Monday, october 26, 2015 new by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

We won't surrender mandates given us –PDP

THE

Ogun bans sales of alcohol in parks

I'll fight this injustice to S'Court –Wike DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT Metuh

Vol. 5 N0. 1229

eople’s Democratic Party, PDP, has said it will not surrender the mandate given to it by

Monday, October 26, 2015

the people in states where it won in the last general elections. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Economic pains to last 10 years more –Ibrahim T

he world economy will continue to be in pains for the next ten years and there is hardly anything anyone could do at the moment other than to keep things together and avoid the extension of the likely recovery period. This was the position taken yesterday by Jimoh Ibrahim, Group Managing Director of Energy Group. Ibrahim explained that the world economy was growing at 7% in 2007 when we had the boom and the economy slid to about 3% in 2008 and by

... says price of oil will move up soon

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Saraki confused over committees’ composition

P.4

APC supporters celebrating after Rivers State Tribunal Governorship Election sitting in Abuja orde red cancelation of April 2015 Governorship election and re-election in 90 days.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

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Economic pains to last 10 years more –Ibrahim CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

flow of average, the global economy has been oscillating in the last seven years recording a growth of 3%. According to him even if the global economy is going to grow at 7% next year, it is not possible to enjoy drastic economic boom until we make up for the deficits of the last seven years. “If you calculate that and using the probability on the Monte Carlo stimulation exercise, a ten year bet is imperative if we have good governance and do things right,” Ibrahim said Ibrahim advises government to be in congruent reality with basic principle and relax the regulations regime if the fight against corruption will ever have any meaning. He said many regulations make government officials feed fat on corruption, as those who intend to keep business here do more public relations to stay on. The cost of such public relation is now unavoidable by the private sector. There are signs of recovery but our concern too is in the fact that there are dangerous conflicting signs and that is why it has become not im-

mediately possible for the Federal Reserve Bank and the Bank of England to increase the interest rate, he added. The price of oil will move up soon as we approach the weather situation and geomorphol-

ogy conditions will assist Nigeria in getting better price for her oil. Ibrahim posited and also advising the Buhari administration to take advantage of the incoming increase in the price of oil to prioritise government projects

and use the pilot approach in delivering his promises to Nigerians. Ibrahim advises the National Assembly to come up with ways and constitutional means of monitoring Federal Allocation to the State by way of re-

visiting the Nigeria fiscal federalism, which he said will prevent wastage of government resources as it is almost becoming impossible for the States Assemblies to exercise their oversight functions at the State level and they need

help. Ibrahim advises Nigerians to give Buhari a little more time in the face of the global trends of geo political movement and the China destructive innovation affecting the global economy.

L - R : Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Saraki's wife, Toyin, Mrs. Mojisola Tejuoso, wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun and the Osile of Oke-Ona, Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, during a reception to mark Mrs. Tejuoso's 50th birthday anniversary in Lagos yesterday.

We won't surrender mandates given us –PDP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

A statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday in Abuja said the party would use all lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces by All Progressives Congress, APC, to subvert the will of the people in PDP-controlled states. It listed the states as Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and others. “No matter the strongarming, threats and manipulations by the APC government, the PDP is not willing to, and will never surrender the mandate freely given to us by the people. “Neither are the people in the states where we won willing to allow sectional invaders to exert influence on those to be in charge of their affairs,” the party said. It accused the APC-led government of manipulating sensitive agencies of state like the judiciary and

the security to take over ‘the rich states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta’. “This is totally against the spirit of democracy and peace bestowed by the PDP in conceding defeat at the presidential election,” it added. The party maintained that “the prejudiced rulings by the Rivers and Akwa Ibom states gubernatorial elections tribunals, with their inherent contradictions, were direct fallout of interference from APC.” It added that it was also the direct fallout of interference of some elements within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal. It, however, cautioned against any interference in Rivers and Akwa Ibom cases at the appeal level. It also cautioned against any further intrusion in the Abia, Taraba and Delta election tribunals, which it added the APC was already

boasting of controlling. “The PDP says such would be a clear invitation to chaos in the land. “In the last five months, after conceding defeat at the presidential elections and other polls where we lost, Nigerians were witnesses to the fact that the PDP has remained calm. “We remain steadfast to its commitment to providing mature, decent and civil opposition with more interest in the peace, unity and corporate interest of our dear nation.” The statement added that the ruling party and the government were manipulating PDP victory in some states. “The APC’s definition of credible election is that the governorship elections in Imo, Ogun, Plateau, Lagos and Yobe are all credible,’’ it said. The statement wondered why APC believed that elec-

tion in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia were rigged and must by all means be annulled. It said PDP was able, willing and ready to call up its members and supporters to use all means within the limits provided by the laws to resist plans to decimate the party. “The peace we seek is not that of a graveyard, it is such as guaranteed by a well-recognised democratic system. “It is a democratic system that treats all as equals before the law, irrespective of partisan and political affiliations,” the party said. The statement called on members of the party and lovers of democracy to rise up and protect the nation's democracy. It called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to save the nation’s democracy and the institution of the ju-

diciary. The party urged Mohammed to immediately check the “negative actions emanating from elements operating within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal.” Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that his mandate is intact and secure, promising to retain it. Describing Saturday’s nullification of the April 11, 2011 governorship poll by the election tribunal sitting in Abuja as a minor irritation, he called on members and supporters of the PDP to be calm and go about their duties. Wike stated this yesterday in a state broadcast over the nullification of his election. He said besides the malfunctioning of the card reader supplied by INEC, “which placed no advantage on any of the contes-

tants, the election took place throughout the state and was adjudged both by local and international observers as free and fair. Wike stated that he was unaware of any state where election was postponed as a result of failure of card readers, insisting that elections took place in the state where millions of people voted for him. He said: “The Court of Appeal in Agbaje vs Ambode clearly stated that the partial or non-use of card readers is not the basis for the cancellation of an election. “Yet, against all legal odds and the grains of logic, the Tribunal in its wisdom decided to accord undue legal weight to the straw of statements around the use or non-use of card readers to support its decision in the face of a hopelessly bad case of the petitioners CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Monday, October 26, 2015

Good Health

Lose weight to avoid getting cancer FRANKA OSAKWE

s the world, this month, continues the awareness drive on breast cancer – the commonest cancers among women, experts have found that one sure way to protect against various cancers is to lose weight. This is because obesity has been identified as a risk factor for several cancers, including cancers of the colon, breast, kidney, oesophagus, gallbladder and endometrium. A new study, found 12,000 new cancers associated with being overweight. According to the study, published in the Journal Lancet, the risk of a person being diagnosed with cancer increases with the increase in waist line. The study analyzed data relating to more than five million people to establish the links between obesity and cancer. The researchers found that excess fat not only increases the risk of some breast cancers, it also renders treatment less effective. They also found that for every five point increase in a person’s body mass index (BMI), they could be 62 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the uterus, and 25 percent more likely to develop kidney cancer. On how the link between weight gain and cancer risk was established, weight-loss expert, Sally Norton, explained that excess fat produces hormones which causes some of the cancer cells to grow. “One of the ways being overweight increases the risk of cancer lies in the fact that excess fat doesn’t just sit around your middle doing nothing, it produces hormones, one of which is oestrogen,” she said. Experts found that the female hormone oestrogen, can sometimes stimulate breast

cancer cells and cause them to grow. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer may rise slightly with the amount of oestrogen her body is exposed to. “For example, if you started your periods at a young age and experienced menopause at a late age, you’ll have been exposed to oestrogen over a longer period of time. In the same way, not having children, or having children later in life, may slightly increase your risk of developing breast cancer because your exposure to oestrogen is uninterrupted by pregnancy”, it says. According to the study, fat is the main source of oestrogen, especially after meno-

DID YOU KNOW?

Ebola virus can persist in body of survivors beyond 9 months

he Ebola virus can persist in the eye, semen, the placenta, breast milk and central nervous system of survivors of the disease for as long as 9 and a half months, according to a new study supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). A preliminary study on Ebola virus persistence in the semen of male survivors in Sierra Leone has found that some men still produce semen that tests positive on real time for nine months or longer. “One participant was still positive 9.5 months after his illness began,” WHO said in a press release. WHO said these results are from “baseline” samples provided by 93 men participating in the study being jointly conduct-

ed by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest findings come as WHO reported there were no confirmed cases of Ebola in West Africa in the week to 11 October, making it the second consecutive week with zero confirmed cases. But WHO also notes that, a patient who was reported as a case in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2014, and who later recovered, was hospitalized last week after developing late Ebola-related complications.

pause, when the ovaries have stopped producing hormones. “This means that postmenopausal women who are overweight are at a greater risk of tumours that are stimulated by oestrogen. As many as 41 percent of womb cancers may be attributable to obesity,” Norton said. In the case of males, the study found that being obese increases the chance of colon and liver cancer. “It is more likely in people with a higher waist to hip ratio and may be associated with increased insulin levels, seen in type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Norton said. She points to a recent study, in mice, which found reducing food intake may reduce the risk of breast cancer spreading. The

moking pot could damage a man’s semen quality, suggests a new study. The researchers from Denmark collected data from 1,215 Danish men ages 18 to 28. The men were asked about their drug use over the past three months and provided a semen sample. The researchers found a correlation between men who smoked pot more than once weekly and “quite a lot” of a drop in sperm count: the count was an average 29% lower in these men than in those who reported lighter or no usage. Those who reported additional drug use (anything from cocaine to ecstasy) saw an even more severe reduction, with average sperm count down 55%. “Our findings are of public interest as marijuana use is common”—indeed, 45% of participants had smoked in the last 3 months—”and may be

research has prompted an ongoing trial into nutritional advice and weight-loss in women undergoing breast cancer treatment. A related study emphasized that prevention of weight gains, not weight loss will guide against cancer. They found that overweight and obese women run an increased risk of breast cancer that is not diminished by weight loss. The study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), had 67,000 women in the United States followed for a median of 13 years. The study, by Marian L Neuhouser of the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center in Seattle and colleagues, found that a woman’s risk of breast cancer increased if she gained more than 5 per cent of her bodyweight, even if she was initially of normal weight (a BMI of 18.5 to 25). “But there was no change in risk for women who lost weight. The risk rises with the more excess weight women carry. Those who are obese, with a BMI over 30, have a 58 per cent higher chance of breast cancer than those of normal weight. Deaths among the most obese were also twice those among those of normal weight”, they said. In a commentary in the journal, Clifford Hudis of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and Andrew Dannenberg of the Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, note that the National Cancer Institute recently suggested obesity will replace tobacco as the single biggest modifiable risk factor for cancer. Katie Goates from Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: “Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink and being regularly physically active can help to keep BMI down and lower breast cancer risk”, she said. Meanwhile, The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) says that the foods we eat can affect our risk of developing certain types of cancer. It says that high-energy and high-fat diets can lead to obesity which will increase the risk of some cancers. It recommends that people avoid eating processed meat and eat more of diet rich in fibre, vegetables and fruits.

Marijuana can damage sperm

contributing to recent reports of poor semen quality,” the University of Copenhagen researchers write in the American Journal of Epidemiology. There could be two things going on, they tell Live Science. It’s possible the interaction between THC and receptors in the testes causes the drop.

Photo News

Monday, October 26, 2015

L-R: Public Affairs Manager, Arik Air, Mr. Adebanji Ola; Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulie and Comedian, Julius Agwu at the presentation of Award to Arik Air by Agwu at the weekend. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

L-R: Senior Brand Manager, Gulder, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Onyeka Okoli; Gulder Brand Ambassador, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu; winner of a brand new Hyundai Elantra car, Austin Ikeasogbe; Gulder Brand Ambassador, Lil Rhymz and, Marketing Manager, Gulder, 33, Life, More and stout category, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Agu, during Gulder Ultimate Promo prize presentation in Lagos on Saturday. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

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L-R: Senior Vice President, Babcock University (BU), Prof Iheanyichukwu Okoro; speaker, 6th inaugural Lecture, Prof Dora Oluwafunmilola Akinboye and Dean, School of Public and Allied Health, Babcock University (BU), Prof Nnodimele Atulomah, during the 6th inaugural lecture titled ‘Parasitic infections: Challenges of control and eradication in public health’ delivered by Prof Akinboye, held at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, at the weekend.

L-R: National President, National Association of Microfinance Banks, Mr. Valentine Whensu; Managing Director, Nicon Insurance Ltd, Mr. Bayode Samuel and Legal Adviser, National Association of Microfinance Banks, Barr. Peter Oiwo, during the 5th Annual General Meeting of National Association of Microfinance Banks, in Abuja at the weekend. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National News George Oji ABUJA

enate President Bukola Saraki appears to be at a quandary over the composition and announcement of the new Senate standing committees, National Mirror has learnt. Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had last week announced the composition of the 96 standing committees of the House. But Saraki cannot follow suit because of the political intrigues and interests that has dogged the exercise in the senate. Saraki emerged the Senate President following the support he received from members of Like-minds senators of APC as well as People’s Democratic Party, PDP senators who contributed bloc votes to him. His rival and APC’s choice candidate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, lost out in the race. However, in the composition of the remaining principal offices of the senate, Saraki ensured

Saraki confused over committees’ composition that only senators who are loyal and disposed to him emerged despite the party’s insistence that members of the Senate Unity Forum, loyal to Lawan should be adequately compensated and accommodated. It was gathered that even in the composition of the senate committees, which was originally slated to be made public in September when the lawmakers resumed from their six weeks annual vacation, Saraki continued his hard-line stance, and ensured that only his loyalists were favored in the choice committees. It was believed that Saraki’s arraignment before the Code of Conduct Tribunal by the Federal Government was not unconnected with his uncompromising position with APC leadership. At the moment, Saraki

cannot go ahead to announce the composition of the standing committees because it has become difficult on how to proceed with the matter, particularly how to accommodate key members of the Senate Unity Forum who could not be accommodated adequately in the committee composition initially. Despite the intervention of APC leadership, the matter has remained largely unresolved. For instance, one of the proposals put forward by the party was for Senator Ali Ndume to resign his position as Senate Leader to pave way for the emergence of Lawan as his replacement. But Ndume has persistently turned down that request, insisting that he was popularly elected by his colleagues for that office, hence, it would

amount to an undemocratic act, a principle the APC is strongly opposed to, to relinquish his mandate. Ndume floored Lawan in the zonal election conducted by APC senators from the North east zone to eventually emerge the preferred choice for the position of Senate Leader. Ndume defeated Lawan by nine votes to two. When it became difficult to convince Ndume to trade his Senate leadership position with Lawan, it was gathered that as a soft-landing for Lawan, the party had proposed that he should be compensated with a ministerial position, which (Lawan) declined. Right now, there are no more juicy positions left for Lawan in the power equation in the senate. The proposal to have Lawan head the Appropriation committee was met

with brick wall, as the former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Yerima, a staunch supporter of Saraki, who indeed moved the motion for Saraki’s election as Senate President, has refused to give up the Appropriation committee already slated for him. National Mirror also gathered that even Danjuma Goje, a ranking senator and former Gombe State governor as well as staunch supporter of Saraki, has refused to give up the FCT Committee Chair already allocated to him. It is not possible to let Lawan head the Public Accounts Committee, PAC, because that committee is by rule and practice meant for the opposition senators. There is also the problem of what to do with PDP senators who remain the main backers of Sara-

ki as the Senate President. Investigations showed that Saraki allocated a number of the grade A committees to PDP senators, particularly the ranking senators and his strong supporters. As a result of PDP support which has been sustaining Saraki as the Senate President, Saraki does not want to compromise any of the committee slots he has already allocated to the party in order not to incur their wrath. At the moment, Saraki who is now disposed to appeasing the party is at a crossroads on how to address the issue of accommodating members of the Senate Unity Forum in the allocation of the senate standing committees. This is why the announcement of the committees is being delayed and might take more time before the issue is resolved.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

FMDQ, SEC, IFC move to deepen Nigerian Debt Capital Markets

MDQ OTC, International Finance Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, have

concluded plans to hold Debt Capital Markets, DCM, workshop to stimulate debt management growth. This is contained in a

statement issued by FMDQ in Lagos yesterday. The statement said the workshop was in line with FMDQ's commitment to lead

the revolution in the Nigerian DCM. It stated that the two-day workshop with the theme “The Nigerian Debt Capi-

NIPC partners foreign investors to build affordable houses

xecutive Director, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Mrs. Uju Baba, said the Commission was partnering with foreign investors to build affordable houses for the poor in the country. Baba said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday. The executive director, who said there was a huge gap in the housing sector in the country, added that NIPC partnership was with investors from Brazil and Turkey. She explained that it was the Commission’s pet project to bring in foreign investors into the country. “I am hopeful that by the end of this year, the companies will be in the country,” she said. The NIPC boss said the companies were willing to build certain category of houses using a new system that would be affordability for the poor. She said: “We want investors that are sincere enough to come and build houses that the poor can afford and still make their money,” she added. The Commission, she added, would monitor the project so that it would not be hijacked by the rich in the society. Baba said: “We will monitor the execution of the project because it is our method of trying to support government’s policy. NIPC will not allow any government policy to be hijacked by people who want to make profit at the detriment of the poor.” Baba said Nigeria had abundant investment opportunities in priority sectors such as agriculture, power, manufacturing, solid minerals, critical infrastructure, waste management and housing sector. She added that NIPC was facilitating investments in the country and taking more proactive role as an agent of development. She noted that the Commis-

sion was repositioning itself to attract quality investments in productive sectors and mobilising a supportive business service as provided in the OneStop Investment Centre. She explained that the One-Stop Investment Centre was government’s strategy to streamline investment procedures, provide prompt, efficient and transparent services and coordinate investment-facilitating agencies.

The role of the Commission was to ensure that intending investors really invested in the country, she said. She added that “our role is to ensure that intending investors come back to invest, that is why there is a committee that tracks all potential investors to ensure that they are provided with necessary information." “We will also give investors contacts of technical

ministries in charge of the sectors so that they will be educated on all the technical details of investing in a particular area to enable them to make informed choices. “NIPC will also be in close contact with investors from pre-establishment to post establishment stage of every project to ensure that progress is sustained and protected.”

tal Markets – Towards a Brighter Future,” was aimed at stimulating the growth of the Nigerian DCM. The statement added that the workshop would diagnose the issues hindering the empowerment of the markets and propound practical and implementable remedies to the issues. It said the nation's DCM had grown over the past 10 years and the options presented by the issuance of debt securities would stimulate economic growth and development. The statement added that the workshop would highlight the role and impact of DCM to the government, regulators, issuers, investors, market operators, and economy as a whole. It said the workshop

would provide forum for stakeholders of the Nigerian DCM and global markets experts to interact and deliberate on ways to bridge the developmental gaps and foster sustainable growth of debt management. The statement noted that FMDQ, SEC and the Federal Government at the end of the workshop would champion Nigerian DCM road map that would facilitate the growth of the real sector. It said the DCM road map would focus on initiatives that would impact the real sector of the economy to promote Nigeria’s vision of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020. The workshop, slated for October 27 and 28, will take place in Lagos.

L-R; Ghanaian President, John Mahama; Vice Chancellor University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, during the visit of the president to Ilorin, on Saturday.

We won't surrender mandates given us –PDP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

“As we all know, our judicial system is built on the doctrine of hierarchy of courts in which lower courts are bound by the decisions of courts higher in hierarchy on the same or similar issues. “It is therefore strange for the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal to arrive at a decision that negates subsisting judgments of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.”

While expressing his believe in the judiciary, he hoped that the appellate courts will correct the mistakes of the tribunal, as he and his legal team were already heading to the appeal court. He called on members and supporters of the PDP to be calm and go about their legitimate duties. “There is no course for alarm. By virtue of the constitution and the Electoral Act, I am still your governor

and will remain your governor until the exhaustive conclusion of the appeal process at the Supreme Court. “Therefore, be assured that your mandate, which you freely gave to the Peoples Democratic Party and my humble self, is intact, safe and secure. God will not allow your mandate to come to naught. “I wish to thank the people of Rivers State for the unwavering support I have enjoyed from you since the

beginning of the struggle to this moment. “I am highly humbled with the show of solidarity from all and sundry and in particular, the confidence in our ability to move the state forward, and the overwhelming satisfaction with what we are already doing as our government to reposition the state. “I wish to further assure you that my team and I will not be distracted by this minor irritation.

“We shall remain focused on our vision and continue to deliver on our fundamental promises on improving security, massive development of infrastructure and socio-economic empowerment in Rivers State. “Finally, be assured that by the special grace of God, we shall ultimately prevail over our adversaries, retain our mandate and return the glory to God Almighty our Maker and Refuge,” the governor said.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

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Doctors are parts of Nigeria’s health problems –CMD, UCH TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

L-R: Country Senior Partner, Price Water House Coopers, Nigeria, Mr. Uyi Akpata; President, Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Aleghe and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, during a lecture and dinner in honour of the Governor by FGC Warri Old Students Association (FEGOCOWOSA), Lagos Branch with the theme; Governance and National Integration in a Cosmopolitan Society, at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Lagos.

Army differs with Shettima over territories controlled by Boko Haram JAMES A BRAHAM JOS

hief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said that no Nigerian territory was still under the control of Boko Haram insurgents. But the position of the Army was at variance with that of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who said that two local governments in the state were still under the control of the insurgents. Both spoke separately at the weekend. Shettima spoke while receiving the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawan, who led a six-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to pay condo-

lence visits to Borno and Adamawa states, after the suicide attacks at their mosques last Friday. He said: “They (Boko Haram) are presently controlling two local governments in Borno State; Abadam and Mobbar and partially in Marte.” However, the Chief of Army Staff, who spoke with journalists shortly after addressing troops at the Headquarters of 3 Division, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Jos, differed with the governor as he insisted that the military had recovered all territories previously under the terrorists’ enclave Burutai said: “It is not true. No Boko Haram is holding any territory. Have you heard them (Boko Haram) making any claim of

recent? We are more determined and we have more professional soldiers on the ground. We have been trained and equipped and ready to face the challenge posed by them.” Asked what will happen if the military fails to meet up with the December deadline to rid the country of Boko Haram activities, the Army boss said: “Well, I don’t envisage that. There are many options but we will make sure that we meet up with the deadline. At this point, I think we are on course. We are not thinking of missing the deadline because we still have November and December.” Earlier, Buratai, while addressing the troops said he was in Jos on a familiarisa-

tion visit and to acquaint the troops of his vision to reposition the Ar my after his appointment. The troops who had gathered at the cantonment parade ground, however, took advantage of the opportunity and bombarded the Army boss with lots of complaints most of which bothered on welfare. While promising to address the issues raised, the Army Staff who was flanked by the GOC, 3 Division, Maj. Gen. Hassan Umaru stressed that the Army, under his leadership, will be repositioned for more efficient service delivery especially in the area of operations, administration and logistics and urged them to key into the vision to ensure that the plan succeeds

Terrorism: Buhari, Modi, Africa leaders hold talks in New Delhi ROTIMI FADEYI

resident Muhammadu Buhari leaves Abuja tomorrow for New Delhi to participate in the 3rd Summit of the IndiaAfrica Forum, established in 2008 as the official platform for the advancement of mutually-beneficial relations between India and African nations. A statement yesterday by Special Adviser

to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said Buhari, the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi and other participating Heads of State and Government would deliberate on issues of common concern to their countries such as climate change and international terrorism. They are also expected to discuss additional measures aimed at boosting joint collaboration to accelerate the pace of

socio-economic development in Africa and India as well as further cooperation for the alleviation of poverty and the eradication of hunger, disease and illiteracy. Buhari would be accompanied on the trip by the Governors of Kano and Delta states, National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Defence, Power, Communications Technology, Agriculture,

Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade and Investment. The President is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Modi and other senior Indian government officials on Wednesday, ahead of the opening of the summit on Thursday. He would also meet with Chief Executive Officers of Indian companies with existing or prospective interests in Nigeria before returning to Abuja on Friday.

hief Medical Director, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Temitope Alonge has revealed that Nigerian doctors contributed largely to the current challenges facing the nation’s health sector. He said many of them had turned the profession into conduits to milk many unsuspecting patients and the country by extension in the name of medical tourism abroad. The chief medical director made the observation as a keynote speaker at the inauguration of the Tri-state Heart and Cardiovascular centre at the Babcock University, IlisanRemo, Ogun State. The centre, built by the faith-based university in conjunction with the institute to provide cardiovascular services was put in place at the cost of about N2bn. Prof. Alonge at the forum spoke on “The Nigerian Health Sector: Maladies and Remedies.” According to him, many doctors have turned themselves into businessmen and women by using their certificates to pursue overseas treatment for patients that could be treated successfully locally in order to collect certain amount of money as rebate from foreign hospitals they refer those patients to. He said he knew of some doctors, especially in Lagos, who look for patients to refer abroad for treatment for a fee, noting

that some of them get as much as N5m as commission on every 10 patient they refer to Indian hospitals for renal or cardiovascular-related diseases. He argued that some of these health challenges could be handled successfully in the country at a lower cost. The chief medical director however said it was not as if government at all levels should be exonerated from the blame as according to him, apart from their failure to provide state-ofthe art facilities and best equipment in most of the public hospitals, their inconsistent policies also contribute negatively to the nation’s health system. Also speaking, the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11decried the ceaseless manner by which Nigerians go on medical tourism even for cases that could be treated locally. He said it is high time such practice was discouraged in order to prevent unnecessary capital flight. Sanusi, who was guest of honour at the event, also argued that Nigerians are too religious, reason, he said, many blamed God for the nation’s woes. In his own remark, former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees, TriState Heart Foundation, asked governments, corporate bodies as well as spirited individuals to invest more in the health sector to prevent many avoidable deaths in the country.

Agro-exporters urge FG to address suspension of nation’s produce

ome stakeholders in the Agro-Commodity Export yesterday urged the Federal Government to address the issue of ban placed on some Nigerian produce by the European Union. Chairman, Export Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Dr Obiora Madu, made the appeal when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos. He spoke on the sidelines of a one-day interactive conference with exporters.

Madu said it was imperative for the government to resolve the issue before the June 2016 deadline given by the EU to correct the anomaly. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts of all regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders in formulating a framework to address the challenges of the nation’s agricultural produce in the international market. Madu noted that the country’s natural resources were not utilised to the optimum for economic growth.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

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1.5m people die annually from tuberculosis’

o fewer than 1.5 million people die yearly from tuberculosis (TB) across the world, Dr Ayuba DanAsabe, the Sokoto State Coordinator of Tuberculosis Network, said on

Sunday. Dan-Asabe stated this at Bodinga, headquarters of Bodinga Local Government Council at a reception for Batch `C’ NYSC members. The News Agency of

Nigeria, NAN, further said there was a lecture on ‘‘Good Leadership and the Effect of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria on the Economic Development of Nigeria’’ at the event. “This annual global

toll from TB scourge is that out of the world population, nine million people become ill each year. “In a single day, TB causes the equivalent in lives lost to 15 jetliner crashes,’’ the coordina-

Why PDP’s ploy to win Lagos failed —APC

agos chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said loss of the presidential election on March 28 frustrated the plan by rival Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to take Lagos State by force. According to the party, the then ruling party would have deployed everything in its arsenal, including security agencies and ethnic groups, to dislodge the APC government in Lagos if Nigerians had renewed the mandate of former President Goodluck Jonathan. “Had the PDP succeeded in stealing the presidency on March 28, 2015, it would have used the Army, police, DSS (Department of Security Service), Civil Defence (National Security and Civil Defence Corps), OPC (Oodua Peoples Congress), a section of Afenifere and anything it could lay its hands on to ‘steal’ Lagos by force,” the APC alleged in a statement at the weekend. The statement, signed by the party’s Lagos spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, was reacting to the triumph of Lagos governor,

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS JUSTINA BASSEY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JUSTINA JOHN UDOSEN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ambode

Akinwunmi Ambode, in last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court in an appeal filed by his PDP challenger, Jimi Agbaje. Igbokwe said the resilience of Nigerians during the presidential poll to free themselves from 16 years of oppression and the decision of Lagosians not to embrace a party that had been rejected frustrated the plans of PDP in the state. According to him, the ruling from the highest court in the land confirmed that Lagosians actually voted for APC on April 11, assuring that the party will not let them down. The statement reads: “The apex court's verdict has proven… beyond reasonable doubt that

CHANGE OF FAMILY SURNAME

Akindele: I formerly known as Miss Akindele Omotola Omotayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bamiteko Omotola Omotayo. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME /AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION. Amen and Amen Ministry wishes to change its name to Amen and Amen Ministry International as well as amend its Constitutional provisions as follows: ARTICLES (1) Name, 3. Logo, 4. Aims and objectives, 5. Membership, 6. Officers of the Ministry, 7. Duties of the elected officers, 8. Trustees of the Ministry, 9. Sources of income, 11. Method of election, 12. Tenure of Office of other officers, 13. Fellowship days, 16. Governing council, 17. Evangelism, 18. Welfare. Addition of a new article to introduce our mission and vision statements. Any objection to this publication should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P. M. B 198, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Pastor (Mrs.) Julia Uloma Victoria Amaraegbu (General Overseer)

our candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, won the governorship election fair and square, defeating Mr. Jimi Agbaje of PDP with more than 160,000 votes. “We thank God Almighty for giving us victory both at the national and state levels in spite of brazen impunity and injustice, intimidation, harassment, oppression, suppression, repression, political recklessness and abuse of power. “The resounding victory from the apex court tells us in no uncertain terms that Lagosians have not forgotten how AD (Alliance for Democracy), AC (Action Congress), ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) and now APC, transformed Lagos in the last 16 years and made the city the fastest growing cosmopolitan city state in Africa, the largest economy in Africa with Gross Domestic Product of more than $135 billion. “Lagosians have not forgotten the progressive party cleaned up Lagos and made it a livable city. They have not forgotten how our party made Lagos a haven for business activities to thrive. They have not forgotten how we built the most formidable security architecture to protect lives and property of more than 18 Nigerians residing in the city of Lagos.” CHANGE OF NAME ENYEREIBE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ENYEREIBE KELECHI CYNTHIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHUKWUEMEKA KELECHI CYNTHIA All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWANGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWANGWU NGOZI NDIRIKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDOJI NGOZI NDIRIKA All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ALOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ALOR IFEOMA JENNIFER now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIH IFEOMA JENNIFER All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

Stating that the apex court ruling has put paid to the controversy surrounding the April 11 poll, the party said it would spur the Akinwunmi-led administration to implement the party’s peopleoriented policies and programmes. It said: “The Supreme Court verdict is yet another call to duty and we know that Governor Ambode possesses the required skills, training, experience, character, discipline and energy to consolidate the gains of the past 16 years.” “As a bean counter, he has hit the ground running, restructuring and repositioning critical institutions in Lagos. He has been busy embarking on reforms of the Lagos accounting systems, judicial and the security architecture. He has been working on how to create millions of jobs for Lagosians and how to upgrade the inner roads in Lagos. "The APC government in Lagos will not lower the bar of leadership but will continue to show the way forward for other states in Nigeria. Lagos will continue to provide the template for development. Lagos will continue to be a pacesetter, the harbinger of progress, the leading light and power house of ideas in the years to come.” CHANGE OF FAMILY SURNAME

We formerly known and addressed as ONYILO now wish to be known and addressed as CHIMEREMEZE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ANWUSI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CAROLINA UGO ANWUSI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGO EMMANUEL RAYMOND CAROLINA All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWABUGO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWABUGO ELIZABETH AZUOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWABUGO ELIZABETH AZUOMA All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

tor said. He also lamented that TB is the number three cause of death among women of child bearing age. “In the same vein, it is the number four cause of death among women of all ages, while more than half a million women die of TB each year. “Half a million children become ill with TB every year. There are 10 million children worldwide who have been orphaned because their parents died of TB. “Since 1995, 46 million persons had been

successfully treated and up to 6.8 million lives saved through the use of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS). “DOTS is a rigorous approach to treatment of TB endorsed by the World Health Organisation,’’ Dan-Asabe said. The event’s organiser, Mr Dennis Utsa, Executive Coordinator, Centre For Community Participation and Youth Development, said it was aimed at sensitising the community on the diseases’ dangers and its effect on the society.

Most birth defects caused by poor antenatal care —Expert

paediatrician, Dr Adekunle Ola, has said most birth defects are caused by poor antenatal care of expectant mothers. Ola, who works with Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday against the backdrop of children born with hole in the heart. While calling for proper antenatal care, he said with proper care, some congenital heart diseases such as Ventricular Vestal defect and Arterial Septal defect would be detected and precautions taken. “Other heart diseases that may occur include Tetralogy of Fallots, and Einsenmanger syndrome which can be corrected by surgery. “These birth defects are often common in highly industrialised areas where people are exposed to undue radiation and reactive industrial agents. “These diseases can be most common where there is a fall in radiation or chemical spray like what happened in Hiroshima and Nakarta in Japan where there was a chemical bombing during Second World War. “Congenital heart defects are problems in the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Approximately, 1 in every 100 newborns have congenital heart defect which can range from mild to severe. “Congenital heart defects happen because of incomplete or abnormal development of the foetus’ heart

during the very early weeks of pregnancy. “These birth defects usually occur during embryonic division in the first three months of pregnancy during which the womb cells are divided. “Some earlier causes of heart disease are known and associated with genetic disorders, but the cause of most congenital heart defects is unknown. “While heart defects can’t be prevented, it can be detected during good antenatal care. And though there may be no cure for it, the mother can prepare well ahead for it. “To forestall these unknown problems, expectant mothers should ensure they register immediately they are certified pregnant. I don’t think this is expensive to do only that some are careless,” he said. Ola, who also explained that some drugs could be responsible for congenital heart diseases, said doctors hardly recommend such drugs except as a last resort. “This happens in rare occasions; only if there is a matter of life and death in choosing between the mother and the child. “There is no reliable statistics for now on the prevalence of heart diseases. But one thing is sure, Nigeria does not belong to the country with the high risk factors. “The prevalence of the disease from available records also shows that it is not on the increase; heart diseases are not a common occurrence in birth delivery,” he said.

South West

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Akure monarch pardons Eze Ndigbo Ojo Oyewamide Akure

eji of Akureland, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has reconciled with Chief Gregory Iloehike, the dethroned Eze Ndigbo of Akure, capital of Ondo State. Iloehike was dethroned by the monarch about two weeks ago for allegedly disrespecting the traditional stool. Oba Aladeyoyinbo, however, said he could not reverse Iloehike’s deposition until the State Council of Obas takes a final decision on the chieftaincy title of Eze Ndigbo in the state. The monarch stated this at the weekend in his palace during a peace meeting involving the leadership of Igbo community and top officials of the state government. The Igbo community leaders were led by government officials to publicly apologise to the monarch. The monarch also ordered that shops at Mo-

jere market be reopened but warned the traders against causing any crisis over the leadership of the market until Akure traditional chiefs resolve the matter. He assured Igbo indigenes that their interest would be taken care of in the market. Oba Aladetoyinbo appreciated the state government for its intervention as well as Akure youths and elders for their peaceful disposition towards the crisis. According to him, the disputed title of Eze Ndigbo would be considered at the meeting of the state Council of Obas scheduled to hold next week. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Ikechukwu Anoliefo said Igbo people had found Akure hospitable and they had been living in the ancient town for over 100 years. Anoliefo appealed to the Deji to forgive their errors, promising that such action would not repeat itself in the future.

Ambode ,Oguntade,Olanipekun, Alegeh others for Justice Balogun Memorial Lecture

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, former Supreme Court Justice, George Adesola Oguntade, former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and current President of the association, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, are among the guests expected to grace the First late Hon. Justice Abudu Lamidi Afolabi Leigh Balogun’s Memorial Lecture holding this week. The lecture is scheduled for Thursday, at the Banquet Hall, Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos by 9.30am. Justice Balogun, OFR, was a member of the 1979 Constitution Drafting Committee, CDC, and a judge of the Lagos High Court.

