Thursday, august 6, 2015 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

FG to make NYSC scheme voluntary OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

lans are afoot by the Federal Government to make the National Youth Service

Olawumi

Vol. 5 N0. 1172

Corps, NYSC, scheme voluntary. This is because the government said it is looking for ways to depopulate the scheme. Special Adviser to the

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Thursday, August 6,

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President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed this in a statement yesterday. The scheme which was introduced shortly after CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Traders selling amidst waste and

flood on Broad

Street. PHOTO

: SAMUEL

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Traders lame market to mount closure of rn dead lead er 10

MUSON: ‘Hear t culture and entertof Nigeria’s music, ainment’ 47

KAI officials clamp down on street traders P.47

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Heads roll in NNPC as Kachikwu fires 8 GEDs

African oil & gas coys move to upturn global oil price –PwC survey

TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND CHIDI UGWU

he Federal Government yesterday approved the retirement of all eight Group Executive Directors, GEDs, of the Ni-

Commission begins probe of erring policemen

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gerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with immediate effect. A statement issued by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division Ohi Alegbe named the affected GED’s as, Mr.

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Oba Sijuade’s remains in Ile’gbo –Investigations

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Senate summons CBN governor over naira value

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Opposes reintroduction of toll gates on highways

Doctors demand P.7 security for night duty

The new Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (left), being led into the Presidential Villa by the Liaison officer, Mr Nura Rimi, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

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Senate summons CBN governor over naira value GEORGE OJI

he Senate, yesterday, passed a resolution, summoning the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to brief the lawmakers on the depreciation of the Naira, particularly among major currencies of the world like the US Dollars, British pound sterling, amongst others. This was also as the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to take steps to diversify the nation’s economy from oil exports into one that depends on taxation, agriculture, manufacturing, international tourism and solid minerals prospecting as part of efforts to arrest the depreciation of the Naira. These resolutions were the outcome of the motion entitled, “State of the Economy: Naira Depreciation and its Implications,” and sponsored by Senator Nazif Suleiman. Also yesterday, the Senate opposed the suggestion for the reintroduction of tolls collection across the nation’s federal highways as a means of generating additional income for the construction of new roads and the maintenance of existing ones. Instead, the lawmakers passed a resolution, urging the Federal Government to urgently look for additional ways and means to fund road rehabilitation and maintenance. The senators also urged the Federal Government to, through the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), undertake immediate repairs and dualisation of major highways and inter state roads across the country. The lawmakers directed its Ad-hoc Committee on Works to embark on audit of all road projects in Nigeria with a view to producing raw data for further necessary legislative action. It said there was a need to find lasting solution to road problems in the country in view of the attendant negative impact on trade and commerce. The lawmakers came to this decision following the

debate and adoption of the resolutions contained in the motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and co-sponsored by 92 other senators entitled, “Collapse of Road Infrastructure in Nigeria.” In his lead debate on the Naira depreciation, Senator Nazif Suleiman (Bauchi North), said the Senate was worried that naira had depreciated in the last few months at a much faster rate than it had appreciated in the last two years. He further argued that the depreciation was the consequence of the negative cash flow which he said resulted from the

downward trend of oil price. The situation, he added, had been worsened by speculations in the foreign exchange market. He also said the Senate observed that the foreign exchange needs of various sectors of the economy were being made available while Nigeria’s commitments in the global economy had dwindled. The senator also expressed suspicion that the Nigerian banking industry might be currently defaulting in the global economy, a situation he said had been sending a wrong signal about the economy.

Suleiman also said the speculation caused by the situation was resulting in a huge capital flight with attendant inflationary consequence which he said would affect an average Nigerian on the street. He noted that the “illicit fund flows and money laundering going through Nigerian financial system contributes in weakening the value of the naira which has made the recent decision of CBN to increase its vigilance to ensure that Nigerian banks are not used as conduit for illicit fund flow and money laundering in foreign currencies.”

He canvassed the need to regulate demand and supply of foreign exchange by the CBN with various options considered to curtail naira depreciation and consequently discourage speculations. In his contribution, Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, blamed the downward slide in the value of naira on the inability of the federal government to put in place stable economic policies. Also speaking on the motion, Senator Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West), said if the situation must be effectively tackled, Nigeria must define its economic

policies and make laws that would address fraud. He regretted that Nigeria’s dependence on imported items without tangible production had been the bane of stable foreign exchange. In his remark, Senate President Bukola Saraki said all powers must be deployed to defend the naira, adding that the influx of foreign items into the country must be adequately curtailed in a way that activities of speculators would be brought under control. Also, yesterday, the Senate committed the request CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Four Boko Haram militants arrested by members of the Civilian JTF in Malari village Borno State, during the visit of the Governo Kashim Shettima, yesterday.

FG to make NYSC scheme voluntary CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the civil war to allow for integration of Nigerians is at present, compulsory in nature, with those who are unable to participate in the scheme normally given an exemption certificate to allow them fit into the labour market appropriately. However, briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the operations of the corps yesterday, its Director-General, Brig.

Gen. Johnson Olawumi, said there were plans to make the scheme voluntary and reduce the corps population to make the programme more sustainable. Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, told the president that the increasing number of NYSC participants has posed a challenge to the scheme due to the

dwindling revenue from the national budget to cater for their needs. According to her, the annual enrolment of corps participants had increased from 2,364 at inception to 229,016 in 2014. “Given the increasing number of tertiary institutions, our projection is that the number of corps participants may rise to 300,000 by year 2020,’’ she said.

Responding, President Buhari pledged the support of his administration to enhancing the scheme as a functional vehicle for the promotion of national unity and integration. The president affirmed his confidence and trust in the programme, saying that the objective for which the scheme was established in 1973 was still very relevant for national development now.

“I firmly believe in NYSC and I think it should remain a national programme to promote integration. “Whenever I go home to Daura, I look out for Corps members from Lagos, Aba and other parts of the country. “I am always thrilled to learn that except for the NYSC, some of them have never left their states of origin to visit other cities in the country,” he said.

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NEWS

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, (NBET), Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi; Chairman, Nigeria Electicity Regulatory Commission(NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Godknows Ighali and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the Vice President’s meeting with NERC and DISCOS on Tariff at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Representative of Ford Foundation, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma; MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya; member, Airtel CSR Advisory Committee, Mr. Yemi Cardoso and Airtel’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, Mr. Emeka Oparah, during the launch of “Airtel Touching Lives Session 2” in Lagos, yesterday.

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L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Pro-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Dr Umar Mustapha at the inauguration of the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Complex in Ibadan, yesterday.

L-R: Managing Partner, The Oil & Gas Year (TOGY) Gilles Valentin; Head, Listings Sales and Retention, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Tony Ibeziako, and Country Director, TOGY, Gergana Urdarevska, at the Oil & Gas Year Nigeria Awards 2015 in Lagos. NSE won the award in recognition of completing the Seplat $500 million IPO, its first dual listing on London Stock Exchange, on Tuesday.

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Oba Sijuade’s remains in Ile’gbo –Investigations Boladale Bamigbola

OSOGBO

espite denials by Ife Royal Traditional Council, RTC, the remains of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, was yesterday said to be in Ile’gbo,

the coronation place for monarchs of the town. Ile’gbo, according to an informed palace source, is located within Ile Oodua, as Ooni’s palace is called. An Ife traditional title holder, who spoke to our correspondent, but did not

want his name mentioned, said: “The body arrived the place and was received by members of Isoro Cult early this week. “His journey to the throne started from that place called Ile’gbo. That is where he was installed

Ooni. That is the place anyone that will succeed him will also be installed. “The body is being preserved through traditional means. Details may not be too good for publication. All the rites will be done while the body is kept there.

But don’t expect formal announcement of his death in the next two weeks. “It may take months, depending on how fast the Isoro members are able to conclude the necessary rites. The body is there as I speak to you but non-members of

finger-prints. Affected subscribers are to be notified to regularise their registrations. Ojobo clarified further that henceforth, all registrations must conform to the data dictionary, technical specifications on finger prints, facial images and the business rule agreed by all stakeholders. “All registration records must be validated before sending to the Commission; thus eliminating all invalid records that does not conform new registrations and indicate same in the monthly reports sent to Commission,” he added. He stated that the meeting

also resolved that operators will be held liable for cases of pre-registered SIMs, and that earlier grace of 21 days given by NCC has lapsed, noting that the Commission has commenced monitoring since Monday, August 3, 2015. He also hinted that in line with the decisions taken at the meeting, sanctions for default would apply in accordance with the SIM registration regulations, warning that the regulation did not set a cap for the number of SIMs to be registered by individual or corporate subscribers. He, however, pointed out that operators must ensure

all registrations are valid and in accordance with the documents and specifications stating that unusually high number of registration by an individual should be flagged and reported to the commission. Ojobo said that the Commission and all operators were to embark on vigorous public enlightenment on the need/ desirability for subscribers to register their SIMs, as well as the dangers of selling /buying pre-registered SIMs saying that more than 120 million SIM cards have been registered and transmitted to the Central Database by the operators.

NCC gives GSM operators 7-day deadline to deactivate pre-registered SIM cards

Isaiah Erhiawarien

igerian Communications Commission, NCC, yesterday ordered all Global System for Mobile Communication, GSM, operators to deactivate all preregistered SIM cards within seven days or face severe sanctions. The directive was part of decisions taken at a meeting in Abuja between Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Department of State Services, DSS, network operators and NCC. The directive was part of government’s efforts to tackle

incessant occurrences of threats via telecommunications networks and the danger they portend for the psyche of the citizenry and the country. A statement by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, indicated that the meeting took into cognizance crimes committed against members of the public either by kidnappers, terrorists, robbers and threats to lives through the use of such unregistered SIM cards across all the networks. The SIM cards to be deactivated include all SIM cards without or improperly captured facial pictures and or

Isoro cannot see it. “Even his family members can no longer see him again.” The source also said the process of installing new monarch would not involve usage of humans for sacrifice as being speculated. Oba Sijuade, the source said, abolished all rites that involves usage of humans and expressed conviction that the Ife Traditional Council will not deviate from the new arrangement initiated by him. Meanwhile, the family of Oba Sijuade must have concluded parking their personal belongings out of the palace. About seven vehicles with Ooni’s official plate number were seen around 2pm along Ife/Ibadan expressway, moving towards Ibadan. It was learnt that furniture, cars and other personal belongings of the family members of the royal father were moved out of the palace to an undisclosed locations in Ibadan and Lagos.

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Heads roll in NNPC as Kachikwu fires 8 GEDs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Bernard Otti, (Finance and Accounts); Dr. Timothy Okon, (Exploration and Production), who also doubles as Coordinator Corporate Planning and Strategy; and Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba (Engineering and Technology). Others are, Dr. David Ige (Gas and Power); Ms. Aisha Abdurrahman (Commercial and Investment); Dr. Dan Efebo (Corporate Services); Mr. Ian Udoh (Refining and Petrochemicals); and Dr. Attahiru Yusuf (Business Development). The new Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who conveyed the government’s decision to the retiring Group Executive Directors, expressed gratitude to them for their services to the Corporation and wished them success in their future endeavours. As part of the restructuring of the corporation, the number of directorates has been reduced from eight to four with four new Group Executive Directors appointed to head them. The new Directorates and their Group Executive Directors are Refining and Engineering with Dr. M.K Baru as head; Exploration and Production, Denis Nnamdi; Commercial and Investment, Bankole Komolafe and Finance which now has Isiaka AbdulRazak in charge. All the appointees were previously Group General Managers. Sources in NNPC told our correspondent that the restructuring, which started with the sacking of the GEDs, as well as the reduction of the number of directorates to four, may affect the Managing Directors in the NNPC and its subsidiaries. “The NNPC is witnessing a massive shake up. This will be the biggest clean up in the Corporation’s history,” a source, who did not want to be named told our correspondent. Industry analysts believe that the sack of the Corporation’s top shots could be linked to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to destroy all structures and mechanisms in the entity that had served as bastions of opacity in its operations over the years. Apart from making his position clear on the need to holistically reform the

Corporation following the massive losses of revenue to the government through illegal crude oil bunkering and oil subsidy frauds over decades, the President has in the past few days demonstrated his determination to unravel all sharp practices within. Only two days ago, he disclosed that the Federal Government had uncovered the banks and countries into which illegal oil funds were diverted and paid into, promising that government would do everything legal to recover the looted funds. Similarly, he specifically directed Dr Kachikwu to recover all stolen oil funds as a priority amongst other initiatives he may want to take to reform the organisation. Specifically, the President gave the new helmsman sixpoint agenda to be vigorously pursued in order to sanitise the NNPC’s operations. Reacting to the sack of the GEDs, an industry expert and retired Director in the Corporation, who pleaded that his identity should not be in print, described the action as timely, saying that if the directors have been allowed to stay long following the appointment of the new GMD, they would have been able to clean their books. “I think the removal of the GEDs is very important to the current efforts to thoroughly go through the books of the corporation and get some truths about the transactions, especially on crude oil lifting and the oil subsidy frauds which are well known to the public. “As it were now, the new Group Managing Director can get some information that are crucial to enabling him fulfill the mandate given him by the President. Nigerians will see more shocking revelations if Kwachikwu settles down within the next three months”, the source projected. Meanwhile, PriceWaterCoopers, PWC, a global financial consultant, yesterday said activities in the African oil and gas industry slowed down in the wake of declining oil prices in late 2014. PwC, in statement said their conclusion was the fruit of the 2014 Survey on the activities of oil and gas industry in the major and emerging African economies.

“While the oil price has caused activity to drop, it has also served as a wake-up call to many African governments, which are working hard to pass favourable oil and legislation. “The legislation is aimed at attracting investment into the sector,” it said. According to it, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania were currently overhauling oil and gas legislation with a view to making it more investor-friendly.

The statement said oil price reduction had resulted in significant reduction in headcount and other cost cutting measures in the industry. It said major operators in the industry have been forced to cut down on capital budgets, leading to a decrease in frontier exploration. “While response to such a drastic decline is necessary, we have seen that most successful organisations

are taking time to re-set, restrategise and plan for the upturn in prices, which will inevitably come. “Africa should be no exception as many of the frontier exploration players lie on the continent,” it said. It noted that 2014 ended with Africa having proven natural gas reserves of just under 500 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). The statement also said that 90 per cent of the continent’s annual natural gas

productions were coming from Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Egypt. The statement said issues of uncertain regulatory framework, corruption and poor physical infrastructure were the major challenges of operators in 2014. It identified the price of oil and gas, skill retention, and asset management and optimisation as the major focus of stakeholders in the industry for the next three years.

I-G Solomon Arase (right), Sen. Ike Nwachukwu (left), decorating the newly promoted deputy Inspector-General Of Police, Amajor Onu, at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

National Hospital weeds NHIS enrollees

ational Hospital, Abuja, yesterday said the hospital is sanitising its partnership with the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, to stop sharp practices. Spokesperson of the hospital, Dr Olutayo Hastrup, disclosed this in Abuja. Hastrup was reacting to allegations by some NHIS enrollees that the hospital was not attending to them. He explained that the hospital was still attending to patients with genu-

ine documents. However, the spokesman said the hospital was undertaking verification processes in order to identify genuine subscribers. “We have not stopped attending to NHIS patients; what we are doing is to verify the claims from Health Maintenance Organisations, HMO. “Any genuine NHIS patient with accredited HMO in National Hospital is always attended to and given treatment. “We have observed that

some patients are faking documents of various HMOs and they come to receive treatment as NHIS patients and that is what we have decided to stop,” said Hastrup. According to him, the hospital has introduced a process of decoding numbers given by the subscribers which is used in calling the HMO to verify the authenticity of their true identity. The spokesperson added that after the verification, the hospital would further

obtain permission from the various health organisations to ascertain whether to carry on with the patient’s treatment. “It is a process of sanitising our partnership with NHIS to get the true picture of eligible patients that are supposed to receive treatment under the scheme. “That is what some patients are complaining about. The management of the National Hospital however has no regrets about the action and the process,” he added.

Senate summons CBN governor over naira value CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

of President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of $75million (N14.7billion) loan from the World Bank for Edo State Government to the yet to be constituted Standing Committee on Local and Foreign Debts when constituted. But the Senator representing Edo Central, Clifford Odia, opposed the re-

quest on the grounds that it would plunge the state into further indebtedness, saying if the loan is approved, it would raise the Edo State’s debt profile under Oshiomhole to N44.1 billion ($225m) in World Bank. In his remarks at the end of debate on the motion on the collapse of infrastructure in the coun-

try, Saraki regretted that the poor state of the roads in the country had contributed negatively to the development of the economy. He lamented the fact that roads in smaller countries in the region were in better shape than roads in Nigeria. According to him, there is a need for concerted effort to ensure that factors

responsible for poor condition of roads in the country are tackled. ``For Nigeria to develop we must begin to look at why we find ourselves in this situation. ``We must also look at the contribution of private sector as well as the quality of contractors who handle road construction and rehabilitation,’’ he said.

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Buhari denies spending N2.2bn on US trip OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed claims that he expended, at least, N2.2bn on his recent trip to the United States of

America, USA. Describing the figure as outrageous, the president said he did not spend anything near 10 per cent of that amount. He was, however, silent on the actual cost of the trip.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said it was saddening that in this age of free-flow of information, an organisation could set out to peddle

such outrageous falsehood. “Contrary to the newspaper’s assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste

Leadership crisis: Abuja court overrules Saraki over plot to scuttle trial …transfers case-file to another judge

court to declare that the Senate Standing Orders 2015 is a product of illegality and should be set aside.

and extravagance. “In point of fact, the total amount expended on the trip by the Office of the President amounted to nothing near ten per cent of the speculated figure,” he said. Shehu added that owing to free accommodation provided by the host government, all personal staff who accompanied the president on the trip received reduced allowances. “His son, Yusuf, received neither allowances nor estacode. The five gov-

lot by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to stall trial in a suit by five senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to challenge the validity of the June 9, 2015, election, which produced him and Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy, yesterday failed. Saraki had invited an Abuja Federal High Court, sitting on the matter, to hold that trial could not proceed in the case on account that the processes were not properly served on him. But the presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, overruled him. The court, specifically upheld the arguments by counsel to the plaintiff senators to the effect that Saraki could not move any motion validly in court un-

til he had filed his memorandum of appearance, which, as at the time the case was mentioned, was yet to be filed. The judge, however, on his own transferred the suit to another judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, as the new vacation judge. Justice Kolawole hinged his decision on the fact that the three days he had left would not be sufficient to do any tangible thing on the case. Accordingly, he directed counsel to the plaintiffs to serve fresh hearing notices on all respondents in the matter even as he adjourned the case till August 13, 2015. It would be recalled that the five senators had sued leadership of the Senate over the validity of the June 9 election. The senators pushing for nullification of the election

are Abu Ibrahim, Kabiru Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Gbenga Ashafa, and Suleiman Othman Hunyuki. In their originating summons, they urged the court to declare the election of Saraki and Ekweremadu as a nullity as it violates section 60 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Rule 110 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended). It is their contention that the Senate Standing Orders 2015 upon which Saraki and Ikweremadu were elected is a product of illegality and should be nullified. Should the court answer the above questions in the affirmative, the plaintiffs urged the court to declare that the Senate Standing Orders 2011 is the proper, valid, legal, constitutional and subsisting rules of the senate. They further asked the

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Sanni Idowu Ganiyat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olusanya Idowu Ganiyat. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OJEYINKA:I, formerly known as Mr. Ojeyinka Ayorinde Ariyo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Oluwayinka Ayorinde Ariyo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME BABATUNDE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Babatunde Elizabeth Semade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Wusu Elizabeth Semade. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Olubodun Folusho, now wish to beknown and addressed as Adeogun-Oga Folusho Aina . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Dr. Olufunmilayo Omuwa Ajayi now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunmilayo Omuwa Adeniyi . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Olamide Racheal Arikawe, now wish to be known and addressed as Olamide Racheal Omolaoye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Okorafor Ogbonnaya Okey, now wish to be known and addressed as Nicodemus Ogbonnaya. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinlusi Oluwabunmi Olabisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fashakin Oluwabunmi Olabisi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Lukman Adeyemi Kazeem, now wish to be known and addressed as Saheed Shittu Olajide. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesina Blessing Temidayo, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Omolere Blessing Temidayo. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

ISE-OLUWA IGE

ernors on the trip each paid their own way. Permanent secretaries, who traveled with the delegation, did so in accordance with extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements,” he added. He said the trip was very successful and beneficial to Nigeria. “Only those rabidly determined to find faults unnecessarily will cook up falsehood in a futile effort to rake up murk where none exists,” he submitted.

Commission begins probe of erring policemen OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

olice Service Commission, PSC, yesterday said it has commenced investigations into alleged police misconducts in the country with a view to building a culture of discipline in the force. This was contained in a statement in Abuja and signed by the Commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani. He said the action was in line with its constitutional mandate to hold the police accountable for its conduct or misconduct. The commission said it has noted several media reports bordering on alle-

gations of unlawful police actions and has decided to institute investigations into these perceived anomalies in the interest of the rule of law, human rights and natural justice. “All police officers involved in serious cases of misconduct will henceforth appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the Commission,” Ani said. According to him, Chairman of the commission, Sir Mbama Okiro, has directed that cases of gross police misconducts be subsequently treated with dispatch. Ani added that the commission was already looking into three cases of alleged police misconduct in the country. The cases include al-

leged brutalisation of an-eight-month pregnant woman at Satellite Area of Lagos State, who was said to have lost her pregnancy in the process, and the death of one Benson Obode, who was said to have been arrested in Benin City, Edo State, on May 21, 2015, and detained in a cell where he allegedly died. The third is a petition from a Human Rights group, “Youth Advancement and Leadership Development Initiative, YAALDI, over an alleged gruesome murder of a young lady “due to the careless and negligent driving by some men of the Nigeria Mobile Police Force, who were on duty and escorting a bullion van. “The commission chairman has directed the Inspector General of Police to summon before the commission all erring police officers involved in the three cases. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Aromasodu Olaitan Aminat, now wish to be addressed as Oyeniyi Olaitan Aminat. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

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Doctors demand security for night duty Marcus Fatunmole, ABUJA

octors working in both private and public hospitals in the country yesterday demanded for adequate security from government to guarantee their safety while working at night. The medical practitioners, who briefed journalists in Abuja under the auspices of National Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, NAGPMPN, and the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, said security of doctors was no longer guaranteed in the country. The doctors said recent kidnapping of their colleagues in some states and the Federal Capital Territory necessitated the call. States where medical practitioners have been abducted in recent weeks, according to the doctors, are Ondo, Delta, Ekiti and Rivers. Speaking on behalf of doctors in private hospitals, President of the group, Frank Odafen, said medical practitioners were friends

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

to all people, good or evil. He said it was shocking that doctors had become targets of kidnappers, assassins and other criminal elements in the society. He, however, called on criminals to have a change of heart, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari was making efforts to ensure everyone in the country was comfortable. In his remarks, NMA President, Kayode Obembe, said: “The rate at which they are kidnapping doctors in this country has become very alarming. And, we continue to wonder whether the government and security are aware of this. That is why we want to impress it on the government and the security agencies.” He added that the Inspector-General of Police had been alerted on the development and the National Assembly should enact a law to provide security for doctors, especially when they are on night duty. He, however, said no doctor had died in kidnappers’den.

PDP crisis: NWC demands apology from workers Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

ggrieved workers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are now in dilemma over their agitation for better condition of service, following demand for apology by the National Working Committee, NWC, for a truce to be established. The party’s NWC yesterday directed the angry workers to write letters of apology and show remorse for their action before they could be listened to.

A source confirmed to our correspondent that the workers have been directed to write letters of apology and copy Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, National Executive Committee, NEC, and the PDP Governors’ Forum before they could be listened to. “The NWC is sad that we have caused the party a lot of embarrassment; they complained that we ought to have channelled our grievances through Director of Administration, who in turn would pass it to the National Sec-

retary without recourse to the public,” he said. It was learnt the resolution that the workers should apologise was taken at a meeting between the NWC and management staff of the party held yesterday at the Legacy House in Abuja. The resolution was conveyed to the enlarged workers’ forum at a meeting held inside the NEC Hall at the party’s secretariat. It was further learnt that though the angry workers have decided to comply, but they unani-

mously said they stand by the reply to the memo issued by the National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo. “We are not to be blamed for making the issue a public discourse; it was the memo the NWC leaked to the public through the National Secretary that led to our reaction. “We will apologise, but we are not to be blamed for how it became a public issue; yet we stand by the content of the reply to the National Secretary,” the source said.

Reps lobby Speaker, party leaders for juicy committees Tordue Salem, ABUJA

s Selection Committee, put together by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, begins work, members have started lobbying leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, to secure what they consider A-list committees. Our correspondent learnt yesterday that the Northern and Southern caucuses have already approached members of APC’s Board of Trustees from their areas to intervene. “Some of us, as you already know, fought on the side of the party and for party supremacy concerning the issue of leadership, so we may not figure in the politics of committees; we may be at a disadvantage, even though some of us by our backgrounds are very suitable to head some of these committees. “So, members are also talking to party leaders in the House and at the party level to chip in a word. We are one House. It’s not about Dogara or Gbajabiamila,” one of the lawmakers said.

The lawmaker, who is from one of the North Central states, however, dismissed insinuations that APC legislators were still divided across factional lines. “We have reconciled. We held a meeting and decided that we were one after all, and we should resolve our differences and we have done that,” he said. However, another member, representing Dutsinma/Kurfi Federal Constituency, Kastina State, Hon. Danlami Mohammed Kurfi, has assure his colleagues that the Speaker would be fair and just in sharing committees and sub-committees in the House. He also assured the Speaker of his and other members’ total loyalty to his leadership of the House. The lawmaker, in a statement also commended the Speaker for his maturity in handling the leadership crisis, just as he advised him to remain just and fair in handling allocation of committees. The House is expected to set up over 80 committees before the end of this month, and name their heads.

L-R: First female Professor of Dentistry in Nigeria, Prof. Elizabeth Sote; Dean, Faculty of Dental Science, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Godwin Arotiba; representative of Provost of the College, Prof. Olugbenga Okanlawon and Dean, Faculty of Clinical Studies, Prof. Lesi Afolabi, at the 9th Annual Scientific Conference and 50th anniversary celebration of Dental Education in Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Army clears northeast roads of IEDs Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

igerian Army said its troops in recovery operations have cleared all roads in the northeast of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, planted by Boko Haram insurgents. Spokesman for the 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Col. Tukur Gusau, made this known in a statement in Maiduguri yesterday. He said troops of the division, during Clearance and Linking Up Operations, recovered five IEDs planted on the road linking Gwoza and Yamteke. According to the statement, the explosives had since been defused and destroyed by a team of Army

engineers. “Troops conducting clearance operations in Dikwa, following routing out of terrorists in the area a couple of days ago, discovered a hideout in which weapons and equipment used for construction of IEDs were hidden. “They include five drilling, one filing, two cutting, one disc filing machines, 52 compact discs, nine rocketpropelled grenades, seven chargers, one 105mm pack howitzer, one BMG tripod stand and one cutting/drilling machine,” he said. Gusau reiterated the readiness of the troops to ensure that Boko Haram terrorists were flushed out and peace restored by all means in the region. Meanwhile, immediate

past Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, yesterday, revealed that Nigeria almost collapsed as predicted last year. But he said the fear of the prediction coming to pass, drove him to impose hard sanctions on troops to ensure that they stood and fought without to save the country from imminent disintegration. Minimah gave the revelation in a valedictory speech during his pulling out ceremony at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja. The continuous existence of the country, Minimah stated, was threatened by the Boko Hara insurgency, which was used as a tool to advance parochial interests especially, con-

sidering the desperation by then opposition parties to take over the presidency of the country. According to him, prior to his appointment, there were predictions and signs that Nigeria would break up in 2015. He added that the Army was gradually falling from standards, leading to loss of confidence in the military to further defend and keep the country together. Minimah said he quickly settled down to work and was confronted by the decay in the Army due to long periods of neglect it had suffered. He therefore called on all to unite and support the government and security forces to tackle the current security challenges.

South West

Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

sun State House of Assembly yesterday dismissed Justice Folahanmi Oloyede’s petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Oloyede had in a 39-page petition sent to the House of Assembly highlighted, according to her, constitutional beaches of the governor and demanded his investigation and possible impeachment by the House. The house subsequently set up a 7-member panel chaired by t Deputy Speaker, Adegboye Akintunde, to investigate the allegations and report back to the House within two weeks. The House after adopting the report of the panel yesterday said the allegations raised by Oloyede in her petition were mere embodiments of emotions and political partisanship and aligned itself with the recommendations of the panel that the pe-

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Osun Assembly dismisses Oloyede’s petition against Aregbesola

…says petition an embodiment of emotions, partisanship tition be dismissed. Earlier, while reading the report of the panel, Akintunde said the committee upon receipt of the petition, discovered that it failed to meet the demands of any petition that should be considered for investigation. He added that the committee, however, refrained from dismissing the petition on technical ground so as not to give the Assembly away as shielding the governor from investigation. He further explained that despite its magnanimity in allowing the petition to be considered, the petitioner, again, ran foul of Order 26 of Osun State House of Assembly by sending representatives on the day she was to

appear before the panel. Dealing with all issues raised in the petition one after another, chairman of the panel said the petitioner could not present any documents to back up her claims, saying Oloyede, through her counsel said she would only appear and present documents when copy of Aregbesola’s response was given to her. According to the report, the panel recommended among others, that: “petitioner abandoned her claims by refusing to appear personally before the ad-hoc committee to substantiate the various allegations leveled against the governor and the deputy in her petition. “Besides, her representa-

tives could not produce any documents to substantiate the allegations during their appearance. “The petition submitted by Justice Oloyede is frivolous, fictitious and baseless because the various allegations contained therein was based on rumour and hearsay. “The petitioner insisted that her appearance would be predicated on having a copy of Mr. Governor’s response to her petition. This amounted to the petitioner giving condition for her appearance before the state legislature. Her action was considered to be against the standing rules, conventions or even international best practices anywhere includ-

ing the court of law. “The petition brought forward by her was against all known legal norms and ethics for a sitting judge to publicly take a political position. Her action was unprecedented. Judges require sobriety to be able to dispassionately attend to cases before them and they therefore cannot afford to be emotional “Her petition was an embodiment of emotions and political partisanship and that the state Judicial Service Commission should be

Shun Ondo N7bn request, APC warns banks Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Director, Legislative Drafting, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Tola Akinsanya, during the swearing-in of 19 new Permanent Secretaries at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

requested to institute necessary disciplinary action against the petitioner having observed that the attitude of Justice Oloyede Olamide Folahanmi was unethical and unbecoming of a servicing judge in the state judiciary.” Commenting on the report of the panel, the lawmaker representing Ede North and Osogbo state constituencies, Kamardeen Akanbi and Adegboye Akintunde, demanded that Justice Oloyede be “subjected to psychiatric test to ascertain her mental status”.

ll Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State has cautioned the Federal Government and commercial banks in the country against granting loans to the state government. The House of Assembly had on Tuesday approved Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s request to borrow N7 billion from banks to finance some capital projects. The APC noted that all the projects executed so far by the government did not justify the N44 billion it met in the state’s coffers and allocations collected from the federation account since inception in 2009. In a statement issued yes-

terday by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, APC said the Olusegun Mimiko administration was only trying to create problem for its successor that would take over in 2017. Adesanya challenged governor Mimiko to give account of all allocations collected since inception of his administration more than six years ago. He also asked the state government to explain to people of the state why it needs N7 billion loan when it is yet to clear over N70 billion debts on its neck. ”We have it on good authority that the said N7 billion loan was only meant for completion of the “Dome” project and the Fiwasaye/ Oba-Ile/airport road. These projects have been on since 2009.”

FAAN issues 7-day ultimatum on abandoned aircraft at Lagos Airport Olusegun Koiki

ederal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has called on owners of abandoned aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Ikeja, Lagos, to evacuate them or risk disposal. The agency is giving owners of such aircraft at the airport seven days ultimatum to relocate the aircraft. Media statement by General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Takubu Dati, stated that the

evacuation of the aircraft became necessary in order for the airport to comply with recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO. Director of Airport Operations, Captain Henry Omeogu, in the statement, attributed the recent onground incidents at the airport to abandonment of aircraft, stressing that they posed serious safety concerns to aircraft, users of the airport and some infrastructure at the terminal. The statement appealed to owners of the aircraft,

some of which the statement stated had been parked at the graveyard since 2005, to immediately remove them to forestall situations where unscrupulous elements would use abandoned aircraft as hiding places to perpetrate criminal activities. The spokesman assured that FAAN would continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety and security of all travellers and other airport users in line with its mission statement. FAAN had in January 2013 issued similar threat

to owners of abandoned aircraft, while some of their owners removed them, others could not be removed as planned. Investigations by our correspondent revealed that there are no fewer than 65 abandoned aircraft in eight airports across the country. The airports include the MMA, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja; Sam Mbakwe Cargo International Airport, Owerri; Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos; Benin Airport, Benin; Kaduna Airport, Kaduna; Mallam

Aminu Kano Airport, Kano and Maiduguri Airport, Maiduguri. Some of the airlines with aircraft abandoned at the airports include the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Chrome Air, Fresh Air, Dasab Airline, Albarka, Okada Air, Kabo Air, Triax Airline, Okada Air, Oriental Airlines, Sosoliso, Afrijet, Freedom Air, Capital Air, chanchangi Airlines, Bellview Airlines and Gas Air among others. FAAN had said then that some of the aircraft would be dismantled while their

scrap would be transported to a steel company for recycling into other industrial use. But, by February 2013, a month after the threat, a committee set up by FAAN said the agency had no right to dispose off the aircraft. National Mirror gathered that the committee took the position following the discovery that most of the owners of the abandoned aircraft were indebted to banks and several other financial institutions in the country and abroad.

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

Traders selling amidst waste and flood on Broad Street. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

INSIDE

Traders lament closure of market to mourn dead leader

MUSON: ‘Heart of Nigeria’s music, culture and entertainment’

Broad Street Diary

hat Iyaloja of Lagos Island market has passed on is no longer news. What is fresh however, is the incessant directives to traders on the Island by leaders of the Lagos Island Market Union to close their shops on regular basis in honour of the deceased? It may be recalled that immediately the news of the death of the women leader was made public last Monday, the leadership of the market union association, Lagos Island chapter, directed all traders in the business district to close shops. Again, on Monday this week, there was another directive from the market union leaders asking traders in Eko Idumota, Broad Street and Apongbon axis of Lagos Island to put their shops under lock and keys, according to them, in commemoration of the 8-day of the departed market women leader. A cursory look at the market on the said dates, showed the markets are bereft of its daily commercial hustling and burbling as the demise of the Iyaloja brought the entire Broad Street and it’s environ to economic standstill. Worst hit was the Eko Idumota axis where some traders said the deceased had her shops until her death. The order to close shops according to a trader in the market Mr. Femi Akinsemoyin was given without prior notice a development he described, as an abnormal. According to him, it amounted to gross wickedness on the part of the market leaders to force him to close shop as his only daily means of livelihood rest on whatever he makes from the shop. “You don’t expect me to transport myself all the way from Badagry to Lagos Island without making any sales just because we are mourning the market leader. How do you expect me to feed my wife and kids at home?” he queried. “We suddenly woke up to hear this, as nobody informed us of this development earlier. I want to use this medium to inform the market leaders to always give us adequate notice any time in the future when such closure is take place, so that adequately preparation could be made to cushion the effect of such closure,” he said. Another trader, Mrs. Omowunmi, who sells assorted wine and gins under the popular Apongbon bridge, said she was very pleased with the directive to close shops in honour of the late market leader. According to Omowunmi, “She was our spokesperson and leader, who used to plead on our behalf so that we could be allowed to sell our market under the bridge. Now that she has gone, we don’t know our fate in the hands of officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline “KAI” who often come here to harass us. So, giving up one day to honour her will not change anything”. “On the allegation that no prior notice was given to the traders on the closure of shops; Omowunmi said: “It is not true that notice was not was given. As a matter of fact, I heard it on the radio repeatedly. They even mentioned the colour of uniform we should wear to the occasion. Male white and yellow while female were asked to put on yellow. So, the people that said they were not aware do not listen to radio,” she said.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Traders lament closure of market to mourn dead leader

Lock-up shops at Balogun market PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN Curiosity however, would not let Broad Street reporter rest until he finds out why some shops in this axis defied the directive not to open for business, as some were conspicuously seen going on with their normal business activities. One of such shops was “Red Tag” owned by an Indian which is an extension of “Cash and Carry.” According to Mr. Apochi Emmanuel a member of staff of the Red Tag: “We are in business because the directive is for market traders and ours is corporate entity just as banks, Insurance firm among others in the neighborhood that opened for business, so we are not in any way affected. The only order we comply with is the one officially declared by the Federal Government. Mrs. Victoria Iloka, a trader on Broad

Street in her part, stated that; “this is one closure too many. We were asked to stay off our shops last week Monday immediately the woman died; we complied, is that not enough?, abroad when a personality of this caliber dies observation of a minute silence is enough and life goes .” “Why must the whole market suffer economic loses because somebody died? Soon, when it is fourteen and twenty one days respectively, they will still tell us to close shops again, one of the traders lamented.” On the mode of enforcing such directive, Mr. Lawal Hafeez stated that it is the market union leaders that carry out the enforcement. ‘’For instance, they came to us when our shop was ajar last week, warning us against flouting the rule. We had to com-

ply because their coming back could be catastrophic, adding it is an aberration for everyone to suffer economic hardship just because somebody died.” Nevertheless, it was reliably gathered that the directive to close shops was not from the state government. According to our source who spoke under anonymity, such order was an agreement between parties within the markets just to honour the deceased for her outstanding role while alive and such could not have been binding on all business owners on the Island. Aggregating the mood and tone of some of the traders BSD spoke with, the consensus among them is that, there should be moderation in the frequency of market closure as they live on what they earn daily.

