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Naira devaluation not in Nigeria’s interest –Buhari …says govt has no information on Chibok girls TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND ROTIMI FADEYI

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday ruled out immediate devaluation of the nation’s currency, even as he said urgent action is required to fix critical infrastructure in order to boost economic activities. The President, who gave the hint in his maiden Presidential Media chat,

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Apprehended Air Force Cadets, Abdullahi Fahad (left) and Peter O. Solomon (right), by Lagos State Governor’s convoy, for locking a citizen, Dahiru Lawal, in the trunk of a car, at Mile 12 on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, yesterday.

New petrol prices ‘too little to cheer,’ says PDP

...as FG promises regular supply in New Year

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We’ll not tamper with minimum wage –Al-Makura

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Group condemns plans by NLC to protest subsidy removal P.6

PDP to discipline members convicted of corruption P.6

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Naira devaluation not in Nigeria’s interest –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

recalled that based on past experiences, including when he was in charge of Petroleum Resources, devaluation had never in real terms impacted positively on the economy. President Buhari said despite the crisis in the global oil market, his administration was committed to fixing the decaying infrastructure in key sectors of power, roads and rail as a strategic step towards boosting economic activities and creating jobs. He explained that the implications of these initiatives for economic

growth remained that when domestic productivity is enhanced and manufacturing industry can produce for global exports, the current pressure on the national currency would be mitigated and ensures its gradual stability. Justifying the current monetary policy further, the President explained that in furtherance of his government’s resolve to ensure prudence in public finance and naira exchange stability, the Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy was introduced, adding that experiences on

its implementation show that a lot of savings could be made to partly finance critical capital projects. He said: “Devaluation, if you look at our current economic development level and the challenges of the oil industry downturn, will only put us at the receiving end and further aggravate our position as a country.” He restated the commitment of the administration to focus more on real sector development in terms of meeting its foreign exchange needs as this is crucial to boosting

exports, improving foreign reserves, creating jobs and improving the quality of infrastructure. On the claims by some investors and those owning domiciliary accounts that they were finding it difficult to repatriate or withdraw from such accounts as a result of CBN’s foreign policy, the President said he was aware of such hardship but that he would need to engage the CBN to understand the real position. President Buhari however expressed confidence in the

demands of consumers. He admitted that, there were challenges facing distribution of the petroleum and that those challenges were being addressed. Mohammed also said the Federal Government has not abandoned efforts to rescue the kidnapped Chibok girls, saying government will continue to search for them, even after the war against the insurgents have been won, On the war against Boko Haram, the minister insisted that the military has largely met the deadline given to it by President Muhammadu Buhari despite the recent attacks by the terrorists. “In a few days’ time, the deadline issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to defeat Boko Haram will expire. Without equivocating, I will repeat what I said that has sparked a firestorm; our

Buhari also said there was no information available to his government about the whereabouts of the schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State that were abducted by Boko Haram since April 14, 2014. According to him, his administration has no intelligence regarding whether the Chibok girls were still alive. Buhari reiterated the readiness of the Federal Government to negotiate with Boko Haram on the release of the school girls, if any credible leader of the group comes out for negotiation. “We are still keeping our option, if there is credible leadership of Boko Haram that come out and say the Chibok girls are alive, we are ready to negotiate with them to ensure that they are released. “Some leadership of the Boko Haram wanted to make contact but we insisted on knowing the bona fide Boko Haram. We want to be sure they are complete, save and sound,” he said. While speaking on the fight against corruption, the president said his government was doing everything possible to ensure that those who looted the treasury are brought to justice. He said: “We have some documents where Nigerian crude oil was lifted illegally and the proceeds were put into personal accounts instead of the Federal Government account and of course we have started going to court. “We got evidence and we are taking the people to court and whatever is in the court, we will not comment until we see what they do with the documents we presented and how the Attorney General and Minister of Justice handles such cases. “There are terrible cases of corruption and we can only appeal to Nigerians to be patient.” According to him, the government has been able to recover some looted fund, adding however that whatever has been recovered, the matter

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monetary policy stance of the apex banking institution, especially given its intention to curb fraudulent forex transactions at the official window and forestall depletion of the nation’s foreign reserves further. For instance, he strongly supported the banning of importers of some items from sourcing forex for their importation from the official window, noting that those who wanted to import tooth picks and other non-value adding products should look elsewhere to source their foreign currencies.

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) answering questions from a panel of journalists during the Presidential Media Chat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

New petrol prices ‘too little to cheer,’ says PDP OBIORA IFOH AND AYO ESAN

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday said there was little to cheer in the new pump prices of petrol as announced on Tuesday by the Federal Government. Government had announced reduction in the pump price from N87 per litre to N86 and N86.50 for the retail outlets of NNPC and private business concerns respectively. But PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, described the move as deceptive. Metuh said: “After heightened expectations occasioned by the promise to review the N87 per litre pump price of petrol made by the administration amid crippling scarcity of the product during the Christmas season, the announcement of

this tokenism has come as a disappointing anti-climax, considering that only in January this year, the PDP Federal Government reduced the pump price from N97 to N87 per litre. “That was done in the wake of the fall in the price of crude oil to between $42.65 and $50 per barrel. “The PDP government then, in reaction to the development in the global oil market, revised its pricing template that brought down the pump price by N2.84 more than the N87 fixed as the pump price of petrol. The implication was that the Federal Government was still subsidising the N87 price by N2.84 per every litre of the product. “The APC-controlled Federal Government, consequent upon stepping in the saddle on May 29, this year considered the market and decided through a supplementary appropriation to pay N413bn as subsidy to

petroleum marketers. “In announcing the new pump prices, the APC Federal Government claimed that the subsidy element has been removed. “The question is; how much were we paying for subsidy when the pump price was N87? Has this marginal reduction now knocked off completely the huge subsidy paid at N87 per litre or should it not have only further reduced the size of the subsidy?” The opposition party said government could not have paid N413bn in subsidy when petrol was selling at N87 per litre and said no subsidy would be paid at N86 or N86.50 per litre. ”Is it trying to make the previous government look dubious or what? This government must explain its suspicious position on the subsidy issue. Nigerians can no longer put up with ambiguities and deception. “Nigerians must ques-

tion the sincerity of this government with regards to the removal of subsidy; Nigerians should ask President Buhari to tell them in clear terms, at what ceiling of crude oil price was subsidy no longer necessary: at N87 or this new price regime? he said Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has assured Nigerians that the pain they are presently going through to get petroleum products would be a thing of the past in the new year. Speaking during a media chat in Lagos yesterday, Mohammed said there will be regular supply of petroleum products in the new year. According to him, an agreement has been reached with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPRA, to ensure that there will be enough products to meet the

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L-R: President, White House Hotels, Dr. Austin Eruotor; President, Advertiser Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Mr. David Okeme; Executive Secretary, ADVAN, Ediri Ose-Ediale and Chairman, BOT, ADVAN, Aare Fatai Odesile, at the end of the year stakeholders evening in, Lagos, yesterday.

Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe (left) and Daddy Showkey, at the unveiling of Showkey as the company’s Ambassador in Lagos, yesterday.

National News Ubong Ukpong AbujA

hief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Gabriel Olonisakin, has carried out a restructuring of the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, with the creation of a campaign planning office and three others. The restructuring is coming about 24 hours to the expiration of the presidential deadline to end Boko Haram before December 31, 2015, which the military has been unable to achieve in spite of all the assurances. A statement issued by Director of Defence Information, DDI, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, yesterday, said the restructuring is to ensure effectiveness in the ongoing military operations in the North East against Boko Haram as well as ensure Nigeria’s continuous unity. General Olonisakin was said to have been in serious meeting with the principal staff officers of the Defence Headquarters, where he bared his mind on the situation and announced the restructuring. In addition to the office of the campaign planning, the CDS created the Coordinating Centre for Naval Component, Theatre Commander and Deputy in Operation Lafiya Dole as well as a Theatre Media Office, established to coordinate the operational activities of the Armed Forces.

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L-R: Friend to winner of Dubai Trip in Airtel Red Hot Promo 3, Joy Njoku; Web Developer/winner of Dubai trip, Nnamdi Oji; Head, Mass Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Oladipo Jolaosho and student of University of Lagos/friend to winner in Red Hot Promo, Cynthia Edokwe during the welcome gathering held for the winners shortly after their arrival to Nigeria from the Dubai trip in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and Commissioner for Information/Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, during the One Lagos Fiesta, at the Epe Recreation Centre, Epe, Lagos.

CDS restructures DHQ

…creates campaign planning office, three others The Theatre Media Office would, according to the statement, interface with the media and general public in the North East. The restructuring, according to the CDS, became expedient in order to inject new tactics, operations and robust initiatives to attain efficiency and professionalism in major operations nationwide where rule of law and human rights are strictly adhered to. The statement said: “The CDS affirmed his commitment to indivisible Nigeria,

stating that the military will continue to fight for the unity of our dear country. “He emphasised that Nigeria remains one nation, one destiny. “He maintained that the Armed Forces are working round the clock in the fight against terrorism, illegal oil bunkering, cattle rustling and other forms of illegalities and crimes that are plaguing our nation. “The Defence Chief used the occasion to advise citizens of the country to be wary of the latest tactics of the terrorists

to perpetuate their evils acts, especially in mosques, churches, market places, motor parks and other social gatherings. “General Olonisakin revealed that female bombers now get easy access to citizen’s homes by requesting for water to perform ablution. “He warned the civil populace to be suspicious of such strange females asking for water for ablution or any other favours, maintaining that all those intrigues are calculated ploys to gain access to designated areas to detonate their bombs.

Kano legislators recommend periodic constitutional amendment

ano State House of Assembly has suggested periodic amendment of the Nigerian Constitution. The suggestion was made yesterday by the Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, while briefing journalists on the Assembly’s activities in the past six months. Rurum said the recommendation for the periodic amendment is to further deepen and entrench democracy in the country. The speaker said the decision was part

of the communique adopted after a fiveday retreat by the legislators in Abuja. Rurum said within the six months of the 8th Assembly, the Assembly passed more than 79 motions sponsored by either the Executive or members of the House. He said some of the motions include those on education, road construction, water supply, health, electricity and construction of bridges. Rurum added that some of the bills

awaiting the House’s consideration are the Kano State Religious Preaching Amendment Bill 2015, Kano State Sports Agency Bill 2015, Kano State Tenure of Political Office Holders and Revenue Harmonisation bills. The speaker said the legislators also passed into law eight bills, including the Kano State Appropriation Amendment Bill 2015, Kano State Promotion Agency Bill 2015 and Kano State Fostering Amendment law 2015.

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

PwC rates 2016 budget thrusts high CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the economy as capable of impacting positively on the nation’s development, if its implementation is properly monitored This projection, however, differs markedly from The Economist’s predictions of a gloomy prospect in the coming year. PwC in its ‘Analyses of Nigeria’s 2016 Budget and Medium Term Expenditure Framework’ sourced by National Mirror yesterday, noted that the proposed improved capital allocation in the budget as well as others targeted at improving key infrastructure, boosting non-oil activities in agricultural and solid minerals sectors as well as employment generation were fundamental to achieving poverty reduction, improved efficiency of public sector and overall macroeconomic stability in the country. For instance, PwC development analysts noted that as logical as the stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s, position on foreign exchange policy could be, including the devaluation of the national cur-

rency twice within a year, there was the need to design an economic plan that would stimulate local production capacity to substitute raw material imports. On the current drives towards diversifying the economic base of the country, the consulting outfit stated that while the MTEF reiterated the emphasis on diversification of the economy by focusing primarily on agriculture, and solid minerals sectors, government need to ensure clear policies and regulatory framework for investors to thrive in these sectors. In its analysis of the subsidy regime and the raging controversies surrounding the proposed plan to remove it, PwC pointed out that the decline in price should justify the removal. This is even as it also believes that if implemented properly, the Zero-Based Budgeting System will encourage the attainment of a more prudent public fund management as well as help reduce inefficiency and wastage, especially in recurrent expenditure and free up more funding for infrastructural develop-

ment. PwC stated further: “The MTEF provides a high-level strategic policy direction of the government over the next three years. A social welfare package of about N500bn was proposed for 2016 in the MTEF. “The package is aimed at three areas; school feeding programme initiatives, conditional cash transfer to the most vulnerable and post NYSC grant to promote entrepreneurship. “The government must be deliberate with implementation of the budget and take periodic stock of how well programmes are being implemented. The

value of each programme to the economy and social wellbeing of citizens must be measured. “Any programme that does not add value beyond its associated cost should be discontinued or reviewed very quickly as the huge borrowing has to be justified by clear results.” However, in its 2015 edition of its annual prediction of the economic situation of countries in an approaching year, The Economist predicted ‘uninspiring economic growth’ under Buhari next year as the All Progressives Congress, APC, would slow down the President’s strides in the

management of Nigeria’s oil sector. According to the publication’s 2016 forecasts for Middle East and Africa, while President Buhari would confront the problem of corruption and insecurity in the country frontally during the year, it noted that Nigeria’s budget balance, stood at -1.4, the least among all the countries explored, with Angola at -2.1, Egypt -9.2, Saudi Arabia -11.4, and South Africa’s -3.5. The Economist clarified: “The new president, Muhammadu Buhari, will use his political capital to address entrenched problems of corruption, insecurity and low living stan-

dards, but the patience of an electorate with high expectations will be short. “Clashing interests within the ruling party will limit efforts to improve management of the oil sector. Economic growth will be uninspiring.” It would be recalled that the newspaper had last month criticised key decisions taken by the Buhari-led administration, including the appointed ministers, stating that “economic policy has been adrift since Mr. Buhari came to power, and investors complain about the central bank’s use of trade controls and import restrictions.”

New petrol prices ‘too little to cheer,’ says PDP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

gallant military has largely met the deadline! I make this assertion with all sense of responsibility and they are backed by facts,” the minister said. He said the military has massively degraded the capacity of the terrorists to carry out the kind of spectacular attacks they used to execute in the past, like the attacks on the police headquarters and the United Nations Complex, both in Abuja. Mohammed said in just six months of the Buhari Administration, Boko Haram that was in control of a territory larger than an entire geo-political zone in Nigeria has been reduced to a fleeing, bomb throwing, cowardly and disorganised army. Alhaji Mohammed noted that all Boko Haram can do now is to attack soft targets: markets, motor

parks, mosques and entertainment centres, killing innocent men, women and children. He therefore, challenged critics of his assertion that the military has largely met the deadline to take a trip to the epic centre of the war and then report to Nigerians what they have seen. “The armchair critics who dispute these facts, from the comfort of their living rooms, are free to take a trip to the theatre of war to see things for themselves. Perhaps then, they will be more circumspecting in issuing reckless statements that give nothing but succour to Boko Haram. “I have gone to the theatre of war to see things for myself. I did not just stop in Maiduguri, I went all the way to Konduga, Kaure and Bama which, as I said, was once the headquarters of the Boko Haram Caliphate,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

L-R: Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Acting Director-General, Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Dr Edwin Oriaku; SeniorEngineer, Proda, Rev. Promise Amarah and Pencil Development Programmer, PRODA, Mr. Godfrey Ihezie, during an inspection tour of PRODA in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Naira devaluation not in Nigeria’s interest –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

would still have to go to the court. “Whatever we recovered we have to end up in court because Nigerians are entitled to know the truth and the truth will be what the court has discovered by submissions made to them in terms of documentation, including the bank statements where it was lodged, how it was lodged whether it is petrol money from NNPC or money from customs, or money directly from central bank. When we do that, Nigeria will be better,” Buhari said. According to him, the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, are working under the supervision of Attorney General to ensure that those who have looted the treasury are brought to book. He assured that by the end of the first quarter of 2016, his government would be able to inform Nigerians on the progress that has been made on the war against corruption. The president maintained that the nation would lose if former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki presently standing trial is released and allowed to

escape from the country. On the accusation that the fight against corruption was lopsided, Buhari said he never appointed anyone that is corrupt into his government. “I have been a democrat since 2002. I don’t think I tolerate corruption. I don’t think I have picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. “But if you have got evidence on any of my ministers, it is your right as a Nigerian citizen to tell us that you don’t want a,b or c in the cabinet because they have got a case in court. I don’t think I picked anybody as a

minister who has a case of corruption in court,” the president added. Buhari said he would not waste time in sacking any of his cabinet members found to be corrupt. Speaking on the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Buhari said the leader of the group, Nnamdi Kanu, has both Nigerian and British passports, saying that he never used any of the passports to enter into the country. He further explained that Kanu illegally brought equipment into the country with which he was operating Biafra radio.

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Group condemns NLC’s plans to protest fuel subsidy removal Amour udemude AsAbA

n anti-corruption group, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy, VATLAD, has vehemently condemned the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, for opposing the proposed removal of fuel subsidy and plans to mobilise Nigerian workers to embark of nationwide strike to protest against it. Reacting to NLC planned protest, the group’s national president Comrade Emmanuel Odafe Igbini, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Asaba noted that the decision of the leadership of NLC is purely politically motivated rather than the overriding good and interest of the masses of Nigeria as claimed by NLC. “Why NLC would base its decision on the fact, opposition politicians who encouraged the mass action against the former administration (PDP) to remove the fuel subsidy were now agitating for its removal. Must leadership of NLC expects Nigerians to continue to support the perpetuation of wrongs of the past while Nigerian masses are dying? “The fact remains that

the leadership of NLC for years now has never been sincere with Nigerians over the issue of deregulation of the petroleum sector and proper pricing of petroleum products rather many of labour leaders have used it to mislead million of Nigerian masses while very few individuals continue to fraudulently enrich themselves through the so-called fuel subsidy. “We long expected NLC to have mobilised her members and Nigerians to demand a probe and prosecution of those involved in the fuel subsidy scam and the monumental fraud and corruption in the upstream and downstream of Nigerian petroleum sectors. We also expected NLC to embark on nationwide protest against the few unpatriotic Nigerians who have made it impossible for our refineries to function. We know for sure that the Nigerian refineries are in good working conditions and that the Nigerian workers of the refineries are ever willing and capable to putting the refineries in use, but some power-thatbe refused them.” Igbini stated. The group however, challenged NLC to embark on protest demanding that the Nigerian refinery workers be allowed free hand to run and manage the refineries

Arms deals scam: Bafarawa backs Buhari’s anti-corruption war

ormer Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has endorsed the ongoing anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Bafarawa, who is standing trial in the ongoing arms deal corruption case, code-named ``Dasukigate’’, made this known to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday. ``In spite of our ongoing trial by the court in relation to the arms deal allegations, I still support Buhari’s anticorruption war. ``Nigerians should support the president’s efforts to tame the social

monster, corruption as it stalls the even socioeconomic development of the nation. ``I also fought corruption to a standstill when I was a governor in Sokoto State between 1999 and 2007. “That was why I was able to leave over N12 billion in the coffers of the state when I left office in 2007,’’ he added. Bafarawa said: ``I have taken the matter as an act of God and I am happy that Allah has enabled me to take it as such. “As for me, I will not comment on any issues now since the matter is currently in the court,” he said.

without political interferences, stressing that it is against the spirit of labour movement to allow crude oil swap for imported petroleum products while management and workers of NNPC and refineries are paid for years without refining a barrel of crude oil. “The International Labour Movement and the patriotic Nigerian workers are not known to

support payment of salaries for no corresponding work done. We also strongly condemn the continue lies being told Nigerians by the management of the NNPC and her subsidiaries as it relates the petroleum products. We believe strongly that many of them are directly and or indirectly involved in the massive fraud in the petroleum industry, hence they are

incapable of leading a positive change as Nigerians desire.” Igbini, a former labour leader, called for what he described as a holistic restructuring of personnel of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and her subsidiaries as well as government to deregulate the upstream sector, remove subsidy and most importantly empower the Nigerian

workers of the refineries and petroleum sector to take over the running and management of the refineries for some months until sanity is fully restored. The group also objected to government plans to fix the price of petroleum product after removal of subsidy saying it will negate the spirit of deregulation and principles of economic of demand and supply.

Tom Jones Street, Lagos, yesterday as people prepare for new year. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

PDP to discipline members convicted of corruption

...urges Buhari to investigate his ministers obiorA ifoh AbujA

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, members convicted by President Muhammadu Buhari anti-corruption drive shall also face intraparty disciplinary action and will be severely sanctioned accordingly. This was contained in a communiqué issued by the Body of National Vice Chairmen of the PDP and signed by its Secretary and National Vice Chairman of PDP South South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, yesterday. The body said, though it supported Buhari anti-corruption drive, but called on the president to also investigate some of his serving ministers and associates that have even more grievous allegations

levelled against them. It noted with great concern the various allegations and charges against some PDP members that served in government, even as these allegations and charges are yet to be proven. The PDP National Vice Chairmen said; “if corruption is not eradicated the growth of Nigeria as a nation will remain stunted. We therefore dissociate the party completely from any corrupt practices while the party was in power. “We call on the president to also investigate some of his serving ministers and associates that even more grievous allegations have been levied against. “The PDP as a party dissociates itself from any of its members so indicted.

Any member so convicted shall also face intraparty disciplinary action and will be severely sanctioned accordingly. “The party stands steadfastly by the ideals of the G-34 founding fathers of the party. The principle of the rule of law, which was a cardinal focal point of the party while in government remains sacrosanct and immutable,” the communiqué said. The body however, enjoined all PDP members to remain resolute and await the pending repositioning of the party, where square pegs will be placed in square holes and justice and equity will prevail. The PDP Vice Chairmen reaffirmed that mediocres will no longer be allowed to govern the affairs of the party, adding that power will now be re-

turned to the people at the grassroots. “We make bold to say that those who are corrupt have left the party and those who left are indisputably mercenaries and soldiers of fortune. “In spite of having lost the presidential election, the PDP remains the largest party in Nigeria and Africa and we intend to keep it so. “The vast majority of PDP members at the grassroots are innocent and are not corrupt, and accordingly, we frown at and reject the notion and tagging of the PDP as a corrupt party. “Nigerians will realise in the very near future that the PDP remains the only viable choice for the progress and unity of Nigeria,” the communiqué added.

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

NSCDC destroys 106 illegal refineries in Bayelsa â&#x20AC;Śrecovers 727 fuel jerry cans, prosecutes six vandals in Kaduna

oil theft and other criminal- made boats, eight speed ities in the state during the boats, one lorry, 10 pumping machines, 20 boat engines outgoing year, 2015. National Mirror Thursday, December 31, 2015 he Bayelsa State Comwww.nationalmirroronline.net The State Commandant, and six motorcycles. mand of the Nigerian Desmond Agu, who stated Other recovered items, Security and Civil De- this in Yenagoa, during the according to the commanfence Corps, NSCDC, said end of year press briefing, dant, include one bus, four it has recorded appreciable said its operatives appre- taxi cabs, four wheelbarsuccesses in its fight against hended 40 suspected illegal rows, 10 hoses, 55,000 litres oil bunkerers, destroyed 106 of Automotive Gas Oil CHANGE OF NAME illegal refineries and recov- (diesel) and 5,000 litres of Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Oluwaseyi Busayo ered rifles in the year under Dual Purpose Kerosine also JOKOSENUMI , Now wish known as paraffin. review. to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwaseyi Omolola Agui, said seven susHe revealed that the comBusayo OGUNRINDE. All former pects were in court while 16 mand recovered 10 locally documents remain valid. General public to please note. suspects were remanded in prison custody while four CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME vehicles and boats were forI, Formerly known and addressed Formerly known and addressed as as Miss Margaret Chioma Ughoo, feited to the government. MISS OLUDOLAPO OMOLOLA now wish to be addressed and called The NSCDC boss further KOLADE OGUNNIYI, now wish to Mrs. Margaret Chioma Aloysiusbe known and address as MRS. Obot. All former documents remain noted that the command valid. Enugu State University of OLUDOLAPO OMOLOLA OYESIJI. had an active collaboration Science and Technology and All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note. General public to please note with multi-national companies in safeguarding their CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME facilities and pipelines NWANYA: Formerly known AYOMBO: Formerly known and across the state and beyond. and addressed as NWANYA addressed as FRANCIS AYOMBO MERCY LUMIEN now wish ELIZABETH now wish to be known He commended the Fedto be known and addressed as and addressed as AYEOMONI eral and Bayelsa State govNWANYA LUMEN CHINONYE AYOMBO ELIZABETH. All former ernments, the Comman. All former documents remain documents remain valid. General valid. General public take note public take note. dant-General of NSCDC and the media for their supCHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME port during the year under NKPACHUKWU: Formerly known JOY: Formerly known and review, but however, called and addressed as NKPACHUKWU addressed as JOY OLIOGU MIKE ONUORA now wish on the Federal Government ANWULI OBADO now wish to to be known and addressed be known and addressed as JOY to do more in the areas of as EZECHUKWU MICHEAL OLIOGU. All former documents ONUORA. All former documents provision of more equipremain valid. General public take remain valid. General public take note. ment and logistics, which note. he said were the major

challenges facing the command. Also, the Kaduna State Command said no fewer than 727 jericans filled with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and diesel was recovered from the suspects, over attempted vandalism of petroleum products. Reviewing the activities of the command in the outgoing year at state headquarters, State Com-

AzA Msue And OsAhOn Julius

measures that were taken. Bunu explained that earlier in the outgoing year, 41 the command embarked on the sensitisation of various communities on the dangers of vandalism in Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun and Kachia Local Government Areas, noting that the affected communities were chosen in view of prevalent incidence.

mandant of the Corps, Alhaji Modu Bunu, said six vandals were prosecuted, while two suspects are undergoing prosecution in the year 2015. Bunu added that 21 motorcycles and nine vehicles excluding four tankers have also been impounded. He said the state did not experience any incident of pipeline vandalism because of certain proactive

Borno proposes N155bn budget for 2016

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Wednesday presented a budget proposal of about N155 billion for the 2016 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration. Shettima presented the 2016 budget proposal, tagged budget of reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement at the house of assembly in Maiduguri. He said the budget was made up of N103 billion as capital expenditure and N51 billion recurrent

expenditure. The governor said the budget will be financed through N93 billion expected federal allocation and N29 billion internally generated revenue. He added that the budget was about 25 per cent lower that the N175 billion budgeted for the 2015 fiscal year. According to him, the education sector got the highest allocation of N27 billion due mainly to its importance in the development of the state. He said the Ministry of Works and Transport

was allocated N16 billion, while the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation was allocated N11.5 billion. Shettma further stated that the newly created Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement was allocated N10.5 billion, while N10.2 billion was earmarked for the Ministry of Health. He said that the Ministry of Agriculture got N8.6 billion, while the Ministry of Housing and Energy was allocated N4 billion, among other sectors.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AN INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK LICENCE PURSUANT TO SECTION 67 OF THE ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR REFORM ACT 2005 PIPP LVI Disco Limited, whose head office is at 44A/B Chris Madueke Drive, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos hereby gives notice that it has made an application to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission whose principal office is situated at Adamawa Plaza, Plot 1099, 1st Avenue, off Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja for an Independent Electricity Distribution Network Licence in respect of a distribution network at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Notice is hereby given that persons who have objections to the grant of the Licence should send their written comments clearly articulating the basis for any objection within twenty-one (21) days of this publication to: The Chairman/CEO Nigerian Electricity Commission (NERC) CHANGE OFRegulatory NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME PUBLIC NOTICE j j Adamawa Plaza, Plot 1099, 1st Avenue s Off Shehu Shagari Way, CBD P.O. Box 136, G.P.O Garki CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME Abuja,hj FCT CHANGE OF NAME hj hj j

CHANGE OF NAME

South West

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders laud FG’s new pump price for petrol

takeholders in the Oil and Gas Industry yesterday commended the Federal Government for the new pump price template for petrol and appealed for total deregulation of the downstream sector. The stakeholders, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos, said the new pump price template was a welcome development. Federal Government on Tuesday announced a further reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol from N87 to N86.50 per litre, with effect from January 1, 2016. Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Western Zone, Alhaji Ahmed Dabo, said the pump price reduction was a welcome development. He said it was a good intention exhibited by government. According to him, government still has a large control of the depot, while marketers would adjust to whatever price they instituted. “We at IPMAN believe that total deregulation remains the best option in addressing the downstream sector. “What we are interested in, is availability of the product. Government should ensure adequate importation of the product,” Dabo said. Managing Director, Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd., Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, said that “deregulation remains a great solution to a lot of problems and not just a solution to energy distribution problems.” Iheanacho said deregulation was also a solution to the economic problems confronting the nation. He explained that a lot of resources were tied up in the subsidy and the subsidy benefits were not necessarily going to a lot of poor people. According to him, the subsidy has been with those who can pay the full price of the petroleum product. “I really do not see the rational for continuing to deny government of the

resources needed to develop the country. “Subsidy is not meant for poor, because it does not get to the poor. “On the new Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, template, I cannot comment on it, because I need to study it before I can comment. “When you talk of template, a lot of discussions and rational should be studied before making comments,” Iheanacho said. South-West Chairman of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, said the reduction was a welcome development. Korodo urged the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to ensure total compliance with the new directive by all filling stations and private depots in 2016. Korodo described the reduction as “a New Year gift” to Nigerians for their sufferings at the filling stations during Christmas period. He said government meant well for the country despite the attitude of “greedy cabals”, who were trying to frustrate its genuine intentions. National Operation Controller of IPMAN, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, urged the government to enforce total deregulation of the downstream sector. Osatuyi said review of the template was subject to improvement in crude oil pricing.

Buhari

Commuters at Oshodi motorparks waiting to travel out of Lagos for the New Year, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Ambode’s convoy apprehends air force cadets for locking boy in car trunk

he convoy of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday apprehended two air force cadets in Mile 12 area of the state while dehumanising an artisan, Dahiru Lawal for allegedly breaking the windscreen of a Chrysler Stratus car with registration number KRD 267 DV. The cadets, Peters Solomon and Abdullahi Fahad, who claimed to be air force personnel attached to the Air force Base, Ikeja, had forced Lawal in the boot of their car after dragging him on the ground for the said offence. Ambode, who was returning from an inspection visit to Agbowa in Ikorodu, had to interven to save Lawal, who was gasping for breath. The governor expressed surprise that such inhuman treatment could be meted

to a fellow citizen just for breaking the windscreen of a car. When questioned by journalists, the cadets admitted putting Lawal in the boot of their car. According to them, Lawal tried to escape after breaking the windscreen by running into the nearby market where he was apprehended. Peters said: “What happened was that the boy broke the windscreen of my car. When I stopped, I asked him to come, the boy ran away. We had to drag him back and put him in the boot. “Not that I locked the boot, I only put him inside the boot, but I did not lock the boot.” Abdullahi said he and Peters were driving along Mile 12 after visiting a friend when they heard a crack on their windscreen and they saw Lawal attempting to es-

cape. He said their intention was to hand him over to air force police at the Air force Base. While narrating his ordeal in the hands of the cadets, Lawal who hails from Kaduna State, said he mistakenly damaged the windscreen with the load he carried, and that he took to his heels because he was afraid of what they might do to him. He said: “I ran into the market and they pursued me and caught me. They started beating me and dragged me to their car. “I ran because I was afraid of what the cadets might do to me. My boss and people around begged on my behalf, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. “The police also came to plead with them to open the boot but they insisted on tak-

ing me away and it was at that point that the convoy of the governor arrived to rescue me from the boot of the car where they kept me.” He added that he lost his cell phone and N5, 000, which he was having on him at the point that he was being dragged on the floor. The governor had since ordered that the suspects be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Ambode

Police arrest 10 suspected cultists in Ogun

gun State Police Command yesterday 10 suspected cultists were arrested during a raid of criminals’ hideouts in Papalanto and Ewekoro areas of the state. Spokesman for the command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, told newsmen that Special Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS, made the arrests

during the Christmas. According to him, the suspects are believed to be members of the Eiye Confraternity. Adejobi said items recovered from the suspects included three daggers, two locally made doublebarrelled guns, regalia of Eiye Confraternity and some charms.

