Thursday, december 3, 2015 new by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

DSS moves Dasuki to EFCC as Dokpesi opens up on N2.1bn deal

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

…ex-minister, Yuguda, ex-gov Bafarawa remain in custody OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

Dasuki

Vol. 5 N0. 1257

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

yesterday detained former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, in connection with the ongoing investigation into

Thursday, December 3, 2015

the $2bn arms procurement deal. Dasuki, who was finally arrested on Tuesday by Department of State SerCONTINUED ON PAGE 3>>

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Traffic conge stion at Broad

Street, Lagos

PHOTO: SAMU EL

ADETIMEHI N

F Flight of ccorporate oorganisations ffrom Lagos CBD worries C ggovt P.10

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Biafra protest turns T bloody in Onitsha

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PRISCILLA DENNIS, FRANCIS EKPONE AND EMMANUEL EZEH

...4 feared dead, 20 injured, mosque razed Ndigbo dissociate selves from agitators

he protest by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday took another dimension at Onitsha, Anambra State, as four members were reportedly killed by Nigerian Army and over 20 protesters injured as they scampered for safety. The continued protest, which began since Tuesday at the Bridge

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NDLEA nabs woman with $114,245, €2,020 at Lagos airport P.8

Sympathisers at the scene of fire outbreak at Ebute-Metta in Lagos yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Senate probes diversion of N200bn Education Trust Fund

...summons TETFUND executive director

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APC youth group rejects Yahaya Bello as Audu’s replacement

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Buhari off to South Africa for China/ Africa Forum P.6 Lawmakers commence move to gag social media P.6

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Biafra protest turns bloody in Onitsha Head, Onitsha, also had the Onitsha Central Mosque razed and vehicles smashed at the provocation of the protesters. They were protesting for the unconditional release of Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi, Kanu. It was reported that IPOB members were killed in the wee hours of yesterday at the Niger Bridge Head-end of Onitsha where they had used as rallying point during the previous day’s protest.

Another victim, a lady, was also allegedly shot dead by the soldiers on patrol at the busy Onitsha/ Owerri Road as she was said to be going on her way while bonfires were made in every strategic point at Onitsha by the IPOB members who were chanting war and liberation songs. They were said to have resorted to violence when the news of the death of their members filtered into their ears prompting

them to smash vehicles and other valuables as they protested the killing along the major roads in Onitsha while barricading the major roads. All markets, banks and other business activities were grounded to avoid being tempered with by the protesters. Security operatives, especially the police, were nowhere to be seen and soldiers who were stationed at strategic positions were not touched

as they kept on maintaining peace with the irate protesters. Bonfires were seen at Old and New Market Roads, Ogbommanu Junction, Savoy, Nkpor Junction, Afor-Nkpor, Bridge Head, Oguta Road among others. Reacting, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, alleged that soldiers killed four of their men at the Bridge Head Market at about 1:30am yesterday without com-

Cross-section of judges of the Federal High Court at their swearing in in Abuja, yesterday.

mitting any offence. According to him, “The soldiers came with the police, Civil Defence, DSS and others and attacked our men because we are non-violent body.” “We will continue the protest in Onitsha tomorrow unless the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, is released by President Muhammadu Buhari who does not want anything good from the Igbo peo-

PHOTO: NAN

Senate probes diversion of N200bn Education Trust Fund GEORGE OJI ABUJA

he Senate, yesterday, began an investigation into allegations that about N200billion of the education tax collected by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) between 2012 and 2013 were diverted to “unknown and unspecified uses not recognised in or permitted under the TETFund establishment Act, 2011.” The probe by the law-

makers will also cover alleged misappropriation of the Education Tax Fund from 2011-2015. Following these series of allegations, the committee has, consequently, summoned TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, to appear before it to explain the reported diversion and other alleged irregularities at TETFund. This was sequel to the adoption of a motion entitled, “Gross Mismanagement of Education

Tax Fund 2011-2015,” which was sponsored by Senator Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi (APC Niger North) at yesterday’s plenary. In the lead debates, Sabi reported that the TETFund Board granted a loan to the Ministry of Education and also organised a workshop and pre-retreat in the United States of America and Kenya in 2014-2015 without recourse to the guidelines of the TETFund Act. He also disclosed that “a whopping sum of

about N500 million was budgeted for advertising and media” in TETFund’s 2015 budget. The lawmaker said the vote contravened the “’rehabilitation’, restoration and consolidation of tertiary education in Nigeria in accordance with Section 3(1) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, etc) Act 2011.” He stated that after spending nearly N1 trillion between 2011-2015 by TETFund, the state of infrastructure of ter-

tiary education institutions were still “shabby, dilapidated and mostly run down”. Following the resolution to probe TETFUND, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, directed the Committee on Tertiary Institutions to report back to the Senate in a month. He said: “I want the Committee to do a thorough job and within a month report to the Senate so that we get a clearer picture of the situation.”

ple,” he said. The Onitsha Military Cantonment spokesperson could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report as his mobile phone was switched off. However, MASSOB yesterday denied being responsible for the Onitsha violence, claiming that some youths being sponsored by the federal government caused the violence. In a statement made available to journalists in Enugu, acting leader of MASSOB faction, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said: “The setting of Onitsha Central Mosque, vehicles ablaze and making of bonfire, which depict violence, were not done by members of IPOB or MASSOB under my leadership. “These unwarranted acts of violence are perfected by hoodlums sponsored by agents of the federal government to create impression that we are not non-violent, hence they sponsored violence against us. “We have been on this peaceful demonstration and protest for over a month without any act of violence. How can we now resort to violence now that we are told that the Presidency is about negotiating with leaders of pro Biafra groups?” He said the organisation was no longer interested in the peace move by the South-East governors with the killings of their members. He said: “With today’s killing of our members and injuring many with bullet shots, we are no longer comfortable with the Presidency’s move for dialogue; the dialogue is hypocritical and deceitful. “Any Igbo group, organisation and persons negotiating or meeting with the Presidency on our behalf without our consent or mandate should stop now. “MASSOB led by Comrade Uchenna Madu and the IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu have never mandated any person to negotiate for us. Even in this persecution, arrest, killings, clampdown suppression against us by Nigeria CONTINUED ON PAGE 3>>

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DSS moves Dasuki to EFCC as Dokpesi opens up on N2.1bn deal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

vice, DSS, had been under house arrest where he perfected fireworks to evade the anti-graft agency’s hook. A top operative of the commission, who did not want his name mentioned, confided in our correspondent that the men of the secret service released the

embattled ex-NSA to the anti-graft agency for further investigation. He stated that the release of the suspect, who had over the last two weeks been engaged in legal fireworks to evade prosecution, was premised on the fact that the issue involved is criminal in nature. Dasuki was said to have

Man beats Lagos airport security, attempts to attack moving aircraft OLUSEGUN KOIKI

ecurity apparatus of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos was again put to test yesterday as a middle age man, identified as Mr. Alabibu Olushola, scaled the perimeter fence of the airport and attempted to attack an Abuja bound aircraft of Med-View Airline that was on a holding point. The incident, which occurred around 1pm caused scare at the airport, but a source close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, described the man as “a mad man” who attempted to attack the aircraft that departed the apron of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two, MMA2, Lagos. The source confided in our correspondent that the middle age man had scaled the fence through the Shasha area of the airport without security operatives at the airside suspecting him. The source added that the man attempted to throw a bag inside the engine of the aircraft, but when the pilot sighted him, he used a jet blast on the suspect, which destabilised him and resulted in body injuries. The source said the suspect was immediately arrested by the Aviation Security, AVSEC, of FAAN and other security officers at the airside. The source said, “The man is a director of a company at Shasha who developed madness. He was carrying a bag. He was taken away immediately the incident happened.” Another source close to the airline told our correspondent that immediately

after the incident, the pilot of the aircraft returned to the apron and discharged all the onboard passengers for them to be screened again. The Media Consultant to Med-View, Mr. Obuke Oyibotha, confirmed the incident in a statement to journalist. Oyibotha, in the statement, declared that the management of the airline commended the crew of one of its flight for assisting security agencies to arrest a man at the runway of the airport. He hinted that the action of the crew, which led to the arrest and the return of the aircraft to the tarmac for security check was in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, recommended best practices on aviation security. According to the statement, the Maiduguri bound aircraft via Abuja was taxing to the threshold for takeoff when the pilot sited a man on the active runway and alerted the control tower on his observation and requested for aviation security personnel. The statement added, “While still taxiing, the pilot noticed that the same man had crossed to the threshold, and was moving towards the aircraft, and had to alert the control tower again for security. “The man got entangled with the engine thrust as pilot increased the speed of the engine before he was picked up by security agents. The pilot asked for permission to return to base, where security agencies including bomb disposal squad conducted a thorough check on all passengers, luggage and the entire aircraft and appropriate clearance was given.”

arrived EFCC’s office at noon and was quickly whisked to Idiagbon House, where he was being interrogated by a 27-member Task Force constituted by the commission’s chairman, Ibrahim Magu, weeks ago. Our correspondent gathered that EFCC may approach court in the course of the week to obtain order to detain those already arrested in connection with the botched arms deal. Those already in custody include ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, and Chairman DAAR Communication Plc, owners of African Independent Television and Ray Power FM, Chief Raymon Dokpesi. Also in EFCC’s custody are Sagir Bafarawa, and the son of the firmer Minister of Defence, Haliru Bello, and a former Direc-

tor, Finance and Administration of the NSA. Dokpesi explained to the EFCC officials that the N2.1 billion that he collected from the former NSA was payment for for publicity and media political campaigns during the 2015 General Elections.” High Chief Aleogho Dokpesi “made his statement on the various media exposures and campaign transactions which were dutifully carried out based essentially on contractual obligations/relationship.” Meanwhile, PRNigeria News reports that the Federal High Court in Abuja would sit today for the hearing of the motion filed by the federal government seeking to revoke the bail granted Dasuki. At the last resumed hearing of the suit, lawyer to the federal government, Mr. Mohammed Diri, had told the court that a notice of appeal had been lodged at the Court of Appeal,

challenging the judgment of the court granting bail to the former NSA. Dasuki, who had pleaded not guilty to previous charges of alleged illegal possession of firearms and money-laundering preferred against him by DSS, had earlier been granted bail by a Federal High Court to enable him seek medical attention abroad. An interim report of the investigative committee on arms procurement set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, had, few days ago, released its findings, revealing that a damning figure of $2bn was expended on arms procurement. It subsequently recommended that Dasuki and all other accomplices be arrested and prosecuted. EFCC’s investigation into the arms procurement deal had allegedly traced N1.5bn to the account of the ex-minister Yuguda, a

staggering figure, sources in the commission, said he could not account for. He was also alleged to have received another N1.275bn from the Stallion Group during the last general elections. This is even as Sagir, a son of a former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, is being detained for allegedly receiving N4.6m from the Office of the National Security Adviser. It was learnt that the operatives decided to go after the younger Bafarawa because of the belief that he acted as a front for his father in the arms deals. Son of Haliru Mohammed, Abba, also received N600m in the name of BAM Properties Limited. Operatives had earlier arrested a former Director, Finance and Administration of the NSA, an employee of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, for alleged disbursement of funds from the office.

L-R: Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Uriel Palti; Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr Bassey Akpanyung, during the courtesy visit of the ambassador to the Minister in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Biafra protest turns bloody in Onitsha CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

government, we shall continue and intensify our non-violent agitation for Biafra. “For Nigeria to release their armed forces against non-violent and defenceless Biafra agitators shows the wickedness and devilish mind of President Buhari against our people.” Meanwhile, Niger State branch of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a socio cultural group,

has dissociated itself from the ongoing agitation in parts of the country for the actualisation of Biafra nation. The group said they were living peacefully and harmoniously with their host communities in the state, adding that the Igbos were peace loving people that must be appreciated. During a courtesy visit on the Correspondents Chapel of Nigeri-

an Union of journalists (NUJ), Niger State chapter, in Minna, led by the President, Chief Ezeugo Emmanuel, the group pleaded with the federal government not to use force on the agitators to prevent the situation from deteriorating. He explained that rather, dialogue should be implored in addressing the situation amicably for sustainable peace. Emmanuel further

stated that it is for this reason that the state chapter of Ndigbo had concluded plans to hold its Summit 2015 in Suleja, slated for 12th December, 2015 with the theme: Udo, Organiru Na Ako N’ Uche (Peace, Progress and Tact). The summit will be under the chairmanship of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu and a host of other prominent Nigerians.

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

NEWS

L-R: Director/Producer, Hear Word, Ifeoma Fafunwa; Manager, High Value Sponsorship and Events, Etisalat Nigeria, Opeyemi Lawal, Renowned Poet, Niyi Osundare and Director, Ake Arts and Book Festival, Lola Shoneye, at the Etisalat-sponsored stage play, Hear Word, during Ake Arts and Book Festival 2015 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday.

L-R: Manager, Devices and Partnerships, Odafe Akerejolu; Globacom’s Brand Specialist, Mutiat Balogun; Student Union President, University of Ibadan, Olateju Aliyu Oladimeji; Globacom’s Senior Manager, Events, Sola Mogaji; Glo ambassador, Ego Ogbaru; Nollywood actor, OC Ukeje and Student Union President, Lagos State University, Sulaimon Wasiu Adeyemi, during the launch of Glo Campus Booster at Globacom headquarters in Lagos, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Wife of Anambra State Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano; wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari; wife of Osun State Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbeshola and wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Rachel Umahi, at the ongoing Women Entrepreneurship Forum, Dubai 2015

L-R: Executive Principal/Heads Banks Financial Institutions, Standard Chartered Bank, Oloruntimilehin George; Assistant Director, Development Finance Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Hajia Aisha Umar; Chairperson, WIMBIZ Executive Council, Aishah Ahmad and Executive Director, WIMBIZ, Mosun Layode, at the workshop on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund, in Lagos, yesterday.

