Monday, september 28, 2015 (new 5) by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Trial of NNPC looters starts soon –Buhari

THE

BUSINESS SECTION

China's crude oil importation from Nigeria steady –Envoy P.6

Corporation to shut ailing refineries in 90 days

Vol. 5 N0. 1209

ed the revenue of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, under past administrations would

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in New York, United States, said prosecution of those who misappropriat-

UDEME AKPAN AND ROTIMI FADEYI

Monday, September 28, 2015

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Assets declaration

GEORGE OJI ABUJA

Why FG moved against Saraki PDP senators brace for battle Kwara monarchs caution FG

nbending stance of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his disregard for leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the constitution of principal offices and composition of the chairmanship of Senate committees have been identified as reason why the Federal Government moved against him. Our correspondent learnt that Saraki’s current travail has nothing to CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

ABUAD shares global laurel over asthma device P.6 Flood: NEMA monitors water level, states take pro-active steps P.4

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Tanimu Aduda; former Chairman of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, during the Independence Day anniversary interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

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Updated Sept 9, 2015

News

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why FG moved against Saraki CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

do with his emergence as senate president, which saw him conspiring with senators of the opposing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to clinch the coveted position against the preferred candidate of his party. The senate president is currently facing prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, over allegations of false and anticipatory assets declaration while in office as chief executive of Kwara State in 2003. Saraki, it was learnt, did not stop at disregarding his party’s preference for the remaining senate leadership positions after his emergence, he also further rebuffed the party by ensuring that he sidelined all the “enemy senators”, in the chairmanship of the senate committees, which is ready and due for announcement once the senate resumes from its annual vacation on Tuesday. This alleged anti party activities, it was learnt forced the Presidency and the leadership of the party to device a means of ensuring his removal by all means. Furthermore, it was also gathered that the President vowed that he would not send list of ministerial nominees to Saraki for screening, leading to all the coordinated efforts to ensure that he was cleared off the road at all cost. Indeed, it was alleged that part of the reasons why the announcement of the ministerial list had been delayed for so long by the President was attributed in part to the foregoing allegation. Our correspondent gathered that after initial anger at his emergence, President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC decided to over look the actions of Saraki and his arrogance. It would be recalled that having failed to install Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as President and Deputy President of the Senate respectively, the leadership of APC moved to constitute the remaining leadership positions. It was following this

decision that the party nominated Senators Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North), as Senate Leader while George Akume (Benue North West), was recommended for the post of Deputy Senate Leader. In the same vein, Senator Olushola Adeyeye (Osun Central), was nominated as Chief Whip and Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South) as Deputy Chief

Whip. The party followed its decision up with a letter by National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun to Saraki, conveying the party's decisions on the zoning of the offices. Unfortunately, Saraki rebuffed the party and went ahead to ensure that he had his way by ensuring that none of the “enemy senators” became

principal officers. In a related development, opposition PDP senators have vowed to throw their weight behind the embattled Saraki to ensure that they frustrate any moves by the presidency and APC to remove him from office. Our correspondent gathered that at a strategic meeting in Abuja at the weekend, the PDP sena-

tors reviewed the unfolding scenario at the senate and came to the conclusion that their fortunes are still better served under the leadership of Saraki, which accommodates Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President as well as guarantees greater number and choice committee chairmen. The PDP senators were also reported to have pro-

jected into other possible scenarios in the ongoing leadership developments and pledged to ensure that they use their numerical strength to protect the interest of members, including outright takeover of the senate with the irreconcilable disunity in the ranks of APC if the situation presents itself. At the moment, PDP CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Former US President, Bill Clinton; President Muhammadu Buhari and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, during Clinton’s arrival at the Millennium Hotel for the 70th UN General Assembly in New York, at the weekend.

Trial of NNPC looters starts soon –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

commence soon. He also restated his determination to fully sanitise the country’s oil industry and make it totally free of corruption and shady deals. Buhari said that a necessary first step in this direction had already been taken with the appointment of a new management for the NNPC and its subsequent reorganisation. A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina stated that Buhari spoke at a meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations. Buhari thanked Jinping for China’s ongoing help in curbing crude oil theft in the country. The President applaud-

ed China's interception of shiploads of crude oil stolen from Nigeria, and which were to be sold and proceeds paid into private accounts. “We know your stand on corruption, and we are grateful. Your continued cooperation in curbing oil theft from Nigeria will be appreciated,” Buhari told the Chinese leader. He also said that under its new leadership, the Nigerian military had been re-trained and re-equipped, and was now making steady gains against Boko Haram. In his remarks, Jinping told Buhari that China, which was already involved in Nigeria in diverse areas like railway, airports, agriculture, and in the Mambilla Hydro-power project, among others, would increase its investment in the agricultural sector to sup-

port the achievement of domestic food security. He also promised further Chinese investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and more support for human capital development in the country. Meanwhile, NNPC said it will seek the approval of the Federal Government to shut refineries that failed to hit at least 60 per cent operational capacity in the next 90 days. Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Corporation, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who confirmed the development in Lagos said it is only at that level that the refineries would be able to break even and make profit. He said it will be uneconomical to operate refineries that cannot make at least 60 per cent operational capacities. Kachikwu indicated that the refineries have to

attain that level of operations to assist the government in checking fraudulent activities which were perpetuated in the past through crude oil allocation to the plants. The GMD disclosed that it would be better to shut down the refineries, currently undergoing maintenance than allow operators to perpetuate corruption. “It is better for us to export our crude oil to the export market and generate foreign exchange for the nation than send it to refineries that do not have the capacities to refine it. “If the refineries were my personal assets, I will sell them. But they are not mine. They are still important national assets and will not be sold now. We intend to ensure they are well-maintained. But I will seek the approval of Mr. President to sell should

they become unprofitable to run. “We have four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna with 445,000 barrels per day capacity. These refineries were built many years ago. So, we must appreciate the efforts of engineers in keeping them operational,” he said. Kachikwu maintained that the Corporation needs to move from providing social services to business. He indicated that NNPC must ensure continuous maintenance of the plants to enable them refine crude oil allocated to them. The GMD said this is important because the operational capacity of the refineries is only 30 per cent now. “We need them to attain at least 60 per cent operational capacity. It is that level that they can break CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

...study reveals only 5 per cent toilet users wash hands correctly

ith Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) now out of the way in the country, handshake has returned as the acceptable way of greeting. However, a recent study has called for caution in handshakes because many people are likely carrying tons of infectious bacteria in their hands. The study found out that many people do not wash their hands after using the toilet and even when they do, 95 per cent do not wash them properly. The rate might be worse for people in Nigeria and other African country where hygiene is poorly observed. The researchers from Michigan State University, found that after using the restroom, 95 per cent of people fail to wash their hands long enough to kill harmful bacteria. The team trained a dozen students to inconspicuously observe and collect data on hand-washing behaviour in restrooms in bars, restaurants and other public places in a college town. In all, 3,749 people weren’t observed. According to them, only two in three people use soap, while one in 10 skips the sink altogether. The study also showed that few men practise hand hygiene compared to women, because they see it as a cumbersome task. However, to achieve a proper hand wash, one does not even need sterilized

or clean water, another study revealed. In the study which took place in an urban squatter settlement in Pakistan, where water was faecally contaminated, one group of women were given soap, a safe water vessel and the means to sterilize their water; another had soap alone and had to use untreated water to wash their hands. Testing their hands, researchers found both groups had greatly reduced bacterial counts, compared with a third group who hadn’t used soap. So they concluded that even dirty water can be effective as long as soap is used. In a fascinating new book, Adam Hart, a biologist, broadcaster and professor of science communication at the University of Gloucestershire, revealed that men are particularly soapaverse. He said that about half of men (50.3 per cent) washed with soap and water, around 35 per cent merely rinse with water, while 15 per cent didn’t bother to wash at all. “Women fared far better, with only 7 per cent not washing and 78 per cent using soap and water”, he said. However, proper hand hygiene does not merely involve regular hand wash and washing with soap, it also involves the length of time spent hand washing, another study said. The study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, found out that only 30 per cent of people washed for longer than nine seconds and 70 per cent did

DID YOU KNOW?

Extra fiber in processed foods could halt type-2 diabetes

ncreasing the amount of fibre contained in staple foods like bread, pasta, cakes and biscuits could reduce cases of obesity and heart disease, says a new study. The scientists from King’s College, London, say a change in the way processed food is m a d e could lead to the creation of ‘ d i ab e t i c f r i e n d ly ’ f o o d s . Their ex-

periments showed eating porridge made from larger fibre particles produced significantly lower blood sugar levels than a bowl made with traditional smooth wheat flour. Both were made of the same ingredients and had the same nutrient contents, but starch was digested more slowly in the coarser porridge. Within two hours of eating coarser particles, blood sugar was 33 per cent lower and insulin 43 per cent lower. Researchers also found people were less likely to experience an undesirable “sugar low” following the earlier peak in blood sugar than when they ate the smooth porridge.

Good Health

Think twice before shaking hands!

FRANKA OSAKWE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PAGE

Monday, September 28, 2015

so for less than eight seconds (including the 10 per cent who didn’t bother at all). The study concludes that washing hands for a longer time, about 15 to 30 seconds will remove germs better than short time. “Again, drying is vital, as bacteria like moist surfaces and are more easily transferred to and from wet hands. While there’s contradictory evidence

imple lifestyle changes can reduce the number of cancer cases, according to research.The findings revealed that 38 per cent of breast cancer cases – 20,300 a year – could be avoided if women led healthier lives. And experts said small adjustments could prevent 19,800 cases of bowel cancer, 2,200 of kidney cancer and 1,400 of pancreatic cancer. In men, nine per cent of advanced prostate cancers could be prevented if victims were not overweight. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, accounting for almost one in three new cases. In men, prostate cancer is the most common at 26 per cent. According to The Research Fund’s person, Dr. Rachel Thompson, minor adjustments such as 10 to 15 minutes of extra physical activity a day, cutting down

about different methods, the conclusion is that drying with paper towels is the best means of removing bacteria (the friction of rubbing against the process)”, it further said said. skin aids the process)” Sweaty hands are also a major concern, according to researchers from Aberystwyth University-Ceredigion in UK. They found that definite number of people who do not wash their hands after using the toilet will get sweaty palms. “These people while leaving a room will twist a presumably copper doorknob. Their sweaty palms will counteract the antimicrobial properties of copper, allowing the bacteria to live until another person’s hand makes contact. Then, the cycle continues”, they said. This situation is even worse in health care setting, where these germs are passed around easily, with almost 40 percent of doctors worldwide failing to wash their hands, according to a World Health Organization report. “In a hospital, your child may be getting treated for a burn, but after a talk with his doctor and a simple goodbye handshake, you may find yourself battling at least a stomach virus or the flu”, says David Whitworth, a senior lecturer at Aberystwyth University-Ceredigion and author of ‘The fist bump: A more hygienic alternative to the handshake’. While many like Whitworth suggests that fist bump be adopted as an alternative to handshake, others emphasize more on regular proper hand washing, achieved with soap, longer duration and proper drying.

Healthy lifestyle can reduce cancer cases

on alcohol or limiting high-calorie food and sugary drinks will decrease the risk. Fund director Amanda McLean added that Prevention must be part of the solution to the epidemic. “There is a no doubt simple change to diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference”, he said. Professor Kevin Fenton of Public Health England said: “A major factor is that prevention is not in the public consciousness. The link between tobacco and cancer is widely known but many are not yet fully convinced that healthy eating, regular exercise and not drinking alcohol can lower your risk.”

Photo News

Monday, September 28, 2015

L-R: Son of the late Prince Badewole Olowojoba, Adeyemi; daughter, Adeboye; widow, Mrs. Bamidele; son, Adeola and daughter, Adekemi, during the funeral service for the deceased in Lagos, at the weekend.

L-R: Senior Manager, Business Development, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Henry Okoede; Managing Director, Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Adebisi Shonubi and Chief Executive Officer, VAS2Nets Technologies Ltd, Mr. Ayo Stuffman, during MTN and NIBSS partnership in Lagos, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Head, Marketing and Communications, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Stanbic IBTC Bank,; Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Obinnia Abajue; Head: Transactional Products and Services, Babatunde Macauley and Head, Business Banking, Lloyd Onaghinon, during the launch of Stanbic IBTC Virtual Business Centre in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Newly married couple, Mr. Chinedu Nwawuba and Ifeoma, and Public Relations Officer, Aqui Agora Consulting Group, Mrs. Nelly Ohuche, during an exclusive relationship building retreat for couples in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

National News

ational Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in the South-South Zone says it is monitoring water level in flood prone areas to check any adverse effect on the people and the environment. South-South Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Benjamin Oghenah, said flood situation in the zone had not reached an emergency level. Some state governments in the zone said they have taken proactive measures to check imminent flooding should the water level increase. Oghenah said in Port Harcourt that hydrologists check the flood level in the zone three times a week. “The flood level is raising everyday but it has not reached emergency level according to the information I received from the hydrologists that check it weekly. “We got information that the flood level in Agenebode, Edo State has affected their farm lands; we pray that it will not get to their houses as we experience rain daily

Flood: NEMA monitors water level, states take pro-active steps in the area,” he said. The Coordinator expressed worry that sand and dirt had blocked the drainage system in some states in the zone, making it impossible for rainwater to flow. “The drains in the South-South zone need to be maintained, to save the area from flooding; some of these drains have gone beyond the citizens. “They don’t have tools to evacuate sand and waste from the drains and that makes it needful for government to intervene to maintain it and control flood,“ he said. Oghenah said those living along flood prone areas had not relocated since water level had not risen in the area, though there were speculations to that. “States in this zone are making preparations in case there is flood though it may come or

not because rain falls every day. “Delta State has a place for people to relocate in case there is flood, Rivers is also preparing a place among others,” Oghenah said. The Coordinator, however, commended Rivers State Government for sponsoring awareness campaigns and warning citizens against blocking drains and to be sanitation conscious. “We are happy that the awareness is being sustained; the state government is able to sponsor a lot of jingles on air. “We think that citizens will hear this and adhere to the warnings against blocking drains,” Oghenah said. Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Chief John Nani, said the state government had introduced a compulsory mid-month environmental sanitation to

complement the monthly sanitation as a measure to check flooding. The commissioner said in Asaba that human activities were the major cause of drainage blockages and flooding. He said the state government in line with the predictions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) sensitised all communities living in the coastal regions of the state in their own languages. He noted that the state government had designated four stadia and procured mattresses and other materials ahead of the expectations should the predictions come true. In Cross River, the state government said it has, so far, recorded two deaths as a result of flooding in the state. Director-General, Cross River Emergency Management Agency,

SEMA, Mr Vincent Aquah, made the disclosure in Calabar. “This tragic incident happened in Ikom Local Government Area of the state,” he said. The director general said property worth millions of naira was destroyed, adding that the occupants were affected economically and socially. He said 10 local governments are prone to flooding with the gradual release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Aquah listed the local government areas as Odukpani, Abi, Yakurr, Ogoja, Ikom, Etung, Yala, Calabar Municipality and Calabar South. He said that the agency had begun sensitisation in the perceived affected areas to enlighten them on the way forward. Stakeholders in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State ap-

pealed to the government to construct drains and dredge rivers in Eket to cushion the effect of flood in the area. According to them, lack of good drainage system and none dredging of Rivers in Eket and its environs contributed to the recent flooding in the state. Village Head of Ekpene Afaha, Eket, Chief Enim Ekanem, attributed the persistence flood to over flow of bank river (Eketai River) as it submerges drainage system, houses and other structure. He said Afaha Eket community was worst hit during flooding in the local government area. He said that the effects of the flood are destruction of farm lands, houses, properties, bedding, drainage system while lamenting that residents had been displaced due to flood.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Monday, September 28, 2015

Trial of NNPC looters starts soon –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

even and make profit. We will even want them to do more than 60 per cent on a sustainable basis in the next three months. “Any refinery that cannot meet that target will be shut. It is better for us to sell the crude and generate revenue for the government than breed corruption in the process of allocating crude oil to plants that do not have the capacities to refine it. “But Nigerians should know that the problem is not limited to the refineries. We must also get the pipelines to work in order to enable them deliver crude oil to refineries as well as distribute petroleum products nationwide,” he added. He lamented that the nation’s pipelines were being attacked too frequently,

thus affecting the supply and distribution of crude oil and petroleum products. Kachikwu maintained that it was becoming very uneconomic and unprofitable to use other options for distribution. He said major reforms would be carried out, including the unbundling of Pipelines Products Marketing Company, PPMC, to perform more efficiently in meeting the expectations of the government. The GMD also said it is important to work towards the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. He remarked that the passage of the bill remains the responsibility of the National Assembly. He said: “We intend to play a supportive role. But we will not wait for the PIB before doing what we are supposed

to do. We will continue to do our best in many areas, including the upstream sector with the cooperation and support of stakeholders. “We need the support of stakeholders, especially

the International Oil Companies, IOCs, to understand we need to invest, explore and produce more crude oil and natural gas. We intend to go and sit with them at their foreign

headquarters to discuss. “If we reach agreements in major areas, including costing, it will be possible for us to increase investments in oil and gas with or without the PIB.

“But we need to produce in a very cost effective manner. The cost of producing oil is till high in Nigeria. We need to reviews and get it done at about $20 per barrel.”

One of the cars built by students of the University of Lagos, University of Benin and Ahmadu Bello University, for the forthcoming Shell Eco-marathon Africa contest in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Why FG moved against Saraki CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

has 49 members in the 109 senate, while APC enjoys slight majority of 59, excluding the late Senator Ahmed Zannah (Borno Central), who died last April, shortly after the March polls. A source at the PDP senators’ meeting told our correspondent that after reviewing the situation on ground, they were very optimistic that APC would not be able to muster the needed number to remove Saraki, considering the 49 PDP block votes as well as some splinter votes from the ruling party. The source explained that since President Buhari would not be disposed to spending hugely to destabilise the senators because of his anti corruption postures, it would be difficult to get any of the lawmakers switch loyalty easily as was the case in the past when such situations arose at the National Assembly. He said: “Once the President attempts to bribe anybody directly or uses any of his agents, the plan would be exposed and it will bring the President to national and international ridicule.” The lawmaker also revealed that part of the de-

cisions taken at the parley was to brace up strongly against executive interferences with the activities of the senate. “It was agreed that now that it is obvious that the executive wants to be the arm dictating for the legislature, we have decided to do our work the way it should actually be done, particularly with our oversight functions. “The starting point is with the ministerial list, which will come in as we resume next week. We will ensure that we carry out proper screening of the list, and anybody who fails the tests, we will not hesitate to do the needful,” he added. The lawmaker also hinted of possible impeachment notice against the President because, so far, according to him, “the President has committee obvious and unpardonable impeachment offenses.” Meanwhile, Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council has risen in support of Saraki. The monarchs stated at the weekend that it was obvious that the Senate President was being persecuted by the Federal Government. A statement from the media office of the Senate President in Abuja

yesterday said the monarchs pledged to continue to support and pray for Saraki, who is regarded as leader of Kwara politics to overcome his present challenges. They also reminded the present administration that Nigerians who voted for APC in the last election, voted for change and not for political harassment of perceived opponents. Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who spoke when he led top Kwara traditional chiefs on a solidarity visit to Saraki’s residence in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital urged Nigerians to be wary of bad elements bent on dividing the country on account of political vendetta. Sulu-Gambari, who is the Chairman, Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, stated that since nobody can claim perfection, the resort to hurling political enemies before the courts over spurious charges is harmful. He said: “We are here for good reasons and to bring the goodwill of the Council of Chiefs, representing all the chiefs and traditional rulers of Kwara State. We came here to join our son (Bukola Saraki) with whom

we are much pleased. “We are ready to support him. We are here to see him on the various constitutional challenges, we would not call them problems, may God not make them problems for us. “It doesn’t take long for a 10-year old child to realise that our dear son, our precious son is being persecuted. The politics of persecution is not the right change for Nigeria. “We want changes; we want it to be clean. He who seeks equity must come with clean hands. If you want equity, you yourself must do equity. There is a situation where you must come with clean hands; there is situation where you must do equity to ask for equity. “We know there are several stages of challenges before our leader (Saraki) in Kwara State, such that nobody in Nigeria can ever be clean enough. But do we want to upset the whole Nigeria community because we want beautiful change? Time and posterity will tell. “But we want to appeal to men of goodwill that politics should not be with bitterness. Politics should be about the unity of this country. “We have come so far,

we have tried many forms of political structures. The one before us now, which God has given the APC, the APC has been given strait-jacket power of this country. We want to appeal for their understanding to keep what God has given them jealously from those who are ready to dismantle them. “We therefore came here to declare our unsolicited support, solidarity to our precious son. If you (Saraki) look back, you will see us in various forms, begging Almighty Allah to protect you. Nigeria should beware of destructive elements. Nobody is perfect. We are in this scheme to make Nigeria very strong in the comity of nations. “We have capable Nigerians, who can turn Nigeria around for good. Let us therefore face the issue before us instead of belabouring those things that will divide us permanently," he stated. Responding, Saraki told the monarchs that he was being persecuted rather than prosecuted over alleged false assets declaration. He however thanked the royal fathers for identifying with him over his current travails, saying he will overcome.

Saraki said: “There is nothing more for me to add because you have spoken. You have spoken from your years of experience as a father, and as someone who has headed a very great arm of government the judiciary. “Your words of wisdom and encouragement will continue to give me great confidence. As you rightly said, it is a challenging time, not only for us the politicians, but generally the country. “Be rest assured that with your support and your prayers, Insha Allah (God willing), we will overcome it. Because the entire people in this country know that this is not about prosecution, but persecution.” Other royal fathers on the delegation included the Emir of Gwanara, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, Alofa of Iloffa, Oba Samuel Dada, Olusin of Isanlu Isin, Solomon Ilufemiloye, Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, Olofa of Offa, Oba Muhammad Muftah (Esu Woye II), Emir of Kaima, Alhaji Sheu Muazu Umar, Etsu Tsaragi, Alhaji Abdullahi Ndakoto and the Olosi of Osi, Oba Salihu Adasofegbe.

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ABUAD shares global laurel over asthma device A BIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

or their excellent performance, it was all accolades for students of Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti, ABUAD, at the 2015

edition of the Microsoft Imagine Cup Competition, which held at Seattle, USA. Top executives of Microsoft corporation in USA praised ABUAD’s team, LifeWatch, for its invention of AsthmaVi-

sor, a gadget for a more efficient way of managing asthma, particularly among children. Microsoft Senior Director, Mrs Jenny LayFlurie, described Team LifeWatch, which comprised four ABUAD stu-

China’s crude oil importation from Nigeria steady –Envoy

hina’s Ambassador Gu Kiaojie says his country’s crude oil importation from Nigeria has been steady in the last five years. Kiaojie told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that contrary to insinuations, “China’s oil import from Nigeria remains steady.” “For the past four to five years China has never reduced the volume of crude oil importation

from Nigeria, the volume remains stable,” he stressed. The Chinese envoy, who described the current trend in the crude oil market as a global phenomenon, also said the global oil market was weak. He blamed the trend on weak global economy and the market forces of demand and supply, though he admitted that China is not a major crude oil importer in the world.

“China steadily purchases between two to three per cent of total global Nigerian crude oil export,” he said. He advised Nigerians to redouble efforts in looking inward and see what they can produce locally rather than rely on importation. Apart from crude oil, Kiaojie also said that China imports commodities like iron ore, soya beans from Nigeria on regular basis.

Successes against B’Haram show military can meet deadline –APC AYO ESAN

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has again hailed the Nigerian military for its string of successes in the battle against Boko Haram, saying the impressive performance has shown that the terror group can indeed be defeated within the time stipulated by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the continued push

to dislodge the terrorists from their fortress in Sambisa Forest and elsewhere, the dismantling of their major fuel depot and other logistics and the rescue of many innocent people from the clutches of the terrorists are clear indications that the military has gained the upper hand against Boko Haram. It said the mere fact that the terrorists were now surrendering in droves to the gallant troops of the Nigerian military is the clearest indication yet that the bandits are feeling the tremendous heat which has been turned on

them. The APC urged the troops to continue with their gallantry and patriotism until they have finally silenced the terror group that has caused the nation so much pain, stressing the need to step up intelligence gathering to stop the lone wolf suicide bombers. The party also commended the Service Chiefs for their leadership, saying their personal example, which has seen them on the battle front many times, had made all the difference in motivating their troops.

Police beef up security at Millennium Park

igeria Police have tightened security at the Millennium Park, Abuja, to safeguard the lives and properties of fun seekers. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, who visited the park on Sunday, noted an unusual traffic jam at the entrance of the park. Some of the fun seekers, who spoke to NAN, attributed the unusual traffic to screening and checking of cars entering the park by police officers.

A police officer, who pleaded anonymity, said though there was regular security presence at the park, the Eid-el Kabir celebration prompted the beefing up of security to avoid any mishap. “There is usually security presence here every day but the celebration of Sallah has made us beef up security to avoid any bomb blast or calamity. “We have deployed our men into and around the park to ensure that people trooping into the park to

have fun and their properties are safe,” he said. A holiday maker, Mrs Hauwa Sule, who said she was having picnic with her family at the park, commended the police, saying their presence at the park made her feel safe. She said she brought her family to the park to have good time. Another picnicker, Mr Israel Chukwu, said the public holidays afforded him the opportunity to relax and have fun with his family.

dents as the best team in Africa in five years. Similarly, the Deputy Director of Bill and Melinda Gates, Jeninie Firpo, described the team’s invention as awesome. A statement from ABUAD spokesperson, Tunde Olofintila, said that Imagine Cup is a global student technology programme and competition that provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications, games and integrate solutions that can change the way the world lives, works and plays. Team LifeWatch comprised Adeyemo Oluwaseun Kayode, Raymond Obinaju, Sobola Timilehin David, and Ahwin Kevin. It emerged fourth among the five teams nominated for Imagine Cup Ability Award on account of the potential impact the projects could have on the lives of peo-

ple with disabilities and design principles, usability and potential in the market place. Other criteria for assessment included how the project had been tested with people with disabilities and overall quality of the execution. Team Prognosis from Greece, which invented a solution for Parkinson disease detection and intervention, won the award as the solution had already been deployed on a large scale and in use by disabled people for about a year now in Greece. Team Lifewatch’s journey to the finals of competition among higher institutions in Nigeria began with ABUAD winning in Nigerian to qualify for the African Zone (semifinals) where it defeated higher institutions in other African countries including Burkina Faso, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt, Angola, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to

qualify for the world finals. The seven-man panel of industry experts was so impressed with ABUAD Team Lifewatch’s superlative performance that it opted for a 10-minute hands-on demonstration with the team to test its solution (AthsmaVisor). The recommendations Team LifeWatch got from the judges also led to a private session organised for the team with Microsoft Brand Manager, Dennis Tom. This, according to the judges, was a proof of how much they loved project and how they “cannot wait to see it in the market.” During the private session which lasted 40 minutes, important issues relating to how the solution could be improved upon and how a partnership could be established with Microsoft for making the solution a reality were discussed.

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Monday, September 28, 2015

Railway union demands ‘friendly technocrat’ as transport minister Olusegun Koiki

L-R: Founder, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Olasubomi Balogun; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Saturday.

NASS polarisation risky for change in Nigeria – Ladoja Kemi Olaitan, Ibadan

ormer Oyo State governor and National Leader of Accord Party, AP, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, has warned that polarisation in the National Assembly will frustrate any efforts to deliver the change Nigerians yearn for. Ladoja, who gave the warning in a chat with journalists in Ibadan at the weekend, called on the All Progressives Congress, APC, to sit-up and resolve the in-fighting and power tussle within its ranks in order not to cause unnecessary distraction for President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the prolonged period of being in opposition may be affecting APC such that its members were finding it difficult to reach consensus on many issues, and resort to attacking themselves. According to him, the crisis rocking the National Assembly has led to underperformance through constant recess while the lawmakers continue to earn salaries and allowances for work not done. Ladoja maintained that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was able to manage its crisis in House of Representatives under Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, wondering on the seeming inability of APC to manage its crisis. Warning that any attempt to shop for the replacement of the embattled Senate President, Bukola

Saraki’s successor by the ruling party will further deepen the crisis in the Senate, Ladoja said the fact that majority of National Assembly members were at the Code of Conduct Bureau during the docking of the Senate President showed the House is already divided against itself. He however described the trial of Saraki as democracy in practice, urging Nigerians to allow the Senate President defend himself. He said, “The National Assembly has to put its house in order before its members can do anything at all. How many days have they been on holiday just

because they know their house is not in order, but at the same time their allowances and salaries go on? When you get to government after long years in the opposition, you will be attacking yourselves until people remind you that you are now in government. I think what is happening is ‘if you Tambuwal me, I will Saraki you.’ “PDP was able to manage its crisis under Tambuwal. But it seems APC are unable to manage their own crisis. As long as they continue to create tension, nothing will come out of the National Assembly. Nearly all the senators were at the Code of Conduct Tri-

bunal. So the house is already polarised. I think the President should sit down and say I am the president. He told us that he can work with anybody and I still believe him. “The trial of Saraki is democracy at work, but we have to wait until the end of the case if indeed he is guilty or not. If APC shops for successor now, the house may be plunged into further katakata because it was not only Saraki that left PDP to APC. Others will say if they can do this to Saraki, then it can be done to them too. They can return to the PDP where they think they will be comfortable.”

igeria Union of Railway Workers, NUR, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a ‘railway-friendly technocrat’ as Minister of Transport ahead of the much-awaited ministerial list from the presidency. The union requested that such minister should also reflect the gains of Buhari’s administration on ongoing anti-corruption campaign in sustainable development of the nation’s rail transport sub-sector. Secretary-General of the NUR, Comrade Segun Esan, disclosed this yesterday in a statement. Esan insisted that it was necessary for Buhari to appoint a technocrat who understands the economic importance of the rail transport system to the development of the nation, rather than a politician who is ignorant of the relevance of the sector to the society. He declared that railway development had to continue if the nation as truly keen on achieving any meaningful development for the country, decrying that despite the promises of the past governments NRC could not boast of having up to 30 fully operational locomotive engines, which he explained was the fulcrum of rail transport business. He added, “The corporation is still grossly defi-

cient of passenger coaches and goods wagons to really meet the growing market share of the traffic offer available to it. Now that the anti-corruption campaign is being vigorously pursued and yielding practical results with evident tracking of the stolen funds, it will be good that the gains of the anti-corruption campaign is invested in the railway to reverse the infrastructural deficiency in the rail transport system.” Esan also advised Federal Government to come up with a realistic longterm development plan that would be followed in the sustainable development of the nation’s rail transport system. He declared that a welldeveloped and effectively managed railway system would reduce carnage on the road, strengthen the integration of the nation, and significantly stimulate socio-economic growth and livability of the citizenry. He appealed to the President to ensure the turnaround of the railway system in the next couple of years to justify the support and good wishes given the administration by NRC workers. He said the ongoing rehabilitation and re-equipping drive that began in 2009 managed to resuscitate the corporation, pointing out however that more needs to be done in terms of repositioning the rail transport industry as a major player in national development.

Military tasks Nigerians on anti-terrorism war

igerian Army yesterday appealed to Nigerians to team up with the military in its efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency. Making the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Maiduguri, Maj.Gen. Yushau Abubakar, the Theatre Commander, Operation “Lafiya Dole”, said one of the key roles the people could play is to volunteer vital information. Abubakar explained that the anti-terrorism war cannot succeed through military operations alone. “I want to inform all that this operation should

not be seen as purely military; it should be seen as an inclusive peace operation, where everybody has a role to play. “This battle can best be won at the quickest time with the co-operation of all stakeholders. “We need information; we need co-operation; we need synergy, we need support, support in the sense that we have lots of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. I believe good Nigerians, good organisations, either domestic or international, can always come to assist. “While this is being done, the military is faced with the task of degrading, destroying and ar-

resting the terrorists,” he said. The commander urged wealthy individuals and corporate organisations to also assist by providing logistics to the military to aid its operations. “In a situation where you find us in more areas than expected, then our attention will be diverted. That is why we need the cooperation of other stakeholders. “About two weeks ago, Toyota Nigeria Limited made a donation; such support will enhance our efficiency,’’ Abubakar said. He also advised Nigerians to form vigilante groups in their localities

and places of work, to prevent attacks by terrorists. “We are appealing to everybody to take charge of security of his or her environment by being vigilant and reporting strange happenings. “The military will do all it takes to secure the society, but Nigerians must help out by being vigilant,” he added. He lamented the spate of explosions in motor parks despite that the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, is one of the strongest unions in Nigeria in terms of membership and organisation. “Unfortunately we always have challenges or cases of bomb blasts in

motor parks. “I will appeal to NURTW, market organisations and religious bodies that security should be our collective responsibilities,’’ he said. He however commended Nigerian journalists for their support in the anti-terrorism war. “It is important that we should always be interacting with journalists, so that Nigerians will know what we are doing; so that our efforts will not only be appreciated by the military high command, but also the citizens of the country, who want peace to come back to this part of the country,’’ Abubakar said.

South West

Monday, September 28 , 2015

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Tariff Review: IBEDC presents new plan Tuesday Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ollowing successful completion of consultations on the proposed tariff review, management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, yesterday said it will hold a customer forum where it will present new tariff. It would be recalled that IBEDC, in compliance with the directive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, had held stakeholders’ meetings across states under its coverage, where the propose tariff was discussed with customers. According to a statement issued in Osogbo by the Osun Regional Communication and Branding officer of IBEDC, Kikelomo Owoeye, the presentation of the report of the stakeholders’ meetings

will be done on Tuesday. The statement reads: “The presentation is sequel to the Tariff Review Public Consultative Forum recently held in all the IBEDC’s regions in Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Kwara states on Tuesday 8th, September, 2015 as directed by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. “IBEDC hereby invites all her esteemed customers to this forum holding in Ibadan to enable them have first hand information about the proposed new tariff structures as presented by IBEDC to the NERC for approval.” The spokesperson then reiterated the commitment of the company to ensure that no customer is shortchanged in the new tariff plan, stressing that the review was borne out of the need for appropriate pricing of power for mutual benefits.

Man arrested for vandalism claims to be LAWMA staff Francis Suberu

peratives of Lagos security outfit, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, have arrested a suspected member of a two-man syndicate that specialised in vandalising and stealing street light cables at Opebi in Ikeja area of the state. The suspect, Ibrahim Alli, 29, who claimed to be working with Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, at Onipanu was caught Friday by RRS patrol team. His partner, simply identified as Yusuf, who was assisting him at the crime scene escaped the dragnet of the police. But, RRS said efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspect. According to the police, the RRS men were on routine patrol in the area when they sighted the two men, vandalising street light power cables, leaving the entire community in blackout. As the policemen were approaching, the two suspects took to their heels, but were given a hot chase by the opera-

tives, leading to the arrest of Alli. Police investigation revealed that the suspect is a native of Yola Local Government in Adamawa State. He confessed to the crime, saying that avaricious led him to the crime. “I am a staff of Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, at Onipanu, but I was not contented with my meager salary. And my friend, Yunusa, introduced this act of robbery to me. “On the midnight, I and Yunusa, went to Opebi in Lagos to steal street light cable. While I was arrested, Yunusa, who is my leader, escaped. It is him, Yunusa, who used to sell the cable and I don’t know the receiver. I only assist him in vandalising the cables. He only gives me N1,000 or N1,500 after the sales”, he said in his confessional statement to the police. Exhibits recovered from the suspect include, vandalised electrical cable, shovel, LAWMA Identity Card bearing his name and one wristwatch.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (middle), Prof. Oladapo Afolabi (right), Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade (left) and Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge (right), during Eid-el Kabir get-together party in Ibadan, at the weekend.

