Oct 18 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Kachikwu negotiates $15bn oil and gas investment with India Chidi Ugwu ABUJA

inister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu,

Kachikwu

Vol. 6 N0. 1464

has negotiated a $15bn investment with India for the oil and gas sector. According to a statement signed by the Director, Press, in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Idang Alibi, the Indian

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Dasukigate

Chibok girls:

Buhari commends Red Cross

Government would make an upfront payment for crude purchase to Nigeria when the terms of the deal is agreed upon. It said the negotiations CONTINUED ON PAGE 4>>

P.6

Buhari

National Online Mirror

@NationalMirror

N150

Ex-minister Obanikoro returns, arrested by EFCC P.2

Court verdict on Ondo PDP gubernatorial candidate

...as Jimoh Ibrahim picks ticket â&#x20AC;˘INEC receives court order

Continued on page 3

News

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dasukigate: Ex-minister Obanikoro returns, arrested by EFCC Olufemi Adeosun ABUJA

former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the alleged N4.75bn arms fraud. A reliable source told our correspondent that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, arrived the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency yesterday at about 2 p.m. His arrival in the country, however, surprised many people because he had initially vowed not to return to the country, alleging that the present administration rail-road him into the case in order to discredit him. Obanikoro, a one-time governorship candidate

of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State has been engaged in a game of wits with the anti-graft agency since the alleged monumental fraud, known as armsgate, blew into the open. EFCC’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Obanikoro had reported to the commission. “The former Minister of State for Defence is with the commission,” he said. EFCC had invited Obanikoro to answer questions in relation to N4.75bn arms funds which were traced to him. The anti-graft agency is investigating a company alleged to be owned by Obanikoro’s sons, and also linked with the N4.75bn arms fund. Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo

Dasuki, is being detained in connection with the diversion of monies meant for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency in the beleaguered North East. According to EFCC

source, Obanikoro’s sons, Babajide and Gbolahan, received a total of N4.745bn paid into the Diamond Bank account of their firm. Apart from that, Obanikoro, the EFCC alleged,

Wale Igbintade and Doosuur Iwambe

wo Federal High Court judges, Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa (rtd) and Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa, were quizzed for several hours yesterday by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. As at last night, the two judges were still answering questions at the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos, and were likely to sleep there,

•Judges accused of corruption resume sitting according to a source. National Mirror gathered that the two judges reported at the EFCC office at about 10 a.m. yesterday, following invitation letter extended to them by the Commission. Their invitation was sequel to the bribery and money laundering allegations the commission discovered during investigations in an ongoing case in which two senior lawyers have already been arraigned in court. It would be recalled that

Corrupt judiciary, danger to society –Sagay

the society. He said: “I think that those who have criticised the DSS and the manner the search was conducted or even criticized the whole idea of a search being conducted seem not to have looked at the implications of judicial corruption. “At the end of the day when there is corruption anywhere, who do you take the matter to? It is to the judge. The judge is the ultimate and in fact, the buck stops at his court. So, if that judge is complicit in

against the Boko Haram fighters, was ferried to Ekiti in a chartered helicopter, to aid the alleged rigging of the election that produced the current governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Bribery: EFCC drills Justices Yunusa, Nganjiwa

L-R: United States of America (USA) visiting Professor to Lagos Business School (LBS), Prof. Lilac Nachum; Deputy Director, Projects, Dangote Group, Jeyaraj Chelliah and President/CE, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, during the Lagos Business School (LBS) visit to Dangote Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos, yesterday.

hairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, yesterday came hard on those criticising the invasion and arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services, DSS. Sagay, speaking at a news conference in Abuja to review the activities of PACAC since it was established by President Muhammadu Buhari, said a corrupt judicial system portends grave danger to

also has a case to answer in the Ekiti elections scandal. He was accused to have acted as a conduit pipe through which part of the money meant for the prosecution of war

the corruption then that is the end of the fight against corruption. That is the awful implication! “So, any judge who is corrupt is committing a crime – in fact, one can even say it’s a crime against humanity because it just destroys our confidence in a system which should sustain the state in law and order. It encourages people to resort to self-help because there is no hope in taking a matter to court.” The senior advocate regretted that because of

pervasion of justice, some politicians are occupying positions today having rigged themselves to power. He noted that such politicians even killed to get to power and yet, had the support of the court. He said: “Today, just to give an example, we have some sitting governors who we all knew that they did not win an election. Because they killed their way into office, people are still dying in those states, for CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

EFCC had on March 9, 2016 arraigned two senior lawyers, Rickey Tarfa, SAN, and Joseph Nwobike, SAN, before a Lagos High Court on allegations of bribery and offering gratification to a public official. The two are facing criminal prosecution for allegedly offering gratification to Federal High Court judges to refrain them from exercising the duties of their office. Subsequent investigation revealed that the two judges allegedly received money from the two senior lawyers severally. In the 27-count charge filed against Tarfa, he was alleged to have given gratification to a public officer in order to pervert justice. He was also charged with alleged failure to declare his assets in the declaration of Assets Form administered on him by EFCC when he was arrested. EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedipo, had alleged that Tarfa on June 27, 2012, intentionally gave N1.5m to Justice Nganjiwa directly from his Zenth Bank Account No 1002926967, in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties. He was further alleged to have intentionally given the same judge N500,000 on the same day, in order that the said judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties. EFCC stated that the defendant on August 6, 2013, intentionally gave N500,000 to Justice Nganjiwa from his Zenith Bank account in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of his official duties. On January 29, 2014, the defendant was also alleged to have intentionally given the same judge N1.5m from his account. EFCC also stated that on October 3, 2014, Tarfa gave the judge N835,000. On December 22, 2014, Tarfa intentionally gave

the judge N500,000 in order that the said judge refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties. The anti-graft agency also alleged that on October 27, 2015, Tarfa intentionally gave N1.5m to Justice Nganjiwa by directly depositing the said sum into Awa Ajia Nigeria Ltd.’s account No 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc. belonging to the judge in order that he acts in the exercise of his official duties. On December 30, 2015, the defendant also gave the judge N500,000 intentionally by directly depositing the said sum into his account in order to refrain him from acting in the exercise of his official duties. The defendant was also alleged to have given N200,000 to Justice Yunusa through Awa Ajia Nigeria Ltd’s account No 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to Justice Nganjiwa on November 30, 2015, in order that Justice Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. Tarfa also denied having any under-the-counter dealing with Justice Nganjiwa as alleged by EFCC. In a related development, Justice Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court whose homes were raided by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, resumed sittings yesterday. Justice Ademola who resumed at exactly 9 a.m. presided over all the cases that were slated for hearing before him. On his part, Justice Dimgba sat for a short while before he adjourned sittings. DSS had raided the houses of Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

News

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bribery: EFCC drills Justices Yunusa, Nganjiwa CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Okoro of the Supreme Court; Ademola, Dimgba and Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division, arrested and detained them for some days before they were granted administrative bail. Others arrested, but had earlier been placed on suspension by the National Judicial Council, NJC, are the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; and the judge of the Kano State High Court, Justice Kabiru Auta. DSS said it recovered large sums of money in lo-

cal and foreign currencies from three of the judges during the raids on the houses. Meanwhile, Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 6, 2016 to commence hearing in the N50bn suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, against President Buhari, DSS and its Director-General, Lawal Daura, along with others. The plaintiff had alleged that the defendants violated the rights of the arrested judges. Hearing in the matter was billed to commence yesterday, but the absence of the judge stalled proceedings and a new date was fixed.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; President, International Interfaith Corps (IIPC), Sheik Imam Magid and Deputy Country Director of UNDP, Mandisa Mashologu, during the conference of Traditional and Religious Leaders on countering and preventing extremism in Africa, in Abuja, yesterday.

Corrupt judiciary, danger to society –Sagay CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

them to sustain themselves in that office. “Yet some courts at the highest level gave approval to the process that brought those people to what I would call their bloody seats on which they are sitting. These are some of the things we are talking about. “If the judiciary is corrupt, the only body, the only arm of government that has the power of life and death over Nigerians, if they are corrupt, then it is frightening. “The other thing that surprises me is that a lot of people have made commentaries criticising what has been happening and have ignored the outcome of these searches completely. “Isn’t it enough that billions of Naira was found in private residences? Don’t you associate these billions of Naira with the fact that your roads are in a state of disrepair, that your hospitals are under-equipped or ill-equipped, and that schools are dilapidated and that it affects your daily life? “What of those in the public service today who cannot get salaries paid because all these monies came from the public purse? “The point I am making is that we seem to want to eat an omelet without breaking eggs; that is what Nigerians want. There are Nigerians who say ‘Ooh,

we are suffering a lot of hardship since the Buhari government came and that we are better off under corruption’. “Isn’t that the most terrible thing for anybody to mouth, without considering what would have happened if Buhari had not come? If that had been the case, I don’t think that there would have been a country today; I think that Zimbabwe would have been better because this is a government that is operating on little or no budget because by the time they came in, what was existing had been squandered completely and shared among those now being defended with cries of ‘human rights’. “What I am saying is that it is very discouraging because if you are struggling for the masses of this country, for the welfare of Nigerians, for improvement of the standard of living and then you are not encouraged, the tendency is for you to give up. “For people to prefer corruption to the integrity that we are seeing in government today is very shocking. And I can tell you that if I were in government, I would have been extremely discouraged. “We cannot have it both ways! We need the judiciary but we need an upright judiciary; without that, one arm of government

would collapse, democracy would collapse. Let us think of the implication of what is going on. “If we don’t put the judiciary right and we don’t have a judiciary in which we have confidence, a judiciary with integrity and honour, a judiciary with moral authority; then, we have no government and we have no democracy.” Sagay said whatever is happening to the judiciary today was brought about by the failure to self regulate and live above board. According to him, it was impossible for any security outfit to raid the homes of

judges in time past because of the integrity of the judiciary at then “You people remember the era of Justices Eso, Oputa, Aniagolu, Nnamani, Idigbe, Mohammed Bello, and Obaseki? Which DSS would have dared to even question any of those people? Nobody! No agency of government would have dared it. They gave a lot of their judgments against the military government. I can cite over 20 judgments which they gave against military government. “They gave a judgment against Buhari’s military government, saying he had

no power to retire some people, the Manager of the Fire service in Lagos, Garba. It was held that his retirement (by the military regime) was illegal. “I can cite so many! There was also Ojukwu’s case and everybody knows that. It (Supreme Court) held that the powers that be, the military government could not engage in self-help by preventing Ojukwu from living in his father’s house. Ojukwu got judgment and instead of appealing, they went and threw him out. “Then, the Supreme Court held that for throw-

ing him out and preventing him from accessing his father’s house, rather than appealing that judgment, they (military) are deprived of the right to come to this court. “That moral authority has crashed and therefore, having crashed, like a tree that has fallen, ants, lizards and all sorts of things can climb over it. You bring yourself down and then, whatever happens after that is your own fault. “The ordinary man like you and I could be guilty of corruption but a judge should never be guilty of corruption.

Kachikwu negotiates $15bn oil and gas investment with India CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

would be for terms to be agreed, where the Indian Government would make an upfront payment for crude purchase to Nigeria. This, it said, would be repaid on the basis of firm Term Crude Contracts over some years and in consideration for Indian public sector companies collaborating in the refining sector as well as exploration and production activities. It added that long term contracts for supply of crude to Indian PSU companies from Nigeria and possibilities of executing CGD and LPG infrastructure projects by Indian PSU companies in Nige-

ria was part of the negotiation. The statement added that Kachikwu had concluded talks on the investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. “Both ministers noted the existing and significant engagement between the two countries in the hydrocarbon sector,” the statement said. According to the statement, the Indian minister acknowledged that Nigeria is one of the largest trading partners of India in Africa, which is dominated by import of crude oil and gas. Between 2015 and 2016,

India imported nearly 23.7 million tons of crude, which was nearly 12 per cent of India’s overall imports and over two million tons of LNG from Nigeria. Following this negotiation, the two countries agreed to work on a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, to facilitate investments by India in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. It said the investment would specifically be in areas such as Term Contract, participation of Indian companies in the refining sector, oil and gas marketing. Others include upstream ventures, the development of gas in-

frastructure and in the training of oil and gas personnel in Nigeria. “The MoU is expected to be firmed up in December 2016 during PETROTECH-2016. “Both ministers also agreed to strengthen the existing cooperation in oil and gas sector, and in particular, to explore investment opportunities for Indian public and private sector companies in Nigeria,” it said. It added that the minister had one-on-one meetings with top executives of Indian public sector oil and gas companies and also representatives of some Indian private sector oil and gas companies.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEWS

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

NUC phases out sub-degree diplomas

ational Universities Commission, NUC, has scrapped sub-degree diploma programmes in the Nigerian university system. This was contained in a statement by the commission’s Deputy Director of Information, Mrs Adebukola Olatunji, in Abuja Monday. Olatunji explained that the ban was part of the decisions at an interactive session of the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, with vice chancellors of federal, state and private universities. According to the statement, universities have been directed to begin the process of winding down sub-degree diplomas. “A comprehensive re-

view of the entire university curricula – the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards and ranking of Nigerian universities – has been scheduled for 2017. “Two of the cardinal activities of the commission – Accreditation of Programmes and Resource Verification, will now take place only twice and thrice a year, respectively. “May and November are for Accreditation while March, July and December are for Resource Verification,” the statement said. Olatunji added that other decisions taken included the revamping of Institutional Accreditation, commencement of accreditation of part-time programmes and resump-

tion of the Nigerian University System Annual Review Meeting. She said accreditation of academic programmes by professional bodies, shortfalls in personnel emoluments and incorporation of universities into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information Systems were also discussed. Others were matters

arising from the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU. “Rasheed told vicechancellors that running sub-degree diplomas was not the business of universities, but that of polytechnics,” the statement added. The executive secre-

tary reminded them that the Federal Government, in 2001, issued a circular stating that such diplomas could not be used for employment or promotion in the public service. “Rather than stretch facilities to run sub-degree programmes, universities should direct their energies toward their primary function of producing

high level manpower for the economy, by strengthening their part-time programmes. Olatunji said the universities were urged to develop and implement an Institutional Research Policy and establish a Research Administration Directorate, to be headed by a professor.

Nigeria on path to winning war against corruption, says U.S. envoy

.S. Special Representative to Muslim communities, Shaarik Zafar, has expressed optimism that the current fight against corruption in Nigeria would succeed. He made the remark while addressing a news conference in Kano Monday. Zafar was in Kano to offer opening remarks at an inaugural workshop on anti-corruption for religious leaders. The workshop was organised by Zafar’s office under the U.S. Department of State. He said if corruption could effectively be tackled, Nigeria would witness fast socio-economic growth and development. “I am optimistic that if corruption is tackled, a lot of good things will follow; the trend is positive for Nigeria, based on the commitment,” he said. According to him, the U.S. government is committed toward assisting Nigeria in the current effort to fight corruption. “Nigeria’s success is America’s success, hence our decision to work with government, civil society organisations and religious groups to prevent corruption,” he added. The special representative said that the workshop would address how commu-

nities could work together to combat corruption, promote accountability and encourage transparency. He said: “As I said, I have a global mandate. So, I will encourage a continued focus by religious leaders on the critical challenge of combating corruption. “This is not only because of their moral voice but because religious leaders speak a common language with their communities. “They also have incomparable access, unique network and level of respect that can help in this common battle against corruption and to promote accountability.” While in Abuja, the envoy said, he would meet with religious and community leaders in order to hear from them their current challenges and opportunities.

Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (right), receiving a souvenir from the Indian Minister of State in charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, at the bilateral meeting during the Minister’s working visit to India.

N8.5bn fraud: Gen. Atewe(rtd), others face trial in Lagos Oct. 18

he trial of Maj.Gen. Emmanuel Atewe(rtd), a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta over alleged N8.5bn fraud, has been scheduled to begin today at a Federal High Court in Lagos. Atewe is charged alongside a former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMA-

SA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga. They are standing trial on 11-count charge bordering on fraud. At the resumed trial of the case yesterday, the prosecution informed the court that counsel to the first accused had written a letter to be excused from court because he had another case at the Supreme Court. Consequently, Justice

Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to today for trial. The prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that the accused conspired to defraud NIMASA of N8.5bn using six companies — Jagan Ltd, Jagan Trading Company Ltd, Jagan Global Services Ltd, AlNald Ltd, Paper Warehouse Ltd, Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.

EFCC claimed that the accused committed the fraud between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015. The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges. Oyedepo said the offences contravened the provision of Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012 and Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Economic challenges surmountable, CBN assures Nigerians

entral Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Monday said the current economic challenges facing the country could be easily overcome. Emefiele said this in Abuja when members of the Senate Committee on Banking and other Institutions paid an oversight visit

to the apex bank. One of the economic challenges the CBN boss was referring to is the inflation rate which went from an average of 9.2 per cent in 2015 to 17.85 in September 2016. It is the highest inflation rate since October 2005, boosted by cost of food,

housing and utilities. Also, the country is in recession, having witnessed negative growth for two consecutive quarters. There is also the issue of volatile exchange rate and huge margin between the interbank rate and parallel market in spite of the introduction of a new foreign ex-

change policy. The governor said that with the bank’s targeted interventions, the challenges facing the country would soon be over. “We seek your support for the success of the activities of the CBN, especially at this difficult time in our country.

“I would like to place on record, the support that the CBN has received from the entire Senate in the course of carrying out our activities as regulators of the banking sector. “I must confess that yes, it is difficult but I must say that the challenges are easily surmountable.

Photo

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

NEWS

L-R: Chairperson, ADVAN Awards 2016, Mr Franco Maria Maggi; Executive secretary, ADVAN, Ediri Ose-Ediale; President, ADVAN, Mr David Okeme and VP, Brands and advertising, Airtel Nigeria, Enitan Denloye at the ADVAN courtesy visit to Airtel headquarters in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Isa Galauda; Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Gilbert Nnaji; Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Siddiqui and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunications, Hon. Emeka Ujam, during the official launch of MTN’s 4G LTE service at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Artist/member Luli Concert Planning Committee, Kentoxygen Edunjobi; 1st runner-up of the just concluded MTN Project Fame, Elizabeth Emoruwa; Gospel Artist, Imole Ayo Akin Adebayo; former Lecturer, Music Department, Polytechnic Ibadan/Director, Celestial Church of Christ, Central Choir, Sup.Ev.Dr. Wole Adetiran and Gospel Artist, Seyi Solagbade, during a media parley held by El-berachah Ministry on the forthcoming October 21st Concert among members of C.C.C and other denominations in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Director, Section Administration , Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Austine Nwanulune; Director, Licensing Auction, NCC, Ms Funke Akiode; Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo; Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye and Director, Policy Completion and Economic Analysis, Ms Amuwa Josephine, during NCC’s Stakeholders Forum on 2.6ghz Spectrum Auction (Post Morten ), in Lagos, yesterday.

National News

Chibok girls: Buhari commends Red Cross Rotimi Fadeyi and Livinus Menedi

resident Muhammadu Buhari has commended the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, in the release of the 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls, urging it to sustain humanitarian interest in Nigeria. Buhari, who spoke during a meeting with ICRC President, Mr. Peter Maurer, at the Presidential Villa, said his administration was prepared to continue talks with the Boko Haram insurgent group, as long as they agree to involve international agencies like ICRC. “We’ve seen the result of recent talks, 21 of the Chibok girls are back,” the President said. ICRC provided immediate humanitarian assistance to the girls, who spent over 900 days in the hands of

...says Boko Haram wants talks to involve international agencies

their abductors. The President said Nigeria’s biggest problem was the issue of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, noting that there were over 2 million of them, made up of over 60 per cent women and children. “About 60 per cent of the children don’t know their parents, or where they come from. It is weighing heavily on government,” he said. On rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, Buhari said it was a priority of government, noting that the G7 had equally indicated support, which Nigeria heartily welcomed. “We appreciate all your efforts. I am pleased you recognised that our military is cooperating with civil authorities, and respecting humanitarian issues. It is a difficult time for Nigeria. “About 27 of our 36 states couldn’t pay salaries when we came last year, and we

are still struggling with that. But we will get out of it,” the President said. In his remarks, the ICRC President said their operation in the Lake Chad region was the second largest in the world, after Syria, adding that there are nutritional, health, water and sanitation issues in the North-East, in addition to rebuilding of infrastructure. “We are ready to engage and play supportive role in responding to crisis in Ni-

geria. Security is a lot better than it was a year ago, but humanitarian problems are serious, and don’t disappear so quickly,” Maurer said. The ICRC President also commended Nigeria for granting increased access to detainees, and exchanges with the Armed Forces. He added: “Detention facilities have improved, there are fewer deaths, and things are better health-wise.” Meanwhile, the President has been applauded for

securing the release of the Chibok girls. Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow, who spoke in Yola, yesterday through his deputy, Martins Babale at a retreat for senior government officials said a lot of Nigerians were delighted with the release of the 21 girls and steps being taken by the administration to have the others who are still being held in captivity regain their freedom. Bindow noted that Presi-

dent Muhammadu Buhari had put smiles on the faces of Nigerians and urged for prayers to make the release of the others possible. He said: “Help us to thank our president for putting smiles on our faces as regards the release of the Chibok girls. “We want to also urge that prayers should be made for the President as well as the government so that it will continually put smiles on our faces.”

Dariye’s trial: EFCC took all documents in 2005, witness says

defence witness in former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye’s trial, Paul Datugum, has told an FCT High Court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, took all documents relating to the transaction in 2005 Dariye is standing trial

for alleged diversion of N1.16bn ecological fund belonging to the state government. Datugum, a Deputy Director (Account), Plateau Ministry of Finance, made this known Monday when he was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN.

Dariye’s counsel, Mr. Garba Pwul, SAN, had requested the court to invite Datugum. The subpoena, marked as exhibit D19, aside coming to testify had requested for documents from the ministry on the case. The witness told the court that he was in the

neighbourng Ministry of Education, when the operatives stormed the office and people scampered for safety. “I was watching from the window on the first floor and I saw operatives of EFCC carrying away bags from the ministry loaded with documents,” Datugum said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Editorial

Tuesday October 18 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR n PUBLISHER SUNDAY OLAJIDE – MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO •AG. EDITOR, DAILY BEN MEMULETIWON

•EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS LANRE OYETADE

•CO-EDITOR, DAILY DELE FASHOMI

•EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING PATRICK ASONYE

•SATURDAY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI

•AG. MANAGER, ADVERT BODE EHINMISAN

•SUNDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN

•MANAGER, SPECIAL PROJECTS AMUDA AKANBI

•CO-ORDINATOR EDITORIAL BOARD DOZIE OKEBALAMA

•MANAGER, SALES & DISTRIBUTION FEMI SHOBOWALE

•EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR CALLISTUS OKE

•HEAD, GRAPHICS FRANCIS IYONMANA

•BUREAU CHIEF (ABUJA/NORTH) OPERATIONS AKINDELE ORIMOLADE

•AG. HEAD, ACCOUNTS OKOCHA MADUEKWE

Public indignation towards tax payment

n investigation conducted by this newspaper lately indicated that despite efforts by federal and state governments to boost tax revenue as much as possible, a drive necessitated by dwindling national income, taxpayers have remained virtually non-responsive and apathetic to government’s improved tax compliance drive. But the development is not without cogent reasons, as stakeholders sampled on the subject lamented embarrassing infrastructure deficit (no regular electricity supply, good roads, potable water, pocket-friendly and accessible public healthcare and educational facilities, among several others) which they in turn blamed on non-judicious use of tax revenue by all tiers and departments of government. Recall that the Federal Government had injected exceptional vigour into shoring up non-oil revenue as part of measures by the country to survive the downturn in oil prices. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in Lagos last August at the 2016 Presidential Policy Dialogue organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), indicated that the FG had concluded plans to drag an additional 700,000 companies into the tax net to shore-up its revenue profile. The plan reflected a difference of 200,000 when compared with the 500,000 target set early in the year. Osinbajo said the nation’s

major tax-collection agency - the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) - achieved 73.17 percent of its target for the first half of this year. About the time the VP spoke in Lagos, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, was also inaugurating a committee at the headquarters of the ministry in Abuja to review the National Tax Policy (NTP). Adeosun said the government intended to simplify the country’s tax code for effective revenue generation as well as review the tax laws. Nigeria, according to her, posts one of the lowest tax-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratios in the world at just five percent. And whereas oil covers merely 13 percent of the nation’s economy, it accounts for about 70 percent of government revenue. “There is clearly a pressing need for an overhaul of our tax policy... This administration is committed to diversifying the sources of government revenues away from oil”, the minister stated. The report of apathy by taxpayers in response to their tax obligations to the state is therefore distressing. It is, indeed, a major setback to government’s fund drive, whether at federal or state level. It may be stated, however, that the seeming resolve of many in the country not to pay tax is the backlash of government’s attitude towards tax revenue in past decades until the dawn of the

Nigerians want

value for money; and the earlier this imperative is

met, the better for government’s tax drive prevailing economic downturn. A 2014 report, for instance, had it that corruption and vague tax systems were the factors preventing Nigerians and other Africans from paying taxes. No less a hindrance is the integrity of tax authorities and officials. A survey conducted by ‘Afrobarometer’, an international network in collaboration with CLEEN Foundation, Nigeria, according to the report, discovered from the 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa studied, comprising Southern, East and West Africa, that there was widespread citizen commitment to the principle of taxation. From the survey data presented in Lagos, by Rose Aiko, Director of Research on Governance and Delivery, at Policy Research for Development, Tanzania, seven in 10 people found it difficult to know how the government spent accruals from taxes, while public distrust in tax officials increased tolerance for tax avoidance. “A majority of 52 percent across Africa supports taxation provided

it will guarantee more services for the citizens, except from Malawi and Lesotho which have minority. Integrity of tax authorities and officials is very important. To enhance tax payment, integrity is vital… As governments face demand for better services and improved living conditions from growing populations, reform of tax and public finance systems to improve domestic revenue collection are likely to remain top development priorities,” Aiko said. The report said 18 percent of citizens made tax payments to non-state agents, a development she said “will be damaging the image of tax officials”. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, at a public function not too long ago, harped on the need for a tax-centred revenue base to compel government promote increased economic activities and respond to the demands of tax-paying citizens. Oil revenues, he said, made government lazier, more complacent, and leaders became ever more unaccountable. However, it cannot be rightly concluded that Nigerian taxpayers are unwavering in compromising their tax responsibilities to the state. Government’s irresponsible management and application of tax revenues to public needs seems the major culprit. Nigerians want value for money; and the earlier this imperative is met, the better for government’s tax drive.

ON THIS DAY October 18, 2003 Bolivian President, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, was forced to resign and leave Bolivia. Elected to a second term in 2002, he resigned and went into exile in the United States in October 2003 after violent protests related to the Bolivian gas conflict in which 60 protesters, soldiers and policemen died. In March 2006, he resigned the leadership of the MNR. Bolivia has unsuccessfully been seeking his extradition from the US.

