safety rating (based on EuroNCAP testing of the diesel left-hand drive model). The result was hampered by what ANCAP describes as “marginal protection from serious chest and leg injury” in the event of an offset frontal collision. It’s a point worth noting when shopping the Jeep against its nearest rivals (see below), two out of three receiving a full five-star score. BC

Autocare Between wheel alignment and balance

heel alignment and Wheel Balancing are two totally different things, but many people often get them confused. Wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Wheel Balancing, on the other hand allows the tires and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. This is accomplished by checking for any heavy spots on the wheel-tire combination and compensating for it by placing a measured lead weight on the opposite site of the wheel from where the heavy spot is. Wheel Alignment To find out if you need an alignment, first check each tire and look for uneven wear patterns. The problem with this method, however, is that if you can see a wear pattern like the ones listed below, it may be too late to save that tire. This is why it is a good idea to have your alignment checked periodically. *At each tire, take a coin and insert it in the tread at the inside, centre and outside. *If the tread is deeper on the edges than in the centre, the tire is over inflated. *If the tread is deeper in the centre than the edges, the tire is under inflated. *If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel alignment checked soon. Run your hand back and forth across the tread, being careful not to cut yourself on any debris or exposed steel belt wire. If the tread is smooth in one direction, but jagged in the other, you have what is called a “saw-tooth” wear pattern which is caused by a toe-in problem. Have the alignment checked as soon as possible as this condition causes rapid tire wear. The first two conditions do not call for a wheel alignment but the second two do. If these wear patterns are pronounced, you should replace the tires or move them to the rear before aligning the car. Another indication of an out-of-alignment condition is a car that continuously drifts or pulls to one side of the road when you let go of the wheel. A car that is hard to keep in a straight line without constant steering corrections is also a candidate. These conditions may or may not also contribute to premature tire wear. A wheel alignment cannot be done on a car with loose or worn front end parts. The technician will first check for worn parts and inform you of any problems before beginning the alignment.

Wheel Balance Out-of-balance tires will cause a car to vibrate at certain speeds, usually between 50 and 70 mph. A tire is out of balance when one section of the tire is heavier than the others. One ounce of imbalance on a front tire is enough to cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at about 60mph. To balance a wheel, the technician will mount it on a balancing machine which spins the wheel to locate the heavier part. He will then compensate for the heavy part by attaching a lead weight on the opposite side. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives after balancing all four wheels. Most high quality tires will hold their balance fairly well and go out of balance very gradually. If you notice a vibration that wasn’t there the day before, it is possible that one of the lead balancing weights fell off. If you feel the vibration mostly in the steering wheel, the problem is most likely in a front wheel. If the vibration is mostly in the seat, the problem is probably in the rear. BC

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Business Courage

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGULATORS

NCRIB seeks general public NDIC submits report to insurance review Financial Reporting Council T T he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, has submitted its 2014 audited financial statement to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN. The Council’s Head of Inspection and Monitoring, Mr Titus Osakwe who received the report on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Jim Obazee commended the NDIC for what he described as the Corporation’s regular rendition of its financial statements to the Council; add-

ing: “with this step, NDIC has once again distinguished itself among public interest entities in the country”. Director of Bank Examination, Mr Adedapo Adeleke who represented NDIC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim said the Corporation took the issue of stewardship to its stakeholders as a priority. Adeleke described the FRCN as an important institution whose activities were geared toward aligning the operations of

Nigerian business concerns with international best practices. He also noted that as a professional public institution, the NDIC would continue to work in tandem with the rules and regulations set by the Council. The Year 2014 Audited Financial Statement of the NDIC was prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS, and in line with the NDIC Act No. 16, 2006 and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act No. 6, 2011. BC

L-R: President Region Africa Robert Bosch, Dr Markus Thill, Member of the Board of Management Robert Bosch GmbH, Uwe Raschke and General Manager Robert Bosch Nigeria, Ghislain Noumbessy at the opening ceremony of the Bosch Nigeria office in Lagos recently

Nigeria Insurance sector’s GPW hits N302bn - NAICOM

he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has said the Gross Premium Written, GPW, of the industry has hit N302.10bn in the first quarter of 2015. NAICOM’s Head of Supervision, Mr Nicholas Opara, disclosed this in Ilorin at a workshop organised by the commission for insurance correspondents. According to him, the N302.10bn indicated an up shoot from N97.01bn recorded in 2013. “This commission is happy to say that insurance sector has improved on a geometrical progression. “We have moved from 63th to 59th position, according to insurance performance analysis, released by Global Research Center in USA,” Opara said. He pointed out that the total assets also shot up from N711.4bn recorded in 2013 to N793.66bn recorded in first quarter of 2014. Opara said Insurance funds

had increased from N334.85 billion in 2014 to 343.41 in first quarter of 2015. “The Net Claims Incurred reduced from N90.39bn in 2014 to N23.78bn in the first quarter of 2015. “Underwritten expenses declined from N56.85bn in 2014 to 15. 60bn in the first quarter of 2015 “ he said. Opara, however, disclosed

Fola Daniel, NAICOM boss

that the Net Profit declined from N28.43bn in 2013 to N5.45 billion in the first quarter of 2015. “The total liabilities increased from N422. 71bn in 2014 to N444.41bn in the first quarter of 2015 while the shareholders funds also decreased from N352. 54bn to N343.44bn over the same period.” he said. Opara linked some of the factors responsible for declined profit and shareholders’ funds to low awareness on insurance in the country. He said giants’ strides taken by the commission to bring insurance to foremost position as obtained in South Africa and developed countries included the enforcement of compulsory insurances. He said also eradication of fake insurance operators, job creation, signing of MOUs with identified law enforcement agencies for the battle against fake insurance operators helped in shoring up insurance industry in the country. BC

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, has called for review of law relating general public insurance given the spate of fire incidents at various market places and of recent, petrol tankers accidents across the nation. President of the NCRIB Mr. Shoderu explained that the call has become necessary as the spate of the accident has continued to deplete the hard earned wealth of the nation. Making reference to the recent Idimu fire at an intersection where about 34 buildings, 70 shops, one tricycle and one truck were consumed by the fire ignited by a fallen petrol-laden tanker, Mr. Shoderu enjoined the Lagos state Governor to consider adequate insurance policy to cover such incidences. According to him, rather than dipping hands into government coffer to compensate victims of unfortunate incidents thereby depleting the nation’s wealth, insurance professionals should be allowed to bear the burden of compensation, through adequate insurance cover. He also commended the Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on the approval for upward review of the Group Life Insurance scheme for officers of the Nigeria Police in the state. Shoderu described the Governor’s initiative as the right step in a right direction, stressing that the move would encourage crime control and make the state safe for habitation and business growth. Shoderu noted that the initiative was an indication that the governor values the importance of the service of security personnel, including the police, just as

Shoderu

he urged the governor not relent, but extend the same gesture to other employees of the state as well as back it up with prompt payment of premium. According to him, the scheme which was introduced by the state government 16 years ago to complement the Federal Government’s contributory scheme, to cover death and permanent disability of the police would ensure that their dependants live normal life in the event of death or permanent disability of their breadwinners. He however enjoined other state governors to emulate Lagos State by paying more attention to the insurance of public properties as well as undertake life assurance for security personnel serving in their states, saying that Lagos State has become a pace setter in terms of social security. It will be recalled that Governor Ambode had recently announced that in fulfillment of his promise to sustain, improve and consolidate on past attainment, announced the upward review of the compensation value of Senior Police officers to N5m; Inspectors to N3m while rank and File was hiked N2m respectively. BC

24 technical, operational NAMA staff on training abroad

he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, says 24 staff members were abroad for operational and technical training on Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication, CPDLC, service. The weekly bulletin of the Public Affairs Department of NAMA published on Friday in Abuja, said that the first batch of 12 staff comprising six air traffic controllers, ATCs and six air traffic engineers, ATEs, had departed for Paris and Germany for the training. According to the bulletin, the team will undergo a 10-day operational and technical training on the CPDLC facility. It said that another set of 12 staff comprising six ATCs and six engineers had joined them on Wednesday for the same purpose.

``Meanwhile, a successful airport hub implementation test for CPDLC linking the airport hub to SITA hub through fibre and radio was carried out last week,’’ it said. News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, reports that CPDLC is a method by which air traffic controllers can communicate with pilots over a data link system. The CPDLC application provides air-ground data communication like a set of clearance, information and request message elements which correspond to voice phraseology employed by ATC procedures. The standard method of communication between an air traffic controller and a pilot is voice radio, using either VHF bands for line-of-sight communication or HF bands for longdistance communication.BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

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Stock market last week Equities turnover of 1.552 billion shares worth N17.532bn in 17,785 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.221 billion shares valued at N16.964bn that exchanged hands the previous week in 19,847 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 929.317 million shares valued at N6.909bn traded in 9,877 deals; thus contributing 59.88 per cent and 39.41 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Natural Resources Industry followed with a turnover of 129.851 million shares worth N64.986m in 43 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with 124.814 million shares worth N6.858bn in 2,991 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – United Bank for Africa Plc, Multiverse Plc and Cornerstone Insurance Company Plc., (measured by volume) accounted for 586.164 million shares worth N1.950bn in 719 deals, contributing 37.77 per cent and 11.12 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Also traded during the week were a total of 19,675 units of

NSE trading hall

Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N1.296m executed in 21 deals compared with a total of 8,966 units valued at N5.556m transacted last week in 32 deals. Retail Bonds A total of 3,450 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N4.053m were traded this week in three deals compared with a total of 14,817 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N17.586m traded in 5 deals in the previous week. Index Movement The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization depreciated by 0.13% to close on Friday at

33,621.75 and N11.477tn respectively. Similarly, five Indices finished lower during the week, while the NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Oil/ Gas, NSE Lotus II Indices closed higher by 0.93 per cent, 0.62 per cent, and 0.38 per cent respectively. Summary Of Price Changes Twenty-four equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 27 equities of the preceding week. Forty-two equities depreciated in price, lower than 47 equities of the preceding week, while 127 equities remained unchanged, higher than 119 equities recorded in the preceding week.BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 12-06-15 All-Share Index 33,556.35 points Market Capitalization 11,450,038,418,342.31

NASD OTC REPORT 1 OUTSTANDING OFFERS AND BIDS ON NASD OTC Outstanding deals since April, 2015. SD ACORN PETROLEUM PLC SD ARM LIFE PLC SD ARM PROPERTIES PLC SD AFRILAND PROPERTIES PLC SD BGL PLC SD CAPPA AND D'ALBERTO PLC SD CENTRAL SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM PLC SD DUFIL PRIMA FOODS PLC SD FRIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC

Security

Industry Oil & Gas Financials Financials Financials Financials Industrials Financials Consumer Goods Consumer Goods

SD FOOD CONCEPTS PLC

Consumer Services

SD FUMMAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES PLC SD GEO-FLUIDS PLC SD GOLDEN CAPITAL PLC SD INDUSTRIAL & GENERAL INSURANCE PLC SD JAIZ INTERNATIONAL PLC SD NIGER DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC

Consumer Goods Industrials Financials Financials Financials Oil & Gas

SD PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT COMPANY PLC SD RESOURCERY PLC SD RIGGS VENTURES WEST AFRICA PLC SD SPRING MORTGAGE PLC SD SWAP TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMS PLC

Financials Technology Industrials Financials Technology Financials

RUSTRUSTBOND MORTGAGE BANK PLC

Nominal value (₦) 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Last Offer Date 10-Jun-15 20-May-15 11-Jun-15 16-Apr-15

Offers Volume offered Last Offer Price Last Bid Price 1,896,800 1.44 2.60 12,500 5.20 4.52 8.20 42,044 300.00 286.00 ########### 0.86 0.65

0.50 0.50 0.50 1.00 10.00 0.50

5-Jun-15 10-Jun-15 14-May-15 10-Jun-15 5-Jun-15

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.00

4-Jun-15 27-May-15

621,899.00 135,450.00 50,000 55,000.00 2,336,000 886,800 ###########

2 DEMATERIALISATION AND CUMULATIVE TRADE IN OTC SECURITIES 12-Jun-15

Security SD ACORN PETROLEUM PLC SD ARM LIFE PLC SD ARM PROPERTIES PLC SD AFRILAND PROPERTIES PLC SD BGL PLC SD CAPPA AND D'ALBERTO PLC SD CENTRAL SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM PLC SD DUFIL PRIMA FOODS PLC SD FRIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC SD FOOD CONCEPTS PLC SD FUMMAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES PLC SD GEO-FLUIDS PLC SD GOLDEN CAPITAL PLC SD INDUSTRIAL & GENERAL INSURANCE PLC SD JAIZ INTERNATIONAL PLC SD NIGER DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC SD PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT COMPANY PLC SD RESOURCERY PLC SD RIGGS VENTURES WEST AFRICA PLC SD SPRING MORTGAGE PLC SD SWAP TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMS PLC

RUSTRUSTBOND MORTGAGE BANK PLC

Industry Oil and Gas Financials Financials Financials Financials Industrial Financials Consumer Goods Consumer Goods Consumer Services Consumer Goods Industrial Financials Financials Financials Oil and Gas Financials Technology Industrial Financials Technology Financials

0.73 0.16 0.85 238.00 1.09

2.17 1.02

Bids Volume Bidded Last Bid Date 802,000 10-Jun-15 50,000 10-Jun-15 558,380 5-Jun-15 346,000 9-Jun-15 50,000 -

Year end 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Mar 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec

41,104,346 606,000,000 10,860,642 72,428,500 407 38,232,855 171,116,296 83,817,426 550,329,772 65,087,688 968,058,020 1,206,500 5,530,300 43,831,878 516,100,000 14,750,000 84,717,205

103,903,142,055 3,273,171,835

TRADE INFORMATION (JAN 2015-TILL DATE)