According to the Chairman, Memorial Lecture Organising Committee, Mr. Yemi Peters, the title of the lecture is “Law as an Instrument of Social Change.” While Governor Ambode is the Special Guest of Honour, Justice Oguntade will chair the event and the Keynote Speaker is Chief Olanipekun.

igilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, yesterday said it had suspended its Lagos State Commander, Ademola Akeripa, over alleged misconduct and insubordination. VGN made the disclosure at a meeting with its members which ended late on Saturday at its new office in Ikeja, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the group appointed Mr. James Udomma as its interim Lagos State Commander. The suspension, decided upon by the National Execu-

L-R: Son, Oluwamuyiwa Obasanjo; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at the 10th year Memorial Service of Chief (Mrs) Stella Obasanjo, at Chapel of Christ the Glorious Church, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, on Saturday.

Ogun ban sales of alcohol in parks Femi Oyeweso Abeokuta

gun State Government has ordered liquor dealers operating in all motor parks across the state to quit or be ready to face sanctions. A statement made available by the Information Office of the state’s Parks and Garages Development Board, PAGADEB, Taoheed Lawal, explained that

the development was part of government’s efforts towards achieving success in its ember month safety campaigns. Lawal also stated that the state government has sealed off six different shops selling alcoholic drinks at Kuto Motor Park in Abeokuta, the state capital. General Manager of PAGADEB, Alhaji Ayo Ogunsolu, according to

the statement, sealed off the liquor centres while flagging off “Operation Flush out Alcoholics Drinks in Parks and Garages” in Abeokuta. Ogunsolu, according to the statement, said the step became imperative in order to minimise roads accidents and instill discipline among transport workers, particularly drivers and conductors. Emphasising that alco-

holic drinking while driving still remained illegal and criminal offence, the statement stated that the state decided to embark on the exercise in order to stem the growing rate of carnage on Ogun roads. It directed those selling liquor to stop forthwith and move out of parks, even as it warned transport workers to avoid taking alcoholic and other toxicants while on wheel.

Kwankwaso calls for education for Fulani to end herdsmen, farmer clashes Kemi Olaitan Ibadan

ormer governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has advocated a quick return of boarding facilities to public schools in the country as well as compulsory education for the Fulani. He said this will go a long way in putting a stop to the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. He also said the time has come to tell those mak-

ing succession threats to shut up. Kwankwaso made the call in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the weekend as a special guest of honour at the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the set of 1965-71 of Government College, Ibadan, where Vitafoam Nigeria Plc. formally donated two sets of pre-fabricated staff quarters to the institution. Present at the event include Governor Abiola Ajimobi, represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education,

Mrs. O. A. Makanjuola; the Group Managing Director of Vitafoam, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, National President of GCI Old Boys Association, Chief Abiodun Jolaoso, Principal of the College, Rev. Oladele Olusola, Chairman, Sunshine Oil and Chemical Industries Limited, Basorun Rotimi Obeisun among others. Kwankwaso while congratulating the staff and students of the college for benefitting from the Vitafoam gesture noted with delight that the staff quar-

ters will facilitate teaching and learning. The former governor, now a senator, made case for return of boarding facilities into public schools across the country, especially in the north where parents are not in a hurry to send their children to schools. The move, he said would serve as incentives by government to ensure that every child, boy or girl, go to school, more so, in the light of what is happening now in the north eastern part of the nation.

of the National Executive Members of the VGN, you are hereby suspended to allow for proper investigation into various allegations and evidences produced by the executives of Lagos chapter. “You are hereby warned to stay away from all VGN premises until determination of this case. “Please note that your suspension is as a result of your total gross misconduct and

insubordination, which is contrary to the provision of the institution under article 16 sub-sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the constitution of VGN. “Failure to comply with this directive, the National Headquarters of this organisation will not hesitate to use all legal means to maintain peace and orderliness in Lagos. “You are invited to appear at the headquarters of the group in Kaduna on or before

October 28 to defend the petition against you,” Ayisire quoted the letter as saying. The interim state commander, while speaking with the members promised to uphold and protect the interest of the group and Nigeria. He pleaded with every member to cooperate with him to contribute to the development of the country and to make sure crime was reduced to the barest minimum.

Vigilante Group of Nigeria suspends Lagos Commander for misconduct

tive Members of the group at its headquarters in Kaduna, was disseminated to the members by the state’s Deputy Commander, Emmanuel Ayisire. According to Ayisire, the letter sent from the headquarters said the suspended commander was also warned to stay away from VGN premises until investigations were concluded on the allegations. “Subject to the resolution

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South West

Monday, October 26, 2015

CBD boss tasks personnel on enforcement, commitment Francis Suberu

orkers of Lagos State Central Business District have been told to brace up to the daunting challenge of turning Lagos Island around for the better, for the sake of shoppers and investors alike. Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Agboola Dabiri, who gave the advice at the inaugural meeting with members of staff in his office at Alausa, expressed his determination “ to leave a lasting and indelible legacy at CBD,” stressing that his mission is make the district a place of pride for Lagosians and stakeholders. Dabiri, who was once chairman of Surulere Local Government, noted that CBD personnel must be ready to display high sense of responsibility, creative mind, commitment and avoid laxity in the line of duty. While stating that the coming yuletide will serve as litmus test for the per-

sonnel, the CBD boss urged all hands to be on deck to ensure free-flow of human and vehicular traffic in the face of congestion throughout the season. He expressed his desire to give the workers necessary impetus to excel in the quest for a better CBD, even as he said “the time is right to fashion out a perfect system that will greatly enhance the return of CBD to the top.” According to him, only through a level of commitment and improved performance in the line of duty can the mind of the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, be swayed to the cause of CBD. The permanent secretary, Chief of Staff and Central Business Districts, Abiodun Bamgboye, congratulated the Special Adviser on his appointment, saying it is well-deserved. He assured that all personnel through the rank and file would do everything humanly possible to assist the Special Adviser succeed in the onerous task of taking CBD to the next level.

UI alumni to establish cancer centre Kemi Olaitan badan

ational President of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Dr. Kemi Emina, at the weekend said the association will build a centre for cancer research in the institution in honour of its outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole. He said this at a ceremony organised by the alumni association in honour of Adewole at the International Conference Center of the university. Prominent Nigerians at the event who showered encomium on Adewole included the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chief Kayode Aderinokun, Oyo and Osun governors represented by Otunba Moses Adeyemo and Mr. Muyiwa Ige respectively, Prof. Emeritus O. A. Akinkugbe, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TEtFUND) boss, Prof. Elias Bogoro, Prof. Bayo Okunade, Director, Distance Learning, UI, and Prof. Idowu

Olayinka (Incoming Vice Chancellor of the UI). Emina, who described Adewole as an achiever, role model and change agent, said he has spent his life researching cancer and medicine to save lives. According to him, cancer has destroyed and killed Nigerians as there is no center devoted to such course, stating that the center to be established will encourage research on cancer to save humanity.

State of Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, during a visit to Aregbesola, at Government House Osogbo, Osun, at the weekend

Buhari requires prayers to effect change –CAN Femi Oyeweso Abeokuta

hristian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday called on all citizens to devote special time in prayer for the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to enable his administration bring about the much-desired change in the country. The CAN Coordinator for Abeokuta North local government, Pastor Emmanuel Kinrin, gave the charge during the official induction of the new CAN Executive and handing over service of the association to the local govern-

ment chapter at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Ikija, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Kinrin, who is the new CAN Coordinator for Abeokuta North local government area, stressed that it had become imperative for Nigerians to lend spiritual support to the Buhari administration in view of Boko Haram insurgents who he said threatened to import about 8,000 fighters into the country. The cleric therefore enjoined all Nigerians, irrespective of religious affiliation to live peacefully with one another, stressing that citizens should fo-

cus on issues and factors that would bring unity rather than promote division. The organisation said this was why it had continued to offer prayers for the success of the Buhari-led government in its plans to change Nigerians and Nigeria for the better. The new CAN coordinator enjoined Christians not to shy away from their civic responsibilities, saying, “The Bible teaches in Timothy 2:1 to 3 that we are to always pray for those in authority.” Charging Nigerians to avoid religious extremism, Kinrin also pledged

President Muhammadu Buhari made a good choice in going for Adewole. Rising from its monthly meeting in Osogbo at the weekend, the G-21 said Adewole’s nomination was a radical departure from the recycling of politicians, who had in one way or the other been benefitting from government. The G-21 in a communique jointly signed by its coordinator, Ganiyu Abisoye and Yusuf Tajudeen the Organising Secretary, said his

nomination was an introduction of fresh blood with fresh idea into governance. The G-21 stated that it was out of place to say that the former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan did not merit the political appointment because he is not a politician, saying that he is a quality choice going by his academic pedigree and track record of excellence. It added that there was no doubt that Adewole would excel in any field or ministry assigned to him,

that within the next three years when he would lead the CAN executive members in the local government area, he would promote cooperation between Christianity and other religions. He further assured that CAN under him, would invest in human capacity development so as to prepare members of the association for future challenges. Kinrin also assured that the association would organise monthly revivals regularly to keep alive the flames of revival and prayers among Christians in the local government area.

Osun APC leaders, lecturers back ministerial nominee Boladale Bamigbola Osogbo

ore leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, under the auspices of Osun APC G-2, yesterday declared support for Professor Isaac Adewole as the ministerial nominee from Osun State. The group said Adewole is an asset that must not be wasted in the era of change and hunger for transformation.

Also lending support for the outgoing University of Ibadan, UI, vice chancellor, were two of his colleagues from the institution, Profs. Adeyinka Aderinto and Akin Alada, who condemned what they described as the “undeserved attacks on Adewole by some aggrieved professors of the university.” A professor of Sociology, Adeyinka Aderinto and Prof Akin Alada of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, UI, on Sunday stated that

especially the education sector that it claims needs an urgent rescue plan. In separate statements made available to newsmen, the university lecturers said: “Professor Adewole is a rare breed, an uncommon achiever and an ideal optimist who rose through the ranks of academics from being Head of Department, Dean of Clinical sciences, Provost of the College of Medicine to his present position as the Vice Chancellor.”

South East

Monday, October 26, 2015

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UNTH doctors at war, disown ARD President EMMANUEL EZEH ENUGU

ome doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, have backed out of the ongoing strike declared by Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, in the hospital.

A statement signed by two members of ARD UNTH chapter, Maxwell Egbugara and Ihechiluru Oyebuchi, on behalf of concerned members of the association in Enugu yesterday, described the strike as unnecessary and against the interest of patients. The resident doctors said it was quite disheart-

MOUAU to run College of Medicine CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

anagement of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOUAU, Umudike, said it plan to establish a College of Medicine. Disclosing this to newsmen shortly after giving the score card of his stewardship since he took over office from his predecessor, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hillary Odo Edeoga, said machinery is in motion to set up the college. He disclosed that certain steps had already been taken on the issue, adding that the university has the capacity and facilities to ensure smooth take off of the college. It was also the efforts of the vice chancellor that the National Universities Commission, NUC granted the university full accreditation for its Doctor of Veteri-

nary Medicine, DVM programme in July 2013. Prof. Edeoga said since he assumed office in 2011, the university has witnessed turn-around, including upgrading and accreditation of some courses. According to him, his first step was to prioritise staff by converting over 200 causal workers to permanent staff. He said some of the staff have worked as casual workers since the inception of the university. Also, he said that his administration paid accumulated arrears of responsibility allowance to deserving staff with effect from 2009 till date. He disclosed that management has also paid N120m tax arrears to workers, including regularisation, promotion and proper placement of all qualified staff.

Board to correct irregular numbering of houses in Abakaliki

bakaliki Capital Territory Development Board, ACTDB, said it would correct the irregular numbering of houses in the city. The Board’s acting General Manager, Mr John Onah, said this yesterday in Abakaliki. Onah said irregular numbering of houses was an embarrassment, especially when visitors came to the state, adding that correct numbering of houses was essential for easy identification and for standardisation. He explained that before the board was created in 2007, Abakaliki Local Government Area was in charge of house numbering but could not stop the act. “This allowed house owners to give numbers to their houses as they wish. “And such acts caused duplication of numbers on

houses that were even on the same street. “We therefore decided to correct these anomalies to ensure uniformity and orderliness in house numbering in the city.

ening that “soon after calling off an industrial action, which lasted for almost three months, some politically-minded hatchet-men commenced another strike without sympathy for the helpless patients who should be protected by the Hippocratic Oath that we all took as medical doctors and who attend the hospi-

tal as their last hope.” They also condemned two publications in a national daily entitled: “UNTH performs surgeries with candles, torchlights, -ARD president” and “Pediatric Dept loses accreditation, docs embark on strike.” They decried the publication, which they alleged, was highly political as pa-

rochial, misconceived, paranoid and unreasonable. “The malicious, vicious and one-sided publication was purely geared towards destabilising, creating anarchy, inciting the UNTH population and tarnishing the self-evident good performances of the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Dr. Christopher C. Amah.

L-R: Commandant FRSC Academy, Mr Samuel Nwaegbe; representative of the GOC, 82DIv. Nigerian Army, Col. Greg Omorogbe; representative of FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Samuel Obayemi and Enugu Sector Commander, Mr David Mendie, during the FRSC 2015 Biannual Zonal retreat in Enugu yesterday.

Monarch cautions Niger Delta communities against violence with oil firms CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

raditional ruler of Umuokanne Community, in the Ohaji Egbema council area of Imo State, Eze Dr. Cyriacus Nwokoma has advised communities in the Niger Delta region to shun all forms of violence and confrontation in their agitations. He spoke against growing restiveness in the Niger Delta region

arising from militancy and kidnapping of foreign oil workers. Speaking on “Human Rights in the Extractive Sector”, during a one day sensitisation workshop on “Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights” in Ohaji Egbema council area organised by CLEEN foundation at the weekend, the monarch warned that unless the people, particularly youth, come together,

speak with one voice, articulate their demands and present same to the appropriate quarters for meaningful attention, their aspiration would ever remain a tall dream. The Okaa-Omee II of Umuokanne also decried the growing gale of environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region and the consequences to the people. The royal father, who is a professor of eco-

Bishop urges Anambra govt to construct roads in Uke community

ishop of Anglican Diocese on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, has urged Anambra State government to construct roads in Uke to help residents overcome its uneven topography. Nwokolo made the appeal yesterday during the celebration of the church’s 100 years in Uke community near Onitsha in Anambra. He reminded Governor Willie Obiano of the abandoned roads in the community, especially the one

“We have therefore decided to completely dissociate our humble selves from these tales of lies and ungodly action by this group as we have now realised that a cabal is using some of our members to destabilise the progress in the hospital in order to discredit the UNTH Management led by Dr. C. C. Amah.

kilometre road leading to St. Luke Church, the venue of the celebration. “This road was near completion before it was abandoned, and we have seen how hard it is to move in the community due to its naturally hard and uneven topography,” he noted. The bishop, however, pledged the support of the church to Obiano’s administration, while urging the faithful to redouble their efforts in supporting community development efforts.

“I expect that when I come here again, you will take me to your hospital. You should be aware that St. Luke, who you bear his name, was a physician,” he said. Reacting, Governor Obiano, represented by his wife, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, said on-going road projects in the state got stopped simply because of the rain. “So, I want to assure you that as soon as the rain stops, we will complete those projects. “We told you during our

election campaign that this government is a continuity government; every project started by former Governor Peter Obi, we must make sure we complete it. “The road leading to St. Luke Church, we will do it as soon as the rain stops. What you will do is to hold me by my words,’’ the governor assured the people. Obiano advised residents of the state to always come up with constructive criticism rather than destructive one.

nomics, regretted that such facilities as access road, hospital, schools, potable water, electricity, gainful employment among other necessary amenities had continued to remain elusive among oil producing communities several years after oil exploration began in their region. He however cautioned the people to shun violence in their demands for the provision of these amenities. Program officer of CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Ifeanyi Anyanwu identified Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights as non binding soft laws established in 2000 to guide extractive companies, in maintaining the safety and security of the facilities and operations with respect for human rights. Anyanwu listed risk assessment and interaction with public and private security as the elements of voluntary principles.

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South South

Monday, October 26, 2015

Dickson tasks Sylva, Tackle insecurity, economy, opposition on peaceful poll corruption, labour tells Buhari G Sebastine Ebhuomhan Benin

he organised labour movement has reiterated the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to focus attention on issues of insecurity, corruption as well as the economy. It said while Buhari appears deeply committed to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC’s pre-election promise of tackling corruption if elected, the same could not be said of now, five months after taking the reins of power on May 29, about national insecurity and the sliding economy. In a retrospective look at Nigeria’s precarious situation, the labour movement underlined its belief in the Buhari administration and its promises, reiterating

however its call on the President to end his government’s honeymoon by “walking his talk” immediately after appointing ministers. Echoing the view of labour, a leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who doubles as General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu said, “The President Muhammadu Buhari administration is commendably committed to reviving the textile and allied industries in general. Organised labour supports him wholeheartedly in achieving this goal of industrial revival.” Aremu spoke at Kaduna Polytechnic during the third International Conference of Association of Textile Technologists of Nigeria with the theme: ‘Harnessing Opportu-

nities in the Textile and Allied Industries for Sustainable Development’. He also advised the Federal Government to scrutinise for viability Governor Tanko AlMakura’s contract with a Chinese group last week to build a cargo airport in Nasarawa State. Evaluating Buhari’s first five months in office, Aremu said, “President Buhari has done well on halting criminal theft of Nigeria’s commonwealth through corruption. EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau, in particular, have been active, enforcing accountability. Beyond these anti-corruption agencies, Nigeria will watch with keen interest the performance of his incoming ministers, especially those of Power, Industry, Transport and Agriculture.” Labour also suggested

fast-tracking revival programmes, with a call on the President to lead governors and federal lawmakers on personal visits to some of the moribund industries for onthe-spot assessment; embark a total war against smuggling and block the 152 Nigerian land border smuggling routes; urgent fixing of Nigerian power sector; a national campaign for made-in-Nigeria goods and services; the building and rehabilitation of Nigerian roads as well as revamp of the railways and iron and steel sectors. Concluding on the proposed Nasarawa State Cargo Airport, Aremu asked, “Who benefits from Nasarawa Cargo Airport? Which goods is Nasarawa producing for exports? The cargo airport may further facilitate underdevelopment of Nigeria.

overnor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State over the weekend called on the APC Governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva and other members of the opposition to work with his administration in delivering a credible, free, fair and peaceful election in the December 5 Gubernatorial poll. Dickson, who described the election as an isolated one, called on Bayelsans not to allow themselves to be intimidated in their various communities across the state, assuring that their votes will count. Speaking on a wide range of issues in a live radio and television interview programme, he noted that the state government has received assurances from the Federal

Akwa Ibom fire service saves 7 lives in 10 months

President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Alhaji Murtala Aliyu (left) and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ipalibo Banigo, during a seminar organised by the Women Association of Quantity Surveyors of Nigeria, in Port Harcourt on Friday. PHOTO: NAN

kwa Ibom Fire Service department said on Sunday that it saved seven lives and property worth N37.33 million from January to date. Head of the department, Mr Ndareke Ukpe, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Uyo that the fire occurred in 52 residential buildings, 38 market stalls and 19 government buildings. He attributed the cause of fire incidents in the state to carelessness on the part of residents and the use of fake or substandard

Many Nigerians are going blind, says experts Richard Ndoma Calabar

edical doctors are alarmed that countless number of Nigerians are gradually going blind without their knowing it. The medical experts said urgent steps must be taken immediately to stem the high prevalence of eye challenges, especially cataract which increasing number of Nigerians are suffering from. They however charged relevant authorities, reli-

gious institutions, schools and firms, including the armed forces, to regularly carry out free eye screening/ enlightenment campaign to help the vulnerable and very poor people with no access to medical care. According to the team leader of the doctors, optometrist Sunday Okonkwo, and ophthalmologist Kennedy Nwachukwu, who were among the six eye experts from University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, to conduct free eye screening at the premises of Brotherhood of the Cross and

Star in Calabar for Olumba Obu`s faithful, most of the under privileged in our society today don't know the status of their sight and do not even bother about it because they lack the wherewithal to seek treatment. The free eye test was organised by the International All Ordained Ones Fellowship, a welfare and evangelical arm of Brotherhood, to mark her 57th anniversary. Regular public seminar, Okonkwo said, will help to cushion the effects of eye challenges among Nigeri-

ans. "Many Nigerians are suffering seriously from eye problems without knowing it, without also bothering to have their eyes checked regularly. 'It is very necessary for organisations and churches to carry out regular campaigns on eye check for its members and the underprivileged,” he said, adding that it is only through such campaigns that this growing problem could be drastically reduced. "During the eye screening exercise, there were

Government that the coming election would be free and fair as a combined team of special police mobile squad and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would be deployed to the state to conduct the election. Expressing optimism that the new INEC team would aspire to do better than its predecessors, the governor said the election would also serve as a referendum on the stand of the Ijaw as a people. According to Dickson, his administration has worked hard for the enthronement of peace and stability in the state in the last few years, with the support of Bayelsans as well as security agencies and Bayelsa cannot afford any form of retrogression.

very many with serious eye issues and they never knew they had such. It was surprising that many could not even see, and thought it was normal. "There was a particular staff of a national security agency with loaded firearm, but when we examined him he could not see beyond two meters. "There was also another case, 13-year-old girl who confessed that because of her short-sightedness, which her parents were not even aware of, she was not doing well at school.

electrical materials by builders. He advised the residents to adhere to safety tips and switch off their electrical appliances when leaving their homes. The fire officer also advised landlords to use good electrical materials in building their houses. Ukpe urged the people to promptly report fire outbreaks in their premises to the department for immediate action. He further warned the people to avoid bush burning, especially now that the dry season was approaching. “We attended to 135 fire calls from private individuals and government establishments in the state. “We saved seven lives and property worth N37 million that would have been lost to fire. “Fire does not just happen; it is caused by carelessness and installation of fake electrical materials in our buildings,” he said. Ukpe recalled that the state government had promised to recruit more hands for the department next year to enable it to cope with its challenges.

North

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Borno blast kills 5 –Police

•Security operatives arrest insurgents attempting to enter IDPs camp

orno Police Command yesterday confirmed the killing of five persons in Saturday’s suspected suicide attack near Maiduguri. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, made this known at a news conference in Maiduguri. “There was explosion on Saturday at about 0754hrs, when four suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives at Dala Yazaraye village, near Molai on the outskirts of Maiduguri. “Five persons, including the four suicide bombers died in the explosion,” Opadokun said. According to him, security agents had cordoned off the scene of the blast, which saw four persons injured. The police commissioner said investigation into the matter was in progress. Meanwhile, Executive Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Musa Jidawa, has confirmed the arrest of four insurgents, who attempted to enter the Pompomari Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs,

camp in Damaturu. Jidawa told newsmen in Damaturu yesterday that two suspects initially disguised as visitors to see relations at the camp but were apprehended. He added that two others, who came separately later, were also arrested while trying to enter the camp. He said: “Security operatives and some IDPs screening entries and exit from the camp identified the suspects, who were later confirmed as insurgents by the IDPs from their communities.” Jidawa said the last suspect came to the camp where his father, mother, wife and child were all taking refuge. “A member of his Turo Kura village identified the suspect and raised an alarm, saying he belong to the sect and the suspect’s father, also an IDP at the camp, confirmed it, which led to his arrest,” the SEMA executive secretary said. The suspect’s father, who pleaded not to be identified, told newsmen that he narrowly escaped from the son in the village when he targeted to kill him.

MDCN shuts down unlicensed hospital in Kwara

edical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, yesterday shut down a clinic and maternity home operating as a hospital in Ilorin, Kwara State. Officials of the council who carried out the action noted that the outfit operated outside its scope of registration to carry out minor treatments on people. Director of Medical Services and Training in the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr Subair Erubu, told newsmen that the operator used the names of medical practitioners fraudulently to register the clinic and maternity home as a hospital. He accused the operator of using the names of one Prof. Jimoh and another Dr Adeyemi to register the hospital. “The hospital did not register as a hospital but as a clinic and maternity to carry out minor treatments on people. “But we are surprised that the clinic has gone beyond what is expected of it by carrying out surgeries for cases that did not even require such,” Erubu said. The Head of Inspector-

ate at the MDCN, Dr Okwuokenye Henry, who led the raid on the instruction of the council’s registrar, Dr Abdulmumini Ibrahim, said the council received a petition against the said hospital. Henry told newsmen that Springsway Hospital located in a hidden corner at Oko Erin area of the state capital operated 24-hour medical services and had caused many unsuspecting patients their lives. He said that the hospital had carried out surgeries and fertility operations on unwary victims. Henry said both doctors had denied knowing Lanre who opened the hospital. He noted that Adeyemi, who is said to be the medical director of the hospital and whose certificate was used to register it, worked with the hospitals management board in Ibadan. He declared Lanre’s operations at the hospital as totally fraudulent. He said that the University of Ilorin had been alerted about the illegal activities of the doctor who is said to be on the staff of the institution.

L-R: Plateau State Governor, Simon Lanlong; Co-Executive Director, Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Pastor James Wuye and member, Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Imam Mohammed Ashafa, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Jos. PHOTO: NAN

Union urges Buhari to reject naira devaluation, fuel subsidy removal

ational Union of Textile and Garment Workers of Nigeria, NUTGWN, has urged Presi dent Muhammadu Buhari to reject call for the devaluation of the naira and removal of fuel subsidy. Secretary General of the union, Mr Isa Aremu, made the call in a statement in Kaduna. It would be recalled that Emir of Kano, Muhammdu Sunusi II, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had stressed the need for the Federal Government to completely remove fuel subsidy while speaking at an award ceremony in Lagos. He had also urged the Presidency and CBN to reconsider their stance against naira devaluation, saying the country could

not continue to live “in denial.” He had also called on the men and women appointed to serve as ministers under Buhari not to always engage on insincere flattery of the President but to always have the courage to advise him honestly. Aremu, however, said the former CBN governor was right to have advised the incoming ministers against “flattery” of the President. According to him, Buhari must also be weary of policy dictatorship that will further undermine growth and development as well as worsen poverty in the country. “There is no choice for the President between policy sycophancy and policy dictatorship/policy ambush.

“Emir Sanusi must rethink outside the box of neo-liberal IMF’s unhelpful policies of devaluation (which he commendably rejected as CBN governor). “Nigeria needs a new paradigm of bold policy choices and new star-words in place of boring ideological mantra of devaluation and subsidy removal. “The naira in recent time lost its value drastically to the existing devalued rate of N197 to a dollar. “This has further eroded wage income of millions of workers (many with unpaid monthly salaries) thereby worsening poverty. “We support the bold measures of the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, in managing the scarce foreign reserve through restrictions on

some frivolous imports. “Nigeria, more than any nation, currently suffers huge capital inadequacy with the nation’s foreign currency reserves falling sharply by some 27 per cent to $29bn since the end of September,” he said. Aremu, called on leaders to concentrate on good governance and not on the issue of subsidy removal. “Nigerians look forward to urgent fixing of the existing refineries, passage of PIB, reorganisation and repositioning of NNPC, reinvention of the downstream infrastructures of fuel production and distribution and ending crude oil theft. “So, the new administration should reject one-capfits-all policy dictates,” he added.

Explosion: Adamawa to mobilise citizens for community policing, prayers

damawa State Government said yesterday it would mobilise the people to guard their communities and to pray fervently for divine intervention over the security situation in the state. The move by the government is coming in the aftermath of the bomb explosion that killed 30 worshippers at a mosque in the Jambutu area of Yola on Friday. Commissioner for Information, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, made this known in a press statement in Yola. Sajoh said the planned move by the government was in furtherance of the resolutions reached after an emergency security

meeting convened by Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla shortly after receiving a Federal Government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Lawal. “The meeting, which lasted several hours, took far reaching decisions, which included the need to intensify prayers and massive public enlightenment, among many others. “It was observed that these cowardly attacks on soft targets are as a result of the fact that the insurgents have been degraded as a fighting force and have also been smoked out of their hiding places.

“The meeting, therefore, resolved to step-up public enlightenment in the state using conventional media as well as traditional media such as public address vans, town criers, posters, and handbills in addition to the use of radio and television Jingles,” the statement said. It said that traditional rulers at all levels would be involved in the process of community policing. “Traditional rulers are to support government and security agencies in public enlightenment, monitoring movements, identifying strange persons, and coordinating the activities of local vigilance groups and

hunters within their communities. “Another very serious issue discussed was the connection between abuse of drug related substances and criminal activities, including terrorism. “The meeting resolved to equally combat drug abuse and include issues of drug abuse in all public enlightenment matters,” it added. According to the statement, the office of the commissioner for information will equally convene a meeting of all media executives and other stakeholders, including the National Orientation Agency, to fashion out a blueprint for public awareness in the state.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Buhari must start restructuring Nigeria now –NNSG Ayo Esan

he Nigerian National Summit Group, NNSG has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to begin the restructuring of Nigeria now ‘in order put a halt to the current drift of Nigeria towards anarchy, economic distress and disunity”. NNSG in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Executive Secretary, Tony Uranta said Buhari should begin the restructuring of the country by immediately setting in motion, steps to implement fundamental resolutions of the 2014 National Conference that were adopted through consensus by all the delegates on

their free volition. “Nigeria could still suffer the 2015 bogey if we refuse to begin restructuring now”, NNSG said It said that all sections of the country are now yearning for true federalism saying even in recent times, very important voices from the north have come out loudly in support of restructuring. “In an article titled: ‘The State Of The Nigerian Nation’, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at the recent Leadership Governor of the Year award ceremony, lent a ringing support to the drive towards true federalism. “In his own remarks at the Awards on September 18, 2012, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar,

not only called for true federalism, but regretted not supporting former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme’s earlier call for the creation of six semiautonomous regions affirming that Dr Ekwueme obviously saw what some of them did not at the time. There is, he said, too much concentration of power and resources at the centre which is stifling Nigeria’s march to greatness and threatening its unity because of the abuses, inefficiencies, corruption and reactive tensions over-centralisation generates.” “As now obvious from the above, this is not a call by just a few “disgruntled” sections of Nigeria. The Southwest, North-Central (Middle-Belt!), South-East

and South-South have been spearheading this campaign for true holistic change via restructuring for decades. “Now that Arewa Chieftains like Joda and Atiku have admitted to the urgent need to embark on this pressing national exercise, President Buhari must recognise that the North-West and NorthEast strongly desire restructuring also, so Mr. President cannot but immediately step up to the plate and fulfill his Oath of Office to serve Nigerians by guaranteeing our welfare to the very best of his ability and opportunities”, NNSG said. NNSG prayed that God will lead President Buhari alright in the task of restructuring the country.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima (second left), Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai addressing the Imams, District and Ward Heads, at the opening of an emergency meeting at the Government House, Maiduguri to forestall further attacks on worshippers at mosques by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, yesterday.

MAIDUGURI

he Chairman of the Borno State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Bukar Ali Dalori yesterday called on the opposition parties to play politics without bitterness considering the lingering crisis of insurgency that

have posed serious damages to lives and property in Borno state. Dalori made this disclosure at Musamari ward of Jere local government area of Maiduguri metropolis while addressing mammoth crowd at a campaign rally organised on behalf of the APC senatorial Candidate, Hon. Kaka Bashir Garbai following

the death of Senator Zanna Khalifa. The APC chairman said, it is unfortunate that people like Mallam Grema Terab, the immediate past Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, is biting the fingers that fed him by supporting Kaka Bolori who is contesting the same seat on the platform

of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, despite the fact that PDP has never form government in Borno state. He cited an instances where Terab out of desperation, frustration and selfish motive introduced a new slogan for a better Borno called in Hausa “Borno Tafi Jam’iyya” meaning Borno state is

Politics

Support Buhari as real change agents, Bamidele charges Fayemi, Fashola Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

ormer National Assembly member, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged the ministerial designates, whose nominations have been confirmed by the Senate to act as real change agents to bring rapid economic recovery to the country. Specifically, the All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain in Ekiti State advised former governors of Lagos and Ekiti states, Mr Babatunde Fashola and Dr Kayode Fayemi to bring their experiences to bear and save the country from its present parlous economic situation. Bamidele, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday by his media aide, Ahmed Salami, urged the ministerial designates that had scaled the screening hurdles to deploy their full potentials in helping President Buhari achieve his much promised change in the system. He stated: “What Nigeria needs is holistic turnaround and the ministers as managers of all the sectors must support President Buhari to spread the tentacles of the change so that people can take ownership of government and have confidence in the system”. Bamidele, however, said that, with the antecedents of those that had been screened, he had no iota of doubt that they would deploy their full poten-

Borno APC chairman calls for politics without bitterness Inusa Ndahi

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greater than any political party, and mobilizing some people to vote against Garbai in the bye - elections slated for next Saturday , stressing that all their plans against the ruling APC in the state will fail. He said already majority of the people of Borno central have decided to vote for the APC.

tials to take the country to the path of economic renewal that would benefit even unborn generations. The former House of Representatives member praised the Senator Bukola Saraki–led Senate for eschewing party politics and expediting actions on the screening, saying “this has again shored up Nigerians’ respect for the National Assembly and indicated that it is an institution that puts Nigerians first”. Bamidele stated that the APC-led Federal Government cannot afford to fail Nigerians because of the high hope and confidence they reposed in the ability of President Buhari to bring the desired changes. “What the APC and even President Buhari in particularly used as the pivot of their electioneering campaign was the word, change. We promised that we will bring the desired change and we will be held responsible should we fail to deliver. “Though, we have been seeing apparent changes in the system and this is not by magic, but through commitment and sacrifice of Mr President. “The corruption index has reduced. The petroleum scarcity and other shady deals being perpetrated in the oil sector have fizzled out and Nigerians can now buy petrol at the N87 regulated price. No more long queues or hoarding of petroleum resources. “Aside the foregoing, our moribund refineries have started to work, our country has gained the confidence of the international community, the EFCC which had become a shadow of itself under the last administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan has started handling high profile cases and many other landmark achievements recorded by President Buhari in the last five months,” Bamidele said.

Politics

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Audu pledges to pay council workers’ salary arrears if elected Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (left) addressing Community Leaders and CDC Chairmen during a meeting at Government House Yenagoa.

Lagos PDP hails court decision on council elections Ayo Esan

agos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has hailed the judgement of a Lagos High court which compelled the All Progressive Congress, APC- led state Government to conduct elections into the council areas of the state. The party has however berated the plans of the state Government to appeal the judgment noting that, the planned move has further exposed the Ambode- led government as violators of the Rule of Law, wasteful and indeed jittery of elections at the

grassroots. PDP has thus called on Lagosians to shun dealings with the councils as presently constituted, in order to demand compliance to the said judgment. It would be recalled that a Lagos High court presided over by Justice Lawal, recently declared the caretaker committees of councils in Lagos state as unconstitutional and has directed that elections be conducted into the councils within 30 days. The Lagos state government has however indicated plans to appeal the said judgment. PDP in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Barrister Taofik Gani hail this judg-

ment and said it indeed signals that there are still credible and brave judges in the state. “This council polls’ impasse was created by the former governor Fashola, a lawyer who ought to appreciate Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution by conducting the polls in October 2014 when the tenure of the councils expired. By that section, only democratically elected local councils are recognised by the constitution”, the Lagos PDP said. “Governor Ambode is also not willing to conduct the polls. He should have done it within his first 100days. He has deliberately neglected the

polls because the APC is not popular at the grass roots for such elections. Thereby denying the people,government of their choice. Now the court has compelled them. Governor Ambode should not embark on prodigal governance by appealing the judgment. The judgment is clear and reflection of the rule of law. To spend over N200M to appeal the judgment would be unfair to Lagos taxpayers. We thus expect that the State House of Assembly should consequently exercise its oversight function to empower the LASIEC to conduct the polls as directed by the court”, PDP further said.