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Boko Haram: Soldiers caused Gulak, Gajigana attacks –COAS

....Troops arrest 11-yr-old boy on wanted terrorists’ list Ubong Ukpong Abuja

hief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, has accused soldiers of being responsible for last Sunday’s attack in Gulak and Gajigana, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents. Lt-Gen Buratai, who has been furious with troops and their commanders, stated this during his tour of the formations. Buratai has been on tour of Nigerian Army 5 Brigade and 243 Battalion in Borno State, which were affected by the incidents. A statement by Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Col, Sani Usman, yesterday, indicated that Buratai was unhappy and dissatisfied with the conduct of the troops. Usman said Buratai was visiting Gajigana,

Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State on assessment of troops’ location that was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists, adding that the COAS was received and conducted round troops’ deployment by the Commander 5 Brigade and the Commanding Officer of 243 Battalion. Buratai said in the statement that he was there to see things for himself, assess the situation and give necessary directives. “While speaking with the commanders, he (Buratai) expressed dissatisfaction with the troops’ conduct and warned that such incident should not repeat itself. “He also called on the public, especially those residing in the affected area to support and cooperate with the troops by expos-

ing suspected Boko Haram terrorists that live among them. “He also stated that the recent wave of attacks by terrorists in Gulak and Gajigana should be seen as isolated cases that would not be allowed to repeat itself because adequate measures are being taken to deal decisively with any of such occurrences,” the statement said. He assured that the military and other security agencies would continue to improve their performances, while warning troops to be more proactive and alive to their duties as everything was being done to support them. During attack in Gulak, the troops were said to have killed three Boko Haram terrorists, while a number escaped with gunshot wounds. In addition, a Toyota Hi-

lux, 1 PKM gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, 3 AK-47 rifles, one Rocket Propelled Grenade tube and one Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb were recovered by the troops. Other recoveries include one Charger, 7 boxes of 7.62mm Link, 1 GP 340 Hand Held Radio, 4 boxes of 7.62mm X 54mm ammunition, 3 Anti-Riot Hand Held Grenade, as well as 30 Cleaning Kits, 2 Packets of Artillery Primers and 97 pieces of Zela fuse. The troops at Gajigana were also attacked and a soldier killed, but the location had since been reinforced. Meanwhile, troops in Borno State have arrested an 11-year-old boy listed on the poster of 100 wanted terrorists recently. A statement through Col. Usman said the boy was arrested by vigilant

troops of 7 Division Garrison providing security at Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, Camp, Dalori in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, on Tuesday afternoon. The 11-year-old boy was identified as Master Usman Modu Tella. Usman in the statement said the boy was suspect number 82 on the poster containing the photographs of 100 wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorists released by the Nigerian Army. He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was from Bama town and is among four other children trained for suicide bombing by Boko Haram terrorists. He further added that the three others have already carried out their missions at different locations. His job was to do same in the camp sometime in the future. “The boy also pointed

out one other Boko Haram senior member, Alhaji Kerewu Abubakar at the camp,” Usman said. The DAPR said due to the concerted efforts of the military, quite a number of towns and villages hitherto held by the Boko Haram terrorists were liberated. “This brought about an unprecedented influx of IDPs to the camp which the terrorists took advantage and infiltrate in order to wreck more havoc among the society. “The case of these suspects clearly indicated this point hence the need for proper screening of all IDPs with a view to ascertain their true identity. “The apprehension of the suspects is a boost to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in that they were assisting with investigation that would lead to the arrest of more suspected terrorists in the camp and elsewhere,” Usman stated.

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Lagos GDP to hit $355bn by 2025 –Ambode Francis Suberu

agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has projected that by 2025 the state’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, will hit $355bn considering that it grows at 25 per cent rate. Ambode, who spoke at a special session tagged ‘An Audience with the Governor of Lagos State,’ said his administration was working hard to make Lagos the bridge into Africa and become the staging post for trade and investment in the continent. He said the need to diversify the economy in the wake of the ongoing decline in oil prices with its inevitable consequences on the nation’s economy was not negotiable as Nigeria can no longer rely on a mono economy. “We require huge investments in public infrastructure, production of energy, health and education to enable us take full advantage of the evolving economic conditions. The World Bank estimates that nearly $93 billion is required annually as investment in Africa and it is estimated that the city of Lagos will require at least a quarter of this figure,” he said. The governor, who spoke on the topic, ‘Lagos: A City of Opportunity,’ said despite being the smallest state in Nigeria in terms of space, Lagos remains the commercial hub of the country as its GDP currently stands at $136.6 billion, while it contributes 25 percent to the GDP of

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Nigeria, making it arguably Africa’s fourth largest economy. “The GDP of Lagos has an estimated growth rate of 10% and it is expected that by 2025 the GDP will be $355 billion. At present, 18 of Fortune 500 global companies have a presence in Lagos State. As at January 2015, the population of Lagos was 21 million, making it Africa’s largest city and the third largest city in the world. The population has an average annual growth rate of 3.2% and is estimated to be over 30 million by 2025.These are indeed impressive figures,” he said. Ambode said that like many mega cities of the world, Lagos has its own challenges, but stressed that his administration was engaging key leaders within the private sector to tackle the challenges headon. He said the strategic imperatives of his administration are built on four pillars, namely infrastructural development, economic development, social development and sustainable development. The governor and his team, which included some commissioners and Special Advisers, also participated in the Africa Global Summit, TGAIS, that started on December 1 at Central Hall, Westminster, London, where they held several one-on-one meetings with key investors who have shown strong interest in investing in transportation, energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors in Lagos.

Terrorism: US Homeland Security expected in Nigeria next year Obiora Ifoh, ABUJA

nited States of America has concluded plan to export her Homeland security team known as Security Governance Initiative, SGI, into Nigeria as part of efforts to end terrorism. US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Ernwistle, revealed this yesterday in Abuja when he paid a visit to the Minister of Interior, Abudulrahman Dambazau, in his office. The ambassador said his country has concluded

plan to send a team to Nigeria by January in the spirit of partnership with Nigeria as part of efforts to end all forms of insecurity in Nigeria and the world at large. “We are ready to partner with you on security. As you know, we will be having a team here in January in this regard. “This is a very interesting idea; it is an attempt to improve security performance. This project will be done with Nigerian government.” He assured the minister of total support to combat insecurity.

Responding, the minister of Interior, who expressed gratitude to the US ambassador, assured that Nigerian government will partner with US to ensure fruitful implementation of the project. His words: “We want to assure you that we will fulfill our own part of the partnership and we are confident that you will fulfill your part also.” Meanwhile, Israeli ambassador, Mr. Uried Palti, who also visited the minister, said he was in the ministry to reassure Nigeria on the relationship that exists with his country.

He said his country has experience in tackling most of the challenges Nigeria is going through. Dambazau told the Israeli Ambassador that “every nation has a role to play in one way or the other to bring an end to insurgency. In our case here, we are dealing with the issue of Boko Haram, which is now a regional problem that affects four countries. So, it is going to be a regional approach.” He also assured the ambassador of partnership to deal with the issue for mutual interest in the future.

National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) in a protest for better condition of service for workers in Lagos State, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Senate seeks re-imposition of ban on rice George Oji, ABUJA

enate has asked the Federal Government to restore the ban earlier placed on importation of rice through land borders by the immediate past government. The lawmakers made the appeal following series of abuse currently carried out by rice importers who bring rice into the country through neighbouring countries. The appeal for restoration of the ban on rice importation through our land borders by the lawmakers followed the presentation and adoption of the report of Sen-

ate ad-hoc committee on import duty waivers, concessions and grants to importers. The committee in its report said lifting the ban on land importation of rice as recently directed by the Comptroller - General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hammed Ali (retd), will lead to evasion of custom duty and revenue losses to the Nigerian maritime industry. It also said lifting the ban will directly lead to increased diversion of vessels to neighbouring countries. The committee added that the lower five percent import levy being charged on rice by some neighbouring countries is

enough inducement that “if not checked, will on the long run lead to massive vessels desertion of Nigerian ports and the concomitant unemployment of Nigerians.” The argument of Ali, which ultimately led to the removal of the ban by the Customs was that the removal of the restriction will bring more revenue to the coffers of the government, reduce the number of smugglers and also bring down the price of the commodity by breaking the monopoly being enjoyed by the big time rice traders (millers) who have the capacity to import large consignment. The Senate had on October 15 deliberated a mo-

tion on the dangers posed by the removal of rice from import restriction list and the re-introduction of import duty payment at land border and asked its ad-committee to invite the ComptrollerGeneral to brief it on the reasons behind the new policy. The ad-committee headed by Senator Adamu Aliero noted that between 2010 and 2012, there were inconsistencies in fiscal policy measures on rice imports. The policies, the committee noted, brought about frequent changes in levy payable on various forms of rice with conflicting opinions of the classification of Husked

brown rice. It noted that it was as a result of such policy somersault that the Nigeria Customs Service, as implementing agency of government fiscal measures, recommended the restriction of rice imports to the nation’s sea ports as a way of channeling the importation of rice. The committee said that due to the policy somersault, some importers exceeded their quota allocation resulting in outstanding duty of over N24 billion and subsequent suspension of the 2015 Rice Import Quotas. It observed that the introduction of the 20142017 National Rice Policy has brought about stabil-

ity in the tariff regime. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who summed up contributions by Senators, said the matter is serious because it affects revenue and improvement of agriculture in the country. Saraki said sentiment should be removed completely from the consideration of the report. He added that no genuine importer would prefer to import through the land border to incur extra cost unless there is intention to defraud the country. Saraki said lifting the ban on land border importation of rice is definitely not in the interest of the country.

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Buhari off to South Africa for China/Africa Forum Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari leaves Abuja for South Africa today to participate in the Forum on China/ Africa Cooperation, FOCAC, taking place in Johannesburg from December 4 to 5. A statement yesterday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said at the forum Buhari would follow up his meeting with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, which took place on

the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in November in New York. Buhari had indicated to Xi Jinping at the bilateral meeting in New York that he wanted China to re-commence stalled rail projects under new terms that would see China providing nearly all the financing required. Of particular interest is the coastal railway project stretching for 1,402 kilometres linking Lagos in the West with Calabar in the South South; a project expected to be financed with $12bn Chinese loan

and which would create about 200,000 jobs. Another rail project that would be up for renegotiation is the $8.3bn Lagos-Kano standard gauge modernisation project, of which only a segment, Kaduna-Abuja, has reached

completion stage. Buhari is also expected to discuss ways of removing all obstacles in the way of the 3,050mw Mambila Power Station, considered a strategic project, which was conceived in1982 but has not taken off.

The Chinese President had informed Buhari of the willingness of his country to finance the whole project through a special loan agreement. The president, who would be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Af-

fairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Transportation, Chubuike Amaechi; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, would return to Abuja on Saturday.

FG to use technology for rapid development –Osinbajo Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

ice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was interested in using technology to fast track the country’s growth and development. Speaking while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and Global Good Fund cofounded by US billionaire, Bill Gates, the Vice President said the administration “is interested in the idea of using technology because it is the way forward for those interested in rapid growth in the next decade”. A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Adesina, said Osinbajo noted that the president has said his administration was committed to a bottomup approach, stressing that technology was a tool that can help make the difference. He pointed out that technology was a means of adding value and improving the lives of millions of people. Osinbajo explained that there was need to develop specific technology solutions that can target low level subsistence farmers, small, micro and medium enterprises with the resultant effect of impacting lives.

Earlier, Director of Global Good Fund, Mr. David Keogh, who signed the MoU on behalf of his organisation and led the Fund’s delegation, said the Fund was on a social mission to deploy technology in the area of agriculture and healthcare that would impact many people in the country. He stated that the company working in collaboration with multi-lateral agencies, non-profit organisations and governments, engaged in identifying challenges in different value chains and provide technological solutions to the value chains. The MoU signed between Nigeria and Global Good would provide the framework for identifying the specific challenges in identified sectors such as in agriculture and healthcare and provide the necessary technological solutions to impact the lives of the people.

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) UK, Mr. Kervin Ellis; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Ray Kyles; Regional Senior for West and Area Country, PWC, Mr. Uyi Akpata and Chairman, PWC UK firm’s Africa Business Group, Mr. Joel Seagal, during the Lagos State Trade and Investment Forum organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers, at Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair, London, on Monday.

Senate begins move to gag press freedom Proposes 2-year jail term, N4m for offenders of new law George Oji Abuja

enate has set in motion a legislative process that may ultimately lead to the curtailment of press freedom in the country. Known as “A Bill for an Act To Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Matters Connected Therewith”, the new bill, which is sponsored by Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, seeks basically to protect public office holders from being ex-

posed by the media. The bill not only seeks to check the traditional media organisations from maligning the integrity of public officers but also targeted the new media, i.e. social media as well. It makes it an offence for anybody to malign the integrity of any person, group of persons or an institution of government through the publication of any false statement, petition or complain in any medium, be it the traditional media or social media.

The bill provides for N2m or N4m fine or six years imprisonment for offenders. Specifically, Section 4 of the Bill states: “Where any person through text message, tweets, WhatsApp or through any social media, post any abusive statement knowing same to be false, with intent to set the public against any person and/ or group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies established by law shall be guilty of an offence

NUC decries purchase of inferior equipment by new federal varsities

ational Universities Commission, NUC, has expressed displeasure over the quality of equipment purchased by the 12 new federal universities with N300m given to each of them. Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, expressed the displeasure yesterday in Abuja at a seminar on “Science and Engineering Equipment

Functionality, Procurement and Processes in Nigerian Universities.” He noted that each of the 12 new universities got N300m for the purchase of science and technology equipment, adding that quality equipment “is precondition for accreditation of science courses. “The quality of equipment is of importance; there must be due diligence in the selection of

equipment and maintenance. “Some equipment needed to be housed under a given temperature. “Not too long ago, we did an equipment audit in the 12 new federal universities, which got a minimum of N300m each to buy equipment. “We were disappointed at the quality we saw; this means that soon, we may need to start replacing the

equipment. “As a regulatory agency, we must ensure that quality equipment is brought into the university system,” he said. Managing Director, Eagle Scientific, Mr Tim Johnsen, one of the sponsors of the workshop, said the seminar was aimed at educating institutions on procurement processes, with a view to getting better value for their money.

and upon conviction shall be liable to an imprisonment for two years or a fine of N2m or both such fine and imprisonment.” Section 3 of the bill also reads: “Where any person in order to circumvent this law makes any allegation and or publish any statement, petition in any paper, radio, or any medium of whatever description, with malicious intent to discredit or set the public against any person or group of persons, institutions of government, he shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction shall be liable to an imprisonment term of two years or a fine of N4m.” The bill further seeks to make it unlawful to submit any petition, statement intended to report the conduct of any person for the purpose of an investigation, inquiry and or inquest without a dully sworn affidavit in the High Court of a State or the Federal High Court confirming the content to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act.

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Police charge female banker with N90m fraud Wale Igbintade

igeria Police yesterday arraigned a 32-year-old female banker, Adejumoke Anthony, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conniving with fraudsters to steal N90 million. The accused, who resides at Lekki area of Lagos State is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. Prosecutor, Cpl Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in March 2013 in Lekki, Lagos. According to him, the accused allegedly conspired with others still at large to fraudulently obtain and steal N90 million belonging to one Mr. and Mrs. Babatunde Oduewu, a customer of her bank. The prosecutor said the alleged offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

South West

Thursday, December 3, 2015

When the charge was read to her, the defendant pleaded not guilty. Section 285 provides three years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of stealing and Section 409 provides two years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of conspiring with others to commit felony. Counsel to the accused, Mr. O. A. Ojo, urged the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms. In her ruling, Magistrate (Mrs.) A. O. Awogboro, admitted her to bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. She said one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and all the sureties must have reasonable means of livelihood and be tax payers. She also said the sureties must be resident in Lagos State and their addresses verified by the court. She, however, adjourned the case to January 26, 2016 for mention.

Tipper owners barred in Ekiti over tax default Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

kiti State government has banned sand excavation in any part of the state effective from yesterday. A statement by Commissioner for Environment, Bisi Kolawole, said the ban became imperative following the refusal of tipper operators to comply with the new tax regime of the present administration. The commissioner also stated that the move became expedient “in view of the recurrent cases of destruction of valuable crops by tipper owners while excavating sand.”

It would be recalled that the tipper owners and government had been at loggerheads since the government mandated the operators to pay N1,000 per trip, which they vowed to resist. The operators, under the auspices of the Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers of Nigeria, described the new tax regime as unacceptable, vowing that their members would not honour it. But the governor said the tipper owners and operators “have to obey the law of the land. How can someone be operating here in Ekiti and refuse to pay tax? “We cannot run govern-

ment without money. Apart from tax default, some of their trucks have no particulars, no headlamps; no brakes. They are also destroying our farmlands and vegetation. We won’t tolerate all these. “We owe it a duty and responsibility to pay our tax as demanded by the law and this we will implement,” he said. Kolawole bemoaned how farmlands were being wantonly destroyed by operators of the business without minding the hazard their actions constitute to the environment. The commissioner said the ministry has received series of complaints from

farm owners, claiming that operators of the business have consistently been wreaking havoc on their crops without paying compensation or offering any palliative. However, chairman, Tipper Owners Association in Ekiti State, Chief James Mokoa, said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Etop James, is mediating in the matter. Mokoa, who kept mum on whether his members had complied with the directive, expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved amicably in another round of peace parley called at the instance of the police boss.