October 18, 2004 Myanmar Prime Minister, Khin Nyunt, was ousted and placed under house arrest by the State Peace and Development Council on charges of corruption. General Nyunt, a military officer and politician in Burma (also known as Myanmar), is of Burmese Chinese descent and held the office of Chief of Intelligence. He was the Prime Minister from August 25, 2003 until October 18, 2004.

October 18, 2007 A suicide attack on a motorcade carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto killed 139 and wounded 450 people in Pakistan. Most of the dead were members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Bhutto herself was not injured. The bombing occurred two months before she was assassinated. Pakistanis had trooped out to the streets to welcome the return of Benazir Bhutto from an eight-year self- exile.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Celebrating the Day of the Girl-Child in Nigeria Mandy Asagba, Oluwatomi Ajayi

irls’ progress equals family progress which in turn reflects on the progress of the nation. This means that when a girl is educated, it has a powerful multiplying effect on the society which stands to benefit. October 11 is a day universally observed as the day of the girl-child with special emphasis on the word ‘progress’ which require carrying the girls along to achieve sustainable goals. According to the statistics provided by the Chairman of the National Population Commission in July 2016, the population of the teenage girls between 13 years and 19 years has increased to 13,787,755. Invariably the main vehicle of the girl-child progress is providing her with quality education, as it means the girl-child will become enlightened to know she has a right to enjoy all her basic rights listed in the child rights’ laws. Her age and vulnerable status should not be a barrier as she can exercise her rights and responsibilities by speaking out orby making choices and weighing the options available in relation with her safety, future career, mental and physical well-being. It is necessary to highlight the current challenges hindering the progress of the Nigerian girl-child which are obvious in the areas of sexual violence, cultural practices, religion, health, family matters and education. There are also issues arising from conflict and insurgency (such as the abducted Chibok school girls), discrimination against the disabled girl-child and girls who live in rural areas, fundamental violation of girls’ human rights, parental preferences for the boy-child, the emerg-

ing technology-related violence against the girl-child and finally the weak implementation of laws or policies affecting the girl-child. Essentially, the rules of International Law regulate States Practice on the subject of the Girl-Child through the Convention of the Rights of the Child1989 which protects the child against trafficking, physical and mental violence, injury, abuse, neglect, economic exploitation and sexual abuse. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child also provide affirmative actions for girls’ privacy, honour, reputation, family life and her education while overriding harmful African customs, traditions or religious beliefs. It also grants a girl the right to return to school after pregnancy. Nevertheless, the Protection of the girl-child is the gateway to her progress. Progress in this context is an environment where we invest in their growth or where we place positive value on them to get attention and justice. When the world becomes a safer place for the girl-child to thrive or when resources exist to tackle the current challenges facing the girl-child and uplift her status, then there is progress. The Nigerian Legal Framework however cares because there are more than enough laws which protects the rights of the girlchild in the Child Rights Act of 2003 and Section 17(3)(f) of the 1999 Constitution. Similar law obtains in different states in the country. For example, the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 punishes rape, molestation, abduction, indecent treatment and defilement of a Child, allowing a child to live in a brothel, failure of the Family Head to provide necessaries of life, desertion of children, unreasonable discipline

While some progress have been recorded on issues like girls’ protection and education...

of children and desertion of a pregnant girl. Equally, there are designated child-help lines and government ministries/support agencies where girlchild victims or their family members can lodge complaints to get help. While some progress have been recorded on issues like girls’ protection and education, even though some of them are still out of school, there is still a lot of work to be done for them to reach their full potential. Up till now, some state governments are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act. There is a need to get a girl-focused data or information which would continually highlight their challenges with a view to monitor such and provide solutions. The objective is to keep track of the child’s best interests which should be the primary consideration in all actions. At all times and especially during this present economic recession, the government at all levels should implement economic empowerment policies which would create jobs for parents or guardians to take care of their daughters. Initiating scholarship assistance schemes for girls who excel in academics while sponsoring others for vocational skills, not only in urban areas but also in marginalised communities is important. All policy-decision makers must estab-

lish a convincing attitude alongside with the laws on ground by walking the talk! Few examples are, in September 2016, the Governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode led an all-male walk against sexual and gender based violence in the State, while the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal recently laid the foundation for the construction of a new Secondary school in Balle, headquarters of Gudu LGA which is the only Council without a secondary school in Nigeria! One can imagine the plight of the young girls living in this village. As we celebrate Nigeria at 56, it calls to question the where-about of the remaining kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. It calls for the advancement and fair treatment of the girl-child in our immediate environment and beyond. It calls to be extra vigilant over the girl-child’s’ basic human rights and to continue addressing the consciousness of adequate protection for the girl-child. By doing these and more, it is submitted that adherence to the principles of the girlchild rights as human rights, parental supervision of the girl-child and further investing positively in the value and security of the girl-child ensures progress for the nation. Collectively, there is an urgent need for all of us to embark on girl-child attention policies in order to help them meet their potentials because they are tomorrow’s useful adults, mothers, wives, working women, and community change agents. *Mrs.Mandy Asagba&Mrs. Oluwatomi Ajayi are Legal Practitioners &Members of the African Women Lawyers Association(AWLA Nigeria)

Corruption in the Judiciary: An analysis on the Constitutional Duties of the executive arm Essay Palmer

t was 1 a.m when it happened! A singular event which by any standard struck a clear cord sharp enough to reach the ears of God. An historical affront on the judiciary was recorded; most definitely the first of its kind since the end of the military rule in 1999. Nigeria had yet to encounter such a blatant disregard for the due process and the rule of the law, in all her years of Civil rule and through all her muddles. In the history of any Judicial system, when executive personnel can afford to forcefully enter the homes of their Lordships and reduce them to the equivalent of victimized children, only one possibility can be prescribed and only one such political situation could afford such idiosyncrasy; a Gestapo regime. The inspirer of this article was the event of October 8, 2016. On this day, that Nigerians need not forget in a hurry, the DSS, took to its ravenous inclinations and arrested various judges in their homes, claiming they had been tipped as to the corrupt acts and engagements of the judges in question. Department of State Service, DSS said it recovered over N360 million from the residences of three judges following raids of the residences of seven judges of the Supreme, Federal and High Courts across the country. Prior to this article a lot of persons have argued back and front about the unconstitutionality of the actions of the DSS (Department of State Service). In fact the CJN, Mahmoud Muhammed, currently on the verge of exiting the bench has emphatically stated that it is not the responsibility of the DSS to arrest judges, and describes

In clear terms, the DSS has no power whatsoever to prosecute this matter the DSS action as an unconstitutional means of intimidating the judiciary and undermining its independence. It is almost an impossible task to refrain from concurring with this splurge of logic. Similarly other notable Nigerians such as Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, Augustine Alegeh and a host of others have added their own two-two kobos, All to the end of duly castigating and denouncing the acts of this federal agency. I find great sense with the reflections of the CJN. The reason and rationale behind this liaising is best established with the words of Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) who beautifully enthused that “To make a law, yet not see it enforced, is to authorize what you yourself have forbidden”. The implication of this thread of reasoning in addressing the sham of the recent days is that the DSS does not, will never and could not possibly have had the constitutional or legal power to do what it did. The only realm wherein the DSS can boast of such powers would be in a spiritual realm of its own conjuring; if so, the DSS need be reminded that those who machinate in covetted realms should endeavour not to confuse their metaphysical plane with our reality. The promulgated laws pointing to the establishment of the State Service (National Security Agencies Act Cap 174 laws of the federation) does not in any way

whether formally or informally, explicitly or covertly enshrine power on the DSS to prosecute any matter concerning financial crimes or other similar corruption charges. In truth, the closest to such authority can be construed in Section 3(a) of the said act, which aptly declares that “The State Security Service shall be charged with responsibility for the prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against the internal security of Nigeria” Flowing from this limited statutory endorsement, a question is readily begged. Are these judicial officers Security threats? Were local bombs or Boko Haram suspects discovered under their beds? Is Military Security now synonymous to Financial Security? If the answers are in the affirmative then scrap this article and ascribe its message as the consequence of over-enthusiasm and itchy hands. In clear terms, the DSS has no power whatsoever to prosecute this matter. If for anything this should be a matter for the ICPC or the EFCC (are they the same? am I just doubling a parastatal with strikingly similar functions? well that’s a topic for another day.) or yes maybe the Police force or at least the Code of conduct Bureau but never the DSS (their job for now is Boko Haram and the Militancy in the creeks, which they are still doing a bad job at). However, we must also not neglect the fact that these judges may indeed be guilty of the charges levelled against them. Such money, raw in cash, floating on the private floors of their Lordships! We should also not easily forget that these judicial officers possess no im-

munity against prosecution on their person other than their obiters in court. ‘May’ being the underlining word here gives credence to the words of Fani-Kayode who says “If anyone honestly believes that such large sums of cash were found in the homes of ANY of those judges then that person needs to have his head examined. The DSS has to say these outrageous things and tell these shameful lies in order to attempt to justify their illegal actions before the world. It is called disinformation and misinformation and that is their stock in trade”. Perhaps one may be wiser to take Kayode’s Vituperation with a grain of salt. But it cannot be said that his argument fails the rationality test. Whether the Judges are guilty or not is a question for proof. Yet, it must be argued that due process is a necessity for change in our corrupt society. The action of the DSS was not a solitary one but was indeed ordered by our supposed Mr change, the good old General Mohammadu Buhari. This act is indeed reminiscent of the events characterised by the the Buhari Regine in the year 1985 (yes, the same guy) when he was head of government. Someone should tell this man that this is 2016, and that Nigeria is a democracy. ©legalwatchmen 2017 legalwatchmen930@gmail.com legalwatchmen.wordpress.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

RE-PETITION AGAINST THE PURPORTED CHANGE OF THE NAME DAN-ANACHA TO KWARARAFA BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR TARABA STATE ARC. DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU The attention of the leadership of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Taraba State has been drawn to a petition by the Tiv Community Dan-Anacha, Gassol Local Government Area, Taraba State against the Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku. The story on the petition which was published in The Nation Newspaper of 2nd October, 2016 on page 6 with a caption; “Tiv petitions Gov Ishaku, Speaker over settlements’ name change,” is not only misleading, but capable of pitching the entire Tiv of Taraba against the Governor and the government of Taraba State. To put the records straight, the public should note that the Tiv people of Taraba have an umbrella body, called “Tiv Cultural and Social Association” (TCSA), whose decisions and actions are binding on everybody who is of Tiv origin in the state and none of the officials of the association signed the said petition. As stated above, the only authentic voice of the Tiv people in the state is “Tiv Cultural and Social Association” and the group has no such mandate to speak for and on behalf of the entire Tiv people of Taraba State as some would like to paint it. The action of the group who in the build up to the 2015 general elections worked strongly against power shift to southern Taraba for their personal interest should not be misconstrued to mean that the entire Tiv in the state are behind their action. In the disciple of twelve, there was Judas. The group should be considered as such. In the immediate community from where the petition emanates, the two Tiv Traditional rulers in the area; The Ter Tiv Gassol, Zaki Simon Erentsa and the Maiangwa of Dan-Anacha, Zaki Daniel Mbaterem, did not sign the petition and were not even aware of the development to nip it in the bud. We have reliably gathered that some top members of the opposition, All Progressive Congress (APC), in the state have cashed in on the purported change of the name Dan-Anacha to Kwararafa and are sponsoring the petitioners to cause disaffection. Apart from the petition and the press conference they have addressed, we have also gathered that their sponsors have perfected plans to hire lawyers to sue the governor and the state government over the said change of name. We condemn the petition and other activities of the group which have greatly embarrassed us, portraying us as ingrates. Over the years, our Cultural body in the state has employed dialogue and other diplomatic channels in resolving issues and we don’t believe in petitions and being confrontational as best ways of resolving issues. The petition is purely the handiwork of some desperate politicians who want to drag us into the politics of hatred, blackmail and mischief ahead of 2019 elections and we will not fall cheaply into such traps. We are grateful for the peace the governor has restored in the state which has made our people to return back to their homes after they were chased away in 2014 through 2015. We have equally taken steps in collaboration with critical Tiv stakeholders in the state to peacefully resolve the issue. Our immediate concern at the moment is the security and welfare of our people especially those in the villages and we are working hard to ensure that the displaced people are properly rehabilitated and reintegrated in their communities. While we will intensify efforts in the days ahead to see the governor and discuss with him on how best to resolve the issue, I appeal to all to remain calm and for the petitioners to suspend further action on the issue in the interest of peace and harmonious coexistence. We want to assure His Excellency of our continuous unflinching support to his administration’s policies and programmes at all times to move our state forward.

Mr. Goodman Dahida President General, Tiv Cultural and Social Association Taraba State.

News

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY (NITT), ZARIA INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR PROVISION OF INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT/FACILITIES FOR THE TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (TTC) AND OUTREACH LEARNING CENTRES 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, a Federal Gov ernment Parastatal under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transportation hereby invites qualified, interested and eligible contractors with proven competences and experience to submit Pre-qualification documents for provision of instructional Equipment/facilities for the Transport Technology Centre and Outreach Learning Centres. 2.0

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

2.1

MANDATORY REQUIREMENT:All bids must comply with the requirements of Public Procurement Act 2007 and interested bidders must attach the following: i. Certificate of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). ii. Tax Clearance Certificate for the preceding three (3) years (2013, 2014 and 2015). iii. Audited Account by Chartered Accounting Firm for the last three (3) years (2013, 2014 and 2015). iv. Compliance Certificate of Remittance by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) v. Compliance Clearance Certificate from PENCOM as evidence of compliance with the Pension Reform Act 2004. vi. Evidence of Interim Registration of firm on the National database of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers with Bureau of Public Procurement (BPPIRR) 2.2 i. ii. iii.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS Company Profile and Technical Qualification of Key Personnel Evidence of Financial Capability to execute the Project (Bank Support) Verifiable evidence (Photocopies of letters of awards and completion cer tificates of previous experience in similar jobs, at least three (3) in the last five years. iv. Affidavit of disclosure that none of the persons connected with the bid process in the procuring entity has any pecuniary interest and that the company is not in receivership of any form of insolvency/bankruptcy nor in debarment and that the company nor any of the Director(s) of the company have been convicted of financial crime. v. Information on Company’s registered address, functional contact, E-mail and GSM phone numbers vi. Any other information that will further enhance the qualification of the company 3.0 i.

SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS Interested contractors are requested to submit their pre-qualification documents, in a sealed tamper proof envelope indicating the Company Name, Address and Project Title at the Top Right Hand corner of the envelop, addressed to:-

The Director General/Chief Executive, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), PMB 1148. Basawa Road, Zaria. ii.

The document should be deposited in the Tenders Box placed in the DG/ CE's office. Company names should also be written at the reverse side of the envelop. Closing time for all submissions is on or before 12 Noon prompt on 28th November 2016. Late submissions shall not be entertained.

4.0 OPENING Opening of the received documents will commence at 12 Noon same day at the Director General/Chief Executive’s Conference Room 1st Floor. All Contractors and/or their representatives, Relevant Professional Bodies and NGOs are invited to witness the public opening exercise accordingly. 5.0

COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS Tender documents shall be available for collection by pre-qualified contractors upon payment of non-refundable tender processing fee of N10, 000.00 only.

6.0 PLEASE NOTE/DISCLAIMER a) This advertisement is published for information purposes and should not be construed as a commitment or obligation on the part of NITT to award contract. b) All costs incurred in response to the advert or enquiries shall be borne by such contractors and not NITT c) Submission after the date specified above shall be rejected. For further enquiries on the advertisement please e-mail: officeofthedgnittzaria@yahoo.co.uk

Signed Registrar

News

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cement waiver: Court adjourns Dangote/Ibeto suit till November 1 Wale Igbintade

A L-R: Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Agwungwu; Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Gboribiogha John Jonah and Chairman, House Representatives Committee on Air Force, Hon. Sampson Okwu, during a courtesy call at Government House Yenagoa, yesterday.

How ex-NIMSA boss, Akpobolokemi laundered N1.5bn- EFCC Wale Igbintade

n investigation officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kanu Idagu, Monday told a Federal High Court in Lagos, how committees set up by former Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, were used to launder monies running into about N1.5bn. Idagu stated this while giving evidence at the resumed trial of Akpobolokemi alongside nine others on a 40-count charge bordering on the offence. Others charged are: Captain Bala Agaba; Ekene Nwakuche; Felix Bob-Nabena; Captain Warredi Enisouh; Governor Juan; Ugo Frederick and Timi Alari. Also charged are two companies; Al-kenzo Ltd and Penniel Engineering Services Ltd. They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail. Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, the witness, told the court that the Commission received a petition in the last quarter of 2015, of some activities in NIMASA, during the period when Akpobolokemi was DG. According to him, his team embarked on investigation and in the

process, discovered that NIMASA had set up various committees, some of which were used to launder monies through companies and Bureau de Change. He said that specifically, a committee on intelligence was set up and headed by the second accused, with an Access Bank account Number 0688939609 opened for the receipt of “Between December 20, 2013 and July 7, 2015, the committee received money in tranches running into N1.5bn. The chairman of the committee raised several internal memos to the Director of Finance and Accounts, wherein it was claimed that the funds were to be used for intelligence based security activities. “The companies used in furtherance of these activities were either owned or nominated by

NIMASA staff for their personal use,” he said He stated that another company, Kofa Fada Ltd, a bureau de change, was used by the second accused to transfer N10m. “The second accused also made a claim of a business contract between NIMASA and one Kofa Fada Ltd, with the sum of N26m transferred to the companies’ account, while the dollar equivalent was handed to him. “The second accused also transferred the sum of N86m to one Usseinian Ltd and the dollar equivalent transferred to him,” he said According to the witness, the third accused (Nwakuche) who is P.A to the second accused, was asked to coordinate accounts for the purpose of diverting money. He said the third accused formulated an En-

terprise Bank account in the name of Adams CDA Global Services, belonging to one of his friends, and transferred into it, N120m. He said that the dollar equivalent was handed over to the second accused. The witness said that the third accused also nominated an Access Bank account for Gidoga Investment Ltd, with N65m transferred into it. He said that in all, N422.680m was directly transferred to the second accused, who claimed that same was remitted to the first accused. After the witness’ oral testimony, the prosecutor then prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him present documentary evidence. Consequently, Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to December 15 and 19 for continuation.

Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has adjourned a suit filed by Dangote Cement Plc against Ibeto Cement Company till November 1, 2016 pending the decision of the Court of Appeal on the matter. While Dangote Cement is alleging that Ibeto is gaining undue advantage by evading taxes, Federal Government is contending that Dangote Cement Plc is trying to wipe out fair competition and level playing field and create monopoly of the cement industry. Other defendants in the suit are: IBG Investments Limited, Derima Venture Limited, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Board of Customs and Excise, Federal Inland Revenue Services, and Nigerian Port Authority. Dangote Cement Plc, through its lawyer, Oluwakemi Balogun, SAN, is seeking a declaration of the court that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, lacks the power to waive, alter or revise the provisions of the Value Added Tax Act, Cap. V1, Laws of the Federation, 2004, without the legislative approval of the National Assembly. It also seeks an order of perpetual injunction against the three defendants from importing into Nigeria any quality of bulk or bagged cement except as newly approved by the ap-

NRC: FG assures Nigerians of international standard

he Federal Government yesterday assured Nigerians of its commitment in making the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, meet international standards. New Chairman, NRC Board of Directors, Mr. Usman Abubakar, gave the assurance during his first official visit to the Corporation’s headquarters in Lagos. Abubakar said that international standards in rail transport could be achievable, depending

on the determination of the government. According to him, the wealth of experience of the NRC Managing Director, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, and other directors will also aid the government in achieving its objectives. “I am proud to say that the trains are fully back on track. “With the efforts of the Federal Government in the area of rehabilitation and expansion, very soon NRC can proudly

compete internationally in standards. “The government is committed and determined to give the Nigerian Railways the attention it deserves to help the masses and reduce pressure on the roads,” Abubakar said. The chairman said rail transport was a sure way to go in the transport industry. Earlier, Okhiria assured the board of maximum cooperation to actualise its goal of

moving the corporation forward in order to meet international standards. He said he was also committed to the vision and aspiration of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for the development of the nation’s rail transport. “We will not sleep or rest until we see the trains running effectively across the country. We are committed to this and be sure of our support.

propriate authority under the current fiscal tax policy stipulation in force. In an affidavit sworn to by one Ekanen Etim, principal officer of Dangote Cement Plc, it was alleged that in 2002, the Federal Government formulated the backward integration policy whereby quota for importation of cement was to be allocated based on proven investment by operators in the industry, a qualification, which Dangote Cement alleged Ibeto and two other defendants in this suit never had. However, with the ushering in of new administration in July 2007, Ibeto applied for import allocation, falsely claiming to have satisfied the modalities. It was granted allocation of 1.5million metric tons of cement per annum to be at 5 per cent import duty and tax free under the backward integration. Consequently, Dangote Cement petitioned the then President Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, about the unfair advantage. The President then directed all cement importers to operate under the same concessions. It was alleged also that barely four days after the fiscal policy was issued, Ibeto pre-emptily sought a restraining order from the court and deliberately and fraudulently suppressed the fiscal policy regime of 2008, 2009, and, 2010. Ibeto further filed terms of settlement which was entered as consent judgement in the suit, but deliberately suppressed the fiscal policy. By the said judgement, Federal Government was to pay Ibeto $40m and N1.9bn, being the verified claims by the inter-ministerial committee for losses suffered by Ibeto from the unjustified closure of its bagging plant in December, 2005. Federal Government and six of its agencies who are other defendants in their counter-affidavit deposed to by one Emmanuel Joel, an Assistant Litigation Officer in the law firm of Kenna Partners, contended that Dangote Cement Plc’s suit was designed to wipe out competition and level playing field, and to leave it as a monopoly in the cement industry.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Our educational system has collapsed –Umahi Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor, David Umahi, Monday lamented that the educational system in the state has totally collapsed and accused State Education Secretaries and Inspectors of demanding for sex and money from students. Umahi made this known during a crucial meeting with education stakeholders at the International Conference Centre; ICC, in

...says supervisors, inspectors demand for sex, money

Abakaliki. He revealed that teachers in the state are now merchants while the school environments are unkempt. “Education Inspectors and Secretaries ask for sex and money in exchange for favour. Teachers are no longer working. The education sector has collapsed. It is a failure”. Umahi had during his inaugural speech on May 29th 2015, said he was prepared

to improve the education sector, noting that his administration was prepared to step on toes to ensure total revamping of the sector. “The educational system has fallen. The Education Secretaries are looking for money or sex and Supervisors as well. So much money is exchanging hands. “Teachers are not coming to school. They are now traders in cloths and other

items. Our educational system has collapsed and that is what is bringing cultism in the state. ‘’We want to declare today that our educational system is a failure. “Having said this, it means we must do something. We can’t do something unless we step on toes. And we are going to be called wicked people. The governor said his administration would not

fold its arms and allow the future of Ebonyi children to be relegated to the background and called on the stakeholders in the sector to be disciplined and work assiduously towards the overall success of the education sector. “The Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB, Secondary Education Board, SEB, Ministry of Education has all failed. The school en-

vironments are unkempt. We should be disciplined and hard working. “We will call for an education summits soon. The Commissioner of Education, the Board will relocate to the zones and all those not expected in the office will also relocate to the zone. “Any supervisor found collecting money or asking for sex will not only be sacked, but will be sent to jail,” he stated.

Ebonyi varsity ASUU embarks on indefinite strike Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

cademic Staff Union of University, ASUU, Ebonyi State chapter, Monday embarked on indefinite strike to press home their demand from the state government to release the 2014 professorial promotion and none gazetting of academic staff for the last 15 years. Chairman of the union, Professor Ndubuisi Idenyi, who made this known while briefing journalists in Abakaliki, said that apart from the release of the promotion, the union is also protesting the slashing of their monthly salaries by the state government and called for the sack of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Idike, who they said have stayed beyond his stipulated tenure in office. Idenyi said that before now, the union had planned to embark on a warning strike, but after their deliberation, the general consensus was for them to embark on a total and indefinite strike action which commenced yesterday. He said before the commencement of the industrial action, the union had written to the institution management informing them of their intention to embark on the strike. “But unfortunately all the demands we presented to the management, none was met and we had no other option than to commence the strike action”. The chairman accused

the present state government of being pretentious about most of the issues raised by the union especially gazetting of the academic staff of the institution, adding that the previous administration had approved the sum of N4.1 million for the printing of the gazette which was to have been done in Enugu before the present government came on board. He regretted that since the inception of the present administration, the governor have continued to insist that the gazetting did not follow due process. “He was the deputy governor when the approval was given. The government is simply paying lip-service to our plight”. Idenyi, who also reacted on government allegation that the university is over staffed, insisted that there are minimum benchmark by the National University Commission, NUC, on the number of staff that each institution must have before the school would have accreditation, adding that with the exit of many lecturers for greener pastures, the institution would loss accreditation if the lecturers were not replaced. He added that until all their demands are met, the union would not shift ground and would resist any plan by the government to collapse the institution, just as he stated that the union is not scared of the threat of “No work, No pay” policy of the state government and urged the government to urgently do the needful.