Lagos confirms 5 dead, 17 rescued in Ikorodu boat mishap

...plans stiffer guidelines, enforcement Francis Suberu

agos State Government yesterday confirmed that five people lost their lives in a tragic boat mishap, which occurred at the weekend. A statement signed by Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Mrs. Abisola Kamson, said the mishap occurred at Oke Ira Nla, Ajah-Bayeku, Ikorodu axis of the state. According to the statement, the incident involved a Bayeku Ferry Association commercial boat carrying 20 passenger and

two crew members. Kamson said upon receiving the notification, the Authority’s Water Guards were immediately deployed to the scene of the incident to assist in rescue efforts. She confirmed that all passengers onboard were wearing life jackets, revealing that 17 were rescued alive, while five, who were earlier rushed to the nearest General Hospital, died afterwards. The LASWA boss said preliminary investigation by the authority revealed that aside the mechanical fault that developed when the steering cable

connected to the engine propeller cut, the captain of the boat was possibly also over-speeding, adding that he is presently being questioned by the Marine Police. She also revealed that the state government has concluded plans to embark on an aggressive campaign and enforcement of guidelines for commercial boat operators, in a bid to forestall the tide of boat mishap in the state. According to Kamson, the new drive is in line with the commitment of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to

CAC charges Buhari to avoid tribalism Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

resident, Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Worldwide, Pastor Gabriel Lagunju, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to avoid tribalism in his day to day running of the country, saying this has been the bane of Nigeria. He said this while delivering the sermon to mark the 2015 Annual General Convention of the church with the theme: “The end time events”, held at the CAC, Ile Anu, Alasepe, Ikire. He stated that the country will continue to find it difficult to take

its rightful place in the comity of nations unless the fight against nepotism is taken seriously such that Nigerians irrespective of their tribe will see themselves as one. According to him, Nigeria is blessed by God with all that it needs to make it great, noting that the leadership of the country should make it a point of duty to work so that all issues of tribalism will become things of the past. Pastor Lagunju, whose sermon was delivered by Pastor Henry Ojo, also called on the President, to give more room for church in the country to grow, stating

that the church is the gate that can put a stop to the works of the devil. He then assured that CAC as a church will continue to pray for the success of the present administration, maintaining that the church is happy with the steps so far taken by the administration, most especially in the fight against corruption, which he said has eaten deep into all the fabrics of the nation. The CAC President however urged Buhari to make the fight a total one and bring those that have soiled their hands to justice irrespective of their tribe or political affiliation.

ensure that water transportation by all standard, remains the most efficient and cost effective mode of transportation. She said: “The Lagos State Government in its drive to promote a multimodal transport system, especially the movement of passengers, goods and services on its waterways, will under no circumstances compromise safety standards and the protection of lives and property. “As such, we restate our commitment to the promotion of all safety measures and ensure that all operators comply with all safety standards in line with global best practices. “You will recall that on Wednesday, September 23, at Sabokoji Jetty in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, the Lagos State Waterways Authority commenced the distribution of 2,400 life jackets to students of riverine areas. Also, there were live demonstration of how to wear the life jackets, how to administer CPR and provision of water safety tips and vital life saving information. Kamson noted that LASWA in furtherance of its core functions and policy objectives will in the coming days convene a stakeholders’ meeting where all commercial and private boat owners will converge and dialogue on boat operation in the state.

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South West 9

Monday, September 28 , 2015

Ado Poly shifts post-UTME tests over TSA Abiodun Nejo ADO-EKITI

reasury Single Account, TSA, policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has compelled the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, to shift the date of its post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, P-UTME Screening test. The test will now hold between next Monday and Friday in the institution, no more this week as earlier scheduled. The institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr Ade AdeyemiAdejolu, said: “The latest postponement was due chiefly to challenges experienced by many prospec-

tive candidates in possessing their e-transact PIN from banks as a result of recent government banking policy on TSA” and last week’s sallah holidays. Adeyemi-Adejolu said in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday that the postponement became imperative due to “the need to enable hitch-free preparation and successful conduct of the screening test with the hope that the shifting would afford many prospective candidates normalise their registration.” He urged all interested candidates yet to complete their online application to do so until Wednesday when the admission portal would be closed for further administration.

L-R: Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Rev. Tola Awolowo Oyediran, during a condolence visit to the Awolowos at Ikenne-Remo, yesterday.

Strike: Osun students beg govt, I won’t lose focus, lecturers to resolve differences says Aregbesola

Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

sun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has stated that no amount of criticisms will make him lose focus, saying he is determined to leave a better state at the completion of his tenure as governor. He said myriads of awards and accolades that Osun has received under his watch will continue to motivate him to leave behind a good legacy of a modern, developed and prosperous state. Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, obtained by newsmen in Osogbo, disclosed this in Lagos while receiving an award from the Law society of University of Lagos at the weekend at Eko Hotel, Lagos. In a speech titled ‘Strictly for those that can see,’ Aregbesola said he remained determined and focused at all times not minding detractors to leave behind a far better state than what he inherited. He pointed out that he is encouraged with the various laurels that had come to the state in recent past recognising the developmental projects his ad-

ministration has brought to Osun. Recounting his various developmental projects, the governor said his administration, when it came on board, commenced the building of state-of-the art 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools. He added that his administration introduced the revolutionary Opon Imo which contains all the recommended textbooks for all subjects examined by WAEC, NECO and JAMB. Aregbesola noted the present administration has rehabilitated all the hospitals in the state, stocked them with drugs and made the provision of qualitative healthcare free in the state, as part of the human development programme. The governor said 21 township roads were constructed and rehabilitated in Osogbo, 13 township roads in Ede and 15 inner township roads constructed and commissioned in Ilesa. He added that 79 kilometres of intra-city roads were constructed and rehabilitated coupled with 20 other roads traversing the cities, and covering a total of 294.27 kilometres in the different Federal Constituencies.

Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

ational Association of Osun State Students, NAOSS, yesterday implored academic staff in the stateowned tertiary institutions and the government to shift grounds in order to resolve their differences so students can return to class. It would be recalled that students in Osunowned polytechnics and Colleges of Education last Monday protested continued closure of their campuses caused by

disagreements between the government and academic staff in the institutions. While the students said they identified with the demands of their lecturers, they also reminded of tremendous impacts by the present administration on the education sector in the state. The students, at a press conference in Osogbo, addressed by the NAOS president, Comrade Animasahun Adekunle, flanked by other executives of the body, said they recognised many challenges before the government especially the

current national economic crisis. It however urged the state government to reach a compromise with the striking lecturers, even as it called on the relevant stakeholders in the matter to arrive at a common ground in the interest of the students. The statement read in part, “Having acknowledged the meaningful impact of the current government on education, we are appealing to the state government to help us find lasting solution to the incessant strikes in the state-owned tertiary institutions by

Ambode assures on electoral promises Francis Suberu

agos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has assured Lagosians that he would fulfill the electoral promises he made to the people, especially in the area of infrastructural renewal. The governor, who spoke at the 2015 Ojude Oba Epe Festival held at Epe Recreation Ground, Epe over the weekend, noted that the infrastructural renewal drive of the previous administration in the state will receive adequate attention in the course of

his administration. Ambode said the used the first three months of his administration to set up an institutional framework, assuring that going forward, Lagosians will begin to witness more development across the state. “I have no choice, I have to do it for all Lagosians, that’s what I am committed to do. I have said I am going to be selfless about service and that’s what I am going to do and you will see it. What I have done in the last three months is to set up the institutional framework and if you want to build a house, you have to lay the foundation,

you will now see what I’ll be doing in the next three and half years. You watch and see,” he said. He also assured people of Epe that development will also get to their area, saying aside being a native of Epe, the town has witnessed less development in recent times. “For Epe, you can see, in terms of the rural local governments, Epe is the most rural and in terms of the divisions, Epe is the least of all the five divisions. So for them, the best thing we can do is to increase the infrastructural development here in Epe and also help them to develop in other areas,” he

taking into consideration our proposal which will assist the government in curbing the effects of yearly strike in the state. “We equally call on the government to urgently seek dialogue with our lecturers in order for us to resume soonest as pledged by the deputy governor and Education commissioner, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori while addressing us during our protest on Monday. “We equally thank our lecturers for peacefully pressing home their demands from the government without any rancor. But we appeal to them to shift grounds by considering and reasoning with government to fashion out modalities that would guard against further action that may delay our resumption as promised.” The NAOS president also appreciated Governor Rauf Aregbesola for increasing students’ bursary allowance from N3,000 to N10,000, urging him to pay all the outstanding allowances to the beneficiaries. “We equally call on the government to pay our bursary, though we appreciate the government for deeming it fit to increase our bursary allowance from the initial amount of N3,000 being paid by the previous government to N10,000,” it said.

South East

Monday, September 28, 2015

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N142m debt: Oduah moves to stop suit by EFCC Wale Igbintade

n a bid to stop the arrest of former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N142 million debt, her firm, Sea Petroleum and Gas Company Limited, alongside six of its directors, have dragged the EFCC before a Federal high court in Lagos. The directors are Humphrey Enechukwu, Ifeanyi Davis, Magdalene Udumebraye Ideh, Emmanuel Nwaobu, Theophilus Aguguom and Nwaka Ogeyingbo. Joined as co-respondents are Union Homes Saving and Loans Plc and Lagos lawyer, Ken Ahia. The lawsuit was sequel to invitation letters sent to them by the anti-graft agency to come and state their own side in respect of a petition written to the EFCC by Union Homes Saving and loans Plc accusing them, including Oduah, of diversion of the bank's funds. In the said petition dated February 6, the former aviation minister was alleged to owe N142 million, which she has refused to pay despite several concessions. Consequently in the petition jointly signed by the head of debt recovery K.M Theophilus and Consultant (special Recovery) Inam Ukotak, Union Homes Saving and Loans urged EFCC to investigate the matter.

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has said his administration’s achievements within 18 months included attracting $2.4 billion investments to boost the state’s economy. The governor also revealed that Anambra’s internally generated revenue had increased from N500 million to N1.3 billion, showing indications that it would attain the N3 billion target. Obiano, while enumerating his achievements at an interactive session with key stakeholders of the state in Awka on Saturday night, further urged Anambra indigenes to support him. According to him, investments worth over $140 million have gone into the manufacturing sector, including

In an affidavit sworn to by Executive Director of Sea Petroleum and Gas company, Humphrey Enechukwu, in support of the fundamental right enforcement suit filed before the court by Lagos lawyer A.O Agboola, the deponent said that Sea Petroleum company bought numerous houses at Millennium Homes Oniru private estate, Lekki in 2007, where it accommodates its senior staff including the applicants. The houses were purchased with loans obtained in the name of the company from Union Bank Plc and Union Homes Saving and Loans. Due to general economic decline between 2008 and

2009 in Nigeria, the company was unable to service its loans obligations to Union Homes. In order not to classify the facility as bad debts, that would have resulted in the applicants losing their residential apartments, it was agreed between the parties that the loan be restructured. Consequently, the loan was restructured and fresh letters of offers dated December 31, 2009 were issued by Union Homes to the applicants, no money was physically given to them as the loan was made by means of notional transfers within the account of Union Homes. However, despite the series of good faith efforts made to repay the loan, on

March 2 the applicants received letter of invitation from EFCC in connection with the mortgage loan. Consequently the applicants are urging the court to declare that the threat of their arrest and detention by EFCC at the behest of Union Homes and Barr. Ahia for the purpose of enforcing payment of the mortgage loan alleged to have been due from the applicants, is a gross violation of the applicants’ fundamental rights as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, therefore illegal and unconstitutional. The applicants are also urging the court to restrain the respondents and their agents from arresting and

detaining them in respect of any matter pertaining to their contractual obligation to Union Homes. However in counter affidavit sworn to by a manager of Union Homes, Chika Onwubuya, she averred that the loan facilities were granted to both the applicants and to Oduah. Preliminary investigation also revealed that Oduah allegedly used the directors as proxy to collect facilities from Union Homes. Onwubuya averred further that the applicants have severally frustrated Union Homes accessing the title documents of the property which was part of the collateral used for the facility. The deponent also

averred that the substantial part of the applicants outstanding sum of the loan have not been repaid till date after undertaking to do so, contending therefore that the applicant instituted this suit with the intention of stopping EFCC from investigating the activities of the applicants who convert to their use the money obtained by false pretense. In view of this, the respondents urged the court in the interest of justice to dismiss the suit of the applicants and allow EFCC to perform its statutory duties as it has the power to recover proceeds of fraud and return same to the owners. The suit has been adjoined for judgement.

Hon. Rita Maduagwu (4th left); Speaker, Anambra House of Assembly (5th left), Governor Willie Obiano (7th left), Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of Awka Catholic Diocese (8th left); Justice Peter Umeadi (9th left), and other government functionaries and service chiefs in the state at the Independence Day celebration Holy Mass in Awka, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

I’ve attracted $2.4bn investments to Anambra —Obiano over $50 million dollars to build an automotive assembly plant at Ozubulu. Obiano said his administration’s target is to have

Emmanuel Ezeh Enugu

pex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday declared that there would be no formal activity to mark the 2015 Igbo day celebration. The event is usually celebrated yearly on September 29. President-General of Ohanaeze, Enwo Igariwey, who briefed journalists on the outcome of a meeting at Ohanaeze secretariat in Enugu, said this was a time

an operational oil and gas sector in the state by 2018. In education sector, the governor said 862 units of 10-classroom blocks have

been renovated across the 21 local government areas of the state. He also disclosed that N733 million was expended

on renovation of the Universal Basic Education, UBE, mission schools. Obiano, however, warned of impending

flood, particularly in Anambra West Local Government Area, and appealed to public-spirited individuals to assist.

Ohanaeze cancels Igbo Day celebration for sober reflection. Apparently referring to the outcome of the 2015 presidential election where Ohanaeze's choice, former President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated, he said "we had a meeting, a select group met in-house with Ohanaeze executive to discuss the Igbo day celebration. "It will be held low-key; branches are free to celebrate the Igbo day as they want, but at the national

level, we have decided on a review. The situation of things in the country calls for tact and unity among Ndigbo. This is also why the theme of this year's celebration is 'Ako na Uche; Njiko Aka' (tact and unity)." Igariwey, however, stated that even though there would be no activity at the national level of Ohanaeze to mark the day, "we are calling on Ndigbo to observe the compulsory three minutes of silence on September 29 for people who

died during the civil war." He added: "Our people should not be agitated or disappointed by lopsided appointments made by the President. We should remain calm, steadfast and think about how to develop our place. We should speak with one voice and avoid distractions." Earlier in an interview, former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Col. Joe Achuzie, called on Ndigbo not to despair but to remain viable

opposition. The Biafra war veteran said: "Having known that the President has distributed key positions," Ndigbo should only accept ministerial positions if they would use such in the interest of the zone. "If one is taking up the position, the person should not use it to popularise himself as others did in the past, it should only be on the basis of working for the interest of Ndigbo.

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South South

Monday, September 28, 2015

govt clears N1.4bn Army seizes 8 boats, 2.3m litres Rivers overseas scholarships debt of stolen diesel in Rivers R T Dennis Naku

Port Harcourt

roops of Operation Pulo Shield, OPS, of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt have seized 2.3 million litres of allegedly stolen diesel worth N3.45mfrom an illegal bunker site in Rivers State. The petroleum product was siphoned from the pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC. OPS Commander, Maj.Gen. Alani Okunlola, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday at Tamunotonye Ama in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of the state. Okunlola said two suspected oil thieves were ar-

rested at the bunker site, while several equipment used by the operators of the illegal bunker were seized during the raid. He said: “On September 23, troops of Sector 2 of OPS of 2 Brigade Army, Port Harcourt, stormed Tamunotonye-Ama community and discovered a very large bunkering site which operates illegally. “Troops during the raid discovered and seized eight large metal badges laden with stolen Automated Gas Oil, AGO, commonly referred to as diesel, while another 23 empty barges were also seized. “Two of the eight metal

badges have estimated capacity of seven tanker trucks each.” The OPS commander told newsmen that other items found at the site were 44 large plastic tanks, 22 illegal pumping dumps, 18 pumping machines, three speedboats, two outboard engines and a lengthy hose. He added that 19 storage tanks filled with stolen crude oil were also seized during the operation. “Two suspects in our custody will be interrogated, while the barges have been towed to Ogoloma Jetty in Okirika Local Government Area,” he said.

Okunlola said investigation into the activities of the operators of the illegal bunkers had begun. He said the investigation should reveal how they were able to operate in the area without being spotted. The OPS commander said under his command, the operation had increased the frequency of raids in a bid to end oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region. The site is located near the Onne Sea Port and the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone where several multinational oil and gas companies are operating.

iver State Governor, Nyesom Wike said his administration has spent N1.4bn to offset scholarships fees for its students studying abroad. The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, made the disclosure yesterday at an Inter-denominational Church Service, which took place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt, to commemorate the 55th National Day Anniversary. He said: “We thank the CAN president for expressing his concern about our students and want to assure you that His Excellency has so far spent N1.4bn so far on overseas scholarships. “Just last Thursday, he released N491m to make sure that every child of Rivers State schooling abroad must receive money. We would continue to help the children irrespective of how they got

there.” The governor was thankful to God for keeping the unity of Nigeria intact, and was optimistic that the country will overcome its present economic downturn. He also believed that the country will surmount its challenges of underdevelopment, insecurity and poverty because Nigeria is a blessed nation that must rid itself of bitterness and unforgiveness. Earlier, Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Most Rev. (Dr.) Ignatius Kattey, whose sermon was themed: “Fear God”, remarked that “human beings fear what they should not fear and fear not what they should fear.” He noted that no new state had been created since 1999 and observed that corruption was still rampant. He said the security situation had not improved, stressing that the army and police cannot handle it alone.

Dickson at Ojude Oba festival, gives kudos to Awujale

B L-R: Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi; Deputy, Kelechi Igwe; his wife, Nnenna; wife of the Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru and the Speaker, Francis Nwifuru, during interdenominational thanksgiving church service to mark Nigeria's 55th independence anniversary and 19th anniversary of Ebonyi State, in Abakaliki, yesterday.

PPA denies endorsing Dickson for second term Osahon Julius Yenagoa

he leadership of the Bayelsa State chapter of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, has distanced itself from the endorsement of Governor Seriake Dickson by 13 political parties, under the aegis of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP. PPA said it was not properly consulted. It would be recalled that African Democratic Congress, ADC, KOWA, Accord Party, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, United Nigeria People’s Party, UNPP, Social Democratic Mega Party,

SDMP, Independent Democrat, ID, and six others had last week announced the endorsement of Governor Dickson, which they said, was based on verifiable performance in the area of security, infrastructural development and empowerment. IPAC treasurer, who is also the state chairman of NNPDP, Inko Namatebe, had declared on behalf of others that the political parties adopted Dickson because of his sterling leadership qualities and that with him securing second tenure, the state would remain in safe hands. But PPA chairman in the state, Alex Peretu said though his party is a member of IPAC and CNPP, they were never part of any meeting in

which it was decided that the second term aspiration of the governor should be endorsed. In a statement issued in Yenagoa, Peretu said: “The state chapter has been drawn to a publication in some national newspapers purportedly stating that the party was among the thirteen political parties that endorsed Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for a second term bid. “The party would like to dissociate itself from the purported endorsement of the governor as we were not consulted before the decision was taken by the leaders of IPAC. “Even though, we do have an excellent working relationship with the governor and the leadership of the Peo-

ples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, that does not amount to an endorsement. “We therefore use this medium to admonish our loyal party members to disregard and ignore the publication because it does not express the intention of the party in any form or shape. “Also, we would like to request all interested and qualified party members, who desire to contest the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State to come forward and purchase the necessary forms at the party secretariat in Yenagoa. “We promise to give all our aspirants a level playing field to contest the party primaries.”

ayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson has lauded the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona for preserving and propagating the age long cultures and traditions of the people of Ijebuland in Ogun State. The governor, who was one of the Special Guests at the 2015 celebration of the annual Ojude Oba festival of Ijebuland, commended the Oba and the people for using their culture, as a rallying point for sons and daughters of the land at home and abroad and also as a unifying factor for Nigerians and even non Nigerians. He expressed satisfaction with the wide acceptance of the ideals of the festival by the people, noting that, it has been made possible by the leadership style of the Awujale, who has continued to demonstrate deep rooted love and appreciation of the culture and tradition of the land. Dickson also expressed

gratitude to the Awujale, the Chiefs and people of Ijebuland for the invitation extended to him to participate in the Ojude Oba festival, stressing that, the honour will also strengthen the already existing bond of unity between the people of Bayelsa and Ogun states as well as the Ijaws and the Yoruba of the South West. Identifying himself with his great maternal root, Governor Dickson remarked that, he would always identify with the people of Ijebuland and continue to play his roles as a bridge builder and source of unity amongst the various ethnic divides of the country.

Dickson

North

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NLC urges FG to give priority to mining sector

Borno State Governor and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (left) and Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, during his inspection visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Boko Haram: ACF declares war on Borno elders •20 feared dead in fresh attack INUSA N DAHI M SUE

AND

A ZA

rewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday called on military authorities to investigate the clandestine and other diabolical efforts of prominent individuals and groups in Borno State, undermining the efforts to end Boko Haram insurgency in the north east. The forum urged the military to expose and prosecute such persons to serve as deterrent to others. The body’s spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim said in a statement: “ACF considers this statement very grave, disturbing and worrisome, considering the efforts being put by the military and other security agencies to end the insurgency in the northeast region. “It is callous, wicked

and unfortunate that some prominent individuals place their personal benefits above national interest, the daily killings of innocent lives and destruction of property as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the last six years. “Nigeria cannot afford to treat such unscrupulous groups or individuals with kid gloves at this material time that all hands are on deck to restore peace and order in the northeast sub region and the country in general. “ACF will support and encourage the military to take any lawful action against the so called prominent elders and politicians undermining the effort of the Federal Government to combat terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria” Meanwhile, at least 20 people have been killed, while several others sustained injuries in

an attack on Malari and its surroundings by the Boko Haram terrorists. Malari is in Konduga Local Government area of Borno State and about 35 kilometers from Maiduguri, the state capital and has suffered series of deadly attacks in recent past. But the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Opadokun Aderemi in a text message to our correspondent, said only nine people were killed, while 10 others were seriously injured. A resident, Mustapha Abubakar, who fled to Maiduguri, said the insurgents, who came on motorcycles and Hilux vehicles early yesterday, started shooting sporadically, killing everybody they came across. “We had to flee into the bush and hide and after they left, went back to pick some of our belongings. I counted 20 corpses. Some were slaughtered and others had gunshot wounds. The number of those

killed is worrisome as the corpses littered the village. “Government has to do something fast, if not they will continue to wreck havoc on innocent citizens, as every surrounding villages, which are not far from Maiduguri have been taken over by the insurgents and most of them are residing around the area,” Abubakar said. Confirming the attack, Aderemi said: “Today 27/9/15 at about 2am, suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Malari village, Konduga Council Area. “Nine persons were reported killed, while 10 were injured. The village is not far from Alau Dam that supplies water to Maiduguri and its environs. “Injured victims are now being treated at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Security already beefed up to forestall future reoccurrence, as investigation in progress please.”

El-Rufai gives pilgrims N20m as Sallah gift A ZA MSUE KADUNA

aduna State Governor, Nasir elRufai has doled out N20m to be shared among 5,710 pilgrims from the state, who are currently in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, as Eidel-Kabir Sallah gift. A statement issued by the head, Media Team

of the state’s 2015 Hajj, Ibraheem Musa, said the Amirul Hajj and Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril Maigwari II stated this to the pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia. The Emir stated that Governor el Rufai has given each pilgrim 50 Saudi Riyals as Barka Da Sallah gift. According to the

statement, at an exchange rate of N7 per Riyal, the amount translates into N3,500 per pilgrim and amounts to N19,985, 000 when multiplied by 5,710 pilgrims from the state. The Amirul Hajj said the governor wished the pilgrims a happy Sallah and felicitated with them on the successful completion of the hajj rituals.

He also prayed to Allah to accept their Hajj. El Rufai however urged them to desist from spreading rumour concerning the casualties of last Thursday’s stampede at Mina. He advised them to wait for confirmation from the authorities in order to get authentic information across to the victims’ families.

igeria Labour Congress, NLC, has advised the Federal Government to give special attention to the mining sector rather than rely solely on the export of crude oil as major foreign exchange earner. NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, gave the advice yesterday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. He said: “Nigeria is endowed with various mineral resources such as gold, tin, coal, and precious stone among others. “We have large deposit of mineral resources which are not tapped because we have found free money from the sale of crude oil. “We (labour) are of the view that the mining sector has not been exploited for quite some time; we need to tap into our solid mineral resources to create employment for Nigerians. “We need to have clear cut vision on how to tap these resources for the benefit of Nigerians.’’ Wabba urged the government to exploit the mineral resources in order not to give room for individuals to illegally mine them. He said that as Nigerians look forward to the celebration of the country’s 55th Independence anniversary, it was imperative for the

government to revive the country’s rail system. He expressed concern that policies formulated in the past two decades to revive the railways had not achieved the desired results. “It is our position that it is possible for us to revive our railway system. “Globally and in some African countries, the rail system has been providing efficient transportation services for the people,” he said. Wabba noted that the revival of the railways would facilitate transportation of petroleum products as well as other goods and services at af fordable rate and in large volume since it is ef ficient and fast. He urged government to provide the necessary infrastructure for the development of the railways like standard gauge and partner with the private sector to buy locomotives. “This has been the practice elsewhere, especially in Europe; government provides the infrastructure and bring in other partners to provide the locomotives,” he said. Wabba urged the incumbent administration to response to critical challenges in the economy and address the unemployment challenge by working with congress to create the much needed jobs.

Chief imam killed in Mina stampede, says Sokoto pilgrims agency

okoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has said that Sheikh Liman Dan-Ata, Chief Imam of Sultan Abubakar III Jumaa’at Mosque, Sokoto, is among those killed in the stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia. The Media Assistant to the agency, Alhaji Farouk Umar, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday. It would be recalled that the state government had in a statement issued on Saturday by

Imam Imam, spokesman to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, confirmed the killing of nine other pilgrims from the state in the Mina stampede. The agency has also confirmed the killing of the immediate Caretaker Chairman of Illela Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Bello Gidan-Hamma, his mother, step-mother and two wives in the stampede. At the time of writing this report, several pilgrims from the state had been declared missing.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Wamakko dismisses reports on plots to remove Saraki Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

ormer governor of Sokoto state, Senator Aliyu Magatatakarda Wamakko has dismissed reports on plots to find a replacement for the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki on the strength of his case with the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB. Wamakko in a chat with correspondents described the reports on plots by

members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to take over the Senate as untrue. He said such reports were mere imaginations of the authors, because according to him, the present reality on Senate matters never tallied with the reports. Wamakko said Senators are rather meeting to strengthen the Senate under Saraki with a view to recovering the lost grounds on the legislative

business under the All Progressives Congress, APC government. He said unknown to many, President Muhammadu Buhari had nothing to do with Saraki’s present ordeal, most especially his standoff with the Code of Conduct Bureau, which had dragged him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. President Buhari, he noted, is rather worried about the near state of inaction in the National

Assembly and hence, has never been opposed to moves by the Senator to get the Senate back on a high octave in the interest of democracy. He said, ‘’ I see Mr. President, Saraki and Senators holding a meeting very soon on how to salvage democracy which certain elements have been trying to subvert. They will find time to meet to stop our opponents from progressing with acts to sabotage of democracy.

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Politics

Lagos PDP lawmaker empowers 341 youths Ebere Ndukwu

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State House of Assembly member, representing Oshodi-Isolo constituency II, Hon. Jude Emeka Idimogu at the weekend received accolades from the people of his constituency and some chieftains of his party during the graduation ceremony of 341youths he sponsored for computer studies. Idimogu promised to start another phase of the training at Ejigbo area of his constituency, saying that, the training undergone by the graduating students was only first among various empowerment projects he planned to implement in fulfilment of his campaign promises to his constituent. In his welcome address at the graduation and certificate presentation to the beneficiaries at, Ilasamaja, Isolo, Lagos, Idimogu said his vision was to be a parliamentarian of distinction representing his people for an effective legislation and

grassroots development, adding that, his mission was to serve his constituent with almost dedication for an improved welfare and infrastructure. “My goal is to see to the betterment of the people of Oshodi-Isolo constituency II. It is noteworthy, that this free computer training is my personal initiative to give back to the people of my constituency and to support the less privileged that may not be able to fund such training like this.” He enjoined the graduating students to build on what they learned from the institute. He said: “To the beneficiaries, I have no doubt that a lot have been learnt during this period, I advise you to build on this knowledge and subsequently channel it to positive and productive use in your career or life endeavours. Practically, our generation or age cannot do away with Information Technology, IT, computer as all endeavours solely depend on them. Education is very vital, as they say “knowledge is power”, I enjoined you all to give all you can.”

YUF commends Buhari, IGP on Falae’s release L-R: Chairman, Millennium Development Goals, Plateau State, Hon. Sam Damla; Governor Simon Lalong, and wife of Kogi State Governor, Mrs. Farida Wada, at a golf tournament in Lamingo Golf Course to mark Governor Lalong’s 100 days in Office, in Jos, yesterday.

Ambode’s commissioners’ list not promising –Lagos PDP Ayo Esan

he Lagos state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP has berated the commissioners’ list submitted by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on the ground that the list comprised of persons who have been nominated outside competency. The Party in a release issue and signed by its publicity scretary, Barr. Taofik Gani consequently urges the Lagos state

House of Assembly to reject the list, particularly to weed out persons whose inclusion in the proposed cabinet will be liability rather than asset to the development of Lagos state. According to the PDP, the eventual list is short of the high expectation generated by the delay and the promise by Ambode to move the state forward, “rather the list reflects imposition of personal assistants, relatives, friends, thereby exposing the governor as not independent minded, a hapless situa-

tion inimical to genuine development of the state”. Lagos PDP said some of the nominees had either been failures in previous responsibilities or are personal staff and relatives of former governor of the state. “Thus, it will continue to be business as usual in the governance of the state as the state resources will continue to be superintendent by the former governor who is the incumbent governor’s god father. “We are disappointed in

the governor for producing an eventual commissioners’ list that is just a recycle of persons who had done very poorly in their previous responsibilities as commissioners, Council chairmen. This list is so mediocre, self serving, embarrassing, that it cannot justify the delay and waste of days. Lagosians should not expect any change from Ambode. By this list, his hands are tied. He will only succeed to the extent that his godfather allows this list to serve Lagosians.” Lagos PDP said.

Ebere Ndukwu

ice chairman, Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF, retired Archbishop of Ilesa Methodist Church Nigeria, His Grace, Most Reverend Ayo Ladigbolu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, IGP over their effort which resulted in the prompt release of a Yoruba frontline elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae who was allegedly kidnapped by some Fulani herdsmen. In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by Aramide Tola Noibi, YUF vice chairman, commended the zeal

and dogged strides of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to personally lead the operation leading to the immediate release of Chief Falae from his abductors, in full obedience to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order. Condemning the kidnapping of Falae, YUF vice chairman charged the entire Nigerians, along with other security agents to be their brother’ s keepers at all times to promote genuine peaceful coexistence and political stability which he described as the vital bedrock of effective economic viability in the society attracting sincere business investors to propel the nation’s viability at all times.

Politics

n Thursday, August 13, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari decorated the ation’s new service chiefs while also giving them directive to come up with a concerted effort that would end the activities of the Boko Haram sect within three months. The military Chiefs were directed to get back to work and make the nation proud and justify the honour done them with their appointments and promotions. While giving them this directive, Buhari said he had no doubt in his mind, that the officers were equal to the task ahead of them because their appointments and promotions to new ranks were based on their pedigree as first class senior officers with sterling leadership qualities and performance records. “You are all aware of the various security challenges facing our nation. These challenges include the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, armed banditry, kidnapping and militancy of various forms, to mention a few.“The activities of these misguided groups and individuals have resulted in wanton destruction of lives and property of our citizens as a disruption of social economic lives of millions of Nigerians. “The increasing incidence of attacks and destruction perpetrated by these insurgents has led to the deployment of various instruments of national power in a bid to contain their activities and restoring law and order in every part of the country. Rightly, the armed forces have been in the vanguard of the fight against terrorism. “While commending the efforts of the armed forces so far, you need to brace up and continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well-coordinated joint effort which will bring a desired end to these insurgencies within three months”, Buhari told them in the presence of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and their spouses at the Presidential Villa. The service chiefs were warned to be accountable for all men and equipment placed under their command in the course of carrying out their assignment. They were told to make their troops’ welfare uppermost in their mind, by taking care of them and making available what is due to them. The military Chiefs had since gone to the North East with their base in Maiduguri, Borno state, where they personally got involved in the battle. It is about one month and a half into the ultimatum now, and the military appears to be fast achieving successes pointing to the imminent victory at the expiration of the deadline. While the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, personally lead ground troops in war, his counterpart, Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, gives them air cover with the Nigerian Air Force conducting serious air bombardment. The Nigerian Air Force Alpha jets have successfully hit vital targets in the Sambisa forest, in the ongoing air bombardment, which during one of such air assaults, successfully cut off the electricity supply to the Boko Haram insurgents in the Sambisa forest. With such air bombardment, troops have continued to decimate the capability and resolve of the members of Boko Haram to continue to fight.

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Military and the victory signal over Boko Haram

The Nigerian military received a presidential directive to end Boko Haram insurgency in three months. Our Defence Correspondent, UBONG UKPONG in this report examines the successes recorded so far .

Olonisakin

Ibas

The economic and strategic town of Gamboru Ngala, Borno State, which was occupied by the Boko Haram terrorists, has been retaken by Nigerian troops The Alpha jets had attacked Boko Haram’s targets in Ngoshe and Pulka, as the air troops provided Close Air Support to own ground forces. The COAS and CAS have given high premium to the President Buhari’s instruction that they must work in concert to be able to conquer the insurgents. Consequently, the cooperation between the Army and Air Force has been very admirable during these one and a half months operations. As Airmen continue to provide air cover, ground troops confidently, conduct advances and were able to record unprecedented progress with a record time. The economic and strategic town of Gamboru Ngala, Borno State, which was occupied by the Boko Haram terrorists, has been retaken by Nigerian troops. Advancing troops were said to have cleared all known Boko Haram terrorists camps towards Banki, Kumshe axis and Bama axis. The Ngerian Army said that they were able to clear the terrorists camp at Bolungu 1 and 2, Bula Doye and Cheehi Dare and secured a very important bridge linking the towns of Miyanti and Banki in Borno State. The gallant troops also rescued dozen of kidnapped women and children held captive by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state. The already feeling victorious Nige-

rian military, has declared the entire North East territory of Nigeria free of all Boko Haram camps. Director of Defence Information, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said that Nigerian troops have destroyed all known Boko Haram terrorists’ camps and cells in the North East. Already, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, said that the terrorists have been so militarily defeated and weakened that they can never hold any part of the territory in that part of the country. “These terrorists have been subdued, even if they are adopting other means and as they are restrategising, we are also doing same”, said Abubakar. Several of these terrorists have been reported killed by troops on daily basis, thereby depleting their numbers and weakening their fighting strengths. The terrorists’ group high profile contact person alongside two other terrorists in Borno state was recently captured by troops. Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, disclosed that several bomb making factories were discovered and destroyed by troops in the general area. Improvised Explosives Devices, IEDs making equipment, arms and ammunition amongst other logistics, are some of the items troops recovered from these insurgents.

Recently, about 33 food suppliers to the Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa axis around Azir-Wajiroko road, Borno State, were arrested by Nigerian troops, who continue to free abducted persons including women and children in the course of these operations. Also, troops intercepted and captured the suppliers of hard drugs and other stimulants to Boko Haram insurgents recently. Usman had said that the suspects were arrested by troops of the 3 Division Nigerian Army between Depchi and Geidam, Geidam Local Government Area in northern part of Yobe State. The arrested persons were said to also engaged in the supply of fuel in addition to hard drugs such as Cannabis (Indian Hemp), Chlorofone substance (AKA Madaran suck and die) and Tramol, amongst others. This week, a suspected Boko Haram kingpin, Bulama Modu who is an ‘Amir’ of Bulakuri. alongside 42 other suspected insurgents were arrested by Nigerian troops. They were said to have been arrested after advancing troops along Banki axis, cleared two Boko Haram terrorists camps at Jangurori and Bulatori villages. The troops were said to have also rescued 241 women and children during that operation. To further confirm what was said earlier by the Nigerian military about the terrorists abandoning their commanders and burying weapons, Mohammed Modu led troops to where he buried his AK-47 rifle at Jangurori village. With the order by the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, to block all accesses in and out of the Sambisa forest to round up and clear terrorists and all camps, it is said that there have been serious panic surrender by several Boko Haram insurgents, including their leaders. The Nigerian military had continued to announce that scores of Boko Harram terrorists have surrendered to the ongoing Operation Lafiya Dole. Colonel Sani Usman, said many of the terrorists were still indicating interest in surrendering to troops. The Army Air Force have announced that there were still opportunities now for all repentant terrorists to come and surrender and be protected from the devastating effects of military operations in days to come. Although the most recent triple bomb blast in Maiduguri, Borno state last week was uite devastating, the Army Chief has said that it could be the last to happen before the Nigerian Army proclaim the victory in few weeks time..