Falae identifies his abductors in court Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

ormer Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae, yesterday identified some of his suspected kidnappers in court. Falae, who appeared in court to testify against the suspects, said other members of the gang were still at large. The elder statesman was abducted on September 21, 2015, at his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The Afenifere chieftain was later released after a ransom of N5 million was paid to the kidnappers. Falae told the court that six of the kidnappers dragged him out of his office into the bush after inflicting injuries on his body. The Social Democratic Party, SDP, national chairman added that the suspects dragged him in the bush for almost one hour before asking for his wife’s phone number. He said: “When one of

them saw my wounds, he went to the bush to look for a leaf, which he used to treat the wounds. That was how we started a journey that lasted 12 hours. “After 7pm in the evening, they got my wife’s phone number and ordered her to go and look for N100 million as ransom before they could release me. “One of them said my people were offering them N2 million and wondered how could my people be offering N2 million to Boko Haram. That was when I asked to speak to my wife to look around whether we could meet their demand, which I understand is N5 million at that time.” The prosecution counsel, who is Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, prayed the court for adjournment of the case to enable him call more witnesses. The court, presided over by Justice Rotimi Olumide, ordered that the suspects should remain in prison custody and adjourned the case till December 15, 2015, for further trial.

L-R: Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, London, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo; Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo and Resident Pastor, TREM Headquarters, Bishop Peace Okonkwo, during the Kingdom Life World Conference 2015 at the church headquarters in Lagos.

GOC calls for synergy among security agencies Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

eneral Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Laz Ilo, yesterday called for synergy among security agencies in the fight against corruption and terrorism. He made the call while receiving in his office the Assistant Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Zone F, Ibadan, Mr. Mike Longe, and commissioner, Independent Corrupt Practices and other re-

lated offences Commission, ICPC, Oyo/Ogun states, Mr. Stephen Pimor. The GOC said no agency could fight corruption and terrorism wars alone, stating that the two are major hindrance to national development. According to him, it is glaring that only synergy, information and intelligencesharing could bring about greater success in the fight against terrorism and corruption. The GOC, while assuring that the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army would continue to partner with

other security agencies at achieving a nation free from corruption and terrorism, lauded the agencies for their display of professionalism. He further pointed out that discipline remains the bedrock of any organisation, adding that the agencies should remain focused and not be intimidated by forces of retrogression and destabilisation. Longe said the challenges posed by migrants constitute a serious threat to the security of nations across the world. He stressed that Nigeria is currently going through

a critical period which requires closer monitoring of its international borders, to prevent infiltration by undesirable elements. He noted that the 2 Division occupies a strategic position in the South West geo-political zone, especially in the areas of border patrol and monitoring. Pimor said corruption is a threat to national security and that the commission could not fight the war against corruption alone, adding that the war against corrupt practices is an internal security operation.

South West

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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Osun College of Education sacks 82 staffs Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

sun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, may have terminated the appointments of about 82 staff of the institution, just as the restructuring plans of the state government of its tertiary institutions takes shape. According to sources in the institution, the affected workers are mainly members of the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, many of whom have spent over six years on the job. Those sacked are said to be contract staff employed by the institution to shore up staff need in the college. Confirming the development, the chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union, Segun Onifade, confirmed sack of the workers and explained that those affected were contract staff of the institution.

Chairman of the college’s Governing Council, Niyi Akande, when contacted, however, denied knowledge of the sack, saying: “I am not aware of that. I have not been told that anybody has been sacked. I am in Abuja.” The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in what could be regarded as reaction to the sack believed to have been occasioned by the restructuring plans of state-owned tertiary institutions by government, has threatened to shut down economic and social activities in Osun should the state government merge its tertiary institutions. NANS Deputy Coordinator, Zone D, Afolabi Saheed in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo, cautioned Osun governor, Rauf Aregbesola, against any reformation of the state’s education sector.

NLC faults call to remove labour matters from exclusive list Abiodun Nejo ADO-EKITI

igerian Labour Congress, NLC, has frowned at the proposal for the removal of labour matters from the exclusive legislative list, alleging that it is a plot to pocket the trade unions and punish the workers unjustly in the country. Ekiti State NLC Chairman, Comrade Ade Adesanmi, said the organised labour would resist any such move to enlist labour issues on the concurrent list, describing the plot as an attempt to foster impunity in the system. Adesanmi spoke in AdoEkiti yesterday in reaction to a request on Tuesday by Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, that labour issues be moved from exclusive to concurrent list, to avert constant industrial crisis between government and workers. The HoS had said in a paper entitled: ‘Achieving Industrial Harmony in the Public Service: Finding a Common Pathway’, at a symposium in Ado-Ekiti, said the present arrangement whereby “the Federal Government unilaterally decides on industrial matters, which will result in

outcomes that have implications for sub-national governments, deserve a closer scrutiny”. But the NLC State Chairman said such move if realisable, would make issues bordering on labour to be treated by government with utmost disdain, saying no efforts would be spared to prevent his members from being immersed in another round of sufferings as witnessed under military era. According to him, the move is an attempt to silence and kill labour as well as subjugate its members’ voices and make them be at the mercy of government after removing their vibrancy.

L-R: Wife of Minister of Solid Minerals, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; wife of Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; his wife, Florence, and former Minister of Industry, Chief Onikepo Akande, at the opening of National Women Summit in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Inconsistent policy, bane of aviation privatisation —Babalakin Olusegun Koiki

onsistent policy somersaults by the Federal Government have been described as major challenge confronting the Nigerian aviation privatisation programme. Therefore, government has been advised to divide the country’s airports to four major zones for efficiency and viability purposes. Chairman, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, MMA2, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin, gave the advice yesterday in Lagos at a seminar organised by Aviation Round-Table, ART. Theme of the event was ‘Airport Ownership, Viability, Safety and Security of Nigerian Airports.’ Babalakin noted that the sector in its entirety

had been stagnant over the years due to policy somersaults by different ministers and governments. He pointed out that in the past 10 years, the industry had witnessed 10 ministers, who came with different ideas and policies, wondering how government’s policy could be consistently followed and attained by annual change of ministers. He emphasised that several privatisation exercises had either been truncated or enmeshed in controversies due to inconsistency in government’s policies, stressing that this had made Public Private Participation, PPP, unattractive to prospective investors, while others were forced out halfway in their agreement. Babalakin insisted that airport development could only take place under a well-articulated system,

noting that players in the sector must develop the rule of law to improve resolution process. Babalakin also advocated division of the country’s 22 airports into four zones, namely: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano for more productivity. Chairman on the occasion, Mr. Tunde Fagbemi, said the government and industry players need to leapfrog the nation’s aviation industry to the world stage. He lamented that over the years, government had reneged on its policies with investors in the sector, which had made the airports infrastructure and equipment to be in decay. He alleged that industry regulators were regulating the industry players to extinction, warning that if this continued, the entire industry would be in co-

matose. He noted that his company, Maevis Nigeria Limited, turned around passengers’ facilitation processes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos airport even when most thought it could not been done, stressing that with private participation, the arrival hall of MMIA would take over 10 million passengers annually, rather than the present 1.8 million per annum. Earlier, Chairman of ART, Gbenga Olowo, in his presentation noted that redemption of the sector remained a mirage, stressing that the government should develop airports either by private or public sector. “When infrastructure rises, we see it. We are in a country where privatisation will work. It needs to be well-packaged,” he said.

NDLEA nabs woman with $114,245, €2,020 at Lagos Airport Olusegun Koiki

ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday arrested a 52-year-old Nigerian woman of British extraction over alleged currency trafficking. The suspect, Olukoya Sarah Ogunade, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeka, Lagos, while trying to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

Statement issued by spokesman of NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that the suspect was discovered during outward search and was found with $114,245; 2,020 inside 13 white envelopes in her luggage. Born to a Nigerian father and a Scottish mother, Olukoya Sarah had both Nigerian and British international passports. Commenting on the arrest, NDLEA Director of Assets and Financial Investigations, DAFI, Mrs. Victo-

ria Egbase, said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of currency trafficking, adding that the foreign currencies were not declared in accordance with the law at the airport. Ofoyeju hinted that the suspect in her voluntary statement confessed that the seized monies were her legitimate earnings. She reportedly confessed, “I am an architect based in London. The money is part of rent paid to me by tenants in a property I inherited. It is also part of architec-

tural and interior decoration work I did as well as loans from family members. I used to send money through the bank but the new regulation made me to carry cash. I intend to use the money to pay my children’s school fees and my medical bills.” He, however, insisted that the suspect did not provide documents and material evidence to substantiate her possession of the money found on her, which he said suggested currency trafficking. He noted that though

NDLEA did not link the money to proceeds of narcotic trade, insisting that lack of declaration of the money made her action not only suspicious but liable to prosecution under the Act. Meanwhile, following the unsatisfactory explanation of the suspect, the Acting Chairman of the agency, Mrs. Roli Bode-George, has directed that the case be immediately transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and action.

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Traffic congestion at Broad Street, Lagos

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Broad Street Diary

agos State Government has expressed its readiness to continue to provide a conducive and enabling environment for business to thrive especially in all the Central Business Districts area of the state. Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Hon. Agboola Dabiri, who disclosed this at a stakeholders committee meeting with officials of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, said the time has come for corporate organisations to develop a meaningful partnership with CBD with the aim of returning lost glory back to the Island. According to him: ‘’All hands should be on deck to nip in the bud, the increasing flight of corporate organisations from Lagos Island to places like Lekki and Ikoyi due to incessant power outage, insecurity and activities of hoodlums and miscreants’’. “CBD is more than ready to provide needed impetus to encourage the return of all corporate organisations that have left the Island for reasons best known to them, pointing out that the agency will open an operational office in the heart of Lagos Island where corporate organisations can come to, as next door neighbour for complaints and settlement”. Dabiri urge the organisation to assist in the area of sanitation by securing the services of street sweepers, kitted and branded in UBA outfit, even as UBA should come up with street branding, beautification

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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Flight of corporate organisations from Lagos CBD worries govt

Broad Street, Lagos

and maintenance. While expressing their readiness to partner with CBD, Directorate Head, Public Sector and Personal Banking of the bank, Mr. Oliver Ala-

wuba, appealed to the state government to give a thought to the issue of insecurity, incessant traffic and relaxation centres where people can relax and cool down at the of a hectic

working day to avert traffic, towards securing the confidence and support of other corporate entities on the Island. –Dare Akogun

Christmas season: Traders say sales yet to pick up

sually the Christmas and New Year is a festive period associated with abundance and gift. It is also a period when traders across the world make huge sales as virtually everybody are interested in buying one goods or the other either for personal use or as gift to friends, relations or business partners. As a result, the month of December is always a month a boom for traders and this explain why most traders always strive from the month of October to restock their shops in anticipation of the Christmas sales boom. The month of December is a time reputed for brisk business activities with all sorts of seasonal materials and products on shelves and stalls for sale. Traditionally, the December month is the season when the rate of turn-over for business owners usually soar with traders particularly those dealing in clothing materials and assorted drinks, foot wears, gift items Christmas lights and among others smiles to the banks daily. However, this yearly rituals may not be same for traders on the adjoining markets on the Lagos Business District this year, no thank to the world economic down turn which has also affected Nigeria with the purchasing powers of the average people being in the lower sides. Broad Street Diary, BSD, in the course of the week went round markets around Broad Street to find out how traders have been fairing preparatory to this year’s Christmas and New Year.

For Mr. Christian Augustine a trader at Sunny Lad Plaza Broad Street, who has being in the business of selling clothing materials for 10 years on the Broad Street told BSD, that it is not business as usual as sales have not improved beyond what it was two three months ago. “In fact, everything is stagnant economically. “This condition is primarily so because of the exchange rate of the Nigerian currency to some other major international currencies around the world. “You can imagine a dollar to Naira is as high as N230 as against N100 or N120 or worse still, N160 it was few years back. “The situation has no doubt, impacted negatively on the prices of the goods we buy and how we eventually sell coupled with the low purchasing power of the people. “For example the cloths we used to sell N2, 000 now costs N4, 000. “Since we import these materials mostly from outside the country the exchange rate has affected what we import compelling us to increase our prices beyond the purchasing power of the average Nigerians. After all, we cannot sell bellow the cost price, indeed, it is a real terrible situation. “In addition to this, we are made to pass through the eye of the needle in the process of clearing our goods at the ports. The charges on our goods by the custom officers are killing which invariably hikes the prices we sell to the end users

who find it pretty difficult to afford. When you mention the price of these materials to our customers, they just walk away, Augustine said.’’ He said: ‘’I do not blame them as some of them would say that their salary has not increased to be able to buy such materials.’’ Augustine added that what complicated the matter the more, is that many Nigerians are not gainfully employed, while those who are employed are under employed or do not receive salaries regularly. When you look critically into what will likely be the priority of these people, it will not be cloths or better still expensive ones such as we have here since we import from Turkey. ‘’If per adventure these guys would buy cloths compulsorily, they would prefer to go for cheaper ones probably from Asia,’’ said Augustine. He said ordinarily, businesses ought to have picked up by now imagine; we are days into Christmas and New Year and the situation is still like this, it is serious! “If it were in the previous years there would be no space for you to stand as you are standing right now in this market talk less of having the luxury of time to grant this interview as the influx of customers coming in and out to purchase our materials either for themselves or to resell will not make that possible. Asked what could be done to reverse this trend he said; Augustine advised the

government to as a matter of urgency bridged the gap between the dollar and naira, as this is the basis for the hyper inflation in the country. ‘’This is affecting business seriously as the country’s economy is import dependent.’’ A lady, who simply identified herself as Mariam in the same Plaza, call on the Buhari- led administration to commence the implementing of the N5,000 monthly stipend for young unemployed graduates during their electioneering as this may put some money in the pocket of some young Nigerians and help ease the problem of liquidity in the system. Another lady ,Nkechi Anum, who ventured into the buying and selling of ladies wares and now a proud owner of owner of KECH COUTSURE stated that, given the current poor business trend, she had not really felt the impact of the yuletide season unlike the previous years. “I have not really seen the impact of the Christmas and New Year season unlike before, but I hope business would pick up gradually as we approach the festive period that is our prayer. “I have placed order for goods from Turkey and other European countries and as well pay as much as N600,000 for this inner stall annually and it is from what I make here that I pay for the rents. “So I earnestly pray that business should boom this yuletide.”

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Ihedioha slams Okorocha over alleged N600m Christmas decorations Chris Njoku OWERRI

ormer Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday in Owerri expressed shock and disbelief over media reports that Imo State government has earmarked over N600 million for decorations ahead of Christmas celebration. Ihedioha queried, ‘‘At this critical period when Imo citizens are going through untold hardship arising from months of unpaid salary arrears and pensions, grounding of the 27 local government councils; several unresolved industrial disputes; infrastructural collapse and lack of vision for the genuine development of the state, the government chose to embark on such

frivolous window-dressing jamboree.” In a statement by his media aide, Chibuike Onyekwu, made available to National Mirror, Ihedioha maintained that “despite prevailing widespread disenchantment expressed by Imo citizens, who are worried at the alarming rate of hunger and insecurity occasioned by the inept handling of issues of governance, the governor has refused to address such critical issues.” The former Speaker urged the governor to quickly retrace his steps and begin to address the plight of workers, pensioners and other critical issues of governance in order to avert looming economic crises, insecurity and avert what could be the bleakest Christmas celebration in the history of the state.