L-R: Wife of the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Mrs. Ngozi Onu; representative of the Rector of the Institution, Igwe Samuel Uche; a stakeholder, Chief Jonathan Obika; Headmistress of Ezira Central School, Orumba South, Mrs. Chinyere Nwanta and Zonal Coordinator of National Lottery Trust Fund, South-East, Mr. Kingsly Ibekwe, during the donation of football kits to a primary school in Ezira Community, in Anambra, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

CD tasks FG on remaining Chibok girls, hails judges’ arrest Raymond Ozoji AWKA

ampaign for Democracy (CD) has urged the Federal Government to intensify negotiations for the release of the remaining Chibok girls. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dede Uzor, gave the advice in Monday in Onitsha during a solidarity rally in support of President Mohammadu Buhari’s war against corruption. Uzor commended the Federal Government for applying diplomacy that led to the release of the 21 Chibok girls and urge them to do more to release the remaining girls from their abductors. “We have always been against the use of violence in handling matters like the Chibok girls, IPOB, MASSOB and Niger Delta militancy, rather the Federal Government should build its capacity to use diplomacy,”

he said. The publicity secretary said the group was in solidarity with the Federal Government on the recent arrest of two Supreme Court judges and a Federal High Court judges over alleged corruption cases. Uzor, however, warned that the probe of the corrupt judges should follow due process, adding that there should not be any sacred cow in handling the matter. “We want to call specifically for the probe of judges who are known for controversial judgments. The probe should be extended to magistrates in whose courts we have high level of corruption. “We want to commend Buhari’s political will for going against these judges because they have bastardised our democracy going by their conflicting and controversial judgments. “They make judgments in

favour of the highest bidder and this is a serious danger for the survival of our democracy and country. “We also urge Buhari to extend his corruption war to members of his political party found to be corrupt. Nigerians will be happier when Buhari clamps down on corrupt APC members,” Uzor said. He called on the Federal Government to release unconditionally, IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and the National Coordinator of IPOB, Mr Chidiebere Onwudiwe, from prison. He said that government should obey the ECOWAS Court order to release Dasuki and urged the government to release Onwubiko, who had been in detention since June 7 without trial. “We urge the government not to ignore the ECOWAS Court orders directing the

release of Dasuki as this may portray the country in bad light before the international community. “The international community may see us as a nation that does not respect the tenets of democracy and the fundamental rights of citizens,” he said. Uzor also urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the South East over the bad roads in the region. He said that the deplorable state of the roads had caused a journey of one hour to become six hours from Enugu to Onitsha. The rally moved from Awka Road to DMGS roundabout in Onitsha with placards that read `We support fight against corruption’, “Corruption: Probe judges and magistrates”, “Declare state of emergency on South East roads,” and “Intensify release of remaining Chibok Girls,” among others.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

CRPP lauds Edo voters over Obaseki’s emergence Isesele Ezekiel BENIN

tate chairmen, Coalition of Registered Political Parties SouthSouth have commended eligible voters in the just concluded governorship poll in Edo state over their choice of Godwin Obaseki as Governor -elect The Group described Obaseki as a trusted man who has the capacity to protect the legacies and

enhance the values that Governor Oshiomhole has put in place . In a press statement signed and made available to newsmen in Benin city, Edo state by its chairman, Efe Tobor , the group urged the people of the State to give Obaseki maximum support , moment he takes over the mantle of leadership of the state. “The governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki is a man they can trust to protect

the legacies and enhance the values that Oshiomhole has put in place. We commend the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for presenting himself for the election and performing well in the polls. We urge him to use his wealth of experience to further the cause of Edo State by supporting the governor-elect. They equally hail Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC

for making a remarkable improvement in the conduct of the September 28 Governorship election “It was a pleasant surprise that an election which was conducted on the 28th of September 2016 had its results announced by INEC the next day, 29th of September, 2016. This was unlike previous governorship elections where results are delayed for as much as three days. It is also noteworthy to remark

that throughout the elections, INEC staff as well as its ad-hoc staff maintained a high degree of integrity by refusing to compromise standards.” “It is laughable when we hear of stories of inducement of voters by those who fault the conduct of the elections. Inducement is not exclusive to any political party. What we know is that the Edo State electorate exercised their franchise in a peaceful

ambience and voted their conscience.” “This remarkable event has shown in very clear terms that good governance has its rewards. For nearly eight years since the Comrade- Governor mounted the saddle in Edo State, it has been one good story of massive transformation of the Edo landscape from the squalor left behind by long years of PDP misrule and squandermania

Edo lawmaker donates transformer to community Isesele E zekiel

BENIN

A cross-section of Adamawa State Commissioners during a two-day executive retreat organized for them by the state government in Yola, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

n fulfillment of his campaign promise, member representing Esan South East Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly , Hon. Festus Edughele yesterday delivered a 2.5MVA Electricity Transformer to Ubiaja community, Delivering the Transformer, The lawmaker who was apparently overwhelmed by the show of appreciation from the people, regretted the un-

NCP condemns arrest of judges by DSS T he National Conscience Party, NCP has condemned the recent arrest of some judges in the country describing the arrest as crude. The party in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Comrade Ayodele Akele said: “We are not up to discuss the technicalities, the legality or illegality of the arrest, detention, search and invasion of privacy of the persons involved, what we

considered most important is the exposure of the real intentions of this regime based on the facts and why there is a cause for worry. “We assert that what happened over the weekend was nothing but a deceitful adventure that has nothing to do with really fighting corruption in the judiciary any way, rather, it is nothing but a plot to intimidate the judiciary as a whole.

“That the Nigerian judicial system is hopelessly corrupt and for the rich, just like presidency, the police, army, customs, immigrations, FRSC etc. is no news. The question is what has the APC regime concretely done since it came to power to address this question, the answer is nothing. “To us, after all the hullaballoo around the arrest of the judges and the media drama and trial that began

immediately, one would have expected that by the following Monday or by now the judges would have be charged to court but that is not what happened. They were all released on personal recognition from DSS custody and as we speak there is no evidence that they would be charged. “We totally support the positions of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, and other

mass organization that are standing up to this regime. “Finally, corruption in the judiciary like in all sectors of Nigeria body polity has to be confronted, but in doing so we cannot give blanket support to DSS or any security agency to brutalize people unnecessarily, intimidate, violate fundamental human rights and civil liberties, and such actions must be holistic not a witch-hunt and not partial,” Akele stated.

told hardship which crippled economic activities for so long a time in the area as a result of power outage . Edughele who assured on his commitment to eradicating darkness from the constituency, promised to do more for the people He equally lauded management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC for their cooperation and determination to restore power to Ubiaja and assured them of prompt payment of electricity bills by the people. One of the elated indigenes of the Community, Mr. Friday Ebatale, commended the lawmaker for the restoration of electricity supply to the area. “ Hon. Edughele is a performer and a man of his words, and has again demonstrated it by delivering Transformer to the Community. I want other lawmakers to emulate his gestures. Edughele has proven to be a true representative of the people”, he said.

Edo PDP decries INEC, Edo govt’s alliance to rig governorship election Isesele Ezekiel

BENIN

he leadership of Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday said that Nigerians would be amazed by the level of what it called ‘unholy alliance’ between officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the security agents and state government in rigging the

September 28 election in favour of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Godwin Obaseki Edo State PDP Chairman , Chief Dan Orbih, who disclosed this to newsmen in Benin city decried the intrigues the electoral commission deployed to steal the PDP mandate said the party has put in place the best legal team to retrieve the stolen mandate . Orbih, also condemned

the recent clampdown on some judges by men of the Department of State Service, DSS and appealed to party supporters not to take laws into their hands in the bid to reclaim the people’s mandate in the court . “ We, and indeed Nigerians know that the governorship election was won by the PDP. We have evidence to back this; we are not just laying claims to have won. We (PDP) did not lose the elec-

tion. It will be appropriate to say that the INEC allocated votes to the APC and declared them winner of that election. “We have already stated our position even before they declared that results. We rejected the drama that played out at the INEC headquarters in Benin and stated clearly that the outcome of that exercise was not acceptable to our party and Edo people.

“We are already in court over this and I assure you that people will be surprised to see the level of collaboration between some staffs of the INEC, police and Edo government in manipulating the entire process of the election.” “Since the nation is governed by law, due process ought to have been followed if there was any reason to arrest any judge. “We are not living in jun-

gle, we are a nation govern by law. If there is any accusation against any serving judicial officer, I think the right way to go about it is to make a formal report to the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC). “NJC have the right to investigate these accusations and take appropriate action if any is found guilty. But a situation where you chose an unholy hour to swamp on someone’s house for any reason, leaves much to be desire.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Friday, January 17, 2014

Politics

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15 15

Community Restructuring’ll enhance good Mirror monitoring of resources —Sangodoyin Rev. Chris Okotie, speaking on the state of the nation

Princess Olabisi Sangodoyin is a female politician and a member of Yoruba Unity Forum. She is also the treasurer of Bola Ige’s movement. In this interview with journalists in Ibadan, she speaks on President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption among other issue of national importance. AYO ESAN brings excerpts from the interview.

ow will you assess President Muhammadu Buhari’s government so far? Honestly to me in my own personal opinion, I think the man is trying if the clock is not turned anti. I think the man is doing well in one area, that is anti-corruption. I can see his problem, judiciary. In any government especially in an entity guided by law, there has to be a judiciary. I think the judiciary should help Nigeria. The people should come to realise that if we are doing something that affect other people’s children today because you have the opportunity, someone, one day will do that, that will affect your own children more. If the government is not in a position to take some decision, because it is not a military government, if this government cannot go straight the way it should be, if people has to go to court and the court is dragging and dragging, one day people themselves will take it up and because it is not right, it will be bad. So like Mr. president said it is unfortunate that the judiciary, or may be our law, may be we should re-write our law, our constitution to help the matter because the ones we already have does not seem to be helping matter. I mean can it be true, if it’s true that EFCC has release Timpire Sylva’s asset , so where do we go from there, because he’s now APC member, is that why?. Someone has to come out and tell us, it’s not true, otherwise if we have to believe this, then there is no anti- corruption anywhere. And that

When the come , come to come everybody will sit up in this Ministry.

HON MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM RESOURCES,ALIISON MADUEKE to make us handy about the correct

Sangodoyin is the area we are thinking if it is done well it will help the system. It will help the situation in the country. So far, I also expect that as President of this country there should be a way for him to help Nigerians have a life, anti –corruption war, yes, to recover the looted funds or assets or whatever. On the other side, he should put economy in such a place that people can continue to have a life. I am not an economist but even as a lay person in that field, you know that when you want to keep some money, you have to leave some for people to eat and to live their life. Unfortunately, the way we were thinking may not be actually right though, but you can find some sense in it. I know these monies that are been recovered, they are re still ex-

So far, I

hibit. But I am sure, very sure that if Mr. president takes or even says we want to borrow half of that money and put it in the economy properly, not in the economy that some people that he put there will steal, there is no way all the people that are charge to court will win all the cases. So it means we can still have a life with some of the money that we borrowed from that money, before the money becomes that of Nigeria and it is the same thing, instead of looking at going to borrow money again. Where are we going to get to, where are we going to end. If our government are going to borrow with all that they have told us that we have recovered in trillions, because we read papers, we listened to the news, we listened to people. I think it should be enough

also expect that as

President of this country there should be a way for him to help Nigerians have a life, anti–corruption war, yes, to recover the looted funds or assets or whatever.

On the other side, he should

put economy in such a place that people can continue to have a life.

information on our financial status. What is your view on the proposal to sell some of Nigerian assets to improve the economy? We heard there is a proposal to sell national assets, but what for?, the ones they sold before, what did we get from it. And secondly, the government, Mr. Buhari, I called him the government because everything stop at his table, so far, what does he think he has achieved. Because we are saying there is anti-corruption because of the recovered loot, as they have told us but there are certain things that has to be done to make people convinced that this baba is serious about his anti- corruption. Unfortunately he told us that he is handicapped by the judiciary, or by the law, because there are some people or some situation that would have been taken as a litmus test that would have helped his anti -corruption crusade , if not for the judiciary, which could have really helped us. The secretary of America came and said even after a year people still stole a lot of money in Nigeria, permanent secretaries and all that. So with all that he is doing everyone see it as if the situation is not going nowhere, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, until some peoples’ case are used as a litmus tests, when they jail someone that we feel is prominent, true prominent or is it a right prominence. Some of these people who paraded themselves as leaders, ex-ministers, ex- governors, people who don’t love their people, people who amass what they don’t need, people who don’t know that it is only those who works for money that the money works for, if you keep money for your children and your children don’t work for that money, the money will not be useful to them. Money works for only those that worked for it. I watched Nuhu Ribadu , he said when he was the chairman of EFCC, Mr president just called him and handed him a paper and what he read was that he should fix EFCC as an institution . He said that he was the one that put everything in place, and he cited three cases, one of them is Ibori, the other one is Halliburton and the other one is one man I can’t remember his name. And I watched what Peter Obi said he did when he was governor. I remember I attended a programme,I followed someone there, it was for all president of West Africa, someone invited me to join them at the Conference Centre in Abuja. Then I saw this Mr Obi sincerely before God I was looking at him and said haha and this one is a governor .The way he was walking, CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Politics

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sex scandal: Now that Reps free Ikon, Gbilla, Gololo

THE HOUSE OF REPS

Ubong UKPONG

t is no longer news that Rt. Hon. Samuel Ikon, and his colleagues, Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo and Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah, who were accused of sexual misconduct by the United States government, have been cleared by the House of Representatives, which exonerated them from such unfortunate allegations. What is essential is, now that these men are guiltless, the former American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, who peddled this allegation, should take responsibility for his actions, and also, the Nigerian government hastens the handling of this diplomatic issue with the American government, to ensure that the names of these lawmakers are redeemed by the latter, which also has the responsibility to accept this verdict, having said that he has no evidence against the legislators on this matter. Although this resolution of the Green Chamber was very desirable for the process, it may not be exciting to the lawmakers, who must be seen to have gotten justice to heal the wounds which these allegations have left on them. It is so because, everyone can read the expressions of displeasure and fury on their faces against the action of Entwistle, which was not only calculated at bringing these honourable men into disrepute, but to eventually destroy their family life and political career, which they have laboured to build all these years. A good name, it is said, is better than silver and gold, and the trio of Samuel Ikon, Mohammed Garba Gololo and Mark Terseer Gbillah, did their best to defend their good names at the House’s Ethics and Privileges Committee, as they said they were prepared to throw in the towel as lawmakers, if Entwistle was by any means, able to bring up evidences of any sort against them, as he earlier claimed. Unfortunately for Entwhistle, those he claimed complained of sexual harassment could not even summon the courage to support their country with ordinary witnessing against the lawmakers, as they must have also known that their outcry was not just a cheap blackmail, but malicious, and perhaps out of sheer hostility as the lawmakers have expressed. The three lawmakers were among the 10 invited to the International Visitor Leadership Programme held between April 7 and 13, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Unfortunately, two months after the training, which the lawmakers said was a sham, and the Nigerian Foreign Affairs said fell short of diplomatic standards in arrangements, Entwhistle decided to breach diplomatic protocol and forwarded a letter containing grave allegations to Speaker Yakubu Dogara against these three legislators. The US Ambassador, in a letter dated June 9, 2016, addressed to Speaker Dogara, had accused. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC-Bauchi), Samuel Ikon (PDP-Akwa Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue), of improper conduct, attempted rape and soliciting for prostitutes while on official trip to the US. The petitioner claimed that the alleged action of the lawmakers has brought disrepute to the parliament by soliciting for sex from prostitutes and grabbing hotel housekeeper in a bid to rape. The matter was brought before the House on Tuesday July 21, by Mark Gbilla, and was immediately referred to the joint committee on Ethics and Privileges and Foreign Relations. The lawmakers were very annoyed and desirous of having their names redeemed by Entwistle, over allegations which they believe they are innocent of, as they told the committee at the investigative public hearing that they have been humiliated, embarrassed and their reputations injured, insisting that they were not giving up on the matter, more so that Entwistle had sent his submission to the committee that he had no evidence, that the letter was private and only informative to the Speaker. For Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC-Bauchi), “I’ve been humiliated, I’ve been embarrassed, it takes courage for me to go about my daily activities. We will do it in our own way, because the Ambassador didn’t apologise to us.” For Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP-Akwa Ibom), “A letter written to Speaker was copied to 10 people and he said it was private. This issue will continue if not addressed. This is not the first time it is happening in the US.

Gololo Ikon “We have confidence in this committee unravelling this issue. I have suffered abuse and integrity issues. It will not determine or limit my ability to function”, he said. Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC-Benue) in his submission had told the committee that, “We want this committee to proceed beyond interaction with the minister and we will pursue it to a logical conclusion and wherever James Entwistle is, he will still take responsibility for his action.” The so called private letter that Entwistle wrote, had burnt like a wild fire ready to consume the lawmakers to ashes, as most people had out of sheer sentiment concluded that they were guilty of the allegations, since it was coming from the “infallible” America. For the Rt Hon. Ikon, he was particularly unhappy that his fellow Nigerians could not even believe him, especially the media, which was always awash with the reports as if they were already guilty. Ikon had in a letter to the Ambassador explained his role in that journey and made efforts to prove that he was not in his best of health during the period, to even warrant such immoral act, yet they failed to hear him out. Ikon who is not new to life in the US, had explained how he requested to travel with his wife to the Cleaveland, so that she could support him in his health condition, but he was deprived. Hon Ikon, who is former Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly before finding favour to further represents his constituents at the Federal House of Representatives, had made it clear that he could never settle for such cheap things as prostitutes, considering his political pedigree, and so held his colleagues ,Mark Gbilla and Gololo. A part from his political career, he has said that he loves and cherish his wife and children and would sustain the good name because of them, and also in view of his involvement in spiritual activities in his church as a religious person. The most painful aspect of this development is that Entwistle treated them as commoners in spite of their exalted positions as lawmakers, and seized their visas, even denying them the opportunities of travelling to pursue the matter in the US, to clear themselves. They won round one at the committee, when Entwistle surrendered that he had no evidence to prosecute the allegations of sexual misconduct brought against the lawmakers. Round two of their victory was last week Tuesday October11, when the House in plenary adopted the report of the committee, cleared and exonerated them from sexual misconduct. The Ossai Nicholas Ossai - led committee had presented the report which was after a long time, eventually considered at the Committee of the Whole House chaired by Deputy Speaker, Sulaimon Lasun. Interestingly, all items in the report were overwhelmingly carried without any dissenting voice or questions, as the House proceeded to approve the three

with Gbilla

recommendations. The House cleared the three of its lawmakers and exonerated them from the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against them by Entwistle. The House held, “That in the light of the foregoing, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs do engage with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, with a view to finding a seamless resolution of the domestic fallout of this unfortunate incident as it relates to Hon Mohammed Garba Gololo, Hon. Mark Terseer Gbilla and Hon. Samuel Ikon.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also asked to write and inform the US Embassy of the need to always adopt proper channel of communications in dealing with any organ or institution of government. As it is, now that the lawmakers are free, and considering the lack of evidence against them by the US government, it is only appropriate to relax the harsh decisions taken against them in respect of their fundamental human rights as law abiding people. The lawmakers are of the view that they have been hurt and humiliated, not the state, consequently, it is only appropriate that Entwistle apologises to them. They are saying that he has erred, because his wrong communication and breach of diplomatic protocol has caused injuries to the image of Nigerian legislators, which the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Geofrey Onyema held that Entwistle’s letter contained defamation and could attract legal consequences on him.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Slum dwellers lay siege on Lagos Assembly over planned demolition Patrick Okohue

t was a tough time yesterday for staff of the Lagos House, office of the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and members and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly as scores of residents of waterfront slums and shanties stormed the Alausa seat of power to protest the ongoing demolition of their homes by the state government. The protesters who operated under the aegis of the Nigerian Slum/ Informal Settlement Federation and the Shack/ Slum Dwellers International (SDI) blocked various roads and entrances leading to the Governor’s Office thus creating a massive gridlock that lasted for about six hours around the

Alausa State Secretariat. According to information, more than 10 waterfront communities have been marked for demolition, in an exercise that is expected to render no fewer than 500,000 residents homeless in a matter of days. Some of the affected communities include: Makoko, Oworonshoki, Sogunle, Bariga, Orinsunbare, Oke-Ira, Obanku, Okin, Eti-Osa, Iyana Oworo and Bariga, among others. Worried that their protest which started at around 10am on Monday would go to waste as neither Governor Akinwunmi Ambode nor any other public office holder came out to address them, the protesters took their protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly nearby

at around 3:30pm, where they appealed on the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to come to their aid. Making their grievances known in a statement signed by Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, the waterfront dwellers pointed out that, as against the state government’s allegation, their communities were made up of peace-loving residents who had depended on the lagoon for sustenance for over 30 years, without constituting any social menace to anyone. “Governor Ambode’s announcement tied the demolition of our community to security concerns. But if the government wishes to fight crime and insecurity, evictions are not the answer. The answer is to strengthen com-

munity policing,” they said in the statement. Speaking further, the embattled residents said, “Evictions do not make Lagos safer, instead they push the urban poor into deeper poverty through homelessness and loss of livelihoods. Worsened poverty only exacerbates crime. Evictions are not the answer. We need to partner to find lasting solutions to insecurity,” they said. This view was re-echoed by a resident of Ago-Egun in Bariga, Owowole Ayanfe, who said he was just a poor fisherman who needed the proceeds from his fishing profession to take care of his family. “If I lose my house, I’ll lose my livelihood. I don’t have any other profession I can fall back on apart from fishing. We have done nothing to deserve this treatment

from Ambode, therefore, we appeal to him to have a rethink,” Ayanfe, who described himself as a youth leader, said. Addressing the protesters, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa reassured them that their plights would be looked into. He stated that it was part of the job of government to ensure that nobody suffers, and that the Lagos State government was a government of the people. “We did not know about this before, but we will tell the governor to reconsider it. The government would not do anything without considering people. “We have been organising meetings to know what the people want. We want you to go home now without fighting. Stubbornness cannot solve the matter, we

will invite the necessary people and ensure that justice is done. We will do our job as arbiters and look at the way forward. Let us do the right thing and we will take a positive step on it,” he said. The Speaker promised that some lawmakers would be sent to the communities concerned to confirm the protesters’ claims, adding that the House would act quickly so that their house would not be demolished. “We will look at the issue of the schools of the children since the government wants all our children to have education. We will continue to protect your interest and commit into the hands of the necessary committees. I want you to go back home in peace without taking to violence,” he said.

Youth group congratulates Obaseki, charges him to fulfill campaign promises

group, Edo Odion Youth Movement has urged the Governor -elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to make sure his electioneering campaign promises are fulfilled when he assumes office. This was contained in a congratulatory message issued by the President of the group, Comrade Wellington Osadolor where he congratulated Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Hon. Philip Shaibu having won the September 28 gubernatorial poll.. The youth group advised Mr Godwin Obaseki to first tackle the issue of unemployment which he emphasised was dear to his heart if elected as governor of the state. “We pray for you to succeed. We want you not to renege on your promises to deliver, especially on youth employment, empowerment, infrastructures and social welfare to the 18 local government area in Edo state”. However, Osadolor also commended the Independent National Commission, INEC for its steadfastness to conduct a free, fair, credible and conclusive election. The group said it was becoming frustrating that elections conducted in recent times in Nigeria were either not concluded or marred by irregularities, “But, here we are in Edo state, despite the apprehension across the three senatorial districts before the election neither a life was lost nor injury sustained. We commend INEC, security agents and other critical stakeholders for their excellent jobs” “The wise counsel you

gave to the outgoing governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole which led to the remodelling of the state through infrastructural development such as roads, red roof schools, markets and other public utilities should be replicated when you take the mantle of leadership in the state. “No doubt, within the eight years of this administration of which the Comrade Governor has attested to the fact that you are the brain box being the head of Economic and Strategic Team of Edo state government we have no iota of doubt that you will perform more than the outgoing government as a template for delivering quality governance has been set for you”, it added.

L-R: Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Bimbo Kolade; Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Toye Arulogun; Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Isaac Omodewu and Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, briefing the press after the weekly Executive Council meeting in Ibadan, yesterday.

Developmental initiatives cannot be left for politicians alone —Group boladale bamigbola OSOGBO

n Islamic Group, Iwo Muslim Association, Treichville, Cote D’Ivoire branch, has called on wealthy Nigerians to compliment efforts of politicians in positions of leadership to spread development into all nook and crannies of the country. The group observed that the country’s basic infrastructure are in poor state and that with drastic reduction in government’s earnings, if

private individuals with the means refuse to lend helping hands, the country may for long remain underdeveloped. Making the disclosure while handing over a private ward built by members of the association to the State Hospital, Iwo, Osun state, President of the association, Alhaji Abdulganiy Akanmu, noted that standard health care delivery system could not be left to the government alone, hence the need for individuals to be actively involved. According to him, indi-

viduals’ contributions to the health sector would ensure affordable and standard healthcare in every nook and cranny of the country, and will ensure healthy living of the citizenry. Akanmu stated that members of the association decided to donate a ward to the general hospital to contribute to the free health programme of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and to make sure that Iwo people have access to qualitative healthcare. He said: “Health is a sector that everybody

must be conscious and interested in. Government cannot be left alone to handle provision of infrastructures, especially healthcare related ones. We should be all concerned on the crucial sector. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that our society has standard healthcare delivery system. “Individuals should contribute to the development of our community. No amount of contribution to the health sector is small or big because we are all going to enjoy better and advanced health

facilities that we facilitated, or be a victim of poor health management. “We built this Ward for our people in Iwo, despite the fact that we live in Cote D’Ivoire. “It is our belief that this small gesture will no doubt increase the facilities at the State General Hospital, Iwo, where majority of our people patronized to treat themselves. It is part of small contributions that individuals can make to the society. Our society is going to be better off we are all see governance as a collective responsibility.”

News Politics

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Sunday, December 17, 2010

Sunday Mirror National www.nationalmirroronline.net

Restructuring’ll enhance good monitoring of resources —Sangodoyin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

the way he was holding his small bag, even when he was talking, you know he has this kind of funny voice. So I used to think about the man say haha and you think this one is a governor too, until I watched him on you tube today and I saw what he did when he was . Honestly behind him, I clapped for him and I know God will clap for him. Because he said there, that we should ask his people, he said in his state that there are so many prominent people, That when any of them phones him ,that they want to come to government house and he doesn’t want them to come, that he goes to them in the evening and says Baba I am here . So now all is not well, President Buhari has a good intention , he has a good vision for this country, he has a good mission, but unfortunately, some bad people remain the clog in the wheel of progress. We learnt you wanted to contest for the governorship of Oyo State in the last election, how true is this? During the last election, some group of people, elderly people printed my posters and wanted me to be governor, Princess Sangodoyin for the governor of Oyo state 2015 and people were calling me, telling me and I was wondering who were these people and I stopped worrying myself because anytime I am on television, people used to call me and say go out and be governor, you can even be president, that you will help people, that you know how to help people. Someone came to my office one day and said his wife had operation in the hospital that I paid for the operation. I don’t know the man, he said that he had been to my office several times but that he didn’t see me and that, that is what governance is all about . He said I should not be afraid go out . So I think after a lot of pressure, some people decided to do that. So after a long time two people came, interestingly one of them happens to be my husband’s cousin but I have this fear, I even went to the governor and told him that some people are pasting posters and he said he will give me support . But I know, I cannot get support of human beings because I don’t have the kind of money. But some people said no, that no one has the money, that they go to people to get money, but I told them that is the problem most of these governors have, because when they get there, they have to pay back . And in the process of paying, you are denying the citizens, and I know it is

what God can do without anybody if he has actually made up His mind to do it for you, definitely it will happen . So I told them that I appreciate you, I told them I don’t want to put myself in any hanging. That this is the time I should be enjoying myself because , God helped me to have children early, help me to train them and finished schools, I should enjoy myself, not that I will start running up and down, start borrowing money and asking people for favour and they will be telling you what percentage are they going to have if you make it and even those who don’t even give anything will be laying claims that they made you, you know . So that is why I said let us relax and see. Now if you see what these men are doing desperately to get all these positions. My husband told me that someone even said he can put his life on the line for the position, I said haa when the position comes who will take it?. What is your assessment of the legislators at the National Assembly? ‘ Which national assembly? .Do we Nigerians have a national assembly now. How many times do they sit , what do they do? It is just that it is compulsory, it’s in our law that we should have a legislative arm otherwise to me I don’t see any reason why there should be one. But the one we have now , this is a legislature that has its first citizen in court, the second is in court, at the red chambers. At the Green, the Head is in court, the Deputy is in court , The guy, Jibrin , that is shouting no matter what it is, we should look at what he’s talking about . He said he is ready to go to jail because he has been part of it. God has a way of revealing secrets, I have read in the Bible before that nothing is carefully conceived that will not be dugout and there will be no secret that will not be revealed, so anyone that thinks he has a secret, he is deceiving himself the word is there, that one day it will be revealed. So what all these people are doing are we

Sangodoyin happy with them? Okay put Nigerians up and say that those who want the legislature to be there should raise up their hands , you will realised that it is only those that are benefiting from them that will raise up their hands, the others will not raise up their hands. Because we don’t know what they are doing there, we are not happy with them. People have started clamouring for restructuring, do you think this is the solution to the problems facing the country? I have been one of the agitators of restructuring, having true federating units. Since 1998 I have been following all those Babas, Justice Adewale Thompson of blessed memories and others like that, you know them, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi too, I have been part of that struggle, as young as I was, because I read books, I talk to people, some times when I talk you will think I am older than my age, I read a lot and I talk to people, especially the elderly ones. I still follow them even though I am not happy fol-

You see Nigeria has to be restructured, we had the experience, we are talking from experience. When it was federating units, it was better off. If your brother is around you and he is doing something that is wrong, you can easily correct him

lowing them but I’ll not stop following them, we have to keep following them because when they passed on, God will help us correct some of the wrongs that they have done , we will learn from them, we will gain from them, sometimes we will lose from them but we have to continue with them . You see Nigeria has to be restructured, we had the experience, we are talking from experience. When it was federating units, it was better off. If your brother is around you and he is doing something that is wrong , you can easily correct him .If you have some amount of money or a small food in the house, all of you will sit together and say how do we manage this food. So if everyone has his own unit, that unit will give enough money to them, the centre, the federal will just be there as the umpire , coordinating. So even people within themselves they can deal with themselves within the unit. Everybody refers to Awolowo’s time, he did well not that we cannot get the likes of Awolowo, Peter Obi went to the best of schools, it is not because he is not from a poor background, I watched him , Obi went to the best of school, he was in Oxford ,Cambridge, he was here and there. He knows what money is, he knows that wasteful spending cannot help, that was what he did, he just condemned wasteful spending. . So someone like that, if he has people like him that surrounds him ,if they have a federating unit, they will know how to manage it. So I support restructuring.