“The suspects are currently assisting the police in their investigations. “The police will widen the scope of their investigation to find out if the gang is linked with any previous robbery or criminal acts in any part of the state. “I want to assure the public that the fleeing

members of the gang will soon be apprehended, while all hands are on deck to provide adequate security for all and sundry,” he said. Adejobi said the Police Commissioner, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, had directed all police formations in the state particularly SARS, to embark on constant raid of black spots to check crimes.

Arase. Police boss

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Hampers, the reigning business for the Yuletide.

Broad Street Diary

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Making money through stock on Broad Street

he Nigerian Stock Exchange is located on Broad Street, Lagos, but not many people know, including those selling or buying goods and services therein. A stock is a unit of a share of a company that is traded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, it is also often referred to as a share. The market has been a source of income for wise investors, but not many people know how to make investments even many whose the Stock Exchange is at their backyard. In most part of the year, there have been significant losses due to selling pressure observed towards the close of the year. As at the close of trading yesterday, December 31, 2015, the benchmark index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange has lost 18.16 per cent to close at 27,777.83 points, from the opening figure of 33,943.29 points on January 5, 2015. Market capitalisation depreciated to N9.553 trillion, a decline of N1.687 trillion from N11.24 trillion recorded on January 5, 2015. But the potential of investing in stocks is enormous. “An 18.16 per cent drop tells me that it’s an opportune time to invest,“ Mrs Sadiat Kazeem, an insurance broker told National Mirror on the opportunities in the Nigerian capital market. Though she was one of the investors that lost money in the capital market during the downturn, there is still hope of getting better return on investments. “I still have about N.5 million investments in the market. “If I keep the money in the bank, how much would it generate in one year? But I still believe in the capital market because I have gained double of my investments before the crash,” she said. But not many people are aware of the opportunities in the capital market. Mrs. Florence David, a clothes dealer at Broad Street, said she does not know that Nigerian Stock Exchange is located close to her shop. “I don’t think I can keep my money somewhere because whatever I get I use it to buy more goods,” she retorted when this reporter explains opportunities in investing in stocks to her. Where do stocks come from? Every company has shares which the owners lay claim to. When you go to register a company at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, you typi-

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Lagos cally say your authorised share capital is N1m made up of 1m ordinary shares of N1 each. This means your initial capital at the start of your company is N1million represented by those shares. Whilst the value of your capital may increase over time, your shares remain the same till you decide to increase it again and register same with the CAC. When the shares are listed on the floor of the NSE they are tradable as stocks meaning people can buy or sell them. So what is the NSE and what companies trade their shares on it? The NSE is a market for buy-

ers and sellers of stocks (shares) to transact officially. In Nigeria, like in most exchanges all over the world, a company needs to fulfill certain laid out criteria to be able to have its shares traded on the NSE. Some of the criteria are that the company must be a public company and must have more than 50 shareholders (owners). Whenever a company decided to sell shares for the first time on the NSE, they perform what is called an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Subsequent offering of shares by the company can come as a Public Offer (PO) or a Rights Issue. Are these the only ways people can buy shares on the NSE?

As mentioned, the NSE is a market place for people to buy and sell shares. Therefore, those who buy shares during an IPO or during a Public Offer can also sell those shares to willing buyers whenever they want. As such, once a company’s shares are listed on the NSE, their outstanding shares can be bought or sold provided there is a willing seller and a willing buyer with or without a Public Offer. Stocks are traded every working day of the week. Can I buy any number of shares I want? Just like in any market, the stock market is also limited to the forces of demand and sup-

ply. For example, whilst a company may have 10million shares outstanding (available on the stock exchange) only a portion of it may be offered for sale by its owners. Therefore if only 5million of those shares are regularly traded then the maximum you and any other willing buyer can buy is 5million. Is that why I hear a lot about banking stocks? Exactly! An average bank has billions of outstanding shares (stocks) that are traded regularly on the NSE. Therefore people can buy and sell them more frequently unlike a small firm that probably has just few millions. –Johnson Okanlawon

We’ll push hard to attain international standard –CBD boss

he much cherished international standard that characterised the existence of Central Business Districts in developed cities of the world will equally operate in Lagos CBD as the State Government will push itself beyond limit to ensure the fulfillment of the set objectives. Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Honourable Agboola Dabiri, stated this at a meeting with representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos chapter who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Alausa, Ikeja.

He said the agency has mapped out strategy to sustain the level of achievement so far made on Lagos Island CBD in terms of traffic control and regulation as well as prevention of traders from displaying goods on walkways which always impeded traffic Dabiri stated that notable feeder roads into the major road at Apongbon largely obstructing traffic may be blocked to ensure free flow of vehicular movement in the axis. According to Dabiri, who had on many occasions engaged in traffic control on the Island, the coming year will see CBD operations fully extended to Ikeja and

Apapa in line with the design of government at ensuring the much desired international standard. Speaking further, he said: “A high level stakeholders’ forum is being organised by the state government to hold early next year so as to bring on board, notable private sector organisations in a public–private initiative that will further assist government in turning the fortune of CBD around for the better in the best interest of Lagosians.” The collaborative gesture with the private sector according to him, will reflect in the area of sanitation, maintenance, traffic control as well as corporate

branding and kitting of CBD operatives for proper identification as a combined effort at bringing back the lost glory to Lagos Island. Earlier, the Special Adviser while holding a meeting with personnel of the agency including monitoring officers, taskforce and volunteers corps, where he told them to brace up for the challenges ahead, said that the job of taking CBD to the next level should be the concern of all and sundry as anyone found to be a clog in the wheel of progress of the CBD will be shown the way out. –Dare Akogun

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Lagos CJ frees 10 inmates from prison MATTHEW IRINOYE

Fashion parade by kids at the ‘African Kids and Teens Fashion Week’, in Ibadan, recently.

UNILAG VC blames JAMB for admission crisis TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

ice Chancellor, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, Prof. Rahamon Bello yesterday blamed the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, for the recurrent admission crisis confronting the nation’s public universities. The Vice Chancellor also called for the splitting of JAMB’s entrance examinations into three. He advocated separate entrance examinations for those seeking admission into universities, polytechnics or colleges of education. He made this observation yesterday while addressing leaders of

the Education Writers Association of Nigeria, EWAN, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office. According to him, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, conducted by JAMB has done more harm than good to the university admission system, especially by giving candidates choices of schools and courses to make across the three tertiary education levels in the same exam and at the same time. “That is why virtually everybody wants to go to university and no one wants to go to polytechnic or college of education again. But the truth of the matter is that university education is not

meant for everybody. “Some people are out there, who would have ordinarily preferred to study, for instance, in polytechnic where they would acquire the right skills and knowledge that would make them excel in their choice professions but because they have option of going to the university with the same exams and results, they opt for universities and in the process making admission at that level more competitive,” he explained. Speaking further, Bello, a Professor of Chemical Engineering pointed out that using the same parameter to test and grade people who want to go to university with those for either polytech-

nic or college of education is illogical and therefore should be discontinued. The vice-chancellor also called on the Federal Government to grant public universities full financial autonomy, saying such independent would enhance their services of producing globally competitive graduates, quality researches and community services.

Bello

Bishop Okonkwo declares 2016 as Year of “All Sufficiency” SAIDAT ALAUSA

residing Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Lagos, Dr. Mike Okonkwo has called on Nigerians not to lose hope because 2016 is going to be the year of ‘All Sufficiency’ in-spite of the daunting socio-economic challenges facing the nation. According to him, this would be possible because the country has a great future as laid out by God. This was contained in his New Year message tagged “2016, Year of All Sufficiency.” He also called on every Nigerian to always go to God in prayers, and not

lose hope, because the worst thing that can happen to any person or nation is not to have hope. “If you lose hope, then there is no point living at all, but since there is hope and a place to run to, then, it is best we seek refuge in that place and be sure of tomorrow,” he said. He also urged Nigerians to put their trust solely in God because “we are going to branch out of every financial limitation and constraints, necessitated by the present global economic downturn. “As a firm believer that the box of containment and satanic accusation against us as a nation cannot contend with, nor truncate the purpose of God for our lives because what God has said will

surely stand. I therefore challenge every Nigerian to look forward to a great future.” Bishop Okonkwo also urged Christians to trust God for all round sufficiency in the coming year because daily, socioeconomic theories and human postulations are falling apart before our very eyes. He stressed the need for Christians to continually pray for the country’s political office holders for God’s grace and wisdom in steering the ship of the nation so that Nigeria will arrive at God’s ordained destiny for her. Speaking further on the coming year, he enjoined Nigerians to look around and take advantage of the developing

economy to make a living and watch God bless the work of their hands.

hief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, yesterday released 10 inmates from Ikoyi Prisons in Lagos. Justice Atilade said the gesture was aimed at decongesting the prison and also to ensure that deserving inmates are made to breathe the fresh air of freedom. The chief judge said release of inmates is pursuant to the provisions of Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release From Custody Special Provision Act CAP C40, 2007, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. She however admonished the freed inmates to be of good behaviour and make positive impacts in the society. “The beneficiaries of today’s exercise, I must note that they are being given another opportunity to start afresh. “I do sincerely hope and pray that those being granted amnesty today will be of good conduct and will not do anything capable of bringing them back into prison,” she said. Atilade said steps have been taken by the judiciary to facilitate speedy trials and dispensation of cases to ensure a drastic reduction in the number of awaiting trial inmates. “The newly intro-

duced Bail Information Management System, BIMS, is a ground breaking innovation to improve the administration of criminal justice in Lagos State. “Aside guaranteeing ease of access to relevant information as may be required for effective bail management, it is intended to eliminate all known challenges in criminal prosecution,” she said. The chief judge, however, appealed to the Office of the Public Defender, OPD, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and non-governmental organisations to assist inmates, whose cases are ongoing to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. Earlier, Deputy Controller, Ikoyi Prisons, Mr. Julius Ezugwu, said the facility which had capacity for 800 inmates currently held 2,084. “The prison currently holds 2,084 inmates. The number of convicted inmates is 210, while those awaiting trial are 1,874,” he said. Ezugwu noted the cordial relationship that exists between the prison and members of the Criminal Justice System made of the police and judiciary. “The synergy and collaboration amongst us has translated into orderly, stable and peaceful community that abounds in this prison,” he said.

Ekiti, workers differ on N2.5bn maintenance cost of street lights ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

ome aggrieved workers in Ekiti State and the state government yesterday disagreed on the cost of maintenance of street lights in the state capital. While the workers, under the aegis of the Enlightened Workers’ Forum, EWF, alleged that the governor spent N210m monthly to maintain the streetlights, which translates to N2.5bn in one year, the state government described the allega-

tion as imagination of “the fictitious group.” EWF Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, wondered why such a huge amount of money was allegedly being spent on streetlights that only ran for three hours from 7.00pm to 10.00pm daily. According to a statement by Bamidele yesterday, the revelation came to light during a stakeholders’ meeting held in the office of the Accountant General. The workers described the amount as an avenue to loot the treasury, saying “that explained why there was noth-

ing to show for the first anniversary of the governor.” They called on the antigraft agencies to beam their searchlights on the money spent to maintain Ado Ekiti streetlights which they described as “bogus, unreasonable and a ploy to cream off the commonwealth of Ekiti people.” But, Commissioner for Public Utilities, Deji Adesua, described EWF members as “mischievous individuals who clustered together to discredit a government that is trying its best to make life easier for Ekiti people.”

South East

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tipper crushes policeman, two others injured in Anambra Gloria anaeze ONITSHA

tipper lorry laden with sand yesterday rammed into three mobile policemen and crushed one of them to death, while two others sustained various degree of injuries at New Tarzan Junction, along Enugu/Onitsha expressway, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. It was gathered that the incident occurred when the tipper driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle as a result of brake failure. The policemen were said to be involved in traffic control during the festive period when one of them met his untimely death. The incident, according to sources, occurred as the tipper driver was descending the hill. It was gathered further that the driver is being detained at the Ogidi police station while both the injured and the death were taken to the Iyienu Hospital and morgue. Contacted on the incident, the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Hassan Musa, confirmed that only one policeman lost his life in the incident, while two others were hospital-

ised, adding that the driver is currently in police custody. The DPO expressed regret that the incident occurred at a time people were expressing satisfaction that no fatal accident/robbery was recorded during this festive period in the area. He attributed the crimefree Christmas celebration to the concerted efforts of Governor Willie Obiano, the police, led by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Karma Horsea, and other security operatives in the state.

L-R: Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Kelvin Wachuku; Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo and Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adams Dabotorudima, during the commissioning of Abuloma/Woji Bridge Project in Port Harcourt, yesterday

FG targets 400,000 jobs through locally-made pencils ...directs PRODA to produce first made-in-Nigeria 6-cylinder engine

emmanuel ezeh ENUGU

ederal Government yesterday in Enugu said the country must stop importing pencils in the next two years. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, gave the directive at the Projects Development Institute, PRODA. Onu equally mandated

the institute to produce the first made-in-Nigeria sixcylinder engine. He said apart from boosting the country’s economy, production of pencils by PRODA would create about 400,000 jobs which is one of the main thrusts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The minister who spoke after a facility tour of PRODA establishments at

Emene and Iva Valley, both in Enugu State, regretted that despite the fact that Nigeria has the capacity to manufacture pencils, it has continued to import them. He assured the management of PRODA that the administration of President Buhari is committed to creating new jobs, promising that his ministry would support PRODA to meet its mandate.

His ministry, he assured, would assist the institute in achieving its target objectives of contributing meaningfully to the nation’s technological breakthrough. He requested the assistance of the institute in giving technical training that would enable many unemployed youths roaming the streets to acquire skills that could equip them to fend for themselves.

Earlier in his address, the chief executive officer of PRODA, Dr. Agunanna, had disclosed that part of the imported machines that would have enabled PRODA take-off with full scale production of pencils are withheld at the Wharf in Lagos. He assured that when the machines are released to PRODA, it would embark on mass production of pencils.

100 PDP members defect to APC in Enugu emmanuel ezeh ENUGU

he wave of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hit Enugu State yesterday as no fewer than 100 members of the party moved to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The defectors were welcomed at Eke Ward, in Udi Local Government Area by the state executive members of the APC, led by the party’s deputy chairman, Hon. A.C Udeh. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jeffery Onyeama, is from Eke. Other top members of the party who were at the event include its state secretary, Major General Chris Eze (rtd) and Brigadier General Joseph Okoloagu (rtd) as well as the publicity secretary of the APC leadership caucus in the South East, Mr. Osita

Okechukwu. In a speech, Mr. Okechukwu said the defection “has signaled the exodus from the PDP and other political parties in Enugu State to the APC.” He, however, added that “whereas, we do not want a one-party state in Nigeria, we welcome you for your humility and candour in joining the party from the grassroots. The ward is the primary unit and soul of the party. “We are also happy that you’re not among those PDP stalwarts who ignobly utilised the Dasuki-GateBazaar to allocate a paltry 14,175 votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election in Enugu State and paradoxically today are joining the APC through the backdoor. “We shall convey your gracious entry to the national leadership of our party and in particular

President Buhari who has initiated in high tempo the process to revamp the Enugu coal.” He recalled that President Buhari made a pledge to revamp the Enugu coal on January 10 this year at Okpara Square, Enugu, stressing that “it is this campaign pledge that he is set to redeem by jump-starting the project in 2016.” He described the criticisms that had trailed President’s 2016 budget deficit of N2.2 billion as misplaced, arguing that “Nigerians will harvest from President Buhari’s high profile ratings by the international community. “This is the political capital which will earn Nigerians the premium of attracting funds for critical infrastructure. Both local and international investors have implicit confidence that Buhari will not squander their money. It is his

credibility that attracted the investors to the coal project. “Note that Buhari is revamping the Enugu coal, which two of our illustrious sons - Professors Barth Nnaji and Chinedu Nebo, who were ministers under the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, more or less ignored in four years while heading the power ministry. “Is it not an irony that a Hausa/Fulani man from the North is fixing the Enugu coal which our brothers couldn’t fix? Yes, it is a profound lesson to those who play ethnic-card; that is, those who believe that good things can come only from our sons and daughters. History is not their witness as demonstrated in this instance. “In three years’ time the rapid development of Enugu coal will rejuvenate Enugu status as the origi-

nal Coal City, and provide massive employment, contrary to the wild dreams of those who play ethnic-card. “One challenges those who canvas Biafra today to explain why two ministers from Enugu State and the former President, an adopted son, failed to fix the Enugu coal in spite of the billions of Naira budgeted? “Same squandermania and abandonment of projects happened to the 2nd Niger Bridge and federal roads in the South East. “In the same vein, how come Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the then Secretary to Government of the Federation, and Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy were there when the Owete/ Loko Bridge nearing completion and a host of others were awarded on contract and almost fully paid

for by the Federal Government and the 2nd Niger Bridge was lately handed over to Julius Berger to source for fund? “Ndigbo therefore should think out of the box, count our blessings in Nigeria, and say capital no to demagogues who want to reverse the achievements of our hard working and enterprising people in every town in Nigeria. “To me, the salvation of Nigeria has commenced with an incorrigible patriot, and man of integrity. Let’s support Mr. President so as not only to benefit from his good governance, but succeed him after eight years; going by the zoning convention. “This is a better option, as we cannot act the rodent inside the hole for donkey years, only to quarrel when it is about being rescued,” he added.

Thursday, December 31, 2015

OsahOn Julius YENAGOA

head of the January 9 supplementary election in Bayelsa state, the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, are once again at each other’s neck as they both bicker over the alleged visit of the state governor and candidate of the PDP, Hon. Seriake Dickson to Aso Rock to see the President, Mohammad Buhari on Tuesday. While the state chapter of the APC and Timipreye Sylva campaign organization described the visit of Dickson to Aso Rock as “sign of desperation” and “acceptance of defeat” the PDP, through the restoration campaign organization of the governor, said the claims by the APC were set of “lies and figment of the imagination”, saying that the governor did not go to Aso villa to see President Mohammadu Buhari. According to the APC, the surprise visit by the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson to Abuja was to allegedly lobby President Muhammad Buhari and sought for soft landing in event he is defeated in the re-run election. The APC said the gover-

EzEkiEl TiTus BAUCHI

t appears President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade may be facing serious hitches as Bauchi state police command yesterday arraigned the Secretary of an anti- corruption coalition, Yakubu Alhaji Jibrin. His arraignment according to Chief Magistrate Garba Inuwa Sambo followed criminal conspiracy relating to publication of official information of the Bauchi state government. The chief magistrate had initially maintained that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the charges filed against the accused saying, it must get the consent of the state, fed-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

APC, PDP bickers over Dickson’s alleged visit to Aso Rock nor lack the moral right to seek audience with President Mohammad Buhari after disrespecting the office of the President with his series of lies. abuses meted out to the President and name calling before and after the inconclusive election. The APC, in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Sylva/Igiri campaign organisation, Chief Nathan Egba, expressed joy that the audience sought by Dickson, was not granted by the President, Muhammad Buhari. The statement added that Dickson, had repeatedly alleged that President Buhari wanted to use federal might, including the military and police to rig the election in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC and its candidate, former Governor Timipre Sylva and wonder why is he visiting him now. The statement said. “Sources in the Presidential villa, Abuja, report that many people were surprised to see Governor

Dickson around, having stayed away from the villa for the past weeks. Information available indicates that Mr. Dickson’s request to meet the President was turned down and he was rather directed to meet the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari, for his mission.” “Our investigations revealed that, Governor Seriake Dickson, is quite

unsettled ahead of the January 9 re-run election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which is a stronghold of the APC and he is now reportedly looking for a soft-landing after the eventual loss of the Bayelsa governorship seat.” “Dickson may have told the Chief of Staff that he was at the villa to apologise

for his treasonable felony utterances during the election which had brought unwarranted embarrassment to the President, who clearly had no hand in the conduct of the election in Bayelsa State. “ President Buhari should be wary of the desperate Dickson, whose main plan is to win the election through the use of vio-

lence. Nigerians have now formed a very negative impression about the aggressive Governor, who is adept at intimidating and harassing people to support his second term ambition, while beating up public officers like the Southern Ijaw LGA Chairman, Chief Remember Ogbe for not delivering the area in the cancelled polls.”

L-R: Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Nuhu Gidado; Governor Muhammed Abubakar and Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Shehu Damina at the inauguration of Misau-Bulkachuwa-Udubo road, yesterday.

Police arraign anti-corruption coalition secretary in Bauchi eral or director of public prosecution in tandem with the appropriate laws. The police prosecutor, Tizhe had apply for the adjournment of the case to enable it present before the court, the necessary documents required by the court before proceeding in the case. Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Charles Amadi applied for bail for the accused. He said the bail became necessary because of the deteriorating health of his client as he said police has no facilities to take care of him. However in his ruling, the chief magistrate said the accused should be kept under police custody and

should be allow access to a reputable hospital even as the case was adjourn to 6th January, 2015 for hearing. It could be recalled that the anti- corruption group, Bauchi State Coalition Against Financial Crimes and Injustice of which Jibrin is the General Secretary had recently placed an advertorial in one of the national dailies titled : “An open letter to President Buhari and the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly”, urging them to investigate Governor Mohammed Abubakar for alleged financial crimes . This according to the coalition is to support President Buhari’s effort at fight-

ing corruption Similarly, based on the court first information report(FIR) it was gathered that one Baba Waziri Ibrahim and Sani Abdullahi both male of Makama extension had on 18th December,2015 petitioned the Bauchi state police commissioner against the accused and one Dogon Yaro Bibi who is at large on behalf of Bauchi state secretary to the state government. They were said to have said that the suspects criminally conspired and made seditious publication against Bauchi state government and the executive governor of Bauchi state Mohammed Abubakar claiming the governor embezzle and

defrauded the state treasury without due process and for his personal gains, the action he said seriously breached peace and necessitated public disturbance in the state. The FIR further indicated that the purported publicize document by the accused is an offense contrary to section 96, 114 and 416 of the penal code of law and section 1 (I) (A)(B) of the official secrets acts Cap.o3 laws of the federation of Nigeria Soon after the court ruling, several members of the group were seen in group while youths in the metropolis had threaten to disrupt and withdraw their support for the current APC

administration in the state Leader of the group, Adamu Ahmed in a chat with newsmen pointed out that the arrest of the accused is a set-back to Buhari’s attempt to fight corruption and caution the government not to use the police to hide in committing financial crime which is not part of APC change mantra According to the youth group, it will not hesitate to mobilize thousand of youths on peaceful protest if the anti-corruption coalition general secretary still remain in police custody with a strong promise to petition President Buhari to address this negative development against crusaders of corruption.

Politics

Forty-five year old Prince Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, says the passion to improve the lot of the people of Ondo State has spurred him to take up the gauntlet of contesting for the office of governor on the platform of All Progressives Congress, come next year. In this interview with journalists, he also speaks on the $2.1bn arms procurement funds, the situation of power supply in the country among other issues of national importance. AYO ESAN brings the excerpts:

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashola can turn power

What are your reactions to the gale of probes sweeping across the country, arising from the revelation that close to $3 billion arms procurement funds kept in the custody of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, were shared among politicians and other political jobbers? My training as a lawyer says to me that I have to be cautious in passing judgment. I have only read about all of this in the newspaper. I have also listened to the news but for me, they are still allegations and there is a presumption of innocence. So it will be wrong and unfair to say to you today, that certain persons are guilty and certain persons are not guilty. I think, however, that the government has done the right thing by holding people accountable to their stewardship while in office. Nigerians, particularly those who occupy political positions, must understand that political office is an office of trust, where the common resources of the citizens are placed in your hands and you must at all times guide it and guard it. Now, if the law court conducts trial and finds Dasuki guilty, then the law should take its course. Now as regards what the government is doing, it is something it should be commended for. If everybody occupying political office understands that funds entrusted to them must be properly deployed and that otherwise there will be repercussion, then people will be more careful and prudent in distributing what is actually not theirs, but the commonwealth of all Nigerians. So I think what the government has done by taking them to court to determine whether they are guilty is the best thing to do in a democratic setting. How about the controversy over the desirability or otherwise of adopting the plea bargain approach, to ensure that some of these stolen funds are actually recovered? Let’s ask ourselves. What is the objective of the probes? The objective is to recover fund. The monies that have been taken inappropriately should be returned. So I believe that it should be the main focus. However, having said that, there must also be deterrent for those who have occupied office and those who are occupying office. If you misappropriated fund and a criminal element is established, then you would face the music. This issue about plea bargaining is a concept that was developed in the western world, particularly as regards financial crimes; and the idea was that most of those financial crimes are so intriguing that it becomes difficult to disentangle. The white man then decided that, rather than waste so much time, energy and resources prosecuting people, we can actually plead bargain and say, ‘return it for a lesser custodian sentence’, not that you don’t go to jail at all, but it is custodian sentence. It is like if a man is tried today and found guilty, there is what lawyers call allocutus; which is, your lawyer would say, ‘he is a first offender, he has never offended.’ So, rather than give him a maximum sentence which may be 10 years-the offences may be a minimum of two years and maximum of 10 years for example-give him the minimum because he has shown remorse. So even at the trial level, you actually by virtue of your act during trial or before, get a lesser custodian sentence, but you’ll still be sentenced. Now if you are able to achieve that without the added cost of prosecution, then it is a lofty idea. If I say for example, Mr. X, we have sent $2m to you and have found more

Adegbonmire

than that in the account, we assume that you work for 30, 40 years as a businessman; so maybe you have $500, 000. So return the rest to us. Don’t forget this: plea bargain means you will still be convicted but because you do not allow us to spend additional money getting the money back from you, rather than be sentenced to 10 years, the judge then considers your offence to your allocutus to say ‘let him go for two years. Then, does government have the manpower to prosecute these people efficiently and effectively to the extent that all of these high profile cases that you see, government has engaged the services of private legal practitioners. That shows you that in the Ministry of Justice, there may not be the expertise to do it. These legal practitioners who are engaged in their own private practice have to be paid. Witnesses have to be brought sometimes from abroad. So it is also a cost. I see no reason why government cannot say ‘return the money but rather than to go to jail for 10 years, you go to jail for two years. And I also see that a lot of people don’t understand the concept of plea bargain and that is why immediately you say it, they assume wrongly that it means that you serve no jail term. No, that’s not it. The power sector has been a hard nut to crack for successive administrations. This time round, President Buhari, like the past leaders, has given us assurance of hope, that electricity will be stable. What do you think is the way out in stabilising power supply? I have implicit confidence in the ability of the present

I thInk, however, that the government has done the rIght thIng by holdIng people accountable to theIr stewardshIp whIle In offIce

Minister in charge of Power, Babatunde Fashola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to turn things around and I say this on the basis of his track record in Lagos. I would like to believe that he has taken that into the office he is now; because you may have a policy but fail to implement it effectively and efficiently. So you need a good policy and you need a good manager. I think we find these two things in Fashola. For me, the greatest challenge of the power sector is the unrealistic approach that has been employed and why do I say so? You sell the power sector and you sell this Distribution Companies, DISCO or Generation Companies, GENCO to Nigeria but you hold on to the transmission. Government still holds on to the transmission. It’s like

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Politics

Thursday, December 31, 2015

sector around –Adegbonmire you generate, I transmit, you distribute. However, both the GENCOs and the DISCOs are largely owned by Nigerians who have borrowed funds at double digits for a project that the gestation period is at least seven to 10 years. So assuming I borrowed $100m and have paid 28 per cent, what it means is that, every year, my interest rate alone is $28m. I have not paid salaries because it is still a running cost to the project and it is only from the profit from the revenue that I can pay back that loan. It must be that I must be able to generate a profit of at least 40 % to run that place effectively; so I’ll take out 20%. It remains 12%, which I would use to do other things. So it is clear that I can never make profit and I can never pay back the money. I would have thought that the government before now would have done a policy, a sort of thing they do while you bid for oil blocs where they say, ‘this is the criteria for bidding for foreigners but we must have a Nigerian company as part of the construction. So you are trying to transfer technology but you are ensuring that the right people who have the right expertise are the ones running these things. So what is the track record of all the people that have bought GENCO and DISCO? There is absolutely nothing in the power sector. So they are shooting in the dark; they are learning on the process and when you learn on the process, it takes a longer period because to hit the ground running, you have to understand the terrain. You are interested in becoming the governor of Ondo State. What is your political background? I want to be governor of Ondo State and I intend to run next year on the platform of APC. I have been involved in politics for a very long time, but not as a candidate for any political office. However, my family has been a political family since 1952, when my father joined the Action Group and from 1952 till when he passed on two years ago. He had always been of the progressive family. From the Action Group to the UPN, from the UPN to the SDP, to the AD; and from the AD to the ACN and now, we are in the APC. So it has been a family of politicians close to 50 years. I have learnt a lot from my father but I must say that in 1998, I was a prominent member of the Olu Falae Campaign Committee, where I occupied the office of assistant secretary to his campaign organisation. So I have seen politics in terms of campaigning for political office and have also been a member of various professional and political pressure groups. I have, therefore, over the years, studied not only governance but also the politics of Nigeria and in Ondo State and I believe in two things. One is that, there is the need to change the face of government. Governance should be seen as your preparedness to serve your people, and not as a medium for self aggrandizement. And it must be a call to service. Secondly, I think there is a mark distinction between being educated and being educated and enlightened. I believe that one of the things in governance is that you must not only be educated, you must also be enlightened, so that you can bring to the floor, good governance, purposeful governance and beneficial governance. I have studied my state for a very long time and I believe that things can be done differently; one, go and look at the budget of Ondo State for example. As we speak today they can’t pay salary from the total revenue of the state in a month, why? Because, the bulk of the total revenue comes from the federal government allocation. Oil has gone from $130 to $7 per barrel. So that is effectively less than one third. So there is a direct impact on the revenue of Ondo State. Nobody has sat down to say how can we generate revenue from our state in such a way that at least, we can enhance our revenue base. Government is business; if you are generating 10 projects and you are not generating enough income to complete the 10 projects, then you can’t do anything. So you must not only say I will build roads and schools and everything, you must also ask yourself: where does the money come from. You have a situation in Nigeria. There is a map done by the solid mineral ministry that shows all the various minerals in every state, including Ondo State, and has anybody sat down to say, ‘how do we encourage the private

Nobody has sat dowN to say how caN we geNerate reveNue from our state iN such a way that at

least, we caN eNhaNce our

reveNue base.

goverNmeNt

is busiNess; if you are

geNeratiNg

10 projects aNd

you are Not geNeratiNg eNough iNcome to complete the

10 projects, theN you caN’t do aNythiNg

sector in partnering with the state, to develop what we have in our state. For example, develop a mineral and somebody says you wouldn’t be able to reap the benefit until 15 years and I say it is not a priority to me because I want to take out of it while in office. I can build something that its benefit can be 20, 15 years’ time. In which case, the maximum time I can be in office is eight years, but the fact is that because government is a continuum, the state will reap the benefit when those things boom. A big example is Oodua Investment which Awolowo did in the First Republic and up till now, the states in the old Western Region still gets revenue from Oodua. Awolowo is long gone but his deeds are still here for us to see, for all of us to appreciate. Some people were not even born when Awolowo died but they’ve heard of his deeds from their parents. Look at Ore. Why can’t Ore be changed to a commercial hub in Ondo State? Nobody has ever thought about it. The place is an eye-sore. Why can’t a government redevelop Ore, that intercession and widen the road with the permission of the Federal Government, encourage people to build small hotels, rebuild all shops on an owner-occupier basis and spread the rent to the next 20, 25 years. So they are paying little amount every month which we say is rent and tax? Why can’t you do that? You generate employment. .Look at agriculture, you set up a ministry of agriculture, for me what a ministry of agriculture should do is to make farming more attractive, do research, ensure that seedlings are developed that can grow at a faster rate. Give those seedlings to the farmers and ensure that farmers can bring out their products to sell; it is not about fertilizer. If you can’t do all the roads because there is no money, what you will do is to have a priority list, broken into three groups: the ones that need total rehabilitation, the ones that need partial repairs. All I have to do is buy equipment and use my people in the ministry to go and patch those roads, I don’t have to give them to contractors. I look at what is the importance of this road to the commercial or social life of Ondo State, because, with the best intention, the road between Akure and Owo is a very important road. So what is your position on an agitation that the governorship position should move out of your Central Senatorial District? I have heard of this thing so many times. What is zoning? People have said the present governor; Dr. Segun Mimiko is from Ondo Central Senatorial district just as I am, because Ondo and Akure are in the same senatorial district. They said why do you think that another person from the Central Senatorial district should be governor? To those people, it should be Ondo North’s turn because (the late former Governor Olusegun) Agagu hailed from the South before it became the turn of Mimiko who is from Central. But I

have always said something and I repeat it here that zoning is a latter-day arrangement. Let’s take it from the late former Governor Adebayo Adefarati’s era when he was to be governor. There was no zoning; nobody said ‘zone it to the north.’ Primaries were held between him mainly and Chief (Mrs.) Mobolaji Osomo who was from the Ondo South senatorial district. So they contested and he became governor. Don’t forget that Agagu ran against Adefarati in 1999. He was from the South. So you had somebody from the South and somebody from the North. Nobody talk about zoning. If it is about zoning, most of them should be from the North and another from the South, from two different platforms; so there was no zoning. In fact, Adefarati and Agagu contested again in 2003. And in 2007, Mimiko contested against Agagu, lost the election, went to the tribunal, the tribunal then said ‘oh you won the election, go and assume office.’ In other words, at that time , Agagu and Mimiko who were from two different senatorial districts also contested for the election, nobody talked about zoning. Now, let’s come nearer to my party, the APC. There’ve been two elections, the first was in Kogi, there was no zoning, and the second was in Bayelsa, there was no zoning. Why must Ondo state be different? Let me now break it down; look at Ondo State; we have five languages so to speak; there are Akoko, Owo, Akure , Ondo and Ikale/Ijaw languages respectively. If we break it down, it is only the Akure people that have never been governor for years. Next year will be 40 years that Ondo State was created. So, let’s have a level playing ground for all and let the best man win.