Police to increase surveillance on Carter, Eko, other bridges Dare Akogun

rked by the high rates of criminality on the Lagos bridge, the Lagos State Police Command has said it will increase surveillance and intelligence patrol as well as motorcycle patrol on the bridges on the Lagos Island in the state as well as the entry and exit points The increase according to the command is aimed at curbing the activities of inter-state armed robbers and to protect motorists in traffic on the bridges The new initiative by the police is said to be parts of the efforts of the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni to rid the state particular the business

hub of the state of criminals. The task to be carried out by operatives of the Rapid Respond Squad, RRS, is to serve as parts of efforts to complement the activities of police on the island and the border communities A source at RRS , while speaking with Broad Street Diary on the development said “ yes the commander has re deployed more patrol vehicles to entry and exit points in the state “ He listed the areas, where the new patrol vehicles were deployed to include :Area H, Area E and Sango old Toll Gate amongst other places The RRS source also added that “ the new commander has also re introduced

motorcycle patrol along the bridges on the Lagos Island “ According to the policeman, “ RRS motorcycle riders now complement the activities of patrol vehicles on Carter Bridge , Eko Bride. And other bridges” The commander of RRS, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police confirmed the deployment of the patrol vans and motorcycles to Broad Street Diary. He also added that the deployment is in line with the strategy of the state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, to combat crime in the state.”

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Politics

How PDP is faring in opposition 14,15

Dickson, Alameiseigha not shut out of Bayelsa peace meeting –PDP OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

ational Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked claims that the duo of the Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and the first executive governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, were sent out of the weekend peace meeting initiated by PDP national secretariat in Otuoke community of the state. PDP stated that the misinformation was the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as it fears the outcome of the reconciliation in the party. The meeting, held last weekend in the country home of the former President Goodluck Jonathan

amidst tight security, was attended by the Dr. Haliru Mohammed Bello, Board of Trustees, BoT, secretary, Senator Walid Jibril, former governor of Eboyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh and Senator Stella Omu. Some aggrieved members of the party, who claimed to have attended the meeting, announced that Dickson, Alamieyeseigha and other party members were barred from attending the meeting due to non-membership of the party. PDP Peace Committee secretary, Dr. Ojougboh, in a statement circulated yesterday, said the alleged claim that Bayelsa governor, Hon. Dickson and Alamieyeseigha were barred from the meeting was masterminded by the APC and

“it was aimed at causing disunity between the leaders and members of the PDP in the state.” Ojougboh said: “The committee had earlier met with the governor, the State Executive Council and the immediate past President Jonathan, be-

fore the meeting it had with other aggrieved members of the party. “The APC is not happy with the outcome of the meeting, hence the reason why it went to town with its tales of woes. I, on the instruction of the chairman of the committee, Dr.

Bello, the chairman PDP BoT and PDP National Vice Chairman, hereby affirm that, at no time were these two great party men asked out of the meeting. “The committee met with the governor and state exco on the one hand and former President Jon-

athan and the aggrieved members on the other hand separately. The committee had a very good outing, which resulted in the recall of suspended and expelled party members. The recalled members were pleased to return to the party.”

Kogi guber: Group urges APC to disallow corrupt aspirants WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

group in the All progressives Congress, APC, Transparency Group, TG, has urged the leadership of the party to ensure that only corruptfree politicians are allowed to contest for its ticket the upcoming gubernatorial primary scheduled for August 29. TG coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Gimba Ocholi, at a press conference yesterday in Lokoja, said the APC won the previous election because of the integrity it portrayed to Nigerians, saying such tempo be sustained by stopping corrupt politicians, particularly those already facing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged stolen funds. Ocholi added that President Muhammadu Buhari is known by Nigerians as an incorruptible individual, adding: “It is therefore sacrosanct that anyone who will fly the party’s gubernatorial flag must not be corrupt or linked with corrupt

acts. “Kogi will be the first state where our party will test ground; suffice it to say that the party must only allow people who are politically and intellectually mobile with high level of integrity. This state has for long been backward because of corrupt leadership. If the APC at the top is busy fighting corruption, then we must ensure that our party standard bearer must be corrupt-free irrespective of where he or she comes from in the state.” Reacting to claims that no one has been indicted of corruption in the state, Ocholi said: “Yes the law says accused person is always innocent until proven guilty. Now tell me what if the accused person eventually become a governor with immunity, can he continue to be on trial to know if he or she is guilty or not? I leave that for you to answer.” Ocholi equally urged the party to ensure a level playing ground for all qualified aspirants in the primary election to avoid imposition and favouritism.

All Progressive Congress, APC, Kogi State gubernatorial aspirant, Dr. Yeqeen Habeeb and his wife Dr Mrs Munirat Yusuf-Habeeb, shortly after receiving party nomination form at the party secretary in Abuja on Tuesday.

Yakassai accuses Buhari, APC of marginalising S’East ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

ormer Special Adviser on National Assembly Affairs to former President Shehu Shagari in the second republic, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress, APC-led government of marginalising people of the South East region in the allotment of principal offices at the National Assembly and other national portfolios.

He said the lopsided apportioning of national offices could culminate in disunity of the country, noting that the unbalanced allocation of offices with disregard to the need to respect balanced zoning formula would not augur well for the polity. He further said President Buhari, though earlier vowed not to interfere in the crisis that rocked the National Assembly, was later compelled to swallow his pride by the disturbing situation. Cautioning those

clamouring for the ouster of the Deputy Senate President, DSP, Ike Ekwerenmadu, to weigh the disastrous consequence that may emanate from their planned action and desist henceforth from proceeding with their plans, Yakassai stressed that the emergence of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as House Leader deprived the South East zone of getting one of the principal offices in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. Yakassai in an interview yesterday in Kano

said, House Speaker, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, was also stampeded into swallowing his ego, by jettisoning his earlier stance to abide by the principles of federal character. He noted that Dogara succumbed to the whims and caprices of President Buhari and Senator Bola Tinubu, alleging that Senator Tinubu was hell bent on achieving personal interest against national interest, adding that the party chief equally swallowed his pride by attending the party’s NEC meeting.

Plateau ex-deputy gov dumps PDP for APC JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

lateau State All Progressives Congress, APC, continues to swell in numbers as it draws more big wigs into its fold as former deputy governor of the state, Mr

Jethro Akun, yesterday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and pitched his tent with the ruling party. Until yesterday, Akun was a staunch member of the PDP and has served as its chairman before being made the state deputy gov-

ernor. Akun, in a statement yesterday, said he was withdrawing has membership of the PDP with immediate effect for personal reasons. He however thanked all has political associates for their understanding as

well as all those who had assisted him during his service in various positions held within and outside the state He said: “Plateau State is the only state I have and will continue to contribute my quota to its peace and development at all times.

Politics

or some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the last thing to expect is to be in opposition, at least not without being in power for 60 uninterrupted years as boasted by its ranking officials during its ruling days. But then, that lofty dream crashed and became stillborn when on March 28, presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, swept the polls. The outcome of that election relegated the PDP to the official number one opposition party. So far in the new status PDP has found itself, many political observers believe the party has not performed badly in discharging its new role. It has held its own, raising the dust when needed and calling the attention of the ruling APC when necessary. Raising dusts One of the dusts the opposition PDP raised was the moment President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Amina Zakari as the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The appointment saw PDP shouting to the rooftops, accusing the President of bias in the appointment, alleging that Mrs Zakari is too close to the President for comfort. At a point, the PDP called the acting INEC boss, ‘Buhari’s daughter’. PDP spokesman, Olisah Metuh, while reacting to the appointment then, said: “The PDP is particularly disturbed by the development in INEC where President Buhari, who knew all along that the immediate-past INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, would be leaving office by June 30, had to wait for him to handover to one of the national commissioners only to reverse it immediately, thereby injecting bad blood in the commission. “The situation in INEC since the PDP government reformed and granted it operational autonomy has been peaceful, but the untidy overruling of Prof. Jega and appointing of Mrs. Zakari as acting chairman which, we gathered was influenced by personal relationship with the Presidency and one of the new governors of the North West, ostensibly to pave the way for the APC at the electoral tribunals, has completely eroded public trust in the commission. “In INEC, the PDP states in unequivocal terms that we cannot, as critical stakeholders, fold our hands and watch while the Presidency perpetuates actions that diminish the independence of the electoral commission. The PDP has declared the appointment of Mrs. Zakari as unacceptable and demand that President Buhari changes her immediately. ”Our reasons include the fact that due process was not observed in the appointment and that Mrs. Zakari has shown in the last elections that she is manifestly bias in favour of the APC. Finally her appointment is a clear case of nepotism.” PDP has also continued to raise dust over the appointment of Alhaji Lawal Daura as Director General of the Department of State Security, DSS, describing the APC as a party of “shameless and desperate liars”, insisting that President Buhari must remove the new DSS boss. Accusing Daura of being a card-carrying APC member and pointing out that his partisanship will affect his job, the PDP in a statement by Metuh, noted that in appointing its member to head the DSS, a very sensitive security agency vested with numerous powers, the APC has annexed the agency as a tool to suppress the opposition and other Nigerians who hold views contrary to that of government, thus preparing the ground for dictatorship and a reign of terror on the people. Metuh said: “No wonder we are now witnessing invasions of houses of PDP members as well as harassments, arrests and detentions of electoral officers and tribunal members in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and other PDP states where the APC is desperate to upturn our electoral victory at all cost and by any means.” The PDP spokesperson, lampooned the APC for sticking to what he termed ‘lies and empty denials,’ despite overwhelming evidence that the new DSS boss belongs to the APC. He said: “The spate of lies chunked out by the APC in its desperation to suppress the truth is not only reprehensible but also symptomatic of lack of character”.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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How PDP is faring EBERE NDUKWU looks at how the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which held sway in Nigeria’s political landscape like a colossus, dominating the political space for 16 uninterrupted years, have so far fared as an opposition since the All Progressives Congress, APC, took over power on May 29.

Jonathan

Secondus

SO FAR IN THE NEW STATUS PDP HAS FOUND ITSELF, MANY POLITICAL OBSERVERS BELIEVE THE PARTY HAS NOT PERFORMED BADLY IN DISCHARGING ITS NEW ROLE

Again, when the Presidency released over $1.7 billion as bailout for states, the PDP raised the issue and queried why the Buhari administration should empty the Excess Crude Account, ECA, even when the government was shouting about empty treasury. Metuh in his reaction said: “Our attention has been drawn to yet another embarrassing flip-flop by the Presidency and the APC, this time on their depletion of savings in ECA which they earlier announced was to partly finance bailout for states and local governments across the country. “We are indeed shocked that in their spirited effort to ensure that no credit went to the PDP-led administration for saving the money in the ECA, the Presidency and the APC had to make a dramatic u-turn even after the APC had in a release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, commended the President for approving spending from that account. “The APC had in the release acknowledged that the ‘multi-pronged approval by President Buhari includes the sharing by the federal and state governments of $1.7 billion out of the $2 billion remaining in the ECA; the sharing of about $2.1 billion sourced from the LNG’s payment

to the Federation Account; and a CBN-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging between N250 billion to N300 billion, as soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries’.” Also, when the DSS invaded and raided the house of the immediate past National Security Adviser, NSA, Dasuki Sambo, holding him hostage for close to 24 hours, the PDP spokesman Metuh, again voiced out, calling the action the return of dictatorship. The PDP said: “The fact is that we deserve basic freedom, liberty and free movement associated with democracy. The truth is that Nigerians are getting scared. They voted for the President and he was duly elected. “And now he’s the father of the nation, he’s the father of everyone. He’s not serving any other interest. But there are certain activities by some of his aides and people around him, it’s like they are taking us back to the military era where we were coming from. “We are not guilty because we served under a former President. We are not guilty because we lost an election. We are not losers in a war. We lost an election, not a war. We are not prisoners of war and we should not be treated like prisoners of war.” Support for the ruling party Contrary to the APC which reaped from its criticism of PDP, discrediting its every action in the fight against insurgency while PDP was in power, the PDP has on its own vowed to support President Buhari on his fight against insurgency and terrorism. PDP, through its spokesman said: “Indeed, the time has come for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations to be in one accord in the fight against terrorism in our dear country. In this challenge, the PDP stands with President Buhari and the nation on any measure adopted by the Federal Government aimed at ending this ugly experience. We may not be on the same page on some policy issues but not when it comes to matters that directly affect the security of our citizens and our stability as a nation.”

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

in opposition WITH THE PRESENT

CRISIS IN PDP, ONLY TIME WILL TELL HOW THE PARTY WILL SUSTAIN AND CONTINUE TO MOUNT STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNING

APC

Keeping APC on its toes One promise PDP made and is trying to keep was to keep the APC government on its toes. This shows why it has continued reminding the ruling APC of its campaign promises. Just 30 days after APC assume office, the PDP in a statement described the APC government as all “motion and no movement,” and accused the President and his party of lacking direction, enjoining Nigerians to pray for the President. PDP said: “After careful evaluation of the first 30 days of President Buhari and APC’s administration, the PDP notes that it has become obvious that Nigerians need to join hands in prayers to save the government from further inaction and dithering. “The enormity of the confusion surrounding the government and party in the last one month makes it imperative for Nigerians to pray as the success or failure of the Buhari administration will not only affect the President and his party but also the entire nation. “We urge Nigerians to join hands in prayers and offer useful suggestions to President Buhari and the APC because with what we have seen in the last 30 days, the present administration is finding it very difficult to get its bearings right while showing no inclination towards implementing its numerous campaign promises for which they were voted into office at the centre. “We are deeply worried that the President, who promised to unveil his cabinet two weeks after his inauguration, has not been able to decide on key appointments such as ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief of Staff, CoS and advisers in key sectors of the economy. “This is more so as the delay has brought government business in ministries, departments and agencies to a dangerous standstill with coordination of important policies vested on ministers and the SGF now in tatters while the system drifts. “This situation also creates loopholes through which overzealous persons around that President can connive with unscrupulous elements in the bureaucracy to siphon public resources in addition to possibly misleading the President to violate due process by spending beyond and outside his statutory limits. “The situation is taking its toll on the economy sector, which has in the 30 days witnessed unprecedented decline with a terrifying crippling of foreign and domestic investments including activities in the money and capital market sectors. Under President Buhari, the stock market has lost over N238 billion while the All-Share Index fell by 849.87 basis points as at June 19.” Taunting APC on its promises Sarcastically, PDP said: “We wish to inform the APC that Nigerians will not take anything short of the commencement of payment of monthly N5,000 each to 25 million poor citizens beginning from the end of this month; ending of insurgency by the end of July as promised by

Metuh

Ekweremadu

President Buhari in his April 2 CNN interview; payment of monthly allowance to discharged but unemployed youth corps members, free meals to school children and bringing the naira to the same value with the dollar; among other bogus promises upon which they gained access to power.” The party reminded APC that Nigerians will only listen to the fulfillment of its campaign promises. Deputy Senate coup PDP, in what many political analysts described as modern political coup, stunned APC when it emerged Deputy Senate President, the shock of which the ruling party is still trying to come to terms with. That singular feat by the PDP has sent a strong message to APC, at least, they now know that the PDP is a hovering eagle waiting for a slightest opportunity to strike. Summarily, PDP from the foregoing, appear to have hit the ground running and ready in providing strong opposition, while the APC on the other hand, seems to have continued to find its bearing in the business of leadership, two months after taking over government.

Politics

Internal crisis and blame game Despite that analysts believe the PDP has fared well as opposition, the present crisis in the party involving its leadership and secretariat staff calls for concerns. The situation deepened few days ago when the workers alleged that the National Working Committee, NWC, was “morally repugnant and obsessively corrupt.” They had last Friday, levelled some allegations against PDP NWC, asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate. Metuh, however, described the allegations as baseless. But the workers launched a fresh attack, few days ago, accusing PDP leadership of corrupt practices and helping to defeat Jonathan in the general elections. The face-off between the main opposition party and the workers started after the former said it would reduce its staff strength by 50 per cent while cutting the salaries and allowances of the remaining workers by half. A letter from PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, and addressed to all directors and administrative staff of the party, asked the workers to return to their respective states and prove their membership, adding: “Furthermore, establishment staff, who would remain, are required to obtain individual letters of revalidation from their state party chapters within one month of this circular as to their suitability for service at the national secretariat.” Analysts said the staff rationalisation measure being taken by the PDP leadership stemmed from the reality of a party that was once in government with access to large funds but now in opposition and cash strapped. The embattled workers, under the aegis of the PDP Staff Welfare Association, dismissed Metuh’s allegation that the ruling APC was using them to destabilise the PDP. The workers in a statement signed by their chairman and secretary, Ngozi Nzeh and Dan Ochu-Baiye irrspectively, said: “We are not surprised that the allegation will become the most fashionable means of covering tracks. The allegation is a wide window into the impressionable character of the man who has been in saddle as the party’s image-maker and an ominous signpost into the shallow manner the publicity of the party has been run. “We therefore place on record that the majority of the establishment staff of the PDP are not just unrepentant members of the party who have spent over 16 years in service; who have assimilated the PDP ethos as a way of political life, but are also the repository of the party’s institutional memory whose spirit can hardly succumb to the ephemerality of power loss. “Who plays anti-party activities, you may ask? Staff members who are genuinely resisting the morally repugnant and obsessively corrupt NWC so that the PDP will survive or some NWC members who have the track record of anti-party activities especially the one who openly endorsed the APGA candidate in the 2013 Anambra governorship election, the subsequent denigration of PDP candidate and his chances on live television program less than 24 hours after the election, even as the result was being awaited? “Again, we have incontrovertible evidence that some of the NWC members worked assiduously against the presidential candidate of the PDP, former President Jonathan, in the last election in order to get back at the former President for rejecting them in strategic campaign offices, a development which came after they had squandered N450 million earlier approved by President Jonathan. “We wish to therefore advise the NWC to respond to issues raised in our Friday press briefing without which the fortunes of the party will continue to dwindle.” Summarily, PDP from the foregoing, appear to have hit the ground running and ready in providing a strong opposition, while the APC on the other hand, seems to have continued to find its bearing in the business of leadership, two months after taking over government. But with the present crisis in PDP, only time will tell how the party will sustain and continue to mount strong opposition to the governing APC. How PDP will sustain and continue to mount strong opposition to the APC with myriads of issues cropping up in the party and governance day by day, in the days ahead will determine its credibility as an opposition party.

Politics

hen Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, was announced winner of the April 11 gubernatorial election, the Ibadan-born technocrat, businessman-turned politician made history as the first occupier of Agodi Government House to return for a consecutive second term, breaking the jinx of Oyo State not ‘serving the same governor twice’. The road to victory in the gubernatorial contest was however one strewn with many thorns, the memory of which would continue to linger for a long time to come, as he was locked in a fierce battle with formidable opponents that included two former governors, Senator Rasheed Ladoja of Accord Party; Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkaka of the Labour Party, LP; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Mr. Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party, SDP. While it is debatable whether this breaking of second term jinx was due to his delivering on his electoral promises during his first term, his party the All Progressives Congress, APC, recorded massive victory in the 2015 general elections in the state, retaining the governorship seat, the three senatorial seats, 12 of out of the 14 House of Representatives slots and 18 slots in the state House of Assembly. This, to many observers, was however expected, no thanks to the internal wrangling among opposition gladiators, who rather than presenting a common front against a sitting governor, went into the contest fragmented, with each one of them believing that he can on his own send Ajimobi packing out of Agodi Government House. Now that the elections are over and Ajimobi is back in the saddle, there is no doubt that he would have to prepare himself to face more challenges, more than those that confronted him during his first term, not only to further endear himself to the people, but also to entrench his party in the minds of the people of the state. While he may have succeeded in breaking the second term jinx, one of the challenges that he will have to contend with for the next few months is his victory, which is been challenged at the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal by former Governor Ladoja of Accord, which has raised anxiety among not only political followers but the people of the state. The tribunal, which had earlier granted Ladoja leave to inspect all election materials used for the election at Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, offices in Abuja, Ibadan and all the 33 local government areas of the state, said it would rather concentrate on the substance of the application instead of chasing shadows. Another challenge, which is not peculiar to the state, but which Ajimobi cannot afford to toy with is putting an end to the backlog of unpaid workers’ salaries pension arrears to pensioners in the state. As at the end of last month, workers in the state are being owed four months’ salary, with the governor assuring of clearing the backlog latest by October. This promise notwithstanding and the reported bail out given to the state, the administration has come under fire from groups in the state, some of who called on the people of the state to be on the neck of the governor to ensure that the money is judiciously spent. A non-governmental organisation in the state, Change Agent Movement, CAM, in a statement by its chairman and secretary, Messrs Abolaji Adeosun and Malik Adehun, respectively, said Ajimobi should not be allowed to use the funds for other or personal use except paying the workers’ salaries it is meant for. CAM said Ajimobi’s penchant for mismanagement of funds should be checked so that the state would not be plundered into further financial crises, adding: “Oyo State would not have been in this mess if not for the over bloated contracts awarded by the Ajimobi administration.” CAM said: “Governor Ajimobi’s decision to run a oneman show is a great cause for concern. We believe that he is deliberately grounding the economy of the state so that he will have the opportunity to enrich himself and allow the state to suffer. We wish to remind all that the governor publicly declared his assets in 2011 immediately he assumed office as the number one citizen in Oyo State but it is sad to note that the same man has not

Thursday, August 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ajimobi and his many challenges KEMI OLAITAN examines the various challenges confronting the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, as he embarks on his second missionary journey as the helmsman of the Pacesetter State.

Ajimobi

DESPITE THAT AJIMOBI AS AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT SEEK THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE AGAIN, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO WISH IT AWAY THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONSTANTLY FACE FLAK FROM THE OPPOSITION IN THE STATE EVEN MORE THAN HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE deemed it fit to do so 40 days after his inauguration for second term in office. “No amount of hiding under the banner can conceal the wealth and riches the governor got through contract inflation during his first term in office. It will be in his own interests to put a stop to all the mismanagement as Nigerians are ready to support the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari to save Nigeria from further economic mess.” Another knotty challenge the governor must resolve once and for all is the protracted problem bedevilling the state Council of Obas and Chiefs, leading to its inability to sit in the last four years. Analysts believe that Senator Ajimobi may be hiding under the fact that the Alaafin

of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is in court contesting his being stripped of the permanent chairmanship of the council by former Governor Alao-Akala, but it is incumbent on him to ensure that there is peace in the council more so that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the royal father of his own home town is also involved in the contest. Despite that Ajimobi as an individual may not seek the vote of the people again, it will be difficult to wish it away that his administration will constantly face flak from the opposition in the state even more than his first term in office. With the opposition parties expected to keep him on his toes, it remains to be seen how he intends to weather the storm, given the fact that he is writing a new phase in the history of the state as the first governor to be elected into office twice. One political party that will always throw brickbat at the administration is the state chapter of the PDP. Indeed as late as early last week, the party came hard on Ajimobi, describing his inactivity since his inauguration for another term as a poor development for the state. PDP, in a statement by its state chairman, Alhaji Olayinka Taiwo, called on Ajimobi to wake up from his slumber and set machinery in motion to ensure the wellbeing of the people of the state who have been groaning under the weight of economic hardship foisted on them by his government. Flaying Ajimobi for running a one-man show and running the economy of the state down as a result of his failure to appoint commissioners and others who would administer the state, Taiwo also reminded him of the call on him on assets declaration. While lauding the governor for heeding PDP’s advice on reducing cost of running government by reducing the number of ministries in the state, he however said he has no excuse for the current inactivity that has grounded the state and brought untold hardship to the people of the state, because he ran the state for four years and should have a reasonable blueprint for its running by now. However while many analysts in the state believe that the governor may have tried a lot during his first term in bringing development to the state, they are of the view that there is room for improvement. To them it is not out of place for the state to be setting the pace, if not all over the country, at least in the South-West region. They opined that the government is lagging behind in many areas in delivering democracy dividends in terms of infrastructure, health, education, and good roads. Indeed it is not be in doubt that the people are yearning for more development with some people accusing the government of not delivering on its electoral promises. An analyst, Prince Abimbola Makanjuola, who maintained that the APC won the last elections in the state because of the pedigree of President Buhari, said the change mantra can only be meaningful in the state if Senator Ajimobi tried as much as possible to take governance to the next level. He said with the fertile land that God has endowed the state with, it has no business waiting for the monthly federal allocation which he insisted will continue to go down with the daily fall in the price of crude oil in the international market. He said: “I believe that it is important for him to seize the opportunity to turn the fortune of the state around through investment in agriculture, which apart from providing job for the teeming youths roaming the streets, can turn the state to the nation’s food basket.” With Governor Ajimobi having more than three and half years more to spend as the first two-term governor of the state given a favourable outcome in the governorship election petition tribunal, his place in the history of the Pacesetter state is certainly in the belly of time.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Thursday, August 6 2015

Still on the crisis in the National Assembly EXISTENTIAL HUMANISM

FRY

NDUBUISI Professor Ndubuisi is of the Dept of Philosophy, UNILAG fryndubuisi@nationalmirroronline.net (08023016709 SMS only)

he crisis at the National Assembly says a lot about the chaos and self centeredness of our democracy. It is ridiculous how honourable men and women that should be seen as state men and beacon of democracy behave, irrespective of what the world think about them. The relative calm now at the House of Representatives was achieved because of the concession made by the Hon. Yakubu Dogara-led leadership to the opposition, a further manifestation of the greed and power mongering of our politicians. While the imbroglio lasted the insensitivity of key actors to the suffering in the land was most disappointing. The question that flowed from the development was how a nation that was celebrated for conducting free and fair elections should be submerged in this show of shame. It is ludicrous that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was insistence on imposing its candidates on the lawmakers in the two chambers of NASS. Its mock election where its preferred candi-

dates for the principal offices of both the Senate and House emerged is an abuse of democracy. The National Assembly is not an extension of the ruling party’s secretariat. Witnessed similar scenario in the Housein 2011, when the then PDP had its preferred candidate for Speaker of the House from the South West, but at the end of the day political intrigues threw up Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker by election. Many saw the development as an affront on power sharing power, political balancing act and party supremacy. The PDP did all it could to reverse the situation but nothing change at the end of the day. Accusing fingers then were pointed at the leaders of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) in the South West for the development. The PDP stomached that affront and moved on. But the political coup became a major impediment in the smooth running of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration. The House and its leaders conducted themselves as opposition politicians throughout the Jonathan administration. The warring factions at the House have now been pacified with Hon. Dogara conceding the office of Majority Leaders Hon Femi Gbajiamialan, who was not ready to settle for anything less. Since the June inauguration of the National Assembly, it has been one crisis or another. Questions have been asked if this is the change Nigerians were prom-

THERE IS NOWHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

MUST EMERGE FROM THE RULING PARTY ised. A democracy cannot be run in the face of this obvious tyranny and coercion by few individuals. The National Assembly is the mirror of our democracy. Its leadership is meant to be independently minded fellows. They are to make laws that have the potential of elevating the welfare of the masses that voted them into power. They are in addition meant to serve as an organ of checks and balances on the executive and legislative arms of the government. Whenever the executive exceed its power as stated by the laws of the land, as they do most times, it is the duty of the parliament to call it to order. Aside, the federal legislature is meant to scrutinise dispassionately all the executive bills send to them before passing. This requires a good measure of independent by its leadership. When the executive or some powerful party leaders insist on handpicking the leaders of the National Assembly it will emerge to be nothing but a puppet National Assembly that will be

tele-guided from outside. Such situation is neither healthy for our democracy nor for the economic and political development of the country. While the situation now looks calm at the House of Representatives, the situation in the Senate is still uncertain. The leadership of the APC, contrary to its earlier stance, seems not to have accepted the Senator Bukola Saraki-led leadership of the Senate whole heartedly. Report have it that the Senate President is yet to be accepted by the presidency hence his alleged entreaty and moves to a prominent Emir to intervene. The ruling party is particularly irked by the emergence of Senator Ekweramadu as the Deputy Senate Leader. It is an anomaly they argue. This crisis is unnecessary if we truly have democratic spirit. Both the Senate President and his deputy emerged through electoral process, one cannot fall or stand without the other. There is nowhere in the constitution that the leadership of the National Assembly must emerge from the ruling party. What is going on at the National Assembly is unnecessary distraction, if the Buhari-led Federal Government has the interest of Nigerians at heart. Some individuals must bury their pride and ambition and let peace be restored to the National Assembly so that this country can move forward.

A case for reforms on the rank of SAN

ith the announcement on July 10, 2015 by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) of 21 new recipients of the prestigious award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the wait for the identity of those to be admitted to the noblest class of lawyers in the country was over. What, however, remains and which has been on for some years now, is the legion of criticisms concerning SANship itself. The SAN award began in 1975 when it was first conferred on the late Chief Rotimi Williams and Dr. Nabo Bekinbo Graham-Douglas. It was fashioned after the age-long Queen Counsel of England, and meant to bestow mark of distinction on those who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession and scholarship. The conferment comes with certain privileges like the right to wear a silk gown in court; exclusive right to sit in the front rows (inner bar) even he/she is the only SAN in court. Such privileges also include the right to take the front row in any procession of lawyers; and a prerogative to mention his case out of turn in court. Moreover, all SANs are automatically members of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association. This bundle of privileges enjoyed by a subset of favoured lawyers to the exclusion of others had inspired a segment of Nigerian lawyers under the leadership of an octogenarian, Pa Tunji Gomez, to float a lobby group called ‘Movement for the Abolition of Rank of SAN in Nigeria’ four years ago. The abolitionists claim

EVENTS IN RECENT TIMES HAVE SHOWN THAT A

NUMBER OF UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYERS HAVE MANAGED TO ATTAIN THE RANK that the rank confers undue advantage on the recipients vis-à-vis other lawyers and that it removes level playing ground for Nigerian lawyers. They would point to the case of the United States and even Ghana that had abolished the equivalent awards of Queen Counsel in their jurisdictions. On the other hand, the supporters of the status quo do claim that every profession needs a mark of success that the practitioners should aspire to and that the rank of SAN serves as a source of inspiration that makes lawyers strive for excellence in the profession. Conceptually, the rank of SAN was designed to be the equivalent of the Queen Counsel being awarded to outstanding barristers in England. An agitation similar to the one being made in Nigeria now rocked England some years ago. Some lawyers claimed that the award was unfair as it gave undue advantages to some practitioners vis-a-vis the others in the competition market. The Office of the Fair Trade in England actually filed an application to abolish the title of Queen Counsel on the ground it confers undue advantage, during this period the award of QC was stopped (this lasted for two years), it was eventually decided that the

award of QC was not against fair trade practice, and the annual award was restored. But apart from the extremist abolition position, a number of stakeholders have also expressed dissatisfaction with the extant system and procedure of conferment of the rank. Among the allegations that have rocked the award over the years is that it has been politicised to the extent that very little premium is placed on merit, while mundane considerations like nepotism and godfatherism are favoured. The LPPC has also been accused of cultic disposition evinced by deliberately denying some worthy people the rank. Those who peddle this allegation would point to the case of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who appeared worthy in every sense for many decades he practised law meritoriously but was only ‘begrudgingly’ given the award in 2001, only eight years before his death. We may not call for outright abolition as we are not against dedicated lawyers being rewarded for their industry. However, there is no gainsaying the fact that the procedure for the award is in need of reforms. Events in recent times have shown that a number of unscrupulous lawyers have managed to attain the rank and thus constitute a nuisance and ethical liability to the profession. LPPC has consistently argued against the allegation that it denies some people the award on the grounds

CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

that it is a privilege and not a right. Well, even though it is a privilege, the rank would certainly attract more respectability if the conferment is made on objective criteria that are seen by the public to be above reproach. No technical argument can stop the public from regarding the rank with increasing disdain if many people adjudged worthy are denied while legal featherweight or lawyers with dubious ethical orientation are admitted into the fold. The LPPC needs to review the criteria for the award, and more importantly, ensure that only credible people who are above board on ethics and professionalism are called into the inner bar. Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Thursday August 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

FG’s N4trn contractual debts under Jonathan

ederal Government’s reported staggering N4 trillion contract debt incurred by 28 federal ministries under the erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan administration has joined the long list of nightmares trailing the President Muhammadu Buhari government. Just last February, irate senators tongue-lashed former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo– Iweala, over poor implementation of the 2014 budget. When ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) were defending their 2015 budget, the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy accused Okonjo-Iweala of ‘killing’ the Nigerian economy through yearly poor funding of MDAs’ capital budgets. A member of the committee, Senator Victor Lar, for example, lamented “… a situation where… ministers and heads of various agencies that had awarded contracts could not pay, but somebody would sit in the comfort of her office and declare a surplus”. We recall that the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal-led 7th House of Representatives, much earlier in 2012, also had a running battle with the former Finance Minister; the then Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla; and DirectorGeneral of the Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogwu, over ridiculously poor implementation of the 2012 budget. Roughly 80 per cent of the

nation’s annual budget is guzzled by recurrent expenditure, leaving a paltry 20 per cent for capital expenditure. Still, not up to 40 per cent of the percentage set aside for capital expenditure is released at the end of each fiscal year. How come, then, that the Jonathan government accumulated a whopping N4 trillion as contractual debt, most probably to local contractors? Who awarded the contracts, through what procurement process and for what purpose? The Transition Committee headed by Alhaji Ahmed Joda reportedly made a strong recommendation to President Buhari on the need to raise a ministerial task force to probe how the gargantuan debt came about. The committee was, in addition, credited as saying it could not rely on the handover note it received from the Jonathan administration because the specific dates when the contracts were awarded were not indicated. This, indeed, raises doubt on the genuineness or otherwise of the said contracts. A breakdown of some of the contracts made available says the Ministry of Education topped the list with N1.2 trillion; Ministries of Finance N467.7 billion; Niger Delta N389.2 billion; Power N370 billion; Works N296 billion; Transport N289 billion; FCT N194 billion; Land and Housing N151 billion; Aviation N138 billion; Water Resources N111 billion; National Sports Commission N104 billion;

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PERFORMANCE OF THE

2015 BUDGET MAY NOT EXCEED 12 PER

CENT AT A PROJECTED OIL PRICE OF

$53 PER

BARREL Environment N51 billion; Police Affairs N36 billion; and Health N36 billion, among others. In a country where dumbfounding corrupt practices are dogging the nation’s political class and bureaucracy, Buhari government’s blanket acceptance of liability for the N4 trillion contractual debt, which is in the neighbourhood of the nation’s one year budget, is objectionable. This is especially so considering the outrageous number of abandoned federal and state projects littering the entire nation. About three years ago, an FG probe confirmed the existence of over 20,000 abandoned federal projects. Because of poor project performance and monitoring, contractors collect mobilization funds, share same with dubious public servants and vanish. Head of Service of the federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, suggested that much not too long ago when he spoke of government’s resolve to set up a project performance and monitoring taskforce to punish erring contractors. The

ON THIS DAY

August 6, 2001

August 6, 2008

About 28 mentally ill persons tied to chains were burnt to death at a faith-based institution at Erwadi, Tamil Nadu, India. All the inmates were bound by chains at Moideen Badusha Mental Home in the village. A large number of mental homes existed in Erwadi, made famous by the Dargah of Quthbus, Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Valiyullah, from Madina, Saudi Arabia, who came to India to propagate Islam.