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Monday, September 28, 2015

Lagos and the menace of street trading RASAK MUSBAU

agos, to use the trending cliché, is a happening city; a bubbling city that never sleeps. It is a city of amazing allure and limitless opportunities. It is a city of the good, the beautiful and the ugly. Without doubt, Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. Since economic consideration is an important determinant in movement of people to Lagos, the trend cannot be reversed. Thus, the state can boast of a variety and depth of economic activities that no other Nigerian city can equate. The cosmopolitan and bubbling nature of Lagos, despite its numerous advantages, however, poses many challenges; this is a factor in the number of people that unemployed, under-employed or marginally employed, is wandering around the state for desirable and undesirable ends. Many of the operatives in the state’s informal economic sector operate majorly in open spaces, streets and highways. This is in addition to being the originators of illegal or temporary structures like sheds and kiosks, and also responsible for inappropriate dumping of refuse that abound in the state. It also manifests in unauthorized street trading, indiscriminate occupation of public space in defiance of formal planning and land use arrangements, impediments to free flow of pedestrian and motorized traffic and congested transportation networks. In recent time, street trading and beg-

ging (begging in particular has become a vocation) have become common sight in Lagos streets and highways almost 24 hours daily. They are now some of the misuses plaguing the public open spaces in the metropolis with up to a million street traders existing in the state. The worrisome side of this is that it has become the most prevailing form of child-labour as every major road now serves as centre of trading activities by children mostly below 18 years. The increase in number of children hawkers in the state is pathetic and contradicts the progress of Lagos mantra of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Lagos State Development Plan. It is a negation of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and also not in accord with the state’s social protection services. It is not one of the ways to make Lagos a better place to live in. There is a divergence of opinions on what should be the response of the state government to street trading. Some are of the view that government should not enforce ban on street trading on the account that it is an integral part of African culture. Others see it as a manifestation of both poverty and underdevelopment, while some others see it as a natural trend in every major city of the world. What those who hold this view, however, forget to add is that trade regulation and issuance of trade licence is a standard practice in every civilized country of the world. It is, indeed, difficult to see how a phenomenon that pro-

THE LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS IDENTIFIED STREET TRADING AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CHILD TRAFFICKING motes child trafficking, misuse of public open spaces, insecurity on the highways, environmental degradation and violation of human rights, could be allowed to thrive in any sane society. It is crucial to reveal that the Lagos State Development Plan 2012-2025, upon which the state government anchors its developmental programmes, is structured under four pillars: Social Development and Security; Infrastructural Development; Economic Development, and Sustainable Development. Unequivocally, there is no way street trading will be allowed to thrive if our development plan is to become a reality. The Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has identified street trading as a major contributor to child trafficking. Its education counterpart is saddled with the responsibility of mainstreaming out-of-school children into formal school systems. Despite the huge resources that the state government has committed into

education, street trading partly contributes to low academic performance and outright school drop-out by children in the state. In a study carried out in Epe division of the state among child traders, 70 percent of the respondents admitted that street trading had a negative effect on their reading schedule, while 79.2 percent reported that it affected their school attendance rate. No responsible person should be happy seeing children in uniform or mufti hawking goods at hours when they ought to be in schools. It is inhuman for anyone to engage a child in money making venture as seen every day on our roads of children running after moving buses and cars to sell and collect money. Aside that, such children are denied basic education, which is another important right of every child. Many children have sustained lifelong injuries through street trading and hawking. Moreover, children who engage in hawking or other forms of hard labour may physically wear away before they actually reach the productive age. Many children had died as a resulting of hawking in traffics through accidents. It is in the light of this that it should be emphasised that the Lagos State government has the responsibility to execute policies that conform to best practice, that can mitigate environmental nuisance and security threat from street trading. Musbau is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Still on how young are you? SANDRA AKUOMA

veryone who has been on earth the same amount of time has the same chronological age, but they don’t all have the same biological age. Your biological age is based on how well your body functions and this could be lowered with exercise and good nutrition amongst other things. When you hear “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, it means the older you are, the more inflexible your ways of life. But people of any age can be inflexible. If the old dog wants to learn new tricks, it can. What is required to learn a new trick is a sense of a purpose, an intention and a flexible nature. Facts to note Like nearly everyone, teenagers behave as society expects them to behave. Generally speaking, teenagers are adventuresome in an almost perpetual state of excitement and risk taking. Because of their “raging hormones,” teenagers tend to be all over the place. Teenagers are fuelled with conflicting behaviours. The behaviours that are complimented and appreciated the most can become the ones which will be remembered and developed further during the later years in life. “People are prone to act the way they are expected to act.” Children should be seen and not heard. Children should be seen and listened

A L L H AV E

A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR WHEN W E WA N T T O G E T

HITCHED; SOCIETY SHOULD NOT

DETERMINE THIS… to, nurtured, hugged and reasoned with. Children need to be given a centre stage stance; they also need to learn to take back seat. A healthy balance in determining when, where and how to give a child the attention he/she needs will help to create a responsible, confident and rational adult. Dress your age: I say dress your attitude not your age. Society seems to impose the concept of age-appropriate dressing. The basic idea is as follows: The older you get, the more conservatively you should dress. Colour and flamboyance are for young people. Restraint, propriety and formality are for elders. For some reason, it was decided that once a person hits a certain chronological age, they should ditch that metallic snakeskin disco purse and start dressing like depressed librarians. I believe that the older you get, the bolder and playful you should become in your dress. Do not allow yourself to be inhibited by someone else’s notions of good taste and bad taste.

Marry before a certain age: Biological clock is ticking. If people after a certain age are not married it seems something is wrong with them. Whatever, we all have a choice as to whether or when we want to get hitched; society should not determine this and put pressure on us. Your sex life will deteriorate: For men as well as women, sex drive is mainly generated in the head. More problematic than aging, for both men and women, are factors such as stress, fatigue, medical conditions and tensions within a relationship. So as long as you can think sexually and communicate your needs and desires, you can remain sexually active, which may not always involve intercourse, but can include plenty of other intimate activities. How long you live depends on your genes: You cannot pick your parents, so you are stuck with the genes you were born with. But how those genes are expressed depends in part on how you live your life. Your thoughts, emotions, lifestyle and how you cope with stress go a long way in determining whether certain genes are turned on or off. This means you have the power to nurture the good genes and prune back the bad ones. For example, you may be genetically disposed toward diabetes, high blood pressure, but whether you actually get diabetes depends largely on your lifestyle, including sleep, diet and stress levels. Likewise, you probably won’t get lung cancer if you don’t smoke, even if you do

have a cancer gene! Metabolism slows down as you age: It’s true that your metabolism slows down when you age, but it is not inevitable. It occurs because people become less physically active as they age. Research shows that people who preserve their physical activity levels throughout their lifetime can expect to see only a 0.3 percent metabolic decline per decade; and only a one percent to two percent total drop over their whole lifetime. Your chronological age does not guarantee maturity; it is your perception, experience and life outlook etc that make you a person of wisdom. Food for thought All these myths put you in a box and make you believe this is how you are supposed to be or act at certain stages in your life once you reach there chronologically. Our thoughts and actions make us who we are. Ms Akuoma wrote from Lagos via sanlifepointers@hotmail.com and can be reached through 08165583876 and be followed on Twitter: @sanlifepointers

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, September 28, 2015

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

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

As Army promotes 5,000 soldiers

he approval by the Nigerian Army of the accelerated promotion of about 5,000 soldiers fighting insurgents in the North-East region of the country and others involved in various operations as part of steps to boost their morale is quite encouraging. Coming shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari’s radical overhaul of the leadership of the country’s armed forces, his presidential approval of the award of Nigerian Army Medal (NAM) to the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General G.A Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General T.Y Buratai; and the Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), Brigadier General ASH Sa’ad; as well as the military high command’s reinstatement of 3,032 convicted soldiers dismissed over offences committed in the course of battles against the violent Boko Haram Islamist sect, the promotion gesture buttresses how committed the Federal Government is to motivating the soldiers and restoring their confidence and fighting spirit. Deserving of special cognizance, too, is President Buhari’s numerous diplomatic shuttles to neighbouring African countries, America and Europe in search of partnerships to frontally combat insurgency and tackle other challenges scourging the nation.

Indeed, the CoAS was said to have announced last Monday that the approval of the promotion was one of several other measures introduced by the Nigerian Army under his command to boost troops’ morale and reposition their operations. Before now, the story had been that of sheer hopelessness based on claims of purported superior fire and tactical powers of the insurgents, desertion of duty posts, poor motivation of soldiers and non-payment of their allowances, particularly those fighting insurgents, diversion of their rations and funds and general frustration, etc. These led to the vicious cycle of sabotage within the military itself, disobedience of lawful orders and even mutinies, which resulted to the setting up of several courts martial to try scores of soldiers, some of whom were found culpable, dismissed and later recalled. At a time in the twilight of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan government, reports had it that a group of soldiers that simply identified themselves as ‘Patriotic Officers’, wrote a letter to the former president, alleging the imposition of unprofessional generals on the military; and how huge votes budgeted for the fight against insurgents strayed into the latter’s hands. They quoted one of the teenagers among Boko

NIGERIANS BELIEVE THE TROOPS ARE NOW BETTER POSITIONED TO OVERRUN THE

INSURGENTS; AND AS

THE SAYING GOES, TO

WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN…

Haram victims rescued from the Sambisa forest as saying the insurgent group was receiving information on the movement of Nigerian troops. A portion of the Patriotic Officers’ letter stated as follows: “It is of knowledge to most Nigerians that almost 90 percent of the hardwares purchased were not new but were refurbished. This accounted for the ineffectiveness and constant breakdown of the so called new weapons in the battle field. It will, however, interest you to also know that the bulk of the ammunition ordered and brought into the country recently by your government was manufactured in 1975 and… obsolete. All these were dishonestly done in order to fetch maximum financial gains for your corrupt senior military commanders…” Some of the claims were later confirmed by former CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and CoAS, General Kenneth Minimah, both of whom were retired

ON THIS DAY September 28, 1996 Former president of Afghanistan (1987 – 1992), Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai, was tortured and brutally murdered by the Taliban. Najibullah (1947 – 1996), was the President of Afghanistan from 1987 until 1992 when the Mujahideen took over Kabul. Najibullah was at the United Nations compound in Kabul where he took refuge following the Taliban insurgence when Taliban soldiers captured him.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

September 28, 2009 The military junta in Guinea, headed by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, raped, killed and wounded protesters during a protest rally in a stadium called Stade du 28 Septembre. Mainly opposition party members demonstrated in Conakry and demanded that Camara, who seized power in a military coup d’état on December 23, 2008, after the death of long-time President and dictator, Lansana Conte, should step down.

lately. Badeh said during his pull-out ceremony that the armed forces he headed lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight Boko Haram terrorists. He complained of the exploitation of a serious national security by a section of the media and the political class to gain political mileage, as well as the activities of fifth columnists in the military and other security agencies, who leaked operational plans and other sensitive military information to the terrorists. Minimah left similar comments behind, too. It is thus a huge relief that events have largely turned around for the better in favour of Nigerian troops; and the heat is steadily on the insurgents instead of being the other way round. But the battle is certainly not yet over; and the nation is hoping that sooner than later, Nigerian troops and their allies would crush the rag-tag army of insurgents now battling for survival. The FG should not relent in giving the military its due while the hostilities linger; and the military hierarchy should endeavour to be prudent managers of resources set aside for the fight. Nigerians believe the troops are now better positioned to overrun the insurgents; and as the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is also expected.

x September 28, 2012 Somali and African Union forces launched a coordinated assault on the Somali port city of Kismayo to take it back from al-Shabaab militants. The Second Battle of Kismayo was a combined military offensive led by Somali National Army forces and their AMISOM and Raskamboni allies against Al-Shabaab in the insurgent group’s last major stronghold of Kismayo, Somalia. It was codenamed Operation Sledge Hammer.

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Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

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Cover

Real Sector:

Growth prospects

amid challenges ahead

Muda Yusuf, DG, LCCI

As latest reports of the nation’s real sector continue to reflect hope for brighter outlook in the years ahead, analysts say that in spite of the latest 55 per cent capacity utilisation recorded in the sector, its untapped productive opportunities require more than mere policy semantics to translate them into concrete gains. Udo Onyeka reports

he increasing importance of the real (manufacturing) sector to national development cannot be better captured than now when cataclysmic pricing upheavals in the global oil market are rapidly eroding the very foundation upon which Nigeria’s acclaimed growth was anchored in the past few years. Indeed, experts believe that one of the sure ways Nigeria could overcome the prevailing fiscal whirlwind is for government to focus more on the real sector, the strongest link in national economic diversification value chains with a view to tapping its immense benefits for broad-based development of the country. Specifically, far better than other climes’ real sector capacities, economic development experts see the Nigerian real sector as structurally strong in productivity mix such that exploring it better will give the country a stronger pedestal for capital accumulation, employment gen-

eration and economies of scale maximisation. According to a 2014 economic report by Renaissance Capital, Rencap, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector has displaced Telecommunications and Oil and Gas sectors to become the major economic growth driver. The report stated that with Nigeria’s re-based Gross Domestic Product, the manufacturing sector was growing faster than the telecommunications, oil and gas and agricultural sectors. Titled, “Nigeria’s GDP: Bigger but slower – Manufacturing is the engine of growth,” the research result was further strengthened by recent figures by the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, MAN, which showed that there was an increase in capacity utilisation from 46.3 per cent recorded in the first half of 2013 to 52.7 per cent in the second half of last year, but is currently put at to 55 percent. Rencap stated that the manufacturing sector recorded

22 per cent growth in 2013, as against the 14 per cent it recorded in 2012, with growth largely driven by the textile, cement and food sub-sectors, among others. The growth recorded by the manufacturing sector within the period under review, it said, accounted for one third of the total growth in the economy. “Manufacturing is growing strongly, despite power deficit. The manufacturing sector is a much bigger, faster-growing sector under the new series, nine per cent of GDP as against the four per cent previously. In 2013, it recorded substantial growth of 22 per cent, as against 14 per cent in 2012, comprising one-third of total growth. “Food, beverage and tobacco producers account for half of the manufacturing sector. The subsector’s growth accelerated to 12 per cent in 2013, against 7 per cent in 2012,” the report said. Interestingly, in Nigeria there have been conscious efforts by governments to implement reforms aimed at holistically

transforming all facets of the economy in order to positively impact on the lives of the people. But then, the impact of such measures is yet to be fully felt as socio-economic performance indices of the economy remain poor still. It is against this backdrop that sector’s stakeholders are championing the cause of new strategies that could help in revitalising the ailing industry and putting the economy on a more structurally balanced operational space necessary to unlock its potentials for sustainable, inclusive and foreign exchange yielding source for Nigeria. One of such measures centres on increasing access to credit by real sector operators. “It was in a effort to revive and revitalise the economy and real sector in particular that the Federal Government had initiated several intervention funds”, former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga had said But Aganga on the Redcap’s

report said it only corroborated the fact that the manufacturing sector was being transformed under the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. “The trade and real estate sectors trumped agriculture and financial services in 2013, to become among the top three growth drivers, together with manufacturing. The decline in agriculture’s growth contribution in 2013 was partly due to the third quarter floods. “It is a good thing that the manufacturing sector is breathing well under this administration. Figures are there as proof. All we need do now is further improve the situation through consistency in policy as we continue to work hard towards continuously improving Nigeria’s UDO ONYEKA, CO-ORDINATOR BUSINESS COURAGE udonyeka@gmail.com c

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Bello

Kola Jamodu, DG, MAN

non-oil revenue,” Aganga said. In spite of the efforts of the government, manufacturers are still lamenting that the operating environment in the country is poor, making the cost of doing business in the country very high. For instance, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Arewa Metal Containers Limited, ARMECO, Mr. Daudu Joachim, lamented recently that government support to local industries in the country was very poor and not encouraging. Speaking at the company’s 45th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the company held in Kaduna late last year, Joachim said local manufacturers have been operating within a very challenging environment coupled with the security challenges. In the same vein Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ACCIMA, Mr. Joseph Wenegieme, also said that the business climate in Nigeria has been a challenging one despite the fact that there are so many growth and development as evidenced by the number of companies springing up daily to start off business in Nigeria. He regretted that the business environment has remained harsh as the cost of doing business in the country is “neck breaking”. One of the factors affecting the real sector according to

stakeholders is security challenge, which has threatened the survival of many local industries. Apart from this issue of security is the challenge of Power, which also ha in no small measure affected the production capabilities of local industries. “More worrisome is customer’s preference to imported products and the lack of support from the government; government should do more and provide better business opportunities for local industries to perform”, Joachim said. Board Chairman of ARMECO, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Musa, said economic activities has been sluggish even though interest rates and inflation had remained relatively stable, stressing that local manufacturers have been put under pressure, resulting in the reduction of capacity utilisation or outright closure of some companies. He said the problem faced by local manufacturers is made double by the prolific liberation of the import policy currently in place. According to industry observers erratic power supply has increased the overhead cost of local manufacturers since all of them rely on power generating sets to power their machines. A lot of money is being spent in purchasing diesiel or fuels and also maintaining the generating sets. Also, the Institute of Directors, IoD, Nigeria, has

condemned the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, saying it is the bane of economic growth and development in the country. The institute however enumerated some of the challenges facing the real sector operators to include: lack of access to finance, lack of infrastructure and good operating environment, smuggling of substandard goods in to the shores of the country, lack of local patronage and dearth of industrial skills. According to experts the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria is very huge making government efforts in the tackling the issue looks as child’s play. The infrastructural deficit, according to the experts, is so huge that Nigeria needs to spend about $14.2bn per year for the next 10 years to be able to bridge the gap. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, recently decried the high cost of doing business in Nigeria and has therefore called on the incoming administration to address the issue. A communiqué issued at the end of the chamber’s meeting in Lagos, said both high cost of doing business and low productivity are intermingled with macroeconomic factors, institutional challenges and structural issues, which constitute the fundamental problems the incoming government must solve. LCCI noted that the outlook for many macroeconomic indicators is not bright with foreign reserves dropping below $30bn and persistent pressure in the exchange rate. It said that the chamber wants the incoming regime to ensure the blocking of all fiscal leakages and wastes in government especially in respect of the management of petroleum product subsidy, pension fund, import duty waivers, ghost workers in the Ministries, Departments

and Agencies, MDAs. The chamber equally wants prioritisation of government expenditure to boost investment in critical areas as well as performance audit of key regulatory institutions whose activities impact on the private sector with a view to ensuring that these institutions deliver the desired value to the private sector and economy at large. Other expectations by the chamber include acceleration of reforms on the oil and gas sector in order to attract more private investments in both the upstream and downstream segments stressing that this would save the economy the current huge foreign exchange used for importation of petroleum products. The LCCI called for a level playing field for all investors across all sectors with regard to import tariffs, funding opportunities, tax incentives etc as well as the sustainability of selected policies and programmes which offered value to the economy under the outgoing regime. The chamber said it wants a robust consultation with the private sector for inputs into policy formulation processes, and investment incentives should be universal application to all investors in the private sector. The Federal Government had inaugurated two Standing Inter-Ministerial Committees to address the high cost of doing business and revitalising of local industries. According to the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Mr. Mustafa Bello, “Doing Business and Competitiveness Committee was charged with the responsibility to regularly monitor, review and recommend improvement on existing policies and legislation that govern the act of doing business in the country, while Investor Aftercare Committee was charged with

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the responsibility of considering complaints from investors on account of apparent irregularity and inconsistency in the implementation of Government policies. He said the Committee on Doing Business and Competitiveness, has identified 10 doing business indicators such as: starting business, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, enforcing contracts and dealing with construction permits. Others are: paying taxes, trading across borders, getting electricity, and resolving insolvency. The committee according to Bello prioritised the indicators based on their impact on the competitiveness of the Nigerian business environment. To further reduce the cost of doing business in the country, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, had approved the downward review of the cost of business registration at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission ,NIPC, from N50,000 to N15,000 ($100). Stakeholders have tasked to ensuring the provision of steady electricity supply, as well as mount pressure on the banks to reduce their lending rates, saying that with high cost of finance, there is no way manufacturers can survive in their businesses. The need to direct credit to the manufacturing sector and other priority sectors necessitated the implementation some special interventions by the government. For instance real sector is expected to tap from a N300bn facility put together by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The facility aims at helping the sector to unlock its potential that will at the end stimulate output growth, value-added productivity and job creation. The CBN, penultimate week in a circular to announce the initiative explained that the facility would be used to support large enterprises for startups and expansion financing needs of N500m up to a maximum of N10bn. The real sector activities targeted by the facility are manufacturing, agricultural value chain and selected service subsectors, the bank said. According to the circular, the objectives of the facility are to improve access to Nigerian Small and Medium-scale Enterprises to fast-track the development of the manufacturing, agricultural value chain and services sub-sectors of the economy. This is also expected to increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News Hoteliers task LASG on multiple taxation Ayo Esan

oteliers in Lagos State have appealed to the state governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode to address the issue of multiple taxation which they claimed is having a debilitating effects on the hospitality business in the state. Making the appeal on behalf of the hoteliers in Lagos State, the President, Hoteliers Association, HAN, Lagos State, Aare Tola Odunuga, noted that the multiple taxation being levied on hoteliers in the state was having a crippling effect on their business. “We want to appeal to Governor Ambode to save our business from collapsing. Multiple taxation being levied on our members is having a crippling effect on our business. While state governments imposed levies on us which we paid as at when due, local government officials and officials from Ministry of Health and Environment have also been making life difficult for us through various levies being imposed on our members. Aside these,we also pay VAT and Consumption tax .These levies are too numerous and some of them are duplicating. We are forced to pay the same tax under different names.There should be a review and harmonisation. We implore Governor Ambode to look into our complaint, and take necessary measures to save our business from collapsing,” he declared. On the issue of insecurity challenge facing the country, thehotelier urged both federal and state governments, including the police to develop closer relationship with hoteliers as part of efforts being made to combat the scourge of terrorism in the country. Odunuga further noted that both the hoteliers, police and the government have greater role to play in efforts being made to tackle insecurity in the country. While urging government to regard hoteliers as partners in the campaign against terrorism, Odunuga who is also the Vice President, HAN, South West, said: “There is need for a greater collaboration between government and hoteliers at this critical moment of our national life when insecurity has become a source of concern to everybody, considering the vital role hoteliers play in the economic development of the nation, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the hospitality industry is not threatened by terrorism.” While commending efforts being made by Lagos State government to sensitise hoteliers and other operators in the hos-

L-R: Group Head, Retail, FirstBank, Mr. Sunday Akinpelu; Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Alhaji Ibrahim Muazu; FICAN National Chairman, Mr. Babajide Komolafe; President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr. Femi Egbesola, at the 2015 Annual Conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN)

pitality industry on precautionary measures to take to protect their premises against terrorist attacks, he urged other state governments to organize workshops, and seminars on a regular basis to enlighten operators on what measures to take to secure their business premises. “It is gladdening that hoteliers in Lagos State and the state government have been collaborating through workshop and seminars to create more awareness on security. We should all realize that any issue relating to security should be seen as a collective responsibility, and not as a task for government alone,” he declared. Enumerating measures being taken by members of the Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State branch to protect business premises of its members from being attacked by terrorists, Odunuga declared that stakeholders meetings are regularly organized where members receive lecture and security tips from security and safety professionals. “We are mindful of the responsibility put on our shoulders as hoteliers, and as a result of this development we have always strive to be on the top of the situation to avert calamity. We have also ensured that we recruit adequate personnel including security guards and experts to provide security for our customers. We however wish to implore both the Federal government and the Lagos State government including the Inspector General of Police to increase security patrols along major highways in Lagos State. Continuing, Odunuga said: “Apart from increasing the number of policemen on surveillance and patrol, there is also the need to install security devices like CCTV cameras on

our streets, street lights should be increased and more importantly, government must strive to embrace the idea of taking proactive measures to combat terrorism. We don’t have to wait for terrorists to strike before government and security agencies take measures to avert danger.”

80% of products in Nigeria are imported – SON DG

he Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said that Nigerians must change their consumption pattern for the economy to thrive. Odumodu the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, adding that currently, the country’s consumption pattern was about 80 per cent of imported products. He said no nation would become independent through importation and as such Nigeria needed to do more to ensure that its industries were functional to provide jobs for the youth.

Odumodu

`Ànytime you are importing, you are paying salaries of people abroad. ``This is a highly populated country, where will our graduates work when there are fewer industries today than there were 20 years ago? ``There are more graduates today than we had 20 years ago; we have to begin to address these inconsistencies. ``So, as I am talking to you, eight out of 10 products used in Nigeria are imported. `Ìt is not good, it is something we must try to change in the next three to four years to reduce it to 50,’’ Odumodu said. He expressed regret that some people preferred to do business that harmed other Nigerians by importing substandard products and that SON was determined to ensure the situation did not persist. He said that in so far as the law had empowered SON to act, it required the personnel to enforce rules on the standardisation of products. Odumodu said there were over 1,000 markets in Nigeria as well as many borders and that the only way to address the issue of standards was to get people to enforce rules. ``You do not keep the same person, if you keep the same person for three to six months, he will no longer see anything wrong with the importation of substandard products. `Ì think government should approve over 1,000 people within the next three months and then people can see real impact of our enforcement activities. ``We currently have about 1,400 people in SON and most of us are in technical areas, such as biologists, chemists and engineers. `Ì think we have fairly enough to do the background job that we need to do,’’ Odu-

modu said. According to him, some Nigerians have made billions of naira from importing sub-standard products into the country. He said the new SON Act of 2015 had given the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment the power to designate a port on the advice of SON for a particular set of products. ``Most of the bad cables that come into Nigeria are coming through the borders, they do not come through the ports. ``So, the new Act of SON, 2015 enables the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to designate a port on the advice of SON for a particular set of products when they are life endangering. ``We can now go to the minister and say we do not want the cables to come through the borders, we want them to come only through Apapa or Tincan Island. ``When that is approved by the minister it automatically becomes law and what it means is that if I see any cable at Seme Border, I can destroy it without testing,’’ he said. According to him, when such law becomes effective the level of sub-standard products will reduce. `Ì assure you that the new act brings relief to Nigerian industries, which means more employment, economic development and government will generate more tax. ``This is how it is all linked up and it is possible,’’ Odumodu said. Odumodu said SON’s new disposition was giving those involved in illegal businesses a lot of nightmares with some in Alaba International Market, Lagos, and other markets accusing it of changing the rules. `Ì believe that a good name is better than all these billions. ``So, when I started in 2011, I went to Alaba, went to all these big markets and they said: Òdumodu, you are trying to change the rules. You are making new laws’ `Ì told them that we do not make law in SON; we merely insist that people must comply with the law,’’ Odumodu said.

Abuja trade fair: Exhibitors seek extension of closing date

xhibitors at the on-going 10th Abuja International Trade Fair have complained of low patronage because of the Eid el-Kabir holiday and called for an extension of the closing date. The fair, with the theme: “Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Economic Growth’’, opened on Sept. 18 and ends

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on Oct. 2. The exhibitors, who complained about poor turnout of visitors and customers at the fair, urged the organisers to extend the fair to enable them to meet their expectations. Mr Okey Chukwudi, an exhibitor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that people might have travelled for the celebration and as a result sales had remained low. Chukwudi said unlike previous fairs, the patronage was very poor. ``The break is a long one so people will like to travel; the patronage is low so if the organisers can increase the days, I will be grateful,’’ he said. Another exhibitor, Mr Paul Makama, said by the end of the month when salaries would have been paid, people might want to buy some goods. Makama said many people were still waiting to receive their salaries. ``Most people that came to my stand like what they saw but promised to come back when they receive their salaries. ``I believe if we make good sales, we will be anxious to be here in the next one but if it continues this way, the sales will not be commensurate with the amount invested in securing even the stands,’’ he said. A visitor, who gave her name as Madam Mary, said she was at the fair to see what was available. She said `` the public holiday is long so I decided to come and feed my eyes. ``Well, when I receive my salary, I will come and buy some things I saw for my children. ``The problem I have is that some of the things are expensive so I believe when they have one or two days to close, the things might be cheaper,’’ she said.

Alexander

We place priority on safety, not arrests – FRSC

he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) says it does not derive fulfillment in arresting motorists but in

Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

creating road safety awareness among the people and save lives. Assistant Corps Commander Joyce Alexander, unit commander of the commission in Lugbe, FCT, said this on Saturday during the House-House Enlightenment Campaign on safety on the roads for motorists. According to Alexander the campaign with the theme: ``Bringing Road Safety Awareness to Your Doorstep’’, is a way of educating motorists to be conscious about road safety. Alexander said every Nigerian life was important and there was the need for people to maintain safety on roads. She noted that all FRSC officials were human beings that also had the need to socialise with people and make friends to function well in the society. She said: ``What we are used to usually is like a road show and we go out on the road, motor parks, churches and mosques, to talk to people. ``This time around, what we are trying to do is to get into their homes to reach them with the message of road safety. ``We want to let people know that FRSC is not all about arresting offenders. If you look at the handbills, one of them says don’t patronise touts, there is a drivers licence outfit now in Lugbe. ``Why are we doing this? We are not happy when we arrest people on the road. We want to make sure that everybody does what is right so it is not just about arresting every day. ``Nobody wants to be an enemy to anybody; we also want to be friends with everybody because we are also human beings. ``If we remove the uniform, you and I are exactly the same, so if I can reach you, talk to you, tell you what to do then I don’t have to arrest you, then we remain friends because you are doing the right thing.’’ Alexander said the house-tohouse campaign was the third edition since the awareness began and would be carried out once every month alongside rallies and road shows.

Adamawa monarch laments lack of market outlet for cocoa farmers

he paramount ruler in Ganye, Alhaji Umaru Sanda, has expressed concern over lack of market outlet for cocoa farmers in his area. The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Adamawa is one of the Cocoa producing states in the country.

NAN also reports that the Federal Government’s cocoa farm project is located in Toungo Local Government area of the state, but had been abandoned for several years. Sanda, in an interview with NAN on Saturday in Ganye town, said that the situation had affected the fortunes of farmers, resulting in a decline in the production of the commodity in the area . He said that the farmers had complained to him about the loss being incurred by them as a result of lack of market outlet. According to him, Cocoa is being produced in Ganye Chiefdom ,comprising of Ganye,Toungo and Jada Local Government areas of the state. He recalled that under the Federal Government’s National Cocoa Production programme, a project centre was established in Toungo and farmers were given Cocoa seedlings for production. “ Some years back, our farmers were given Cocoa seedlings and they produced the commodity in commercial quantity. “ But due to poor market outlet, majority of them have been forced to abandon Cocoa farming. “ I am therefore calling on the appropriate authorities, to find lasting solution to encourage Cocoa farmers in the state produce more ,” he appealed. He emphasized that with the global oil market in turmoil and the subsequent fall in revenue earnings from oil, there was need for government fall back to agriculture.

BVN: 32m customers yet to enrol, says CBN

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that 32 million active bank accounts have yet to be enrolled on the Biometric Verification Number (BVN) by September. In a statement in Abuja on Friday, Mr Mu’azu Ibrahim, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, said CBN was concerned by the number of account owners yet to enrol, considering that the exercise would end by Oct. 31. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that CBN in collaboration with all banks in Nigeria on Feb. 14, 2014, launched the BVN, which is a centralised biometric identification system for the banking industry. It aims at addressing issues of identity theft and fraud and will help to discover blacklisted customers, reduce queues in banking halls and standardise efficiency of banking operations. The CBN also said the BVN would encourage banks to

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that there would not be further extension after the October 31, 2015 deadline,’’ the statement said. It said this meant that customers without the BVNlinked accounts might risk being restricted from normal operations of their accounts or access to their bank account balances.

NNPC may sell refineries Godwin Emefiele, CBN Boss

grant loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and students in the country. ``One of the most potent arguments advanced by banks for not extending enough credit to prospective credit customers in Nigeria has been the absence of credible identity system. ``Thus, it was agreed that the scheme would make access to credit easier for low income earners in the society,’’ the Apex bank said. The CBN had initially put the deadline of BVN registration at June 30 but postponed it to Oct. 31 because of low enrolment. According to the statement, after 18 month of the exercise, empirical evidence shows that a good number of bank customers are reluctant and have not taken the exercise seriously. ``The emerging statistical trend of the BVN registration exercise shows that there are about 52 million active bank accounts in various banks. ``Out of this, total enrolment stands at about 20 million, out of which about 14 million accounts have been found linked to the BVN as at September, 2015. ``The question now is whether bank customers have been taking advantage of the extension to complete their BVN registration and also ensure that their various bank accounts have been linked to the BVN,’’ it stated. The statement revealed that after the initial rush from June ending to July, there had been a steady decline in new BVN enrolment figures for August and September. It stated that the development indicated that many bank account holders had continued to show apathy instead of taking advantage of the extension period to complete the registration. ``Bank customers are urged to take advantage of the remaining time to complete the registration. ``This is so as to avoid the commotion and melee experienced at various banking halls in the month of June. ``The CBN has made it clear

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it may sell refineries that fail to work optimally by the expiration of the 90-day ultimatum for their rehabilitation. Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the NNPC Group Managing Director, disclosed this at an interactive session with news men in Lagos. Kachikwu said ``by the end of December when the 90-day ultimatum will expires, any refinery that does not work optimally will be sold. ``I am determined to make a difference during my tenure. We are losing N2.2 trillion monthly to refinery inefficiency. As at today, the average refining performance is 30 per cent. ``If by December, the refineries don’t work, I will export crude allocation and import refined petroleum products until we fix the refineries. ``Right now, the Port Harcourt refinery is showing signs that it will meet the December deadline. ``However, I am not saying Warri and Kaduna refineries will not meet the deadline, but I hope they all make it, so that we can continue to utilise our crude allocation to boost domestic refining.’’ Kachikwu expressed the hope that the NNPC cash call arrears, which stood at N1.1 trillion, would be settled by the end of December 2015. ``By December, I hope to settle all the cash call arrears and grow Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) to where it is supposed to be,’’ he said. BC

Kachikwu

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Companies & Markets

Kogi Gov lauds Ecobank-NACA Youth Friendly Centre in Kogi State University K ogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada has commended Ecobank Nigeria for funding the multi-million naira Ecobank-National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Youth Friendly Centre at Kogi State University, Anyigba. Commissioning the ultramodern Centre on Friday, Gov. Wada stated that the partnership between Ecobank and NACA to establish the Centre in the state was quite impressive, stressing that it would go a long way to improving the lives of youths and check the prevalence of the dreaded HIV/AIDs and other health related diseases. According to the Governor, ‘I must commend Ecobank, NACA and the university authourity for this multi-dimensional facility. Any effort to check prevalence of critical diseases of modern times must be appreciated.’ Head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia, said the establishment of

the centre is part of Ecobank desire to give back to society; “For us at Ecobank, the vision of the Youth Friendly centre stems from our desire to use all available opportunity to give back and contribute effectively towards the society in which the bank operates. We believe young people need a friendly environment that would offer recreational facilities and at the same time provide free guidance and counselling HIV/AIDS and other health issues.” Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Prof. Hassan Isah, said he was elated as his school is the first state university to enjoy Ecobank-NACA Youth Friendly Centre. “This project midwifed by NACA and funded by Ecobank is commendable. The challenge of funding is increasing level of engagement with organisations, philanthropists, NGOs and parastatals. We will put the facility in good use.” Director General, NACA, Prof John Idoko, represented by Di-

rector, Partnership Coordination, NACA, Emmanuel Alhassan, stated that the partnership with Ecobank has so far produced 8 centres in various universities across the country. He explained that ‘apart from HIV/ AIDS counselling, the centre will handle career, emotional issues and other related issues. We will ensure students gain access to the centre at all times,” The Youth Friendly Centres are designed to engage students in recreational activities, while also providing a setting for the dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS in a non-threatening manner. It also provides a unique opportunity for students to go for HIV counseling and testing in a ‘friendly’ environment. The Centres have four sections which are: games bay, library with HIV/AIDS material, Internet cafe/CD & video room and allied services section. Currently, eight universities boast of the NACA-Ecobank Youth

Wada

Friendly Centres. They include University of Uyo; University of Jos; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Port Harcourt; University of Abuja; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Kongo Campus), Bayero University, Kano and Kogi State University, Anyigba. With this commissioning today, we can now boast of eight Youth Friendly Centres across major universities in Nigeria. BC

International Sea Trade and Investment Convention 2015 opens in Lagos, October 5

eptember 15, 2015 – Nigeria’s first International Sea Trade and Investment Convention is scheduled to hold in Lagos between 5th and 6th of October, 2015. The Convention with the theme “Exploring New Trade Frontiers” will be hosted at the Landmark Centre, on Victoria Island in Lagos. The International Sea Trade and Investment Convention (ISTI) 2015 is designed as a platform to address issues of new and direct trade routes between Nigeria and our leading trading partners, explore cross border potentials along the regional trade corridor, the development of viable import/export markets, standardization of goods and services to meet global certification for export, safety and security on our wa-

terways, import and export financing, market linkage, tradeand infrastructure investment. Also the convention is aimed at identifying impediments to export trade restrictions, facilities and regulations within the maritime sector. It is planned to create the platform for stake-

Sarumi

holders to develop a roadmap to address issues of products, standardisation, financing, incentives and the lack of infrastructure plaguing the industry. Announcing this in Lagos, Mr. Adebayo Sarumi, who is the Chairman of the International Sea Trade and Investment Convention’s Steering Committee said the convention is planned to further buoy up Nigeria’s export trade and maritime sector to make it attractive to global buyers and foreign investors. According to him, maritime and trade in the Sub-Saharan Africa region has experienced an unprecedented growth in the last few years, contributing over US$15billion annually to Nigeria’s economy. This can grow to as much as $50 billion in the next couple of years, Mr. Adebayo Sarumi stated.