Rights activist makes case for woman president, govs Abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

he President of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, WELA, Mrs Funmi Falana, has advocated opportunities for women to occupy the exalted positions of President of Nigeria and governor of states. The WELA boss and wife of Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), said the call became imperative since “women are better managers and can manage the affairs of the country better”. The human rights activist spoke at Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home, Iyin Ekiti while celebrating Christmas with the lessprivileged children. She bemoaned inadequate women representation in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari and appealed that “women should not be marginalised. Women should be given a voice. The girl-child should stand up and not feel inferior. What a man can do, the woman can do better”. The WELA boss, who said that the inability of the Federal Government to rescue the kidnapped Chibok girls about two

years after was painful, however, expressed hope that the children would regain their freedom soon, saying: “We are waiting for the return of the girls. “We are telling the government that it is not doing enough on securing the release of the girls from their abductors so that they can be reunited with their families. The security of every Nigerian is the responsibility of government. So, it must be seen to be alive to this responsibility,” she said. Mrs. Falana, who was at the Children’s Home with gift items including food, drinks, clothes and others, said her yearly celebration with the children was “to show the children that we care for them. “We are using this to tell the children that the circumstance of their birth will not limit their destiny and future. It is a way of giving the less-privileged a sense of belonging and telling them that they are important,” she said. The human rights lawyer, however, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to show love to the less-privileged by ensuring that they do not lack anything by giving them necessary assistance and support.

Politics

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Bindow in fresh spat with Adamawa senators Livinus Menedi YOLA

he lingering crisis brewing between the Adamawa state Governor, Sen. Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow and the three Senators elected on the platform of his party, the All Progressive Congress, APC platform penultimate weekend degenerated with the decision of the party caucus and state executive committee to sideline the senators from all party activities. Bindow has been at loggerheads with all the three senators representing the state at the National Assembly and only enjoys cordial relationship with just a few members representing the state in the House of Representatives. But the stand- off between him and the senators representing the state is allegedly linked to senators’ loyalty to the impeached former Governor of the state, Murtala Nyako. Gov. Bindow’s relationship with the state Senators became estranged shortly

after he assumed office, however, they did enjoy the best of friendship in the build up to the elections a factor which was partly responsible for their electoral success because they kept a united front. Strains within the party have lingered, but explanation by Governor’s aide which revealed why Bindow had to summon a meeting of the party caucus comprising state executives of the party and chairmen of the party at the councils, where the decision to move against the senators was reached, revealed the Governor’s growing frustrations with the senators, whom he conceives as enemies of the government. The aide said the son of the former Governor, Sen. Abdulaaziz Nyako is being fingered by Governor’s loyalists of working against the administration by trying to put a wedge between the governor and state legislators by sponsoring a false impeachment hoax against the governor and also masterminding a media campaign of calumny.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oyo guber election: Ladoja heads for Supreme Court KeMi OLaitan IBADAN

he last may not have been heard about the April 2015 governorship elections in Oyo State as a former governor of the state, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, dissatisfied with the verdict of the Appeal Court on the petition he filed against the election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday filed processes contesting the judgment at the Supreme Court in Abuja. A statement signed by his Media Assistant, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo and made available to journalists in Ibadan, said the processes were filed at

the apex court which was the last of the 14 days required by law to do so. He attributed the late filling to the unnecessary delay in the release of the Appellate Court judgment by the panel that handled the appeal, adding that the release of a copy of the judgment at 4:30pm on Tuesday, December 29, spoke volumes of calculated effort to frustrate the challenging of the panel’s decision at the highest court. According to him, “but for God and the determination of Ladoja and his legal team, contesting the outcome of the appeal at the apex court would have suffered a technical dif-

ficulty as a result of the landmines buried in the ground by the panel’. He said, “Senator Ladoja wondered why the Appeal Court panel, knowing full well that the appellants have 14 days within which to challenge the outcome of the appeal, refused to release the judgment which is the most vital document required by the Supreme Court. “The judgment was released at about 4:30pm on Tuesday, December 29, while Wednesday December 30 was the last day the appellants have to contest the verdict. Despite this barrier erected against justice, Senator Ladoja was able to beat the dead-

line. “Ladoja gave glory to God that the obvious conspiracy against the honest pursuit of justice failed woefully. We have filed the requisite documents at the apex court. Senator Ladoja reiterates his belief in the Supreme Court to render due justice his petition and that of Accord”, Latinwo said. The former governor then thanked the people of the state for their unflinching support for him and reposing confidence in his ability to lead the state out of the current doldrums into which it had been managed, stressing that God is on the side of truth.

Assembly to pass budget as new year gift to Lagosians –Olawale dare aKOgun

ember representing Mushin constituency 11 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale has said that the members of the house had agreed to pass the budget as a New Year gift to the state and its residents as it would help the governor kick-start his projects in the new year. Olawale disclosed this in a chat with National Mirror in his office yesterday. He noted that since the budget of N662.5 billion was presented by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the house, the house decided not to go on recess for the Yuletide and had engaged ministries, departments and agencies in budget defence so as to quicken its passage. According to him, “We are seriously looking at every area of the budget to ensure that we produce what can be described as the best the state can produce.

“You can see that since last week, we have been extremely busy sorting out areas of concern. I can assure you that the budget would be passed before the New Year and Lagosians would have cause to be happy . “Here in Lagos State, the three tiers of government: the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary have always been striving to put our people first in all that we do. “It is however pertinent to note that the very cordial relationship existing between this legislative House and the executive has not stopped us from performing our constitutionally assigned roles of exercising control over the state’s purse. “In treating this budget, we will not forget that we are trustees of the people. A lot has indeed been done in the area of job creation and economic empowerment of Lagosians. But there is a dire need to create more opportunities for our people; more jobs will definitely lead to greater economic growth,” he reiterated.

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong presenting the 2016 Appropration Bill before the State House of Assembly in Jos, Yesterday.

PDP is dead –Sen. Girei Abubakar Livinus Menedi YOLA

ormer Chairman, Senate House Services Committee, Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has gone into oblivion, because of its inability to manage its political dominance since 1999. Girei, while speaking to journalists also declared that the NorthEast geo-political zone of the country has become the stronghold of All Progressives Congress ,APC, because of the genuine intention of President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to change the trends of under -development of the region.

The Senator, who represented Adamawa Central Senatorial District and a foundation member of the PDP asserted that PDP has lost its relevance because of maladministration within the party and also lack of political ideology, lack of focus leadership which culminated in its failure to have its bearings in the 16 years it held sway as the ruling political party. As a result, he said, the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party is no longer in existence as a formidable political party, but floating in name because the good dream of its founding fathers is now blurred. He further asserted that the PDP has been lost to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC

in the North-east because of mis-governance by the PDP leadership and lack of internal democracy in the party as well as the failure by the former President Goodluck Jonathan to reconcile the aggrieved party stalwarts who had frowned at the imposition of party candidates. “If you say I am a foundation member of the PDP, you are right. I am also sure you know that am no longer in the PDP because PDP is dead, he said. “If anybody tells you that there is PDP, tell him that he doesn’t know what politics is all about.” “We have been vindicated, I remember vividly on the 14th of March,2015, two weeks to the presidential elections when President Goodluck Jona-

than came to Yola where all the stakeholders had a meeting with him, with a view to reconcile before we go for the general elections as one united family and the president failed to reconcile the party stakeholders. Since that day, I knew that the PDP was gone and finished. Since then I ceased to be a member of the PDP”, he said. From the present trends, we in Adamawa state and we in the northeast have been accommodated by President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in the current government. I don’t think there is anybody in Adamawa and the North- east that belong to any party other than the APC”, he further said.

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

New Year Day idiosyncrasies CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

Today is New Year eve, so the ritualized countdown to the 2016 New Year has started. The exact hours of New Year differs across the world because of the different time zones. The December 31 cum January 1 have become a sort of universal public holiday since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, and it is often celebrated worldwide with lavish eating, drinking, socialising, fireworks and perfunctory exchange of gifts. Although fascination with dates and figures is a universal human foible, the Nigerian contemporary culture is so emotionally engrossed with numbers that almost any day to which any distinctive adjective can be bestowed is celebrated. Thus the first day of the week, first day of the month, first Sunday of the year, last Sunday of the year, and even the first working day of the year, are deemed worthy of veneration with special thanksgiving. It is a culture not only welcomed, but actively encouraged by religious establishments who, of course, are

recipients of the thanksgiving proceeds? The New Year eve/New Year Day is so esteemed that it has anaphoric effect reaching back to September (the first of the socalled four “ember” months) with people actually starting countdown in form of preparation for the New Year. The “ember” months themselves have been mystified. There are some people who truly believe the months are jinxed because of the reality of escalation in the accidents, fatality, crimes and other disasters. Some religious leaders have also contributed to this superstitious culture of demonisation. This writer once heard a preacher saying that in “ember” months, demons temporarily trans-locate from hell to dwell in the earthly realm with a mission to spread tears and sorrow! Of course, every discerning mind knows that nothing is inherently wrong with “ember months” and that evil spirits have not chosen the period to unleash sadistic havoc on humanity. The phenomenon of tragedies associated with the period is explicable sociologically on the grounds of enhanced hustle and bustle of socioeconomic activities and virtual intensification of existential exigencies, inducing a concomitant higher incidence of both human errors and man’s deliberate mischief. Back to the theme. Many people are firmly rooted in the belief that a prayer piously said at the sacred hour just preceding the transition into New Year has some superior sanctity which makes it more efficacious than supplications made during

NO SINGLE HOUR OR MINUTE HOLDS ANY

DIVINE KEY TO GOD’S HEART any other period of the year. Thus, many people would dare not think of fording into a new year, with all its uncertainties, without the psyching up effect produced by last minute ferocious invocations. For this reason, places of worship invariably fill to the brim and overflow on the eve of every New Year. A number of these last day supplicants are “emergency” worshippers, who have either not attended church since the beginning of the year, or could only boast of scanty attendances. Notwithstanding, these freely mingle with the regular faithful in the annual ritual of emotion-laden supplications at these venerated hours preceding the beginning of a fresh year. Such is the faith reposed in this perfunctory rogation that it is not uncommon to find a group of young people busy guzzling down beer in the company of ladies of easy virtues at a place adjacent to a church, who would rush frantically into the church a few minutes to 12 midnight to partake in the explosive “spiritual” adjuration only to retire to their drinking joint after shouting the ritualistic “Happy New

Remove army of occupation from Igboland EJIKE KINGSLEY OSUJI

am unequivocally counselling Nigerian national leadership to remove its annihilative and aggressive guns from the Igboland. Official guns (national security forces) are subtly finding their way to the South East now to do damage in their usual manner to the psyche of Ndigbo. Indeed, they have started maiming and killing innocent citizens from the region, forgetting that the killing of an unarmed innocent person is the condemnation of a nation. Information available shows that already five unarmed demonstrators have been killed in Onitsha and at least two in other places. And believe you me there are spiritual and temporal consequences for all these dastardly acts on the nation. Over three million Igbos were slaughtered unconscionably in their houses and homeland during the 30-month civil war (July 1967-January 1970) and the nation has not yet atoned for this. This refusal for atonement explains why the nation has not made a quantifiable advancement since then. And now, other innocent bloods are beginning to be shed because of their peaceful demonstrations by incarnates of those killed during that gruesome war that ended 45 years ago. The consequences of this current onslaught will be grave - deeply enlightened minds are already seeing them. It is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. Ig-

IGBOS ARE NOT TO BE CONFRONTED WITH GUNS AND BOMBS AGAIN BY THE

NIGERIAN NATION STATE

bos are not to be confronted with guns and bombs again by the Nigerian nation state. Going that way will surely bring reproach on the nation. The mistakes of the civil war are yet to be resolved, yet another confrontation is looming with guns trained on Ndigbo to keep the seeming grave yard peace that subsists in our country. This writer as a toddler witnessed the last civil war; and the despicable impressions it left in his impressionable mind then still lingers. There was no family in Igboland that did not lose at least one person during that unfortunate and mindless war. This writer lost his loving pan-Nigerian Lagos-boy born eldest brother, Eugene Chukwuemeka Osuji (born in Lagos in 1942) on September 4th, 1969 through a genocidal Nigerian Air force jet-fighter strafing a church compound with unarmed attendees. His mother was nearly killed in the bombing of his Afor Umuohiagu market in the same 1969 - please read Chinua Achebe’s ‘There was a Country’ page 212. She bore the scars of that bombing many years after, and died painfully with the unforgotten memory of the gruesome death of her promising first son. See what annihilative bombing and

strafing (and misuse of air power in that war) did to my family! Also, another of this writer’s eldest brother (Eugene’s immediate younger one), a professor of international repute, who has published over 48 books and thousands of academic papers, was conscripted as a child soldier (he was about 16 years old then), and received massive bullet wounds on his body that could have incapacitated his gifted brain but for the fact that he is a never-give-in-to-adversity person. He still made it in life. Believe you me, the sores of that genocidal war are still fresh in the minds of many that suffered its horror. And now, annihilative and aggressive guns have started flowing back to Igboland to do another despicable damage. This time, it may be its last time in damage. Its efficacy will be blunted and made useless. We all have forgotten that the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, etc do not today exist because of the emphasis on coercive proclivities by their leaders. Igbos are truly Nigerian nationalists and have indeed truly walked the talk of “one Nigeria” by living, having properties and raising their kids in all the nooks and crannies of the country without hating or hurting the indigenous people of their abode exceptions being individuals with criminal-minded pursuits. But others in Nigeria’s geopolitical confine still treat them and their children with suspicion, disdain and exclu-

Year” heartily with alcohol-induced euphoria. There are also many who believe that all the sins they have committed since January would be forgiven and obliterated from God’s inerrant record just for a few hours of piety accompanied with temporary penitence on the magical Eve. The belief in this nocturnal sanctification on the last day of the year is so prevalent that murderers, liars, backbiters, looters of public funds, in short, wicked people of all sorts, would not be outdone in thronging the places of worship for the yearly orison to procure blessings. God is expected to hearken to them simply because the day is December 31st. No attempt is being made to suggest people should not engage in thanksgiving, praise worship prayers and other rituals, what is being condemned is the apparent deification of the day itself rather than focus on God, whose powers and might are not confined to anytime. God is timeless! The truth is that a person whose heart is in close communion with God at all times needs not ride on the crest of New Year eve’s frenzy supplications to feel reassured of His protective powers and enduring love. No single hour or minute holds any divine key to God’s heart. Let’s strive to live in conformity with His ordinances at all times. Ketefe may be followed on twitter @ Ketesco

sion. For example, this writer was born in Lagos in the early sixties, schooled in the East and West; travelled to all the states in Nigeria—by road and by air - repeatedly; worked and lived in many of the major cities in the country due to official transfers while working in a reputable national organization. He made excellent friends (men and women) from all over the country without nepotistic mind-set. He was truly a homeboy—silently but fairly operating in the “battle of the genders” in his youth years without nepotistic disposition too. Is there a better way to prove his pan Nigeriana credentials? But in his journeys through life in Naija so far, he has being made many a time to understand that he is an Igboman not to be deeply trusted, and therefore, discriminated-upon. In some instances, some of his Yoruba fellow country people, not knowing he is a ‘Lagos boy’ because of his Igbo name, while speaking in their language in his presence, say derogating things about him and his Igbo people. They do this because they do not know he hears their language more than many of them! To be continued Osuji wrote via ekosuji@yahoo.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Thursday December 31, 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 OBIORA IFOH ACTING ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Kidnappers’ huge appetite for wealth, wickedness

hat entrenched lawlessness and moral degeneracy are being routinely demonstrated by kidnappers in the country, after which they blame the devil and plead for leniency and forgiveness, are no longer shocking. Their heartlessness is now alarming; and their wickedness unprecedented, all for the sake of acquiring quick wealth. It is pathetic that their huge appetite for quick money, unrestrained payment of ransom by the relatives of kidnap victims; and sickening kid gloves treatment meted out to them when apprehended, are all aiding and abetting the criminal activities of kidnappers across the country. Not surprisingly, they have been operating in and out of season, though more daring during festive periods. How can it be explained in a sane society populated by people with conscience and where the law rules that kidnappers could abduct a victim, demand and receive handsome ransom, and turn around to kill the person taken hostage on whose behalf they were paid? This is fast becoming the trend in the country, unfortunately. A recent report emanating from the Imo State Police Command, for example, narrated how a three-man gang of suspected kidnappers allegedly abducted, murdered and buried a 63-year-old woman, Mrs. Ogor Omereji, in a

forest in Awara, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state after collecting a ransom of N500,000 from the victim’s family members. The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, said the suspects committed the crime last September 26, when the victim visited her village. The CP said the late Mrs. Omereji was probably abducted because her children were rich. Incidentally, the slain woman was described as a niece to the suspects identified as Gift Emeka (26); Sunday Uchenna (27); and Emeka Chinedu (27). About the middle of last year, three suspected kidnappers, whose names were given as Godspower Ovwigho, Monday Odieto and Stanley Efetobor, arrested and paraded by the Lagos State Police Command at its headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, revealed their reasons for killing an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chudi Nwike, after collecting a ransom of N5 million from his wife. The police quoted one of the suspects, 27-yearold Ovwigho, as saying the kidnap gang killed Nwike because his wife paid them N5 million instead of the N30 million they demanded as ransom. His words: “We killed the (former) Deputy Governor because his wife became so dif-

December 31, 1983 In Nigeria, a coup d’état led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) ended the country’s Second Republic. Buhari (born December 17, 1942), was a Major-General in the Nigerian Army and a former military ruler of the country from December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985. He also ran unsuccessfully for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections; before contesting and winning in 2015.

FLINGING THEM OFF THE WAY MAY PROVE IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL KIDNAPPERS FACE THE PUNISHMENT THEY RIGHTLY DESERVE ficult. After they paid N5 million, she refused to pay up the balance, so Rufus (their deceased leader) shot him dead. He (Rufus) then sent message to the deceased’s wife to use the money to organise her husband’s burial…” In 2014 at Soka, a serene community off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Oyo State, the police uncovered a den of kidnappers, where scores of decomposing body parts littered all over. Twenty three people comprising 18 men and five women were rescued by the police from their abductors, who fled the scene; though the police confirmed the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the crime. Similar incidents are being recorded in virtually all parts of the country, and we are not counting the mayhem being perpetrated by insurgents in the North East zone and other parts. The outrageous bills the well-todo pay as ransom to kidnappers have in no way helped matters. When Professor Kamene Okonjo, wife of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku,

Chukuka Okonjo and mother of former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was kidnapped and released in late 2012 after five days in captivity, all that was celebrated was her release. It was not until much later that the prime suspect, one Peter Nweke, confessed on his arrest that his gang was paid a N12 million ransom following the said kidnap. The family of Chief Olu Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and ex-Finance Minister also paid a ransom of N5 million to the Fulani herdsmen, who kidnapped him last September and held him in captivity for 72 hours, among several others. We feel it is high time this callous drift was decisively halted; but flinging them off the way may prove impossible until kidnappers face the punishment they rightly deserve - like public execution or life jail after diligent prosecution. Again, with the culture of ransom payment, poor and compromised handling of the investigation and prosecution of kidnap cases, especially by the police, and complicity by powerful vested interests and powers from above to pervert the course of justice, all the hoopla about kidnap menace in the land would remain a mission to nowhere.

ON THIS DAY

December 31, 1992 Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved in what was dubbed as ‘the Velvet Divorce’, resulting in the creation of the Czech Republic and the Slovakia nation state. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on January 1, 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia entities came together in 1969 as the Czechoslovak federalization.

December 31, 2011 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a United States’ agency responsible for the country’s civilian space programme; and for aeronautics and aerospace research, succeeded in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) satellites in orbit around the moon. GRAIL is a lunar science mission in NASA’s Discovery Programme which used a high-quality gravitational field.

Thursday, December 31, 2015

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD)

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Education Today

In ABUAD, You Get It All —Dr Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti State Governor.

Events that shaped education in 2015

Every year comes with its own peculiarities. But unlike previous years dogged by incessant strikes by various staff unions from primary to tertiary schools, insurgent attacks on schools and students, Ebola outbreak, among other sad events, the year 2015 recorded less disasters and rancour even when there was no minister, for some months, to direct the affairs of the education ministry due to the change of government. The year however had its own challenges and peculiarities. SAIDAT ALAUSA recounts some major news highlight of the year. Out-of-school children on increase

In 2015, violence and insurgent attacks in the North-East forced no fewer than one million children out of school. The insurgency has been a huge blow for education in the region and violence has kept many children out of school for more than a year, putting them at risk of dropping out. The United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) reported that the number of children missing out in education due to conflict and insurgency have now swelled the already bloated number of primary school aged children already out of school before the beginning of the crisis estimated at 10.5 million.

Borno reopens schools 20 months after they were forced to abandon their studies following the invasion of their schools by insurgents, school children in Borno State returned to classes as the state government re-opened public schools. The schools include Government College, Chibok where more than 200 school girls were abducted from their hostel by the Boko Haram militant group on the night of April 14, 2014. Borno state has been one of the worst-affected states in the six-year Boko Haram insurgency. No fewer than 1.6 million people - almost one-third of the state’s population - have been displaced in the state.

WAEC withholds results in 13 states over Adamu Anwukah N4.5bn debt requisite subject combination for admission into higher inFor the first time in the history of the West African Examination Council, WAEC, the organisation withheld results of candidates from public schools in 13 out of 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja due to the inability of the states to pay their examination fees. WAEC said the total debt was over N4.5 billion. The results were however released shortly after. Former Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu explained that the decision to release the results was due to appeals from stakeholders, including parents, the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and notable Nigerians.

Yet, more poor results

Like the years before, the performance of candidates in this year’s May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the Nov/December diet were still below expectations. Only 616, 370 out of 1, 593, 442 representing 38.68 per cent of the total candidates that obtained credit passes and above in five subjects including English language and Mathematic, the

‘Why unionism can’t work in NOUN’ 23

Enter new minister

stitutions of learning in and outside Nigeria . Though there was an improvement over that of 2014 which stood at 31.38 percent, the results were considered poor by the then Head of National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu. Also, candidates’ performance in the council’s November/December diet was a decline from last year which was 29.37 percent. Only 67, 713 candidates representing 29.33 percent from the total of 237, 154 candidates including 37 visually impaired persons sat for the examination obtained credits in five subjects.

President Muhammadu Buhari, last month named Mallam Adamu Adamu, an indigene of Bauchi state, as the nation’s Minister of Education. The president also named a renowned analyst Prof. Anthony Onwuka from Imo State as the Minister of State for the ministry.

Budget 2015: Education gets lion share For the first time in many years, Education Ministry got the highest budgetary allocation - N369.6 billion. Presenting the budget to the National Assembly recently, the President also announced new policies designed to improve the state of education in the country. These include free education for science and technology students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The Federal Government also promised to provide access to education for children affected by conflicts and also train 500,000 teachers in 2016.

Nigeria leads in malpractices

Nigeria still maintains the unenviable record as the leading nation, among the five West African countries that make up WAEC, in exam malpractices. Head of National Office, West African Examination Council, WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu described the menace as one of the canker worms that have eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian society across all levels of the nation’s education system. Eguridu lamented that despite various measures being put in place by examination bodies, the menace still continues.

Nigeria misses 2015 global education goals. Nigeria has failed to achieve any of the global education CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 ‘‘

I once lost hope in myself

—OAU best economics graduand20

Incredible! LASU promotes 646 staﬀers at once 23

Education Today

Private sector accounts for 61% of varsities in Nigeria -—NUC TunBosun ogundare

he National Universities Commission, NUC has disclosed that the private sector was accounted for 61 per cent of all the universities established so far in the country. NUC is a government regulatory agency for the nation’s universities. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Julius Okojie disclosed this during the opening and maiden matriculation ceremonies of Mountain Top University(MTU), Prayer City, Ibafo, Ogun State, last week. The university is owned by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries which has Pastor Daniel Olukoya as its general overseer and wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Prof. Tolu Odugbemi; the wife of the general overseer of the mission were among dignitaries at the event. Represented by Prof. Akaneren Essien, a Director in charge of Private Universities’ Establishment in the commission, Prof. Okojie said MTU had brought the number of faith-based universities to 31 and 136 in the entire universities nationwide. He noted that the increment had underscored the visionary and missionary significance that many religious organisations attach to moral, spiritual and intellectual development of man through university education. While commending all the private universities for their contributions so far to the development of university education in Nigeria, the NUC boss pointed out that the commission and indeed the country cherish them in running stable calendar and producing globally competitive graduates. He however disclosed that MTU satisfied NUC’s guidelines while reminding the leadership that the country was looking forward to see the university offering quality and affordable services in teaching, research and community service in accordance with its vision, mission and objectives.

Education highlights... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 goals. This bewildering revelation is contained in the 2015 Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report (GMR), released recently by UNESCO in Paris, France. EFA goals are six internationally agreed education goals aimed at meeting the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015. Only last year, indications arose that the country may fail to reach any of the global education goals. Giving insights into some factors that facilitated Nigeria’s failure to reach the global goals, UNESCO’s Communications and Advocacy Specialist on EFA GMR, Kate Redman, in a release said, “Corruption, conflict and a lack of investment has resulted in Nigeria having one of the worst education systems in the world. The political leadership has been identified as corrupt, losing $21m of education funding over two years. “Despite Nigeria’s GNP per capita growing substantially between 1999 and 2012, investment in education remains low. As a result, the most basic of resources for education are limited.”

Thursday, December 31, 2015

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I once lost hope in myself —OAU best economics graduand Kemi Busari

hen the name Temitope Oke was announced to come forward to receive the Best Graduating Student Award in the Department of Economics at the 41st convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), many people didn’t perceive the bearer could be a physically challenged person. This apparently may be because so many best graduating students in other departments had been called forward to receive similar awards and all of them were able body. But here comes a young girl of small stature with crouches to support her balance moving towards the podium where the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tale Omole and other top principal officers of the university were waiting to present her the awards. The 23-year-old Temitope from Ondo State mounted the stage with smiles on her face amid thunderous applaud from the audience. Interestingly, with a Cumulative Gradient Point Average (CGPA) of 4.80 from the 5.0 obtainable points, she scooped all the three awards available in her department. These are: Zenith Bank Annual Award for Academic Excellence, the Tony Elumelu Prize for Excellence in Economics and Management for Best Graduating Student in Economics and the Professor Ojetunji Aboyade Prize for the Best Graduating Student in Economics Department. The momentum the development gathered was indeed emotional such that many people including her mates from the same department and outside it trooped out to take photographs with her while she held her crouches, plaques and the baton containing her certificates tightly to herself. The question in the lips of many in the crowd was how could a physically challenged achieve that feat in the midst of able body mates, knowing full well the rigorous academic system OAU is known for? She provided answer shortly after the programme was over, tracing it from her growing up days. According to her, she was born without deformity and she did not also show any sign of such development until she was six years old when she took ill. “I was treated in the hospital but the outcome of the illness is this disability which the doctor couldn’t come up with the real cause other than it was probably polio,” she recalled. Despite her condition, Temitope grew up a brilliant child as she always come first in her class from primary to secondary schools. She explained: “I played a lot in my childhood days. People in the neighborhood knew me for this. But the whole situation changed suddenly when I turned 13. I didn’t know why I started withdrawing myself from people and this gave me a lot of concerns maybe something was wrong with me. It was a strange feeling which I could not explain why. I am somebody who never gave in to my physical condition until that year when I began to feel hopeless but I thank God for those who believed in me. They put courage in me as I grew up and today, I have success story to tell.” In academic, Temitope maintained that she was just like any other students but with a little bit of seriousness and commitment. She narrated how she coped with the rigorous academic activities that OAU is known for over the years more so that there is a distance between academic area and hostels, saying it weren’t so easy in the beginning. “My coming to OAU was my first time in an unfamiliar environment. I have to do things which I’d never done on my own, fetching water for instance. But I got over them quickly. I learnt new tricks and adapted. Moving from one place to another was another big challenge at the start. Sometimes, I would come back from lectures tired with body aching me all over but I didn’t allow that to weigh me down. I didn’t want to lose in two ends-going through discomfort and having nothing tangible to show for it. So, I decided to give my academics the best shot. “Being physically challenged means you’ll have to make a little more effort to do the same things that able body persons are doing. I was able to surmount this by understanding myself and planned properly. For instance, if I know it would take me 15 minutes to trek to a lecture room that would take able body person just five minutes, I have to add at least 10 minutes for me to get to the venue without being late. “But I must say it was all fun surmounting and overcoming these challenges.”

Temitope (left) with a mate at the convocaion ceremony.

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

My coMing to oAU wAs My first tiMe in An

UnfAMiliAr environMent.

i hAve to do things which i’d never done on My own, fetching wAter for instAnce.

Even at that, graduating with best result in her department wasn’t come so easy according to her. Temitope had to forego frivolous activities for the sake of her studies so as be able to do well and not necessarily to come first in her class. According to her, she read at every lecture-free period for an average of four hours a day. “I just determined to give in my best right from the day I was given admission. To excel in what I do has been my nature of life. So, I ensured I covered all our class work and assignments for a week in that very week but honestly speaking I didn’t know I would come out best in my department,” she noted. Now Temitope, who is preparing for the one-year mandatory national youth service corps scheme is hoped to secure a scholarship to further her studies while advising other physically challenged persons who have written themselves off not to. “Keep up the faith and never give up. You may be physically challenged in body, that you have a sound mind is a ticket to the top. Just be guided by I can do it spirit,” she counseled.