Total Share Capital Volume % '000 Dematerialised Dematerialised 2,000,000,000 5,785,673,000 1,900,000,000 1,249,000,000 12,000,000,000 196,875,000 5,000,000,000 6,753,333,334 976,335,936 5,650,000,000 3,600,000,000 4,257,668,000 1,170,324,536 14,231,238,000 11,829,700,000 181,408,000 2,875,595,000 2,576,686,039 880,394,000 7,138,199,210 2,705,378,000 10,945,334,000

DEMATERIALISATION INFORMATION

Introduced by Company Registrars Meristem Securities Limited CardinalStone Registrars Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc Mega Equity Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc APT Securities & Fund Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc Nigerian Int. Securities Ltd Unity Registrars Limited UBA Stockbroking Firm African Prudential Registrars Plc Greenwich Securities Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc Anchoria Investment & Securities Lim Nnenna Ejekam Associates Capital Bancorp Plc First Registrars Limited Stanbic IBTC stockbrokers limited Meristem Registrars Limited Integrated Trust & Investment LimitedPAC Registrars Limited Icon Stockbrokers Limited Meristem Registrars Limited Sterling Capital Market Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc Greenwich Securities Limited GTL Registrars Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc FCSL Asset Management Co. Limited United Securities Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited First Registrars Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited EDC Registrars Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited Mainstreet Bank Registrars Limite Primera Africa Securities Limited PAC Registrars Limited Signet Investment and Securities Limi PAC Registrars Limited Prominent Securities Limited United Securities Limited

2-Jun-15 -

2.06% 10.47% 0.00% 0.87% 0.60% 0.00% 0.76% 0.00% 17.53% 1.48% 0.00% 12.93% 5.56% 6.80% 0.01% 3.05% 1.52% 20.03% 0.00% 0.00% 0.55% 0.77% 3.15%

If you do not see your unquoted Plc on this list or for further enquirys consult your NASD OTC participating broker or visit our website at www.nasdng.com

DEALS 12 5 5 1 53 248 52 14 18 10 39 6 12 15 490

VOLUME 9,710

118,417 6,300 303 12,444,865 131,390,077 6,299,140 10,789,938 108,915,600 7,250 5,266,957 1,900 112,400 15,560 275,378,417

VALUE (₦) 23,440.70

271,718.25 18,900.00 30,300.00 58,564,638.50 41,423,294,475.23 3,356,080.00 16,067,149.62 109,993,848.00 6,162.50 1,021,714,202.25 2,660.00 110,044.00 35,607.30 42,633,489,226.35

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Skye Bank: leveraging MBL acquisition to increase market share By Udo Onyeka

t the end of year 2014 many experts described it as a year characterised by contrasting global economic performance and one in which domestic banking sector was constrained by regulatory headwinds and macroeconomic pressures. Expectedly the blurring business outlook continued in 2015, especially considering that Nigeria would conduct its general election in the first quarter; however some financial institutions were able to seize opportunities to navigate growth by innovative means. Skye Bank was one of such banks considering the lenders 2015, first quarter result. Skye Bank gross earnings rose to N42.3 bn in the first quarter of 2015 from N34.3bn in 2014, appreciating by 23 per cent. The Bank announced pre-tax profits of N6.2bn, representing an increase of 82 per cent over the N3.4bn recorded during the same period in 2014. The bank’s bottom-line followed the growth trajectory as net profit or profit after tax rose to N5.0bn during the review period compared to N2.7bn achieved during the corresponding period in 2014, an 85 per cent rise. The strong y/y growth on the PBT line was driven by an 11 per cent y/y growth in profit before provisions to N26.1bn and a -32 per cent y/y decline in loan loss provisions to N1.7bn. Of the two key income lines, non-interest income which advanced by 64 per cent y/y came in stronger. In contrast, funding income declined by 12 per cent y/y to N14.2bn due to a 50 per cent y/y spike in interest expense. The PBT of N6.2bn was a marked improvement over the pre-tax loss of -N1.9bn that the company reported in Q4 2014. The PAT of N5.2bn was also up by 30% q/q. Compared with our forecasts, PBT and PAT beat by 51 per cent and 49 per cent respectively because of positive surprises on the provisions and opex lines of around 50 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. The rapid improvement in the fee based transaction of the bank is evident of the bank’s strategy of leveraging the fee and commission

Tunde Ayeni, Chairman

Oguntayo

income opportunities in the Nigerian economy. Fees and commissions rose to a whopping N10.2bn from the previous figure of N6.2bn in the corresponding period in 2014, a 65 percent improvement. Fees and commissions are complementary to the bank’s interest earning assets. Bank’s Group Managing Director and CEO Timothy Oguntayo said at a media parley a week ago in Lagos that Skye Bank was set to deliver superior value and returns to shareholders as the bank enters its new strategic growth phase. He said the bank would leverage the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited to take its services closer to its current and prospective customers and expand its bouquet of value adding offerings to meet the diverse needs of its various stakeholders. 2014 full year The financial year 2014 was beset with fiscal and monetary policy changes in the operating environment which impacted on our business and operations. The restrictive monetary policy stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, aimed at maintaining price stability especially in the exchange rate market, had adverse effects on the short term performance of the banking industry. This was further exacerbated by the rapid decline in the crude

oil price in the second half of the year, coupled by a huge repatriation of funds by foreign investors. Skye Bank performance therefore reflected certain challenges it faced during the year. The bank’s profit before and profit after tax was N10.47bn and N9.74bn respectively, which was well below 2013 performance of N19.65bn and N18.53bn. The major drivers of this lower level profitability, according to Oguntayo were loan impairment charge, administration and general expenses. “The growth recorded in our net operating income was marginal at 1.1 per cent, which reflected a mixed bag of higher interest income following pass through pricing effect on borrowing customers but lower fees and commission owing to regulatory reduction in certain income items. The bank suffered elevated cost levels in 2014. The general and administration expenses increased substantially as we embarked on aggressive repairs and refurbishment of our equipment and facilities, and extensive training of workforce across the various region of the country”, he said. According to him the bank is expecting to reap the benefit of these investments in the coming years.In terms of interest income, he said the bank recorded a better performance.

“Whereas our focus on short tenured risk assets resulted into a drop in our interest income on term loans by 1 per cent, we made significant improvement in interest income from overdraft and finance lease respectively, recording 23.3 percent and 38.7 per cent growth rates, reporting N15.69bn and N2.69bn respectively”, Oguntayo said. Strategic Plan The bank said it would to make progress in the implementation of 2013-2015 corporate strategy .It said that in view of that it is in the final year for the implementation of this strategy, and in view of the recent acquisition of MBL have commenced a new three year strategic plan, which would extend the strategic objectives to accommodate additional corporate growth initiatives, with a view to delivering optimum value and synergy from the MBL acquisition and identifying plans for future. Oguntayo said with more business locations, the bank is positioned to attract cheaper deposits, with a view to lowering cost of funds and enhance capacity to crate profitable risk assets and have a strong buffer for liquidity. He said with significant investment in Information Technology, the bank would continue to deliver quality service to its customers. “Our IT transformation project was completed with

the cut-over to the Flexcube 12.0 banking application ib the second quarter of 2014 and customers were successfully migrated to the new platform. The new system has a robust transaction processing capabilities with improved reliability, efficient service delivery and sustainable technology model, to cope with evolving trend in banking,” he said. Outlook The bank is set to key into the opportunities and emerging situations such as new private refineries, power sector privatisations, liberalisation of gas supply and the progress ongoing in railways in national and sub national levels. These are potentials sources of interest to banks, as well as have positive ripple effect o manufacturing. Oguntayo said the bank would raise N30bn soon to enable it increase its liquidity. “Our bank has taken steps to ensure that we report decent returns in 2015 in the midst of the turbulent economic environment. Consequently we have identified business segments we can serve profitably with appropriate mix of products and services”, he said. According to him with more business locations owing to the acquisition of MBL, the bank is positioned to to attract cheaper deposits with a view to lowering its cost of funds. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, June 12, 2015 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC 0.50 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 30.90 PRESCO PLC 34.50 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. 4.26 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 2.40 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.54 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 JOHN HOLT PLC. 0.94 SCOA NIG PLC 4.44 TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 2.75 U A C N PLC. 41.50 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.30 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 0.96 G CAPPA PLC 14.46 Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 52.39 ROADS NIG PLC. 6.29 Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 10.00 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 45.22 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST 10.00 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 6.42 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.93 GUINNESS NIG PLC 168.00 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 20.01 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 1.66 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 150.25 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC 3.26 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 178.10 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 4.20 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 6.65 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 34.94 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 3.98 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 18.05 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 7.99 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. 5.35 U T C NIG. PLC. 0.50 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 11.84 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 39.90 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 850.07 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. 31.82 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 5.38 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. 1.67 Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 35.00 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 45.00 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 6.08 DIAMOND BANK PLC 4.20 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 21.99 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.76 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 26.85 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK 13.50 SKYE BANK PLC 2.50 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.05 U B A PLC 5.17 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 10.00 UNITY BANK PLC 2.53 WEMA BANK PLC. 1.04 ZENITH BANK PLC 20.02 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.94 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 1.03 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC NT EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.53 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC 0.50 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. 0.5 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 2.83 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.82 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.51 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 5.42 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 1.14 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.25 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.42 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC 6.4 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 2.85 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 4.00 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC 0.64 FBN HOLDINGS PLC 8.95 FCMB GROUP PLC 3.07 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.50 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 27.00 SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND 103.24 NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR FUND 552.20 UBA CAPITAL PLC 1.46 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 3.72 UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1.82 Pharmaceuticals

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 12-06-15

52 WK HIGH

QUANTITY

52 WK LOW

9,140 261,540 107,996

0.64 107.81 41.14

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

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

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A 1.64 0.00

0.50 30.40 34.50

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

4.26

1,249,104

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

6.67

2.25

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

2.08 6.43 5.89

0.71 4.15 1.07

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

0.11 0.16 1.09

0.00 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 3.95 0.94 4.44 2.83 41.70

375 3

26.00 95.49

5.05 95.49

148,500,000 196,876,000

0.33 4.50

N/A N/A

5.30 NT

807,550 217

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

1.06 14.46

27,437 1,832

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

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

6.74 1.69

-0.21 N/A

52.50 6.29

NT 324,368

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A 0.00

NT 10.00

93 100 6,350

100.00 50.00 10.50

100.00 50.00 0.00

20,000,000 250,019,781

5.82 0.19

N/A N/A

100.00 45.22 10.00

5,016

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

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

19.48 0.68 297.41 30.00 9.09 179.40 0.97

3.13 0.68 209.10 5.34 0.81 91.10 0.93

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

0.00 0.00 8.66 0.63 0.00 5.03 0.00

N/A N/A 1.82 N/A N/A 1.53 N/A

6.60 0.93 165.00 20.01 1.74 147.99 3.26

24,150

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

176.50

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

0.50 10.68 12.85 109.24 4.11 1.21 29.70 14.00 5.94 0.93 13.31

0.50 3.85 3.26 50.00 1.83 0.50 17.51 3.65 5.35 0.50 4.22

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

0.00 0.00 0.81 3.38 0.34 0.00 0.00 1.05 0.08 1.13 0.00

N/A 0.00 0.76 -2.10 0.00 N/A N/A 14.14 N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 4.20 6.60 35.69 3.98 0.50 18.05 7.00 5.35 0.50 11.84

5,725 390,319

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

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

1.57 28.34

0.00 -2.18

39.90 869.00

25,333 100 187,845 15,000

15.58 36.19 5.54 2.88

10.03 32.27 2.91 0.57

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

3.90 13.92 0.71 0.00

N/A N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 31.82 5.38 1.75

156,973 119,119

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

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

1.34 1.42

19.86 -1.10

29.20 45.50

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

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

12.39 7.85 17.51 3.47 8.30 29.99

4.70 1.92 9.90 1.13 3.04 13.02

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

1.61 1.71 3.67 0.68 0.60 3.08

-0.33 -5.41 1.34 -5.88 #VALUE! -2.36

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

7.05 3.05 9.60 15.30 1.16 1.88 27.40

2.65 0.80 1.64 2.34 0.50 0.50 11.96

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

0.97 0.63 1.70 0.44 0.18 0.00 3.30

-3.47 0.99 0.39 -0.99 0.00 1.96 0.25

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

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

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

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

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

N/A 0.00 N/A N/A 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.00 -1.39 N/A -2.38 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 0.00

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.55

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

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

0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.07

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

10,000,000 584,766

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

500 500 500 220,000 4,570

1.65 0.50

1.37 0.50

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

0.03 0.02

N/A N/A

0.50 0.99

0.50 0.50

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

0.30 0.00

N/A N/A

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

0.00 0.15 2.45 1.23 0.13 1.53

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

2.1

0.5

0.61 2.02 21.50 5.70 1.33 20.72 103.24

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 98.33

1.70

0.00

1.18 0.19

0.50 1.00 NT 0.50 1.00 0.50 NT 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 NT 0.53 0.5 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.87 0.50 0.84 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51 5.42 1.14

0.63

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

6.10 4.44 21.70 1.87 NT 27.50 13.50 2.59 2.03 5.15 10.10 2.60 1.02 19.97

N/A N/A -0.56 N/A -6.74

0.29

1.25 0.50 1.42 0.50 6.4 2.9 4.00 NT 0.67 9.00 2.99 0.50 28.95 103.24 552.20 1.40

170 40,000

5.05 0.50

4.32 0.50

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

0.13 0.00

N/A N/A

3.72 0.50

100

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

1.82

N/A=Not Avialable @

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.75 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.35 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 44.26 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.75 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.19 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. 6.32 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.23 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 0.50 Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.91 IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 3.98 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 11.02 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. 1.69 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 3.39 Telecommunications Services IHS NT HIS NIGERIA PLC 2 NT HIS NIGERIA PLC 1 NT MTI PLC 0.5 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. 2.72 ASHAKA CEM PLC 21.50 BERGER PAINTS PLC 11.36 CAP PLC 41.00 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 10.55 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 176.99 DN MEYER PLC. 0.83 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC 0.50 PREMIER PAINTS 10.93 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 99.10 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.33 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 4.18 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.09 CUTIX PLC. 1.75 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. 0.50 Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.52 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 39.90 GREIF NIGERIA PLC 11.48 NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. 0.63 Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 7.46 NIG SEW MACH. MAN. CO PLC. 0.15 STOKVIS NIG PLC. 0.14 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 5.11 Metals ALUMACO PLC 7.75 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 10.43 MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. 0.73 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 16.95 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.5 CONOIL PLC 40.00 ETERNA PLC. 2.53 FORTE OIL PLC. 173.00 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 148.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 50.54 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 159.99 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 338.00 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.15 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 0.76 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 5.09 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 1.22 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.66 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 0.50 Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.07 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3.60 TOURIST COY NIG PLC 3.51 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 9.63 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 0.95 LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.15 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 2.30 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 6.05 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.56 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC 4.43 SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC 0.5 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 2.23 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 5.25 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 3.6 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC NT OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OIL PLC NT NAVITUS ENERGY PLC NT Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. NT HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals AFRIK PHARMACEUTICALS PLC. NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products NT ADSWITCH PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Metals W.A. ALUM. PRODUCTS PLC. NT Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers NT JULI PLC. NT ETF’s Sector ETF LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NT NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND NT VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF NT