Business

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2014

Overnight interbank lending rate peaks at 128% 20

Recession: NUPENG laments weak labour regulations

Fiscal federalism, key to economic diversification, says expert

Nigeria targets 22% rise in oil output by year end Tola Akinmutimi

he Federal Government has projected that the nation’s oil production rate would rise by 22 per cent by the year-end to 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) from current levels. Making this forecast yesterday during his meeting with the Indian Oil Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, at New Delhi, India, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, expressed the hope that the lifting of force majeure on all oil fields in the country by December or January would make the target realizable. Kachikwu, also hinted that Nigeria was likely to sign a cashraising oil deal with India for $15bn by the end of this year, a deal in which the India’s oil ministry was quoted as confirming that Nigeria has requested an upfront payment “Nigeria has a bit of a cash flow problem right now. Our reserves are not as strong as we want them. The impact of that is the value of the naira (currency) is coming down. So what we are trying is to leverage on the assets we have to receive immediate cash”, Kachickwu told journal-

ists He said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC,which has agreed to cut world output to rescue prices, has however allowed a production window of 1.8 million barrels per day, bpd, to 2.2 million bpd for the country. The minister noted that apart from the impact of low

oil prices which accounted for 70 per cent of the country’s revenue, the country’s energy facilities had been crippled by attacks by militants calling for a greater share of the country’s oil wealth. Kachikwu, who projected that oil prices would rise from current levels by December. The Indian oil Minister was quoted as saying at the end of

the meeting that the parties “agreed on significant potential for diversifying (India’s) engagement in to E&P (exploration and production), refinery building & marketing in Nigeria.” In India’s last fiscal year which ended March 31, its official statistics indicated that Nigeria accounted for about 12 per cent of its crude oil imports.

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. AbujaYola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00. Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50. Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00. Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air

Matron, Old People’s Home, Yaba, Lagos, Mrs. Feyishayo Olaore (2nd from right) with officials of Stanbic IBTC during a visit to the Old People’s Home recently.

SPDC JV empowers young Ogoni entrepreneurs Udeme Akpan

he Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Joint Venture, in consolidation of its employment generation initiatives in Ogoniland, has trained another 60 youths in entrepreneurship skills, business planning, management and pitching. The company indicated in a statement that 50 of the trainees who succeeded in the final assessment got start-up funds for their business ideas under the LiveWIRE Nigeria programme. It disclosed that the youths were from Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Khana, the four Ogoni local government areas of Rivers State. The company noted that at the graduation ceremony held in Port Harcourt last week, six beneficiaries of a similar programme in 2015 received ‘The Young Business Leaders’ award for being outstanding in their businesses. In his speech delivered at the ceremony, the company’s General Manager External Relations, Igo Weli, said the company was “pleased

that the LiveWIRE programme has continued to make positive impact not only on the lives of the latest beneficiaries but also on youths in the Niger Delta. “Like in previous sets, these beneficiaries went through the entrepreneurship training, wrote business plans, pitched their business ideas and in the end, the 50 best performing candidates were selected. With the start-up grants we’re handing out, the stage is set for a new army of business owners and potential employers of labour to emerge in Ogoniland.”, Weli added He said over 70 per cent of the 105 youths that benefited from a similar programme in 2015 are already successful business owners and employers of labour. The Director Enterprise and Promotion in the Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, Christian Bogba, urged other companies to emulate SPDC Joint Venture by contributing to the improvement of the economic wellbeing of the people and promote peace.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, Godwin Giniwa, and the representative of King of Gokana, Aagba Kpee thanked SPDC and its joint venture partners for providing the young entrepreneurs mentorship to see them through the critical take-off period of their businesses and encouraged youths to seize opportunities of programmes such as LiveWIRE to improve their quality of life. A total of 6,350 youths from the Niger Delta have been trained since SPDC introduced the LiveWIRE Nigeria programme in 2003, with 50 per cent of them assisted to become business owners and employers of labour. The Ogoni-specific programme was driven by the aspiration to address one of the recommendations of the UNEP Report on the restoration of the Ogoni environment, as the LiveWIRE initiative aims to encourage youths in the area to shun illegitimate sources of income such as illegal refining of crude oil.

Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abujaph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, UyoLagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Business News

Overnight interbank lending rate peaks at 128% ….as Access Bank Ghana launches IPO to raise $26m Udo Onyeka

igeria’s overnight interbank lending rate soared to a record high of 128 percent yesterday on naira cash shortages after the banks funded their account with the Central Bank 0f Nigeria, CBN, to participate in last Friday’s currency forward auction, traders said. Overnight rates opened at 100 percent yesterday, traders said, after the money market ended on Friday with no deals as commercial lenders held onto naira to be able to participate in the auction. Overnight money traded at 14 percent on Thursday. The CBN has been tightening liquidity and intervening directly with dollar sales to commercial lenders to support the ailing naira, hit by the fall in oil prices, Nigeria’s economic mainstay. The bank on Friday held a

two-month dollar forward auction to clear a backlog of demand from airlines, manufacturers and other companies, as the currency crisis deepene However, it debited customers’ naira accounts on the day of the auction but will deliver the dollars in two months’ time, traders said, adding that the move had soaked up liquidity from the money markets. The central bank intervened again on Monday with dollar sales to support the naira, which ended at 305.50 per dollar, traders said. Meanwhile Access Bank Ghana, a subsidiary of Access Bank of Nigeria, has unveiled plans to launch an initial public share offer aimed at raising at least 104 million cedis, (about $26 million). A statement by the bank indicated that it would also cut its stake to 78 percent from 100

Infrastructure devt, access to funds, panacea to recession – Experts Joel Ajayi Abuja

n economist and management analyst, Professor Pat Utomi and the President, Connexux Corporation, Ms. Anita Campion, yesterday identified improved infrastructure, access to funds to micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) and local manufacturing capacity as key to current efforts to reverse the nation’s economic recession. Utomi made this submission while speaking during a quarterly lecture on Monetary Policy, Competitiveness and Development with the theme ‘The Role Of Monetary Policy In Job Creation’ organised by the Economic and Business Strategies (EBS) and co-hosted by Dr. Magnus Kpakol. Utomi also stressed the need to strengthen the nation’s institution saying that strong institution and policy stability will in turn strengthen the economy. According to him, the nation’s institutions are weak and there is need to strengthen our institutions them “ We deserve strong institutions and not strong men. A good leader also should focus on purpose and not power. There is need for a strong political will to end poverty. All around the world, politics is all about how jobs can be created because, it is through jobs that people can better their lives. Also, the nation’s

monetary policy should have value to create wealth”, Utomi said Ms. Campion called for reform in the agricultural sector, saying that Nigerian economy is blessed with series of natural resources and don’t have to suffer in the midst of plenty. The former deputy governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia in his address urged the federal government to carry the youth along while formulating strategic policies giving the population of the youths. Mailafia said that if the problem of unemployment was not reduced to the barest minimum, the country might be sitting on a time bomb.

percent in the floatation, aimed at enabling it to become selffunding. It explained that the planned launch was in line with a broader drive by subsidiaries of Nigerian banks to seek fresh

robust technology and other infrastructure. “The offer follows approval from Ghana’s Security and Exchange Commission and the Ghana Stock Exchange, with the offer open from Wednesday until November 11,” Ogundimu added.

Some Farmers North-West Geo-Political Zone receiving training on value addition, entrepreneurship, facilitated by West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, (WAAPP-Nigeria) in Katsina, yesterday.

IITA wins award for yield increase, food quality initiatives Abolaji Adebayo

he International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, has won the 2016 AlSumait Prize for Food Security. According to reports by African Press Organisation, APO, sourced by our correspondent yesterday, the Institute was honoured for its work in improving the yields and nutritional quality of major staple food crops, such as cassava, banana and maize.

China’s property, casualty insurance to record modest growth

hina’s property and casualty insurance sector is set to experience only modest growth in terms of premiums in the next 12-18 months, according to rating agency Moody’s. The slowdown is attributed to slower GDP growth and increased price competition under the newly implemented non-mandatory motor pricing scheme. Premium growth is forecast to dip to high-single digit levels. Moody’s says its baseline scenario assumes real economic

sources of funding, given the weakness of its own economy due to low oil prices. The bank’s Managing Director, Dolapo Ogundimu, was quoted as saying that “the bank is seeking to expand our operations by making new investments in branch expansion,

growth of 6.6% and 6.3% in 2016 and 2017, down from 6.9% in 2015, adding that while vehicle sales have rebounded in 1H 2016, motor premiums — which account for three-quarters of total premiums — will log lower growth due to the nationwide implementation of commercial motor pricing liberalisation in July 2016. Because of this, non-motor premiums will become an increasingly important contributor to total premiums.(Source -insuranceasianews.com)

Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, KFAS, Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin, which administered the awards, said the Board of Trustees was proud to award the prizes to all three recipients who have made major contributions to improving the lives of millions of people throughout Africa. “We are deeply humbled by the efforts demonstrated by AlSumait prize laureates in the pursuit of scientific discoveries to meet the challenges of disease, nutrition, food production and climate change,” he said. He added that all the laureates were in the frontline of Africa’s challenges, yet have succeeded despite limited resources. Al-Sumait Prizes honour individuals or institutions who help advance economic and social development, human resources development and infrastructure in Africa through their sustained research and or innovative projects that result in major impact on the lives and welfare of the people of Africa especially the poor and underprivileged. The awards were instigated on the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Ja-

ber Al- Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. With each award worth one million dollars and a gold medal, Al-Sumait awards are administered by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, KFAS, and a Board of Trustees who oversee the selection of the recipients. The awards acknowledge the work of the late Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti doctor who dedicated his life to addressing the development challenges confronting Africa and established the Direct Aid humanitarian organisation. The winning laureates would receive their awards from the Amir of the State of Kuwait and the President of Equatorial Guinea during a ceremony at the Fourth Arab African Summit in Equatorial Guinea on November 22, 2016. “Each of the winners represents innovative, exciting initiatives being done to address the challenges facing Africa,” said Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin. The Board was chaired by the Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Senate lauds NDIC on remittance of operating surplus Ben Umuteme Abuja

he Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, for the prompt and regular remittance of its operating surplus into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). According to provision of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), 2007, revenue generating agencies are required to pay their operating surplus into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF. A statement signed by the corporation’s Head, Communication and Public

Affairs, Hadi Birchi, quoted the Committee Chairman, Sen. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, as giving the commendation during the Committee members’ oversight visit to the Corporation’s headquarters in Abuja. The lawmaker expressed satisfaction with the NDIC’s consistent and timely remittance of 80 per cent of its operating surplus to the CRF at the end of each fiscal year. “We have to commend the NDIC on the surplus you transfer to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. It is very excellent. I will commend you on behalf of the Nigerian people”, the Senate Committee Chairman said.

Sen. Ibrahim explained that the Committee embarked on the oversight visit to NDIC to assess the level of implementation of the Corporation’s 2016 Budget in order to identifying areas of challenges that required the Committee’s support. The Managing Director of the Corporation, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, assured the committee of the corporation’s determination to continue to partner with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to ensure that depositors are protected through effective supervision of banks and prompt payment of insured sums to

Lagos State, Heritage Bank partner on sports devt Udo Onyeka

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Olayiwola Onasanya; Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigerian Foundation (BATNF), Mrs. Oluwaseyi Ashade; Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Toyin Suarau and representative of Lagos State Governor /Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, during the World Food Day celebration in Lagos, recently.

Aviation expert seeks transparency on forex concession to airlines Olusegun Koiki

he Coordinator of Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative, NASI, Capt. Dung Rwang Pam, has commended Federal Government’s move to secure a special sectoral allocation of forex for airline operators in the country in the Secondary Market Intervention Sales, SMIS. He, however, called for transparency in the implementation of the policy from both parties. Speaking with aviation correspondents in Lagos earlier in the week, Pam described the new initiative as a welcome development, but noted that the entire process must be by the book, transparent and accountable. Pam pointed out that the call for transparency was important to ensure that shady operators do not increase their requirement and use the forex for round tripping. To ensure total transparency, he charged the economic monitoring unit of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to ensure that forex was directed where required. He said: “It is a welcome development,

but must be implemented with transparency and accountability at its core and throughout the entire process. It is a welcome development that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has decided to grant ‘currently operating’ Nigerian airlines access to the secondary market intervention sales. “As with most interventions, I hope this not just be a knee-jerk reaction to the clamour for government support to this critical sector. I expect that the entire process will be unambiguously transparent from start to finish, all the way to the benefiting airlines”, Pam added He recalled that numerous policies in the past in the industry had been experienced in the sector, only to end up round tripping the excess in the black market and causing further distortion of the actual industry demand. The industry veteran explained that both the banking and aviation sectors needed to re-acquire public confidence and credibility, stating that this latest trust by government was another opportunity for them to show that they are competent and could be trusted.

depositors of closed banks. Despite the economic downturn in the country, Ibrahim noted that the Corporation had recorded remarkable achievements due to the implementation of Performance Based Budget System (PBBS) of its 2016 budget. The NDIC boss informed the committee that work had commenced on its 9-storey Head Office Annex building in Abuja, the 17-storey Lagos Office, Ikoyi and the 9-storey Lagos Training Academy Lekki in line with the Federal Executive Council’s, FEC’s, directive to the effect.

agos State Government has endorsed the Heritage Bank Skoolympics project, an initiative of Heritage Bank Plc, aimed at building a heritage of champions through youth sports competition at the secondary school level The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Sports, Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, gave the endorsement at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos recently, noting that Heritage Bank is the only bank at the moment that is undertaking such sporting project in the state, which maiden event will take place next month. He said: “We are very excited at the project because it will help to develop youths in the state in a disciplined manner,” adding that we have mobilized and created awareness among students in the state for the project and were looking forward to it. Tinubu explained further that the Heritage Bank Skoolympics was a “very fantastic idea” and that the state was interested in the “pre, during and post event activities because it intended to expose the beneficiary students to proper mentoring and counselling.” The governor’s aide, who is also the Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Com-

mission, said the state government was building a sports culture through the creation of an enabling environment for sustainable sporting activities to thrive in a variety of sports events, in a bid to cater for the passion of majority of the citizenry. In her remarks, the Brand Ambassador of Heritage Bank Skoolympics Mrs. Mary Onyali, said that she was really moved when approached to be the ambassador and urged the stakeholders to make the Skoolympics a continual project, as it consists of concepts that would benefit Nigerian children. The Executive Director, Lagos and South-West/Corporate Banking of Heritage Bank, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, who represented the Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo, confirmed that the bank was spearheading the noble project in the state because Lagos State has been known to be successful in driving sports initiatives. She said the bank had a sustainability plan to organise the programme yearly in a bid to identify, and mentor the winning youths over a long period of time to become medallists in international competitions. During the Skoolympics competition, the bank will be hosting over 200 public and private schools with about 6,000 students competing in all local government areas of Lagos State in the maiden event.

Deutsche Bank’s options to solve capital dilemma limited

eutsche Bank needs to move quickly to boost capital and deliver healthy profits if it is to restore investor confidence, but its room for maneuver appears limited, bankers, analysts and investors say. When John Cryan took over as chief executive last year, he announced steps to cut staff and overheads and to sell off non-core businesses. But a $14 billion fine sought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the bank’s mis-selling of mortgage securities has exposed a potential capital shortfall of between 5 to 10 billion euros, while progress in implementing Cryan’s strategy has been slow. The bank has no solvency or liquidity problems and it says it currently has no plans for a capital increase and that it is

meeting all its regulatory requirements. But while the DOJ settlement might finally be significantly lower than $14 billion, the Frankfurt-based lender faces further fines for suspected money laundering that could hike litigation charges to between $8-$9.5 billion. Some analysts say litigation reserves total just 5.5 billion euros ($6.16 billion). That means Germany’s flagship lender may have no choice but to raise money, despite limited options in the short term. The easiest ways to raise cash are via a capital increase and accelerating a job cutting program. But analysts and investors say other options, such as asset sales, bonus forfeitures or even a full-blown merger with a rival should be considered. (Source – Reuters.com)

22 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Commerce & Industry

Leveraging Made-in-Nigeria goods’ competitiveness through standardization In what appears a major efforts to change the global consumers’ perception about Nigerian made goods and curtail unbridled importation of sub-standard products into the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has embarked on new measures to institutionalise standards in the manufacturing sector as a way of consolidating on its modest achievements in the fight against fake goods in the domestic market. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO reports.

he Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, has described production standards as key to building trust between the manufacturers and the consumers. Speaking at the 2016 World Standards Day over the weekend, he said this year’s celebration with the theme ‘Standards Build Trust’ was chosen in order to emphasise the trust associated with the value, safety and durability the international standards mandated on products and service. According to him, the SON is in line with the annual celebration coordinated by the three international standardisation bodies which include the International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO, International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC, and International Telecommunication Union, ITU. He explained that the introduction of common interpretations on reciprocal sides of a communication or transaction, standards were essential to mutual beneficial trade and resource efficient international commerce, therefore, social interaction relies on common respect for fundamental sets of norms, concepts or meanings, which international standards codify to ensure that they are accessible to all. Aboloma reiterated that a product or service conforming to a national or international standard is imbued with a trusted symbol of quality, safety or compatibility. This, according to him, ensures role of standards in the diversity of human interconnected world, while also introduces uniformity at the interfaces where there is need to be certain to speak on the same term. Meanwhile, the SON boss said the Organisation has put in place some marks of quality to guide consumers in purchase decisions, which also provide confidence to manufacturers and importers on the value which their products or the services provide. “This is in line with the theme of 2016 World Standards Day celebration. These marks are for locally manufactured as well as imported products. “I wish to assure our teeming stakeholders that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, as representative of the three international standardisation bodies, would continue to propergate national and international standards through adoption, and

Minister of Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah

Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu

The time has come for us to ensure improved appreciation and application of standards for competitive advantage as this will no doubt improve quality of life and productivity as they also

ensure the quality, safety and reliability of products, services and worldwide

compatibility of technology, thereby

‘building trust’

diligent implementation in both the public and private sectors. Our emphasis is on the growth and development of micro, small and medium enterprises nationwide. “To this end, we have over the years developed competencies in various international management system standards. These include quality, environmental, food safety management among others. All are aimed at national capacity development and certification of systems for continual improvement. “It is our vision to intensify efforts in the area of public awareness through seminars, workshops, consumer enlightenment activities and the certification of products. Internationally acclaimed standards with greater emphasis on the agro and allied sectors in line with the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the nation’s economy, is our target.” However, the Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, NASSI, Lagos Chapter, Segun Kuti-George, said fake and substandard goods were not

produced in Nigeria, saying all substandard and fake goods were imported into the country. He declared that Nigerian products only lack good and internationally acceptable packaging, which has been majorly affecting Nigerian products at the international market. he said this was due to lack of equipment and modern technology. Kuti-George further said that standards should be applied according to the level of development of each country in other to favour such countries. The director, Standards Development, SON, Mr. Kolawole Abiola, said that as the apex standardization regulatory body in the country, the organisation had developed various standards for the different sectors of the economy and as representative of international standardisation bodies, it also had the responsibility to propagate global standards through adoption and modified adoption for local use in all sectors. He emphasized that standards and quality remained the essential tools for eco-

nomic and industrial development for any country. He said: “We know that for most of our enlightened citizenry and stakeholders especially manufacturers, public analysts, engineer and other professionals, they conceptualise, feel and apply standards in their day-to-day activities. But for majority of Nigerians, these tools are always in their realm of imaginations as they never seize to wonder what these standards and quality are. We therefore call on all Nigerians to rise to the challenges of embracing standards and quality as a culture and a way of life. “The time has come for us to ensure improved appreciation and application of standards for competitive advantage as this will no doubt improve quality of life and productivity as they also ensure the quality, safety and reliability of products, services and worldwide compatibility of technology, thereby ‘building trust’.” He also appealed to Nigerians to be proud of their indigenous products and services and always recognise the crucial roles standards and quality play in the life of individuals and growth of any nation. In speech, the Director General of National Board for Technology Incubation, Dr. Jibrin Mohammed said Standards are published documents that establish specifications and procedures designed to ensure the reliability of the materials, products, methods, and/or services people use every day, while they also address a range of issues, including but not limited to various protocols that help ensure product functionality and compatibility, facilitate interoperability and support consumer safety and public health. Mohammed, who was represented by the south-West Zonal Coordinator/Center Manager, Dr. Julie Momah, said the NBTI has the capacity, by mandate, to nurture small fledging businesses that are being tutored to conform to standards. “We have structures that we have put in place to ensure that products and processes that are being incubated under the Technology Incubation Programme can build trust for consumers in the local and international market. We are putting ourselves out to carve a niche by strategically linking with relevant stakeholders like the Standard Organization of Nigeria and other regulators where we can sit together and build standards, and engender compliance for the Nigeria’s business ecosystem participants,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Commerce & Industry

Fiscal federalism, key to economic diversification, says expert Stories: Abolaji Adebayo

iscal federalism has been identified as a catalyst that would help diversify the nation’s economy if implemented based on the fundamental prescriptions of the concept. The Managing Director, Stellarchem Nigeria Limited and Chairman, Toiletries & Cosmetics (T&C) Group, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Mr. Ikpong Umoh, made this assertion in Lagos penultimate weekend at the 2016 Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CICAN, Summit/Award Ceremony with the theme: “Diversifying the Nigerian economy through the industrial sector”. He noted that if states were in charge of electricity generation, it would be eas-

ier to meet the about 150MW electricity need of the country, which would in turn cut the operating cost of manufacturers in the country and make globally competitive. The industrialist noted that industries needed stable power supply to thrive and this could be achieved if each state is allowed to generate its electricity. Umoh explained that as part of the diversification drive of the country, states should manage the country’s seaports, which he said would promote efficiency and competiveness. “If we are serious about the diversification of the economy through industry, states should also be allowed to control the seaports,” he said. According to him, over 90 per cent of the cargoes coming into the country are

through the Lagos port, which has been hampering businesses in the country. He also argued that there were a lot of bottlenecks in the present efforts to diversify the country’s economy through agriculture, noting that land ownership is still a major challenge for those who intend to invest in agriculture in Nigeria. The MAN T&C Group Chairman stressed the need to add value to agricultural produce in the country, saying the export of crude oil without value addition made the Nigerian economy to be in recession currently. He posited that agriculture should help the country attain food security in the short term and feed its industries

LCCI to engage stakeholders on maritime sector efficiency

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Services, Bank of Industry (BOI) , Mr. Tobin Jonathan; Acting Managing Director, (BOI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju and Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, during the signing of memorandum of understanding on 2billion naira enterprise development fund for entrepreneurs, in Makurdi, Benue State,yesterday.

Local raw materials’ sourcing rises 4% in two years –MAN

he Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has disclosed that the local raw materials sourcing by the manufacturing sector increased from 48 per cent in 2013 to 52 per cent in 2015. It attributed the modest improvement to the impact of the backward integration policy of the Federal Government. Speaking at the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Association, its President, Dr. Frank Jacobs, said manufacturers had been increasingly utilised higher percentage of locally available raw materials over the years. According to him, the resource-based industrialisation policy/local sourcing of raw materials which MAN has been canvassing, for sometimes now, involves the utilization of the abundant natural resources in manufacturing the products that the country needs. This is a more sustainable and enduring form of industrialization, compared with the import-dependent industrialisation which has been practiced in Nigeria for long. He said the adoption of the policy by current Administration would enhance productivity in the manufacturing sector and reduce the import bill of the country. Jacobs said in order to successfully

achieve the policy, the government should create attractive incentives for investors who would engage in the processing of the abundant agricultural and mineral resources from primary produce to secondary or intermediate products. This, as he said, would go a long way in attracting potential and current manufacturers into the use of local raw material inputs, adding that it might not be expedient for all manufacturers to engage in processing of their raw materials except in some cases where such manufacturers could empower out-growers to produce their raw materials like in agro-food industries. He said to fully achieve this policy of Government, it is pertinent that the Government gives urgent attention to agriculture, solid minerals and petroleum sectors as these would provide the needed inter-industry linkages for the production of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. The industrialist maintained that agriculture held a vast opportunity for wealth creation, if fully explored and exploited, saying with over 84 million hectares of arable land, supported by other resources like cheap and abundant labour, Nigeria could become a major player in the agricultural and agro-business sectors.

with materials in the long run. Meanwhile, the Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah who was represented at the event by the acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, BOI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, reiterated the importance of proper education to the development of the country. He also called on the media to help sensitize Nigerians on areas where the country has comparative advantages, saying investments in these areas would help grow the economy. He charged journalists to engage in developmental journalism and help educate small business owners on how they could improve their businesses.

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, in collaboration with the Financial Derivatives Company, a renowned economic consultancy firm, is set to hold a Public-Private Dialogue on Port Efficiency & Maritime Sector Roadmap in Nigeria. The objective is to design a roadmap for the transformation of the Nigerian maritime sector. The Stakeholders’ forum, which is billed to hold on Friday 21st October, 2016 Lagos, is expected to bring together key government agencies, major players at the Nigerian ports, importers, exporters and other stakeholders to discuss the current state of the ports and proffer solutions to myriads of problems militating against the growth and development of the sector and improve ease of doing business. According to the LCCI Maritime Ports

Research conducted in the third quarter of 2016 “The efficiency of port operation is a major driver of trade and economic activities across countries. Unfortunately, over the years, users and operators at the Nigerian Ports have been facing lingering challenges and bottlenecks.” The research further revealed that, “Improving ports governance for greater efficiency has major implications for the potential development of non-oil sectors at this time. The growth and promotion of trade and economic activities could only be pragmatic, when economies thrive to provide a conducive and friendly environment. Public authorities and the private sector have come to the realization that the starting point for activating the diversification objective of the present government is fixing the ease of doing business at the nation’s ports.”