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Education Today

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Low science enrolment: Reps Our views on 2016 education call for review of curriculum budget —Stakeholders Regina OtOkpa ABUJA

he House of Representatives has called on ministries of education and science and technology to urgently develop a new curriculum to address the unimpressive enrolment of students in science courses.. The lawmakers, according to the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Ms. Beni Lar, said they were deeply concerned that more people were going into Humanities and the Arts than the Sciences. She spoke to journalists in Abuja during the annual traditional Christmas Ball & Carol organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, regretted that many students were tilting towards the Arts and Humanities leaving the sciences. Lar said, “We have already discussed with the Ministry of Science and Technology on the need to encourage enrollment in sciences, begins from the foundation levels. The ministry would sit down with the Ministry of Education to propose a new curricular to encourage children from when they are very young to take an interest in Mathematics and Sciences, so that when they grow up, they can improve on research and development in the science field. “This is because research and development is the key to any innovation and success in any country. We don’t have a strong research and development base in this country and we need to have that. Hopefully, we will strengthen that.” According to her, Nigerian universities were not functioning in line which the aim for which they were established because they were not placing emphasis on research and development. She suggested that Nigerian univer-

sities should strive to be like research institutes, where science and technology should be developed at that stage while breakthrough should also be done through these universities. Lar said, “The global trend in the world now is the emergence of new trends in science and technology. Many countries, especially in Asia which are not endowed with any natural resource, are doing well technologically. Nigeria of course, has an abundance of natural resources-oil and gas, agriculture, good weather, climatic conditions and the rest. “In Asia, they don’t have these but they use purely science and technology, research and development to transform the entire economy of the countries. We have seen that innovation is the way of the 21st century and because of the innovation, we have seen that for instance, Taiwan is the biggest manufacturer of computer chips in the world. “The only way for this country to truly move forward is to embrace the emerging trend in science and technology. Nigeria is yet to appreciate this fully. I must say that in communication, we have done well; in banking, we have also done quite well. But we need to do more in agriculture, so we can be self sustaining. “Nigeria has mass abundance of land, mass abundance of human resources of animals, poultry and crops. We have favourable climatic conditions, but we don’t produce enough food to feed this nation and 80 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, which is unacceptable.” Lar added: “So, we are collaborating with the various agencies, we have been having interractive sessions with stakeholders. In fact, we will finish next year, when each agency has shown us their capacity.

Educationist slams FG on conversion of unemployed youths to teachers Saidat alauSa

renowned educationist and Principal Consultant of Edumark Consult, Lagos, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde has decried the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige’s announcement that unemployed graduates would be turned to teachers. She said this could be a major disaster, giving the future of the nation, the little children in the hands of people who have not been trained and who really do not have any passion for the job. “It is a dangerous trend except the minister has a game plan in which the said graduates will have a one year conversion programme to separate the good ones

Ogunde that will fit into classrooms.” Advising the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, Ogunde said that the minister should come up with plans that will be able to dissect the various recommendations from past conferences and summits which according to her will help to drive the vision of the ministry. “I will suggest he look into the early years of education and more especially

the issue of human capital because it is clear we need to have plans within the sector except we are heading for the rocks. “The ministry is a serious ministry and sometimes I wonder putting one minister is not enough or one minister of state. In fact it is a ministry that should have five persons with each person facing a session.” On private schools, she said as long as the ministry permits ‘mushrooms’ schools to strive, “we are not a serious nation. These schools are not giving anything to these children and are destroying the lives of the children.” She however advised the youths in the country to remain focused and determined to become what they really want to be in life.

For the first time in many years, Federal Government allocated the largest sectoral share of its fiscal budget to education. The budget proposed for the sector for the next fiscal year is N396 billion out of the total N6.08 trillion budget, the development that has generated mixed reactions from various stakeholders in the sector. TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE brings the excerpts.

but… It’s a very good sign Strategy and Development

says Anthony Killa, a Professor of at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom and also a centre director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies, Lagos.

“I

t shows that proponents of the budget understand the role and importance of education to economic growth, development and stability. The major problem lies on implementation, which is important as the budget itself. Nigeria has a history of unimplemented budgets and policies as well as diversion of public funds into something not only unplanned for but also not in public interest. So, while we applaud the intention stated in the budget, we need to see

when, where and how funds are spent as well as for who and for. I am not pessimistic about it, but I am talking based on our past experiences. We don’t want repeat of such. “So to avoid it happening, we need very clear vision

and mission, transparency in operation, involvement of stakeholders, and accountability of those responsible for operations, among others. “It is not enough to count on paper work but how the paper work translates to tangible things we can all see and enjoy as good citizens of our dear country. “The 5 million jobs the president also promise teachers and the free tuition for undergraduates studying science and engineering related courses will also translate to development and prosperity for the country only if they are well implemented. So implementation is a key factor in the budget.”

Hope it won’t turn out to be empty promise —Deacon Olusoji Adams, former southwest coordinator of Parent —Teacher Association

“T

he figure in the budget for education is a good proposal. That is a wellthought idea for any president who wants to make a difference, but then, the proposal is not enough until it is translated to real things that we can all benefit from as good citizens of Nigeria. So, our hope is in the fulfillment of the content of the budget not on the paper itself. Nigeria

is fond of making empty promises by coming up with very beautiful proposals in papers while implementation is always a problem. That is why I asked hope it wouldn’t turn to empty promises just like those in the past. “In as much as I won’t say I am fed up with Nigeria, every lover of this country should continue to pray for good governance. That God should touch the

hearts of our political leaders and impose on them right things to do to lift mankind. That is the only way we can get out of our many problems as a country. God is only our hope. “

It’s a way to economic prosperity —Alhaji Fatai Raheem, Chairman, League of Muslim Schools’ Proprietors, Lagos State

“T

hat the lion share of the 2016 budget is voted for education sector is a welcome development. It shows that the leadership believes that the country cannot grow without sound education. But the question we should all ask them is would they be truthful in implementation. To say

is easier than to do. It will be well-implemented, fine. It will lead to economic growth and prosperity for the country. “For instance, giving out half a million jobs to teachers is a good one, but won’t the beneficiaries turn out to be party members and supporters who have not trained to be teachers. Recruiting just anyhow persons probably because of being jobless will not help. Government may say it would train them. That will amount to waste of resources. And employing an unwilling person to become a teacher will equally lead to the production of half-baked

graduates at all levels. So, government has to be very careful on implementation of this laudable proposal. The introduction of free feeding in public schools is also welcomed. That policy will lead to increment in enrolment and retention of students till completion of studies. But I must also say that provision of infrastructure and basic facilities in schools must also be given attention while private schools should not also be burdened with multiple taxes. So, in all, implementation is key for the budget to have meaningful impact on the sector and economy as a whole.”

Education Today

Thursday, December 31, 2015

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Aregbesola begs TETFUND to rescue Osun tertiary schools

regina oTokpa ABUJA

overnor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola has appealed to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to assist in rescuing tertiary institutions in the state. According to him, the commitment of his administration towards basic education in the state to prepare a solid foundation for the tertiary institutions, has denied the tertiary institutions of state government’s attention. “Our commitment to foundation education has robbed us off the commitment to higher institutions”, he stated. He told the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, that he had come to seek a mutual relationship and also explore areas where his government and TETFUND could work together. According to him, Osun State remained the second state in the country with the highest number of tertiary institutions, adding that he came to TETFUND headquarters to be able to do more for the tertiary institutions. He said, “I came to seek a mutual relationship and exploit areas where Osun State government and TETFUND can work together. Knowledge is power, education is the greatest legacy that any society could leave to those who are going to take up the mantle of leadership. The best investment therefore is education. There can’t be any investment of greater value than education. “I want to thank those who created TETFUND; we thank the leadership of this country that thought it wise to create an education trust fund. I’m not here to complain, there’s no reason for it. I’m here therefore to do more for higher institutions in my state. “You would see me more often and I will not put any pressure on you. I will fraternize with you with the mind that my state will get the best from you and you will get the best from the investment. “My state is probably second in terms of number of highest number of higher institutions in Nigeria. I proudly invite any appropriate Head of Department to come and survey what we are doing in education, particularly the foundation education. We are remodeling and restructuring primary education the way no one has done in this country. Higher education is useless when the foundation is defective.”

Group moves against poor performance in English

he English Dictionary Project (EDP) has donated dictionaries to students of Sanya Senior Grammar School in Lagos bringing the total number of schools reached by the organisation in the state in last two years to eight. EDP is a non-governmental initiative designed to help improve students’ proficiency in English Language in the country. The latest donation has also brought a total number of dictionaries donated so far to 432. Speaking about the initiative, the Project Coordinator, Ms Kofoworola Bada outlined the feat of the project, saying the feedback has been encouraging. She listed others schools that have benefited from the gesture to include Festac Grammar School; Festac College and Ansar-Ud-deen Comprehensive Senior High School, Okota. She explained that the aim of the project was to ensure students in public secondary schools have personal dictionaries in order to help them become proficient in English Language with the projection to broaden the scope to other states of the federation. She however disclosed that part of the project was also to form Dictionary Clubs in schools but yet to accomplish that. Expressing appreciation to the donor on behalf of the school, the Vice Principal in charge of academics, Mrs. Ajoko Victoria said the gesture would definitely enhance students’ performance not only in English language but also in other subjects. Speaking in the same vein, one of the English teachers in the School, Mrs. Omhensele Stella while admitting that the students’ performance in English has not been encouraging, she believes that the dictionaries would go a long way to improve their knowledge of the subject.

L-R: (from sitting) Ambassador Vincent Sunny Okobi (rtd), his wife, Okobi; Mrs. Obiora; her husband, Dr. Amechi Obiora; Mr. Norbert Chukwumah; his wife, Ugochi; Mrs. Alero Okoruwa and her husband, Calixthus at the Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), Lagos Branch 2015 Annual Dinner and Awards presentation held in Lagos State, recently.

Tunbosun ogundare

arely one month after the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, Prof. John Obafunwa left the service of the university following the expiration of his four-year tenure of office, the authorities of the university have elevated a total of 646 members of staff at once. The university which has been enmeshed in series of crises in the recent times is now with a new vice-Chancellor in acting capacity and

Incredible! LASU promotes 646 staffers at once

a new governing council. However, the breakdown of the promotion according to a press release by the management showed that a total of 41 lecturers were promoted, eight of whom moved from lecturer 1 to senior lecturer and 13 moved from Assistant Lecturer to lecturer 2 while the rest moved from lecturer 1 to 2. Also for the first time in history of the university, a total of 605 non-academic

staffers were promoted at a go, 309 of them in the senior category and 296 in the junior cadre. While the management congratulated them on the long- awaited promotion, it equally urged them to be more committed to their respective duties and responsibilities. National Mirror however gathered that the promotion exercise cut across various staff unions in the univer-

sity, the development that has thrown members of staff into jubilation, thanking the new management to have taken what they called a right step. In another development, the authorities have also reviewed the academic calendar of the university now terminating the 2014/2015 session on Monday, January 25, 2016 while commencing the 2015/2015 session on 14 days earlier.

Nigeria conflict forces over 1m children from school —UNICEF

iolence and attacks against civilian populations in northeastern Nigeria and its neighboring countries have forced more than 1 million children out of school, UNICEF has said. The number of children missing out on their education due to the conflict adds to the estimated 11 million children of primary school age who were already out of school in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger before the onset of the crisis. “It’s a staggering number,” says Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional Director. “The conflict has been a huge blow for education in the region, and violence has kept many children out of the classroom for more than a year, putting them at risk of dropping out of school altogether.” Across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, over 2,000 schools remain closed due to the conflict – some of them for more than a year – and hundreds have been attacked, looted or set on fire. In far north Cameroon, only 1 out of the 135 schools closed in 2014 has re-opened this year. In northeastern Nigeria UNICEF has supported 170,000 children back into education in the safer areas of the three states most affected by the conflict, where the majority of schools have been able to re-open. However, many classrooms are severely overcrowded as some school buildings are still being used to house the large numbers of displaced persons seek-

ing shelter from the conflict. In these areas, some displaced teachers, who themselves have fled the fighting, are involved in the schooling and classes are often given on a “double shift” basis to help more children attend school. In other areas, however, insecurity, fear of violence and attacks are preventing many teachers from resuming classes and discouraging parents from sending their children back to school. In Nigeria alone, approximately 600 teachers have been killed since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency. “The challenge we face is to keep children safe without interrupting their schooling,” said Fontaine. “Schools have been targets of attack, so children are scared to go back to the classroom; yet the longer they stay out of school, the greater

the risks of being abused, abducted and recruited by armed groups.” Together with governments, NGOs and other partners, UNICEF has set up temporary learning spaces, renovated and expanded schools, reaching 67,000 children. In addition, UNICEF has trained teachers on psychosocial support and provided more than 132,000 children uprooted by conflict with learning materials, including in local schools hosting displaced students. However, security constraints and funding shortfalls hinder access to education services and the delivery of emergency learning materials. So far, UNICEF has received 44 per cent of the funding required in 2015 to respond to the humanitarian needs of children in Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.

Class in session at the Assaga Refugee Camp in Southeast Nigeria.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Streamlining Buhari’s teachers recruitment plan T he proposal by President Muhammadu Buhari to address the chronic shortage in public primary schools in the country through massive recruitment, of unemployed graduates and NCE holders has received wide support from different segments of the Nigerian society. Precisely, the plan proposes for the recruitment of about five hundred thousand unemployed graduates and NCE holders, train them, and deploy them to the nation’s public primary schools in partnership with the authorities in the states and local government areas. It would be recalled that The Education for All (EFA) global monitoring report released in early 2015 ranked Nigeria among the 18 least developed countries in the world. It specifically highlighted the huge deficit in the number of primary school teachers as one of the worst problems facing the Nigerian basic education programme. It is our belief that the extraordinary decision of the President to address the chronic shortage is an important step in repositioning the Primary school system in Nigeria. But the magnitude of the proposed intervention would cause some trepidation even among the most enthusiastic proponents of the change mantra. The selection, training and deployment of half a million teachers from literarily millions of poorly trained graduates who are scarcely able to express themselves would require more than honest intentions. All genuinely knowledgeable stakeholders in the education sector should therefore be brought on board to sift through the mountains of solicited and unsolicited advice and implement those that are meaningful. Though the initiative is barely a week old, many interest groups have began to jostle for an opportunity to contribute to the implementation of the initiative. The National Union

of Teachers is leading by calling for its inclusion in the implementation stage, declaring that teachers are in a better position to know the places and subject areas where teachers are in greatest demand. The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Professor Monday Joshua, expressed joy over the proposal saying it would help the commission to achieve its mandate. I found that quite interesting since the bulk of teachers in the crumbling primary school system were trained under the auspices of the NCCE. I am of the opinion that as regulators of the programmes of the Colleges of Education nationwide, they have had ample opportunities to fulfill their mandate by producing high calibre teachers, but frittered them all away. The criteria for hiring unemployed graduates must make deliberate effort to avoid the shortcomings of the past which allowed the employment of teachers who are grossly deficient in knowledge of teaching subject as well as teaching methodology. No candidate with less than average intelligence or academic qualification should qualify for a teaching position in the country. In effect, no candidate with a cumulative grade point of less than three in a five point grading system should be shortlisted for consideration for the position of a teacher in the nation’s teaching service. Some states with higher manpower status should be able to demand much higher perfor-

mance standard from those who aspires to be teachers in their states. Irrespective of their nominal qualification, every aspiring teacher should demonstrate their actual competence, in a screening test that would assess the candidates at a level not below the Senior School Certificate Examination curriculum. A credible organization that could conduct a malpractice free exercise should be engaged to conduct the screening exercise and release the list of successful candidates. This would effectively eliminate the influence of corrupt practices among top ministry of education officials, and interference by the political class in the employment process. I will be very surprised if at the end of the exercise more than a hundred thousand qualified candidates from among the mass of unemployed graduates nationwide would be found employable. Can we realistically expect a different outcome given the systemic dysfunction of the Nigerian educational system? The successful candidates would now have to proceed to the mandatory training in teaching methodology. Here lies the second hurdle. It would require the entire resources of all the teachers training facilities in both in the country to provide the required training for the successful candidates. The Minister of Education would need to put together immediately a committee of competent academicians to work out the details. There will be a realistic need for qualified teachers to be deployed to states other than those from which they originate. Negotiations should therefore be initiated between the federal government and more needy states to take advantage of the higher density of qualified teachers in other states. Similarly, modalities for the deployment of the recruited teachers to rural areas that are worse hit by the shortages of teachers should also be worked out especially in terms of incentives.

FUTA has zero tolerance for indiscipline, VC tells freshers Tunbosun ogundAre

T L-R: Vice Principal, Academics, Sanya Senior Grammar School, Lagos, Mrs. Ajoko Victoria; Nwonye Awuche; Project Coordinator, EDP Initiative, Ms Kofoworola Bada; Onunwa Michael; English teacher, Mrs. Omhensele Stella, and Ewoze Adaeze at the English Dictionary Project presentation event at the school, recently.

Why unionism can’t work in NOUN —Survey

AdeolA Tukuru ABUJA

non-governmental organisation, Vox Populi Foundation International, has revealed that the high quality of education being delivered by the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN may be jeopardised if unions are allowed to be introduced into the system. According to the report compiled after gathering the opinions of students of the institution from the 36 states of the federation, the Coordinator, Anita Fagbemi said the survey showed the students raising their objections to the formation of union in the school, saying agitation by union members often leads to strike which will impede smooth running of the institution. The management of the institution has been at loggerheads with students and staff over the ban placed on union activities.

A student, Yahaya Suleiman said he supports the management decisions because he would not want the university to be dragged into what his mates in conventional universities have to grapple with often in the course of running their programmes. He said, “Contrary to the proliferation of students and staff in conventional universities where the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), state chapters of students association and local government and villages of students associations are part of university education. “NOUN is an open university where mature Nigerians who are engaged in daily jobs are admitted to learn and may not have time for association,” he said Another student, Emmanuel Ajayi who is studying Security Studies at the Ilorin Study Centre, said, “This has made the institution to be unaffected by strikes

such as the last ASUU strike which lasted for eight months that crippled academic activities in most public owned universities.” It would be recalled that at the matriculation ceremony recently, the vicechancellor of the university, Prof Vincent Tenebe insisted that unio0nism was not permitted in the institution, on the premises of its diverge nature of students and staff in terms of age, class, status, professional callings, among other considerations. Another reason adduced for the restriction is for speedy growth more so the Act which established the university prohibits any form of union either among staff or students. Alechenu Awodi, a Psychology Student at the Otukpo Study Centre in Benue State while speaking in support of the ban equally want some genuine improvements like distribution of course materials at the point of registration.

he newly admitted students into the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) to study various courses have been advised to take their studies very seriously and abide by the rules and regulations guiding their conduct in the university. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebiyi Daramola gave the advice during the 33rd Matriculation Ceremony held last week. The new students are more than 3,000 admitted for the 2015/2016 academic session. The vice-chancellor, who reminded them that their matriculation was just a ceremony to officially welcome them into the university, restated that that they would have to study hard and follow laid down rules and regulations to enable them graduate with good grades and in record times. He also counseled them to be worthy ambassadors of the university in words and in actions, saying the primary reason for coming to the university is to acquire knowledge and requisite skills through intensive training and mentorship by their lecturers and other members of the university community. “So, I would want you to see your lecturers as role models and always approach the Students Affairs’ Division for counseling and interactions,” he stressed. While assuring them that the university would provide them necessary things that would make their stay on campus a worthwhile, he warned them against any form of indiscipline. According to him, there is no room for indiscipline in whatever guise. “Whoever found culpable of indiscipline such as fighting, stealing, exam malpractice, sexual harassment, cultism and hooliganism to mention a few will be sanctioned accordingly that include suspension or outright expulsion from school,” he warned. Aside the Registrar, Dr. Modupe Ajayi who administered matriculation oath on the new students, many other top principal officers of the university and parents graced the event.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat.alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

Good character is key to nation building —Don EmEka ChukwuEmEka

roprietor and President, African Graduate School of Management and Leadership, Prof. David Abdullai has said that character was paramount in the development of the country. He disclosed further that characters of political actors, workers and stakeholders could make or mar the development process of any country. He said this while delivering the keynote address at the first international conference of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State held recently. The conference was in collaboration with the African Graduate School of Leadership Accra, Ghana with the theme “Character and Skills Development in Africa.” He listed the trait expected in a good character to include integrity, loyalty, honesty, humility, standing for justice. Abdullai further stressed the need for constant skill development adding that skill development requires some great deal of hard work, discipline, dedication as well as continuous learning. The academic don advocated that 70 percent of the skill should be developed on the job, 20 percent should be from interactions with people while 10 percent should be from training and re-training. He posited that the problem with Africa is hinged on the fact that paper qualification is much appreciated and individuals who should be committed to self improvement appear to be comfortable at their level. The professor urged Africans to enhance their skills to add values to their respective organizations in a bid to developing Africa. He further advised employers of labour to train and develop their employees. Earlier in her address, the provost of the college, Dr. Cordelia Uzoezie explained that the goal of education is not only teach and spread knowledge, but to promote character development and to educate the mind and spirit for skills development of an overall well-developed personality. On the need for the conference, Dr. Uzoezie said, “International conference such as this brings together academics, educators, practitioners, government and non-profit organisations and policy makers from different countries to deliberate on issues relating to character and skills development in Africa, and to evolve credible solutions.”

Poly mgt advises new students on prompt registration paul isuwa

HND2 MASS COMM FED POLY, BIDA

he management of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State has advised newly admitted students of the institution of prompt registration. The advice came as the school released the admission list of the newly admitted students for the 2015/2016 academic session. According to the Deputy Registrar, Academics, of the institution, Alhaji Muhammed Baba Ndana during a chat with Campus News in his office recently, the academic Board has approved about one thousand seven hundred admissions into the National Diploma programmes and another one thousand four hundred and fifteen admissions into the Higher National Diploma programmes. The list of successful candidates according to him was pasted on the notice boards within the polytechnic and websites for applicants to check. He therefore advice students who are yet to do their registration to commence immediately but according to him, the newly admitted students will have to pay acceptance fee of N10,000 to gain access to the registration portal.

Cross section of new students of Federal University of Technology, Akure at their matriculation ceremony, last week.

KWARAPOLY students protest late registration fee DaDa OluwatOsin

HND 2, MASSCOM FEDPOLY BIDA

wara State Polytechnic students took over the streets last Tuesday to protest the 10,000 naira late registration fee charged by the institution’s management. The students took to the streets as early as 8: 00am along the Ilorin- Jebba

road with various inscriptions and also obstructed vehicular movements within the metropolis. The day’s activities were being hampered as people living along the route could not go to their places or work or conduct their businesses. Shops were also placed under lock and key as a result of fear of possible attack. The students vandalised properties within the school, made a number of

burn fires and chanted songs to protest the increment. During the protest, students at the protest ground claimed that most of their parents who are civil servants are being owed several months salaries and this led to the delay in meeting the deadline of the school authority. However, the protest yielded positive result as the late registration fee was reduced from N10, 000 to N5, 000.

Ambali harps on entrepreneurial skills for students hammED OpEyEmi UNILORIN

he Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali has emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship to address youth unemployment in the country, urging schools to equip their students with required skills. He made the observation at the launch of an online platform-“Repertoire”- by some students of the university. Repertoire is a digital platform that seeks to scout and connect student entrepreneurs from all tertiary institutions in the country. Prof. Ambali lamented that the high rate of unemployment among Nigerian youths has greatly contributed to the increasing level of poverty and insecurity in the country, adding that it also erodes youths’ selfconfidence. The VC, who was represented at the event by the Dean, Faculty of Communications & Information Sciences of the institution, Prof. S.S Sadiku, faulted the growing rate of unemploy-

ment on youth over-dependence on white collar jobs, which he said, have become scarce. He also blamed higher institutions in the country for, “training students to have more of cognitive skills and less of psycho-motor skills that can make them selfemployed rather than job seekers”. He stressed the need for schools to train and encourage their students to acquire necessary life-long skills that could make them independent and successful in life, noting that UNILORIN

would continue to support initiatives that prepare students for challenges. Earlier in his address, the CEO of Skyground Africa and founder of Repertoire, Ibrahim Shittu, disclosed that the online platform was created to address the challenge of unemployment by connecting student entrepreneurs together and encouraging other students to embrace entrepreneurship. “We observed that some students have talents, skills and business ideas, but do not know how to nurture these ideas and skills. We

intend to give them via our platform the push that will help them to become successful business owners. “Repertoire will also give them opportunity to exhibit their products, skills and ideas at our exhibition programmes in campuses natiowide,” he said. Also speaking, Usman John Paul, President, Federation of UNESCO Clubs of Nigeria (FUCN) noted that provision of platforms for youths to engage in development process had become necessary in the face of current global challenges.

Reunion: Political Science graduates from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1993 set) reunited 22 years after graduation at a mate’s, Mr. Kehinde Sarunmi’s wedding (middle), in Lagos, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Edited by: Saidat Alausa saidat.alausa@yahoo.com 08027633686

FEDPOLY Bida charts course for shea butter production dada OluwatOsin

HND2, MASS COMM. FEDPOLY, BIDA

he Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State has established a Shea Butter Research Centre to boost its study of the pro-

duce. The staff adviser of the Department, Saba Ahmed disclosed this in an interview with Campus News explained that the purpose of the centre was to contribute to improving the quality of shea butter in Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria has the largest concentration of shea trees in the world and the quality of the end product of shea butter produced in the country is of low quality hence the need to improvement. On how he got the resources, he disclosed that he put in his money and energy into the establishment of the research centre and also received grants from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). Saba pointed out that the establishment would be extended to students of other departments such as Science and Laboratory Technology (SLT) and Agric Engineering as time goes on, but before that can be done, he want to ensure that the students of Chemical Engineering department have a deep and accurate knowledge on the production of Shea butter. Speaking further, the staff adviser said the research centre was meant for training and research, which will become profit oriented when it is fully developed. He stressed that in the nearest future, the research centre would be made open to many students who will benefit by getting a month or two training from the institute. While laying emphasis on the production process, Saba stated that the process of producing Shea butter could be through sun drying, oven drying and rotary drying. All these three methods, he said, had been adopted by the research centre in order to decide on the best method that will be used in producing quality Shea butter in Nigeria. He expressed dissatisfaction that most Nigerians did not seem to know the purpose of Shea butter, according to him a ton of grade ‘A’ Shea butter is more expensive than a ton of crude oil. Saba however stated that the major challenge being faced by the institute was funding. He stated that efforts have been made by writing several proposals to the management of the institution but the management claimed that the research centre iwa not captured in its budget.

abdullahi habibu adeiza

HND 2, MASS COMM. FEDPOLY, BIDA

tudents of the University of Abuja have complained bitterly over a transition committee setup by the school management as part of a negotiation made by the former students’ leader. This they say came after some students were disqualified from contesting in the students’ union election that eventually made the election to be inconclusive. According to some students that spoke with Campus News at the university mini campus in Qwaqwalada, members of the transition committee were hand-picked by the school authority to function as the executive arm of the union and the school had promised students another election in no distance time. But contrary to that, the committee has been acting as the exclusive arm of the union for several months which was not part of the agreement reached by the students. And there seems to be no plans for another election. A student in faculty of law who also is the speaker of the students’ union parliament, of the university, Comrade Esther Adjan explained that, a popular student who was among those that were disqualified for the post of president was disqualified after the electoral board found out that his cumula-

L-R: National President, Muslims Students’ Society of Nigeria, Muhammad Jamil Muhammad (5th left), flanked by other executives during the 100th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) organised by the Lagos state area unit, recently.

Muslim student leaders preach peace, unity he past and current leaders of the Muslims Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) have urged its members at all levels to come together and work on the common goal of the society. They have also declared that all issues causing ripples among members have been laid to rest. Speaking at the formal opening ceremony of a camping tagged “100th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC)” organised by the Lagos State area unit, the National President of the society, Mallam Muhammad Jamil Muhammad stated that the leadership of MSSN was tired of the lingering crises rocking the society. The 10-day camping programme which started December, 21 2015 will end on tomorrow at the Lagos unit’s permanent site, Epe, Lagos. The president assured that the society’s age long crises were over saying there was a need to have a formidable Muslim students’ union like it used to be. He said, “We are tired of the lingering and evitable crises and its over. Whatever is the crisis, it’s over from today. We have one formidable B-Zone as far MSSN is concerned; Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Imo, Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers and others.

“Wherever there are patches we’ll cement it and make it look like a house that is formidable and well furnished.” He advised students to continue to read and learn in peaceful environments as this is the only way they can be a scholar and achieve what they want to be In his address, the President of Lagos unit, Saheed Ashafa noted that the choice of this year’s theme was inspired by the need to redirect the teaching some of the basic tenets of Islam that are not observed despite their importance. He added that Muslims must be more committed to Islam and show to the world that Islam is the only solution to all human problems. The guest lecturer of the occasion, Imam Abdullah Shuaib, in his lecture, admonished the leaders and members of the society not to nurture any crisis again. The one-time Secretary-General of the Lagos area unit, advised all parties to sheath their swords and disembark from what he described a bandwagon. “Let the world see the values of Islam through us with our impacts. When people see Islam in us with sincere faith and piety it will make us stand out among the multitudes,” he said. He urged members to realise that they are in an era when Muslims must begin to show the values of Islam in its comprehensiveness to the world through sound faith, piety and good impacts.

tive Grade points Average (CGPA) was not up to the required CGPA for anyone aspiring for the post of the president as stipulated by the school authority. However, the said disqualified student claimed that his CGPA for 200 level was used to disqualified him stressing that his new CGPA for 300 level was suppose to be used and not his former CGPA. Furthermore, a 500 level student in the same faculty who was the vice-presidential aspirant of the union, Farieedah Abiola revealed that students are not comfortable with what is going on in the school, stressing that students were disqualified after they had passed through the first and second screening successfully without any complaint from the screening officers. “They were disqualified just two days to the election by the same person that declared them qualified for the election. “We are urging the school management to please allow students to have their election and choose their representatives themselves because those that contested for various positions

in the union spent a lot of money during the campaign. Aside that, students actively participated in the campaign, they forfeited a lot of things just to ensure that they have people who will speak for them wherever the need arises and not people that were hand-picked by the school management” she added. Reacting to the issue, the National co-ordination of Education Right Campaign(ERC) Hassan Taiwo Soweto described the system of Students’ Union in the university as undemocratic and urged appropriate bodies to look into the issue and ensure that the election is re-conducted, adding that students should have an independent union void of interference from the school management. The ASUU chairperson University of Abuja, Engr. Bengamin Chijioke, explained that, the school deemed it fit to set up the transition committee after negotiating with the former students leaders as a result of the inability of the students to organise themselves when some student were disqualified adding that the transition committee was setup in a bid to maintain peace and orderliness in the campus.

Miftaudeen Raji

200L, MASS COMM, UNILAG

Unionism: UNIABUJA students kick against transition committee

Thursday, December 31, 2015

ATIONAL Mirror of October 22 opens the floodgate this week: “CJ inaugurates two divisions of FCT Court to fast track (fast-track) justice” “Ijesa in Diaspora backs (back) Osun’s ministerial nominee” Alternatively, Ijesa indigenes in Diaspora—never singular verb “Delay in cases are (is) caused by multi-factors—Kachina” “Don decries first class (first-class) graduates opting out of teaching” “The study found that in Nigeria, among multiscreen users between ages 16 to (and) 45….” “Judgment debts: Why luxury cars rot in (on) court premises” Still on National Mirror: “Access Bank earnings hits (why?) N2.58bn in nine months” “We are unaware of Emenike (Emenike’s) retirement— NFF” “Sincerely, if you break my glass cups you will pay for it (them).” “The release came a day after the IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, was given a marching order by President Muhammadu Buhari….” Polscope: marching orders “First class (First-class) interiors for first class (first-class) travellers” “As one of the foremost citadel (citadels) of learning in Nigeria….” (Full-page advertorial by Plateau State Government, THISDAY, September 26) “FG commissions (inaugurates/auspicates, et al) tremor monitoring (tremor-monitoring) centre in Ebonyi” Virtually all obituary headlines these days read “Celebration of life” or “Painful exit”. Have these expressions not become hackneyed? We should still be creative even as we mourn. “My readers (readers’) day” “Ortom pardons convicts, reads riot act (the riot act) to criminals” “Masquerade (Masquerader) kills one, community deserted” “Domestic abuse: India (Indian) court dismisses minister’s

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Ijesa’: Plural noun

wife (wife’s) allegations against dog” “However, pastoralists and agriculturists (agriculturists’) conflicts are not the only challenges affecting crop outputs (output)….” “Govt commended over (for/on) rice importation” THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 11 takes its turn with a few “familiar” errors: “Reps calls (how?) for national policy on Hepatitis B,,,raises (why?) alarm (the alarm) over….” “With such record (a record)….” From the news pages to the COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of the above medium under review which disseminated two improprieties: “Still, legally a pardon wipes the crime clean; and a fair legal system cannot, in all good conscience, revisit that crime again.” Yank off ‘again’ in the interest of linguistic justice! “But the job would be half done if state institutions are strengthened to do their job (jobs) as and when due….” Simply do their jobs when due “Ankara blasts kill 86, injur (injure) 186” Finally from THE NATION ON SUNDAY under focus: “NFF mourns late Okugbe” Once more delete ‘late’! “…the counsels to the various parties were ready to present their written addresses for adoption….” ‘Counsel’ is non-count. xNATIONAL MIRROR Front Page of October 15 goofed: “Again, gunmen abduct Bayelsa monarch, shot (shoot) police corporal” “As you handover (hand over) the mantle of leadership….” (Full-page advertorial by NICON Insurance Limited, National Mirror, October 15) “SON to clampdown (clamp down) on fake lubricants’ producers” “…especially in (on) the outskirts of the cities such as….”