In his words “we plan to bring the best minds to this two day convention featuring conference and exhibition that will engage interactive discussions, high level networking and unrivaled business intelligence through participation of the industry’s foremost stakeholders, decision makers, investors and trade specialists”. Further, Mr. Sarumi said the Convention will set the stage to further consolidate Nigeria’s position as a regional trade, maritime and logistics hub in Africa. This is aimed at supporting government’s diversification program to reduce the country’s dependence on oil. The event will also create a conducive environment that will encourage and recognize the importance of partnerships with key stakeholders across the globe. BC

Iron rod distributors raise alarm over influx of substandard products

Ayo Esan

he Federal Government has been implored to take urgent actions to rid the Nigerian market of the influx of sub-standard iron rod products. Making the appeal at the end of an emergency meeting held recently at Sheraton hotel, Ikeja in Lagos, the Iron Rod Distributors Association of Nigeria noted that government must take urgent action to stop the Nigerian markets from becoming dumping ground for substandard iron rod products. Speaking through the association’s public relations officer, Alhaji Yisa Owolabi, the distributors noted that the ugly development was responsible for the surge in recent cases of collapsing buildings all over the country especially in Abuja and Lagos. According to him “Being a key stakeholder in the building and construction industry, our association is worried by recent cases of collapsing buildings, and consequently we set up an independent investigating team and the result of our investigation revealed that today there is an increase in case of building collapsing every now and then as a result of usage of sub-standard iron rod products and we want government to take urgent action to stop this ugly development. While pointing accusing fingers at some foreign owned steel company operating in the country as being the brain behind the development, Owolabi said: “We discovered that these fake products are finding their ways into the market because, the companies that are involved in this unhealthy practice now bypass distributors and take these iron products, directly to the buyers especially to the sites where constructions are taking place. BC

UACN rewards shareholders with N3.3bn, restrategies

Johnson Okanlawon

nited African Company of Nigeria, UACN, yesterday rewarded shareholders with N3.3 billion dividend payment even as the company considers strategic shifts in its policy drive to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the economy. Speaking to shareholders at the company’s Annual General

Meeting in Lagos, the Chairman, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said that inspite of the prevailing tough economic conditions, the company maintains its prior year dividend pay-out. On the Company’s performance, he noted that despite the tough business environment, it recorded a modest topline growth of nine per cent, from N78.7 billion in 2013 to N85.7 billion in 2014 while prof-

it before taxation was N14.1 billion compared to N13.9 billion in 2013. He stressed that the company has continued to manage market dynamics and innovatively lead competition in its markets. He said, “In the year under review and in line with our vision to be number one in our chosen markets, we achieved market leadership with our Vital Fish feed brand, which was

introduced just three years ago. “To further consolidate on our technology improvement initiative, capacity and efficiency in our operations, three new plants were commissioned including a new feed mill at the Ikeja plant of Livestock Feeds Plc, an automated pie line for the restaurants business and a new processing and packaging technology for supreme ice cream.” BC

Udoma

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Global News on Friday. In a statement, it said vehicles that have 1.2-litre 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines of VW models - including VW’s Audi, Seat and Skoda brands could be affected. The ban does not apply to vehicles that are already in circulation or cars with Euro6 emission category engines. The Swiss authorities have also set up a taskforce to fully investigate the issue.

Countries investigating emissionsrigging scandal

Obama and Jinping

US and China reach agree cybercrime truce

S President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping have said they will take new steps to address cybercrime. Speaking at a joint news conference at the White House, Mr Obama said they had agreed that neither country would engage in cyber economic espionage. The deal covers the theft of trade secrets but not national security information. President Xi also pledged to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Mr Obama said any escalation in China’s alleged cybercrimes against the US would prompt sanctions. “It has to stop,” he said. “The question is now, are words followed by action?” Reflecting on the use of sanctions against either individuals, businesses or state-run companies, he said: “We will apply those, and whatever other tools we have in our tool kit, to go after cybercriminals either retrospectively or prospectively.” Both countries deny taking part in the cybertheft of commercial secrets. The Chinese president said the two countries would not “knowingly support” such practices and said they would both abide by “norms of behaviour” in cyberspace. “Confrontation and friction are not the right choice for both sides,” said Mr Xi, speaking through a translator. The cybertheft of intellectual property designed to benefit Chinese industry was described by former National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander as “the greatest transfer of wealth in history”. US officials have alleged that the Chinese state was behind a massive data security breach of government databases as well as attacks on private firms. That kind of breach is not covered by this deal. Chinese President Xi Jinping wore a dark suit and stood at a podium during lunch at the US state department. Behind him were his hosts, US Vice-President Joe Biden

Volkswagen models sale halted in Switzerland

United States: Scandal emerged following findings by the Environmental Protection Agency. Justice Department and New York regulators have launched criminal investigations Germany: Transport Ministry to send fact-finding committee to Volkswagen United Kingdom: Vehicle Certification Agency to re-run lab tests and compare with “realworld” driving emissions Switzerland: Task force set up to investigate Italy: Spot checks to be carried out on at least 1,000 diesel vehicles, transport minister says France: Random checks on 100 diesel cars aimed at “ensuring the absence of fraud”, says Environment Minister Segolene Royal South Korea: Environment Ministry to investigate 4-5,000 Jetta, Golf and Audi A3 vehicles, could extend to all German diesel cars if problems found Canada: Environmental Agency investigating some 100,000 Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars

Norway and India opening fraud investigations

and US Secretary of State John Kerry. The room was filled with current and former officials, including Henry Kissinger. The tables were decorated with red cloth napkins and yellow roses. Outside protesters shouted in front of the building: “Shame on the Chinese government”. Inside the room President Xi said he and President Obama had both “demonstrated a firm commitment” to a new model for their relationship. He made a toast to friendship between the US and China. Most people stood up - but not everybody. People clapped, too, though not very enthusiastically. Mr Obama thanked Mr Xi for introducing a cap-and-trade emissions trading system to limit greenhouse gas production.

witzerland has temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen (VW) diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of tricking emission tests. It said the move could affect 180,000 cars - not yet sold or registered - in the Euro5 emission category. This comes after VW, the biggest carmaker in the world, admitted cheating on emissions tests in the US. Meanwhile, Matthias Mueller has been named new VW chief executive in the wake of the scandal. Mr Mueller, the former head of Porsche, succeeds Martin Winterkorn, who resigned on Wednesday. The row erupted after it emerged that some VW cars being sold in the US had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the engine performance to improve results. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) told the BBC that it would join the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) investigation into VW. The ban was announced by the Swiss Federal Roads office

He also announced sweeping changes to the way the company was run, including handing greater autonomy to regional divisions. He said he would tighten up procedures at the company: “At no point was the safety of our customers in danger. We will now have even stricter compliance. Our objective is that the people continue to use and drive our vehicles with confidence and pleasure. That’s 80 million people driving our cars worldwide.” The EPA’s findings of the scandal cover 482,000 cars in the US only, including the VWmanufactured Audi A3, and the VW brands Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passasat But VW has admitted that about 11 million cars worldwide are fitted with the socalled “defeat device” - 2.8 million of them in Germany - and further costly recalls and refits are possible. Half of the company’s sales in Europe - VW’s biggest market are for diesel cars.

Japan core inflation falls first time in over two years

ore consumer prices in the world’s third largest economy, Japan, fell on an annual basis for the first time in over two years in August. The core consumer price index (CPI), which includes oil but not fresh food prices, declined 0.1% from a year ago the first drop since April 2013. The headline consumer price index rose 0.2% from a year ago, but remained flat from the previous month. Deflation fears have plagued Japan, putting pressure on policymakers. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japan’s central bank have pledged to get the economy out of the deflation it has been battling for years. Even though the fall in prices last month was expected, economists said the latest reading would result in the Bank of Japan stepping up its pace of easing in October. “CPI data continues to show a weak acceleration, which suggests that the Japanese central bank may need to do more,” said Bernard Aw, market strategist at trading firm IG. “Even with this aggressive pace of asset buying, it is still nowhere near its 2% inflation target,” he added, referring to the central bank’s goal to reach that target in the first half of next year. Backing that view, Marcel Thieliant, economist at Capital Economics added that on the whole the economy was struggling to return to growth after shrinking in the second quarter.

Abe

Wall Street braces for grim third quarter earnings season

EW YORK Wall Street is bracing for a grim earnings season, with little improvement expected anytime soon. Analysts have been cutting projections for the third quarter, which ends on Wednesday,

and beyond. If the declining projections are realized, already costly stocks could become pricier and equity investors could become even more skittish. Forecasts for third-quarter S&P 500 earnings now call for a 3.9 percent decline from a year ago, based on Thomson Reuters data, with half of the S&P sectors estimated to post lower profits thanks to falling oil prices, a strong U.S. dollar and weak global demand. Expectations for future quarters are falling as well. A rolling 12-month forward earnings per share forecast now stands near negative 2 percent, the lowest since late 2009, when it was down 10.1 percent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S data. That’s further reason for stock investors to worry since market multiples are still above historic levels despite the recent sell-off. Investors are inclined to pay more for companies that are showing growth in earnings and revenue. The weak forecasts have some strategists talking about an “earnings recession,” meaning two quarterly profit declines in a row, as opposed to an economic recession, in which gross domestic product falls for two straight quarters. “Earnings recessions aren’t good things. I don’t care what the state of the economy is or anything else,” said Michael Mullaney, chief investment officer at Fiduciary Trust Co in Boston. The S&P 500 is down about 9 percent from its May 21 closing high, dragged down by concern over the effect of slower Chinese growth on global demand and the uncertain interest rate outlook. The low earnings outlook adds another burden. China’s weaker demand outlook has also pressured commodity prices, particularly copper. This week, Caterpillar slashed its 2015 revenue forecast and announced job cuts of up to 10,000, among many U.S. industrial companies hit by the mining and energy downturn. Also this week, Pier 1 Imports cut its full-year earnings forecast, while Bed Bath & Beyond gave third-quarter guidance below analysts’ expectations. “We are continuing to work through the near-term issues stemming from our elevated inventory levels and have adopted a more cautious and deliberate view of the business based on our first-half trends,” Jeffrey Boyer, Pier 1 chief financial officer, said in the earnings report. On the other hand, among early reporters for the thirdquarter season, Nike shares hit a record high after it reported upbeat earnings late Thursday. BC

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Monday, September 28, 2015

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Brand Watch

Promo winner wishes to marry ‘life long lover’ A

HESGES Synergy boost SMEs with new initiative

David Audu

t is different strokes for different folks, as the old age saying goes. While some look forward to huge money to invest in businesses or long time ventures, some want the same money to satisfy immediate physical and emotional needs. Whichever way, to win a promotion that is rewarded in huge physical cash can also come with what psychologist described as the “urge to satisfy wants syndrome”. It is a state of emotion that comes when one is suddenly faced with unexpected large amount of money. Often, for many people, especially the younger ones, the tendency is to go on spending spree with friends, while it takes the more matured ones to rerflect in order to come up with what such money will be invested in for life long profit. However, for Jeffery Akor, a young commercial bus driver

based in Makurdi, Benue State. As an employee of a commercial transporter which he must deliver daily proceedings. So, beside thinking of owning his own commercial transport, he has other immediate need that must first be meet. So, as fortune smiled at him when he participated in the Peak ‘Reach for Millions’ promo, Jeffery A kor who was one of the winners of one million naira in the 60 day-promo, like every other winner, Jeffery said he never expected to win so much as N1 million. How did the journey to one million started? “When I saw the advert on a massive bill board, I stopped the bus I was driving in order to get the message. I started buying peak milk everyday for me to be able to send codes on the packs as directed in the adverts. After a while, I received a message to register a firstmonie account.” He explained. Jeffery claimed he was not expecting as much as a mil-

lion naira but was hopeful of winning something. But as fate will have it, he was contacted through a text message that he has won a million naira in the peak promo. It was a huge surprise to me when I got a text message that I have won 1 million naira. I couldn’t believe it because I was not actually expecting it. I was hoping to win either N10,000 or N20,000. God has really done well for, I thank Peak milk for this great reward, it will remain in my heart forever.” Jeffery said happily. At the cheque presentation ceremony, the Makurdi based commercial bus driver hinted that the first thing he will do from his largesse from Peak is to get married to the love of his life. He insisted that getting married to her as he has promised the lucky woman is his top priority. He also added that he will buy his own personal bus and terminate his working relationship with his current boss. BC

Sendible boosts PRCAN digital PR training

nterprise and social media management organisation, Sendible, has endorsed the three-day “Digital PR and Social Media Communications Master Class”, organised by Cihan Group in collaboration with the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, PRCAN. Head of Sales and Marketing at Sendible, Jonny Costello, would handle two sessions during the workshop. Sendible is an enterprise social media management and intelligence platform company with headquarter in London. Costello holds a Masters in Marketing Practice from the University of Dublin and has developed social media tools and strategies for start-ups and multi-national organisations. Chief Executive Officer of Cihan Group, Mr Celestine Achi, also announced additional benefits to participants of the training programme. These include free social media engagement tool from Sendible, free search engine optimisation and search engine management, SEO/ SEM, software from UK-based Rankwatch, the opportunity for campaign amplification on Cihan Influencer network and one-month post-certification Digital PR support. Achi said, “the capacity building initiative is designed to develop practical and enduring expertise covering the full range

team who can solve customer problems. Sendible’s accuracy in isolating and understanding all of the relevant posts from across the social web makes it possible to classify, route and assign action in a way that was never possible before.” “Creating social intelligence out of the social media analysis tools takes a village,” said Celestine Achi, CEO Cihan Group.

new initiative to boost the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises and prospective entrepreneurs has been launched by HESGES Synergy Nigeria Limited, a business development and investment network that operates on a crowd funding template. Managing director of the company, Barr Gboyega Adetunji, said the aim is to bring people of like minds together to create an unbreakable network that helps each one of them to achieve their individual goals and objectives. “Basically, we create a financial pool that helps members to fulfil their dreams. What individuals cannot achieve on their own and with their resources, they will be able to achieve leveraging on the strength of the group.” Adetunji, a successful lawyer and advocate of the Supreme Court, says however that the business model is not an investment scheme as it is known in Nigeria, rather a venture capital whereby subscribers with worthwhile business ideas who have no fund to ex-

“Ideally, social analytics tools should empower organisations to use customer intelligence for guidance, decision-support or corrective action deemed most advantageous in meeting business objectives,” he further said. PRCAN President, John Ehiguese, expressed delight at Sendible’s support for the workshop. BC

ecute are supported to get their ideas off the ground. “Our business at HS therefore is to bring different people together to form a network where each individual subscriber to the network will be paying a token amount every month. As a result, the network will fund any member who needs funds to execute a new business idea or grow an existing business,” he said. “The key thing here is that we don’t give subscribers the funds as a loan, but rather as a Venture Capital in which case HESGES Synergy will be a part of the business for a particular number of years dependent on the type of business. We will help form, groom, and develop the business.” He further said that the gains of individual subscribers differ. “For instance, if a subscriber pays N1, 000 every month, that sums up to N12, 000 in a year. With this, if he has a business to fund, we fund it and our level of involvement is limitless. Other gains and entitlements of subscribers include discount purchases at our stores and partner stores; an end of the year package and something to celebrate the festivities with that is worth a substantial part of the yearly subscription.” With a vision to become the foremost single individual network brand with the most number of subscribers, and helping or impacting the highest number of people in realizing their dreams and attaining financial independence not just in Nigeria but Africa as a whole, Adetunji says HESGES Synergy is however not an alternative to banks and other financial institutions. BC

Achi

Rector commends Etisalat over youth initiative

of concepts, skills and platforms required to unlock the power of the digital media to support individual’s reputational goals”. PRCAN and CIHAN jointly said that modules for the training are carefully planned and designed for communications, public relations and marketing professionals whose roles include engagements with stakeholders through online social media. They noted that learning is pitched to help individuals develop strategic approaches and sophisticated techniques. “Effective social engagement is not just about responding to every complaint in social media,” said Gavin Hammer, Founder of Sendible, while confirming the partnership with the organisers of the workshop. “It requires companies to stay laser focused on what’s important and to bring in the right

he Rector of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, Prof. Dalhatu Balarabe Yahaya, has lauded one of Nigeria’s telecommunications operator, Etisalat for its commitment to the development of Nigerian youths through its youth-centric program tagged Etisalat Cliqfest. The Rector gave this commendation while speaking during the recently concluded Etisalat CliqFest Campus tour hosted by the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria. While commending Etisalat for its roles in helping Nigerian youths develop their potentials through various empowerment initiatives, Prof. Yahaya said he was particularly happy the polytechnic has joined the growing list of tertiary institutions to have hosted the Etisalat CliqFest campus tour. His word, “I am happy that while the students are being

entertained, they are also being empowered with entrepreneurial skills to enable them develop their potentials and do something useful with their lives after graduating from school. We appreciate this initiative and would like to see other companies come on board.” The Cliqfest campus tour powered by Etisalat EasyCliq

Matthew Wilsher, Etisalat CEO

is a nationwide multi-campus youth-centric education and entertainment initiative sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria. Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic hosted the Zaria leg of the tour after a similar one was held penultimate weekend at the Usmanu DanFodio University, Sokoto. In a related development, a National Diploma student in the department of Civil Engineering, Desmond Ola Yusuf, emerged the winner of the Etisalat CliqFest star prize, a new Hyundai i10 car in a raffle draw supervised by the Polytechnic’s Deputy Rector, Chief Paul Abiyong and Dean of Student Affairs, Alhaji Mustapha Halidu. Also, Aliyu Abdullahi and Dina Tanko won a laptop each while several others including Charity John, Emmanuel Joel and Doris Eze won mobile phones, pen drives and Etisalat branded souvenirs. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Review

Experts canvass improved investment to improve electricity supply As the search for sustainable power supply continues, experts posited that unless the funding gap in the sector is bridged by the Federal government, its target of attaining 20000 mega watt by 2020 needed to guarantee regular and stable power supply may be a mirage. Gbenga Odogun reports

ne factor needed for sustainable economic growth is adequate, regular and stable power supply. Its regular and stable supply happens to be the engine that propel economic activities. Unfortunately however, Nigeria has had the misfortune of being under the spell of inadequate or even near none existence of this vital instrument needed to enhance further growth of the largest economy in Africa. For a country with a population of approximately 170 million, actual energy generation equates to 0.02 KW per capita for Nigeria, compared to 0.80 KW per capita for South Africa’s (40,000 MW generation; 50 million population) and 0.52 KW per capita for Brazil (100,000 MW generation; 192 million population).Using those 2 countries as benchmarks, Nigeria should be generating 88,000 MW to 136,000 MW of electricity. In summary, Nigeria needs to generate about 40 times more electricity than we do to bridge the significant gap. This is a far cry from the current generation capacity put at 4500 Mega Watts before the recent increase to 5000Mega Watts. Reason for this is well known; experts attributed this to the neglect of the sector by successive government who has failed woefully over the years to invest in generation, Transmission and distribution. This lack of investment had resulted in dilapidated and obsolete equipments that cannot match with growing demand for power supply. The search for sustainable power supply has resulted

in government’s decision to privatize the sector and this led to the exercise of 2013 when five previously government-owned power generation and 11 distribution companies were privatized The sale raised approximately $2.6 billion for the government thus demonstrating the appetite and availability of capital to be invested in the sector. Even with the privatization, the country is still far from experiencing regular power supply as demand far outstrip supply due to poor investments in the infrastructures needed for generation and distribution Klaus Findt, KPMG Head of Infrastructure in Africa, had attributed the growing demand for power in the country to Urbanization which is driving the need for energy and power in Africa. This need he said was the reason behind various initiatives ranging from privatization, to planned projects for the exaction of resources such as the tradition-

Igali

Power plant

al fossil fuel based energy and renewable energy to meet this growing demand. According to him “Full scale support for such investment projects is growing, but it will take time to see the full impact as we move from vision to implementation.” Although successive governments have taken various steps including looking at how they can make the most of their existing financial assets by conducting asset sales particularly for assets that tie up fiscal capacity in order to recoup their investment which, in turn, can be ‘recycled’ into new expansion, generation, transmission and distribution projects, experts

Findt

believed that the funding needed to guarantee stable and regular supply should be on going and sustainable over a period of time. The permanent secretary Ministry of power Ambassador Godknows Igali said Nigeria needs about 12,000 mega watts for a stable power supply and that the Federal Government would need to bridge the funding gap in the power sector to make it possible. Klaus Findt said that the power infrastructures in Nigeria and indeed the entire continent of Africa are characterized by ageing power infrastructure that is unable to meet the current power demands. This is then exac-

erbated by a number of challenges, including; under-utilization of generation capacity due to low maintenance of assets, loss-making power utilities due to low collection rates and high operational inefficiencies, ineffective transmission infrastructure and high transmission losses of up to 25 per cent , poor planning, low skills levels and management capacity. According to him,” lack of distinct policies and regulatory frameworks in the energy sector and, a lack of independent regulators often further limit the enforcement of such policies to attract investors” He called for Government guarantees to enhance the bankability of project and attract investors while also challenging investors to play the all important role in funding new energy projects since it has become abundantly clear that private sector engagement and involvement is vital for the country which is struggling to secure the necessary funding and skills for its energy projects “In fact, partnerships between government, providers/donor initiatives and private sector are critical to ensure projects that capture resources can be turned into bankable ideas that ultimately turn on the lights” Findt posited. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

A11 27

PC market slumps as firms raise stake in big data devices

Isaiah Erhiawarien

he PC market in Nigeria and other African countries is dropped in the second quarter of the year amid a slowdown in Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) growth, increasing unemployment, and the strengthening of the dollar against many of the continent’s currencies. Figures released by International Data Corporation (IDC) showed that the market followed up its firstquarter decline of 11.8 per cent with a 26.7 cent yearly downturn in shipments during the second quarter of 2015, the largest slump the market has ever suffered. Telecoms analysts in Nigeria blamed in on the slow pace of the economy due to the lack of policy direction from the new government thereby creating uncertainty in the economy. They said that off-shore fund that should boost economic activities in the economy is nowhere to be found saying that an economy with no clear cut economy policy scares investors. IDC said that the PC market will continue on its downward trajectory into third quarter of the year noting that growth is expected to pick up from the last quarter onward. According to a research analyst at IDC Sub-Saharan Africa, Joseph Hlongwane, Kenyan suffred the most declined among the countries surveyed saying that “Kenya suffered the continent’s biggest fall of the quarter, with shipments to the country down 54.5 per cent yearly with Ghana and Algeria following with declines of 40.9 per cent and 40.2 per cent, respectively.” He added: “The significant decrease in PC demand seen in Kenya can attributed to sluggish economic growth brought about by falling exports and a declining production sector that is characterised by slow job creation. The poor performances of the markets in Nigeria, Ghana

and Algeria were also caused by a slowdown in economic growth arising from severe energy constraints and unsustainable levels of domestic and external debt.” The IDC survey said that South Africa remains the biggest PC market on the continent, accounting for 35.5 per cent of total shipments, but the country followed up its 4.2 per cent yearly decline in first quarter of 2015 with a decrease of 12.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2015. IDC observed that this was largely due to continuing cannibalisation of the market by smartphones and tablets as well as shrinking consumer disposable incomes due to the rising prices of necessities such as petrol and food stating that South Africa’s PC market is expected to continue declining since the current economic challenges are set to remain throughout 2015. Neighbouring Botswana performed better than expected to post the highest year-on-year growth rate across the whole continent. This growth follows the successful democratic elections that took place in the country in October 2014 and was driven primarily by the commercial sector, which accounted for 87.6 per cent of

the total market. Botswana is expected to see on-going yearly growth in the final two quarters of the year. Meanwhile, companies and government in the region are said to be targeting more than 75 per cent investment on or planning to invest in big data in the next two years while skills, governance, funding and ROI challenges are also said to set to increase. A Gartner study said that investment in big data will continue to increase in 2015, but not as rapidly as in previous years noting that more than three-quarters of companies are investing or planning to invest in big data in the next two years, a three per cent increase over 2014. According to a recent survey of IT and business leaders by Gartner, Incorporated, which was conducted among 437 Gartner Research Circle Members in June 2015, including global organisations across all industries, both Gartner clients and nonclients, this year year begins the shift of big data away from a topic unto itself, and toward standard practices. Research Director at Gartner, Nick Heudecker said: “The topics that formerly defined big data, such as massive data volumes, dis-

parate data sources and new technologies are becoming familiar as big data solutions become mainstream. For example, among companies that have invested in big data technology, 70 per cent are analysing or planning to analyse location data, and 64 per cent are analysing or planning to analyse freeform text.” Gartner observed that organisations typically have multiple goals for big data initiatives, such as enhancing the customer experience, streamlining existing processes, achieving more targeted marketing and reducing costs. The survey said that as in previous years, organisations are overwhelmingly targeting enhanced customer experience as the primary goal of big data projects 64 per cent stressing that the “process efficiency and more-targeted marketing are now tied at 47 per cent. As data breaches continue to make headlines, enhanced security capabilities saw the largest increase, from 15 per cent to 23 per cent.” Research Director at Gartner, Lisa Kart, said, “As big data becomes the new normal, information and analytics leaders are shifting focus from hype to finding value.

While the perennial challenge of understanding value remains, the practical challenges of skills, governance, funding and return on investment (ROI) come to the fore.” When asked about ROI for big data efforts, the majority of those companies with plans to invest in big data and those that have invested expect a positive ROI. However, a large proportion of companies (43 per cent of those planning to invest and 38 per cent of those that have already invested) don’t know if their ROI will be positive or negative. This uncertainty highlights the challenges in determining the value of big data projects. One of the more significant changes in this year’s survey findings is the role within the organization that initiates big data projects. Last year, 37 per cent of big data projects were initiated by the CIO, while 25 per cent were initiated by business unit heads. In 2015, the roles are nearly tied, at 32 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively. “Business leaders are taking a more active role in information and analytics projects as awareness of the value of data-driven decision making grows,” said Heudecker. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

Fashola harps on CSR as MTNF turns 10 Isaiah Erhiawarien

ormer Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has charged corporate organisations to intensify their efforts to support Nigeria in the area of sustainable development as the country seeks to achieve an enviable status in the areas socioeconomic development among the comity of nations. Fashola stated this at an event to mark the tenth year anniversary of MTN Foundation in Lagos. The MTN Foundation is the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) arm of MTN Nigeria a company established in 2001. Speaking on the “Role of CSR in Nigeria’s sustainable development”, Fashola called on other multinationals to intensify their CSR programmes in Nigeria; while commending the MTN Foundation on its commitment to impacting the lives of Nigerians some of whom hitherto were living without hope. “While in office as the Governor of Lagos, I witnessed MTNF’s special interest and active involvement in tackling issues around health, educa-

XXX

tion, security and economic empowerment. The Foundation equipped laboratories for vocational and technical training; it intervened in collaborating with the state to provide Haemodialysis machines in our general hospital in Igando, Alimosho. Our general hospital in Gbagada now has 24 dialysis machines. In the area of security, the Foundation has been very supportive” Fashola said. Former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communication Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, also said that the MTN’s decision to separate its CSI in MTNF is an affirmation of its genuine

desire to touch the lives of Nigerians. MTN since 2005 has dedicated one per cent of its profit after tax to the MTN Foundation’s activities. “Creating a separate entity like MTN Foundation to simply cater for CSI is unique. Engaging a PrivatePublic-Partnership model simply shows the interest of the Foundation in adding value to the society and such genuine considerations must be commended. While some corporate organisations are yet to understand the core of CSI, it is interesting to note that the MTN Foundation has been consistent in strategically implementing credible projects that are sustainable” Ndukwe said. In setting up the MTN Foundation, Dr. Pascal Dozie, a Director with Foundation said “we agreed that we will engage people who had a molecule of virtues, who understood the principles of good governance and what it takes to be responsible”. In the past ten years, MTNF has spent over N13 billion on 344 projects across the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). BC

Airtel signs faster mobile broadband service pact

irtel has signed an agreement with Liquid Telecom to use the fibre provider’s terrestrial fibre network to connect Airtel’s mobile base stations and enterprises, in a bid to increase internet access speeds on Airtel’s 3G and 4G networks in Africa. Under the framework agreement, Airtel can leverage Liquid Telecom’s 20,000km-long fibre network across East, Central and Southern Africa, as well as make use of new purposebuilt fibre infrastructure connecting Airtel’s mobile base stations and enterprise customers with fibre. Airtel said the move reflects its focus on providing highquality mobile broadband services to its customers across African markets. “The agreement is a milestone in providing fast broadband services to customers in a cost-effective way. Airtel has invested significantly in mobile broadband technology across its African footprint and this agreement will de-

liver end-to-end fibre connectivity to our 3G and 4G base stations. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all,” said Airtel Africa chief executive officer, Christian de Faria. Liquid Telecom said this type of agreement provides a solution for mobile operators’ need to deliver on higher internet speeds on their mobile broadband networks. “Mobile operators are relying on internet access and data services to grow their revenues. MNOs, and in particular Airtel, have managed to attract a large number of customers on their 3G and 4G networks and now need to strengthen their backhaul to deliver a super-fast Internet access service. Liquid Telecom’s extensive and fast-growing terrestrial fibre network is the perfect solution for Airtel to rapidly do so,” said Group Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Telecom Nic Rudnick. Airtel currently has African

De-Faria

operations in Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Liquid Telecom’s fibre network spans 20,000km across Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Under the agreement, Airtel will be able to gain access to Liquid Telecom’s fibre infrastructure and to benefit from new fibre routes on an on-going basis. BC

Technotalk

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Creating information culture for organisations’ growth

he term “culture” refers to the collection of knowledge, language, rules, rituals, habits, lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs, and customs that link and give a common identity to a particular group of people at a specific point in time. Organisations have culture and it is created through communication which is often apparent in particular patterns like dressing, meeting styles, ways of thinking about the directions of the organisation, leadership styles and so on, but the most important of it all is information culture. Information is used throughout the organisation and by every person in one way or the other in accordance to their responsibilities. Inaccurate recording of data, excessive distribution of documents, failing to apply security procedures, can all create dangers to the organisation by damaging their reputation, reducing customer loyalty, and exposing an organisation to litigation. The form that information risk takes and the ways it should be mitigated must permeate throughout the organisation and must form a part of every employee approach to how they perform their daily tasks. This is achieved by developing a good information handling culture that makes the control and protection of information a routine part of every activity. Without a strong culture, information risk policies will be more likely to fail and much risk mitigation effort will be wasted. Companies that are able to adopt an information culture by taking technology as part of their culture are able to generate the highest returns from their investments because when employees adopt technology as part of their culture, it is embedded in the fabric of life within the organisation. An information culture is when information is considered a strategic asset within the organisation because without it, policies will fail and efforts will be wasted. Information is not just a corporate resource, rather it is the company’s identity i.e how the company defines and differentiates itself. Employees use information to maximise their performance which enables them to be adaptive and tailor their products and services to the dynamics of their customers. Things to embrace in creating an Information Culture: · Executives need to embrace information as essential to business operations when they model a behaviour that will cascade throughout the organisation. If information is not considered a strategic asset at the highest levels of an organisation, there will never be the investment required to make information available across the entire organisation. · If your employees are in the field, but the information is at their desk, then you can’t have a successful information culture. Companies that embrace an information culture understand how and where their employees work and make information widely accessible across the organisation. · An information support team is necessary to ensure that information is accurate, relevant and presented in the right context. · The culture must permeate throughout the organisation and must inform every person’s approach to how they perform their daily tasks, regardless of seniority. In addition, a good information culture starts with each employee’s understanding of the importance of information in the success of the organisation. Besides, the need for information to be safeguarded, through an effective information risk awareness and education should be taken into consideration. The life-blood of any organisation is arguably information and IT (Information Technology) systems are often created to manage, store and distribute it. Once you know what your information culture is, then you can move forward to use IT to assist in its management by building a proper solution for your business growth which in turn will lead to profitability BC BC and business success. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

A13 29

Innocent Chukwuma:

The auto entrepreneur His journey into success is one of the numerous grass to grace stories. Born without the proverbial silver spoon to the family of Chukwuma Mojekwu of Uru-Umudim, Nnewi, in Anambra State, Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma has successfully tread the terrain where many fear to explore and today, he stands out as one of the leading entrepreneurs not only to have come from the eastern part of the country, but also within the larger Nigerian entrepreneurship class. This is the story of Chukwuma, the 47 year old CEO of Innoson Group of companies By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

hat he lacked in an affluent parental background may have been compensated for by his intelligence, hard-work, discipline and business acumen, the qualities that have continued to interplay remarkably in his many ventures. Through exceptional courage, determination and the zeal to succeed, Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, Chief Executive Officer, Innoson Group of companies, the youngest among the family of six, like every average Nnewi man, has been able to successfully put the name of Nigeria in the world map. By his dogged business acumen, Chukwuma has not only become an entrepreneur of repute, his endeavour as an indigenous vehicle manufacturer has also helped enlist Nigeria in the league of vehicle manufacturing countries in the world. Chukwuma saw a hidden treasure in the automobile industry, where Nigeria is said to rank among the biggest consumers of automobiles in the world even without manufacturing its own car. He had thought it wise that manufacturing cars in the country, instead of importation would be a big plus. That was the thought that gave birth to what is today known as Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, manufacturing various types of cars, buses and tricycles. Going into the car business then, Chukwuma’s idea was to make cars affordable for Nigerians. According to the busi-

ness mogul, “If Nigerians can be patriotic enough to patronise made-in-Nigeria vehicles, all the money being wasted on importation of vehicles, would remain in the country. We will have more money in our hands to develop the country,” he had said at a time. Chukwuma’s entrepreneurial stride generated a lot of interests within the business community as many still wondered how he was able to put together, the first truly made in Nigeria cars within a short time. Indeed, a trip to the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, an auto plant located in the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State gives one the initial feeling of surprise, as it is a vast and gigantic project with awesome machinery and tools. The auto plant, built by Chukwuma, in partnership with Chinese auto makers, however does not limit itself to the production of refuse haulage trucks. It manufactures a range of other vehicles, including SUVs, double cabin pickups, 18-and 14-seater mini-buses and coaster buses among others. A team of inspectors from the National Automotive Council, led by Akintunde Zedomi, which recently toured the plant, confirmed that the products of the company were of international standard and commended the proprietor for keying into the Federal Government’s vision for transforming the country. The company, with about 30 per cent Chinese expatriates and 70 per cent indigenous workers, has no fewer than 3000 staff in its employ. Its presence is a

Chukwuma

motivator to other small scale manufacturing firms especially those dealing in motor auto spare parts and accessories. As a way of building the technicall capabilities of its indigenous employees, the company constantly engages in training its workers to acquire the muchneeded technological skill in auto manufacturing. Inaugurating the Innoson Motor Manufacturing Plant in October, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan had described the Innoson innovation as a dream come true. “Today is the day we are all happy because this is an indication of the drive we are expecting as we enter fifty years of our journey as an independent nation. We’ve always been saying that since 1960, a number of other countries were with us at

the same level of economic and industrial developments. But they have all left us behind and the present Nigerian generation agrees that we must retrace our history and move forward and meet them up and pass them,” the president said. President Jonathan, commending Chukwuma for the industry and sense of patriotism had expressed satisfaction that Innoson Vehicle Plant is not just about assembling parts that are imported. “From all indication so far, it is only the engine that he brings in from his partners in China, and every other thing is built here. And even abroad, no particular company produces everything, whether aircraft or even turbines,” he said. To Chukwuma, his goal, apart from putting Nigeria on

the world map as a vehicle manufacturing country, was to stop Nigerians from buying fairly used vehicles, popularly known as Tokunbo. According to him, with the commissioning of the plant, Nigerians can now beat their chest and say, “this is our own,” just like the Americans, the Chinese, the Germans and the Japanese do. Urging governments to lead the way by patronising madein-Nigeria products like vehicles and others, this, he said, would make Nigerians stop feeling that made-in-Nigeria products are of inferior quality compared to their imported counterparts. “If the president, governors, senators and other dignitaries begin to drive in Innoson vehicles, it would go a long way to build Continued on pg A14