Umahi vows not to slash workers’ salaries

…assures on 13th-month salary Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor, David Umahi, yesterday stated his preparedness not to cut the salaries of civil servants even in the face of economic downturn in the state. Umahi disclosed this in Abakaliki while addressing the leadership of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, who paid him a courtesy call at Government House. He insisted that he would not downsize the workforce contrary to speculations in the state. The governor cited the continued drop in federal allocation accruing to the state as one of its major problems. He commended the union for its understanding during agitation by the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, for salary increment. He restated his readiness to pay junior workers 100 per cent one-month salary bonus, while seniors get 50 per cent bonuses for the Christmas festivity. Umahi said each teacher will get a bag of rice for the yuletide celebration as part of “stomach infra-

structure” introduced by his administration. He announced that arrangement has been concluded to procure laptops for all teachers in the state to make them ICT-compliant, adding that each teacher will not pay more than N2,000 as monthly installment. He urged the teachers to wake up to their duties and ensure there is improvement in future WAEC and NECO taken by the students, adding that a situation where the state continues to lag behind in examination results is no longer acceptable. The governor called on the leadership of the union to re-evaluate the teachers before the government intervenes, and gave middle of next month as the deadline. He regretted that out of 11 teachers interviewed in the state executive council meeting, only two passed. Earlier, Chairman of NUT in the state, Joseph Nweke, said the teachers came to appreciate the governor for his love for them and commended Umahi for his developmental effort within five months in office.

Comptroller-General (C-G), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hammeed Ali, taking salute from guard of honour by the NCS, Zone C, during the C-G’s visit to Owerri Command, on Tuesday

Man dies aboard Owerri-Lagos Arik flight Olusegun Koiki

57-year-old man, Mr. Albert Nnadi, yesterday died on board an Arik Air flight from Owerri to Lagos. The deceased, according to information gathered by our correspondent, died shortly before the aircraft could touch down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Ikeja, Lagos. Information said the passenger was found dead

Chris Njoku OWERRI

ederal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, has selected Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, for conferment of Doctor of Technology and Doctor of Management (Honoris Causa). Also, Abia North former legislator and Senate Committee chairman on Education, Uche Chukwumerije, who died in a London hospital some months ago, would bag a posthumous award in view of his invaluable contributions towards the rapid transformation of the nation’s premier university of technology. Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Cyril Asiabaka, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on his

when co-passengers on the flight were disembarking at the domestic airport Terminal One of the airport. A source close to the airline confided in our correspondent that the deceased was accompanied on the trip by one of his relatives, who was identified as Damien Nwachukwu. The source said the deceased was on his way to Lagos for medical treatment on obesity. Our correspondent gathered that immediately the

death occurred, health officials at the airport swung into action, but could not revive the man. His corpse was later transferred to the morgue of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, where he was reportedly rejected because it was too large for any of the compartments to take. The corpse was later found space for at Lagos General Hospital. Spokesman of the airline, Ola Adebanji, confirmed the incident in a statement is-

sued in Lagos. Adebanji noted that the passenger was confirmed dead by doctors on arrival at the Lagos Airport. He explained that the passenger had boarded the flight from Owerri in company of a relative, but started showing signs of uneasiness midway into the flight. “The body of the man has been deposited in the mortuary by the police, while investigation into the immediate cause of death is ongoing,” he said.

Okorocha, Tukur, Chukwumerije bag FUTO honorary degrees stewardship as the 6th substantive vice chancellor of the institution and programmes slated for its 28th convocation ceremony coming up this weekend. According to Asiabaka, a total of 2,243 students, who had meticulously gone through the rigourous university training, would be awarded degrees during the convocation, comprising 24 first class honours, 604 second class upper, 1,381 second class lower, 223 third class and 11 pass. Additionally, the VC said the ceremony would equally witness the graduation of postgraduate students, who acquitted themselves credibly in their respective fields. He said the university had in the last four and half years maintained steady

academic calendar, attracted massive infrastructure development, beautified the campus with stronger emphasis on quality teaching and research which are critical aspects of the university’s quest for excellence. Asiabaka said the 2015 web ranking of the nation’s universities conducted by four international colleges and universities, an international higher education search and directory reviewing accredited universities and colleges in the world, placed FUTO 16th out of 144 universities in the country. Similarly, he said FUTO ranked 71st in Africa in the 2015 Africa university and higher institution ranking, based on research publications and citations conducted by Journals Consortium.

The vice chancellor, who also spoke on staff training and professional development, disclosed that in the year under review, management instigated training programmes and provided worthwhile opportunities for staff members to develop in their areas of functional operations. He added that a good number of teaching and non-teaching staff were sponsored for both local and international conferences and workshops through TETFund. He listed road construction, landscaping and beautification of the campus environment, computerisation/ICT development, improved host community relations as well as improved students’ welfare as some of his major feats.

South South

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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Bayelsa: Rig election, face civil unrest, PDP warns APC, INEC O BIORA I FOH ABUJA

L- R: Former President Goodluck Jonathan; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; Acting PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; HRM, King Godwin Igodo of Atissa clan and Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, King Alfred Diete Spiff, during the official commissioning of the massive Ogobiri- Toru-Ebeni bridge completed by the Dickson Administration, at Ogobiri, Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State, yesterday.

Rivers govt won’t reduce minimum wage –Wike DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

ivers State government said yesterday it would not be a party to the reduction of minimum wage for civil servants.

Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, said recently that states may not be able to pay the N18,000 minimum wage due to continued drop in federal allocation. But speaking at Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to national chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, Governor Nyesom Wike said the state government would continue to pay salaries of workers regularly because the multiplier effect was critical to social stabil-

overnor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has promised to complete all ongoing sports projects in the state initiated by his successor, Liyel Imoke. He made the promise yesterday at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, during the opening ceremony of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army Inter Brigade Football Competitions.

ity. He said: “Rivers State will not be party to the reduction of minimum wage. Rivers State will not reduce the minimum wage. “The state government will continue to pay salaries of workers because we believe the worker deserves his wage,” the governor stated. Wike noted that his administration was committed to workers’ welfare, which is why he cleared the outstanding three months’ salaries owed workers upon assumption of office as governor on May 29, 2015. He explained that the state government also paid the six months pension arrears it inherited from the immediate past ad-

ministration. Wike further said the non-payment of salaries in the past had resulted in untold hardship to the people as most civil servants supported different strata of the society. Rather than reduce the minimum wage, Governor Wike said government at all levels should work towards addressing the numerous development challenges facing the nation. He said it was time political leaders stopped trading blames and focus on solving problems facing the people. “We (government) must tackle our problems and stop playing games with the challenges facing our people,” he noted. Governor Wike ex-

plained that he resolved to run an inclusive government because he believes that all political parties could contribute to the development of the state. He further said that after the election there is need for people to close ranks in the interest of good governance and development. The governor decried what he termed ‘mischief’ of members of the opposition, the All Progressives Congress, APC, during a recent procession tagged ‘Black Monday’ in the state, saying it is unfortunate that it plays politics with human lives. Earlier, Alhaji Abdulsalam had commended Governor Wike for playing politics without bitterness

head of this weekend’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned of imminent civil unrest in Nigeria, particularly in the South South region should President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, manipulate the outcome of the poll. The party said anything short of the will of the people as evidenced in a transparent process would be vehemently resisted, insisting that for a guaranteed free and fair election, all votes must count and be collated and announced at individual polling units and that all security agencies and electoral officers must play by the rule. Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, called on President Buhari to note that this country could not afford to aggravate an already charged environment. He said: “Any attempt to rig the result of Bayelsa election will be a clear invitation to civil unrest in the region, thereby further heating up the polity. “For purposes of emphasis, Bayelsa is a core PDP state and our overwhelming support base indicates this. Therefore, anything short of the will of the people as evidenced in a transparent process will be vehemently resisted. “Expecting INEC to

conduct a free, fair and credible election is not an impossibility considering the record of the PDP in ensuring credible polls in eight elections in the last five years.” He said the National Working Committee of the PDP wishes to declare to INEC and all security agencies that the people of Bayelsa State and their members “have been fully rallied in their numbers to combat, head to head, any move by anybody or group whatsoever to rig the December 5 gover norship election. “We wish to make it clear to all, especially INEC officials, both regular and ad hoc that the atmosphere in Bayelsa is already charged and that any of them, who in any way allows himself to be used for manipulation would be doing so at his own peril. “Bayelsans, conscious of the ugly records of brazen doctoring of votes by INEC in favour of the APC in the earlier mentioned Borno and Kogi states governorship election, are now fully determined to stop the commission in its trail and ensure that such is not repeated in their state. “We are all aware of the marching order handed down to the new INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at his furtive meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to rig Kogi and Bayelsa elections in favour of the APC, but we wish to let the commission know that attempting so in Bayelsa will have huge repercussions.”

Ayade promises to complete ongoing sport projects in C’River Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Tina Agbor, Ayade said he has taken a comprehensive study of all uncompleted sports projects in the state with a view to completing them. ``While we continue to promote sporting activities in the state, my administration shall certainly ensure the comple-

tion of all ongoing sports projects in the state. ``I will also ensure the completion of the ultramodern indoor sport hall to pave way for successful competitions. ``New stadia have been constructed in Ikom and Ogoja local government areas of the state to bring sporting facilities closer to the grassroots and de-

velop talents,’’ he said. The governor described football as an effective tool for unity and social mobilisation. Earlier, the Commander, 13 Brigade, Calabar, Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, had said that the event was a talent hunt for footballers to discover their strength. Mohammed said the

competition was organised to provide an opportunity for officers and ratings in the units, under 82 Division to prepare ahead of the Chief of Army Staff football competition. He added that the competition was also organised to strengthen the physical fitness of officers. According to him, the

best team would compete in the Chief of Army Staff 2015 football competition, billed for December 13 to 19 in Abuja. News Agency of Nigeria reports that the participating teams are: 13 Brigade Calabar, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, 34 Artillery, Owerri, 14 Brigade, Abia and 82 Division, Enugu.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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Politics

Intrigues in Kogi election impasse The November 21 governorship election in Kogi State has thrown up a lot of constitutional and legal issues with the death of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Prince Abubakar Audu. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed this Saturday for the conclusion of the election which it had earlier declared inconclusive . ROTIMI FADEYI, UBONG UKPONG, GEORGE OPARA AND DOOSUUR IWAMBE examine these issues:

ith just two days to the supplementary election in Kogi State, the situation is tense as events unfold and for the people of Kogi State, the gubernatorial election conducted on Saturday, November 21 will go down in history as an event that they will not forget in a hurry. It was a day they went to the poll to elect a governor but as it turned out, no governor emerged as the election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which ordered a supplementary election in some local government areas. The disappointment of the outcome of the election after they deferring the early morning cold weather to participate in the election was not even the main issue as they woke up the next day to learn of the death of leading contender for the governorship seat at the Lugard Government House and former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu. The death of Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the election created a constitutional crisis, a situation which was never envisaged by the constitution whereby a candidate in an election dies during the process of election and before the announcement of the final result. The situation has thus thrown up a lot of issues in the political history of the country and also generated a lot of moves among the major contenders in the election which include the incumbent governor of the state, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, who is seeking another four year term in office, the running mate to the late Audu in the election, James Faleke and the runner up in the APC primary election, Yahaya Bello. There are other stakeholders who are also jostling to take over power in the government house. While there are court cases already filed by some of the contenders over the political situation in Kogi, the recent decision by the APC to endorse Bello as a substitute for the late Audu in the supplementary election fixed for this Saturday, December 5 has sparked another round of protest from Faleke who said as the running mate to Audu in the process of election which had already started and near conclusion, he should be the natural replacement. Faleke has vowed to use all means available to him, including legal means, to challenge the decision of the leaders of the APC on the choice of Bello for the conclusion of the gubernatorial election. The protest by supporters of Faleke and the clash with

Wada

Late Audu

The death of Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the election created a constitutional crisis, a situation which was never envisaged by the constitution the supporters of Bello at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja is a pointer to what lies ahead in the political imbroglio.

Position of INEC on the election Perhaps, declaring the Kogi governorship election inconclusive was not desirable, one would say that if men were God to know that the APC candidate in that election, late Prince Abubakar Audu, would not live to participate in a supplementary election, INEC might have announced him winner, having emerged as a leading candidate with highest number of votes. This would surely have averted the present crisis that has greeted the process. Already, many political and legal analysts have argued that Audu had won the election having met the spread requirements of the laws added to his highest numbers of votes. However, INEC refused to declare him winner because of the only reasons that the margin of votes between Audu and incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada was 41,353, and that the election was inconclusive because the total number of registered voters in 91 polling units of 18 local government areas, where election was cancelled is 49,953.

For the INEC, it wanted to set the records straight and avoid legal issues, but it has ended up causing more crisis and confusion in the judiciary and political landscapes of the nation. Had the INEC declared Audu winner shortly before his demise, his Deputy, James Abiodun Faleke, might have succeeded him according to law, and it would have been left for Wada and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to take up the matter of highest cancelled votes at the tribunal if they so discovered and desired, and the court would have entertained the matter and set records straight. According to results declared by the Returning Officer, Emmanuel Kucha (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi), late Audu of the APC scored 240,867 while Wada of the PDP garnered 199,514 votes. According to him, the figure of areas where votes did not take place or were cancelled was higher than the 41,353 votes with which Audu was ahead of Wada. The returning officer said by INEC guideline, no return could be made for the election until supplementary election is held in areas where election was cancelled. As it is, the APC candidate had prevailed over his PDP counterpart in 21 local government areas in the state.

Supplementary election and substitution directives Following the death of Audu, the electoral body asked the APC to fill the vacuum in order to continue with supplementary election and conclude the process. INEC in a statement signed by its secretary, Augusta Ogakwu said it would allow the conclusion of the election process by conducting supplementary election in the remaining 91 polling units where election was cancelled. However, there are no provisions in the laws guiding INECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision asking the APC to substitute its late candidate for the supplementary elections, but INEC has gone ahead to do so. Though it is believed that INEC wanted to do the right thing by declaring the election inconclusive to set records straight and avoid unnecessary litigations, it has CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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Intrigues in Kogi election impasse CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 ended up throwing up many issued issues that have not been resolved. Its decision asking the APC to substitute is seen to be highly influenced by the federal government based on the directives of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. The main opposition, the PDP has said that it does not have confidence in the INEC anymore having deemed the INEC and AGF to be erring in law and taking the laws into their hands. To the PDP, INEC’s explanations do not hold water, because it has not rested on any known law, so the only appropriate thing was for the INEC to seek legal interpretation in court and get an order of court to work with.

How Yahaya Bello emerged as Audu’s replacement Immediately after the demise of Audu, the first thing that came to the minds of all party faithful was his replacement. The APC had contemplated holding fresh primary to get a replacement following INEC’s directive asking it for a substitute. Perhaps after extensive consultations, the party rather than hold fresh primary went ahead and submitted the name of Yahaya Bello as its new candidate for Kogi governorship supplementary poll. Bello was the runner up in the governorship primary election conducted by APC which produced Audu as the candidate of the party in the inconclusive election. However, the APC retained Faleke as its deputy governorship candidate. The decision is viewed by many people to have been taken with the backing of some forces in the Presidency.