“ACF calls for support to (for) Buhari’s change mantra” “Judge’s absence stalled (stalls) Audu’s N10.9bn fraud trail (trial)” Last entry from National Mirror under review: “Dangote urges FG, states to adopt use of concrete roads (concrete for roads) for durability purpose” We do not need the last word in the extract! A tight headline rewrite: Dangote urges FG, states to use concrete for road durability “The challenges of transporting people presents (why?) a bounty of opportunities for reinventing the pulse of our cities.” (Full-page advertisement by Skye Bank, THE NATION ON SUNDAY, October 15)

FEEDBACK

GOV. Ben Ayade of Cross River restates commitment to the provision of ”potable drinking water”, reported a Lagos-based TV station in its 3 p.m. news package on Oct. 12. The word “potable”, which means “fit for drinking” or “drinkable”, was not necessary or should have stood alone, leaving out “drinking” since potable and drinkable mean the same thing. In the Viewpoint section of Sunday Vanguard, Page 9, Oct. 11, the writer probably meant “VEERED OFF” when he wrote that “not known for fulsome flattery, Governor Okowa had in the course of presenting his speech VIED OFF....” (KOLA DANISA/07068074257) “Islamic finance: SEC pledges to unlock capital market potentials (potential or potentialities)” ‘Potential’ is noncount (uncountable). The PUNCH of October 20 comes next: “The applicants are seeking a court (court’s) order directing the immediate and unconditional release of community members arrested over (for) Disu’s killing.”

FUNAAB researcher unveils climate smart agriculture Saidat alauSa

igerian farmers would soon start enjoying an agricultural system, which seeks to increase their productivity and protect the environment, called the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). According to a Research Fellow with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, FUNAAB, in the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Dr. John Oyedepo, the initiative would also bring about food security for all. Dr. Oyedepo said the 2010 Declaration by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, which noted that “the rate at which the world is producing food and agricultural produce is not sustainable and unless food productivity is increased by 60 percent in the next few years, the world will be in problem”, culminated into the research on CSA. He said the practice involved studying the climate using tech-

nologies as the bulk of farmers in Africa were peasants that do not have access to information on agriculture. This fact, he said, had crippled their knowledge on when to start planting and when to stop planting due to the erratic pattern of rainfall and atmospheric temperature, stating that “farmers need to be armed with information in order to plan, know what to avoid during

planting, what to plant and when not to plant.” The Research Fellow said the project was highly Information Technology-intensive, and in order to make it work, it was able to win a grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which IFSERAR utilised in the procurement of special data infrastructure such as a ground-receiving station that can download

and process or analyse information, among others. He said FUNAAB Radio would be used to create the necessary awareness in addition to the “Interactive Voice Response (IVR)” mechanism, whereby a farmer could call for an inquiry by speaking in his or her local dialect while the IVR would translate into English, processed and the farmer gets his or her response or feed-

Members of Anwar-ul Islam College Agege Old Students Association (ACAOSA), (1991/1992 set) during their bi-annual convention and reunion ceremony at the school compound in Lagos, recently.

back in his or her local dialect. Dr. Oyedepo added that in order to make the project beneficial to rural farmers, they would be organised into “Climate Smart Villages”, which would allow them to have forest-land information of how to build resilience and adapt to the impact of climate change. He commended TETFund for its contributions toward the take-off of the project as well as the African Development Bank (AFDB), among other corporate supporters, saying “there are donors willing to invest into such ventures. “Government can also make laws to mandate multinationals to open up farms to support project like this or ask them to devote certain percentage of their taxes to support agriculture while we on our own will meet some of this private companies and tell them what we do,” he said. “By doing all these, we would have opened up thousands of hectares of land and put in graduates that have no job to have something doing,” he added.

Business Thursday, December 31, 2015

Stakeholders seek splitting of 700/800MHz band

Foreign airlines may reduce flight frequencies to Nigeria 28

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Govt seeks partnership with computer professionals 32

World Bank excludes Nigeria from climate-smart crop distribution SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

orld Bank has excluded Nigeria in its climatesmart crops distribution, aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change in Africa. The apex global Bank had under its West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, WAAPP, distributed climate-smart crop varieties as well as technologies to over 5.7 million farmers across West Africa. But the name of Nigeria with its large population and huge farming outputs amid vast farm lands is glaringly missing in the past, present or future lists of beneficiaries to such-all important projects of the Bank. For instance, Senegal has received 14 high-yielding, droughtresistant dry cereal varieties to boost its agricultural productivity by at least 30 percent, despite the country’s shorter rainy seasons. Under Kenya Sustainable Land Management Project, designed to issue carbon credits, the World Bank trained over 30,000 small holder farmers in sustainable land management practices. The Bank also delivered 10,500 tons of maize and rice seeds to 200,000 farmers in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone among others. It also assisted Vietnam in its alternative wetting and drying irrigation techniques in rice cultivation to cut water use and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing yields by up to 10 percent. A Lagos state-based agriculturist, Mr Funso Oloke said it is very surprising that the giant of Africa like Nigeria is not recognised in such vital agriculture project, aimed at stemming the tide of climate change. According to him, agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change and responsible for 19 to 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. ‘’Climate-Smart agriculture as World Bank has noted will mitigate climate change’’, he stated. World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim said at the end of the historic climate conference held in Paris, it was noted that

more than 180 countries submitted their plans for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, saying the momentum towards putting these plans into action is huge. This year has been designated as the International Year of Soils, a United Nations campaign created to raise global awareness on the fundamental roles of soils for human life.

‘’Soils are the basis for 95 percent of the world’s food production, yet each year, we lose an estimated 24 billion tons of fertile soil to erosion and 12 million hectares of land to desertification and drought. The good news is that soil degradation can be addressed through sustainable soil management practices’’, Kim stated. ‘’As farmers in wealthier countries benefit from the wave of tech-

nological improvements, it is vital to find ways to pass these technologies to other global farmers’’, he added. Already, the Bank has partnered with TerrAfrica on several large-scale landscape restoration projects, including a project in Niger, where 60 million trees were planted over a 12-year-period through farmer-managed natural regeneration.

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: The Retail Head, Lagos & South-west Region of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Funmilola Paseda; Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu; one of the winners of the second draws of the FCMB Millionaire Promo Season 2, Funmilayo Odusanya and the Head, Consumer Liability Products of the Bank, Mr. Shamsideen Fashola, during the cheque presentation ceremony to the winner in Lagos, recently.

Customs refutes corruption allegation, tasks group on evidence FRANCIS EZEM

he Nigeria Customs Service has restated its commitment to zero tolerance on corruption and other unprofessional conducts, especially on the parts of its officers and men. The revenue collection agency has therefore challenged any person or group that has proven cases of corruption among its officer to come forward with such. In a letter dated December 21, 2015 addressed to the President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAGAFF and signed by an Assistant Comptroller General, Headquarters, A. Sanusi on behalf of the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), the Service insisted that it would not hesitate to sanction any officer with proven case of corruption.

The letter came on the heels of a botched public hearing proposed by the leadership of the association on one Deputy Comptroller of the Service, Mr. Saidu Aliu, over allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The association had alleged that Aliu, currently serving at the Tin Can Island Command of the service collects bribe of N500, 000 and N250,000 on a 20-foott container of Aluminum Coil, which he allegedly cleared at five per cent duty as against the official 35 per cent and Aluminum Profile also at five per cent instead of the recommended 35 per cent import duty. Also named in the corruption allegation was another senior officer identified just Assistant Controller Zarma, who is serving at the Customs Processing Center CPC, at the TCIP. The Comptroller General,

who faulted the planned public hearing, argued that it was not in the place of a private association to conduct public hearings on officials of the Federal Government or its agencies. The letter reads in part: “It is the prerogative of the Federal Government or its agencies to carry out such public hearings on the activities of the members of staff under its employ not an association or any other professional body for that matter” The CG who insisted that the officers of the service are subject to the authority and control of the Federal Government, which employed and reserves the right to punish or even sacked, however assured that the current management’s zero tolerance on corruption and any act of indiscipline was still intact.

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, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

GCR affirms ITMB’s BB+ credit rating, positive outlook a OLufEMi AdEOSun, AbujjA

he Global Credit Rating (GCR), one of Africa’s rating agencies, has affirmed Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc’s BB+ credit rating with positive outlook in the long term and A3 with positive outlook in the short term for the 2015 rating year based on its 2014 financial result. The agency, which rates about 3000 local and international organisations spanning four continents, stated that ITMB Plc was given the rating due to improvement in the bank’s competitive capacity, brand perception, cor-

porate governance practices and robust financial performance, among other things. In 2014, it rated ITMB Plc BB+ with positive outlook in the long term and A3 with stable outlook in the short term. The 2014 rating was an improvement over the 2012 and 2013 rating of BB+ with stable outlook in the long term and A3 with stable outlook in the short term. It stated: “The 2015 rating takes cognisance of Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc’s improved competitive capacity, enhanced brand perception resulting from its transformation from a private limited liability

company to a public company in 2013, and the subsequent upgrade of its license to a National Primary Mortgage Bank in 2014. “ITMB is considered well capitalised. Total shareholders’ funds were N5.5bn at 31 December 2014, relative to minimum capital requirements of N5.0bn

for a National Primary Mortgage Bank, translating to a robust risk weighted Capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 122 per cent, against the regulatory minimum CAR of 10 per cent. “In addition, liquidity risk is considered low, given the bank’s strong key liquidity indicators at

the balance sheet date. The cash and liquid assets to short-term funding ratio stood at 183.1 per cent at 2014 financial year, while the maturity matching of assets and liabilities reflected liquidity buffers across all maturity bands.” , GCR added.

ICAO plans funding, other supports for Africa’s aviation industry OLuSEgun KOiKi

resident of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, has said that the world aviation regulatory body had resolved to help African countries overcome their challenges and enable them to effectively initiate standards and policies that would aid aviation industry’s growth. He disclosed this plan at the 25th triennial Plenary Session of the African Civil Aviation Commission, AFCAC, held in Cairo, Egypt at the weekend. Aliu noted that the challenges to Africa with regards to meeting aviation standards stemmed from funding and coordination regarding technical, managerial and financial resources required to ensure effective implementation standards and policies. According to the ICAO President, although ICAO’s function to address these challenges under its ongoing ‘No Country Left Behind initiative,’ NCLB, the body has gone a step further to provide African states with the assistance and capacity building they require. He said: “Besides ICAO’s work to address these gaps under its ongoing ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative, ICAO’s further commitments to provide African States with the assistance and capacity building they require, whether through the ICAO Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa, AFI Plan, or the ICAO/ AFCAC Human Resources Development Fund, HRDF, pro-

gramme. “Many of the challenges Africa faces today are tied to shortfalls in funding and coordination, especially regarding the technical, managerial and financial resources required to ensure effective implementation of ICAO Standards and policies by African States. “Whether we are talking airport development, the modernisation of air navigation technologies and infrastructure, or greater liberalization in African skies, no targets will be met unless African aviation training capacity is sufficiently expanded.” ICAO has established Global Plans for aviation Safety and Air Navigation for the next 15 years, with clear targets and timelines for States to adhere to. But, Aliu noted that the concerned states must also ensure sufficient numbers of skilled personnel are in place to ensure that any progress made was sustainable and effective over the longer term. The Council President also expressed concern on the global security situation, stating that due to recent terroristrelated incidents on the continent, aviation security concerns had been heightened. Aliu highlighted to the Plenary’s high-level participants, representing 55 African and other world States, the recent implementation of ICAO’s AFI Security and Facilitation, SECFAL, Plan in May of this year, while noting in separate discussions that airport security concerns will be on the agenda at the next ICAO Aviation Security, AVSEC, Panel meeting in March of 2016.

L-R:, MD, Pharmacy Plus, Emeka Obi; Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria, Lagos State, Mrs Abiola Paul Ozieh; MD, New Height Pharmacy, Mr Omaruye Ochuko; MC, Omotunde David (Lolo) and Country Sales Manager, Reload, Joseph James, at the Reload Multivitamins promo draw in Lagos

Foreign airlines may reduce flight frequencies to Nigeria SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE There are strong indications that foreign airlines may reduce flights to Nigeria from early next year due to the monetary policy of government on foreign exchange sourcing. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had introduced some monetary policies that discourage certain foreign exchange transactions it believes could promote foreign exchange flight from the country and by implication, worsen the country’s fiscal crisis. However, some aviation experts have predicted hard times for Nigerians travelling abroad from next year as international

airlines operating to different destinations in the country plan may be forced to reduce flights to the country. For instance, British Airways had threatened that from March 2016, it would reduce its flights to Nigeria by bringing in aircraft with smaller capacity than the traditional Boeing 747, which operates the lucrative Lagos-London route. Other foreign airlines are also expected to either change their aircraft type and operate ones with smaller capacity or reschedule and reduce the number of flights to Nigeria while those that have not been recording high traffic in Nigerian route may stop flights to the country.

Experts say such situation might lead to high fuel costs while flights out of the country would be very difficult to get. Already, the International Air Transport Association, IATA, have pleaded with the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emiefele to intervene in the matter and make dollars available to the airlines. The foreign airlines also had met with the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, urging him to look into their case, even as no positive response has been received. “Nothing has been done yet, but authorities have promised to look into the matter’’, the foreign airlines operator said.

Julius Baer to pay $547m to resolve U.S. tax probe

ulius Baer Group Ltd, Switzerland’s third-largest wealth manager, said it expects to pay about $547 million to settle a U.S. investigation into how it helped Americans evade taxes, clearing the way for other Swiss banks to resolve similar criminal probes. The bank reached an agreement in principle with the U.S. Justice Department, Julius Baer said in a statement on Wednesday, as it earmarked another $197 million beyond the $350 million it set aside in June to resolve the probe. The Zurich-based company expects to conclude the agreement of the four-year investigation in the first quarter. Chief Executive Officer Boris

Collardi had said he wanted to resolve the U.S. probe by the end of 2015. Uncertainty around the Justice Department investigation has hampered the company’s ability to make deals, invest in renewing outdated information-technology platforms and even return capital to shareholders. Julius Baer said in July it planned to outline a new capital-management plan in early 2016. “Knowing the final amount gives us more clarity on Julius Baer’s excess capital and potential for acquisitions,” said Jonas Floriani, a London-based analyst at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods with an outperform rating on the shares. “Reaching an agreement should be taken as a positive, even though the amount is higher than the original

provision.” Julius Baer rose as much as 4.4 percent in Zurich. The shares were up 1.8 percent as of 12:43 p.m., bringing the gain for this year to almost 4 percent compared with a 3.5 percent decline in the Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index. The bank reached a “comprehensive resolution regarding its legacy U.S. cross-border business” with prosecutors working for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, according to the statement. In 2011, Bharara’s office indicted two Julius Baer bankers, accusing them of conspiring with more than 180 U.S. clients and others at the bank to hide at least $600m in assets from the Internal Revenue .

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Barclays in $13.75m U.S. settlement over mutual funds S

Saudi Arabia stocks fall sharply on tax rises

arclays Plc will pay more than $13.75 million to settle U.S. regulatory charges that it let retail brokerage customers make unsuitable mutual fund transactions, including more than 6,100 fund switches, over a five-year period.

Barclay’s President, Richard Fisher

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority on Tuesday said the London-based bank’s Barclays Capital Inc unit will pay more than $10 million in restitution, including interest, to affected customers, and was fined $3.75 million. Barclays did not admit or deny wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, which includes a censure. A spokesman had no immediate comment. FINRA said that from January 2010 to June 2015, Barclays’ inadequate supervisory procedures failed to stop many customers from swapping one mutual fund for another when the benefits of switching might be undermined by the transaction costs. This caused $8.63 million of harm to customers, most of whom were not warned of

such costs, the regulator said. FINRA also said that from March to August 2014, Barclays processed 1,723 fund transactions, or 39 per cent of those it reviewed, that were inconsistent with its customers’ goals, risk tolerance or other investments. It said 343 of these transactions caused more than $818,000 of customer harm. During the same period, Barclays also failed to provide “breakpoint” discounts to reduce front-end sales charges on 98 large purchases of Class A fund shares, FINRA said. “The proper supervision of mutual fund switching and breakpoint discounts is essential to the protection of retail mutual fund investors,” FINRA enforcement chief Brad Bennett said in a statement.

Friday along with the official services PMI. Analysts expect only a marginal improvement in the vast manufacturing sector in December from November, when activity fell to a threeyear low. Chronic overcapacity, sluggish demand at home and abroad and deflationary pressures are expected to continue to weigh on the sector next year. “There were some bright spots in the economy in December such as a continued recovery in the housing market and an improvement in auto sales,” said Nie Wen, an analyst at Hwabao Trust in Shanghai. “But performances in these sectors do not necessarily boost the PMI above the 50-point level due to contractions in other industries.” Vehicle sales in China have rebounded after the government cut taxes on smaller cars from Oct. 1. Official data on Sunday showed Chinese industrial profits fell 1.4 per cent in November from a year earlier, marking a sixth consecutive month of decline. In a bid to prevent a sharper economic slowdown, Bei-

jing has rolled out a series of stimulus measures and monetary policy easing over the past year and analysts expect further steps in 2016. China’s economic growth is expected to cool from 7.3 per cent in 2014 to 6.9 per cent this year, the central bank said in a recent work paper, its slowest pace in a quarter of a century. Growth could ease further to 6.8 per cent next year. Some China watchers, however, believe real growth levels are already much weaker than official data suggest. Top leaders last week outlined the main economic targets for 2016, saying the government will push forward “supply-side reform” to help generate new growth engines. The government also vowed that it will adopt a more flexible fiscal policy, including gradually increasing fiscal deficit ratio and expanding its budget deficit. President Xi has said China must keep annual average growth at no less than 6.5 per cent over the next five years to reach a goal of doubling gross domestic product and per capita income by 2020 from 2010. China is set to release fourth quarter and full-year GDP data on Jan. 19.

China official PMI likely to show fifth month of contraction

ctivity in China’s manufacturing sector is expected to have contracted for a fifth straight month in December, a Reuters poll showed, likely consigning the world’s second-largest economy to its slowest annual growth in a quarter of a century. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is forecast to inch up to 49.7 from November’s 49.6, according to a median forecast of 27 economists in a Reuters poll. A reading below 50 points suggests a contraction in activity, while a reading above indicates an expansion on a monthly basis. The official PMI factory reading will be released on

China President, Xi Jinping

audi Arabia’s stock market has fallen sharply after it announced public spending cuts and rises in tax, fuel and energy prices in 2016. The country’s main stock index fell three per cent in the opening 15 minutes of trade with petrochemical firms worst hit. Saudi Basic Industries, the biggest petrochemical producer, tumbled 8.3 per cent while Saudi Kayan lost 4.8 per cent. Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit soared to $98bn (£65.7bn) this year on the back of falling crude prices. In the first budget under King Salman, the kingdom said revenues reached 608bn riyals (£108.7bn; $162bn), down 15 per cent on official expectations. Spending for the year hit 975bn riyals, some 13 per cent more than forecast. To help make up the shortfall, the country’s finance ministry said it would cut subsidies for fuel. Petrol prices could in some cases increase by as much as 50 per cent, authorities said, although they will remain low by international standards. Diesel, electricity and water prices will also increase. King Salman said the budget came “in light of the decrease in oil prices, the economic and regional and international financial challenges - where global eco-

nomic growth has declined from its previous level - and the lack of stability in some of the neighbouring states.” Oil prices have plunged from a five-year high of $125 a barrel in March 2012 to just $37.18 now. Saudi Arabia said that oil revenues, which make up 77 per cent of the total revenue figure for 2015, are down 23 per cent compared to last year. It is the largest member of the Opec oil-producing cartel and has refused to cut output in order to raise prices in an attempt to put other producers - mainly US shale oil companies - out of business. Saudi thinks it can withstand low oil prices for longer than US producers, many of which are small, heavily-indebted firms.

King Salman

Spain and Italy receive economic recovery boost

panish shops are now hiring at pre-crisis levels, while business confidence is also holding up in Italy, according to official figures. Spain’s national statistics agency said retail hiring in November grew 1.8 per cent on last year, the fastest rate since Spain entered a deep recession in 2008. In Italy, figures on Tuesday showed business confidence fell in December, but remained close to recent highs. Italy and Spain are the eurozone’s third and fourth largest economies. Spanish retail sales increased 3.3 per cent in November com-

Italian President, Sergio Mattarella

pared to last year, the sixteenth consecutive month of growth, according to the National Statistics Institute. Many retailers are confident this will be the best Christmas period for business since the country’s recovery started. Higher household spending in Spain this year, fuelled by falling oil prices and tax cuts, has helped to boost Spanish shops and drive economic growth. Spain’s economy grew 0.8 per cent in the third quarter, while the growth rate in Italy was lower than expected at 0.2 per cent, according to EU figures. Despite the slowdown, morale among Italian businesses and consumers remains high. Business confidence fell to 105.8 from 107.1 in November, according to Italian statistic agency ISTAT’s composite business morale index, which combines surveys of the manufacturing, retail, construction and services sectors. Consumer confidence dropped to 117.6 from a record high of 118.4 in November, although it was still above analyst expectations.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Islamic finance: SEC to kick off 2016 roundtable in South west Johnson okanlawon

ollowing its successful first public enlightenment on Islamic finance last October in Kano, the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, is to commence the 2016 regional roundtable on the non-interest capital market in the South west. Speaking to journalists during the fourth quarter meeting of the Capital Market Committee, CMC, the Director General of SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, hinted that the South West event might hold either in February or March next year. According to him, the objective of the workshop

is to encourage states to explore the alternative model for financing infrastructure projects through Islamic capital market products such as Sukuk. He said: “We briefed the market on our first outing in Kano, where we did robust and comprehensive public enlightenment on the need for government firms and other agencies to come to the market and utilize the window of non-interest finance via the issue of Sukkuk or other instruments. The public enlightenment was very successful. “We had in attendance the governor of Kano

State, the Emir of Kano and other key stakeholders. We intend to move to the South West any time in February or March. The idea is to move from one geo-political zone to another to propagate the gospel of taking advantage of that instrument.” The SEC boss expressed the Commission’s determination to deepen the non-interest capital market space to enable millions of Nigerians and people of faith invest their savings ethically. Noting that while most people identify capital market as important source of medium-to-long term capital flow as well

as potential to serve as a catalyst for financial inclusion, the investment expert explained that in order to move the market forward, the Commission would focus on public enlightenment and stronger capacity building initiatives. “Our focus for this roundtable is on Sukuk, one of the most important components of the Islamic financial system. The global sukuk market continues to witness remarkable growth since after the 2008 global financial crisis as annual issuances have grown from $15 billion in 2008 to almost $120 billion in 2014,” Gwarzo added.

Equities up 3.79% as Dangote Cement tops gainers’ chart Johnson okanlawon

rading in equities closed on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, halting two days of consecutive bullish trends. Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 3.79 per cent to close at 27,777.83 points, as against the decline of 0.40 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 26,763.24 points.

Market capitalisation gained N352 billion to close at N9.55 trillion, in contrast to the depreciation of N37 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N9.201 trillion. Dangote Cement leads the gainers’ table with N13.05 or 8.59 per cent to close at N164.95 per share, followed by Nigerian Breweries Plc with N9.00 or 7.83 per cent to close at N124.00 per share. FBN Holdings Plc ap-

preciated 36 kobo or 7.61 per cent to close at N5.09 per share, while Unity Bank Plc rose seven kobo or 6.86 per cent to close at N1.09 per share. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc was up 30 kobo or five per cent to close at N6.30 per share. Conversely, Etranzact Plc lost 16 kobo or five per cent to close at N3.04 per share, while NAHCO Plc depreciated 18 kobo or 4.99 per cent to close at N3.43 per share.

Transcohot Plc depreciated 30 kobo or 4.92 per cent to close at N5.80 per share, while Diamond Bank Plc shed five kobo or 2.13 per cent to close at N2.30 per share. FCMB Plc dropped three kobo or 1.79 per cent to close at N1.65 per share. A total of 1.411 million shares valued at N1.94 billion were exchanged in 2,559 deals.

Oil rebound fizzles, sending global shares lower

lobal stock markets fell yesterday as oil prices slumped back toward 11-year lows, sapping investors’ appetite for risky assets and hurting the shares of mining and energy companies. Stock markets rallied the previous day as oil prices rebounded on prospects for lower temperatures on both sides of the Atlantic. But the benchmark Brent crude slid back below $37 a barrel, with investors worried about slowing demand and high supplies. The fall in oil prices has been a major driver of financial markets this year, hammering energy companies, lowering inflation expectations and reinforcing bets on loose monetary policy in Europe and a slow tightening in the United States. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 0.5 per cent, while the

euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index declined by 0.6 per cent, having both gained in the previous session. Asian shares unwound earlier gains, with continued weakness in Chinese stocks. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged down 0.1 per cent, on track for a flat monthly performance and down 12 per cent for the year. “The ongoing weakness in the oil price is dragging down the markets,” said John Plassard, senior equity sales executive at Mirabaud Securities in Geneva. Crude prices have plunged by two-thirds since mid-2014 as soaring output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Russia and the United States led to a global surplus of between half a million and 2 million barrels

per day. Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell added that a warning by the head of the International Monetary Fund in a newspaper column that global economic growth would be disappointing next year was further pressuring markets. The yen, which is traditionally sought at times of market uncertainty, inched up to 120.425 yen per dollar. That left it close to a twomonth high of 120.05 yen hit last week. The dollar was 0.1 per cent lower against a basket of major currencies, adding to a weak end to the year that has seen it fall more than two per cent in just under a month. BNP Paribas currency strategist Michael Sneyd said there had been a disconnect between the dollar and US Treasury yields since the Federal Reserve raised

interest rates for the first time in almost a decade earlier this month. “Since the Fed’s liftoff, the dollar has lagged behind markedly. We would put that down to most market participants being out of the market at the moment,” he said. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.98 Market indicators All-Share Index 27,777.83 points Market capitalisation 9.55trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

DANGCEM

151.90

164.95

13.05

8.59

115.00

124.00

9.00

7.83

FBNH

4.73

5.09

0.36

7.61

UNITYBNK

1.02

1.09

0.07

6.86

UBN

6.00

6.30

0.30

5.00

STANBIC

15.00

15.75

0.75

5.00

NPFMCRFBK

1.00

1.05

0.05

5.00

FIDSON

2.41

2.53

0.12

4.98

AIRSERVICE

2.01

2.11

0.10

4.98

UPL

5.45

5.72

0.27

4.95

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

ETRANZACT

3.20

3.04

-0.16

-5.00

NAHCO

3.61

3.43

-0.18

-4.99

TRANSCOHOT

6.10

5.80

-0.30

-4.92

DIAMONDBNK

2.35

2.30

-0.05

-2.13

FCMB

1.68

1.65

-0.03

-1.79

AFRIPRUD

2.45

2.41

-0.04

-1.63

ETI

16.20

16.00

-0.20

-1.23

ZENITHBANK

14.20

14.05

-0.15

-1.06

GUARANTY

18.21

18.10

-0.11

-0.60

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.32

108.92

7.85

109.92

7.10

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.50

116.88

10.15

117.88

9.83

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.12

115.17

10.87

116.17

10.59

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.08

123.07

11.07

124.07

10.87

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.20

116.46

11.08

117.46

10.92

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.56 92.25

11.08

93.25

10.94

Closing Market Prices of December 30, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

31-Mar-16

3.34

3.36

WAUA

270

USD

196.98

30-Jun-16

6.99

7.22

EURO

214

15-Dec-16

7.92

8.46

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.0000

POUNDS STERLING

293

9.3292

10.6283

SDR

273

NIBOR

12.3776 CBN Clearing Rates of December 18, 2015

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Info Tech

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders seek splitting of 700/800MHz band licence Spectrum allocations have in the past been done by auctioning, with a few exceptions. As the industry looks forward to more spectrum sale next year, experts in the broadcast and telecommunication industry believe that the critical 700/800MHz band should not go to a single operator but shared in the spirit of a liberalised policy regime. Isaiah Erhiawarien analyses the issues.

he Federal Government has promised to issue new telecoms licences as from next year as a way of boosting the country’s internet infrastructure capacity. The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, disclosed that the new licences will create robust internet infrastructure nationwide. NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, confirming the development said the new licenses would ensure that Nigeria had enough pervasive internet penetration to be able to implement policies that will guarantee good operating environment for telecom players. National Mirror reliably gathered that there were several telecom licences awaiting auctions from next year, amongst which are the 2.6GHz band, 5.4GHz band, 70/80GHz band and the 700/800MHz band. Of all the four bands, the 700/800MHz band is regard globally as much critical because the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, to allocate the 700 MHz band to the global mobile industry. The ITU, a UN specialised agency for information and communication technologies, had said that the utilisation of the 700 MHz communication spectrum would address “digital divide.” National Mirror also learnt that key stakeholders were worried about the 700/800MHz band being given to one operator in a very volatile telecommunications industry, where competition is very aggressive without effective control by the regulator. In other climes, like Philippines, operators are said to be clamouring for percentage sharing of the 700/800MHz band among telecoms operators. In the country, the 700 MHz spectrum has been a contentious issue as local telecoms companies are all pushing for a share of the frequency. One of such operators is Globe Telecom believes that the 700 megahertz band should be shared by all telecommunications providers in the country instead of being licensed to only one entity to allow telcos to provide faster and cheaper broad-

band service. The Chief Executive Officer, Globe Telecom, Ernest Cu, called for an even splitting of the spectrum saying that “ideally, each telco should be allowed 20 megahertz of that spectrum up and down. That’s really important because that’s for coverage.” In Nigeria, it would be recalled that the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, had allocated the 700MHz spectrum to mobile operator, MTN. Speaking at a meeting with the media, the Director-General, NBC, Emeka Mba said the licensing would enable the commission to generate sufficient funds needed for the digital switchover process, although some stakeholders have queried the decision of the NBC. However, stakeholders had faulted the NBC action, saying that the decision was made without resorting to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In reaction to such concern, the NBC boss had explained that both the NBC and NCC regulate separate and clearly demarcated sections of the spectrum and that each administers its own bundle without interference from the other. He explained that the basis for prior notification of NCC ahead of the licensing of MTN did not arise at all, constitutionally, legally and by regulatory practice since the licence issued was for a converged digital broadcasting license based on the existing National Frequency Management Commission (NFMC) protocol for broadcast. According to him, the 700MHz frequency is a broadcast spectrum and does not belong to the NCC noting, “Several stations are

NCC headquarters, Abuja currently broadcasting on that spectrum in several cities across Nigeria. Cable and UHF stations are on this frequency. The NCC is fully aware of this incontrovertible fact. The NBC enjoys a good working relationship with the NCC and each of us respects each other’s boundaries.” Mba pointed out that it is only after the successful digital switchover that the 700MHz and portions of the 800MHz will be transferred to NFMC adding that “it is important to state that the NBC does not sell spectrum but licenses organisations based on their applications to broadcast using available broadcast spectrum, and other forms, such as IPTV.” Reacting to the debate, the President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, said that government should set an agenda for the Nigeria’s telecoms industry. Citing a recent Mobile Economy Asia study which found that the full use of the spectrum has the potential to create an additional 2.1 million jobs for the Asia-Pacific

In other clImes, lIke PhIlIPPInes, oPerators are saId to be clamourIng for Percentage

700/800mhz band among oPerators ... the 700 mhz

sharIng of the telecoms

sPectrum has been a contentIous Issue as local telecoms comPanIes are all PushIng for a share of the frequency

region by 2020, the NATCOM chief said that while the country awaited the allocation of the spectrum next year, the regulator should consider adopting the equal sharing of the spectrum among the telecos in the country. Ogunbanjo called for a stakeholder’s forum to address the issuance of the spectrum next so as to play ground for fair playing and make all telecos to be clear on the allocation procedure. Referring to past instances where telecos had to be returning licenses in exchange for money that has been paid, he said that dialogue will allowed informed telecos to explore favourable allocation of the spectrum. The NCC had some months ago allocated frequency spectrum to two telecos in manner that resulted to public during the last administration. Following the public outcry, one of the telecos, an ISP company Cyberspace, one of two recipients of reported secretly sold frequency spectrum was believed to have handed back the spectrum to officials. Speaking to ITWeb Africa, a top NCC official said Cyberspace management decided to quietly return the spectrum following the bad publicity that characterised the announcement of the secret deal by the media. The official also said that concern over a potential probe was another reason behind the company’s decision. The new Nigerian government said it would probe the process through which the spectrums were secretly sold to Cyberspace and Globacom.