Bible passage not against Christians in politics –Cleric Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

Ghanian cleric, Pastor Immanuel Donkoh, at the weekend in Ibadan, threw his weight behind Nigerian Christians who are in politics and those still willing to participate in politics in the nearest future, saying there is no passage in the Bible that kicked against involvement of Christians in politics. Donkoh who is the Founder and General Overseer of Royal Tabernacle Ministries International, East London, South Africa, said this during the maiden conference and thanksgiving

service for the re-election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, organized by Oyo State Pastors’ League. Speaking on the topic “Christians and Politics”, he urged Christian faithful not to be afraid to participate in politics but rather do so with their conscience and in line with the provisions of the scripture, stating that they are ambassadors of Christ on earth. He said the relationship between Christianity and politics is a historically complex subject and a frequent source of disagreement throughout the history of Christianity as well as modern politics, making references to the likes of Saul, David and

Daniel as kings installed by God and accepted by men. He said, “In the Old Testament, we saw the likes of Saul and David operating as kings installed by God and accepted by men, from my panoramic point of view, I see these kings as operating in political capacities, we also saw how Daniel found favour before the king and concurrently was given a political position. “Our form of government was never intended to change society; it is incapable of producing morality through legislation, it may help retrain immorality, but only if the church has established a moral foundation in the

hearts of men and women who govern. “There are no direct references in the Bible to Christians running for political office, but there are Christian principles we can bring to bear on the decision whether or not to seek political office, every office that seeks the well-being of mankind is a calling, so likewise the political office, anyone considering running for political office would do well to consider these principles and prayerfully seek God’s will for his/her own life.” Donkoh then urged clerics to play major role in calling those who intend to misuse their positions to order.”

ll Progressive Congress, APC governorship candidate in Kogi State, Prince Abubarka Audu has promised to pay all the salary arrears accrued to the local government workers in Kogi State, if voted into power in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. Audu who made the pledge while addressing large crowd of supporters during the APC Governorship campaign rally in Dekina, Dekina local government area Kogi state yesterday, said that APC government will transform the state. Audu told the large crowd that if voted to power again he will revive Royal Palm Oil Company at Egume, just as he promised to rehabilitate Abocho -Ogbabo road and other roads in Dekina local government. The former Commissioner and ex- Board of Trustee member of PDP,

Hajia Halima Alfa stated that a vote for APC is a vote for change, urging electorate to vote for Prince Abubarka Audu during the governorship election. Alfa explained that everyone is aware of Audu’s unprecedented achievements in the state in the area of infrastructural development, saying that people of Dekina have benefited from good governance of Audu’s administration in the past and assured that if given the mandate again he would do more for the people of the area. The former PDP governorship aspirant who recently defected to APC, Alhaji Isah Jubrin (Echocho) called on the people of the area to vote for Audu, noting that the former governor has been tested and trusted. He stated that Kogi will not be the same again under the APC administration anc called on the electorate to vote for change in the State.

PDP warns APC against taking South/South by force

resident Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC have been warned against creating crisis in the Niger Delta by forcefully taking over the control of the zone through judicial travesty. A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief(Mrs.) Remi Adiukwu-Bakare gave the warning yesterday in Lagos while commenting on the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal that nullified the election of governorship, Nyesom Wike. She cautioned that the alleged desperation of APC to take over political control of oil-rich states in the South/south geopolitical zone through judicial manipulations could lead to another serious crisis. Adiukwu-Bakare, a former governorship candidate in Lagos State, charged President Buhari to toe the line of his predecessors, former President Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan by steer clear from any politi-

cal cases before the court. She noted that if the independence of the judiciary is undermined, the nation might be thrown into another chaos as it is still battling with the deadly activities of the insurgency, Boko Haram. Adiukwu-Bakare observed that if not for former President Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan’s resolve to allow the rule of law prevail, some members of APC who later became governors through the courts wouldn’t have achieved that. She noted that APC didn’t bother about complaints of some of its members in the Northern zone, but desperately pushing for nullification of election results in the oil-rich states wondering why the party leadership was hungry for the zone. Adiukwu-Bakare said: “It is imperative we draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the emerging political and judicial manipulations being perpetrated by his party, APC in the South/ south.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

FIFA presidency: Why we pray for Orji Kalu CHRISTOPHER B. ONYEUKWU

t is no longer news that FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been suspended from office over allegations bordering on corruption. It is also no longer news that the search for his successor is in progress and an election has been scheduled for February next year for that purpose. Obviously, it is also no longer news that Nigeria’s Orji Uzor Kalu, a business magnate, philanthropist, football promoter and two-time governor of Abia State has shown more than a passing interest in the race. Even though he is yet to formally notify the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), his body language is clear. His kite is aloft in the sky, while his ubiquitous media outfit has apparently taken up the gauntlet. It may be Nigeria’s finest hour. Except in either Liberia or Sierra Leone, elsewhere on the continent, there seems to be no talk about any other contender. Therefore, Kalu may not have any African challenger save for his countryman Segun Odegbami, Nigeria’s ace international. He could, however, could be prevailed upon to step down for Kalu when the chips are down. Therefore, other things being equal, given the strength of Africa’s block vote in FIFA elections, any Nigerian candidate for the FIFA election next year may have no problem carrying the day. And

we have been praying, praying very hard that the gods give Kalu this job in addition to his recent adoption as Interim President of World Ship-owners Association (WSA). Whereas the WSA job will be coordinated from Abuja, FIFA’s will be based in Zurich. The good people of Abia State are praying that OUK land the international job. They believe in the ancient Chinese proverb which says that “a man is better placed to forgive and forget when fortune smiles on him”. It is not as if fortune has not smiled on Kalu; no it has, especially in terms of Naira and Kobo, after all he is a Forbes’s billionaire. Here we are talking in terms of political fortune, which is more tantalizing and comes in various forms. OUK needs to move. Just like his political godson T.A. Orji has moved, in order for him to lose sight of the old, acrimonious and vendetta infested Abia shore. And the FIFA job, which will see him domiciled in faraway Zurich, may be the best of fortunes, for Abia people are tired of the endless but childish feud with T.A. Orji. The anti-Orji propaganda got to a ridiculous point recently when a former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Mr. Stanley Ohazuruka shot himself in the foot by declaring that “most of the roads and legacy projects showcased by the Orji Administration were actually built by Kalu”. Poor fellow, unknown

WHAT IS MOST IRKSOME ABOUT THE

ORJI-OUK DISCORD IS THE FACT THAT IT

IS NOT BASED ON ANY NOBLE CAUSE to him Kalu himself had honestly indirectly confessed earlier that he left no such legacies in the state, (see his article “Nigeria’s Leadership Burden” in Saturday Sun of 12th September, 2015. Ohazuruka’s goof shows that the Kalu/Orji feud has done a lot of collateral damage besides hampering sustainable development, because the Greeks say that if a thing goes too far it tends to produce unintended result. There is fear that if care is not taken the discord may be inherited by the new administration headed by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. Already some ugly signs have become quite noticeable. All this, however, could change and Abians heave a sigh of relief should OUK move to FIFA and T.A. Orji, then let alone could feel free to face his new task in the Senate. That is why everybody is bidding OUK best wishes. Those who know him closely agree that the last risk he would take as FIFA President is to encourage tarnishing potshots to be taken at him from home, in Nigeria for experience and history show that no highly

placed FIFA official lasts, who could not avoid controversy. What is most irksome about the Orji-OUK discord is the fact that it is not based on any noble cause or public interest. Just political greed and arrogance sustained with propaganda. Come to think of it, what democratic dividend does it pay to constantly play on the intelligence of the people with barefaced lies such as “Orji booed at church service”; “Orji worst governor of Abia State“; Orji this and Orji that— all peddled and bandied about by one and the same media house even when it is claimed that other media houses were involved or covered the so-called news conference. If other media houses were really involved in the same conference why is it that only one and same newspaper always ends up publishing the anti-Orji story? Well, Nigerians are no zombies. They know very well that it is impossible for a congregation to suddenly stop a solemn church service and begin a binge of booing. These days Nigerians can easily separate news from nuisance. If propaganda and lies were legitimate weapons of equity, they would have perhaps saved Adolf Hitler. They would have saved Joseph Goebbels, for these people believed in big lies, believing also that a great mass of the people will more easily fall victim to a big lie than a small one. Onyeukwu, a political analyst, wrote from Okigwe, Imo State.

High profile criminality: A case for public execution ADEWUYI ADEGBITE

apital punishment is a matter of active controversy in various countries given the interplay of political ideology and culture factors. The European Union and United Nations charters prohibit capital punishment. However, about 600 million of the world population still live in countries where executions take place. These include India, China, United States and Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Sudan. There is no doubt that the level of criminalities is low in some of these countries, who are incidentally the leading world economic giants. Capital punishment is still in Nigeria’s statute books. Its enforcement was very strong during the military era. Crimes like armed robbery, murder, treason were visited with capital punishment and the guilty publicly executed. Today such executions are only being carried out secretly. In actual fact, the level of criminalities in today’s Nigeria is not as high as when public execution was the vogue because many are conscious of the penalty for such crimes. This is why I am soliciting for the return of public execution of condemned criminals. And this call is in support of Delta and Anambra states, which have introduced capital punishment for kidnapping. Two heinous crimes recently committed simultaneously in Nigeria forced

MANY NIGERIANS ARE REMORSELESS, SO KILLING HUMAN BEING MEANS NOTHING TO THEM me to think about the most effective antidote to high profile crimes in our society. The first was the murder of a 20 year old lady, Morenikeji Owolabi, a student of Gateway FCT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State at Alepoto, Remo North Local Government Area, allegedly by ritualists. The second was the gruesome murder of former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, 78 years old Professor Albert Ilemobade, obviously by his domestic staff in Akure. The root cause of the crime is the get rich quick syndrome prevalent in our nation today. The first crime was committed by ritualists to make cheap money. The second was committed by the domestic staff of Ilemobade to facilitate their stealing of some personal effects of Ilemobade to get rich after disposing them. The two incidents above are tips of the iceberg of criminal activities in Nigeria. Every day, newspapers are awash with news about insurgency, militancy, kidnapping-for-ransom, violent armed robbery, arson, ritual and murder. As a matter of fact, I am very bothered about the future of this country in relation to

criminal activities because the mentality of our youths, including some adults, is warped. Discussing with some youths as what could have led the domestic staff of Professor Ilemobade to decide to kill him, I got some chilling responses. Some said he did not take good care of them; others that the domestic staff wanted to make money. From their responses, I realized drastic actions have to be taken by government to halt the moral drift of this nation before it is too late. How Nigeria got to this sorry state is a matter of conjecture. Many Nigerians are remorseless, so killing human being means nothing to them. Through criminal activities in Nigeria, many noble and innocent souls have been lost. Other heinous crimes being committed with levity in Nigeria are corruption, examination malpractices, smuggling, oil theft, cultism, pipeline vandalism etc. All of these have had adverse effects on the economy and social stability of this nation. The irony is that the crimes become intractable because majority of the criminals have the support of godfathers. One thing that equally baffles one is the prevalent of these crimes in spite of the rate at which religious worship places are springing up in the country, and the billions of naira been spent on security by the government. Some know factors encourage these festering criminalities. First, our judicial system is at times too cumbersome; and at other times hobbled by incessant

strikes, and frivolous time wasting adjournments. Many suspects remanded in custody for too long became hardened criminals due to the influence of criminally minded inmates in prisons. Second is the collaboration between some bad eggs in the security forces with criminals. Third, the growing unemployment and pervasive poverty in our nation. Lastly is the sybaritic lifestyle of many of our well to do in the society, this helped set bad examples for our youths, who in an attempt to live such ostentatious life take to crimes. Reducing crimes in our society deserve drastic measures. Our judiciary has a big role to play here, so also are the police. Economy of the nation has to be revived, so that employment opportunities could be provided for the teeming unemployed youths, and by so doing reducing poverty in the country. Beyond these however, capital punishment by public execution of condemned criminals has to be encouraged. Such harsh punishment and the shame of it will deter wrong conducts. Adegbite wrote via ayekooto05@ gmail.com

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

Editorial

Monday, October 26, 2015

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

PIB failure: As Nigeria loses N3trn yearly

he nation was told that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources voted a whopping N6.2 billion in its 2013 budget to oil the passage of the still elusive Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); a gargantuan sum that would have been set aside for other pressing national problems. Indeed, while defending the 2013 budget of her ministry, the then Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, told the National Assembly that the N6.2 billion would be spent on awareness campaigns. She gave no details. That was under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government. Now, the man incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is positioning to man the same ministry as Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, (the current Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC), says the country is losing a whopping N3 trillion yearly (about $15 billion) from the uncertainties created by the non-passage of the PIB by the federal legislature. “I can tell you that the average source of volumes in investments that we are losing on an annual basis because of the lack of PIB is in excess of $15 billion; and the reason is simple: it would have been better that you (NASS) didn’t start at all, than announce very flamboyantly that you are going to do PIB; and step back from it”, Kachikwu said

lately during his Senate screening as minister. Latest reports say, however, that the Federal Government, as part of its efforts to hasten reforms in the petroleum industry, planned to split the PIB and re-submit it to NASS in the first quarter of 2016 for passage. Later in 2013, Allison-Madueke spoke on the future of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, saying: “… The PIB currently undergoing legislative processes at the National Assembly establishes the legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian petroleum industry. It also stipulates guidelines for operations in the upstream and downstream sectors”. The objectives of the PIB, according to her, were: to enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources; significantly increase domestic gas supplies, especially for power and industry; create competitive business environment for the exploitation of oil and gas; establish fiscal framework that is flexible, stable and competitively attractive; create commercially viable national oil company; create strong and effective regulatory institutions; promote Nigerian content and promote and protect health, safety and environment. “At the heart of the PIB is the separation between policy, regulation and monitoring; and commercial operations”, she said, stressing

WE IMPLORE THE NASS TO NOW REVISIT THE BILL WITH ALL SERIOUSNESS AND PATRIOTISM IT CAN MUSTER

that the building blocks of the institutional and policy reforms would include the unbundling of NNPC through the creation of a National Oil Company (NOC) that promotes indigenous operational capacity development; the creation of an Asset Management Limited Liability Company (AMC) to manage joint venture (JV) assets on behalf of the federation; and the excision of Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) from NNPC as a separate, partially privatised entity, to cater for domestic gas marketing and gas infrastructure development. She also said the PIB had great prospects for growth in the country’s foreign reserves, to be superintended by an Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate; the establishment of a Technical Bureau in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources charged with the responsibility for frontier exploration services; maximum exploitation of the country’s bitumen resources; a Petroleum Host Community Fund with a mechanism to formally recognize host communities as important stake-

ON THIS DAY October 26, 1984 ‘Baby Fae’ received a heart transplant from a baboon. Stephanie Fae Beauclair (October 14, 1984 – November 15, 1984) was an American infant born in 1984 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She became the first infant subject of a xenotransplant procedure, receiving the heart of a baboon. The transplant at the Loma Linda University Medical Center, California, United States, initially appeared successful.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

October 26, 2000 Laurent Gbagbo took over as the president of Cote d’Ivoire following a popular uprising against President Robert Guei. Gbagbo (born May 31, 1945) was president from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011. A historian by profession, he is also an amateur chemist and physicist. He was imprisoned in the early 1970s and again in the early 1990s, and he lived in exile in France during much of the 1980s as a result of his union activism.

holders by assigning oil and gas infrastructure security to them to minimize environmental degradation occasioned by vandalism and crude oil theft; and so forth. Allison Madueke said the PIB represented the largest overhaul of the government petroleum revenue system in the last four decades, with the overall objective to simplify the collection of government revenues, among other promises she said the PIB held. Unfortunately, the PIB first presented to NASS in 2009, has not made any headway mainly because of the conflict of interest between the FG, JV partners and local oil cabal, on the one hand; and NNPC’s ploy to keep shrouding oil sector operations in secrecy, on the other. It does seem the NASS, having read in between the lines, also wants a slice of the ‘cake’ promised by the executive bickering, before truly looking at the benefits or otherwise of the PIB. But Kachikwu, the new broom, hid nothing in his latest exposure of the losses Nigeria now incurs as a result of the non-passage of the PIB; as well as his belief that “one of the key things that killed the previous bill was that there wasn’t sufficient engagement”. We implore the NASS to now revisit the bill with all seriousness and patriotism it can muster in this new dispensation; and unleash the benefits of the bill on the nation with its passage as law.

x October 26, 2014 Britain withdrew from Afghanistan after the end of ‘Operation Herrick’ which started on June 20, 2002. Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted since 2002. It consisted of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and support to the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

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Cover

Experts mull lower oil benchmark price for 2016 budget In view of the projected below the average performance of the 2015 budget arising from cascading prices of crude oil in the international market, financial analysts and other development experts have called for a lower oil benchmark price for the 2016 budget just as they were optimistic that diversification of the economy would help in tackling the fiscal challenges now confronting the country. Gbenga Odogun reports

fter several months of delay and debate the seventh National Assembly in March eventually passed the 2015 federal budget based on $53 dollar per barrel oil price benchmark. Key highlights of the budget include: N2.607 trillion for recurrent, nondebt, expenditure; N556.995 billion for capital expenditure, N375.616 billion for statutory transfer while N953.620 billion was allocated for debt

service. The budget was passed based on oil benchmark price of $53 per barrel, production estimate of 2.2782 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of N190 to the dollar. This led to a deficit of N1.075 trillion, representing UDO ONYEKA, CO-ORDINATOR BUSINESS COURAGE udonyeka@gmail.com c

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Utomi

Rewane

1.12 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP. What this means in effect is that the budget was based on the assumption that crude oil will sell for this amount at the international market for the economy to realize its optimal performance. However, events in the country during the course of the year have pointed towards the southern directions in term of performance of the budget. Al though there has been a steady rise in the price of crude in recent weeks as Brent crude futures rose towards $66 , which is far above the approved $53 per barrel benchmark for crude oil in Nigeria’s 2015 budget. The price of OPEC basket of 12 crudes stood at $62.03 a barrel last Monday, while it recorded $62.44 the previous Friday June Brent crude was up 88 cents at $65.79 (£42.02) a barrel by 14.52 London time, easing back from an intraday high of $66.45 a barrel. June West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 58 cents to $59.83 a barrel, after touching $60.55 a barrel earlier in the day. The temporary relief may not be enough to plug the gap already created in the financing of the budget As at last week, no fewer than 10 states of the fed-

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

eration owe arrears of salaries ranging from four to ten months due to the dwindling revenue accruing from the federation account and this is in spite of Federal government’s palliative measures given to states to cushion the effect of fallen revenue. Experts warn against the repeat performance of what happened to the 2015 budget calling for down ward review of the oil price when calculating the benchmark for the 2016 budget. This is necessary in view of the risk of oil price shock and volatility as over projection may not be sustainable given the whims and caprices of demand and supply leading to price fluctuations and other developments in the global economy such as the instabilities in global oil demand due to slow growth in the Euro zone due to the largest migration to Europe since the second world war the US, China and India. Experts warned that Global growth forecast for all these countries and region were recently cut down by the IMF and World Bank. The declining oil output due to theft and pipeline vandalism, in addition to the discovery of oil in many countries and the fall in US demand for African oil also support the argument for conservatism in choosing oil benchmark for

the budget. So these external factors should be considered before when setting the oil price benchmark. Edem Edem is a financial analyst as well as a respected tax consultant. He said that oil price is not a realistic way of revenue generation given its volatile and the politic involved in the price in the international market, but if we must use it, we should put at around $45 per barrel and if the price rises in the course of the year, we can save the excess in the Excess crude Account for raining day. According to him “over projection always leads to fiscal deficit, just as we are witnessing today” Edem called for the diversification of the economy as a way of enhancing the revenue generation base for the country given that 2016 may not be better in terms of revenue to the country One other way is to broaden the tax net to accommodate more tax payers, Edem said. This could be done by empowering the people through job creation while those employed should be made to pay taxes thorough the blockage of all loopholes through which people evade taxes. Also speaking on the need for cautious adjustment, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said that

the world community is at the threshold of a great change in the global oil industry, explaining that what is in the best interest of Nigeria’s economy is proper planning. Rewane said: “The prudent thing is to plan so that oil benchmark for the budget will be lower. We will fail woefully if we do not plan,” he said. The financial expert said the instability in the international oil market would make it very necessary for relevant authorities to make adjustment from time to time, but warned that when the adjustment is too much, then it becomes a serious problem. A renowned economist, Pat Utomi, in his own view said that the Federal Government should be realistic with the developments in the international market. Utomi said there was need for serious diversification of the nation’s economy. “We have not seriously pursued diversification of the country’s economic base; the earlier we do that, the better for us,” Utomi said. He urged the Federal Government to provide the needed incentives for economic diversification, saying “power is a major challenge to economic growth and development.” The Centre for Social Justice in their evaluation if the 2015 budget described it as

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“frivolous, wasteful and inappropriate”. The group, which predicated its evaluation on the need to point out flaws in the budget with a view to effecting change in the 2016 Appropriation process, said the economy cannot truly grow when government’s major responsibility is to pay salaries without adequately investing in capital expenditure. “Capital expenditure is 21.36 per cent of the recurrent vote….we have got our priorities wrong. The recurrent vote is ballooning at the expense of capital expenditure and all steps purportedly taken by previous administrations to reduce the recurrent vote has been in vain. No country geared towards development budgets this way”, the Centre warned. The Director of the Centre, Eze Onyekpere told journalist in Abuja, that Nigeria is now heavily indebted and consequently spending more money to service debts than investing in the development of the country.adding that that is why the budget is not realizing its full potential of change agenda. Onyekpere called on the Buhari Administration to expidite action on the appointment of ministers, and that the Minister of Finance be made to start the 2016 Appropriation process in the next few weeks while also calling for the reconsideration of the continuation of petroleum subsidy. Dr Uche Uwaleke is an Associate professor of Fince at Nasarawa state University, he said that it was more beneficial to adopt a lower conservative benchmark given the mono-product nature of the economy. Uwalake said the unpredictable nature of oil price in the international market and the country’s shrinking foreign reserves as well as weakening domestic currency were responsible for the low benchmark. He said that the adoption of a lower benchmark, should be cautiously pursued while making efforts to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the country. Uwalake advocated for a decrease in the disproportionate share of recurrent expenditure for the achievement of the development expenditure estimates. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

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News Nigerian insurance sector holds huge potentials – Fitch

he Nigerian insurance industry has been predicted to maintain a level of growth and expansion even in the face of recent economic headwinds and significant structural challenges. Global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, said in a new report that the industry has experienced declining growth rates in recent years, albeit from a high base. But it noted that a number of leading insurers have maintained strong premium and balance sheet growth over the past three years. According to the report, favorable factors supporting the long-term development of the industry include robust demographic fundamentals, investor interest and low insurance penetration. The report said, “Fitch agency expects recent naira weakness to present an opportunity for foreign investors by providing an affordable entry point, while the difficult operating environment may incentivise small under-capitalised insurers to consider a sale.” Last year, Fitch said it believed the Nigerian insurance market was ripe for further consolidation as insurers sought to increase scale and investor interest developed. Fitch expected foreign investors seeking an entry point to the market to continue to do so through acquisition of existing insurers or partnership with local banks. It said due diligence would remain a challenge to the acquisition of existing insurers, despite improvements in corporate governance. The rating agency believes that consolidation in the industry, combined with technological improvements in administration and distribution, could lead to a reduction in operational costs. It said insurers that succeeded in reducing costs could rapidly gain market share by passing on most of the benefits to consumers. The report said, “The insurance industry is poised to benefit from continued significant economic growth and favourable demographic factors in Nigeria.

FRSC, Lagos partner to reduce road accidents Adejuwon Osunnuyi

he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Lagos State government have agreed to sustain the existing

L – R: Head, Service Delivery Excellence, FirstBank, Mrs. Lande Atere; Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim; Group Executive, Technology and Services, FirstBank, Business Development Manager, British Standards Institute, Mr. Vladimir Cherny and Team Lead, Complaints Management, FirstBank, Mr. Paul Ewhe at the presentation of the ISO10002 Certificate on Complaints Management to FirstBank

collaboration in order to reduce the rate of crashes and fatalities in the state. The agreement was reached when the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi met with the Lagos state Commissioner of Transport, Dr Dayo Mobereola and his counterpart in the Tourism Ministry, Mr. Folarin Coker at the state Secretariat, Alaausa. While the Corps Marshal and the two Commissioners expressed concern at the perennial traffic challenges facing Lagos, especially the gridlocks being witnessed at the Apapa area of the state, they however restated collective commitment towards redressing the situation. They pointed out that in view of the strategic nature of Lagos state to the socio-economic activities of the country, the importance of effective traffic management to trade and tourism cannot be overemphasised. The road safety boss particularly promised to do all that is possible to ensure sustained collaboration between FRSC and the state in finding lasting solutions to the gridlocks being witnessed in the state. According to him, Lagos state harbours the highest percentage of traffic in the country, saying that anything that hinders free movement of people and goods in the state must have negative effects on the socio-economic activities of the people of the state. While applauding former Governor Bola Tinubu for setting up the Lagos state traffic management agency, LASTMA, the Corps Marshal noted that his vision has paid off handsomely as the agency has been useful in managing the chaotic traffic challenges facing the state. Oyeyemi further noted the current Governor has continued to sustain the collabora-

tion between the state and the FRSC, pointing out that his road safety friendly policies have cemented the existing relationship. “I must commend the partnership initiatives of Governor Ambode towards finding lasting solutions to the traffic challenges of the state. We would work to ensure that the spirit is sustained in the interest of the motoring public in the state,” Oyeyemi stated. In his own remarks, the Commissioner of Transport, Dr Dayo Mobereola assured the Corps Marshal of the preparedness of his Ministry to collaborate with the FRSC in finding lasting solutions to the perennial traffic challenges. He commended the Corps Marshal for stepping up advocacy programmes among road transporters and drivers, pointing out that the efforts have impacted positively on the traffic situations across the country, especially in curtailing the excesses of tanker and trailer drivers. Speaking in the same vein, the Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Folarin Coker identified the harmony between effective traffic management and boosting of tourism, noting that tourism can hardly thrive in an environ-

Oyeyemi

ment where traffic movement is chaotic. While expressing optimism that the collaboration between the FRSC and the state government in ensuring effective traffic management in the state will yield positive results in road safety and tourism development, the Commissioner assured of his Ministry’s support to the initiatives in order to make the state roads free of gridlocks.

NLC seeks sub regional union to forster integration

he Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for a formidable West African regional trade union organisation that would foster regional integration. The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call at the opening ceremony of a two-day Special Delegates Conference of the Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA) in Abuja. The theme of the conference was ``Uniting Workers to Promote Regional Integration in West Africa’’. Wabba said the call became imperative as globalisation as currently practiced, was directed to favour the powerful, developed nations and big businesses to the detriment of less developed nations. He noted that this practice had negatively affected the people and workers of subSaharan Africa especially, and particularly trade union members. ``For us the working people of Nigeria, the revival of OTUWA is a significant milestone that cannot be overlooked. ``Therefore, reviving OTUWA

for regional integration is a reflection of a growing appreciation of the benefits to be derived from regional unity and cooperation of workers. `Ìt is our belief that trade unions’ regional solidarity is a possible solution to the continent’s deep and prolonged labour, economic and social crisis. ``This is at a time when the working people are experiencing the `race to the bottom’, prevalent neo-liberal policies of deregulation and privatisation of national economies. ``This is in spite of the fact that the continuing decline of state-imposed barriers to intercountry flows is paving the way for increased regional trade. ``Therefore, we the working people, as represented by the different national trade union organisations, must form a strong and formidable force,’’ Wabba stressed. According to him, by having a strong regional trade union organisation, the region will be able to effectively engage businesses and remain relevant in the scheme of things. Wabba stressed that it was important for workers in the West African sub-region to come together under a formidable trade union organisation that would stand for its members’ rights. The NLC president added that the regional trade union organisations must be able to engage meaningfully as development required that social and economic activity be organised on a much larger scale. ``This is because a big trade union organisation brings with it opportunities for a wide range of benefits associated with it like increased specialisation, technical skills, capacity, and competition. `Òther benefits are access to a wider range of technological knowledge and greater sharing of ideas and experience in all areas of endeavour. ``We must reflect on the fact that West African countries today are weakly integrated nationally, regionally, and internationally. `Èthnic and socio-political divisions are particularly dominant in the region.’’ Wabba noted that the region’s trade unions were small with labour centres significantly fragmented in many of the countries, adding that these were impediments to regional integration. ``Regionally, West African countries are divided by a wide range of institutional, legal, socio-economic and cultural barriers. ``To the international trade union level, West Africa is increasingly marginalised. ``So, what we require at this moment are efforts on all fronts to build and ensure a strong regional trade union organisa-

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tion,’’ the NLC president added.

New technologies are transforming agriculture, says AfDB

he President of the African Development Bank ,AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has said that African farmers were effectively using mobile telephone technology to eliminate middlemen in the market prices of farm produce. Adesina made the remark at the ongoing African agricultural transformation conference in Dakar, Senegal. According to Adesina, the technologies have also helped the farmers to ``access better seeds’’. ``The results of several years of research, new seed varieties and improved crop science can also be scaled up to other areas of Africa with the help of mobile technology. ``We must work out a way for marketing our food crops and figure out the agricultural value chains, after using the new research technologies to improve agricultural production,’’ he said. The president announced that in a renewed effort to match the agro-technologies with the marketing chain, AfDB would provide a $300 million financing facility to assist women in agriculture to expand their use of technology. This, according to him, will enhance the efficiency of their crop production, in order to encourage rapid growth in agriculture. ``We must ensure that our bank loans have a developmental impact on agriculture,’’ Adesina said. NAN recalls that as Nigeria’s immediate-past Agriculture Minister, Adesina launched a Growth Enhancement Support Scheme ,GES. The GES assisted in eliminating profiteering middlemen and scaled up food production by nine million metric tons in one year. He also introduced an Electronic Wallet System, which allows smallholder farmers to

Adesina

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

receive electronic vouchers for subsidised seeds and fertilizers, directly on their mobile phones. The system enabled them to pay for farm inputs from private sector agricultural input dealers. The Senegal conference is focusing on the development of new policies to transform Africa’s agriculture into a lucrative business venture for massive food production for local consumption and for export. More than 400 delegates and specialists from around the world are discussing how to add value to the continent’s raw materials, especially the cash crops such as tea, coffee, cocoa and cotton among others. The delegates comprised ministers of finance, ministers of agriculture, governors of central banks from across African countries and other private sector leaders from within and outside Africa.

Ports remain shut over unpaid dockworkers’ salary arrears – MWUN

he Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, on Friday said the ports would remain shut until the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) paid the nine months salary arrears dockworkers. The President-General of the union, Mr Tony Nted, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos. He said the NPA had reneged on its agreement to pay the salaries owed the dockworkers. ``The maritime workers union decided to shut down the ports yesterday to withdraw the service of our members, based on some of the irregularities being perpetrated by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). ``The first one was the issue of tally clerks and onboard security men that have not been paid for the past nine months. ``If we talk about nine months’ arrears we also have other arrears; about 10 per cent increase to workers; the entire dockworkers. ``The terminal operators have made their payment and NPA has not made its payment. ``As I am talking to you, is about 15 months’ arrears that have not been paid to the dockworkers; in addition to the nine months arrears and that is one of the issues.’’ Nted said the NPA also decided to engage the services of foreigners at the expense of the Nigerian dockworkers against the provisions for jobs for locals. ``Then, another issue; we believe that the Nigerian Ports Authority in connivance with some of the shipping agents, wanted to move away the dock-

had held a meeting with the leadership of the union appealing for patience as the payment was being processed.

OGFZ reiterates commitment to FG’s local content policy

C Habib Abdullahi, MD NPA

workers from the ports. “`The other day, they brought a vessel to Ladol, Ìndustrial Chef’, was the name of the vessel, and they used the white men to offload the vessel, which the law did not permit them. `Ànd as am talking to you, there was a vessel in Bonny mid-stream, the name of that vessel is `MV Hawk’. It is still also being discharged by the white men; the dockers were not allowed to work. `Ànd all these we brought to the attention of the Nigerian Ports Authority even before the vessel arrived, but nothing was done. ``The law on these issues are very clear. The law says before any vessel would offload within the mid-stream, they must get the approval of the Minister. ``Do not forget why this law, is because of the arms that are getting into this country and nobody knows what this vessel brought in. ``So, for allowing you to offload at the mid-stream because of the draught, the vessel cannot come to the key apron, it means that the agent must get approval from the Honourable minister of transport. “In the absence of the minister, the Perm Sec. has the right to give approval to that vessel to berth but with a proviso in that agreement that all statutory payments to the Nigerian Ports Authority must be made. ‘All security agencies that will monitor the vessel must be on board and stevedoring charges must also be paid to the stevedores so that dockworkers will get their money before the vessel commences operation. ``The port will remain shut until all these two issues are addressed,” Nted said. Responding, the General Manager, Public Affairs of the NPA, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, said the delay in the payment of the salaries was due to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) process. He said the authority had to follow the provisions of the TSA to ensure it did not fall short of what it should do in the course of duty. Ebubeogu said officials of the Finance Department of the NPA

ompanies operating in the Oil and Gas Free Zone, OGFZ at Onne, Rivers, have expressed commitment to support Federal Government’s Local Content policy aimed at building a virile Nigerian economy. Mr Akin Bello, Integrated Logistics Services, INTELS Head of Commercials, said this on Friday while presenting his address at the grand finale of 5th Practical Nigerian Content conference in Onne, Rivers. Bello noted that Nigeria’s economy was on the road to becoming one of the world’s greatest economies with the contributions of OGFZ. He said that the companies in the area had, through qualitative service in simultaneous oil exploration and production, turned around the economy of the country for better. The Intels head of commercials explained that companies operating in Onne had recorded tremendous success, using mainly made-in-Nigeria goods and services. Mr Isidore Sambol, Head of Public Relations, Intels, said that the conference, which was organised by Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), was designed to drive a locally based economy. Sambol, who said that more than 160 companies operating in the Onne Free Zone, had made about 8 billion dollars investment to boost Nigeria’s economy. According to him, over 2,000 Nigerians are directly and indirectly employed by companies operating in the Free zone. The highlight of the conference was a tour of some of the companies operating in the zone like West Africa Machinery Servicing, WAMS, FMC technologies, West Atlantic Shipyard, WAS, OneSubsea, GE and others.

Industry, IFPI, an organization representing the recording industry internationally, enables Spinlet to assign unique ISRC codes to recordings on behalf of its clients including artists, labels, and other producers of sound and video recordings in Nigeria. International Standard Recording Code is the international identification system for sound recordings and music video recordings. It is required by most digital distribution companies and download sites to sell content online. Each individual recording is given a unique 12-digit identification code based on country, registrant, and year, removing ambiguity and simplifying the management of rights when recordings are used across different formats, countries, distribution channels, and products. Spinlet’s appointment as an ISRC manager will also see the company engage with the recording industry to ensure that local practitioners further understand the benefits of this internationally standardized identifier. Reacting to the positive development, Nkiru Balonwu, CEO of Spinlet said International Standard Recording Code is hugely beneficial in music identification, particularly in digital. “We have for some time now been looking at ways of adding value to the local music industry - and growing its capacity in terms of reach and standards.” Nkiru further added that one of the ways which Spinlet has consistently contributed to the growth of the industry was through seminars and workshops which it will continue to do. “I am particularly proud to announce that Spinlet has been appointed as Nigeria’s first ever ISRC Manager, and look forward to helping to implement this valuable system,” Nkiru said. In 2014, digital music formats were reported to have generated more revenue globally than physical formats. The growth in digital music distribution and sales accelerated by the shift to streaming, means that digital royalty tracking in the music industry is becoming more important than ever before. BC

Spinlet becomes Nigeria’s first ISRC manager Adejuwon Osunnuyi

pinlet, Africa’s largest music streaming service has been appointed as the first International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) manager from Nigeria. The status, which is conferred by the International Federation of the Phonographic

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Balonwu

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Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Companies & Markets

ABCON faults use of BVN for forex transactions A Udo Onyeka

ssociation of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, has faulted the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to make the biometric verification number mandatory requirement for foreign exchange transactions. Recall that the CBN on Wednesday issued a circular which stipulated the use of BVN for all foreign exchange transactions from November 1, 2015. The apex bank also said that it would discontinue the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs that fail to provide BVN of its directors by same date. In a statement issued on Friday, ABCON condemned the November 1, deadline, saying it is too close “adding that making BVN mandatory for foreign exchange transactions, so soon, without adequate publicity, training and other measures, will enhance activities of the parallel market operators and widen that gap between the official exchange rate and the parallel market exchange rate”. According to the statement, “The return of the CBN directives on the use of BVN on sales of forex to BDC clients

will lead to the following: Confusion and delay in the use of applicable HS Code for processing of ‘Form M’, cancellation of foreign credit lines by correspondents banks, increased mistrust between regulators and operators, increasing misery level of majority of Nigerians already in a significant poverty level”, the

statement said. It also said the directive is capable of causing decline in public confidence in CBN’s ability to sustain its macroeconomic objectives, set the pace for growing foreign interference in Nigeria’s monetary policies, loss of jobs and increased fraud and other related financial crimes.