A military junta led by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz staged a coup d’état in Mauritania, overthrowing President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi; following which Abdel Aziz became President of the High Council of State as part of what was described as a political transition leading to a new election. He resigned from the post in April 2009 in order to stand as a candidate in the July 2009 presidential election, which he won.

36 states of the federation reportedly owe commercial banks over N685 billion presently. When the N685 billion debt profile of states is added to FG’s purported N4 trillion contract debt; and funds wasted or siphoned by crooks through yet-tobe-computed abandoned projects in the nation’s 36 states and 774 LGAs, a better insight would emerge on how a combination of corrupt and inept political leadership and public service ruined the nation in the past couple of years. President Muhammadu Buhari has, however, moved to cut recurrent expenditure in next year’s budget in order to be able to prioritise development projects, according to latest reports. This is against the backdrop that capital expenditure performance of the 2015 budget may not exceed 12 per cent at a projected oil price of $53 per barrel. The President’s initiative is obviously premised on the urgent need to cut the cost of running government and free funds for the development of critical infrastructure and related projects. But even President Buhari’s interventionist step would yield little or no result in the end if contract awards and public procurement processes remain chaotic or personalised; when project performance and monitoring are compromised; and criminallyminded contractors alongside their accomplices in the public service collect and share money for jobs not done and go unpunished.

August 6, 2012 National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) ‘Curiosity’ rover landed on the surface of Mars. ‘Curiosity’ is a car-sized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars as part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission (MSL). It was launched from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST aboard the MSL spacecraft and successfully landed on Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater on Mars on August 6, 2012, 05:17 UTC.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Basic education now compulsory for children in Kaduna —el-Rufai 20

Tunbosun Ogundare

t a time many of his contemporaries blame poverty for their inability to go to school or do well in their studies, Oluwaseun Okegade says the dreaded scourge which has eaten very deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society is what actually made him the best among his peers. The 30-year-old fresh graduate from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto\Ijanikin, Lagos had it rough not only throughout the three years he spent to obtain a National Certificate in Education (NCE) from the college but also in his secondary school days. For him, having three square meals was a luxury, not to talk of living in a private apartment. He had nobody to sponsor his education, let alone somebody to rent a house for him. But because he was resolute to bring his vision to fruition, he went into odd jobs, the proceeds of which he used on the most important things such as recommended textbooks and a few basic needs. Today, Okegade from Abeokuta, Ogun State is not only a proud NCE holder; he came out of AOCOED as the overall best graduand of his set. And he was able to raise his head high among his other 2,828 mates who graduated from both the main and outreach campuses of the college at the annual convocation, the 35th edition in the series, held recently. Indeed, the day belonged to him as the most celebrated graduand of the set at the occasion, which had the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule and the Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED, Prof. Olu Akeusola and many high profile traditional rulers in the area, in attendance. Aside his emergence as the overall best, he went home with a basket of awards. With a Cumulative Gradient Point Average (CGPA) of 4.28 out of the possible 5.0 points, Okegade won eight out of the total 18 prizes available for grasp at the event. He was the best in the School of Science where he studied Physics and Mathematics and the best in Education. He also won the Academic Board Prize, Alhaji P.A Balogun Prize, Oba Oloto Prize, Owolabi-Amisu and Provost Prizes. For the achievement, he was called now and then to the stage to collect his numerous prizes amid thunderous applauds from his mates and the audience including the deputy governor. He narrated to National Mirror, shortly after the event, his humble beginning and how he didn’t allow that to truncate his dream.

How poverty made me excel —Best AOCOED’s graduand ... recalls turning classroom to bedroom

I was organising lessons for the

school children,

I was also moving from one church to another to play keyboard for a fee

Okegade “I would not have gone to school at all as my grandmother had already advised my father not to bother enrolling me in school so as not to waste money on me because I used to fall sick now and then. But my father in his wisdom gave me a trial and enrolled me in a public school and later took me to a private school to start all over again despite that I was already in primary five in the former. “On three occasions, I didn’t finish one class before being promoted to the next,” he recalled. During this period and the early years of his secondary school days, he enjoyed some kinds of support from his parents until he lost his father and his aged mother was also incapacitated to finance his education further. “Even at that, I had one of my elder brothers, Pastor Okegade who assisted me in a way. He used to encourage me in my studies,” he added. After finishing his secondary

‘UNICAL: VC’s appointment should be on merit, not by zoning’ 20

education and obtaining the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate (WASSC), it became difficult for him to proceed further to the university to study his dream course, computer engineering. “I was offered admission by the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo but I couldn’t go because there was no sponsor. That was how I began to do menial jobs here and there. As I was organising lessons for the school children, I was also moving from one church to another to play keyboard for a fee. Through all that, I was able to raise some money while I was also undergoing desktop publishing training at a private computer training firm,” he explained. Okegade did not because of that drop his original plan as he sat for another UTME four years ago. “But this time around, I scored only 222 in UTME and in order not to waste the score, one of my uncles encouraged me to write

Like hospitals, health colleges also deserve adequate funding —Arogundade 22

AOCOED’s post-UTME and I passed it very well and was consequently offered an admission into the college,” he noted. Although, he did this reluctantly, he soon settled down for his studies in the college. “I knew where I came from. I know what poverty really means. I knew how I was able to raise money all along to finance myself. I knew I would need to be committed, focused and work hard as well as be prayerful to God to be able to excel in my studies and in life. I don’t want to end poor. With that spirit, I faced my studies squarely. Whether I ate or not, I didn’t miss lectures and I didn’t also engage in unprofitable things. And since I could not afford to rent even just a small boy’s quarter apartment around the school, I used to pass the nights in friends’ houses and at times in the lecture rooms pretending I was reading. But I thank God all the efforts yielded desirable result,” he said appreciatively. Now, Okegade who would have loved that the college management offers him an automatic employment, said his next assignment was to further his education while at the same time looking for teaching appointment in a government school. His dream, according to him is to become a great mathematician. Addressing the gathering earlier, the provost of the college, Mr. Olawale Bashorun congratulated Okegade and his mates for coming out of the college successfully, urging them to remain focused and committed to whatever assignments they choose to do next. He added that the college had done its part by imparting the right knowledge and skills needed to attain greatness in them and the rest is for them.

‘5,000 teachers unfit to teach in Bauchi’ 24

Education Today

Basic education now compulsory for children in Kaduna —el-Rufai Aza Msue KADUNA

aduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has said government had begun the recovery of lands illegally acquired by residents in the state-owned schools and hospitals after expiration of quit notice given to them. He also declared free and compulsory primary and junior secondary school education in the state public schools, advising that any principal found collecting fees from pupils or students should be reported to government for prompt action. Speaking during his second Town Hall Meeting held in the ancient city of Zaria, elRufai said government would continue to interact with the people directly to brief them on the administration’s activities so far and get first hand advice from them on how to govern the state effectively. The governor advised the occupants of illegal structures in schools to vacate the properties, warning that his administration would not cordon act of encroachment on government lands anymore. “Those who built illegal structures on Zaria library, Alhudahuda College, Rimi College, Sardauna Memorial College and other schools should vacate immediately,” he warned.

W\African students honour medical doctor

Juliet Umeh

he West African Students’ Union (WASU) has conferred WASU Golden Award of Credence on the Chief Medical Director of St Raphael Hospital Limited, Dr. Anthony Omolola. WASU is an umbrella body for students in tertiary institutions in Liberia, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria. The students who gave him the award in Lagos last week said the honour was based on the strong contribution of Omolola to health and education sectors as well as his exemplary leadership style, which they said were worthy of emulation. The president of the group, Oluwafemi Williams said the purpose of the award was to celebrate the honoree and indirectly asking him to do more for the humanity. Reacting, the honoree, who was overwhelmed by the accolades showered on him, assured the students of his continuous service to humanity. While dedicating the award to West African youths and President Muhammadu Buhari, he pointed out that he saw the award as a rare privilege having joined other past awardees in the sub region. “I salute your courage for keeping the light of the West African unity burning and I am sure the efforts won’t be in vain,” he prayed. Omolola

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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UNICAL: VC appointment should be on merit, not by zoning —Ex-commissioner Prof. Offiong Effangha Offiong was a Dean of Faculty of Science, University of Calabar (UNICAL) when he was appointed as a Commissioner for Education during Liyel Imoke’s administration. He served in that capacity throughout eight years of the administration. But while there, he was still coming to the university on weekends to lecture students on PhD programmes. Now, he is contesting for the seat of the VC of the university and tells our Correspondent, RICHARD NDOMA why he considers himself as the best choice among other competitors. Excerpts:

How do you think you merit the post of the VC of this university? To start with, the history of this university and that of the state cannot be completed without mentioning what I have done. I have carved a niche for myself as the longest serving commissioner in the history of Cross River State. No one has beaten that record. I am the only commissioner in the whole of the state who served in one ministry for eight years and this was during Imoke’s administration. This was not because Imoke liked my face more than others in the exco. It has to do with my performance which was known to others. One thing is clear and that is the fact that Cross River State was educationally disadvantaged and backward as expressed in some quarters when I came on board as the commissioner of education, but by the grace of God and support of people of the state, we were able to move the state to be among the best top 10 in the country. Aside being a commissioner, I doubled as the chairman of commissioners for education forum in the country also for eight years and in that capacity, I was privileged to work with three ministers of education, namely: Sam Egu, Prof. Rukayattu Rufai and Mallam Ibrahim Shakareau. And none of them found me wanting. But some believe that you won’t be able to live up to expectations as a VC since you had for long left the university system, how will you react to this? I left the university partially so to speak and I believe all my critics know that. I am somebody with great passion for education. When I was leaving the university, I told my Vice-Chancellor then that I wouldn’t think I would be complete if I stop teaching and researching. And because of my passion, I used to come around to teach both undergraduates and postgraduates and I still do this till now. I am the only former commissioner in the state, who still teaches and supervise thesis of students of UNICAL. I also supervised theses of nine PhD students who graduated during the period. One of them even won the NUC’s best thesis award in physical science among Nigeria’s universities in 2012. The VC collected the award in Abuja and this was announced at the University of Calabar Senate. I don`t know whether my contemporaries in UNICAL were barred from producing such a student. The name of the student is Christiana Mbonu. Are there any other factors you think qualify you for the job? There are many things. Let me tell you if you don’t know, the university is charged with three responsibilities which I already fulfilled. These are teaching, research and community service. What I did as commissioner was purely community service. I had taught and still teaching while I am also into research activities. I have about 23 published articles in the peer journals to my credit. So, I have never for a day disconnected from the university system and all my opponents and critics know all these. I had my first degree at 21, PhD at 26 and I became a professor at 39. So, what are they talking about? They only trying to find faults to nail me and they won’t succeed because I am better off than any of them. What is your plan for the university in case you become the VC? I have a good plan for the institution. I will raise it academic and infrastructural standards to a level it will compete favourably with other top universities in Africa. I will open up many local and international linkages that would bring opportunities to the institution. Let me give you a typical example, you may not understand that many of the physical structures you see in UNILAG are donated by corporate organisations and not built by the university itself. You may not also know that the Department of Applied Chemistry today in UNICAL was built and equipped by Petroleum Development Trust Fund and that was done

Offiong during my tenure as a Dean of the Faculty of Science. The project started when I was a dean and completed when I was a commissioner. Many more of these structures will come in not only to sciences but also to other faculties and units. I will also ensure that the university is ranked better in the comity of universities globally. So, we will harness and coordinate available potentialities to achieving greater success for the university. My administration will also accord workers and students better welfare package that will make their coming to UNICAL a worthwhile experience. We learnt that UNICAL has a tradition of zoning VC’s post to somebody from a senatorial district that produces sitting governor, what is your position on this? To start with, does somebody’s performance have anything to do with where that fellow comes from? The answer is no. So, if zoning doesn’t address the question of having an effective leader for a university, don`t you see then that such sentiment holds no water other than distractive? They would rather say that is somebody from certain part of the state with certain qualities which people from other districts do not have. Then it becomes an issue. Anyway, I don`t want to join issues with people who would say such a thing. For me, I agree that there is need for some sorts of state or national characters, but not to the detriment of the standards and merit. I feel very sad when I hear people in the university advancing these kings of sentiments because it clearly shows that they are not academic. I want someone to take me on my capability and what I have to offer and not on mundane things. When it comes to a job and whether I will perform well or not, go to my antecedent. Did I do well or not? Do I have the capability? For me, these are pertinent issues than asking of where I come from. By the way, I think it was a mere coincidence that when Donald Duke was a governor, a southerner emerged as a VC. How many of them contested and were denied the opportunity. Similarly, Lyel Imoke did not put his hands in the appointment of a Vice Chancellor for UNICAL, though he was the visitor. All he wanted was merit. What is your opinion on the reduction of professorial years from 10 to seven? I rather reserve my comment on this. Why? I wouldn`t want to play to the gallery but if the idea of reducing the years is to assuage sentiments, then that is wrong! We need to weigh this side by side. Does the merit call for lowering standards? We need to call for a guideline. Every system comes with a guideline. In most cases, before we started anything in the ministry of education as a government, we used to come up with what is called minimum standards. I couldn’t imagine myself accepting anything below minimum standard. So, if there is a guideline and someone wakes up to say lower it, it becomes worrisome.

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Education Today

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Group lauds Buhari for not dissolving university’s governing councils Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

resident Muhammadu Buhari has been lauded for exempting Governing Councils of federal universities from the order for dissolution of Boards of Federal Government’s parastatals, agencies, institutions and government-owned companies. A group, Peace Advocacy Committee, PAC, in a press release signed by its secretary, Barrister, Adeyemi Adetise, made available to newsmen in Osogbo, said the president has demonstrated with his action that he has respect for rule-of-law and due process. It recalled that in his inaugural speech, President Buhari assured that his administration would, at times and circumstances, uphold rule of law and due process, adding that he has laid good example for other leaders to follow. By exempting the governing councils of the universities, PAC said autonomy of the universities has been further reinforced. The statement reads: “President Buhari has always been preaching peace, due process and respect for the rule of law in all his programmes, so, he has demonstrated it for not tampering with the laws that established the autonomy of the University boards across the country”.

Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

he newly appointed Provost of the Institute of Education, Kangere, Bauchi State, Dr. Garba Ibrahim Kirfi has asked for full support and cooperation of stakeholders in the effort to move the education sector forward in line with the global practice. This is was just as the provost lamented the dearth of qualified teachers at all levels of education in and outside Bauchi State.

5,000 teachers unfit to teach in Bauchi, says provost He made the plea while briefing newsmen in his office saying the call became imperative with a view to engaging qualified hands in the system so as to be able to address socio-economic challenges in the country. The provost however noted that the shortage of competent and dedicated teachers across the country

was due to lack of motivation on the part of successive administrations thereby given way to decay in the sector. He noted that no fewer than 5,000 teachers were recently discovered unfit to teach in the state public schools. While commending Bauchi State government for

establishing the institute, which he said would compliment College of Education Azare in training teachers, Kurfi disclosed that the institute would focus on early child, vocational, technical and entrepreneurship education as well as special education to cater for children with special needs.

Parents tasked on children’s discipline Francis Suberu

he Head of Department, Human Kinetic Education, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Prof. Grace Otinwa and Prof. Sunday Oyediran of the Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences in the same university have charged parents to inculcate discipline and morality in their children so that they can excel in their endeavours now and in future. They gave the charge at the valedictory/prize-giving ceremonies of Good Shepherd Schools, Atan-Ota, Ogun State. A total of 203 students from the school’s three campuses in Lagos and Ogun States graduated at the event. Speaking on the topic: “Blueprint to Goodprint,” Otinwa said parents must be able to teach their children the acceptable behavior in

the society that can help them live out their dreams. She however reminded the graduating students of three stages in life they must not waste, namely: learning, earning and yawning. Explaining that the learning stage ends at 30 years while the earning and yawning stage spanned between 30 and 60 years and the life after retirement, respectively, the professor asked them to develop a blueprint at this their age that will make them to achieve the kind of footprint they want to leave behind? She counseled them further, saying “As you enter the university, make up your mind to excel in your studies by developing excellent spirit and back it with determination.” In his own exhortation, Prof. Sunday Oyediran also urged parents to pay adequate attention to their children by imbuing in them good morals.

L-R: Second position, Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition, Asuquo Mirabel of Redeemers International Secondary School, Rivers State, third position, Master Ihejirika Jonathan of King’s College, Lagos; overall winner Emeto Chisom of Port-Harcourt International School, Rivers State; sixth position, Babayo Muhammed; Dr. Patrick Oloko; the examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo and other winners during their presentation in Lagos, recently.

Rivers wins 2015 Mike Okonkwo essay contest Saidat Alausa

wo students from Rivers State schools have emerged first and second at this year’s Mike Okonkwo National Essay competition for secondary school students. Sixteen year, Master Chisom Emeto of Port-Harcourt International School, Rivers State and Asuquo Mirabel of Redeemers International Secondary School, also sixteen years emerged winners from the 2,997 entries received for the competition. Chisom scored 73 per cent at the first stage and 66 per cent at the second stage to emerge the overall winner while Mirabel scored 72 per cent and 65 per cent in the first and second stage respectively to emerge second.

L-R: Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academic) University of Lagos, Akoka Prof. Babajide Alo; HOD, Finance Department, Prof. Esther Adegbite; Head, Discussion Planning Committee, Dr. Charles Onyeiwu and Prof. Rufus Olowe, during the 2nd annual policy discussion and analysis forum in Lagos, recent PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Ihejirika Ikechukwu of king’s College, Lagos emerged third with 71 per cent and 60 per cent in the first and second stage of the competition. The fourth position went to Awe, Iyanuoluwa Modupe of Chapel Secondary School Ilorin, Kwara State, fifth position is Aladegbami Oluwadamilola of Hallmark Secondary School Ondo State, while Muhammed Babayo of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Abuja got the 6th position and to Iro Akanma of Kuramo Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos got the 7th position. For coming top this year, Chisom will get a cheque of N100,000, a laptop, a plague while the school gets three sets of internet ready computers and a printer. Second position will get a cheque of N75, 000, a plaque and the school two internet ready computers and a printer. Third position will go home with a cheque of N50,000, a plaque and the school gets an internet ready computer. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh candidates will get a consolation price of N20, 000 each. Announcing the winners at a ceremony in Lagos recently, the examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo of the English Department, University of Lagos, Akoka said the ability of the winner to engage the subject by showing how citizens have been culprit in entrenching bad governance and then proposes what must be done to institute a political class that will deliver good governance gave him edge over

others to emerged the overall best. “The essay competition has helped some students that participated in the programme to develop more interest in research work, reading extensively and writing constructively. Apart from serving as a tool to encourage reading and writing, the competition has also given the students the opportunity to bare their minds on topical issues that are of significant importance to the social-economic development of our nation,” she explained. Excited Chisom at the ceremony said the competition is an avenue that gives students whose voice cannot get to the leadership of the country opportunity to say their minds on critical issues of national significance. Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition was initiated in the year 2004 as part of activities to celebrate the birthday of the Presiding Bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo and more importantly to contribute to the development of the educational sector. Dr. Okonkwo who will turn 70 years in September has continued in this gesture for the past 12 years to be a blessing to the younger generation in the pursuant of academic excellence by encouraging them to cultivate the habit of reading and writing effectively. The prices for the winners of the competition will be presented at this year’s Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, at the Shell Hall Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos in September.

Education Today

How to improve global ranking of Nigerian certificates —Journalist Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

he Federal Government has been urged to partner with private organisations and individuals for provision of all necessary supports to improve reading culture among Nigerians. The Editor-in–Chief of an Ekiti based academic magazine, ‘Wonderkids’, Mrs Ebun Famubode, said that aside poor facilities and instability in the education system, low reading culture remained a viable reason Nigerian certificates were not being recognised globally. Famubode, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti during the launch of the second edition of the magazine lamented that available research lent credence to the fact that the decline in reading “starts from the lowest cadre of the academic structure,” which she said needed to be tackled for Nigeria to have a better global rating. She urged the government to focus attentions on primary education through proper funding and provision of incentives for pupils at that level of education. Famubode said the cardinal objective of the magazine, which she founded in 2014, was directly targeted at providing reading tips for pupils in primary schools, as well as adults, so that they could be nurtured in the most appropriate way to boost their passion for reading.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Like hospitals, health colleges also deserve adequate funding —Arogundade Tunbosun Ogundare

renowned Professor of Radiology at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Mr. Rasheed Arogundade has emphasised the need for federal and various state governments to inject enough money into the running of medical colleges, saying such would enable them to train their students with modern equipment and facilities that would in the long ruin help curtailing the frequent medical tourism abroad by Nigerians. He made the observation recently while delivering his inaugural lecture at the university, saying the focus of government has

always been on the hospitals while neglecting the institutions that produce medical personnel. Prof. Arogundade, who is the President of National Post graduate Medical College of Nigeria, spoke on “The detective in a radiologist.” While expressing fulfillment for reaching the peak of his career, he however regretted that many medical graduates from Nigeria because of poor practical experience back home while in school are oftentimes faced with problem of using modern facilities when they find themselves practicing overseas. He pointed out that despite the fact that Ni-

gerians are as brilliant as their counterparts elsewhere around the world, their performances are being threatened by poor or non available training equipment and facilities. “That is why we are also having problem of wrong diagnosis in the country’s health sector,” he stressed. He however insisted that it was only when government start pumping in more money into medical education to address those challenges that they will be solved,” he said. Arogundade used the occasion to appeal to the management of UNILAG to separate the Department of Clinical Radiology from Radiotherapy, otherwise known as Clinical Oncology for better service delivery.

Participants hail UN on sustainable education devt project Quadri Babatunde

ver 400 participants from higher education institutions, business, government, and civil society at this year’s Global Forum (a UN initiative) for Responsible Management Education otherwise known as 6th PRME Assembly held in New York, US have commended the ongoing work of the PRME community. The forum which was designed to carve a path for management education and business also charged participants to take a leading role in shaping and achieving the global sustainable development agenda. The major theme that resonated among participants at the forum was the prospect of business and business education, and their roles in achieving the UN’s forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants were also encouraged to take a leading role in shaping and achieving the global sustainable development agenda. Speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Susana Malcorra, Chef de Cabinet, said: “I am encouraged to see the progress you have made—individually, at your academic institutions, and as a community.” She also observed that as educators, researchers, and thought leaders, the role of participants in achieving the SDGs is essential. Jonas Haertle, Head of the PRME Secretariat, noted that the eight years of PRME had grown the initiative into “a thriving network and a truly global platform for learning and action with over 600 institutions in over 80 countries.

Lecturer, Prof. Rasheed Arogundade (middle) with guests cutting cake at the inaugural lecture.

FSTC mgt worries over disunity in parents’ forum Tunbosun Ogundare

orried by the recent disagreement among parents and guardians of the students of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Lagos as regards their ongoing sponsored hostel project, the management of the college has appealed to them to mend their differences and forge ahead in the interest of the college and the students. The principal\director of the college, Rev. Chris Ugorji made the appeal while addressing journalists on the state of the college last week, saying the management’s prayer was for the parents’ forum to remain an indivisible entity and work for common interest of moving the college to the next level. He explained that trouble started when the group was divided over whether or not to contribute additional money to enable them fast tract the completion of their ongoing sponsored 1,000-capacity hostel project on record time. He noted that while some against such contribution until an audited account of their previous contributions was made available, some totally against additional contribution for now on the premise that there is no need to rush the project. But while the management is not in objection to transparent auditing of the account for accountability according to the princi-

pal, the issue should not also truncate their earlier goal of handing over the hostel to the school authority latest by this October. He noted that for sometimes now some classrooms had been converted to hostels to accommodate more students due to increasing students’ population but that those classrooms would be taken back to serve their original purpose from the next academic session. “What that means is that many returning students will likely be denied accommodation next academic year as the priority will be given only to new students and those whose parents live outside Lagos. But we would have loved to accommodate as many of them that approach us for accommodation not only because of the stress that is associated with traf-

fic gridlock in Lagos but also to enable them have better concentration on their studies. “FSTC has over 4,000 students, the largest population among unity colleges in the country and it is known for high academic and moral standards which we want to sustain by all means,” he said. Principal who is also a cleric however appreciated the past contributions of PTA to the development of the college, saying the group has been very cooperating and supportive in all aspects and should therefore not give room for division among themselves. He noted that government was handicapped for now to provide more hostels in the school hence the need for PTA to continue in supporting the college and make it more academic friendly.

L-R: Principal\Director, Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, Rev. Chris Ugorji; VicePrincipal(Academic Science), Mr. Gbolahan Oladoyinbo and her counterpart in charge of Students Affairs, Mrs. Ann Ajisafe at a media briefing at the college, last Thursday.

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Education Today

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Regularisation: Another symptom of systemic decay A new terminology has emerged in the lexicon of Nigerian university admission system. In the presentation by the JAMB registrar Professor Dibu Ojerinde during the 2015 combined policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the Chief Executive reprimanded certain institutions that habitually take sanctuary under the umbrella of regularisation to correct anomalies in the admission of candidates. He went on to openly threaten defaulters with “adequate sanctions” during the 2015/2016 admission season. What could be immediately insinuated was that the admission process into the nation’s tertiary institutions is plagued with irregularities. Unfortunately, my beloved university, the University of Port Harcourt occupied the unenviable position on the top of the list of defaulting universities with 4,132 candidates. The surprise in the presentation is the magnitude of the problem admitted by the JAMB Registrar. With probably over a hundred thousand candidates involved, the phenomenon is more pronounced in the polytechnics which account for more than half of all cases of alleged irregular admissions. Available information suggests that the magnitude of the problem may actually be much higher than has been admitted in this presentation, especially in the polytechnics. But what really constitutes irregular admissions that require regularisation, and what are the factors that fuel the irregularity in the system, especially when it is believed that there is a large pool of qualified candidates who passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized by JAMB? The situation could have been aggravated by corrupt practices in some tertiary institutions which allow the admission of unqualified candidates whose academic background would not permit to benefit from the type of training provided by such programmes. Another important reason for the irregularity in the admission process is the unending admissions process which often extend over six months in some instances, exposing yawning administrative gaps.

The situation could have been aggravated by corrupt practices in some tertiary institutions Many of the candidates caught in the web of regularisation are innocent, even as the institutions to which they were admitted have done nothing wrong. Imagine high scoring JAMB and Post-UTME candidates that secured admission slots in the institution and course of first choice during the first merit admission exercise. By the time they are to print out their admission letter, they are confronted with the clause “Not Admitted Yet”. The conclusion on the website of a Federal Polytechnic sums up the whole story and I quote: “If you check your admission status on JAMB website now, and it is telling a lie about your admission, YOU NEED TO REGULARISE!” According to this website, all regular students admitted through pre-degree programmes, all evening students (parttime) without JAMB information, all morning students admitted through JAMB but with no admission information on the JAMB website and all students admitted through JAMB but with different admission information are candidates for regularization Regularization itself is a ridiculous idea. It is a way of telling JAMB that you are a student in a particular institution and hence entitled to all the paraphernalia of a student but

without the hurdle of the UTME! JAMB just pretends that you bought the form, sat for the examination and attained the requisite pass mark. All that you are required to do is just pay JAMB the fees for the examination and they ‘generate’ a JAMB registration number for you and give you an admission letter. Just imagine, a hundred thousand regularization cases at N4,600 and the organization is N460 million richer! The tertiary institutions are not left out of this gold rush. Many charge between eight and twelve thousand Naira for the purpose of regularisation, propelling a few into the class of multi millionaires, effortlessly! People who never wrote the UTME at anytime are in this way admitted, and their admissions given the official seal by JAMB through regularization! By this provision, JAMB inadvertently, legitimizes the criminal tendencies of university administrators who offer admissions to a large number of unqualified candidates for huge rewards and later extort even more to formalize their status in the institution. The hapless students, genuinely admitted, but denied the evidence of the same by the errors of omission by educational administrators are the only victims. JAMB, instead of facilitating the process of selection of candidates into the tertiary education institutions, become a type of malentity, militating against the survival of genuine hard working Nigerian youths, and ultimately, the aspirations of an entire nation. The worst victims of the regularisation decree of JAMB are the governments and people of educationally less developed states who are already victims of a poorly administered educational system that fail to prepare them for the almighty UTME. Students who are genuinely admitted into the predegree programmes are prepared for first year studies in the tertiary institutions. Many states still need this stopgap facility and need not be saddled with regularization. Any decree or rule that deprives them of this second chance to train the required manpower for their development will be counterproductive.

Emfield counsels parents on qualitative education Quadri Babatunde

P L-R: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed; Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Tenebe And Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili during the 4th NOUN law lecture In Abuja, recently.

CJN lauds NOUN’s access expansion to varsity education Tunbosun Ogundare

he Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed has joined other Nigerians to commend the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on its efforts to increase access to university education in the country. He said the efforts have started yielding results, asking the university management to keep up the good work so that more qualified Nigerians would be able to have access to university education. Mahmud gave the commendation during the 4th lecture series of the School of Law of the institution held in

Abuja, recently. He however described the annual lecture by the university in a press release by NOUN’s spokesperson, Dr. Ronke Ogunmakin as a veritable forum to bridge the divides of borders, languages and geography to dialogue on issues commonly bind Nigerians together. Also speaking at the event, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Godwin Agabi, who was the guest speaker, asked Nigerians to get ready to make sacrifices in consonance with the change mantra of the current government. He spoke on “Law as an instrument of excellence and integrity” while the lecture was organised to honour the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Advising Nigerians to always respect the laws of the land and stop blaming the same for myriads of challenges confronting the country, Agabi pointed out that there was no law that is self-enforcing but inadequacy of good people to enforce them. The former minister, who advocated a virile and constructive opposition as essential for good governance, wants the Buhari led administration to ensure that the country is self-reliant in all ramifications. In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Vincent Tenebe promised that NOUN would continue to make higher education accessible to Nigerians irrespective of their circumstances.

arents and guardians have been advised to always enroll their children and wards only in schools where qualitative teaching is guaranteed through the presence of qualified staff. They should also take into consideration the existence of conducive learning environment and the adoption of updated curriculum, which are necessary for a sound foundation for the future of their children. This advice was the thrust of the remarks by Mr. Raphael Ujubuonu of Emfiield International School, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, at the school’s recent seventh graduation and prizegiving ceremony. Ujubuonu, who emphasised that a strong foundation in a child education was very vital at the kindergarten, nursery and primary levels, disclosed that Emfield International had been recording high success rates because of its emphasis on qualitative education. He assured that the school would not abandon the policy of going for well-trained

teaching staff, and the provision of the best in teaching facilities, like modern computers, which have contributed to the good reputation the school enjoys. Echoing the advice in her welcome address, the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Uche Ujubuonu, assured parents and guardians of the school’s readiness to render “qualitative service” to the pupils to help them excel in future. She disclosed that Emfield High School would take off by next academic session, with the same policy of providing the best for the pupils which was the hallmark of the kindergarten level all through to basic six. Some of the highpoints of the ceremony held at the school’s Bestford Street premises, were choreographed dances, recitation by some of the pupils, and the presentation of prizes to those who excelled in various areas, including the Best Student (Primary 4) won by Master Chidubem Akaigwe, who also rendered a speech, in addition to presenting some basic facts about the computer.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

zUNILAG new medical

students on excursion to LASUTH

Miftaudeen Raji

100L, MASS COMM. UNILAG AKOKA

s part of efforts to enhance their performance, fresh medical students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka last week took an excursion to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. The students, who went on the tour under the auspices of Muslim Medical Students’ Association (MUMSA), an organ of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), UNILAG chapter, were numbering about 100. They were solely 100L students drawn from departments of Physiotherapy, Nursing, MBBS, Radiography, Pharmacology, Physiology, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Medical Laboratory Science. According to their coordinator, 100L Physiotherapy student, Daud Abdus-Salaam, the annual tour was aimed at exposing both Muslims and non-Muslims to the standing medical ethics and the modern medical equipment and facilities.

Campus reporter becomes global youth ambassador Edigberhi Emmanuel

300L, MED. AND SURG.UNIBEN

ational Mirror campus reporter and 300-level student of Medicine and Surgery, University of Benin, Edo State, Eddy Uwoghiren has been appointed as global youth ambassador with the Youth for Enlightenment and Welfare (YEW). Eddy was nominated for the position alongside four other Nigerian youths last week. In the congratulatory message, the international President of the movement, Shahzor Memon, congratulated him for becoming one of our ambassadors. “Your application thrilled us and we marveled at how far you have contributed to the development of your immediate environment through launching campaigns on health matters ranging from blood donation drive, freelance Journalism, blogging and other platforms. “We strongly encourage you to keep the good work and help spread the message of YEW in your country.” Also, nominated was Tolulope Ajibowe who recently finished from Urban and Regional department of Federal University of Technology Minna.

UNIBEN Pharmacy students target 10,000 diabetics, hypertensive for orientation Ezekiel Efeobhokhan 400L PHARMACY UNIBEN

s part of the events to mark this year’s annual health week tagged “Panacea,” the pharmacy students of University of Benin, Edo State have launched a scheme called “Pharmacare 10,000.” The aim of the scheme was to reach 10,000 patients with diabetes and hypertension. Speaking at the programme, President, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, Darry Emazor said many people in the country still have the belief that diabetes is a stunt by evil machination and spiritualists who are after their progress. “But we are here to give these traders a new orientation and provide a holistic health services for these ones. We have come out en masse to help these ones overcome the terribleness that these two diseases present.” At the New Benin market, the students were overwhelmed by the turn out by the traders. According to a 500 level student who was in the counselling section of the Pharmacare 10,000 team, Jennifer Omuri, the cause of death was ignorance, she said many persons she counsel did not know the implications of what they eat and drink, the environment they live in and how it affects

Pharmacy students, University of Benin, during their outreach programme tagged: ‘Panacea’ recently. their lives. Jennifer also continued that she advised most of the traders who visited her to visit the hospital while placing them on light

ria, RTEAN, who gave his name as Papa Monday expressed delight over the programme which he said would go a long way to reduce untimely death.

Resolve disputes through dialogue, not strike, AUU workers advised ‘Yomi Ayeleso

300L, BUS. ADM. AUU, AKUNGBA AKOKO

he President of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Hon. Justice Babatunde Adejumo has stressed the need for the management andstaff of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State to always explore dialogue and eschew highhandedness and confrontation in handling labour matters. He gave the advise while deliv-

Tunbosun Ogundare

exercise regimen to cut out excess accumulated fat. Commending the students, a member of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nige-

Professor of Space Physics and Director\ Chief Executive, Centre for Atmospheric Research (CAR) of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Mr. Akeem Babatunde Rabiu has advised the Federal Government to fund the acquisition of equipment needed for research purposes that could lead to technological advancement in the country. He also advised the universities to introduce space physics as a course of study at a first degree level in order to encourage stable energy and technological improvement in all spheres of life. Prof. Rabiu gave the advice while delivering the 70th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, recently. He emphasised that to sustain national development, tertiary institutions must increasingly direct their curriculum and research agendas towards issues that address basic human and societal needs.

ering the 2nd Research and Development lecture of the institution’s Centre for Research and Development, entitled, “The Quest for Social Protection, Employees’ Rights and Sustainable Industrial Harmony: What Role for the National Industrial Court of Nigeria?”, recently. Adejumo said employing litigation could be counter-productive and be a waste of personal and organisational resources and time. He added that whatever the nature, texture and tenor of disputes,

management and staff could be resolved through dialogue rather than going on strike as effect of strike are always catastrophic to the society. The guest lecturer said in rare and extreme cases when employees would need to go on strike, they should first explore all avenues as stipulated by the law and make strike action the last resort. He appealed to management to respect employees’ right and be magnanimous.