Business Courage

confidence in other Nigerians to begin to patronise us. It would also inspire other Nigerians to go into manufacturing. The fear of most potential manufacturers is government’s preference for foreign-made goods. But once they begin to see government officials making use of made-in-Nigeria products, it would inspire them to bring out their best for their fatherland,” Chukwuma said. Innoson Motor Manufacturing Plant manufactures different types of vehicles like pick-up vans, buses of different kinds, sports utility vans and tricycles, popularly called keke NAPEP. The company only imports the engines used on its vehicles, while other components are sourced and manufactured in Nigeria and built with special considerations for the state of the Nigerian roads. Chukwuma’s trajectory into the business world, like many successful business persons from across the Niger, took off modestly when his elder brother, Gabriel Chukwuma (Gabros) identified the good qualities in him and paved the way for the youngster’s journey into the business terrain as an apprentice after his education in his home town. First, it was patent medicine trade that he tried his hands on, but later developed a stronger passion for motorcycle spare parts. This early tutelage became the veritable foundation the young Chukwuma needed to demonstrate an innate flair for trading, especially in motorcycle and automotive parts. With his knowledge of the trade now sharpened, Chukwuma, in 1981, ventured fully into the trade under the name Innoson Nigeria Limited (with motorcycle parts and accessories as his main stock). It was this seed sowed 21 years ago that flourished and multiplied like a mustard seed, into the many companies under the big umbrella called the Innoson Group. Incorporated in 2002, Innoson Group of Companies, has many subsidiaries including Innoson Nigeria Limited, which is based in Nnewi, while Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited, which manufactures all kinds of plastic and allied products, is based at Enugu. General Tyres and Tubes Company Limited, is also at Enugu. Innoson Motor Manufacturing Company Limited, Nnewi, has in its fold more than 3,000 staff. The Innoson Group of companies is also largely into manufacturing of plastic chairs, tables, trays, plates, spoons, cups, jerry cans of different sizes and many other allied products. Since inception, the company has been the biggest plastic manufacturer in Nigeria. It produces the highest quality range of the plastic products of international standard and has a production capacity of over 10,000 pieces of chairs and ta-

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Monday, September 28, 2015

Chukwuma

Chukwuma’s entrepreneurial strides generated a lot of interests within the business community as many still wondered how he was able to put together, the first truly made in Nigeria cars within a short time

bles per day. Due to the rapid demand of these products, the company’s twelve production lines of injection moulds have been increased. From being a leader in motorcycle parts, Innoson Nigeria Limited later launched into the importation of the products from China, and by the turn of the 1990s, had become so popular that its products were doing well across the country and in the West African sub-region. Guided by the instinct of a far-sighted investor, Chukwuma promptly realised that the time was ripe for Innoson Nigeria to domesticate the production of the motorcycles with substantial local input. This had the attendant benefits of enhancing the company’s grip on the market and contributing positively to the development of the economy by way of technological transfer, employment opportunities and competitive pricing of the motorcycles. With uncommon zeal and courage, he took the risk of setting up a vehicle plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, and a tyre factory in Enugu, at a time the first generation auto and tyre manufacturing firms in the country were either dead or dying. To realise this dream, Chuk-

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wuma in 1994, entered into a symbiotic partnership agreement with some Chinese motorcycle manufacturers, which was consummated with the establishment of a facility in Nnewi, where top quality motorcycles were produced. However, the targets of comparatively low prices and transfer of the production technology were only partially achieved owing to the fact that the assembly process was totally manual and did not make for high volume. This explains why only one year later, in 1995, he defied a major industrial boundary, by installing an automated assembly line at the Nnewi plant, thereby making Innoson Nigeria the first fully indigenous motorcycle maker to join Leventis and Boulos Enterprises in their club of companies producing the machines in Nigeria. Innosson produces about 8,000 pieces of motorcycle tyres and 13,000 tubes daily for now. But the company says there are plans to expand the range. The products are sold under the brand name of Load-visa. Apparently, as a result of his efforts to bring growth and development to the people, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had honoured Chuk-

wuma with the national award of Officer of the Order on the Niger, OON while recently; President Jonathan awarded him a title of Member of the Federal Republic, MFR. Elsewhere, he was bestowed with the Commonwealth Business Council award in London, and the recent Institute of Directors (IoD) award, among others. The Innoson boss himself admitted that the awards have shown him that the little efforts he has been making in the manufacturing sector are being appreciated by the people of the country and even those outside. “It simply means that investing in production in order to contribute to the development of the economy and reduce unemployment is what the people of this country need, and they recognise you when you do it. I am always happy to receive such honours because they are a very big source of encouragement to me. In most cases, when I am contacted, I do my investigations and find out that the people behind the awards do not even know me personally but are usually impressed with what we do at the Innoson Group and decide that we deserve commendation.” Last year, Innoson Group of Companies was given recognition as the 2012 African Business Award in London for its cream of successes in Nigeria and Africa. The award, given to the company at a colorful ceremony, attracted top business executives and government officials around the world at Grosvenor House Hotel London. Explaining the enormous contributions of Innoson Group at the occasion Galib Virani of Afren International, an upstream oil and gas Company recalled that Innoson’s industrial record is not only outstanding but also heartwarming. “Innoson Group represents the best of Nigeria, and obviously the champion of Africa. It is a thing of pride to have such a high profile group in African continent,” Virani stated. Six distinguished business experts- Jean- Louis Ekra Runa Alam, Amadou Ba, Barbara James, Sir Samuel Jonah and Tim Turner formed the panel constituted by the Commonwealth Business Council and African Business that vetted the nominees and recommended the Innoson Group after assessing her business leadership skills as having the ability to overcome tough hurdles in a hostile business environment like Nigeria. The team also considered the group’s meteoric rise into auto parts engineering, assemblage and manufacture of automobiles in Nigeria and submitted that “there is no doubt that Africa, especially Nigeria’s improved reputation today is largely due to the achievements of leaders like Innoson Group, and we wholeheartedly cherish your

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exceptional contribution to the economic and social development of Africa continent.” However, like every entrepreneurs, Chukwuma admits the various teething challenges confronting businesses in the country, which chiefly, he said is the persistent erratic power supply. He explained that if there was stable power supply, production cost would be lowered and prices of products would go down drastically. “Our mission by the grace of God is to drastically reduce the prices of vehicles and cut down the country’s dependence on imported vehicles. We did it with motorcycles; we can do it again with motor vehicles,” he said. Chukwuma appealed for incentives from government including facilities and patronages, to enable the company outgrow its teething problems and contribute its quota in effective national growth. Also, he believes that high tariff on electricity has been another big problem facing the manufacturing industry. “Unfortunately, the new tariff is posing its own headache. For instance, one factory alone in the Innoson Group – the plastics industry in Enugu – pays a monthly electricity bill of N30 million. It takes a lot of toll on the factory. It does not encourage growth and expansion. That heavy monthly bill reduces your ability to bring in more equipment and employ more hands. It is a problem the government should look into because it is a problem all manufacturers are battling with.” Chukwuma is already looking beyond the shores of Nigeria. Exportation of the IVM vehicles has already commenced. Ghana, he said for instance, has ordered over 200 units of his vehicles. The Federal Government has been the biggest patronage as Innoson has been able to supply some of the busses order for public transportation under SURE-P programme. Also many ministries and parastatals have purchased vehicles from the factory, just as the Anambra state government. Governor Peter Obi who recently acquired some vehicles from the manufacturing firm, described the company’s proprietor as a man of vision and ingenuity whose activities have given boost to the growth of the state and nation’s economy. Besides, the company has been enjoying the Bank of Industry (BOI) support as it was able to get loan facility to kick start the factory since 2004 when it had only 500 staff. Also, the company was able to access National Automotive Council fund to expand its vehicle plant. Apart from their durability and the availability of spare parts, the Innoson Chairman said the vehicles can be purchased for as low as N1.7million. BC

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs KLINIC

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

e-mail: olusegunmamora@gmail.com “In all labour, there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury”- King Solomon David

aintaining records of your income and expenses gives you an advantage in maximizing your business potential. This is grossly so because your financial data can be explored to provide you with information that will help position your business on the path of increased profitability, sustainable growth, expense control, process improvement etc. This was the case with my client who did have bigger picture of business performance until records revealed that the business is barely making profit. The decision to put in place an accounting system resulted in the improvement of the business and unleashing its potential for growth. Charis Flavour, a consumer goods manufacturer upon deploying accounting system provided a holistic view of the business with information on cost of production, sales volume, income, operating expenses etc, from the Profit and Loss account. The business owner realized that the operating expenses from the accounting records being kept far outweigh previous estimates, which explains the marginal profit. With this information, the business owner embarked on production process re-engineering which eliminated waste and maximized man hour. This example illustrates how accounting system can enhance your profitability through product redesign and packaging. With your financial records in place, more quality decisions could be made that will impact your business in several ways, some of which are examined below. These summaries below are effects of financial records on business improvement as advised by Abiodun Mamora, a Finance professional, during our discussion on accounting system. Operating cycle Information on sales over a period of time will help you to understand the business cycle and tailor your production process to match this cycle. Your

resources during the off pick periods are conserved while maximizing your profit during the peak seasons. Product mix Where you have different products for sale, record of sales volume for each product will reveal consumer preference. With further analysis, the prevailing properties of the most demanded product can be replicated in the other products to improve acceptability. Also more investment can be channeled into the lead product for more profit. Competitive strategy In a competitive environment like ours, you can redesign your competitive strategy by compar-

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Improve profit; maximize your financial data Workers expect fair compensation for work done and on occasions where the business experiences a boom, a token of appreciation to staff is not unusual. However, this must be done paying close attention to facts and figure

ing the information on production level, sales volume, market share etc., with those of competitors. This can result in cost reduction measures or investing in new machine that will enhance large scale production with opportunity for economies of scale.

you can curtail obsolete stock and keep all cost associated with inventory to the minimum.

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BUSINESS

Capital sourcing Maintaining proper accounting records is a critical requirement for assessing loans and advances from the financial institutions and other investors. Inability to produce records of business operations is considered a red flag for an investor as this is interpreted as an unsafe venture. Sales promotion Data on sales per region or market segment can help to determine the places to target for sales promotion especially when this is reviewed over a period of time. This information will be helpful in channeling your sales promotion to the appropriate places where maximum result will be obtained. Inventory control For businesses that require maintaining stock, your inventory record over a period of time will help you to determine the optimal inventory level. By this

Motivational Business Quotes

o succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business. – J. Paul Getty To win without risk is to triumph without glory. – Pierre Corneille To succeed… You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. – Tony Dorsett Statistics suggest that when customers complain, business owners and managers ought to get excited about it. The complaining customer represents a huge op-

portunity for more business. – Zig Ziglar I wasn’t satisfied just to earn a good living. I was looking to make a statement. – Donald Trump Whether it’s Google or Apple or free software, we’ve got some fantastic competitors and it keeps us on our toes. – Bill Gates Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating. – Denis Waitley Management is nothing more than motivating other people. – Le Iacocca BC

Cashflow management Due to the significant role cash plays in every business venture, it is important that adequate attention is paid to how money is spent. Record keeping will help you to capture your inflows and outflows and provide information on the cash cycle of the business. With this you can make capital commitments against expected inflow without putting the business in jeopardy. Staff compensation Workers expect fair compensation for work done and on occasions where the business experiences a boom, a token of appreciation to staff is not unusual. However, this must be done paying close attention to facts and figure. There is that tendency to unconsciously over/under estimate the performance of the business and individual if proper record is not in place. Innovation Record keeping imposes orderliness in a business which in turn creates an atmosphere for creativity and innovation. When records are reviewed periodically, i.e. weekly or monthly, ideas can be born on how to either improve on the performance or reverse negative trends. This was the case with my client, Charis Flavour, earlier mentioned. The daily review of the accounting information with respect to production cost, cashflow statement and profit and loss account, gave birth to the idea of redesigning the product and content packaging. Dear friend, the value you place on accounting records and system will determine the extent to which you can explore the benefits highlighted above amongst others. Succeeding in business has gone beyond product offering, it also entails your ability to make quality decision that will put the business ahead of competitor. Your accounting records will unveil to you a limitless world of opportunities by shifting your gaze from what is to what could be. Be courageous to do the needful. I love you guys! BC

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

The Strategic Solution provider “It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself but he can put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come, he is ready,” is one of the famous quotes of a former governor of New York and an ex-president of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt. In a way, Olufemi Obawole can be aptly described as a product of this school of thought. He benefitted from the tuition-free higher education initiative of the Swedish government some years ago and today, he does not only boast of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Information system, he is also the Group Managing Director of JustRich Group, Sweden with a distributing arm in Lagos, Nigeria.

t is often argued that when a great moment knocks on the door of our lives, it is often not louder than the beating of our hearts, and it is very easy to miss it. And truth is, many people do miss the opportunities when they come knocking but not for Olufemi Obawole. Obawole embraced the rare opportunity presented by the Swedish Government to willing Nigerians to further their education on a tuition-free basis in Sweden few years ago. He faced the odds, endured the pains and keeping faith with the words of renowned author, Sarah Caldwell that “learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can, there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did,” Obawole did acquired knowledge not only from Malardalen University where he bagged a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, or his Master’s Degree in Information Systems from both Stockholm University and Linnaeus University; he was also a keen observer of the needs of the society and how to proffer solutions to them. As it turned out, that need to offer strategic solutions to the basic problems faced in the society propelled him, along with his wife, Minna Rumpunen to establish JustRich Group in 2008 with a vision to offer desirable solutions to strategic challenges faced by individuals and organizations. JustRich supplies products that help businesses to achieve the best solution needed for their activities, through the creation of

an enabling environment that strategically put individuals and businesses one step ahead in terms of output. “Our activity is characterised by the identification of strategic problems faced by individuals and organisations, establishing contact and partner with the solution maker(s) and the delivery of the unique solution to our esteemed customers. We decided to set up the Nigerian branch because we have realised that coupled with the good reforms that is being initiated by the government, it is important that we also contribute our own quota to the development,” he said in an interview with Business Courage. Obawole said that JustRich Group has fantastic product which all Nigerians need ranging from gas and smoke detector for all homes, hotels, retailers among others. “We also have the Business Kiosk Solutions, Queue Management Systems, and Digital Signage among the list of products that we offer. We also sell an unbreakable and anti-flammable type of glass that can be used for building windows, doors, offices and even on cars because security issue is one of the major issues in Nigeria.” Obawole said that part of what his company has done to address incidences of large crowd often witnessed in the banks, public centre, bus stations and customers centre of some organisations, was to create the virtual queue system, through an electronic queue management system which

Obawole

eliminates the problems associated with queues. “Every customer or client

that walks into any of the mentioned places, just need to press the machine and a number tag

is generated, so you know where you belong on the queue. With the system, there will be no need for argument or fighting on who came first on the queue. More so, it is not customer friendly when you have people on the queue for hours; with their number tag, they can sit down and the bank for instance will look more friendly and business-like. We actually have about 150 different products which we distribute across the country. We do not manufacture, we only make sure that we distribute this strategic products and services to our end customers to help them get to the next preferred level,” Obawole disclosed in an interview with Business Courage. The smoke detector, according to him, will help reduce, if not totally eliminate the incidences of fire outbreak as the alarm will come up at the slightest detection of a smoke while gas alarm will do same whenever a leakage is noticed from the gas cylinder; thus ensuring that the home is secure to live in. Obawole described the hammer glass as the new generation of unbreakable glass that provides a whole system of unbreakable glass solutions for new construction, conversions and Add-Ons. Hammer glass is an appropriate protection in any environment where there is the risk of burglary or vandal-

Management Principles

Improving your critical thinking skills

s an entrepreneur, you make decisions every day that affect the success of your products, the loyalty of your employees, and the overall health of your business. To make the best decisions possible, you need to think critically and quickly to pick out any flaws in your processes that might harm your business. When you think through a problem, your thought process is naturally colored by biases, such as your point of view and your assumptions about the situation. Each of those biases affects your reasoning. If you let your biases drive your thought process and overlook blind spots in your logic, you’ll unwittingly make decisions filled with holes. “Critical thinking is a way to intervene in your thought process,” says Linda Elder, an educational psychologist and president of the Foundation for Critical Thinking based in Tomales, Calif. “It’s a way to routinely and consistently seek problems in your thinking.” Try these three strategies to help you think through a problem effectively. Identify your purpose Every time you face a decision, there is a purpose attached to that choice, or a goal that the decision will help you achieve. For example, if you are expanding into a new market, your purpose might be to choose the one with the greatest growth opportunity. Once you identify your purpose, it should inform every step of your decision process. First make sure that you’re clear about what it is, articulate it for yourself and your team and make

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Smoke detector

ism: shops, shopping malls, public buildings, municipalities, schools, sports centres, police stations, offices and industries - but also in private homes and apartments. The company also has the road sweepers which can be used to sweep the highways and other major roads. He argued that the products offered by the company are a must have for every home and organisation, stressing that they are also

affordable with a guaranty and an insurance cover. “We also have few banks which we partner that can give credit facility to our customers to buy our products provided such customers are credit worthy. We can actually supply in large quantity,” he added. Obawole said that he chose to establish the company in Nigeria because of his conviction that Nigerians can live a more comfortable life than they are living at

use it as a starting point, not an end point. “With critical thinking, it is essential to go beyond the basic skills like gathering information,” Elder says. Examine your biases When you face a problem, it’s common to view it from only your perspective and to overlook how your clients, customers, or co-workers might see it. Considering the situation from only one point of view, however, can lead to products that flop or unnecessary spending. The goal of critical thinking is to bring those biases to light so they don’t obstruct your decisions. To do that, articulate your own viewpoint. Ask yourself, what do I believe about this situation? What is important to me? Next, look for any assumptions you might be making about others’ thoughts or behaviors. “Irrational thought is often unconscious,” Elder says. “When we articulate our thoughts, we have a better chance to detect distorted thinking.” Consider the implications of your options Every choice has consequences, and you can improve your decision-making by anticipating what those might be. To do that, approach the problem from many different viewpoints. Imagine yourself as each of the stakeholders, and consider how they might feel and act in response to each option. If you do make a choice that backfires by upsetting clients or hurting sales, take a deeper look at which implications you failed to think through, and why. “Common reasons are that people were intellectually lazy, didn’t want to consider a given viewpoint,” Elder says. Knowing what you missed and why will help you avoid that issue in the future. BC

present, adding that there are untapped potentials in the country and a lack of knowledge of what the strategic needs of the citizens are. Speaking on the challenges and how he started the business with his wife, Minna Rumpunen who is the Executive Director, Obawole admitted that it was pretty difficult at the initial stage. “From getting the right manufacturer of a product we want to the delivery of the same products to the right customer who will buy it from us. But as we keep working hard, customers started coming and suppliers continually knock at our door”. Obawole added that he worked for five years in a multinational company where he was well paid but the urge to establish his own business and make contributions to the good of the society engineered him to resign to embark on the JustRich voyage in 2008. “I worked for five years with a company called Vasteras, Sweden and while on the job, I always ask myself if I will not be doing better putting all of the effort I placed on that job on mine. Then a day came when I realised that I had to take the bold step. After I had tasted the autonomy of running my own business, I realised it was a right decision. We got some funds from a foreign bank to start up the business,” he said. He added that his team is committed to providing strategic solutions to the needs of Nigerians and ensuring that JustRich becomes a household name in the country hinged on professionalism and qualitative delivery of products, adding that the company is always willing to listen to the needs of clients in order for them to get desired result. Obawole enjoined would-be entrepreneurs to always remain focused in the face of challenges, stressing that every challenge presents them another opportunity to strategise and make the business works. “The spirit of entrepreneurship is something you cannot let go. There is a kind of zeal and ability in you that will always ring in your heart that there is a need or services that you can provide. When you face challenges, you feel a little bit down but as an entrepreneur, the challenges should make you think of what next to do to make the business bigger and succeed. I would say that don’t give up, there will be challenges and reasons to think twice and not take too much risk but don’t quit in the face of difficulties.” “You can go back to the drawing board and see where you have gotten it wrong and fix it. Do not be put down by the potential and even the existing challenges. You must know exactly what you want, what you are doing and where you are going. You must focus on adding values to the good of the society and be determine to succeed. Hard work pays,” he concluded. BC

Personal Finance Motivating your employees

ave you ever bought a new gadget or toy for your kids or yourself and seen that mildly annoying “batteries not included” sticker? Getting the right batteries for your new gizmo is similar to finding the right motivation for your employees. The end goal is the same: energy for action, but you need the right connection to trigger that flow of energy. Motivating your team can be more art than science, but here are four techniques that will increase your chances of finding the right fuel:

1. Focus on the bigger picture. One of the most universal motivational triggers is connecting a current action with a bigger vision. For example, when you started your business, it’s very likely that you had some motivation beyond having a business for business’s sake. You might have wanted freedom to build a better life for you and your loved ones, to help people or to make the world a better place in some way. What drives you is the bigger picture, not the daily to-dos. Your team is no different. If you’re seeing a lack in motivation or productivity, it’s probably because they’ve lost the connection between what they are doing and their “why.” Actively search for their “why” during conversations, so that when there is a lull in motivation, you can be there to remind them of the big picture. Help them see how their puzzle piece fits in to build a larger picture. 2. Emphasize the importance of process. Sometimes teams procrastinate because they don’t think there’s any harm in putting off certain tasks. Little do they know that what seems inconsequential to them is actually a cornerstone for your next steps. You might need to explain the chain of events that are necessary to accomplish the big goals. No step is unimportant. Like they say in theatre, there are no small roles, only small actors. In your business, there are no small steps, only small thinking. Of course, this only applies if you don’t have unnecessary redundancies. If you do, it’s a good idea to do an audit and clean out the cobwebs of your procedures. 3. Pay attention to what excites them. The best kind of motivation doesn’t come from you; it comes from people themselves. When you’re having a conversation with someone, pay close attention to what they say and how they say it. Chances are they are giving you clues on how to best motivate them in that moment. I like to call these clues “keywords.” They are words or phrases that stand out from the rest. Keywords are more charged when spoken. The person will lean in or sit up straighter. Their voice might get louder or more pointed. Their eyes might widen when they say their keywords. 4. Use positive reinforcement. One of the best ways to lay the groundwork for future motivation is to acknowledge and reward successes. If you motivate someone to take action, but don’t acknowledge the accomplishment, they will be jaded when you approach them again in the future for something else. Recognition of past successes is a motivator for future progress. Failing to do so can lead to bitter and defensive employees. Leaders need to be a constant source of motivation. Your team should come to you to recharge their batteries, not leave feeling more drained. Pay attention their nee BC

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New Mercedes-Benz C-Class-6: with clearly different experience

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

ith an endeavour to provide the best and most the comprehensive products in India, MercedesBenz recently launched the New C-Class in its much awaited diesel variant. The new C 220 CDI Avantgarde and the new C 200 Avantgarde (CKD) were launched by Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Piyush Arora, Executive Director, Operations, MercedesBenz India at Mercedes-Benz India’s Centre of Excellence in Pune. Prices start just under $38,400, making the C-Class slightly more expensive than the outgoing model, and slightly pricier than the competition. The new C-class heralds a new era in the Mercedes-Benz success story and sets new standards in the premium medium-sized category. It is the first car to be built using Mercedes’ new rear-wheel drive architecture (MRA). This uses around 50 per cent aluminum in its construction – up from 10 per cent before – and cuts 70kg from the body. Other weight savings mean the new CClass weighs around 100kg less than previously, which all helps improve the driving experience. The big selling engine is expected to be the 2.1-litre diesel in the C220 and C250 BluTEC, which provides plenty of power and competitive claimed fuel economy figures. However, it’s carried over from the previous car and remains pretty gruff and noisy. The C-Class’ upmarket atmosphere is spoiled when you twist the key and Mercedes’ ageing diesel rattles into life. The 2.1-litre engine fails to settle down on the move, either – it sounds strained when extended and drones on the motorway. The new C-Class is a bold departure from its predecessor. Its striking and dynamic design clearly exudes sensuality and arouses the emotions. The hallmark proportions of the Mercedes saloon are seen in the long bonnet, the far-sitting passenger compartment and the short overhangs. From the sides, dropping lines also highlights a typical Mercedes-Benz signature. The automobile offers two different front-end designs: the bold sports grille with the central star for the Avantgarde and standard design line, and the classic ra-

diator grille with the central atop the bonnet for the Exclusive design line. These front-end designs demonstrate the effortless superiority of the Mercedes-Benz design. The new C-Class diesel will now be available in the C 220 CDI STYLE and C 220 CDI AVANTGARDE, while the locally manufactured C-Class petrol will be available in the C 200 AVANTGARDE variant, at dealerships across India. The diesel variants of the new C-Class will be available as completely built units only. The new C-Class has created a new benchmark in its segment with its modern, aesthetic design, high-class interiors and cuttingedge technology. Its features include exemplary safety and high efficiency, while boasting of sporty and agile handling. These class leading features have also made the car a favorite with the critics and jury members of the prestigious automotive awards in India this year. “With the launch of the C 220 CDI we now present the complete portfolio of the new generation C-Class to our customers. The commencement of the local production of the new C 200 Avantgarde petrol within three months of its India debut, reiterates our commitment of providing our customers fascinating products which are made in India.” Eberhard Kern, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said. The new C-Class’ 4-cylinder diesel engine is the most fuel efficient in the segment with a fuel efficiency of 19.27 km per litre. Together with a large fuel tank capacity of 66 litres it gives the customers freedom to explore places around them without worrying about frequent trips to the fuel station. The engine also boasts of ECO start/stop function which helps in saving fuel and reducing emissions. The engine produces

125 kW at 3000-4200 rpm with a maximum torque of 400 Nm between 1400-2800 rpm, which is highest in the segment. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 233 kmph. Drive mode selector (AGILITY SELECT): At a touch of the Drive Mode Selector, drivers can choose between Comfort, Economy, Sport, Sport+, or Individual driving modes. Parameters such as the engine, transmission and steering characteristics are adjusted according to the selected transmission mode. In the ‘Sport and Sport+’ modes the driver can experience added agility and dynamism, thanks to a more direct characteristic steering curve, spontaneous throttle response and modified shift points, providing an exciting and engaging driving experience. Mercedes-Benz has also commenced the local production of the petrol variant of the new CClass which was introduced last year as a CBU. In keeping with the global availability constraints for the new C-Class owing to the overwhelming demand across the world, the petrol variant was introduced last year. “The new C 220 CDI redefines the segment completely and offers the customers who prefer a diesel mill, an unparalleled luxury product experience. The new C-Class’ character defining emotional and clear design and high-quality interior provides the unmistakable feeling of modern luxury. The efficient and highperformance engineering incorporated in this car delivers a higher level of driving pleasure. For instance, the new C 220 CDI combines the driving pleasure of five different cars into one with its innovative Drive Mode Selector (Agility Select) function. The C 220 CDI also offers the best

fuel efficiency and the highest torque in the segment which will add great value to our discerning customers. The C-Class perfectly reflects our ‘Live the Best’ philosophy, which is to delight our discerning customers by providing them with value added new product offerings.” Kern further added. Driving Performance The powerful motor coupled with a 7-speed automatic transmission combines a high level of comfort with driving pleasure and efficiency. It impresses with smooth operation and rapid gear shifts. At the same time, the 7G-TRONIC PLUS transmission contributes to reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Higher Ground Clearance: The C-Class is equipped with a suspension specifically designed for India. This results in improved comfort on Indian roads and a greater ground clearance. Long Wheelbase: Through its long wheelbase of 2840 mm the new C-Class will provide its passengers with better ride comfort, great handling and stunning driving performance differentiating it from its competitors. The long wheelbase will also offer passengers (especially in the

rear) more legroom and therefore assures a more comfortable ride for all passengers. Cruise Control: Cruise control with SPEEDTRONIC allows relaxed, economical driving particularly on long journeys. In addition to the desired cruising speed, an individual maximum speed can be set e.g. to be sure of obeying speed limits. Aerodynamics: Wind resistance is a principal factor in achieving fuel consumption reduction and the reduction of CO2 emissions. With extensive aerodynamic and aeroacoustic development work the new CClass boasts of an impressively low drag coefficient of Cd = 0.26 and further noise reduced interior for a more comfortable driving experience. Exterior – Sensuous clarity and purist forms The new C-Class represents a bold departure from its predecessor. Its emotional, sensuous surface geometry makes it appear muscular and full of character. At the same time the design showcases the high-tech character in a purist, clear and exciting fashion. The front end, the three-dimensional radiator grille and the clearly traced headlamp

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Defining emotional

Autocare Using a battery with a bigger amplifier

contours mould the ‘face’ of the new C-Class – strong in character and brand-typical. The AVANTGARDE exterior design includes the sports grille with twin louvres, which emphasises the long bonnet and therefore the vehicle’s powerful and dynamic nature. Longer, wider and lighter than its predecessor, and featuring sculptured and sensual design lines not unlike those of the SClass, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has grown up. The clear design emphasising width and the powerful shoulders give the new C-Class a decidedly athletic appearance from the rear. A soft edge which merges into the tail lights accentuates the indent in the C-pillar which is essential for the powerful shoulder. A strongly vaulted spoiler lip on the boot lid has a positive effect on the cd value, and also characterises the appearance. With the dynamic LED headlamps with LED Intelligent Light System the main headlamps feature two newly designed modules. The up-to-date design with inward running contour creates a brand-moulding element with the functions “direction indicator”, “position light” and “daytime running lamp”. Their characteristic night design lends the new C-Class its very own distinctive look in the dark, too. The tail light cluster features a modern twintorch-effect design with all light functions making use of LEDs. Interior – Upgrade inside The cockpit and passenger compartment come across as clear, sensuous and with a host of new unusual styling details. Clarity stands for visible hightech attributes and straightforward sportiness – purism in the best sense of the word. Sensuousness stands for design ideas with exciting flowing shapes and high-grade materials – a reinterpretation of contemporary luxu-

ry. Electrically adjustable “Cobralook” front seats with an organic, sporty design and integral head restraint are fitted into the allnew C-Class. The seat adjustment range compared with the W204 series has been enlarged by 10 mm in height and by 6 mm in the lowest seat position and allows even more individual adjustments. The seats are covered with full ARTICO leather. Highstrength steels and intelligent lightweight construction are the technical distinguishing marks of the sturdy rear seats. Their newly designed seat cushions furthermore enhance the comfort for the rear-seat passengers who also enjoy considerably more legroom and knee room. The interior skilfully combines the architecture of the MercedesBenz sports cars with a newly interpreted, sporty and flowing centre console design. The sportily designed, width-emphasising dashboard is optically divided into lower and upper sections which are separated by a trim strip. The newly integrated control and display system is consistent with the Mercedes-Benz operating philosophy. This multimedia system combines entertainment, information and communication: The new generation Audio 20 CD with touchpad features now an entirely new designed user interface and graphics, 3D navigation and also allows networking with mobile devices via Bluetooth®. User-friendly navigation, precise map data and excellent route guidance with the Garmin® MAP PILOT brings all the familiar benefits of a Garmin® navigation system to the Audio 20 CD with touchpad. It’s all done by simply inserting an SD card with navigation software and map data sets. The infotainment system is also capable of connecting to the internet with a Bluetooth® and data-enabled mobile phone. Mer-

cedes-Benz Apps such as Mercedes-Benz Radio can be used even while driving. The interior of the new CClass provides an ambience that enhances the overall experience of the occupants, with 3 colour ambient lighting, Reversing Camera, Panoramic Sliding Sunroof, KEYLESS GO starting function, spacious and illuminated boot with a total capacity of 480 litres. The rear seat backrests can be split-folded into a 40/20/40 ratio. Safety and Assistance Systems The integral safety concept from Mercedes-Benz groups together all active and passive safety components into a well thought-out system – for the safety of the vehicle occupants and other road users. It brings the vision of accident-free driving another step closer for the designers. More than ever before, it meets the requirements for a high level of vehicle and road safety, based on what actually happens in accidents. With new and extended functions, in addition to the standard safety features such as ABS, BAS, ESP, ASR, Hill Start Assist, etc., the C-Class remains the leader in terms of measures designed to guard against danger and initiate protective measures. ATTENTION ASSIST is able to warn the driver when it detects typical signs of drowsiness in steering behaviour. Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus allows the high-beam headlamps to be kept on permanently since oncoming traffic or vehicles in front are masked out in the beams’ cone of light. PRE-SAFE® system comes with belt tensioners for driver and front passenger seats, closing function for side windows and panoramic sliding sunroof and positioning of front passenger. BC

f your old battery has reached the end of the road and needs to be replaced, or if you think you need a battery with a bigger amplifier capacity for easier hot weather starting or to handle added electrical accessories, then there’s no reason why you have to install a battery that’s the same size as your old one. The word “size” may be a bit confusing because what we’re really talking about is the battery’s amp or power rating, not the physical dimensions of its case. A battery with a bigger case is not necessarily a more powerful battery. Battery manufacturers can cram a lot of amps into a relatively small box by varying the design of the cell plates and grids. So, two batteries with identical exterior dimensions may have significantly different power ratings. Batteries come in many different sizes and configurations, which are referred to as “group” sizes because the vehicle manufacturers can’t get together and standardize anything. So when you’re choosing a battery, you have to consider three things: (1) the group size (height, width, length and post configuration), (2) whether your battery has top or side posts, and (3) how many amps will be needed for reliable hot weather starting as we have in Nigeria and vehicle operation. Group Sizes Because there are 57 different group sizes, many aftermarket replacement battery suppliers consolidate group sizes to simplify inventory requirements. So some replacement batteries may not fit exactly the same as the original. The battery may be slightly shorter, taller, narrower or wider than the original. But as long as it fits the battery tray and there are no interference problems, it should work fine. Some replacement batteries come with both side and top posts to further consolidate applications. Some also have folding handles to make handling and installation easier. Battery Ratings Though many replacement batteries are marketed by the number of “months” of warranty coverage provided (36, 48, 60, etc.), what’s more important in terms of performance is the battery’s power rating which is usually specified in “Cold Cranking Amps” (CCA) rating. The CCA rating tells you how many amps the battery can deliver at 0 degree F. for 30 seconds and still maintain a minimum voltage of 1.2v. per cell. In the past, the rule of thumb was to always buy a battery with a rating of at least one CCA per cubic inch of engine displacement. But twice that is probably a better recommendation for reliable cold weather starting. At the very least, you should buy a replacement battery with the same or better CCA rating as your old battery or one that meets the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements. For most small four-cylinder engines, this would be a 450 CCA or larger battery, for a six cylinder application, a 550 CCA or larger battery, and for a V8 a 650 CCA or larger battery. Bigger is usually better. Extra battery capacity is recommended if your vehicle has a lot of electrical accessories such as air conditioning, power windows, seats, electric rear defogger, etc. BC

A20 36

Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGULATORS

ABCON backs CBN’s forex market initiatives

he Association of Bureau-de-Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has expressed support for the fiscal policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the country’s foreign exchange market. ABCON’s Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the fiscal measures would stabilise the market and ensure that the Naira retained its value. Gwadabe noted that CBN’s measures had contributed greatly to the current stability being experienced in the forex market.