Position of PDP on the election The PDP is asking the electoral umpire to declare its candidate, Wada, the winner of the inconclusive election having scored the next highest number of votes garnered by Audu who was on the verge of victory before his death. But the decision by INEC directing APC to substitute Audu with another candidate for the supplementary election did not go down well with the PDP leadership. The party said the law made it clear that a candidate can only be substituted in cases of withdrawal or death. The PDP was of the opinion that somebody cannot in the existing circumstance obtain some votes and call on another person to come and obtain the votes or inherit it. While relying on the provisions of the constitution, the PDP argued that except a candidate participates in every process of the election including nomination to take part in primary election and secured some votes, another candidate who never participated in the process of the election cannot take over the votes The party was of the opinion that APC was able to secure votes in the election because Audu was its candidate and that such votes could not be transferred to another fresh candidate Besides, PDP is even accusing APC of brazen electoral irregularities in some areas of the state during the inconclusive poll. National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh also called for the resignation of the Attorney General of the Federation as well as the INEC Chairman accusing them of bias and conspiracy in support of the ruling APC. The opposition party expressed concern that INEC, a supposedly independent electoral umpire could work for the interest of the APC by following the position of the Attorney General that Audu be substituted by another candidate in the middle of the electoral process that has not been completed. The PDP rejected in its entirety the decision of INEC allowing APC to replace Audu in the supplementary election and PDP is accusing the APC of fielding two different governorship candidates while the electoral body would also be transferring votes cast for Audu to another

Faleke

Bello

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh also called for the resignation of

Attorney General of the Federation as well as the INEC Chairman

the

accusing them of bias and conspiracy in support of the ruling

APC

candidate, The party further argued that such decision by INEC has the no place in the constitution of the land.

Position of the law on the Kogi election The relevant constitutional principle on the emergence of a governor following the death of a candidate that had already been declared winner in an election is contained in Section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). According to the section, “If a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy-Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the State.” A legal practitioner, Akinwumi Abiola while commenting on the development in Kogi State said, the problem in this case however, is that Audu wasn’t “duly elected” before his death as the poll was declared inconclusive despite his lead. According to him, “the words of Section 181 are quite clear. What INEC is to do is what is not so clear. I doubt that Section 181 covers situations like this. While we wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter, I think INEC might start all over. Another relevant provision of the law on the situation in Kogi can be found in Section 33 of the Electoral Act

2010 where the law provides that if a person has been duly nominated as a candidate of his party and he dies before the election then the political party has the right to replace him with another candidate and not necessarily the Deputy Governorship candidate. While speaking on the provisions of the law, Constitutional lawyer, Festus Keyamo said, “My simple position is that the Kogi situation fits more into section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and as such James Abiodun Faleke automatically becomes the governorship candidate of the APC.” However, with the situation on ground, it appears that the final decision rests with the courts and INEC on the next step to be taken in choosing a new governor for Kogi State.

Position of Attorney General of the Federation Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami cleared the air on the stalemate created in the Kogi State governorship election at a seminar organised by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission on the reform of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act Malami who said the election has to be concluded maintained that with the death of the Audu, APC would have to substitute him for another candidate for the purpose of the supplementary elections. He, however, did not say that James Faleke, the running mate of Audu in the inconclusive election would automatically step in as the party’s candidate. Malami said, “the issue is very straightforward. Fundamentally, section 33 of the Electoral Act is very clear that in case of death, the right for substitution by a political party is sustained by the provisions of section 33 of the Electoral Act. “And if you have a community reading of that section with section 221 of the constitution which clearly indicates that the right to vote is the right of a political party and the party in this case, the APC has participated in the conduct of the election. It is therefore apparent that the combination community reading of the two provisions does not leave any room for conjecture. “APC as a party is entitled to substitution by the clear provisions of section 33 of the Electoral Act. Also section 221 of the Constitution is clear that the votes that were cast were cast in favour of the APC. “Arising from that deductions, it does not require any legal interpretation. The interpretation is clear, APC will substitute, which right has been sustained by section 33 CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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Politics

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Bayelsa poll: IPAC urges parties, supporters to shun violence Osahon Julius YENAGOA

head Saturday’s guber natorial election in Bayelsa state, the national leadership of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, yesterday urged all political parties in the race for the election to eschew violence and acts capable of breaching the peace of the state. Briefing newsmen in

Yenagoa, the body noted that democracy still remain the best form of government and therefore said all stakeholders, major players and indeed Bayelsans must shun acts capable of derailing the process through electoral fraud and violence. Secretary General of the body, Chief Sam Eke, who led other national officers to monitor the Saturday’s poll, said they are in the state to educate members of the public, political par-

ties and stakeholders in the Saturday’s poll on the need to avoid any act inimical to democracy. He said, “IPAC message for this election as we have always disseminated is that all political parties and their candidates should eschew violence and any act capable of breaching the peace of the state. “It is very important to note that democracy is the best form of government, therefore, we the stakehold-

ers, major players and the electorate should shun the following acts such as selling of voters card, violence, election fraud and all that are inimical to democracy”, he said. The national leadership of the advisory body also directs the state chapter of the council to abide by the tenets, ethics and ethos of democracy, just as reaffirms its strict adherence to the rule of law and due process in the election.

L-R: Senators Solomon Adeola; Ajayi Boroffice; Ms. Lan Brookfield; Senator Marafa Buhari; Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who received the award on behalf of her husband, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton, Prof. Geoff Layer and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, at the award ceremony for APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Wolverhampton University campus.

Buhari is cleansing 16-year of PDP’s mess –Arewa-APC Robert Awokuse

hairman, ArewaAPC Lagos State, Alh Mohammadu Dandama-Yabo, has defended President Muhammadu Buhari over recent criticisms credited to Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose. Fayose had published in some national newspapers that Buhari administration in six months is clueless and has only recorded tremendous achievements in areas of political persecution, disobedience of court order and desperate bid to turn the country to a one-party state. Following these allegations, the Lagos ArewaAPC chairman however refuted the claims, stressing that Fayose has always been opposing the president in every move as he is best good at propaganda. Dandama-Yabo maintained that the Buhari-led APC government is cleaning up the 16 years mess of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which has left the country in its present condition of quagmire. He said for meaningful change to be made in any country six months is too small to assess and hastily passed judgment of failure on any government,

especially one confronted with myriad of challenges as Nigeria. “Six months is not enough for any individual with sincerity of heart to assess and accuse any government of failure, especially when such administration is faced with numerous problems. “The past administration and the PDP left the country in the mess we find ourselves today and that is what the president is trying to clean up.” Defending the recent overseas travel of President Buhari in recent times, the chairman said the moves are imperative as the rationale behind them is to facilitate support of international community in order to rake in the looted funds that are stuck in foreign banks by corrupt public officers in the past administrations. He however expressed optimism that Buhari and the APC government would deliver their electoral promises in due course.

Buhari

Intrigues in Kogi election impasse CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 of the Electoral Act. So be it. “The supplementary election has to be conducted along the line.” Speaking on whether the substitution should automatically benefit the deputy governorship candidate, Malami said, “It all depends on the appreciation of issues arising from the primaries conducted before now. There was a first and a second candidate. That primaries that had taken place over time had not by anyway been nullified. And it is recognized by law. “But then a further consideration would be the idea of conducting another primary but that is not envisaged in view of the sustainability of the first primaries.”

Wada’s legal action against INEC, APC Incumbent Kogi State Governor and candidate of the PDP in the election, Capt. Wada approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja asking it to declare him winner of the November 21 election which was declared inconclusive by INEC In a suit filed on his behalf by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Wada said in view of the death of Audu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he should be declared the winner of the election being the only surviving candidate with the majority of lawful votes cast in the election. Wada also asked the court to compel INEC to issue him with Certificate of Return. Joined as co-defendants in the case are

INEC, Attorney General of the Federation and the APC. He also filed another application praying the court to restrain INEC from conducting the supplementary election scheduled for December 5. Wada also asked the court to issue an order of injunction restraining APC from organising or holding fresh primary election for the purpose of any supplementary or other election for the Kogi State governorship election. The governor further asked the court to declare that APC cannot organise and hold fresh primary election for the purpose of the supplementary election, having regard to the immutable statutory timeliness provided by enabling sections of the Electoral Act 2010 and the INEC timetable for Kogi governorship election. He also asked the court to declare that the Attorney General was not competent to issue directives to INEC to allow APC to substitute its candidate for the Kogi governorship election after the commencement of the election, and that such directives were null and void for inconsistency with the provisions of the constitution. He in addition asked the court to hold that APC could not lawfully nominate a candidate for the supplementary governorship election without a valid and legally cognizable primary election of the party conducted within the mandatory timeliness specified by the Electoral Act. Wada and PDP further asked the court to declare that: “having regards to the provisions of Section 141 of the Electoral Act, 2010, votes scored by a candidate who died during an election cannot be inherited by or transferred

to a person who was not a candidate at the said election and who did not participate in all stages of such election, for the purpose of concluding such election.” The suit was accompanied by a 36-paragraph affidavit deposed to by the PDP state collation agent for the election, Mr. Joe Agada.

Position of Faleke on the election With the decision of APC to substitute late Audu with Bello who was runner up in the primary of the party, Faleke is spoiling for a showdown, saying that he is the governor-elect of the state having shared in the votes secured by Audu in the inconclusive election. While Faleke has declared that he has chosen Audu’s son, Mohammed as his deputy, he has also vowed to employ every means including legal action to secure his mandate. Even before the choice of Bello by APC as its candidate in the supplementary election, Faleke had earlier written to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu asking that he should be declared winner of the inconclusive election. In a letter by his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Faleke said that the only option opened to INEC was to declare him the governor-elect. He said that INEC’s directive to APC to conduct a new primary to select a candidate to replace Audu was “unfounded, both legally and constitutionally. It can also not be reasonably or rationally defended.”

Politics

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Group urges assembly to investigate, impeach Abubakar over financial crime Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

group known as Bauchi Coalition Against Financial Crime And Injustice, BACAFCI has urged the state house of assembly to toe the path of honour and investigate the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar over an alleged financial crime This was just as it has also charged the lawmakers not to hesitate in impeaching the governor, saying Abubakar’s excesses are impeachable offences The demand of the group was contained in an open letter addressed to the. State house of assembly, titled: “Why Governor Mohammed Abubakar should be investigated” , a copy of which was made available to National Mirror in Bauchi The group in a petition which was signed by its President of the Group , Abubakar Dogon Yaro Bibi and the General Secretary, Yakubu Alhaji Jibrin said the document should serve as a petition to the EFCC and ICPC “If the assembly members are not aware of the governor’s financial crime, it is high time for them to start action for proper investigation to unravel the current debacle and days of doom awaiting the state in near future,” said the coalition The coalition had urged the governor to make the record straight as to how the administration utilizes president Buhari’s bailout fund which he initially described as a mirage in an interview with a national daily (not National Mirror) Similarly, the governor was urged to provide related evidence of approval by the executive council via the state assembly of loan facility of N4 billion he received saying the loan was taken without approval from executive council and the state assembly . The group also want the governor to explain an allege depletion of the 20 LGA’s to the tune of N17,570,203,162.42 since he assumed office as it said only staff salaries are being paid and no development have taken place in the local government areas. The coalition further cautioned the governor over his approval of N3

million to the office of the first lady saying that does not exist under APC administration while charging EFCC to hurriedly investigate the governor for awarding 4km, (N6 bn) and 20km( N4bn) roads saying the roads are awarded without the executive council in place saying this contravened the constitution. It maintained that as concerned citizens determined to protect people’s interest, it will not fold its arms watching how colossal amount are squandered even when the masses are subjected to poverty with the present economic doldrum It therefore urged the anti-graft agencies to wake- up in support of the president’s renewed commitment to fight the scourges of corruption by bringing to book Governor Abubakar. In his reaction , Abubakar’ Special Adviser on Media, Yukubu Ibn Mohammed said , the N4 billion loan facility obtained by the new administration of APC was approved by the Bauchi state 7th assembly even before the inauguration of the administration He added that the issue of the loan was done in good fate to meet certain pertinent needs of the people worried by the deplorable decay in most of the sectors of the economy marred by the PDP He stand the ground that government would judiciously utilizes the loan in accordance with the ambit of financial regulations to ensure accountability and prudence

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KOGI: Declare Wada winner, group tells INEC Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

political group, the Nigerian Restoration Group, NRG yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to declare the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Idris Wada as the winner of the penultimate Saturday’s governorship election in the state. The group in a statement signed by Alhaji Ibrahim Kazaure (National President) and Senas Ukaiwe (National Secretary), also condemned the position of INEC in asking the All Progressives Congress, APC to substitute the late Alhaji Abubakar Audu, as the party’s flagbearer in the race for Lugard House. According to the body: “We wish to state that the

statements purportedly credited to Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, Secretary of the commission, wherein she was said to have asked the APC to substitute Alhaji Audu, is to say the least, preposterous, unconstitutional and therefore, abinitio void. “It should be noted that after over 16 years of democratic governance, INEC should have grown beyond a baby-duck agency that could be pushed around by politicians with inordinate ambition. The commission’s actions, given the number of times it has conducted elections and the series of experiences garnered in elections management, should have made it grow in stature and pedigree to be able to always take decisions that would be obviously unbiased and survive the test of time.

“However, by pandering to the sentiments of the All Progressives Congress, APC, it is obvious that Nigeria is far from reaching the democratic destination which is what every Nigerian and indeed the international community, are clamouring for. “One would have expected the electoral umpire to follow due logical process in the absence of a legal procedure for resolving the legal logjam created by Audu’s sudden death, and that is by declaring the candidate with second highest votes in the election, Governor Idris Wada, the winner of the election. “Moreover, the provisions of Section 141 of the Electoral Act, 2010, explicitly states that votes scored by a candidate who died during an election cannot be inher-

ited by or transferred to a person who was not a candidate at the said election and who did not participate in all stages of such election, for the purpose of concluding such election. “Therefore, rather than import a novel non-constitutional process that could lead to intractable legal logjam, INEC could have easily followed the letters of the Electoral Act, which remains the only logical approach and spared the polity of this needless waste of resources and envisaged consequential legal tussle. “What was ordinarily expected of the commission is to have approached the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the relevant sections of the constitution so that its actions would receive judicial imprimatur”, the group said.

L-R: Member, Committee on Climate Change, Hon. Nwocha Darlington; deputy chairman of the committee, Hon. Adekule Akinlade and chairman of the committee, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, during the inaugural meeting of Committee on Climate Change at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.

Kogi: DPC governorship candidate suspended

signed by its National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters, the party said in view of the allegation of gross anti-party activities leveled against Hon. Koleola, the National Working Committee has suspended him indefinitely

he National Working Committee of Democratic People’s Congress, DPC has suspended its gubernatorial candidate in the November 21 Kogi State gubernatorial election, Hon. Philip Eze-

kiel Koleola for anti –party activities The party said it arrived at the decision after it met and deliberate on a petition from its Kogi state chapter against Koleola. In a press statement

W ole Adedeji ILORIN

Kwara suspends 8 council chairmen

he Kwara State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved the suspension of eight Local Government Chairmen as requested by the governor, Alhaji Badulfatah Ahmed. The council bosses were axed because they allegedly carried out recruitment ex-

ercise in their respective areas “without due process”. The governor was said to have come up with a letter seeking the approval of the House of Assembly to suspend the affected Chairmen. The letter was read by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ali Ahmad on the floor of the House.