L-R: Legal Department of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mrs Comfort Osondu; a director, (representing the Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr Jim Obazee) Mr Iheanyi Anyahara and a Consultant, FRC, Mr Mack Ogbamosa at the presentation of the award of Financial Regulator of the Year to FRC at Pan African Leadership Summit And Merit Awards(PAMA) 2015 at the British Council, Accra, Ghana

could no longer sustain its huge dependence on imported goods and services and that more attention needed to be focused on encouraging local production. He pointed out that by encouraging local production, the Bank was also promoting the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) thereby contributing to national economic growth. He disclosed that Sterling Bank decided to support IDEA because the promoters of the conference share “our commitment and passion to promote local production and consumption especially as

we come up with other initiatives to promote SMEs in the country”. Mr. Suleiman who emphasized that Sterling Bank has, over the years, consistently patronized local works, explained that the country at the moment does not have the resources to continue to import all the things that we need. “So from supporting SMEs to backing national economic growth, we have many reasons for supporting IDEA 2015”. In her remarks, the Founder and Director of IDEA, Titi Ogufere noted that one of the major challenges facing the country

today is over-dependence on imported goods and services that could be produced locally. “Instead of conserving our scarce foreign exchange and spending it on developmental programmes to enhance the local economy, we spend so much on importation and in the process stifle the local industry”. She described IDEA, an annual independent design award programme as a foremost significant event in the year for practitioners in the architecture, interior design, real estate and construction fields. BC

FirstBank supports visual arts through First@arts platform

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc and a prime promoter of the creative arts industry in Nigeria is supporting the visual arts festival in Enugu tagged “Life in my City”. The Bank is supporting this event under the auspices of the First@arts initiative which is driven by the quest to promote the arts and preserve cultural heritage. “Life in My City” is a visual arts festival targeted at young Nigerian artists below the age of 35 and will provide opportunities for participants to make

ommended some measures that would facilitate the introduction of BVN for foreign exchange transactions. According to the Association “The CBN should resume training of BDC operators for the use of the BVN platform, and there should massive sensitisation of the public on the new policy. BC

Intel plans $5.5bn chip plant in China

Sterling Bank backs IDEA awards

terling Bank Plc has assured of its readiness to support initiatives that would encourage local production and consumption of locally manufactured goods and services to support the growth of the nation’s economy. The Bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman gave the assurance at a press conference on the forthcoming annual Interior Designers Excellence Awards (IDEA) Conference supported by the Bank. According to him, it had become obvious that the country

The Association noted that while it is not totally opposed to the use of the BVN for foreign transactions, it believes that the November 1, date is too early for such policy, in view of the preparations required for smooth implementation. Consequently, the Association among other things rec-

significant statements about their environment through art exhibitions. This festival has created another opportunity to support Nigerian youth and encourage the growth and developments of natural talents in Nigeria. FirstBank is supporting this event to build capacity, enhance wealth creation for the youth as well as enable Nigerians to compete favourably at the international art market. Through First@arts, FirstBank has encouraged homegrown human capacity development and enhanced the creation

of employment opportunities within the arts industry, thereby creating a sustainable value chain and contributing to the growth and development of an evolving art economy in Nigeria. The Bank believes that promoting the arts and preserving contemporary culture is essential for our generation and the future generations. According to the Bank’s spokesperson, Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank has through the years influenced the history and growth of the country through the sponsorship of several arts initiatives across

diverse cultures. “We intend to promote the arts as a veritable vehicle for interconnection in our nation while we solidify our position as the leading brand in this space through our First@ arts initiative” she asserted. The grand finale of “Life in My City” will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel Enugu. FirstBank will be there to support participants as they bring to life beautiful imageries on their canvas. Through support for this event, the Bank has again lived up to its brand promise to put YOU First. BC

ntel Corporation said it may invest up to $5.5 billion in manufacturing semiconductors in China, stepping up efforts to improve ties with Beijing as it seeks new revenue streams while demand for its core computer processing chips falters. The U.S. firm said it would convert a facility in Dalian, its first plant in China, for memory chip production. It didn’t disclose a time period for the investment, but said it will start making advanced memory chips that can store data without using up power, called 3D NAND chips, in second-half 2016. The move follows a flurry of deals in the global semiconductor industry, highlighting growing importance of the memory chips used to store data in increasingly popular mobile devices. Researcher TrendForce predicted China will consume $6.67 billion worth of NAND chips this year, or 29 per cent of global NAND industry revenue. Building a chip industry of its own has been deemed of strategic importance by China in its drive to modernize its economy. Intel’s new investment follows a deal last year to buy 20 per cent stake of two mobile chipmakers owned by state-backed Tsinghua Holdings Co Ltd Tsinghua recently announced a plan to buy a 15 per cent stake in U.S. data storage company Western Digital Corp for $3.8 billion. In separate deals, Western Digital is also in advanced talks to acquire U.S. memory chipmaker SanDisk Corp, while Tsinghua is also trying to acquire Micron, though this deal is facing regulatory scrutiny. Intel’s latest move raises concerns that new memory supply from the chipmaker could undercut margins for leading industry players like South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and SK Hynix Inx, and Japan’s Toshiba Corp. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Companies & Markets

Fidelity tasks SMEs on funding challenges Udo Onyeka

lear business model plan, marketing and sales strategy, competent, experienced management, competitive advantage and strong financials have been identified as key remedies to the challenge of access to finance faced by SMEs. Executive Director, South, Fidelity Bank Plc. Aku Odinkemelu, said this in Enugu at the Bank’s maiden edition of the regional conference for the SouthEast region, themed ‘Positioning SMEs for Growth in the SouthEast Region’ recently. Odinkemelu, who was the lead discussant on the panel discussion session on ‘Overcoming Barriers to Funding’, said that SMEs in Nigeria are confronted with key challenges of low-levels of business management and finance. She identified the key challenges to include poor managerial/entrepreneurial skills and inadequate business processes; inadequate research/market information to determine business viability; poor access to market; limited access to the export markets; inadequate record keeping. Others are absence of proper business planning; lack of long term strategy and poor business model; low technology leverage; key man risk, etc, as well as finance, which has to do with limited options; high cost; amount

and tenor. Odinkemelu tasked SMEs to possess what she called the 5Cs of Credit- conditions, character, capacity, capital and collateralfor banks to enable them become more attractive and eligible for funding. She said banks want to know the purpose of the loan, local economic climate and conditions within the industry and other re-

lated industries that could affect the business. “Banks also want to see a measure of integrity and trustworthiness. Your credentials and references, credit reports, references from customers, suppliers, staff and other third parties, etc., technical competence, managerial competence, financials, market size/profile, service offerings/income lines,

pricing strategy, etc, money promoter must have invested in the business evidencing his commitment, and secondary repayment source,” she said. Managing Director /CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the theme of the conference was at the heart of the bank’s passion and commitment to building entrepreneurs in the South-East region of Nigeria.BC

L-R: Vice President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Mr. Azubuike Igbokwe; Acting President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe; Director General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Roli-Bode-George and Director, Technical Services, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, during the courtesy visit of ABCON delegates to the NDLEA’s Headquartes, Ikoyi, Lagos

FG should protect local printing industry – Bejer

he Managing Director, Heidelberg, Mr. Jakob Bejer, at the week-end said there was the need to protect the local paper, printing and graphics sub-sector of the economy. He said the federal government should address the trend where finished products are allowed to flood the local market from China and other parts of the world, adding that the situation is not healthy because it creates jobs in the exporting countries while also creating huge unemployment in the country.” Bejer who also faults the restrictive foreign exchange (forex) policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said it has taken a toll on the sub-sector. He lamented that the fortunes of many operators in the business are now hanging in the balance. “The sector has been at a standstill for over six months with most businesses hibernating. If it continues, the nation will lose a lot of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). It’s unfortunate that a sector that could have yielded a lot of economic value to the government is left

unprotected by government as printed books are imported uninhibited from China and India to the detriment of local firms who are creating jobs and growing the economy,” he said. He said with a population of over 170 million, Nigeria remains a destination of choice to foreign books producers. The Heidelberg boss said

part of the firm’s survival strategy is the renewal of its old strategic business relationship with Muller Martini, a Swiss company that has taken over its finishing and bindery industry, spare parts, training and maintenance including its core products such as ST-100 Saddlestitchers, Eurobinders and Eurotrimmers.

He said the synergy will bring to the market experienced service organisation and extensive experience in product marketing. “Such partnership of two world leaders forms a formidable force, to the direct benefit of our clients, who now can come to Heidelberg Nigeria Limited with all prepress, printing and finishing needs. BC

Vodafone gets Cisco’s cloud re-certification

isco has re-certified Vodafone Group Plc as a Cisco Cloud and Managed Services Master Partner worldwide. This comes after Vodafone reaffirmed its capabilities of delivering cloud and managed services using Cisco technology. The certification rewards partners for their expertise and investments for building, selling and delivering cloud and managed services worldwide. Executive Head of Network Operations, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mark Shoebridge, the operating company of Vodafone Group PLC in Nigeria, said “we provide

world-class cloud and managed service solutions to our customers and this is why we use Cisco technology. This certification validates our commitment and ability to provide the highest service levels possible and employing class leading technology to serve our customers. Our customers can be rest assured that our Cisco powered managed service and technical capabilities, deliver a secure and reliable high level of service and performance. We are pleased to have qualified once again for this certification”. As a Cisco Cloud and Managed Services Master Certified

Partner, Vodacom Business Nigeria will deliver at least two Cisco Powered services built on the IT Infrastructure Library framework, and provide enhanced management and stewardship practices to its customers. Cisco recognises a partner’s expertise in deploying solutions based on Cisco advanced technologies and services by using a third-party audit process to validate the partner’s technology skills, business practices, customer satisfaction, presales and post-sales support capabilities, and other critical factors that customers consider when choosing a trusted partner. BC

Nigeria to become exporter of refined petroleum products –Dangote

angote Petrochemical Refinery which is about to set world record as ‘Largest Single Refinery’ will make Nigeria self sufficient in petroleum products refining and also turn the country as a major exporter of such products. The project which is close to realisation will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s search for solution in meeting local refining need for white products. The refinery initially designed to handle 450,000 barrels per day has been expanded to refine 600,000 barrels a day which it comes on stream early 2018. Madhav Kelkar, Senior General Manager Civil/Structural of Dangote Oil Refinery Ltd, told journalists in Lagos today, that the entire project construction and engineering will be concluded by 2017. Kelkar said the project which is located at the Lagos Free Zone covers 2100 hectres of land thus making it most singular largest refining plant anywhere else. He said the critical aspect of the project which is land reclamation would be concluded in the next five months, to give way for installation of the plants components for take off. The manager said all contractors which include, Jan De Nul of Belgium, Sarathy Geotech of India have been fully mobilised to facilitate the dredging and soil investigation of the 2,600 hectres of land which will accommodate the petrochemical and fertiliser plants. “We have in place state-ofthe-art technology and equipment, to ensure the value chain which consists of crude reception facility, to the processing facility are adequately integrated” he explained. At the fertiliser plant site, general manager Dangote fertiliser, Jaiswal Anurag confirmed that the plant has attained 90 percent of engineering work and that 80 percent of equipment have arrived the country. Anurag also said that the contractors, Trevi Foundation, Onshore Construction, SAIPEM, TATA and Dantata & Sawoe have fully mobilised to site. He said the fertiliser plant is most likely going to take off before the petrochemical. Speaking at the level of work done at the temporary jetty, Emmanuel Chukwu, project engineer of Dantata & Sawoe said work on the site has attained 95 percent completion. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News VW to freeze promotions due to emissions scandal – Report

olkswagen will freeze managerial promotions next year at its VW division as part of a savings drive to help meet more than 30 billion euros of costs arising from the diesel emissions tests scandal, a German business magazine said on Saturday. The German company also plans to re-use as many parts as possible in the next generation of its popular Golf model to save hundreds of millions of euros, according to the Manager Magazin report, which cited Volkswagen sources. Europe’s largest carmaker is battling the biggest business crisis in its 78-year history after admitting last month it installed software in diesel vehicles to deceive U.S. regulators about the true level of their toxic emissions. The company has already set aside 6.5 billion euros ($7.2 billion) in provisions in the third quarter to pay for fallout from the scandal. Manager Magazin said Volkswagen now saw the total cost swelling to more than 30 billion euros. Analysts expect Volkswagen to report a 3.5 billion euro operating loss for the third quarter when it publishes its financial results on Wednesday, down from a year-earlier profit of 3.2 billion. Works council chief Bernd Osterloh rejected the idea of a halt to promotions, saying such a move would be “merely symbolic” and at the expense of workers. “We expect to see other symbols first: for instance, clear statements on management’s stance on bonus payments. The motto needs to be to lead by example,” he said in an emailed statement. Joerg Hofmann, the new head of Germany’s powerful IG Metall union, said workers’ representatives must have a bigger say in setting bonuses at VW to help prevent future crises. “What will the performancebonus systems be in future at VW?,” he told Deutschland funk radio in an interview to be aired on Sunday. “We want to be part of the decision-making on this.” “It is about ... being able to counter a corporate culture directed at just one goal: cost cuts at any price!” Asked if VW would have to cut jobs, he said: “We are driving in thick fog at the moment.” Volkswagen, which declined to comment on Saturday’s report, has said it will cut investment plans at its VW division -- the largest by revenue -- and

speed up cost cutting to cope with the cost of cleaning up the emissions scandal. According to Manager Magazin, the VW brand is to bear the brunt of the costs, while more upmarket brands like Audi and Porsche are to be shielded from the current crisis.

China central bank sees 6-7% growth in next few years

hina will be able to keep annual economic growth at around 6-7 percent over the next three to five years, a top People’s Bank of China (PBOC) policymaker said on Saturday, a day after the bank cut interest rates for the sixth time in less than a year. The comments from Yi Gang, vice governor of the People’s Bank of China, appeared to be aimed at reassuring investors this level of growth, China’s slowest pace in two decades but still faster than other major economies, is the Chinese economy’s “new normal”. “China’s future economic growth will still be relatively quick. Around seven, six-pointsomething. These will all be very normal,” he told a conference in Beijing. As well as cutting interest rates on Friday, the PBOC lowered the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves. Both moves were bids to jumpstart growth in China’s slowing economy, a drag on global growth that has been of major concern in emerging markets and other leading economies. Monetary policy easing in the world’s second-largest economy is at its most aggressive since the 2008/09 financial crisis, as growth looks set to slip to a 25-year-low this year of under 7 percent. Yi said China in the future would lower the reserve requirement ratio for banks, the amount of cash that major lenders need to keep on hand at a “normal” pace. “Our reserve requirement ratio is still at a relatively high level so there is still room to

Gang

lower the RRR. In future, we will proceed to lower the RRR at a normal pace,” he said. Yi said the PBOC planned to keep interest rates at a reasonable level to reduce the corporate debt burden, and noted that interest rate liberalization does not mean that the central bank would reduce regulation of rates. China will also continue to set benchmark lending and deposit rates for some time, he said, but these rates would not restrict market pricing. Data released on Monday showed China’s economy in the July-to-September quarter grew 6.9 percent from a year earlier, dipping below 7 percent for the first time since the global financial crisis. Yi noted that China’s stock market, which has fallen sharply since June, had completed most of its adjustments and that the yuan, which was buffeted in the wake of a surprise devaluation in early August, had “basically” stabilized. “Following Aug. 11, our original intention was to pursue market reforms. But after that, we realized there was a relatively big depreciation pressure (on the yuan), and so we decided to resolutely stabilize the yuan,” he said. The PBOC was looking into leverage levels in the debt market, Yi noted. He said that China did not have exceptionally high debt levels, and while the bank was not overly anxious about cutting the level of leverage in the economy, the overall strategy is to stabilize leverage levels. “I want to especially mention this: I am now also focused on the leverage level in China’s debt market,” he said.

Fed will weigh up ECB’s stimulus push as it readies rates message

he European Central Bank’s signal that more stimulus is coming for Europe’s economy could complicate the U.S. Federal Reserve’s own message this week about when it might move in the opposite direction. ECB President Mario Draghi caused the dollar to jump against the euro on Thursday when he said the ECB was studying new ways to fight off deflation and spur growth that may be announced as soon as December. The Fed was already treading cautiously about whether it would begin raising U.S. interest rates in December. “The ECB’s move increases the probability of the Fed thinking twice about it,” said Marco Valli, the chief euro zone economist at UniCredit in Milan.

Draghi

“They will want to give the impression that they remain on track to raise rates at the end of the year,” Valli said. “But obviously, after the ECB played tough, they will seek to avoid giving the impression that they are pre-committed.” Seven years after the Fed cut rates to nearly zero to fight off the effects of the financial crisis, rich and developing countries around the world are waiting for it to reverse course. Figures due on Thursday, a day after the Fed’s statement, are likely to show U.S. economic growth slowed to an annualized 1.7 percent in the third quarter, according to a Reuters poll of economists, down from 3.9 percent in the second quarter as a weaker global economy took its toll. But assuming the U.S. Congress strikes another lastminute deal before a Nov. 3 deadline to avoid defaulting on its debt, growth in the United States is expected to pick up toward the end of the year and remain strong in 2016. Fed Chair Janet Yellen and other officials have said they expect a rate increase will be needed by the end of this year. But two Fed governors urged caution last week, and financial markets don’t expect a move until next year. A first move had been widely expected in September. The Fed was put off then by the turmoil in China’s stock markets as the Chinese economy slowed. On Friday, China cut rates for the sixth time in less than a year, announced on Friday. That might help ease concern about its outlook. But with the ECB considering measures such as a further cut in interest rates or ramping up its bond purchases, the Fed will have to consider the pros and cons of widening the divergence of monetary policy on the two sides of the Atlantic. Ethan Harris, global economist with Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch, said he took a different view to the consensus and felt the Fed might be encouraged to act by Draghi’s words. The prospect of more ECB stimulus might hurt the U.S. economy by pushing up the

value of the dollar. But the effect may be more than offset by other effects of the announcement, such as lower U.S. market interest rates and gains in U.S. stock market prices, he said. “Everyone assumes that this is going to stop the Fed. I think at this stage it may even encourage the Fed to hike,” Harris said. The Bank of Japan is also considering an expansion of its stimulus efforts, after the economy shrank in the second quarter and might have slipped back into recession. Six of 13 economists in a Reuters poll said the BoJ will add to its stimulus when it meets on Friday, with inflation forecast to be just 0.1 percent in the fiscal year to March 2016. However, several BoJ policymakers are wary of moving at Friday’s meeting. They cling to the hope that Japan’s economy will weather the slowdown from abroad. In Britain, where the economy has been growing for more than two years, preliminary figures for the third quarter, due on Tuesday, are expected to show a slight slowdown.

GM to cut 500 jobs, eliminate shift at small-car plant near Detroit

eneral Motors Co (GM.N) will cut 500 jobs as a shift is eliminated at a plant near Detroit that makes weak-selling small cars, the company said on Friday. The decision comes a day after GM said it would add 1,200 jobs and a shift at the DetroitHamtramck plant. The shift at the small-car Lake Orion plant near Detroit will end by early next year, and the new shift at the DetroitHamtramck plant will begin in the first quarter, GM said. Most of the Lake Orion workers losing their jobs will be able to transfer to the DetroitHamtramck plant, said a GM spokesman. The Lake Orion plant produces the Buick Verano sedan and the Chevrolet Sonic. Verano sales are down 27 percent this year and Sonic sales are off 35 percent, as low gasoline prices have helped boost demand for larger SUVs and pickup trucks. GM has said it will make the electric small car Bolt at Lake Orion as well as a not-yetnamed new product. Supplier sources have told Reuters that Verano production will cease at Lake Orion in late 2016, and shift to a plant in China. In June, GM announced a $245 million investment at Lake Orion.BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Brand Watch

Anambra teacher clinches Maltina Best Teacher award David Audu

37 year old teacher from Anambra State, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi emerged winner of the maiden edition of the Maltina Teacherof-the-Year. Obi, who is equally a daughter of a teacher, teaches Mathematics and Chemistry at the Federal Government Girls College, FGC Onitsha. She beats nine other finalists to the coveted prize. The ten finalists who slugged it out at the final lap, were winners from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States. The first runner-up was Mrs. Binta Mohammed Lawan of Federal Government College Maiduguri, Borno State, in the

war ravaged North East, while her counterpart from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Daniel Sunday Udiong emerged as the second runner-up. The award instituted by Maltina, the non-alcoholic malt brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, is courtesy of Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. It is aimed at restoring the pride of teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession. For their effort, the national winner got one million as one million naira will be paid into her account annually for five years. Obi will also be sent abroad for professional training on the bill of Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, just as the Federal Government College Onitsha,

Obi’s school, has also become an instant beneficiary of a block of six classrooms. The first runner-up got one million naira plus another five hundred thousand naira finalists’ prize money, while the second runner-up took seven hundred and fifty naira and another five hundred thousand naira for getting to the finals. Speaking after her declaration as winner, Obi, who spoke ex-temporal for more than ten minutes, dedicated her victory to God and her fellow teachers. She also thanked Nigerian Breweries, for the great honour and motivation done to teachers and the teaching profession. “Teaching is a noble profession, it is a calling and it is a commitment to building the nation. I thank God today for my life,

and I thank Nigerian Breweries for restoring the dignity and pride of teachers,” she said. In his welcome remark, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde explained that the company operates with a philosophy of “winning with Nigeria” and has championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946. “In 1994, we raised the profile of our support of the education sector when we established the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund to enable us to contribute to the development of the sector. Everywhere in the world, teachers play a vital role in sustainable national development by training, coaching and modelling which is critical to determining the quality of

Power Oil partners Rhodium Chef Global in cooking competition

s part of its corporate social responsibility, CSR, thrust, Power Oil has partnered with Rhodium Chef Global LLC on the season 2 of “Making of the Chef” cooking competition. Speaking on the sponsorship, the Head of Public Relations & Event, Tolaram Group, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju noted that Power Oil is proud to partner with Rhodium Chef Global on the season 2 of the ‘Making of the Chef’ competition to empower young Nigerians to become world class Chefs. Ashiwaju noted that the brand was particularly impressed with the opportunity to train successful participants

in the competition at Stratford University, USA which is in line with the CSR focus of Tolaram Group to empower Nigerians in different field of endeavor. He added that Power Oil as a heart friendly oil brand fits well with the vision of ‘Making of the Chef’ reality cooking competition as there is no better cooking oil than Power Oil, a low cholesterol, healthy, hygienic and money for Value product. Also commenting on the partnership with Power Oil, the creator of the project and Creative Director, Rhodium Chef Global, Mrs. Idono Gbenro commended Tolaram Group for supporting the initiative to identify, educate and empower young Nigerians who aspire to venture into culinary arts. Gbenro explained that audi-

Ashiwaju

tion for the season 2 of the competition has commence and will be held simultaneously in Lagos, PortHarcourt and Abuja in which 20 aspiring chefs would be shortlisted from an entry of regular people from all walks of

life in Nigeria. She noted that successful candidates from the three venues of the auditions will have the rare opportunity of learning and mentorship of American Master Chef Edwin Sholly, one of the world’s leading celebrity Chef, a former chef to America’s past Presidents including George W. Bush (Snr), George Bush (Jnr) Bill Clinton and Obama during his first term in office. Gbenro also revealed that the vision of the project is to groom young Nigerians, educate them and add glamour to their lives by making them certified Chefs with experience in international cuisine to ensure that Nigerians can raise their head up high as Master chefs in leading hotels and restaurants. BC

Dettol intensifies hand washing campaign

ettol is intensifying its”Give Life A Hand” campaign to commemorate the Global Hand washing Day 2015. The campaign aims to ensure that hand washing becomes an instilled behaviour among Nigerians youth Managing Director, Rahul Murgai, welcomed the attendees industry stakeholders, government, celebrities and the academia. The gathering focused on the importance of hand washing and learning to avoid preventable diseases. “Hand-washing with soap can help prevent diarrhoearelated diseases and other disease spread by touch as well as respiratory infections including pneumonia and flu”, Murgai

Silivrili

said. He said the vision in RB is a world where people are healthier and live better and our purpose is to make a difference by giving people innovative solu-

tions for healthier lives and happier homes. Our brand Dettol has been in Nigeria for more than 50 years, always has been at the forefront of providing health and hygiene solutions to Nigerians “Nearly 0.7million children die due to diarrhoea around the world every year. In Nigeria alone 96,000 deaths occur. We can help prevent this by making hand washing with soap a habit for children”. Marketing Director Dettol West Africa, Oguzhan Silivrili, requested all to show their support during this Global Hand Washing Day by uploading a picture of clean hands with the hashtag #HealthyHands. For every upload he said that Dettol will educate one child on the healthy habit of hand wash-

ing with soap. This is a part of the global campaign that has been tailored towards Nigeria. He said the idea of ‘Give life a hand’ campaign was to work towards a larger purpose of saving lives with innovative and engaging initiatives. The promise was to educate a child about the benefits of hand washing through unique digital interaction with our consumers on different digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Idea was to create an engaging interactive platform involving mothers to reach out to more people. We can truly make a difference with the help of the mothers if they can spread out the message of the necessity of hand washing to their loved ones. BC

Vervelde

education, “he said. He added that the valid entries received were subjected to an intensive selection and judging process by an independent, external panel of judges to ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity. The Panel of Judges which comprised eminent Nigerian academics and professionals was chaired by Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder/CEO, Centre for Values in Leadership. BC

NCC boss leads discussions at PRCAN meeting

he Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo is expected to lead discussion next week Thursday at the monthly Breakfast Meeting organised by the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, PRCAN. In its fourth edition, the business-knowledge sharing and networking initiative will this month focus on “Corporate Communication in the Public Sector: Issues, Challenges and Prospects. President of PRCAN, John Ehiguese, said the monthly forum has evolved into a credible platform for honest and purposeful interaction between PRCAN member-firms and clients. “Those who have not attended any of the sessions have been missing mind-blowing testimonies by the speakers and the audience,” he said Like the previous editions which enjoyed support from organisations within and outside PRCAN, Airtel Nigeria is the lead sponsor this time, while Compact Communications, a PRCAN memberfirm, is the support sponsor. PRCAN Monthly Breakfasts Meeting has attracted high-profile communication professionals including Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc; Kufre Ekanem, Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria; Emeka Oparah, and President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN, David Okeme, who is also Brand Building Director at Unilever Plc. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Review

FG intensifies transparency drive in NNPC, probes crude oil swap Against the backdrop of the present administration’s effort to optimise available resources for developmental projects in the country, the Federal Government has beamed its searchlight on the crude oil swap deal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with a view to ensuring that all its transactions on crude oil conform to public financial regulations and global standards. Gbenga Odogun reports

t the inaugural meeting with State House correspondents in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari, lamented the state of the treasury which he described as “empty” He also said that the state of the nation’s finance may slowdown the pace of work as being expected by Nigerians as looted funds have to be recovered first before any project can be embarked upon. In line with his anti-corruption stance, the President said that “the next few months will be critical but billions of Dollars could be recovered” adding that the US,UK and other countries where the looted funds were moved to have indicated their willingness to cooperate with the Federal Government in repatriating the stolen funds. To give meaning to the fiscal crusade, the first point of call in search of alleged looted funds by the government is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. whose subsidiary Pipelines and Products Marketing Company is charged with the responsibility of marketing refined products to local markets. In recent years, as a way of addressing the perennial fuel shortages due to below capacity performance of the nation’s refineries, the PPMC embarked on crude swap deal to increase supply to the local market. A swap is an agreement whereby a floating price is exchanged for a fixed price over a specified period. It is a finan-

cial arrangement that involves no transfer of physical oil; both parties settle their contractual obligations by means of a transfer of cash. The agreement defines the volume, duration, fixed price, and reference index for the floating price (e.g., ICE Brent). Differences are settled in cash for specific periods usually monthly, but sometimes quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Swaps are also known as “contracts for differences” and as “fixed-for-floating” contracts, terms that summarize the essence of these financial arrangements. The amount of cash is determined as the difference between the price struck at the initiation of the swap and the settlement of the index. To this end, the PPMC signed crude swap agreement with nine international companies to exchange crude for refined products mainly gasoline for domestic consumption the companies are ; Trafigura, Vitol, Aiteo Energy Resources, Mercuria, Glencore, Taleveras Group Nigeria Limited, Sahara Energy Limited, Etena Oil and Gas Limited, Ontario Oil and Gas and Rahmaniya Oil and Gas. Of the 445,000 barrels of crude oil per day brought by NNPC to meet its domestic crude refining capacity, slightly less than 50 per cent is swapped with commodity traders in exchange for petroleum products which are imported into the country. The other 50

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, NNPC GMD

per cent is supposedly refined by NNPC’s refineries. However, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, disclosed that there was a revenue loss of at least $600 million due to a discrepancy between the value of the crude and the products delivered. The figure was taken from its 2009-2011 and 2012 audits of the oil and gas industry, the latest was released this year. NEITI reported that Nigeria may be losing an estimated $8 billion annually through the crude oil-for-refined products exchange arrangement, better known as crude oil swaps, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has with these oil traders

through opaque contracts in which crude oil worth billions of dollars is given to traders in exchange for refined imports. This has prompted the anticorruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Directorate of State Security, DSS, to commence a probe of the deal with a view to ascertaining how much if any money was being lost through the deal A source with knowledge of the matter said the DSS wanted to find out how the value of the crude and products was computed. “It appears that the value of the crude was more than the value of the refined imported,” the security source said. The contracts, known as off-

shore processing agreements, OPAs are between Pipelines and Product Marketing Co (PPMC), a subsidiary of staterun Nigerian National Petroleum Corp, NNPC, and three oil trading companies: Sahara Group, Aiteo and Duke Oil, the trading subsidiary of NNPC. Expired contracts with Swiss trader Trafigura, Taleveras, Ontario Oil and Gas are also being examined, the sources said. Confirming the probe in a statement last week, NNPC said some of its officials were invited by the agencies “to shed light” on the contracts and that none had been detained or arrested as part of this investigation. In the same vein, the House of Representatives also resolved to investigate the alleged scams by agreeing to set up a committee to investigate whether the government has been short-changed by a state oil company scheme to swap crude for refined products. The speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara said at the plenary session of the house that the house of parliament had adopted a motion to constitute an ad hoc committee “to forensically investigate the allegations of malpractice by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with particular reference to crude oil swap contracts.” This follows a motion sponsored by Michael Enyong, from Akwa Ibom State, in which he stated that crude oil amounting to 445,000 barrels per day was awarded to the nine companies. He said a barrel of crude amounts to 159 litres and if a barrel is multiplied by 445,000 barrels, it would amount to 70,775000 litres per day, whereas Nigeria daily consumption is 40,000,000 liters per day, what happens to the balance is left to the committee to decide. It is expected that at the end of the current probe of the transactions or crude swap deals the truth will be made public and prolonged months of speculations about what actually transpired between the PPMC or NNPC and its crude swap traders would be laid to rest finally. Until then, whatever anybody says about the deal may not be factual enough to reveal the whole truth that the current transparency agenda of the Buhari administration is set to achieve in the downstream sector of the hydrocarbon resources industry. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

A11 27

Consumers negligence, ignorance encourage cybercrime Isaiah Erhiawarien

here are indications that most online fraud committed by cyber crooks could possibly be caused by the carelessness of shoppers. According to a MasterCard survey about 53 per cent of shoppers forget crucial passwords more than once a week, thereby losing more than 10 minutes when they reset their accounts. The study, which was polled a research firm, Norstat on about 10,000 general population consumers revealed that more than a third of people abandon an online purchase, while six in 10 said it led to missing a time-sensitive transaction like buying concert tickets, the payment giant’s survey shows. The poll, which covered 17 markets across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia Pacific, stated that more than half of people want to see passwords replaced by something more convenient, while continuing to deliver the same levels of protection and peace of mind. Conducted from August 13 to 21, 2015, the poll surveyed the perceptions related to online shopping and indicated that consumers much need to improve on their security online. According to an international study conducted by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International, in South Africa 57 per cent of internet user’s encountered malicious software during the last year and in 77 per cent of cases, this had a negative impact on users and their devices. The global security firm Kasperksy said that malware was most commonly encountered on Windows computers with 83 per cent of all Windows users stating that they had been affected in the last 12 months. “However, Android and Mac OS X users were not immune, with 13 per cent and 6 per cent citing infections on their devices, respectively,” the company added noting that 14 per cent of users believe their device was infected after visiting a suspicious website; and 19 per cent stated they become infected because they

used someone else’s USB flash drive, and 8 per cent believe a malicious app disguised as a legitimate programmme, was installed. “Yet another 8 per cent of South African’s surveyed said their devices were infected after opening an email attachment. The greater part of those polled, 19 per cent, could not explain how malware ended up on their device,” Kaspersky stated. Digital security company, Gemalto, has found that identity theft accounts for 53 per cent of global data breaches while state-sponsored attacks account for 41 per cent of stolen data records. The findings of the Breach Level Index (BLI) for the first six months of 2015 showed that 888 data breaches occurred in the period resulting in 246 million compromised records worldwide. According to Gemalto’s BLI report there has been a 41 per cent decline in the number of compromised data records during the first six months of this year, compared to the first half of 2014. The decline in compromised records, the report moots, can most likely be attributed to

that fact that fewer large scale mega breaches have occurred in the retail industry compared to the same period last year. Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Data Protection at Jason Hart, Gemalto said hackers are seeing increasing benefits from the more advanced attacks that they’ve mounted. “What we’re continuing to see is a large ROI (return on investment) for hackers with sophisticated attacks that expose massive amounts data records. Cyber criminals are still getting away with big and very valuable data sets. For instance, the average healthcare data breach in the first half of 2015 netted more than 450,000 data records, which is an increase of 200 per cent compared to the same time last year”, he said. The number of state-sponsored attacks accounted for just 2 per cent of data breach incidents according to the report, but the number of records compromised as a result of those attacks totaled 41 per cent of all records exposed, due to the breaches at Anthem Insurance and the U.S. Office of Personnel Man-

agement. While none of the top 10 breaches from first half of 2014 were caused by statesponsored attacks, three of the top ten this year were state sponsored. Identity theft remains the primary type of breach and it accounts for 75 per cent of all records compromised and slightly more than half 53 per cent of data breaches in the first half of 2015. Five of the top ten breaches, including the top three – which were all classified as Catastrophic on the BLI – were identity theft breaches, down from seven of the top 10 from the same period last year. Reflecting on the development, attendees at Africa Information & Communication Technologies Alliance (AfICTA) Summit in Johannesburg highlighted some of the cybersecurity challenges that face the continent. Ivorian Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Diamond Security Consulting, Laïcana Coulibaly told delegates at the three day summit that the key to stemming the cyber security threat was in collaboration. “Crackers and hackers

are clever people and I don’t know how it happens in other countries in Africa, but in my country when we see a hacker or cracker the first thing we think is to put these persons to jail directly. It is a big mistake, these people are able to do a lot of things, they are clever. We have to think of something else, they can help government and people to defend the cyberspace because they know how to hack they must know how to defend. We have to see of how we can work with them, how we can educate them.” Delegates also called for continental and worldwide legislative uniformity as a way to ensure a safer internet. Chief Executive officer of Egyptian e-security company GNSE Group, Hossam ElGammal, cited this as one of the ways to tackle the cyber security challenge. “We need a common cyber security document for all African countries. It will also be a good idea to have awareness sessions from governments who already have cyber security legislation to others who don’t. We can have this from Egypt, Nigeria as well as others.” BC

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Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