Info Tech

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Govt seeks partnership with computer professionals StorieS by iSaiah erhiawarien

he Federal Government has solicited the cooperation of the Nigeria Computer Society, NCS, in the current agenda targeted at bridging the gap between research output from the nation’s universities and the level of industrial commercialisation accorded them. The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, mulled the idea shortly before laying the foundation stone for the Technology Innovation Centre of the NCS. In order to strengthen the relationship between the body and government, the Minister hinted that a highlevel tripartite dialogue between the Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) would be established. Shittu also called on wellmeaning Nigerians to part-

ner with the NCS to bridge the digital gap, pointing out that the Nigerian genius that has hitherto been wrongly noted for underhand innovations is highly capable of positive existential innovations if provided the right environment to exhibit their creative abilities. He said that in today’s global village, the frontier-knowledge elites, the elites of the technological and the digital revolutions, were the custodians of strategic and economic power, noting that “with the current leadership of NCS and people here today, I have no doubt in mind that this arduous task will be achieved.” The Minister noted that ICT remained the critical driver of the knowledge-based economy for a post-modern world like Nigeria, adding that nations with huge natural resources and developed human resources can technologically

Huawei to support 6.7b mobile broadband users

uawei has said that it would support supporting 6.7 billion mobile broadband users across the world. Huawei’s Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chief Executive Officer, Ken Hu the initiative is part of its “MBB 2020 Strategy”, which it unveiled on the opening day of the 2015 Global Mobile Broadband Forum, outlining a new mobile broadband blueprint for the next five years. “From now until 2020, we have three main targets: supporting 6.7 billion mobile broadband users, supporting a 1Gbps access rate, and supporting 1 billion connections for the cellular Internet of Things,” said Hu. He said that achieving these goals will require technology and business model innovation, as well as cross-industry collaboration saying that Huawei’s mobile broadband strategy will focus on spectrum, air interface, network architecture, integrated base stations, and operations based on user experience. He said that “connecting people remains a top priority, so both quantity and quality matter. The network is the foundation of user experience, but as we focus on the network, we must, at the same time, focus on the user. And in focusing on network performance, we must also keep in mind how users experience the network.” Hu disclosed that since the

world is entering the era of the Internet of Things, it therefore creates huge opportunities for the entire mobile telecommunications industry saying, “to realize this IoT vision, we must develop and unify cross-industry standards, contain costs, and promote cooperation among different stakeholders. These three factors will help drive growth in this market.”

explore and manage natural resources for the benefit of mankind. “This reality of global relevance is now impacting unavoidably on our collective national psyche in Nigeria today with the situation of ever-dwindling international oil prices and, by extension, ever-dwindling national revenue generation”, Shittu observed.

ment of at least six university based knowledge parks over the next six years. Aderounmu said that the IT Innovation Centre project was intended to accelerate the successful; development of entrepreneurial companies through array of business support resources adding that there is urgent need to focus on addressing weak university-industry linkage.

Managing Director of Jovago Nigeria, Mr. Kushal Dutta, handing over relief materials to victims of the Oko-Oba, Ebutte Metta fire accident during the Yuletide.

FG’s apathy to local content policy hampering ICT firms’ growth –Omatek boss

he neglect of Information Communications Technology, ICT, companies, particularly lack of commitment to the implementation of

Artificial intelligence to takeover smartphone screens –Report

he latest edition of Ericsson ConsumerLab annual trend report has shown that most consumers expect artificial intelligence (AI) interfaces to start taking over from smartphone screen in the next few years. The 10 hottest consumer trends for 2016 and beyond report indicated that consumers believe artificial intelligence (AI) will soon enable interaction with objects without the need for a smartphone screen. According to Ericsson, half of all smartphone users expect smartphones to become things of the past within the next five years noting that as the adoption of networked technologies moves faster than ever, mass-market use becomes the norm quicker saying that as a result, the time period when early adopters influence others is now shorter than before. Commenting on the report,

Citing a World Bank report, the President of the NCS, Professor Adesola Aderounmu said that weak university industry in the country constituted the greatest impediment to the development of a knowledge-based economy. He therefore canvassed the prioritisation of measures to develop structures systems for strengthening industry linkage through establish-

Head of Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, Michael Björn, said that some of these trends may seem futuristic stressing that consumer interest is in new interaction paradigms such as AI and virtual reality (VR), as well as in embedding the internet in the walls of homes or even in our bodies, is quite strong. “This means we could soon see new consumer product categories appearing and whole industries transforming to accommodate this development.” The insights in the “10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2016” report come from Ericsson ConsumerLab’s global research program and cover a range of consumer opinions. The broadest trend is representative of 1.1 billion people across 24 countries, whereas the narrowest represents 46 million urban smartphone users in 10 major cities.

local content policy by government, has been identified as one of the challenges constraining indigenous ICT companies’ development drives. Managing Director, Omatek Ventures, Plc., makers of Omatek Computer, Mrs. Florence Seriki, told the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, that this lapse and others had undermined Nigerian ICT companies’ capacity to create wealth. She told the Minister when he visited the Omatek Computer factory in Lagos that a recent survey reflected that 99 per cent of indigenous companies would want government to review the local content policy through a Public Private Partnership approach whereby stakeholders will be involved in policy formation. Seriki reiterated the need for the Federal Government to focus on technology sector in the current efforts aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy. The industry player recalled that her company would be 30 years old by next year and that during the period the entity has created a solid foundation by showcasing to the world that Ni-

geria is a hub of innovation and creativity leveraging not just desktop hardware technology but also solar power tech solutions. According to her, though many ministers had come to see what Omatek is doing there is an urgent need to show support and the need for government to begin to look in the direction of indigenous players in the technology industry to drive key sectors of the economy. Seriki disclosed that Nigeria can be a manufacturer in the ICT global village and do away with foreign brands while assuring government of private sector’s collaboration. She added that the new Omatek solar tech solution to power Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of some commercial banks in the country was ready, and that Nigeria can be able to use both hardware and software for revolution of wealth, industrial collaboration and local patronage. The Minister in his remarks said that he was impressed by what the company is doing, adding that Nigeria as an economy has diverse areas to generate wealth and capacity building to drive away unemployment.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Brands & Marketing

Wearable, IoT, OLED to define 2016 consumer technology market trends As year 2015 ends today and consumers eagerly seek to know what technological innovations and market trends to expect in the coming year, analysts believe the answers lie in looking back at the past in order to project into the future, with many banking on Wearable, IoT, OLED to re-define the market trends. DAVID AUDU reports.

n the fast changing consumer electronics business, and indeed any other business, it is always better to be the trendsetter than the trend-follower. This is because the first company to make a product popular or to take it into the mainstream can expect not only to reap the benefits, but become often a generic name for similar products. Today, leading electronics brands are choosing to bring consumers up to speed with imminent technologies, their benefits as well as the significant difference they are expected to make in their day to day lives. A consumer trend is a new manifestation among people which tracks behavior, attitude, and expectation of the fundamentals of human need, want or desire. As cutting-edge technology defines the dynamic of the $285 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, experts believe the industry is in constant flux as new technologies, products and services build on top of the generation before them. This is heightened by the groundbreaking technologies like autonomous vehicles, robotics, 3D printing and unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, all redefining the world. Market research agency, Gartner, claims the majority of revenue from wearable smart electronics over the next four years will come from athletic shoes and fitness tracking, communications devices for the ear, estimating that by 2016 wearable smart electronics in shoes, tattoos and accessories will emerge as a $10 billion industry. According to statista, a rating firm, global internet of things, IoT, projection is estimated to be around 917.2 billion dollars in 2016 from 743.1 in 2015. Major home electronics maker are hoping to leverage this growing industry in the coming years. A look at some home electronics makers and their products reveal that it is going to be a keenly contested market. The market is expected to be shared among major players such as GE, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Haier, adjudged to be the global sale leader in refrigeration by Deloitte report with a $25.8 billion in net sales in 2012. Also, Deloitte’s global powers of consumer products report of 2014 shows Samsung and Apple topping electronic product shipment for the period. However, in the television segment of home electronics, two major rivalries to watch in 2016 are LG and Samsung. These two have been engaged in bitter corporate rivalry in the new high-end TV tech. Recall that at CES electronic show earlier this year, Samsung introduced its “SUHD” line of LED LCDs in an attempt to compete against the picture quality supremacy of OLED, which has been adjudged to delivers the best images so far. Speaking on LG ‘s marketing focus for 2016, General Manager Home Entertain-

IFA: World’s leading trade show for consumer electronics.

OLED TV

MARKET RESEARCH AGENCY, GARTNER, CLAIMS THE MAJORITY OF REVENUE FROM WEARABLE SMART ELECTRONICS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WILL COME FROM ATHLETIC SHOES AND FITNESS TRACKING, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR THE EAR, ESTIMATING THAT BY 2016 WEARABLE SMART ELECTRONICS IN SHOES, TATTOOS AND ACCESSORIES WILL EMERGE AS A $10 BILLION INDUSTRY ment Division, LG electronics, West Africa Operations, Mr. Steve Ryu, said as another year approaches, LG is poised to impact the electronics industry on various fronts as 2016 will see the debut of more exciting technology than ever before. “2016 will undoubtedly be an exciting year for the company, as it looks to integrate the various business areas where the company currently is a player. By uniting these disparate strands, LG aims to make the lives of consumers more modern, trendier, and generally better. . “In 2016 LG will focus on remaining a trendsetter. In the coming year, LG OLED TV will become more affordable for the everyday consumer. But because OLED is still relatively new, the manufacturing cost and purchase price has been cost prohibitive for the great majority of consumers. But now that proper infrastructure is in place, LG OLED TV is primed to break the 2000 dollar barrier”. The company announced in October that it was ready to take OLED into the mainstream. While 2000 dollars is still relatively expensive for a TV, LG’s slashing of prices by 30 to 45 percent underscores the progress that the company has made in OLED production. Ryu explained that whenever new technologies or new formats of existing technologies hit the market, price tends to be the chief factor that determines whether

the new product is relegated to novelty status or enters the mainstream. “Now that it rivals LCD in price, OLED will undoubtedly be the format of the future. OLED displays are already superior to everything currently available, and now the technology will reach middle class consumers and proliferate at levels consistent with high-end TVs. As further advances are made, the price will continue to decline, maybe even next year we’ll be promoting OLED TVs that are available for under $1000”. But simply because OLED TV is becoming more mainstream does not mean that LG will stop innovating. The coming year will see HDR move out of its infancy and make further strides towards becoming the industry standard. With HDR, TVs can display an incredibly wide dynamic range of brightness, greatly enhancing color contrast ratio and making OLED’s perfect blacks appear even blacker. As HDR continues to gain a foothold in the market, consumers will become more aware of the technology and start to demand it en masse. In fact, by 2019 global shipments of HDR TVs are predicted to exceed 32 million, a clear indicator that the technology will have increasing appeal over the next few years. LG’s first foray into wearable technology was the G Watch, a sporty, tech-

heavy device that served as more of a prototype for what the company had in store than a revolutionary wearable device. It’s successors, The G Watch R, LG Watch Urbane and LG Watch Urbane LTE all added important features that moved the design of LG’s watches forward. The company’s new LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition features the circular display, stylish appearance and LTE connectivity of previous models while also adding a number of new features to help it stand out in a competitive market. While wearables are yet to find their niche and explode in popularity the way smartphones have, the progress that LG has made with its smart watches demonstrates just how bright the future is for these devices. With a wide variety of smart watches available from high-end luxury timepieces to activity trackers, 2016 looks to be the year that wearables finally hit their stride and catch on with the majority of consumers. While IoT technology has been available for several years now, advances that make today’s devices more capable and more affordable than their predecessors will help IoT enter more homes than ever before in 2016. IoT is billions of gadgets, each one of them connected to the internet and communicating with one another. By seamlessly connecting users with their appliances and other household electronic devices, LG’s SmartThinQ and HomeChat systems have helped make the convenience of IoT a reality for millions, Ryu said. While LG is still looking for ways to create robotic vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and ovens that integrate the most advanced IoT capabilities in order to enhance performance and usability, the company said it has also started approaching IoT from an entirely new angle in its attempt to provide as many consumers as possible with the latest technology, the company noted.

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Oando ends 2015 clean cooking competition, rewards winners STORIES: DAVID AUDU

he finals of Oando Marketing 2015 edition of the ‘O-Gas Teens Can Cook’ competition were held recently with over 200 schools participating. The annual cooking competition initiative sponsored by Oando Marketing is to encourage the cooking skills of secondary school students, while they embrace and cultivate the culture of cooking with clean cooking fuel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas. During the Grand Finale held at St. Finbarr’s College Akoka, Lagos State, Ogunbajo Joy, a sixteen-year old student of St. Timothy College, Lagos, emerged the best junior chef in Lagos state, as her local rice and ofada sauce delicacy was adjudged to be the best dish. Balogun Barakat of Bolade Junior Secondary School, Oshodi came

in second position, while Eguase Edith of Ransome Kuti College Mushin, claimed the third position. The Teens Can Cook Competition was conceptualized to cultivate culinary skills in teenagers and equally encourage the use of LPGs in Nigerian homes. Oando Marketing stated that it embarked on the CSR initiative with the objective to appeal to an upcoming age group of future homemakers to create the awareness of the benefits of use of cooking gas. “Some of these children come from homes where their parents use kerosene”. It stated further that awareness campaigns have been done in schools, because “we know that children are the hearts of their parents, by the time they go through this competition and they see that they are cooking with significant less stress, not having to choke on smoke from

the dirty fuels or the long term implication on their health, eye sights and lungs, they will be encouraged to convince parents to make the switch to LPG. “With regards to creating awareness about Liquefied Petroleum Gas, the O-Gas Teens Can Cook competition has been a success as there have been a surge of enquiries from various quarters. “Therefore, Oando marketing is already working at expanding it to other states and having another version targeted at universities, where some of the students still cook with kerosene stoves despite the known health and environmental hazards associated with it. The company noted further that the concept was originally developed to improve the culinary skills of children in Lagos and to create awareness about LPG and its benefits over other unclean cooking fuels.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Our new packs show brand innovation - Chi Limited

hi Limited, makers of Chivita range of fruit juice, has said its new packaging is a reflection of the company’s innovation and market strategies to appeal to certain category of the market In recent times, the company came out with new packs of its range of fruit juices including Chivita 100%, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic, now in 315ml Handy Pack. Managing Director, Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy, said the new and attractive 315ml Handy Pack has a genuine consumer appeal and is a reflection of feedback from the market. “At the cost of N100, we are confident that the affordability, accessibility and convenience of this trendy, and On-the-Go Handy packs would ensure that our consumers continue to get the same refreshing taste and nourishment, anytime and anywhere”. He said consumers have extolled the handy pack size for its elegance, convenience and shelf appeal. “They particularly appreciate its advantages over aluminum can packaging because it is easy to hold, pour from, and is far more environment friendly” Roy stated

“For a brand, whose innovations and dexterity accompany its brands, Chi Limited’s market leadership is driven by consumer engagements, needs and satisfaction Chi Limited’s innovative and affordable packaging strategy to target hip, trendy and On-the-Go consumers is seen by industry analysts as a step in the right direction. The new handy pack is designed in a dynamic prismatic shape, with an attractive cap blended into the pack. “The 315ml Handy Packs contains enough juice to satisfy individual consumption and offers competitive pricing as well as value for money. Allows consumers to take it along with them wherever they go and fits into the lifestyle of young mobile consumers”, the company stated. For market watchers, the new 315ml pack would ensure more market penetration for a brand that is already the leader in Nigeria’s fruit Juice market. The 315ml Juice packs, the management stated are currently available in Chi Shoppe, departmental stores, Open Markets, Hotels and neighbourhood shops across Nigeria.

Etisalat boosts offerings with Ikotun experience centre

L-R, Member of the Panel of Judges, Tolu Erogbogbo, Chef Eros; Senior Brand Manager, Three Crowns Milk, Mrs. Maureen Ifada; Grand Prize Winner, Three Crowns ‘Cook Like Mine’ Competition, Ms. Onome Uriemu and Member of the Panel of Judges, Uzo Orimalade at the Grand Finale of the Three Crowns ‘Cook Like Mine’ competition held in Lagos recently..

Nestle, M&B others task FSTC students on catering

tudents of the Federal Sciences and Technical College, FSTC, Yaba, Lagos, were recently exposed to entrepreneurial skills in catering and culinary during the 2015 Catering Day contest The catering day programme is an annual event organized in with the support of corporate organizations such as Eko hotels and Suites, Nestle Nigeria Plc, May and Baker among others. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Culinary of Nestle, Mr. Kafas Punshak, said the culinary world is growing everyday and therefore the need to encourage younger ones to grow up appreciating the sector. He said Nestle partnered with the college to infuse professional hospitality skills in the younger ones. “Over the years people are not seeing culinary as a career and we want the young ones to begin to see it as a profession they can make living from”.

He said that catering is an art and the young one should be made to embrace it at early stage of their lives. Principal of the college, Rev. Chris Ugorji said that catering was one of the subjects that have added values to the college since inception. He said instilling skills into students to become entrepreneurs was one of the major reasons the federal government set up the college and the management was very proud and would continue to make sure that students get the best skills. “Giving skills to students is core mandate of the college and it is not enough for student to come here and leave without any meaningful skill that will shape their lives .In Nigeria today there is paradigm shift in the education development and Federal Science and Technical college is taking a lead” he said. Ugorji also expressed commitment towards making the college a

brand that every parent would like to be associated with. He promised that the management of the college would continue to work to transform in both infrastructural and teaching development, vowing to leave a strong landmark in the school. The programme also witnessed the presence of renowned Chefs and Culinary from five stars hotels in Lagos and other food manufacturing organizations . Some of the schools that attended the event include Queen College Lagos, Mind Builders College Lagos, Federal Government College, Sagamu and others. The Head of Department, Miscellaneous Trade FSTC, Yaba Mrs. Chinwe Nwaka said the day was set aside to celebrate students and staff in the department and infuse in them the skills needed to become professional in the hospitality industry .

elecommunications services provider, Etisalat Nigeria, has boosted its offerings to subscribers on the network with the launch of another experience centre in Ikotun Egbe, Lagos State. Speaking during the launch recently, Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Lou Odunuga, said the decision to locate the experience centre in Ikotun was made about four years ago in demonstration of Etisalat’s commitment to continuously increase the opportunity for customers to enjoy the telecom’s high quality services at all times. “This new experience centre is an attestation to our commitment to be closer to our customers, to offer them better services by being on ground to attend to them, advise them and give them excellent experience any time

they use any of our products and services”, he said. Head of Region, Lagos and South West, Etisalat Nigeria, Eno Umoh said the centre has been well equipped to suit the needs of customers in Ikotun and environs. “With this experience centre, customers can make purchases, resolve any network issues and source for any form of telecommunication services. They can also experience quality customer service that we provide all over the country”, she stated. The Elegbe of Egbeland, Oba Ashimiyu Dada, commended Etisalat for its commitment to quality service, and said the experience centre was a boost for entrepreneurship and economic development of the community.

Coca Cola ‘Share a Coke’ campaign returns

oca-Cola share a Coke campaign that debuts in Nigerians earlier in the year by putting personalized names on Coca-Cola packs is back, now with more names inclusive. The campaign which won the Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN, campaign of the year 2015 award as the most ingenuous marketing campaign by any company in recent memory, will come with more names. The new campaign version tagged ‘Share a Feeling’ also includes fun smiley that convey diverse emotions and messages on Coca-Cola and Coke Zero packs. The smileys also include popular Nigerian phrases that connect with everyone across boundaries, giving

consumers an avenue to share their feelings with friends, family and even strangers. To launch the campaign, the company is partnering with popular rapper/comedian Falz in recognizing and ‘sharing a feeling’ with everyday Nigerians and influencers by delivering to them personalized Coke bottles with names and smiley. Speaking on the ‘Share a Feeling’ campaign, Marketing Director, CocaCola Nigeria, Patricia Jemibewon said, “The Yuletide period is perhaps the most exciting time of year for families, friends and neighbours. In the first Share a Coke campaign, we used the power of the first name in a playful way. With the Share a Feeling campaign, however, we want to make the season extra special and memorable.

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Media

Thursday, December 31, 2015

69 journalists killed worldwide in 2015 –Report StorieS By Leonard okachie

s 2015 winds to an end today it leaves behind sad moments in the media industry with the killing of 69 journalists around the world while in line of duty. Twenty eight of them, representing 40 per cent died at the hands of Islamic militant groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its annual report released on Tuesday. Nine of those killings took place in France, which was second only to Syria as the most dangerous country for the press in 2015. The total, which includes journalists killed between January 1 and December 23, 2015, is higher than the 61 journalists killed in 2014, while CPJ is investigating the deaths of at least 26 more journalists during the year to determine whether they were work-related. Unlike in the past three years, the deaths were widely distributed across countries. At least five journalists were killed in each Iraq, Brazil, Bangladesh, South Sudan, and Yemen. The report stated that in 2012, 2013, and 2014, deaths in Syria far outnumbered those in the rest of the world, noting that the declining number of deaths in that country, where 13 were killed in 2015, reflects in part the reduced number of journalists working there, after many major international news organizations chose not to send staff to the country and local journalists fled into exile. The New York-based organisation, however noted that the lower number of confirmed killings in Syria also reflects the increased difficulty it found in researching cases there and in other places ravaged by conflict, including Libya, Yemen, and Iraq. The report says: “CPJ undertook a research mission to Iraq this year to investigate reports that up to 35 journalists from Mosul were missing, dead, or held captive by Islamic State. With the militant group’s stranglehold on information about the city, CPJ could confirm the deaths of only a handful. Region-wide, CPJ has received reports of dozens more journalists killed, but is unable to independently confirm that the individuals have in fact died and, if so, whether journalistic work was the reason. Several of these journalists can be found on CPJ’s “missing” list. “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the massacre that killed eight journalists at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January, and Islamic State in October murdered two Syrian journalists, Fares Hamadi and

Journalists on duty.

Ibrahim Abd al-Qader, who were living in exile in Turkey. Abd al-Qader was an early member of Raqaa is Being Slaughtered Silently, a Syrian citizen journalist group honored with CPJ’s 2015 International Press Freedom Award. “In Bangladesh, members of an AlQaeda affiliate or another local extremist group, Ansarullah Bangla Team, were suspected in the hacking or stabbing murders of a publisher and four bloggers, including U.S.-Bangladeshi writer Avijit Roy, who was attending a book fair when he was killed. In Pakistan, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting of Zaman Mehsud, president and secretary-general of the Tribal Union of Journalists’ South Waziristan chapter and reporter for the Urdu-language Daily Ummat and Daily Nai

Baat newspapers. And in Somalia, Hindia Haji Mohamed, a journalist for state-run broadcasters and the widow of another murdered journalist, was killed in December when a bomb blew up her car in an attack claimed by the Islamic militant group al-Shabaab.” These killings came as governments around the world were jailing at least 110 journalists on anti-state charges (out of 199 total jailed), according to CPJ’s most recent annual prison census—showing how the press is being squeezed by terrorists on the one hand and by authorities purporting to fight terror on the other. “Worldwide, more than two thirds of the journalists killed in 2015 were singled out for murder in reprisal for their work—in line with the historical average but a great-

er percentage than CPJ has recorded over the past five years,” the report added. About one third of killings worldwide came at the hands of criminal groups, government officials, or local residents—in most cases, drug traffickers or local authorities suspected of being in collusion with organized crime. They included Brazilian Gleydson Carvalho, who was shot dead by two men while he was presenting his afternoon radio show, which often criticized local police and politicians for corruption and wrongdoing. Brazil, with six murders, registered its highest number of killings since CPJ began keeping detailed records in 1992. While the level of violence is unprecedented, Brazilian judicial authorities have made strides in combating impunity with six convictions in murder cases in the past two years. South Sudan, the world’s newest country, registered for the first time on CPJ’s database of killed journalists when unidentified gunmen ambushed an official convoy in Western Bahr al Ghazal state, resulting in the death of five journalists traveling with a county official. The motive for the attack and its perpetrators are unknown, with officials pointing the finger at various parties, including the followers of former Vice President Riek Machar, whose power struggle with President Salva Kiir set off the civil war in 2013. The murders landed South Sudan on CPJ’s Global Impunity Index, which spotlights countries where journalists are murdered and their killers go free.

Ishaku solicits media support JuStin tyopuuSu Jalingo

araba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has said the success of his administration depend on the cooperation from men of the pen profession who he described as jewel any public servants must cooperate with in order to succeed. Ishaku gave the remarks in his home town Takum, when he played host to members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Taraba State chapter who paid him Christmas homage. The governor thanked members of the correspondent for their support before, during and after election and appealed for more support, saying no one can achieve his goal in governance without the support and cooperation of journalists. He describes journalism as a humble and noble profession and charged journalists to discharge their duties in accordance with the ethics of the profession. Governor Ishaku paid tributes to jour-

nalists who paid the supreme price in their service to the nation, saying their contribution will not go in vain. “The work of governance is not an easy one and I am counting on your support to succeed. I want to once again plead with you to cooperate with me and see your job as contributors to a better society. Taraba and Nigeria will benefit more if we all work together,” he said. He appealed to journalists not to abuse the profession through unethical conducts, particularly false publications and other acts capable of causing breach of peace, saying it will not help the public. Ishaku called on journalists to feel free to constructively criticise his government and offer useful suggestions on how best to solve certain problems, reiterating the need for journalists and his administration to work together in order to leave an enduring legacy for the state. Earlier, Chairman of Correspondent Chapel, Mr. Wole Ayodele of Thisday newspaper informed the governor that they

were in his house to pay him homage on the occasion of Christmas and to appreciate him for the good work he has been doing in the state. He told the governor that the chapel has been doing its best in reporting activities of his administration and pledged the chapel’s support to his administration to enable him succeed.

Ishaku

Media

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Digitisation: Kano to spend N300m on radio station K ano State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Muhammed Garba, has said that more than N300 million has been set aside to digitise the state’s radio station in 2016. The commissioner said the money was out of the N517 million proposed for the ministry in the 2016 budget proposal. Garba made this disclosure to newsmen on Tuesday after he appeared before the state House of Assembly to defend the budget estimate for the ministry. According to him, the effort to digitise the radio station is to meet the target for the digitisation of all media outfits in the country. The commissioner also disclosed that the state’s newspaper, Triumph Publishing Company Ltd would begin full time digital operation by March 2016. Garba explained that more than N80m was also proposed in the budget to ensure the completion of the ongoing digitisation of the Abubakar Rimi Television. According to him, the project is part of the measures by the State Government to boost the socio-economic and revenue generation in the state. Similarly, the State Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, has reaffirmed the state’s

A digital radio studio

commitment to support women empowerment and rural development. The commissioner said the State Government would do this through the Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) initiated by the Federal Government. The Commissioner, who also appeared

for her ministry’s budget, said that out of the N2.5b proposed for the programme, N1.5b would come from the Federal Government intervention. According to her, the other key areas under the programme include health, education and water sanitation.

Media Abroad Woman gets six months’ jail for Facebook post

Chaw Sandi Htun led out of court in Maubin Township. Photo DVB

urmese activist Chaw Sandi Tun has been jailed for six months for mocking the country’s army on Facebook. She was found guilty of insulting the army chief by suggesting he wrap Aung San Suu Kyi’s sarong round his head. This followed humorous exchanges by internet users who noticed the colour of the army’s new uniform matched some of the pro-democracy

leader’s clothing. Critics say the conviction is part of a wider crackdown on protest and free speech in Myanmar, also called Burma. The Facebook post in question was written in October after the army unveiled its new uniform as part of a rebranding exercise. The army’s commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing - who BBC correspondents say is a prolific Facebook user - modelled

the new uniform online. The light green colour matched a sarong previously worn by Ms Suu Kyi. This set off a series of internet memes, with composite pictures made to suggest the army chief was mimicking Ms Suu Kyi’s sartorial taste. The court in Ayeyawady Region found that Ms Chaw, 25, an activist for Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), shared the picture and added her own comment, saying: “If you love Mother Suu so much, why don’t you wrap her sarong around your head?” The activist was charged under the Electronic Transactions Act, which contains a broadly worded clause that makes it illegal to “extort, threaten, obstruct, defame, disturb, inappropriately influence or intimidate”. Her lawyer denied she shared the picture and her mother, Ei San, said: “We will appeal as we are not satisfied.” In a separate case, well-known activist Patrick Khum Jaa Lee, is awaiting trial after being accused of criticising the army on Facebook. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted. Myanmar spent decades under military rule. A nominally civilian government has overseen a series of reforms since 2011, but the military remains accused of rights violations and is shielded from oversight. The NLD won a landslide in general elections last month and will form a government early next year. Source: BBC

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Somalia: Journalists’ Union applauds passage of Press Law The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has welcomed the passage Media Bill by the Federal Parliament of Somalia and the called the endorsement “landmark achievement for the Somali media”. A Somali media bill for the Somali media and journalists has been one of the union’s primary priority, a mid the country is heading toward transition in the 2016, which puts the security of the workers at stake during the election period and can not be properly addressed without the Media law, which provides proper protection and freedoms. “We welcome the approval of media law by Federal parliament of Somalia is a milestone achievement for the Somalia media and journalists.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “The bill protects the media workers from unwarranted arrest and gives freedom that they could freely exercise their freedom.” “A the major political change ahead and upcoming elections, the bill secures the safety of the journalists as well during the election period.” Mr. Ibrahim added. Representatives from NUSOJ, Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA), Somali Women Journalists (SWJ) and the Network 2013, Media Association for Puntland (MAP) representing journalists and employers have been widely consulted throughout the process and have repeatedly submitted their concerns to the concerned authorities including the Parliamentary Media subcommittee, all of which were given at most considerations. “Its vital for our media and journalists to have a press regulations, in order for us to challenge the punitive criminal code, which criminalizes the work of the journalists.” Mr. Ibrahim added. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) called for the Federal government of Somalia to properly implement the press law if signed and warned if the press law improperly translated or politicized could result serious violations and ensure journalists and media representatives are invited through the process. Source : Dalsan Radio (Mogadishu)

Somali president Hassan Sheikh

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Thursday, December 31, 2015

Young & Next Generation

‘Vocational institutions bring hope to youths’

Gazelle Vocational Academy Graduation in Lagos recently

StorieS By Leonard okachie

ounder of Gazelle Vocational Academy, Muna Onuzo, has said that vocational institutions bring hope to the youth of a nation. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the academy held at Protea Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos, Onuzo said that happiness was written all over the faces of the graduands because they didn’t just graduate with a certificate but also skill to better their lives. She stated that at present they were in partnership with IndustriaI Training Fund while looking to partner with government and corporate organisations to implement their community sustainable developmental programmes. “We know that government on its own cannot do enough, so we hope to partner with them to help them actualise their social enterprise vision because we have the platform for them to strive on. We’ve been accredited and certified by the federal government as a vocational training centre and we hope that organisations would see credibility in that to partner with us in delivering their suitability projects,” Onuzo said. She claimed at Gazelle they gave out practical solutions on things to make an individual independent, skilful and financially buoyant. “We give our students the ability to stand and build their business. We start by teaching them the skills of the trade and then we empower their mind so that the inner disabilities won’t limit them from actualising their true potential. We also teach students how to run a business that is clean, sustainable and viable,” she explained. Although they appreciate and encourage students with at least SSCE certificates, she insisted that their gate was

open to anybody willing to improve him or herself. She maintained, “One of my students now serves as a teacher in the academy. That shows fulfilment and promise that we bring to students. We don’t just talk; we back up what we promise with actions. Some of our students would be receiving awards for excellence today because they did well throughout their stay in the school. “We are going to unveil our website soon, which also contains a business model. From the point of graduation they would have business tools to work with on our platform because we want

them to just concentrate and work. We have created an accessible and easy to use model that once they graduate they can take advantage of it.” In next five years, Onuzo hoped they have franchises within the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. She said: “That is the future and that is where we are going. It is not about

Lagos State; we already have a plan and we are already working at it. We’ve have programmes that we put in place to support the franchises once they key into the project. We are coordinated and we know where we are going. “ “We teach them how to turn these skills into viable businesses. Vocational centre is very key to the youth and economy. The formation of the academy actually started form my own experience, I didn’t grow up in the Lagos; I grew up in the East. “It was through the skill that I had at a time that I got properly integrated into the Lagos society and from there I got a job and started my own business. This was between 2003 and 2004. Skill is very important, today’s world is no longer about certificate; there must be something else to survive with and which is beyond educational certificate.” She called on the government to include skill acquisition into the Nigerian educational system, especially in the secondary schools, to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment. Onuzo continued, “We started off as a makeup school and we have a catering, fashion and ICT . Recently we accredited and certified by ITF to be an in-house apprentice training centre, whhc has also allowed us to work with them our students on technical skills including welding, plumbing, shoe making and carpentry. “I am in support that vocational training should be introduced into our educational system. I think china and other country are pushing to have seriously skill training as a part of the corporate and formal educational system in secondary schools. I believe that we should start thinking in that direction too.” The ceremony, which was the first of the Academy, saw about 20 students graduating.