Expert charts path for technological devt He added that government should back effective legislation that mandates industries to support scientific researchers conducted in universities in their respective operational areas. Prof. Rabiu spoke on the “Terrestrials and Extraterrestrials: Divine Nexus for Man’s Comfort,” Disclosing that space-based technologies have found indispensable applications in almost all facets of human endeavours, he explained that the nexus between the terrestrials and extraterrestrials manifest in forms of natural and man-induced interactions between them. These nexus, according to him include “the transmission of high frequency radio waves from the earth through the space environment and its reception on earth, the solar radiation with its enormous potential energy within the reach of humans in the terrestrial environment; space-earth communication as facilitated by satellite technology; and the ultimate

effort of terrestrial man to optimise the extraterrestrial for its comfort.” He declared that the recent advances in space technology had made the earth a better and more comfortable place to live in, particularly with myriads of operational satellites domiciled in the extraterrestrial environment. Today, according to him, space-based technologies have eased the burden of terrestrial men in almost all human endeavours and virtually every system has gone electronic and space-dependent such as the e-commerce, e-agriculture, auto-piloting, e-banking, automated teller machine system (ATM), global system for mobile communication (GSM), to mention a few. In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola said the choice of the lecture was apt considering the current energy challenge and atmospheric and space related issues confronting the nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat_alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

FUNAAB student calls for improved standard Saidat Alausa

500-level student in the Department of Plant Physiology and Crop Production (PP&CP), College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Mr. Damola Morenikeji, has called on the government and stakeholders in the education sector, to take urgent action at improving the quality of education in Nigeria. Mr. Morenikeji, who is also a Global Youth Ambassador (GYA), disclosed this during a meeting of the national delegation of ‘A World at School Global Youth Ambassadors in Nigeria’, held with officials of the Ogun State Government, at Okemosan, Abeokuta. According to him, there is a global crisis in the education sector which has made over 58 million children of school age to be out of schools globally, while 10.5 million of them are in Nigeria. He added that with the

exception of few cases, there was a decline in the quality of education, stressing the urgent need for schools to be safe havens for learning. Morenikeji stated that education provided the required foundation for young people to get through life and contribute positively to their society. The Global Youth Ambassador while seeking public support for the Up-For-School campaign stated that the Association had already presented a 30-point Youth Recommendation on Education to the Ogun State Government. While receiving the delegation on behalf of the Ogun State Government, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, appreciated the dedication of the Global Youth Ambassadors, stressing the commitment of government at providing access to free and improved quality primary and secondary education in the state. The Global Youth Ambassadors group, which comprises 500 youth leaders from 85 countries, is to basically ensure advocacy for education and development.

Youths organise quiz for secondary school students Ali Toyin Abdul, 300L LAW UNILORIN

kwara-based youth organisation, Champion Educational Board, recently organised competitions for secondary schools in Kwara State. The competition, which comprised a quiz challenge and impromptu speech contest, featured ten secondary schools within Kwara state. While declaring the competition open, the founder of the organisation, Dr. Ahmed Abdulkareem, noted that the competition is being organised yearly to encourage healthy rivalry among the secondary schools in Kwara state. He added that the organisation is focused on creating positive impacts in the lives of young pupils, who are the leaders of tomorrow.

The two-day event was kick started by an impromptu speech contest which had all the participating schools slugging it out among themselves. The afternoon session featured the quiz challenge which had two representatives of each participating school tested in General knowledge, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The participating schools include, Government Day Secondary school Adeta, Federal Government. College Ilorin, Sheikh Abdulkadir College, Ilorin Comprehensive High School, Ilorin Grammar School, Government Girls Day Secondary School Pakata, Government Day Secondary School Odookun, Five ways International Schools, Ansarul Islam Secondary School Ilorin and Barakat Community Secondary School Ilorin.

Cross section of Medical Students, University of Lagos being tutored during an excursion to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, recently.

OAU students’ parliament suspends SUG President Afees L asisi

300L, POL. SCI. OAU

tudents’ Union President, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Omotayo Akande has been suspended by the Students Representative Council (SRC) for a month for not following “due procedure.” The parliament said he committed this flaw in his request letter written to the management for sponsorship to attend the 7th Millennium international conference for students’ leaders which would be held in New York City, United States of America hosted by the United Nations. He was suspended by Parliament’s sitting that started around 5pm on the 31st of July and ended at 3am the next day. The parliament believed that Omotayo did not follow “constitutional procedure” in the letter he sent to the Vice-Chancellor requesting for sponsorship to the conference without the

Quadri Babatunde

400L, MASS COMKWASU MALATE

he Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti is jubilating for conducting what it described as flawless electronic Post University Tertiary Matriculation Examination screening for candidates seeking admission into the university for the 2014/2015 academic session. The exercise, which was conducted for the first time by the staff of the university was before now handled by contractors. The one-week exercise with thousands as participants has been described as the best in the annals of such exercise in the university as

signature of Secretary General and his failure to inform the House before he sent the aforementioned letter. The said letter, which requested over N500, 000 for sponsorship was sent without the signature of the General Secretary and notice of other Central Executive Council members. A parliamentarian, Oladapo Adewale said the president should not have been thinking of going for an international conference at this critical time when students are demanding more from the management and the union. “The students that elected us are yearning for the improvement on campus, and you are seeking sponsorship for a conference that students believe would not lead to betterment in their conditions. He continued that the Parliament resolution is that the president should go and source for fund outside the school’s purse. A 300-Level student of the department of Management and Accounting, Fasasi Lukmon, said he was surprised when

he heard about it. “The president has done what the Parliament termed as “constitutional aberration” and I think what they did is the right thing.” Following the suspension of Omotayo, the vice-president, Oladunjoye Opeyemi will assume the office of the president as the acting-President. All effort by Campus News to contact President of the Students’ Union was not successful.

Akander

EKSU celebrates hitch free e-post UTME adequate security and conducive environment were provided. Commenting, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Patrick Ola-

dipo Aina According to him, some expressed delight that he older and first generation was the first VC to achieve the universities still hire vendors, feat in the history of the uni- adding that the innovation versity. would save cost.

… As new SUG president emerges

ladimeji Ibrahim Bayo popularly called “PRODIGY” from the Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University; Ado-Ekiti has emerged president of the Student Union. The newly elected president thanked his supporters whom he said were in large members across all the faculties for choosing him as their leader. Other elected executive members are, Ogunleye Sunmola Stella as Vice-President, Gbadamosi Abass Dolapo, Vice-President 2; Okunoye Ayobami John, Gen. Secretary; Molomo

Solomon Olukunle, Assistant Gen. Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Daniel Stephen Temitope. Others are: Owoyeni Oluwaseun Michael, Financial Secretary; Babajide Oluwaseyi Nifemi, Welfare Director; Akinbode Christianah Olayinka, Social Director and Akinremi Oluwafemi Israel, Sports Director. The new Students’ Union leader and his executive members would soon visit the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina and the management.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

ATIONAL Mirror front, views and inside pages of July 23, 2015, welcome us this week after a long break from this column with all manner of flaws: “…the arrest and prosecution of some former ministers and other government officials for looting and stealing the country’s crude oil.” ‘Looting’ and ‘stealing’ cannot co-function. “Some states governors (state governors) like Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola of Osun State confessed the situation was beyond their control.” This sentence would have been perfect if at least two governors had been mentioned. “To this extent, the intervention is justified on ethical ground (grounds).” “It will not surprise anyone that some states (sic) governors may divert the fund to purposes they are not intended for….” Existential humanism: ‘fund’ and ‘they’? Why not ‘it’? In addition, with ‘diversion’, there is no need for this clumsy phrase: “to purposes they are not intended for”. The front and inside pages of The Guardian of July 21 goofed copiously: “Gbajabiamila’s group rejects Dogara’s power sharing (power-sharing) offer” “Two people (why not ‘persons’ preferably) died in this fatal accident that happened just beside Maitama General Hospital, Abuja (another comma) yesterday morning.” (The Guardian Metro Section Caption, July 21) ‘Fatality’ is established here by the fact of death. Therefore, inclusion of that is otiose and undermines the reader’s intelligence.

FEEDBACK Ebere, you are our pet love, keep the flag flying! But, don’t forget that nobody is too old to learn and that a teacher is a student! I taught Newsman’s English at the Nigerian institute of Journalism (NIJ) and at the College of Journalism (COJ), both in Ikeja, Lagos. Therefore, I know what it takes to keep abreast of the current tendencies and influences in the language. Please note that “Pub” is colloquial abbreviation for “public house” in Great Britain. And, in Canada, they

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Looting and stealing’? Never have “beer parlor” (note the spelling) and “beer garden”, while it is the “Kneipe” in Germany and ‘beer parlor’ in Nigeria, get it right! In his piece last Sunday, the Alawada (aka Bala Sala, junior) of ljesa land, the emeritus professor of English, G. O. Komolafe (he conveniently forgot to give his telephone number) wrote: “In the late 80’s I wrote an article in The Guardian and National Concord “ titled” (sic, entitled), “ Grammatical Flaws”, stressing inter alia the distinction between “its” and “it’s…. Mr. Bayo Oguntunase took me up, claiming he had consulted this and that textbook on this simple elementary grammar and would not agree with me”. “Prof”, do you know that, in Nigeria, we follow Standard British English (SBE)—British English—which I have been emphasizing since May 1984, when I confidently started writing a column entitled “Mind Your Language” (Not “Mind Your Grammar”) as another humorous commentor wrongly called it recently? In Nigeria, we have a great number of humorists! Esan, you don’t know that “title” is Noun! “Entitle”/ entitled” (meaning name/named or call/called) is its corresponding Verb (see English Usage by John O. E. Clark, page 145) while “titled” is an Adjective in British English (BE), e.g., a titled lady, a titled friend (e.g. Chief Ebenezer Babatope, an ljesa gentleman and my good old friend). I repeat, you use “entitled” when you are mentioning the title of something such as a book, film or painting, e.g. a report entitled (not “titled”) Attitudes Towards Geriatrics” (BBC English Dictionary, page 379) . Besides, the Associated Press STYLE BOOK on page 73 asserts: Use“entitled” to mean a right to do or have something. Do not use it to mean titled. Right: She was entitled to the promotion; the book was titled “Gone with the wind”. That

is in America, but this is Nigeria. Characteristically, Americans use “titled” (an adjective, in BE) as a verb, hence we also read of “the American people being gentled into acceptance of China in the U. S.” and “the speech hotting up the debate”! That is America, nation of nations! In simple terms, Esan cannot distinguish between British English and American English. In conclusion, let Esan publish what I wrote in National Concord in the 80’s and his reaction to it on this page for all readers to see and judge. Finally, writing a column “On Language” is like walking, unarmed, in a forest full of tigers or liens. It taxes one’s linguistic skill and competence. The challenge is on the table, let Esan start to write a column On Language on a weekly basis. I dare you. All the best! (BAYO OGUNTUNASE/08056180046) THE word “talk”, as in a conversation, is a countable noun (we had a long talk) but in a discussion, it is “talks” (peace/ trade talks), a plural noun requiring a plural verb. The Nation, Page 5, July 19, therefore, should have read “peace talks to end the leadership crisis in the Senate appear (not appears)...” Also, the rider ought to read “as peace talks break (not breaks) down”. But despite President Barack Obama’s vow to help Nigeria rout Boko Haram Insurgents, the issue of same-sex marriage, recently approved by the U.S. Supreme Court, remains a “sticking (not “sticky” as reported) point” in the U.S.-Nigerian ties. Finally, public office holders found to have looted the nation’s treasury are “stinking rich” (an informal adjective meaning “extremely rich”) and not “stinkingly rich”. The citizens want the new administration to make the looters return their ill-gotten wealth. (KOLA DANISA/ 07068074257) From the columnist: more informed and novel perspectives are welcome.

Corruption: ICPC urges more awareness among youths Proprietor commends pupil’s Saidat Alausa

ssistant Director, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Demola Bakare has said that Nigeria education system should prepare children for the responsibility of citizenship. He also said that there was the need to entrench zero tolerance for corruption among youths. The ICPC scribe disclosed this last week at a workshop while delivering a paper titled, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000” as it relates to educational administration at the 2015 Senior Executive Certificate programme on good governance and anti-corruption management information system. The programme which was held at Babcock, IlishanRemo, Ogun State was organised by the university’s Centre for Executive Devel-

opment, and Ethics Resource Centre, Lagos. According to him, corruption is a global phenomenon with African countries well noted for its high indices which Nigeria has had its fair share. However, he said with the scope and scale of corruption in the education system, too many schools have become breeding grounds for potential fraudsters, where leaders of tomorrow are weaned on diets of fraud, malpractice and dishonesty.

He revealed that ICPC alone nor any other anticorruption agency cannot rid education sector of corruption, “the punishments prescribed for contravening the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000 notwithstanding, we must see the fight against corruption from all sides, enforcement, prevention, advisory, education and mass mobilization against corruption and its ill.” Earlier in his welcome address, Chief Executive Officer, Babcock University,

Centre for executive Development, Prof. Samuel Alao said the workshop which is for education ministries, Agencies and institutions was aimed at training the trainers on how to curb corruption so that the country will have less corrupt citizens. Chairman, Ethics Resource Centre, Mr. Ike Onyechere in his remarks disclosed that problems facing the world today especially developing countries like Nigeria are attributed to corruption.

L-R: Assistant Director, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Mr. Demola Bakare; Chairman Authentic Governance Institute, USA Prof. Hubert Rampersad; CEO Babcock Centre for Executive Development, Prof. Samuel Alao and Chairman Governing Council Ethics Resource Centre Nigeria, Mr. Ike Onyechere during the opening ceremony of 2015 Senior Executive certificate programme held at Babcock University , Ilishan-Remo Ogun State, last week.

outstanding performance

Quadri Babatunde

roprietor, Alganeey Citadel of Learning, Idowu Ganiyu, has commended a pupil of the school, Ismail Kamorudeen, for scoring the highest mark in a qualifying examination organised by the Association of Model Islamic Schools in Nigeria (AMIS) Ibadan North Local Council. He disclosed this at the 14th graduation ceremony of the school adding that Ismail scored 70 percent in the examination to beat every other participant. He also remarked that the secondary school pupils were not wanting in performance at interschools competition. Ganiyu lauded the pupils out performing their counterparts from other schools in Mathematics

and English language. He expressed happiness that the pupils came first and second in the two subjects in a recent secondary schools quiz competition. The proprietor also disclosed that the expanded syllabus introduced by the school recently would afford the pupils an opportunity to cope with the modern days challenges after their education. He called on tiers of government to rally round proprietors of private schools through education and tax policy that would help them. This he pointed out would ensure success of education in Nigeria. The educationist appealed to parents to promptly pay their wards fees and see the funding of their children education as an investment that would yield bumper harvest in future.

Business

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Tax payment made easy…

Telecom Services: Stakeholders rate NCC’s sanctions harsh, seek review

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APCON reform: Stakeholders seek review of policies

Urban unemployment rate rises to 10.1% –NBS TOLA AKINMUTIMI

ational Bureau of Statistics, NBS, the producer and custodian of the nation’s official statistics, has put unemployment rate in the urban areas of the country at 10.1 per cent in the second quarter of this year. The rate indicated about 2.3 percentage points higher than the 8.8 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter and 3.6 percentage points higher than the rate in Q4, 2014. The Bureau also reported in its latest that during the review period, unemployment rate in the rural areas stood at 7.4 per cent, the same rate of underemployment in the urban areas. Underemployment rate in the rural areas was 22.1 per cent during the AprilJune review quarter. NBS stated further: “Underemployment continues to be more of an rural phenomenon (22.1% rural underemployment compared to 7.4% rural unemployment) given the nature of their jobs largely as seasonal farmers, unemployment is more of a concern in urban areas (10.1% urban unemployment compared to 7.4% urban underemployment) given the preference of graduates to search for for-

mal white collar jobs located mostly in urban centres.” On the general unemployment and underemployment rates, the statistics producing agency, stated in its Unemployment/Underemployment Watch for the second quarter of this year published on August 2, that the country’s unemployment rate rose to 8.2 per cent in the second quarter (Q2) of this year up from the 7.5 per cent rate recorded in the preceding quarter,

representing a third consecutive rise in unemployment rate since Q3, 2014. It also stated that the economically active population or working age population, that is persons within ages 15 64, increased to 103.5 million in the second quarter (Q2), up from 102.8 million in the first quarter. Expatiating further, the Bureau reported that the labour force population, comprising

those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work, increased to 74.0 million in Q2 from 73.4 million in Q1, indicating an increase in the labour force by 0.81 per cent. The NBS stated that within the same period, the total number in full employment, or those did something for at least 40 hours weekly decreased by 1,317,700 or -2.37 per cent.

legal tussle may be looming between the Lagos State Government and a consortium of five investors over the true ownership of the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport project The consortium of investors is made up Intels Nigeria Limited, operators of the Oil & Gas Free Zone, Onne Port, Oando Plc, Dangote Group and APM Terminals Limited, which is the concessionaire in charge of the former Container Terminal, Apapa. A competent source close

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. Abuja-Yola: 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

L-R: General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho; Marketing Manager, DStv, Chioma Afe; Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria Caroline Oghuma, and Marketing Manager, SuperSport West Africa, Chidozie Bede-Nwokoye, during the live screening of NBA Africa Team Vs the Rest of the World, in Lagos recently.

Investors, Lagos govt may clash over Badagry Seaport project FRANCIS EZEM

to the consortium, who spoke against the background of recent moves by the Lagos State Government to commence preliminary works on the development of the mega seaport complex, said that the consortium had secured approvals from the Federal Government for the establishment of the port. According to him, the legal team of the consortium is currently studying the various legal instruments governing the establishment and running of seaports in the country as well as items that fall within the exclusive and concurrent lists for both the Federal and State Govern-

ments across the country. He disclosed that the consortium is currently keeping its cool since the Lagos State Government has yet to take any concrete action that would indicate that it is serious about commencing the development of the mega port project. “I am telling you this because you called me to make enquiries and so I had to respond to you, but ordinarily, the attitude of the consortium is to wait and see the Lagos Government commence construction works on the proposed project, that will leave no one in doubt that it developing the mega seaport”, he said.

He argued that the State Government is currently developing the Lekki Deep Seaport with some foreign investors from Singapore, adding that the consortium has in the last two years been making projections on the development of the Badagry Deep Seaport, especially in terms of the required infrastructure. The Badagry Port being proposed by the consortium partners, when completed, is expected to be a full built-out deep-water, full-service port, which the partners say will be one of the largest in Africa with seven kilometer of quay and 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) of dedicated yard.

Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abuja-ph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, Uyo-Lagos: 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

Business News

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Ekiti inaugurates Committee to revitalise cocoa farming ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

kiti State Government has set up a Cocoa Reformation Committee as part of its commitment to boost agriculture, improve food security and revenue generation from the sector. The Committee, chaired by a farmer and former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Paul Alabi, is to re-engineer cocoa enterprise in the state and make it employment and revenue generators. The state governor said the committee would achieve this by boosting cocoa production, enhancing the income of cocoa farmers and making cocoa enterprise generate additional income into the coffers of the state government. The governor spoke during the distribution of agricultural lime and other agro-allied chemicals free of charge to farmers in the state as part of the state government’s concerted effort to reposition agriculture and boost food production. He said distribution of the inputs became necessary following a comprehensive soil test recently conducted in the state which revealed that a large portion of Ekiti soil cultivated for food and cash crop production were already acidic as a result of constant use, leaching and overgrazing.

….distributes inputs to farmers The state governor said his administration considered it expedient to intervene and come to the aid of the farmers by supplying them with fertilizers and other agro-allied chemicals which could be injected into the soil to correct the soil problems and re-condition it for optimal fertility. The Deputy Governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, who represented the governor on the occasion, also noted that proper application of the lime would not only address

the soil challenges but also boost food production and guarantee food security in Ekiti State. The governor advised the benefiting farmers to adhere strictly to the technical instructions on the proper use of the agro-chemicals and other farm inputs that the Agricultural Extension Officers would pass on to them for a maximum result. He thanked the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) for facilitating the acquisition of

low-cost production inputs such as fertilizer and herbicides for cassava farmers, urging members in the state to avail themselves the opportunity and increase cassava production in Ekiti. NCGA National President, Mr Segun Adewumi, praised the steps taken by the governor to provide the agricultural lime to rejuvenate the soil and lessen the problems of Ekiti farmers despite the financial challenges confronting the state.

Participants at the annual workshop for members of Association of Financial Analysts of Nigeria (AFAN) in Dutse yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Glo offers travelling subscribers wi-fi roaming service

lobacom, is set to boost subscribers’ roaming experience with the launch of its Wi-Fi roaming service. The Glo Wi-Fi roaming service affords subscribers who travel outside the country the ultimate mobile internet experience in over 300,000 internet hotspots in 42 countries. A statement issued by Globacom’s Chief Commercial Director, Mr Ajay Mathur, on Tuesday indicated that with the offer, subscribers on its prepaid and postpaid platforms would enjoy exceptionally fast Wi-Fi speeds on their mobile device or

tablet in popular locations such as airports, hotels, restaurants, stadiums and coffee shops in the countries where the offer is available. Mathur stated: “The Glo WiFi roaming plans are like passes which grant our subscribers access to their favorite social media applications, websites or emails on any Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device or tablet. It automatically connects them to thousands of hotspots when they travel.” The service is offered in daily and weekly hourly wi-fi plans which are pocket friendly, easy to monitor and give the subscriber

double validity. The Daily pack goes for N2,100 for one hour and has a validity period of 2 days, while the Weekly Pack goes for N9,200 for five hours with a 14day validity. The Director stated further that “whichever pack the subscriber chooses, he is guaranteed the same clear and transparent rate across all available hotspots,” adding that each purchased plan has a period of six months within which the subscriber can use it. Other benefits of the Glo Wi-Fi roaming include internet speed three times faster than 3G, zero

roaming charges, absence of contracts to use the service, zero fee for cancellation and roundthe-clock customer service. Countries where the service is available include United Kingdom, France, Canada, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland, Brazil, Germany, China, Japan, India, Austria, Belgium, Taiwan, Denmark, Ireland and Netherland, amongst others. To use the service, the customer is required to download the Glo Wi-Fi roaming App which is available on the Android market and Apple Store.

FirstBank flags off radio programme for SMEs UDO ONYEKA

irst Bank of Nigeria Plc has commenced the sponsorship of an SME Radio programme, ‘The Economy & You’ to deepen the SME space and make it accessible to more business startups. The programme, which will run concurrently on every Thurs-

day at 3pm and Rhythm FM 93.7 every Sunday at 6.15pm is a joint initiative of Enterprise Development Centre, a School of Pan Atlantic University, Lagos and First Bank. According to the lender the sponsorship objective is to educate, inform and build capacity for small business owners by providing them with the resources needed to grow their businesses.

“Given the growth of the SME sector and their role in economic expansion and sustainable national development, FirstBank has berthed a multi-pronged SME support programme to chart a veritable course for SME development in a new and reinvigorated era, emphasising boundless opportunities for entrepreneurial business development. “The programme will focus on

SMEs and how the Economy is affecting their enterprise, from Budget to Policies, from exchange rates to incentives. Once a month, the programme would focus on specific sectors and sector specialists. SMEs owners and key stakeholders in general will be invited to be part of the conversation”, the bank stated. It also hinted that the programme would open a twitter

Toyota not optimistic on China business profitability

oyota Motor Corp has said that it “can’t be optimistic” about profitability in China, the world’s biggest auto market, where slowing growth is forcing the Japanese manufacturer to cut prices and offer buying incentives to keep up with rivals. Toyota, which on Tuesday reported record first-quarter net profit for the third consecutive year, enjoyed rising China sales but price wars were sapping profit, company officials said at an earnings briefing. China auto sales fell each month in the quarter as economic growth crawls at its slowest pace in 25 years, draining consumer sentiment. Analysts expect a stock market crash from mid-June to have a knock-on effect and further drag on vehicle sales. Japanese automakers are widely expected to fare better than rivals due in part to sales of new sports utility vehicles (SUVs). But at Toyota, price competition has particularly hit its RAV4 as car makers seek to capitalize on a vogue for SUVs. “In April-June, vehicle sales have progressed firmly but as for profitability, we can’t be optimistic,” said Managing Officer Tetsuya Otake. Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto called the market “extremely hard” and added “there isn’t much profitability in China.” For April-June, Toyota said net profit rose 10 percent to 646.4 billion yen ($5.21 billion), beating the 607.5 billion yen average estimate of 11 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Operating profit rose 9.1 percent to 756 billion yen on revenue that grew 9.3 percent to 6.99 trillion yen. The automaker attributed the earnings rise to general cost-cutting and currency gains from a strong U.S. dollar, which increased the value of income when converted into yen. (Source – www.reuters.com)

handle for audience interaction during the online streaming and would also feature a monthly live Panel where listeners can call in to participate during the online streaming, adding that ‘The Economy & You’ will feature seasoned professionals and successful SME entrepreneurs in finance, construction, food and hospitality, as well as other critical sectors of the economy.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Thursday, August 6, 2015

BPE urges National Assembly on Ports, Harbours Bill passage FRANCIS EZEM

he Bureau of Public Enterprise has said that the non passage of the Ports and Harbours Bill was undesirable for the nation’s port concession programme and therefore urged the National Assembly to pass the legislation expeditiously. The bill, which was forwarded to the National Assembly by the

Bureau after the completion of the port concession programme, is designed to give both legal and institutional backing to programme, which was carried out without an enabling law. Director General of the BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, who spoke at a one-day conference on the review of port concession agreement organised in Lagos by the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, in conjunction with Interna-

tional Maritime Exhibition and Conference IMEC, made a strong case for the passage of the bill without further waste of time. According to him, the passage of the bill would further help sustain the gains of the port concession programme, which he said was a huge success, arguing that the bill when passed into law would protect the investments made by the various concessionaires.

While appraising the performance of the exercise, he affirmed that the port reform programme has made positive impact on the port system in particular and the nation’s economy in general. “Anybody who saw the nation’s seaport in 2006 before the terminal operators took over and goes round the same ports today will know that the concessionaires have made investments

Oshiomhole lauds NAMA on airspace safety initiatives OLUSEGUN KOIKI

he Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has commended the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, for ensuring effective safe air navigation in Nigeria. Oshiomhole, who gave the commendation at the just concluded Airspace Managers Forum in Benin City, Edo State, .however said that despite the current safety standards in the country’s airspace, more still needed to be done for Nigeria’s airspace to be ranked among the best in the world.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, said that the agency had been discharging its responsibilities creditably well, but called for acquisition and installation of more modern navigational aids and ensuring that global practices were adhered to in the daily operation of the agency. The Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, who was also represented at the event by the Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Engr. Emma Anasi, lauded the governor for his visionary leadership, which he said had manifested in the massive in-

frastructural development in the State. Abdulsalam stressed that the management would continue to support airspace managers in the overall interest of maintaining the safety of air navigation in the country. The immediate past Chairman of the forum, Mr. Ifeanyi Okwor extolled NAMA for its continued effort in upgrading the nation’s Communication, Navigation Surveillance/ Air Traffic Management, CNS/ATM infrastructure across the country. While lauding NAMA on the recent successful Site Acceptance Test on the Kano Safe Tower project as well as ADS-C/

CPDLC (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication) soon to be commissioned by the agency, he also implored management to implement a comprehensive recruitment and training plan for core CNS/ATM personnel. He added that this was necessary in order to attain the number of proficient staffing level required to man and operate the essential air navigation facilities, which had been installed at a great cost to the agency. Also, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering has pledged to cooperate with NAMA in its effort to continue to promote safety of air navigation in the country.

that ordinarily, no government can make from his budgetary allocations to support the industry,” Dikki said emphatically. He however identified the delay in the passage of the Ports and Harbours Bill nearly ten years after as the greatest challenge facing the concession agreement. He said: “The port concessionaires have made investments but there are issues which arise principally because from inception, it was conceptualised that a regulator will be in place before the concessions were done but there are challenges in getting the bill ready and even when it was ready, it has remained unlegislated up till date”. While commending the Nigerian Shippers Council, which is the current economic regulator, Dikki called on stakeholders to join hands and ensure that the Ports and Harbours Bill was passed in order to have a permanent port regulator. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Yakubu Dogara, had while speaking at the event, commended the terminal operators for transforming the ports in the country, having made massive investments over the years.

Stakeholders laud Buhari on new NCC boss’ appointment ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

takeholders in the telecommunications industry has commended President Buhari on the appointment of a new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof Professor Umaru Garba Danbatta, and urged the new head of the regulator of the industry to sustain policies of government. Danbatta was appointed on Tuesday to replace Dr. Eugene Juwah, whose tenure expired on July 29. President of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Engr Lanre Ajayi told the National Mirror that there was no new agenda to be set for Danbatta, stating that there are policies like the National Broadband Plan existing which he could start its implementation for the growth of the telecom industry. According to him, what the new EVC needs is more vigour to push the industry to an enviable height, particularly in achieving the NBL objectives saying that government is obviously a continuous process.

While wishing Danbatta well in his new appointment, he said that there was no need for the industry to begin to think of setting an agenda for him, stressing that what is needed is an evaluation of existing plans and defined how to accelerate implementation. He cautioned against the idea of coming up with new agenda that may distort the industry entirely saying that the current development plans in the industry are well thought out. Chief Executive Officer of Internet Solutions, Mr. Olusola Teniola, praised the high academic quality of the new EVC of the NCC and called for a continuation of the work that had been set in motion by the past leadership of the NCC. He called on Danbatta to resolve lingering issues in the industry, which bothered on backbone infrastructure for the industry, co-location issues among telecoms companies, and broadband accessibility to all Nigerians irrespective of wherever they are in the country. Danbatta, who had played leading roles in the development of the industry over the years, was born in Danbatta Local Government Council of Kano State.

L-R Comedian Gbenga Adeyinka, Brand Manager STAR NB PLC Obabiyi Fagade, Rapper and CEO Choclate City Jude MI Abaga at the IBB Square in Makurdi during Star Music Trek in Benue State Makurdi.

China drops rank as world’s most liquid stock market

hina has lost its title as the world’s most liquid stock market as trading halts and regulatory efforts to curb bearish transactions drive away investors. Daily turnover on mainland exchanges has averaged the equivalent of $202 billion over the past 30 days, down from $288 billion at the start of July. After exceeding turnover on U.S. bourses for about a month through July 8, the value of shares traded in China is now

$72 billion lower than in America. Volume in Shanghai on Tuesday was 36 percent below the 30-day average. The unprecedented boom in Chinese stock trading during the first half of 2015 has fizzled as the Shanghai Composite Index sank 27 percent from this year’s high and mainland exchanges allowed hundreds of companies to halt their shares. The drop in volumes deepened this week as authorities curbed short sales, investigated

algorithmic traders and warned investors against placing large sell orders. “What happened recently will definitely leave a bad taste in investors’ mouths,” said Tang Yayun, a Shanghai-based analyst at Northeast Securities Co. “There has been too much regulatory intervention in this market and some institutional investors may be unwilling to enter the market for the long term.” (Source –www.bloomberg.com)

Taxation

Thursday, August 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tax payment made easy… E

lectronic-Taxpay is an online selfservice tax payment system which gives taxpayers the opportunity to pay their taxes through their banks’ online payment portals. It is an initiative of FIRS in collaboration with Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). It is meant to facilitate payments of taxes from the comfort of taxpayers’ offices or homes. Taxpayers can pay using the electronic channels provided by their banks such as the banks’ internet banking platform, branches and mobile banking platforms. Conditions to be met by taxpayer before using e-Taxpay platform • Register and obtain your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) • Have an account with any bank of your choice and subscribe to the internet banking function of your bank. • Have sufficient funds in the account to cover the tax liability/transaction.

Steps to take to make payment through eTaxpay platform Having registered and received a TIN, an active internet banking account and sufficient funds, then; • Decide the channel to use; • If you decide on internet banking channel, log on to your bank’s internet banking platform e.g. GTBank Online Banking, FirstOnline, etc; • In the case of GTBank Online Banking, select the “Payment” option in the menu; • Then select “NIBSS E-Bills payments” under the “Payment” option; • Select the account to debit from, to continue; • Once inside the NIBSS E-Bills payments, select “New Request” to start a new payment. This will take you to the NIBSS platform; • Then select “FIRS e-Taxpay” from the displayed list services that the NIBSS platform provides, in order to start the tax payment in particular; • You then enter your TIN (FIRS/ JTB-TIN) or the TIN of the taxpayer you want to pay for; • Click “verify” to validate that the TIN belongs to the taxpayer making the payment; • A pop-up will appear with the TIN details. If ok, then go to the next stage; • Select the tax type (e.g. Company Income Tax, Pre-Operation Levy, Value Added Tax, etc.); • Enter the amount to be debited (tax sum being paid); • Accept service charge for the bank (if applicable); • Confirm that all the information provided are correct and valid; • Submit the request. After a successful transaction, the system will generate an ‘e-acknowledgement’ which can be printed online, or sent to a

Ogungbesan

specified e-mail address. The ‘e-acknowledgement’ is a confirmation of the transaction of payment of tax to FIRS which would be presented to FIRS field office for the issuance of statutory FIRS receipt to the taxpayer. A TAXPAYER SHOULD PLEASE ENSURE THE ‘e-acknowledgement’ IS SUBMITTED TO THE TAX OFFICE OF DOMICILE TO GET A GOVERNMENT TAX RECEIPT FOR THE PAYMENT MADE. Real time notifications: The platform also notifies the taxpayer and FIRS through SMS alert and real time email. FIRS can view payment transactions and reports online, in real time.