Stakeholders set to tackle e-payment challenges Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

takeholders under the platform of the E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, E-PPAN would address e-payment challenges in the country at a conference at the annual electronic payment system fraud holding in in Lagos. This event which is theme: Hitting the Target: Addressing Electronic Fraud Through industry approach will be addressing critical electronic fraud issues and advancement in payment Technology. It is being sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria, PayAttitude of Unified Payment Services Limited, Visa Incorporate, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System NIBSS, and Interswitch Nigeria Limited. The 6th Annual Payment Systems and Fraud Conference will gather top Payment and Information securities experts within and outside the country to address electronic Fraud issues and advancement in payment technology. The General Manager of the commercial Crime office SABRIC Susan Potgieter, which is the South Africa Banking

Fatokun

Risk Information Centre will be speaking at the conference on Payment Trends and Security Around the world: The Need for Alliances. She will be sharing her experience serving on the E-Commerce Advisory Committee to the Minister of Finance South Africa, and The BRICS Expert Group on Cyber security. An attorney by profession with over 24 years in the banking industry, Susan leads a team of analysts who provide member banks with crime risk information and products aimed at preventing and detecting crime risk within their own operations and also sup-

port law enforcement. The Chairman Nigerian Electronic Fraud Forum Mr. Dipo Fatokun of NeFF who also is the Director Banking and Payments System Department Central Bank of Nigeria will be presenting the lead paper for the first panel session. His focus will be creating a firewall by harnessing the collaborative strength of stakeholders from the Law enforcement agencies, payment experts, regulators, service providers and consumers. This session will critically explore and strengthen concerted efforts between the law enforcement agencies; regulators and the payment industry in the fight against electronic fraud. Juanita Omanga the Director Risk Services Vis CEMEA Sub-Saharan Africa will also be presenting a lead paper at the 2nd Panel session of the conference. Her focus will be on looking at Fraud in the interest of the consumers, card issuers, and the customer. This session will enable all parties’ dialogue intensively on defining the roles of the merchants, consumers and the payment providers in the fight against fraud understanding that we are as weak as our weakest link. BC

Global ICT leaders harp on innovation G lobal ICT leaders have made a case for accelerated global ICT innovation to help improve lives across the world. The leaders spoke at the closing of the ITU Telecom World 2015 held in Budapest, Hungary last week at the event, which provided unique international platform to hold dialogue, exchange and exhibit ideas, forge partnerships between government, industry and SMEs The event, which welcomed over 4,000 participants from 129 countries this week, brought together an impressive line-up of top-level government representatives, leaders of industry from established players to SMEs (small and medium enter-

Zhao

prises) and young start-ups, from emerging and developed markets along with high-level representatives of international organisations, entrepreneurs, accelerators, incubators and academia. ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao in his closing remark said that “This week we have marked the 150th anniversary of the foundation of ITU, hosted by Hungary – one of our original 20 founding members. We have also marked the first step in ITU’s new focus; to provide an international platform for SMEs, governments and major industry players to connect, share views, challenges and experiences and hold meaningful dialogues.” He disclosed that stakeholders explored how SMEs will be the engine for much innovation, where their ability to take risks and move fast can be key saying, “We hope that now this will lead to a greater cross-pollination of ideas and forging of new relationships between SMEs, governments and established ICT players to help scale and deliver innovative solutions globally, and improve lives.” Also speaking, Hungary’s Minister of National Development, Miklós Seszták noted that ICT and telecommunication play a crucial role in Hungary’s economy, thus hosting

ITU Telecom World this year was a great opportunity for our domestic companies. He added: ”Innovation is the bridge to the future, and due to this event the Hungarian start-ups and relevant corporations have been linked more intensively into the global ecosystem. The Next Generation Day provided an astonishing example of the creativity of the experts of the future.” Vice President and General Manager, Governments and World Ahead, Intel Corporation, Gordon Graylish stated that “Intel believes that driving innovation is an essential goal for government and businesses from all around the world. Solving global problems starts with affordable access, active use of technology and capacity building.” He said further that Intel supports great ideas and programmes such as the Young Innovators Competition that bring together young innovators and give them the chance to present themselves to the international audience at this event. Dialogue between government and start-ups, and between established industry players and SMEs, took centre stage at the event, with dedicated sessions enabling these players to connect and examine issues in-depth.BC

Technotalk

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Transforming the way you work using an online collaboration tool

eamwork is one of the most important aspects of the modern workplace. However, with the widespread of Internet availability, members of a team could be anywhere in the world. For teamwork to be effective, it is important for companies to adopt modern work practices and technologies that help co-workers, wherever they are, share their work in a simple and efficient way. This is where a good online collaboration tool comes in. Online collaboration allows a group of people work together in real-time over the Internet. Those engaged in online collaboration can work together on word processor documents, Power Point presentations and even for brainstorming, all without needing to be in the same room at the same time. There are many great online collaboration tools available, which can help your team accomplish its goals. However listed below are benefits of online collaboration that will help you and your organisation make a decision on this useful technology. 1. It is easy to keep track of projects - Online collaboration tools have a variety of project tracking capabilities that make it easy for team members to see the evolution of a project from day one. From tracking who made the latest changes to a document, to how the document was before the changes, to tagging a colleague to review the document. 2. Team members can be anywhere - As long as they have an Internet connection, team members can be working remotely from anywhere in the world. This means that it’s possible for a team to be completely dispersed, while still working in an organized way. Co-workers in different states or countries can easily work together on the same project, which helps organizations put together the best possible team for a project, It also means that while employees are away from the office on a business trip, they don’t need to be disconnected from the project, and can contribute to it as if they were on their desks. 3. Ease of reporting - Nearly all work projects have some kind of reporting associated with them, and report time is usually stressful. Sometimes, you can lose track of some of the activities that have been done for a certain project, especially when you are working with a large team. However, by using a good online collaboration tool, you can quickly generate detailed reports that include all of the activities associated with a certain project, giving team members more time to work on result-generating activities. 4. Actions are done quickly - With a good online collaboration tool, you don’t have to arrange a meeting or phone call in order to review documents. Documents can be uploaded into the tool, and reviewers can be automatically notified via email that documents have been uploaded. Reviewers can then annotate the document and make any necessary changes and notify all team members that the document has been reviewed and is ready. This makes it much easier to keep a steady and organized work flow on a project, with team members promptly contributing when necessary. 5. Documents are all stored in a single place - This makes it easy for all team members to have access to all necessary documents, regardless of their location and any updates to a document are seen immediately. Finally, online collaboration is good for organisations of any size, as long as there is interest in working together over the Internet to achieve same result. Not only is online collaboration great for working with your colleagues, but it’s also good when working on documents with client as it create a sense of teamwork and transparency and BC BC improves client relationships. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

A13 29

Cosmas Maduka:

Entrepreneur with an

uncommon story

His father’s death when he was four years old deprived him the benefit of formal education, but with only N200 as investment capital way back in 1975, he built a conglomerate with impactful presence in many countries of the world. How did Cosmas Maduka create the Coscharis phenomenum despite the inherent challenges in his background and the vicissitude of a developing nation? By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

is story may not be entirely strange or unique, but it clearly signposts the thorny paths which many determined and courageous men thread in their determination to make meaning out of life. His story is very touching and perhaps, indeed, the story of Cosmas Maduka who now sits atop the multi-million Coscharis Group of Companies is worth sharing. He lost his father, the family’s bread winner at the age of four, and his mother, a poor bean cake (Akara) seller had to single-handedly raise him and his three other siblings. At first, his mother struggled to keep the family with Cosmas and his other brothers providing the leg work, selling the bean cake. This they did for some time until it became more and more difficult for his mother to cope with the financial burden of raising the family. Cosmos had to drop out of school. He was sent to live with his grandparents when his mother couldn’t cope with the four of them. The grandparents supported him till elementary three when they themselves could no longer cope. At that stage, Cosmas, who then was a little above eight years old had to join his uncle who lived somewhere in Ebute-Metta, Lagos selling spare parts. While in EbuteMetta as an apprentice with his uncle, he started out sleeping in the store. For six years under the tutelage of his spare parts dealer uncle, Cosmas worked without salary or any form of remuneration, though he was clothed and fed by his uncle.

As he recalled, his period of apprenticeship was without written contract, it’s done with ultimate good faith where you receive a stewardship fee at the end of your contract and God helps you if you misbehaves just for one day, you would be sent packing and you will not get anything for all those years of work. As an apprentice, Cosmas grew up with some of the bad characters mostly associated with street children. He smoked, drank, swindled and watched pornographic materials. He was very rough. Cosmas moved to Sokoto to manage the new outlet opened by his boss and it was while in Sokoto that he met a friend named Adolphus, who tried to straighten his wayward ways. His friend introduced him to a Baptist church, but as he later admitted, the devil fought him because within two, three months after the incident, his boss recalled him to Lagos and later sent him back to Nnewi to open a new store. While at Nnewi, Cosmas met another friend, Pius Egbuawa, who continued the pastoral work in the little Cosmas’ life from where Adolphus stopped and in no time, the spare parts apprentice had fully imbibed the religious way. He no longer smokes, drink nor watch pornographic materials. Again, it was at about that time that his boss came visiting. But when his boss was told about his new found love in evangelism, he became uncomfortable with the young Cosmas. He would rather want someone who devotes full attention to the business than the one who closes shop in pursuit of ministration. So, on the fourth day, his boss returned and requested Cosmas to come with his brother

Maduka

for a meeting during which he simply handed over to him, N200 for his stewardship and brought his sojourn with him to a close. That was how Cosmas’ seven year apprenticeship came to an abrupt end. The young Cosmas felt he deserved more than what his uncle offered him. Bold and courageous, rather than murmur, Cosmas complained to his uncle that after being of good service over the seven years, he deserved something better. Rather than argue with the young man, his uncle said to him ‘even if I didn’t give you any money, I believe you will succeed.’ He blessed Cosmas by giving him the hope that there was something in him that would take him to the very pinnacle of business. Rather than despair, Cosmas picked up his pieces. He did not allow the unfortunate circumstances surrounding him hinder his drive for success: “Of course, my father’s death affected my education. There are

things that will happen to you and you may think that is the end of the world. But I must tell you that there are some of us who have turned our difficulties into dividends and problems into opportunities. I believe that if I had gone to school, I would have made a first class because I have what it takes to make it,” he reminisced. Cosmas teamed up with his elder brother to start a business called, ‘Maduka Brothers’ at Nnewi. As the business continued, Maduka Brothers relocated to Lagos. By then, his elder brother had also completed his apprenticeship and they bought motor parts from Leventis motors in Lagos, which they sold at Nnewi. Sometime in 1977, Cosmas and the brother had differences that made them part ways peacefully, thus brought to an end, the Maduka Brothers as a business entity. Shortly after the break-up, Cosmas again teamed up with a friend, David to form another company called ‘CosDave Motors’ with

a start-up capital of N10,000 which they both contributed equally. They worked so hard such that by 1978, they had about N300, 000 capital to trade with. Two years after, by 1980, the figure had shot up to over a million naira. Curiously, like the MadukaBrothers he set up earlier with his brother, CosDave Motors’ too did not last as the partnership also hit the rock in 1981 over alleged ideological differences. Throughout his apprenticeship days, Cosmas spent a lot of time familiarising himself with the intricacies of the spare parts business. He was so good that he was able to help people match parts from different cars where they could not find their specific models. He invested time in being excellent at what he did. Customers discovered his excellence in the vocation and were drawn to buy from him. In 1982, a year after the collapse of CosDave Motors’, Cosmas, now married, decided to go it alone. For Continued on pg A14

Business Courage

him, it appeared that partnership was not his calling. He floated Coscharis Motors, a name formed from the combination of his name and his wife’s, Charity. Incidentally, it was the year Coscharis Motors was formed that there was a turning point in his business. Between late 1982 and early 1983, the Federal Government introduced the import license regime. At that time, very few companies had import licenses issued by the Federal Government, and whoever wanted to import anything into the country had to go through the import license holders. At that time, Coscharis was the seventh company, among 10 motor companies, that were pencilled down to be given import license by the Ministry of Trade. He probably wouldn’t have been part of the beneficiary, but luck and providence played the key role. Because Coscharis Motors Limited sounded like a Greek name, the government felt that being a ‘foreign” company, it would stand a chance to use the import license effectively. It was a seller’s market. The returns were astounding and Coscharis made loads of cash. The shrewd Cosmas, known for his modest disposition, remained disciplined in spite of the boom his company experienced during the import license era. Not used to a flamboyant lifestyle, Cosmos continued to live in his old home in the densely populated neighbourhood at Ajegunle, in Olodi Apapa, Lagos; driving a second hand vehicle even as he continue to channel his business proceeds into solid investments such as property. Many of his mates did not realize that he was sitting on loads of money. Up till date, he continues to maintain a simple, austere life, and does not engage in unnecessary purchases, nor indulge in spending sprees like most rich people do. He believes in being different, and yet remaining an inspiration and role model to the younger generation. His words: “An average Igbo trader would build some high rise to announce to people that he had arrived. But that was not my idea. As I am talking to you, I don’t own any of such buildings but I own some few prime properties like our corporate offices in Lagos and Abuja and the new place I just moved into as residential quarters. I don’t want to do what everybody does; I believe I can create my own idea. I believe I can do something and become a role model and act as a source of inspiration to others”. Today, the Coscharis Group has about ten subsidiaries and it is regarded as the numero uno in the Nigerian automobile market. Coscharis motors specialize in the sale of BMW and Land Rover, through a partnership agreement with BMW of Germany. However, it was a dream come true for Cosmos Maduka to be the sole representative of BMW in Nigeria because he personally has a penchant for BMW cars. “As an individual, I am a very dynamic person and I have always liked BMW cars. After I drove it first in 1978, I fell in love with the car. It is a car that characterizes excellence. Any time you are driv-

ing it, your mind will be at rest as it moves. When you are driving a BMW on the road, you are not just standing out for status sake, but prestigiously. You are making a statement, an expression of self. So, being a sole representative of the auto company in Nigeria is a good development not only for me but for the nation,” remarked Maduka. Coscharis is today diversified into many areas including vehicle distribution, property, foods, spare parts, car rental services, medical equipment, air conditioning and engineering. The company has grown tremendously from where it started out to about $100 million (about N15.5 billion) in shareholders’ funds as at the year 2010 and is still growing. Cosmas, an uncommon marketer has the franchise of a good number of manufacturing outlets across the globe. One of them is the America’s auto care products-ABRO. The ABRO Auto Care household product is a division of Coscharis Motors Limited saddled with the responsibility of managing Abro franchise in Nigeria. Cosmas moved Abro from a very little beginning to become a household name in Nigeria, and today, he is the biggest and best Abro distributor in the world with a network of seven branches and dealers in every city in Nigeria. The success of Abro product in Nigeria and other parts of the world is attributed to intense consumeroriented philosophy with management, manufacturing, sales, and distribution all dedicated to giving consumers value for their money. With a product range of less than five at the inception of the brand distribution in Nigeria in 1992, Abro product portfolio has grown to more than 120 lines, making it the only one stop auto care shop in Nigeria. The number has increased systematically every year and this has helped Abro maintain its leadership position in the auto care industry. To underscore the importance of Coscharis to his organisation, the vice president of ABRO U.S.A, Tim Demarais, in 2009, personally graced the occasion of Cosmas’ 50th birthday in Lagos, Nigeria. Demarais was full of praise for the exploit his most valuable distributor has brought to the over 65 years old company. In a special birthday address delivered by ABRO at the event which had over 1,000 guests in attendance, Demarais said: “We would like to take this opportunity to wish a belated but heartfelt birthday salutation to Cosmas and Charity Maduka on behalf of all of the members of the ABRO family in celebration of their half century mark. Dr. Maduka epitomizes the old adage that hard work, strenuous effort and smart business sense lead to success which is characteristic of all of our successful ABRO distributors worldwide”. From the very beginning, Coscharis established a solid relationship with overseas manufacturers of genuine spare parts, mostly from Japan and other South Asian countries as well as from Europe, making it supplier of genuine spare parts. That Coscharis has become al-

Monday, October 26, 2015

most synonymous with auto spare parts in Nigeria and some parts of the Central and West Africa sub region is as a result of the vast range of spare parts supplied and marketed in these regions by Coscharis. The company has elaborate operational bases in Gabon, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. Besides the auto business where Coscharis has become a household name, the Nnewi man is fast diversifying into other viable business line, including Computers and Accessories, Medical and Foods, General Goods, and Engineering. Coscharis Technologies Limited is a subsidiary of the Group which deals in Computers and Accessories with presence in key centres of the fast growing Information technology, IT market in Nigeria. The General Goods Division remains perhaps, the youngest within the Coscharis Group. Founded in 2003, the division is saddled with the responsibility of developing and managing the general brand of Air Conditioner and Motorcycle products from manufacturers in countries like Japan, India and China among others. Coscharis noted that effort at capacity building resulted in the addition of the ABRO brand of motorcycles, Cosmos brand of air conditioner, Cosmos brand of CRT television sets, LCD, Plasma among others. Coscharis Beverages Limited, the Group’s food and drink division came into existence about 10 years ago, blazing the trails and creating remarkable customised beverage for companies, eateries, parties, weddings, conventions, e.t.c. The company’s products include Coscharis table water, Coscharis water hot/cold dispensing machines, creamy yoghurt drink called Coscharis creamy yoghurt and the kids’ Creamy Yoghurt Drink which comes in different sizes. CG BIOSTADT Limited is another subsidiary of the Coscharis Group which has carved a niche for itself in the area of supply and distribution of high efficacious drugs

and medicaments like immune boosters, medical laboratory equipment and HIV test kits. The company is a representative of Aloha Medicinal Inc of USA amongst others. It also acts as distributors to Syngenta Nigeria Limited and distributes products like Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (ICON LIFE) and Indoor Residual Spray (ICON 10CS & ACTELLIC 50EC). The company is also involved in rendering professional services to the health sector, especially in the areas of sales, marketing, distribution, installation and maintenance of medical and laboratory equipment. “We supplement our expertise and resources by constantly drawing upon those of more than 20 accredited manufacturers from Europe, America and Asia” he explained. The group has also extended its business activities into the engineering sector of the economy through the CG Engineering Limited, involved in the design, construction and consulting activities for various states and institutions in the country. Though he was not privileged to take his education beyond the elementary level, he has successfully built on the training he got from the traditional “Nnewi School of business studies” to effectively place his name in the national record as one man who defied all encumbrances to achieve a towering status in life. Today, he has what the circumstances of his birth and upbringing deprived him off years back as he was awarded a honourary Doctorate degree by University of Nigeria Nsukka. However, Dr. Cosmos Maduka’s

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life is not all about grabbing; he says as you earn money, a portion of it must go back to those who make it possible for you to grow wealthy. So, as a social responsibility, the company invests in sports sponsorship and invest time and energy in mentoring younger managers and entrepreneurs. He helps some of his managers to start up a new division or branch and then turns the company over to them. Cosmas is very much interested in empowering people with education too. At the Nnewi Convention in Michigan, U.S.A. sometime in July 2011, Cosmas was said to have made a significant contribution of $50,000 to build an ultra modern library in Nnewi. The effort according to a participant at the forum was to ascertain that the culture of reading is reintroduced among the younger generation. Taking a cue from his own background, Cosmas is said to be encouraging philanthropists like him to work towards bridging the gap between the elites of Nnewi and the less educated men and women. He has repeatedly emphasised the need for those who acquired education overseas to return to Nigeria and put it to use for Nigeria rather than stay outside and criticize what those in Nigeria are doing. Cosmas remains a deeply committed christian, and attributes all his successes to the blessings of God, and his Christian faith. He maintains the values of honesty and integrity in life and business. The success story of Cosmas Maduka would be incomplete without the mention of his wife Charity who has been through the years, a partner and a pillar of strength in their lives and businesses. Charity played a key role in helping them get where they are today. The road to success has been filled with many challenges and in one instance in the early eighties; Cosmas lost everything he had built up due to a bad business decision. He went back to square one. Charity had to support the family by taking a job as a teacher. Slowly, they rebuilt until the business took off again. A remarkable Nigerian, who through peerless effort, dint of hard work and enormous energy made a voyage from grass to grace. Well gifted and endowed, he has a high level of creativity and excellence in business management. Cosmas Maduka’s success secret lies is his ability to picture whatever he wants to achieve in his mind and stop at nothing to make it happen. “Unless you have a vivid picture of what you want to create in your mind, you will not be passionate about pursuing and actualising the goal. The Coscharis Group’s journey to becoming a conglomerate is the actualisation of a dream”, he said. BC

There are things that will happen to you and you may think that is the end of the world. But there are some of us who have turned our difficulties into dividends and problems into opportunities

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Stick to your passion

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

randma Moses, while in her teen, had a desire to paint, but her family and friends told her that was nonsense. They informed her that, as a farm girl, her role in life was to marry a farm boy and to have and raise farm children. Unfortunately, that piece of information killed her passion. By the time she was in her 20s, she had had children. In her 40s, she had become a grandmother and great Grandmother in her 60s. When she turned 75, her husband had died, all the children had left and too old to work on the farm. Then, her heart desire came back and knocking. This time, she responded to her heart desire and decided in favour of it. I mean after more than 50 years. One day, she went to a nearby store in the next town to buy art paints, canvas and brush. The store manager was kind enough to enlighten her on how to use them. She returned to her farm and began painting. Her painting is what came to be called “Primitive American Landscape.” Grandma Moses finished her first painting when she was 78 and had her work exhibited in American major Gallery. In the last 10 years of her life, some of her paintings were selling for more than a $10,000 each. That is wow! She earned more as grandma expressing her desire than she and her husband had earned in their entire life time. Dear friend, wherever you are today and whatever situation you are facing right now is because of the information sold to you yesterday. We are all products of information either dangerous or good. Guide your earth with all diligence because from within determines your experience outside. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”- King Solomon David If you will change anything in your life then you must change who you listen to. This includes the programs you see and listen to on television and radio. Because whatever enters your mind has enter your life and move you to experience your thought. Growing up as an athlete in high school I was made to understand that though running is an exciting sport but there is

no way I could call it career. I would not make money running for my state or nation. Today, every time I see Usain Bolt I am reminded of the money I left behind. So how much are you leaving behind and on the table of opportunity because you have been told that your passion does not worth a dime in the market? Whose story will you believe? The one your friends and family told you or the one your creator informed you? We are where we are because of story from either ourselves, based on conviction of what we read in the Bible, passion or friends and family. Today, I am here to remind

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of it?

If you will change anything in your life then you must change who you listen to. This includes the programs you see and listen to on television and radio. Because whatever enters your mind has enter your life and move you to experience your thought

you of the true story which is that in your passion rest your greatness. Stick to your passion. There lies an opportunity worth million dollars. You are a creature of perfect God who is not wrong and can never be

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KLINIC

wrong about your potential to build business and profit out of your skills, passion, talent, and training. You have to believe this story now. How do you stick to your passion and build business out

1. Guide your heart “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”- King Solomon. When people communicate personal passion for a certain business line and later decide against it, often it is due to information alteration in perspective. What we see and hear influence us either towards achieving entrepreneurial dream or takes us away from it. I want to encourage that you take deliberate effort to control what you expose your mind to. Read stories of business achievers and be inspired. 2. Don’t go to Smart-Mouth College Smart-Mouth College simply means a company of the scornful. Keeping company with those who are fun of despising other people’s dream will affect your confidence level negatively. You have to get in the company of people who do encourage people and do similar kind of things in business. A practical example is that you relate with more people who also are entrepreneurs and doing better than you are so that you can learn from them.

Motivational Business Quotes

f it really was a no-brainer to make it on your own in business there’d be millions of no-brained, harebrained, and otherwise dubiously brained individuals quitting their day jobs and hanging out their own shingles. Nobody would be left to round out the workforce and execute the business plan. – Bill Rancic It takes more than capital to swing business. You’ve got to have the A. I. D. degree to get by — Advertising, Initiative, and Dynamics. – Ren Mulford Jr. For all of its faults, it gives most hardworking people a chance to improve themselves economically, even as the deck is stacked in favor of the privileged few. Here are the choices most of us face in such a system: Get bitter or get busy. – Bill O’ Reilly

A man should never neglect his family for business. – Walt Disney The only limits are, as always, those of vision. – James Broughton To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult. – Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big. – Donald Trump Nobody talks about entrepreneurship as survival, but that’s exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking. Running that first shop taught me business is not financial science; it’s about trading: buying and selling. – Anita Roddick BC

3. Look out for business academy There are many non-governmental organisations around the world that offer business training free. In Nigeria, where I live, is Daystar Business Academy, that trains individual on practical steps to starting a business for free. There is online platform call Coursera that offers various training in entrepreneurship and mostly free. My team is starting free entrepreneurship training for students in higher institution all around Nigeria and West Africa for free. If you are a student, then watch out. Opportunities abound and you must make up your mind to maximise it. Dear friend, my encouragement is that you are bigger than that challenge and unpleasant experiences. You have to make up your mind to accept story that fits your dream and passion and deliberately turn down discouragement from people. Stick to your passion, work at it and you will succeed! BC

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Making money from Owambe She started it like a hobby and gradually, it developed into a passion and now, a business which she now handles. Event decorations for successful individuals and big companies. This is the exploits of Bose Abisagboola, owner of 2A’s Events Limited

ocial event or a gig popularly known as Owambe in the local parlance is almost an everyday affair in Nigeria, especially in the southern part of the country. There is hardly any weekend that an event such as wedding ceremony, naming ceremony or burial function to mention a few would not take place. There are also corporate events such as Annual General Meetings, sendforth party, product launch or unveiling. Naturally, Nigerians love to come out in their best to attend such event and in doing this; many would go to any length to get the best, including the popular aso-ebi that is always in vogue. The organisers of the event will also not spare anything to outdo one another in such event, with each striving to make the event the talk of town for years to come. Money is spent to achieve such enviable event that will dominate discourse for months and years in some cases. Bose Abisagboola, like most women, loves social events and for her, being at ‘where it’s happening’ is a delight. She loves to make the venue a memorable experience for every participant and make it wow for the organizers. Put it more pointedly, Abisagboola makes a living from Owambe. Abisagboola is the chief executive officer of 2A’s Events Limited, located in Surulere area of Lagos State, an event packaging outfit which she started in 1998 shortly after completing her Ordinary National Diploma. The outfit engages in events decoration, interior beautification and gift branding with the aim of creating ambience that becomes an experience. And truly, she has created ambience for so many events in the country including Annual General Meetings for corporate organizations and social events.

Her company is one of the very few that comes to mind when a tasteful event that will rank top in social diary are sought after. Abisagboola came from a humble background and that made her entry into the business of event branding a bit herculean. She started off at a time when nobody was willing to give her a trial to handle their jobs. “The beginning was tough; a lot of people would not give you the trial because you are dealing with important days in their life; days that they will always treasure and love to make references to. They don’t believe in you because you are new in the industry and they are not certain of what you can do. The assumption is that you will spoil the memorable day for them with your practical. It was difficult to gain the confidence of celebrants to allow you handle their jobs,” she recalled in a recent interview with Business Courage. However, in spite of the initial resentment, she kept pushing to get some jobs but the more she tried, the more difficult it becomes because the event decoration industry is where photographs speak better to would-be client than the “I can do it” words. She did not have the photographs to show as she is yet to handle any event, so she has to present the images from her practical classes as a student, which was not enough to convince clients about her ability. “I kept pushing, this is an industry that people refer to your previous jobs and I didn’t have pictures, except the one from my school days,” she said. Despite this, Abisagboola refused to be discouraged. She persevered in her dream, using every available opportunity to tell whosoever comes her way to market her skills in event decoration and interior designing. With time, she started getting jobs, especially from family and friends but then, she was

confronted with what could be the second major challenge in her determined effort to break into the industry. “People will not pay a beginner the same amount they will pay the already known names in the industry and they want you to come up with something better. They offer you something very low so that at the end of the day, they will not lose out completely in case you don’t deliver as expected or to the standard they want,” she said. As a beginner, Abisagboola naturally cannot afford to decline the jobs, even when the money paid was not enough to meet the standard expected by the client. It was challenging but she saw opportunity in it as it became an avenue to sharpen her creativity; looking for materials that are not too expensive, presented in an elegant and tasteful manner that suits the desire of the client. Little by little, she builds her client base through family, friends, church members and most importantly, referrals from the initial clients. Indeed, it was through one

Abisagboola

of such referrals that she made her breakthrough in the industry- the Annual General Meeting of First Bank of Nigeria Plc and with an impressive job done, she soon became the toast of most corporate organizations in the country. To Abisagboola, discovering talent early is important but nurturing it with the right education and exposition is

definite. She started event decoration as a talent by making places look attractive but went for training in 2000 with Magic movement, which was just the beginning in her quest to stand out in her chosen field. She went to London to learn event decoration at The Event School, London and still pursued her Bachelors degree at the University of Nigeria, Nsuk-

Management Principles

The 80/20 management rule of maximization

n reality only a small portion of input generates the bulk of productivity and profitability and it is a principle that serves as a general reminder that the relationship between inputs and outputs is not balanced. For instance, the efforts of 20 per cent of a corporation’s staff could drive 80 per cent of the firm’s profits. In terms of personal time management, 80 per cent of your work-related output could come from only 20 per cent of your time at work. This principle is widely known as the Pareto Principle and can be applied in a wide range of areas such as manufacturing, management and human resources your job as a manager is to identify and leverage it. Observing the Pareto Principle in Action Is the assertion that a small number of events produce the majority of results valid? It may not be a hard rule with a fixed ratio, but the observation has merit: • A handful of customers out of many produce the bulk of revenues. • A handful of products out of many items in a line produce the bulk of orders. • A handful of salespeople out of many produce the majority of new business. • A handful of scientists produce most research and development innovations. • Most grievances come from a few employees, and most absenteeism can be narrowed down to specific individuals. • Most accidents occur in clearly identifiable groups. • Truly poor (or great) performance is achieved by a few easily identifiable individuals. We tend to ignore these realities in practice. We often give the best salespeople the most difficult accounts instead of focusing their talent in areas where they could generate extraordinary volumes. The most highly skilled workers are often given the toughest work, although concentrating their skills on trouble-free jobs would allow them to produce significantly more than less-skilled coworkers. The most talented people are often assigned to the most challenging problems that,

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even when resolved, generally contribute little additional revenue for the company. Stop wasting precious resources on products and services that drain energy, time, and money. Whatever the problem costs you today, when you redirect your efforts the return on investment will be much greater. Without negative baggage, you’ll see real improvement in efficiency, morale, and productivity. The value of the Pareto Principle for a manager is that it reminds you to focus on the 20 percent that matters. Of the things you do during your day, only 20 percent really matter. Those 20 percent produce 80 percent of your results. Identify and focus on those things. When the fire drills of the day begin to sap your time, remind yourself of the 20 percent you need to focus on. If something in the schedule has to slip, if something isn’t going to get done, make sure it’s not part of that 20 percent. - Have a product range? Have a look at how much of your profit comes from each item. Put your effort into the 20 per cent that give you 80 per cent of your sales - your winners. - Selling products or services? Most likely, 80 per cent of your sales come from 20 per cent of your customers- the ones who make the big purchases and are repeat-buyers. Cherish that 20 per cent. - Have a sales force? Have a look at how much of your profit comes from each person. Make sure you reward and retain the 20 per cent that are your winners. - Have an affiliate program? Find the top 5-20 per cent who give you 80 per cent of your income, and make sure you support, encourage and reward your winners. - Do advertising? Have a look at where the sales come from. Then identify the few ads that really pull, and the few places where you run them that really produce. Then refine your winning ads, and run them in those few places that give you the best results. - Check your web traffic logs! Which keywords are bringing you the most traffic? Which search engines? Which websites? You’ll find that a small number of keywords, search engines and websites give you the lion’s share of your traffic. Nurture them, and build on those strengths! BC

ka, majoring in Business Education. To her, those education and exposures better equipped her for the challenges and prospect of the job. “Talent is not enough; you must be trained in order for you to turn that talent into a skill where you can earn a living. You must equip yourself with training because knowledge is important. You must be able to deliver to international standard. You must also look beyond your locality and nationality, so that you can take it across board. I am always eager to improve myself and build a brand for myself,” she said. She emphasized that training is important because there is competition in the industry with its growth. “Decoration has come a long way because Nigerians celebrate a lot and event decoration is always evolving and trending. It is very competitive. Our culture makes it more appreciated because we love trendy things and we love to copy the European culture,” she said. With her training, Abisagboola says the job becomes less complicated because she knows what is required at every event. Sometimes, discouragement and challenges come her way but her sight on the mega decoration keeps her going. “I have big dreams and they are yet to come through but thus far, I am grateful to God. I never doubted my success in the industry when I started because I have mentors and I knew how successful they are. I don’t get discourage by peoples’ opinion because I am an independent person, if your opinions are discouraging, I just let it go. I am still aiming for that mega décor that I will do without limitation of resources and manpower. It will be the peak of what I want to achieve,” she said. The prospect of the event decoration business is unlimited to her and she strongly believes that the industry is large enough to empower as many people that are interested in it. “The event decoration industry will liberate Nigerians from unemployment because the country is well populated and Nigerians love social events a lot. There is no stopping to your rising if you take it seriously. People still celebrate; it is an industry that has room for everybody. You need to belief in yourself and be sure it is what you want to do, so that when challenges arise, you don’t get discouraged. Nobody can motivate you, you must motivate yourself. As an entrepreneur, if you don’t move, nothing moves no matter the people working with you. You must keep focus on your goal”. Abisagboola also runs a training school for would-be entrepreneurs; especially in the event decoration industry. The school is known as Creative Hands and it has produced almost seventy graduates. She holds firm to her belief in God because according to her, He is the best designer. BC

Personal Finance Basic money management tips

et organized! Create a list of your current bills. Print a month-long calendar and record the due date of each bill. Paying your bills on time will help you avoid late fees and penalty charges. *Prioritize your debt. Decide if you want to start paying off the smallest debts first or if you would rather begin with those with the highest interest rates. Either way, you control your debt payments. Once you pay off bill #1, you should add this money to your next bill in order to reduce your remaining debt faster. *Examine your spending habits by tracking all of your funds and spending on a weekly and then monthly basis. Do this task faithfully for at least two continuous months. Document your current money/ cash assets; record all income and record all expenditures. * Using information from your spending tracker, create your monthly budget. * Follow your budget to manage your day-to-day spending. You always want to spend less than what you earn. If you’re having an issue with ‘balancing your budget’ so that your expenses are less than your income – start to research some frugal living tips so that you can cut corners and save money. Some ideas may include: Review/downgrade your cell phone plan; your cable TV options and your insurance plans among others. * Save as much as you can afford. Pay yourself in your budget, just like a bill or creditor. Use the information from your budget and spending tracker to be honest about what you can afford. Use your savings to cover for emergencies prior to borrowing. Experts recommend that you aim to save three to six months wages to cover emergency expenses or unexpected job loss. * Make use of online banking as much as possible. In many cases, you’ll be able to set up payment reminders, schedule future bill payments and review your spending. * Plan in advance for the ‘big ticket’ items. Estimate how much you will need and start saving for it. Opt to gain interest on your savings verses purchasing with credit and then paying interest on the loan. When you’re ready to make the purchase, do spend time doing some comparison shopping, to ensure you’re get the best deal available. * Maximize your employee benefits to ensure that you take advantage of retirement savings options, flexible spending accounts and health benefits that might save you on taxes or out of pocket expenses. *Set specific financial goals for your household. Begin with your short-term goals (attainable in 4-12 months) and then expand to your long-term goals (attainable in 3-5 years). You don’t have to be a financial guru to manage your money. With a combination of financial guidance, discipline and common sense, you should be well on your way to living within your means and increasing your personal wealth. Your family members must understand the importance of saving so that they can assist in controlling expenses. So openly discuss individual spending, personal allowance and financial goals to include the entire family. If you are constantly spending more than you earn and delving deeper into debt, it is important you seek guidance from a qualified and reputable credit counsellor. These financial professionals can assist in negotiating with your creditors, creating debt consolidation plans and finding alternative repayment options that may potentially help you get out of debt faster. BC