Gwadabe

He said a stable exchange rate was favourable to the

operations of Bureau-deChange (BDC) and also to the nation’s economy. NAN reports that Gwadabe had at a media briefing said that the existence of the BDCs was important for providing across- the-counter retail foreign exchange services. He also said that BDCs provided statistics to the CBN on transactions in retail market. ``We also serve as channel of official intervention in the retail segment of the foreign exchange market. ``Hence we provide platform for the convergence of exchange rates in the country,” Gwadabe said. BC

Expert faults NYSC discharge certificate as collateral for loans

he Director of Programmes for Africa at the African Housing Professionals Association Nigeria, Mr Adekunle Babayemi, has faulted the use of NYSC certificate as collateral for business loans. Babayemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that the directive was not an effective solution to providing the assistance for corps members to start their businesses. He said the directive was not a holistic approach to resolving the matter as it would prevent them from receiving the professional guidance needed to start and run successful businesses. Babayemi said the certificate was only a drop in the ocean as it was not enough for them to secure loan, adding that they should rather be made to join professional associations and unions. He said that the professional bodies would not only ensure that the corps members ac-

Olawumi

quired necessary skills during training but serve as an intermediary to those who needed loan to start business. He said the bodies would also advise and guide the corps members to manage their loans and in monitoring their progress. “The best thing is to help them to register with professional or trade associations so that these bodies can serve as collateral for those who want to access loan. “These associations can be good support system and intermediaries for corps members to access funds because at the end of the day they want to become skilled individuals, job creators and employers in these areas,” the director said. He noted that corps members were also likely to face challenges when applying directly for loans as they needed to have good, concrete and feasible business plans to get approval. Babayemi urged the scheme to work closely with the banking sector to set up a platform where corps members could access loans using intermediaries as collateral base. He said that the avenue would enable the corps members to acquire knowledge, experience and first-hand professional guidance required for independence and success in life. The director applauded the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme for corps members which provided them with the necessary skills to become innovators in various fields. “The skill acquisition programme introduced by the NYSC for corps members is a fantastic

development. “The director general of the scheme has introduced more than 25 different skill areas for corps members to learn from and be equipped to become financially independent. “The scheme is not only focusing on providing basic skills to these youths like fashion and hairdressing but it is going deeper to train them to acquire skills in professional fields like construction. “This will go a long way in making them unique and true innovators,” Babayemi said. He urged financial institutions to support the programme. “If the sector can provide sponsorship to these young people, it will help them. It could be sponsoring some of their training sessions or organising the training themselves. “It is good to train corps members in various skills but this is not enough to make them successful. “They need to also learn how to create good business ideas, write good business proposals and carry out their business plans successfully so that they encounter fewer challenges later. NAN recalls that the NYSC Director General, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, in August said that N200 million had been secured from the Heritage Bank for disbursement to corps members as loans to start their businesses. Olawumi said that as part of the criteria to access the package, corps members would have to deposit their discharge certificates with the bank as collateral. BC

PPMC accounts for 200bn loss in NNPC operations yearly – Kachikwu Gbenga Odogun

he pipelines and products marketing company ppmc, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC is responsible for 200 billion yearly in its operations. PPMC is that arm of the NNPC responsible for transporting crude oil to the refineries and moving white petroleum products to the existing and future markets efficiently through a network of pipelines and depots. The company is also responsible for the maintenance and security of the pipelines and depots. Due the incessant vandalism resulting in loss of products and repair works on the damaged pipelines, the company has continued to incur 200 billion annually. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu told En-

ergy Correspondents in Lagos at the weekend that PPMC contribute about 87 percent of the total; loss of the NNPC yearly. Dr Kachikwu said the company is currently undergoing some review with the aim of repositioning it back to the path of profitability in line with the objective of its establishment. As part of the reorganization process, the Group Managing Director disclosed that the company will be unbundled to for three companies with each charged with specific responsibility. While one of the companies will be responsible for crude lifting, another will be responsible for the maintenance and the security of the pipelines while the other company will be responsible for the lifting and supply of white products. This, according to him would also reduce the number of staff that would shed due to the ongoing rationalization as the new companies would absolve some of the staff. BC

NDIC’s assisted NIPSS research building commissioned

magnificent Directorate of Research building complex that was donated by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru Jos was officially commissioned on Monday by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The Vice-President who was represented by the Director of Administration in his Office, Alhaji Ibrahim Yabani commended the NDIC for identifying with the infrastructural needs of the National Institute through the donation of the office complex. Prof. Osinbajo said that the Federal Government was appreciative of the NDIC’s gesture and asked organisations in both the public and private sectors to emulate the Corporation. He expressed optimism that the building complex would not only provide conducive environment for research but also charge the Institute to apply itself towards formulating policies that would accelerate socio-economic development in the country. Speaking at the official commissioning of the office complex, the NDIC’s Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim said that the Corporation took the bold step to extend its gesture to the institute as part of its corporate social responsibility ,CSR, initiative, which according to him, the NDIC started about ten years ago. He also reiterated the Corporation’s readiness to continue to support educational

Ibrahim

institutions in order to advance academic standard nationwide. The Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Tijani Mohammed Bande expressed appreciation to the NDIC for responding to the challenge of office accommodation in the institute. Prof. Bande said that the problem of inadequate office space for staff of the Research Directorate compelled the institute to seek for assistance to build the office complex. While pledging that the complex would be judiciously utilised, Prof. Bande appealed to other corporate organisations and public spirited individuals to support the Institute in infrastructural development. While responding to reporters’ questions at the commissioning ceremony, the NDIC CEO said that the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, was a signal that the era of arm-chair banking in Nigeria was over, adding that the TSA policy had actually presented banks with an opportunity to diversify their sources of deposit mobilisation. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A21 37

Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

Stock market last week

Equities t was a three-day trading week as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of September, 2015 as Public Holiday in commemoration of the Eid-elKabir Sallah Celebration. Meanwhile, a turnover of 850.095 million shares worth N9.060bn in 9,414 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.384 billion shares valued at N13.862bn that exchanged hands last week in 17,984 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 726.294 million shares valued at N6.058bn traded in 5,086 deals; thus contributing 85.44 per cent and 66.87 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Consumer Goods Industry followed with a turnover of 38.681 million shares worth N1.790bn in 1,895 deals. The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with 37.874 million shares worth N224.698bn in 538 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely –Zenith International Bank Plc,United Bank for Africa Plc and Sterling Bank Plc(measured by volume) accounted for 334.012 million

NSE trading hall

30,543.17 and N10.497trn respectively. Similarly, all the Indices finished higher during the week with the exception of the NSE Banking and NSE Pension Indices that shed 0.66 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat. Summary Of Price Changes: Twenty-nine (29) equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than fifty-six (56) equities of the preceding week. Thirty-six(36) equities depreciated in price, higher than twenty-two (22) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and twenty-five (125) equities remained unchanged, higher than one hundred and twelve (112) equities recorded in the preceding week. BC

shares worth N3.674bn in 1,472 deals, contributing 39.29 per cent and 40.56 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. ETPs: Also traded during the week were a total of 11,454 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N449,180.74 executed in 13 deals compared with a total of 1,189 units valued at N1.282m transacted last week in 24 deals. Bonds: There was no bond trade recorded this week under review. However, a total of 3,750 units valued at N3.299m transacted last week in 4 deals. Index Movement: The NSE AllShare Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.69 per cent to close on Friday at

Market Indicators for Week Ended 25-09-15 All-Share Index 29,403.12 points Market Capitalization 10,505,692,003,295.12

NASD DAILY MARKET SUMMARY Equity Report

18-Sep-15

The Unlisted Security Index (USI) and Market Capitalisation closed the week on a positive note.The USI pure price rose by 1.04% to close at 917.39 points as against the previous value of 907.96 points. The Market Capitalisation also appreciated by 2.19% to close at ₦476.80 billion as against the previous close of ₦466.59 billion.

Unlisted Securities Index 1020.00 1000.00

Volume traded fell by 96.61% from 11.01 million units to 373,070 units while the total value of shares traded also dropped by 97.12% from ₦42.14 million to ₦1.21 million in 18 deals. Ten (10) securities were traded out of the 23 securities admitted to trade on the NASD OTC market.

980.00 960.00 940.00 920.00

CSCS, JAIZ and GEO-FLUIDS emerged as the most active securities by volume while WAMCO, JAIZ and CSCS emerged as the most active securities by value.

USI

900.00 880.00 860.00 840.00

Base date:

August 1, 2015 = 1000

NASD MARKET STATISTICS 18-Sep-15 Unlisted Securities Index (USI-Pure Price)

(₦)

% Change

907.96

9.43

10.21

DATE

909.31

2.19

476.80

466.59

15-Sep-15

908.63

-0.07%

11,010,387

(10,637,317.00) i

(96.61)

16-Sep-15

904.21

-0.49%

1,214,138.50

42,139,336.00

(40,925,197.50) i

(97.12)

17-Sep-15

907.96

0.41%

18-Sep-15

917.39

1.04%

12.00

200.00

NUMBER OF TRADED STOCKS

7.00

233.33

3.00

150.00

NUMBER OF UNCHANGED STOCKS NUMBER OF UNTRADED STOCKS

(7.00) i

(35.00)

GAINER(S) PCLOSE

SDACORN SDFCWAMCO SDJAIZ

OUTSTANDING OFFERS & BIDS

CLOSE PRICE ( ₦ )

CHANGE

%CHANGE

SYMBOL

0.30

0.34

0.04 h

13.33

231.01

240.00

8.99 h

3.89

0.85

0.97

0.12 h

14.12

LOSER(S) SECURITY CODE

%change

14-Sep-15

NUMBER OF DEALS

SECURITY CODE

USI

1.04

373,070

TOTAL VOLUME TRADED TOTAL VALUE TRADED

17-Sep-15 Change

917.39

MARKET CAPITALIZATION (₦ 'BILLION)

UNLISTED SECURITIES INDEX (1 WEEK)

PCLOSE

SDACORN

VOLUME BIDDED

LAST BID PRICE (₦)

0.30

400

0.52

0.34

SDARMPROP

53,990

2.50

SDAFRILAND

2,234,022

2.17

384,432

60.35

2,287,500

5.10

SDCAPDBETO

CLOSE PRICE ( ₦ )

CHANGE

%CHANGE

SDCSCSPLC

SDGEFLUID

0.46

0.45

0.01 i

2.17

SDDUFIL

SDPARTNER

0.80

0.79

0.01 i

1.25

SDFCWAMCO

50,000

4.55

1,502,600

10.35

73,244

221.19

SDFOODCPT

TOP 3 TRADED SECURITIES BY VOLUME SECURITY CODE

TRADES

SDFUMMAN

VOLUME

VALUE ( ₦ )

LAST OFFER PRICE (₦)

70,000

SDARMLIFE

110,000

VOLUME OFFERED

200

106,390

242.00

1,900,000

0.78

0.48

1.38

SDGEFLUID

6,482,366

SDJAIZ

311,550

302,203.50

SDGOLDEN

10,000

1.00

SDCSCSPLC

42,000

214,200.00

SDNDEP

37,650

171.80

SDGEFLUID

4,000

1,740.00

SDPARTNER

3,310,900

0.79

SDRSOURCE

1,091,180

0.43

SDSWAPPLC

1,580,000

1.14

SDTRUSTMB

3,262,650

0.81

TOP 3 TRADED SECURITIES BY VALUE SECURITY CODE

TRADES

SDRIGGS

VOLUME

VALUE ( ₦ )

SDFCWAMCO

3,020

687,180.00

SDJAIZ

311,550

302,203.50

SDCSCSPLC

42,000

214,200.00

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.

1,000

200

160.00

1.09

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Access Bank: Strong fundamentals drives share price Johnson Okanlawon

growth is on the back of sizeable growth in investments in high-yielding government bonds and treasury bills. The bank sustained riskconscious loan growth of 14 per cent to N1,3 trillion despite macro instability, regulatory headwinds and political uncertainty witnessed during the first half of the year. Six per cent of the loan growth in the period was attributable to corporate and retail customers. Gross non- performing ratio reduced by seven per cent to N23.7 billion in the review period, from N25.3 billion as at December 2014, largely owing to the continued execution of the bank’s remediation strategy. These improvements underscore the impact of the bank’s continued and effective implementation of its risk management policies in a bid to achieve an optimal loan portfolio.

ith a 25 kobo interim dividend for the half year ended June 30, 2015, Access Bank emerged one of the top three banks that rewarded shareholders with highest value. This is made possible through its double digit growth in earnings, enhanced retail banking and trading portfolio. The bank’s share price has risen 20.6 per cent from N4, 27 on August 20, 2015 when the result was presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange to N5, 15 per share on September 23, 2015. The bank gained 20 kobo or 4.91 per cent when the bank’s performance for the half year hit the market. Profitability From the topline to the bottomline, the bank recorded improvement. Its profit after tax margin, after deducting the cost of goods sold and all other expenses including income tax expense rose to 8. 55 per cent in the review period, indicating the reason behind rush for its shares, while return on average equity, which shows how much profit each naira of common stockholders’ equity generates, appreciated by 11.14per cent from 9.05 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014. The bank’s grossed N168.6 billion in the six months, an increase of 43 per cent from N117.9 billion recorded in the same period of 2014, while net income appreciated 38.5 per cent to N31.3 billion, from N22.6 billion recorded in the same period of 2014. The surge in the profit could be attributed to an increase in interest income, which rose 18 per cent to N98.9 billion, from N83.6 billion in 2014 half year and operating income of N117.6 billion, compared to N83.08 billion in June 2014, supported by a 25 percent year on year increase in interest income from loans and advances to N76.3 billion, from N61.0 billion in 2014. Gains recorded from derivatives and trading activities lifted non-interest income by 102 per cent. Though operating expens-

Wigwe

es were up by 33 per cent to N69.6 billion in June 2015 compared with N52.50 billion last year was due to 28 per cent rise in personnel expenses to N19.70 billion in the period under review, from N15.4 billion in the six months ended June 30, 2014. The bank boosted its staff strength in order to increase its retail market penetration. Liquidity As at June 30, 2015, the bank’s liquidity ratio stood at 19 per cent, above the regulatory requirement of 15 per cent, while returns on average assets stood at 1.41 per cent, from 1.20 per cent in the same period of 2014. The bank’s loan to deposit ratio increased to 78.09 per cent in the review period, from N65.42 per cent, while total assets increased by 14 per cent to N2.39 trillion, from N2.10 trillion. Further analysis of the bank’s balance sheet showed net assets of N203.6 billion, from N277.4 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014. Return on Assets (ROA) moved to 3.50 percent in June 2015 as compared with 2.80 percent last year. Cost of risk declined to 1.1 per cent in in the half year from 1.2 per cent in 2014 half year and

remained flat at 1.0 percent in the first two quarters of the year. Yield on assets increased from 11.7 per cent in March 2015 to 11.9 per cent in Jun’15 largely resulting from the re-pricing of the bank’s risk assets. Cost of funds increased by 70 basis points, from 4.6 per cent in December 2014 to 5.3 per cent in June 2015. Relatively high cost of funds recorded in the period was largely due to the additional $400 million Eurobond and a tighter regulatory environment on account of higher interest rates on deposits and harmonization of the cash reserve ratio to 31 per cent. Asset quality Gross loans and advances increased by N1.28 trillion in June 2015, compared to N1.12 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014, while customer deposits increased by 13 per cent to N1.64 trillion in June, from N1.45 trillion in December 2014, reflecting continued implementation of the bank’s customer engagement strategy. Trading and pledged assets increased by 123 per cent to N314 billion in June 2015, from N140 billion as at December 2014. The

Analysts’ opinion The improvement on the bank’s retail banking and its core banking drive to drive loan growth prompted a research and investment firm, Chapel Hill Denham, to raise the bank’s performance in customer deposits growth to 12.1 per cent year-on-year, from 11.7 per cent on the expectation that Nigeria lender will consolidate the gains seen so far in its account reactivation strategy across its business segments. “Furthermore, we see the strategy playing a supportive role in the growth of noninterest income in the coming quarters as more retail customers are migrated to the bank’s e-channels. “We, however, raise our FY-15E cost of funds forecast to 5.1 per cent from 4.6 per cent previously as we see a sustained upward pressure on interest rates. This, combined with our expectation of lower yield on assets, implies a revised net interest margin of 5.4 per cent in FY-15E vs. 6.2% previously,” said the analysts. The firm explained that the success rate of Access rights issue reduces expected dilutive impact on earnings per share. The bank raised N41.7billion in rights issue in March 2015, 20 per

cent lower than the initially planned N52.6billon. This partly explains the 11.1 per cent upward review of 2015 financial year performance on earning per share to N1.81. “We maintain our BUY rating on Access, but raise our 12-month TP to N8.70 from N8.00. We now forecast average ROAE between FY-15E and FY-17E at 16.6% vs. 15.2% previously. Access is trading on FY-16E P/B of 0.3x and ROAE of 17.0% vs. our sector coverage average FY-16E P/B of 0.6x and ROAE of 15.8%,” the analysts said. The bank’s CEO comments The Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, explained that the results reflect the Bank’s concerted efforts to deliver on its growth objectives for 2015. According to him, the first half of the year was defined by significant macro-economic and policy headwinds with major impact on all aspects of the business. The group despite those challenges reported improved profits in the first half of the year with significant contributions from securities trading business. He said, “We are particularly pleased with the strong support from our shareholders as they exercised their Rights during the recently concluded offer which raised N41.8 billion. The successful capital raise underscores the overwhelming support of our shareholders and their belief in management’s ability to deliver long term value. “With our capital position secure, our priority will be to focus on; driving migration of our customers to alternative platforms to boost profitability of our channels; implementing our customer service improvement initiatives; generating low-cost liability from continued engagement with customers; growing risk assets by deepening market share in target sectors; optimising and improving penetration of our customers’ value chain and driving operational efficiency through cost containment and procurement optimization measures.” BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, Sept 25, 2015 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=) QUANTITY

52 WK 52 WK SHARES HIGH LOW OUTSTANDING EPS

MOV. (%)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC 0.50 9,140 0.64 0.50 2,200,000,000 0.10 N/A 0.50 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 28.10 261,540 107.81 20.92 476,955,000 2.29 -2.94 28.95 PRESCO PLC 30.55 107,996 41.14 8.24 1,000,000,000 7.55 -1.77 31.10 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. 4.26 70 4.26 4.26 60,000,000 0.00 N/A 4.26 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 1.80 1,249,104 7.18 0.68 1,199,549,736 0.07 4.05 1.73 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 0.99 100,150 2.08 0.71 2,191,895,983 0.11 0.00 0.99 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 300 6.43 4.15 963,900,300 0.16 N/A 3.95 JOHN HOLT PLC. 0.96 17,558 5.89 1.07 389,151,408 1.09 N/A 0.96 SCOA NIG PLC 4.37 512 4.37 TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 2.32 6,693,406 5.89 0.50 821,666,666 0.09 N/A 2.34 30.00 2,658,148 71.10 28.00 1,600,720,323 4.38 N/A 31.82 U A C N PLC. CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.30 375 26.00 5.05 148,500,000 0.33 N/A 5.30 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT 3 95.49 95.49 196,876,000 4.50 N/A NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 0.60 807,550 2.66 0.72 920,573,765 0.00 N/A 0.58 G CAPPA PLC 14.46 217 14.46 14.46 125,000,000 0.00 N/A 14.46 Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 44.08 27,437 83.75 19.86 1,200,000,000 6.74 0.00 44.08 6.60 1,832 10.60 6.61 20,000,000 1.69 N/A 6.60 ROADS NIG PLC. Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT NT 7.28 7.28 0.00 N/A NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 7.79 324,368 20.90 8.82 1,375,000,000 2.20 4.99 7.42 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 93 100.00 100.00 20,000,000 5.82 N/A 100.00 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 45.22 100 50.00 50.00 250,019,781 0.19 N/A 45.22 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST 10.00 6,350 10.50 0.00 10.00 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 5,016 0.50 0.50 4,772,528,415 0.00 N/A 0.50 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 4.40 54,992 19.48 3.13 900,000,000 0.00 N/A 4.63 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.93 8,132 0.68 0.68 272,160,000 0.00 N/A 0.93 GUINNESS NIG PLC 154.00 28,374 297.41 209.10 1,474,925,519 8.66 -0.65 155.01 17.85 172,515 30.00 5.34 2,112,914,681 0.63 N/A 17.85 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 1.58 50,000 9.09 0.81 562,000,000 0.00 N/A 1.58 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 140.07 1,808,302 179.40 91.10 7,562,562,340 5.03 2.99 136.00 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC 2.95 513,550 0.97 0.93 126,000,000 0.00 N/A 2.95 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 190.40 24,150 75.90 38.12 640,590,362 4.46 N/A 190.40 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT NT 0.50 0.50 2,000,000,000 0.00 N/A NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 2.84 224,970 10.68 3.85 5,000,000,000 0.00 -0.35 2.85 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 6.90 1,588,435 12.85 3.26 12,000,000,000 0.81 -0.14 6.91 22.00 187,271 109.24 50.00 1,879,210,666 3.38 -6.86 23.62 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 2.30 952,850 4.11 1.83 7,930,197,658 0.34 -6.12 2.45 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 53,816 1.21 0.50 3,722,493,620 0.00 N/A 0.50 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 9.46 159,011 29.70 17.51 178,200,000 0.00 N/A 9.46 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 6.70 2,835,920 14.00 3.65 1.05 2.60 6.53 5.35 2.08 124,000 5.94 5.35 40,000,000 0.08 N/A 5.35 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. 0.50 50 0.93 0.50 1,233,375,004 1.13 0.00 0.50 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 11.84 100 13.31 4.22 360,000,000 0.00 N/A 11.84 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 24.00 5,725 64.53 8.33 3,129,188,160 1.57 -0.29 24.07 820.00 390,319 1250.00 400.00 792,656,250 28.34 -0.01 820.05 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT 25,333 15.58 10.03 3.90 N/A NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. 29.78 100 36.19 32.27 63,360,000 13.92 N/A 29.78 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 5.55 187,845 5.54 2.91 819,000,000 0.71 -5.13 5.85 0.85 15,000 2.88 0.57 300,000,001 0.00 N/A 0.89 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 26.20 156,973 56.00 21.02 3,176,381,636 1.34 0.77 26.00 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 46.00 119,119 76.00 27.60 3,783,296,250 1.42 1.72 45.22 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT NT 0.97 0.57 843,284,027 0.00 N/A NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 5.15 20,610,779 12.39 4.70 17,888,251,479 1.61 -0.58 5.18 DIAMOND BANK PLC 3.27 1,358,484 7.85 1.92 14,475,243,105 1.71 -3.82 3.40 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 18.55 5,746,153 17.51 9.90 9,873,614,567 3.67 -1.33 18.80 FIDELITY BANK PLC 1.53 4,669,271 3.47 1.13 28,974,797,023 0.68 1.32 1.51 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT NT 8.30 3.04 16,271,192,202 0.60 #VALUE! NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 24.13 11,491,149 29.99 13.02 29,146,482,209 3.08 -1.71 24.55 13.50 13.50 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK SKYE BANK PLC 2.34 5,074,965 7.05 2.65 13,219,334,676 0.97 3.54 2.26 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.13 2,601,379 3.05 0.80 12,563,091,545 0.63 2.40 2.08 U B A PLC 4.24 11,173,106 9.60 1.64 32,334,693,693 1.70 1.19 4.19 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 6.01 1,469,943 15.30 2.34 13,509,726,273 0.44 0.67 5.97 1.34 359,359 1.16 0.50 33,675,576,085 0.18 0.00 1.35 UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. 1.00 1,128,531 1.88 0.50 12,821,249,880 0.00 3.09 0.97 ZENITH BANK PLC 18.11 9,778,427 27.40 11.96 31,396,493,790 3.30 0.06 18.10 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 200 0.50 0.50 20,585,000,000 0.00 N/A 0.50 0.90 1,627,718 1.42 0.50 7,809,391,256 0.19 0.00 0.94 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT NT 0.64 0.61 211,626,000 0.00 N/A NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 9,140 0.52 0.50 6,000,000,000 0.05 N/A 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.98 1,882,960 1.45 0.58 10,372,624,157 0.15 0.00 0.98 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 62,000 0.72 0.50 8,820,010,363 0.02 0.00 0.50 NT 9,054,578 2.44 1.08 5,100,846,808 0.24 0.00 NT CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 4,754 0.50 0.50 8,847,298,420 0.01 N/A 0.50 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.53 NT 0.69 0.50 4,549,947,000 0.00 N/A 0.53 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC 0.50 42,003 0.60 0.50 3,827,485,380 0.03 N/A 0.50 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 165,731 0.50 0.50 720,000,000 0.01 N/A 0.50 NT NT 2.50 0.50 5,061,804,000 0.00 N/A NT INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 698,304 2.50 0.50 6,420,427,449 0.00 0.00 0.50 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. 0.5 NT 0.50 0.50 28,000,000,000 0.02 N/A 0.5 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 14,710 0.50 0.50 7,323,313,227 0.00 N/A 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 100 0.61 0.50 3,437,330,500 0.00 N/A 0.50 0.50 220 0.50 0.50 4,083,713,569 0.02 0.00 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 2.73 23,600 2.87 1.06 10,000,000,000 0.25 5.00 2.60 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 1,319,465 0.63 0.50 7,998,705,336 0.00 N/A 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.70 10,579,013 1.01 0.50 5,332,830,881 0.37 7.69 0.65 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 52,100 1.11 0.50 5,649,693,923 0.02 N/A 0.50 NT 1,654,611 0.50 0.50 5,003,506,791 0.04 N/A NT OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 27,973 1.24 0.50 2,508,315,436 0.06 0.00 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 5,028 0.53 0.50 6,668,750,000 0.04 N/A 0.50 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 100 0.59 0.50 5,203,757,266 0.09 0.00 0.50 STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC 0.50 1,650 0.50 0.50 161,547,689 0.50 0.50 8,493,173,450 0.00 N/A 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 25,000 0.50 0.50 2,581,733,505 0.00 N/A 0.50 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 200 0.50 0.50 13,000,000,000 0.02 N/A 0.50 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 518,140 0.50 0.50 16,000,000,000 0.00 N/A 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.50 1,368,084 1.55 0.50 0.07 0.50 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 5.42 10,000,000 6.60 0.00 1.18 5.42 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 1.03 584,766 1.22 0.72 0.19 1.00 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.25 500 1.65 1.37 4,200,000,000 0.03 N/A 1.25 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 500 0.50 0.50 8,679,148,676 0.02 N/A 0.50 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.42 500 1.42 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 220,000 0.50 0.50 13,175,732,404 0.30 N/A 0.50 UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC 5.23 4,570 0.99 0.50 7,812,500,000 0.00 N/A 5.23 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 2.68 313,164 2.1 0.5 0.63 2.75 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 4.25 369,250 4.06 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT 500 0.61 0.50 3,778,005,975 0.00 N/A NT DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC 0.58 5,000 2.02 2.02 1,333,333,333 0.15 N/A 0.58 FBN HOLDINGS PLC 6.29 8,812,914 21.50 8.57 32,632,084,358 2.45 -0.63 6.33 FCMB GROUP PLC 2.31 27045923 5.70 2.90 1.23 2.4 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.50 1,050,953 1.33 0.50 3,608,657,661 0.13 N/A 0.50 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 22.12 3,807,836 20.72 10.64 18,750,000,000 1.53 2.12 21.66 SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND 103.24 465 103.24 98.33 103.24 NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR FUND 552.20 100 552.20 UBA CAPITAL PLC 1.46 1,926,013 1.70 0.00 0.29 1.42 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 3.72 170 5.05 4.32 498,600,908 0.13 N/A 3.72 UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 40,000 0.50 0.50 3,553,138,528 0.00 N/A 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1.73 100 10.54 7.39 152,178,750 0.00 N/A 1.82 Pharmaceuticals

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 25-09-15 N/A=Not Avialable

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=) QUANTITY

52 WK 52 WK SHARES HIGH LOW OUTSTANDING EPS

MOV. (%)

EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 0.79 74,488 4.80 0.50 486,473,856 0.58 3.95 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.20 1,444,640 2.50 0.61 1,500,000,000 0.24 0.31 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 35.20 66,411 69.00 18.97 956,701,192 3.07 0.00 1.32 163,454 3.38 1.23 980,000,000 0.09 -2.94 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 1.02 251,300 1.76 0.58 1,925,717,268 0.00 0.00 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. 5.16 100 8.59 7.36 153,786,012 0.00 N/A PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.14 572,185 3.50 1.83 100,000,000 0.00 N/A ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 37,000 0.96 0.50 2,960,000,000 0.11 0.00 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 0.50 100 0.50 0.50 2,941,789,472 0.00 N/A Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.91 NT 0.91 0.91 4,966,666,668 0.00 N/A IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 2.67 400 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 11.02 100 18.70 13.12 108,000,000 0.00 N/A TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. 1.69 5,460 2.94 2.07 492,825,600 0.03 N/A Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 27,420 0.50 0.50 4,620,600,000 0.04 N/A E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 2.75 1,080 4.97 3.13 4,200,000,000 0.04 N/A Telecommunications Services IHS NT NT HIS NIGERIA PLC 2 HIS NIGERIA PLC 1 NT MTI PLC 0.5 100 0.50 0.50 4,893,594,400 0.00 N/A INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. 2.72 2,000 2.86 2.86 260,000,000 0.07 N/A ASHAKA CEM PLC 22.02 1,557,197 29.98 8.01 2,239,453,125 0.80 -2.13 BERGER PAINTS PLC 9.93 40,673 12.20 6.82 217,367,585 0.91 0.00 CAP PLC 37.05 20,474 67.50 13.78 560,000,000 1.66 0.00 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 8.73 1,514,719 12.99 4.00 1,241,548,285 1.12 -0.80 169.50 1,167,463 210.01 102.00 15,494,019,668 5.77 1.49 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. 0.73 40,890 3.54 0.50 242,908,200 0.06 N/A FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 600 0.75 0.50 2,109,928,275 0.00 N/A IPWA PLC 0.50 6,000 1.34 0.50 513,696,000 0.00 N/A PREMIER PAINTS 10.93 60 98.00 109,667 110.00 39.80 3,001,600,004 6.83 0.00 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.30 50,000 2.41 0.50 792,914,256 0.36 N/A PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 4.31 72,650 7.22 2.27 400,000,000 0.43 N/A Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.09 100 2.00 2.00 0.05 N/A 1.67 220,132 2.39 1.20 510,396,608 0.19 4.38 CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. NT 100 0.73 0.50 2,220,000,000 0.00 N/A Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT NT 3.98 3.98 25,000,000 0.00 N/A AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.52 561 5.94 1.71 683,974,528 0.00 N/A 42.70 1,361 13.18 9.04 3.23 BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC 9.37 100 13.28 12.68 42,640,000 0.90 N/A NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT NT 3.60 1.60 6,215,000,000 0.24 #VALUE! POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT NT 1.86 1.05 240,000,000 0.22 N/A W A GLASS IND. PLC. 0.63 NT 0.63 0.63 199,066,550 0.00 N/A Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 7.46 100 8.69 8.26 265,409,280 0.00 N/A NIG SEW MACH. MAN. CO PLC. NT 200 STOKVIS NIG PLC. NT NT 0.14 0.14 2,918,000 0.00 N/A NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 4.62 10,000 9.35 5.68 393,120,000 0.76 0.00 Metals ALUMACO PLC 7.75 320 7.75 7.75 75,600,000 0.00 N/A ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 10.35 100 12.39 10.55 100,000,000 0.24 N/A MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 100 0.50 0.50 4,058,989,226 0.01 N/A Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT NT 3.22 3.22 50,000,000 0.04 N/A THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. 0.64 4,050 1.38 0.67 220,000,000 0.00 N/A OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 1,408,720 1.02 0.50 6,262,701,716 0.00 0.00 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 10.45 4,924,248 24.80 9.32 2,262,711,568 1.24 -3.86 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.5 10000 CONOIL PLC 28.41 2,577,516 76.00 16.96 693,952,117 2.69 0.00 ETERNA PLC. 1.84 2,541,040 4.87 1.32 1,249,162,828 0.61 -5.64 FORTE OIL PLC. 239.99 412,758 115.64 7.73 1,080,280,628 1.43 4.89 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 145.00 22,164 146.00 106.00 300,496,051 9.93 0.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 49.66 167,074 59.00 16.20 253,988,672 1.04 N/A TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 150.80 43,476 190.01 118.75 339,521,837 12.91 0.00 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 255.00 306,355 28,677,671 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 200 0.72 0.50 4,035,497,307 0.00 N/A Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.15 100 3.48 3.48 0 N/A Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 0.54 209,933 2.45 1.00 980,294,400 0.00 0.00 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 4.20 2,572,000 5.10 2.19 589,496,310 0.52 -0.71 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 1.20 3,000 3.45 0.73 198,819,763 0.00 N/A Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.50 4,059,547 1.64 0.85 865,808,912 0.00 N/A Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 0.50 1,500 0.75 0.50 3,211,627,907 0.00 N/A Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.07 100 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 3.60 599,750 1.72 0.64 2,078,796,396 0.00 -0.28 TOURIST COY NIG PLC 3.51 1,000 3.88 3.51 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 7.10 2,800 10.00 10.00 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 1,000 0.51 0.50 8,000,000,000 0.43 N/A Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 0.62 16500 LEARN AFRICA PLC 0.91 224,498 3.09 1.39 771,450,000 0.00 N/A STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 2.30 20 2.78 2.52 0.00 N/A UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 5.20 20,800 5.77 3.00 425,641,111 0.61 0.00 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.55 955,140 1.29 0.50 1,507,000,000 0.21 N/A Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC 4.21 6 5.15 4.90 236,699,511 0.00 N/A SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC 0.5 40,000,700 1.88 0.80 5,631,539,736 0.00 N/A Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 1.85 111,000 5.90 1.27 634,000,000 0.50 N/A NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 4.51 246,274 8.81 5.08 1,230,468,750 0.43 -4.85 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 3.37 189044 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT 60 1.43 1.04 45,000,000 0.12 N/A CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC NT 100 2.26 1.02 201,885,335 0.00 N/A OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OIL PLC NT 100000 NAVITUS ENERGY PLC NT 1000 Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. NT NT 0.60 0.60 30,000,000 0.00 N/A HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals AFRIK PHARMACEUTICALS PLC. NT NT 0.50 0.50 24,898,850 0.00 N/A INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products NT NT ADSWITCH PLC. NT NT 1.88 1.63 125,005,250 0.00 N/A NATURAL RESOURCES Metals W.A. ALUM. PRODUCTS PLC. NT NT 0.50 0.50 6,650,000 0.00 N/A Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers NT NT JULI PLC. NT 1,000 3.05 2.76 194,700,000 0.00 N/A ETF’s Sector ETF LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NT NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND NT 41 2,706 2,003 #VALUE! VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF NT 10 49467

Previous 0.76 3.19 35.20 1.36 1.02 5.16 2.14

0.50 0.50 0.91 2.67 11.02 1.69 0.50 2.43 NT NT NT 0.5

2.72 22.50 9.93 37.05 8.80 167.01 0.73 0.50 0.50 10.93 98.00 1.24 4.11 2.09 1.60 NT NT 1.52 42.70 9.37 NT NT 0.63 7.46 NT NT

4.62 7.75 10.35 0.50 NT 0.64

0.50 10.87 0.5 28.41 1.95 228.80 145.00 49.66 150.80 240.00

0.50 3.15 0.54 4.23 1.32 0.50 0.50 4.07 3.61 3.51 7.10 0.50 0.64 0.95 2.30 5.20 0.55 4.43 0.5 1.85 4.74 3.37

NT NT NT NT

NT NT NT

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DO YOU WISH TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE

NICON PROPERTIES LTD

APAPA, VICTORIA ISLAND

WE HAVE OUR CLIENT’S INSTRUCTIONS TO SELL, BUY, MANAGE AND HELP YOU OUT IN THE AFOREMNTIONED CITIES PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY AT NICON PROPERTIES 3RD FLOOR NIGERIAN REINSURANCE BUILDING, 784a HERBERT MACAULAY WAY CBD, ABUJA 08067770999 & 08033203414 Email:niconpropertiesltd@gmail.com.www.niconpropertieslimited.com

Monday, September 28, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

‘’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

We don’t need special court to handle corruption cases —Agbakoba 42

Why five of Adelabu’s supporters were convicted 45

Indian court gives police protection to US transgender man 46

How to make Cybercrime laws effective —Lawyers As the Federal Government is determined to join the global village in a bid to check the upsurge of computer crimes often facilitated through the usage of electronic, network, and technologically-based communication systems, WALE IGBINTADE writes that some lawyers have advocated the training and recruitment of experts to enforce cybercrime laws in the country.