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

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

4.80 2.50 69.00 3.38 1.76 8.59 3.50

0.50 0.61 18.97 1.23 0.58 7.36 1.83

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

0.58 0.24 3.07 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.00 -3.46 0.34 14.38 -7.03 N/A N/A

1.75 3.47 44.11 1.53 1.28 6.32 2.23

37,000

0.96

0.50

2,960,000,000

0.11

0.00

0.50

100

0.50

2,941,789,472

0.00

N/A

0.50

0.91

4,966,666,668

0.00

N/A

0.91

400 100 5,460

18.70 2.94

13.12 2.07

108,000,000 492,825,600

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

4 11.02 1.69

27,420 1,080

0.50 4.97

0.50 3.13

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

0.04 0.04

N/A N/A

0.50 3.39 NT NT NT 0.5

100

0.50

4,893,594,400

0.00

N/A

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

2.86 29.98 12.20 67.50 12.99 210.01 3.54 0.75 1.34

2.86 8.01 6.82 13.78 4.00 102.00 0.50 0.50 0.50

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

0.07 0.80 0.91 1.66 1.12 5.77 0.06 0.00 0.00

N/A -0.32 3.27 0.00 2.23 -0.01 N/A N/A N/A

110.00 2.41 7.22

39.80 0.50 2.27

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

6.83 0.36 0.43

0.10 N/A N/A

2.72 21.57 11.00 41.00 10.32 177.00 0.83 0.50 0.50 10.93 99.00 1.33 3.99

100 220,132 100

2.00 2.39 0.73

2.00 1.20 0.50

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

0.05 0.19 0.00

N/A 0.00 N/A

2.09 1.75 0.50

NT 561 1,361 100 NT NT NT

3.98 5.94 13.18 13.28 3.60 1.86 0.63

3.98 1.71 9.04 12.68 1.60 1.05 0.63

N/A N/A

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

0.00 0.00 3.23 0.90 0.24 0.22 0.00

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

NT 1.52 44.00 11.48 NT NT 0.63

100 200 NT

8.69

8.26

265,409,280

0.00

N/A

0.14

2,918,000

0.00

N/A

25,000,000 683,974,528

7.46 0.15 0.14

10,000

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

0.00

5.11

320 100

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75,600,000 100,000,000

0.00 0.24

N/A N/A

7.75 10.43

100

0.50

4,058,989,226

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 4,050

3.22 1.38

3.22 0.67

50,000,000 220,000,000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT 0.73

1,408,720

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.50

4,924,248

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

-5.15

17.87

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

76.00 4.87 115.64 146.00 59.00 190.01

16.96 1.32 7.73 106.00 16.20 118.75

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

2.69 0.61 1.43 9.93 1.04 12.91

0.00 -4.53 8.23 -5.31 N/A 3.19

0.5 40.00 2.65 159.85 156.30 50.54 155.05

306,355

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

100

3.48

209,933

2.45

1.00

2,572,000 3,000

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

4,035,497,307

338.00

0.00

N/A

0.50 3.15

980,294,400

0.00

1.33

0.75

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

-0.20 N/A

5.10 1.28

4,059,547

1.64

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.70

1,500

0.75

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

0.50

100 599,750 1,000 2,800

1.72 3.88 10.00

0.64 3.51 10.00

2,078,796,396

0.00

-7.46

4.07 3.89 3.51 9.63

1,000

0.51

0.50

8,000,000,000

0.43

N/A

0.50

16500 224,498 20 20,800

3.09 2.78 5.77

1.39 2.52 3.00

771,450,000 425,641,111

0.00 0.00 0.61

N/A N/A 0.00

0.95 1.15 2.30 6.05

955,140

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.56

6 40,000,700

5.15 1.88

4.90 0.80

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

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

4.43 0.5

111,000 246,274

5.90 8.81

1.27 5.08

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

0.50 0.43

N/A -14.08

2.33 6.11

189044

3.6

1.43

1.04

45,000,000

0.12

N/A

100

2.26

1.02

201,885,335

0.00

N/A

100000 1000

NT NT

0.60

30,000,000

0.00

N/A

0.50

24,898,850

0.00

N/A

NT NT

1.88

1.63

125,005,250

0.00

N/A

NT NT

NT NT 1,000

0.50

6,650,000

0.00

N/A

3.05

2.76

194,700,000

0.00

N/A

2,706

2,003

41 10

#VALUE! 49467

NT NT NT

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, June 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, June 15, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

“It is the clear responsibility of the court, which it does not share with any other body to act as the interpreter of the constitution “

Justice Dahiru Musdapher, former Chief Justice of Nigeria xx

Legal Aid Council, NHRC yet to meet peoples’ expectations –Ananaba 42

Gomez

Babalola

SAN award: Gomez, others tackle Afe Babalola, renew call for abolition Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), recently advocated reforms in the country’s legal profession. Specifically, the learned senior advocate recommended that the appointment of Senior Advocate of Nigeria should follow the practice in England where the title is awarded to all that are qualified for the rank yearly rather than conferring the award on only few out of the number of qualified applicants. WALE IGBINTADE highlights the views of other lawyers on the issue.

Unlawful detention: How Ibadan first lawyer, Agbaje floored IGP in 1967 45

Nestle takes India noodles sales ban to court 46

orty years after the conferment of rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria was introduced in the country, agitations for its modification or outright abolition is still widespread. The title was first conferred on two foremost lawyers, Chief F.R.A. Williams and Dr. Nabo GrahamDouglas on April 3, 1975. Barely, three years later, specifically on January 12, 1978, Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo, Remi FaniKayode and 13 others made the list. The others were, T.A. Bankole Oki , E.A. Molajo , Kehinde Sofola , Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief G.O.K. Ajayi., Chief Olisa Chukura , Dr. Nwakanma Okoro, Dr. Mudiaga Odje, , P.O.Balonwu ., Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Dr.Augustine Nnamani. The institution of the award of SAN is a replica to the Queen’s Counsel (QC) being conferred on lawyers in United Kingdom. The conferment is made in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, (LPA) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, (LPPC) headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The LPPC is a body created and empowered by the LPA (Cap LII LFN

IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBER OF LAWYERS THAT QUALIFY FOR THE YEARLY AWARD OF QC, AN EQUIVALENT OF THE SAN TITLE IN UK, ALL OF THEM WOULD BE APPOINTED, LEAVING NO ROOM FOR BACKLOG 2004) to award the rank of SAN to deserving lawyers. The rank is a privilege awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who are in full time legal practice, have distinguished themselves as advocates and have made significant contribution to the development of the legal profession in Nigeria. Specifically, the rank is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than 10 years’ standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. Just recently, legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), stressed the need for reforms in the appointment of SAN to follow the model in the United Kingdom. Babalola said in England, irre-

spective of the number of lawyers that qualify for the award of QC, an equivalent of the SAN title, in a year, all of them would be appointed, leaving no room for backlog, wondering why Nigeria could not take a cue from the practice in England. According to him, “In the last few years, many lawyers have been asking for the abrogation of the SAN title. Their grievance is that they apply year after year and those who are qualified could be as many as 70, but at the end of the day, the law limits the number of those that should be appointed to only 15, leaving a backlog of those who are qualified.” He noted that this practice has encouraged the “man-know-man,” syndrome where those who grant

the SAN title to lawyers tend to favour those they know ahead of those they don’t know very well. Over the years, critics of the award have alleged that it has been politicised and hence they vehemently called for its abolition. They argued that it did not give the lawyers a common levelplaying ground hence it ought to be jettisoned. Commenting on the proposition by Babalola, a leading critic of the award, Pa Tunji Gomez said Babalola is no longer in touch with feelings of young lawyers. He said ‘Afe is calling for modification of the award of Senior Advocates and that will be very dangerous. There is no reform that can help, it has to be abolished. With due respect to Chief Afe Babalola, he is out of touch with the suffering of junior lawyers. He is no long active in the Bar Association as he was, so he is not able to appreciate the suffering of young lawyers. ‘’The lawyers are saying the award itself is oppressive but in England, it is not oppressive. If you have a case that is eight years old and a SAN has a case that is CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

Law & Justice

Monday, June 15, 2015

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Legal Aid Council, NHRC yet to meet Paul Ananaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is versed in Legal Drafting and Immigration law practice. In this interview with MATTHEW IRINOYE, he speaks on the challenges of justice reform before the Muhammadu Buhari administration and how to deal with prison congestion among others. Excerpts. What legal forms do you think the Goodluck Jonathan administration failed to implement before leaving office last May? There are quite so many areas that the last administration failed and it could be seen from the national conference report, the National Assembly constitution amendment report, the power sector reform was not concluded, we can give it to him that FOI bill was signed but at the very present state how useful is it to Nigerians? A lot of things were left undone during the last administration so to speak. Will you suggest that the Buhari’s administration should look into them, modify and implement the reforms? Looking at the report of the National Conference; the National Assembly constitution amendment reports and the power sector reform, if the present administration succeeds in doing these things, then Buhari’s administration will be better than the last administration. I want you to set agenda on justice sector reform for the new administration? There is a new law released on the criminal justice system and I am sure that there are new laws on the criminal offences and I believed that such laws will take care of the minor problems usually encountered in the criminal justice system. The justice system needs a lot of attention, during the last administration the retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, and the present one cried out that the allocation of the judiciary is being reduced every year. In this kind of the situation one does not expect judges to start begging for payment of salaries and other benefits because the judges need to be independent and while talking about independent it is financial independent. It will save them from financial temptation from lawyers, litigants and even from government. Unlike the present time that the judicial workers strike for just little or no reason, imagine what happen in Rivers State where court did not sit for the past one year, where will litigants begin from and how will it take them to recover from the lost ?. On the part of lawyers, many of them would have relocated to other states of Federation when they cannot practice in the state.

Ananaba, SAN

THE LEGAL AID COUNCIL HAS NOT MET THE EXPECTATIONS REQUIRED OF THEM; AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, THEY ALL HAVE WORK TO DO How do you think the Federal Government can deal with prison congestion in the country? Well, the Legal Aid Council has not met the expectations required of them; as well as the National Human Right Commission, they all have work to do. Over time, we had advocated that instead of using police for prosecution especially a system where lawyers take dog brief, when the arraignment is in place the trial can be smoother and faster. I think courts should be located near the prisons or even within the prisons so

as to reduce unnecessary movement of the inmates, if there is need for them to go out there should be enough vehicles to convey them to courts that are not close by. Another issue I want government to do is to provide more gadgets in the court to enable the court to fast track its proceedings, and above board the criminal cases within the High Courts and Magistrate Courts must be given a specific time limit to finish those cases. The police still use the stop and search ploy as guise to carry out roadblocks

against the Inspector-General of Police’s directive. What is your view on this issue? I do not think that the Police actually ignored the directive, I travelled by road last week to a far distance within the country and I was impressed about what the Nigerian Police are doing, they are always on the roads not in the old manner of stop and search patrol. I think we still need them on the roads but they must be well -equipped so as to enhance their performance on the job. What are your suggestions to improve our criminal justice system? Well, there are failures on both sides; I mean from lawyers and some judges, even the failure at times come from the Police because most of these crimes would have been investigated by the Police. Aside that, ICPC and EFCC also usually contribute to the failure, I think there should a stakeholders’ ap-