UK out of top five investment sites post Brexit

he UK dropped out of businesses’ top five locations for investments for the first time in seven years as fears about the country’s plans to exit the European Union added complexity to international deals, consultants Ernst & Young LLP said in a survey of executives. British businesses rank behind investments in the US, China, Germany, Canada and France, which make up the top destinations for deals activity, EY said Monday in its Global Capital Confidence Barometer report, which is based on a survey of more than 1 700 executives in 45 countries in August and September. Business leaders are concerned about geopolitical issues, such as the rise of nationalist governments worldwide and currency fluctuations, that make cross-border mergers and acquisitions more difficult, EY said. On top of the UK’s Brexit vote in June, uncertainty around the U.S. interest rate and upcoming elections in a number of countries added to perceived risks to deals. “Brexit is a prominent example of the rise of geopolitical changes that are adding complexity to cross-border investments,” according to Steve Krouskos, EY’s global vice chair of transaction advisory

services. “In the longer term, we would expect the UK to bounce back as a top M&A destination of choice, but the short-term uncertainty is giving investors pause for thought.” There’s been about $208bn in M&A involving UK companies announced this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s down 55% from the same period a year ago. Worldwide, M&A spending has reached $2.2trn, down about 20% from last year’s record, according to the data. Still, 57% of the companies expect to pursue deals in the next 12 months, pointing to an uptick in volume next year, EY said. A fragile economic environment may push companies to turn to M&A to produce growth, the survey said. “Political uncertainty is an impediment not a barrier to M&A,” Krouskos said in an email. “Companies continue to take a longterm strategic view on investments.” More than 90% of executives surveyed expect the M&A market to improve or remain stable in the next year, with a focus on smaller deals in consumer and retail, industrial products, life sciences, technology, automotive and oil and gas industries, according to the report. (Source – www.fin24. com)

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Recession: NUPENG laments weak labour regulations Fidelis Ugbomeh

he economic recession coupled with the policy of attracting foreign direct investment into the country has led the weakening of labour protection regulations, the National Union of Petroleum Energy and Natural Gas, NUPENG, has said. President of the organsied labour group, Comrade Igwe Achese who made

this known in Lagos, said that temporary/precarious work existed in all sectors of Nigeria’s economy due to the near absence of regulatory institutions and agencies. He noted that issues of precarious work had been challenging to labour as it has led to increasing erosion of workers’ rights and privileges such as freedom of association and collective bargaining. According to him, since the major

CIBN to honour bank MDs, other professional bankers Niyi Jacobs

he Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has concluded plans to confer on some of its members, Fellowship and Honorary Senior membership award this week in Lagos The bankers to be honoured at the event include, Group Managing Director, Access Bank and Chairman of Banks CEOs, Mr. Herbert Wigwe: Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON),Mr. Ahmed Lawan

CIBN, President/Chairman Segun Aina

Kuru; Managing Director, Heritage Bank Ltd Mr. Ifiesimama Sekibo; Chairman, FBN Merchant Bank Ltd, Mallam Bello Maccido; and Managing Director, Nigeria InterBank Settlement System Plc, Mr. Adebisi Shonubi. The Institute stated that the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, will be the Special Guest of Honour amongst other dignitaries being expected at the event. The Guest Speaker, Mr. Luis Gravito, Senior Partner & Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group, will deliver a paper with the theme ‘From Recession to Sustainable Growth: Identifying & Implementing Quick Economic & Financial Wins in the Nigerian Economy’. More than 100 professional bankers, who have garnered 10 years post ACIB qualification experience and have also distinguished themselves in their various professional careers will be invested as Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Honorary Senior Members of the Institute at the forum in which the President and Chairman of Council, Professor Segun Ajibola, will be Chairman. The honours are in recognition of the awardees’ services, commitment and contributions to the Institute, the banking industry and the Nigerian economy.

motive of Casual/Temporary work is profit there comes with it absence of decent work, job insecurity, poor health, absence of medical provisions, lack of training, long hours of work, lower wages and low quality jobs. Similarly, Comrade Achese pointed out that workers are made to work in inhuman situations and conditions resulting into wide poverty circle and increased inequality. He explained further that women are more deprived of basic workers rights with regards to working hours, maternity leave, safety at work and public holidays. “Indeed work becomes precarious when trade unions are not allowed to operate or flourish. Industrial relations are usually the first victim in the situation of precarious work. Workers are not allowed to have representation or in-

cer, pointed out that the programme seeks to empower the Polytechnic community by creating a new generation of business owners amongst students. Okonkwo, who was represented by Abdulrahman Ibrahim, Branch Leader, Sokoto Strategic Business Unit (SBU), of the bank, said that the programme was strategically designed to promote Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) growth by encouraging students from tertiary institution to become self-reliant in different aspects of entrepreneurship. Ibrahim further explained that students will receive requisite training in various stages by the consultants throughout the duration of the exercise. He explained that the students would be trained on Fish Farming, Tailoring, Stoning, Makeup and Bread making, add-

terface with the principal and the Contractor,” he said.

Kaduna to create 20,000 entrepreneurs through KADSTEP A za Msue Kaduna

aduna State government said it targets 20,000 entrepreneurs under Kaduna Start-Up Entrepreneurship programme within four years to minimize the high rate of unemployment. Governor Nasir El-Rufai who was represented by his deputy,Bala Yusuf Bantex at the graduation ceremony of the second intake of the Kaduna Start-up Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) and induction of the third batch of trainees at Kaduna Business School in Kaduna said the initiative is one of the administration interventions towards reducing the high rate of poverty and unemployment bedeviling the society with associated social implications in the state. El-Rufai added that as one of the sus-

Fidelity Bank, Gazelle train 500 youths in Kebbi State n furtherance of its quest to improve the wellbeing of communities where it does business, Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the nation’s leading financial institutions, in strategic partnership with Gazelle Academy and Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, has empowered 500 Nigerian with top-notch entrepreneurial skills. The programme, which is part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is strategically aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with skills and capabilities needed to take advantage of available opportunities to drive socioeconomic development. Speaking at the launch of the 5-day youth empowerment programme held in Kebbi State, Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Offi-

Achese

ing that the exercise provided students with knowledge and first-hand experience on the above-mentioned vocational skills. According to him, the skills acquisition programme was the first of its kind to be organised by the financial institution in the Northern part of the country. However, the maiden edition of the programme which held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, recorded huge success as it left an indelible mark on the lives of the students who participated in the week-long event. Depending on area the trainees received training, Ibrahim noted that the bank will determine what sort of assistance to offer them at end of the programme.

tainable job creation initiatives, KADSTEP targets empowering 5,000 business operators. The governor said effort to revive moribund and other ailing industries in the state, government is investing in power generation that will feed industries. He said: “Today, I am pleased to witness the graduation of the second set of 500 KADSTEP trainees who have gone through 10-weeks of intense training to build business capacity and prepare them as tomorrow’s entrepreneurs whose role will contribute in creating wealth and jobs in our dear state. “Our focus on the youth is informed by the fact that they form larger part of our population. This government believes that we should give this young, energetic and vibrant section of the population the opportunity to use their fresh energies and passions meaningfully in contributing to the development of the economy of the state” “The Kaduna State Government conceived KADSTEP to empower aspiring entrepreneurs to be able to access the requisite knowledge that will ground them as business operators and make them access funding to birth new business and strengthen existing ones. We are partnering with the Bank of Industry and the Kaduna Business School to drive this programme and we are glad this partnership is delivering results and the impact is already being felt. “As one of our sustainable job creation initiatives, KADSTEP targets empowering 5000 business operators. We are expecting these new businesses to create a minimum of 20,000 jobs in the first four years of the programme. This demonstrate our committed to revamping the economy of Kaduna by creating more small and micro business that will keep the wheels of economic activities running in the 23 Local Government of the State” el-Rufai said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Investors lose N77bn on bearish trading Tola Akinmutimi

ransactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened for the week yesterday on a negative trend with market capitalisation dropping by N77 billion, largely due to huge losses of blue chip companies. The market capitalisation which opened at N9.569 trillion, closed at N9.492 trillion, representing 0.81 per cent dip in value Similarly, the market’s AllShare Index, ASI, decreased by 226.04 points or 0.81 per cent to close at 27,634.99 compared with 27,861.03 recorded

on Friday’s trading. The stocks’ price movement chart indicated that Forte Oil recorded the highest loss, declining by N7.25 to close at N137.87 per share while Seplat followed with a loss of N5.88 to close at N380 and Nigerian Breweries dipped N4.65 to close at N144.05 per share. Glaxosmithkline’s stock lost 91 kobo to close at N17.48, while Cadbury’s depreciated by 78 kobo to close at N14.89 per share. However, Wema Bank led the gainers’ table, chalking 4 kobo gain to close at 66 kobo per share. Africa Prudential Registrar also

gained 4k to close at N2.72 and FCMB Group appreciated by 3 kobo to close at N1.14 per share. Wapic Insurance grew by 2 kobo to close at 52 kobo, while Skye Bank gained 1 kobo to close at 63 kobo per share. According to statistical data provided by the NSE, the value of shares traded was below one billion naira as investors’ staked N778.44 million on 255.81 million shares transacted in 2,588 deals. Last Friday, the market’s turnover of 220.85 million shares valued at N1.53 billion traded in 2,381 deals was signifi-

cantly higher than yesterday’s. Law Union and Rock emerged the most traded, trading 100.012 million shares worth N70.01 million, followed by Transcorp with an exchange of 49.56 million Source: NSE shares valued at N49.62 million, while Costain Gainers and and Losers Losers Gainers traded 32.06 million Market indicators Start Date Date 16/10/2016 16/10/2016 through through End End Date 17/10/2016 Start Date 17/10/2016 Print Date 17/10/2016 shares worth N16.03Print milDate 17/10/2016 All-Share Index 27,634.99 points lion. Market capitalisation 9.49trn FBN Holdings accounted for 15.37 million Gainers for Equities Gainers for Equities 2016-10-14 2016-10-17 shares valued at N46.03 2016-10-14 2016-10-17 S/N Symbol Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Gain(N) % Change S/N Symbol Gain(N) % Change Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) million and United Bank 1 WEMABANK 0.62 0.66 0.04 6.45 1 WEMABANK 0.62 0.66 0.04 6.45 2 WAPIC 0.50 0.52 0.02 4.00 for Africa sold 10.12 mil2 WAPIC 0.50 0.52 0.02 4.00 3 FCMB 1.11 1.14 0.03 2.70 3 FCMB 1.11 1.14 0.03 2.70 lion shares worth N42.84 4 SKYEBANK 0.62 0.63 0.01 1.61 4 SKYEBANK 0.62 0.63 0.01 1.61 5 AFRIPRUD 2.68 2.72 0.04 1.49 million. 5 AFRIPRUD 2.68 2.72 0.04 1.49 6 6 7 7

Naira appreciates N305/dollar on CBN’s intervention Johnson Okanlawon

with agency report

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday intervened with dollar sales to support the naira, which ended at N305.50 per dollar, a range it has closed at for nearly two months. Traders said the bank, which has been selling dollars regularly to prop up the currency, sold around $1.5 million towards the close of Monday’s trade after the market was open for nearly four hours with no deals. The naira was quoted

at N455 to the dollar on the black market, firmer than N460 at its previous session, as international money transfer operators had started to sell dollars to retail currency outlets. The currency had weakened to a record low of N 495 per dollar on the black market last month. The bank held a dollar forward auction last Friday to clear a backlog of demand from airlines, manufacturers and other companies, as the country’s currency crisis deepened. Also, the overnight interbank lending rate

soared to a record high of 128 percent yesterday on naira cash shortages after the lenders funded their account with the CBN to participate in last Friday’s currency forward auction. Overnight rates opened at 100 percent, after the money market ended on Friday with no deals as commercial lenders held onto naira to be able to participate in the auction. Overnight money traded at 14 percent on Thursday. The CBN has been tightening liquidity and intervening directly with dollar sales to commercial lend-

ers to support the ailing naira, hit by the fall in oil prices. The bank on Friday held a two-month dollar forward auction to clear a backlog of demand from airlines, manufacturers and other companies, as the currency crisis deepened. However, it debited customers’ naira accounts on the day of the auction but will deliver the dollars in two months’ time, traders said, adding that the move had soaked up liquidity from the money markets.

when upbeat U.S. retail sales data reinforced expectations for a December interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Japanese stocks dipped in negative territory earlier when the greenback dipped below the 104.00 level, but stocks recovered after the dollar gained ground against the yen again. The Nikkei ended 0.3

percent higher at 16,900.12. “Performances in the Japanese market will likely depend on the dollar-yen levels until some companies start releasing their mid-year results later this week,” said Masashi Oda, general manager of strategic investment department at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. The broader Topix add-

Hong Kong shares drift near 45 days low

ong Kong shares drifted near 1-1/2-month lows on Monday, as a cautious mood prevailed ahead of a slew of China data this week that investors hope will paint a clearer picture of how the world’s

second largest economy is faring. The Hang Seng index fell 0.8 percent, to 23,037.54, while the China Enterprises Index lost 0.6 percent, to 9,541.08 points. The recent correction in Hong Kong stocks is

natural after the market’s strong rally last quarter, and as mainland money inflows have fallen sharply this month, said Alex Wong, Hong Kong-based director at Ample Finance Group. (Source – Reuters.com)

FIDSON FIDSON NASCON NASCON

1.58 1.58 8.00 8.00

1.59 1.59 8.01 8.01

0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

2016-10-14 2016-10-17 2016-10-14 2016-10-17 Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) 3.30 3.05 3.30 3.05 145.12 137.87

Loss(N) Loss(N) -0.25

ed 0.4 percent to 1,352.56 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 advanced 0.5 percent at 12,102.44. (Source – Reuters.com) Rate (%) Inflation

16.46

MPR

Crude oil price

$51.93

0.63 0.63 0.13 0.13

Losers for Equities Losers for Equities

S/N S/N 1 12

23 34 45 56 67 78

89 9 10

10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20

Symbol

Symbol NAHCO NAHCO FO FO CADBURY

CADBURY GLAXOSMITH GLAXOSMITH ETRANZACT ETRANZACT PHARMDEKO PHARMDEKO HONYFLOUR HONYFLOUR LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK VITAFOAM VITAFOAM LAWUNION LAWUNION OANDO OANDO NB NB ETI

145.12 15.67 15.67 18.39

137.87 14.89 14.89 17.48

1.70 1.30 1.30 0.89

1.62 1.24 1.24 0.85

18.39 5.14 5.14 1.70

ETI UNITYBNK UNITYBNK FBNH FBNH FIDELITYBK FIDELITYBK ZENITHBANK ZENITHBANK AIICO AIICO SEPLAT

-0.25 -7.25 -7.25 -0.78

0.89 2.77 2.77 0.73

% Change % Change -7.58

-7.58 -5.00 -5.00 -4.98

-0.78 -0.91 -0.91 -0.25

17.48 4.89 4.89 1.62

-4.98 -4.95 -4.95 -4.86

-0.25 -0.08 -0.08 -0.06

-4.86 -4.71 -4.71 -4.62

-0.06 -0.04 -0.04 -0.12

0.85 2.65 2.65 0.70

-4.62 -4.49 -4.49 -4.33

-0.12 -0.03 -0.03 -0.17

-4.33 -4.11 -4.11 -3.20

0.73 5.31 5.31 148.70

0.70 5.14 5.14 144.05

0.70 3.02 3.02 0.90

0.68 2.95 2.95 0.88

0.90 15.00 15.00 0.61

0.88 14.70 14.70 0.60

0.61 385.88 385.88 4.25

0.60 380.00 380.00 4.21

-5.88 -0.04

-1.52 -0.94

4.25 5.65

4.21 5.60

-0.04 -0.05

-0.94 -0.88

148.70 11.15 11.15 0.70

-0.17 -4.65 -4.65 -0.34

144.05 10.81 10.81 0.68

-3.20 -3.13 -3.13 -3.05

-0.34 -0.02 -0.02 -0.07

-3.05 -2.86 -2.86 -2.32

-0.07 -0.02 -0.02 -0.30

-2.32 -2.22 -2.22 -2.00

-0.30 -0.01 -0.01 -5.88

-2.00 -1.64 -1.64 -1.52

20 21

SEPLAT UBA UBA ACCESS

21 22

ACCESS DANGFLOUR

5.65 3.90

5.60 3.87

-0.05 -0.03

-0.88 -0.77

23 22 24 23

WAPCO DANGFLOUR GUINNESS WAPCO

42.50 3.90

42.37 3.87

-0.13 -0.03

-0.31 -0.77

83.00 42.50

82.29 42.37

-0.21 -0.13

-0.25 -0.31

GUINNESS

83.00

82.29

-0.21

-0.25

OTC FX FUTURES OPEN CONTRACTS AS AT OCTOBER 17, 2016 (4:30PM)

Contract Tenor Contract (Month) 1 NGUS OCT 26 2016 2 NGUS NOV 23 2016 3 NGUS DEC 21 2016 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 4 NGUS JAN 25 2017 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FEB 22 2017 5 NGUS 6 NGUS MAR 22 2017 7 NGUS APR 26 2017 8 NGUS MAY 24 2017 9 NGUS JUN 21 2017

Nikkei rises as dollar steady against yen

apan’s Nikkei share average rose in choppy trade on Monday as the dollar was steady against the yen, while Tokyo Electric Power stumbled after an anti-nuclear candidate won a Japanese regional election. The overall market’s mood had been supported by the dollar’s return above 104.00 yen since Friday

Settlement Date 26-Oct-2016 23-Nov-2016 21-Dec-2016 25-Jan-2017 22-Feb-2017 22-Mar-2017 26-Apr-2017 24-May-2017 21-Jun-2017

NGUS JUL 19 2017

NGUS AUG 16 2017

16-Aug-2017

NGUS SEP 20 2017

20-Sep-2017

19-Jul-2017

Value of Open Current Rate Contracts ($’mm) ($/₦) 268.66 295.50 356.35 290.50 406.91 285.50 Page 1 of 126.42 280.50 Page 275.50 1 of 178.79 196.76 270.50 794.42 265.50 141.65 260.50 498.93 255.50 457.89 250.50

Total

129.72 13.20

3569.70

240.50 243.50

Termination of Trading Trading shall cease at 2:00PM eight (8) calendar days before the expiry date of each respective Contract. i.e. the Tuesday preceding the week the contract expires.

NITTY Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

15.4892

0.45

15.7727

0.73

15.8699

0.81

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

419.7317

USD

304.5

EURO

335.1632

CFA

0.5028

YEN

2.9175

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

307.7312

O/N

70.1667

19.2987

POUNDS STERLING

373.1039

20.0688

SDR

419.7837

22.1379

NITTY as @ October 14, 2016

NIBOR

NIBOR as @ October 14, 2016NIBOR FAQs

Business Features & Finance

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tackling scourge of poverty in Nigeria Ngozi Okpalakunne Reports

with

Agency

overty is one of the significant global problems. People in many countries suffer from poverty but it mostly concerns developing countries. According to United Nations (UN), poverty is a violation of human dignity and the inability of persons to make choices and get opportunities. One of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims at ending “poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030’’, claims that poverty results, not just from the lack of just one thing, but from many different interrelated factors. “Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. “Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decisionmaking.’’ The UN says that one in every five persons in developing regions still lives on less than 1.25 U.S. dollars a day, adding that there are millions more who earn a little more than this amount daily. “Eight hundred and thirty-six million people across the globe still live in extreme poverty, while high poverty rates are often found in small, fragile and conflict-affected countries,’’ it says. To UN, causes of poverty include unemployment, social exclusion and high vulnerability of certain population to disasters, diseases and other phenomena which prevent them from being productive. As part of efforts to raise global awareness of poverty issues, the UN General Assembly has earmarked October 17 every year as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. “The day is designated to promote public awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries. “It represents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty; a chance for them to make their concerns heard,’’ the UN says. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Moving from Humiliation and Exclusion to Participation: Ending Poverty in all its Forms”. However, a report on Nigeria’s Common Country Analysis by the UN describes Nigeria as one of the poorest and unequal countries in the world, with over 80 million of its population living below the poverty line. The report says: “Nigeria, with a population of over 175 million, is the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world. “Nigeria’s population will be approximately 200 million by 2019 and over 400 million by 2050, becoming one of the top five populous countries in the world.’’ Besides, the report says that poverty

President Buhari and hunger have remained high in rural areas, remote communities and among female-headed households. “Youth unemployment which is 42 per cent in 2016 is very high; creating poverty, helplessness, despair and easy targets for crime and terrorism. “Over 10 million children of school age are out of schools with no knowledge and skills. “The major challenges currently facing Nigeria, which constrain her economic growth and social development, are lack of good governance and increased insecurity.” However, Mr Tiamiyu Bode, a civil servant, insists that the current economic recession, insurgency and attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta are some of the causes of poverty in the land. “Insurgency has resulted in attacks on the infrastructure. Attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta have led to a significant reduction in our crude oil exports, thereby leading to a reduction in government revenue. “Corruption, misappropriation of funds and other anomalies have aggravated the menace of poverty in the country,’’ he says. Bode, nonetheless, calls on the government to introduce sound poverty eradication programmes and policies in the country, while assuaging the effects of poverty on Nigerians. Sharing similar sentiments, Ms Ijeo-

Ngige ma Chukwuma, another civil servant, attributes the widespread poverty in the country to the lack of affordable skills acquisition channels. She argues that with the paucity of white-collar jobs in the country, individuals ought to be more creative by learning new skills that will enable them to become self-reliant. “All the same, some people are just too lazy; they may have the skills, but may lack the willpower to put the knowledge into use. Such people are just waiting for motivation,’’ she says. Chukwuma, however, believes that the aggravated poverty in the country can be partly blamed on the current economic recession in the country. “We have low level of education and malnutrition because most families are eating just to satisfy hunger, while their meals are deficient in basic nutrients. “Besides, on a mega level, there are abandoned facilities everywhere, begging to be fixed,’’ she adds. Chukwuma urges the government to make pragmatic efforts to create jobs for the unemployed. However, Mr. Okon Bassey, a businessman, insists that poverty is a product of the mind. “If you don’t think on how to tackle poverty, it will manifest in every area of your life,’’ he says. Bassey emphasises that education plays a vital role in efforts to tackle pov-

‘F

ighting poverty in a sustainable manner requires providing everyone with the means to be autonomous. People should be able to assert themselves as active agents throughout their own lives by harnessing the potential of education, science, culture and information

’

erty. “Well-meaning and affluent Nigerians should initiate skills acquisition schemes for people in their communities. “Legislators should also use part of their constituency allowances to assist their constituents, particularly those who are not educated, in efforts to develop their skills and create wealth,’’ he says. As part of efforts to reduce poverty in Nigeria, the U.S. Government recently announced the release of 92.73 million U.S. dollars in development assistance to support the five-year 2.3 billion-U.S.-dollar agreement it signed with the Federal Government in 2015. The U.S. Embassy, via a statement, says that the funds are provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “This funding will continue to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty in a more stable and democratic society. “Activities will stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote healthier, more educated population and strengthen good governance,” the statement says. It quotes USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey as expressing the belief that the funding will have a positive impact on Nigerians. For United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), eradication of poverty represents a cornerstone in the fight for human rights and human dignity. “Fighting poverty in a sustainable manner requires providing everyone with the means to be autonomous. “People should be able to assert themselves as active agents throughout their own lives by harnessing the potential of education, science, culture and information,’’ UNESCO says.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

EUKDA laments Lagos govt nonimplementation of panel’s report Toyin Mohammed

ollowing reports of the tribunal of inquiry which was set up by Lagos state government to look into the causes of civil disturbances at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, a consortium of landowners in Epe, Lagos state, the Eyin-Osa United Kingdom Development Association, (EUKDA) has lamented Lagos state government non-implementation of the reports of the committee. It could be recalled that , Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on 22nd of October, 2015 inaugurated a 6-man panel of inquiry chaired by Hon. Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi to investigate the causes of civil disturbances in Okunraye, Epe, Lagos which arose from the state government’s acquisition and excision of lands in Eyin-Osa, Epe, Lagos state. In its recommendations as contained in the Lagos state government white paper issued in March 2016, the tribunal submitted that government should embark on stocktaking exercise to identify families that have not been re-settled or taken possession of land excised to them. The recommendations read in part, “There should be a stock-taking exercise by Lagos state government (LASG) to identify communities that have not been re-settled or given possession of land excised to them. Such communities should be enabled by the state government to take possession by promptly paying compensation to the owners of the land that is being given to ‘strangers’ in the course of the resettlement; whereas, in all cases,

certificate of occupancy should accompany excision while in cases of acquisition, at least 20 percent thereof should be excised to the owners and LASG should assist the said owners by laying out the land”. However, a year after the panel’s recommendations, EUKDA has complained about Lagos state government nonimplementation of the recommendations of the panel of inquiry. Speaking recently with newsmen, President, EUKDA, Alhaji Muftau Shittu informed that members of Eyin-Osa United Kingdom Landowners Association who are largely farmers and fishermen have been deprived of their means of livelihood and are on the verge of being denied of the lands bequeath to them by their forefathers. He reiterates the standpoint of EUKDA as he said, “In 2004, Lagos state government acquired 16,500 hectares in which Eyin-Osa lands formed part of parcel ‘B’ alongside with Abomiti and Yegunda. But after series of consultations with various families and having weighed the various measures introduced by the government to acquire lands in Eyin-Osa, EUKDA felt aggrieved. But with the commissioning of Hon. Justice Olateru-Olagbegi’s panel of inquiry by the state government, rays of hope seem shiner. The entire land area in Eyin-Osa belong to over 120 families that made up the association. However, members have decided to give up 30 percent of the total land area for government acquisitions and this of course should be fully compensated based on the agreement between the two parties. While the remaining unused land shall be retained by Eyin Osa land owners.

Middle: Alhaji Muftau Shittu, President, Eyin-Osa United Kingdom Development Association flanked by other executive members of the association during a media forum recently in Epe, Lagos State. “Conversely, we are demanding the implementation of the panel of inquiry which was inaugurated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2015 and chaired by Hon. Justice Olateru-Olagbegi. Instructively, I want to state here and now that we are law-abiding citizens of the state and as much as we abide by the laws that govern the state, we will not want any individual or government to see himself or itself over and above the laws of the land. We are not aware of any law that grants constitutional power to Lagos state government to sell lands apart from being custodian of lands. We therefore insist that all acquired, but unused lands should be returned to the original owners while land owners should be allowed to remain on their lands to preserve their cultural heritage. We therefore condemn the plans of the

government to move the people out of their lands to an unknown destination. It is needless to say that the consequence of doing such is better imagined than experienced as it would impact negatively on their cultural heritage. So, we implore Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to use his good office to implement the report of the tribunal in order to alleviate the sufferings of the affected families and for peace to reign in the community’’. In similar vein, vice-president of EKUDA, Mr. Alade Shabi condemned in strong terms all attempt by the state government to dispossess the people of Eyin-osa community of their land as he said “Lagos government should acquire lands only for developmental reasons which is for the interest of the host community and that should be duly compensated for and not deprive indigenes of their lands and means of livelihood”.