President Muhammdu Buhari

n Friday, September 18, 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned one Okoh Lawrence Nnali (aka Lawrence Oladele) before an Ikeja High Court of Lagos State, on one- count charge bordering on obtaining goods by false pretext. His victim, an American, had alleged that sometime in February this year, he advertised his Laptop valued at $400.00 USD (Four Hundred US Dollars) on the Amazon market place and was contacted by the suspect who purportedly sent him a message from Pay pal indicating payment, and directing him to ship the laptop to Nigeria. Following the directive, the victim allegedly sent the ASUS Vivo laptop to one Lawrence Oladele of No. 33 Fatai Itire Street, Surulere, Lagos. It was after the shipment that he discovered that the Pay Pal account used for payment was fake. Just recently, EFCC operatives arrested two undergraduates, who are specialists in internet scams at 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase

About 70 per cent of attempted or successful fraud/forgery cases in the Nigerian banking system were perpetrated through electronic channels Island, Lagos. One of the suspects, Hope Olusegun, a 25 year-old indigene of Okene, Kogi State, claims to be a student of Computer Science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia. He was arrested by operatives of EFCC over allegations of fraud and internet scam. The suspects were said to have targeted individuals and institutions in the United States by hacking their emails and accounts to steal private documents and details. A search conducted by EFCC operatives at Olusegun’s apartment led to the recovery of several items such as laptops, iPad phones, travelling documents, cheque books, flash drives, internet modem, and three exotic cars. The list of fraudulent activi-

ties through the internet appears endless and has become daily occurrence. No doubt, the activity of some Nigerians involved in this heinous act is giving the country a bad reputation and many interest groups in the ICT industry from both government and non-governmental organisations have called for effective legislation to tackle cybercrime practices. It is estimated that Nigerian banks lost a total of N159 billion to electronic fraud between 2000 and the first quarter of 2013. This revelation clearly shows that if unchecked, cyber crime could wreak untold damage on the economy of this country especially with the new cash-less policy. Recently, the Information Secu-

rity Society of Africa-Nigeria (ISSAN) organised a Stakeholders’ Forum on Cyber Crime Law and how to make the law effective. At the forum, a General Manager at Union Bank of Nigeria, Dr. David Isiavwe, described the enactment of the Cyber Crime Law as a milestone by the country in view of the havoc that cyber crimes are causing the nation and other economies. According to him, a CBN report showed that 70 per cent of attempted or successful fraud/forgery cases in the Nigerian banking system were perpetrated via the electronic channels while another study also showed that 7.5 per cent of the world’s hackers were Nigerians while 25 per cent cyber crimes in the country remain unresolved. He disclosed that “Banks in Nigeria have lost approximately N159 billion to electronic frauds and cyber crime between 2000 and 2013 and the impact on the nation’s cashless policy is significant. Isiavwe explained that in NiCONTINUED ON PAGE 44

Law & Justice

Monday, September 28, 2015

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We don’t need special court to handle Dr. Olisa Agbakoba is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, the human rights lawyer with 38 years’ post-call experience speaks on the call for creation of special courts, federalism and his assessment of the Buhari administration so far. Excerpts. Do we need special courts to try corruption cases? We don’t need a special court, what we need is to rebuild and strengthen the system. When the banks failed under late General Sani Abacha, then we had the failed banks’ tribunal because the courts were not working. Fix the courts, make the court structure strong, fund them, make them work, give them enough incentives not to be tempted by corruption, create modern IT tools so that Judges don’t spend time writing in long hands and then make the charges realistic not just the courts. A special court will not necessarily do away with the problem. I understand from the Professor Sagay’s committee that in the integrity test that was administered, Judges even failed it. So who is going to man the special courts? Is it not the same Judges? When the cause of my malaria ceases to have effect, the effect of my malaria will cease. When the cause of judiciary not working well ceases to have effect, the judiciary will be a lot better. As I told the Judge in the case that I presented as to the lack of funding of the judiciary, central to judicial incompetence is the way it is funded. For instance, we would do a case; the client says where is the judgment? You begin to look foolish. You applied for the judgment but you find that the Judge has 160 judgments pending and he is the only one. But, if you compared a judge to a minister, a minister has about 20 people backing him up, a judge has one or two, mostly illiterates. So, he has to provide the resources to type and vet and certified every judgment and he is giving two or three people a day. That is the problem but in America, it is not the function of a Judge to be worried about his judgment, once he delivered it, it is sorted out and brought back to him. So, you can see part of the reasons we have delay is because of the way the courts work. I remember years ago before I declined to do election petition, we were there till about 9 p.m and we were working under a lamp because that was the last day allowed by the rules to do the petition. The judge was tired, absolutely tired because he had been writing all day by hand, the trick in the judiciary is not rocket science; they are supposed to have the tools. If you create a special court to avoid the problem in the ordinary court, very soon the special court will be caught up with the problem of the ordinary court. If you want to tackle corruption, tackle it upstream, don’t go and start downstream and you think the problem is solved. If you create a special court, what about the prosecutors? What about the lawyers? Because, it is a chain in the stream of justice. So why are you picking on the poor Judge who is now faced with an incompetent prosecutor, who brings wrong charges and allowed clever a SAN’s bring preliminary objections. So special court is not the answer, it is a much

Agbakoba

There is order and signs of good governance. All these are still being run by the same people. The question is ‘what changed’? Their mindsets have changed. This is the achievement of ‘Change’ as a result of the President. deeper problem. What is your assessment of President Buhari’s 100 days in office? The 100 days matter is symbolic. We should not dwell on it that much. The 100day celebration is an American experience. The first 100-days concept was pioneered by the former American president, Franklin D. Roosevelt when he took office in 1933. He was faced with the great depression and the total collapse of the economic system. Banks were closed and businesses completely failed. The 100-day concept is not an accurate yardstick for gauging the presidential effectiveness because the situation and the Nigerian environment have no comparison to the American experience. Notwithstanding, I understand the importance of examining the President’s achievement in his first 100 days in office because expectations were high. The President’s campaign was run on the promise of ‘Change’. The people voted the President in

for ‘Change’. It must be said that the change is not going to be seen in the context of new projects or new buildings or the commissioning of new roads or power plants but the change will be in the minds of the populace. An analogy can be made between Nigeria and world renowned physicist, Professor Stephen Hawking. Professor Stephen Hawking is the third greatest physicist the world has seen in the last 600 years. I made this analogy because the professor is completely paralyzed physically as a result of a Motor Neuron disease which he suffers from, however, his spirit and mind changes things. Nigeria can be seen as physically paralyzed but President Buhari’s ascension to the presidential office has changed the mindset of the populace. Changing the mindset and the orientation of the people is a great achievement. Power utilities are running better, the petrol queues have virtually disappeared, and Apapa traffic is gone. There is order and signs of good governance. All these are still being run by the

same people. The question is ‘what changed’? Their mindsets have changed. This is the achievement of ‘Change’ as a result of the President. To be successful, one must understand the environment, control it and then begin to make a difference. On that, I am satisfied that the mindsets of people have become more positive; more anti-corruption; more aligned with doing things in the proper way. How do you see the delay in the appointment of ministers? In the absence of ministers, how the people view things has changed. It used to be all about the big men, ‘the ministers’, but President Buhari has shown that ministers are not demi-gods. What is important here is, if the President will receive the same accolades he received, when he came into office, after his four years tenure comes to an end. That, I think is the challenge. It is too early to judge on the first 100 days but it is off to a very good start. I hope all the expectations resulting from this mindset change can be met. The first task is to create employment; second task is to inform the people of the economic agenda; thirdly, show how the government will create new development outside the oil sector. These are tangible things and I think the error has been to use the tangibles to gauge the first 100 days. I am using the intangibles to determine the success. Are you saying 100 days is too early to assess the president?

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Law & Justice

Monday, September 28, 2015

corruption cases —Agbakoba

No, 100 days is not too early. 100 days is a good length of time to judge a president. But, on what parameters? My parameter of judging President Buhari’s 100 days is different from the parameter that I see in the media. They want to know where the ministers are and what is new. They are judging him on physical parameter while I am gauging his effectiveness on intangible parameters. What I see different is Buhari’s understanding of the Nigerian mindset and tackling it first before addressing other issues. It is the succeeding period that will be judged. Firstly, the people need to be patient for the appointment of his ministers. If the ministers fit the mindset that he has developed, it will be wonderful but if the ministers are the same typical ministers that we see, that will be below the laid down expectations and mindset of the people. I also expect the dismantling of the corporatist government. Nigeria is a corporatist country meaning that we are interested in corporate well-being. The Nigerian society cares for the elites and is not interested in the common man. This was also one of President Barak Obama’s challenges. President Obama shows interest in the welfare of the common man while the republicans are interested in the corporate wellbeing. Buhari campaigned on the agenda that he shall include the common man. He said that he would identify vulnerable Nigerians. He has set the target at 25million people and will dedicate finances towards their needs. We have to see that happen. Social issues also have to be addressed, issues such as health, education and what policies the President is going to run on. The problem is that Nigeria is a very sick country and the president’s prescriptions to cure this sickness and ensure its future must be addressed. It is sick because no Nigerian leader has understood how to manage Nigeria’s diverse peoples. Can Nigeria be governed from Abuja? Is this government going to look at how to decentralize power? We are about six kinds of people in about 300 ethnic groups. Are we going to have these groups empowered in a way that the difference that

various groups feel will lead to chaos and civil unrest? The issue of religion is a good example. The only reason Sharia is causing problem is because if a state declares that they want Sharia, it causes tension across Nigeria because religion is in the constitution and it is almost like a national issue. But if religion is made to be an issue for the state, it becomes the problem of the state because it will not affect other regions. So when you decentralize and make issues peculiar to those who require it, then it is not a national problem. A lot of our problems that are national are not national.

Are you advocating for a decentralized federalism? Yes, I support decentralized federalism and not central federalism where everything is looking at the top. I want us to deconstruct our top federalism and send power down to the bottom. Like in education, it should not be a federal issue; it should be something for the states. It should be state matter. Roads and hospitals are other examples. There are many things that should actually not be the federal’s purview but the state’s. Thus should the federal transfer these responsibilities to the state, so that the federal can concentrates on fewer things that affect all of us? How do you see the ongoing probe by the present administration? Probing is a blind fold. You probe without fear or favour. If someone is guilty, then the person should get ready to be probed. On the part of laying too much emphasis on probing; in the context of Nigeria being a very corrupt country, you cannot help it. I will wish that the probe issue is not the key highlight of government. It will be good to have it go along with other things. The president’s function is to deliver a comprehensive package, probing, fighting corruption; development; new energy sources, education; welfare to the poor and so on. Though they came into power with a very lean financial base, I think if the government is looking at targeting 25million very frail and volatile Nigerians, they should have announced it. It

Agbakoba

The people need to be patient for the appointment of his ministers. If the ministers fit the mindset that he has developed, it will be wonderful but if the ministers are the same typical ministers that we see, that will be below the laid down expectations and mindset of the people would have helped. Part of the campaign pledge is 5,000 naira for the very vulnerable like those unemployed, elderly people. It will be good to announce that now. When I chaired the NBA conference that the vice- president attended, he said so. He said that the government is going to be very strong on social welfare. I like this government because it agrees with my soul. Just like in the Christian world, there are different kinds of Christians. In the political world also, there are different kinds of politicians. This government is called the left of centre. It is a social democracy government. Former President Jonathan’s government was right of centre. His, was a corporatist government. This present government is saying they will include everybody while the other former governments were saying they will only cater for only a few. The government that caters for all is likely to be popular. So if President Buhari is able to achieve the agenda that he promised, he will be a very popular person. We are waiting to see. This is why I say it is not easy to judge him on 100 days. If he does not achieve what he promised, it will be business as usual. In Nigeria only very few like Chief Awolowo have been able to keep to his promise. But do you think it is right for a government to probe individuals? I will be against probing individuals. I

will be against the president probing anybody. That is not his function. The function of the president is to recognize that there is corruption. Next thing is appoint good people to fight this corruption. And not for the president to say “go after Olisa Agbakoba.” It is for those people that have been given the job to, without reference to the president, do what they have been appointed to do, otherwise it will become selective. That was the problem with Obasanjo’s anti-corruption programme because it appeared selective, i.e. it appeared as if it was being targeted at certain people. Nobody should be targeted in the anti-corruption war. It is when you erect the net, if you are corrupt, the net will catch you. But not that you are taking the net to Olisa’s house. You erect the net for everyone and if you are not corrupt, it won’t catch you. I will personally recommend to the president not to mention anybody’s name. Buhari should set up a strong anti-corruption framework. How do you see the public declaration of assets by the President and his vice? If I were in a public office I will declare my assets too. If you are not afraid, that is when you can declare your assets before you entered office and after you leave office. That is one of the strongest evidence that a man wants to be clean. Since Buhari and his Vice have done this, it will come natural for others in government to do the same. This is a good example of leading from the front.

Law & Justice

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 geria, customers lost about N6 billion in the year 2014 whilst South Africa lost about R453 million (approximately N8 billion) in the same year to cyber criminals. Therefore, when the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan signed the Cybercrime Bill into law, at the end of his administration, many Nigerians were happy that the law would curb the excesses of these fraudsters. The Cyber crime Law is expected to provide measures for the prevention, prohibition, combating of cybercrimes and threats to the cyberspace and to prescribe punishment for cybercrimes in Nigeria. Specifically, the Cyber crime Law provides a legal framework for the prohibition and punishment of electronic fraud and cybercrime whilst promoting e-government services, electronic communications and transactions between public and private bodies as well as institutions and individuals. The law has criminalized certain acts and omissions in line with regional and international best practices and provide procedural guidelines for the investigation of such offences. The challenge in the country is how effectively can the law be used to reduce, to a large extent, the growing trend of cyber crimes for which the country is ranked third in globally?. Reacting on this issue, Chief Gani AdetolaKaseem (SAN) stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to have sufficient knowledge of cyber crimes. He said ‘’I must confess that I have not read the Cyber crime law. However, I am aware that one of the aims of the law is to regulate cyber crime in Nigeria. Many of our law enforcement agents are not experts and that will be a draw-back because any law enforcement agency can handle it and many of them are not experts in this area. ‘’For instance, somebody who has been defrauded may lodge a complaint with any of the law enforcement agencies, be it the Police, EFCC, ICPC and they will only be able to deal with the matter within the limit of their knowledge. So, the fact that there is no expert

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, September 28, 2015

‘Our law enforcement agents not well-equipped to enforce computer-based laws’

Adetola-Kaseem

Oduwole

Uko

The fact that there are no experts to

tions and must be technologically- equipped. Also other security agencies need to be technologically- equipped and there must be robust coordination amongst all the security agencies’’.

deal with matters involving cyber crimes may create some bottlenecks in the implementation of the law.

to deal with matters involving cyber crimes may create some bottlenecks in the implementation of the law. However, it a good thing that the law exists and the Evidence Act has been amended to accommodate some aspects of electronically generated evidence’’. According to him, the law needed to be “firm enough to deter people from crime but fair enough not to hurt Internet Freedom or set traps for those government considers unfriendly (activists, opposition, media, etc). In his opinion, a former Assistant National Publicity Secretary, NBA, Mr. Ike Uko said ‘’there are enough laws in our books and they are sufficient but what is lacking is the operation of the law. How competent are the investigators, unless investigation is properly done by competent people, the purpose of the law would be defeated. There are some police men who do not even know A from B when it comes to computer, so how can that fellow in-

vestigate computer crime? Therefore, training and application of the law are important. In advanced societies like Britain, before they charge you for any crime they would have done their homework, so by the time you see the quantum of evidence brought against you, you will likely act in a proper way by either asking for plea bargaining but here when allegation cannot stand test of cross examination in court, how far can they go? Again, computer training should be a compulsory course at the Police Training College’’. In his view, another lawyer, Mr. Dapo Oduwole described the Act as an appropriate legislation that would effectively deal with the current challenges of cybercrime in Nigeria. He however urged ‘’Federal Government to set up an agency that will solely be charged with the responsibility to tackle cyber crime wherein they will be entitled to make regula-

ber two whispers, “What is this?”

Bar

Jokes

Doctor and Lawyer at a cocktail party A doctor and a lawyer were attending a cocktail party when the doctor was approached by a man who asked advice on how to handle his ulcer. The doctor mumbled some medical advice, then turned to the lawyer and asked, “How do you handle the situation when you are asked for advice during a social function?” “Just send a bill for such advice” replied the lawyer. On the next morning the doctor arrived at his surgery and issued the ulcer-stricken man a $50 bill. That afternoon he received a $100 bill from the lawyer.

Two Lawyers in a Bank

Two lawyers are in a bank, when armed robbers suddenly burst in. While several of the robbers take the money from the tellers, others line the customers, including the lawyers, up against a wall, and proceed to take their wallets, watches and so on. While this is going on lawyer number one jams something in lawyer number two’s hand.

Without looking down, lawyer num-

The provisions of cybercrime law in Nigeria

To which lawyer number one replies, “It’s that $50 I owe you.

Cigars for the Judge

A defendant in a lawsuit involving large sums of money was talking to his lawyer. “If I lose this case, I’ll be ruined.” “It’s in the judge’s hands now,” said the lawyer. “Would it help if I sent the judge a box of cigars?” “Oh no! This judge is a stickler or ethical behavior. A stunt like that would prejudice him against you. He might even hold you in contempt of court. In fact, you shouldn’t even smile at the judge.” Within the course of time, the judge rendered a decision in favor of the defendant. As the defendant left the courthouse, he said to his lawyer, “Thanks for the tip about the cigars. It worked!” “I’m sure we would have lost the case if you’d sent them.” “But, I did send them.” “What? You did?” said the lawyer, incredulously. “Yes. That’s how we won the case.” “I don’t understand,” said the lawyer. “It’s easy. I sent the cigars to the judge, but enclosed the plaintiff’s business card.” Lawyer’s Personal Integrity Culled from Best lawyers jokes.com

zzzz

1. Seven years imprisonment for offenders of all kinds of computer related fraud, computer related forgery, cyberpornography, cyber-stalking and cybersquatting. 2. Criminalize certain acts and omissions in the regional and international best practices and provision of procedural guidelines for the investigation of such offences. 3. Defines the liability of service providers and ensures that national interest is not compromised by the use of electronic communications. 4. To provide a legal framework for the prohibition and punishment of electronic fraud and cyber crime whilst promoting e-government services, electronic communications and transactions between public and private bodies as well as institutions and individuals.

legal tips

The remedies of Injunction in Nigerian Legal System Injunction is an equitable remedy and is therefore, discretionary. It is a particularly useful remedy in contract to restrain a breach, in tort to prevent the continuation of a nuisance, in family law to control domestic violence, and in administrative law to prevent public authorities from acting unlawfully. Breach of an injunction is contempt of court. *The preservation of the subject matter ‘res’ in dispute or the maintenance of the ‘status quo’ is achieved through the judicial process of the equitable order of injunction. The Black’s Law Dictionary defines an Injunction as “a court order prohibiting someone from doing some specified act or commanding someone to undo some wrong or injury”.

Bar

It may also be defined in the words of Karibi-Whyte JSC (as then was) thus: “...an equitable order restraining the person to whom it is directed from doing the things specified in the order or requiring in exceptional situations the performance of a specified act”. * TYPES OF INJUNCTION Injunction can be classified based on the how long the order is to last i.e. the duration of the order. In this wise, we have (i) interim injunction (ii) interlocutory injunction and (iii) perpetual injunction. 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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Law & Justice

Monday, Septembe 28, 2015

Why five of Adelabu’s supporters were convicted FAMOUS CASES

lhaji Adegoke Adelabu was a politician and frontline member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (N.C.N.C) in the country in the first republic. Reputed for his masterly command of English language, he was known to have imported into the nation’s political lexicon the expression ‘’Peculiar mess’’, whichsome people, especially the illiterates often called ‘’Penkelemesi’’. Unfortunately, Adelabu, the charismatic politician, was killed in a motor accident on March 28, 1958. Some of his supporters in Ibadan and its environs believed that he was killed by their political opponents. They therefore decided to avenge his deathon members of the AG. According to the evidence adduced in the Ibadan High Court and accepted by the trial judge, ‘’on March 28, 1958 between 10.00 and 11 a.m, a group of N.CN.C members, numbering about 60, approached Arulogun village in Ibadan shouting their party slogans.’’ They were said to have been armed with guns, cutlasses, axes and cudgels. They went into the market and attacked two men, Salawu Aboderin and one Napoléon. The latter subsequently died of the injuries he received at the hands of the crowd. Aboderin ran into his house and locked himself up in a room. The crowd chased him there and set fire to his house. When he could not bear the suffocation caused by the smoke from the fire, he jumped down from the ceiling and ran. The crowd caught hold of him, beat and cut him with cutlasses and cudgels and only left him when they thought that he was dead. He did not however die, but later recovered from his injuries. After they left Aboderin’s house, they went to Oshuntoki’s house which was nearby and attacked him. His left hand was completely severed from his body and as he ran they chased him and inflicted more wounds on him with cutlasses. Oshuntoki ran into the house of one Alfa, where he fell down and died. Ten members of the N.C.N.C were subsequently charged with Oshuntoki’smurder. At the conclusion of the trial, four of them were acquitted and dischargedwhile six others were found guilty of the offence. The court eventually held that it was not in dispute that a crowd of N.CN.C members attacked and killed the deceased. In finding them guilty, the judge relied on Section 8 of the Criminal Code to the effect that ‘’where two or more persons form a common intention to prosecute an unlawful purpose in conjunction with one another, and in the prosecution of such purpose an offence is committed of such a nature that its commission was a probable consequence of the prosecution of such purpose, each of them is deemed to have committed the offence.’’ Those found guilty are, Jimo Amoo, Bakare Adeyanju, Amusa Aremu, Karimu Alao,

Shortly after the demise of the late First Republic politician, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu 57 years ago in Ibadan, capital of the Old Western Region, some of his followers decided to avenge his death by killing a member of the defunct Action Group (AG), Gbadamosi Oshuntoki. Five members of the N.C. N.C were subsequently tried and found guilty of the murder. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary writes.

The late Adelabu

Adelabu was known to have imported into the nation’s political lexicon the expression ‘’Peculiar mess’’, which some people, especially the illiterates often called ‘’Penkelemesi. Bandele Ajagbe and Faleti Disu. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the men lodged an appeal against their convictions at the Federal Supreme Court. The panel of jurists who sat on the appeal included, Justices Abbott, Brett, and Mbanefo. Delivering judgment, the Federal Supreme Court said it could not be disputed that there was evidence from which the inference could be drawn that those who constituted the crowd that invaded Arulogun village on March 28, 1958, had a common purpose. Part of the judgment reads, ‘’They were members of the same party and their motive was to avenge the death of their leader. They were armed with lethal weapons and attacked and wounded or killed their opponents at sight. ‘’According to the 6th prosecution witness, Layiwola Ajagbe, when the crowd arrived at the village they said ‘’Kill everybody in the village’’. The 5th prosecution witness, Adebanjo Orekoya, who was himself attacked and wounded, said that as he ran he

heard some members of the crowd shout ‘’ Papa Ijebu is not dead-bring his head’’. ‘’ The defence has not suggested any other reason for the behaviour of the crowd. Indeed, appellants’ counsel in the court below opened his final address by saying that the illiterate members of the N.C.N.C wrongly believed that Adelabu, a leader of N.C.N.C, was murdered by his political opponents and after they had conspired to do so and in that belief began to attack their political opponents.’’ The federal Supreme Court said anybody who knew the purpose of such a crowd and joined it could not escaperesponsibility for its criminal action. In the words of the court, the crowd in the present case having formed a common design to attack and kill members of the AG, their political opponents, any member who joined it with full knowledge of the common intention was equally guilty of murder of the deceased who was killed in the attack. It saidthe trial judge did not, therefore, misdirect himself on the law when he held that ‘’anybody who joined in this hostile

crowd with that knowledge was as guilty as the actual perpetrator of the crime.’’ The court, however, said from the testimonies before it, and having disregarded the evidence of the first prosecution witness, there was no other evidence to connect the sixth appellant, (Faleti Disu) with the crowd that killed the deceased. ‘’He was not mentioned by any of the other witnesses.’’ it added. According to the federal supreme court, ‘’there is, however, overwhelming evidence that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th appellants were not only amongst the crowd, but were also armed. Each of them was identified by at least two witnesses as being amongst the crowd that descended on the village and attacked and killed the deceased. ‘’ It noted that at the hearing of the appeal, the appellants’’ counsel, Mr. M. Agbaje, referred to two crowds and that being so, the members of one crowd could not be held responsible for what the other crowd did. The federal supreme court said on a careful examination of the evidence, it was clear that the appellants were identified as being amongst the crowd that attacked the village at the time and place in question and that some members of that crowd in fact killed the deceased. The federal justices said ‘’The crowds if in fact they were two, were composed of members of N.C.N.C, their purpose was the sameto attack their opponents- and they were operating in the same village at the same time.’’ They said on that evidence, the court could be justified in presuming that it was one crowd that split into two. The Supreme Court said ‘’be that as it may, it is clear from the evidence that the appellants were in the same crowd.’’ ‘‘This is borne out in the evidence of the 2nd and 4thappellants as witnesses who identified the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th same crowd; the 5th prosecution witness who saw the 2nd and 5th appellants as being in the same crowd; the 9th prosecution witness who saw the 3rd and 4th appellants in the same crowd and the 10th prosecution witness who identified the 4th and 5th appellants as being in the same crowd.’’ The federal Supreme Court contended that these witnesses were talking of the crowd that killed the deceased. ‘’It is, therefore, an inescapable inference to be drawn from the evidence of these witnesses taken together with the same crowd. We are satisfied that there was ample evidence to justify the position of the trial judge in reaching the conclusion he did about the guilt of these appellants and their appeals were accordingly dismissed.’’ The sixth appellant, Disu’s appeal was allowed and his conviction and sentence were set aside.

Law & Justice

Hong Kong court grants drug smugglers bail

CHINA

Melbourne pensioner, a brain-damaged Western Australian mine worker and two other Australians who all claim they were duped into smuggling millions of dollars in drugs bound for Australia have been granted bail in a landmark Hong Kong court ruling. Report by ABC news says the Australians, aged between 49 and 79, are among nine Westerners whose cases were uncovered by the ABC’s 7.30 program earlier this year and who have been locked up in Hong Kong for as long as 15 months on drug smuggling charges that could see them imprisoned for the rest of their lives. All nine alleged drug smugglers claim to have been lured by a West African crime syndicate which grooms vulnerable people online into taking an all-expenses-paid trip to Hong Kong on the lure of a financial deal, a romance, an inheritance or a humanitarian project. Once in Hong Kong, victims claim they were handed luggage to take to Australia which they did not know contained the drug ice, hidden in the lining or in items inside. Along with a tenth courier, the group of unlikely drug smugglers were caught at Hong Kong airport with a total of $36 million worth of the drug ice, weighing 29.5 kilograms, as they set off for Australia and New Zealand between April 2014 and March 2015. The fact that in every single instance it involved ice, I hate to think of the harm and damage it would have caused to the young in Australia [and] New Zealand.

Chinese President Xi Jinping Scores of others targeted by such syndicates have been arrested in Australia and in countries where they face the death penalty, including China and Malaysia. In the Hong Kong High Court, bail was granted to eight of the nine co-accused, including four Australians: 49-year-old WA mine worker Kent Walsh, who suffered serious brain injuries in a car crash six years ago; Darwin warehouse worker James Clifford, 62; Melbourne woman Suong Thu Luu, 44; and 79-year-old Melbourne pensioner Joerg Ulitzka, an Australian resident and a German citizen. Also granted bail were Americans Bove Celia Gertrude Eberhard, 67, William Leon Moorman, 47, and Mark William Un, 55, as well as Brendan John Toner, 62, from the UK. Prosecutors did not oppose bail for any of the nine except for Dutchman Hendrikus Jakobus Teutscher, 75, who will face a bail hearing today. Judge Kevin Zervos, from Australia, said each of the accused had been caught with a significant quantity of drugs, including Australian Kent Walsh.

y first appearance in court was during my National Youth Service Corps in Enugu State when I was serving in the state Attorney-General’s office. I was among the young lawyers that usually follow the AG whenever he appeared in court, so on that very fateful day a file was handed over to me to go to the magistrate court and secure an adjourned date in a criminal matter because

Monday, September 28, 2015

INDIA

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Indian court gives police protection to US transgender man

n Indian court has given police protection to a transgender man from the United States of America. According to BBC report, Shivy, 18, who prefers to be identified by his first name, is an Indian citizen but has been living in the US since the age of three. He has alleged that his parents tricked him into coming to India on holiday and then took away his passport and green card. He says that they then tried to forcibly marry him off to a man but his parents Indian Prime Minister, have refused to comment on Narendra Modi told BBC Hindi that his the allegations. Shivy, who was born fe- parents brought him to the male but identifies as male, north Indian city of Agra to

“fix” him, once they found out that he had a girlfriend. “They took away my mobile phone and laptop even while we were in America, but I still never imagined then that our annual holiday to India in July would have any other motive,” he said. The Delhi High Court termed the alleged harassment as nothing short of “bigotry” and said that India was a land of tolerance. Transgender activists and the support group Nazariya arranged legal counsel and shelter for Shivy in Delhi after he ran away from Agra earlier this month.

Shivy has alleged in his petition that his father and some unknown men posing as police officers came to the residence of the activists who helped him, adding that he fears for their, and his own, safety. He has asked the Delhi High Court to help him get his passport and green card back so that he can return to the United States where he is pursuing a neurobiology course at the University of California. The Delhi High Court has asked his parents and state police to respond to the allegations.

Police officer loses appeal after conviction for rape

police officer locked up for six months after being found guilty of rape has been told he must see out his prison sentence by the Dubai Court of Appeal. The Dubai Criminal Court was told in an earlier hearing that Emirati AM, 19, asked the Lebanese victim to join him and his friends at a café on Sheikh Zayed Road on February 11 last year. According to ABC report, after talking for a while, he drove her to a deserted area in Al Barsha 3 at nearly 5am and raped her in his car. The 25-year-old victim testified that she met AM in a café and after chatting some of his friends arrived

DUBAI

and joined them. “He asked me to go with them to another café so we got into his car, but instead of going to a cafe he went to a remote area,” she said. She noted that AM stopped the car to let his two friends out then moved to the back seat and asked to have sex with her. “I refused and resisted but he ripped my clothes off and raped me,” she said in official records, adding that AM screamed at her and told her to obey him if she wanted to return home in one piece. He then asked her to pleasure his friends but she refused. “One of his friends showed me his official police ID then they dropped me near Mall of the Emirates,

Prime Minister, UAE, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum

after which I headed to a police station and reported the incident,” said the victim. AM was arrested and

charged with rape but claimed the sex was consensual. “She became angry because I paid her less money, so she reported me for rape,” he told prosecutors. AM added that while at the café he agreed to have sex with the woman in return for Dh2, 500 but he only gave her Dh1, 500, After which she threatened to accuse him of rape. CCTV camera footage from near the cafe showed AM, his friends and the victim getting into AM’s car. In court AM denied rape but confessed to consensual sex. He was convicted on June 16 this year and sentenced to six months in jail. He appealed against the sentence but lost.

Zimbabwe court rules against controversial bail revocation law ZIMBABWE

imbabwe’s Constitutional Court has ruled as unconstitutional a law giving the police powers to detain suspects for a further seven days after they are granted bail by a magistrate. The court ruled that the State should not invoke

Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe

the controversial Section 121 (3) of the Criminal Procedures and Codification Act after a competent court has granted bail to an accused person. The section has been used by the police to revoke bail and detain suspects for a further one week while the prosecution sought to appeal the

I was lost at a point —Pokanu there was need to amend the charge sheet. I decided to go to court immediately because the magistrate court is very close to the Ministry of Justice complex in Enugu. To my surprise when the matter was called and I announced my appearance the magistrate started asking me questions beyond my in-

struction and at a point I was lost because I was holding only the charge sheet to seek for adjournment to be able to amend the charge sheet. The magistrate’s question was based on the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter because the matter involved husband and wife and it should not have been brought the be-

granting of bail. The Constitutional Court struck down the controversial section, arguing that prosecutors were abusing the clause. The section has on several occasions been used by the state against opposition activists, resulting in them languishing in remand prison.

fore the magistrate. I felt that my senior colleague did not want to appear in court and he just pushed me forward. The principal thing I learnt that day was that as a lawyer one must always endeavour to study the case file before appearing in court. But since then I have been bold and brave Adeniyi Pokanu before any judge.

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Law & Justice

Monday, September 28 2015,

Moral and legal issues in publication of debtors’ list A banker is allowed to breach

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Oluwatobi Akinpelu

the duty of disclosure when

he purposive approach rule considers not only the letters of the legislation vis-a-vis their true or extended meaning but it further considers the reasonings behind such legislations by looking at the history of the proceedings and the purpose the law was to achieve. In NURTW v. RTEAN (2012) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1307) 170 S.C at Page 196 paragraph A, the court stated par Fabiyi JSC “It is basic that one of the vital canons of interpretation of statutes is that a court of record should be minded to make broad interpretation or what is sometimes referred to as giving liberal approach... A court should give a holistic interpretation to a statute as required by law... A court should aim at giving a statute purposeful interpretation; I dare say”. Therefore, in establishing the occurrence of breach of this duty, it would best serve the interest of justice to scruntize the exemptions created by English Court of Appeal. A banker is allowed to breach the duty of disclosure when such disclosure is required by law. In arriving at definition of the term “law” the Interpretation Act LFN 2004 defines “law” in Section 18 (1) Interpretation Act as “law means any law enacted or having effect as if enacted by the legislature of a state and includes any instrument having the force of law which is made under a law.” It would then be that the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria by facial value would be sufficient to breach this duty since it was made by an instrument having the force of law. However, since the duty of confidentiality has been imposed by doctrines of common law and accepted by the Act of the Parliament, there would appear to be a conflict between the two positions. In resolving the conflict, the court has always used the hierarchial status of laws to determine which law supercedes the other in cases of legislative conflict. It cannot therefore be that a principle which has been enacted by a federal legislation would be subjugated and over-riden by a directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria made pursuant to an Act. The Court having enunicated the hierarchy of laws in Labiyi v. Anretiola (1992) 8 NWLR (pt.258) 139 would not be willing to topple the express provi-

Abolaji Adebayo

igerian lawyers have been described as great players in the economic development of the country based on their role in the economic activities across the nation. Speaking at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards, the CEO, Legal Blitz Limited, Mr. Lere Fashola, said that the role of lawyers in the development of businesses and economy across the globe could not be over-emphasized, hence, the need to appreciate them in order to encouraged them to do more. He said: “Over the last one year, especially after the rebranding of the whole process of

such disclosure is required by law.

sions of an Act with a directive made pursuant to an Act. The English Court of Appeal further conceded that the duty of confidentiality can be circumvented at instance of public duty. Public duty must not be defined vaguely but in relation to the circumstances of fact and the law. In the case of Dododo v. EFCC (2013) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1336) 468 C.A, the Court of Appeal defined the term public as “the people of a nation or community as a whole” while the Black Law Dictionary has defined duty as a “moral obligation”. The exception would therefore be applicable in circumstances where non-disclosure would cause public hurt or injury, particulary, instances of criminal liability. In regards to all available facts, the Central Bank of Nigeria has not stated that the debtors accrued the debt through illegality, neither has it been controverted that a banker-customer relationship existed, especially as a legal transaction is strictly a private and civil affair. The exception of disclosure by reason of public duty can barely avail the Central Bank’s directive in light of the afore-mentioned. With regards to disclosure occassioned by bank’s interest, the balance of convenience would rest solely on the bank as the law is cleaar that he would assert must proof, section 135 Evidence Act. Since, the bank’s interest is dependent of the facts of each case; the legality would be hinged on the reasonable man’s test. In futherance of the rights of the debtors to have their loan transaction carried out under strictly confidentiality, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has ensured the codification of rights to privacy. Section 37 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 3rd Alteration provides; “the privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversation and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected”. This provision in the constitution supercedes whatever law or directive that mandates the disclosure of personal corresspondence of a

person’s account into the public space. This provision having been provided for by the constitution is of a special status as it can only be contravened under the circumstances permitted by the constitution itself and not by any directive or even an act of the parliament. Section 1(1) (3) of the constitution of Nigeria gives an overlording preference to section 37 of the constitution, section 1 (1) (3) provides “(1) This Constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria; (3) If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constituion, this constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.” However, the constitution has also stated instances that the provisions of Section 37 CFRN 1999 3rd amendment can be exclusively overridden. Section 45 CFRN 1999 3rd amendment permits the vioation of the provision of Section 37 CFRN 1999 3rd amendment in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health or for the purpose of rights and freedom of other persons. Succintly, the provisions of section 37 can be circumvented for public policy and for the purpose of ensuring the rights and freedom of other persons. Public policy has been described as actions taken to stop the obliteration of public interest or to protect public interest. Public policy is based on the test of a reasonable man as well. The combined reading of Section 18(1), 45(1) Interpretation Act, Section 42(a), Section 23(1) CBN Act, Section 57 BOFI Act and Section 37, Section 1(1) (3) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, would be that though the Central Bank of Nigeria has the powers to give directives for the overall goverance of banking business in Nigeria, such directive must not contradict any express provision of the law. The Court has consistently risen to the defence of the law, especially the constitution. It has even gone further to declare any contradictory act against the law to be null and void and of no effect. The position of the Court has been that that no action or directive would be allowed override the express provision of the law no matter the brilliance or good intent of such actions or directives. The publication of debtors would therefore be more of a moral exercise that cannot be hinged on any legal provision.