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

oing by the analysis of Practical Motoring, an auto magazine, the latest brand from the stable of Toyota Motor, the Fortuner, is a class above rivals such as the Isuzu MU-X, Holden Colorado 7 and Mitsubishi Challenger. According to Practical Motoring, it would cut into Kluger sales and nibble at Prado’s and some of that will be brand loyalty and novelty value until people actually realise that the Fortuner is a solid offering of its own accord. Some potential buyers may bemoan the Fortuner’s lack of high-tech safety gear but it’s a great-looking vehicle that drives well and has real 4WD ability, so we reckon the Fortuner is poised to give the Large SUV segment a real shake-up. Every car-maker likes to believe that its product is one of a kind but at least “unique” was fitting this time because, according to Toyota’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb, Fortuner was the largest single development program ever undertaken by Toyota’s local engineers – with “unique” wiring

looms, body elements, testing and more tasks tackled on home soil. The Fortuner may only be the latest of many additions to the confusion of choice that is a booming SUV market segment, but Toyota has a steely-eyed confidence about it. “Fortuner definitely lives up to the promise of its roadless-travelled 4WD heritage,” Cramb said at the launch. “Fortuner is positioned perfectly between Kluger and Prado; diesel alternatives to Kluger are selling around 1400 vehicles a month, or almost 17,000 a year. Fortuner will give us a significant slice of that action. “It’s a great choice for people who aspire to a luxury SUV … they want a stylish vehicle, they want seven seats and the safety of a highseating position and great visibility; they also want genuine 4X4 ability.” The diesel-only sevenseat Fortuner is being offered here in three variants: GX, GXL and top-of-therange Crusade. All have the proven 2.8-litre four-cylinder common-rail direct-injection turbo-diesel engine with a six-speed manual or auto

box. Maximum power and torque is 130kW and 450Nm (auto); 420Nm for the manual. Braked towing capacity is listed as 3000kg (manual) and 2800kg (auto). Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.8L/100km (combined) for the manual and 8.6L/100km (auto). The Fortuner, shorter and narrower than Kluger and Prado, is chunky and solid; it looks like a mad scientist fused a LandCruiser, Prado and Kluger together, threw in a bit of RAV4 for a laugh and then pumped the resulting mix full of steroids. It looks good; not too city-smooth, as do plenty of modern-day 4WDs, but country tough with class. Inside is neat and tidy. Crusade’s fit and finish, hand-stitched everywhere, is good but unspectacular. If the design team drops the wooden trim from the next Fortuner version, it wouldn’t be too great a loss. There is stacks of headand legroom in the front and second-row but the third row, as expected, is really for kids only. Nice touches include 4kg capacity shopping bag hooks on the back of the

front seats and three 12V outlets. Our Crusade also had a 100W, 220V power socket. On-road, the Fortuner is open-road smooth at all times, quiet and stable. Little to no noise intruded inside, other than a high-pitched whistle at high speeds due to a trapped stone (somewhere in a disc brake we suspected) after a particular tough bit of off-roading. It must have worked its way loose because the whistling stopped son enough. Steering is not as direct as some might expect, although

it’s not a surprise given it’s an SUV. It can be a bit vague – and there was a touch of understeer on our tester – but nothing that could be considered problematic. The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine and six-speed auto are a tasty combo. We had a cruisy time in auto proper. Fortuner’s standard features include air-conditioning, rear differential lock, touch-screen audio display with Toyota Link connected mobility, cruise control, side steps and 17-inch steel wheels with “all-terrain tyres”. Toyota says it expects to achieve the maximum fivestar safety rating as all variants are equipped with stability and active traction control, seven airbags, reversing camera, trailer sway control, hill-start assist control and rake-and-reach adjustments for the steering column. It includes three top-tether an-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

A19 35

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship chors and two ISOFIX childseat mounts. Fortuner’s seven seats are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. The 60/40 splitfold second-row seat has a one-touch slide and tumble feature while the 50/50 third-row seats are stowable. Cargo capacity ranges from 200 litres to 1,080 litres when packed to the top of the seat backs. Standard equipment also includes durable fabric seat-coverings with contrast stitching, projector-style headlamps, LED tail-lamps, an air-conditioned cool box, Bluetooth connectivity, six speakers, three 12V accessory sockets, audio and phone controls mounted on the steering wheel, eco and power drive modes and a multi-information display (MID) in the instrument cluster. BC

Apprentice wins Golden Elegant Motorcycle in Boulos promo Adejuwon Osunnuyi

n Akwa-Ibom state based apprentice, Mr. Isongke Aniekan Udom has emerged winner of the Golden Elegant Motorcycle in the Boulos Enterprises special sales promo meant to celebrate the company record sales of 500,000 motorcycles in the country. Udom emerged as the first and only person to have predicted correctly the time Boulos 3,000 followership on Twitter social network. While receiving the motorcycle on behalf of Aniekan, at the premises of the company in Lagos, his uncle, Nsidibe Silas Udom, a police sergeant based in Lagos was full of appreciation to the management of the company as he noted that it would go a long way in putting an end to Aniekan’s struggle to survive. According to him, since the boy has always been struggle with his father’s motorcycyle in the village, this would be an ample opportunity for him to make good use of it in fending for himself. “I must really show my appreciation and gratitude towards what the company has been doing. If other companies could emulate this in giving back to the society, it would go a long way in alleviating people’s problems.” He said. “When he told me about the promo that he has won a motorbike, first I thought it was one of these internet cock and bull stories. I didn’t believe it. But when I called the company’s representative, and we talked on the phone, she forwarded the address of the company to me. She told me the day to come and claim the bike

L-R: Head of Sales, Boulos Enterprises Ltd, Mr Joseph Fayose handing over the keys to the Golden Elegant 500k Edition Motorcycle to Sergeant Nsidibe Silas Udom who represented the winner, Isongke Aniekan Udom in the Boulos Special Sales promo to mark sales of 500,000 motorcycles in the country by the company

for my nephew. And here I am today going home with this powerbike.” Speaking at the end of the facility tour he was made to go through when he got to the company, Silas noted, “When I got here, I was shown the bike and taken round the factory. When I went round the factory, it was really amazing, because I never believed such motorbikes are made here in the country. I used to think that all the bikes in the country are all imported. “It is very encouraging that this type of a thing could happen in Nigeria that the bikes are assembled here and they are of good quality. I could see quite a large number of Nigerians working here, which means that they are putting food on the table of many Nigerian homes. Also speaking on the promo, Mr. Joseph Fayose, Head of Sales, Boulos Enterprises Ltd said,´”Though the competition has been so keen, but we as a

company see it as a means of giving back to the society. If you look at the motorcycle we are giving out, it is one of the best selling motorcycles in Nigeria today. “Many people did actually take part in the competition, but he was the only one that got the exact time we got 3,000 followership on Twitter social network. That’s the nature of the competition. We have fulfilled our promise. We wanted to know the anyone who could guess right the exact time we got our 3,0000 followership on twitter. That means to be able to win, such a person must follow us keenly on twitter. Fayose, who said the promo was introduced during the recent Motorcycles dealers’ forum held in Lagos where it was announced that the company has sold over 500,000 pieces of motorcycles in the country, reiterated that many Nigerians have continued to embrace use of motorcycles as sales has continued to be attractive. BC

Autocare Safety tips for driving in the rain

ain is blamed for thousands of accidents yearly and many of these accidents are preventable, but are caused by intrepid drivers who don’t realize that fairand foul-weather driving are fundamentally different. When the road is wet, the film of the water on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Less obvious is the fact that rain reduces driver perception — it’s harder to see through the rain — and also decreases visibility through its action on headlights, windshields and the road itself. While most people know to slow down in the rain, there are definitely other tips that will help keep you, and those who share the road with you, from becoming a statistic. *Exercise extreme caution after a long dry spell During a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road over time. When mixed with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes extremely slick. Continued rainfall will eventually wash away the oil, but the first few hours can be the most dangerous. *Allow for more travel time You should plan to drive at a slower pace than normal when the roads are wet. Keep in mind that traffic is likely to be moving slower as well. There’s also the possibility that your pre-planned route may be flooded or jammed. Whatever the case, rushing equals higher risk. *Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also allows the driver behind you know that you’re slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions. *Don’t use cruise control If you hydroplane, there’s the chance your car could actually accelerate. Cruise control also allows drivers to be less vigilant and to take their foot away from the pedals — not a great idea when reaction time is so important. *Avoid driving through a large puddle up ahead If you see a large puddle up ahead, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it’s covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of hell. Well, maybe not, but water splashing up into your car’s engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel or knock your suspension out of alignment. If you can’t gauge the depth, or if it’s covering up the side curb, try to avoid it. *Turn on your headlights Even when there’s a light sprinkle, it is important to turn on your headlights. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don’t blast your high beams in the rain or fog — it’ll obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. If your car is equipped with fog lights, you may find it helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see. *Watch out for pedestrians An ordinarily observant pedestrian may become distracted by fiddling with an umbrella or a rain slicker. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road. *If it’s raining so hard that you can’t see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out. *Track the car ahead of you Let the car ahead pave a clear path, so to speak, through the water. Give a truck or bus extra distance. Their extra-large tires can create enough spray to block your vision completely. Avoid passing one, but if you must pass, do it as quickly as safety allows. Defog your windows. Rain will quickly cause your windshield to fog up. Switch on both front and rear defrosters and make sure the air conditioning is turned on. Most cars’ climate control systems will automatically engage the A/C when the windshield defrost function is selected. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGULATORS

NAMA test runs surveillance equipment

igerian Aviation Management Agency, NAMA, said it has commenced the test-run of its high profile project-the deployment of Automatic Dependent SurveillanceContract/ Controller Pilot Data Link Communication , ADSC/ CPDLC, in the nation’s airspace. The test-run which commenced last week at the Lagos Area Control Centre ,ACC, was witnessed live by the Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, accompanied by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ,NCAA, Capt. Usman Muhtar and the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ,FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma. A successful log-on and communication with airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa Airlines and Emirates Airlines was activated to the admiration and excitement of the aviation CEOs. Other airlines that have also

logged on to the service include Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airlines. Consequently, NAMA has issued an Aeronautical Information Circular ,AIC, to aviation stakeholders worldwide including airlines, service providers and the International Civil Aviation Organisation ,ICAO, on the availability of ADS-C/ CPDLC in the Nigerian airspace. The AIC aims at sensitizing stakeholders on the commencement of the service in the country and also to highlight the benefits derivable from the use of the service, intended scope of the service as well as requirements for airborne equipment, flight planning and operations. Meanwhile, a successful Site Acceptance Test ,SAT, has been conducted, just as a four-day site training of critical personnel including engineers and air traffic controllers drawn from both Kano and Lagos ACCs has ended in Lagos, preparatory to the actual takeoff of the service.

behoves our indigenous airlines to tap into the service in order to take advantage of the benefits and deliverables of enhanced safety and efficiency that come with ADS-C/ CPDLC.” Engr. Abdulsalam further explained that the current testrun is in line with international best practices, to allow operators adapt to the new service and make necessary comments and observations, prior to full implementation scheduled for 12th November, 2015.

Odumodu

Speaking on the successful test-run of ADS-C/ CPDLC, NAMA Managing Director, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam dedicated the success of the project to the collective effort of staff of the agency “who have toiled endlessly to see to this wonderful addition to the digitalization of air traffic management in Nigeria,” stressing that “it therefore

SEC promotes Islamic Finance Initiative

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC said it is determined to deepen the non-interest capital market space so as to enable millions of Nigerians invest their savings ethically. Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo who stated this at a regional round table on Non-Interest Capital Market in Kano, with the theme “Financing Development through Islamic Capital Market – A Viable Alternative” observed that Investors all over the world are increasingly allocating their resources into Islamic finance products adding that by the end of 2014, total assets under management in the global Islamic finance industry surpassed $2 trillion. Gwarzo said while most people identify capital markets as an important source of medium-to-long term capital flow, there is also an amazing potential of capital markets to serve as a catalyst for financial inclusion adding that going forward, the SEC will focus on massive public enlightenment and also stronger capacity building initiatives. According to him, Our focus for this roundtable is on Sukuk, one of the most important components of the Islamic financial system. The global sukuk market continues to witness remarkable growth since after the 2008 global financial crisis as annual issuances have grown from $15 billion in 2008 to almost $120 billion in 2014. In fact, last year is widely considered a landmark year

for Islamic finance, especially with landmark debut sukuk issuances by countries such as the UK, Hong Kong, Senegal, South Africa, and Luxemburg. Of course the year witnessed continued strong interest from key markets of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and emerging markets like Turkey and Indonesia. There is no doubt that the sukuk market is emerging on a global scale as a viable alternative source of funding. While describing Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar as the top 5 largest Islamic finance markets in the world, in that order as they account for the highest sukuk issuances and contribute more than half of the total assets under management in the industry, Gwarzo said that with Nigeria’s population which is far more than all five countries put together, the country should be

Gwarzo

a major market for global Islamic finance market. ” With over 80 million Muslims, Nigeria is home to far more Muslims than all the 5 countries put together. Additionally, Nigeria has a larger economy than them, with the exception of Saudi Arabia. There is therefore no reason why Nigeria should not be a major global Islamic finance market” he said. To transform Nigeria’s potential to reality in this regard, Gwarzo said the SEC in 2013 set up an industry-wide committee of experts to develop a strategic blueprint for the growth and development of Nigeria’s non-interest capital market. BC

Nigeria electronic frauds hit N6.2bn Udo Onyeka

xperts tasked banks operating in the country to provide lasting solution to reduce the rising electronic frauds in the banking system, as well as adopt better approach to enhance financial inclusion. A senior official of Bank Fraud Section, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Shazali has said that the electronic transaction crime in the country is on the increase and has reached N6.2bn in 2014. Shazali who said this in a

Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC chairman

Abuja Airport to get second runway – FAAN

he Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma has expressed commitment of the agency to start the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. According to him, “a second runway is very important because it is key to our operations”an adding that due to increase in passenger and airline movement at the airport, the construction of a second runway would further prevent the deterioration of the existing runway. He envisioned that given the present rate of growth in the

He also revealed that a similar test-run at the Kano ACC would commence in a couple of days time. Also in his remarks, the Sales Director of SITA France (System providers), Mr Sam Munda congratulated NAMA for implementing ADS-C/ CPDLC in Nigeria which according to him is a major plank in modern air traffic management adding that “with this, NAMA has gone ahead to assert itself as a leading Air Navigation Service Provider on the continent BC

industry, the existing runway may not effectively sustain the traffic. He further explained that a committee has been set up between the authority and the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, to determine what the runway would look like in terms of the facilities that should be included in the runway design. Engr. Dunoma also said that a survey to determine the location of the second runway at the airport has been carried out so that the new facilities to be provided would work smoothly with the existing facility. BC

workshop for financial journalists organised by Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, in Ilorin last week noted that with an average of N80bn worth of daily transaction, banks and necessary authorities should adequately prepare for huge risks that accompany e-transactions. He said that Nigeria Inter – Bank Settlement Systems, NIBSS, recent data reports a volume and value increase of 50 per cent and 20 per cent respectively between 2013 and 2014 in electronic banking. According to him as technology advances more and more financial institutions are utilising innovative technological platforms which make them highly vulnerable to fraudulent activities. “Nigeria has experienced a remarkable increase adoption of electronic transactions with volume and value accounting to 86 per cent and 82 per cent of all transactions respectively in 2014 and 2013. “ While these figures are highly encouraging as it shows that Nigerians are increasingly embracing cashless transactions, it also serves as a pointer to the urgency required in developing rigorous standards for monitoring and security of electronic banking transactions”, he said. The EFCC boss informed that there is a quantum leap in acceptance of online transaction in the country. For instance he said web transactions increased from N315bn in 2012 to N65.6bn in 2014, representing a 108 per cent rise. “Instant Transfer, NIBSS, moved from N3.8trn in 2012 to N19.9trn in 2014, Point of Sale, PoS transactions from N48bn to N317bn and Mobile transactions rose from N3.5bn in 2012 to N296.9bn in 2014. Corroborating the PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, Global Economic Survey 2014 which says cybercrime, accounting fraud and money laundering were among the top economic crimes reported by over 5, 000 respondents in over 95 countries with Africa. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

A21 37

Stock market last week Equities turnover of 992.719 million shares worth N13.121bn in 14,252 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 949.675 million shares valued at N10.280bn that exchanged hands last week in 14,833 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 712.270 million shares valued at N4.989bn traded in 7,921 deals; thus contributing 71.75per cent and 38.02 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Oil and Gas Industry followed with a turnover of 124.811 million shares worth N1.959bn in 1,695 deals. The third place was occupied by the Industrial Goods. Industry with 47.275 million shares worth N2.754m in 606 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Oando Plc, Access Bank Plc and Zenith International Bank Plc.(measured by volume) accounted for 290.740 million shares worth N3.073bn in 2,941 deals, contributing 29.29 per cent and 23.42 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. ETPs: Also traded during the week were a total of 1.378 million units of Exchange Traded Prod-

NSE trading hall

ucts (ETPs) valued at N11.573m executed in 121 deals compared with a total of 3,740 units valued at N2.035m transacted last week in 19 deals. Bonds: There was no transaction recorded on bonds this week. However, a total of 1,000 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N1.165m were traded last week in 1 deal. Index Movement: The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.60 per cent to close on Friday at 30,011.89 and N10.314trn respectively. Similarly, all other Indices finished higher during the week with exception of NSE Insur-

ance, NSE Consumer Goods and NSE Lotus Islamic indices that declined by 0.81 per cent, 0.49 per cent and 0.42 per cent respectively, while NSE ASeM Index closed flat. Summary Of Price Changes: Twenty-six (26) equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than twenty-nine (29) equities of the preceding week. Thirty-seven (37) equities depreciated in price, lower than thirty-nine (39) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and twenty-seven (127) equities remained unchanged, higher than one hundred and twenty-two (122) equities recorded in the preceding week. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 23-10-15 All-Share Index 30,141.06 points Market Capitalization 10,375,783,051,089.16

NASD WEEKLY MARKET SUMMARY-WEEK 43 Equity Report

24-Oct-15

The Unlisted Security Index (USI) and Market Capitalisation closed the week on a negative note. The USI pure price fell by 0.50% to close at 944.07 points to close the week as against the previous closed of 948.81 points. The Market Capitalisation depreciated by 6.52% to close at ₦445.70 billion as against the previous close of ₦476.81 billion.

Unlisted Securities Index 1020.00

1000.00 980.00

Volume traded fell by 98.62% from 184.59 million units to 2.54 million units while the total value of shares traded also dropped by 97.05% from ₦929.02 million to ₦27.42 million in 60 deals. Fourteen (14) securities were traded out of the 23 securities admitted to trade on the NASD OTC market.

960.00 940.00 920.00 900.00

USI

880.00

860.00

WEEK 43

TOTAL VALUE TRADED

(₦)

948.81

% Change (4.74)

DATE

23/10/2015

20/10/2015

15/10/2015

7/10/2015

12/10/2015

28-Sep-15

2/10/2015

21-Sep-15

%change

16/10/2015

948.81

445.70

476.81

(31.11)

(6.52)

19/10/2015

953.10

0.45%

184,588,990

(182,049,661.00)

(98.62)

20/10/2015

947.25

-0.61%

27,422,481.12

929,017,334.24

(901,594,853.12) L

(97.05)

21/10/2015

954.27

0.74%

50.00

22/10/2015

945.50

-0.92%

23/10/2015

944.07

-0.15%

NUMBER OF DEALS

NUMBER OF TRADED STOCKS

NUMBER OF UNTRADED STOCKS

16-Sep-15

8-Sep-15

11-Sep-15

3-Sep-15

31-Aug-15

USI

(0.50)

2,539,329

MARKET CAPITALIZATION (₦ 'BILLION) TOTAL VOLUME TRADED

UNLISTED SECURITIES INDEX (1 WEEK) WEEK 42 Change

944.07

26-Aug-15

August 1, 2015 = 1000

NASD MARKET STATISTICS

Unlisted Securities Index (USI-Pure Price)

21-Aug-15

18-Aug-15

13-Aug-15

5-Aug-15

Base date:

10-Aug-15

1-Aug-15

840.00

20.00

5.00

55.56

(5.00)

(35.71)

GAINER(S) SECURITY CODE

PCLOSE

SDFUMMAN

CLOSE PRICE ( ₦ ) 1.20

CHANGE

1.58

OUTSTANDING OFFERS & BIDS

%CHANGE 0.38

31.67

SYMBOL

VOLUME BIDDED

LAST BID PRICE (₦)

SDACORN SDARMLIFE

LOSER(S) SECURITY CODE

PCLOSE

SDCSCSPLC SDFCWAMCO SDGEFLUID SDNDEP

CLOSE PRICE ( ₦ )

CHANGE

%CHANGE

5.80

5.50

0.30

5.17

230.00

205.00

25.00

10.87

0.48

0.45

0.03

6.25

180.00

144.50

35.50

19.72

TOP 5 TRADED SECURITIES BY VOLUME SECURITY

TRADES

VOLUME

VALUE ( ₦ )

640,000 100

100,000

2.50

976,000

2.12

SDCAPDBETO SDCSCSPLC

2,135,000

5.50

SDDUFIL

1,100,000

10.00

26,000

202.00

SDFCWAMCO

0.78

SDGOLDEN SDIGIPLC

6,635,032.20

SDJAIZ

599,812.00

16,000

0.12

600

1.42

30,500

144.50

AFRILAND PROPERTIES PLC

119,200

NIGER DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC

61,293

9,149,578.50

SDPARTNER

FRIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC

58,129

9,694,983.82

SDRSOURCE

2,000

0.43

SDRIGGS

1,000

0.95

500

1.20

SDNDEP

30,000

166.17

3,308,900

0.79

950,000

0.45

SDSWAPPLC

280,000

1.14

SDTRUSTMB

3,262,650

0.81

SDSPRINGM 58,129.00

9,694,983.82

NIGER DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC

61,293.00

9,149,578.50

CENTRAL SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM PLC

1,130,737.00

6,635,032.20

SWAP TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMS PLC

1,142,850.00

1,302,849.00

AFRILAND PROPERTIES PLC

119,200.00

599,812.00

Disclaimer This document is provided for information purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell or otherwise deal in any security mentioned herein. Kindly consult your NASD registered Participating Institution before making any decision on the OTC Market.

224.49 0.47

1,302,849.00

178,492 1,084,066

1,130,737

FRIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC

5.70

SDGEFLUID 1,142,850

VALUE ( ₦ )

69.99

1,900,000

VOLUME

1,496,053 2,050,000

SDFOODCPT

TRADES

0.39

0.50

SDARMPROP

CENTRAL SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM PLC

TOP 5 TRADED SECURITIES BY VALUE

LAST OFFER PRICE (₦)

SDAFRILAND

SWAP TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMS PLC

SECURITY

VOLUME OFFERED

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Guaranty Trust Bank: Delivering value to long term investors be another factor the bank would contend with. Other factors that will put pressure on the bank’s profitability are policy inconsistency, regular increase in cash requirement ratio of the public, private funds, high MPR, tight liquidity, falling naira value, dwindling crude oil price which is affecting the external reserve and the exchange rate.

uaranty Trust Bank performance for the financial year ended December 31, 2014 was boosted by non-interest income, despite the declining oil prices and the naira devaluation which have affected the profit margins of many lenders. The bank thrives through the year 2014 having enjoyed investors’ better price approval and trend as high as N31.60 by the seven month of the year.

Profitability The bank’s profit after tax rose 10 per cent year-on-year, from N90.024bn in 2013 to N98.695bn in 2014. Also, its basic earnings per share and fully diluted earnings per share appreciated 10 per cent to N3.47 in the review period from N3.17 in 2013. Analysis of the bank’s stock between 2010 and 2014 showed an improvement in share price from the 2010 opening price of N15.50 to low of N12.30 in 2011 as at October 7, and then all high of N31.80 in June 2014 but now trading N22.90 after adjustment for the final dividend of N1.50 for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2014. Its earnings per share for the period was up as a result of great cost and risk management of the bank regardless of

increase in its non-performing loan. The earnings power grew from N1.63 in 2010 to N3.35 in 2014 representing an increase of 106 per cent. The bank latest earnings revealed better performance than the past considering 2014 challenges experienced by the banking industry. The bank profit margin has been sliding down to reflect operational cost increment as the bank managed increasing customers’ base and control cost to create value for its customers and shareholders with improved innovative banking products. The bank seems to have led the industry unchallenged by any other bank except Zenith Bank .Critically, looking at the bank’s performance for the last five years showed that the bank has consistently enhanced its performance as reflected in its profitability ratio within the review period. Its gross income during the period grew by 81.06 per cent from N153.9bn in 2010 to N278.7bn. The profitability level has steadily grown to support share price placing the bank among the top three banks in terms of profitability, asset, margin, service delivery and risk management in the industry today. Under the period of five years, the risk and cost management

of the bank had improved tremendously as shown in its profit margin that moved from 24.91 per cent in 2010 to 35.44 per cent after it had hit 38.21 per cent in 2012. In the year under review, the bank gave out more loans with loans and advances hitting N1.281tn, up by 27 per cent from the N1.008tn it gave out the previous year. The total dividend of N51.504bn for the 2014 financial year was, however, 2.94 per cent higher than the N50.033bn it paid in the preceding year. Prospect in the bank The expected relative stable macroeconomic outlook after election may favour the bank as volume of transactions has increased with the cashless economy due to its IT driven banking products. Its recent International Finance Corporation loan to boost lending to its tilling customer as its retail banking service has complemented other banking products and service mix to enhanced profitability and drive share price. The bank ranking among top 500 banks in the world is a plus, and customer’s choice due to its professionalism and prompt customer service delivery had made the bank the

choice of the banking public. Also, Its strong alliances with international financial institutions as an international bank with branches in many countries of the world, good knowledge and expertise of domestic markets would boost the bank’s future operations. Business Strategy Its brand name and good succession plan of the bank assures continuity and the recent re-introduction of ATM transaction fee of N65 are factors that will make the bank thick. Other positive factors are robust risk management framework, increased opportunities in retail banking and infrastructure financing, good track record, good corporate social responsibility initiative and huge financing opportunities in the country especially in the power sector, infrastructure and agriculture. Weaknesses and threats Over regulation of the industry will be the major threat the bank would confront going forward. Also, high operational cost due to infrastructure challenge and high investment in products and services to satisfy its sophisticated customers would

Background Guaranty Trust Bank is a foremost Nigerian financial institution with vast business outlays spanning Anglophone West Africa and the United Kingdom. It was incorporated as a limited liability company licensed to provide commercial and other banking services to the Nigerian public in 1990. It commenced operations in February 1991 and undertook its second share offering in 2004 and successfully gathered over N11 billion from Nigerian Investors to expand its operations. The bank made a strategic decision to actively pursue retail banking and it embarked on a major rebranding exercise in June 2005, which saw the bank emerge with improved service offerings, an aggressive expansion strategy and its vibrant orange identity. The bank remained tall through all regulations that put the banking sector at its current position in Nigeria. The bank is listed on the London and Nigerian Stock Exchange. Analysts opinion FBN Capital Research noted that the bank’s profit and the dividend beat its estimate. It said, “On a full year basis, GT Bank’s PBT of N116.4bn came in ahead of management’s full year guidance of N110bn. The PBT also came in ahead of consensus full year PBT forecast of N109bn. “We believe that GT Bank will fare better than most banks and should be viewed as a core holding for investors through the challenging times ahead. “However, we also acknowledge that growth, particularly for risk assets, is bound to slow down in 2015. GT Bank’s exposure to the oil and gas sector at over 20 per cent of its loan book is a slight concern also.” BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, October 26, 2015

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, Oct 23, 2015 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

QUANTITY

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC 0.50 9,140 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 30.56 261,540 PRESCO PLC 30.50 107,996 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. 4.26 70 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 1.70 1,249,104 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.03 100,150 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 300 JOHN HOLT PLC. 0.96 17,558 SCOA NIG PLC 4.16 512 TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 2.07 6,693,406 U A C N PLC. 29.00 2,658,148 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.04 375 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT 3 Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 0.51 807,550 G CAPPA PLC 14.46 217 Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 39.99 27,437 ROADS NIG PLC. 6.60 1,832 Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 8.57 324,368 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 93 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 45.22 100 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST10.00 6,350 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 5,016 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 4.60 54,992 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.97 8,132 GUINNESS NIG PLC 142.20 28,374 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 17.00 172,515 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 1.51 50,000 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 137.02 1,808,302 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC 2.95 513,550 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 196.00 24,150 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 2.70 224,970 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 6.39 1,588,435 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 21.00 187,271 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 2.79 952,850 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 53,816 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 8.99 159,011 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 7.41 2,835,920 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. 5.35 2.08 124,000 U T C NIG. PLC. 0.50 50 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 11.84 100 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 20.00 5,725 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 830.00 390,319 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT 25,333 NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. 29.78 100 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 5.33 187,845 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. 0.93 15,000 Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 25.00 156,973 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 42.00 119,119 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 5.02 20,610,779 DIAMOND BANK PLC 2.86 1,358,484 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 18.10 5,746,153 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.47 4,669,271 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 24.50 11,491,149 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK 13.50 SKYE BANK PLC 2.11 5,074,965 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.14 2,601,379 U B A PLC 4.05 11,173,106 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 5.75 1,469,943 UNITY BANK PLC 1.54 359,359 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.95 1,128,531 ZENITH BANK PLC 17.70 9,778,427 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 200 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 0.86 1,627,718 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 9,140 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.95 1,882,960 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 62,000 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC NT 9,054,578 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 4,754 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.53 NT GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC 0.50 42,003 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 165,731 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 698,304 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. 0.5 NT LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 14,710 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 100 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 220 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 2.65 23,600 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 1,319,465 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.74 10,579,013 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 52,100 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT 1,654,611 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 27,973 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 5,028 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 100 STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC 0.50 1,650 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 161,547,689 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 25,000 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 200 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 518,140 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.50 1,368,084 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 5.42 10,000,000 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 1.05 584,766 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.25 500 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 500 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.42 500 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 220,000 UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC 5.23 4,570 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 2.65 313,164 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 4.20 369,250 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT 500 DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC 0.58 5,000 FBN HOLDINGS PLC 5.93 8,812,914 FCMB GROUP PLC 2.19 27045923 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.50 1,050,953 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 23.00 3,807,836 SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND 103.24 465 NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR FUND 552.20 100 UBA CAPITAL PLC 1.37 1,926,013 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 3.72 170 UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 40,000 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1.73 100 Pharmaceuticals

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 23-10-15

N/A=Not Avialable

52 WK HIGH

0.64 107.81 41.14

52 WK LOW

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

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

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A -14.23 0.00

0.50 35.63 30.50

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

4.26

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

3.03

1.65

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

1.03 3.95 0.96 4.16 2.15 28.05

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

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

0.56 14.46

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

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

6.74 1.69

0.00 N/A

39.99 6.60

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A 4.90

NT 8.17

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

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

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 -5.20 N/A N/A 1.26 N/A

4.45 0.97 150.00 17.00 1.51 135.32 2.95

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

197.00

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 3.85 -2.74 1.45 9.41 N/A N/A -4.14 N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 2.60 6.57 20.70 2.55 0.50 9.46 7.73 5.35 0.50 11.84

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

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

1.57 28.34

-9.09 0.00

22.00 830.00

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 -0.37 N/A

NT 29.78 5.35 0.96

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

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

1.34 1.42

4.17 -10.64

24.00 47.00

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

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

6.36 -1.72 -1.09 -2.00 #VALUE! 4.21

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

-6.64 0.47 -4.71 0.88 0.00 -5.00 1.09

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 -1.12 N/A 8.82 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

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

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

2.1

0.5

0.61 2.02 21.50 5.70 1.33 20.72 103.24

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 98.33

1.70

0.00

1.18 0.19

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

0.00 0.15 2.45 1.23 0.13 1.53

0.50 0.90 NT 0.50 1.00 0.50 NT 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 NT 0.50 0.5 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.68 0.50 0.68 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 5.42 1.05

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

4.72 2.91 18.30 1.50 NT 23.51 13.50 2.26 2.13 4.25 5.70 1.50 1.00 17.51

N/A N/A -1.17 N/A 0.00

0.29

1.25 0.50 1.42 0.50 5.23 2.6 4.20 NT 0.58 6.00 2.19 0.50 23.00 103.24 552.20 1.41

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

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

1.73

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 0.59 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.00 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 39.99 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.22 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.03 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. 4.91 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.14 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 2.67 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 11.02 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. 1.69 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 2.85 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 23.00 BERGER PAINTS PLC 10.34 CAP PLC 38.00 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 7.96 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 163.01 DN MEYER PLC. 0.70 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC 0.50 PREMIER PAINTS 10.93 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 97.50 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.20 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 3.53 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.09 CUTIX PLC. 1.68 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.52 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 45.15 GREIF NIGERIA PLC 9.37 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. NT STOKVIS NIG PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 4.18 Metals ALUMACO PLC 7.75 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 9.84 MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. 0.64 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 9.96 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.5 CONOIL PLC 27.41 ETERNA PLC. 1.71 FORTE OIL PLC. 290.00 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 154.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 49.66 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 150.01 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 234.50 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.15 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 0.53 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 4.25 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 1.22 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.50 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 0.50 Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.07 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3.44 TOURIST COY NIG PLC 3.51 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 6.42 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 0.59 LEARN AFRICA PLC 0.81 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 2.30 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 5.73 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.51 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC 4.21 SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC 0.5 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 1.85 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 4.40 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 3.05 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

-3.28 -3.23 8.20 4.27 0.00 N/A N/A

Previous 0.61 3.10 36.96 1.17 1.03 4.91 2.14

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

2.67 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 2.85 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 0.00 -0.19 0.00 3.65 1.24 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

-1.37 N/A N/A

2.72 23.00 10.36 38.00 7.68 161.01 0.73 0.50 0.50 10.93 98.85 1.20 3.53

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 -1.75 N/A

2.09 1.71 NT

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

NT 1.52 44.00 9.37 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

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

7.46 NT NT

10,000

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

0.00

4.18

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 9.84

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 0.64

1,408,720

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.50

4,924,248

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

7.10

9.30

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 -5.00 3.57 4.05 N/A 0.00

0.5 27.41 1.80 280.00 148.00 49.66 150.01

306,355

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

100

3.48

209,933

2.45

1.00

2,572,000 3,000

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

4,059,547

1.64

1,500

0.75

100 599,750 1,000 2,800

4,035,497,307

235.00

0.00

N/A

0.50 3.15

980,294,400

0.00

-11.67

0.60

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

0.00 N/A

4.25 1.13

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

0.50

1.72 3.88 10.00

0.64 3.51 10.00

2,078,796,396

0.00

4.07 3.44 3.51 6.42

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

0.65 0.84 2.30 5.73

955,140

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.55

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

4.21 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 -2.22

1.85 4.50

189044

3.05

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

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Monday, October 26, 2015

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‘’I think we did our best to maintain the tradition of discipline, the tradition of diligence at the Supreme Court’’ — Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria xx

Judges need to be in charge of their court —Banire 42

‘Land Use Act, govt tool to oppress the poor’ Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

Indian monk seeks 8-month to walk 2,200km to court 45

Unlawful detention: How Ibadan first lawyer, Agbaje floored IGP in 1967 46

Disu

The recent murder of the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, has again reopened debate on relevance of the Land Use Act in the country. The Act empowers government to revoke land from the original owners for public use. In this report, WALE IGBINTADE looks at the implementation of the Act.

hese are troubling times for people of Okunraiye community in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State. Some of the community members along with their leaders have been charged before a Lagos High Court over the murder of the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, who was attacked while on a peace mission to the community. According to reports, the villagers were said to be on a peaceful protest against forceful takeover of their land by the Lagos State government on behalf of Aliko Dangote and Lekki Free Zone Limited when policemen allegedly attacked them, killing two of the protesters instantly. The killings spurred violent conflict which resulted in the unfortunate death of Disu and two others. Over the years, the affected communities in Ibeju Lekki have been