NYSC gives succour to physically challenged, less-privileged in Ogun Temitope Salami OGUN

he National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ogun has distributed 11 wheelchairs and 250 mosquito nets to the physically challenged and the less-privileged persons in some rural areas of the state. The gesture is to commemorate its 2016 Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD). Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the NYSC Director-General, announced this recently at the flag-off of the HIRD week in Odonoko village, Ijebu-East Local Government Area of Ogun. The scheme, which was inaugurated in 2015 is targeted at providing free healthcare to rural dwellers across the country. The D-G said the concept of bringing free healthcare to the grassroots became imperative because of poor access to quality medical facilities in rural communities. He said the goal of the HIRD programme was to mobilise corps medical volunteers to provide health interventions through diagnosis, treatment, referrals and proper prevention mechanisms. Kazaure said in driving the health initiative scheme, the NYSC hoped to help to enhance the general well-being of rural dwellers across communities in the country. The D-G, who was represented by Mrs. Rhoda Kwaki, Director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, assured that the HIRD would be sustained by the service. “The HIRD, which was conceived as an idea over two years ago has today become not only a reality, but has gained national acceptance. “As managers of the scheme, we are prepared

Some of the beneficiaries at the event to leverage on the well spread abundant human resources at our disposal to improve the quality of life of our people. “This health outreach, which is taking place simultaneously in some selected rural communities across the nation has been designed to address the health challenges of our dear people. “Our confidence in the success of the programme lies in our partners and stakeholders, who are either assisting us with

personnel or providing support with drugs and medical equipment. “It is my hope that our efforts in enhancing the quality of life of our people through this programme will endure and be sustained in the history of this nation,” Kazaure said. Mr James Afolayan, the Ogun State Coordinator of NYSC said the HIRD initiative could not have come at a better time, considering the socio-economic challenges the country was going through.

Afolayan urged the beneficiaries of the programme to embrace it in its entirety for sustainable development of their communities as well as to improve their well-being. He urged them not to take to self-medication and `blind’ treatment with local methods while laying emphasis on preventive medicine and the need to adopt healthy lifestyles. “This initiative is for the benefit of everyone, hence our people must take ownership and participate fully for the good health of all,” Afolayan said. Apart from Odonoko, the coordinator said the week-long activity would also be held at Ijebu-Mushin, Itori and Ibeshe in Ijebu-East, Ewekoro and Yewa-North Local Government areas. The Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, who was represented by Mr. Afolabi Afuape, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, welcomed the NYSC initiative, assuring of its success by providing support. “By the conception of this health scheme, the NYSC has continued to demonstrate its capabilities as an agent of not just national integration but also socio-economic development. “It is not only a viable approach to sustain healthcare of our rural-dwellers but in the long run promote poverty alleviation and food security. “The NYSC’s initiative will go a long way in tackling and reducing infant mortality, maternal morbidity and generally improve the healthcare of our people,” Amosun said. The Community Head of Odonoko, Chief Adebogun Asunmo, thanked the NYSC for the HIRD programme, saying it would help to bring relief to their lives.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

We want our child back in school, Ese Oruru’s parents plead Ebiowei L awal

arents of Miss Ese Oruru, yesterday cried out to Delta and Bayelsa State governments to assist in returning their daughter to school as her continued stay in Police protective custody, according to them, was no longer conducive. Oruru is the 14 year old girl allegedly abducted from Bayelsa State last August and taken to Kano where she was allegedly forced into marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Oruru, who made the plea yesterday at the premises of a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, lamented that it was sad to note that while the accused was enjoying freedom on bail, the victim was being denied freedom under the guise of protection. They insisted that the conditions that Ese and her baby were kept was not conducive for the

welfare of the mother and her baby. Miss Ese Oruru 14, gave birth to a baby girl on May 25, 2016 while in Police care at the Police Officers Mess in Yenagoa. The father of Ese Oruru, Mr. Charles Oruru, expressed sadness over his daughter’s stay at the police officers mess with the new born baby. Mr. Oruru said that Ese is supposed to be in school, “My daughter has been yearning and even crying to go back to school as her classmates are now ahead of her; she has lost a whole year because of this saga and she is still in Police protective custody while the accused is enjoying freedom on bail. “I am begging the Delta State government, Nigerians and the world at large to come to our aid. Nowadays, without education one is going to nowhere, so she is not doing anything in their

custody, while the accused move freely and she is suffering at the place. “I have called on Delta government to assist because I have five children and Ese is the second to the last child. So, my state should come to my family aid.” The mother of Ese, Mrs. Rose Oruru, said her daughter was not properly taken care of as one nursing a baby with regards to nutrition and psychological care in a homely environment. “People from Bayelsa have been assisting us and even the police officers; we want to leave

there to our house because the place (Police Officers Mess) is not a good place to stay and bring up a new born baby. We are just abandoned in a room that we are not even allowed to go out; we stay with our trash bin that smells, we and the new born baby are compelled to breathe the offensive smell. “So, the world should note that we are being marginalises for no reason, as the boy, Yunusa, is still owing me some money after taking my daughter to Kano to impregnate her,” she said

Meanwhile, the court yesterday continued hearing in the case of criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor against the accused, Yunusa Dahiru, and was later adjourned till December 8th, 2016. Counsel to the accused, Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, who was in court with Yunusa who has been granted bail said no information was given as to the reason for the court’s failure to sit. He said the case had been adjourned till December 8 for further hearing of the matter.

Cleric urges govt to ensure nation’s security Richard Ndoma

t. Rev.Tunde Adeleye, yesterday charged governments at all levels to strengthen the nation`s security apparatus so as to put an end to kidnapping and all forms of criminality. Adeleye made the call while briefing journalists on activities lined up for the second session of the 9th Synod of the Diocese of Calabar at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Calabar. “We call for intensification of security apparatus,” Adeleye said. The cleric lamented how one of his pastors was kidnapped some months ago through the waterways and taken away to Bayelsa State. He stressed that when the kidnappers were asked by the victims on why they took to kidnapping, the kidnappers replied that they were doing that for money due to lack of jobs. Adeleye said, “Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder and when it explodes it will be terri-

ble because those who are watching and those sitting on it will tear into shreds”. He attributed the causes of kidnapping and other forms of crimes to include high rate of unemployment, illiteracy, injustice and hunger. He chastised government at all levels for absence of economic plans, lack of care for youths; corruption; socio-political grievances and ostentatious lifestyle by the rich. The clergy called on government to amend state and federal laws to punish offenders, employ all able bodied men in Nigeria. On the issue of Niger Delta Avengers, Adeleye charged federal government to “please tread a little softly on the determination to deal with the Niger Delta militants”. “It’s not useful to kill a fly with a gun. We also plead with Avengers and other militant groups in Nigeria`s Niger Delta to please stop the attack and bombings of the oil and producing facilities in the Delta Area,” Adeleye maintained.

Representative of the wife of Rivers’ Governor, Mrs. Onimim Jack (with Microphone) and other officials during the International Food Festival in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

N’Delta youths laud Buhari for restoring Nigeria’s lost image T

he Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), Ondo State Chapter, on Monday commended President Muhammad Buhari for restoring Nigeria’s lost image through his fight against corruption. The commendation is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Agbejoye Adetoye, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. It said that Buhari’s administration had within one year, restored the image of the coun-

try, which was lost for decades in the eyes of the international community. The group also appreciated the president for injecting integrity and discipline in the conduct of public affairs. “The record of our President has created in just one year of administration is clear. Every living Nigerian can testify that he is living up to his campaign promises. “I can still remember one of his sayings, ‘If Nigeria refuses

to kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.’ “We want to urge Mr. President to continue his good work and we would be solidly behind him,” Adetoye said. It solicited the support of Nigerians in the current efforts to end insurgency and rescue all the abducted Chibok girls. The group urged the president to nominate a youth from Ondo into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Rivers: Suspected murderer of policeman feared dead Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

suspected cultist, popularly called “Shina Rambo”, who allegedly killed an operative of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Rivers State Police Command in Borikiri area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State about two weeks ago, is feared dead. This is as the people of Olomu-Ogbogo (Borikiri) community in Port Harcourt City local government area of Rivers State have commended the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, over the release of 16 residents of the community, who were arrested after the killing of a policeman in the community. It was gathered that the suspected cultist, whose action led to the destruction of houses, cars and other property belonging to residents of Rex Lawson Street in Borokiri was shot dead by members of a suspected rival cult group at the Abuja Estate Waterfront in the Old Port Harcourt township. A resident of the community who did not want his name in print said, “We heard that “Shina Rambo” was shot near Abuja Waterfront and he died there. Thereafter, his boys brought his corpse to his house at Rex Lawson Waterfront where they embalmed and buried him later.” Speaking to newsmen later, the chairman, Olomu-Ogbogo (Borokiri) Community Development Committee (CDC), Isreal Okari, however said he was yet to see the corpse of the suspected cultist. Okari said, “Actually, as rumours may have it, I heard that he has been killed but, believe me, I have not seen the body and I cannot say something that I don’t really know.” He lauded Police Commis-

•16 arrested residents released sioner Odesanya over the release of 16 residents of the community who were arrested following the murder of the policeman and reminded him that one of the residents was still in detention.

The CDC chairman said, “To be truthful to you, immediately the incident happened, we called the Commissioner of Police and he was here the following day. There are persons

We have been begging them and asking why they are still keeping him. “That one is still pending and we are asking what is the problem and why that one is still pending,” Okari said.

A cultural group performing a dance during the World International Day for the Girl Child at the Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Rivers is promoting food security, says governor’s wife

he wife of Rivers Governor, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, says one of the ways state government is promoting food security is by encouraging young people to embrace agriculture. A statement by Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant to Governor on Electronic Media, said Eberechi made this known at a programme organised by the promoters of Port Harcourt International Festival to mark the 2016 World Food Day on Monday. Eberechi, represented by the

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Onimim Jack, said that the state government had taken measures to improve food production in the state. She said with young people participating in agriculture, the state would not experience food shortages, adding: “we have introduced practical agriculture in our schools across the state. The aim is to ensure that each school with a space has a farm where students will practice agriculture .” The wife of the governor also addressed inmates at the Port

2 men docked over alleged theft of MTN property in Benin wo men, Emmanuel Destiny, 18, and Desmond Emmanuel, 22, were on Monday arraigned before an Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin, over alleged theft of MTN properties. The accused are facing a twocount charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. The prosecutor, Inspector

they arrested innocently; about 17 of them. “We managed to talk to the Police that these 17 persons are innocent and they have released 16 to us. One is still with them.

Thomas Ojo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 10 at New Benin, Off New Lagos Road in Benin. Ojo said that the accused unlawfully burgled an MTN store and made away with properties worth N65, 900. The prosecutor said the offences contravened Section 516

and 411 of the criminal code. The duo, however, pleaded not guilty. The magistrate, Mrs. J.O. Ejale, granted both accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 each and a surety each in like sum. Ejale ordered that the sureties must the gainfully employed. He adjourned the case till December 15, for hearing.

Harcourt Remand Home, where she urged the children to learn fish farming and reintroduce to the home. She inaugurated the reintroduction of fish farming at the home by introducing finger-

lings into the two rehabilitated ponds in the correction facility. Eberechi also noted that fish farming at correctional facility would help build the nutrition of inmates as they would produce for their own consumption.

Assemblies of God Church in unity rally Isesele Ezekiel

embers of Assemblies of God Church, SouthSouth zone, yesterday embarked on a unity rally in Benin City, Edo State, with a call on those involved in the lingering leadership crisis to bury the hatchet The leadership crisis rocking the church for over two years now between Superintendent, Professor Paul Emeka and Reverend Chidi Okoroafor had since split members of the church into different camps In a signed statement by Secretary of the church, Palmer Sunday, and made available to newsmen yesterday by the Sapele District of Assemblies

of God Nigeria, the group said they were resolved in ensuring that unity and lasting peace prevailed despite the imbroglio the church had witnessed. “We stand against division, crisis and disunity among the church. The General Council of Assemblies of God, Nigeria under the leadership of Reverend Paul Emeka extends hand of fellowship to all assemblies of God members home and abroad to join the fight for total reconciliation. “Reconciliation is the answer to stop crisis in the church as recommended by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Inspector General of Police, Corporate Affairs of Nigeria and the Christian Association of Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.

South West

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Unremitted deductions: Ogun workers declare indefinite strike Femi Oyeweso ABEOKUTA

eadership of the organised labour in Ogun State Monday, ordered its members to commence an indefinite strike beginning from Thursday 20th October, should the state government fails to honour the promises reached with them over unremitted deductions running to several months. Ogun State workers, under the aegis of Joint Na-

...we’re unaware of strike notice –SSG

tional Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC), that issued a fresh 48 hours ultimatum to the state government to address their grievances also declared that they would not call off their indefinite strike unless the state government fulfilled its many pledges contained in the various agreements reached with them at several meetings with their leaders.

Ajimobi assents to Oyo LCDA bill Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

yo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has assented to the bill on the creation of 35 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, who addressed journalists after the State Executive Council meeting, said the bill tagged, Re-A Law to Further Amend the Local Government Law, 2001 enacted by the state House of Assembly gave legal impetus to the creation of LCDAs in the state and it was assented to by the governor on October 6, 2016. He said the governor assented to the bill after extensive deliberations on the legislation by the state house of assembly, saying that a committee would be set up to formulate the modalities for the smooth take off of the LCDAs. He said: “May I recall that the Oyo State Government had announced the creation of LCDAs on August 23, 2016 in response to a correspondence from the Oyo State House of Assembly requesting the executive arm to create LCDAs in order to facilitate development at the grassroots. The State Assembly at its sitting on Thursday, June 16, 2016, discussed a motion bothering on the creation of LCDAs and subsequently sent correspondence on it to the executive for consideration.” Arulogun stressed that there would be fourteen (14) LCDAs in Ibadan zone, two (2) in Ibarapa zone, four (4) in Oyo zone, seven (7) in Ogbomoso zone and eight

(8) in Oke-ogun zone, adding that with the creation of the LCDAs development would be hastened in local communities and government would be brought closer to the people. He stated further that two LDCAs were created from Akinyele: Akinyele East and Akinyele South with headquarters at Ikereku and Igbo-Oloyin respectively; Lagelu has Lagelu West and Lagelu North with headquarters at Olorunda Aba and Oyedeji; Egbeda has Ajorosun with the headquaters at Olodo; OnaAra: Inukan- Ajia; Oluyole LG: Akorede-Olode; Ido: Omi-Apata-Omi-Adio; Ibadan North: Are latosa – Samonda and Irepodun – Ijokodo; Ibadan North East: Ibadan East-Agugu; Ibadan North West: Oke-badan North – Eleyele; Ibadan South East: Ibadan South – Scout Camp; and Ibadan south west has Ibadan west with Alesinloye as the hq. Also, Ibarapa East has Ibarapa North East with Hq at Lanlate; Ibarapa North: Ibarapa North west – Igangan; Afijio: Afijio West – Ilora; Atiba: Soro – Oke Isuwin; Oyo West: Oyo South West – Akeetan; Oyo East: Oyo South East – Apaara Oyo; Ogbomoso North: Ogbomoso Central – Oja-Igbo; Ogbomoso South: Ogbomoso South West – Ajegunle Ibafon; Ogo-Oluwa: Ogo-Oluwa West – Odo Oba (Oja-Oba); Surulere: Surulere North – Orile-Igbon and Surulere South – Oko; Oriire: Oriire South – Olokoto; Oriire North – Olokoto; Saki West: Asabari – Kinnikinni and Wewe – Idi-Araba and Kajola which has Iwa LCDA and ilero has the headquarter.

At a press conference addressed Monday in Abeokuta, the state capital by the chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Akeem Ambali, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Olubunmi Fajobi and that of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Comrade Abiodun Olakanmi, the workers demanded an outright stoppage of the Contributory Pensions Deductions which they claimed is presently mori-

bund. The workers’ other demands included immediate payment of 72 months unremitted deductions under the Contributory Pensions Scheme; 12 months unremitted global deductions which included the cooperative deductions, end of the year workers’ savings, bank loan as well as the “Ileya” and other festival savings among other deductions. The workers also demanded that the state gov-

ernment should without further delay; commence implementation of 16 months unpaid salaries being owed staff of the Tai Solarin College of Education (TAISCE), Omu - Ijebu. The workers further stated that they have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike this time follow the 21 days ultimatum earlier issued to the state government which they said expired on 29th September, 2016. The workers maintained that the state government still has between Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th of

October to negotiate with its leadership, failure of which the planned indefinite strike would commence. “All civil servants in Ogun State are directed to proceed on indefinite strike on Thursday 20th October, 2016 until they are otherwise directed by the leadership of the organised labour. Without the state government attending to these demands, the industrial action we are embarking on come to effect on Thursday 20th October, 2016 and will not be called off”.

Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Olatunji Disu (middle), flanked by Officers of Nigeria Police Pilot (Air wing) during a special training section on drone surveillance at the RRS Headquarters in Alausa Ikeja Lagos, yesterday.

Aregbesola restates commitment to poverty eradication Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

sun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Monday restated the commitment of his administration towards eradicating hunger and making life meaningful for the people of the state. The governor at a programme commemorating the 2016 International Day of Poverty Eradication in Osogbo, also disclosed that his government remains resolute to do everything humanly possible to champion the cause of creating wealth by eradicating poverty. Aregbesola in a speech titled; “Poverty Has No Place With Us”, said all his policies and programmes have been with the intention to eradicate poverty, makes life more abundant and as well create wealth for the citizenry.

He said his government’s six-point integral action plan of Banishing Poverty, Banishing Hunger, Banishing Unemployment, Restoring Healthy Living, Promoting Functional Education and Enhancing Communal Peace and Progress are designed to lift the condition of the people from being poverty stricken to being wealthy. Speaking on some of the achievements of his administration, he recalled that his tenure had successfully established Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) through which over 40,000 cadets were employed into public works within two years. “We gave the first batch safe landing with jobs in teaching, various agriculture schemes and ICT. For this, Osun now has one of the least unemployment figures in Nigeria while the

state is also among those with the lowest crimes rate. “The N200 million monthly allowance paid to the cadets reflated the economy of Osun and shot it up to the seventh largest GDP in Nigeria, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics”, he added. In his welcome address, the Chairman Osun Community and Social Development Project, CSDP, Alhaji Abdul-Rahaman Musa, commended Governor Aregbesola for all he has done in giving life in abundance to the people of the state through various poverty alleviation programmes in the state. Musa held that the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola has witnessed growth and poverty, reduced through the demonstration of high sense of passion, having consistently pursued ac-

tions tailored towards increasing access of poor people to social and natural infrastructures. He said the government has clearly demonstrated its commitment towards regular payment of annual government contributions to the cause of Community and Social Development Project, adding that the state has released a total sum of N550million directly between 2010 and 2015. Musa disclosed that the agency has obtained for the projects a concessionary non-interest loan of N1.3billion from World Bank between 2010 and 2016. Earlier, the General Manager, Osun CSDP, Mrs. Funmi Abokede, commended Governor Aregbesola for being consistent in his payment of counterpart funds.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME CHANGE

Formerly known and addressed as AGADA OTONBRA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as CLIFF-AGADA OTHMAN TAM. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ANASTASIA CHINENYE NKWONTA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as CHINENYE ANASTASIA OBIMBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as LAWAL ADIJAT ABIMBOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as KAMORU-RAHEEM ADIJAT ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UDOH DAVID, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ETUKUDO DAVID AKPAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ALEXANDER OLUGBENGA SUCCESS, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLUGBENGA ABDULKAREEM SHITTU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as NWORIE CHINWE OGODO, now wish to be known and addressed as NWORIE CHINWE BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly MISS OMOTOYE OMOLANKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OMOTOLA OMOTOYE OMOLANKE. All former document remain valid general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ONYEKWERE CHUKWUDI HAPPINESS, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUDDY NAPUTAM H ONYEKWERE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MICHAEL TUNDE OGUNTOYINBO, now wish to be known and addressed as TUNDE AKANNI OGUNTOYINBO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OMOTOBA OMOLOLA ABOSEDE ABIDAT, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEOYE OMOLOLA ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly called and addressed as TOWOBADE OMOTAYO RASHIDAT Now wish to be known and addressed as GIWA OMOTAYO RASHIDAT. All documents bearing the former names remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ODELANA: I, formerly known and addressed as ODELANA OLUSOLA SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as ADIGUN OLUKUNLE EMMANUEL All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

OSIN: I, formerly known and addressed as OSIN OLUWADAMILOLA TEMITAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as OSIN DAMILOLA TEMITAYO . All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as KAREEM ADEOLA HALIMAH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AMURE ADEOLA HALIMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as GEORGE GODWIN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AKPOBARO GEORGE OGBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADDITION OF NAME That on my international Passport, my name was written as CHINATU DAVID IFEANYI, while on my bank documents my name was written as DAVID IFEANYI. That I am the same person bearing both names mentioned above and now added ‘CHINATU’ to the other names. That henceforth wish to be known and addressed as CHINATU DAVID IFEANYI. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED AZEEZ BAYAJIDA OKEOWO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as JUDAH HASKE UBANGIJI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS WILLIAMS ADEPEJU MOTUNRAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ABIATU ADEPEJU MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as VIVIAN UKAMAKA EKE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as VIVIAN UKAMAKA NGWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OMEH FAITH FREDRICK, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OMEHFREDRICK NKIRUKA CARAFAITH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ANNA ARIAHU now wish to be known and addressed as ANNA UKAWEN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known &addressed as MRS. OLOYEDE BUKOLA SEKINAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS AZEEZ BUKOLA SEKINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

TIAMIYU BUKOLA BALIKIS and FABUNMI BALQEES BUKOLA are the same now wish to be known and addressed as FABUNNI BALQEES BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ISSA ABUBAKAR, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TAPA LIMAN YAHAYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as NAJIMU DAUDA KOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as DAUDA NAJEEM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly know and addressed as MISS PASCALINE OGE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PASCALINE OGE EZE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as NDU BLESSING UBEYI, now wish to be known and addressed as AJAH ESTHER ONYEMACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AJIBO LORRETTA NWABUGO, now wish to be known and addressed as AMAECHI LORRETTA NWABUGO. MY DATE OF BIRTH 22:07-1979- NOT 22:07:1977. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AKHIBI ABIGAIL OMO, now wish to be known and addressed as UYANNE ABIGAIL OMO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I,formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAYINKA OLUBUNMI OBANUBI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLAYINKA OLUBUNMI KEHINDE-OKE. All former documents remain valid General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AWE OLUSEUN DAVID now wish to be known and addressed as AWE JOHNSON OLADIMEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name and date of birth were mistakenly written on as JUBLIS FATIMAN REBECCA and my date of birth as 20th of May 1975 instead of JUBRIL FATIMONT REBECCA and 4th of March 1975. That my correct name and date of birth are JUBRIL FATIMONT REBECCA and 4th of March 1975. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as YAHAYA ABUBAKAR JABIRU, now wish to be known and addressed as YAHAYA ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as : MRS. ADEBOLA OLUKEMI AYOBELLO now which to be known and addressed as: MISS. ADEBOLA OLUKEMI ADEJUGBAGBE. All former documents remains valid.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OMAEJORUKONO ORITSEWEYINMI HOPE, HENCEFORTH WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OGWOLIGHO ORITSEWEYINMI HOPE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS AND GENERAL PUBLIC, TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

KILANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MRS KILANI OLUWATOYIN ABIDEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS ALAWODE OLUWATOYIN ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This to confirm that ELIZABERTH OLA OYENIJI and ELIZABERTH OLA SELERE refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note

Friday, February 14, 2014

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

AGORO: I, formerly known and addressed as AGORO OMOLOLA FARIDA, now wish to be known and addressed as DURODOLA OMOLOLA FARIDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

HASSAN: I, formerly known and addressed as HASSAN MURITALA MOHAMMED, now wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN MUDI MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as TAJUDEEN OSHOLO BAKARE, now wish to be known and addressed as TAJUDEEN OLANREWAJU BAKARE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAMI COURAGE OMON, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SOLARIN COURAGE OMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OKEKE MERCY AMAKA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. IBENECHE MERCY AMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ABIGAIL ARUORIWO AKPOROKOKA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ABIGAIL ARUORIWO JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly know and addressed as MISS OKONKWO AGATHA UDOKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZENWANAGU AGATHA UDOKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as ABDULGANIYU HAMEED now to be known and addressed as ABDULGANIYU HAMEED ADEKOLA. All former documents remain valid, general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ALFRED JUNIOR OKECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAFOR OKECHUKWU ALFRED. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MATANMI MARIAM OMOTOLANI, now wish to be known and addressed as SAHEED..MATANMI MARIAM OMOTOLANI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. FREGENE NAOMI ORIGHOMISAN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ENO NAOMI ORIGHOMISAN. All former documents remain valid. Financial Institutions, Authorities Concern and general public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SIMEIPIRI POINTYFEIX ANABRABA, now wish to be known and addressed as ANABRABA LOVELYN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as OGUNDE OLUWAFUNMILAYO now wish to be known and addressed as AMUSA RUKAYAT OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note. CHANGE OF NAME

OLOYEDE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLOYEDE IDOWU TAWAKALITU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SHITTU IDOWU TAWAKALITU All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that, IDIATA ONOSEMUDIANA J. and IDIATA JEROME. Refer to one and same person. My full name is IDIATA JEROME ONOSEMUDIANA. All document bearing this names remain valid, Banks and general public should please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OKOHA REGINA, now wish to be known and addressed as REGINA ENIKAN OLAYE. All fomer documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS KUKU OLUFUNMILAYO ABIGAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKORO - FRED OLUFUNMILAYO ABIGAEL. All former document remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADEWALE SAKIRAT OLUWATOYIN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ISHAU SAKIRAT OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as EZEONU OLUCHUKWU MARYCEANNA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OKERE OLUCHUKWU MARYCEANNA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNDELE ESTHER OLUWATOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as SHODIYA ESTHER OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as MISS OJO ESTHER OLUWASEUN now to be addressed as MRS. OLAOSEBIKAN ESTHER OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid, H.M.B Ekiti state and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADHEKIVIE OMOWUNMI JANET EWOMAZINO, now wish to be known and addressed as AMOS OMOWUNMI JANET EWOMAZINO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AMOO OLOLADE SEKINAT, now wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE SEKINAT OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as HARRISON BLESSING OMATTA, now wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING CHIBUZOR. All former documents remain valid. National Security and Civil Defence NSCDC, CORPS, Leadway Insurance and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

OGANIRU: Formerly known and addressed as MISS. MAUREEN OGANIRU ODIMARA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MAUREEN OGANIRU SOLOMON MELLAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