The affected Council Chairmen were; Moro, Irepodun, Asa, Oke-Ero, Patigi, Ilorin South, Ekiti and Baruteen Local Government Councils. Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker said the House equally mandated its Committee on Local Government and

and ratified his suspension by the Kogi State chapter of the party. It said a disciplinary committee will be set up to look into his anti-party activities during the governorship election in the

Chieftaincy Affairs to investigate the allegation and report to the House within seven days The Speaker explained that it was unlawful for the council chairmen to carry out recruitment exercise without the approval of the State Local Government Service Commission.

state, and his decision to go to court in collaboration with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Idris Wada to challenge INEC directive to All Progressives Congress, APC to substitute the late Abubakar Audu, its candidate in the inconclusive election. “Having reviewed the political quagmire in Kogi State, DPC has resolved not to challenge INEC’s decision in court in the interest of the nation”, the party said. The party disowns any legal action taken by its suspended governorship candidate, Hon. Philips Ezekiel Koleola.

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

As we celebrate our challenged compatriots CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

oday is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It is a date set apart annually by the United Nations since 1992 to promote an understanding of disability issues and generate support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The aims of celebrating the day also includes advocacy of mainstreaming of policies to integrate persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life. In Nigeria today, people with disabilities are normally regarded as second class citizens. Our governments don’t have policies on people living with disabilities, and no plan to harness their skills into the national productivity pool. They are left on their own. No wonder scores of thousands of them are to be seen all over the roads trying to eke out existence through arms beggary. Madmen are left unattended to be roaming the street half-naked. Nobody seems to be interested in them, perhaps, beyond handing out miserable tokens. These are human beings like us suffer-

ing from vicissitudes that no one is really immune to, but to the majority of people, they are just objects of laughter, taunts and amusement. Well, it diminishes our common humanity to have people with physical disabilities abandoned; It should be a collective shame to us that mentally-challenged men and women still roam our streets naked or in subhuman conditions in the 21st century. It speaks of the kind of leaders we have in Nigeria. Most of them see these people and shrug with callous indifference. It has been rightly said that the best way to determine the level of civilisation of any group is to look at the conditions of their under-privileged class. Sadistic callousness aside, we need to combat a lot of ignorance on this subject too. Many people still believe that physical defects or mental diseases are afflictions from the gods through demons possessions rather than a mere physiological or neurological disorder. Thus, some think helping them will constitute an affront to the incensed deity, who is meting out just punishment to erring mortals. Many of the beggars on our still are people with enormous talents, who could contribute their own quota to national development. But does our system not subjugate them? Do our planners and policy makers ever put them into considerations in their policy conception and implementations? These are some of the pertinent questions in assessing the level of civilisation of a nation. A physically or mentally-challenged person is a human being like us and there is no reason why their conditions should be tragic. Even if they cannot be treated,

IN NIGERIA TODAY, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE NORMALLY REGARDED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS they may be given amenities that make them better adapted to their environment and enable them to work and lead a happy life. As for the mentally-challenged, even if they cannot be cured, can’t they be taken into asylums to be looked after like human beings? An infinitesimal fraction of public money stolen by our politicians can build hundreds of modern asylums. Any nation that allows fellow compatriots to be living a subhuman life on account of physical or mental affliction is not civilised. There are some parts of the world where those without hands or legs, paraplegic, the dwarfs, the visually impaired, etc still live life to maximum, almost to the same degree with their more fortunate counterparts. But in Nigeria, if you are unfortunate to be afflicted with any such handicap, your entire life will be that of miseries. In this part of the world, the moment a person becomes physically challenged in whatever form, he/she is assumed to have landed another profession, for the next expectation from the society is for the person to become a beggar!

Thus all our major cities boast of thousand of beggars roaming the streets like confused army of ants. Many of these so-called beggars are mentally-sound and intelligent people, who need only minimum intervention and empowerment to become productive members of the society. But in a country where even non-challenged educated young people are seen as a burden and neglected by the government, what do you expect the plight of the challenged person to be? On the institutional level, how many companies and establishments have facilities that are conducive and adapted for physically-challenged persons? In some other countries there are structures in place that recognise the special needs of challenged persons. This has little to do with a country being developed or otherwise, it is a question of recognition of the need to cater for others and concomitant strategic planning and policy mainstreaming. Unfortunately, currently there is no incorporation of programme for persons with disabilities in all the Federal Government’s planning and projections over the years like Transformation Agenda, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) or Vision 20:20:20. As we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, let us spare a thought for our hitherto neglected compatriots. Ketefe may be followed on twitter @ Ketesco

ABUA: Birthing a new phase in engineering education TAJUDEEN KAREEM

triving to square up with other developed nations of the world, Nigeria seems determined to accelerate infrastructural development. And speedily achieve the golden aim within the shortest possible time. This concerted drive among the stakeholders in the engineering world, which is the cradle for all sustainable infrastructures, necessitated the theme of the 2015 National Engineering Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting held in Akure, Ondo State capital between November 16 and 20, 2015, where Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), among other distinguished 56 citizens and four other institutions, bagged the Presidential Award. The event, with the theme: “National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) 2015: Strategies for Implementation”, bears positively on the new drive, said President Muhammadu Buhari, who commended the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) for the choice of the theme. “Engineers all over the world are recognized in their capacity and quest for providing the necessary technical support to the governments in bringing about sustainable infrastructural development,” Buhari said in an address read by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal. During the event, the NSE singled out the engineering programmes offered by Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), one of Nigeria’s towering private universities, worthy as template for engineering education in Nigeria. This is not farfetched; the declaration is predicated upon the quantum of the modern, so-

MANY BELIEVE THE

UNIVERSITY HAS BECOME A REFERENCE POINT FOR PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

EDUCATION IN NIGERIA phisticated and state-of-the-art equipment and teaching facilities sourced from the US, Spain, England and Germany as well as the quality personnel of international repute manning the university’s engineering programme. Aare Babalola (SAN), eminent lawyer, economist and educationist, founder of the highly rated university, together with few notable Nigerians, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal; Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and chairman of Innoson Industries, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, were among those honoured by the NSE. While Babachir bagged the NSE professional fellowship award, Aare Babalola, Dr. Mimiko, and Chief Chukwuma were made honorary fellows. Afe Babalola University did not attain the rating on a platter of gold. Built within eight months on 130 hectares of land in 2009 and taking off in January 010 with 240 pioneer students, the university presently has a student population of over 6, 200 students. In its ICT centre, there are 3,000 desktop computers. The College of Engineering is built on a twoand-half hectare land and offers seven different courses, including mechatronics. Many believe the university has become a reference point for private university education in Nige-

ria. The NSE President, while speaking after a facility tour of the university’s vast College of Engineering commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan on October 19, 2013, confessed that what he met on ground was far more in excess of what was contained in the report submitted by the combined team of the NUC and NSE that came for the accreditation of the university’s engineering programme in January 2015. Which explained why all the university’s seven engineering programmes - Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, as well as Civil Engineering, were accorded full accreditation. The success of that exercise was indeed an impeccable feat for the university, and for Aare Babalola, who has never hidden his passion to return the nation back to the path of infrastructural renewal, using the template of the engineering programmes his university. Just recently, Aare Babalola paid $4,000 to ship in additional engineering equipment worth more than $250,000! At the award conferment ceremony, a jubilant Babalola in his keynote address said the infrastructures on the grounds in ABUAD were evidence of his resolve to commit his hard-earned resources and goodwill to get a first College of Engineering, and indeed, a first class university that would produce first class engineers and other professionals that would be relevant in the contemporary competitive job market. He noted the weakening of local infra-

structural development and maintenance capabilities; erosion of a culture of technological innovation and research in our universities; and lopsided manpower deployment in engineering and technology institutions and ministries as the hindrances to national infrastructural development. “Infrastructural development is economically sustainable if it results in the growth of the economy, job creation and eradication of poverty. Weak infrastructure affects economic growth. Difficulties in accessing markets via crumbling roads or clogged up ports and vast expenditure on generators required to avoid blackouts, are regularly cited as the biggest challenges to investors in this country. “The focus of the governments must be to fund and support projects that could stimulate economic growth. Any so called infrastructure project that does not contribute to the goals of removing barriers to economic growth or support economic productivity is, in my opinion, a white elephant project and an unsustainable one,” he said. However, one of the nation’s preeminent lawyers picked holes in government’s commitment to the Public-Private-Partnership, noting that “very little is shown in terms of commitment to support and partner with the private sector”. Kareem wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State. 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 3, 2015

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

Demystification of rot in judiciary

mid grouchy public criticisms of the Nigerian judiciary for perceivable corrupt indulgences, delays in the administration of justice and collusion with corrupt lawyers to frustrate, scuttle or pervert the course of justice – all of which contribute to the erosion of public confidence in the country’s judicial system; the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has blamed the perceivable poor performance of the Nigerian Bench on underfunding and the lack of judicial independence. He spoke up late November (last month) at the flagging off of the 2015 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital. President Muhammadu Buhari had on that occasion tongue-lashed the judiciary on ceaseless allegations of corruption and delays in justice delivery, which he linked to “… a combination of endless adjournments, incessant interlocutory applications and overwhelming caseloads… ”. The President’s grotesque painting of the judiciary, however, met with what rightly passed for a demystification of the root of the judicial stench by the CJN. Justice Mohammed stated, for instance, that despite express constitutional provisions for the institutional and fiscal autonomy of the judiciary, it still labours with difficulties to accessing funds allocated to it from the executive arm of government.

“It is this independence that gives credibility to the scales of justice and allows our citizens to (be) rest assured that justice is, indeed, not for sale”, the CJN cried. Quite recently, Gombe State Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Haruna Saleh, also took the state’s judiciary to the cleaners at an event marking the 2015/2016 legal year of the Gombe State judiciary. Said Saleh: “… the NBA observed that the judiciary has been neglected in terms of structures and facilities; when we critically look at the dilapidated court rooms - some courts are rented houses and shops - the limited existing structures that are made to be court rooms are now something else that calls for a reasonable and immediate attention. This clearly reveals how judiciary is ranked in the state…no enough infrastructure and facilities in managing some of the court rooms; books and stationeries, working materials are not adequately provided, this area is only left for the court’s staff in the registry to find their way out by all means. This undoubtedly encourages corruption as they may end up using either their personal money or that of litigants or that of their counsel”. He said “as (the nation’s) population is increasing, litigations are multiplying dayby-day, while funds and facilities, staff welfare are dwindling. This

December 3, 1997 In Ottawa, Canada, representatives from 121 countries signed ‘The Ottawa Treaty’ prohibiting the manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People’s Republic of China and Russia did not sign the treaty, however. The Ottawa Treaty aims at eliminating anti-personnel landmines (AP-mines) around the world.

IT APPEARS GLARING, THE FACT THAT OTHER ARMS OF GOVERNMENT

– THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE – HAVE

NOT BEEN FAIR ENOUGH TO OR HONEST WITH THE JUDICIARY has created an avenue where seeds of fraud and corruption may be sown… if solution is not timely provided by the government”. We think these depositions by two eminent persons representing the Bench and the Bar, respectively, are deserving of special attention of the executive arm of government especially, the same way President Buhari lamented the menace of persisting corruption in the judiciary. Indeed, it is quite strange that whereas the country’s Constitution (as altered) copiously made provisions for the institutional and fiscal independence of the judiciary, the politics and intrigues of particularly the executive arm of government, which seeks to hold down and fiscally arm-twist the judiciary at the slightest opportunity; and force it to pander to its (executive’s) whims and caprices, have, perhaps more than any other stumbling block, denied the judiciary its constitutional freedom. The execu-

tive arm of government may well be accused of shedding crocodile tears in respect of the general rot in the nation’s judiciary, having sown a significant portion of the judicial wind that has now yielded whirlwind. The frustrating situation had led to the January 2014 judgement of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in which the judge affirmed the financial autonomy of the judiciary as stipulated by the Constitution; and the abolition of piecemeal funding of states’ judiciary by state governments, following litigations initiated by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). While not holding brief for the judiciary for allowing itself to be the scorn of other arms of government, despite its awesome powers, we loathe the executive’s penchant for clubbing the judiciary into submission through fund starvation. Those who seek equity should approach it with clean hands. In truth, it appears glaring, the fact that other arms of government – the executive and legislature – have not been fair enough to or honest with the judiciary. The contrary should be the case if they are truly desirous of having a judicial arm of government that is corruption-free and commands public confidence to flourish and grow.

ON THIS DAY

December 3, 2009 A suicide bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, claimed the lives of 25 people, including three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government; and injured about 60 others. The attack took place inside the meeting hall of the Hotel Shamo in Mogadishu during a ceremony involving medical students of the Benadir University. The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber dressed as a woman.

December 3, 2012 At least 475 people were killed after ‘Typhoon Bopha’ made landfall in the Philippines. Typhoon Bopha (international designation: 1224, JTWC designation: 26W, PAGASA designation: Pablo) was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, making landfall as a Category 5 super typhoon with winds of 175 mph (280 km/h).

Thursday, December 3, 2015

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

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Education Today

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI (ABUAD) In ABUAD, You Get It All —Dr Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti State Governor.

How to tackle mass failure —WAEC

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

ecently in Lagos, the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which is the highest policy making organ of the examination body, met for the second time this year. At the meeting, the 60th edition in the series, the committee, comprising representatives of the state ministries of education and Department of Education of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the All Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), the universities, the registrar to the council, the Head of the Nigeria Office and the Head of the Test Development of the council, considered irregularity and clemency cases on the November/December 2014 WASSCE as well as irregularity cases arising from the conduct of this year’s May/June edition of its exam. Top on the agenda was the recurrence mass failure of candidates in the exams, which they condemned in its totality while identifying possible causes and proffering a way out. Another issue of interest to them was the malpractice which they observed to be very rampart during every exam of the council. The committee, after scrutinising the reports of the Chief Examiners, Aptitude Tests and the research division of WAEC was able to identify some factors believed to be responsible for the mass failure of Nigerian candidates in the exams. For instance, statistics from the last three years showed that only 38.68 per cent of the candidates, who sat for this year May\June exam obtained credit and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, which is the minimum academic qualification for admission into tertiary academic institutions in the country. It was only 31.28 per cent of candidates who sat for the same exam that obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics last year while the figure was 36.57 per cent the year before. Also for the November\December edition, the story was similar. It was always less than 40 per cent of the total candidates that passed at credit level and above in five subjects including English language and Maths. Although the statistics always show a slight improvement from one year to the other, the situation is far from desirable.