Ideas, creativity showcased at empowerment seminar

or some Nigerian youths bristling with ingenious business ideas, the second edition of the ‘Attack Young Empowerment Seminar Series’, an empowerment project of the Uche Ahubelem Center for Human Development, UACHD, held recently at the Skyline Hall of the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, was the place and platform to pitch their ideas. Among the hundreds of youths that came with different business proposals, three of them; Gerald Nonso, Precious Unu and Michael Balogun were selected as having the best ideas. Nonso got N700,000 based on his unique idea of having an air pollution-free mobile ad while Balogun, with an innovative idea of having a mobile app that will take tourism to a whole new level in Nigeria, got N500, 000. Precious was awarded N300, 000 for her ‘mama put’ canteen innovation. According to Uche Ahubelem, the convener of the bi-monthly programme which aims to empower and enrich Ni-

gerian youths with the potentials and attributes needed for them to excel in their various fields of interest, “I want people to be impacted. I want them to have a paradigm shift. I also want to let them know that it is not great teachings that make men, it is great decisions. I am here to let them know that they have known too much and they have known a lot. “All they need to do is to start to put into practice what they have known. So, I’m expecting to see men that will fly out today to achieve something great because I have seen great potentials here. There are some people here that if you don’t talk to them, they will end up being nobody but I believe that great men will emerge here today.” Speaking further, Ahubelem said that the winners didn’t just emerge easily as seven of them were shortlisted and interviewed by series of judges about what they intend doing with the money if they won.

“This money will help me start my business conveniently although I had already started before now. But when the competition came, I had to key into it and see how it goes and I’m very grateful to the organisers,” Nonso said. In all, the seminar, according to the organisers, recorded over 12,000 registrants with fantastic business ideas as against the first edition with over 6, 000 registrants. 400 people were chosen among the 12,000 participants to attend while 20 were selected by the panel of judges to make five minutes presentation of their business proposal. With the motto, ‘Building People With Passion’, the UACHD is a not for profit organization founded by Ahubelem, a passionate investor in human growth. The foundation is committed to enlarging human capacity and raising quintessential leaders while recognizing that human development is critical for nation building and wealth creation.

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

GIS programme exposes fresh graduates to internship –Facilitator Leonard okachie

rogramme Facilitator of the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) by the Federal Ministry of Finance in Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Joseph has said that the programme is meant to expose fresh graduates to internship, to enable them get employed or become selfemployed. Joseph stated this recently at the end of a three-day training programme for 100 graduates in Asaba. The programme, which was organised at two different locations in the state capital, with no fewer than 50 unemployed graduates participating, had the participants trained in career development and entrepreneurship skills, aimed at equipping them for employment. He said: “The GIS programme is meant to expose fresh graduates to internship, to enable them get employed or become self-employed. “On getting out fresh from the university, they will not have this opportunity; but this programme has afforded

Participants at a GIS programme

them the opportunity to get in-depth knowledge of what it requires to become self-reliant.” The facilitator said that the training had exposed the beneficiaries to entrepreneurial skills, the details of starting businesses of their choice, as well

as how to access funds. He advised them to make efficient use of the skills acquired, adding that no participant in the programme had any reason not to succeed. “This is a unique opportunity that has presented itself to them; you can’t

Science for Kids

Why do people celebrate New Year’s Eve?

ew Year’s Eve is one of the largest global celebrations because it marks the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, December 31, before the New Year. Count down to the New Year no matter where you are in the world. Many people celebrate New Year’s Eve to farewell the year that ends and to welcome the New Year. Many people celebrate New Year’s Eve to farewell the year that ends and to welcome the New Year. New Year’s Eve is a day of mixed feelings for many people. On one hand, it is a time to celebrate the end of the year gone by and welcome what is in store in the New Year. On the other hand, some people experience a sense of nostalgia as they reflect on the events that took place

New Year Eve fire works in New York

in their lives in the past 12 months. Many people start thinking about New Year’s resolutions at this time of the year. Some people celebrate New Year’s Eve by attending midnight church services, while others gather around in public venues such as Times Square in New York City, or Trafalgar Square in London to count down for the closing seconds of the old year. Many people hold parties to farewell the finishing year and to celebrate the New Year. The size of festive events for New Year’s Eve can vary in size and theme. Some people attend formal masquerade balls while others have costume parties. Some people have small parties or gatherings at their homes. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations are highlighted by firework displays. Many people start counting down to

New Year’s Day in the last minute or seconds before the last night of the year ends and the New Year begins. Some people tune into watching televised countdowns. As the clock strikes midnight into New Year’s Day, many people celebrate this event by exchanging hugs, kisses, and wish each other a “Happy New Year”. In some parts of the world, including in the United States, many people sing the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne” during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. New Year’s Eve is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, but some businesses close early, schools are usually closed, and many people may have half a day off work. Those wishing to travel via public transport may need to check with the local transport authorities on public transport schedules for New Year’s Eve. Background New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year and the day before New Year’s Day, which marks the start of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582. It was adopted immediately in some areas of Europe but it was not used in various countries until even centuries later. For example, the United Kingdom and the United States started observing the Gregorian calendar in 1752, in which 11 days were dropped. Source: timeanddate.com

get such knowledge on the street and with what they have received here, anyone who wants to succeed can succeed,” he said. One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Edoja Mudiaga, a graduate of Geography from the Delta State University, Abraka, said the programme was a success. “I applied in 2012 and initially I had some doubts until I got a reply from the organisers. “I must say that with the training, I now have comprehensive knowledge about entrepreneurship and I can start off something anytime from now,” Mudiaga boasted. In a related development, the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Union, Gauteng Province of South Africa, Mr. Trust Owoyele has said that he would sponsor the training of 36 youths from Ondo State to acquire vocational skills. Owoyele disclosed this in Johannesburg at a meeting of Ondo State Union in South Africa. He said the youths would be trained in order to become self employed as well as train others in their council areas. “I will like to train some Ondo State youths in South Africa; at least two from each of the 18 local government areas of the state in professional vocations like engineering, diving, Information Communication Technology and tiling. Other areas are broiler making, underground water welding and pipeline welding,” he said. Owoyele said the youths would also be trained in modern ways of cocoa cultivation, processing and palm oil production. “Ondo state is one of the big producers of cocoa and palm oil in Nigeria. The state is also blessed with oil and gas. The aim is to train the youths in skills that will make them key into these productive areas in order to grow our economy, become self employed, train other youths and boost the manpower of the state,” he said.

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RichaRD nDoma CALABAR

bout 958 passengers from 10 countries are now stranded at the Calabar seaport following a breakdown of a passenger vessel, Emilians – Carneiro, conveying them from Gabon along the coast of West Africa. Director general, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. John Inaku and the zonal coordinator, South South, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ben Ogbemah, broke the news to journalists, saying the information they had given to the media is true and that they had just returned from the Calabar port after visiting the stranded passengers to assess the situation.

Mr. Inaku described the situation as pathetic and assured that the Nigerian government would do everything possible to provide victims with adequate security and comfort. He said the stranded passengers who include nationals of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Congo, Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Guinea are languishing at the Calabar Port. He said: “As a result of the problem, two hundred Nigerians who were on board the ship have disembarked and left by road to their various states. The remaining 758 per-

long as the product is made available. ``The situation in Port Harcourt is not too stable because most of the private depots have not received products and we all rely on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which is inadequate to take care of consumers’ needs here,`` he said. Nkpe said the association would cooperate and assist government to ensure that products are available in the state. He said all the stakeholders in the sector should also assist government to ensure that there is availability of products in the country.

Kidnapping: Rivers police rescue two victims

ivers State Police Command said it rescued two persons kidnapped by gunmen in Ogbakiri in Emohua Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of yesterday. The command`s public relations officer, Mr. Ahmad Muhammad, a DSP, said in a statement in Port Harcourt that the rescued victims are Mr. Jackson Sunday and Mrs. Mary Monday. The statement said the victims were safely rescued during an operation. It said an Ak-47 assault rifle, one locally-made pistol, 20 rounds of ammunition and a Nissan Jeep

958 passengers from 10 African countries stranded at Calabar seaport sons comprising children and 690 adults have been passing through turbulent times since the past one week.” According to him, the breakdown of the ship which occurred on December 25 was alleged to have been caused by a leakage on its floor and the malfunctioning of one of its engines. The victims who are at the facilities of the Sureline Logistics Nigeria Limited lack food, water, sanitation and clothing for the children. He appealed to them to remain calm and obedient to constituted authorities in order to ease their transit to their various coun-

IPMAN lauds new fuel price

ivers State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, IPMAN, yesterday commended the Federal Government for reducing the pump price of petrol. Chairman of the association in the state, Mr. Sunny Nkpe, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Port Harcourt that the decision is a welcome development. He said the association is willing and determined to cooperate and implement the new price regime. “For us at IPMAN, whatever intervention or price adjustment is embarked upon by government is a welcome development, as

South South

Thursday, December 31, 2015

were recovered, while three suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded during the operation. It said the operation was carried out by the command`s Tactical Unit at about 4.30 a.m. and that the jeep belongs to one of the rescued victims, Sunday. The statement also said the victims were kidnapped on different days at Rumuodara and Rumuigbo areas of Port Harcourt, respectively. The command, according to the statement, enjoined the people to continue to trust the ability of the police to tackle any security challenge and be security conscious.

tries. Mr. Ogbenah who was represented by an assessment officer, Mr. Abia Ufok, charged them to remain calm and peaceful while waiting for interventions from relevant authorities. He expressed gratitude to God for protecting them against a mishap that would have sunk the ship on the high sea. Narrating the ordeal that warranted the berthing of the ship at the Calabar Port, captain of the vessel, Mr. Manuel Uluaresma, who spoke through an interpreter, said the vessel was conveying passengers from Garbon to Benen Republic and other coast of west African countries

when one of its engines started malfunctioning on the high sea while a leakage on the floor of the ship was observed. He said due to the intensity of the situation it became obvious that the vessels could not get to its destination and therefore, for reasons of safety and protection of life of the passengers, decided to berth at the Calabar port. Addressing the people, Mr. Inaku described the situation as pathetic and assured that the Nigerian government would do everything possible to provide them with adequate security and necessary comfort. The captain of the ves-

sel assured that concrete arrangements had been made to convey the stranded passenger by road to their various destinations at no cost to them since they had paid their fares to board the ship. One of the passengers, Abdullsalamadu Harma, from Niger Republic, said they were unhappy because there have been a break in communication between the passengers and the ship authorities. Mr. Acheoukpa Parfait of Benen Republic said he had planned to celebrate the Christmas with his family back home but had been stuck in Calabar. Agouce-Kossi of Togo appealed to the state gov-

Stranded passengers at Sam Jaja Park, waiting for vehicle in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Dennis naku

PORT HARCOURT

ivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that under his leadership the era of abandoned projects is over. Wike stated this while commissioning the completed Abuluoma-Woji road and a bridge in Port Harcourt yesterday. He stated that no local government area in the state would be neglected in the renewal programme of his administration. The governor said: “I will never do any project that will be abandoned. No part of the state will be neglected in the infrastructure renewal programme of my administration.” Wike urged communities to always provide a

Era of abandoned projects in Rivers over —Wike declares

peaceful environment for contractors to complete ongoing project. He appealed to Rivers people to support the administration’s execution of projects for the benefit of the state. “You can see the level of development in the state. That is why you should always give your mandate to those who will use it to implement projects for all people irrespective of political affiliations. “We have shown that it doesn’t matter what political parties you belong. Once a government is formed, it works for everyone,” the governor added. Wike explained that

aside the Abuluoma-Woji road, his administration would in 2016 commence the construction of a flyover on Peter Odili road. In his address, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Kelvin Wachukwu, said the 1.672-kilometre road was inherited at the earthwork and filing stage before Governor Wike carried out the completion of the road, sidewalls, median, toll point, the median and the 275-metre bridge. He said the immediate past administration initially awarded the contract for N3.5 billion, but due to change of scope of work and variations, the immediate past adminis-

tration increased the cost to N13.6 billion in 2014. Caretaker committee chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Mr. Samuel Ejekwu praised Governor Wike for completing the road project which would ease the traffic pressure on the AbaPort Harcourt road, Dr. Peter Odili road and also enhance free flow of traffic in Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt and Eleme. So far, Governor Wike has commissioned the Obonomma-Abonnema link road with a bridge and the Eagle Island-Iloabuchi link road.

Features

Sola ojewuSi

t a time when Nigeria’s image has been battered by the dastardly outrage of the Boko Haram lunatics, Champions Royal Assembly is one of the outstanding oases of hope for the Nigerian image. The church is unarguably one of Nigeria’s fastest growing. Always filled to the brim and attended by a mix of the high, mighty, ordinary Nigerians and people from numerous nations, it is perhaps Abuja’s most talk about religious centre. Known as Champions Royal Assembly and headed by Joshua Iginla, the church has in just nine years catapulted itself to the pinnacle of serious evangelism in Abuja, granting spiritual cum material succor to millions of people. Recently, the pastor, Brother Iginla, to the pleasant surprise of many, gave twenty two brand new cars to many Nollywood stars and some lucky members of the church. That got people thinking. What manner of pastor is this? In a nation where many a pastor have coveted church wealth to personal use and self aggrandisement, what inspired this man to give so generously and so uniquely? Considering the fact that most of the stars who entertain the nation and have brought so much glory to our nation worldwide are largely poor, this gesture from Iginla was not only timely and unique, it is a lesson for those who would rather spend church money on frivolities or on personal exaltation. Located in a rather suburban section of Byazhin, Kubwa, a satellite town under Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Champions Royal Assembly has in nine years transformed that community to a big tourist destination of sorts, adding serious value, by its presence, to the economy, apart from its primary duty of imparting spiritual well being to the people. Known around the world by virtue of its free-to-air satellite TV channel, Champions TV, where tourists from all corners of the world rivet their attention everyday for the wondrous works going on in the church, the church has become one of the most sought after by hundreds of thousands congregants and millions more TV viewers worldwide. The first thing noticed was that though he could afford luxury living many times over, Iginla has largely chosen the low profile. He drives no flashy car. He chauffeurs himself most of the time to the church and mixes freely with people. Slender and self effecting, you would not believe that this is the man who moves the congregation to a frenzy on the pulpit and wows millions with his astounding gifts. In a world where pastors drive around in convoys that would turn even Heads of States jealous, Iginla apparently believes in no such things. He seems determined to follow in Jesus’ humble servant disposition. But, surprisingly, he ensures that his staff are well paid and made comfortable enough to help him in the challenge of shepherding a church fast becoming an international phenomenon. What is indeed most stunning is the spiritual dimension. This reporter was struck pleasantly by the wondrous works of miracle going on here. You could easily see it and with the great output of miraculous happenings in the church, one can no longer wonder why such a young church has achieved so much and become so famous. There is something really special about the Joshua Iginla anointing and it radiated and glowed throughout my observation of the church. Despite the long hours on a given Sunday, there is never a dull moment. From the moving way Iginla preaches, full of inspiring sayings of scholarly dimension, to the soulful music of the well-groomed choir and to the astonishing miracles, you simply can’t be bored. One given reason by observers is the humility and simple dispositions of the General Overseer, Brother Joshua Iginla. It was easy to see. According to a church member who pleaded anonymity, “In spite of the pressure of tending to the spiritual, and even sometimes financial needs of tens of thousands who flock into the church daily, Brother Iginla is never perturbed. He is blessed with this generous spirit that wants to give more and more of himself to everyone.” And in the words of another member, “This man of God is blessed with unbelievably divine energy to do the near impossible for his church.” Everyone seems to agree that there is something divinely special about Iginla. Simple, unassuming and down to earth, Iginla who prefers to be addressed simply as “Brother Joshua Iginla” but is sometimes called Papa by church

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Champions Royal Assembly: Tourists’ destination of sorts

Brother Iginla

members has everything that has made great shepherds in his disposition. A very busy man, he, despite the stress and the drudgery, loves to have a one-to-one with his flock. On a given counselling day, thousands of people with myriads of problems seeking solution converge on the main auditorium for this personal touch and he calmly sits on the altar, attending to all before retiring for the day. Iginla is in high demand around Africa and the world. If he’s not being invited from Gabon today, he is wanted in South Africa tomorrow. Devotees from Mexico, Colombia, US, Asia and many lands are itching to visit this church. On this particular day there were many nationals of Cameroon, Spain, Canada, Ghana, all tourists paying hard currency to visit our country in search of spiritual and sundry succour. More than many other national institutions, the Joshua Iginla-led Champions Royal Assembly has brought so much pride to Nigeria; so much respect and impression that Nigerians could really be good people. Every day you visit the church, you meet hundreds tourists from around the world coming for one spiritual issue or the other while many also visit just to experience the joy of this Nigerian phenomenon. People call from around the world for information that could better enlighten them about the church. Visit the Champions website or Facebook page and you would be pleasantly shocked by thousands of posts from fellow Africans and other citizens of the world expressing warm, heartfelt impressions and goodwill about our nation as exemplified by

the Joshua Iginla example. Now, one wonders what compatriots at the Federal and State tourism organizations are doing to recognize this ‘hidden’ tourism treasure and explore its fantastic opportunities to further boost the image of Nigeria. So much has been done in the tourism ministries to promote the image of Nigeria at home and abroad without any seriously positive and discernible outcome. We spend millions on tourism fairs, gatherings and events worldwide yearly with trickles coming as dividends. Have we really considered the tourism potentials of places like Champions? This is not necessarily about religion. The Yorubas would say ‘’if your masquerade dances well, one would be elated’’. In bringing positive light upon our nation around the world, in attracting thousands of foreign visitors to Abuja - visitors who come here to see the good side of our land and relatively boost our economy while also boosting their personal spiritual well-being - Joshua Iginla has helped to advance our tourism industry. The earlier the tourism authorities found a way of reaching out to institutions like this for collaboration and idea exchange the better for us. Religious tourism is a money-spinner for countries that value it and explore its many ramifications. Saudi Arabia, Italy, India and China have earned much from religious tourism through the Hajj, the Vatican and Catholicism etc. What stops Nigerians from encouraging religious tourism, cashing in on the leading light already provided by the Champions Royal Assembly? The Redeemed Church is also helping in this through the influx of foreign visitors during its Holy Ghost Congress. But Champions, to me, is unique in its clearly daily hosting of throngs of visitors from around the world. All of these visitors have something good to say about our country. Why wouldn’t our government assist institutions like Champions to continue to promote our land a s a nation of blessed, talented people? I think our tourism authorities should work with icons like Joshua Iginla to further boost the image of Nigeria. One clue? The church’s Champions TV, seen around the world, can be used as a medium to further advertise the good things that would keep drawing people from around the world just like the Champions Royal Assembly is doing. Pastors like Iginla can also be encouraged to use their extensive media networks to promote Nigeria as a beautiful land of peaceful, God-fearing people and not the image of a hell-house of violence that the Boko Haram sacrilege is giving it. Another potential tourist attraction, apart from its spiritual ramification, is the architectural wonder that Brother Iginla’s church is putting up as its world headquarters. Christened “City of Wonders,” this colossal church auditorium will turn the Faith Tabernacles and other cathedrals green with envy considering the sheer, ornate magnitude and avant garde nature of its architecture. I am sure that this is one church made to remain influential for hundreds of years to come.

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News

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Man jailed 12 months for stealing cocoa BoladaleBamigBola, OSOGBO

n Osun State Magistrate Court yesterday sentenced a 40-year-old man, TajudeenKehinde, to 12 months imprisonment for stealing two bags of Cocoa beans. Magistrate Bose Awosan, in her judgement, held that the suspect was convicted based on the evidence before her and the plea of guilt. “The convict is hereby sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the two-count charge. It is my hope that this will serve as a deterrent to others with similar motive” the magistrate said. Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Ona Glory, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 20, 2015 at about 5a.m at Amuda-

A commercial motorcyclist and his passanger passing by a heap of refuse at 41 road in Gowon Estate, Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Oba area of Modakeke, Ife East Area Office of Osun State. Glory said the accused broke into one Cocoa store and stole two bags of Co-

coa beans, property of one Peter Ogundiran. He added that the offence was contrary to and punishable under sections 390 and 413 of the Crimi-

nal Code Cap 34, Laws of Osun, 2003. The accused however, pleaded guilty to the twocount charge of breaking and stealing.

NGO lifts 500 widows with cash, other gifts in Rivers dennis naku, PORT HARCOURT

t least 600 persons, including widows have course to smile, as millions of naira, free health services and foodstuff were given to them by a Non Governmental Organisation at Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Others who benefited from the gesture were the underprivileged and physically challenged people, while free test and treatment were given for minor medical cases, as well as undisclosed cash to keep the beneficiaries going. The NGO, Nice Esther for All Foundation, NEFAF/Nice Esther Alamieyeseigha Rescue Initiative, NEARI, is founded by Chief Mrs Nice Alamieyeseigha. Speaking at the event held at Isiokpo, headquarter of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mrs Alamieyeseigha, appealed to government at all levels in the country to initiate programmes that will alleviate the plights of widows and physically challenged persons across the country. She added that the festive period was an opportunity to reach out to the needy in the society, even as cash, wheel chairs, bags of rice and other valuables

were dished out to various categories of persons. Mrs. Alamieyeseigha also called on companies and public spirited individuals in the society to assist the poor and needy, even as she thanked the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and other partners for their support. She said: “Charity is not limited to one person or few organisations. Charity should be embraced by all who appreciate the love our Lord Jesus has shown to the world. ”We (her NGO) also have a

scholarship scheme. We have given scholarships to a number of law students in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST,” she said. High point of the event was when she led those on the high table and others to hand over keys of one of the bungalows built by her organisation to some indigent widows, saying; “their conditions moved me to build the houses.” Some of the widows who spoke to our reporter were full of gratitude to the NGO, saying the founder; MrsAlamieyesei-

gha, had made it a yearly ritual to put smiles on their faces with donations. One of them, who identified herself as Mrs Loveth, said since she lost her husband eight years ago, it had not been easy raising her six children alone. She thanked the foundation and the rescue initiative for the yearly reach out program to ease the burden of widows in the area. “God will bless her. She has always been there for us. God will reward her,” the beneficiary said.

Tradition worshipers want August 20 declared public holiday aBolaji adeBayo

he President of Association of African Traditional Religion of Nigeria and Overseas, AATREN, who is also a white caps chief, Opemolua of Ikateland in EtiOsa Local Government Area of Lagos State, High Chief Ifasegun Elegusi, has felicitated with Muslim and Christians on the just concluded annual religious festivals, Maolud Nabbiy and Christmas. He said the festivals signified the importance of unity among the worshipers of various religions, urging them to

be more tolerant of one another and promote peace in the society as taught by the religions. He said all religions were important and as such should be accorded the same recognition. He therefore called on President Muhammad Buhari to declare August 20 as public holiday for traditional religion practitioner in the spirit of love, equity and fairness. Elegusi, who commended the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for having declared August 20 as public holidays for traditionalist, appealed to the House of Rep-

resentatives and the Senate to pass into law August 20 as a public holiday to enable the traditionalists, who work in government parastatals and private establishment, have a day to celebrate their own festival as well as fellowship and merry among one another. He appealed that the holiday should be granted in order to promote equity and fairness among various worshipers in the society. He assured that the traditionalists would not relent in their support for the government in its effort to create peaceful society.

30-yr-old sales agent docked over N9.5m fraud

30-year-old sales agent, Kingsley Onwuania, was on Wednesday arraigned in an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly failing to remit N9.5 million worth of goods he obtained from a Chinese company. The accused, whose address was not given, is facing a charge of fraud. The Prosecutor, CSP Effiong Asuquo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 20 as a sales agent to Miss Helen Cai, the Managing Director of Qingdao Yuanzhou Rubber Products Limited. He alleged that Onwuania obtained 3,465 cartons of Toyota brand of tubes and tyres valued at N9.5million with agreement that he would remit the money to the company’s account. ``It was later discovered that the accused converted the proceeds of the sales to his personal use,’’ said. Asuquo said the offence contravened Section 285 (9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mr P. A Adekomayia, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties in like sum. He said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and the other a civil servant on Grade Level 15.

36 petroleum products, foods laden ships expected in Lagos

hirty six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from December 30, 2015 to January 18, 2016. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday in Lagos. NPA explained that the expected ships contained general cargoes, buck wheat, containers, fresh fish, bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, steel products, empty containers, bulk rice and petrol. The document noted that 13 other ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with various goods. It stated that nine of the ships would berth with petrol, while others would berth with base oil, bulk gas, aviation fuel and containers. The reports added that 17 other ships are at the ports discharging buck wheat, general cargoes, bulk fertiliser, bulk salt, bulk charcoal, bulk sugar, containers, diesel, kerosene and petrol.

North

Thursday, December 31, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Plateau budgets N156bn for 2016 JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

Graduates of Quranic Studies and other Skills Acquisition at Sokoto Central Prison, yesterday.

We’re not terrorist group —Shi’ite leader JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

nterim leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Shiek Yakubu Yahaya, said the group is not a terrorist organisation and has no link with terrorists. Yahaya who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Katsina, also denied reports that the group is running a parallel government in the country. The IMN leader was reacting to statements from a group from Gyallesu in Zaria, Kaduna State which had called for the disbanding of the movement. According to reports, the spokesperson for the

Gyallesu group had alleged that the movement had held people of Zaria and its environs hostage with impunity. It also said the moment should be disbanded as it had killed or maimed residents while carrying out their activities without regard for constituted authority. But the IMN leader denied such claims, maintaining that the movement has no links with Boko Haram or any group with similar activities. He said the movement is out to preach Islam in a non-violent way, and that anyone linking the group with terrorism is saying anything but the

truth. Yahaya said throughout the history of the group, there has never been a time it had taken up arms against anyone, and that even non-Muslims have identified with its cause. He described as propaganda, reports that the group is violent in nature, and that it is laughable to say it had gathered weapons to fight the state. On the whereabouts of its leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-zakzaky, Yahaya said security operatives are yet to allow them see him, but that there is hope they would soon see him. He however said the

group believes its leader is in a critical condition, hence they have not been allowed to see him. He said the group has hired lawyers to assist on the issue and that there are plans to go to the International Court of Justice to seek redress. Meanwhile, pastors of the ECWA church in the state, have visited the IMN interim leader to sympathise with him over the incident that occurred in Zaria about 17 days ago. The pastors who prayed that such should not occur again, quoted several verses of the Bible that speak on forgiveness, love and peaceful coexistence.

lateau State governor, Simon Lalong, yesterday presented a budget of N154bn to the state House of Assembly as budgetary proposal for the 2016 fiscal year, stating that his administration is determined to reduce human suffering in the state. “We plan to create opportunities for every Plateau State citizen who desires to lead a meaningful and productive life. “Through a planned budget, we are determined to build a new socio-economic and political compact that will create jobs, alleviate poverty and reduce the potential of violent conflict and other forms of instability. “Consequently, while our words will continue to be our bond by ensuring continuity of governance and addressing critical development projects inherited, the 2016 budget and some new projects among the many in our agenda will be initiated under the Five Pillar Policy of

Adamawa presents N120.1bn budget for 2016 LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

damawa State government has budgeted N120.1 billion for the 2016 fiscal year. The budget which was presented by the state governor, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, before the

AEDC backs new tariff review, fixed charge removal …assures customers of mass metering CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

buja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has thrown its weight behind the new electricity tariff regime unveiled by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, noting also that it expressly endorses the removal of fixed charges for all classes of customers by the commission. In a statement made

available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, the AEDC also reiterated its commitment to its mass metering project which commenced a few weeks ago with a pilot scheme in the Niger region of the company. According to the statement, the ongoing pilot scheme would enable the company assess all challenges involved in evolving a more robust way of deploying the new meters across its coverage

area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states, stressing that the overall plan is to have all its customers metered within four to five years. AEDC explained that since its investment in the mass metering project has been captured in the new tariff regime approved by NERC, it would begin to roll out en masse across its entire franchise area after assessing the performance of the smart meters being installed in the pilot scheme.

To facilitate the mass metering project, the company said customer enumeration would commence early next year in order to obtain vital information that would be fed into each customer’s metering programme. Besides, the company also reassured electricity consumers under its franchise of its renewed commitment to rapid improvement in the quality of its services to them, in line with the performance agreements it endorsed during the bid process.

our Rescue Administration,” he said. The proposal tagged ‘Budget of Rescue and Hope,’ is 28.5 per cent less than that of the previous year. The governor who said the reduction was informed by the harsh economic realities, explained that the 2016 budget is unique in the sense that it is zerobased, as total projected revenue equals total projected expenditure, adding that this phenomenon is part of a closed-loop spending management, which strategically reverses and possibly eliminate the trend of large deficit on the revenue, encourage critical review of every anticipated scheme that would lead to planned investment on development projects during the financial year. According to the governor, the total budget is made up of N75bn, representing 48.7 per cent of the total budget as recurrent expenditure, while the capital estimate is N79bn, representing 51.3 per cent.