HASSAN: I, formerly known and addressed as HASSAN JAMIU OLAWALE, now wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN MUHAMMED JAMIU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ODEKUNLE: I, formerly known and addressed as ODEKUNLE ISMAILA IYANDA now wish to be known and addressed as ODEKUNLE IYANDA EPAPHRAS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as JOHN SUNNY now wish to be known and addressed as KOMI ADJOGBLE. And my date of birth is19-09-1982 banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UDEH JOSEPHINE NNEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as IGBOANUGO JOSEPHINE NNEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AWALA OLUBANKE ANIKE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TIBOYIN, OLUBANKE ANIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as GANIYU IDOWU JAMIU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as GANIYU IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADEJOKE ABIKE GIWA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADEJOKE ABIKE SHITTU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly know and addressed as AMUDALAT ADEKUNLE, now wish to be known and addressed as YUSSUF AMUDALAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as MISS SANNI KEHINDE CHRISTIANAH now to be known as MRS. OLUWAFEMI KEHINDE CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid, H.M.B Ekiti state and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as DADA OBIYE JULIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as SANNI OBIYE JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ALABI OLUWASHOLA IDOWU, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBOYE OLUWASHOLA IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OKPALA BLESSING AZUKAEGO,now wish to be known and addressed as EZEANOCHIE BLESSING AZUKAEGO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ABOLAJI TAOFEEK, now wish to be known and addressed as TAOFEEK ONIMAMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ABDULSALAMI: I, formerly known and addressed as ABDULSALAMI YUSUF OLATUNJI now wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI YUSUF OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

TINA: I, formerly known and addressed as TINA CHRISTIANA THOMPSON, now wish to be known and addressed as TINA CHRISTIANA AKAI. All former documents remain valid.GTB, ECOBANK,FCMB,and ACCESSBANK and General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

This is to certify that the name MR. ORU EMMANUEL and MR. ORU EMMANUEL OGHENEGWEKE refers to one and same person. All documents bearing the above names are mine and remain valid. The general public should take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as OPEYEMI AKANBI, Now wish to be known and addressed as SULIYAT MAMMUD SODIQ. Born on September 1992. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNJUMO OLUWASEUN DOYIN ELIZABETH, now wish to be known as MRS BAKARE SHUKURAT DOYINSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL SAMUEL YAKUBU now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid , First Bank plc and General public to take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS OGUNFESO OLUYEMISI ADEBISI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS AJAYI OLUYEMISI ADEBISI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. CAPITALFIELD INVESTMENT LIMITED AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO NOTE . CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UGOCHUKWU OKAFOR now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR UGOCHUKWU EKENE.All former documents remain valid, general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

NWAFOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAFOR BENEDICTA NWABUAKU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONWUKWE BENEDICTA NWABUAKU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

NWATU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWATU VICTORIA NWABUNDO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWANKWO VICTORIA NWABUNDO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

UKONU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UKONU BLESSING OZIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZEH BLESSING OZIOMA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of loss of Land Documents belonging to PASTOR MATTHEW ONWUKA of Christ Ambassador mission. Deed of indenture Reg as No 5/5/926 and head lease. Reg as No 82/82/374. All effort to trace the said document proved abortive. If found kindly return to Ministry of Lands Enugu. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADENIYI IDOWU now wish to be known and addressed as OSBORNE ADEYINKA JENIFFER. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as ODUNSI ADENIKE MODUPEOLUWA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as JOLAOSO ADENIKE MODUPEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ONUKAGHA SALLY, now wish to be known and addressed as HYACIENTH SALLY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ENOBOH: Formerly known and addressed as MISS ENOBOH MARIA UWARIALA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MARVELLOUS UWARIALA AYEOSARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Friday, February 14, 2014 Tuesday , October 18, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OGUNGBESAN EMILY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ADELEKE EMILY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ODERE OLUWATOYIN CHRISTIANAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OGUNLEYE OLUWATOYIN CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. SKYE BANK PLC and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS AKOMOLAFE IYABODE FELICIA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OLUWOLE DEBORAH FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ADEBAYO ADEBUSOLA ABIODUN, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ISIKAYE ADEBUSOLA ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

OMOFUMA: I formerly known and addressed as MISS OMOFUMA ROSY, now which to be known and addressed as MRS. AKPUHI ROSY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ILESANMI OLUWATOYIN FUNKE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ATURAMU OLUWATOYIN FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government, Igede-Ekiti and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS GRACE HENRY UNANOWO, now wish to be known as MRS. GRACE HENRY ENYENEOWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJOKUBI: I formerly known and addressed as MISS AJOKUBI CHIDINMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PROSPER CHIDINMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOCHA: I formerly known and addressed as MISS. OKOCHA JENNIFER, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ORIAVWOTE JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME This is to inform the general public that i formerly ADEMOLA JOHN DENNY with Eco bank account name and also bear ADEMOLA JELILI ADEOLU on my documents, now wish to change my name to ADEMOLA JOHN ADEOLU. Henceforth my correct names are ADEMOLA JOHN ADEOLU. All former documents remain valid. Eco bank , Access bank plc and the general public take note

Formerly known and addressed as ADEYEMO ADEBIMPE TOYIN now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMO ADEBIMPE FATIMA. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as EZEANI CHINEDU HARRISON now wish to be known and addressed as MR EZE CHINEDU HARRISON. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS TALABI OLUWATOSIN RACHEAL NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS SILAS OLUWATOSIN RACHEAL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that JEDO OMOGBEJA and JEDO ALPHAEUS is the same and one person bearing all the names now wish to be known, called and addressed as JEDO ALPHEAUS OMOGBEJA. Also, my correct name is 12th day of January, 1970. All former documents bearing the names remain valid. First Bank Plc, Eco bank Plc, and general public take note.

I formerly MISS AKEJU OLUWAKEMI OMOYEMI, now wish to be known as MRS SOBAYO OLUWAKEMI OMOYEMI. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public take note.

That I BEAR JUDE NWAWUBE CHILOKWU, JUDE NWAWUBE UDANYINYA AND JUDE NWAWUBE ZONGO now wish to be known and addressed as JUDE NWAWUBE CHILOKWU. All former documents remain valid , First Bank plc , and the general public to take note . CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that AWONIYI AINA GRACE and BALOGUN AINA GRACE is the same and one person bearing all the names now wish to be known, called and addressed as BALOGUN AINA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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

IGWILO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IGWILO CHISOM SANDRA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNADI CHISOM SANDRA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

NGENE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NGENE SANDRA ONYINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWORIE ONYINYE HILARY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ANAH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANAH ANASTACIA CHIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UCHE ANASTACIA CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNTOMI OLUWASEUN SAMUEL now wish to be known and addressed as ADEUSI ADETOKUBO OLUWASEUN SAMUEL. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that SOLANKE ESTHER ANIMOTU-AYINKE JESULANKE and SOLANKE ANIMOTU refer to as one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to certify that my correct name is NWITE CHINEDU CHRISTIAN not OGO SUNDAY DELE henceforth my name will be spelt, called and addressed as NWITE CHINEDU CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc, U.B.A Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ONYIA: I, formerly known and addressed as ONYIA PEACE GIFT, now wish to be known and addressed as EDWARD ONYINYECHI PEACE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHIBUIKE: I, formerly known and addressed as CHIBUIKE OKEKE CHRISTATUS, now wish to be known and addressed as OKEKE CHIBUIKE JUDE.MY correct date of birth 02/13/1963. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as EZE RACHEL OBIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as NNADI OBIOMA. All former documents remain valid. general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

NOME: I, formerly known and addressed as NOME NNABUIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as NOME SAMUEL NNABUIKE known that my voter’s ID Card “N” means NNABUIKE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as IJEOMA ONUKE now wish to be known and addressed as IJEOMA NANCY NWAOKOLO. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AJIKE IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as AJIKE IFEOMA CLEMENTINA . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as OLADIMEJI AKIN OLALEKAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLADIMEJI AKINOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I was formerly know, called and addressed as GOLD CHIDINMA ONYEBUENYI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as GOLD CHIDINMA MARCUS. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ADETUNJI OLUWATOYIN SARAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEMOSU OLUWATOYIN SARAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

TUNDONU: Formerly known and addressed as TUNDONU OLADELE WENSU now wish to be known and addressed as TUNDONU OLADELE DENON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I, formerly known and addressed as AMUDALAT ADEKUNLE, now wish to be known and addressed as YUSSUF AMUDALAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

GANIYAT: Formerly known and addressed as GANIYAT BALOGUN now wisho to be known and addressed as GANIYAT ABIODUN ADEYANJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to certify that my correct name is ADETOKUNBO ADEKUNLE ADETONA not ADETOKUNBOH ADEKUNLE ADETONA and ADETOKUNBO ADEKUNLE ADETONA henceforth my name will be spelt, called and addressed as ADETONA ADETOKUNBO ADEKUNLE. First Bank Plc, U.B.A Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

OKOLO: I, formerly known and addressed as OKOLO CHISOM, now wish to be known and addressed as OKORO CHISOM. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

EKWENAIBEKAM: I, formerly known and addressed as EKWENAIBEKAM SUNDAY MMADUABUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as EKWENAIBEKAM KINGSLEY MMADUABUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE ROSEANN AMAKA IRENE, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS EZENWATU ROSEANN AMAKA IRENE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SAKIRAT ATUNDA now wish to be known and addressed as ATANDA SHAKIRAT OPEYEMI. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ISMAILA TAOFIKI BABATUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as USMAN TAOFIK BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWUDI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWU CHINENYE KOSISOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR CHINENYE KOSISOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYINYECHI PRISCA EZE, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYINYECHI PRISCA MUOMIEZIE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

AYOBAMI: Formerly known and addressed as MISS AYOBAMI ROSELYN AWE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AYOBAMI ROSELYN JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWOSU:I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWOSU SANDRA CHIDINMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWANKWO SANDRA CHIDINMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

EHUMADU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EHUMADU ONYINYECHI HELEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANYANWU ONYINYECHI HELEN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC CHANGE OF NAME

EMEHELU: I, formerly known and addressed as EMEHELU JOHN MICHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as EMEHELU CHUKWUMA JOHNMARY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

UDEH: I, formerly known and addressed as UDEH KASIEMOBI IFEANYI, now wish to be known and addressed as UDEH JENNIFER IFEANYI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as FATIMA MUSA now wish to be known and addressed as KABIRU FATIMO. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS YUSUF MONSURAT YETUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JIMOH MONSURAT YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ONORIODE: I, formerly known and addressed as ONORIODE MARYMILLAN BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as EKONG MARYMILLIAN BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

EZEH: Formerly known and addressed as EZEH IFEOMA VIVIAN now wish to be known and addressed as IHEANACHO IFEOMA VIVIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

CYNTHIA: Formerly known and addressed as NWATURUOCHA CYNTHIA OGECHI Inow wish to be known and addressed as MRS CYNTHIA OGECHI KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

This is to confirm that ELO URHIRI and EBIRERI .O. EDWIN belong to me, one and the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as EBIRERI .O. EDWIN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ENWEREM: I, formerly known and addressed as ENWEREM EMMANUEL CHIZOBA, now wish to be known and addressed as ENWEREM EMMANUEL CHIMA. All former documents remain valid. Bank and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

IHUOMA: I, formerly known and addressed as IHUOMA CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as IHUOMA PERPETUA CHIAWOTU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ABEL: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ABEL VICTORIA AMARACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EMMA JOHNSON VICTORIA AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that EMEKA NWACHUKWU, JOHN NWACHUKWU and NWACHUKWU EMEKA JOHN refer to one and the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as NWACHUKWU EMEKA JOHN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ITAMAH JOY EWANHIWIMEN now wish to be known and addressed as IRORITERAYE JOY EWANHIWIMEN. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS. SULEMAN ADHISAT BUKOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. KOLADE ADHISAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that RAJI ADESHOLA TOPE and RAJI ADESOLA ORELEKAN refer to as one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

MARTIN: Formerly known and addressed as MARTIN UBONG EKPOT now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL UBONG EKPOT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

ONU: Formerly known and addressed as ONU JOYCE INIKPI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JOYCE INIKPI ARUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

World News “Whoever will be president of the United States must be steady, measured and well-informed. No half measures”. –UNITED STATES’ FIRST LADY, MICHELLE OBAMA

Aid looted as Ban Ki-moon visits Haiti A fol abi G ambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

ngry Haitians looted aid trucks as the United Nation Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, yesterday visited parts of the country hit by Hurricane Matthew, which killed 900 people. Ki-moon said he witnessed a looting incident in Les Cayes, where he promised more aid to Haiti, even as he urged countries to donate more. Officials say more than 1.4 million people urgently need humanitarian help. There are also fears of a cholera outbreak, with spikes in cases and deaths reported in the south west. The waterborne disease reached the island via Nepalese UN troops after the deadly earthquake in 2010, causing the deaths of nearly

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (in blue cap) during his visit to Haiti yesterday 10, 000 people. Tensions have been high as help has yet to reach many families whose crops and water supplies have been de-

stroyed. Haitian police and UN peacekeepers used tear gas to disperse a group of 100 residents who attacked humanitarian

Russia backs ‘Aleppo bombing pause’

ussia said yesterday that it would support a 48-hour ceasefire in Syria’s Aleppo, a move the United Nations Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, says would allow aid to reach besieged areas soon, as long as all sides respected the truce. As viral images of a dazed child pulled from rubble in the heavily bombarded rebel-held east of the city captured the plight of its civilians and drew the attention of the world, Moscow said it was ready to start the first “humanitarian pause” next week. Wester n diplomats gave a cautious welcome to the

Russian President Vladimir Putin

announcement, but stressed that the UN must be in charge of a sustained aid operation. De Mistura has long called for a 48-hour halt in fighting each week to allow aid delivery and medical evacuations from both rebel-held easter n and gover nment-controlled wester n Aleppo. “The Russian Defence Ministry has laid out several conditions for a weekly 48-hour pause in fighting,” a statement said yesterday. “The ministry says it is willing to support the plan as

a pilot programme for the city of Aleppo only. That suggests Russia is not ready to back an indefinite weekly pause in violence. It also suggests there’s plenty for all sides to negotiate before the plan goes into effect,” the statement added. “Our plan is to collectively work out the operational details, and be ready for delivery as soon as possible,” De Mistura’s office also said in a statement. Moscow must ensure the Syrian ar my, its ally, adheres to the pause, while the United States and regional powers must make

convoys in Les Cayes on Saturday. “We understand the impatience and the anger of the population who are waiting for emergency relief. We are doing all we can to facilitate the arrival of the assistance soon as possible,” the UN chief further said. He flew over areas hit by the hurricane alongside Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles. “I was very, very sad when we saw the complete devastation. But people the world over stand with you,” Kimoon added, stressing, “We are going to mobilize as many resources and as much medical support as we can to first of all stop the cholera epidemic and second support the families of the victims.”

sure opposition fighters are on board, he said. Aleppo, Syria’s most populous prewar city and once its commercial hub, has become the focus of fighting in the five-year-old war. Some two million people on both sides of the divided city have been without r unning water for nearly two weeks after infrastr ucture was damaged by bombing earlier this month.

Illicit affair: Dutch envoy investigated

n inquiry has begun into the Dutch Ambassador to China, Ron Keller, amid reports that he had a secret relationship with a local employee. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said Keller would not remain actively in post while an investigation took place. An experienced diplomat, Keller moved to Beijing in December 2015 after postings in Turkey and Russia. Dutch newspaper De

Telegraaf reported yesterday that the relationship had only recently come to light. The Chinese woman worked in the embassy itself, it said, quoting insiders. Foreign diplomats in China are often advised against having relationships with local staff because of the risk of a so-called honey trap, involving local women acting as agents for the Chinese government. The foreign ministry made no comment on the report but said in a state-

ment that it was investigating a complaint and always took complaints seriously.

Dutch Ambassador to China, Ron Keller

WORLD BULLETIN ‘Mosul take-over soonest’ Iraqi pro-government forces said yesterday that they have made gains at the start of a large-scale operation to retake Mosul, the last major stronghold of ISIS in the country. Iraqi government troops and Kurdish fighters launched their push towards the city in the early hours of yesterday. ISIS had seized Mosul, then Iraq’s second-largest city, in June 2014. But the UN has expressed concern for civilians caught up in the offensive, which could last for months. The Kurds seized several villages in the first few hours of the operation. An Iraqi military source also said combat units had inflicted heavy losses on ISIS forces as they moved in on the Hamdaniya district, east of Mosul. Pro-government forces have also made gains as they move on Mosul from the south, according to security sources.

Rwandan monarch passes on The last king of Rwanda, King Kigeli V, has died in the US aged 80 years old. Born Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa, King Kigeli V came to power in 1959 but was only king of Rwanda until 1961, when the monarchy was abolished and he was forced into exile. He eventually settled in the US where he set up a charity helping Rwandan refugees and orphans. A 2013 profile in Washingtonian magazine found him living off food stamps in subsidised housing. King Kigeli was the last in a line of monarchs from the minority Tutsi ethnic group, which had dominated Rwandan for many years, but the Belgian former colonial power favoured the majority Hutus and backed a coup. Rwanda was proclaimed a republic in 1961, and a Hutu, Dominique Mbonyumutwa, was made president.

Shares crumble after arrests Shares in Asian casino firms fell yesterday amid fears of a Chinese crackdown on foreign operators. Crown Resorts, controlled by James Packer, closed 13.9 per cent lower after Crown confirmed 18 of its staff had been detained in China. Among those arrested was a senior executive in charge of attracting high-rollers to Australia. Most gambling is illegal on mainland China, and soliciting its citizens to gamble overseas is also banned. But some firms have continued to market resort and tourism services where their casinos are located. Shares in Asian casino operators Sands China, Galaxy Entertainment and MGM China fell about 3 per cent in Hong Kong, while Australia’s Star Entertainments shed nearly 4 per cent in Sydney.

South West

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos to disburse N380m for students’ bursary, scholarship Francis Suberu

agos State indigenes in tertiary institutions across the country will soon receive their bursary allowance following the approval of the state government to that effect. According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the payment of

bursary to fresh beneficiaries and others receiving subsequent payments. Speaking to journalists in Ikeja on Monday, the Special Adviser listed the beneficiaries to include 2015/2016 set and other sets receiving second and third payments for the years 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. He stressed the commitment of the state government to sustain the scholarship and bursary scheme in spite of the economic situation of the country.

Giving a breakdown of the payment, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr. Steven Oshinowo, explained that the state government would disburse N250m to 6,368 beneficiaries as Bursary Award. He also disclosed that N130m in local scholarships will be disbursed to 573 successful candidates who took part in the 2015/2016 Local Schol-

arship Computer Based Screening test. These sums, according to him, would accommodate the backlog of outstanding bursary and scholarship payments, as well as current awards for fresh and subsequent beneficiaries. The Executive Secretary urged beneficiaries to exercise patience as disbursement of the funds will commence in three weeks

time, at which time, beneficiaries would be invited to present relevant documentation to receive their bursary or scholarship awards. It will be recalled that earlier this year, over 689 bursary beneficiaries of 2011/2012 set, were paid along with 60 students from the School of the Blind and 54 others on Sport Scholarship. In 2015, the state govern-

ment also paid N660 million to over 8,567 indigent beneficiaries for bursary, local and foreign scholarships. Since its establishment in 1968, the Lagos State Scholarship Board as an agency responsible for the administration of bursary and scholarship awards in the state, has been consistent in carrying out its duties and is poised to continue.

Med-View Airline gets IOSA certification, to introduce Dubai route Olusegun Koiki

ed-View Airline has successfully completed the International Air Transport Association, IATA, Operational Safety Audit, IOSA certification. With the completion of the exercise, Med-View has been listed on the IOSA Registry. The certificate would remain valid for the next two years. This is as the airline also revealed that plans have reached an advanced stage for it to commence direct flight between United Arab Emirates, UAE, and Nigeria. Speaking at the presentation of the IOSA Certificate to the Managing Director of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, the Regional Manager, West Africa, IATA, Mr. Samson Fatokun, said with the IOSA certification, the operations of the airline would further receive a boost. Fatokun also said that the certification also indicated that the airline could be compared with other recognised international airlines in terms of safety and called on the management not to relent in their efforts in retaining the international standards that gave them the certificate. He explained that it took the airline two years of rigorous and stringent assessment, hoping that soon, Med-View would be listed on the platform of IATA. He informed that very soon, IATA would migrate to Enhanced- IOSA, E-IOSA, which he said would further make monitoring and assessment of airlines easier and safer. He said, “I hereby congratulate the management of this airline for being on IOSA Registry. It will be extremely difficult for any airline to meet the requirements of IOSA certificate without the support of the Managing Director. The certification did not just come like that; you have to work for it.

“It’s not easy to stay there as you have to go through the rigorous process again in the next two years. This is a continuous process and we are even moving from IOSA, to EIOSA. You are joining few airlines in the continent to be on the registry. “IOSA certification gives comfort to passengers that your organisation is following stringent conditions on safety that IOSA set. You need to continue in your safety standard in order to continue to ensure total safety. IOSA is a pre-requisite for IATA membership, but with this achievement, you are on the verge of being an IATA member.”

Wife of Ogun State Governor/President of the UPLIFT Development Foundation, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, acknowledging cheers from the people during her food outreach programme to mark the 2016 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at Oke-Ona United Primary School, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, yesterday.

Academic activities resume in FUNAAB after riot break Saidat Alausa

cademic activities has resumed at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Ogun State, after seven weeks break following a protest by the students of the institution in August this year. The students were said to have protested over alleged incessant robbery attacks on school hostels and within the school compound. In a statement by the institution and made available to National Mirror said normalcy has returned to the university as lectures has started in earnest. Confirming the full resumption of academic activities, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Catherine Eromosele, said students were fully back on campus and academic activities were ongoing at the various lecture halls visited, which included the College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), College of Environmental Resources Management

(COLERM), College of Management Sciences (COLMAS) lecture halls, as well as the 2,000-capacity Mahmood Yakubu Lecture Theatre. “We give thanks to God and members of staff, who had ensured the return of students to campus,” she stated. The DVC also said that due to the challenges being experienced on the REMITA platform for the payment of the compulsory reparation fee to be paid by the students before resumption, the university management had extended the period of payment by two weeks. “The report I had was that, as at Tuesday, October 4, 2016, about 16,000 students CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS MARCUS AMARACHI GRACE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OZOWUBA EZE AMARACHI GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

EKPO: Formerly known and addressed as EKPO MARY now wish to be known and addressed as EYO MARY . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

had generated invoices to pay. But for the major challenge they had with the REMITA platform, they were unable to get access code. At least, over 3,000 students had paid. Management in its wisdom, because of the challenges being faced, had extended the payment period for another two weeks and this has also been made known to the Committee of Deans and Directors (CODAD) of the University”. Meanwhile, the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, expressed happiness at the return of students to campus, saying no lecturer was happy whenever the students were not around, particularly, as a result of the kind of unrest that led CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as BLESSING COMFORT O EKEH now wish to be known and addressed as EKEH OGECHI COMFORT . All former documents remain valid. General public take note. PUBLIC NOTICE

OJO: Formerly known and addressed as OJO OPEYEMI ENITAN now wish to be known and addressed as ORENUGA OPEYEMI ENITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

to the mid-semester break. He added that the Senate of the University had approved the constitution of a committee, to formulate policy for the off-campus students, towards promoting their welfare and security. “Issues of the August 18 has gone and gone forever. That is our belief. For us to forestall future occurrence, we have put adequate security measures in place. We were able to get in touch with the Chairmen of the Community Development Associations (CDAs), some of the Baales (Traditional rulers) and security agencies, to ensure the security of lives and properties of the students. God’s willing, CHANGE OF NAME

the students are safe”, he said. Collaborating this, the Assistant Chief Environmental Officer (ACEO) of the University, Mr. Peter Bolarinwa, added that the physical presence of personnel of different security agencies on campus was actually a bid to guaranty the provision of adequate security for members of the university community, in view of the commencement of full academic activities. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADETOLA CHRIS OLUWASEUN now wish to be known and addressed as SANGOTOLA CHRIS OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS GLADYS OSUAGWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIDIMMA GLADYS OKWARA . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABOSEDE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS ABOSEDE IYABO OGUNMIUN and MRS ABOSEDE OJELABI now wish to be known and addressed as MISS ABOSEDE ENIOLA OGUNMIUN . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This to confirm that ADENIRAN -OBALE OLUWATOYIN IBIDAPO and BANJO OLUWATOYIN IBIDAPO refer to one and same person. Henceforth i wish to be known and addressed as ADENIRAN -OBALE OLUWATOYIN IBIDAPO. All former documents remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly spelt and stated as ADEYEMI FAWAZ ADEYEMI instead of ADEYEMI ADEMOLA FAWAZ. Hencforth I wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI ADEMOLA FAWAZ. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Alleged N40bn fraud: FG re-arraigns Nyako, son, others Doosuur Iwambe ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday re-arraigned former governor of Adamawa State Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), his son, Abdullajeez Nyako and seven others before a Federal High Court, Abuja for allegedly embezzling the sum of N40 billion, while in office. Nyako, his son Zulkifikk Abba, Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms and Extension Limited, Pagoda Ventures Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited were arraigned on a 37 count

charge before Justice Okon Abang. The defendants, who were first arraigned last year before Justice Evoh Chukwu before his demise pleaded not guilty to all the charges when it was read out to them. Following their plea, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, ordered that the defendants should continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted to them by late Justice Chukwu. He said the request of the prosecutor that the defendant’s sureties should file a fresh affidavit cannot be granted because the prosecutor has failed to oppose the oral application made by the defendants. Beside, Justice Abang

Kano plans life imprisonment for kidnappers

bill to provide life imprisonment as punishment for kidnappers in Kano State on Monday scaled the second reading at the State House of Assembly. Deputy Majority Leader, Alhaji Maifada Bello, read the Kidnapping, Abduction and Forced Labour Amendment Bill before the assembly. According to Bello, member representing Kibiya Constituency, the urgent amendment of the bill was necessary to enable judges in the state sentence kidnappers according to the weight of their offence. “The law that provides punishment for the kidnappers has been in existence since 1963; therefore, it should be amended to go with the current rampant kidnapping and abduction cases in the state. “It can also assist judges to sentence anyone found guilty of such offence according to the gravity of their offence, because the current law that provides 10 years imprisonment made it difficult for the judges to sentence such criminals according to the severity of their offence,” Bello said. He said the case of kidnapping needed to be handled in such a way that the criminals would rather surrender by themselves. He said the House would do everything possible to

ensure serious punishment for them. Bello noted that cases of kidnapping in the state had gone beyond imagination, to the extent that the criminals were carrying out their activities not only in the rural areas, but also in the urban centres. During the plenary session, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, read a letter presented to the House by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, seeking for the amendment of the 2016 Supplementary Budget. Rurum, said that according to the letter, the amendment proposal was as a result of the stabilisation funds realised by the state government, which was worth over N20 billion. He said the amendment would assist the government in fulfilling its campaign promises through completion of the on-going development projects in the state.

ruled that the court cannot vary the condition of the bail earlier granted to the defendants. The court adjourned trial of the defendants to November 17 and 22, 2016. Part of the charges read: That you Murtala, Abdu-

laziz Nyako,Abubakar Aliyu, Blue Opal Limited Pagoda Fortunes Limited and Tower Assets Management Limited on or about 9th March 2012 within the jurisdiction of this court did convert the sum of N35,000,000 ( thirty five mil-

lion naira) to develop Hill View Estate, Mpape Abuja, which sum was derived from the theft of the fund of Adamawa State Government, routed through Amdak Investment Limited, Towers Assets Management Limited and Blue

L-R: Managing Director, Kaduna Refining and Petro-Chemical Company (KRPC), Alhaji Idi Mukhtar; Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debt, Sen. Shehu Sani and Executive Director, Services, KRPC, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, during the visit of the Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debt to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Plant in Kaduna, yesterday.