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peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Ananaba proach to it. The lawyers should be alive to the importance of the criminal proceedings, the judges and the court registrars and other agencies that have fiat to prosecute especially the Police should show commitments to ensure that trial are speedy and fair. Should the details of assets declared by President Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajo be made public? The law requires it to be public, and it is already a public document when they made the declaration, being public does not mean that it must be seen all over the world, that is not the intention; the intension is to make it known to the appropriate agencies which was done on oath. So if anybody is waiting to read those things on the pages of the newspapers such person is lazy and I do not think such is necessary. Will you advise Buhari to separate the office of Justice Minister from that of Attorney-General of Federation? I will allow him to think of what to do, but I must say that it is not the separation of the office that determines its functions. It is the fact that the occupiers of the office had often been appointed from the political lane, if the president or the state governor appoints those that are loyal to him and the appointment is not based on the credibility, to achieve result would be too difficult. I think it is time the bar must rise up to take the challenge of who becomes the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation because he is the Chief Law Officer, leader of the bar, yet he is being appointed by the President or Governor who does not have the feeling of the bar. We know ourselves and if the AttorneyGeneral is conversant with the bar, he would be answerable to the bar but when such is being appointed for political purpose there can never be good results from it. Do you agree with the view that 180 days for the determination of election petitions is a short period? The period of 180 days stipulated for tribunal is enough for the serious ones to conclude the matters before him; it is Tribunal and not a normal court. Most of the evidence is deposed to in the witness statements and with that it should not take him much time because a justice delayed is a justice denied. Nigerians cannot afford to go back to dark days when petitions against a governor or any elected person will be on and the person will finish his tenure and at the edge of finishing his term an unfaithful judgement is given. I think within six months tribunal should conclude its matter. In fact, I am of the opinion that the tribunal should be concluded before swearing-in, before anybody would be sworn-in his matter at the tribunal should have been concluded. How would you rate the judgments delivered by the courts in those days and present time? History will always has its way in things, in the late 80s there was no much of computers and internet services but today there is internet so it affect the output on proceedings. Though it is not that the new knowledge has been thrown down or subtracted, but it all depends on individuals, by and

large the standards are still high today. How do you think we can use law to overcome the problem of insecurity? The law only provides the regulatory framework; it does not do all that is required. There are laws and there are law enforcement agents, there are even more than enough laws in the country but it is unfortunate that corruption has infiltrated too many things and because of the corruption people are not patriotic as they ought to be. To be able to fight corruption and insurgency, there is need to be patriotic also requiring human intelligence and equipment. For instance, a military man fighting for Nigeria at the war front who is not sure of what would happen to his family if he dies in the cause of war, such person would not fight with all zeal required. It is because we have seen a situation whereby the pensioner funds have been misappropriated by the criminals in the government jurisdiction; I must say that those concurrencies affect the collective fight against terrorism and militancy. In all, the laws only provide regulatory framework and having done that, there is need for the enforcement to take place. The Bar is now involved in the screening process of appointment of new SANs. Will this bring credibility to the whole process? I believe it will bring credibility to the process, the rank is Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the Bar supposed to determine who becomes senior within the Bar. The committee may not know much about the lawyer who applied, whereas within NBA we should know and agree to those who should become senior members of the Bar, it is a good idea. How do you see the future of legal practice in Nigeria? I believe that if specialization could come in there would be a drastic change in the system. Today, the same lawyer at the admiralty is the one at the ADR; he is also involved in oil and gas wanting to be involved in anything that comes his way. I want to believe that is not what the law is all about; today the society is grown so wide then specialization should come to play. In no time the general practitioner would die and I can foresee young lawyers coming together to form partnership and have bigger law firms where departments would have areas of specialization so as to make a required professional landmark. I believe that it is not possible to know every part of the law but there can be specialists in Aviation law, Environmental law, ADR and Criminal law to mention few. Will you recommend five years pupilage for young lawyers? No, five years is too much, but I believe in working hard; so, a young lawyer should not first look after money rather to get himself improve on the skills of the job and be committed to his work. By so doing, the sky is the limit of such person. Aside being mentioned, the task ahead of him is sensitive, for instance, in a criminal matter that has to do with life and death, a good lawyer should be able to handle his matter diligently, and such lawyers is just fresh in the system, the experience and logic to handle such matter

I THINK IT IS TIME THE BAR MUST RISE UP TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE OF WHO BECOMES THE

ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION BECAUSE HE IS THE CHIEF LAW OFFICER AND LEADER OF THE BAR

may not be there for him because there is a gap between theory and practical. I think it will be nice to have some experiences, I also think that there is need to move towards specialization because the country is expanding, in South Africa there are law firms that have more than 500 lawyers whereas in

Nigeria there is nothing of such. How will you advise young lawyers to excel in the legal profession? The young lawyers need to work hard with integrity and be patient, with time he will be established and be proud to be a lawyer.

Law & Justice

Monday, June 15 2015

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‘Criteria for appointment defective, rank’s oppressive’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 six months old, the court will hear his six months old case before your own case. What that means is that ordinary litigants are put in disadvantage because he wants his case to be heard quickly. So, he may take his case from a junior lawyer and give it to a Senior Advocate. So, what we want it its abolition and not reform. So, what Chief Babalola is advocating is not a reform, it is an extension to a privilege class to oppress the majority of the people. ‘’ But in his view, Mr. Seyi Sowemimo, SAN aligned with Babalola’s position but added that ‘’the criteria for appointment should be high enough to ensure that it is not all and sundry that can qualify for the rank.’’ He added that the Privileges’ Committee has to ensure that those who were awarded are seasoned advocates and that system is not open to manipulation. ‘’If the standards are high enough and those who apply meet the criteria, then they should all be appointed. Those that are appointed should be people who will help to maintain standard in the profession’’, he added. Former Secretary, NBA Lagos branch, Seth Amaefule however threw his weight behind Gomez, maintaining that there award of the SAN is oppressive in a republican state like Nigeria. He said ‘’I hold the view that there is no room in Nigeria being a republican state to have a dichotomy at the Bar or in the courtroom where certain people enjoy privileges to the detriment of others. Chief Afe Babalola with due respect was one of the old orders. He once boasted that his chambers is an incubator of SANs, to the extent that several SANs were either people who practiced in his chambers or people who he supported their aspirations to become SAN. According to Amaefule, the criteria for ap-

Sowemimo

AFE IS CALLING FOR MODIFICATION OF THE AWARD OF SENIOR

ADVOCATE AND

THAT WILL BE VERY

DANGEROUS. HE IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE SUFFERING OF JUNIOR LAWYERS; THERE IS

NO REFORM THAT CAN HELP, IT HAS TO BE ABOLISHED pointment is defective adding that the manner in which in which the rank is being used at the Bar is oppressive. ‘’The Legal Practitioners’ Act which pro-

Bar

Jokes Eternal torment

CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

A man was sent to Hell for his sins. As he was being taken to his place of eternal torment, he passed a room where a lawyer was having an intimate encounter with a beautiful young woman. “What a rip-off,” the man muttered. “I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman.” Jabbing the man with his pitchfork, the escorting demon snarled, “Who are you to question that woman’s punishment?”

vides for the appointment says that those appointed have to be lawyers of distinction at the Bar. They have to show more that having conducted case at the High Court, Appeal Court or at the Supreme Court. Distinction is that you have handled a matter in which a locus classicus was set to advance the course of law in a particular way. Again, we are saying that the manner the rank is being used at the Bar is oppressive and deprived others their rights and entitlement at the Bar. He stated that members of the rank of SAN have arrogated to themselves more powers and privileges more than what is provided for in the rules. Part of the guidelines for the conferment of the rank of SAN is that every candidate is required to provide particulars of contested cases which he considers to be of particular significance to the evaluation of his competence kin legal practice and contributions to the development of the law. Each candidate is also expected to attach a certified true copy of all the judgment referred to in his application.’ In the new guidelines spelt out for those

lawyer.” “Honest?” asked Joshua. “No, just the regular kind,” replied Adam.

Fair Trial

A judge enters the courtroom, strikes the gavel and says, “Before I begin this trial, I have an announcement to make. The lawyer for the defence has paid me $15,000 to swing the case his way. The lawyer for the plaintiff has paid me $10,000 to swing the case her way. In order to make this a fair trial, I am returning $5,000 to the defence.”

Injustice in Hell

A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil. As he passed sulphurous pits and shrieking sinners, he saw a man he recognized as a lawyer snuggling up to a beautiful woman. While two families were waiting in line to ‘That’s unfair!’ he cried. ‘I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend see the Washington Monument, their two five-year-old boys were getting acquainted. it with a beautiful woman.’ “My name is Joshua. What’s yours?” asked ‘Shut up,’ barked the devil, jabbing the man with his pitchfork. the first boy. ‘Who are you to question that woman’s “Adam,” replied the second. punishment?’ “My daddy is a doctor. What does your Culled from Cool Funny Jokes: Lawyer daddy do for a living?” asked Joshua. Adam proudly replied, “My daddy is a Jokes.

My daddy is a lawyer

Amaefule

applying for the award, an applicant for the rank is expected to pay N300, 000 as application fee as against N250,000 paid last year. The new guidelines have also empowered the committee to suspend a legal practitioner from the use of the rank of SAN pending the determination of any disciplinary action, complaint or prosecution against such a legal practitioner. This new power will allow the committee to punish an alleged erring legal practitioner even when his guilt is yet to be established. In the new guidelines, those applying as academics must now show that their published works are published by reputable publishers “whose reputation shall be assessed and determined by the Academic subcommittee”. The guidelines retain the criteria for evaluating candidates’ competence which are: integrity 25 per cent, judges’ opinion 15 per cent, knowledge of law 15 per cent, contribution to the development of the law 10 per cent, leadership qualities 10 per cent, strength and quality of reference 15 per cent and quality of law office 10 per cent.

LEGAL TIPS Fetal rights: Protecting rights of the unborn child

etal rights are moral or legal rights of human fetuses. In other words, they are rights of any unborn human fetus, which is generally a developing human from roughly eight weeks after conception to birth. *Like other categories such as civil rights and human rights, fetal rights embraces a complex variety of topics and issues involving a number of areas of the law, including criminal, employment, health care, and Family Law. *Historically, under both English common law and U.S. law, the fetus has not been recognized as a person with full rights. Instead, legal

rights have centered on the mother, with the fetus treated as a part of her. *Nevertheless, U.S. law has in certain instances granted the fetus limited rights, particularly as medical science has made it increasingly possible to directly view, monitor, diagnose, and treat the fetus as a patient. *The term fetal rights came into wide usage following the landmark 1973 abortion case Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113, 93 S. Ct. 705, 35 L. Ed. 2d 147. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that a woman has a constitutionally guaranteed unqualified right to abortion in the first trimester of her pregnancy.

*She also has a right to terminate a pregnancy in the second trimester, although the state may limit that right when the procedure poses a health risk to the mother that is greater than the risk of carrying the fetus to term. * In making its decision, the court ruled that a fetus is not a person under the terms of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. However, the court also maintained that the state has an interest in protecting the life of a fetus after viability—that is, after the point at which the fetus is capable of living outside the womb. Culled from Lawbrain. com

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Monday, June 15, 2015

Unlawful detention: How Ibadan first lawyer, Agbaje floored IGP in 1967 FAMOUS CASES

Chief Mojeed Agbaje was the first qualified lawyer in Ibadan and was well-known in the 1960s. He was arrested and unlawfully detained by the Police in 1969 and he challenged the detention orders purportedly issued against him by the then Inspector- General of Police. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary writes.

undreds of years ago, the practice of imprisoning a man without disclosure of the precise accusation against him flourished in England. The matter came to a head in the Petition of Rights in 1628, which complained to the King that several of his subjects were being illegally detained by the Justices in His Majesty’s court. Indeed, the Petition of Rights and other famous cases, notably the O’Brien and Darnel’s cases form part of the background to the provisions contained in the Chapter Three of the 1963 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Habeas Corpus Law, Cap. 42 Laws of the then Western Nigeria. The provisions of these laws guarantee certain Fundamental Human Rights, including the liberty of the subject. However, the personal liberty of the subject may be, to some extent, sacrificed by legal enactment, war and period of emergencies. This was the situation when the Federal Government promulgated Decree No 24 of 1967, whose validity was contested in the law court during the Yakubu Gowon administration. Little known to some people is the fact, apart from Gani Fawehinmi who had his first detention experience in 1969; another notable lawyer from an influential background, Chief Mojeed Mobolanle Agbaje equally suffered the same fate in 1969. Agbaje is the son of the late Alhaji Salami Agbaje of Ayeye, Ibadan. Chief Salami Agbaje was a very successful indigenous entrepreneur and was Ibadan’s richest citizen in his time. He was the first Ibadan man to ride a car in 1915, and built a two-storey building, with cement. The deceased was known to have spent a great deal of his wealth in giving his children the best education. He produced the first Ibadan Medical Doctor, Dr. Saka Anthony Agbaje; the first Ibadan lawyer, Mojeed Agbaje and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Ganiyu Agbaje and also Yekeen Agbaje, a Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Mojeed Agbaje had been illegally detained by the police authorities under a decree in 1969. He consequently challenged his detention through a writ of habeas corpus issued on June 12, 1969, on the Commissioner of Police, Western State. In the High Court, the substance of Agbaje’s complaint was that he was unlawfully detained in a police station, in Ibadan by the Police Commissioner as from May 31, 1969 to June 12, 1969 when his application was heard. Agbaje swore to an affidavit and deposed to the fact that he had repeatedly demanded the reasons or authority for his detention, at the police station, but no one

Court of Appeal Headquaters

answered him. He wrote letters to that effect but got no reply. Instead, he claimed to have been treated rather roughly. The Commissioner of Police filed a return to the writ. In it, he admitted detaining the applicant and based his authority for so doing, under orders, said to have been made by the InspectorGeneral of Police. Thus, he acted under and by virtues of powers vested in the Inspector- General of Police by section 3(1) of the Armed Forces and Police (Special Powers) Decree No 24 of 1967. After a review of the facts, Justice Akinola Aguda found that all the facts deposed to in the applicant’s affidavit were not challenged in any way by the Commissioner of Police. The judge held that ‘’I hold that the detention of the applicant under Orders dated 31st May 1969 and 4th June, 1969, Exts. 1 and 2 respectively is unlawful and the applicant is entitled to be released under those orders. ‘’ The Police Commissioner appealed against the verdict. In its judgment, the appellate court de-

FRANCIS FAMOROTI

etermined to reposition Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice in the country, Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) has formally opened a new centre for Arbitration and Mediation to the general public. Speaking at the launch of the office located at 10, Ilabere Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, the Director of the centre, Mrs. Priscilla Ogwemoh said OAL had observed that clients now try to avoid litigation as a first option in resolution of commercial disputes. According to her, ‘’Companies and pri-

MOJEED AGBAJE HAD BEEN ILLEGALLY DETAINED BY THE POLICE AUTHORITIES UNDER A DECREE IN 1969 AND HE CONSEQUENTLY CHALLENGED HIS DETENTION THROUGH A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS ISSUED ON

JUNE 12, 1969, ON THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, WESTERN STATE clared that a writ of habeas corpus could be issued on the application of and on good cause shown, by any person detained under Decree No 24 of 1967. The appeal court said the writ was properly directed to the Police Commissioner, Western State who, on his admission had custody of Agbaje during the relevant period, in the police station, Ibadan. Justice Adenekan Ademola who read the lead judgment of the Appellate Court said ‘’we are bound to say that the orders made by the Inspector- General of Police, under which the applicant was detained in a police station in Ibadan during the relevant period, were not valid orders which he relied upon, to detain the applicant in a

police station in Ibadan. The panel of justices rejected the submissions of the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, (DDPP) Mr. Ogundare and said they were mere arguments, which could not be accepted as the interpretation of clear words used in section 3(1) of the enabling decree. Therefore, it seemed clear that the detention of the applicant under the detention order-whether in a police station or in a civil prison, had always been and was unlawful. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal thus setting precedence on the issue of detention arising from detention orders of the superior authority.