Tax types that can be paid using the eTaxpay channel: e-Taxpay can be used to pay all tax types and levies collected by FIRS. They include: • Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) • Education Tax (ET) • Companies Income Tax (CIT) • Value Added Tax (VAT) • Personal Income Tax (PAYE for residents of FCT and non-Residents) • Withholding Tax (WHT). This requires a schedule to be uploaded on the platform; • National Information Technology Development Fund Levy (NITDEF) • Capital Gains Tax (CGT) • Pre-Operation Levy (POL) • Stamp Duties (SD) and late filing penalty

FAQs (Frequently asked questions) on the use of the FIRS E-Tax Pay Solution 1. What is the FIRS E-Tax Pay Solution? Answer: The FIRS E-Tax Pay is an acronym for FIRS Electronic Tax Payment Solution. 2. What is the specific function of the E-Tax Pay? Answer: The FIRS E-Tax Pay is an electronic tax payment platform thatenables individual and corporate taxpayers effect

tax payments via their respective bank accounts using selfservice channels provided by any Nigerian Bank. It is based on the recipient’s account and would place a debit on the recipient’s account while applying the credit to FIRS CBN’s account real-time. 3. How does the e-tax pay solution work? Answer: The e-tax pay solution is hosted on the internet banking platform and bank branches of commercial banks and will be available to any taxpayer who has access to the internet via PC, or handheld devices such as mobile phones. It will enable the bank customers who are registered for internet banking make their tax payments online and also via bank branches. 4. Will a taxpayer be charged for using the e-tax pay solution? Answer: No, there is no additional cost to the taxpayer for using the e-tax pay internet banking solution. Only the normal bank charges such as Commission- On –Turnover agreed between the customer and the bank would apply. 5. What is the specific requirement of a potential taxpayer to use the e-tax pay solution? Answer: Taxpayers that intend to use the e-tax pay solution must have registered and obtained a valid TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) from any FIRS or JTB office and would have done their respective selfassessment in order to use the e-tax pay to pay their tax liabilities. The e-tax pay solution prompts for a valid TIN upon Login and performs a system validation with the TIN before populating with the taxpayer’s records. 6. Can a taxpayer use the e-tax pay to pay all FIRS taxes? Answer:Yes, the e-tax pay can be used to pay all FIRS taxes. It has a drop down menu list showing all FIRS taxes. The taxpayer

simply has to select the tax type he intends to make payment for. 7. Would a taxpayer receive confirmation if the transaction is successful? Answer: Yes, the taxpayer would receive a confirmation that the payment is successful and a system generated reference ID would be issued. The system would also generate an e-acknowledgement confirmation to the taxpayer which he can use to obtain his tax payment receipt/credit notes from FIRS office. 8. Does the e-tax pay solution send notification? Answer: Yes, the system would send an enotification immediately the transaction is successful. The taxpayer would also receive a debit notification via email and SMS from his bank confirming the payment. 9. Can taxpayers use the FIRS e-tax pay solution to make tax payments online now? Answer: Yes. The solution has been implemented in all commercial banks. All bank customers that have their valid i-banking tokens and have registered for i-banking can access the e-tax pay under their internet banking menu under the NIBSS ‘e-billspay’ service and select FIRS e-tax pay as their tax payment channel and follow the prompts towards making the payment. They also have to have valid TINs. 10. What are the specific self-service payment channels under the FIRS e-tax pay solution? Answer: The specific channels wherein a taxpayer can make payments are: internet/ online banking, mobile banking and bank branches. For internet and mobile banking platforms, a taxpayer can access these selfservice channels using PCs, Laptops, notebooks, smart handheld devices and mobile phones.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Info Tech

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Telecom Services: Stakeholders rate NCC’s sanctions harsh, seek review Confronted with sundry challenges in the nation’s investment environment, subscribers and other stakeholders in the telecommunications industry believe that Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has been tough in its regulatory sanctions without much to show for it in terms of quality of services. In this analysis by ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN, the stakeholders feel that a new regulatory approach holds better promises for subscribers, investors and the economy.

espite the regulatory impact of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on the telecoms industry in the last 10 years, subscribers seem to have under-estimated the impact of its roles thus prompting them to demand for more stringent measures that would improve the quality of telecommunication packages and services nationwide. But a cross section of subscribers while expressing their displeasure over the present state of affairs in the sector said that the regulator was not doing enough to protect consumers’ interests. For instance, a banker, Flora Bossey said that subscribers want the regulator to fight for the rights of consumers and make sure that the network mobile operators give them the desired quality service. According to her, since inception the quality of service from the operators has never favoured the subscribers who spend their hard earned money reloading their mobile phones. She said that there is a high level of disregard for the subscribers by the operators so much that all manner of charges are heaped on them at will by the operators saying that very often the consumers pay services that are not delivered. Describing the services from the network operators as shoddy, she lashed at them for invading her privacy through the volumes of unsolicited text messages from the operators noting that they are very provocative. Another subscriber, a businessman, Tayo Olatoye described the activities of operators as unfriendly to the subscribers stating that he sees the NCC more as a friend of the mobile operators. He said that in view of this he was not sure if to consider the NCC as a taskmaster or regulator noting that presently, quality of services is at zero level adding that that includes data services, which he said does not match global standard. Olatoye, while regretting that the regulator has not been able to make the operators to take responsibility for the quality of service presently rendered, said that the regulator may not have played its role. Another subscriber, a real estate consultant, Mrs. Rossy George, blamed the inability of subscribers to get value for their money on the regulation of the industry saying that consumers expect them to come harder on the operators. According to her, if the operators had

NCC Headquarter

SUBSCRIBERS WANT THE REGULATOR TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE NETWORK MOBILE OPERATORS GIVE THEM THE DESIRED QUALITY SERVICE

Former EVC, NCC, Eugene Juwah

enforce the strong laws on the operators, they will perform very well saying that the present trend in the industry gives the impression that the industry is not well regulated. It was gathered that the 2014 imposition of N647.5 million on the three telecoms firms MTN, Globacom and Airtel by the telecoms industry regulator was not well accepted by the industry stakeholders. Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, while challenging the imposition of the fines said that the NCC was merely shying away from its responsibility of helping to deal

with fundamental environmental and regulatory challenges perpetuating poor telecoms services. He queried the fines, which happened to be the third that the regulator had imposed on the operators saying that the sanctions has not changed anything in the industry. However, investigation revealed that key industry stakeholders have at several times tasked the regulator on the kind of sanctions from the NCC. On the various complaints by stakeholders, explained Director, Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo that it seemed stakeholders across the broad spectrum of the industry do not understand its roles. Ojobo disclosed that the Commission as a regulator is guided by the NCC Act of 2003 and several regulatory templates

and guidelines. He explained that the NCC should not be seen by its critics as a law enforcement agency stating that it is responsible for regulating the telecommunication industry, and that its role includes licensing of all telecommunication operators, including vendors of telecommunication equipment, it also includes Type Approval of telecommunication equipment and devices including cell phones. Ojobo pointed out that the NCC TypeApproves all of these kinds of equipment, noting that its functions also include consumer education, consumer information and consumer protection, setting up of standards for operators in the industry as well as monitoring the compliance of operators and service providers to the terms, the conditions and obligations that we have in their licenses. He stated that the Commission has regulated the industry in such a way that there is access to telecommunication and that there is competition in the industry saying that it often ensures that the consumer get value for money. Speaking further, the NCC spokesperson said that there were differences between positive and negative text messages saying that there are unsolicited text messages, which are received without prompting but that some of them are beneficial to the consumer such as text messages that relate with advisory issues on health and security. He noted that the negative unsolicited texts were those that concerns products or services that are sold through the network of operators by way of entreaties saying that such are the ones the subscribers consider as offensive. Ojobo revealed that the Commission had a meeting with Value Added Service providers who are responsible for uploading such contents on the mobile operators’ networks, adding that it will come out with guidelines that will specify penalties and sanctions for those who constitute nuisance to the subscribers. He said that the Commission was accessible to everyone for genuine complaints that could help in growing the sector saying, “we have a customer contact center, which is a toll free number, 622, and contact center number for resolving complaints from services provided from the telecom operators. We are also on the Facebook, on Twitter and on YouTube.”

Info Tech

Thursday, August 6, 2015

CWG, EMP partner to deepen card payment market STORIES: ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

omputer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc and Emerging Markets Payments Group (EMP), have renewed their commitment to use their expertise to deepen the card payment system in the country. Top executives of both companies melt in Lagos during a visit by the EMP team to the corporate head office of CWG where key issues concerning the card payment were key focus. Speaking at the meeting, the founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc., Mr. Austin Okere, explained that in line with its cloud services offering under the new CWG2.0 business model, the technology operates a data centre for its use, as well as the use of her customers. According to him, the data centre is a state of the art cat-

egory three facility manned by a complement of experienced and certified technical personnel saying that “CWG adheres strictly to a Standard Operating Procedure and provides a checklist for all clients’ equipment to ensure that they meet best practices including dual power and network sources for all devices.” Okere noted further that this centre further complemented with Managed Services for Level two and level three technical support saying that with this facility, “we have been able to offer EMP the platform they require to support their customers in Africa and the Middle East with unparalleled payment services.” Chief Executive Officer, EMP, Mr. Murat Ozulku, who led a delegation of his company’s executives during the visit, said that the visit was meant to strengthen the relationship between the two companies and build upon mutual as-

pirations. According to him, CWG is a recognised company in the Data Centre and Cloud Services management sector, and a strong partner that has given us the technical backup we need to support the rapid growth in our clientele across Nigeria. He said that the visit gave EMP the unique opportunity to discuss ways in which collaboration can be further exploited saying that “we seek to expand our range of innovative solutions, and enable us to better cater to the needs of the fast growing payment industry in Africa and beyond.” He disclosed that EMP delivers electronic payments services to more than 130 banks and 30,000 merchants across 45 countries stating that the company is committed to supporting the rapid and secure expansion of the payments industry in these fast growing markets.

Tech Box

Wireless charger ready for consumers

Q L-R: Regional Director, South and Sub-Saharan Africa, Intel Corporation, Sven Beckmann; Country Manager, Nigeria, Intel Corporation, Olubunmi Ekundare; Director of Innovation, Sub-Saharan Africa, Intel Corporation, Hitendra Naik; at the Intel Developer Day Nigeria 2015 event held in Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

Visa plans $15,000 reward for Nigerian customers

isa, a global payments technology company will reward Nigerian customers for their loyalty with a $15,000 trip to Dubai for four nights. The reward will be given to tourists in the country who take part in Visa’s innovative and regional campaign known as #NotATourist are aimed at driving international tourism during holidays and rewarding holidaying card users. Visa’s General Manger for West Africa, Mr. Ade Ashaye said in Lagos that all Nigerians Visa card holders are encouraged to participate in the competition by posting pictures of themselves on twitter. He said that everyone stands a chance of winning weekly prizes

such as Ipads, Nikon cameras, $1000 weekly, besides the grand prize of a $15,000 trip to Dubai for four nights. Ashaye disclosed that the campaign, which is also running in the Middle East and African markets including, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Senegal will end this month, saying that the campaign provides cardholders with real and rich destination related information to help plan their travel as well as access to Visa’s global merchant offers and exclusive promotions. He added that Visa has also set up a Hidden Treasure Quiz competition to reward customers who cannot travel this year saying

that pictures of interesting locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) will be uploaded on social media and followers will be asked to name the exact location. According to him, the NotATourist campaign is designed to inspire travel beyond the regular tourist sites to savour truly local experiences that are the essence of making a destination unique saying that as travellers experience unforgettable moments, Visa remains the gateway to an array of offers that give cardholders the ability to maximise their joy and access to thousands of attractions that unlock the secrets of their preferred destinations.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ualcomm has unveiled a new technology that it claims will allow wireless charging for devices with metal cases for the first time. This is even as the company announced a new patent licence agreement with Swiss automotive component company BRUSA covering its Halo wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC) technology. The Qualcomm wireless charging technology for devices is called WiPower and is compliant with the Rezenance standard. Wireless charging has been around for a while and was first introduced into the mainstream by Nokia, with the likes of Samsung soon following suit. But one drawback to this tech was that it required a plastic case to work if it was embedded in the device, while many consumers prefer metal cases. General Manager of Wireless Charging at Qualcomm, Steve Pazol, said that building a wireless charging solution into devices with metal exteriors is a significant step for moving the entire industry forward, saying that more device manufacturers are choosing to utilise metal alloys in their product designs to provide greater structural support and, of course, aesthetics. He said QTIs engineering advancement eliminates a major

obstacle facing wireless power and opens up the continued adoption of this desirable feature to a much wider range of consumer electronics and use cases. The BRUSA announcement is important to Qualcomm as much for symbolic as practical reasons, indicating the company’s significance in the automotive sector, where mobile technology in general it taking on increasing importance. “We are excited about our license agreement with BRUSA; it expands and diversifies the Qualcomm Halo supplier network, giving automobile manufacturers another trusted source of our advanced inventions,” said Pazol. He said that Qualcomm Halo licensees can bring to market highly efficient, fit-for-purpose, WEVC systems, which allow convenient charging and improve the EV driver’s user experience. “Wireless charging will win, it will give e-mobility a big boost, it will set new, sustainable technology apart from old gasoline-based technology,” said Josef Brusa, CEO of BRUSA. “We are determined to make wireless charging a reality. We already offer technically sound and commercially viable systems to the market and we are excited about the potential of wireless charging”, he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Government Technology

NIMC, PENCOM synchronise data base for national development STORIES: ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

he National Pension Commission, PENCOM, and the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, have partnered to provide accurate data base that will facilitate national development through synchronization of their data base. The synchronisation is expected to hasten the process of harmonising and integrating the PENCOM database with that of the NIMC. The two organisations made disclosure during a meeting between the Director General, PENCOM, Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu and the Director General/Chief Executive Officer, NIMC, Barrister Chris Onyemenam, during which each of them pledged commitment to the partnership. Anohu-Amazu disclosed that long before the inception of the pension industry that exist today, there has been a fundamental need for a foundation identity database, which all the agencies and private organisations can fall back on at any given time noting that “we are glad that NIMC has put such structure on ground.” She said that PENCOM was mandated by law to run its own functional database, saying that

it will also ensure that the PENCOM database remains in harmony and in sync with the foundation database of NIMC. Anohu-Amazu said, “While managing PENCOM’s functional database, we strive to continually take cues from NIMC’s expertise in identity management and we are indeed excited about the future as we continue to partner.” She described the NIMC and PENCOM’ partnership as desirable, saying that PENCOM is a sister organisation to NIMC, and that “where we are now is a clear indication that we are working towards the same goal and must work together, to ensure that our organisational roles and mandates are achieved seamlessly.” According to her, PENCOM is poised to serve not only the pensioners of today, but the contributors to the various pension funds who are they pensioners of tomorrow. “There has always been a great need for proper identification and verification in the pension industry to ensure little or no case of identity theft. It’s a good thing that NIMC and PENCOM are poised to make a positive impact and contribute to the country’s economy and development”, she said. While explaining the core mandate of NIMC, Onyemenam noted that the major reasons for

identity theft and fraud related activities in the country is the lack of record keeping stating that over the decades, Nigeria didn’t have an identity database, which made identity theft and fraud very commonplace among Nigerians. He stated that a lot of people are known to have multiple identities that they use for varied reasons saying, “This is costing the Pension industry, the bank in-

dustry and the likes, hundreds of millions of naira annually, thus the need for a central database to check the number of times people change their names and identities.” The NIMC boss explained that with the National Identity Database now in place, no individual false data can be captured twice noting that once the details are captured, it is stored against the individual’s biometrics and head-

shot so that in the next 20 years or more, the same details can be referred to with the help of the National Identification Number. “Cases of ghost workers, falsification of age and names, fraud and identity theft are some of the problems faced in our industry that will be curtailed and eliminated with a centralised identity database, replete with biometric information,” he added.

L-R: Past President, Eagle Toastmasters Club, Jude Anyigbo; President, Oyin Egbeyemi; Charter President, Eagle Toastmasters Club,Ambassador Vincent Okobi; President, Seaside Toastmasters Club Blessing Momoh, and Division Director, Toastmasters Division F, District 94 Patrick Oluyide, when Eagle and Seaside Toastmasters Clubs Celebrate their Presidents and 10-year presence of Toastmasters in Nigeria at the Change of Guard Ceremony.

Financial Technology

MTN Business targets improved market share

TN Business South Africa is revamping with the ambitions of aggressively growing its market share in the enterprise space and venturing into new markets. As a result, the telecommunications company said that it had appointed an industry veteran, Mariana Kruger, as General Manager of Private Sector. Kruger is a seasoned professional who has a wealth of experience in the ICT space. She started her career at IBM as a junior Systems Engineer in 1988, working in the mainframe environment. She later moved into the Systems Management Consulting, Project Management and Business Unit Leadership space. In her different roles, Kruger worked with clients in Africa and the Middle East, taking responsi-

bility for signings, revenue and profit for the region, including growth initiatives for data centres and work area recovery. Before being appointed to the current role, Kruger ran the Infrastructure Services Division in IBM SA. Alpheus Mangale, Chief Enterprise Officer: MTN Business SA, says Kruger’s expertise will complement the existing skills set at MTN Business. “Kruger’s expertise will bode well for MTN Business SA. Her crucial skills and experience will provide the building blocks on which we can built, as we pursue our strategic objectives of making inroads in unchartered markets,” says Mangale. The appointment of Kruger follows a string of high-level appointments by MTN Business earlier this year.

Huawei begins Nigeria-Cameroon submarine cable installation

uawei Marine Networks Company Limited has commenced marine installation of the Nigeria-Cameroon Submarine Cable System (NCSCS). The NCSCS is Cameroon’s first wholly-owned submarine cable with investment provided by the Cameroon Government. Spanning approximately 1,100 km, the NCSCS will directly link Kribi in Cameroon with Lagos in Nigeria, delivering 12.8 Tbps of capacity to broadband users in both countries by the end of 2015. At the installation ceremony, Mr. Jean-Pierre BIYITI bi ESSAM, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, said that “the Government of Cameroon has embarked on putting in

place the necessary facilities to boost the demand and supply of services in quality, in quantity and at affordable prices, as well as to increase telecommunications universal access and universal service”. ESSAM said that the installation of the NCSCS demonstrates further “the willingness of the Government to implement a true broadband infrastructure development policy throughout Cameroon’s national territory”, the Minister added. The NCSCS system forms part of Cameroon’s broader strategic plan for building a National Broadband Network. The implementation of this submarine cable system will significantly enhance the development of e-government, e-trade,

e-education and e-health programs and boost the economic and commercial development of Cameroon. General Manager, Cameroon Telecommunications Corporation (CAMTEL), Mr. David NKOTO EMANE, said, “The NCSCS system will provide new opportunities and further the development of our network in both domestic and international markets. The NCSCS system enables us to provide users with faster bandwidth connectivity at a significantly lower cost.” He said that by providing direct connection to Nigeria, the cable system will also serve to enhance Cameroon’s position as the major bandwidth hub in the region and internationally to Europe and beyond.

Global News

Thursday, August 6, 2015

RBS: Government sells £2.1bn of shares in bank at a loss

he government has begun its sell-off of shares in part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland, raising £2.1bn, a third below the price it paid. It sold a 5.4 per cent stake at 330p a share, a 7.6p discount on Monday’s closing price. Chancellor George Osborne is facing criticism for selling the shares at well below the price of about 500p the then Labour government paid for them. The 170p difference represents a loss of about £1.07bn on the shares sold. The government’s sale cuts the government’s stake in RBS to 73 per cent. The UK bailed out RBS in 2008 and 2009 by buying shares for £45bn and supplying it with cheap funds. Ian Gordon, a banking analyst at Investec, told the BBC’s Today programme: “The taxpayer is being short-changed.” The shares could have been sold for a higher price in February, when they were changing hands for more than 400p, he said. However, James Bevan, chief investment officer at money manager CCLA Investment Management, said the loss was “relatively small”. The point of the UK’s rescue of the bank was to prevent further damage to the economy, rather than to turn a

Osborne

profit on the shares, he told BBC Radio 5 live. RBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: “I’m pleased the government has started to sell down its stake. “It’s an important moment and reflects the progress we are making to become a stronger, simpler and fairer bank. There is more work to be done but we’re determined to build a bank the country can be proud of.” RBS reported a half-year loss of £153m last week after setting aside more money for repaying customers and potential legal settlements. However, for the three months to the end of June, the bank posted a profit of £293m. Harriett Baldwin, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said Mr

Osborne was following Bank of England Governor Mark Carney’s advice that a sale should now commence. Mr Carney said in June the phased sell-off “would promote financial stability” and benefit the wider economy. As governor, Mr Carney is also chairman of the board of the Financial Policy Committee, which is tasked with protecting the stability of the financial system. UK Financial Investments (UKFI), the company through which the Treasury owns shares in banks like RBS, “has taken the view that there is a window of opportunity to start this process,” she told the Today programme. UKFI owns the UK’s stakes in Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, and the remains of the fully-nationalised lenders; Bradford & Bingley and the more-toxic parts of Northern Rock. It is run by a board who manage the investments “commercially” and report to Mr Osborne as chancellor. But Barbara Keeley, the shadow treasury minister, accused the government of “casually” losing £1bn. “The most important question for the tax-payer - are we getting good value for our money? This used to be something the chancellor used to care about, he said he would only sell these RBS shares when we get good value - clearly that’s not now,” she told Today.

BMW says worsening Chinese market could hit forecast

MW (BMWG.DE), the world’s biggest luxury carmaker, warned on Tuesday that its financial forecasts for this year could be at risk from any further deterioration in the Chinese market, where its sales have begun to fall for the first time in a decade. BMW has been hit by a slowing Chinese economy where cut-throat competition leaves its ageing product range increasingly exposed. The German company, which had already said in May that growth in China would be “less dynamic”, said it still expected to break records again on group sales and pretax profit this year but the challenges in China could affect “the scale of the increase” on last year’s pretax profit of 8.707 billion euros. On Tuesday it also reported a

BMW car

three per cent slide in its second-quarter operating profit as it sold a higher proportion of low-margin cars and invested in new models. Second-quarter sales of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles actually rose 2.3 per cent in China, the world’s biggest car market, but fell in May and June after a decade of growth and the group said it was facing fierce competition in the Chinese market and elsewhere. BMW said it had already throttled back production of its locally made 3-series cars. Last month Brilliance China Automotive (1114.HK), which assembles BMWs in China, issued a profit warning, citing slowing sales in the world’s biggest car market. “If conditions on the Chinese market become more challenging we cannot rule out a possible effect on the

BMW Group’s outlook,” the Munichbased carmaker said in its quarterly report. “It is difficult to make an estimation about how the market will develop. We expect continued growth,” Finance Chief Friedrich Eichiner said in a call with reporters to discuss second-quarter results. “It will definitely not be doubledigit growth,” Eichiner added. Although BMW had warned that any further deterioration in demand in China could put its forecast at risk, this was not the expectation for now. “This is not the basis of our prognosis,” Eichiner said. Shares in BMW dropped two per cent in early trading and were down 2.2 per cent at 10.25 GMT (0625 EDT), the second-biggest decliner on Germany’s DAX index .GDAXI, which was flat. “The scale of the increase during the forecast period is likely to be held down by fierce competition on automobile markets, rising personnel costs, continued high levels of upfront expenditure to safeguard business viability going forward and upcoming challenges relating to the normalization of the Chinese market,” BMW said. Rival Audi (VOWG_p.DE) cut its global sales forecast last week because of slumping demand in China, where economic growth is slowing.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

GM to invest $877m to overhaul Flint, Michigan, truck plant

eneral Motors Co (GM.N) said on Tuesday it will spend $877 million to overhaul its pickup truck factory in Flint, Michigan, capping a series of investments to keep production of profitable large pickups and sport utility vehicles rolling through a significant model change expected in 2018. The Flint investment is part of a plan to expand three U.S. truck plants to install new assembly lines, body welding shops and paint operations for future generations of Silverado pickups and SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade, while still running the operations that build current models. In the past, GM and its domestic rivals would shut down production for weeks to retool for new models, stockpiling vehicles in advance and then discounting them once the new model appeared. People familiar with the company’s plans say GM’s next-generation pickups and SUVs will make

use of various materials, including aluminum and lightweight steel, to shed weight and gain fuel efficiency to meet tougher federal standards. Assembling the new vehicles will require substantially different equipment than the tools GM uses today. GM does not want to “take the whole facility down for six months and go dark in the market,” Cathy Clegg, head of North American manufacturing, told Reuters, without saying when model changes for the large pickups or SUVs will come. GM factories in Flint; Arlington, Texas, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, together build about 60,000 trucks a month, according to Automotive News data. Analysts estimate those vehicles generate $10,000 or more in operating profit each. New paint shops at the truck plants also could allow GM to build vehicles that are larger than the current models, and cut costs at the same time, company officials said.

Cadillac

U.S factory orders rebound on strong demand for aircraft

ew orders for U.S. factory goods rebounded strongly in June on robust demand for transportation equipment and other goods, a hopeful sign for the struggling manufacturing sector. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday new orders for manufactured goods increased 1.8 per cent after declining 1.1 per cent in May. Factory activity has been stymied by a strong dollar and spending cuts in the energy sector after last year’s sharp plunge in crude oil prices. Tepid global demand also has weighed on manufacturing, which accounts for about 12 per cent of the domestic economy. Those factors have eroded the profits of multinational companies like Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N), Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N), the world’s largest household products maker, and Whirlpool Corp (WHR.N), the global home appliances giant. Though there are signs that the energy spending drag is easing, the dollar’s strength will likely remain a constraint. The dollar has gained 15 per cent against the currencies of the United States’ main trading partners since June 2014. U.S. stocks were slightly higher after the data, while prices for U.S.

government debt fell. The U.S. dollar was trading lower against a basket of currencies. Orders for transportation equipment surged 9.3 per cent in June, reflecting a 65.4 per cent jump in aircraft bookings. There also were increases in orders for machinery, furniture, fabricated metal products and electrical equipment, appliances and components. The department also said orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft - seen as a measure of business confidence and spending plans – increased 0.7 per cent instead of the 0.9 per cent rise reported last month.

Secretary of Commerce Pritzker

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, August 6 2015

Brands & Marketing

APCON reform: Stakeholders seek review of policies

The advertising industry in Nigeria has in recent times been dogged by some controversies. Prominent on the list is the issue of foreign agencies affiliations with local agencies, their terms and conditions, hence the call for review. DAVID AUDU report.

ome stakeholders in the advertising industry believe it is time to review the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigerian, APCON, practicing code. For those who might not know, some sections of the code have been a subject of controversy since the tenure of the immediate past chairman of the council Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi who embarked on series of reforms expected to instill some level of professional discipline into the practice of advertising in Nigeria. For the avoidance of doubt APCON is the statutory body set up by Act 55 of 1988, as amended by Act 93 and Act 116 of 1993 charged with the responsibilities of regulating advertising in Nigeria, and it has been doing so. But over time, as a result of the expansion in the business, the need for a review of certain sections of the code to address specific practicing issues that were not stipulated in the Act or covered by the earlier versions of the code arose, and therefore the need for further review to cover those issues. A section of Part One of the Code reads: ‘This code is designed to provide high ethical standards in the advertising industry and to complement existing federal government legislative enactments aimed at regulating and controlling advertisements. Advertising practitioners are expected to respect and endorse the code in the spirit and in the letter.’ In fairness, many practitioners did agree there was need for serious review of the reform in the industry if they are to make some progress as a profession. But in what form and to what extent should the reform go? It took the lion heart of the likes of Akinwunmi during his tenure to initiate some far reaching reforms, but not without its consequences and backlash on his personal business, and sometimes integrity. According to Akinwumi in an interview while reviewing his performance in office stated: “The Council successfully implemented the Fifth Code Review following an industry-wide consultation through the APCON Committee on Advertising Practice Reforms, ACAPR, from 2010. The implementation commenced from January 2013. “But it was not a smooth journey for the council. From when we started, foreign interests that did not want it attacked us ferociously. They imagined that if we were able to put the reform in place, it would stop them from taking over the Nigerian advertising business. At some point, I was reported to the National Assembly that I was using my position in APCON to stop certain foreign

Ufot

Kelechi-Nwosu

WE NEED TO SHIFT THE CONVERSATION FROM THE FEAR OF FOREIGN INVASION TO FOREIGN COLLABORATION. THE IDEA OF A FOREIGN AGENCY SERVICING FOREIGN ACCOUNTS OUT OF NIGERIA IS A FALLACY interests from operating in Nigeria. The reforms though controversial, some think have succeeded in instilling discipline and clipping the wings of especially foreign agencies who some perceived were hell bent on taking advantage of some technical loopholes in the industry laws to “overwhelm local advertising agencies in Nigeria”. So, some practitioners say. But, some are also not comfortable with the reform as it is currently, and as such are calling for a review. Their reasons are grounded on the facts that the practicing of advertising transcends national boundaries, admitting though that agencies may have a home base and be protected in some form, but not to the extent of being limited by what some described as undue protectionist policies embedded in the reform, arguing that what really matters is the creative competence of agencies to prove their mettle any where the briefs comes from around the globe. Therefore, they reasoned that foreign agencies coming to Nigeria to set up shop should be given some good enough rooms to align and realign without a crippling or restraining chains in the name of reforms. They argued further that some of those restraining laws go against the tenets of globalisation. At the heart of the contention are the clauses which stipulate the re-

quirements for foreign agencies coming to open shop in Nigeria and the relationships between local agencies and their foreign partners. Some feel the requirements are too stringent such that rather than encourage foreign direct investment would act just the opposite. They also believed that the foreign partners are coming with the technical knowhow, competences and funds to engender competition and robust business environment. One of the proponents for the review of the reform as it relates to foreign agencies is Mr Lanre Adisa, the managing director of Noahs Ark, an advertising agency. While commending the ad industry reform embarked upon by APCON in 2013 as a good step in the right direction, he however faulted the 25 percent stake for foreign agencies as too minimal to encourage foreign investment in the economy, and particularly, in the advertising industry. He noted that for effective participation of foreign agencies in the Nigerian advertising industry, the APCON reform which prescribed 25 per cent to foreign agencies is due for a review. “We need to shift the conversation from the fear of foreign invasion to foreign collaboration. The idea of a foreign agency servicing foreign accounts out of Nigeria is a fallacy. We should shift ground from 25 percent foreign stake to 49 percent, where the

majority 51 percent is held by Nigerians”. While defending his position, he stressed that the review will benefit the industry. “An injection of cash and new thinking, inclusion and not seclusion, or worse, isolation; a more competitive industry; surer grounds to train the next generation through exposure and confidence building and a surer way to register Nigeria on the global advertising map”. Adisa who was optimistic that the buying in of foreign agencies into the stakes of Nigerian agencies would help improve Nigeria’s advertising space described the main objective of the reform was to shore up the fortunes of local advertising businesses through licensing and protection of their interest.” “For various reasons, we have seen the ‘exiting’ and realignment of affiliations. Unlike the 90’s it appears that affiliation is no more guarantee for winning businesses. Our competition today is hydra-headed; it’s both local and global,” he noted. While one may describe Adisa as being consistent in the call for the review of the reform, was he alone in this? Some AAAN members who interacted with National Mirror seem not convinced on the need for review of the reform, though they believe that giving enough room for foreign players would ginger competition. However, an insider in the AAAN told National Mirror that the views canvassed by Adisa are purely his personal opinion and does not reflect the stand of the association. He said several meetings held with the leadership of the regulatory body is to the effect that the reform as it is now should be implemented, then other issues will be considered later. While taking his oath of office as the new APCON chairman few months ago, Mr. Udeme Ufot did promise to continue with the reforms embarked upon by his predecessor, but the question is would he also be bold enough to tinker with the aspects that touch on foreign agencies terms of operations in Nigeria? The discontent and voices for the review seem loud, but the general expectations are that the reforms should be carried to its logical conclusions, where adverts are submitted for vetting in line with the code to avoid the embarrassing situation the industry found itself during the political campaigns of the 2015 general elections.

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, August 6, 2015

AAAN decries low govt patronage of indigenous agencies DAVID AUDU

resident of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, has decried low government patronage of its members who for form the bulk of professional advertising practitioners in Nigeria. Nwosu lamented recently during the association 42nd annual general meeting recently, saying that the practice all over the world is that government look inward to its professional for briefs that they are competent to do, but noted that the same has not been the case in Nigeria. “Governments all over the world have retained the services of professional marketing communication agencies to sell their policies”.

He said here in Nigeria there are clear cases where government, its agencies and even political parties have often contracted their communications businesses to foreigner where local professionals abound. He said the association have communicated this concern to the new government, while hoping for a new direction in their relationship with government. “The objective here is to improve the communication from government. It is pertinent to note that while our advertising laws and regulations allow for only the Advertising Practitioner’s Council of Nigeria, APCON, licensed organizations to practice advertising in the country, our governments mostly patronize unlicensed agencies, which operate under different fictitious titles. The Managing Director of

TBWA Concepts however commended some initiatives of the government towards fostering good working relationships. “It is pertinent to acknowledge the role some of our member-agencies played in the last political campaigns. Indeed, this is an exhibition of the dividends of democracy”. “Our role in national development goes beyond offering marketing communication services to the private sector. It extends to fully engendering proper understanding of government policies and revealing to our various publics ways by which they can participate, benefit and contribute to the growth of the economy. You can be rest assured that our association has the required professionals with experience to effectively position our country in the global arena,” he offered.

L-R: Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigerian, AAAN, Mr. kelechi Nwosu and APCON Chairman, Mr. Udeme Ufot, at the AAAN 42nd AGM in Oshogbo, Osun State recently.

Chi unveils ‘Chivita 100% or nothing’ campaign DAVID AUDU

hi Limited, recently unveiled its new marketing communication campaign tagged “Chivita 100% or Nothing’” as part of effort to reinforce its flagship’s brand proposition and strengthen the credential of the brand in the marketplace. The campaign which is being deployed through Television, Digital, Out of Home, Consumer Activation and Point of Sales initiatives demonstrates the brand’s commitment to quality and excellence. Speaking on the marketing campaign, Chi Limited’s Head of Marketing, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya said “This campaign highlights the association of Chivita 100% with purity, commitment and nothing but the best. This is the recipe for its premium quality, which leads to success, achievement & leader-

ship” “We do everything possible to ensure that Chivita 100% lives up to its brand promise of goodness and the best there is. This also explains our partnership with the world’s most valuable football club brand because for us it is the best or nothing” he added. Already, the television commercial is generating buzz across the digital platform as visits to the Youtube page where the commercial has been uploaded has witnessed an upsurge in viewers. The commercial which is also airing on terrestrial as well as satellite television channels in Nigeria has also created visibility and positive talkability amongst consumers. The Television commercial has already started running on major Television channels in Nigeria featuring top rated football stars like Robin Van Persie, Angel Di Maria,

Antonio Valencia, Radamel Falcao, and Jonny Evans. The advert opens with a glistening pack shot of Chivita 100% fruit juice, condensation dripping down the carton. As the cap is opened, the camera zooms inside the pack into a world of juice, wherein superstars of football showcase there soccer skills with a “Juice Ball” on a football pitch filled with pure natural appetizing juice. The commercial goes on to show these football mega stars doing amazing things inside the juice pack with the voice over saying “Chivita 100% Juice-made from real natural fruits… with no preservative and no added sugar.” This is followed by “The best always believes in 100% …100% commitment …100% quality ….100% achievement”, with spectacular football skills from Angel Di Maria, Valnecia and finally a super goal by Van Persie.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Expert tasks PR practitioners on effective messages

hief Operating Officer, COO, of ID Africa, a marketing firm, Mr. Femi Falodun, has asserted that the days of conventional media relations in public relations are over and have been replaced with communication methods which are increasingly more customized and relatable to each recipient Falodun was speaking to an audience of Public Relations practitioners at the NIPR Social Digital Workshop in Lagos recently. Speaking on the topic ‘Who is Afraid of Social PR?”, he pointed out that “the era of blind mass emailing and generic press releases is dead and buried – please stop sending out those horrible email blasts! No one reads them anymore! In order to be effective, PR messages now must be targeted, customized & localized based on fac-

tors like content type, medium of communication, behavior, education and interests of target audiences and connections between users.” He said social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and blogs all compete in the same communications space as PR professionals, making full use of their large semi-captive audiences and integrated targeting options incorporated into the platforms. “It’s all about social content now. The style, format and nature of your messages can now make or destroy your engagement. We have to speak the language of those we are interacting with. We have to speak to them on the platforms where they are, and if we are not sure how to use those platforms, we must learn. The old press release is dead and it is never coming back.

Pathcare partners radio stations on healthcare for Lagos residents

eneral Manager of Megalectrics Limited, operators of Classic FM97.3 and Naija FM102.7, Mr. Deji Awokoya has called on government at all levels to give more attention to g quality healthcare services accessible to the masses. He made the call during the 4th edition of the annual Free Medical Mission organized in partnership with Pathcare Laboratories Limited. The yearly event which provides free Public health care for local residents was held in the premises of the Yaba Local Government office, and saw the health screening of no less than 1,500 residents attended to. The teeming crowd that thronged the venue also received Medical counseling and advice from a team of volunteer doctors available for the exercise. While recalling that the 2014 edition failed to hold owing to the Ebola scare in some parts of the country, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, founder of Pathcare Laboratories, in her remarks, also seized the opportunity to appeal to the gov-

ernment to continue with intensive screening at the nation’s borders and airports to avert another Ebola virus outbreak in the Nigeria. The Public Health service also featured lectures by professionals who harped on healthy living as well as the importance of regular health checks. A cancer survivor, Abigail Simon Hart who attended the medical mission as a facilitator, also encouraged Nigerians to adopt the culture of checking their vital signs at regular intervals as early detection most times prove to be a lifesaving factor. The “Doctors on air” Free Medical Mission is an annual CSR put together by Pathcare Laboratories, Classic FM and Naija FM in partnership with; Lagos state Blood donation service, Bridge Clinic, Mopheth Pharmacy, The Eye doctors, Medplus, Healthplus, Fidson Healthcare, Megacare limited, Skye Dental, Chike Okoli Foundation, Access Bank, Leadway Assurance, CDMA LUTH and many more.