Students in exam hall. However, at the end of the meeting, the committee came up with a communiqué, a copy of which is in National Mirror’s possession revealing the repeated flaws made by candidates. According to the communiqué signed by Public Affairs Officer of WAEC, Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu, the committee had observed that, “the council’s question papers, every year, not only met the required standards, but also enable the council’s certificates to be worthy of international recognition.” It was also observed that the questions were not only unambiguous and within the scope of the syllabuses, the marking schemes were exhaustible and comprehensive enough to accommodate all possible answers, hence there shouldn’t be reason for mass failure. Another observation by the committee was that many candidates lack requisite mathematical and manipulative skills for subjects involving calculations, while handwritings of some are illegible and their answers scripts are full of spelling errors. Similarly, apart from the dearth of basic instructional materials and infrastructure, poor remuneration of teachers, among other social factors that are facing public schools

Petitions against my emergence, mere distraction —UI VC 26

in particular, the committee revealed candidates’ weaknesses to include the shallow knowledge of the subject matter, poor command of the use of English language, poor knowledge of the examination techniques, as well as disregard for correct interpretation of questions before attempting them. Describing the condition as unbecoming, the committee noted that many candidates try to cut corners too by engaging in various forms of examination malpractice in order to obtain undue marks and its consequently recommended stiff penalty for culprits to deter recurrence. The sanctions include the cancellation of entire results of candidates caught in more than one subject or their ban in sitting for future exams for certain numbers of years. The committee, which equally condemned the usage of unsolicited websites in the name of WAEC by some unscrupulous individuals to confuse unsuspecting candidates, said such practices would have to stop while the council would continue to improve the standard of its exams. However, the committee used the medium to come up with some measures that could help both the students and schools to im-

prove on their performance in future exams. These include having a good understanding of each question, learning the basic rudiments of English language for better and clearer presentation of their answers, getting the appropriate textbooks in all subjects and study them side by side with the examination syllabus and Chief Examiners reports, and also endeavour to cover the syllabus before the commencement of examination. For governments and private schools owners, the committee tasked them to provide basic infrastructure and conducive atmosphere in their schools, as well as, employ only qualified and committed teachers, who will teach their subjects effectively and guide students to become exemplary in their studies. While cautioning the various state ministries of education and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to exercise restraint in recommending schools to the council for recognition and schools to desist from presenting candidates they cannot cope with for exam, the committee noted that WAEC too should contribute its own quota by organising free workshops and seminars for secondary school teachers to enlighten them on syllabus and exams rudiments.

‘‘

NOUN warns study centres against illegal fees’ collection 21

Gombe University lecturers accuse govt of diversion of bailout funds 23

Education Today

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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NUC to boost skills acquisition in varsities

L-R: Immediate Past President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Chief Yomi Otubela, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Uzamat AkinbileYussuf, Patron Science Ambassador Foundation, Prof. Oluwole Familoni and the Country Director, Mrs. Nnabugwu Peace at the sensitisation seminar for the forth coming Science Expo Africa in Lagos, recently.

Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO.

s the nation continues to battle youth unemployment, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, has disclosed some policies the commission intends to introduce to ensure university students graduate with various business skills that would make them self-independent and employers of labour. He gave the hint during one of the activities marking the 3rd convocation ceremony of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State last week. A total of 263 from the two collegesNatural and Applied Science and Management and Social Science of the university graduated in different programmes at the ceremony with 17 of them came out in First Class honours. While commending the six-year old university for its positive projections and dedication to producing quality graduates, Okojie harped on the need to break away from the old methods of teaching and learning in universities, saying elearning and sharing of education materials through electronic means is becoming necessary, if universities are to be at par with others in advanced countries of the world. He explained that while conscious attentions are being paid to build graduates that will be good at their chosen fields of study by repackaging syllabuses to reflect today’s realities, it has also become necessary to stimulate natural abilities of students in vocations to make them alternative to their courses of study after leaving school. After this has been successfully achieved, the NUC boss said making funds available for graduates to set up businesses is also being looked at, expressing “hope that universities will be able to use computers to teach students (larger classes) with stimulations, teleconferencing, video conferencing, with cheaper band weight. “We must provide enabling environment for institutions for industrial training; we can’t blame universities for not providing the conducive environment for students to acquire skills, but we are going beyond that to ensure students are taught how to access funds, how to set up an office, and be a good employer of labour. “Lawyers, doctors, engineers and so on must be able to have their own farms, boutiques and so on and employ people in addition to what they are doing,” Okojie said. Speaking earlier, the President of Oduduwa University, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, faulted the Federal Government for not included private institutions in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, mandate, saying this has resulted to poor ranking of Nigerian universities in the world. TETFUND money according to him belongs to all of us and therefore private sector deserves a fair share of it. He however assured Nigerians that Oduduwa University would continue to strive for excellence that would make it globally competitive.

FG engages UNIDO, NUC to gather data on unemployed Nigerians Regina Otokpa ABUJA

he Federal Government has engaged the services of technocrats drawn from the National Universities Commission (NUC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to gather accurate data of Nigerian graduates currently unemployed. A recent unemployment statistics in Nigeria had revealed an unprecedented growth rate of 50 per cent, with a large number of university graduates deficient in appropriate skills to fit into industrial needs. Embarking on a ‘Pilot Graduate Tracer Study’, the technocrats stressed that this would enhance a qualitative evaluation of the employability status of Nigerian

graduates, with particular interest on disciplines relating to science and engineering. Also, the study scheduled to commence with about 36 universities selected within the country, seeks to resolve skills gaps, believed to be prevalent among undergraduates and graduates. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, declaring a one-day workshop open to brainstorm on how to go about the project in Abuja, said beyond providing useful data, it would fashion parents, career guidance professionals and policy makers tips on employment generation and help university administrators improving on curriculum and programmes. In his address, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Julius Okojie also explained that the study would focus on gathering

necessary information required to improve the curriculum, teaching and research in the Nigerian university system. “There is no doubt that tracing our graduates will assist the Nigerian university system in measuring the extent of professional and academic careers pursued by our graduates after gaining the necessary skills and knowledge. “We should know the whereabouts of our graduates, whom they work for and what the employers’ think of them, that’s employer feedback,” he said Professor Okojie represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Chiedu Mariana, stressed that the tracer studies would assist in ascertaining the effectiveness and relevance of the degrees obtained from the universities to

the labour market. He maintained that the study would help to ascertain the relevance of the Nigerian university system curricula to the job functions of the graduates in their various places of work, as well as their professional development in the various fields. “The contributions of the Nigerian university system graduates in public and private sectors to the development of the Nigerian economy would also be ascertained,” Professor Okojie said The study, according to him, was focused on important subsectors which are the petrochemical and steel industries stressing that the choice of the areas was in line with the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) of the federal government.

Senator to give university scholarship to 297 indigents Priscilla Dennis

MINNA

total of 297 indigent students from villages in the Niger East Senatorial District have been selected for university scholarship organised and to be sponsored by Senator David Umaru Centre for Development Initiative. Umaru is a serving senator representing the Niger East Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The students who are all brilliant but indigents were from 1,070 applicants who sat for a selection examination and screened by the centre for the purpose of scholarship. All the lucky beneficiaries would be prepared by the centre for the next Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board to gain admission into various universities in the country to study their choice courses. The Project Manager of the centre and Head of the senator’s constituency office in Minna, Mr. Ahijoh Wallijoh, who disclosed this, said the initiative was designed to address education deficiency in the senatorial

district. He noted that the centre in charge of the project received more than expected applicants. He said the selection was based on performance of applicants in the examination

conducted. Wallijoh further said the need to ensure all wards in the senatorial districts are carried along, informed the decision to give equal opportunity to interested students devoid of political and religious differences

L-R: Associate Partner; Phillips Consulting, Lagos, Mr. Paul Ayim; Senior e-Learning Advisor, Modupe Thomas-Owoseni and Project Manager, Phillips Consulting Bundle, Feranmi Akande during the launch of Phillips Learning Bundle online portal, in Lagos last week.

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Education Today

Thursday, December 3, 2015

YABATECH rector charts way for technical, vocational devt

the Federal Polytechnic, AuSaidat Alausa chi, which was attended by 10 polytechnics from Ghana ector, Yaba College of and selected polytechnics Technology, Lagos, Dr. from the six geopolitical Margaret Ladipo said zones in Nigeria. According to her, the FSD that Flexible Skills Developand FaB were new approachment (FSD) and Flexible and es to learning adapted from Blended Learning (FaB) have the classical open and disbecome mandatory guides tance learning methodology, for lecturers and researchinitiated by COL and Comers in the institution as part monwealth Association of of efforts to produce more Polytechnics (CAPA). entrepreneurs among its stuThe objective of the new dents. methodology , she said, was She disclosed this at the to build capacity in the use of weekend during a workshop educational media and Inforfor principal officers, deans mation and Communication of schools, heads of service units and heads of academic Technologies for effective and flexible delivery of Techunits. The rector also said that nical and Vocational Educaall lecturers and researchers tion teaching and learning in should embrace key tech- CAPA member institutions. Ladipo charged the parnology capable of bringing ticipants to develop sufficient about more flexibility into passion and commitment technical and vocational to innovative approaches, skills development. promising that the manageThe workshop, she said ment will work towards an was a follow-up to an earlier eventual success and ensure one organised by the Commonwealth of Learning FSD and FaB methods are (COL) in conjunction with embraced in the College.

NOUN warns study centres against illegal fees’ collection Tunbosun Ogundare

he Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Vincent Tenebe has warned directors of various study centres of the institution against the collection of illegal fees, saying there are grave consequences for anyone found culpable of the practice. He said charging students the fees that are at variance with the ones stipulated by the university under whatever guise was a punishable offence and therefore not acceptable. He gave the warning following allegations by some students that their study centres are fond of charging them all manner of levies. The vice-chancellor pointed out that no study centre had the right to charge and collect fees on behalf of the university, saying all levies are to be paid

directly into the school account. He however asked the directors to guard against any practice capable of jeopardising the goal of the university. He explained that although the expansion of operational facilities and introduction of more effective modern technological tools like i-learning, ecourseware, e-assessment, e-examination techniques, coupled with the students’ e-portal management learning system, among others had come with increased operational costs for the university, no director has the right to charge any student outside approved levies. He said the fees charged by the university for any course was not only moderate and affordable, but also very small compared to the values students are gotten, saying such was made possible because of the Federal Government that had substantially subsidized the various levies. The vice-chancellor however advised students and prospective students as

well as members of the public to always visit the school’s website for right information on any issues concerning them including fees schedule, saying the information are there to guide them. He explained that the current educational revolution at NOUN was unprecedented in the annals of tertiary education in the country. Prof. Tenebe noted that the goal of NOUN was to radically restructure the contents and methods of the nation’s tertiary educational system in a revolutionary paradigm (Open and Distance Learning) that would systematically equip Nigerian students, theoretically and practically, make them resourceful and entrepreneurially conscious; and enhance their creativity and capacity to develop a firm grasp of the world. He reiterated that NOUN was truly committed to producing requisite labour force and a crop of Nigerians who would serve as active agents of change, imbued with the virtues of integrity,

Landmark University trains secondary school students on entrepreneurial skills Wole Adedeji ILORIN

he Landmark University, Omu Aran in Kwara State has floated a University Community Development Impact Initiative, LMUCDII for entrepreneurship training of its host communities. The initiative, which targets secondary school students, picked 10 schools in the area to pilot the community based career counselling initiative. The schools include Omu-Aran High School, ECWA Girls Secondary School, Government Christian College, Ansarul Islam Secondary School, Government Secondary School, Aperan Comprehensive College, Ofe-Aran Commercial College, Obi International School, Adeoti International College and Victory Model College. The person in charge of the project, Pastor Abiodun Okunola while speaking at inauguration said about 600 SS3 students from both public and private secondary schools were so far attracted to the scheme. He explained that the programme which would be in batches was designed

to accommodate students offering science related subjects in the first batch as well as those in the social science and arts related fields in the second batch. He pointed out the programme was part of the institution’s corporate social responsibilities to the people of its host communities. Okunola said the institution was much concerned about the unimpressive standard of education, especially among public based schools, saying the career initiative was aimed at putting the students on the right academic pedestal. “The need for the students to be well guided in making the right choice of courses that would benefit their future academic career informed the organisation of the programme. “They needed to be wary of the requirements, prospect, challenges and benefit derivable from all the available courses that would suit their future plans,” he said. Okunola said the institution, through the initiative, had also partnered some youths and had visited orphanages in its efforts to impact positively on the less privilege in the society.

L-R: President\Vice-Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof. Ademola Tayo; Immediate past ViceChancellor, Prof. James Kayode-Makinde; Chairman, Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), Mr. Tunbosun Ogundare and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Iheayichukwu Okoro, during the institution’s luncheon with members of EWAN, recently.

ActionAid tasks NUC on sexual harassment policy Regina Otokpa ABUJA

n its quest to put an end to gender based violence in institutions of learning, a Civil Society Organisation, ActionAid, has called on the National University Commission (NUC), to put in place, sexual harassment policy in universities across the country. The Board Chair of the group, Prof. Patricia Donli, speaking at the ‘Safe Cities Campaign for Women’ organised to mark the 16 days of activism to end gender based violence 2015, stressed that the policy be made compulsory for all universities. Although, she disclosed that some universities al-

ready had sexual harassment policies running, the seasoned professor maintained that NUC’s role as a regulatory body, would throw more weight behind the policies to ensure they were implemented in all universities and sanctions meted out to institutions who fail to comply. Donli said: “Presently there are some universities that have got sexual harassment policies but how comprehensive are these sexual harassment policies, how are they being implemented, who monitors their implementation? “NUC as a regulatory body has a role to play in putting in place a sexual harassment policy for Nige-

rian universities. Once they introduce it to them and make it mandatory, they will comply with the implementation of that sexual harassment policy because it is coming from a regulatory body, and they can be sanctioned if they do not implement it,” she added. While calling on NUC to partner with other relevant bodies to enhance speedy development dissemination and monitoring of the policy, she urged universities to orientate new entrants on gender based violence. Also speaking, the Deputy Country Director of ActionAid, Mrs. Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, revealed that lack of basic services such as street lightening,

inadequate social amenities, poor quality of on-campus accommodation, lack of perimeter fencing, weak institutional capacity to address safety concerns co-habiting were some of the factors responsible for gender based violence in tertiary institutions of learning. She however disclosed that the organisation was working closely with the student union governments to ensure the safety of girls within the campus even as she called state governments and school administrators to focus more on addressing the causes of gender based violence and also make available adequate security at all institutions of learning.

Education Today

Thursday, December 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EX-FGC Odogbolu students to launch N500m endowment fund

he Federal Government College Odogbolu Old Students’ Association (FGCOOSA) is set to launch a N500 million Endowment Fund at its 2015 reunion and annual banquet billed for this Saturday at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who is a three-time parent at the college will be the chairman of the event, while a distinguished alumnus of the school. Mr. Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, will deliver the keynote address. The President of the association, Mr. Vincent Abulu who disclosed this in après release said the endowment fund was conceived to enable all old students contribute towards the preservation of the school’s outstanding legacy and rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructure on the permanent site. He said all set are expected to contribute at least N10 million to the fund in the first instance which would be managed in a professional manner to ensure continuous and adequate funding of the projects targeted. According to him, some of the projects being considered include the completion/renovation of the school library and auditorium; renovation of the basketball, volley ball, lawn tennis courts and purchase of sports’ kits and equipment. Abulu added that the fund would also cover scholarships, sponsorship of special research projects, mentorship of students, science exhibitions, art fairs, leadership development lectures, documentaries, research and development, among others. The association also plans to renovate classrooms, hostels and the schools water system, all to complement Federal Government responsibilities to the college and supports received from the Parent- Teacher Association.