OAL unveils ADR centre in Lagos vate individuals now require new ways to circumvent the slow judicial process and encourage accelerated and quick resolution of disputes. Our firm became one of the foremost law firms in Nigeria to introduce law firm annexed ADR centre.’’ She explained that the centre would satisfy its clientele and interested public and provide services including setting up of ADR framework peculiar to companies operations, representation in arbitration and ADR proceedings as well provide design for

mono or hybrid ADR systems. Ogwemoh said the centre would be a destination where disputes are amicably resolved out of court and to the satisfaction of client’s commercial exigencies adding that ‘’the services included prosecuting and defending disputes in arbitral proceedings.’’ Mr. Agbakoba, SAN in his view said the centre would explore the possibility of partnering with law faculties and law institutions to develop manpower needs of the universities in the area of ADR.

Law & Justice

Man, 34, jailed for forced marriage

British Prime Minister, David Cameron

came obsessed with the woman, a devout Muslim, and threatened to reveal videos he had secretly filmed of her in the shower and kill members of her family if she told anyone. Last year the Forced Marriages Unit (FMU), run jointly by the Home Office and the Foreign Office, gave advice and support in 1,267 cases of possible forced marriages.

Cambodian court jails Australian teacher for sexual abuse charges of having sex with children and “indecent acts”. The court “orders him to be deported from Cambodia after serving his prison term,” the judge said, ordering Moussallie pay a total of $2,500 in compensation to two of his victims. During his trial earlier this year, Moussallie denied having sex with minors and accused anti-paedophile NGO Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), which Cambodian Acting President, Say Chhum assisted police with their investigation, of framing Cambodian court him. has sentenced an Australian teacher to five years in prison for sexually abusing six impoverished boys aged between three and 13. According to AFP report, George Moussallie, 52, an English teacher at a private school in the capital Phnom Penh, has been in custody since August when police raided his rented apartment near the riverfront Royal Palace and found him with two young boys. Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Kor Vandy said Moussallie was guilty on

CAMBODIA

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Nestle takes India noodles sales ban to court INDIA

UNITED KINGDOM 34-year-old Cardiff man has become the first person in the UK to be prosecuted under forced marriage laws introduced a year ago. The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was jailed for 16 years after admitting making a 25-yearold woman marry him under duress last year. ABC report says that he also pleaded guilty to charges of rape, bigamy and voyeurism at Merthyr Crown Court. The court heard he threatened to kill her father unless she married him. He was sentenced to four years for the forced marriage, 12 months for bigamy and 12 months for voyeurism to run concurrently with the 16-year rape sentence. The court heard he be-

Monday, June 15, 2015

wiss food giant Nestle has challenged a ban imposed on its hugely popular Maggi noodles in India. The company according to AFP report announced it had turned to the High Court in Mumbai to review the government order. The company has filed a case in the Mumbai High Court with a view to getting a review of orders passed earlier by India’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banning the sale, distribution and production of Maggi noodles in the Asian country. Nestle’s response came after tests by regulators had suggested the noodles contained excessive

levels of lead. The company was also accused of misleading and labelling information on packages. “As part of the efforts to resolve the Maggi noodles issue, Nestle India has today approached the Bombay High Court raising issues of interpretation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2011 while seeking a judicial review of the orders passed by the FDA and by FSSAI,” the company said in a statement. Nestle hastened to add that its most recent action on the matter would in no way interfere with the process of it continuing the withdrawal of Maggi noodle products. India’s Consumer Affairs Ministry had earlier sought an undisclosed amount of compensation from Nestle for false advertising after food safety regulators branded the noodles in question “unsafe” and “hazardous.”

India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

The Swiss company has largely denied any charges brought against it, insisting the noodles are safe to eat. At the beginning of the week, Singapore cleared sales of Maggi noodles imported from India after conducting its own tests.

Japan court ruling on sexual relationships stirs controversy JAPAN

exual relationships that involve the exchange of money cannot be considered adultery, according to a Tokyo District Court ruling involving a couple and a bar hostess. According to ABC report, the verdict finalised in 2014 is stirring controversy among Japan’s legal experts. No damages were rewarded to the plaintiff – the wife of a man who was allegedly sleeping with a hostess for more than seven years. Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported the sexual relation between the man, a company president and the paid sex partner had caused the plaintiff “emotional distress,” and that she had sought more than $32,000 in compensation. Judge Masamitsu Shiseki of

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

the Tokyo District Court ruled in 2014 the sex between the plain-

tiff ’s husband and the hostess was strictly business, and therefore did not harm the marriage. “The defendant had sexual relations with her patron only for business, like in cases of prostitution, and such conduct does not damage peaceful marital life,” Shiseki had said. “Even if the wife is disgusted by the act, it does not constitute a legal offense,” the judge ruled. The plaintiff did not appeal the ruling and her attorney Katsuyuki Aoshima called the decision a “vicious precedent.” Aoshima told The Japan Times the case could weaken legal protections against adultery in Japan. The defendant, the bar hostess, has denied having sexual intercourse with the plaintiff ’s husband. Hayato Tamura, a legal expert on divorce and adultery in Japan, said court precedents showed that the cheating spouse and his or her extramarital partner should be held jointly responsible for damages.

I was nervous and excited –Eniola

hen I appeared for the first time before court, I actually had combination of nervousness and excitement. I was nervous being the first time but I was excited because I was looking for a day I would appear alone. It was before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Lagos. I was asked to pick a date in a civil matter for adjournment because my senior colleague was not around

to continue the matter. I did not have any challenge because I had often been trained by the head of the chambers whenever we have mock appearance in our law office. While addressing the court, I did not get to uncomfortable situation that may warrant questions on when I was called to bar. Everything went well and I was happy. Moji Eniola

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MATTHEW IRINOYE

Law & Justice

Monday, June 15, 2015

he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern over the current state of falling standard of legal education in the country. The NBA President Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) who spoke at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Sokoto State recently stated that NBA should take a position on the current state of legal education in tertiary institutions. According to him ‘’ We are mindful of the fact that educational standards are falling, yet nothing appears to have been done to address the issue so far.’’ Alegeh said it was imperative that the NBA should be able to decide whether or not

Falling standard of legal education worries NBA the current system of operating a centralized law school should be maintained. This decision would help to improve the quality of legal education and the quality of lawyers be produced in the country. Besides, the NBA President said ‘’ The NBA intends to set up a mentorship programme for the Universities and law schools to afford senior lawyers an opportunity to visit and deliver lecture to the students from time to time. What the NBA intends to achieve with this system is to improve learning and quality of lawyers called to Bar.” “The NBA intends to encourage senior lawyers who have specialized in certain ar-

eas of law to champion this initiative by organizing lectures for law students.” The association, he explained had been in constant discussion with the Law School and intended to take advantage of the newly installed video conferencing system in the various Law Schools campuses to be able to effectively reach out to a wider audience. On the issue of free legal services, Alegeh said that the plans had been concluded to establish a National Pro Bono Centre to address all issues relating to pro bono work or services rendered by lawyers to the general public. We are currently looking for an office

space in Abuja and will soon employ staff to work at the Pro Bono Centre” he said. Alegeh, who condemned the kidnapping of judicial officers described the incident as unfortunate. He charged the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that adequate security measures were taken to prevent a reoccurrence of the unfortunate incident.. “Our judges must be given adequate protection to enable them function and perform their sacred role in the society. All forms of violence targeted at the judiciary must be condemned in the strongest possible terms” . he added.

EVENTS

L-R: Mr. Obi Okwusogu (SAN); Chief Judge, Sokoto State, Justice Aisha Sani Dahiru and former NBA President, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) NEC meeting in Sokoto recently

L-R: NBA 1st Vice president, Mr. Francis Ekwere, President Alegeh SAN and Chief Judge of Sokoto State Justice Dahiru.

L-R: Managing Partner/Director of the Arbitration and Mediation Centre, Mrs Priscilla Ogwemoh; Senior Parnter, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba; Partners, Mrs. Olabisi Akodu and Mr. Babatunde Ogungbamila at the launch of OAL Mediation Centre in Lagos recently.

NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN unveiling the NBA-Acess Bank affinity card in Sokoto

Alegeh and other NBA members unveiling the card

Dr. Agbakoba (3rd from left) and other mediators at a media briefing in Lagos

Monday, June 15, 2015

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World News

“In every corner of the world, a robust civil society is crucial for national development. I urge the Government to strengthen its partnership with the nascent civil society in Turkmenistan” –UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON

Paul Arhewe,

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

udanese President Omar al-Bashir , who was in South Africa yesterday for the African Union summit faces arrests as a South African judge ordered authorities to prevent him from leaving the country because of a standing International Criminal Court order for his arrest, news agency has reported. Al-Bashir appeared for a group photo with other African leaders at the summit in Johannesburg yesterday, wearing a blue threepiece suit, a tie and a smile as cameras flashed. A South African judge ordered authorities to prevent al-Bashir from leaving South Africa because he is wanted by the ICC, human rights activists said yesterday. “President Omar al-Bashir is prohibited from leaving the Republic of South Africa until a final order is made in this application,” Judge Hans Fabricius said, according to local media reports. The judge ordered the South African government to ensure that officials at all border posts enforce the court’s decision, according to Caroline James, a lawyer with the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, a rights group. The court is expected to rule on Monday if al-Bashir should be handed over to the International Criminal Court to face charges of alleged genocide and human rights abuses. Kamal Ismail, the Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs, told reporters in Khartoum that al-Bashir had re-

South African judge orders arrest of Sudan’s President al-Bashir

order, accusing the Hague-based ICC of seeking to impose selective Western justice by singling out Africans. ANC said the South African government granted immunity “for all (summit) participants as part of the international norms for countries hosting such gathering of the AU or even the United Nations.” “It is on this basis, amongst others, that the ANC calls upon government to challenge the order now being brought to compel the South African government to detain President al-

Bashir,” the ANC said, adding that African and Eastern European countries “continue to unjustifiably bear the brunt of the decisions of the ICC.” “The ANC holds the view that the International Criminal Court is no longer useful for the purposes for which it was intended,” the ANC said in a statement. “Countries, mainly in Africa and Eastern Europe ... continue to unjustifiably bear the brunt of the decisions of the ICC, with Sudan being the latest example.”

Somali al-Shabaab militants attack Kenyan military base, 13 killed

leven Somali al Shabaab militants and two Kenyan soldiers were killed when the al Qaeda-linked fighters attacked a military base on Kenya’s northern coast near to the Somali border yesterday, a local official and a military spokesman said. The militants carried out the early morning raid on the military base near the town of Baure in Lamu County, said Lamu’s deputy county commissioner, Joseph Rotich. Militants also stormed Mangai village where they forced men out of their houses and took them to a local mosque where they led prayers for an hour before they disappeared.

“The militants tried to force entry into the camp and that’s when the battle ensued,” David Obonyo, a Kenyan military spokesman said, adding Kenyan forces were

Somali al-Shabaab militants.

searching for militants who were believed to have fled into a nearby forest. Obonyo said the military had seized weapons including 13 AK-

Italy warned retaliation yesterday against the European Union if governments don’t make good on proposals to take in more asylum-seekers as migrants desperate to reach northern Europe refused for a third day to leave borders tightened by Italy’s neighbours. “We are not going back,” a few dozen migrants chanted in Ventimiglia, on Italy’s Mediterranean border with France. “Police go away.” French border police blocked border crossings last week, citing the influx of migrants, and about 200 would-be refugees have refused to leave the rocks of Ventimiglia, just a few kilometres from the swank resorts of Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera.

‘18 migrants found dead in Niger’s desert’

Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, right, stands with other African leaders

ceived assurances from the South African government prior to his visit that he would be welcome and was expected to return to Sudan on schedule. He said the court order preventing al-Bashir from leaving South Africa “has nothing to do with the reality on the ground there,” adding that “until now things are normal and there is no threat to the life of the president of the Republic.” South African President Jacob Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) responded furiously to Sunday’s court

WORLD BULLETIN Italy warns EU over migrant redistribution proposal

47 rifles, five rocket-propelled grenades and eight grenades. Kenya is preparing to mark the anniversary of two attacks in the town of Mpeketoni, also in Lamu County, in which militants killed at least 60 people a year ago. Although Mpeketoni is inland from Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline, the attacks froze the tourism industry in Lamu, which had been popular with tourists from Europe and North America. Al Shabaab, which seeks to overthrow the Western-backed Somali government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law, has frequently targeted neighbouring Kenya in recent years, saying it is retaliating for Kenya’s participation in an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.

The bodies of 18 west African migrants hoping to reach Europe have been found in the Sahara desert near Arlit in Niger, the International Organization for Migration said yesterday. The discovery of the group offers a rare glimpse of what migration experts say is a hidden tragedy in the Sahara. Many thousands are attempting to cross the vast and inhospitable terrain in order to reach the Libyan coast, where they hope to begin another hazardous trip by boat to Europe. “This case is indicative of the difficulties of these journeys, even before reaching the boats in Libya,” Giuseppe Loprete, the head of IOM in Niger, said in emailed comments.

Hollande discusses Mali, Libya crises during Algeria visit French President Francois Hollande heads to Algeria yesterday as the two nations, once bitter foes, work ever closer to resolve the political turmoil and jihadist threat in Mali and Libya. The trip will be Hollande’s second to Algiers since a 2012 visit during which he recognised France’s century of “brutal” rule over the Algerian people which ended in a bloody independence war.