Drone Club wins Tech+ 2015 Most Innovative Solution Award

he Drone Club has won the MTN/Mahindra Comviva Most Innovative Exhibitor Award at the just concluded Tech+ Conference and Exhibitions held in Lagos recently. The award was received by DJ Tee and James Amuta, whose companies are pioneer members of the Club. The Drone Club, which represents an aggregation of several interests in drone flying which is also known in professional parlance either as the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), beat several other exhibitors to the award for the most outstanding innovative product on display at the two-day Expo. Speaking on the award, a drone

pilot and sole operator of the The Drone Guy company, James Amuta, said it came as a surprise given that the exhibitions was the first outing for the club. He attributed it to the efforts of the co-pilots who came together to form a strong team. “We feel absolutely amazed. We are surprised that we actually won. The expo was awesome, but our own technology won. It is a collaborative effort, and it shows that the more people can collaborate, the better we can get. It shows that we are building a very strong team because this is our first outing as a Club and we came here and bagged this award. It is an emotional moment for most of us,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Superiorbetng.com debuts in sports’ betting DAVID AUDU

igeria’s sports betting company, Superior Games has formally unveiled SuperiorBet to the public. The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Tunde Adebayo said at a special ceremony in Lagos recently that the unveiling of SuperiorBet, a digital sport betting game service, is aimed at turning fun, excitement and relaxation into an empowerment of sort for people. “It is a digital sport betting gaming service. Here, participants place stakes on their selection of possible outcomes from different sports events on the Superiobetng.com platform. On the Superiobetng. com platform, odds are attached to each possible outcome from available sports events, resulting in

players winning cash prizes when their selected “possible outcomes” match the “actual outcomes” from the sports events in question. This digital gaming product is strictly for Sports Games (both ‘Real-life’ and ‘Virtual’),” said Mr. Adebayo. To play the game, he said Superiobetng.com has vendors across the country and advise interested players to visit the agent-shops in their localities to request for the cashier to assist them to place stakes on their predictions for games of their choice, said, adding that “players win cash prizes when their predicted-outcomes are the same as the actual outcomes.” he said. He stated further that Superiobetng.com winnings are calculated as stakes multiplied by the accumulated odds from predictions and it distinguishes itself from others through the company’s core values, such as brand reliability, credibility,

ease of accessibility, availability of numerous games on which to place stakes (both Real & Virtual Games). He said for online players, SuperiorBet pay-in option has been simplified for players with SuperiorBet Recharge Cards, Interswitch, Bank Deposit, among others adding that every winner gets his/her cash within 24 hours. Apart from the fun and excitement that attracts cash prizes; he also said that Superiobetng.com will also provide job opportunities for the youths who are interested in becoming agents in their various communities. “Superiobetng.com will provide Nigerians with world-class sports betting services to have fun, excitement and financial benefits. It will also provide employment opportunities for Nigerian Youths,” said Adebayo.

L-R: Mr. Uzo Odenigbo, Head, Public Affairs and Communications, Mrs. Yetunde Adesunloye, HR Manager, Ikeja Plant; Mr. Remi Bodunrin, Ikeja Plant Manager, all of Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, during a media parley in Lagos recently.

CSR: Ad agency deploys campaign materials for #ChibokGirls DAVID AUDU

dvertising agency, Noahs Ark, has deployed series of campaign material in print, radio and online aimed at renewed attention in the campaign to remind relevant authorities to expedite actions to rescue the Chibok Girls kidnapped by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram, over a year ago. Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, the agency’s managing director, Mr. Lanre Adisa, said the decision to approach the Chibok Girls issue through advertisement campaign was born out of concern for the girls and their parents who for a year have been in agony on

the whereabouts of their children. It would be recalled that the girls’ plight garnered attention on Twitter last year using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, attracring high-profile political figures such as first lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton and British Prime Minister David Cameron who endorsed the social media campaign. But the conversation on social media never rendered political action. On the current initiative to bring renewed attention to their plights, Adisa explained that though the government of President Mohammadu Buhari has put some measures in

place to see the girls rescued, more still need to be done by the international community, and especially, the corporate world in terms of sustaining the momentum and awareness that nearly three hundred souls are still missing and are somewhere out there expecting to be rescued one day. The print campaign material is designed in three different formats. The posters show the pictures of three African presidents, Mohammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Idris Derby of Mali and Paul Biya of Cameroon, all wearing veils to depict the Islamic religious coloration of the crisis The other flyers are just figures of veils without faces to symbolize that the kidnapped

BRAND talk with Michael Umogun

Tel: 08023117969/08031100462 Email: michael.umogun@millwardbrown.com

Tracking and social media

racking studies, by virtue of the fact that they were always in field, become a convenient way to ask any and all additional questions within organisations. However, as the studies were loaded up, they became unwieldy and concomitant pressure on costs led to a reduction of sample sizes, limiting fast, reliable feedback and preventing tracking studies from delivering as they once had. Tracking also encountered new challenges as the media and research environments changed. For example, a major need emerged in the last few years to evaluate the performance of media channels. Existing multipurpose tracking studies can provide a high-level read on two or three major media, but sample sizes and questionnaire space limit the depth of the analysis. Similarly, the broad definition of a tracking sample and the limited sample size make it difficult to give detailed guidance on many digital campaigns. One of the most recent challenges to tracking is the ready availability of data scraped from the Web. Online data—from social media in particular—provides cheap continuous feedback about brands and their marketing. Thus some advertisers have new reasons to question the value of large-scale tracking surveys. The world has changed and research needs to change with it. Respondents are harder to reach,

especially those in the most desirable demographic groups, and they don’t want to engage with long, repetitious surveys. In Nigeria, corporate and higher socio-economic targets demand a formal letter or email before they will entertain an interviewer and they are very clear in the need for the interview to be kept simple, short and in touch with the main discussion. Researchers and marketers need to adjust to this reality - Millward Brown responded to this challenge through mobile research which increased reach in many studies while reducing the traditional challenges associated with PAPI data collection. But unstructured data from online sources will not nullify the need for structured survey data. Social media data is crucially important for certain types of brands, such as those that conduct business online, and service brands that have customer or community relationships to manage. But for most brands, coverage on social media is typically at a low level, is often generated by a vocal minority, and frequently relates to events (marketing or otherwise) rather than to the brand itself. While this information has value, if it is evaluated in isolation, it may present a distorted and partial view. Businesses need to know what is changing, and a self-appointed online group will not usually provide the consistent frame of reference that is needed to discern if real change is occurring.

girls could just be anybody’s daughter, hence the need for all to rise up to demand that something urgent be done to effect their release; while the third print material are stickers with faceless veils in black on white background. The online materials are equally portent as the pictures paints sad reminders of the precarious situation of the girls in captivity. One is a photograph of a traditional grind stone with a hand grenade on it, a symbol of feminine action in limbo, while the second photograph shows a mortar with a rocket launcher in place of the pestle, also portraying what other uses some of the girls may have been involved or have to put up with. Another online video campaign was designed to awaken the consciousness of the Muslim community to show more pragmatic concern on the

matter. It shows a scene in a mosque where they hide the shoes Muslims leave behind at the mosque entrance while they praying. When they finish prayers they begin to look for the shoes. It is then they are reminded of the missing girls and the need to spare some minutes in prayers for them. The import is that if we can be concerned with the loss of mere shoes we can buy in the market how come the seeming apathy at the missing of about 300 girls? It is food for thought. The Noah Ark boss also used the occasion to speak on his recent winning of the Airtel Nigeria advertising account, ascribing it to hard work, focused vision and dedicated staff. He said the agency is propelled by the vision to be in the league of the most successful brand out of the African continent.

Insight

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Grazing reserves: Counting the human T

he crises involving herdsmen and farmers have been recurring more than any other skirmish in the country. Hardly a week passes without the newspapers reporting farmers and herders’ destructive fight in a part of the country with high casualty figures. National Mirror investigations revealed that the crisis now threatening the nation’s stability next to the Boko Haram insurgency according to sources close to the Fulani herdsmen, is as a result of the greed by powerful Nigerians who cornered the grazing reserves meant for the Fulani cattle rearers for their personal use. Some top officials of the cattle breeders association of Nigeria who spoke to National Mirror, said until mid 1990s there were enough grazing land for the Fulani, but because top Nigerians who are retiring from the civil service, the police and the military are eager to take over such land for what they called commercial agriculture, those in authority refused to gazette the land, so it was easy for them to appropriate the land among themselves. The source said, “Until mid 1990s there were close to 500 grazing reserves for us in the country, but the big men both civilian, military and police have taken over the lands for their commercial agriculture. It is government property so they share it among themselves it is as easy as that and today the poor Fulani herdsmen who need to survive is fighting his brother who is a farmer and also need to survive.” Corroborating the herdsmen position, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Prof. Peter Nwilo, while speaking on why the grazing reserves in the country vanished, attributed the cause to undue encroachment and lack of maintenance culture. Nwilo who lamented the decline in the grazing reserves, stressed that there were over 400 grazing corridors in the country at a time, but that they had all been filtered away for development purposes. He added that out of the 400 grazing corridors, only 40 were gazetted. The surveyor-general said, “It was wise to have created grazing routes, but when cities grow, they share the grazing routes, thinking they were not important. There were over 400 grazing grounds all over the country, but only forty-something of it were gazetted and the grazing routes were converted to housing estates.”. Also speaking on the matter, chairman of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Hore in Katsina State, Hassan Kuraye, said substantial percentage of the grazing routes in Katsina State have been encroached by highly placed individuals who built farm houses and rest houses where they retire to from time to time. He added that farmers that have farms close to these cattle routes have eaten into them with the routes getting smaller every year. Kuraye, said some of these highly placed individuals in the country occupy large portions of these routes and have made it their private property, adding that there are those who occupy what

Persisting herdsmen and farmers’ crises in some parts of the country have over the years claimed many lives, displaced thousands and destroyed property worth millions of naira. JUSTIN TYOPUUSU writes on the clamour for the establishment of modern cattle ranches as solution to the crisis against the Federal Government plans to designate some areas across the country as grazing reserves about 1,000 farmers ought to occupy and that their actions have often led to herdsmen changing routes in order for their cattle to find pasture and water. He added that such route change was what often led to clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers whose farm produce get eaten up by straying cattle. Corroborating Kuraye’s assertion, Katsina State Surveyor-General, Kabir Mansir, said there was evidence to show that farmers with farmlands close to cattle routes were encroaching on same in some parts of the state. “The normal width for cattle route is not more than 300 feet for country-tocountry, 100 feet for state-to-state and 50 feet for routes in council areas. “But farmers with farmlands close to these routes have encroached little by little over the years, with some of these routes now having widths of not more than 50 feet.” Speaking in the same vein, Benue State Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, the umbrella body of the Fulani herdsmen, Mallam Garlos Gololo, said grazing reserves earlier provided by the Federal Government was taken over by inhabitants of the areas in the state. Gololo said the Federal Government had sometime provided the reserves for

the cattle rearers in designated areas which include Gwer, Konshisha and some parts of the capital city, but it has been taken over by the inhabitants and the routes are no longer visible for quite a long time now. Nasarawa State Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Mohammed Husaini, while confirming the fact of encroachment by farmers and all manners of people on the grazing lands marked for herdsmen to graze their cattle, said there are seven grazing reserves in the state located at Wayo, Azara and Kurudu in Wamba, Awe and Toto local government areas respectively, as well as some locations in Keana and Doma Local Government areas among others. According to Husaini, “You cannot go and take a bush like that and keep people there without the provision of water and other social amenities.” The cattle breeders’ secretary appealed to the government to take a cue from governments of some West African countries that put up social amenities in their grazing reserves to prevent the herdsmen from roaming from one place to another hitherto stabilising the herdsmen. In Taraba State for instance, from December 2013 to date, 1,159 people lost their lives in herders/farmers related crises, according to investigation by our corre-

Until mid 1990s there were close to 500 grazing reserves for us in the country, but the big men both civilian, military and police, have taken over the lands for their commercial agriculture.

President Buhari

spondent and the figure is still rising as the attacks are still ongoing. But the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Mafindi Umar Danburam, said over 17,000 cattle of his members have been rustled in Taraba from 2003 to date. As to the incessant attacks and killing of farmers, it has been reported that 51 people were killed in Dinya village, 79 in Dan-Anacha, 17 in Yerima, 26 Chediya and 67 in Sabon-Gida Takai all in Gassol local government Area of the state within the period. In Bali Local Government Area according to the report, 127 people were said to have been killed in Jatau and other surrounding villages, 61 in Nahuta, 21 in Sabon Dare, Maihula 43, Borno Kuruku 89, Pasoki 7, Moaveze 10 and Agbadorough 6. This is even as 22 persons were reported to have died in Sabon-Gida Isha,18 in Ananum, Wahanye 11, Dogo 2, Borogo 1 and Shaakaa 7, all in Donga local government area. The attackers according to the statistics obtained from Tiv community in Gashaka local government, killed 21 persons on their farms in Gangunmi, five in Katee, Ajai three, Bashirshir six, Garbabi and surrounding villages 25. This is same as 94 people were said to have been killed by Fulani herdsmen in Takum local government area across the villages of Tortsee, Adu Dogon Gawa, New Gboko and Camp Gbenger Atogbenda, Mbayevikyaior and Abeda among other villages. In Wukari Local Government, the situation is the same as 20 people were said to have been killed in Gborucha, 30 in Jibu, Chonku 20, Bantaje 25, Chinkai 23, Akwana 27, Kente 42 and Arufu 13.

Benue State Governor, Ortom

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, August 6, 2015

costs of herders, farmers’ fights

The neighbouring Ibi Local Government was not spared as the herdsmen who alleged that hundreds of their cattle were rustled in the area attacked their targets, killing 10 in Kaamem, 10 in Gazor, 15 in Ibua and 30 in Sarkin-Kudu. They also attacked and killed 15 in Moti, 20 in Dooshima, 30 in Dampar and 10 more in Zogon-Kaya. These casualty figures are just some out of many others in states under Fulani/herdsmen attacks. Perturbed by the persistent clashes between pastoralists and crop farmers, which have taken massive toll on human lives, property and the economy, the Federal Government recently inaugurated a special committee on strategic action plan for the development of grazing reserves and stock routes nation-wide. President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the report, directed the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to consider recommendations of the studies commissioned by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and the Northern Governors Forum on the same subject with a view to developing a pragmatic strategic action plan to develop grazing reserves and stock routes nationwide, so as to proffer appropriate solution towards addressing the unfortunate incidences. But prior to this latest development, Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, was leading campaign for the establishment of modern cattle ranches, which he said remained one of the simplest ways to completely deal with the problem of farmers/herders crises in the country. Also sharing in this line of thought is the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, the Most Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, who said the establishment of cattle ranches will not only stop farmers/herders clashes, but would create jobs for thousands of youths roaming the streets of the country. The Bishop informed that the creation of grazing reserves and cattle routes would not solve the problem as cattle routes do pass through people’s houses, adding that the creation of grazing reserves would not stop the movement of cattle which is always the cause of conflict with farmers. But a Fulani community leader, Alhaji Dodo Oroji, differs on this. According to him, it is important for the Federal Government to provide strategic grazing reserves and social amenities including schools, water and health services across the country, to keep the herders from moving about. “Once you halt cattle breeders from migrating from one country to another in search of food for their animal and families, you will not only ensure their safety but also have the opportunity to tap the vast economic benefits from their occupation. Most herdsmen would prefer to remain in one place if the government would take care of some of their basic problems,” he said. For Alhaji Mafindi, Chairman of Miyetti Allah in Taraba, “You can’t take away somebody’s livelihood completely and you expect the person to keep quiet and

Fulani leading their cattle in a field

Benue natives brandishing weapons to confront Fulani herdsmen during a crisis

calm.” He alleged that in the past few months, 500 cattle were rustled in Jibu town, Wukari LG by people suspected to be Jukuns while in Kashimbilla, Takum council, 200 cattle were also rustled by people suspected to be Tivs. “My members have over the years been losing cattle to rustlers across five local government areas of Wukari, Bali, Takum, Donga and Gassol. We made several complaints to security agencies and the government but nothing has been done.” Mafindi like many of his kinsmen backed the establishment of grazing reserves and cattle routes as a solution to

frequent herders/farmers crises in the country, in addition to compensation to his members who have lost their cattle to rustlers. However, clearly against this move for grazing reserves is Bishop Anagbe of Makurdi diocese. While kicking against the move recently in Jalingo, he advised Nigeria to learn from the United States of America, Kenya and other countries with zero grazing policy, but who rather keep their cattle in ranches. According to the cleric, the creation of ranches will solve the lingering herdsmen/farmers crises in the country and create employment for thousands of jobless youth roaming the streets of the

Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, was leading campaign for the establishment of modern cattle

ranches, which he said remained one of the simplest ways to completely deal

with the problem of farmers/herders crises in the country.

Insight

country in search of jobs. “It is only in Nigeria that you could hear that cattle stop flights from landing, which is strange. Most of the accidents on our highways are sometimes blamed on cattle trying to cross the road and we can’t continue like this. “The Federal Government should borrow a leaf from USA, Kenya and other countries with zero grazing policy to stop incessant farmers/herders clashes in the country and create employment for our teeming youths who would be employed to manage the ranches,” he said. In the midst of this raging controversy over the best option to stop farmers/ herders’ crises in the country, the Federal Government said it has released the sum of N310million as compensation to land owners and the exercise has already commenced in Bauchi, Plateau and Kano in the past weeks. The Federal Government went further to say the last administration paid N14m to land owners with the support of the World Bank and the committee on strategic action plan for the development of grazing reserves and stock routes. The Federal Government committee is to identify existing and planned infrastructure, facilities and water points, develop short, medium and long term strategic recommendations that will end the persistent farmers and pastoralists’ conflicts in the country among others. Critics of this policy including Tanko Yohana, Yakubu Dan-Asabe and John Chen all argued that the Federal Government committee on grazing reserve should consider setting aside portions of land for farmers in core northern states of Kano, Katsina, Zamfera, Kebbi and Jigawa among others so that farmers from other states can also go there and farm without hindrance. They said the killings of farmers by herdsmen across the country will not end with the creation of grazing reserves; hence the grazers will not restrict their movement to the confines of the reserves, which are farm lands that they may not be comfortable parting ways with. “There is no way they will keep their cattle in those reserves which in themselves are farm lands. The best way out of this is the establishment of cattle ranches with modern facilities as is done in other parts of the world,” they argued. Though the committee on strategic action plan for the development of grazing reserves and stock routes nationwide may have commenced work, according to reports, the committee should carefully collate views of the people in areas with anticipated resistance and if possible consider the establishment of cattle ranches in such areas as against grazing reserves. Already scores of lives have been lost as a result of Boko Haram insurgency and the herders/farmers crises, in addition to losses of precious property in some parts of the country. •Additional reports by: Gbenga Ogunbufunmi, Olufemi Adeosun, Henry Iyorkase and James Danjuma

Cocktail

Thursday, August 6, 2015

xxxx

Oddities

Drugs dropped by drone spurred prison yard fight

uthorities in Ohio said a fight in a prison yard was found to be spurred by a package of drugs dropped into the facility by a drone. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said the drone flew over the north recreation yard at the Mansfield Correctional Institution July 27 and dropped a package containing 5 ounces of tobacco, 2.3 ounces of marijuana and .23 ounces of heroin believed to have been

intended for an inmate. The package spurred a fight about 2:33 p.m. between nine inmates. The fight was broken up with no injuries and the fighters were placed in solitary confinement, officials said. The drugs were seized by corrections officers. Corrections spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said officials have previously had run-ins with drones, but she did not give any details of the incidents.

Worker accuses manager of sharing ‘butt crack’ photo

former public works employee in a North Carolina town said the acting town manager took a photo of his partially exposed backside and showed it to colleagues. Johnny King, a former public works supervisor for the Town of Chadbourn, said acting Town Manager Patricia Garrell took a picture of his partially exposed backside while he was repairing a water leak and

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

she showed the photo of his “butt crack” to the whole department the next day. “She...knew better than to do something like that,” King told WECT-TV. “In her position of all things, you don’t try to belittle somebody in front of everybody.” King said his complaints about Garrell and the photo led town officials to hold a series of closed session meetings on the subject, but no actions were taken.

Woman, 110, drinks three bottles of beer everyday for 70 years A New Jersey woman marking her 110th birthday said a doctor’s orders led her to drink three Miller High Life beers and a shot of scotch every day for 70 years. Agnes Fenton of Englewood, who officially became a supercentenarian Saturday, credited God with helping her to reach her advanced age. “When I was 100 years old, I went to the mirror to thank God that I was still here. And I thank him every morning,” Fenton told The Record newspaper. “He gave me a long life and a good life, and I have nothing to complain about. ... You’ve got to have God in your life. Without God, you’ve got nothing.” Fenton was interviewed by ABC News around her 105th birthday, and she said some advice she received from her

doctor about 70 years earlier had been invaluable. “He said, ‘Agnes, you must drink three Miller High Lifes a day,’” she said. Fenton said she dutifully downed three of the beers with a shot of scotch

each day until recently, when nurses said her limited diet wouldn’t allow her to keep drinking. She said her scotch of choice was top-shelf: Johnny Walker Blue Label. “Each of our centenarians has their different se-

crets,” said Stacy Andersen, a project manager with the New England Centenarian Study. “If Agnes feels hers is alcohol, maybe it is, but certainly we don’t find that to be consistent across all our centenarians.”

Agnes Fenton, 110, said she had three Miller High Life beers and a shot of Johnny Walker Blue Label every day for about 70 years.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, August 6, 2015

NSE to compensate 158 investors with N42.2m for defalcation losses Johnson Okanlawon

oard of Trustees of the Investors’ Protection Fund, IPF, of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, yesterday hinted that 158 investors, who suffered losses as a result of wrongdoings of some dealing member-companies, would be compensated A statement by the Exchange indicated that the investors are being compensated for defalcation committed by 29 dealing member firms of the Exchange who are either inactive or have been expelled as members of the Exchange. The IPF is a statutory fund established pursuant to Section 197 of the ISA to compensate investors who suffer pecuniary loss arising from the revocation or cancellation of the registration of a dealing member firm by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC.

The NSE explained that the 158 claimants due to be compensated are investors whose claims were verified by the Exchange, approved by the Board of Trustees of the IPF, and whose identities were verified by an identity verification consultant engaged by the IPF. It said that the claimants were found to be eligible for compensation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ISA and the IPF rules. “The Board of Trustees, in accordance with the rules of the fund set a maximum compensation amount of N400, 000.00 per claimant. The total amount approved by the Board of Trustees as compensation payment to the 158 investors is N42.2m. “ These 158 investors are being compensated for defalcation committed by 29 dealing member firms of The Exchange who are either inactive

or have been expelled as members of the Exchange,” it said. The Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Mr. L. Fubara Anga, said, “It has been a long, rigorous and transparent process getting to this stage. We researched global best practices and based on our findings, we took decisions on various issues regarding the IPF, benchmarking our processes and procedures against other international investors’ protection funds. “First of all, we put in place an appropriate corporate governance structure for the Fund; we adopted Rules for the IPF and then following transparent and auditable selection processes, we appointed auditors as well as identity verification consultants. We then commenced the process of identifying claimants and verifying their claims. We must thank the claimants for their patience.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, affirmed the Exchange’s commitment to continuous development of initiatives that will bolster confidence in the capital market. He said, “Though the compensation payment may not be a complete restoration, it is a show of good faith on our part to investors. I thank the Board of Trustees for their guidance and commitment, the claimants for their valuable patience, and all other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of this exercise.” The Head of Legal and Regulation at the Exchange and Acting Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Ms. Tinuade Awe, added that the IPF will duly advise all 158 claimants about the processes to receive their compensation payments.

Index rises 3% on improved demand for promising stocks Johnson Okanlawon

rading in equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange sustained positive trajectory yesterday, as more investors invested in stocks with good earnings. Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 3.1 per cent to close at 31,403.75 points, compared to the increase of 0.7 per cent recorded the pre-

ceding day to close at 30,458.86 points. Market capitalisation gained N324 billion to close at N10.76 trillion, compared to the appreciation of N72 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N10.43 trillion. Flourmills of Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with N2.98 or 10.11 per cent to close at N32.46 per share, followed by Cutix Plc with 14 kobo or 9.33 per cent to close at N1.64 per share.

NASCON Plc added 58 kobo or 9.32 per cent to close at N6.80 per share, while UAC Properties Plc appreciated 75 kobo or 9.15 per cent to close at N8.95 per share. Evans Medical Plc rose five per cent to close at 63 kobo per share. Conversely, Nigeria Police Microfinance Bank Plc shed 73 kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N13.99 per share, while Berger Paints Plc lost 49 kobo or 4.90 per cent to close at N9.50 per

share. Paints Manufacturing Company Plc fell five kobo or 4.76 per cent to close at N1.00 per share, while Transnational Express Plc declined five kobo 4.63 per cent to close at N1.03 per share. Learn Africa Plc depreciated five kobo or 4.39 per cent to close at N1.09 per share. A total 336.2 million shares valued at N3.04 billion were exchanged in 4,243 deals.

U.S. SEC adopts rules on disclosure of CEO, worker pay ratios

ompanies will have to provide investors with a ratio showing how the median pay of their workforce squares with their chief executive officers’ compensation, according to new rules adopted by the United States securities regulators yesterday. Under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s final rules, companies will get some flexibility in how they find the median. For instance, they can exclude five per cent of their overseas workers when arriving at the number and use statistical sampling. However, those changes did not assuage corporate trade groups, which have opposed any rule and are widely expected to file a legal challenge. The SEC has been under

mounting pressure by Democrats, like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and unions such as the AFL-CIO, who support the rule and have lamented delays in its adoption. The measure was tucked into the 2010 Dodd-Frank law amid concerns about the growing disparity between compensation for chief executives and their corporate workers. “Pay ratio disclosure should provide a valuable piece of information to investors,” said Democratic Commissioner Kara Stein said. Republicans and trade groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have fought back against the measure at every turn, saying it will be too expensive, could mislead investors and is not material

to a company’s financial statements. The Chamber has urged the SEC to defer working on the rule at all and instead conduct a pilot program to come up with a different plan. It also asked the SEC not to force companies to include the ratio in formal filings and allow them to place it into an addendum to help reduce their liability. “This rule is more harmful than helpful,” said David Hirschmann, the head of the Chamber’s Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, in a statement. He added the Chamber will explore options to “clean up the mess” it has created. Both SEC Republican Commissioners also opposed the rule.

“To steal a line from Justice Scalia, this is pure applesauce,” said SEC Republican Commissioner Daniel Gallagher. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N197 Market indicators All-Share Index 31,403.75 points Market capitalisation 10.76trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

FLOURMILL

29.48

32.46

2.98

10.11

CUTIX

1.50

1.64

0.14

9.33

NASCON

6.22

6.80

0.58

9.32

UAC-PROP

8.20

8.95

0.75

9.15

EVANSMED

0.58

0.63

0.05

8.62

UBN

7.20

7.70

0.50

6.94

121.00

127.05

6.05

5.00

ZENITHBANK

16.49

17.31

0.82

4.97

UNITYBNK

2.02

2.12

0.10

4.95

DANGCEM

172.00

180.50

8.50

4.94

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

NNFM

14.72

13.99

-0.73

-4.96

BERGER

9.99

9.50

-0.49

-4.90

PAINTCOM

1.05

1.00

-0.05

-4.76

TRANSEXPR

1.08

1.03

-0.05

-4.63

LEARNAFRCA

1.14

1.09

-0.05

-4.39

RTBRISCOE

0.71

0.68

-0.03

-4.23

ACADEMY

0.76

0.73

-0.03

-3.95

STERLNBANK

2.15

2.08

-0.07

-3.26

NAHCO

4.85

4.75

-0.10

-2.06

CHAMPION

5.09

4.99

-0.10

-1.96

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

1.03

98.04

15.16

98.19

14.99

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.73

99.84

15.17

99.99

15.06

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.90

102.42

15.14

102.72

15.04

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.52

101.43

15.09

101.73

15.00

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.48

104.79

15.20

105.09

15.13

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.61

95.63

15.11

95.93

15.05

Closing Market Prices of August 5, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

29-Oct-15

13.99

14.46

WAUA

270

USD

197

04-Feb-16

13.49

14.46

EURO

214

14-Jul-16

14.10

16.26

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

22.0417

POUNDS STERLING

293

15.1501

16.5352

SDR

273

17.1666

NIBOR

The Fixings of August 5, 2015

Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014

Capital Market

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Daily Summary (Equities)

Stock exchange daily equities summary Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 14.20% FGN MAR 2024 15.10% FGN APR 2017 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals

Symbol FG102016S1 FG112024S1 FG9B2017S2 FG9B2019S3

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 1 1 4

Sector

Company name

Value Traded 523,502.76 1,036,335.96 1,652,826.74 558,574.09 3,771,239.55

3,473

3,771,239.55

3473

3,771,239.55

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 10 8 18

Current Price 26.00 31.19

Quantity Traded 48,821 39,635 88,456

Value Traded 1,268,051.37 1,194,169.50 2,462,220.87

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 827,005 827,005

Value Traded 1,587,272.04 1,587,272.04

LIVESTOCK

29 29

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G.Nigerian LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Stock Exchange © TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

47 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 3 72 68 143

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Building Construction Totals Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals RealSummary Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Activity on Board EQTY

UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by TheEstate Nigerian Stock Exchange Real Investment Trusts © (REITs) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC.

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock PLC. Exchange © NESTLE NIGERIA

4,049,492.91

Quantity Traded 11,000 Page 6,888,000 652,708 7,551,708

Value Traded 13 1 12,100.00 of 16,908,217.00 24,143,227.46 41,063,544.46

7,551,708

41,063,544.46

Symbol ARBICO

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 5.30

Quantity Traded 400 400

Value Traded 2,120.00 2,120.00

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 0.68

Quantity Traded 965,889 965,889

Value Traded 619,020.09 619,020.09

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 45.58

Quantity Traded 10,250 10,250

Value Traded 443,927.50 443,927.50

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 29 (Equities) 29

Current Price 8.95

Quantity Traded 139,203 139,203

Value Traded 1,241,477.33 1,241,477.33

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 9,800

Value Traded 98,000.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 9,800

2 of 13 Value Traded 98,000.00

Daily Summary

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Symbol 7UP

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015Totals Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS

915,461 Current Price 1.10 2.46 37.00

143

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

1.93

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL Daily Summary HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

Food Products--Diversified Totals

1,125,542

2,404,544.92

Quantity Traded 950,307 280,398 63,570 2,504,438 3,798,713

Value Traded 4,744,664.73 38,020,418.32 1,125,882.70 309,084,991.60 352,975,957.35

No. of Deals 19 69 4 211 303

Current Price 4.99 136.93 18.24 127.05

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 195.00

Quantity Traded 40,794 40,794

Value Traded 7,950,373.85 7,950,373.85

No. of Deals 30 27 93 (Equities) 26 53 1 230

Current Price 3.05 6.10 32.46 2.75 6.80 13.99

Quantity Traded 905,618 1,020,109 1,013,132 553,830 976,060 100,000 4,568,749

Value Traded 2,779,418.30 6,222,918.90 30,946,479.98 1,503,102.70 6,544,705.20 1,399,000.00 49,395,625.08

No. of Deals 1 36 37

Current Price 35.05 850.01

Quantity Traded 500 Page 20,988

Value Traded 16,650.00 13 318,375,094.92 of 18,391,744.92

21,488

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 14 7 21

Current Price 5.68 1.08

Quantity Traded 101,100 110,100 211,200

Value Traded 550,460.00 121,408.00 671,868.00

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 51 35 86

Current Price 30.00 37.81

Quantity Traded 420,797 248,212 669,009

Value Traded 12,377,273.93 9,783,260.50 22,160,534.43

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

695

9,309,953

451,546,103.63

Quantity Traded 36,165,152 7,262,678 1,240,597 6,405,658 25,183,912 6,099,979 1,420,086

Value Traded 177,117,923.56 27,466,376.11 25,465,760.03 9,829,935.05 642,366,986.52 13,230,059.99 2,966,686.58

Daily Summary of 05/08/2015 FINANCIALas SERVICES

Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 Banking

ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY SKYE PLC Daily Summary as of BANK 05/08/2015 STERLING BANK PLC. Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Published by UNITED The Nigerian Stock © BANK FORExchange AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ActivityZENITH Summary on Board EQTY INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance InsuranceCarriers, Carriers,Brokers Brokersand andServices Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 Micro-Finance Banks Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Other Financial Institutions FINANCIAL SERVICES AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC Other Financial Institutions CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 320 DIAMONDBNK 66 ETI 46 Daily Summary (Equities) FIDELITYBK 106 GUARANTY 308 SKYEBANK 93 STERLNBANK 27 Symbol UBA UBN Daily Summary UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 4.18 7.70 2.12 0.93 17.31

Quantity Traded Value Traded 13 Page 4 of 23,204,104 98,421,448.55 306,942 2,387,463.18 1,871,207 3,961,583.16 1,239,215 1,121,684.87 42,177,834 726,619,308.44 152,577,364 1,730,955,216.04

Symbol Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE HMARKINS LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM REGALINS STACO STDINSURE UNIC UNITYKAP WAPIC

No. No.ofofDeals Deals Current CurrentPrice Price Quantity QuantityTraded Traded 41 0.82 18,209,169 23 0.93 51,765,000 2 0.50 700 4 0.50 1,020,164 11 2.80 305,000 2 0.50 8,500 16 0.64 1,203,605 1 0.50 100 1 0.50 2,000 1 0.50 500 1 0.50 1,864 1 0.50 100 9 0.50 37,016,934 113 109,533,636

Value ValueTraded Traded 15,315,901.98 45,643,515.75 350.00 510,082.00 854,009.67 4,250.00 760,932.20 50.00 1,000.00 250.00 932.00 50.00 18,508,467.00 81,599,790.60

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 1.00

Quantity Traded 394,123 394,123 Page

Value Traded 394,699.92 394,699.92 13 5 of

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.42

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 67.50 67.50

No. of Deals 72 No. of Deals 10 1 442 58 43 80 706

Current Price 2.86 Current Price 4.04 0.64 6.90 2.70 21.97 1.38

Symbol INFINITY

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol AFRIPRUD Symbol CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

No. of Deals 167 29 (Equities) 29 21 434 1,646

Current Price 4.87 3.73 20.60 1.56 25.05 2.19 2.08

2,482

Quantity Traded 2,195,251 Quantity Traded Page 20,253 2,500 17,539,854 2,605,970 1,717,760 4,181,017 28,262,605

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

1,993,848,897.65

Symbol UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

No. of Deals 9 6 15 6 3 1 40

Current Price 0.63 3.12 40.00 1.37 1.49 6.32

Quantity Traded 273,264 150,000 259,532 82,900 10,000 281 775,977

Value Traded 171,856.32 469,920.00 10,327,781.80 112,383.00 14,200.00 1,688.81 11,097,829.93

776,177

11,097,929.93

Page

Sector

Company name Pharmaceuticals Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 EVANS MEDICAL PLC. Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

2,482

Symbol UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 1 1

Electronic and Electrical Products Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers Published byBETA The Nigerian Exchange © GLASSStock CO PLC.

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated OIL AND GAS Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals Daily Summary of 05/08/2015 OIL ANDas GAS Totals Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals

290,767,778

1,993,848,897.65

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

ValueValue of Shares(N) Traded 171,856.32 469,920.00 10,327,781.80 112,383.00 14,200.00 1,688.81 11,097,829.93

776,177

11,097,929.93

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 561,100 561,100

Value Traded 7 of 13 282,379.89 282,379.89

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 2 5 7

Current Price 0.50 3.60

Quantity Traded 3,500 110,000 113,500

Value Traded 1,750.00 409,920.00 411,670.00

674,600

694,049.89

Quantity Traded 27,633 5,244,131 5,715 66,939 165,532 271,740 4,365 2,265,754 8,051,809

Value Traded 603,289.69 49,837,921.84 207,566.16 611,538.59 29,601,345.18 271,740.00 15,757.65 232,280,739.68 313,429,898.79

Symbol Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 5 1.64 563,200 5 563,200

Value Traded Value Traded 893,311.00 893,311.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Value Traded 13 8 of 2,214.00 2,214.00

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM Daily Summary PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 12 25 5 18 55 (Equities) 2 2 63 182

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Daily Summary asRESOURCES of 05/08/2015 Totals NATURAL Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Value Traded 83,474.16 1,525.00 123,890,751.19 7,167,543.80 37,702,766.09 5,752,308.45 180,899,123.59

Symbol COURTVILLE

Packaging/Containers Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 20,253 2,500 17,539,854 2,605,970 1,717,760 4,181,017 28,262,605

No Of Deals No. Quotation(N) Traded Symbol of Deals Current Quantity Price Quantity Traded EVANSMED 9 0.63 273,264 FIDSON 6 3.12 150,000 GLAXOSMITH 15 40.00 259,532 MAYBAKER 6 1.37 82,900 NEIMETH 3 1.49 10,000 Daily Summary (Equities) NIG-GERMAN 1 6.32 281 40 775,977

ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Daily Summary as ofMaterials 05/08/2015 ASHAKA CEM PLC Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Current Price 4.04 0.64 6.90 2.70 21.97 1.38

Current Price 22.00 9.50 37.95 9.50 180.50 1.00 3.77 103.00

Current Price 43.00

188

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.86

Quantity Traded 54Page 54 8,615,063

314,325,423.79

Quantity Traded 3,000 3,000

Value Traded 13,860.00 13,860.00

3,000

13,860.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 5,000.00 5,000.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 306 306

Current Price 12.45

Quantity Traded 11,147,661 11,147,661

Value Traded 136,157,326.67 136,157,326.67

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 2 53 2 67 7 1 5 137

Current Price 0.50 36.87 2.34 202.95 150.01 49.66 155.25

Quantity Traded 3,000 148,387 Page 5,800 266,769 8,307 20 13,799 446,082

Value Traded 1,500.00 13 95,233,640.60 of 12,934.00 53,238,046.04 1,266,052.00 943.60 2,142,349.00 61,895,465.24

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 300.00

Quantity Traded 29,251 29,251

Value Traded 8,903,404.26 8,903,404.26

11,632,994

206,961,196.17

Daily Summary (Equities)

461

Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,650 2,650

Value Traded 1,325.00 1,325.00

Activity Board EQTY R TSummary BRISCOE on PLC.