Concluded

Akinpelu, a Lawyer writes from Lagos

Nigerian lawyers, partners in economic development —Fashola emerging winners, the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards has been redesigned to cover extensively various aspects of the evolving roles of lawyers even outside the traditional practice within law firms’’. ‘’With the understanding and appreciation of the fact that development of business and economy across the globe, and particularly, in this context Nigeria, involves very significantly, the all-important role of the in-house counsel, the committee for the Awards together with its advisory body has incorporated the Corporate Counsel awards category.” He said the awards ceremony marked the

celebration of integrity, professionalism and achievement. Fashola explained that the ESQ Legal Awards was not award for the highest bidder nor one for sale, but based on distinction, merit and excellence. He explained that the process through which the winners emerged was based on credibility and merit with distinguished panel of judges from many countries including Nigeria, who had to pitch the lawyers and the clients against themselves to make sure that deserved winners emerge. He added that in appeasing the Law Firm Category, the organiser appointed seasoned

General Counsel, international consultants, and CEOs, while each judge evaluated from their various locations and there was score sheet on which they provided their various answers and evaluations. Fashola said: “As lawyers, our business thrives on words. We are communicators, and what all lawyers do is to relate with words in the most precise and accurate terms. Therefore, it is expected that law firms should be able to present their deals, projects or transactions in the five hundred words. This year, we received tons of nominations, an addition of over thirty law firm, which is a departure from what we received last year.”

EVENT

Chairman, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Olatunde Ayeni Managing Partner, Royal Heritage Solicitors, Prince Aderemi Adekile, and Managing Partner, Templars, Mr. Oghogho Akpata, at the Esq Nigerian Legal Awards 2015 for Lawyers in Business in Lagos, recently.

Renowned Industrialist, Prince Samuel Adedoyin, Prince Adekile and Mr. Jide Omole of Wema Bank Plc, at the event.

Monday, September 28, 2015

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Community Mirror Hunger is the main problem of our IDPs whose communities have been destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents, we must do all we can to alleviate their suffering and give them a new lease of life. –Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima

Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

wo council areas in Ekiti State are to benefit in the partnership between Ekiti State Government and the European Union/ United Nations Children’s Fund (EU/UNICEF) in the provision of water and sanitary blocks. The partnership is set to construct 460 hand pump boreholes and 60 sanitation blocks across 313 locations in the two coucil areas - Gbonyin and Ekiti West. The State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr Deji Adesua, made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti at a meeting with traditional rulers and council chairmen of the benefiting communities. Adesua reiterated the present administration’s commitment to the provision of potable water in all nooks and cranny of the state. He said that the project would be implemented under the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme [WSSRP] III at a counterpart funding ratio of 70 per cent to EU/ UNICEF, 18 per cent to the state Government while the benefiting councils would pay 12 per cent. According to him, the project will be of immense benefit to the people as it will address the problem of poor water supply and access to safe drinking water. Adesua charged all stakeholders to complement Government efforts at making life more meaningful to the people in the state by protecting public infrastructure; stressing that proper maintenance and making good use of public utilities would enhance their life span and guarantee longer term benefit. He also emphasized the importance of payment of tax by individuals and corporate bodies to empower government towards ensuring delivery of more dividends of democracy.

Ekiti communities to benefit from EU/UNICEF water scheme

L-R: Shepherd in Charge, Celestial Church of Christ, Ayo Oluwa Parish, Idi-Araba, Snr. Evang. Willie Dada; Province Superintendant, Lagos West ‘A’ Central, Sup. Evang Gabriel Jerry and Sup. Evang. Daniel, during the 14th Annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service tagged, ‘Divine Laughter’ in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Agency gives succor to ‘Internally Displace Persons’ Dare Akogun

ountry Director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency, ADRA, Nigeria, Mr. Fred Omosebi has called on well-meaning Nigerians to support Boko Haram insurgency victims, who are taking refuge in camps outside their homes otherwise known as Internally Displace Persons (IDPs)in North Eastern part of the country. Mr. Omosebi made this call at Makohi, Konanwaya and deeper lifeInternally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Yola, Adamawa State recently where ADRA Nigeria distributed

relief materials which included; rice, beans, Salt,wheat flour, palm oil among others worth over N20 million to the Internally DisplacedPersons (IDPs). According to him, ADRA Nigeria through the support of ADRA International and the Latter day Charities Inc has supported more than 1,000households in Makoni, Konanwaya and deeper life Internally Displaced Persons camps in Yola, Adamawa state. He added that prior to the above intervention, ADRA Nigeria had supported internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Muslim Council and Bali

IDPs camps in Jalingo Taraba state with various relief materials. He said that the support was borne out of love for humanity. However, he explained that based on the quick needs assessment ADRA Nigeria made, it was discovered that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have other needs apart from food. He said that they need shelter, protection for children and women,medical attention for those suffering from ailments, economic empowerment among others. According to him,ADRA Nigeria will go back to the drawing board to plan how

they can help the IDPs in these others areas of their needs till the time they will go back to their homes. At the IDPs camps in Yola, Adamawa state, some of the beneficiaries which included men, women and children who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, expressed their profound gratitude to ADRA Nigeria forgiving them the relief materials. One of those who spoke specially thanked ADRA and requested that ADRA Nigeria workers should pray for them so that they canreturn to their homes. A United Nations vulunteer who was at the camp when the relief materialswere being distributed,

said that the IDPs have been neglected by many organisations and therefore, appreciated ADRA Nigeria for distributing relief materials tothe IDPs. He urged other organizations to emulate ADRA Nigeria. Mr. Omosebi also said that presently, ADRA Nigeria inpartnership with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) office of the United Nationsis embarking on livelihood support programme in selected local governments in Adamawa state. He noted that the purpose of the support is to bring succor to IDPs and also put smile on their faces.

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Monday, September 28, 2015

World News I am assuring you that I am capable. I honestly want to make America great again. I know how to do it. –US Republican party presidential aspirant, Donald Trump

he French military has carried out its first airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, according to a statement from the office of France’s presidency. The country had announced earlier this month that it would expand its aerial campaign against ISIS in Iraq -- which it began a year ago -- to include the militant group’s positions in Syria. The French president’s office said that the strikes in Syria, which began Sunday, were based on intelligence gathered from air surveillance operations conducted over Syria during the past two weeks. “Our country confirms its firm commitment to the fight against the terrorist threat Daesh,” the statement said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. “We will strike whenever our national security is at stake.” President Francois Hollande, speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, described the camp as a “threat to our country.” “We reached our goal and the whole training camp was destroyed,” Hollande said. Six aircraft were used in the mission, which was led by the French but closely coordinated with the U.S.-led coalition, he said. Despite the “horrible acts” committed by ISIS, Hollande placed the blame for the Syrian crisis on the country’s long time strongman Bashar al-Assad.

France launches first airstrikes against ISIS in Syria

A German spy chief warns of radicalisation as this year alone has seen 22 arson attacks against refugee shelters. Germany’s domestic intelligence chief warned on Sunday of a radicalisation of right-wing groups amid a record influx of migrants, including refugees, as xenophobic rallies and clashes shook several towns at the weekend. “What we’re seeing in connection with the refugee crisis is a mobilisation on the street of rightwing extremists, but also of some left-wing extremists” who oppose them, said Hans-Georg Maassen on Deutschlandfunk public radio. Maassen spoke as Germany expects up to one million migrants this year, and after protests against refugee homes and clashes with police again rocked several towns at the weekend, mostly in the former communist East Germany.

Catalonia votes in key regional elections A Syrian father helping his child as they arrive from Turkey to the shores of the Greek island of Lesbos, on an inflatable dinghy, at the weekend.

“Bashar al Assad is the main person at fault, although Daesh commits horrible acts,” Hollande said. “The future of Syria cannot happen with Bashar al Assad.” String of terrorist attacks France has been the site of a number of terrorist attacks this year.

Islamic extremists killed 17 people in a quick succession of attacks in Paris in January, including the shooting deaths of staff members in the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. In June, authorities said a man in southeastern France

Burkina Faso coup leaders’ assets frozen

urkina Faso has frozen the assets of the leader of last week’s failed coup, Gen Gilbert Diendere. Another 13 people suspected of involvement have also had their assets frozen, the state prosecutor says. Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated on Wednesday after an intervention from the army and West African leaders. On Friday, his government ordered the presidential guards’ unit that carried out the coup to be disbanded. At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured in clashes during the take-over which Gen Diendere described as “the biggest mistake”. In a statement announcing the latest move, state prosecutor Laurent Poda said that the assets of 14 people, including Gen Gilbert Diendere and his wife Fatou Diendere, an MP for the former ruling party, would be frozen for three months.

AFRICA BULLETIN Germany faces far-right radicalisation over refugees

During this period, they would only be able to withdraw 300,000 CFA ($512) a month. On Friday, the first full meeting of the government since Mr Kafando’s reinstatement decided to disband the presidential guard (RSP) and to dismiss the minister in charge of security. The RSP - a unit of 1,200 well-

armed and well-trained men - is loyal to Blaise Compaore, the country’s long-time ruler who was ousted in a popular uprising last year. They were unhappy about being integrated into the regular army. took to the streets in the aftermath of the coup Members of the unit

decapitated his boss, displayed the severed head with Islamist banners and also set off an explosion in a factory. And last month, three American men brought down a suspected terrorist gunman who tried to open fire on a train bound for France.

stormed the cabinet room on 16 September, seizing the interim president, the prime minister and others. A week later, when it became clear they did not enjoy popular support and after a threat from the regular army to step down or be ousted by force, the RSP withdrew.

Pope Francis condemns sexual abuse

“G

od weeps” for the sexual abuse of children, Pope Francis said Sunday in Philadelphia, after meeting with victims of sexual abuse. Francis met with five victims, including three women and two men, the Vatican said in a statement. All were adults who suffered abuse as minors, either by clergy, family members or teachers. The Pope listened to the victims’ testimony, talked with them both as a group and individually, and then prayed

with them. The site of the Pope’s meeting, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, is significant since the local archdiocese was the subject of two scathing grand jury reports, in 2005 and 2011, that uncovered years of inadequate action on the part of church leaders to stop priests from raping and molesting children. The priest in charge of personnel was convicted of child endangerment in 2012. In remarks to bishops following the meeting, Francis vowed “careful oversight” to

ensure that youth are protected and said that those responsible for abuse would be held accountable. “The people who had the responsibility to take care of these tender ones violated that trust and caused them great pain,” he said. “Those who have survived this abuse have become true heralds of mercy. Humbly we owe each of them our gratitude for their great value, as they have had to suffer terrible abuse, sexual abuse of minors,” he said.

Catalonia is voting in regional elections that nationalist parties hope will set them on the road to independence from Spain. Two separatist parties have joined forces, and are aiming to secure a majority of seats in parliament - 68 out of 135. They say this would allow them to unilaterally declare independence within 18 months. The central government in Madrid has pledged to block such moves in court. Polls suggest a majority of Catalans favour a referendum on independence but are evenly divided over whether they want to secede. The El Pais newspaper reported that turnout had reached 63.1% as of 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT). Polling stations in the wealthy north-eastern province opened at 07:00 GMT and will close at 18:00 GMT.

Hajj stampede: Iran calls for investigation at UN Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has used a speech at the UN to call for an investigation into Thursday’s stampede at the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The incident is the deadliest to hit the Hajj in 25 years, with 769 people dead, more than 130 of them from Iran. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused the Iranians of playing politics with a tragedy. The country’s most senior cleric has defended the authorities, saying the stampede was “beyond human control”. King Salman has ordered a safety review into the disaster. Mr Rouhani described the crush as “heart-rending”. As well as the fatalities, 934 people were injured.

Monday, September 28, 2015

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North

Monday, September 28, 2015

Dangote to commission Tanzania cement plant Oct 10

L-R: Secretary to Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold; Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulwahab; Asiwaju of Oke- Ode, Alhaji Kola Yusuf; Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Durosinlohun Atiku; Elesha of Oke- Ode, Oba Abdulkadir Adelodun and Deputy Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhameed, during commissioning of Oke- Ode Central Mosque, Ifelodun LGA, on Saturday.

Resident doctors threaten strike in FCT ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

ssociation of Resident Doctors, ARD, yesterday accused the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, of taking ac-

tion capable of provoking doctors to resume their suspended strike by ignoring their demands. In a press statement issued by president of the association, Dr. Isaac Akerele, the doctors said

that they had “been doing everything possible to avert industrial action but the attitude of the government is disheartening to the association.” Akerele described the actions and inactions of the

FCTA as ‘‘deliberate to cause tension in the health sector.” He maintained that “failure to address our challenges will provoke crisis in the health sector which could disrupt work.”

Cattle rustling to end in December –Masari JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

he problem of cattle rustling that has brought untold socio-economic hardship to many in Katsina State would soon be over. Governor Aminu Bello Masari disclosed this over the weekend while receiving the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, at the old Government House for Sallah homage and Durbar. The governor said additional security personnel from the army and mobile police would be deployed to the notorious Rugu forest to help clear the area which serves as hideout for rustlers.

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

asarawa State government yesterday said it will provide infrastructure at the popular peninsula area in Nyanya Gwandara area of Karu local government area, which covers about 1,000 hectares of land. Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura disclosed this during on-the-spot assessment of the peninsula, stating that the state govern-

He said the war against cattle rustling by his administration had recorded a remarkable achievement as several cattle rustlers were arrested while about 1.5 million cows and sheep were recovered and handed over to their various owners. He said his administration had commenced in-depth investigation to identify alleged sponsors of cattle rustling especially in the seven local government councils mostly affected by the problem. Masari however warned that any person aiding cattle rustling in the state would be decisively dealt with no matter his status. He also warned vigi-

lante groups who embark on jungle justice to desist, but ensure they hand over suspected rustlers or other criminals to security agents for proper investigation. He said his administration had resolved to work at empowering ward and village heads in identifying of suspected criminals as way of ensuring adequate security at the rural areas. The governor added that to track bad elements in society, the registration of births and deaths would be reintroduced, which would also assist government have accurate population data of any community or village. He also said his admin-

istration had come up with a four-year plan to improve the state’s economy, particularly in education, agriculture and health sectors. He however said the four-year plan would be implemented after the presentation of a budget estimate to the state House of Assembly. Earlier, the Emir, Kabir Usman, had called on the state government to work with senior citizens of the state to address some of the socioeconomic challenges facing the state. Usman also called on the state government to work with traditional rulers to improve education and security, especially at the rural areas.

frica’s foremost cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement, is set to commission its new 3.0 million metric tonnes per annum cement plant located in Mtwara District of Tanzania on October 10. The company will also hold the groundbreaking ceremony for 25 hectares of Jetty land at Mgao village in Mtwara District same day. The commissioning of the new cement plant, which is part of the company’s Africa expansion strategy, will be the fourth in the series after Ethiopia, Zambia and Cameroun. Cement plants due for commissioning this year are located in Senegal and South Africa, while construction works are ongoing in several other African countries. The groundbreaking for the Tanzanian Cement plant held on May 27, 2013 and within 24 months, the plant was ready for commissioning. With the plant in operation, Tanzania is on its way to joining African countries who are self-sufficient in cement production. Governments and distinguished Africans are commending the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his massive investments across Africa. The Nigerian Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the commissioning of Zambian plant lauded Dangote on his investment in several African countries, saying the Federal Government is proud of Dangote. Osinbajo, who described Dangote as an exceptional African entrepreneur, commended his phenomenal vision, entrepreneurship and commitment to the development of Africa and Africans. He said: “Dangote is a Nigerian from Kano State;

he is pan-Nigerian and pan-African and has done us all proud. His companies, spread over 16 African countries, signal an African multinational enterprise.” Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, who also praised the business ingenuity of the Dangote, said “his business expansion across African is worthy of emulation by African businessmen in the task of continental development.” Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, at the commissioning of the 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum Dangote Cement Grinding Plant in Douala thanked Dangote for his massive investments in cement plants across Africa, adding that Dangote has shown willingness to play a significant role in the industrialisation of the Cameroonian economy. For Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, Dangote is Africa’s most potent investor who has rebranded Nigeria through cement plants located in many African nations. According to him, Dangote Cement billboards are located across many African streets in countries where the company has plants which he said presents Nigeria as a source of investment in other nations. He said, “Dangote has spurred the industrialisation of many African economies through the establishment of integrated cement plants which are geared towards making those countries self-sufficient in cement production, the real sector is the engine room of any economy therefore investments in the sector will have a multiplier effect on other sectors leading to massive direct and indirect job opportunities.”

Al-Makura set to develop Nyanya-Gwandara peninsula ment will provide water, electricity, roads and sewage system to help developing the area. Al-Makura, however, said that individuals and organisations who were allocated plots of land would be given right of first refusal before government decides what to do with the land. The governor explained that the occupants will be charged for the infrastruc-

tural development and other amenities provided before handing over the land to them. He added that Tongyi Allied company would be given the layout to study before the state government embarks on infrastructural development of the land. The governor said that his administration will continue to provide the necessary basic amenities to the

people of the state to ensure that the state developed to the fullest. Meanwhile, the state government yesterday said it will soon open discussion with the federal government on how to fast-track the expansion of Keffi–Karu dual carriage highway within the shortest possible time. Al-Makura stated this during his assessment of the road, noting that the as-

sessment showed the road is about 30 meters wide, and enough for expansion to five lanes even as the setbacks could be used as walkway. The governor explained that the expansion will reduce congestion of traffic on that axis of the road from Nyanya to Masaka satellite towns. He consequently appealed to the Federal Government to expand the dual

carriageway to five lanes on both sides in order to reduce the hardship being faced by road users along that axis. The governor however said his administration will complement the effort of the Federal Government by stationing task force at every 100 metres away to prevent people and residents from dumping refuse on the road which contributes to the congestion on the road.

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Osinbajo urges Nigerians to unite against terrorism

ice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday called on Nigerians to unite and rise against terrorism in the country. Osinbajo spoke at the 55th Independence Anniversary interdenominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja. The Vice President pointed out that the nation has been divided for long on tribal and religious lines, saying that a kingdom divided against itself shall be desolate. Osinbajo stressed that one of the problems of the country was playing politics with everything, especially with religion and tribe while important issues affecting millions of poor Nigerians are neglected. He stated that the unity of the country was important for development and CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Lawal Enitan Adenike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adedoyin Enitan Adenike. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

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progress in the society. Osinbajo said he had travelled round the country, especially insurgency-stricken states only to find that Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps were populated by children and adults maimed by bombs. “The bomb of a terrorist does not ask if you are a Christian or Moslem when detonating. I have seen the dead, I have seen the wounded and I have seen the sick. Most of them are victims of terrorist acts. “The truth of the matter is that of all those I have seen and they are in hundreds and in IDP camps, there were Muslims, there were Christians. “This is why it is so important as Muslim or Christian leaders to understand that we must rise as Nigerians against CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Odunlami Taiwo Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Obanla..Adewale Taiwo Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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PUBLIC NOTICE ODORUBU TIMBER DEALERS ASSOCIATION DELTA STATE. This is to inform the general public that the above named body has capplied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) OKOTIE SUNDAY - CHAIRMAN. 2) AGBORO EFEJOBO - SECRETARY. 3) KOMONE KEN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: TO FOSTER PEACE AND HARMONY AMONG THE MEMBERS Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama, Abuja,within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: OKOTIE SUNDAY - CHAIRMAN.

terrorism and against every form of prejudice that continue to threaten our existence,” Osinbajo said. In his message, Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan, Joseph Bagobiri urged Islamic leaders in the country to rise up against perpetrators of terrorism

in order for Nigeria to remain united. He explained that regardless of the diversity in the country, Nigeria has been able to survive despite predictions of disintegration. “We need Nigeria first before the other contend-

ing things that citizens continue to fight for. Take Nigeria away and we will not do the fighting we are doing today. “Those who are penetrating these evils belong to the household of Islam, and the household of Islam should rise up

and cut the excesses of their own members “If there is a Christian militia group in Nigeria today, church leaders will confront this militia and say it is not in consonance with the teaching of Jesus Christ, we shall not hide them,” he said.

Lalong laments Nigeria still grappling with poverty, insecurity at 55

overnor Simon Lalong of Plateau State yesterday lamented that Nigeria has yet to be free from poverty and insecurity though it gained independence from Britain, 55 years ago. Lalong made the remark at a thanksgiving mass at Our Lady Fatima Catholic Cathedral, Jos, to mark the nation’s 55th anniversary on Octpber 1. He said the country was still grappling with challengCHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEYANJU JULIANA OMOLADE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. OYENIYI AFOLABI JULIANA OMOLADE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT and general public should please take note.

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es of poverty and insecurity. The governor, however, said all hopes were not lost as the administrations at the federal and state levels were determined to address the challenges. Lalong assured that he would do all within his powers to reduce poverty in Plateau through good governance. He said his administration had been able to pay part of the eight months backlog of salaries it inCHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Oakbridge Montessori School, now wish to be known as Grande Oakbridge Schools Ltd. FBN Ltd, LASG and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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herited from the immediate past administration. Lalong said with the bailout from the Federal Government, all salary arrears would be paid, adding that far reaching steps were being taken to address security challenges. “With your prayers, we are clearing the salaries; with your prayers, we will also address the security challenges. “I call on you to continue to pray for us because we CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ADEOLA VICTORIA ADEDIRE, now wish to be and known and addressed as Mrs. ADEOLA VICTORIA ARIYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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need the grace of God to lead you well,” he said. Monsignor Ben Obidiegu, in his sermon, said God was ready to use anybody in spite of religion differences. “Anyone who works for peaceful coexistence is from God because God’s spirit brings peace and not division,” he said. The cleric challenged Christians to love one another irrespective of religious affiliations and to also work for unity, peace and progress of the nation. “We thank the security agencies for the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency,” he said. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Ekele Udojimma Ejimudo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekele Udojimma Etumeahu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Monday, September 28, 2015

Afrobasket Women D’Tigress beat Guinea

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

“I can say for a fact that the World Cup nightmare for Brazil is in the past. We are now in a new era –PSG DEFENDER, THIAGO SILVA

Glo League results

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier:

Pillars

Wolves

Taraba

El-Kanemi

Lobi

3SC

Rangers

Kwara

IfeanyiUbah

Giwa

Enyimba

Wikki

Sunshine

Abia

Sharks

Dolphins

Awka

Nasarawa

Bayelsa

Heartland

Falconets beat DR Congo away

igeria’s Falconets defeated Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 away in the first leg, second round qualifier for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Chinaza Uchendu opened the scoring for the Falconets in the sixth minute before

: e u eag

L o l G

nyimba captain Chinedu Udoji scored his first set of goal for Enyimba in a Week 31 game as they beat title chasers Wikki Tourists 2-0 in Aba yesterday. They killed off title chasers, Wikki Tourists. Enyimba remain top of the league table with 58 points from 31 games, while Wikki have 51 points from 31 games. Udoji took shine off the

Chinwendu Ihezuo doubled the lead six minutes later. The Congolese reduced the deficit after they scored in the 40th minute to end the first half 2-1. In the second half, both teams failed to find the back of the net, thereby ending the tie 2-1 in favour of the

Falconets. Both teams will meet in the retur n leg to decide which team will progress from the second round. In the first round of qualifiers, the Falconets thrashed Liberia 14-1 on aggregate. The Falconets finished second at the 2014 FIFA

Women’s U-20 World Cup in Canada, after they lost 1-0 to Ger many in the final. The match in Kinshasa was the first leg of the third round, qualifying fixture for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scheduled for Papua New Guinea next year. The retur n leg comes up at the

National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, October 10. The winner of the fixture will clash with the winner of the fixture between South Africa and Zambia, for a place in Papua New Guinea. Zambia hosted the two teams’ first leg in Lusaka yesterday.

strikers as he opened the scoring with a well-taken goal in the 43rd minute for his firstever goal for Enyimba. He went on to seal the victory with the second goal when he converted a spot kick in the 52nd minute after Peter Onyekachi was brought down inside six-yard box. In the 16th minute, Paul Godwin in Wikki’s goal saved Markson Ojobo’s free kick and

Musa Najere got injured and was replaced with Kingsley Sokari in the 65th minute. Wikki’s Harrison Madu was red carded after a second booking. Femi Thomas in goal for Enyimba was on holidays for most of the game as Wikki were defensive and hardly created any chance to shoot at goal. Meanwhile, hotshot Tunde

Adeniji was Sunshine Stars hero yesterday when they defeated Abia Warriors 1-0 in a Week 31 game of the Nigeria league to revive their fading championship hopes. Sunshine are now back in contention for the title with 53 points from 31 games and move to third place. Adeniji scored in the 58th minute to break the deadlock. He has now scored 14 goals

to be joint leading scorer with Nasarawa United’s Esosa Igbinoba, who fired blanks on Friday’s clash at Akwa United. Adeniji wasted a glorious chance to score as early as the eighth minute. Prince Aggreh failed to score twice even when he was presented with begging chances in the 31st and 63rd minutes.

Enyimba maintain lead, Sunshine back in contention

Sports

Monday, September 28, 2015

Hulk accuses Moscow fans of racism again

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

nother racism row is looming in Russia after Brazil star Hulk said he was the victim of racist abuse at Spartak Moscow. The Zenit St Petersburg striker was seen blowing kisses towards the Moscow fans towards the end of the match, and later explained that he was responding to their racist insults. “Unfortunately, the same things are happening – racism in the stands,” Hulk says. “I won’t pay any attention to this, as I have already talked about this. Therefore, I will continue to blow kiss-

es and answer them with the way I play on the pitch. These things don’t even deserve to be discussed.” It is the second time this year that Hulk has had to face down racists in Russia’s capital. In March, he was racially abused by Torpedo Moscow fans. The Russian Federation punished Torpedo by forcing them to play two matches behind closed doors. Hulk says racist comments are made by spectators at almost every match played in Russia and he believes racism could mar the 2018 World Cup.

EPL results

Hulk

Watford

C’Palace

Bayern’s Lewandowski breaks more records P Mourinho

Mourinho best coach in the world –Zouma

helsea defender, Kurt Zouma believes Jose Mourinho is the best coach in the world and working with him has improved him. The centre-back joined Chelsea in January 2014 from Saint-Etienne and spent the remainder of the season on loan with the club, he broke into the first team at Chelsea last season. Zouma has started all seven matches for Chelsea this season and believes learning from Mourinho has been hugely beneficial. “Mourinho? When he’s not happy he shouts a lot. He has taught me a lot. He does not like losing and expects a lot from me,” Zouma said. “Last year he spoke to me a

lot about Real Madrid centreback Raphael Varane. He told me I was making the same mistakes as him. “For me, he is the best coach in the world.” Zouma scored his first Premier League goal for the club in the 2-0 win over Arsenal last week, and he knows he has to keep working to remain in the XI ahead of captain John Terry. “I want to keep playing, to keep my place in the team. You have to work hard for that,” Zouma added. “Terry, a legend, is always here and is like my teacher when I was little. He is an example for me and tells me a lot of things. “This is the club I have always dreamed of.”

oland captain Robert Lewandowski has broken another German record, reaching 100 Bundesliga goals faster than any foreign player. The Bayern Munich striker – who scored five goals as a substitute in midweek – netted a brace to set his side on the way to a 3-0 win over Mainz. Thanks to ‘Lewy’ Bayern achieved their seventh win in seven Bundesliga games, and are five points clear at the top of the League. The champions were struggling against Mainz until Lewandowski headed them in front in the 51st minute for his 100th Bundesliga goal in his 168th match.

Lewandowski

He scored again in the 63rd minute, making it 10 goals in seven matches – a recordequaling sequence. No other Bundesliga player

before had managed 10 in seven aside from the legendary Gerd Muller who managed the feat twice, in 1968/69 and 1977/78.

Platini implicated in FIFA scandal

EFA president Michel Platini is also under investigation as part of the FIFA scandal. The Frenchman, one of Sepp Blatter’s fiercest critics, is reportedly being investigated as part of a probe into the FIFA president, against who criminal proceedings were opened earlier this week. Blatter is accused of signing an ‘unfavourable’ contract for FIFA and making ‘disloyal payment’ to Platini in 2011, reportedly for work done nine years earlier. Blatter has denied all the charges, while Platini has yet to explain the payments received from the Swiss.

Platini

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, September 28, 2015

Afrobasket Women

D’Tigress

Joyce Ekworomadu

beat Guinea N

igeria’s D’Tigress eased over Guinea yesterday, blowing out their fellow West Africans 100-47 in the only game of AfroBasket Women 2015 Group B in Yaounde, Cameroon. Joyce Ekworomadu inspired five other Nigerians, who scored 12 points or more, while Nadia Peruch-Niang paced Guinea with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Guinea, in the second quarter, made three shots from beyond the arc, cutting the deficit to just

13 points, but it was a matter of time as Nigeria went on to close the third quarter with a 73-40 lead. D’Tigress’s Helen Ogunjimi came off the bench to make 15 of her game-high 19 points from beyond the arc. Guinea are in Yaounde with a nine-player roster, and keeping Peruch-Niang on floor for the entire first three quarters indicated the struggles they face in the competition.

While D’Tigress, who led the entire contest, climbed to third place in Group B with a 2-1 mark, Guinea conceded their third defeat in as many games. Eventually Peruchi-Niang summed up Guinea aspirations in the competition to fiba.com: “I have told the girls not to worry about the score. Those teams Senegal and Nigeria are way too ahead of us. But we still have to get better and learn from our mistakes.”

Agu hails Akpeyi on Chippa debut

S Yakubu

Yakubu targets 15 goals in Turkey

x-Super Eagles forward, Yakubu Ayegbeni, says he hopes to hit the back of the net on a regular basis and score at least 15 goals to help his new Turkish side Kayserispor maintain their top flight status this season. The vastly travelled forward also expressed happiness at the atmoshpere in the club and the support he has received from the fans.

“The players, coach and the president treated me so well with open arms,” Yakubu told the club’s official website. “I want to thank them for the great reception. “I want to score goals to help my team achieve success. As a striker I will do my best to score goals. “I think I will get over 15 goals. My aim is to help the team stay in the league.”

uper Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu, says he is happy to have seen Daniel Akpeyi make his long awaited debut for South African Absa Premiership side, Chippa United. Akpeyi linked up with Chippa United from Glo Premier League side, Warri Wolves, in the summer but his debut was delayed due to clearance issues. He put up a commanding display in his maiden appearance for the Chili Boys on Friday against Polokwane City which his side won 2-1. Agu in a chat expressed delight with the performance of the goalkeeper while also tipping him to become one of the top stars in the South African top flight. “I’m so happy for him now that he has finally settled down at the club,” Agu told Completesportsnigeria.com.

Akpeyi

“It was a good debut for him and I hope he can keep improving on his performance. “He is surely going to be a huge asset for his club and a big

star in the South African League. “It is also a good thing for the national team as we can now have a good number of top goalkeepers at our disposal.”

WORLD RECORD

Most piercings in a lifetime (female) Vol. 05 No. 1207 Monday, September 28, 2015

N150

Since first receiving a skin piercing in January 1997, Elaine Davidson (Brazil/UK) has been pierced a total of 4,225 times as of 8 June 2006.

HID Awolowo: Gone in a blaze of glory!

hief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland and widow of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, first premier of the old Western Region, died penultimate Saturday at her country home in Ikenne, Ogun State, few weeks to her 100th birthday coming up on November 25. A terse statement signed by Mrs. Omotola Oyediran, her eldest child, part of which read: ”Mama died as gloriously as she lived. She spent the day in the company of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and close family members. She shared a precious few minutes with them when she went in to pray for them as they met to plan her centenary birthday. They sang her a befitting song as she came in and she continued to pray for them. She died a couple of hours later as she had always wished;

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren”, confirmed her glorious spiritual transformation from mortality to immortality. She is unarguably the last surviving wives of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria, a status that is both edifying and epochal. One of Nigeria’s most famous political women and thus an object of fascination to generations of Nigerians, Mama represented a bridge between our past and present. For many, her life and times are a reflection of the upheavals that have been Nigeria’s evolution from “a mere geographical expression” to an organic and symmetric nation state, where cultural boundaries should have been blurred. Her death has caused to be burst an emotional dam from where words that are interpretative of both the foibles and follies of the humans have escaped. I have taken time go through each of the reported tributes from across the country. While I am really touched by the sincerity of some of them, I am appalled by the hypocrisy and banality of others, whose authors I know could not be counted among Awo’s numerous admirers and symapthisers when he was alive. However, irrespective of the intentions of authors of the avalanche of tributes, Mama’s rare human qualities were captured by certain operational coinages like “indomitable spirit”, “matriarch of the Yoruba race”, “political conscience of the nation”, and “virtuous woman”, used by them.

SHE WAS NEVER KNOWN TO EXPLOIT

THE AWO POLITICAL BRAND FOR PERSONAL AGGRANDIZEMENT NOR USED IT TO PURSUE

MACHIAVELLIAN POLITICS Chief HID Awolowo unobtrusively supported the political career of her husband from the colonial period, through the turbulence of the First Republic to the implosions of the Second Republic, where Awo was a key actor as the presidential candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Naturally like every virtuous and supportive woman keyed into the vision of her husband, Mama plunged headlong into the 1979 and 1983 electioneering, using the women’s wing of the party, which she coordinated. The rest is history. By association, she had her own fair share of the vicissitudes of politics. She was Western Region’s First Lady between 1951 and 1960, when her husband held sway as premier of the region. But when Awo’s tribulations began in 1962, the aftermath of Action Group’s combustive politics that split it into two, and his conviction in September 1963 in the treasonable felony trial that later followed, Mama had to endure the harshness of her husband’s orchestrated political winter, the most painful being the loss of

her first son, Olusegun, a United Kingdom trained lawyer, to an accident. She stoically held the forte, mending the home front and running the family business for the period her husband was confined until his release in 1966. Any wonder why she was fondly referred to as the ‘jewel of inestimable value’ by her appreciative husband. It is largely acknowledged that the matriarch of the Awolowo family was a successful businesswoman. Unlike many of the wives of our present day political upstarts, who have found themselves in leadership positions, the seed money of her business was not made from politics. As a teacher after her secondary education at Methodist Girls High School, Lagos, she doubled as a businesswoman trading in imported hats and textiles. As a full time businesswoman following the departure of her husband to the United Kingdom in 1944, Mama expanded her business scope to include the importation of lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria. She founded Didelou Stores Ltd., Ligu Distribution Services Ltd. to facilitate this. Mama was also the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC). When Awo founded the Tribune newspapers in November, 1949, it was to her he turned to nurture the new company in the capacity of chairman. The 66 year old newspaper is one of her enduring legacies as an astute businesswoman. Mama’s selflessness is poignantly underscored by her detachment from self serving political battles. She was never known to exploit the Awo political brand for personal aggrandizement nor used it to pursue Machiavellian politics, which was why even at the exit of her husband in May 1987, she successfully played her role as the rally point of Awo political dynasty for 28 years, thus making her country home in Ikenne the political Mecca of Nigeria. The death of Mama must have achieved for Awo Family a greatness that transcends geopolitical boundaries. This should be a consolation for the sage once described as “the President Nigeria never had”.

Sport Extra

Palace into sixth after victory at Watford

rystal Palace moved up to sixth in the Premier League as Yohan Cabaye’s penalty settled a low-key clash against Watford at Vicarage Road.

Wilfried Zaha was the difference as he stepped from the bench and was tripped for the decisive second-half penalty. Palace deserved victory, having also hit the post

through Dwight Gayle. Jose Jurado’s free-kick came back off the bar for Watford, who remain the joint second-lowest scorers in the division. It was no surprise Pal-

ace’s winner came courtesy of a raid down the flanks only three teams in the Premier League (Southampton, Manchester City and Newcastle) have delivered more crosses in open play

than the Eagles this season. They put in 19 crosses during the match, but it took a change of personnel to unlock a Watford defence that had not previously conceded at home this season.

Alan Pardew Emenike

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