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WORLD BULLETIN

Georgia flood: Zoo animals escape, residence warned

Heavy flooding in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, has killed at least 12 people, with officials warning people to stay indoors to avoid animals that have escaped from a zoo. The missing animals include tigers, lions, bears and wolves. Three of the dead people were found within the zoo. A hippopotamus was cornered in one of the city’s main squares and subdued with a tranquiliser gun. Rescue workers are searching submerged homes to check for trapped residents. Dozens of people have been left homeless. Tbilisi Zoo spokeswoman Mzia Sharashidze told InterPressNews agency that three bodies had been found in the zoo, including those of two employees.

‘US plans to store heavy arms in Baltic, Eastern Europe’ The United States plans to store heavy military equipment in the Baltics and Eastern European nations to reassure allies made uneasy by Russian intervention in Ukraine, and to deter further aggression, a senior U.S. official said. “We will pre-position significant equipment,” the official said, commenting on a New York Times report that the Pentagon was poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 troops. Poland and Lithuania both confirmed they were in talks with Washington on stationing heavy arms in warehouses in the region.

2000 Macedonians protest in Skopje About 2,000 people have marched in Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, demanding equal rights for the Albanian minority. They also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his party’s junior coalition partner, the ethnic Albanian DUI. The country’s leaders agreed last week to hold early elections by next April, in an attempt to end months of turmoil. Macedonia saw months of civil conflict in 2001 between the security forces and ethnic Albanian rebels. Mr Gruevski faces wire-tapping and corruption allegations, which he denies. In turn, he has accused opposition leader Zoran Zaev of prolonging the crisis by “rejecting all proposals” in the latest round of EU-mediated talks between the country’s main political leaders.

World News

Monday, June 15, 2015

US security officers continue search for murderers who hatched jailbreak R esidents in rural New York, unaccustomed to locking their doors, day or night, were on edge as the manhunt for two killers who cut themselves free from a maximum-security prison with power tools stretched into a ninth day. More than 800 law enforcement officers in the search for David Sweat and Richard Matt scoured the fields and Adirondack woods several miles around the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora near the Canadian border. The search continues to focus on the area surrounding the prison after the jail worker accused of helping the men escape backed out of a plan that could have had the men hundreds of miles away, a prosecutor said. The now-jailed prison worker had planned to pick the men up after they cut themselves out of the prison and drive about seven hours to an unknown destination, District Attorney Andrew Wylie told CNN. But prison tailor shop instructor Joyce Mitchell backed out of the plan at the last minute, Wylie said. “One of the reasons that she didn’t show up was because she did love her husband and didn’t want to do this to him,” Wylie said. Searchers continued to focus on an area east of the prison, which is about 20 miles from the

A law enforcement officer taking off his boots during a break in the search for two prisoners.

Canadian border. Roads on the western edge of Plattsburgh were open only to local traffic and a state police helicopter was parked in a field where 24 hours earlier a contingent of 40 officers had marched into the adjacent woods on yet another grid search. While many local residents remained locked in their homes at the advice of authorities, the outpouring of appreciation for the search effort continued. A restaurant was urging people to tie blue ribbons around trees and mailboxes. “The locals have been awe-

some,” said Sgt. Barry Cartier of the Franklin County Sheriff ’s Department, part of a crew from a neighbouring county working 12-hour shifts. “They come around with food all the time. We’ve got too much to eat.” But residents were very much on edge, with some saying they were keeping firearms handy just in case. Both men are considered extremely dangerous. Sweat was serving a life sentence for killing a sheriff ’s deputy. Matt was serving 25 years to life for the 1997 kidnap, torture and hacksaw dismemberment of his 76-year-old former boss.

Israel accuses world powers of yielding to Iran for nuclear deal

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused world powers yesterday of stepping up concessions to Iran to enable a deal by June 30 on curbing its nuclear program even as Tehran balks at demands

Netanyahu

for heightened U.N. inspections. Netanyahu has argued that the agreement in the works would not deny Iran - which says its nuclear projects are peaceful - the means of making a bomb, while granting it sanctions re-

lief that could help bankroll its guerrilla allies in the region. “To our regret, the reports that are coming in from the world powers attest to an acceleration of concessions by them in the face of Iranian stubbornness,” Netanyahu told his cabinet in broadcast remarks on Sunday. He did not offer further details. Netanyahu’s point-man on the Iranian talks, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, said it appeared that world powers were prepared to accommodate Tehran’s resistance to expanded, short-order U.N. nuclear inspections and demand to continue research and development of uranium centrifuges that make nuclear fuel. On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country, in the name of protecting state secrets, could reject stepped-up inspections - even

The men used power tools to cut through the back of their cells, shimmied down a six-story catwalk, broke through a brick wall then cut into a steam pipe they used to reach a manhole outside the prison walls. Mitchell, 51, was arraigned Friday on a felony charge of promoting prison contraband and a misdemeanor count of criminal facilitation. She is accused of befriending the 34-year-old Sweat and 48-year-old Matt and smuggling in hacksaw blades, chisels, a punch and a screwdriver bit to help the men escape. Her lawyer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. at the cost of missing the June 30 deadline. Western diplomats had sought the right to carry out inspections with as little as two hours’ notice. But in a televised address on Sunday, Rouhani played up the benefits of easing Iran’s international isolation and pledged to reach a deal that would end the hardship of sanctions. Steinitz, who was in Washington last week to discuss the Iran diplomacy, said the world powers -- the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany -- were considering a stopgap whereby inspections would be decided on “by committee”. “Such an arrangement might offer reassurance on paper, but in reality it would give Iran time to cover up illegal nuclear activity or even relocate it off-site,” Steinitz told Reuters. He added that Israel saw no reason for world powers to allow Iran to continue research and development on uranium centrifuges “if this deal is indeed meant to freeze its program for years”.

News

SEKINAH L AWAL

resident Muhammad Buhari has been advised not to allow the so-called captains of industry, G7, World Bank, IMF and the likes, who are only interested in what they stand to gain, but to focus on Nigerian masses by recovering all looted funds and not borrow to tackle the many

Monday, June 15, 2015

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Ignore G7, IMF, Falana urges Buhari challenges facing the nation. Giving the advice in Lagos on Sunday at a national discourse organised by The Companion, a legal practitioner and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), called on the president to ensure that all looted funds were recovered and

block all leakages in order to have enough fund to run his government without necessarily borrowing. “Government should construct modular green refineries to serve as short term measure to solve fuel crisis. Also speaking, another

guest lecturer, Professor Abubakar Momoh, urged the new administration to focus on mechanised farming, agro-processing, make farms and rural areas very attractive to live in. “Why must we be subsidising aviation industry and not agriculture? We need to

take advantage of our huge population by focusing on industrialisation as well as reviewing our educational system.” According to him, Nigerians’ high expectations of the Buhari administration may be dashed if efforts are not put in place to ensure ac-

countability through transparency in all arms of government. In his welcome address, National President of The Companion, Mr Musbau Oyefeso, called for adequate measure to be put in place to reduce the cost of electioneering in Nigeria.

Lagos needs more blood donors –LSBTC FRANCIS SUBERU

ppeal has gone to residents of Lagos metropolis to volunteer for blood donation in order to save more lives through blood transfusion. Chairman of Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, LSBTC, Dr. Adetoun Agbe-Davies, who made the appeal, asked individuals in the city to support the drive at ensuring that 100 per cent of all blood for transfusions were from voluntary blood donors. According to AgbeDavies, who spoke at a forum to commemorate this year’s World Blood Donor Day, donating and encouraging more people to donate blood voluntarily will solve the problem of acute shortage of blood for transfusion. She said recruitment of voluntary blood donors is major activity of the LSBTC, stressing that this is in realisation that safe blood starts with voluntary donor. According to Agbe Davoes, the theme of this year’s campaign and celebration; “Thank you for saving my life” with the slogan; “Give freely, give often, blood donation matters” focuses on thanking blood donors who save lives every day through their blood donations and strongly encourages more people, all over the world to donate blood voluntarily. She stressed the need to meet the year 2020 World Health Organisation, WHO, set goal that 100 percent of all blood for transfusion should be from voluntary blood donors, will go a long way in addressing issues of touting for blood donation as well as the demand for

family replacement of blood through family donation for mothers at ante natal booking. Agbe-Davies explained that Lagos State has been in the forefront of ensuring the safety of blood for transfusion with the enactment of the Law Number 10 of June 2004 which established the LSBTC, adding that the committee is empowered by this law to regulate and coordinate blood transfusion service in Lagos State under the supervision of Lagos State Ministry of Health. She stated that Lagos State is the only state in the country that has a law regulating transfusion service, adding that the vision is to have a state where only safe blood is transfused in all appropriate health facilities. She pointed out that the mission is to provide safe blood through the recruitment of voluntary blood donors, the screening of every unit of blood for transfusion transmissible infections and the efficient processing of blood for all who require it. She also added that committee is also charged with the functions of ensuring the development of quality control and assurance on all blood transfusion matters in the state and training of all involved in blood transfusion matters.

Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Dean of Gwagwalada Deanery, Rev. Fr. Rowland Nwakpuda (3rd left) and other priests, after celebration of mass to mark the Cultural Day of the church in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Extortion: DPR alerts public on fraudsters

epartment of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has cautioned filling station owners and other oil marketers against activities of fake DPR officials defrauding unsuspecting businessmen. DPR spokesman, Mr Mohammed Saidu, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday in Abuja. According to him, there is a desperate attempt by some fraudsters to extort oil marketers and tarnish the integrity of the department. Saidu said some fraudulent persons had capital-

ised on the fuel scarcity situation to defraud unsuspecting marketers, adding that this caused overpricing of fuel in some areas. “The outcome of this scarcity has caused us a lot, where people now parade themselves and go to filling stations extorting money from marketers in the name of DPR.” He said the fraudsters were going around filling stations to deceive the marketers that they could sell at any amount they wanted as long as they settled them. “That is why we are still having this problem of over pricing in some of the

suburb areas within the Federal Capital Territory.” Saidu called on marketers to be wary of fraudsters that claimed to be DPR officials who go to filling stations to extort money. He, however, explained that DPR officers on assignment always go with official vehicles clearly marked as ‘DPR’. Saidu stressed that all marketers are supposed to know this because ‘’we don’t allow our officials to go to filing stations with their personal vehicles. “No DPR officer will go out on an official assignment without hanging his or her identity card and

once you are not with your identity card, you are not representing DPR,” he said. He added that the fraudsters did not even stop at that, but also created a parallel website with that of the DPR, claiming that DPR was recruiting for ExxonMobil. He said they went to the extent of collecting money from some unsuspecting Nigerians. “They created an account where such monies are paid to and we have a lot of unsuspecting Nigerians who came with tellers claiming to come and get their money back.

on time, and advised people to stop the use of candle to light their house. “We got a distress call and when we got there we discovered it was a building that was on fire. “The building is located at Number 20, Fakoya Street, Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda/Akowonjo, a

suburb of Lagos. Fadipe said the charred body of the children had been removed to a mortuary by the police from Shasha division. The fire service boss appealed to people in the state to desist from using candle in their homes, as it could be very dangerous.

Family loses 3 children to inferno

hree children of the same parents on Saturday night died in a fire incident that destroyed their three-room, self-contained apartment in Egbeda/Akowonjo area of Lagos. The incident was caused by a candle lit around 10pm at Number

20, Fakoya Street, Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda/ Akowonjo. The inferno left the three kids, identified as Ifeoma, 9; Emeka, 7; and Udeoma, 3, dead. Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Razak Fadipe, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Ni-

geria, NAN, in Lagos on Sunday. Fadipe said the fire broke after the father of the children had gone to check his wife, mother of the children, in hospital, where she had just given birth to their fourth child. He said the fire service was not called to the scene

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North

Monday, June 15, 2015

Kogi teachers petition ICPC over NUT deductions WALE IBRHIAM LOKOJA

bout 53 teachers in Kogi State have dragged the Nigerian Union of

Teachers, NUT, before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, with a call to prevail on the leadership of

Sharia council urges Buhari to end Muslim marginalisation AZA MSUE KADUNA

upreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, SCSN, on Sunday said Muslim votes gave victory to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 28 presidential election. Addressing participants at pre- Ramadan conference held in Kaduna, SCSN President, Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad, called on President Buhari to correct the imbalance in both military and para-military recruitments against Muslim in the country for justice and fairness. Datti said the new government must invoke the constitutional provision on federal character, by taking census of all key establishments and re-organise the Federal Character Commission to address anomalies against Muslims. Datti, who led unsuccessful peace deal between Boko Haram and the Federal Government during the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, revealed how his group and other Islamic organisations championed major role for APC’s victory in the last polls. His words: “The fact that our Christian brethren are more united, organised and focused is sadly a reality we all recognise. However, with

this council’s realisation of this about 12 years ago and our determined effort to forge a united front with other Islamic organisations and our Muslim brethren especially in the South West, irrespective of tribe, culture or geography, we were able to bring our numerical strength to positive advantage.” “But this should only be the beginning, now is the time to start a systematic process of organising ourselves at all levels to nurture and consolidate on this gain to achieve a lasting and fruitful brotherly partnership.” Datti added: “Muslims have been at the forefront of the clamour for change, essentially because successive leaders since 1999 have not been fair to them. And fairness in addressing deliberate progressive marginalisation of Muslims in the most strategic services, the armed forces, police and the intelligence agencies” He further called on President Buhari to liberate Muslims: “If as Muslims, we can sleep, in callous indifference to the thousands of Muslims killed in Mambila Plateau, Numan, Wase, Jos, Zangon Kataf, Kafanchan, Kaduna and the plight of over 100 Muslim women and girls still being held by Christians in Plateau as Ganimah after the 2004 massacre in Yelwan Shendam”

NUT to stop further deduction from the salaries of those not members of the union. This was contained in a letter of complaint jointly written by 53 staffers of Okene Local Government Education Authority in Okene Local Government Area, signed by Abdullahi Yekeen. According to ICPC in its letter with reference number ICPC/

GH/FIU.H/199/15 dated March 2, 2015, and signed by Head of Finance Investigation Unit, Mr Agboro O.M., the School Service Unit in Okene has been directed to stop forthwith, the deduction from salaries of the 53 District School Supervisors, who have dissociated themselves from NUT membership. The letter also revealed that N4,118, 515.35

deducted between August 2008, October 2009 and December 2011 to July 2014 be refunded. Yekeen added that the commission pointed out clearly that by virtue of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and may form or belong to any political party, trade