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.68

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals SERVICES Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals©

Quantity Traded 132,643 132,643

Value Traded 90,197.24 90,197.24

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 17 10 27

Current Price 4.60 1.03

Quantity Traded 75,250 937,443 Page 1,012,693

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 346,826 346,826

Value Traded 176,772.59 176,772.59

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 3.85

Quantity Traded 60,000 60,000

Value Traded 227,900.00 227,900.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 8 6 1 2 17

Current Price 0.73 1.09 2.30 6.03

Quantity Traded 436,665 762,205 500 936 1,200,306

Value Traded 318,869.45 846,566.75 1,095.00 5,363.28 1,171,894.48

Symbol

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 92,000 92,000

Value Traded 48,785.00 48,785.00

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC SERVICES Transport-Related Services AVIATION HANDLING Published by NIGERIAN The Nigerian Stock Exchange © COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities) ABCTRANS Symbol AIRSERVICE

No. of Deals 8

Current Price 1.98

Value Traded 321,767.50 966,456.12 13 101,288,223.62 of

Quantity Traded 316,920

Value Traded 627,329.37

Symbol NAHCO

No. of Deals 28 36

Current Price 4.75

Quantity Traded 1,272,275Page 1,589,195

Value Traded 116,061,606.00 of 13 6,688,935.37

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 4.00

Quantity Traded 350,480 350,480

Value Traded 1,326,135.88 1,326,135.88

118

4,786,793

11,020,169.18

4,242

336,159,069

3,037,025,212.53

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 1,260.00 1,260.00

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Value Traded 6,300,754.90 Value Traded 13 6 of 83,474.16 1,525.00 123,890,751.19 7,167,543.80 37,702,766.09 5,752,308.45 180,899,123.59

290,767,778

No. of Deals 10 1 442 58 43 80 706

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

1st Tier Securities

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quantity Traded 500 1,000 1,473 500 3473

Equities as at August 5, 2015

Bond Activity Totals

1st Tier Securities

Current Price 98.50 98.00 108.00 110.01

Symbol CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 CONSUMER GOODS Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014 Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 1 1

Daily Summary as of 05/08/2015 CONSUMER GOODS Totals Equity Activity Totals Printed 05/08/2015 14:56:14.014

ASeM Board Totals

Exchange Traded Fund Equity Activity Totals Published byName The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) STANBIC IBTC ETF 30 Exchange Traded Fund VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Name Exchange Traded Fund Totals LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) ETF Board Totals STANBIC IBTC ETF 30 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF ETP ActivityTraded TotalsFund Totals Exchange

Current Price 1.32

1,000

4,243

Daily Summary (ETP)

1,260.00

336,160,069

3,037,026,472.53

1,000

1,260.00

4,243

336,160,069

3,037,026,472.53

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded Page LOTUSHAL15 1 10.30 10 DailyNEWGOLD Summary (ETP) 1 2,092.00 50 STANBICETF30 2 92.86 1,300 VETGRIF30 4 14.25 1,705 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 8 3,065 LOTUSHAL15 1 10.30 10 NEWGOLD 1 2,092.00 50 8 3,065 STANBICETF30 2 92.86 1,300 VETGRIF30 4 14.25 1,705 3,065 88 3,065

Traded13 12Valueof 103.00 104,600.00 120,475.00 23,305.10 Value Traded 248,483.10 103.00 104,600.00 248,483.10 120,475.00 23,305.10 248,483.10 248,483.10

ETF Board Totals

3,065

248,483.10

ETP Activity Totals

3,065

248,483.10

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, August 6, 2015

New Oba of Ikorodu warns youths against cultism, hooliganism

Leonard Okachie

ewly installed Oba of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty Oba Kabir Shotobi Adegorushen V, has sent a stern warning to youths who indulge in cultism, hooliganism and disruption of public peace in Ikorodu community, saying there would be no room for such vices in his domain. Oba Shotobi, gave this warning recently at his first press briefing, after his installation as the 19th Ayangbure of Ikorodu. He promised to work with all youth organisations, and support all efforts to promote the interest of the youths for positive and productive values. “Towards achieving this goal, I pledge to work with the government at all levels, public and private institutions, industrialists, investors, workers, community associations, volunteers, traders, market men and women,

craftsmen and women, students, professionals, non-professionals, young and the old to create to create the desired enabling environment for self actualization and fulfilment,” he said. The new Oba, who is an engineer, noted that the greatest challenge is the large ar my of untapped and underutilized energy and talent of the young skilled and unskilled people in the community, adding that a casual observation of the town’s demography would indicate this category of people is by far in the majority. “Whilst I am sure the government is seriously engaged in its onerous responsibility to provide the enabling environment for self actualization for all citizens and indeed for the Nigerian youth, I urge our children to be at peace and develop mindset to engage in positive and productive ventures towards building a future that they will

Youth restiveness

like to bequeath to their children,” Oba Shotobi maintained. On the development in community, Oba Shotobi stated that Ikorodu is the fastest growing urban town in Lagos State, by attracting large influx of people from different background, tribes and race, even as he stressed that the urbanization has come with mixed feelings. He emphasised that eco-

nomic and infrastructural developments in the town are major attractions which are facilitated by the generous spirit of Ikorodu indigenes, even as he implored all to imbibe the spirit of understanding, accommodation and respect for its tradition and culture. The monarch expressed gratitude to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for his tremendous support, saying “I am

optimistic that promises made about the infrastructural development of Ikorodu will continue to receive appropriate attention of his governance.” The conference was graced by members of Oba’s cabinet, traditional title holders, politicians, friends and well wishers. Oba Shotobi succeeded late Oba Salaudeen Oyeyusi, Oguntade II, whose transition took place on August 2, 2014.

TV viewing, video game contribute to children’s attention problems –Study

arents looking to get their children’s attention or keeping them focused at home and in the classroom, should try to limit their television viewing and video game play. That’s because a new study led by three Iowa State University psychologists has found that both viewing television and playing video games are associated with increased attention problems in youths. The research, which included both elementary school-age and college-age participants, found that

Chidren watching TV

children who exceeded the two hours per day of screen time recommended by the American Academy of Paediatrics were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to be above average in attention problems. “There isn’t an exact number of hours when screen time contributes to attention problems, but the AAP recommendation of no more than two hours a day provides a good reference point,” said Edward Swing, an Iowa State psychology doctoral candidate and lead researcher in the study. “Most children are way above that. In our sample, children’s total average time with television and

video games is 4.26 hours per day, which is actually low compared to the national average.” Collaborating with Swing on the research were ISU’s Douglas Gentile, an associate professor of psychology and Craig Anderson, a Distinguished Professor of psychology; and David Walsh, a Minneapolis psychologist. Their study will be published in the August print issue of Paediatrics -- the journal of the American Academy of Paediatrics -- available online on Monday, July 5. The researchers assessed 1,323 children in third, fourth and fifth grades over 13 months, using reports from the parents and children about their video game and television habits, as well as teacher reports of attention problems. Another group of 210 college students provided self-reports of television habits, video game exposure and attention problems. Previous research had associated television viewing with attention problems in children. The new study also found similar effects from the amount of time spent with video games. “It is still not clear why screen

media may increase attention problems, but many researchers speculate that it may be due to rapid-pacing, or the natural attention grabbing aspects that television and video games use,” Swing said. Gentile reports that the pace of television programming has been quickened by “the MTV effect.” “When MTV came on, it started showing music videos that had very quick edits -- cuts once every second or two,” Gentile said. “Consequently, the pacing of other television and films sped up too, with much quicker edits.” He says that quicker pace may have some brain-changing effects when it comes to attention span. “Brain science demonstrates that the brain becomes what the brain does,” Gentile said. “If we train the brain to require constant stimulation and constant flickering lights, changes in sound and camera angle, or immediate feedback, such as video games can provide, then when the child lands in the classroom where the teacher doesn’t have a million-dollar-perepisode budget, it may be hard to get

children to sustain their attention.” The study showed that the effect was similar in magnitude between video games and TV viewing. Based on the study’s findings, Swing and Gentile conclude that TV and video game viewing may be one contributing factor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. “ADHD is a medical condition, but it’s a brain condition,” Gentile said. “We know that the brain adapts and changes based on the environmental stimuli to which it is exposed repeatedly. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to believe that environmental stimuli can increase the risk for a medical condition like ADHD in the same way that environmental stimuli, like cigarettes, can increase the risk for cancer.” “Although we did not specifically study the medical condition of ADHD in these studies, we did focus on the kinds of attention problems that are experienced by students with ADHD,” added Swing. “We were surprised, for example, that attention problems in the classroom would increase in just one year for those children with the highest screen time.”

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, August 6, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Uju Amanambu launches A Broken Rose Stories by LEONARD OKACHIE

isturbed by the plight of the mentally retarded in the society, a young, intelligent and pretty lady, Uju Amanambu has launched her debut novel entitled “A Broken Rose”. The book is a thrilling tale about a young woman who deals with abuse, alienation and torture from an impoverished and deeply religious village that stigmatizes anything strange. She explores the unpopular views and stigma associated with being different in a society rife with superstition, religion and overt ignorance; lending a voice to the “branded.” “A Broken Rose” was launched last weekend at a glitzy cocktail event which held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. The fun-packed event featured book reading sessions, drama adaption of the book and acoustic musical performance by soul musician, Zubby. Taking place in a poor, superstitious village in Eastern Nigeria and in a wealthy suburb of metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria, Uju crafts a story of a young woman who is ostracized and abused by her ignorant society for being different and thought of as “possessed.” She in truth suffers from

mental illness, and without proper treatment she finds herself in a pitfall of disintegration and danger. According to the author, the story was inspired by an encounter when she travelled to the eastern part of Nigeria as a teenager, she saw some mentally-ill people chained together and made to beg for alms to earn their keep in a traditional healing home. Decades later, Uju writes “A Broken Rose” as a call to action and awareness that a person may need proper medical help when they do not conform to societal norms, not isolation, churches or traditional homes. “A Broken Rose” takes readers on a startling jour ney from an erosion-ridden, superstitious village, through the practices of a dying pagan religion to the modern world of a wealthy and influential family troubled with secrets as it follows the life of a young woman burdened with the detrimental gravity of mental illness. It is a combination of fiction, stark reality and a call for reform in a society plagued with superstition and religion. A corporate banker and project manager, Uju is very passionate and outspoken about the domestic and cultural issues plaguing her society.

Uju Amanambu

Fashola tasks youths on nation building Francis Suberu

Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (right), during an interaction with youths at LEARN centre Surulere, Lagos, recently.

ife of the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola has called on youths to explore possible avenues that can enable them contribute positively to the growth and development of the society. Fashola made the appeal at an interactive session organised by the Lagos Empower ment and Resource Network (LEARN ), on public speaking and entrepreneurship for youths in Lagos State last weekend. The for mer first lady said the target of the workshop is to mentor the younger ones on the essence of ensuring adequate preparation for future

China to train Nigerian youths on prepaid meters’ assemblage

ermanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Abdulkadir Musa has advised nine youths who will be travelling to China to learn how to assemble prepaid meters to be good ambassadors of Nigeria. Musa, who gave the advice when he presented travelling documents to the youth in Abuja on Tuesday, admonished them to obey the laws of the host country and urged them not to abscond. “You are sent to China to learn

this skill and then come back and become professionals in your country, make sure you obey the rules of the land because if you misbehave, you will pay severely for it,’’ Musa said. Earlier, National Co-coordinator, Nigeria – China Business Council, Mr, Mattew Uwakwe said the youth were being sent to China to improve their skills in modern technology, regarding energy and prepaid meters. Uwakwe said that the country‘s power sector was faced with crucial challenges, such as inadequate supply of power and non-

metering of customers. He said the training was in partnership with Skyrun Industrial Co. Limited, adding that the training was free. “This is to improve their skills in the modern technology regarding energy of prepaid meters with Nigerian power sector facings crucial challenges, like inadequate of supply, non-metering of customers, courageous and outrageous estimated billing. “This has, therefore, led to an increase in crime and theft of meters. The training will last for two months and when they

return, the problem of prepaid meters will be reduced,’’ Uwakwe said. Skyrun is a state-controlled company in China, specialised in developing, producing and handing raw pharmaceutical materials and intermediates. One of the youths, Mr Obinna Osoagwu, said they would behave well and promised not to abscond. “I will be needed and respected in my country than in China,’’ Osoagwu said and thanked the government for the opportunity given them.

challenges; even as she enjoined the youths not to seek title as a motivating factor in contributing their quotas to the development of the society. Former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Lagos State, Mrs. Olusola Oworu while speaking on ‘Ignite - interacting with Nigerian Youth to Boost their Entrepreneurship Skills’ disclosed that real entrepreneurship is deeply associated with passion for one’s endeavours. Mrs. Oworu said entrepreneurs must be ready to take risks in the name of an idea, adding that it is an ability to drive opportunities until the dream is realised and achieved. She agreed that standing alone to setup is not easy, but one’s sheer determination should drive passion for excellence. She listed characteristics of entrepreneur to include innovation; risk taking ; adaptability and flexibility; strong managerial competencies; money ar rangement; understanding the of fering and it’s market ; goal-getter and networking abilities. Speaking on public speaking skills, a prominent Public Speaker -Mr. Niyi Adesanya urged participants to expose themselves to reading as well as ensure commitment to their dreams. The leadership empower ment and resources network is a project of Abimbola Fashola poised at mentoring secondary school students and young graduates in the society.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Centre trains journalists on investigative, data reporting Dare Akogun

eading online news publication, Premium Times, recently organised training for some journalists on investigative and data journalism in Lagos. The two-day training workshop, which was part of the project on Advancing Government Accountability and Human Rights in Nigeria, AGAHRIN, was organised by Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, PTCIJ, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation. The objectives of the programme according to the organisers are to build the capacity of journalists in investigative and data journalism techniques and mentor them to use data and investigation to produce comprehensive reports on corruption, human rights violations and related issues within the Nigerian security sector. PTCIJ programme manager and a seasoned data journalist Joshua Olufemi pointed that the essence of the training was to produce investigative journalists who will take the coverage of corruption, accountability and human rights issues as serious agenda and actualize better media content which will improve local and international understanding and en-

gagement of the issues. Speaking on the issue of media ethics and professionalism, Executive Director International Centre for Investigative Reporting Dayo Aiyetan, urged journalists to adhere strictly to the Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, approved code of ethics for Nigerian Journalist, nothing that those are the key ingredients of good journalism. Highlighting the problems and challenges facing Nigerian Journalist which include but not limited to, poor and nonpayment of remuneration, advertisers influence and gratification, he noted that just very few journalists will be able to resist the temptation of accepting money and gifts to write gratifying stories and relegating the ethics of ‘balance & fairness’ to the background. He however advised journalists to desist from the act which he described as demeaning and cheapens such journalist, which intelligence and news judgment has been bought over cheaply like the biblical Esau who sold his birthright over a plate of porridge. Speaking on journalist safety and the security sector Ayetan pointed that no fewer than 30 journalists are killed yearly globally and additional 150 in jail at any given time many without charges filed against them. Giving tips on covering crimes and

Sketch Newspaper to hit newsstands again –Oyewole

hairman, Spark Communications Limited, the firm engaged to revive the moribund Sketch Newspaper, Mr. Bode Oyewole, says the publication will soon retur n to the newsstands. Oyewole, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday, said much progress had been made in the move to revive the newspaper. “The project is in progress and would hit the newsstands soonest. People should remain hopeful and expectant that the idea would not be an abandoned project,’’ he said. Sketch, which published daily, weekend and Sunday editions as well as a Yoruba edition, Gbohungbohun, was owned by Odu’a Investment Company Limited before it became moribund. The Odu’a Investment Company Limited is a conglomerate co-owned by Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti

states Oyewole recalled that the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Ltd, Mr. Adewale Raji had assured that the newspaper would be revamped soon. “We have been working assiduously to ensure that we don’t derail and all the available signals have been positive. We are sure of what we are doing and where we are going, and I want to assure all and sundry that there is no looking back,’’ he said. He appealed to stakeholders to remain committed in their resolve to be part of the new project, saying the publication would satisfy the year nings of its admirers. “I equally appeal to all and sundry to remember the project in our prayers for a successful take-off and to surmount the teething problems hindering us presently,’’ Oyewole added.

Particpants at the training.

corruption which accounts for most of these hazards encountered on the job by journalists, he advised on researching on who might want to stop the investigation and who is ready to help. Also speaking at the training on investigative interviewing Managing Editor of Premium Times Musikilu Mojeed, urged journalist to ask probing questions in a friendly manner and always think out of the box and not getting carried away by the response of the interviewee.

He noted that many a times journalist on an investigative adventure allows the source to take charge of the process of getting information out of the person, instead of sticking to the subject when the interviewer is trying to steer you away. The organizers however advised journalist to be the watch dog and assume their role as the gate keeper of the society as provided in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

‘The Book of Negroes’ set to premiere on BET Leonard Okachie

ET (DStv Premium, channel 129) is boosting its historical drama slate this August with the premiere of critically acclaimed mini-series, The Book of Negroes. Directed by Clement Virgo, and starring Oscar winners Cuba Gooding Jr. and Louis Gosset Jr., The Book of Negroes is a powerful re-telling of Lawrence Hill’s 2007 award-winning novel of the same name. The six-part mini-series centres around the life of 19th century slave, Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis), who bravely navigates the perils of the slave trade in an attempt to secure her freedom. Eleven-year-old Aminata is abducted from her village in West Africa, placed in shackles and sent across the ocean to be sold into slavery on a South Carolina plantation. She falls in love and marries a fellow West African slave named Chekura but

when their baby is brutally abducted and sold by a jealous slave master, Aminata becomes determined to return to her homeland. The onset of the Revolutionary War helps Aminata flee her new owner in New York. Using her ability to read and write, Aminata successfully petitions British abolitionists, who organize passage to Africa for 1,200 former slaves – a final voyage that will reunite her with her homeland and allow her to voice her life story. Shot on location in Canada and South Africa (Cape Town), The Book of Negroes features strong performances from a host of South African actors and actresses, including Fana Mokoena, Siya Xaba, Andile Gumbi (Isibaya), Nondumiso Tembe (The Avengers: Age of Ultron, True Blood, Generations), Thishiwe Ziqubu, Zethu Dlomo and Anele Matoti. The Book of Negroes premieres exclusively on BET on Monday August 17 at 8:10 PM.

Media

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Hip TV announces new host for celebrity show Stories by LEONARD OKACHIE

frica’s hottest urban culture channel, Hip TV has unveiled 2009 Miss Valentine International, Nancy Isime as the new host for its number one celebrity show, “Trending on Hip TV”. The show which was formerly anchored by celebrity OAP, Toke Makinwa was created to review issues and topics trending on social media. An elated Isime expressed her delight at the opportunity, describing it as a dream come true. She said, “I feel honoured to be a part of the Hip TV family and I appreciate the chance given me to host their flagship programme, Trending. It’s a great feeling and I am looking forward to the experience” Speaking about the change in personnel, Hip TV channel manager Wole Oyekan, said, “Nancy is amusing, alluring and engaging. She is guaranteed to make trending a unique programme with her boundless energy.”

He further said: “Toke Makinwa did an amazing job with ‘Trending’ and she remains a great friend of the house. She is now busy with other projects and engagements, but the relationship she has with Hip TV is so cordial that you can be sure that she will collaborate with Hip TV on subsequent projects. We wish her great success in all her subsequent endeavours.” Isime began her career as a model, winning the Miss Valentine International pageant in 2009. She has since appeared in TV series including Echoes, Haven and music video from celebrity acts like 2Face’s Ihaneme, Solid Star’s Omotena. Hip TV is an urban contemporary music and lifestyle channel, with over 26 exciting programmes that cuts across almost any topic under music, entertainment and lifestyle. It was borne out of the need to create rich compelling contents for the youth audience. The channel is known and respected for entertainment news, incisive and exclusive interviews, red carpet moments amongst others.

Media Abroad

Liberian Govt frustrated over media report

he Liberian Government appears to be frustrated over an increasing negative media report, which seems to be damaging its image both locally and internationally. Information Minister Lewis G. Brown did not hide this frustration Tuesday August 4, 2015, when he addressed the ministry’s regular media briefing, making specific references to media reports which suggest that president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been listed amongst several African leaders by US president Barrack Obama for corruption. Brown made further reference to recent media reports about the presence of US FBI investigators here to investigate war crime criminals and corrupt officials-something the US envoy here denied knowledge of. The loud talking Brown promised that the government through the Ministry of Information will take drastic action against those media institutions that are in the constant habit of spreading such falsehoods, which tend to bring the regime in to public disrepute here and abroad. He threatens that the Ministry will used all its administrative powers to ensure that the media institutions concern do not continue to feed both their local and international audiences with what he repeatedly termed as a sustained negative campaign against the government. He said these false and misleading reports have the propensity to undermine the efforts of the government in the fight against corruption-insisting that his outfit has filed several complaints before the Press Union of Liberia for redress on the

matter. Expressing his frustration further, Brown reminded media owners that the ministry has the right to respond to issues that concern the government, saying “we will not take this likely.” “We believed that these falsehoods are intended to bring this government to public ridicule.” “By feeding the public with untrue information, “ he added “does nothing, but put every citizens at risks in the country”. He proceeded by lecturing reporters and radio audience that the work of a professional journalist is telling factual stories, and not stories that will make others to condemn the progress made by the government. “The idea of painting this government in black, does no good for Liberia. You may think it is President Sirleaf, or Minister Brown but it is something that put every Liberian life in danger,: Brown says. He warned that the ministry will not sit and watch others to tarnish the reputation of this government by manufacturing lies in the name of freedom of speech. “You have your right to say whatever, but you don’t have the right to tell lies on the government- it pulls the country down,” he cautioned. Brown pointed out that the intended action of the government to use its administrative powers to stop media houses from spreading falsehoods is not to halt the freedom of speech by citizens, or threaten anyone, but it is intended to hold and guide the way in which media institutions make their reports, and to avoid the dissemination of further misinformation. - The New Down

Nancy

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police reach out to drug dealers on Facebook

uthorities in a Massachusetts town are reaching out to drug dealers who want to eliminate their competition. The Charlton Police Department made a tongue-in-cheek post on their Facebook page Friday offering drug dealers the chance to provide information on their competitors. It asks dealers to complete a fill-in-theblank form that gives them the person’s name, address, phone number, what drugs they’re selling and where they are being sold. Officer Richard McGrath says the post was meant to be entertaining, but says his officers would pursue any leads if a form was filled out. McGrath told the Telegram & Gazette he found the form online and tailored it for Charlton police use. The department so far has not received a filled-out questionnaire. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky has a similar Facebook posting featuring an image of a marijuana leaf, and officials say they got the idea from the McIntosh County Sheriff ’s Office in Georgia. - AP

Cleric charges journalists on national development Sekinah L awal

igerian journalists have been urged to use their brain to bring out the best in them as well as use it to develop the nation. Giving this advice at the weekend was Reverend Femi Taiwo of Chapel of Christ at the thanks-giving service by the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Lagos Chapter, to commemorate their annual Family Week. Reverend Oke urged women journalists to keep playing their roles as the watchdog of the society by following the ethics of the profession as well as being fair, balanced and objective. Speaking further, he enjoined the congregation to be optimistic in all situations, aim high and dream tall. “It will be good to use ones brain creatively rather than using it destructively. We have to

always be optimistic, hopeful and seeing through challenges in positive perspectives.” He admonished all to see God in all situations of their lives and that God will surely lift them up. The 2015 NAWOJ Family Week began on Sunday 2nd of August, 2015 with a thanksgiving Church service at the Light Chapel, Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos and will end with another thanksgiving Jumat service at Alausa Central Mosque, Lagos State Secretariat, AlausaLagos tomorrow. The Health Walk took place on Monday morning from Ikeja Local Government Secretariat to the state secretariat in Alausa while the seminar/breast feeding competition and Health Talk held yesterday at the LTV Combo Hall, Agidingbi-Lagos. NAWOJ’s Awards, Beauty Pageant and Gala Night will take place today, Thursday, 6th of August, 2015 at the LTV Combo Hall starting from 6pm.

Members of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, Lagos chapter, during a fitness walk to mark their Family Week.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Broad Street Diary

Thursday, August 6, 2015

KAI officials clamp down on street traders

fficials of the Lagos State Government in charge of sanitation, popularly known as Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, had in the course of the week descended heavily on illegal traders on Lagos Island particularly Broad Street and its adjoining environ. Some of the officials of the agency in their green and light brown uniform stated under anonymity that they were bent on ridding the street of unauthorised trading activities as it is against the law. The official also stated that one of the objectives of the agency is to assist in free-flow of traffic with the Lagos Business District, as the actions of street traders hinders free-flow of vehicular and human movement within the area. According to the agency; “we have always instructed the traders not to display their wares on the pathway and on the flower pots, but they would not listen”. It is not as if we are totally against them, we only asked them to move away from the path way completely to give room for free-flow of both human and vehicular traffic. But some of them, until they put their wares on the main road, don’t believe that they can get patronage”. “For instance, look at how these okada riders packed here on the pathway, it is wrong, but we cannot indict them because it is not within our purview to do so, it is the work of the police”. The KAI officials said they will to continue with the clamp down until the traders do the needful. However, some of the traders who spoke to Broad Street Diary, BSD, agreed that the excesses of the street traders

Street traders on Broad Street needed to be curbed, but pleaded with the KAI officials to allow them to put their wares on the flower pot which according to them, would not cause any hindrance. The affected women traders who spoke through their leader Mrs. A. K. Blessing acknowledged that they were guilty of the offence.

“We know that we are wrong, but we appeal to the authority of KAI to allow us make do with the flower pot for now, because, obtaining a shop on the Island is at a premium which is not within our reach.” She added: “Majority of us are the ones fending for ourselves and children

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

with no husbands to assist and we cannot resort to stealing or prostitution. ‘’ We also call on the state government to build affordable shops for people in our category. If there are shops where the poor can pay a rentage fee of N50,000 per annum it would assist greatly in curbing street trading, she said.

MUSON: ‘Heart of Nigeria’s music, culture and entertainment’ Imoleayo Fatunase

he Musical Society of Nigeria, MUSON, centre established in 1983 is situated at the former “Love Garden” Lagos Island. Prior to unveiling of the centre’s facilities by Prince Charles in 1995, the centre was divided into different divisions the Muson Choir, Muson School of Music, Muson Symphony Orchestra and Muson Festival. The centre according to reports was established as a result of the interactions and commitments of some classic musical lovers like Mrs Fracesca Emmanuel, Mr. Akintola Williams, Sir, Mervyn Brown Mr. Louis Mbanefo, Chief Ayo Rosiji, Chief Rasheed Gdadamosi, Lady Brown and some other notable Nigerians in order to create awareness and make classical music popular among the people. The Muson centre hall situated at the heart of Lagos serves as repository of music, Arts and culture; it also serves as hearth for performing artists. The centre is conspicuously situated between the National Museum, City Mall, Onikan Stadium and the former official residence of the Nigeria’s Governors-Generals under the colonial government and

also adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square. Some objectives of the centre is to train musicians and this explains why the Muson Music School was established in 1989. Membership of MUSON enables members to get the best in music and help in contributing to the growth and spread of classical Nigeria folk music. The school

MUSON Centre, Lagos

also gives forum to young people who are interested in music. The Muson Music School is a world class academy set to deliver music training in high standard, the centre was established to take music to a high level on the Nigeria musical scene, promote understanding and enjoyment of classical

music, promote the education of children in the performance and theory of music as well as promoting interaction between Nigerian and Non-Nigerian musicians. The MUSON choir commenced performance in 1995, but the MUSON symphony orchestra commenced performance fully in 2005. The symphony orchestra performs regularly at the annual MUSON Festival and during the Society’s Concert season and outside the MUSON center. The symphony orchestra is regarded as a professional as they perform in grand style. The MUSON festival is the Muson Society concert, the event features music performances, personality programmes, musical discussions and how they relate to different aspects of lives, personal beliefs, and philosophies. During the festivals, there is exhibition of arts as visual arts lover came to see and pick their favorite piece of art work. Drama, dance concerts, talent competition for youths, Jazz night, cocktail concert, the traditional Gala choral are some of the programs which are outlined to entertain and keep the audience smiling during the festival period.

News

Thursday, August 6, 2015

NAPTIP rescues 281 trafficked persons in 6 months ….reunites 252 victims with families

Dare Akogun

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

ational Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related matters, NAPTIP, says its Lagos zonal office has rescued 281 persons trafficked between January and July this year. The agency also said it reunited 252 victims of human trafficking with their families after conducting surveillance and investigation on their families. Commander, Lagos zone, Mr. Joseph Famakin, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos. “We have rescued 281 victims of human trafficking from January to date. We have also reunited 252 victims with their

families after conducting surveillance and investigation about their families. “The agency must ensure that the victims are going back to the right people to avoid a repeat situation,’’ he said. The commander added that NAPTIP shelter, where rescued victims were kept for rehabilitation, ensured the victims were re-integrated into the society. “The shelter is the first place the victims are received, after they had settled down, they go through the three ‘Rs’ of Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration. “We have competent care givers available at the shelter that take them through all the processes,’’ he said. Famakin added that the agency had a Victims

Trust Fund that enabled it to empower victims after graduating from its different skills acquisition centres. “We now have Victims Trust Fund and the agency now generates funds to enable it empower the victims after going through the three Rs. “We have competent care givers from all fields that take care of all these. We also ask the victims what they want to do after the counseling process. “We have victims that have returned to schools; the agency takes responsibility for all the bills and we have some that showed interest in skills acquisition. “We don’t give money to victims directly, we look for shops, pay the rent, equip the place and watch them for at least two years to enable them completely

erase their tragic experiences,’’ he said. He, however, said the agency would not relent in creating public awareness through the media in the country on efforts to curb the menace. According to him, the strategies are public enlightenment, campaign in schools, town hall meetings and jingles in the media. “NAPTIP in a bid to curb human trafficking and other forms of sexual exploitation has increased awareness creation in all parts of the country through the internet, social media and other forms of communication. “There have been town hall meetings with various sectors of the community as well as massive collaboration with NGOs and security agencies,’’ Famakin said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Housekeeper bolts with employer’s $4,000

h o u s e k e e p e r, Toni Aripko, has been arraigned before a Tinubu Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, charged with theft of his employer’s 4,000 dollars. Aripko, 23, who was living with his employer at No. 9, Kyalami Weadows Street, Victoria Island, is charged with stealing. The prosecutor, Andohemba Koti, said the accused committed the offence at the residence of his employer, Mr Jasper Nwachukwu. Koti informed the court that Aripko, while cleaning his employer’s master bedroom, opened his wardrobe and removed the money. “The accused later absconded to his village in Cross River State with the money after lying to his boss that his father died and that he needed to travel.

“It was shortly after the accused had left that the complainant discovered that the money had disappeared from his wardrobe.’’ Koti told the court that the complainant alerted the suspect’s guarantor, Etim Aku, of Jakande Estate, Lekki, who lured him back to Lagos after all efforts to arrest him failed. The offence contravened Section 289 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. The accused faces two years jail term if found guilty of the offence. Aripko pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mr L.A. Owolabi, consequently granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till August 31, 2015, for further hearing.

48-year-old teacher convicted for fraud

Activities resumed on Lagos Island markets on Tuesday after Monday’s temporary closure.

Mother remanded for stabbing 7-year-old son

n Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, on Tuesday ordered the remand of one Blessing Fred, 23, at Kirikiri Prisons, for allegedly stabbing her 7-year-old son at the back. Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, directed that the accused be remanded even as she pleaded guilty to the

charge, and adjourned the case till September 23 for sentencing. The accused, a stylist, who lives at No.12, Tunde Olushola Street, Ijaiye, a Lagos suburb, was arraigned on a two-count charge of assault and grievous harm. The prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams, told the court that the offences were

committed on July 13, at the suspect’s residence. Williams said the accused acted on her neighbour’s complaint that her 7-year-old son dragged her 5-yearold daughter inside a room, removed her pants and touched her private part. ‘’The accused was angry, beat her son severely and stabbed him

at the back with a broken bottle. If not for the intervention of neighbours, who rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, he would have died as a result of bleeding from the wound,’’ she said. The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 170 and 244(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.

48-year-old teacher, Ismaila Mohammad, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by a Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding his neighbour of N224, 500. Senior Judge, Mr Gambo Garba, convicted Mohammad after he pleaded guilty to charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating. Mohammed was, however, given N20,000 option of fine for the two-count charge and also ordered to refund the sum of N224,500 to the complainant. The magistrate warned the convict to be of good behaviour and to desist from crimes after serving out his punishment. The convict was arraigned on a threecount charge of joint act, breach of trust and cheating. Earlier, Prosecutor,

Corporal Lliya Maji, told the court that one Mohammed Nasir of Iddo village, Abuja, lodged the complaint at Iddo Police Station on July 27. Maji said the convicted teacher collected the sum of N100,000 from the complainant to process immigration recruitment for his son, N90,000 to buy vehicle and N34,500 to buy some chairs for him. He said the convict converted all the money for his own use, adding that the total money collected from his victim was N224,500. He also prayed the court to try the accused person summarily under Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code since he admitted committing the crime. Maji said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79(311) and 320 of the Penal Code.

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Recruitment: Sacked workers want PTI probed Theophilus Onojeghen WARRI

resident Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to carry out a comprehensive staff audit at Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, Delta State, over alleged fraud and injustice that trailed the recently conducted recruitment exercise in the institution. Disengaged Academic casuals/contract staff of PTI, who made the call, also accused management of the institution of involvment in activities inimical to the progress of the school. In an open letter addressed to Mr. President, the group alleged that 2014/2015 recruitment exercise in the institution was characterised by “Gross injustice, employment racketeering and corrupt practices.” According to the former workers, management of PTI and its agent blatantly shortchanged contract/ casual staff in the recruitment after having served the institute for over five years. The letter was signed on behalf of other members fighting for their reinstatement by Chigozie Uchegbulam, Oseh Pius Omoloju, Oluwole Ezekiel and Michael Oboh. It accused PTI management of not honouring the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, entered into with Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, over perpetual exploitation of her members, and non-conversion of qualified and experienced manpower in core academic and administrative functions of PTI, where it was agreed that the casual staff would be considered first in the recruitment exercise before any other. “The MoU among other things stipulated the employment of the existing well-qualified staff in core academic and administrative functions (academic casuals and non-academic casuals). But surprisingly, instead of converting and absorbing the academic and administrative casual workers, the employment exercise was completely hijacked by PTI management, the then PENGASSAN

South South

Thursday, August 6, 2015

chairman, PTI branch and other privileged members of the society. “The employment opportunities were given to their wards, children, friends, and close relatives. Employment positions were sold for cash and many irregularities and fraudulent acts were recorded in the exercise.” The letter added, “Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja, the consultant of the first and second CBT’s, lacked transparency as there were allegations of falsification of scores and leakage of test questions. Employment letters were given to candidates who neither applied for the employment nor took part in any of the ComputerBased Tests (CBTs) or the oral interview.” While alleging that some top management staff of PTI sold job slots to outsiders and even to some nonacademic casual staff that were close to them in the institute, they pleaded with President Buhari to investigate the matter and ensure justice. They also urged him to prevail on PTI management to give them appointment letters having duly qualified and served the institute for over five years. When contacted, the institution’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Brown Ukanefimoni, debunked the allegations, claiming that PTI does not have any contract/casual staff since the past five years. Ukanefimoni stated, “PTI did not engage any casual staff. We don’t have casual staff in our system, neither did we enter into any MoU with any group. “Recent employment by the institute was not fraudulent. The aptitude test was conducted by Public Service Institute of Nigeria and the final selection was approved by the governing council.