Under the Land Use Act, state government has the power to acquire people’s land for public use. However, government must give notice of its intention to acquire and pay compensation at loggerheads with the Lagos government over revocation of their land. They have on many occasions pleaded with the state government that forcefully snatching the land, which is their only reliable source of livelihood, would amount to condemning them to premature deaths. The Land Use Act promulgated on March 29, 1978 by the then military administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo vested the ownership of all lands in a state in the governor to hold in trust for the common benefit of citizenry of the state. In line with provisions of the Act, government reserves the right

to revoke a citizen’s title to land only for overriding public interest but in the event of such revocation, the affected community must be compensated. Although, the government is at liberty to compulsorily acquire property, it is expected to comply with statutes that provide for the procedure for acquiring property by government. Accordingly, a notice of acquisition must disclose the purpose of acquisition because by such disclosure, those whose property were compulsorily acquired would be enlightened. Primarily, the essence of this law was to harmonise the management

and ownership of land in Nigeria. The Act was also meant to make land more affordable to every Nigerian at affordable prices and do away with land speculation. But, since the Act came into operation, its implementation has been subjected to abuse by the respective state governments. Many observers are of the view that the way successive state governors have been implementing the Act amounts to ‘’robbing Peter to pay Paul.’’ According to them, state governments are exploiting provisions of the law to extort money and to take away land from CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

Law & Justice

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Judges need to be in charge Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire (SAN), has a doctorate degree in Property Law. He was a senior lecturer at the Department of Private and Property Law, University of Lagos and is in active legal practice. In this interview with Head, Judiciary, FRANCIS FAMOROTI he speaks on his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and other issues of law. Excerpt How did you feel when you were announced as one of this year’s recipients of award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) I must say that upon the announcement, the first thing that occurred to me was simply to express my gratitude to God. This is because I had become a customer to the Privileges Committee, the body on whose shoulder the responsibility to appoint SANs is squarely rested over time. This is because of the number of applications I made in recent past to them. I am extremely very grateful to God, for making it happen. I recalled more than hundred of us applied abinitio, and eventually, 50 made it to the finals and still out of the 50, somehow, one was able to emerge. Can you be specific on number of times you applied? Seven times, I applied for the conferment of the Silk. Six times I missed it, before finally I grabbed it the seventh time. Glory be to God! I did four under academics and three under advocacy. Eventually advocacy gave me the appointment. How do you feel seeing friends, relations and your former lecturers filling the Eko Hotel to celebrate your appointment as SAN? I must confess that I am excited and exceedingly happy. Particularly, seeing those who have impacted, somehow along the line, and also the fact that, one of them happened to be the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo gives me joy. This is something that is a great privilege, to have them talking about you, sharing and felicitating with you. Honestly speaking, I was shocked by the attendance of our senior colleagues that are members of the Senior Advocates. The turnout was highly impressive, that I don’t even know how to express it. It was only shocking that the large turnout like that. I’m not sure even in their meeting they hardly record such a large turnout as such. I believe it must be a genuine expression of love and care for one and personally I am grateful to all of them. Secondly, seeing the people that showed up, in solidarity to felicitate with me, makes me happy to say if there is anything, you believe you have been doing, one must sustain it and improve on it. To me, what is most important is to continuously and constantly build good neighbourliness and by this, I mean always look out for others’ interest. My belief is that when look out for others’ interest, God will look after your own interest too. That I believe is responsible for the large number of people at the occasion. Listening to citation of your bio-data and story, it is amazing to know that you have achieved a lot in life. How did you make it? Again, first and foremost, the Grace of God. The human aspect of it is all about fo-

Banire

I must confess to you that delay in the administration of justice is not only of the

Bar alone. The Bench also has its own fair share of the blame

cus and dedication. This necessarily entails sacrifice along the line. You are all aware that law profession is an envious one. It is a profession that you cannot afford to be a charlatan. You must be able to apply yourself as much as possible. When you start anything productive, you must be focus on it. Take for instance; in my speech that day, I did make it known to my audience that my ambition now is to ensure that I established through my chambers a sustainable journal of practice procedure. Since the day my elevation to the position of SAN was announced that has been my preoccupation. I have been dealing with the editorial board, board of advisers, focusing on the nature, the shape, the form, and all other things. That of course will continue, because that is what I believe is next thing and to that extent, I will not want to be distracted. Again, you must not forget the divine support. You must always appreciate that role. This is because there are so many people who are more industrious, more focus, more intelligent and brilliant than you,

but have not been able to achieve that much. But, once God is with you, some of these things become easier and to God I will first constantly give the glory. Before now the Privileges Committee had stringent conditions for appointing SAN, but this year, particularly, they were made more stringent, how would you assess the present process put in place for appointment of SAN? I would say to a large extent that, for me it is okay. This is in the sense that one of the new aspects of it that is of interest to me is in relation to the role of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the whole process. The NBA appears to be taking more interest and it is making it much more relevant now to the process than before. Hitherto, the normal thing had been your branch would write a letter of recommendation and send it to the NBA President who would automatically forward it to the Privileges Committee. But nowadays it had gone beyond that. They subjected applicants to so many things. For example, they insist on your being a regu-

lar, financial member and that you’ve done your registration and fulfill all other basic requirements. They subjected you to their own interactive section again, where you’re subjected to another round of evaluation. For me it becomes much more involving. All the same, I still believe that there is room for improvement in the process of conferment of SAN and also believe that if possible, there is a need for the number taken per year to be increased. Presently, it is too stifling. At times you get to the level of frustration during the processing of your application. I don’t see why people who are qualified for one reason or the other be deprived of the conferment on one ground or the other. Let me give an example of geographical spread. You find some states with nine or 11 applicants that are qualified. I think it was from North-East or so, nobody came forth. But in some states, particularly, I think Anambra or so, about nine or 11, how do you make it in that kind of situation? And these people are qualified. So, for me there must be more spread, because once you are qualified, you are qualified. So issues such as geographical spread, gender consideration, well without fear of being accused of being a male chauvinist, should not come in at all. We are talking of merit; merit does not take extraneous factors into cognizance. That is why I said there is room for improvement. There is a need to increase the space.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

of their court —Banire How would you have time for younger lawyers in your chambers, taking into consideration your tight schedules, as the National Legal Adviser to the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC)? You will recall and still recognise the fact that I am still a teacher. I’ve always been a teacher, and this I enjoyed doing most of the time. In my office here, normally, this is a place where there is formally no master and there is no servant. Most of the time, we are always engaging each other at all levels. I hardly sit in my office. It is either I’m here with them or I’m in there in the general office. All of us discussing issues together, arguing here and there. I tell them what to do and how the situation should be, not that, this is how it must be. Beyond that, contact NBA Ikeja, NBA Ikorodu branches, they would tell you that from time to time, apart from the continuous legal training where I talk virtually every year, the Young Lawyers’ Forum, I talk there every year, and even there is a new one that Ikorodu Bar has created which I also find very interesting based strictly on mentorship. I’m sure that I started it for them, mentoring the younger ones and even some of our colleagues. It is something I enjoy doing always. I believe that you must do that. Another thing I know is that there are some aspects that probably we have not been doing well and we need to improve upon. For example, somebody mentioned it recently that some of us when we finish our cases in court, we just go out immediately. It doesn’t concern us what is happening to other lawyers in court. Whether you dress properly, making wrong submission, senior lawyers just go their way. It is now seen as becoming part of our briefs, to occasionally stay behind see what is happen, call the junior lawyers outside when he finishes and tutor him how to go about court business. I have now seen it as part of my briefs that I must also look into. The other aspect that is utmost importance to me is that of discipline. That one I’m in agreement with Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The only aspect that I believe the CJN

probably needs to interfere, is the fact that at times, you find lawyers who have committed infraction of the rules of natural conduct and in your brief you allude to it, citing the relevant provision of the rule and what the lawyer has done. But in virtually all the instances, the judges are usually evasive; they wouldn’t deal with the issue at all. In fact what happened recently is that a lawyer deposed to an affidavit which amounted to perjury and we brought an application before the judge for committal to prison. The judge said “Look I don’t want to get myself involved in that one. Just leave that one; let’s go to the substance of the matter. I’ve seen several other cases like that where a lawyer either consciously misquoting the evidence of witness or citing wrongly authority or mischievously, quoting a portion of a judgment while leaving out the meat of it, and at times, may be ignorantly using an orbital as a ratio or muddling them up. There are so many of them that are deliberately done and still nothing has been done. You see lawyers filing frivolous applications here and there and you call attention of the court to it to say this shouldn’t be. Take for example, in a matter, we’ve gone to the Court of Appeal, three times, and come back to the high court. Each time we want to enforce the judgement, they would file one useless motion at the high court. When we finish that and the Court of Appeal ruled against them they go back to the Court of Appeal. The court of Appeal would throw it out and would come back to the high court, just to enforce a judgment since 2009. That must not be allowed to continue. There is another matter, involving me personally. I was the last witness that testified. The lawyer said he wanted an adjournment after having got two on the previous day. The judge said ‘’no I’m not given adjournment; you must complete your cross-examination of the witness today’’. After ruling, he went ahead and finished the cross examination, the next day, he filed a notice of appeal that the judge didn’t grant him adjournment. The Court of Appeal has thrown it out now. He headed for the Supreme Court. These are the things I

Banire

Merit does not take extraneous factors into cognizance. That is why I said there is room for improvement in the award of

Senior Advocates. There is a need to increase the space

believe the Nigerian Bar Association should not allow to continue. But, the judiciary itself needs to help because they are products of the Bar and if the Bar fails, they fail equally. They must be pronouncing and making referral even in open court. Recently at an election petitions tribunal, a lawyer rose, accusing a judge of campaigning for a particular party, exhibiting pictures that have no relationship or bearing to any campaign or anything, and the lawyer is getting away with it. Nobody is saying anything. That must not continue, we must be conscious of what we say and what we write. I have noticed that some judges are in the habit of sitting late, while some may not sit at all without proper notice to either lawyers or litigants. What is your take on this? I must confess to you that delay in the administration of justice is not only of the Bar alone. The Bench also has its own fair share of the blame. Take for example, just as you rightly said, they are instances of unjustifiable adjournment even at the instance of the Bench itself. What I found out is that our judges need to take more charge of their court. If a lawyer comes and bamboozled you into a frivolous adjournment, why should you allow it, if you are in charge of a court? Even, if he brings a frivolous application, you know the law or you are presumed to know the law, you can tell him to move the application to be ruled upon immediately right there in the court. He can then be directed to go ahead with the substantive matter. I have been in a case, though I wasn’t directly involved, where a very senior law-

yer, in his process, did not indicate ‘deputy sheriff, Lagos’ in a matter that was litigated in Lagos Island. The woman put “deputy sheriff”, but just because she did not put “Lagos”. From the pleadings, it was obvious in that case that they were referring to deputy sheriff, Lagos. When the issue was raised, the senior lawyer said the deputy sheriff had already appeared in this matter before the court why should that be an issue now? The judge said since the matter had been raised, the court had to look at it, saying I will grant you an adjournment to come and address me on it. That was a four-month adjournment? I felt like jumping up, and say “My lord, on this flimsy issue – four months”! I just restrained myself since it was not my matter. Truly, in some instances you find judges who are not taking charge of the situation or not living up to the expectation in terms of scheduling of cases. In fact the one that worries me most is when you go to the Supreme Court, if by accident, it must be real accident, and may be one in about three months or four, the Supreme Court sits 9.02 am. You still hear apology and explanation of what has happened. Virtually, the same happens at the Court of Appeal. I have seen a situation where the Court of Appeal, Lagos gets into court 2 minutes to 9 in the morning. But, when you get into the high court, you start seeing judges arriving at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. or 12 noon then you wonder, what is happening. I think the NJC should do more monitoring and supervision, particularly in terms of the hours and time of judges sitting, apart from the returns they are taking presently.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

Implementation of Land Use Act has been abused —Lawyers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 people without adequate compensation, only for the same land to be allotted to their cronies. Speaking on the usefulness of the Act, the deputy managing partner, Afe Babalola & Company, Olu Daramola (SAN), believes that the Land Use Act was a noble idea, but its implementation has been abused by respective state governments. ‘’It is despicable for government to acquire land from landowners under the pretext that it would be used for public interest, only for the same land to be allotted to firms where the governor has interest. He explained that the attitude impoverishes the poor in the sense that government pays compensation on lands where there are developments such as structures or economic trees. “It is assumed that the land belongs to government to be used for the benefit of everybody. So, the only compensation you are being paid is in respect of development of the land, like you have planted something on it and it needs to be uprooted or buildings. So, there is serious abuse.’’ He bemoaned the activities of various state governments who he said had turned the governor’s consent into money-making venture whereas that section of the law did not envisage such. “Government at various levels now introduces all manner of levies. One of them is the governor’s consent where you pay as high as 20 or 25 per cent of the value of the land if you want to transfer. If it is an area where government has not done anything and you want to sell your own land, government now says you must pay 20 per cent consent fee just because Section 22 of the law says you must seek the consent of the governor before you can alienate your land.” According to former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Chief Victor Odunaiya, under the Land Use Act state governments have the power to acquire people’s land for public use. He however condemned the practice where government acquires people’s prop-

Odunaiya

Daramola

It is despicable for government to acquire land from landowners under the pretext that it would be used for public interest erty and gives to another private person. He said, ‘’I share the view that the Land Use Act needs to be amended because some of the abuses are caused by government officials for selfish interests. ‘’Government is insensitive to the plight of the people. I am not against any community that wants to drag government to court and I have said this time without number. For example, at Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State, there are certain areas that were acquired by government. There are other areas that have not been acquired. Under the Land Use Act, state government has the power to acquire people’s land for public use. However, government must give notice of its intention to acquire and after the acquisition, the community must be paid compensation. ‘’But the so-called government officials and some unscrupulous people in the community will make sure compensations are not paid to the real owners of the land. Yet, government will want to chase them out of the land. I do not want to say more about that because I am handling one or two cases in court which I instituted on behalf of some

Bar

Jokes

You’re late The lawyer wandered home at 3 AM. His wife became very upset, telling him, The lawyer replied, “I’m right on time. I said I’d be home by a quarter of twelve.”

My honest opinion Lawyer: “Let me give you my honest opinion.” Client: “No, no. I’m paying for professional advice.”

The parked BMW A lawyer returns to his parked BMW to find the headlights broken and considerable damage. There’s no sign of the offending vehicle but he’s relieved to see that there’s a note stuck under the windshield wiper. “Sorry. I just backed into your Beemer. The witnesses who saw the accident are nodding and smiling at me because they think I’m leaving my name, address and other particulars. But I’m not.”

The offence was committed by his limb A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative defense: “My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few trifling

communities in Lagos State. These politicians and some greedy community leaders collude and rip-off the land from the real owners. Government is using power to deprive the people of their land. So, I share the view that the Land Use Act needs to be amended because some of the abuses are caused by government officials for their selfish interests.’’ According to Kayode Bankole, an expert in Land Law, the provisions of the Act have been abused more in the Southern part of the country. He stressed that government would have acquired the land, moved in bulldozers to demolish property and put people in great distress, before paying compensation. For instance, Bankole pointed out that in Lagos State, government makes global acquisition, stressing that the land that government will not need in the next 30 years has already been acquired. He added that if land owners insist on their rights, by holding on to their land, they are regarded as criminals to be hunted down by the police and locked up in detention. He stated that Land Use Act, though

articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offence committed by his limb.” “Well put,” the judge replied. “Using your logic, I sentence the defendant’s arm to one year’s imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses.” The defendant smiled. With his lawyer’s assistance he detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and walked out.

You lawyers are so materialistic One day, there was this lawyer who had just bought a new car, and he was eager to show it off to his colleagues, when all of a sudden an 18 wheeler came out of nowhere and took of the driver’s side door with him standing right there. “NOOO!” he screamed, because he knew that no matter how good a mechanic tried to fix it, it never would be the same. Finally, a cop came by, and the lawyer ran up to him yelling. “MY JAGUAR DOOR WAS JUST RUINED BY SOME FOOLISH DRIVER!!!” he exclaimed. “You’re a lawyer aren’t you?” asked the policeman. “Yes, I am, but what does this have to do with my car?!?!” the lawyer asked. “HA! You lawyers are always so materialistic. All you care about is your possessions. I bet you didn’t even notice that your left arm is missing did you?” the cop said. The lawyer looked down at his side and exclaimed “MY ROLEX!” Culled from Best Lawyers’ jokes.com

zzzz

Kayode Bankole a beautiful piece of legislation, has been turned into a terrible tool in the hands of people in government to oppress original land owners. ‘’The land Use Act is being used as an instrument of oppression of the weak, the poor in the society in favour of the elites and the capitalists. It is no longer used for the purpose it was meant, which is for public development.’’ Bankole, who accused the court of being timid when handling land cases that involve state governments, insisted that the judiciary has a duty to correct the ills in the society and should not be part of the problems. He said: ‘’In Lekki corridor, where most lands have been acquired by the state government for overriding public interest, how many stadia, high court, general hospital or public schools or praying grounds have they built? What we noticed in most acquisitions is that part of land would be allocated to private individual who put the land to the same use the original land owners did. A case in point came up before the Justice Akinola Aguda-led five-man panel of inquiry looking into appropriation and allocation of land in Lagos State between 1984 and May 1999, where the panel was informed that out of more than 3,000 hectares of land acquired by the Lagos State government in Ajah, 1,000 hectares of it was allocated to a private agricultural firm.’’

legal tips

Evidence of a witness

he Law of Evidence deals with the facts relating to a matter presented to a court or judicial tribunal. The person who is summoned or invited by the court to give the evidence is called a witness.

Bar

Types of Evidence

*Direct Evidence is also known as the ‘’original’’ type or testimony concerning a fact actually perceived by a witness with one of his senses. *Hearsay Evidence or second -hand evidence pertains to fact or information given to a witness by some other person but proved by him in court. He tells the court what some other persons had told him. Note that hearsay evidence may not be generally admissible in some cases because of the rules

against it. *Circumstantial evidence is also indirect evidence, which is inferred by the court from the facts in issue. * Oral Evidence is the testimony of a witness usually on oath given by his word of mouth in the witness box. *Documentary evidence is the evidence derived by court from the contents of some documents such as books, records, photographs and video clips produced before it. *Real Evidence is derived from inspection of physical objects such as a place of accident, person, or thing. Written by Francis Famoroti, Head, Judiciary. We welcome feedback and reactions from readers via our e-mail: nationamirrorlaw@ yahoo.com

Jokes

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Monday, October 26, 2015

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

FAMOUS CASES

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 this decree in 1969. Agbaje consequently challenged his

Court of Appeal Headquarters building

Mojeed Agbaje had been illegally detained by the police authorities under this 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.

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

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.

his detention, at the police station, but no one 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 Inspector- General 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 declared 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.

Law & Justice

Monday, October 26, 2015

CAGE takes Charity Commission to court

n Indian monk from the Jain religion has said he needs eight months to answer a court summons, as he will have to walk in accordance with his faith. The court in Ahmedabad, 2,200km (1,400 miles) from Kolkata where the monk is now, rejected the request and told him to appear next month. According to BBC report, the monk says he cannot use a vehicle as he has renounced the world. He is charged with forging a government document to say recruitment of children into Jain monastic orders was legal. Acharya Kirti Yashurishwarji Maharaj, who is

UNITED KINGDOM

ampaign group CAGE heads to court over the Charity Commission’s decision to pressure charities to stop funding the group. The landmark judicial review will examine whether the commission overstepped its powers when it urged two charities, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Roddick Foundation, not to make any future donations. The commission intervened earlier this year after CAGE’s research director, Asim Qureshi, claimed Islamic State killer “Jihadi John” was an “extremely kind” and “extremely gentle” man who had been driven to extremism after harassment by UK security services. The group’s director, Dr Adnan Siddiqui, told Sky News the now infamous news conference was rushed and didn’t focus enough on Emwazi’s victims and their families.

US President, Barack Obama Dr Siddiqui said he recognised the anger his colleague’s comments had generated but that the Charity Commission bowed to press, public and political pressure rather than taking a more considered approach. He said: “What the regulator has to always be seen to be doing is to be fair and to be independent. “They should not be dealing with unpopular causes, which may still have merit to them and just say this is unacceptable. I don’t think that’s the regulator’s job.”

INDIAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Indian monk seeks 8-month to walk 2,200km to court

India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi 60, had told the court that he cannot walk more than 10-12 km a day because of

a spinal injury and old age, the Times of India newspaper reported. He had also promised the court that his absence would not hinder proceedings. However the court not only rejected the request, it also issued a fresh warrant against him. The practice of inducting children as monks or “bal diksha” is common among Jains, especially those in India’s western state of Gujarat, where children as young as eight are inducted as monks. Mr Maharaj was taken to court by Ahmedabad-based

Arkansas’ highest court keeps executions on hold UNITED STATES

he Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that a lower-court judge overstepped his jurisdiction by halting the executions of eight death row inmates. But the high court immediately granted its own stay to give the inmates time to challenge a new state law that

bars Arkansas from disclosing its execution-drug supplier. The justices sided with the state in agreeing to toss this month’s order by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen. Still, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said she was disappointed that the executions, the first of which was

scheduled for this week, remained on hold. “While the Supreme Court’s decision is not about the merits of the case, it is unfortunate that this further delays justice for the victims. I will continue to defend Arkansas’s lethal injection statute and fight for the victims and their grieving families,” Rut-

activist Jasmin Shah, who accused him of forgery and misleading the Jain the community. Her lawyer Nitin Gandhi told BBC Hindi that his client had been able to prove that Mr Maharaj had forged an official gazette notification from the government of India, to say that “bal diksha” was legal. Earlier this month the Gujarat High Court urged the state government to do more to curb the practice. India is home to around four million Jains, many of whom live in Gujarat and neighbouring Rajasthan.

ledge wrote in a statement. The high court also refused to order Griffen to schedule an earlier hearing in the case. The attorney general’s office had asked for a faster timetable, arguing that defense attorneys were trying to delay the case until the drug was no longer usable.

N352.3m judgment debt: Litigation officer testified in court Matthew Irinoye

n Assistant Director in the litigation department of the Lagos State judiciary, Mr. Abdussalam Oluwole, has given evidence on how the judiciary computed the sum of N352.5million allegedly paid to a Lagos based lawyer, chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN) as a judgment debt, Testifying before Justice A. Okuwobi in suit Number: LD/ 147/2009, Abdussalam, said the court awarded the cost on different rates. Led in evidence by the defence counsel, Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, he said that “ I did the calculation with my team and the total judgment debts plus interest include, interest (1-3), special damages, cost awarded and actual refunds” The witness also told the court that the calculation was based on the judgment documents obtained either by original or the certified through copy. Under cross examinations by claimants’ counsel, Mr. Chris Eneje, the witness, main-

tained that he started the computation of the interests from the month of June of the same year. The judge however, adjourned the matter till November 12, 2015 for further hearing. It would be recalled that in 1998, T.S.A Industries had filed a suit before an Ikeja High Court, accusing First Bank of Nigeria Plc. of negligence and allowing fraudulent activities to be carried out on its account domiciled with the bank. The company told the court that in October 29, 1991, its management wrote a letter to First Bank of Nigeria of its decision to suspend and withdraw the signature made to its account with the bank. According to the company, it is the way to prevent fraudulent activities on its account since the company was already experience difficulties in its operation at that time. However, the company accused the bank of failure to comply with its directives from October 31, 1991 till December 30, 1992 adding that the defendant caused the account of the company to be operated fraudulently by neglecting to comply with the instruction of

the board of directors that was duly communicated to it. The company further said that as at the time the instruction was given between October 31, 1991 and December 30, 1992 funds arising from the sale of company’s product amounting to N22.3m was lodged into the company’s account with the bank. It therefore sought for a declaration that the defendant was fraudulent in keeping of the company’s account, also also sought an order directing the defendant to refund the principal sum of N22.3m being lodgement into the account as well as an order for the refund of sum of N33.6m being the interest thereon from December 31, 1992 till December 30, 1997 at the rate of 21% per annum until the date of final payment. Pursuant to the judgment, the first First Bank plc through its head, legal services, Mr. Olaniyi Kukoyi, on March 11, 2008, wrote a petition to the Chairman, National Judicial Council, NJC, Abuja, alleging judgment racketeering and attempt to extort non-existing judgment debt against Justice Funmilayo Atilade of the Lagos State judiciary.

I was able to overcome fear — Akin

y first appearance in court was a bit difficult. It was a magistrate court matter before magistrate Nwachukwu. Though I have little experience during my court attachment, I have

seen lawyers arguing in court. But having a case file alone in court without a senior colleague is not a small challenge. I was supposed to move a bail application for our client. I had studied the

case file before the matter was called, and when the matter was called the prosecutor announced his appearance while the defendant was already in the dock. I didn’t stand up on time; I was just looking as if some-

The petitioner requested that the judge should be invited to explain to the commission strange conduct in the case particularly under which law the judge derived the powers of award to the successful party, an amount outside the prescription of the actual award made in that judgment. The petitioner also want the NJC to unravel the laws which compel an unsuccessful party to a judgment to pay the ‘judgment debt’ over and above what was handed down by the court and the interest accrued, which the petitioners were coerced to pay. It further sought to unravel the application made to the court by the judgment-creditor which was refused by the trial judge, adding that “is it possible that his lordship, after so many years on the bench, does not know how prayers are sought, or the difference between a motion and an affidavit?” The petition further queried how possible it is for a judge after many years on the bench, not to distinguish between an application challenging the competence of a court to make an order and the one seeking the exercise of judicial discretion.

body will help me to do my work. Eventually I was able to overcome the fear, I moved the application and it was granted in our favour. Since then I have the boldness to appear before any judge. Olubusola Akin

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Law & Justice

Monday, October 26, 2015

Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015: A brief sum up CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

By James Ode Abah Esq Depriving a Person of his or her liberty

epriving a person of his or her liberty is also an offence and attracts is a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 year or to a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 or both upon conviction. Damage to Property with Intent to Cause Distress It is also an offence for a person to cause mischief or destruction or damage to property of another with intent to cause or knowing that it is likely to cause distress or annoyance to the victim. Same carries upon conviction a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 year or to a fine not exceeding N300,000.00 or both upon conviction.

Forced Financial Dependence or Economic Abuse

A Person who causes forced financial dependence or economic abuse of another commits an offence under the Act. Upon conviction a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or to a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 or both upon is prescribed for this offence. Forced Isolation or Separation from Family and Friends Isolation of a person or separation of another from family and friends is also deemed an offence. Upon conviction a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to fine not exceeding N100,000.00 or both upon is prescribed for this offence.

Emotional, Verbal and Psychological Abuse

Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on another is also an offence under the Act and Upon conviction a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding N200,000.00 or both upon is prescribed for this offence.

Harmful Widowhood Practices

A Person who subjects a widow to harmful practices commits an offence and is liable upon conviction a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2years or to fine not exceeding N500,000.00 or both upon is prescribed for this offence. The Act defines harmful traditional practices to mean all traditional behavior, attitudes or practices which negatively affect the fundamental rights of women , girls or any person and includes harmful widowhood practices, denial of inheritance or succession rights , female genital mutilation or female circumcision , forced marriage and forced isolation from family. Abandonment of Spouse, Children and Other Dependants without Sustenance It is now a crime in the Federal Capital Territory for a person to abandon a wife or husband, children or other dependent without means of sustenance. The penalty for this offence attracts a term of 3 years imprisonment or to fine not exceeding N500, 000.00 or both.

Stalking

A person who stalks another commits an offence and is liable on conviction a term of 2 years imprisonment or to fine not exceeding N500, 000.00 or both.

Intimidation

A person who intimidates another commits an offence and is liable on conviction a term of 1 year imprisonment or to fine not exceeding N200, 000.00 or both.

Spousal Battery

A person who batters his or her souse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding N200,000,00 or both.

Harmful Traditional Practices

A Person who carries out harmful and traditional practices on another commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 4years or a fine not exceeding N500,000,00 or both. As pointed out earlier, the defines harmful traditional practices to mean all traditional behavior, attitudes or practices which negatively affect the fundamental rights of women , girls or any person and includes harmful widowhood practices, denial of inheritance or succession rights , female genital mutilation or female circumcision , forced marriage and forced isolation from family.

Attack with Harmful Substance

The Act stipulates further that a person who uses chemical, biological or any other harmful liquid on another commits and offence and is liable on conviction to a term of life imprisonment without an option of fine. Furthermore a person who attempts to commit the act of violence as regards the using of chemical, biological or any harmful liquid on another also commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 25 years without option of fine. However a person who receives or assists another who, to his knowledge or her knowledge commits the offence described is also liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 25 years without option of fine.

Administering a Substance with Intent

A person commits an offence if he intentionally administers a substance to , or causes a substance to be administered to or taken by, another person with the intention of stupefying or overpowering that person so as to enable any person to engage in a sexual activity with that person. The penalty for this offence attracts a term not exceeding 10 years imprisonment or to fine not exceeding N500, 000.00 or both.

Political Violence.

A person who commits political violence is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on a term of imprisonment not exceeding four years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000.00 or both. The Act defines political violence to mean any act or attempted act of violence perpetrated in the course of political activities, such as elections, and includes the acts of thuggery, mugging, use of force to disrupt meetings or the use of dangerous weapons that may cause bodily harm or injury. Any person who attempts to commit the offence of

political violence is also commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or to a fine not exceeding N300, 000.00 or both.

Violence By State Actors

The Act defines State Actors as group of persons, structured or organized institutions and agencies. A state actor who commits political violence commits an offence and is liable to a term of conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 4 years or to a fine not exceeding N1,000,000.00 or both.

Incest Schedule

Section 25 of the Act provides that a person who knowingly and willfully have carnal knowledge of another within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity and affinity as contained in the schedule of the Act with or without consent, commits incest and is liable on conviction to a minimum term of 10 years without an option of fine. In the case where two parties consent to commit incest, provided that the consent was not obtained by fraud or threat, 5 years imprisonment without an option of fine. Indecent Exposure It is important to note that section 26 of the Act makes it an offence for a person who intentionally exposes his or her genitals organs or a substantial part thereof, with the intention of causing distress to the other party, or that another person seeing it may be tempted or induced to commit an offence under the Act , commits an offence termed â&#x20AC;&#x153; Indecent exposureâ&#x20AC;?. Furthermore the Act states further that a person who intentionally exposes his or her genital organs, or a substantial part thereof, and induce another to either massage or touch with the intention of deriving sexual pleasure from such acts commits an offence. The Penalty for the offence of indecent exposure attracts a term of one 1 year imprisonment upon conviction or a fine not exceeding N500,000 or both. CONCLUSION / OPINION From the provisions of the Act it can be clearly gleaned that the new law prohibits female circumcision or genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices. The Law also prohibits indecent exposure of genital parts by persons and abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance, battery and harmful traditional practices. In actual fact the law has created the legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls. This is indeed without doubt a welcome development considering the various forms of domestic violence which has become a cancer in the Nigerian society. By the provisions of this Act, economic abuse, forced isolation and separation from family and friends, substance attack, depriving persons of their liberty, incest, indecent exposure, among others are now criminal offenses. The law if well implemented will go a long way in reducing , suppressing and if possible eliminate violence in private and public life as it provides effective remedies for victims of violence, and punishment of offenders.

EVENTs

L-R: Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN) and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) at an event organised by the Lagos judiciary

L-R: Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi and Justice Ebenezer Adebajo at the event.

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Payment of tax is a civic responsibility of all adults. We enjoin our people to see reason in our agitation as we promise that their tax will continue to work for them. –GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE, RAUFU AREGBESOLA

Govt tasked on creation of enabling environment Odinaka Uruakpa

L-R: Marketing Manager, Inphexious Muzik Group, Seyi Popoola; President, Mr. Bunmi Popoola and an associate, Mr. Oluwafemi Popoola, during the press conference to unveil the music label, in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

Coy donates relief materials to flood victims in Katsina James Danjuma KATSINA

elief items worth millions of naira have been donated by the Chinese Geological Company, CGC, to victims affected by recent flooding in Katsina state. Parts of the state, particularly communities in the southern area, had witnessed flooding during peak of the rainy season, with properties worth millions lost in the process.

The items donated include 300 bags of rice, 300 cartons of vegetable oil, 200 cartons of Indomie noodles and 100 cartons of bottled water. The materials were donated to the state government yesterday for onward distribution to affected victims. Presenting the materials, CGC’s Executive Director, Mr. Fanshio Jin said items were part of organization’s contribution to help bring succour to those affected by the re-

cent flood disaster. Jin said the company had been operating in the state for long period of time, and that as a beneficiary from state’s lean resources, it was responsible for them to contribute widow’s mite to alleviate sufferings of those affected. He assured the state government of company’s readiness to help move state forward through partnering with the new administration in areas where CGC has expertise

in. Governor Aminu Bello Masari, in his response, lamented level of destruction of properties this year’s flood had caused in parts of the state. Masari however said the state government had made tangible efforts to bring succour to those affected by the flood. He assured the company that items donated would be judiciously distributed amongst affected victims across the state.

terways. Balogun said that the illegal activities of sea robbers at Ikorudu were on the increase in the waterways. ``This is becoming too much. The government should find lasting solutions to such unpalatable developments before they get out of hands. ``Robbers have been finding there ways to rob on the mainland through the waterways, therefore the state and the Federal Government should team up to address the situation,’’ Balogun said. He said that the marine police were not sufficient

to combat sea pirates, therefore government should deployed more officers on the waterways. Balogun urged Lagos State Government to privatise the jetties across the city for proper management and operations of waterways activities. He lamented the poor conditions of the jetties across the state, adding that private investors would manage them better than the government. Balogun mentioned some of the jetties to include Epe, Ikorodu, Osborne, Mile 2, Makoko, Ojo, Ajah, Victoria Island and Ikoyi among others.

``The conditions of the jetties are discouraging. Government should hand over the management to private entities,’’ he said. Balogun said that the state government should engage in Public Private Partnership (PPP) to develop the tourism industry. ``The government cannot do it alone, it requires private sector participation to achieve its goals, especially on the hinterland,’’ he said. He also said that if the government improved the transportation system on the waterways it would to dislodge gridlocks on the roads.

Association requests more marine policemen on waterways

ssociation of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWAT) has urged the Federal Government to deploy more marine policemen on waterways to curb activities of sea pirates. The President of the association, Mr Tarzan Balogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the illegal activities of pirates on the waterways were becoming unbearable. He noted that the robbers, who recently robbed banks at Ikorodu and FESTAC Towns in Lagos, escaped through the wa-

he Chairman, Chief executive officer of Jude Elswitch Ltd, Dr. Jude Nnanna has urged government at all levels, to create an enabling environment, as well as provide infrastructural development that would bring in those that would train people in various field of endeavour. Nnanna gave this charge on the occasion of his 52nd birthday and unveiling of Give Little Assistance Daily, GLAD foundation, an initiative geared at training Secondary School leavers and graduates of AmuwoOdofin, Lagos in skills and professions of their choice. Speaking on what prompted him to set up the foundation, Nnanna revealed that having grew up in the village; he knew what it was like to be in want. “I know what it is like for somebody to live without hope of food and survival. Right from childhood, I have always desired to affect lives positively. As a young school leaver, people

turned me down for job recruitment, when I eventually had opportunity for an interview; I was told I had no work experience. The white men thought they were done with me; I couldn’t leave, I had to go back to them and asked if other companies keep turning me down, where will I get that work experience? They said they would employ me, but they won’t pay me and I accepted immediately and was happy. When they told me they have worked out an allowance for me; I was overjoyed because they were going to train me and still pay me some money. As I was there, I learnt everything I could and gathered experience to further my career’’, he revealed. Nnanna said whenever people asked why he was training young people, he reminded them of the old story of the man who crossed a river on a rafter and when he became successful, built a bridge across the river for those on the other side to cross over.