Former Adamawa State governor and APC chieftain, Admiral Murtala Nyako (right), greeting some cyclists who rode from Yola to Abuja to honour him over APC victory, at a reception in Yola, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Four die in Katsina auto crash JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

n auto crash in Katsina State has left four people dead and two others in critical condition. The crash occurred Sat-

urday evening at 6:30pm in Kuringafa village, Kafur council area. According to eyewitness, a Toyota Matrix belonging to Head of Centre of Daar Communication network in the state, Abdukadir Ibrahim, was in-

volved in the accident. He said Ibrahim, his wife and three other passengers were in the car coming from neighbouring Kaduna State after a wedding event. “As their car passed through the village, a little

Bishop urges implementation of Taraba/Benue peace report JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

atholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Most Reverend Charles Hammawa, has called on Taraba State Governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku, to implement recommendations of Taraba/Benue joint peace committee report to prevent frequent border clashes between the two states. Briefing newsmen yesterday at the end of

a meeting with representatives of Tiv, Jukun and Kuteb in Jalingo, the Bishop called on government at all levels to draw on their statutory roles to ensure that laws guiding land use were always implemented. According to him, the meeting identified incessant destruction of crops and farmlands by herdsmen as one of the major factors of violent clashes in the state and called on farmers and herders to show restraint in their

union or any other association for the protection of his interest.” Yekeeni lamented that three months after the directives of ICPC mandating NUT to immediate refund deducted money and stop further deduction, the union has refused to heed the order. He, however, called on the commission to prevail on the union to comply as directed.

conduct and utterances in the midst of misunderstanding among them. Hammawa, who condemned in strong terms frequent farmers and herdsmen crisis and ethnic clashes in the state, called on government and community leaders to ensure that farmers and herdsmen coexist peacefully. He enjoined the people of the state to cultivate the culture of religious tolerance and ensure mutual respect for other people’s

religion, adding that such synergy of efforts by both religious and community leaders would promote peaceful coexistence. According to him, the meeting with the stakeholders resolved that politicians should ensure fairness in the distribution of political appointments and sharing of dividends of democracy, to avoid other groups crying of marginalization, which often result to religious and ethnic crisis. The Bishop further

explained that the meeting called for neutrality on the part of traditional leaders and urged them to live above board and ensure community policing in their areas to check activities of criminals in their domains. He added that the meeting called on government to expedite action on the return of the displaced people who fled the crisis from central and southern parts of the state to continue their normal lives.

girl, who seemed to appear from nowhere, was at the same time trying to cross the road for the evening Islamiya School. “The driver tried to swerve the vehicle to avoid hitting her, but was unsuccessful in doing so; the car hit the girl and then crashed into a tree close to the road. “The girl and the three people at the back seat of the car died, while the driver and his wife were left in a critical condition.” He said the injured were taken to e Malumfashi General Hospital for treatment, but were later driven in an ambulance to Federal Medical Centre in the state capital for proper medical attention. When contacted, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Umar Ibrahim, said his office was yet to receive report about the incident.

News

Monday, June 15, 2015

God made me Speaker —Dogara Tordue Salem ABUJA

peaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday attributed his election last week as Speaker to the will CHANGE OF NAME

ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ani Esther Chinonyelum, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chijioke Esther Chinonyelum. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Odulana Lawrence Kwadwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Afolabi Olawale Oluwaseun. All former document remain valid. General public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Power Rita Deki, now wish to be known and addressed as Abam-Emmanuel Rita Deki. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

of God. Dogara had emerged Speaker last Tuesday after defeating former minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), by 182 votes to 174. Speaking during a CHANGE OF NAME

NWOKE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwoke Ukamaka Priscillia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ezike – Francis Ukamaka Priscillia. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Olubunmi Adeayo Adeleye, now wish to be known and addressed as Olubunmi Adeayo Afolajuwonlo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly called Mrs Aloke Augustina Nkechi, henceforth wish to be addressed as Mrs Dinwoke Augustina Nkechi. All former documents remain valid.General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SHOYOYE: Formerly known and addressed as Shoyoye Olawunmi Munirat, now wish to be known and addressed as Anifowoshe Olawunmi Munirat. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MOSES: Formerly known and addressed as Moses Agatha Chinaza, now wish to be known and addressed as Evoh Agatha Chinaza. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

AGBO: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Ndidiamaka Agbo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Blessing Ndidiamaka Ngwu. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Fadimu Oluseye Ezekiel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ezekiel- Excel Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ngozi Gertrude Ugwumba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ngozi Gertrude Amadi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyeniran Olusola Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adedayo Olusola Ruth. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

thanksgiving service at Living Faith Church Goshen City, Karu, Nasarawa State, Dogara said if not for the teachings he received for 27 years in the church, he wouldn't have emerged Speaker.

CHANGE OF NAME

MENDU : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mendu Favour Chidi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anyaegbunam Favour Chidi. All former documents remains valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

COKER: Formerly known and addressed as Coker Abosede Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Ezekiel-Omotayo Abosede Titilayo. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWOSU: I Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwosu Amarachukwu Nwazuruahu, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Obiora Amarachukwu Nwazuruahu . All former documents remain valid .UNILAG, NYSC & General public to take note.

“I have been a member of this church since 1988 even before I went to the university. The teaching I received here has defined my life," he

said. “If it were not for the teachings we receive on this altar, maybe this victory may not have come. We had Goli-

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Dr. Munirat Olafemi Yusuf now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. Munirat Olafemi Yusuf-Habeeb. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NZEIFE : Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nzeife Ngozi Joy now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Iwegbuna Ngozi Joy. All former documents remains valid. Public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozuruoha Leticia Chinwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Leticia Chinwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Oluwadamilola Oluwasefunmi Victor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwadamilola Oluwasefunmi Umonwa. All former and existing documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OGOKE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogoke Queendaline Chinazom, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Achike Queendaline Chinazom. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Esther Paul Jatau, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Esther Kayode. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Emeh Chinenye Patience, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Wilfred Chinenye Patricia. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Victor Akpan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Umonwa Victor Akpan. All former and existing documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Engr. Akor Tergu, Ph.D 2.Stephen Nihi 3.Nancy Akor 4.Ojeabulu Emmanuel, Arc. (to be removed)

THE PROPOSED NEW TRUSTEES ARE:

1.Mr. Andrew Ayabam (Ayabam Foundation) 2.Prof. Josiah Anongo Shindi 3.Engr. Akor Terngu, Ph.D 4.Stephen Nihi 5.Nancy Akor 6.Priscilla Bukie Omang 7.Barnabas Akor

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. Provide access to quality and affordable education, housing and healthcare facilities for the people whose financial status and social position limits their access. 2. Provide financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills training to enable individuals create and manage wealth through the application of proven wealth creation principles. Any objection to the change in the membership of the trustees should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: THE TRUSTEES.

aths in the run to the election, there were Tobias and Sambalats. We had Baalams, who were asked to curse us, but God is with us.

CHANGE OF NAME

NJOKU: I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Chioma Stella Njoku-David, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Chioma Stella Umeh. All documents remain valid.General public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Novitonde Seun Modupe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abiona Seun Modupe. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note .

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Anthonia Nneji Abutu, now wish to be known and addressed as Anthonia Philomina Akor. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Muhammed Ladidi Musa and Ameh Ladi M. now wish to be known and addressed as Ladi Joseph Egwuda. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

PUBLIC NOTICE AWANA INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

FORTUNE SEEDS FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Registered Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for change in the membership of her trustees.

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The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Rev. David Mark Mrs. Yenmikat Denfa Mr. John Oladayo Mrs. Esther Umaru

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Evangelism: To evangelisze Children and parents 2. Discipleship: To disciple Children and train/equip Christian leaders worldwide for effective family and Children ministry

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: CHAIRMAN PUBLIC NOTICE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN NURSES, NIGERIA (FCN) The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 The changes are on the following Articles: Article 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To deepen members personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To promote the applications of Christians Principles in Nursing. 3. To provide regular Christian Fellowship and professional Meetings.

Any objection to the Changes should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE GENTRIFIED MISSION INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the companies and Allied Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Akinbola Andrew 2. Andrew Oluwamayowa Elizabeth 3. Akinsimoye Mattew Ifeoluwa 4. Hussein Adeyemi Mutiu 5. Akinbola Grace 6. Adetuyi Sammuel Oluwasina

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To aid and assist the victims of natural disasters in the society and to promote peace,harmony and values in our society for better life. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) PMB 198, plot 420, Tigris Cresent off Aguiyi Irosi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: AKINBOLA ANDREW

SIGNED: GENERAL SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE IKENNE VIRTUOUS SISTERS CLUB

This is to inform the general public that the above named club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja For Registration Under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1.Mrs. Olusemire Tolulope Adenike 2.Mrs. Oyetade Adetolu Oluwakemi 3.Mrs. Jetawo Clementina Olusola 4.Mrs. Soname Oluwakemi Temidayo 5.Mrs. Omolaja Olubukunola Olatunde

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

- President - Vice President - Secretary - Member - Member

1.To promote unity amongst its members. 2.To assist the less privileged in the society. 3.To provide and render help to members. 4.To promote social interaction among members. 5.To serve as a forum for exchange of ideas and resolution of dispute among members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: JULIUS ADEOSUN OLAOSEBIKAN ADEOSUN & CO. BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS AND NOTARY PUBLIC 229, IKOTUN ROAD, IDIMU, LAGOS. 08023176362

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC OF FIRE AND MIRACLE MINISTRY

The public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under past C of the Companies and Allied matters Act 1 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Pastor Ohakwe Okorie Barr. P.C Onyenobi Evangelist Kenneth Okorie Mrs. Osuagwu Tina Rev. David Ogkogkwe Mrs. O Magret

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. For the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. For organizing of seminars, workshops etc. 3. To empowers humanity and Assist the needies Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registration General Corporation Affairs Commission Plot 565 Ndola Square Zone 5 Abuja.

SIGNED: BARRISTER P. ONYENOBI 08030596970

Monday, June 15, 2015

I am on a new plane at the moment and I hope I can sustain it for as long as possible, looking forward

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Awoniyi nears Monaco capture

–SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETE, CASTER SEMENYA

AFCON 2017 Qualifier:

Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi

Glo hails Eagles’ win

...urges Falcons to beat USA

ational telecoms operator, Globacom, has congratulated the Super Eagles technical crew and players for the victory over Chad in their AFCON 2017 Group G qualifier at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Saturday. Nigeria defeated Chad 2-0 as the Eagles re-launched their return to the pinnacle of African football competition after missing out of the 2015 finals in Equatorial Guinea in February. “We are delighted that the Super Eagles began their AFCON 2017 journey on

a good note and wish to commend the entire team for a job well done,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos yesterday. “We also wish to commend the team for giving Nigeria fresh hope for the team’s return to the very top of Africa where it occupied after winning the AFCON trophy in South Africa in 2013,” the statement added. “At this we want to urge the national team not to rest on this first victory until the Gabon 2017 ticket is secured, no matter the challenges posed by other opponents Egypt and Tanzania in the group.”

The telecommunications company also commended the fans in Kaduna for trooping out in large number to the stadium to cheer the Eagles to victory. “The fans deserve credit for standing by the team even as the goals did not come early and we want to ask them to continue in the same tradition when the qualifiers resume in September,” the statement further said, even as it also commended the Nigeria Football Federation for supporting the senior national team to victory. Meanwhile, Globacom has called on

the Super Falcons to beat the USA in their next group match of the ongoing 2015 Women World Cup in Canada to ensure that the team ends up with four points to advance to the next round. “We urge the Falcons’ camp to remain focused on the task ahead as we believe that victory is achievable while believing that they will do Nigeria proud,” the statement concluded. Globacom is the official telecommunications partner of the Nigerian Football Federation and the major sponsor of the Nigerian national teams.

New Zealand 2015: Why Flying Eagles failed–Onigbinde Afolabi Gambari

ormer CAF and FIFA instructor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, says systemic failure contributed to the disappointing performance of the Flying Eagles at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Nigeria failed to surpass the second round at the youth competition after crashing 1-0 to Germany in the knock-out stage. But Onigbinde, who spoke to National Mirror at the weekend, absolved the team’s coaches and players from blame, saying they lacked the capacity to overcome the challenge. “Nigerians relied rather unrealistically on the team to win

the trophy because they did in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates at the FIFA U-17 World Cup,” the veteran coach who guided Super Eagles to the Korea/Japan World Cup in 2002 reckoned. “The fact is that the failure of Coach Manu Garba lies in the failure of the Nigeria Football Federation to empower him technically other than relying only on

his past records to make him excel in New Zealand. “There is no doubt that football evolves every day and whatever minimum knowledge the coach possesses is exactly the same that he would impart to his players. “How many refresher courses have Manu attended since he won the U-17 World two years ago? Yet, the same system that has not

given him enough was expecting magic from him at the U-20 World.” Asked to proffer solution on the way forward, Onigbinde said: “The NFF has no choice but to establish a functional technical department that will be saddled with the responsibility of fashioning an enduring football legacy for legacy.”

Falcons land in Vancouver Mercy Jacob

T Okon

he Super Falcons arrived in Vancouver yesterday hoping to pick the maximum points when they confront former world champion USA in their last group phase match to-

morrow. The African Champions are also camped in the same hotel as the American team. National Mirror learnt that the Falcons Coach, Edwin Okon, told the ladies on arrival that they must go for a win to stand a chance of qualifying from the

Onigbinde

group. “We can do it only if we believe. This is our last chance of qualifying from the group and we have to make it count,” Okon said. The Falcons later had a light training and will have another workout today ahead of the important clash.