Police arrest Army deserter, 49 others …over armed robbery, rape

Osahon Julius YENAGOA

ayelsa State Police Command yesterday dismissed as “untrue” claim by Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, that policemen engaged in indiscriminate arrest of innocent people in the state. This is as they confirmed that the routine raids and ‘stop and search’

operation have led to the arrest of a Army deserter and 49 other persons over alleged involvement in armed robbery and other violent crimes in the state. According to spokesman of the police command, Astimin Butswat, the military deserter, identified as Yenabo Presido, 28, from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state and his accomplice, ThankGod

YENAGOA

igilant soldiers attached to the Joint Military Task Force known as ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ yesterday foiled an attempt to kidnap a 12-yearold boy at Ihoro community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The boy (name withheld) is a student of Ohoro Secondary School, Ughelli.

Victor, 22, from Ogoni in Rivers State, were arrested at Sani Abacha Way, Yenagoa. According to Butswat, the deserter reportedly confessed that the assault rifle found in his possession was stolen from a Boko Haram camp in the Northeastern state he served. Also found in his possession was a Highlander Jeep stolen from Port Harcourt, Rivers

State. On the alleged indiscriminate arrest of persons in Yenagoa, the police spokesman said though the command’s attention had been drawn to claims that some of its men in the command engaged in unwholesome practices such as illegal arrest and detention of persons, the raids were operational strategies deployed to combat crime in the state.

L-R: Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Mary Iyasere, and MD, Baysol Development Ltd, Mr.Olumide Akinsaya, during the groundbreaking ceremony of Asaba City Mall in Asaba, yesterday.

FG moves to implement UNEP report on Ogoniland Omeiza Ajayi

ederal Government has approved measures aimed at fast-tracking the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland. The actions were ap-

proved by President Muhammadu Buhari based on several recommendations to him by Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the

Soldiers foil kidnap attempt, arrest six Osahon Julius

A statement by the military outfit signed by the spokesman, Lt. Col. Ado Isa, stated that the armed soldiers, deployed in the area on special duty ran into the kidnap operation and mounted an operation that scared away the kidnappers. Ado also confirmed that one suspect was arrested in connection with the crime, while JTF “is on the trail to apprehend other suspects

who are currently at large.” Meanwhile, the anti-illegal oil bunkering squad of Sector 1 Joint Task Force deployed in Jones Creek and Ajaosolo Creek in Warri North and South LGAs of Delta State discovered and destroyed 10 illegal oil bunkering sites, where oil thieves operate with four Cotonou boats, seven surface tanks and 34 metal tanks filled with illegally refined fuel.

recommendations included amendment of the official gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP, to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management. Accordingly, the president has approved that the HYPREP Governing Council be composed with one

According to Ado, other items discovered at the sites were pumping machine, 20 cooking pots and plastic tanks filled with stolen crude oil. He said no suspect was found on site. “The sites along with the items were destroyed. Two suspected gun runners, namely: Amos Akpeleko and James Eshhawumi were arrested by operatives of JTF at Adagbarasa Community in Okpe council.

representative each from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment, Impacted States (Rivers) as well as four representatives from oil companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, respectively. Others are two representatives from Ogoniland, one from the United Nations System and a secretariat to be headed by a project manager. He also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for HYPREP Trust Fund. Adesina said following a meeting on the directive of the president, it was also agreed “that a contribution deposit of $10 million will be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund, which will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors.”

North

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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B’ Haram: Saraki seeks foreign support to rebuild N’East GEORGE OJI

Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abubakar (l) welcoming World Bank Team Leader, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, who paid him a courtesy visit in Bauchi, yesterday.

NEMA receives 12,000 Nigerian returnees from Cameroun GLORIA USMAN ABUJA

bout 12,000 Nigerians, who fled insurgency attacks on their communities to Cameroun, have started arriving home through the border post in Sahuda, Mubi South, Adamawa

State. According to a statement by NEMA, Senior Information Officer, Sani Datti, the returnees, who are mostly from Borno State, are currently being screened by the Nigerian Immigration Service and security agencies. The statement said the

National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, had so far received 1,121 of the returnees from the Nigerian Immigration Service at the border post, out of which 650 have been transported to Borno State, while the remaining are still at Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons

camp in Yola. “In the meantime, NEMA is providing food and non-food items as well as medical cover to cater for the returnees at the border while awaiting conclusion of the immigration and security screening,” the statement stated.

Reps to probe Stallion over N15bn tax evasion TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

ouse of Representatives has ordered its yet-to-be constituted Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate allegations that Stallion Group of Companies evaded payment of N15 billion duties accrued from its import of 475,000 metric tonnes of rice, over and above its 89,939 metric tonnes, through another company, Mascot Agro, which was yet to be recognised as a rice miller by 2014. The House resolved after taking a motion sponsored by Abdullahi Umar Faruk, (Kebbi-APC). Farouk noted that following the approval of a new quota under the recently

PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

nspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has ordered a comprehensive census of the police workforce to determine area of its man-

approved National Rice Development Policy, Stallion Group continues to evade the duties for exceeding their 2014 import quota under the dual tariff system. He alleged that Mascot Agro was hurriedly registered as a subsidiary of Stallion Group, following the blacklisting of the main company by the Nigerian Customs Service for nonpayment of excess duty. According to him, an Inter-Ministerial Committee, during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, adopted a ‘National Rice Supply Gap’ of 782,000 metric tonnes and allocated quotas to 16 millers, including Mascot Agro. The House in adopting the motion, was “disturbed that when the Nigeria Cus-

toms Service shut down the warehouse of Stallion Group over non-payment of such duty, the Presidency ordered the customs authority to reopen them pending resolution of the matter,” The House is also worried that while three other companies: Kereksuk Farms, Atafi Rice Industries and Arewa Rice Mill paid their duties to the NCS, Stallion Group still refused to pay and is even determined to use additional quotas granted to Mascot Agro to further evade payment of new customs duty”. The lawmaker noted that if the allegations were not properly investigated and dealt with, a wrong precedent would be set, which would encourage private corporate entities in simi-

lar acts. The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, ruled on the motion and noted that the investigations carried out by same committee in the last assembly would be looked at. The House also passed a motion to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the June 29-30, 2015 fire explosion at the operational base of Nigeria Agip Oil Company at EbochaEgbema, Imo State, which caused serious damages. Following a motion sponsored by. Goodluck Nnanah Opiah, (Imo PDP), the lawmakers mandated the committee to determine the state and age of operational equipment used by Agip and other oil companies in the Niger Delta.

enate President, Bukola Saraki, has solicited support of the international community not only to end insurgency in the north eastern part of the country, but also in rebuilding and rehabilitate the area and the people. Saraki said such support would also help in bringing succour to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the area. The Senate president made the call yesterday in Abuja at separate sessions he had with German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zenner, and his Spanish counterpart, Alfonso Barnudvo Sdbastian De Erice, who paid courtesy visits to him. He stated that the humanitarian situation and level of destruction in the area ravaged by insurgents required urgent and wide support across the world. He also said it was clear to him, having led a delegation of the Senate to visit the IDP camps in Maiduguri on Monday for an on-the-spot

assessment that the Federal Government alone cannot foot the bills for total rehabilitation of the people and rebuilding of infrastructure damaged as a result of activities of the insurgents. The Senate president told his guests that apart from insecurity, the nation was looking up to developed economies like Germany and Spain in other sectors such as agriculture, mining, health and industrialisation in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the populace. Saraki assured his visitors of the commitment of the 8th Senate to work closely with every stakeholder in diversifying the economy. In their separate remarks, the German Ambassador, Zenner and his Spanish counterpart, De Erice, commended the Nigerian Senate for putting behind the earlier crisis that bedevilled its take off, adding that they will not relent in working closely with the Senate and the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in achieving social, political and economic stability.

Buhari to upgrade 5 airports next year OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said his administration would upgrade five international airports next year. He stated this yesterday after receiving operational briefings from Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Binta Bello. “Our airports are the windows through which people see our country. Anybody coming into the country will likely come through the airports. “If we cannot secure and maintain our infrastructure, it will reflect very badly on us,’’ said the president. He consequently directed the Ministry of Aviation to speed up all processes and projects relating to the safety and

security of Nigeria’s air transport system. President Buhari further directed that counterpart funding for upgrading the international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu, be captured in the 2016 budget. Earlier, Mrs Bello had said the five new international airport terminal buildings were designed to meet best international standards. According to her, the five international terminals could cater for 62 million passengers annually when completed in the first quarter of 2016, with Lagos moving from 7 million passengers’ capacity to 25 million, Abuja moving from 5 million to 16 million, while Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu, will have the capacity for 7 million passengers each.

IGP orders comprehensive census of workforce power need. Speaking through Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, in charge of research and planning and supervisor of police activities in the North Central

zone, comprising the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau states, Mr. Kakwe Christopher Katso, in Minna, Niger State, during his tour of the zone, he

said inadequate manpower was affecting the force. He stated that if the Federal Government gives leadership of the Force and the Police Service Commission the go-ahead to recruit

more personnel, it would be a very good thing, though that would depend on the economy of the nation. He also explained that the tour of the zone was to enable him assess the level

of compliance and application of the policy thrusts of the administration of the IGP within the states that comprise the North Central zone of the country.

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Thursday, August 6, 2015

Feuding NURTW, RTEAN members remanded in prison WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

L-R: Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong; Deputy Governor Sonni Tyoden and President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka, during a courtesy visit by ANAN president to the governor in Jos, yesterday

El-Rufai to implement reports on Southern Kaduna killings …pledges jobs for 2,550 youths A ZA MSUE KADUNA

aduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday said his government would implement recommendations of the late Ibrahim Yakowa and Gen. Martins Agwai Special Committee on the killings in southern Kaduna to end incessant crises in the state. El-Rufai had in the last one month set up the Gen. Agwai Special Committee on Southern Kaduna Killings aimed at finding lasting solution to killings in that part of the state. He said the recommendations of the two reports would be implemented

to the fullest for peace to reign. The governor stated this while receiving report of the Gen. Agwailed 19-member committee at Government House, Kaduna, adding that his administration will establish Peace and Reconciliation Commission to reconcile all aggrieved persons in the state. Former Chief of Defence Staff, Agwai, who served as the committee chairman, said in the course of the assignment, it was discovered that the 2011 post-election crisis fueled the current crisis in the southern part of the state. El-Rufai said with the

report of the Agwai committee and that of the late governor of the state, the crisis would end. He said his administration would implement all the recommendations of the two committees to serve as a model for all states to embrace in order to ensure peace in the country. Part of the recommendations of the committee was the indigene/settlers dichotomy in the state to which the governor said all Kaduna residents are entitled to rights and privileges accruable to indigenes of the state. According to him, anybody resident in the state as a Nigerian would be accorded all rights as citizens and indigenes of the

state. He noted that the state in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, had been working round the clock to rid the state of illicit drugs among youths and positively engage them. The governor, who commended NDLEA for a job well done so far, said the state had also begun the move to employ more youths in the state. He said his administration planned to employ 10 youths each from the 255 wards in the 23 local government areas, beginning from this month. “The final key we need to turn in finding a lasting peace in the state is here,” he said.

Foundation donates N140m to B’Haram victims INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

igeria Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism, VSF, has given N140 million to seven hospitals in troubled Northeastern region to subsidize medical bills of victims of Boko Haram insurgency. The hospitals include University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH; Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri; Specialist Hospital, Damaturu; Federal Medical Centre, Gombe; Specialist Hospital, Gombe; Feder-

al Medical Centre, Yola and Specialist Hospital, Yola. Presenting a cheque of N20 million each to two benefitting hospitals in Borno State, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, the foundation’s Executive Director, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, said it became imperative to assist because of the huge amount needed to treat victims of the numerous attacks by insurgents in the region. Ochoche, while calling on the entire nation to rise up to the challenge and assist the troubled region,

said no single organisation can meet the huge need of the region arising from insurgency and terrorism. He spoke at separate presentations of cheques at the two medical facilities in Maiduguri. Ochoche, who signed a memorandum of understanding with the two institutions, said the Victims Support Fund realised the need to intervene immediately and assist in offsetting the heavy medical bills of victims of insurgency, which pile up daily. He noted that N20m donation to each of the hos-

pitals was a drop of water in the ocean of medical bills procured by victims of Boko Haram. Permanent Secretary in Borno State Ministry of Health, Ahmed Sanda, received a cheque on behalf of Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, while Chief Medical Director of UMTH, Prof Abdulrahman Tahir, collected for his hospital. Both Sanda and Tahir, while expressing gratitude to the foundation, insisted that much has been incurred in taking care of victims of insurgency and canvassed for more support.

n Ilorin Magistrate’s Court has remanded 11 persons in prison custody in connection with a clash among members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State last week. The suspects are Ganiyu Fowomola, 32, Toafeeq Popoola, 43, Rafiu Oyewole, 60, Mudashiru Oyeniran, 47, Fatai Owoseni, 59, Abdulrauf Ahmed, 48, Aliu Yemi Rasheed, 55, Oyeleke Abdul Lateef, 64, Debo Babatunde, 40, Musbau Babalola, 48, and Noah Opatola, 53, all drivers in Offa. The case was said to have been transferred from the Area Commander’s office in Omu-Aran to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, Ilorin. Police First Information Report (FIR), had read: “On August 1, 2015, the NURTW and RTEAN members were at School of Health Technology, Offa, over who would load student passengers travelling to Ekiti State for their practical. “In the course of loading, an argument ensued that members of NURTW be allowed to load two

buses, while RTEAN gets a slot to load one bus only. “As a result of the argument and continued instigation of violence, the office of RTEAN was set on fire along with four of their members’ vehicles, which also was destroyed by NURTW members. “On August 2, one Suraju Akanlonua, a member of NURTW, while riding his motorcycle to convey Ganiyu Fowomola, was macheted at Abata road, Offa.” Police investigations allegedly revealed that the 11 accused persons conspired and instigated the violence that culminated into crime of ‘Disturbance of Public Peace, and Mischief by fire.’ The FIR added that the victim of the clash was matcheted on the neck and killed when a reprisal fight erupted between members of the unions. Police prosecutor, Adewunmi Johnson, told the court that investigation of the matter was yet to be concluded, and urged that the court to remand the suspects in prison custody. Johnson argued that the accused, if granted bail, would influence ongoing investigation of the court. Ruling, Magistrate B.A Immam ordered the remand of the suspects at Federal Prison, Mandalla. He adjourned the matter till August 18 for mention.

Ude takes over as STF commander JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

aj-Gen Tabugbo Ude yesterday took over as new commander of Special Task Force, STF, in Plateau State. Ude, who was recently redeployed to the state, is the 8th commander to head the task force with headquarters in Jos, the state’s capital. He takes over from MajGen. David Enetie, who assumed office on September 9, 2013. At the handing over ceremony at STF headquarters, General Enetie said he was leaving STF a fulfilled and happy man and urged troops to do things that

would keep them at peace with their host communities. In his words: “We know there were challenges, but they are being addressed. Stop extortion, be focused and carry out your tasks on the plateau, and work closely with other security services to actualise the mandate of STF.” Ude, while addressing the troops, said: “We are here to make sure there is peace and nothing short of it. I am not an office person; I am a field soldier, so I can visit your location at 1am or 2am.” Ude was born on March 21, 1962, and hails from Nnewi North in Anambra State. He was commissioned into the army on December 22, 1984.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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World News

“I raise this history because now more than ever we need clear thinking in our foreign policy” – United States President, Barack Obama

Zimbabwe’s lion: Accused US dentist’s home vandalised PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

andals spray-painted “lion killer” on a tony Florida vacation home that is owned by an American dentist, who killed Zimbabwe’s best-known lion, authorities said yesterday. The damage to the home of Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer, a game hunter, who last month killed 13-year-old Cecil, a rare black-maned lion, is being investigated as misdemeanour criminal mischief, said Marco Island Police Captain, David Baer. It was reported on Tuesday morning, and authorities in southwest Florida have not determined when it occurred, he said. In addition to spray-painting the garage door, the culprits scattered what looked like marinated pigs feet in the driveway, said Walter Zalisko, owner of Global Investigative Group, a private firm hired to protect the

property. He said the home was vacant. Marco Island police could not confirm the information about pigs feet, which were reported and photographed by local media. Palmer, 55, has received

threats on social media, and protests were held outside his suburban Minneapolis office. He has said that he “deeply regrets” killing Cecil and believed that the hunt was legal. Palmer, who has not been speaking to the media, could not immediately be

reached for comment. Security cameras were being installed to videotape vehicles outside the Florida house on a quiet cul-de-sac, Zalisko said. Palmer purchased the home for $1.1 million in 2013, property records show.

Protesters rally outside River Bluff Dental clinic against the killing of famous lion in Zimbabwe, in Bloomington, Minnesota, recently.

MH370: French ‘Biden considered resigning after son’s death’ experts examine found wing

ice President Joe Biden is reportedly considering a run for president — something his dying son, Beau, urged him to do before his death. But Biden also briefly considered stepping down as vice president in the wake of Beau’s death, the New York Times reports: In a sign of the conflicting pressures surrounding Mr. Biden, the vice president has told people that the terminal brain cancer of Beau Biden, who died in May, had caused him to consider resigning the vice presidency to take care of his grieving family, though those aware of the vice president’s thinking say that idea never became too serious. According to the Times, the 72-year-old will likely explore the idea of challenging Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic nomination during a family re-

treat later this month. David Axelrod, President Obama’s former adviser, says he understands why Biden would consider running for president, but believes “the reality” is there are too many reasons not to run. “The fundraising, the de-

mands of campaigning and organizing, the constant and irritating exposure, and the prospect of running against a well-fortified opponent who has a huge head start,” Axelrod told the paper. “Add all that up, and it is a counterweight to why he should run.”

Biden at the funeral of his son, Beau in June

xperts in France have begun examining an aircraft part that washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion last week to see if it is from Flight MH370. The wing fragment, known as a flaperon, is from a Boeing 777, the same make as the missing Malaysian airliner. France has invited Malaysian and Australian aviation experts to Balma to help with the investigation. Australia’s Deputy PM Warren Truss said the teams may be able to say this week if it came from the plane. Investigators have said a statement will be made later from Paris, but the degree of detail that will be released is unclear. The initial examination had been expected to last until Thursday but Malaysian officials have been on standby in Kuala Lumpur in case results come through earlier, Reuters news agency reported.

WORLD BULLETIN

Remarried divorcees not excommunicated, Pope tells Church Divorced people who have remarried “are still part of the Church” and should not be treated as if they have been excommunicated or cast out, Pope Francis said yesterday. “These people are not excommunicated -- they are not excommunicated! And they absolutely must not be treated as such. The are still part of the Church,” the pontiff said during his weekly general audience at the Vatican. Speaking ahead of a highly anticipated global meeting on family life in October, he said “awareness that a brotherly and attentive welcome... is needed towards those who... have established a new relationship after the failure of a marriage, has greatly increased”. The Church does not recognise divorce but divorcees can still take communion unless they remarry, which is considered to be adultery. “No closed doors! Everyone can participate some way or another in the life of the Church,” Francis said, in a clear call for Catholic bishops and priests to treat those in so-called “irregular situations” with greater compassion.

US coalition to launch comprehensive battle against ISIS Turkey said yesterday a U.S.-led coalition will soon launch a “comprehensive battle” against Islamic State militants from Turkish air bases, but Syria said any military action not coordinated with Damascus would breach its sovereignty. NATO-member Turkey formally agreed to open its air bases to U.S. and coalition aircraft last month, a major policy change after years of reluctance in taking a frontline role against the Islamist fighters pressing on its borders. Ankara and Washington have been working on plans to provide air cover for a group of U.S.-trained Syrian rebels and jointly sweep Islamic State from a strip of territory stretching about 80 km (50 miles) along the Turkish frontier. “As part of our agreement with the U.S. we have made progress regarding the opening up of our bases, particularly Incirlik,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told state broadcaster TRT, referring to a major air base near the southern city of Adana. “We’re seeing that manned and unmanned American planes are arriving and soon we will launch a comprehensive battle against Islamic State all together,” he said during a trip to Malaysia.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Thursday September 4, 2014

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Sport

Angel Di Maria: ‘I’m happy to join PSG’

I am sure the national team will come good. It’s only a matter of time and we will return to winning ways

–Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent

Chile 2015: Eaglets know U-17 World Cup foes today

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke and his players putting heads together for the upcoming U-17 World Cup in Chile

Glo League Results Nasarawa

El-Kanemi

Lobi

Bayelsa

Akwa

Enyimba

Rangers

Taraba

Abia

Giwa

3SC

Wikki

Wolves

Ifeanyi Ubah

Kwara

Dolphins

Pillars

Heartland

NFF proposes Eagles, Black Stars’ London friendly …as Oliseh readies for NSE appearance Paul Erewuba

igeria’s Super Eagles coached by Sunday Oliseh have proposed a friendly match against perennial rivals, Ghana Black Stars, in London next month, AfricanFootball.com has specially gathered. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) wishes to make the most of next month’s FIFA friendly window which will al-

low them to play another match outside the 2017 AFCON qualifier in Tanzania on the weekend of September 4-6. World football governing body, FIFA, cancelled a similar proposal earlier this year because it contravened a new rule which said a team could not play international friendlies within three days in two confederations. But a top source informed AfricanFootball.com: “There is a proposal for Nigeria to play

against arch-rivals Ghana in London after they would have played the AFCON qualifier in Tanzania. “Discussions are on-going and we will just have to wait and see if this comes through.” Eagles and Black Stars have clashed several times in London with their last such clash been in October 2011, when they played out a goalless draw. Meanwhile, Coach Sunday Oliseh will perform the significant ringing of the bell at the closing of

business at the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday. Oliseh will attend the symbolic event at the NSE House in Lagos in company with NFF president, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and vice presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko. It’s the first time the NSE will offer a Nigeria football figure such a gesture, and Pinnick says it is the beginning of what would turn out to be a wonderful relationship between Corporate Nigeria and Nigeria football.

igeria’s Golden Eaglets will tonight know their group phase opponents as the draw ceremony for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup holds in Santiago, capital of host nation Chile. The Official Draw is billed to take place at the massive Art Centre 660 at 20:00hrs local time (12:00 midnight in Nigeria) and the 24 qualified countries would be drawn into six groups of four teams each. Defending champions and record four-time winners, Nigeria, and host Chile would most likely be the seeded teams in their respective groups of this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup. Speaking ahead of the draw, Golden Eaglets’ Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, said he was not expecting an easy draw since all the qualified teams have the same ambition of winning the U-17 trophy, adding that the Nigerian youngsters would be at the ready to defend their title. “We are waiting to see who and who we are going to meet after the draw on Thursday,” said the former African Footballer of the Year. “Though we don’t have the luxury of choosing the teams we want, we are preparing well for the tournament and we would be ready to give a good account of ourselves.” Meanwhile, the 24 -team cast is made up of six from Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, Croatia and England); four from Asia (Australia, South Korea, Syria and North Korea); four from North America (Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and USA); five from South America (Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay and host Chile); one from Oceania (New Zealand) and; the African quartet of Mali, Guinea, South Africa and Nigeria . The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup would be held between October 17 and November 8 across eight Chilean cities, namely La Serena, Coquimbo, Vina Del Mar, Chillan, Talca, Santiago De Chile, Concepcion and Puerto Montt.

Sports

Thursday, August 6, 2015

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Angel Di Maria: ‘I’m happy to join PSG’ Di Maria

ngel Di Maria yesterday spoke on his move to PSG saying he is “very happy” to be joining the club from Manchester United, a year after the Old Trafford club paid a British record £59.7m for him. The Argentina midfielder, 27, had a medical in Qatar on Tuesday ahead of his 63m euro (£44.3m) move. “I am very happy to join Paris StGermain. They’re very important.”

Neither club has yet confirmed that the player’s move has gone through. Aspetar, a specialist sports hospital in Doha, announced on its Twitter feed on Tuesday that the player was there “for a medical test ahead of a proposed move”. Di Maria added: “They made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, so my objective was to arrive to Paris and to help them through the quarter-final barrier,

Rooney reveals Van Gaal’s tactics

Chelsea close in on £17.5m deal for Ghana’s Rahman

helsea are going over the finer details of the £17.5million transfer fee for Augsburg left back Abdul Baba Rahman. The Ghana international is their first choice for the position and he has already agreed personal terms ahead of his proposed move to Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho said Chelsea’s work in the transfer window was

done but the two clubs are ironing out the structure of payment for Rahman and the 21-year-old is expecting to secure his move over the coming days. Chelsea have also opened discussions for his highly-rated Ghana team-mate Godfred Donsah although the 19-year-old defensive midfielder from Cagliari is seen as one for the future.

Rooney and Van Gaal

Rahman

Sako joins Palace on a 3-year deal

Sako

because they have struggled in the past two seasons. “I will try to do the best I can to help the club in those objectives and reach the final stages of the Champions League.” Di Maria did not join United on their pre-season tour of America, and manager Louis van Gaal had said he “did not know why”. He scored four goals in 32 United appearances after joining from Real Madrid last August.

akary Sako has officially joined English Premier League side Crystal Palace on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal with the club. It was reported earlieryesterday that Sako was on the verge of completing a move to the Eagles after opting against joining West Brom. The Mali international left former club Wolver-

ince he was appointed Man Utd captain Wayne Rooney has impressed teammates, fans and Louis van Gaal with his leadership.

hampton Wolves at the expiry of his contract at the end of last season, having contributed directly to 25 goals during the 2014/2015 campaign as they narrowly missed out on a Championship play-off spot. “I talked to some clubs but when I met Alan [Pardew] I felt a good feeling between him and me and that’s why I chose Palace,” Sako told Crystal

Palace’s official website. “He plays attacking, attractive football so it should be good to play here and score some goals, that’s why I came to join him. “I’ve been doing my own pre-season training because Wolves gave me a programme before I left, and my cousin has a small academy so we trained together to keep my fitness levels up.

Rooney yesterday revealed how strict Louis van Gaal is during Manchester United’s training sessions. Rooney inherited the armband when Van Gaal took over as manager and the 29-year-old acknowledged the Dutchman is blunt during training. “He’s very honest every day at training,” Rooney revealed. “If you train well, he’ll tell you. If you train badly, he’ll tell you. We have to stick to his tactics and how he wants us to play but, as a player, you want your manager to be honest with you, and I think every player in the squad knows where he stands.” Rooney also shed light on the importance of his role as mentor to United’s academy prospects since he was appointed club captain last year.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Super Falcons: Mabo advises against foreign handler Mercy Jacob

ormer Super Falcons coach Ismaila Mabo has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against hiring an expatriate coach for the team following their recent poor showings under local coaches. There has been calls for foreign coaches to lead the African champions after they failed to progress beyond the group stages of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada under former coach, Edwin Okon. With Okon sacked after the World Cup and replaced by his assistant, Christopher Danjuma – albeit temporarily – and with

Danjuma now failing to lead the team to the next round of qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games, there has been renewed calls for a foreign coach to be appointed to lead the team. But Mabo has advised the Glass House to look inwards rather than seeking an expatriate to handle the team. “I don’t think what we need now is a foreign coach,” Mabo said, “I think we need to look inward for better replacements. “The team has not done well recently and the results have not been good but I will not advise we get a foreign coach because we have capable hands here at home and I think that is the step we should be taking at this point,” he opined.

Super Falcons returning emptyhanded from a recent outing

NPL: LMC warns El-Kanemi, Bayelsa

E Nigeria cricketers in a match

Cricket: Nigeria U-17 girls ready for Tanzania tourney Joel Ajayi ABUJA

s the 2015 African Cricket U-17 Female Championship draws near, Nigerian team has converged on Abuja to begin intensive training for the competition that begins in about two weeks in Tanzania. Nigeria will be facing Namibia, Thailand, State of Mumbi and host Tanzania during the week-long cricket showdown. Incidentally, no fewer than 50 young female cricketers drawn from the six geo-political zones are expected in Abuja this weekend for their national competition. Those who excel would be selected to join the national camp towards the Africa U-17 tourney. Confirming this to National Mirror in Abuja, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation

(NCF), Mr. Emeka Onyeama, said the federation was poised to raise the standard of the game from grassroots. He also disclosed that despite several hitches in recent times, the NCF has not relented in its bid to secure the right to host one continental or international cricket championship. “Construction of our pitch is going on. In the next two weeks, we are going to beef up activities and the whole Nigeria will see what we are doing. We will continue to work for cricket and make cricket grow from strength to strength,” Onyeama said. The NCF boss added, “The upcoming continental cricket tournament is a wonderful invitation for our girls and we cannot wait to be there. We are going to do everything within our power to make sure that the girls attend the competition.”

l-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri has become the third club to be issued sixty days ultimatum to pay all amounts due its players and officials or risk being thrown out of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) by the League Management Company (LMC) The warning issued through a letter by the Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar is one the three decisions announced by the league body in a sweeping enforcement of regulations on Wednesday. Last week, the LMC drew the lines for FC Taraba and placed the club on a 60 days probation to pay all outstanding salaries to the players and officials fail-

ing which it will be deducted six points from already accumulated points this season. Should the defaulting club fail to comply after another 30 days, it will have a further three points deducted. Dolphins were the first club to receive such notice after the LMC received and investigated a formal complaint from one of the players. Bayelsa United were charged on two counts of not ensuring adequate security thereby enabling unauthorised persons to gain access to restricted areas including the dressing rooms during their match against Akwa United. On the second count, the club was cited for harassment and intimidation in violation of the princi-

ples of fair play and sportsmanship. They were thus fines N500, 000 and N200, 000 respectively with an option to submit to the sanctions within 48 hours or appear before a commission.

Abubakar

ARS 5: YSFON, Lawal fete Airtel grassroots devt Pinnick

Paul Erewuba

he Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) has commended telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, for its commitment towards the development of grassroots football through the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) U17 tournament. Speaking at the ARS Regional Championship held in Abuja, the National Organising Secretary

of YSFON, Abdulrazak Usman, noted that the tournament has improved over the years. According to him, “all the participants, over the years are selected based on skills and qualification. Nigerian youth are greatly talented and need a platform like this one provided by Airtel to express their talent. The company is engaging them meaningfully and these kids are using their energy and skills positively. This is a very commendable way to curb vices.” Usman, who was involved in both the screening exercise and coordination of the matches, expressed optimism that the talent from the tournament have enough potential to become professional footballers in near fu-

ture. “No doubt fresh talents will be discovered at this championship and we are optimistic that they will move up to professional football because these boys and girls look forward to the competition every year,” he noted. In a similar vein, Ex-Super Eagles International and Technical Adviser to teams in the Airtel Rising Stars U17 football tournament, Garba Lawal, also commended the Telcom for the youth development initiative. “Airtel has done commendably well from the first season to this fifth season and they deserve great applause for their commitment to the development of talented youth across Nigeria, he stated.”

WORLD RECORD

Most subscribers on YouTube As of 7 July 2014, “PewDiePie”, aka Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg (Sweden), had 28,292,944 YouTube subscribers for his comedic videogaming highlights.

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1172 Thursday, August 6, 2015

Mr. President, what’s it about Lawan Daura? S o much has been said about President Buhari’s appointment of Alhaji Lawan Daura as the Director General of Directorate of State Security (DSS). Initially, I had chosen to let the sleeping dog lie but the spate of fallacies emanating from many corners of the opinion spectrum in recent days is too tempting to ignore. Of particular interest is the position taken last Monday by a former DG of the same directorate, Afakriya Gadzama, who asserted that the opposition to Daura’s appointment was borne out of ignorance. “The world over, the head of intelligence and related services are chosen from the pool of serving or retired officers. What matters is the competence of the person to be appointed. The case of Alhaji Daura is therefore perfectly in order”, he was quoted to have said.

he two men bidding to lead world athletics into a new era, Sebastian Coe and Sergey Bubka, offered contrasting reactions yesterday to the latest doping storm to engulf the sport’s governing IAAF. While Coe, who is going headto-head with fellow Olympic

Guest Columnist

Sola S l

Ojewusi

Decrying what he described as “unnecessary politicization of what otherwise is an appointment done in the interest of the service,” Mr. Gadzama stated further: “Political affiliation was definitely not a factor. What mattered was the competence of the appointee and the need to reposition the service. The president definitely wouldn’t have appointed somebody who doesn’t have the capacity and shares his vision.” I seriously beg to disagree with him on the ground of propriety. While conceding that Daura is a man of impeccable credentials and proven competence, his way-too-overt involvement in the presidential electioneering has fatally damaged his appropriateness for this particular position. Competence and experience are one issue, credibility and appropriateness are another. In a situation where the thesis of a decision stands the risk of leading to an antithesis, appropriateness will out-weigh other considerations, especially where other equally competent and untaintedby-partisanship alternatives abound. And this is where Mr. President comes in. It is easy to dismiss the allegations against Daura as another of the nowrecurrent wolf-cries of a sore loser, but that would be missing the point. I do not care if the PDP is driven by blind mischief or not. I do not care that in their own time the PDP would have done worse, given the weird possibilities of that ancien regime. I have chosen to take cognizance of the message in spite

YOU MAY NOT LIKE OLISA METUH…BUT PLEASE CONSIDER THE MESSAGE AND NOT ITS HARBINGER of the messenger. Come to think of it, Mr. President, I think there is pure sense in the harangues of Olisa Metuh, the PDP national publicity secretary, regarding this particular issue. Unless those pieces of evidence advanced by Metuh on behalf of his party are forged - and I am sure the APC, in its lame defence, has not come up with such an allegation - the pictorial and documentary proofs of Lawan’s partisanship are too weighty to be ignored as immaterial. In other lands, where the tenets of the rule of law have been advanced to credible proportions, such appointments would raise no eyebrows but around here, whatever Lawan Daura does or doesn’t do will elicit serious doubts because of the lopsidedness of his allegiance. With his power of arrest and detention and even prosecution, whatever Daura does from now will always be advanced by the opposition as the evidence of his alleged role of the attack dog of the APC. And it has already started rearing its ugly head in such states as Rivers and Akwa Ibom, where election petitions still rage. In Rivers, the recent arrest of the REC by the DSS has been postulated

as a vivid example of a new DSS bent on making life difficult for the opposition. The credibility of an organization so essential to our stability cannot but be impeccable, and I am afraid the Daura albatross has tainted that credibility. No matter the good intentions of the DSS and no matter how innocently routine the actions in Rivers and Akwa Ibom are, the stigma of partisanship will continue to overshadow it all. Remember, sir, that at least 10 million Nigerians did not vote for you, and I conjecture that these are for now represented by the PDP. They are a factor and need to be fully wooed over to also embrace your mission. Or you think they don’t matter, having had your way? I know that as a true patriot, you also want to “belong” to this group. But how would the much needed trust come when your political decisions are shrouded in doubts and a feeling of blind partisanship prevails? I must repeat that this is not about Daura’s qualification for the position. Without doubt, the man has the wherewithal because of his experience, several command appointments and administrative acumen. The question is that of the sanctity of the position as the people’s ombudsman and protector of true justice and national security. When the symbol of that position is distrusted by a large section of the citizenry, his qualification becomes immaterial and his replacement by another equally qualified and more credible alternative becomes imperative. So Mr. President, I urge you to be more circumspect in handling this difficult dilemma. You may not like Olisa Metuh and the opposition rabble-rousing that seems to be oozing from Wadata Plaza daily, a pastime even your own party took to the highest proportion in its days in the woods. But please consider the message and not its harbinger. Ojewusi wrote via solaojewusi@yahoo.com

Sport Extra

IAAF: Coe angry over drug-test failings champion Bubka to win the election to become president of athletics’ world governing body next week, went on the attack, his rival offered a more conciliatory tone. A damning report in British newspaper The Sunday Times

and by German broadcaster ARD/ WDR at the weekend accused the IAAF of failing to investigate hundreds of “suspicious” drug tests between 2001 and 2012, raising new questions about the sport just weeks before the August 22-30 world championships in Beijing.

The IAAF hit back in a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday and vice-president Coe, who said the claims were “a declaration of war” on athletics, offered an impassioned defence of the sport he graced as twice Olympic 1500m champion.

Coe

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