AEDC, in the statement, also pledged its commitment to fulfilling other obligations placed on it by the New Tariff Order in order to increase the amount and quality of supply to its customers. The company, which recently announced an investment of over N2 billion in network improvement, said it is working harder to raise the level of its investment so as to ensure better customer services across the coverage area.

state lawmakers yesterday, was christened ‘Budget of Hope.’ A breakdown of the budget expenditure showed a recurrent component of N60,056234, 030 billion and capital votes of N60, 070,622,500. The governor said the administration’s commitment of 50 per cent of state resources to capital development is in consonance with the change mantra of the administration. He noted that the vision of his administration remains the rapid socioeconomic development of the state, stressing that the estimates for the 2016 fiscal year have taken into cognisance the current economic challenges and realities. The budget was short on details for statutory transfers and internalgenerated revenues, IGR. Governor Bindow, however, hinted of plans to raise IGR from the preceding year by about 50 per cent.

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North

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Police offer scholarship to 9 Yobe students inusa nDahi, DAMATURU

obe State Police Command has offered scholarship to nine students for excelling at the recently concluded examination for the Police Scholarship Scheme. Of the nine that passed the aptitude test, three got scholarship from secondary school up to university, while six primary school pupils will be supported to their degree programmes. Presenting the scholarship certificates to the bene-

ficiaries, the State Commissioner of Police, Zannah Ibrahim, said the scheme is aim at supporting children of the rank and file and other officers from the rank of inspector down. He said children will continue to enjoy the scheme up to university level, while those still serving will only be supported if their parents are not found wanting in the discharge of their official duties. He commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase for instituting the scheme, say-

ing it will stimulate productivity among the rank and file as well as give them a sense of belonging. Some parents of the beneficiaries of the award and one of the beneficiaries in an interview appreciated the gesture and wished the IGP God guidance and protection in piloting the affairs of the police. Ibrahim also presented a commendation letter from the IGP to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Toyin Gbadegesin for hard work, dedication to duty and for incom-

parable Public Relations partnership between the force and host community. Gbadegesin, in an interview with newsmen after receiving the commendation letter, dedicate the award to God, the IGP and to newsmen, who continue to disseminate the policies and programmes of the police, promising to always justify the confidence repose in him. Over a thousand students of the rank and file in the state police command sat for the scholarship scheme exams.

...charge suspects to court over alleged sedition EzEkiEl TiTus, BAUCHI

wo leaders of Bauchi Coalition Against Financial Crimes and Injustice, were yesterday arraigned in court by the police for allegedly publishing a seditious article against Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. According to the state Police Command spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, the arrest and subsequent arraignment followed a formal complaint lodged against leaders of the group; Abubakar Dogon Yaro Bibi and Yakubu Jibrin. The group was alleged to have placed a paid seditious piece against the state governor in the 2nd and 21st December, 2015 editions of Daily Trust Newspa-

per. According to the police spokesperson, one of the accused, Yakubu Alhaji Jibrin was arrested by detectives attached to the state command on December 28th. Mohammed added that the arrested person and others at large were charged to the Chief Magistrate Court II Bauchi on Tuesday, December 29. He said the offence they committed is contrary to sections 96,114,416 of the Penal Code Law and Section 1 sub section 1(a)(b) of Official Secret Act, CAP 03 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004). It would be recalled that the group had in a statement on Monday alleged that, its General Secretary, Yakubu Jibrin has been arrested by the police in Kano.

Ortom laments inability to fulfill mother’s wish

B Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) queue for water at NEMA IDPs camp in Fufore, Yola, yesterday.

Six suspected rustlers arrested in Katsina JamEs DanJuma, KATSINA

ix suspects have been arrested by the Katsina State Special Task Force against cattle rustling in Funtua Council Area. The arrest, which took place during the Christmas break, resulted in the recovery of 335 cows, 119 sheep and a dog. This was made known in a statement by Senior Special Adviser to the state governor on Media, Abdu Labaran. Labaran in the statement said, the Director of Finance and Administration of Funtua Council Area, Bishir Maikano had confirmed the incident. The statement said the rustlers had been transferred to the headquarters of the State Police Command for further investiga-

tion and prosecution, while the recovered animals had been moved to the state capital. The incident comes two weeks after about 1,000 cattle and other domestic animals were recovered from rustlers in Malumfashi Local Government. To date, more than 10,000 cattle and as many number

of other animals, have been recovered out of which many have been returned to their owners. According to the statement, the state government, in an effort to fight rustling and related crimes, has spent more than N250m since coming to power. It said Governor Aminu Bello Masari had, shortly

after assuming office, initiated the coming together of governors of seven states inundated by activities of rustlers to form a united front to confront the menace. It identified these states to include Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto and Niger.

igbawasE ukumba

Congress, APC, hierarchy in the state. He said what the state would do was to create job opportunities that would absorb the teeming unemployed youth in the state to better their lots. Al-Makura also used the avenue to call on citizens to give their unalloyed support to the administration of President Muhammad Buhari in order to exterminate terrorism and corrup-

tion in the country. This support, according to the governor, “was for the people to key into the president’s new ideals that are aimed at bringing the country back to track.” He however sympathised with the party hierarchy over the loss of the southern senatorial zone seat at the National Assembly to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

We’ll not tamper with minimum wage, says Al-Makura

LAFIA

overnor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday said his government will not tamper with the N18,000 minimum being enjoyed by workers in the state. The governor stated this in Lafia, the state capital, during an expanded meeting of All Progressives

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has lamented his inability to fulfill his late mother’s request to buy a mattress for her before she passed on. He spoke at Azom, Kwenev, in Guma Local Government Area when he visited her graveside during a reception organised by her kinsmen in his honour. Governor Ortom described his mother, Mrs. Wajina Ortom, a petty trader and farmer, as the epitome of hard work and the mainstay of the entire family, who laboured to provide food for every member. He said she requested that he buy a mattress for her in 1982 but he was not able to fulfill the wish until she had a miscarriage on the farm and died in 1983. The governor expressed appreciation to God that He prospered the seed she had sown by using him as a blessing to multitudes of people. At the reception, he pledged that the state government would empower

the Vigilante Group to complement the security agencies in the task of curbing crime. Governor Ortom stated however, that they would operate under the guidance and supervision of traditional rulers and other community leaders. He promised to provide an earth dam and other critical infrastructure for the community as soon as the financial fortunes of the state improve. President of Kwenev Community Development Association, Mr. Stephen Ikomon, commended the governor for the appointment of several indigenes of the area into government positions and requested for more of such. He listed lack of portable water, construction or rehabilitation of the Agasha road, compensation for land acquired by the Nigeria Air force, and establishment of a police station as challenges of the community for which he solicited assistance.

Thursday, December 31, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as MISS ADESONA OMOWUNMI TOLULOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. TELLA OMOWUNMI TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Sunday Joke Esther is the same person as Ayomi Joke,that henceforth wished to be addressed as Sunday Joke Esther Ayomi. All former documents remain Valid, Diamond Bank and the general public take note.

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AKINYEMI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinyemi kehinde Bukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluremi kehinde Bukola. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

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OLE: I, formerly known and addressed as OLE AGNESS TOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed AGNESS STEPHEN ONUOHA TOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Clara Olufunmilayo Ogundehinde, now wish to be known and addressed as Fausat Aduke Kaffo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as YUSUF ABDUL RAHEEM, now wish to be known and addressed as MUHAMMED SAMAD YUSUF. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as LINDA AKOR, now wish to be known and addressed as LINDA OBANDE. All former documents remain valid. ACCESS Bank and general public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWANGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANGELINA OSONWA NWANGWU, now wish to be known and addressed MRS ANGELINA OSONWA EZENTA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OGBU: I, formerly known and addressed as OGBU JOSEPH, now wish to be known and addressed EZE JOSEPH CHINONSO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EKETE: I, formerly known and addressed as EKETE PATIENCE IFEYINWA, now wish to be known and addressed MRS EKETE JENEVINE CHINELO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EJIOFOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EJIOFOR PATIENCE NONYE, now wish to be known and addressed MRS OZOKOLIE PATIENCE NONYE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly addressed as Elisha Stephen Chiwar, now to be known and addressed as Moses Stephen. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Akwaowo Micheal, now wish to be known and addressed as Micheal Davis Ekpo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly Alex Martins Olarewaju now Ogundele Abiodun Bolarinwa. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

MUHAMMED: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MUHAMMED RAMATU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. MUSA RAMATU. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

ABDULLAHI: I, formerly known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ANN OMOSO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MUHAMMED HALIMAT OMOSO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ELIJAH: I, formerly known and addressed as ELIJAH ESTHER, now wish to be known and address as IBRAHIM DEBORAH ABIBAT. The General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that FATAI MUSIKLU OWONIFARI and ADEGBOYE ISIKILU is the same person that bearing all the names, Now wish to be called as ADEGBOYE ISIKILU. All documents bearing all the names remain valid. WEMA Bank Plc, UBA Bank and General public and take note

CHANGE OF NAME

IBE: I, formerly known and addressed as IBE JOYCE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OKORORIE CHIDIMMA JOYS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYEOCHA GLORY JOY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GLORY JOY WISDOM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

That my name was wrongly written as EZEKIEL ENTERPRISES on some of my documents, while my correct name is EZEKIEL NWAONVE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKIKORI: I, formerly known and addressed as ECHAR MARY OKIKORI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BENADI ESTHER MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

,Formerly Miss Owoeye Damilola Oluseun now Mrs. Oluwasanyami Damilola

Oluwaseun.

Former

documents remain valid, General public note.

MOSES: I, formerly known and addressed as MOSES BABINA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as DANIEL BABINA ZOMO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Mr. Johnson Lawal now Mr.Awosade Ololade Oladimeji Samuel. Former documents remain valid, general public note.

ONOH: I, formerly known and addressed as ONOH CHIJINDU NAOMI, now wish to be known and addressed ORJI CHIJINDU NAOMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NWABUEZE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWABUEZE REGINA AMARACHI, now wish to be known and addressed MRS ODUH REGINA AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certify that OBIEZE MODESTA EBERE and AGU LINDA NKECHI refers to one and same person. All former documents remain valid. DIAMOND BANK and FCMB and general public take note

GOSPEL: I, formerly known and addressed as SAMCHI GOSPEL GONGSHAK, now wish to be known and addressed SAMCHI GONGSHAK KUSHUKUL. All former documents remain valid. UBA, Access Bank and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ALABI: Formerly known and addressed as ALABI FATAI OYETUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI FATAI OYETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that ALLEN UYABOERIGHA TONBOH and UYABOERIGHA ALLEN TONBOH is the same person that bearing all the names. All documents bearing all the names remain valid. First Bank Plc, UBA Bank and General public and take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, GEORGE AZUKA OFULUE, is one and the same person known, called and addressed as BARNABAS AZUKA OFULUE as both names appeared on some of my documents. All documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

APERIN: Formerly known and addressed as APERIN OJO FELIX, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEJORO OJO SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

F ‎ ormerly known and addressed as CHRISTIANA ABIOLA OGUNLEYE now wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTIANA ABIOLA AJUWAPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

Nigerian Passport belonging to IDOWU MOJIRADE OLUBUNMI (AO5901744) has been lost. If found, pls call 08026961157 or return to this address Quarter 40 yaba GRA yabatech lagos or the nearest police station near you. General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AFRICAN REAL ESTATE SOCIETY

P6 ELECT OF GOD MISSION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Society has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the companies and allied matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. OLAWORE AKINOLA KAYODE EDWIN - CHAIRMAN 2. AWOLAJA ADEKUNLE GBENGA - SECRETARY 3. GERSHOM ESSIEN HENSHAW 4. VICTOR ABAECHETA AKUJURU (DR.) 5. OGUNBA OLUSEGUN ADEBAYO (PROF.) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND PROMOTE EDUCATION IN REAL ESTATE AND CLOSELY ALLIED AREAS. Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED BY: SECRETARY

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1. Apostle Eyo Okon Akan

2. Pastor Sarah Osokbo

3. Mr. Adetunji Adelapo

4. Mr. Elad Okon Daniel

5. Mrs. Love Edet Okon

6. Mrs. Nkoyo Charles Bassey

7. Preach Akan

8. Mrs. Naomi Akan

9. Promise Eze Cletus

10. Mr. Okon Asukwo Edet

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people all over the world. 2. To heal the sick people in the name of Jesus Christ. 3. To take care for the poor and train them. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar - General Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Apostle Eyo Okon Akan General Overseer

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OGBODO: I, formerly known and addressed as OGBODO CHUKWUBE VERA, now wish to be known and addressed EZEKIEL VERA FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, Oyedun Adebowale Simeon is same as Debo,s Oyedun and Adebowale Oyedun now wish to be known as Oyedun Adebowale Simeon. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Comfort Blessing Peter, now wish to be known and addressed as Comfort Blessing Chime. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OPAYEMI OLUWAYEMISI PEACE, now to be known and addressed as MRS. OLATOYE-ALABI SHADE OLUWAYEMISI PEACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that ECHA ONAH and GODWIN PATRICK is the same person that bearing all the names. Now wish to be called as GODWIN PATRICK. All former documents bearing all the names remain valid. First Bank Plc, and General public and take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UMORU: I, formerly known and addressed as UMORU ISA TOPPA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as UMORU YISAH TOPPA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that AJISAFE GBOLAHAN and SULAIMAN MARUFU OMOGBOLAHAN is the same person that bearing all the names. All documents bearing all the names remain valid. First Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and General public and take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ILEABOYA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS GRACE ILEABOYA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. GRACE ANIEFIOK RAPHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OSAROBO: I, formerly known and addressed as CYNTHIA OSAROBO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as CYNTHIA OSAROBO MORGAN IKPONMWENOSA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OGHOBASE: I, formerly known and addressed as OGHOBASE OGHENEKEVWE JOHN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as IGHO JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly known and addressed as MISS AZEEZ KUDIRAT ABOLANLE, now wish to be known and address as MRS ALLI KUDIRAT ABOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. Banks General public to take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEYEMI SEKINAT OMOLARA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BALOGUN SEKINAT OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. I Formerly known and addressed as TAOFEEK OLAIYA , now wish to be known and address as TAOFEEK ATANDA SANUSI. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note. ODUNZE: This is to confirm that ODUNZE FAUSTINA NKOLIKA and OGBONNA ODUNZE FAUSTINA NKOLIKA refer to one and same person. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME ABUBAKAL: Formerly known and addressed as ABUBAKAL SALISU now wish to be known and addressed as AMINU SALISU SAFFA . All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

YAKUBU: Formerly known and addressed as YAKUBU ADETUNJI ONYIDE now wish to be known and addressed as YAKUBU ADETUNJI JIMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AYODELE: Formerly known and addressed as AYODELE SEUNAYO RACHAEL now wish to be known and addressed as AFOLABI SEUNAYO RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AHMED: This is to confirm that AHMED BABA and MAMUDA ISA refer to one and same person, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as AHMED BABA . All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid. UBA Plc and the general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

IWUOHA: Formerly known and addressed as IWUOHA TOCHUKWU SYLVESTER CHIDUBEM now wish to be known and addressed as IWUOHA SYLVESTER TOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWANKWO: Formerly known and addressed as NWANKWO IGWE EZEKIEL now wish to be known and addressed as IGWE EZEKIEL PRINCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Thursday September 4, 2014

Salami’s absence won’t affect CHAN Eagles –NFF

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Sport

My resolve is still as it is: I will give the 400m my best shot at the 2016 Olympics and will see how things go in the end

–Jamaican athlete, Usain Bolt

2017 AFCON qualifier

Musa hints on Egypt

double header match

… Wishes Oliseh quick recovery

uper Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, insists positive results against Egypt in Nigeria’s next two AFCON is vital if the West African are to return to the top of African football. Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea following a shocking qualification campaign and currently trail leaders, Egypt by two points in Group G of 2017 AFCON qualifier. The Super Eagles will face the Pharaohs in two qualification games in March 2016 and Musa says nothing short of good results from both fixtures will be tolerated. “We know we have very tough

games against Egypt in the New Year. “We know we have to win at home against them in March (2016) and also go to Cairo and win there. “They are going to be tough matches but we know the importance of the games. “Without wins in those matches, we will not qualify for the AFCON so we are working very hard to see that we win those two games,” Musa said. The CSKA Moscow forward also took the time to discuss the state of health of head coach, Sunday Oliseh who is currently indisposed. “I always talk to the coach and I hope by the grace of God, he will be well soon,”

Dalung warns against factionalising NFF Paul ErEwuba

s the battle between rival factions for control of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) rears its ugly head again, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has warned factionalising the NFF will not be acceptable to the government. It would be recalled that two factions are claiming to be legitimately in control of the NFF, with the faction led by Ambassador Chris Giwa saying it will take control of the NFF headquarters on January 12. In a statement signed by his media aide, Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, Dalung said: “It has

come to my knowledge once again, that anarchy is being adopted as a method for addressing grievances in the Nigeria Football Federation. “As a peacemaker and also a Minister of Youth and Sports, I will always implore Nigerians to apply the use of dialogue and consensus in resolving crisis. “This, my posture, should not be taken as weakness but as a well-intended way of promoting peace among people. “I reiterate this again and again that I am standing with nobody in the crisis of the NFF but will always stand for due process.” Continuing, Dalung said “If there are grievances, which have already been brought before me by both parties, I should be allowed to look into them and take a de-

cision. Chris Giwa and his group should not take the petition brought to my table as a license for anarchy. I will not endorse that today. I will not endorse that tomorrow and I will not endorse that forever.” “Therefore, I urge all warring factions to remain very calm and peaceful so that we will not destroy the image and progress built so far in football. While wishing Nigerians a prosperous New Year and a hopeful outing at the Olympics, I charge all stakeholders to be more responsible and patriotic in their deeds. God bless Nigeria.” The faction in charge of the Nigeria Football Federation, led by NFF President Amaju Pinnick has taken steps to reinforce its position, ahead of the expected

show-down, reconstituting its Emergency Committee with Pinnick as chairman and first Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi as his deputy, following the dissolution of the federation’s 18 standing committees and two judicial bodies immediately after the 71st Annual General Assembly which took place on December 16. On Tuesday December 22 the Giwa group announced that: “The executive of the NFF, that is our board, will resume at the NFF secretariat on Jan. 12.’’ The Giwa board has, unsurprisingly, ruled that “all decisions and resolutions taken by the purported board of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick is declared null and void; appointments made during the time are also declared null and void.”

Sports

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Hiddink

Hiddink may ‘block’ Remy’s Aston Villa move

ston Villa boss Remi Garde will try to sign Chelsea striker Loic Remy on loan in the January transfer window. Garde wants the 28-year-old Frenchman to strengthen a Villa side four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League - and 11 from safety. “Loic is special because he knows the country and the league and he would be an interesting player for the team,” Garde said. “He is part of some players I’ll try to attract to Aston Villa for sure.” Countryman Garde was assistant manager at Lyon when Remy started his career at the Stade de Gerland. The Villa boss will hope the forward can add goals to a side that has scored just 15 times

in 19 league games, the lowest in the division. Remy joined Chelsea in a £10.5m move from QPR last year. He has started only one Premier League game this season, scoring twice in the League Cup and once in the league. ‘We need all our players at the moment’ However, Garde may face a tough task in convincing Chelsea, who are just three points above the relegation zone in 14th place, to allow Remy to leave. “We need all the players here until the end of the season,” said Blues boss Guus Hiddink. “Chelsea are still in a position where we have to improve to get up the table, so we need all our players at the moment. So we don’t talk about the rumours.”

Mikel talks about Mourinho’s exit

Anichebe

mier League start of

striker made his f i r s t P r e -

Mikel

uper Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel says the atmosphere in the Chelsea dressing room has improved, just three games after the sacking of Portuguese coach, Jose Mourinho. Chelsea’s interim manager, Guus Hiddink claimed after his side’s 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Monday at Old Trafford that he had already lifted spirits at Stamford Bridge since succeeding Mourinho, who was often publicly critical of his players towards the end of his reign. Mikel has now stated his belief

Anichebe may quit WBA January

igerian striker Victor Anichebe says he could quit Barclays Premier League club West Bromwich Albion when the transfer window opens in January. Anichebe was impressive in the Baggies’ 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday but even that may not stop the 27-year-old from moving to pastures new. The former Evert o n

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the season in Monday’s win over the Magpies as record-signing Salomon Rondon was suspended. Anichebe also admitted that he has been training away from Tony Pulis’s first-team with fellow outcasts Sebastien Pocognoli, Cristian Gamboa, Callum McManaman, Serge Gnabry and, before his recall, Stephane Sessegnon. “When you get your chance, hopefully I’ve taken a good step. Whether I stay here or whether I go on somewhere else I thought I did myself justice. “I thought the team did well as well, so hopefully I can use that to kick on. “Honestly it’s the best I’ve felt for a couple of years. It is really the best I’ve felt. I got a good pre-season behind me with the gaffer and then I pushed on fitness wise.

that the departure of Mourinho has resulted in an end to what technical director Michael Emenalo described as a “palpable discord” between the former manager and his players. “We’ve moved on from that and the atmosphere has improved since the change of manager. “It’s fine now, we’ve just not been getting results,” Mikel told the Dail Mail. The former Lyn Oslo man added that he is still full of respect for Mourinho.

“Jose is a fantastic manager and will always be a fantastic guy. But sometimes football is a cruel game and you have to move on. “Is it the right decision (to sack him)? Who knows? We’ll only see in the future. “Top four? I don’t think it’s gone. “We’ve got lots of games to catch up and if we keep going in this direction and keeping clean sheets, we will definitely score goals. “We’ve had three games now without losing so are making the right steps,” he said.

‘Ighalo won’t leave Watford’

Ighalo

atford captain Troy Deeney believes that Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo will stay with the Barclays Premier League outfit despite interests from clubs in England and Europe. Ighalo has banged in 14 goals so far which has alerted some clubs in Europe with Atletico Madrid and AS Roma among the clubs reportedly seeking to add him to their squads. He has netted 30 goals this calendar year and alongside Deeney, has been at the forefront of Watford’s charge up the table. Deeney believes the Super Eagles striker will not be moving in January as he is a component in their aim to stay in the Premiership.

“He ain’t going in January. If no one wanted any of our players we’d be crap. So, come and want him as much as you want but I know Gino [Pozzo, the Watford owner] and it just wouldn’t make sense,” Deeney said. “Why would he sell a striker and want to stay in the league? “The value of selling Odion for, what would he be worth? £20 million, £25 million? or staying up and getting £200 million? Simple business maths, he’s not going to sell him. Odion doesn’t come in saying: ‘I want to leave.’ He’ll just keep doing what he’s doing. We just laugh at it.” Watford are in eighth place on the Barclays Premier League log with 29 points after 19 match days.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, December 31, 2015

CHAN: CAF shuns Nigerian referees

Salami’s absence won’t affect CHAN Eagles –NFF S

uper Eagles spokesman, Oluwatoyin Ibitoye, has said that the absence of CHAN Eagles hitman and captain of the team, Gbolahan Salami will not in any way affect the performance of the team. The former 3SC player is reportedly missing in the Super Eagles CHAN team preparing for the forthcoming biannual football tournament next month in Kigali, Rwanda. Salami is reported to have traveled to secure a foreign club rather than participate in the championship designed for African players in their domestic leagues. Ibitoye said the likely ab-

sence of the goal poacher will prove to be a rare visa for his replacement to shine at the upcoming CHAN. “It appears Gbolahan Salami does not want to go to CHAN in Kigali, Rwanda. He seems to be interested in an European deal and we can only wish him good luck in his quest for greener pasture. “However, the Eagles have moved on in their preparations for the upcoming CHAN and his absence will be an opportunity for other players to step up, excel and become known. “It’s up to other players in the camp to grab the rare chance to prove themselves. “The players’ response in

T training has been excellent. We just hope and pray they will be able to produce good performances on match day. “The assistant coaches have been doing a good job in the absence of head coach Sunday Oliseh, who is constantly in touch with the team and dishing out instructions regularly,” Ibitoye said. Ibitoye further disclosed that Sharks defender Chima Akas is recovering rapidly from the slight knock he picked up in training. “Contrary to public impression that Akas is still missing, he indeed reported to camp on Sunday.

Warri Wolves players reject 20 per cent wages Paul ErEwuba

...insist on 100 per cent

here seem to be no light at the end of the tunnel regarding the financial crisis rocking Nigeria’s CAF Champions League campaigners, Warri Wolves and their players. It was yesterday gathered from some of the players that their management offered them 20% of their wages as ‘compensation’ for the scrapped payment of ‘Sign-on fees by the LMC. The players however insisted on collecting 100 per cent. One of the players said that the four players who collected 100,000 naira each after their meeting with officials of the club at the Delta State Government House in Asaba were a letdown. Itoya Kelvin, Goodluck Onamado, and Azubuike Egwekwue were three of the players confirmed to have attended

the meeting in Asaba on Tuesday. “The club didn’t pay our sign-on fees at the start of the season which they now claim are accumulated wages, and despite that we finished second.

“Now they gave the players who attended the meeting 20% of their accumulated wages for the year. “There was an agreement among the players, but now they’ve gone against their word.” The player lamented.

he Confederation of African Football have released a list of 34 referees and assistant referees that will officiate at the African Nations Championship in Rwanda with no Nigerian match official on the list. It is not the first time match officials from the West African nation will be omitted from a major continental action as that has become a regular occurrence in recent years. The selected referees and their assistants will undergo a fitness test on January 13, to ascertain their readiness to take part in the competition. The CHAN is designed for African players plying their trade in their country’s domestic leagues. Rwanda will host the competition from January 16 to February 7

“Akas picked up a slight knock, but he is doing very well at the moment so he remains a key member of the Eagles CHAN team,” said Ibitoye. The bronze winners are expected to depart the nation’s shore on Saturday to Pretoria, South Africa, where they are billed to engage Ivory Coast and Angola among others in their build-up matches. The Super Eagles will open their CHAN title account on January 18 against Niger at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali before taking on other Group C opponents Tunisia and Guinea on January 22 and 26 respectively.

Udoh, Bassey set to dump Enyimba for Akwa

nyimba duo, Mfon Udoh and Ezekiel Bassey, are set for a sensational return to their former club, Akwa United, it was yesterday gathered. The Federation Cup holders who will make their debut appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup next year are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the new campaign. The Promise Keepers are keen on bringing back the duo with the state governor, Emmanuel Udom, recently holding talks with them.

Udoh scored 16 goals for the Uyo-based outfit in the 2012/2013 campaign before linking up with Enyimba the following season where he scored 23 goals, the most by any individual in the history of the Glo Premier League. His teammate Bassey is also a key member of the Enyimba and home-based Eagles sides. Akwa United recently appointed Belgian trainer, Maurice Cooreman, as their new coach after failing to renew the contract of Zachary Baraje.

Udoh

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Largest dessert pizza The largest dessert pizza has a total surface area of 14.28 m² (153.71 ft²) and was prepared by the Record Pizza Men team

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1275 Thursday, December 31, 2015

Dissecting that Ketu killer-cop tragedy M y friends all, we’ve heard of accidental discharge; we’ve heard of friendly fire, but not this kind of brazen, cold blooded wasting of human life on Boxing Day. A policeman, paid with tax payers’ money to protect lives and properties, rather pivoted in a heart-rending manner that day to turn his weapon of on the very souls he was there to protect. The result is the tale of sorrow, tears and blood that the nation now grapples with in a supposed season of joy and love. In his wake, that policeman snuffed out the lives of Taiwo and Kehinde (twins) and their celebrant friend, Jeje, all in their early thirties. But the casualties, apologies to JP Clark, are not only the dead in this blatant act of bestiality. As reported widely this week, the mother of the twins now considers her life stripped bare, losing her only children

igeria’s U-23 national team, the DreamTeam will start their first phase of camping ahead of the football tournament of the 2016 Olympics in February. Coach of the U-23 Eagles Samson Siasia disclosed this on a Radio Nigeria programme moni-

Guest Columnist

Sola S l

Ojewusi

and bread winners. Jeje’s parents are in unmitigated sorrow and so are millions of decent people around the nation appalled and indirectly wounded by this outrage. Again, we are confronted with a recurring tale of death from our supposed ‘guardian angels’! Too often, Nigeria’s law enforcement agents have metamorphosized into death merchants, apportioning death in droves to innocent citizens with an impunity that would make even the devil green with envy. In spite of the horrible image this has given to the force, an otherwise desirable agency filled with a greater percentage of good, patriotic and conscientious officers, there seems to be no drastic effort to stem this gory tide. One thing is clear: This errant officer had been for long a disaster waiting to happen. From the testimony of many, this killer cop had been an incurable drug addict, hooked to marijuana and booze for too long. Didn’t anybody notice among his superiors? Didn’t his colleagues and even junior officers notice? Was there ever any effort to turn this soul on the correctional path, or at best boot him out of the force? What preventive measures did the police institute to avert this rather avoidable disaster? I also have a word for the management of the hotel, where this preventable tragedy happened in Ketu. Reports suggest that this evil officer had been notorious for too long. He had shown serious deadly signs of a walking disaster. Long

THAT KETU KILLER COP WAS PROBABLY IN SOME FORM OF DEPRESSION; AND

PROBABLY IN NEED OF REDEMPTION before the day of outrage, the policeman had been harassing customers and neighbour’s of the hotel, threatening them with death unless he had his illegal way! Didn’t the hotel management and people in the neighbourhood notice? What did they do to 16 alert the authorities or even the media to a tragedy in the making? One would have thought the Ketu disaster was enough to, sort of, create a hiatus for these cops, but days later in another neighbourhood ,one Charles Okocha was victim of another trigger police officer. The musician, Kelly Handsome today has stories of gore and sorrow to tell, courtesy of the same policeman. So the question is, when will this cycle of gore end? Beyond any effort to review its vigilance and sanction processes, the police high command must also delve into the realm of psychiatry and psychology. That Ketu killer cop was probably in some form of depression; and probably in need of redemption. His suicide might qualify as a sign of a man appalled and ashamed of his own action. May be

the pressure of work, family problem or whatever had for long unhinged him, and he had to find solace in booze. There are so many officers like this in the force, who are in dire need of psychiatric examination or psychological re-jigging. Are the police authorities thinking of this side of the coin? A commentator, Ndili Mfumu, in his response to the tragedy, better captures the essence of this monumental act of insanity thus: “Here, we have a great tragedy. Certainly for the three innocents who were murdered by the policeman and for their families. But also for the policeman. It is entirely likely that the policeman was psychotically depressed when he arrived at work and began drinking. Getting snookered does not, in and of itself, cause a person to become homicidal. On the other hand, being psychotically depressed is often associated with a strong desire to self-medicate, as by getting drunk. And psychotically depressed people are most often severely agitated, not mopey and tired. Their desire is mostly to strike out at other people, before doing anything to hurt themselves.” To me, this horrific tragedy should be viewed along the line of Mfumu’s thought. While blaming the killer cop, we must also analyse the immediate and remote causes of his unmitigated outrage. The authorities must look inward and fish out other officers exhibiting signs of depression and excessive indulgence in alcohol and drugs. They may be victims crying for help; souls on the verge of losing it. Let us rise to their aide before they once again rebel by turning their guns on the innocent. And for the families that suffered these yearend tragedies, I can only preach fortitude and faith in God. Beyond that, the federal authorities must know that this is not going to be another case of errant misdemeanor from an officer. Ojewusi wrote via solaojewusi@yahoo.com

Sport Extra U-23 Eagles to start Olympics camping Feb. 2016 tored in Lagos. “We will start the first phase of camping in February, hopefully the clubs will release their players. We know how the Olympics is. “We realise that clubs will need their players’ services but it

is also a national service. “I’m elated by our performance at the U-23 AFCON in Senegal and qualification to the Olympics. We got many text messages from Nigerians who commended us,” Siasia revealed. Nigeria, winners of the foot-

ball gold at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics and silver at Beijing 2008 Olympics , alongside Algeria and South Africa will represent Africa while Senegal will be involved in a play-off to determine their qualification to the Rio Games.

Siasia

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