Sports

Monday, June 15, 2015

T/tennis

Glo League results

BBC celebrates

Quadri

he British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has celebrated the feat achieved by Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri for being the first Africa to be named the 2014 best table tennis player in world, A focus on the award-winning athlete was featured in the recent Focus on Africa sports programme. Quadri, who recently signed for a French top division club after five seasons in the Portuguese elite league with laurels in his kitty, was lauded for his giant stride in 2014 and the first nonAsian and European to achieve such in the second edition of the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Award held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). He also scooped the Star Point of the Year award beating other top players across the world to the title. The documentary was filmed at the Portugal base of Quadri with focus on his training schedule and league matches for GD Toledos. There was also focus on his family and his challenges as a player who defied all odds to become one of the best in the world. President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wa-

hid Oshodi, expressed delight at the film, saying he felt proud. “No table tennis from Africa has been featured like that on BBC and this is good for the sport in Africa,” Oshodi said. Meanwhile, Nigeria has finished with four gold medals and three bronze medals behind host Egypt at the ITTF World Junior Circuit (WJC) in Egypt. Egypt emerged top with seven gold while Slovenia won three gold medals to settle for third spot on the medal table. Over 15 countries from Africa, Europe and Asia participated in the one-week championship held in Cairo.

Giwa

Ifeanyi Ubah

Dolphins

Sharks

El-Kanemi

Taraba

Wikki

Enyimba

Kwara

Rangers

3SC

Lobi

Abia

Sunshin

Nasarawa

Akwa

Heartland

Bayelsa

Aruna Quadri

Transfer:

Awoniyi nears Monaco capture

Copa America:

‘Brazil under pressure’ C

oach Dunga has admitted that Brazil is under enormous pressure to claim Copa America honours for a ninth time. The Samba Boys, who have won 10 games in a row since finishing fourth at the 2014 World Cup, start their campaign against Peru in Temuco, Chile on Sunday. “The Copa America is one of the hardest tournaments. Brazil went without winning it for 40 years until 1989,” Dunga said yesterday. “Brazil have had some great players in the past who failed to win the Copa.

Dunga

Things have only become harder with the development of our rivals. But we have to be humble and believe in ourselves. “The World Cup did not go as planned, but we have a lot of players in big competitions and two of them were decisive in the Champions League final.” Dunga took charge of Brazil for the second time in July after the World Cup, replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari. The 51-year-old previously held the reins from 2006-2010, while he captained the South Americans in their 1994 World Cup triumph.

lying Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has moved closer to joining French club AS Monaco after the Ligue 1 side reportedly tabled a far better deal than what Portuguese club FC Porto offered. According to AfricanFootball.com Monaco is now in pole position to sign the highly-rated forward, who scored twice and provided two assists at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. The former Golden Eaglets player could have signed for Porto before the start of the U-20 World Cup last month, but his representative and former Nigeria international, Seyi Olofinjana, stalled the deal to favour Monaco.

“Monaco have a far better deal than Porto proposed to Awoniyi and he is now most likely to take up this offer,” a source informed AfricanFootball.com yesterday. “Besides the fact that they have offered far more money than Porto, they have also assured that as soon as Taiwo turns 18 in August, he will be on the first team squad at Monaco. “We are now very close to wrapping up the deal with only a few details left. Awoniyi has been courted by several top European clubs including Real Bull Salzburg of Austria, Heerenveen in Holland, newly-promoted Turkish top side Kayserispor and Esperance of Tunisia.

Awoniyi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, June 15, 2015

Zenith B’ball: Idoko takes Princess to playoff Paul Erewuba

B L-R: Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Chief Kasimawo Laloko; one of the scholarship winners, Divine Eken; PFA Consultant, Ian Nelson, another winner, Joseph Nneku and the Head of Marketing, Seven-up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Norden Thurston, after both winners of the scholarship emerged in Abeokuta at the weekend

UK scholarship: Pepsi Academy picks Nneku, Divine

epsi Football Academy at the weekend selected two outstanding players of the Academy, Nneku Joseph and Eken Divine for a two-year full scholarship at Brooke House College in United Kingdom. About 128 students of the academy from 14 centers across Nigeria participated in the selection process at the Funturf Arena, Abeokuta, Ogun State in a three-day exercise with the panel of judges led by former Super Eagles Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde. comportment on and off the field.

Head of Marketing Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Norden Thurston, said the UK Scholarship scheme was in line with the academy’s vision to develop football skills and create a platform for youngsters to actualise their dreams. “I say well done to the two winners and urge them to be good ambassadors of Pepsi Academy and Nigeria in the United Kingdom,” Mr. Norden said. One of the winners, Nneku, said his emergence was due to hard work and perseverance.

“With this award, the future has just begun for me and my family,” he said. The other winner, Eken, said: Eken on his part gave his own story: “As an orphan, football means everything to me but now I can play football and get education at the same time.” More than 15 players have benefited from the scholarship whose expense has been bored fully by Pepsi since it began in 2005. Among the beneficiaries are Oluwatosin Michael and Larry Egunjobi who are currently plying their trade in the Portuguese league.

…Laloko hails NFF’s youth initiative Afolabi Gambari

ormer Technical Director of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Chief Kasimawo Laloko, has commended the effort of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on youth development, saying it is a step in the right direction. Laloko, who made the commendation at the 2015 Pepsi Football Academy’s Scholarship Selection 5-A-Side competition in Abeokuta at the weekend, said the NFF’s resolve would aid harnessing of abundant talent in Nigeria. “I think the appointment of NFF’s 1st

Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi who has vast experience in youth development as the incumbent Lagos Football Association Chairman will accelerate the initiative,” the Director of Pepsi Football Academy said. “We have had a situation where too many academies litter the country only in name and nothing more and this has had little or no effect on our football at club and national levels,” Laloko, who is also Director of The Football College, Orile-Imo, Ogun State added. “At this level of Nigeria’s development, there is need to seriously streamline the activities of the academies so

that the right standards are adhered to and those who fall short are sanctioned by the governing body,” the veteran football administrator stressed. The PFA, founded in 1992 and the oldest in Nigeria, is renowned for grooming several players for the national team, among who are John Obi Mikel, Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins and Elderson Echiejile. Many graduates of the academy also play in clubs across Nigeria and Africa, a development Laloko attributes to what he calls comprehensive discovering and nurturing programme that is unrivalled in the country.

Nasarawa supports Police Festival Igbawase Ukumba LAFIA

asarawa State government has promised to support the Nigeria Police to organise the International Police Sports Festival billed for 2017. A statement by the Special Assistant

on Media and Publicity to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Ahmed Tukur, said the governor was committed to assisting the Police to achieve the task. “We have facilities across the state that can be used for the event,” the statement said. “Our stadium in Lafia has all the fa-

cilities needed to host the event and our NYSC Orientation Camp in Keffi can also be used as camp for athletes,” the statement added. National Mirror learnt that the Police Command had expressed willingness to partner with the Nasarawa government to ensure a hitch-free event.

enue Princess guard, Patience Idoko, over the weekend, scored 12 points and adding 5 rebounds to lead her team past Oluyole Babes 5244 in a late push for a place in the final 8 of the Zenith Bank-sponsored 2nd Phase Female Basketball League conference in Ilorin. The Benue girls have managed to win two games out of five so far but are now tied with Plateau Rocks who defeated Taraba Hurricanes 48-19 earlier yesterday on 5th position. Both teams will contest with AHIP Queens and Sunshine Angels respectively in Group A that has First Deepwater and defending champions First Bank Oluyole Babes, Immigration and Taraba Hurricanes. The group will present only the top 4 teams in the playoffs in Lagos.

Female karatekas light up Lagos

bout 100 female karatekas from across Nigeria and Benin Republic competed at the 2nd Zainab Saleh International Female Karate Open Championship at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday. The one day tournament also saw more than 100 athletes from clubs as Adu Martial Art, New Arrival, Ejim Martial Art, Nigeria Police, Civil Defence and Emma Martial Art competing in individual Kata, Team Kata and Kumite (-50kg, -55kg, -61kg, -65kg, and-68kg) events while children also competed in their categories to cause cheers among the crowd of spectators. Sponsor of the competition, Mrs. Zanaib Saleh, who doubles as Technical Director, Lagos State Karate Association, said the tournament aimed to bridge the gap between male and female karates in the country. “There must be series of tournaments for the female karatekas to showcase their talent and this is one of such,” the sponsor, who is also a former Nigeria international in karate, added. “Aside from the competing athletes, it will also help our referees and coaches to improve on their technical abilities,” she further said. Meanwhile, Chairman of Lagos State Karate Association, Mr. Alfred Ohimain, has commended the sponsor for her effort at developing the sport. “This will help us a lot to develop the athletes’ and broaden the scope beyond Nigeria,” Ohimain said. Winners in the different categories received gifts donated by Equipment Hall, as well as certificates and trophies.

WORLD RECORD Fastest marathon dressed as a telephone Fastest mile fireman’s carrybox

Vol. 05 No. 1134 Monday, June 15, 2015

N150

The fastest marathon dressed as a tele phone box is 5 hr 54 m i n 5 2 s e c a n d w a s a c h i eve d b y S i d Ke y t e ( U K ) a t t h e 2 0 1 4 V i r gin Money London Marathon.

NUPENG’s patriotic position on fuel subsidy (II) Continued from last Monday

hinted in the first part of this piece last week of “another form of subsidy arising from the enthronement of a regime of uniform pricing of petroleum products across Nigeria”. In 1973, the General Yakubu Gowon military regime had set up the Petroleum Equalisation Management Fund with the mandate to ensure that oil marketers who bridge petroleum products from point of receipt to their retail outlets are reimbursed for the transport element of that activity. This function is streamlined under three major schemes. First is the bridging scheme involving mainly the transportation of products over a distance in excess of 450 kilometres from a loading depot to a receiving depot. Second is the inter-district scheme, which is similar to the first but cov-

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com ers a distance of less than 450 km. The third is the equalization scheme which covers a marketer, who loads from the receiving depot to his retail outlets. The fact of the Nigerian federation impels, of necessity, certain political balancing acts to forge national cohesion and promote socio-political inclusivity among Nigerians. What this means is that Nigerians are not disadvantaged in their consumption of petroleum products by factors of geography. In other words, all Nigerians irrespective of where they live pay the same prices for all categories of petroleum products. This way, a litre of PMS is theoretically sold at the same pump head price to consumers in Lagos, Maiduguru, Sokoto and Damaturu, with the Federal Government bearing the extra cost of transporting the product to such far flung places! So, some favoured Nigerians are thus shielded from both the high prices of petroleum arising from importation of the products, and also from the higher cost arising from the transportation of these products to their long distant places of abode! The second subsidy exists within the realm of theory. It is theoretical because the reality is that the lofty ideals to be promoted by the government’s second intervention have been compromised by oil marketers that pocket the additional subsidy and still sell their products at economic prices. Even the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Mrs Adefunke Kasali,

THE INESCAPABLE AND UNDENIABLE REALITY IS THAT ALL OVER THE WORLD, SUBSIDY IS

POLITICALLY INDUCED PLOY admitted that as much in a recent interview, but blamed the development on the activities of “some unscrupulous marketers”. The inescapable and undeniable reality is that all over the world, subsidy is politically induced ploy. In the Nigerian context, oil subsidy as an intervention, is therefore, socially desirable. However, what is problematic is making socially optimal use of its availability. The empiricism of my assertion was the monstrous organized heist by oil marketers in collaboration with state officials, when the mass action over the removal of oil subsidy by the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on 2012 New Year Day led to a probe sponsored by the National Assembly. The probe revealed that 59 million litres of fuel were allegedly discharged on daily basis as against the national demand of 35 million litres. There is, therefore, an excess of 24 million litres per day, which translated to N669 billion ($4.14 billion) a year using the exchange rate of that time. This princely sum represented the figure creamed off from the national treasury by subsidy

thieves and their state collaborators. Do not also forget that the ideals of Petroleum Equalisation Fund are compromised when oil marketers get such subsidies and still sell petroleum products to consumers at prices higher than official prices. Conservatively, the total annual sum stolen as unearned subsidy should be in the region of one trillion naira. Social scientists will shudder at the high social opportunity cost of subsidy the Nigerian government has been sustaining. In the last two months, Nigerians have been reeling from the effects of the impunity of oil marketers, who will make claims for subsidy payment, but selling their products at the filling stations at cut throat prices. Penultimate Sunday, this writer bought a litre of PMS in a filling station in Ketu for N130. Such unpatriotic acts are strong arguments for the removal of oil subsidy, while a more realistic way of compensating Nigerians for such sacrifice is worked out by the government. Now that the spot market price of crude oil is low is the auspicious time for the Federal Government to act on the issue. The prevalent socio-political equilibrium is such that President Muhammadu Buhari could muster the political will for the right action with minimal opposition from the nation’s labour movement. Many have canvassed forcefully the full deregulation of the downstream sector of the nation’s oil industry, believing it is the catalyst to private sector investment in oil refineries. Nigeria ran with such stratagem in the telecommunication sector, when NITEL, the state monopolist, was goaded to compete with private investors. The rest is history. The NNPC, as a monopolist, has failed the nation. The four public refineries lying prostrate tell the story. Let the Federal Government create the enabling environment for private investors to join the fray. It is certain our destiny as a nation will be altered. A note of warning. Nigerians want a BETTER DEAL in the oil and gas sector than the half baked power reform that has sunk the nation deeper into the energy quagmire. Concluded

Sport Extra

Transfer: ‘Pogba ‘ll flourish more with Old Lady’

uventus veteran defender, Patrice Evra, feels indemand midfielder Paul Pogba would be best served by staying with the Serie A and Italian Cup champion. Pogba, 22, is contracted to

the Bianconeri until 2019 and has been repeatedly linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs, including 2015 treble winner Barcelona. “I’m here to advise him to make the best choice but I told

him the decision is his,” Evra said yesterday. “People forget that Paul is young, and if he wants to go to a very big European club at age 22, why not? But if he wants to stay I think it would

be a good idea. “I do not think that Juventus wants to let him go.” The France international has won three consecutive League titles with Juventus since his arrival in 2012 on a

free transfer from Manchester United. Observers believed he had further impressed Barcelona officials at the final of the Champions League in Berlin on June 6.

Pogba

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