NGO trains grassroots organisations in participatory budget

he Active Support for Rural People’s Initiative (ASRPI), an NGO based in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, has trained over 30 grassroots’ organisations in participatory budget. The Chief Executive of ASRPI, Alhaji Ibrahim Ngaski, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last week that the representatives of the organisations were drawn from the 21 local governments in the state. Ngaski explained that the aim of the training was to encourage youths to engage in budget process. He said the training was borne out of the desire to build capacity and skills of participants on participatory budgeting and monitoring programmes’ implementation for effective utilisation of scarce

collective resources. “We have observed that it has not been a culture or tradition by our citizens to participate in anything related to budget process. “We have now strengthened participants’ skill in organising and holding town hall meetings to sensitise and encourage their constituencies to get interested in and participate in budgetary process,” he said. Mr Abraham Daniel, the Governance Advisor of Action Aid of Nigeria (AAN), who was the resource persons, said involving people in budget process would afford the citizens opportunities to participate in governance. It would also afford them the opportunity to show interest in political agenda, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, October 26, 2015

World News I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam Hussein. I think it is better that he’s not there than that he’s there. –FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPO RT

eaders from several European countries a re holding an emergency meeting to try to find a common position on the migrant crisis in the Balkans. A draft statement calls on countries to stop waving through migrants without the agreement of their neighbours. Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar warned that the EU would start falling apart without concrete action on the crisis. “We will not be able to endure this for weeks if we do not get help,” Cerar said as he arrived at the summit. Ten EU and three non-EU states are taking part but the absence of Turkey at the summit has been questioned. “Today the discussion will be among the countries along the corridor of the refugee flows,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said yesterday as the talks got underway. “But everybody knows at the end of the corridor there is an entrance,” he added. The draft leaked ahead of the meeting calls for the gradual and

Emergency EU talks on migrants begin

Congo-Brazzaville is holding a referendum on constitutional changes that would allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso to stand for a third term. Opposition leaders have called for a boycott after a number of protesters died in clashes with security forces. Under the current constitution, the president cannot seek re-election because he is over the age of 70 and has already served two terms. One opposition leader, Rene Serge Blanchard Oba, said he had not voted “because to do so is to encourage the power of this foolishness.” But after casting his ballot, Nguesso denied that the proposed changes were about him personally.

Syrian rebels shun Russian ‘help’ Migrants seen at a location around the Slovenian border yesterday

controlled movement of people through the migration route. Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel said the refugee crisis could not be solved without the

help of Turkey. Hungary closed its border with Croatia last week. As a result, Slovenia saw 58, 000 arrivals in the week leading up to Saturday, and

many people are waiting in wet and cold conditions as Slovenian government accused Croatia of deliberately dumping thousands of migrants on the border.

Election: Tanzanians turn out en masse

urnout has been high in Tanzania’s most competitive general elections, officials said yesteday, as a new opposition coalition tries to end the governing party’s 54-year grip on power. Reports also said voting was extended in some areas to allow those still in queues to cast their ballots. Opinion polls have put the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party ahead, but the result is expected to be close. Four opposition groups are backing one candidate, a former prime minister. President Jakaya Kikwete, who is standing down after two terms, has called for peace ahead of the election, adding that “anyone who tries to cause trouble will be dealt with”. CCM was formed in 1977 from a merger of two postcolonial parties and has effectively been in power since independence in 1961. It has fielded Works

WORLD BULLETIN Third term: Congo votes in referendum

Minister John Magufuli, 55, as its presidential candidate. The first results are due to come in today, and the final result by Thursday, when Tanzanians should know the name of their new president. Both main presidential candidates have already cast their ballots. “I’ve carried out my duty as a citizen by voting. My appeal to those Tanzanians who have not voted is to ensure they do so to elect the people they want,” Magufuli said.

…CIV in polls too

ore d’Ivoire began a bitterly contested presidential election yesterday, the first since the civil war ended in 2011. The poll has been marred by prominent opposition candidates pulling out, citing widespread irregularities. President Alassane Ouattara is running for a second term in the world’s largest cocoa producer. Ouattara arrived at Lycee

Western-backed rebels of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) yesterday rejected an offer of military support from Russia. An FSA spokesman, Issam al-Reis, said Moscow could not be trusted and that its help was not needed, even as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that his country was ready to help the rebels if they attacked militants from the Islamic State (IS) group. Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government, has carried out air strikes in the country since last month. In his offer to the FSA, Lavrov said the Russian air force could support the FSA provided the US shared information about rebel positions.

Argentines vote new president

Voters queue to take turns in Dar es Salaam yesterday

Sainte-Marie polling station to chants of “Win in the first round” from his supporters. He was relaxed and confident as he cast his vote in the upmarket neighbourhood of Cocody of the commercial capital Abidjan. Smiling alongside his wife Dominique, he praised the smooth and peaceful election so far and urged the people of Ivory Coast to come out and vote. Ouattara’s main challenger is

former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N’Guessan, the candidate of former president Laurent Gbagbo’s Ivorian Popular Front. Three of the 10 opposition candidates, including Charles Konan Banny, another former prime minister, have withdrawn from the election alleging that the process had been rigged to guarantee victory for Ouattara who has in response called on people to turn out in massive numbers.

Citizens of Argentina began voting yesterday to choose a new president to replace Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Fernandez, who stands down after eight years in power, says she leaves Argentines a better country, even as her hand-picked successor, left-winger Daniel Scioli, led opinion polls but faces a strong challenge from the centre-right mayor of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri. Another candidate, Sergio Massa, a former ally of Fernandez, is polling behind Macri, although there are three other names on the ballot paper. Long queues formed outside polling stations from the early hours of yesterday.

Monday, October 26, 2015

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North

Monday, October 26, 2015

Islamic group distances self from B’Haram suspect Wale Ibrahim, LOKOJA

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Haruna Harman; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal ; Adamawa State governor, Muhammadu Bindo, and others during the Federal Government delegation led by SGF to Yola to sympathise with the victims of Yola Mosque bomb blast at the Federal Medical Centre in Yola on Saturday. PHOTO: NAN

Traditional leader killed in Katsina Emir’s convoy James Danjuma, KATSINA

traditional leader has lost his life while two others sustained injuries following the crash of convoy belonging to Emir of Katsina, Abulmumini Usman. The accident occurred Saturday evening along the Lokoja-Abuja road, while the convoy was re-

turning to Katsina from Ilorin, Kwara State. It was learnt that the emir was not in the convoy, as he flew a commercial airline to the state. The traditional leader, who is head of the emir’s security, locally known as the Sarkin Dogarai, Hamisu Mamman, was killed during the incident. Two other members of the emir’s staff, the Sarkin

Lema, Shehu Ibrahim and the Galadima Dogarai, Ibrahim Isyaku, sustained injuries with broken bones on their hands and legs. It was learnt that the tyre of one of the vehicles in the convoy burst while they were in motion, making the car to somersault. On their return to the state, the injured were taken to the Federal Medi-

cal Centre for treatment while the late traditional leader was buried yesterday. The emir, Kabir Usman, alongside several traditional title holders attended the burial. The information Office of the emir’s palace, Mallam Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident, described the incident as saddening.

Why Kwara can’t pay tertiary workers –Govt Wole Adedeji, ILORIN

wara State government has denied insinuation that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has a hand in the salary crisis rocking the state-owned tertiary institutions. The government through Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor, SSA, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, distanced the Senate President from the unpaid salary arrears at the affected institutions. He insisted that Saraki neither controls nor interferes into the management of state government funds nor its institutions. There have been insinuations since the first term of Governor Ahmed that Saraki, who is generally known as his political godfather, has been indirectly controlling the state’s finances by arm twisting

the governor. The government on Sunday however blamed its inability to pay subventions to the affected tertiary institutions on the drop in the monthly federal allocations to the state from N3.2bn to N1.8b. The statement further explained that N1.7b of the

amount goes for the payment of secondary school teachers, civil servants, pensions and gratuities every month, stressing that the remainder had therefore become inadequate to cover the N500m monthly subventions to parastatals, including ‘revenuegenerating’ tertiary insti-

tutions. According to Akorede, the government was therefore forced to suspend the payment of subventions to parastatals while expecting tertiary institutions and other revenuegenerating agencies to pay workers from their internally-generated revenues.

n Islamic group, Markaz Ahli Sunnah Wal-Jamah based in Adavi local government area of Kogi State yesterday distanced itself from an alleged Boko Haram suspect, one Abdlwaheed recently arraigned in an Abuja court. Publicity Secretary of the group, Isiaka Mohammed, stated that the confession by the said suspect with the pseudo name of Haulaka, that he received training from the group’s leader, Imam Mustapha, at their mosque in Anyioke, was not true. He said his group is a peaceful and law-abiding Islamic sect that believes in the sacred teachings of Prophet Mohammed and had in the past spoken out against all forms of criminality going on in the area in the name of Boko Ha-

We’ll soon end insecurity in Kamuku Forest –Northern govs A za Msue, KADUNA

overnors of six northern states surrounding the dreaded Kamuku Forest yesterday declared that the lingering insecurity in their areas would soon end. The governors also tasked security chiefs in Kaduna to wipe out deadly criminals hiding in the forest. The six governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto, were meeting for the third time this year on how to totally root out cattle rustlers and other criminal

Strike: Nasarawa tertiary staff, govt’s meeting deadlocked Igbawase Ukumba, LAFIA

meeting convened by office of the Nasarawa State Head of Service to resolve the one-week-old indefinite strike embarked on by workers of tertiary institutions in the state has ended in a deadlock. Workers of the three tertiary institutions in the state, namely Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, College of Agriculture, Lafia, and the state Col-

lege of Education, Akwanga had embarked on an indefinite strike at the beginning of last week following the inability of government to meet with their demands. A visit by National Mirror to the state polytechnic, Lafia, revealed that the rector, Dr. Silas Gyar, may have been on the run as union officials shut down the school completely even as students had equally deserted the campus leaving only the unionists to take charge

of the institution. Addressing journalists immediately after the deadlocked meeting at the office of the Head of Service, union leader of the state-owned tertiary institutions in Nasarawa, Comrade Samuel Bashayi, said the meeting between the union officials and government representatives ended in a deadlock. The union leader said: “We are still going to reach out to our members. We have seven items which we have identified to the

ram. Isiaka debunked the claim by the suspect that members of its group tear their certificates because they are against western education, adding that the group currently has government-approved school in the area where subjects such as geography and other sciences are taught. “Majority of us are undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates and none of us has ever torn his certificate. He alleged that working with government is a sin to us which is not true because some of us are working with local state and federal government and the rest of us are eagerly looking for opportunity to join the civil service,” he said. He regretted the claim to discredit the group by the suspect and urged the public to shun the allegations.

government. The first one is 2013 promotion arrears, 2014 and 2015 promotion arrears and implementation. “We are asking for the review of taxes in the state-owned higher institutions, and we are equally asking for the visitation of our academic programmes, as well as not only asking for autonomy of our higher institutions, but also asking for the five years domestication of our academic programmes.”

elements in the forest area. It would be recalled that in late July 2015, joint security task force operating in the forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, had killed notorious criminals and recovered over 1,000 stolen cattle. Addressing journalists after its meeting in Kaduna, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina after reviewing the efforts of security agencies in the area, said it was necessary to allow them to continue with operation in order to stamp out criminals from the forest. His words: “We have asked the joint taskforce, comprising the Nigerian Army, Air Force, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, to continue with their operation till further notice.” The governors tasked the Joint Task Force to redouble efforts at safeguarding lives and property, while assuring people of the states that “the lingering insecurity in the areas will soon come to an end.” Kaduna’s deputy governor, Barnabas Bantex, represented the host governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai on the occasion.

Monday, October 26, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss OLABANJI OLUWAKEMI RACHEAL, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. OBASOLA OLUWAKEMI RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MRS. DORIS ADERONKE AKINRINMADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS MIRACLE APOTIADE RONKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Miss Adinlewa Kemisola, now wiah to be known as Mrs. Akinrindibo Kemisola. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

ISMAILA: Formerly known and addressed as ISMAILA ADISA now wish to be known and addressed as ALHAJI TAJUDEEN ADISA OKOYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Ajayi Lydia Olumide, now wishes to be known as Abioye Lydia Olumide. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

To confirm that I am one and same person bearing IKHUOLEGBE OMO AMU and KEHINDE IKHUOLEGBE AYOAMU as obtainable in some of my documents. . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly know and addressed as Hycienth Uchechukwu Njoku, now wish to be known and addressed as Hycienth Uchechukwu Ugo. All former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS AKA ABOSEDE COMFORT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AGU ABOSEDE COMFORT.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

To confirm that I am one and same person bearing ANTHONY OBIYEZE MADOJEMU and TONY OBIYEZE MADOJEMU as obtainable in some of my documents. . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Iwuanyanwu Assumpta Nkechinyere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezengwa Assumpta Nkechinyere. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS FADIJI MODUPE ADETUTU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMOJUWA FADIJI ADETUTU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMEHELU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EMEHELU BENEDICTA I. N. now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS OKWANDU BENEDICTA I. N. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that MR. OCHAIGWU SANI EDWIN is the same person as MR. BAYO IFFU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ANOWO CHRISTIANA CHIEGE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANOWO CHRISTIANA CHIEGE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Awogbemi Victoria Olusola, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINYEMI VICTORIA OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NOAH: formerly known and addressed as Noah -Tajudeen Rasheedat Olaide, now wish to be known and addressed as Olaribigbe Rasheedat Olaide. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is confirm that I, JAMES OLANREWAJU AJEIGBE IS ONE AND THE SAME PERSON AS LANRE AJEIGBE ATANDA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MARYAM MUHAMMED, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MARYAM MUHAMMAD TAFIDA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Solola Omolara Ajike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeshina Omolara Ajike. All former documents remain valid. Imeko/Afon Local Government and General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesanya Nofisat Olawunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mokuolu Nofisat Olawunmi.All former documents remain valid .NYSC and General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AYETAN BUKOLA OMORINOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINBO BUKOLA OMORINOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Oluwaseun Ogunbi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwaseun Mesioye. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS Felix Aderonke Fransisca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adefulu Aderonke Fransisca all former documents remain valid. BADE UNIK and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Modinat Kemi Ajayi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Modinat Kemi Raji .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names DAUGHTER EBITIMI MAKPA KARIBI and DAUGHTER MAKPA refers to one and the same person. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

LAGOON VIEW AND KAJOLA LASISI LANDLORDS & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

This is to inform the general public that the above named non-governmental association has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C”of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2014. Names of Trustees are as follows: -Chairman

Signed: Izukanachi Chukwu Esq

CHANGE OF NAME ERIOBU: I formerly known and addressed as MISS ERIOBU JECINTA CHIDIEBERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MADU JECINTA CHIDIEBERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANI PATIENCE NDIDI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWOBODO PATIENCE NDIDI All former documents remain valid. Nkanu West Local Government and general public should please take note.

EKANEM OROK AND THE WESLEY SYNODEDUCATIONAL CANTERBURY ENGLAND, LEARNING FOUNDATION UNITED KINGDOM AFRICAN CONFERENCE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS IS ABOUT TO CONSECRATE REV. DR. This is to inform the General Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied JONATHAN IFEDIORA IKEGWUONU BISHOPAND to the Corporate Affairs Commission for AMENDMENT OF ITS AS CONSTITUTION CHANGE INLIFE ITS TRUSTEES under Part C CHURCH of the Company and ON Allied 29TH Matters Act OF CARE GOSPEL INC. NO.1 OF 1990. NOVEMBER, 2015 The affected Articles are as follows: Signed (1) Board of Trustees: Article 4.2 which now state the trustees shall be Chidi B.asNnaji Esq (Barrister Solicitor) Two(2) and known the registered trustees of&the Foundation (2) Keeping ofKm Account: Article /12Enugu Which now state that the Foundation I Onitsha Express Road, shall maintain an account in any designated bank approved by the Omagba 2, Onitsha, Anambra State General Assembly Phase in the name of the Foundation with the President being signatory to the account

THE CHANGE IN TRUSTEES:

Aims and Objectives:

Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28days of the publication.

OKONKWO: I, formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO CHINYERE S.M, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYE CHINYERE S.M All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

1.To foster peaceful coexistence for cultural and educational development of its members. 2.To assist the less privileged in our society.

EKWE: I formerly know and addressed as MISS EKWE AMARA CHRISTIANA, now wished to be known and addressed as MRS. MGBUDEM AMARA CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the (a) Letter of Allocation and (b) Checking in Letter, issued to and in the name of MR. JEREMIAH O. OMALE, over plot no. 173, 1st AVE, Ro133, HSE13, Federal Housing Estate, North Bank, Makurdi, Benue State are missing. All efforts to trace the said missing document have proved abortive. If found please contact the nearest Police Station.

1. Alhaji Kehinde Shitta-bey Taoheed 2. Augustine Obagidi Oregie 3. Pastor Ugochukwu George Onyah 4. Mope Imam Lawal 5. Faud Adekunle Kassim 6. Chukwudi Oliver Ugwu 7. Vincent Augustine Okpao Okere

CHANGE OF NAME EZENWANNE : Formerly known as Miss Ezenwanne Hope Amara, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Ezeiru Hope Chioma. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Morenikeji Oluranti Felicia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyedele Oluranti Felicia. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known as MISS ADEYANJU CHRISTIANAH JUMOKE, NOW MRS. ADEKUNLE CHRISTIANAH JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekoya Sakirat Mary now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Balogun Sakirat Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AWEDA WAHEED KAREEM, now wish to be known and addressed as KAREEM WAHEED TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKO: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OKO ANTHONIA ANAELECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANTHONIA INIBEHE HANSON. All documents, records and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. N.Y.S.C and General public should take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MRS. MUSTAPHA CHARLOTTE ADEWUMI, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss TAIWO CHARLOTTE AMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SULE MAIMUNA AMADOU, now wish to be known and addressed as AMADU DOOSHIMA ASABE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as NWEKE CHIKODIRI EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as BENJAMEN CHUKWUDI EGBETA. All former documents remain valid. FIRST BANK of Nigeria and general public please take note.

(1) Ekanem Effiom Orok (RETAINED) (2) Ayi Orok Effiom (REMOVED) (3) Orok Ekong Effiom (RETAINED) Any objection to the Approval of AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION and CHANGE IN TRUSTEES should be forwarded to the Registrar General,Corporate Affairs Commission,Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198 Maitama,Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED BY:-B. I. FYNECONTRY(MRS)

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as NNABUIKE FAITH NJIDEKA PRINCESS, now wish to be known and addressed as NZEKWE FAITH NJIDEKA PRINCESS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CORRECTION OF NAME I whose name was wrongly printed by LSIRS as PAUL N. AKWAJA Now wish my name to be corrected, known, called and addressed as PAUL TOCHUKWU AKWAJA. Former documents remain valid.Lagos State Internal Revenue Service and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Balogun Grace Omodunke, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ALIMI ALIU GRACE OMODUNKE. All former document remain valid, SUBEB, Ondo State and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Kazeem Damilola Babawande, now wish to be known as Kazeem Mustapha Damilola Babawande. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwabochi Ann Uloma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bode-Ajayi Ann Uloma. All former documents remain valid general public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Josephine Olubunmi Shoetan – Sodiya, now wish to be known and addressed as Pastor (Mrs) Josephine Olubunmi Shoetan .All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Housing Corporation and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Fatai Tawakalt Bolanle now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Badru - Fatai Tawakalt Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Civil Service Commission and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS Olatunji Oluwatosin Modupe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olalekan Oluwatosin Modupe. All former documents remain valid. and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME 0KEKE-EZIGBO: I formerly known and addressed as CHINEDU PAUL OKEKE-EZIGBO, now wished to be known and addressed as ISRAEL CHOSENPAUL CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ANIKEOKWOR: I, formerly known and addressed as ANIKEOKWOR CHUKWUDI, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIKE CHUKWUDI EDWARD All former documents remain valid. DIAMOND BANK and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS CHRISTIANA OMORUYI OSARIETINMEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHRISTIANA ADEJUGBE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME BETHEL: Formerly known and addressed as MISS BETHEL E. ADJAINO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BETHEL EJIRO OTORHO. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C and General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Akadiri Bridget Idowu, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLAJIDE BRIDGET IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concern and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly MISS DEBORAH DANIEL, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS. DEBORAH RAPHAEL AUDI. All former documents remain valid. Federal Character Commission Abuja and the public please note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Rose Nwaogwugwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rose N. Ahuchaogu. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oloko Taibat Titilope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Amusa Oloko Taibat Titilope All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mustapha Fadhilat Temitayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunseye Fadhilat Temitayo.All former documents remain valid NYSC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ebere Ndubueze, now wish to be known and addressed as Kosi Ebere Sunday . All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UJOATU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UJOATU HAPPINESS IJEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IJEOMA HAPPINESS IKECHUKWU former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NJOKU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NJOKU BLESSING CHINONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS TOBECHUKWU BLESSING CHINONYE All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

KEYSTONE FAITH MISSION The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned Christian Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under the Part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. AREPASTOR ALFRED EMUOBORHOHWO JAMES (President) 2. MRS MAGDALENE AMENAGHAWON JAMES 3. PASTOR OLUGBENGA IDOWU TOBE, ESQ (Secretary) 4. PASTOR JOSHUA IGBEKELE ADELANA 5. PASTOR FRED EDOMWONYI ISAAC AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To empower people through the word of grace so that they can fulfill the original mandate of God given to man. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 565, Ndola Square, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED PASTOR OLUGBENGA IDOWU TOBE, ESQ SECRETARY

Monday, October 26, 2015

I think we are all now aware of our collective resolve at the beginning of the season and I am delighted about this

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

EPL: City on top after goalless derby

–ARSENAL MANAGER, ARSENE WENGER

Siasia calls Ekpolo, Oduwa for Senegal 2015 ...vows not to release players to clubs

Salami pointing the way to Rwanda CHAN 2016

Eagles draw in Ouaga, pick CHAN ticket

ome-based Super Eagles yesterday did enough to qualify for their second CHAN after they held hosts Burkina Faso to a 0-0 draw in Ouagadougou to advance 2-0 on aggregate. The first leg in Port Harcourt a week ago ended 2-0 in favour of Nigeria. Hosts Burkina Faso dominated the return leg game, but just could not translate this dominance into goals as the Eagles struggled to find their bearing and did not create chances. And so the boast of Burkina Faso

coach, Idrissa Traore, that his team will cancel out Nigeria’s two goals within 30 minutes of the second leg was therefore just what it was - a boast. The Eagles starting strike force led by Sunshine Stars striker Tunde Adeniji, which also had Ezekiel Bassey and Osas Okoro, was again ineffective as was the case in the first leg in Nigeria. Gbolahan Salami and Chisom Chikatara were introduced in the second half in an effort to pep up the Nigeria attack.

The highlight of the match was recorded in the 21st minute, when the home team Burkina Faso failed to go ahead from the penalty spot after Austin Oboroakpo handled the ball inside his own 18-yard box. Abia Warriors defender Oboroakpo was booked for the hand ball. Oboroakpo, who has been compared to ‘Gentle Giant’ Uche Okechukwu, was outstanding in the heart of the Eagles defence as he kept out everything Les Etalons threw at them. It also showed where the pressure was.

ead Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has invited FC Barcelona B team defender, Godwin Elohor Ekpolo and Nathan Oduwa of Glasgow Rangers to camp for the second Africa U-23 Nations Cup taking place in Senegal November 28 - 12 December this year. Coach Siasia explained he is inviting both players to come and fight for jerseys in the team as he intends to build to strong team that will do the nation proud not only in Senegal but at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year. “After the All Africa Games in Congo, I noticed some departments of the team that needed to be worked on, so I decided to extend my dragnet in search of players who have shown interest in playing for Nigeria in a bid to building a solid team that will be the pride of all Nigerians,” Siasia said. Siasia however appealed to Nigerians to be patient with him and his technical team as they go about building a solid U-23 squad for Nigeria. Meanwhile, Coach Siasia has directed all clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) requesting for the release of their players for league games to send their request to the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, as he (Siasia) has no power to release any player. Expressing displeasure at the requests being made by these clubs for the release of their players, Siasia said, “While I understand with them that they need their players for club engagements, I also want to remind them that they need to cooperate with us to qualify for the football event of the Rio Olympic Games, and the only way we can achieve this objective is by having all the players in camp to train so we can pick only the best legs.” The U-23 supremo disclosed that for now, no player will be released from the camp, and that aside those in the Super Eagles B that are in Ouagadougou for yesterday CHAN qualifier against Etalons of Burkina Faso, all other players must report to camp and be part of the team’s training session today or forget about reporting to camp altogether.

Sports

Monday, October 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EPL results

Man City’s Fernandinho shaking off a challenge from United’s Ander Herrera

EPL:

City on top after goalless derby

Kalusha Bwalya

CHAN: Zambia, Ethiopia through to finals

ambia booked their place in the finals tournament of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) yesterday, courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate win over Mozambique. Also, Ethiopia qualified for CHAN 2016 in style after whitewashing visitors Burundi 3-0 in a one sided match return leg clash played yesterday in Addis Ababa. Zambia’s Chipolopolo defeated the Mambas 3-0 in the first leg played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium a week

ago thanks to goals by Winston Kalengo, Conlyde Luchanga and Spencer Sautu. Lwandamina’s men secured qualification following a 1-1 draw in the second leg played at Machava Stadium on Sunday. Festus Mbewe’s headed the Chipolopolo in front on 20 minutes while Mozambique scored their goal in the 85th minute through Momed Hagi who converted from the penalty spot following a hand ball inside the area

by Christopher Munthali. Zambia and Ethiopia join already qualified teams Rwanda (hosts), Angola, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, DR Congo, Morocco and Tunisia, Nigeria with six more teams expected to qualify as we went to press last night. The draw for the finals tournament will be held in Kigali on November 18. Rwanda will host the fourth edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) from January 16 to February 7.

Sunderland

Newcastle

Man Utd

Man City

Liverpool

Southampton

Bournemouth

Totteenham

anchester United and Manchester City shared the spoils after a forgettable 170th Manchester derby that yielded only two shots on target finished goalless at Old Trafford yesterday. The point was enough to return City to the Premier League summit on goal difference above Arsenal, with United two points back in fourth place, but it was not a game that will have given Arsene Wenger’s side undue concerns about the strength of their competition in the title race. In mitigation, Manuel Pellegrini’s City could point to the absence of injured duo Sergio Aguero and David Silva, which partly explained why their attack ran dry after a flood of 11 goals in two league games. There were no such excuses for Louis van Gaal’s United, although they came closest to scoring when Anthony Martial, the hosts’ standout forward, teed up substitute Jesse Lingard to volley against the bar late on. City had made lightning-fast starts on their two previous visits to Old Trafford – a 3-0 win in their 2013-14 title-winning season and a 4-2 defeat last April – but it was United who imposed themselves yesterday. Perhaps mindful of the joy that Sevilla had found on the flanks during their 2-1 Champions League defeat at City on Wednesday, United looked to move the ball wide quickly, with Antonio Valencia – preferred to Matteo Darmian at right-back – squandering two early crossing chances.

Kane scores hat-trick as Spurs thrash Bournemouth

arry Kane scored a hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspur, who moved into the top six of the Premier League with a resounding 5-1 victory away to Bournemouth in the first league meeting between the clubs on Sunday. The home side, playing their first season in the top-flight, took the lead in the first minute through Matt Ritchie, but England

striker Kane equalised from a penalty eight minutes later. Mousa Dembele and Erik Lamela had Spurs 3-1 ahead by halftime and Kane completed his hattrick with two more goals in seven minutes. Bournemouth’s third defeat in four games left them fourth from bottom, two points above the relegation places.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, October 26, 2015

Eaglets celebrating

Rotary Club happy to kick polio out of Nigeria

Chile 2015

NFF charges Eaglets ahead 2nd round matches

Everest Onyewuchi

fter their 2-1 loss to Croatia last Friday, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets on Saturday, arrived in Vina del Mar with preparations already on for their Round of 16 match on Wednesday. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke took out his wards to training yesterday. They will also train twice today and tomorrow before their match on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has strongly advised the Eaglets to put behind them last Friday’s 2-1 loss to Croatia in Coquimbo and refocus their mind on greater performance at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. Addressing the team shortly before

their departure from Coquimbo to Vina del Mar last Saturday, NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Siji Lagunju, said the Eaglets can be back to winning ways if they discover the same strong mental attitude that saw them to an impressive 2-0 win against USA and 5-1 win over host Chile earlier in the tournament. “With my over 40 years experience in football as a player and coach, I can categorically tell you that your technical crew led by Coach Emmanuel Amuneke has done remarkably well in training and preparing you for this tournament,” he noted . “I commend them for being able to impact to you the spirit of hard work and discipline, but whatever you achieve at this tournament would be down to your personal and collective attitude as players.”

…as Kano wins para-soccer in Abuja Joel Ajayi ABUJA

The former Nigerian international reminded the Eaglets about the huge responsibility in the defence of the trophy and graphically explained that hard work and discipline without positive attitude, could lead to failure. “We lost to Croatia on Friday because of poor attitude,” he insisted.”We had a brilliant attitude before we played USA and Chile. Unfortunately, we lost the same attitude and composure against Croatia. We can’t afford to display such attitude as we go into the knockout stages and we believe you can excel with strong mental attitude starting with the Round of 16 match on Wednesday,” noted Lagunju, a gifted winger who played for defunct Leventis United, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Bendel Insurance in the 1980s.

overnor, District 9125 of Rotary Club International, Dr. Mike Omotosho, at the weekend in Abuja stressed the need for sustained and concerted efforts to completely kick polio out of Nigeria. Omotosho made this known at the 3rd edition of the at National Para-Soccer championship inside the National Stadium Package B Abuja, which is part of activities lined up to celebrate the World Polio Day. According to him, the country should be happy that Nigeria has just been removed from the list of polio-endemic nations after more than 18 months without recording any case of the wild polio virus. “Rotary International is helping to make Nigeria a polio-free nation, and to generally make the world a better place to live.” On his own, President of the Para-Soccer Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Misbahu Lawan Didi, expressed satisfaction with the high standard of performance that has been witnessed so far at the tournament.

Glo hails Eaglets, rallies support for Falconets Lagos Prep School floats coaching clinic

fficial sponsor of the national football teams, Globacom, has commended the Golden Eaglets for qualifying for the second round of the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. The Eaglets, who defeated United States of America and host Chile in the first two matches in Group A, surprisingly lost the last match

to Croatia by 2-1 on Friday. Globacom in a statement in Lagos on Sunday advised the coaching crew to work on the lapses observed during the last group match. “We enjoin the technical crew to ensure that the fittest players are lined up for the next encounter in the knockout stage on Wednesday,” the statement said.

The telecommunications company also congratulated the Super Falconets for defeating the Basetsana of South Africa 2-1 in the first leg of their final round qualifier for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup holding in Papua New Guinea. “We urge the team intensify its efforts as it prepares to face the Basetsana in two weeks’ time in

Johannesburg and the players should concentrate and play with determination to qualify for the finals,” the statement added. The Falconets have participated in every edition of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the tournament started in 2002. Globacom is the major partner of Nigeria Football Federation.

Afolabi Gambari

he Sports Faculty of Lagos Preparatory School is set to commence a three-day coaching clinic at the school premises in Ikoyi, Lagos today. Director of Sports for the school, Yusuf Ojeyinka, told National Mirror that three-

day clinic which ends on Wednesday was part of the school’s development programme. “This is the first time that we are organizing this clinic during the half ter m and we intend to make a success of it with a view to expanding it further subsequently,” Ojeyinka said. “It is also an opportunity to engage

our students from 9 to 11 hours in the three days as we impart to the students knowledge and skills of practices in the sports while observing the half ter m,” he added. The clinic will feature football, tennis, netball and swimming even as the sports director said it would be accompanied by fun.

WORLD RECORD

Largest stick bomb Vol. 05 No. 1228 Monday, October 26, 2015

The danger ahead

N150

The largest stick bomb consists of 30,849 sticks and was achieved by the Tulln Domino Team (Austria) at the BSZ-Turnhalle, Tulln, Austria, on 30 March 2015.

any years ago in the early 1990s, I was a privileged guest of an Idanre (Ondo State) High Chief in his then Ketu, Lagos home. Below was his most troubling inner anguish he shared with me: “Any time I drive out and see the mass of people on the move, and scan their faces, my heart beats. In many of the faces I see worries, despondency and anger. I fear a likely implosion of the oppressed and dispossessed of this country. As a precaution, I now avoid the owner’s corner of my car, preferring instead, the safety of the front passenger seat”! That was a period the nation was reeling from the biting effects of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) foisted on Nigerians by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. That socioeconomic recipe brewed by the International

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com Monetary Fund (FUND) was responsible for wiping out the middle class from the nation’s nomenclature of social classes. As an economic recipe meant to cure Nigeria of the damage done by the profligacy of the Alhaji Shehu Shagari era, SAP further depressed the country, making the economy bitchy and skewing all indices that would present Nigeria as a semblance of a humane country. I doubt if we have recovered from that assault. I reason within the context of excruciating pains, agonies and regret many Nigerians, especially the lumpen proletariat, and even the comprador bourgeoisie, daily go through in their struggles for survival. In my line of duty, I admit a high level of interaction with the nation’s less privileged, and I have equally developed the uncanny capacity to put my thumb right on both the intended and unintended consequences of some of our governments’ ill conceived policies. So, when last Monday I picked the day’s edition of this newspaper and saw a news item titled Students not happy with Buhari over economy on the front page, I became curious. The thrust of the story is that Nigerians students are not happy with President Muhammadu Buhari over the performance of the economy, and are calling on him to reverse the trend to make the average Nigerian happy. It is a story built around the findings of a research conducted by two lecturers of the Department of Sociology, University of

WHEN WE TALK OF CHEAP GRADUATE LABOUR EVERYWHERE, CHILDREN OF THE RICH DO NOT CRINGE Ibadan, Dr Oludayo Tade and Mr. Bankole Michael. The research focus is Social construction of happiness among Nigerian students. What agitate the students are the general problem of epileptic power supply nationwide; poor political leadership; pervasive corruption; and unpaid salaries of public servants. For the resolution of the lacuna, Mr. President is advised to fix the power and road challenges; prosecute corrupt leaders; equip the tertiary educational institutions and adequately fund the health sector. And heal the economy. My first impression on reading the story was that the students were too hasty in their conclusions. A five month old administration, especially one that has not had in place a Federal Executive Council (FEC), should not be expected to fix all the problems assailing Nigeria. However, the corollary is that President Buhari’s unrelenting anti-corruption drive did not have to wait for FEC to gather steam. I said it before and I am reiterating it again that the conceptual framework of the economy component of the change agenda of this government is hazy, which

has made it difficult to firm up any strategic enforcement framework that could serve as its policy execution template. An unveiled economic agenda could rekindle a future hope for Nigerians. Within the economic realm, the Buhari government is flying blind. So, when people say there is growing despondency in the land, it is real; it is so thick you can feel it. We have very high elitist content in our leadership style, which explains why our leaders easily disconnect from the people. There is also high volatility of negative reactions to criticisms by the leaders to encourage objectification of our situations and circumstances. Even the Fourth Estate of the realm, the mirror of the society, is distrusted in its agenda setting roles, no matter how objective and altruistic they may seem to be. I doubt if newspapers editorials are still being read by the nation’s policy makers. What about informed and objective opinions by respected columnists? The highly perceptive Nigerian students can never be happy with any uncaring and clueless government that fails to design palliatives to cushion the effects of antipeople policies being implemented across the country. Majority of these students is carried on by parents and guardians that are at the receiving end of governments’ unpopular policies. When employment opportunities at both the public and private sectors are shrinking, the same people are the victims. When we talk of cheap graduate labour everywhere, children of the rich do not cringe. I know a second class (Upper) accounting graduate of a first generation university that earns N30, 000 a month. She settled for the job after a futile search for a more dignified one. I was once approached by an HND holder for a cleaner job anywhere. A corper, who served in an insurance company in Abuja, was told she could be retained if she agreed to an offer of N30, 000 a month salary. These are victims of our unjust system. So, if our students are unhappy, so are many other Nigerians!

Sport Extra

EPL: Aston Villa sack Sherwood

im Sherwood was sacked as Aston Villa manager yesterday, less than 24 hours after a defeat against Swansea that left his side languishing in the Pre-

mier League relegation zone. Villa’s assistant manager, Ray Wilkins, firstteam coach, Mark Robson, and performance analyst, Seamus Brady, have also

left with immediate effect. Kevin MacDonald, who had been coaching Villa’s U-21 squad takes over as interim boss while Lerner searches for a permanent replacement for

Sherwood. Sherwood had been under increasing pressure during Villa’s dismal run of six successive league defeats and last Saturday’s 2-1 home loss proved the

final straw for the club’s owner Randy Lerner. “Aston Villa Football Club has parted company with manager Tim Sherwood today,” a statement on Villa’s website read.

Sherwood Emenike

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