Tambuwal approves recruitment of 96 science teachers, 20 state counsels

overnor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has approved the recruitment of 96 new science and technology teachers and 20 lawyers to serve as counsels in the Sokoto State Ministries of Science and Technology and Justice respectively. A statement issued in Sokoto on Monday by the Governor’s spokesman, Malam

Imam Imam, said the new recruits will improve the manpower needs of the two ministries, and enhance productivity in the state civil service. “Those to be employed as teachers will have the necessary qualifications for teaching and will be posted to secondary schools under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

As for the lawyers, they will augment the existing 56 lawyers in the Ministry of Justice. They will serve as replacement for state counsels who retired or died while on duty, as well as those who joined the federal judiciary,” the statement added. Reports from Sokoto indicate that so far, the State Civil Service Commission

MAIDUGURI

orno State Government has said that the media has “sacrificed and defied” all threats while reporting activities of Boko Haram terrorists during the seven-year insurgency that claimed many lives and

has received no fewer than 300 applications from various candidates seeking to fill the vacant posts announced. Few days ago, the state government announced the recruitment of 21 fresh doctors for the State Ministry of Health, while last year, 500 teachers were recruited to teach in various secondary schools across the state.

Anxiety as police detain village head, four others in Taraba Justin Tyopuusu JALINGO

here is currently an uneasy calm in Tamnya community, a village on the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Goverment Area of Taraba State, following the arrest and detention of a

village head and four others by the police. Angry youths numbering over 200, armed with assorted dangerous weapons from Tamnya village at the weekend trooped to Gembu, headquarters of the local government, demanding the release of the arrested persons, but

were told that the arrested persons have been transferred to the police headquarters in Jalingo. Trouble in the area began on October 3, 2016 when some prominent politicians from the area allegedly influenced the Chief of Mambilla, Dr. Audu Baju, to depose Wa-

Borno hails journalists for sacrifice, determination over insurgency reports Inusa Ndahi

Opal Limited accounts respectively with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said sum and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 15(1)(a)of the money laundering (prohibition) Act,2011.

property in the state and North East sub-region. This was disclosed on Monday by the Commissioner of Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, in an interactive session with journalists at the Musa Usman Secretariat complex, Maiduguri. He said that despite the

threats and intimidation of some journalists in the state, they however, defied them and continued to report for over six years until peace is being restored in Borno State and the affected sub-region of the country. “I thanked the journalists that have defied

all sorts of Boko Haram threats and intimidation while reporting and updating on terrorism and insurgency in this state and the North East,” said Bulama, adding that he has paid tributes to journalists’ selfless service and sacrifices during the Boko Haram insurgency.

ziri Ahmadu as the Village Head of Tamnya and replace him with one Usmanu Mbonso. It was gathered that the development triggered crisis as youths in the village vowed to resist any attempt to impose Mbonso on them as their Village Head. Following the reported breach of peace in the area, the Divisional Police Officer in Gembu arrested the deposed Village Head alongside four boys and sent them to Jalingo. It was further gathered that the angry youths who moved back to the village disappointed, are alleged to be warming up for fresh crisis if those arrested were not released.

World News

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Hitler’s Austrian birth place faces demolition

he house where Adolf Hitler was born is set to be demolished to stop it becoming a focal point for neo-Nazis. The future of the former guesthouse has been widely debated in Austria, where opinion was torn between tearing it down or changing its use. The argument was further complicated after its owner refused to sell. But Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said a committee of experts had decided that the house should be demolished, according to local reports yesterday. A new building put in its place will be used for administrative or for charitable purposes, the reports said. “The Hitler house will be torn

escuers were yesterday searching a river in central Myanmar after a ferry capsized killing at least 14 people. More than 85 were still missing after the accident early on Saturday morning in the Chindwin River, although at least 150 were rescued. Passengers are thought to include families and a large group

down. The foundations can remain but a new building will be erected. It will be used by either a charity or the local authorities,” Sobotka explained. The house has been the subject of years of legal wrangling between the owner and the government, which has been renting it since 1972 and currently pays about 4, 800 ($5, 300; £4, 100) a month for it. But the woman who owns it, who is now retired, has repeatedly refused to sell the three-storey building in Braunau am Inn to the government. The reports further said that Austria’s parliament would soon pass a new law allowing it to seize the house from its owner. Birth place of Adolf Hitler in Austria

Scores missing after Myanmar boat mishap of university students and teachers. It is unclear what caused the accident, although officials say the boat may have been overcrowded. Reports said the ferry was carrying at least 250 people at the time of the accident, while its official capacity is about 120.

Prison clashes claim 25

t least 25 inmates have been killed in clashes between two rival f actions in an overcrowded prison in nor ther n Brazil, local media repor ted yesterday. Seven of the dead were beheaded and six others bur ned to death, a police of ficial re por tedly said. The incident in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima State, happened during visiting hours. Some 100 visitors who were taken as hostages have been freed and the riot has ended, the re por ts added. The state gover nment said it was waiting for a prisoner count to confir m the death toll. The violence star ted when inmates broke into another section of the pris-

Brazil’s Acting President Michel Temer

on where members of a different f action were being held, Capt Falkner Fer reira

One survivor, Hnin Lei Yee, said the sinking in Sagaing region happened swiftly. “The window was open so I had a chance to get out of the boat. I cannot swim, so I had to hold on to a plastic float and finally the rescue boat came to save my life,” the 27-year-old, teacher who lost her baby daugh-

ter in the accident, said. A rescue official said his team had located the ferry on the river bed and were now trying to salvage it with cranes. Marine accidents are common in Myanmar (also known as Burma), where many still rely on rickety and crowded boats for transport.

Relatives awaiting fate of their loved ones yesterday

was quoted as saying by G1 website (in Por tuguese). The prisoners were ar med

with knives and wooden sticks, a witness said. Re por ts said there were

1, 400 inmates cur rently in the prison, which has a capacity of up to 740.

Brazil opens ‘Elephant sanctuary’

he first elephant sanctuary in Latin America has opened in Brazil to provide a home for an estimated 50 circus animals from across the region. Guida and Maia, both over 40 years old, are the first residents. They will be provided with

veterinary care and live out their lives in forested areas with pastures. A US-based group bought the land to give the elephants a refuge as zoos in the region close and more laws prohibit the use of animals in circuses. Asian elephant Guida ex-

plores the free area for the first time as she is observed by a sanctuary technician at Latin America’s first elephant sanctuaryImage copyrightAP Both elephants are thought to have come from Thailand, where they were illegally taken to be used in circus,

Brazil’s G1 website reports (in Portuguese). The Global Sanctuary for Elephants bought the land of 2, 800 acres, for $1m (£820, 000) to be paid over five years. The first phase of the project will host up to six animals. The sanctuary will not be open for visitors.

Taking the girl child away from kitchen, other room Continued from Back page The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as right to education/access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence against women and child marriage. The first one was marked in 2012 with the theme ‘Ending Child Marriage’. The theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child is “Girls’ Prog-

ress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement”, is a call for action for increased investment in collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girl-relevant and sex-disaggregated data. One year into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, improving data on girls and addressing the issues that are holding them back is critical for fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals. Experiences have shown that investments in girls’ education translate directly and quickly into poverty reduction, better health care, better nutrition for

the whole family and better overall economic performance. Therefore, one of the best ways of analyzing the data on how to tackle challenges facing the girl is to improve her access to good quality primary and secondary education. By the time she leaves the secondary school she would have been armed with some basic knowledge on how to cope and interact with the opposite sex and the challenges of child rearing as well as learn basic facts on how to assert her fundamental human rights. In all, it is imperative

for policy and decision makers to bear in mind that the progress and development of a nation is not only measured by the amount of money in its foreign reserve, but also by the number of its empowered girls. So, having celebrated this year’s International Day of The Girl Child, the global community should go beyond the usual rituals and routines often associated with the marking of the day. This, indeed, is the time to match rhetoric with action! Ogunnubi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Champions League: Ranieri charges Leicester against Copenhagen

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

It has been a really tough year for me, just dealing with my shoulder injury. My doctor insists that I stay at home and heal it every single day so I can have a chance to play next year – Serena Williams

W/Cup qualifier

Algerian striker, Riyad Mahrez

Everest Onyewuchi

lgeria FA president, Mohamed Raouraoua, has declared that the football federation will not run to government to pay for a new coach. Algeria are shopping for a replacement for Serbian Milovan Rajevac after he resigned following a disappointing 1-1 draw at home with Cameroun in the opening match of Africa Group B Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Africa’s leading team, Desert Foxes, will be away to Super Eagles of Nigeria on November 12 in continuation of the qualifying series. But Raouraoua has made it very clear they will not break the bank or ask government to help them for a new coach. “We cannot recruit coaches to pay 400 or 500,000 euros a month, I cannot give a salary of 5 or 6 million to a national coach,” he told ENTV in an interview. “FAF work within their means and will not go to government to

help in paying a coach as we have not done that since 2009.” Several top French coaches including Rolland Courbis, Alain Perrin and Paul Le Guen have been linked with the vacant Algeria post. Le Guen for one, turned down Nigeria’s employment offer in August. But even as the FAF has cash headache to hire a new coach, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is moving apace to put structures in place, towards ensuring that the Super Eagles pick another three maximum points in Uyo. In line with the NFF’s promise to get the Akwa Ibom State Government to work on the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium turf, following complaints by Super Eagles’ players after last month’s dead rubber 2017 Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania, the NFF wrote to Governor Udom Emmanuel on the issue and followed up with a first inspection of the pitch last Saturday. NFF team led by the Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, was received by top Akwa Ibom State sports officials, includ-

Algeria get headache over coach to battle Nigeria

ing the former Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Uko and Sports and the ex-Commissioner for Special Duties, Engineer Etido Inyang and the Consultant to Julius Berger, the construction company handling

the work, to the inspection. A second inspection has been fixed for October 25 2016 while the final inspection will come up on November 2, ten days before the match.

“It is a task that we are approaching with all seriousness, and we want to appreciate the Akwa Ibom State Government for the seriousness that it is also attaching to this important task,” Ikpeme said.

Dedevbo promotes 2 Flamingoes to Falconets

head of next month’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea, Coach Peter Dedevbo has invited to the Falconets’ camp two members of the Flamingoes squad that participated in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan. The players are Captain Rasheedat Ajibade of FC Robo, who made her second appearance at the U17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, and central defender Catherine Kenneth from Rivers Angels. Ajibade and Kenneth have already joined the rest of other invited Falconets players at the Serob Legacy Hotel camp, Abuja. Speaking on their invitation, Dedevbo said he decided to extend his dragnet to the duo because he was impressed with their output in the Nigeria U-17

women team in Jordan. “I watched Rasheedat and Catherine during their tournament and I liked the way they played. I think they did very well despite the Flamingoes’ early exit at the World Cup. I intend to take a closer look at them during training sessions because I believe that they can fit into my plans for the World Cup,” Dedevbo said. Meanwhile, the Falconets were last Sunday evening held to a 1-1 draw by Eaglesnet Logistics Academy in a friendly match at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Abuja. Chinaza Uchendu put the Falconets ahead in the 22nd minute, before Dele Femi levelled for Eaglesnet through a goal –mouth scramble.

Dedevbo

Sports

Juve miss Chiellini, Mandzukic in Lyon tie

uventus will be without defender Giorgio Chiellini and striker Mario Mandzukic when they face Olympique Lyonnais in Champions League Group H today. Chiellini missed the Serie A leaders’ game against Udinese last Saturday because of a thigh injury and Juve said his condition was “being monitored” at present after he was kept out of the squad for the match in France. Mandzukic was also omitted because of a “muscular strain in his right adductor region”, the club said on Monday. Claudio Marchisio is also out as he continues his rehabilitation after picking up a knee injury in April. Juve lead Group H on four points with Lyon in third place one point behind.

Thursday, March 18, 5, 2015 Tuesday, October 2016

Today’s Fixtures

Real Madrid Bayern Leverkusen CSKA Moscow Sporting Club Brugge Leicester Dinamo Zagreb Olympique Lyon

vs Legia Warsaw vs Tottenham vs Monaco vs Borrussia Dortmund vs FC Porto vs FC Copenhagen vs Sevilla vs Juventus

Champions League

Ranieri charges Leicester against Copenhagen L

Chiellini

eicester manager Claudio Ranieri has challenged his players to put in their best performance of the season when they host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League tonight. Leicester have had a tough start to life in the Premier League this season after their dream run to the domestic title as 5 000-1 outsiders in the last campaign. Ranieri’s men have struggled to mount a convincing defence of their title so far, and are currently 13th in the standings after losing four of their eight Premier

League matches and drawing another two. They have, however, fared better in the Champions League, where they top Group G after two wins in two games, and Ranieri said he was prioritising success in Europe over the Premier League this season. “At this moment this is the priority,” the Italian, who started influential winger Riyad Mahrez on the bench during Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea, told reporters yesterday. “In the Premier League,

Leicester must be safe at the end of the year, the Champions League is now. In one month we play our Champions League – in or out.” Ranieri denied his team were lacking fight and called on his players to give their best in their first-ever meeting with Copenhagen, who top the table in Denmark. “Last season we were more compact and there was another style of football,” Ranieri added. “Now everybody knows us and we try to change something.

Neymar set for new Barca contract

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

razil forward Neymar will sign a new fiveyear contract with Barcelona on Friday, the La Liga champions said yesterday. The 24-year-old joined Barcelona from Santos in 2013, winning nine trophies including two La Liga titles and the 2015 Champions League final in which he scored in the 3-1 win over Juventus. Barcelona first announced they had reached a deal with the Neymar on July 1, setting his release clause at 200 million for the first year, 222 million for the second and 250 million for the final three. Neymar has scored 90 goals for the Spanish club and is part of the their feted ‘MSN’ attacking trident along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The nature of his signing, however, has brought the club and player prolonged legal problems. Neymar and his father had to testify in Spain’s national court this year along with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his prede-

cessor Sandro Rosell, who resigned in 2014 over controversy about concealing the total cost of the transfer. The case was reopened in September after Spain’s national court overturned a judge’s decision that it was not a matter for the criminal court. Meanwhile, Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano extended his contract with the Catalan giants until 2019 on Monday. Mascherano, 32, has become a vital figure at the heart of the Barca back line since being converted into a centre-back by former Barca boss Pep Guardiola after arriving from Liverpool in 2010. The Argentine international has won 16 trophies, including four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in 290 games in a Barca shirt. Mascherano’s buyout clause is set at 100 million euros ($110 million).

Neymar

“It is normal when you first play in Europe that the team loses something. They are human, not machines. “We will have to give the best performance of the season, it is very important for us to get three points. We have to be strong, playing with passion, with heart, with the support of our fans. It will be a hard match until the end.” Copenhagen are second in Group G and trail Leicester by two points, with a win and a draw in their first two matches.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Tuesday, October4,18, 2016 Thursday September 2014

NFF mourns with family of slain 3SC player, Izu Joseph

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commiserated with the family of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan defender, Izu Joseph, who was killed last Sunday, reportedly by a stray bullet from a member of the Joint Task Force. NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, was much grieved when he learnt of the incident, and immediately put a telephone call through to the father of the late footballer, who agonisingly narrated the tragic circumstances in which the young Joseph was killed. Pinnick said afterwards, “I am sorely distraught with what has happened. It is a most unfortunate incident that has brought sorrow to the Nigeria football family, barely a week after we were celebrating victory in a World Cup qualifying match. “What has happened is most painful. I want to appeal to our football players to always be mindful of the company they keep and the places they go at all times, because they are special assets. At the end of the day, each and everyone of us will die, but we don’t want to be losing football players in the manner in which Izu Joseph has died.” The NFF boss prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Izu Joseph, while also praying that God will give the family he has left behind, the Shooting Stars Sports Club and the Nigeria football family the fortitude to bear the loss. Izu Joseph, a regular with Shooting Stars Sports Club in the just –ended Nigeria Professional Football League season, and who helped the Oluyole Warriors retain Premiership status, was shot dead in his home –town, Okaki in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State on Sunday.

Supersand Eagles line-up

Adamu invites 8 from Kada Cup for Supersand Eagles N

igeria’s Supersand Eagles coach, Audu Adamu, has picked eight players from the Kada Beach Soccer Cup 2016 in Kaduna for camp ahead of this year’s CAF Beach Soccer Nation’s Cup in Lagos. The eight are Sunday Alasco, Lukman Ibrahim, Nurudeen Mudashiru and Abduljalal Almustpha all from Kada Stars. Others are Anambra United duo of Abubakar Isa and Abdulraham Yunusa as well as Highlanders’ Royalson Olasini and Badagry United’s Mesifolosuso Oviwany. Ejor as fondly called, praised the organisers’ efforts in staging the tournament, boosting the growth of beach soccer in the country, and aiding the discovered of talents. According to him, the selected players were outstanding for their

US tycoon buys over Marseille

merican tycoon, Frank McCourt, yesterday officially completed his purchase of French Ligue 1 side Marseille, his communications office confirmed. The 63-year-old former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the necessary paperwork in Paris having entered into exclusive discussions to buy Marseille from owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus on August 29. McCourt’s ownership takes effect on Monday with his new club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, arriving at the team’s Velodrome stadium to mark the start of a new era after 20 years under the control of the LouisDreyfus family. Marseille’s first game under McCourt’s tenure is a daunting test against French champions Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. The Boston-born McCourt becomes the latest American to take control of a European football club after Manchester United, Arsenal,

Liverpool and Roma all have US owners. Eyraud signed his part of the deal in Paris before travelling south to Marseille, arriving at the club’s training ground by motorbike taxi where he met the players and staff. The duo McCourt-Eyraud will be looking to return the former Champions League winners to their past glory after slumping to 13th last season, the club’s worst league finish in 15 years. First on their agenda is to restructure the club with a new sporting director and a finance and marketing chief. European Cup winners in 1993, Marseille won the last of their nine Ligue 1 titles in 2010. Coached by Franck Passi they are struggling in 12th in the Ligue 1. McCourt could try to purchase a big-name player during the winter transfer window and a coach by next season at the latest.

various teams and confident they would bring competition and blend with his team before the continental championship. “I’m grateful to the organisers for reducing my burden of getting natural talents with this competition as we won’t need to rely always on league players for tournament,” Adamu told media. “With few months in camp, I’m sure these players will be good enough to even take on Brazil,” he said.

Also speaking, invited Kada Stars’ Mudashiru who was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament assured he is fully ready to fight his place to make the final squad. Sand Eagles captain, Victor Tale, said the competition was timely and a good test of form, assuring his side will put up a good show in December. Ejor’s side are expected to begin camp preparation next month as they hope to pick a qualifying ticket to next year’s Beach Soccer World Cup in Bahamas. Meanwhile, Coordinator of the

Kada Beach Soccer Cup, Isah Abdul, has assured the competition will remain an annual event and grow bigger next with more competing teams. The veteran player revealed the staging of the tournament was influenced by his dreams of seeing young talents making huge career success through the sport. Kogi Confluence emerged champions of the maiden edition held at the Muritala Muhammad Square in Kaduna with Kada Stars and Badagry United finishing second and third respectively.

NSF: C’River may lose hosting rights to FCT, says Dalung Joel Ajayi ABUJA

outh and Sports Development Minister, Barr Solomon Dalung, has revealed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would host the National Sports Festival (NSF) if Cross River State which was granted the hosting rights failed to host it. Minister who was Special Guest of Honour gave the hint last weekend at the 1st Open Water Sports Boat Race held at the Jabi Lake, Abuja, which is one of the sports that made its debut at the just-concluded Nigerian Army 2016 Sports Festival in Abuja. Dalung revealed that the relevant National Council on Sports consisting of the minister, commissioners for sports and permanent secretaries from all states of the federation and their Directors of Sports, will soon be meeting on the issue of the twice postponed National Sports Festival. He said: “We will ensure that all the youth games in the country receive the necessary attention. The only game we have this year is National Sports Festival and if at the

Athletes on the finishing line at a previous sports festival end of the day, the Cross River State which was granted the hosting rights says it is no longer able to discharge the obligation, then a new decision will be taken after considering the option B of hosting the fiesta in Abuja.” Minister also commended the Nigerian Army for venturing into water sports; describing the initiative as a welcome development that will help discover new talent in the sport. He stated that introduction of the game will enhance the country’s prospect of producing athletes who will grow to represent and win medals for Nigeria in international competitions in the nearest future.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Host of the event – Chief of Army Staff - Lt General Tukur Buratai, said the Army’s foray to aquatic sport is to discover hidden talent and enhance the enviable position of the Army in sports development in the country. He also promised to provide more boats and equipments as well as ensuring that talent discovered are exposed to further training and competitions so that they can grow and become future champions. Activities that featured on which medals were given are Laser Display, Kayak, Canoeing and Open Water swimming.

WORLD RECORD

Fastest time to burst three balloons with the back

N150

Vol. 06 No.1464 Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The fastest time to burst three balloons with the back is 12 seconds, set by Julia Gunthel, aka ‘Zlata’ (Germany), on 23 November 2007.

Taking the girl child away from kitchen, other room

vailable statistics shows that there are over 1.1 billion creative and talented girls worldwide. And this figure, if exploited positively, is enough to build a global community that has the potential of creating a sustainable world that would make life better for everyone. But the dreams of this ingenious specie are being frustrated by non- provision of specific needs and tackling of challenges such as discrimination, bias, violence, lack of equal opportunities with male counterparts. And there are glaring gaps in data collation and knowledge about these specific needs and challenges that girls face in their bids to improve their lives and equally contribute to the progress of their societies.

e r e n a Wi l l i a m s h a s w i t h d r aw n f r o m n e x t w e e k ’s W TA Finals in Singapore because of a s h o u l d e r i n j u r y. T h e A m e r i c a n wo rl d n u m b e r t wo, 3 5 , h a s n o t p l aye d s i n c e r e a c h i n g t h e semi-finals of the US Open

Guest Columnist

Bilkis Ogunnubi

One of such issues standing in the way of girls’ quest to contribute to the progress of their societies is child marriage. Although child marriage is against the law in many countries including Nigeria, as international treaties forbid it, it is estimated that about 51 million girls across the globe are annually forced into early marriages. Quite often, in most African countries, parents of child brides are driven by factors such as pressure to conform to age old traditions like preservation of chastity and economic considerations to give out their young daughters in marriage. It is not uncommon also in poor developing countries, for poverty stricken parents to settle debts by offering their underage girls as payments! These child brides often suffer from physical and psychological trauma as well as exposure to early sexual contact. Subsequently, pregnancy comes in at a time when the young girl is not adequately physically developed to permit the passage of a baby with relative ease. The outcome of this forced copulation and one of the most demoralizing effects of early marriage is Vesico- vaginal fistula. Otherwise known as obstetric fistula, it is a medical condition where there is an opening between the uterus and the bladder because the pelvic bones do not have sufficient time to develop before the process of conception. This often leads

These child brides often suffer from physical and psychological trauma as well as exposure to early sexual contact to abandonment or divorce by their husbands and ostracization by their communities as urine continuously leak from their bladders. Also, these early marriages deny girls the opportunity for quality education in addition to depriving them of their childhood. Among the more than 100 million children not in school worldwide, approximately 40% are girls. In Nigeria, Women and girls constitute 60% of the illiterate population. Similarly, it has been estimated that over 2 million girls are subjected to genital mutilation every year, a practice still rampant in some parts of Nigeria. Intervention into the practice is considered as a violation of privacy, yet many girls face several health risks through this, including severe bleeding and contraction of HIV infection through the use of unhygienic methods in carrying out the procedure. Statistical data shows that adolescent girls have HIV rate up to five percent higher than their boys’ counter-

part. Equally, rape remains a common form of violence against the female specie. It is defined as having sex with a woman and lately young girls and toddlers without their consents. Today, the rape epidemic in our society reflects the extent to which female human rights are flagrantly threatened. Available laws and collective attitudes toward this weapon of domination and repression call to question our combined sense of justice and our level of civilization. Like a scourge, the regular cases of reported rape in the country’s media and confirmed statistics are threatening to smother the essence of the society. Each day, the media are awash with weird stories of varying degrees of ludicrousness; from child defilement to the rape of old women. Nobody, not even infants are safe from this form of terrorism against the girl child. Perhaps, one of the most audacious of the dastardly acts against the girl child in Nigeria till date remains the abduction of over 200 Secondary School girls, who were kidnapped in a most brazen manner from their hostel at Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Borno State, North Eastern Nigeria. While some of the girls escaped, the rest have remained in captivity after two years, despite wide condemnation and outrage across the world. In fact, some of the leading nations of the world offered to help in rescuing the girls. A renowned teenage Pakistani child right activist, Malala Yousefzai even visited the country on account of the girls’ plight. As a result of all the aforementioned and other challenges women and girls are left to contend with, the United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 2011 adopted resolution 66/ 170 to declare October 11 as the international Day of the Girl Child to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face around the world. Continued on page 36

Sport Extra

Injury forces Serena out of Singapore Open i n S e p t e m b e r. Wi l l i a m s , w h o h a s wo n f ive To u r F i n a l s , s a i d , “ I a m r e a l l y, r e a l l y b o m b e d t h a t I wo n ’ t b e a b l e t o c o m p e t e. “It has been a really t o u g h ye a r f o r m e, j u s t d e a l ing with my shoulder inju-

r y.

“My doctor insists that I s t ay a t h o m e a n d h e a l i t e v e r y s i n g l e d ay s o I c a n h ave a c h a n c e t o p l ay n e x t ye a r. ” BBC Sport reports that S e r e n a ’s p l a c e c o u l d g o t o British number one Johan-

n a Ko n t a , w h o i s n i n t h i n t h e r a n k i n g s, a l t h o u g h s h e h a s a n a b d o m i n a l i n j u r y. T h e t o p e i g h t p l aye r s qualify automatically for t h e e n d - o f - s e a s o n f i n a l s, which run from 23-30 Octob e r.

Serena Williams

NICON LUXURY ABUJA ...its about giving you the very best

reservations@niconluxury.com (09)4619000, 08095556005 Printed and published by Global Media Mirror Limited: Head Office, Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street Lagos; Abuja Office: NICON House, Central Business District Area, Abuja. Email:mail@ nationalmirroronline.net. MD/CEO: Sunday Olajide: 08060852080; Acting Editor Daily: Ben Memuletiwon 08050498541; Adverts Hotline: 07066178740. ISSN 0794-232X.