Science expo holds in Lagos Saidat Alausa

n its determination to contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria through science appreciation, the Science Ambassadors Foundation (SAF) is set to hold 2015 Science Expo Africa (SEA). The event which is expected to draw world attention to science development in Nigeria is billed to hold at the University of Lagos indoor sports this month. At the sensitisation seminar held in Lagos, it was revealed that over 5,000 students will converge to carry out an experience on the topic: “Light is a metaphor to happiness.” Speaking at the seminar, Lagos State, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, disclosed that science was the bedrock for any meaningful development a nation or any organisation can experience as science education equips students’ at all levels on how to engage the environment and create jobs. Over 2000 students and various stakeholders were present at the event. She added that it was the duty of all stakeholders to pay attention to science and encourage students to take their studies seriously owing to the fact that it expand the brain and help individuals get outside of the norm. The commissioner further disclosed that “Science Ambassadors Foundation has been a leading force in science promotion and advocate in Africa and Nigeria, Science Expo Africa 2015 will not be an exception to many successes they have recorded in the past.” She encouraged government, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support the laudable idea. In his comments, Patron of the foundation, Professor Oluwole Familoni, revealed that, “Science Expo Africa 2015 is all about making statement that will drive desire for more students to study and embrace the numerous benefits science add to life and the socio-economic impact it offers. The Country Director of the foundation, Mrs. Nnabugwu Peace in her part, stated that the expo “is not just for the experience and achieving the Guinness World Record, but a gathering of intellectual exposition, ideas sharing and creative capacity development.

L-R: Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State and Chairman of the day, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde; Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota and Chairman, Board of Governors, Trinity International College, Ofada, Ogun State, Pastor Samuel Olatunji, at the 20th anniversary dinner and alumni/award night of the college held in Lagos, recently.

Govts tasked on rot in education

Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

takeholders in the nation’s educational sector have called on the Federal and states governments to arrest the parlous state of our education in the interest of our youths who are the future leaders otherwise the country would become an object of mockery in the comity of nations. They also accused governments of misplaced priority leading to poor budgetary allocation to the sector both at the state and federal levels. Speakers at a lecture held in Ibadan where the issues were raised and recommendations made include Prof. Oyesoji Aremu of the Department of Counseling and Human Development

Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

ogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba has presented no fewer than 15 programmes for accreditation by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). The accreditation process would be the first one since establishment of the college five years ago.

Studies, University of Ibadan; Mrs. A.O. Makanjuola, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education; Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, Dean, School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Mr. Adediran Ibraheem of National Open University of Nigeria(NOUN), Ibadan Study Centre and Mrs. Grace Abimbola from London, among others. The lecture and prize giving to exemplary students were organised by the Olagoke Education Foundation to mark the birthday anniversary of Prof. Olagoke, who is the Founder of Shafaudeen In Islam Worldwide, Ibadan. Aremu, who was represented by Dr. Kunle Odedokun, observed that the education been acquired by students is not functional to equip them for job. According to him, there are poor fa-

cilities in the nation’s tertiary institutions consequent upon which the environment is not conducive to learning, stating that unqualified graduates are being pushed out from schools. He added that the poor performances and corrupt tendencies of most of the politicians are traceable to the quality of their education. Olagoke in his lecture, while pointing out that under-funding is the bane of the nation’s education system, called on governments to review the budgetary allocation to education. In the lecture entitled, “Students and education: Utilise the opportunity,” he said “any education that does not have proactive impact on the society is a waste. Education must therefore be functional and impactful for it to be meaningful acquisition.”

NCCE accredits Kogi College courses

The Provost of the college, Dr. Olajide Awo Komolafe who disclosed this during the visitation of the accreditation panel to the school said the process would determine the continuity and sustainability of the various programmes. He noted that the panel visitation was a follow up to its earlier visit in April,

2013 when the commission granted the college license to take-off. The programmes for accreditation include Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Integrated science, Mathematics, Physical and Health Education and Physics. Others are Agricultural Science, Fine Arts, Busi-

ness and Home Economics, wood works, Auto, Building, Electrical/Electronics and Metal Works. The provost explained that the college was determined to equip the youths with necessary skills for self- reliance and sufficiency and become employers of labour.

Principal, Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, Rev. Chris Ugorji(left) receiving award of excellence from the Chairman, School ManagementBased Committee, Elder Akintuyosi Akinwole while the Chairperson, Parent-Teacher Association(PTA), Mrs. Oby Igwillo looks on during the World Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the college’s PTA recently.

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Education Today

Thursday, December 3, 2015

JAMB problem is regulatory, not legislative!

will like to commend the Senate for taking interest in some of the problems plaguing the education sector, especially those relating to the process of admission into tertiary institutions. But it should be clear that the problems are more fundamental than duration of validity of the UTME scores. I will also like to assert that the problems plaguing the admission process are partially carried over from a bastardized secondary school system and a poorly regulated admissions process orchestrated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board. The carryover from the secondary school includes unguided and disillusioned students tutored by poorly trained and poorly motivated teachers and ultimately, ignorant secondary school graduates. The result is the entrenchment of examination malpractice as the most effective means of passing examinations. Undeniably, this is the background of most of the candidates involved in the selection process for admission into the nation’s tertiary institutions. By 2005, unprecedented examination malpractice had so eroded the reliability of the UTME that it precipitated the introduction of the Post-UME amid loud protest from JAMB. Presently, a good performance in the UTME alone does not guarantee admission into the tertiary institutions. An acceptable performance in the Post-UTME is required to secure admission into the universities. On the basis of the reality on ground, the Senate proposal for an extension of the validity period of the UTME seems impracticable! An extension of the validity period for the UTME cannot include the PostUTME which is not conducted by JAMB. Assuming that the recommendation to extend the validity period could even be implemented by some ingenious means, it is my humble opinion that it will only perpetuate the candidate in a disadvantaged position as it will remove any further incentive to improve on their performance. Observations in the past have shown that cut-off marks for admission into

hance quality of the examination. Many students who lack the minimum qualification have succumbed to the temptation of procuring fake SSCE results in order to secure admission offered on the basis of their performance in the UTME and Post-UTME. Many such students have been permanently scarred when their crimes were finally uncovered and their careers cut short by their subsequent rustication. Absence of effective academic counselling and inordinate ambitions of parents and guardians have pushed canspecific departments have been increasing gradually over the didates to select courses for which they are not adequately years. The implication is that a performance that is good for prepared. This is an important factor in the inability of admission this year will most likely be inadequate the next many candidates to secure admission into any institution and subsequent years! for many years. The remedy for this widespread problem is Ultimately, I do not believe that extending the period of vato allow candidates to select another (second choice) course lidity of the UTME will improve the chances of admission of in the first choice institution that should enhance the opthe candidate into a university or programme of his choice. portunity for admission. But if the candidate finally secures admission either by hook The right of every candidate to a second choice instituor crook, his or her ability to cope with the rigours of academtion should be diligently guarded. Except for some six or ic work will be questionable after three years of rusting on the so universities including the Universities of Ilorin, Benin shelf. and Lagos, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Obafemi So what are the possible solutions to this yearly “appointAwolowo University , and Nnamdi Azikiwe University ment” with JAMB which some have faithfully kept for up to Awka which are traditionally oversubscribed, any other ten years? How do we reduce the large number of candidates university may be picked as second choice. that patronize the UTME every year? The first is to ensure There is no substitute to hard work and adequate prepathat only those who are qualified for the exercise participate ration as the means of achieving success in any examinain the first place. The nominal qualification for admission tion. Parents and guardians should ensure that their wards to most departments in the Nigerian university system is a are adequately prepared for the selection examination credit pass in five subjects in the Senior School Certificate Exrather than subscribing to examination malpractice. amination, including English and Mathematics. Ultimately, the problems being experienced by Nigerian Unfortunately, JAMB conducts the UTME examination tertiary institutions may boil down to inadequate preparaevery year even before the candidates sit for the SSCE examition and poor regulation of critical aspects of the admisnation. Common sense would demand that the results of the sion process. Strengthening the regulatory mechanisms SSCE should be released before UTME is conducted so as to may be all that is required to take care of the prevailing eliminate those who are not qualified. This would greatly problems. reduce the number of those writing the examination and en-

30 years after, ex-Emotan College students reunite

L-R: New Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka; his wife, Wunmi; daughter, Koyede, and wife of the Minister of Health, Dr. Bukola Adewole, at a service for the inauguration of the new vice chancellor in Ibadan, on Tuesday.

Tunbosun Ogundare

PHOTO: NAN

Williams Attah GOMBE

he Gombe State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the neglect of the Gombe State Government towards the growth of the school even with the bailout funds recently released by the Federal Government. The Chairman of the group, Usman Yarima Abdullahi while addressing a press conference on Tuesday said members of the union had long expected the payment of the over N400 million balance of arrears of the 2009-2013 excess workload, responsibility allowances, study grants termed earned academic allowances (EAA) to deserving members as provided according to him in the 2009 agreement soon after the dispatch of the bailout funds sometimes in the months of August this year. He noted that “It should also be on record that in addition to the non-payment of the above entitlements, the government of Gombe State is yet to show any commitment towards

Gombe University lecturers accuse state govt of diversion of bailout funds

• want N400m allowances paid addressing and settling the claims of EAA for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 sessions that have since ended. “Undoubtedly, the union had demonstrated a great deal of understanding with the government especially as regards the challenges of dwindling revenue in the country since the beginning of the of the year. And this understanding explains the seeming quietness from the union to the non-payment of the arrears of the 2009-2013 earned allowances in the first quarter of the year as promised.” He stated however that “given the intervention of the Federal Government in assisting the state governments to settle arrears of such outstanding entitlements, and the continuous lack of action on the part of Government to reverse the deteriorating condition among

staff, the patience of our members is beyond limit.” He explained that the problem of poor funding of the university had continued to tell on both the overhead costs and capital projects in the university to the extent that facilities for effective job performance are either non-existent or inadequate. In his words, “Capital projects such as construction of lecture halls/office blocks and better hostel accommodation for students are only being provided by Federal Government funded Agencies. This state of affairs is distasteful as it shows that but for the active involvement of the Federal Government in the funding of the State Universities, Gombe State University may not have most of its current facilities in place”.

he former students of the famous Emotan College, Benin City, Edo State, have set to hold their first reunion programme on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 10:00am. The get-together with the theme: “Building sustainability friendship through love” would be held on the platform of Emotan College Old Girls Association at the school premises in Benin City. This will be 30 years after the first set of the college graduated from the school. The interim president of the association, Mrs. Maria Dogwoh and a member, Mrs. Christiana Ojeh-Idugboe, a lawyer, in a joint press release, said the goal of the reunion was for members to come back home and rally round the school towards its further development. They noted that the school had produced many notably individuals across all walks of life who are today contributing meaningfully to the choice professions and the economy at large. “There are also many good things to benefit even as an individual who is an alumnus of our great college,” they added. While urging all the old students of the college at home and in the Diaspora to be part of the get-together, they pointed out that principals of both the senior and junior arms of the college; Dr. Brigitte Osayun Asemota and Mrs. Otabo were waiting to welcome all the alumni back to their alma mater.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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

Unilorin campus journalists enlighten new members Abdul-Ganiy Shehu UNILORIN

he Union of Campus Journalists’ (U.C.J) of the University of Ilorin last Friday inducted 60 new members into its fold. The induction ceremony which is an avenue to enlighten and formally welcome them into campus journalism took place at the Faculty of Law of the institution. The Editor- in-Chief of UNILORIN bulletin, Dr. L.A Azeez who was one of the guests of honour at the ceremony, urged the new intakes to be active participants in the union, and that they should also ensure that they carry out their tasks according to the ethics of journalism. The don, who praised the UCJ for a job well done, as regards journalism on campus, advised its leadership to work more on publicity, enlightenment and training of its members. Earlier in his address of welcome, the President of the union, Olayiwola Olayide Waliyullah assured the new intakes that they won’t regret their decision of joining the union. He also enlightened them on the modus operandi of the campus journalism, saying : “The union is an organisation whose main objective is to sharpen the writing acumen of its members, teach them the art of journalism and help them attain eloquence.” Finally, he urged them to be active members of the union, and to ensure that they contribute their quota to its development. In his lecture, titled: “The importance of extracurricular activities,” the President of the Students’ Union of the institution, M r . Alao Idris Ibrahim thanked the UCJ for creating a platform where students can develop themselves intellectually outside the four walls of classroom. He reiterated the fact that, the importance of participating actively in extracurricular activities cannot be over-emphasised as it helps one to develop skills which are really needed to succeed in the 21st Century. Ibrahim, who is a former president of the campus union also emphasised that, the training he received at UCJ has been instrumental in his day-to-day activities as a leader. One of the newly inducted members, Mr. Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, a 200 level student of the department of Optometric and Visual Science, while speaking with UCJ corre-

Poly students want FG to stop HND/B.Sc dichotomy Matthew Inyanda

HND2, MASS COMM. FEDPOLY, BIDA.

he newly elected president of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Olugbenga Adeyeye has called on the Federal Government to put an end to the discrimination between polytechnic and university students concerning their certificates obtained upon graduation. He made this call on behalf of others during his inaugural ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State recently. Adeyeye disclosed that the fed-

eral and state governments’ attitude to polytechnic graduates is embarrassing, adding that this is borne out of ignorance regarding the place of polytechnic education to the overall technological development of the country. “The 2005 promise made by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo to end the disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelors degree (Bsc) is still a disturbing issue as the discrimination is still affecting polytechnic graduates anywhere they find themselves,” he said. The new president reaffirmed

his administration stance against continuous disparity between holders of the two certificates in the labour market. He argued that the disparity had hindered career progression of HND holders in the core civil service. Adeyeye however appealed to the government to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and discrimination between holders of the two certificates who studied the same or related courses. He also demanded that the Federal Government should invest more on technical facilities because

it was the reason polytechnic was established. “We will meet with the National Assembly to dialogue and if no positive responses, the polytechnic student will carry out a peaceful campaign on the streets,” he noted. In his remark, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Dzukogi promised to support the students in any of the genuine course. The outgoing President of NAPS, Mr. Ogbonnaya Sunday during his farewell speech re-echoed that the dichotomy was uncalled for and should therefore abolished without further delay.

Cross section of participants shortly after the 9th annual international conference and exhibition of Chemical Society of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State, recently.

New pharmacists tasked on unethical practice Ezekiel Efeobhokhan 500L, PHARMACY UNIBEN

he Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Edo State has recently inducted 110 new pharmacists into the pharmacy profession. The ceremony which took place at the university’s sports centre had in attendance principal officers of the institution and officers from the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria. Addressing the inductees, the Registrar, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, PCN, Mr. Mohammed told them not to feel discourage about

the poor state of the country’s health sector, saying that there were many green fields they could all fit into make the country health sector bounce back in full strength. Stating that pharmacists are the most respectable professionals in the world, the expert charged them to raise the name of the profession higher and never be involved in practices against the oath they have sworn to. “Today as you take this oath; never go any inch above or below the requirements required of you as a pharmacist. Do not get involved in malicious practices that would bring the profession in bad light.”

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Cross section of Pharmacy students, University of Benin during their induction ceremony, recently.

He continued by telling them how privileged they were to have been among the few to have read pharmacy in a country that is in a dire need for professional medical personnel. As event at the oath taking ceremony unfolds, emotions were high as the best graduating student, Amaka Eunice Ukwuhaiwe read out the valedictory speech. She held the audience in awe as she thanked all her classmates for making her who she was, stating that her success was not a function of her struggle but the finger of a divine presence which was brought to pass by the presence of the persons God had placed around her.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 3, 2015

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

FUNAAB alumnus wins NYSC award Saidat Alausa

graduate of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD), Federal University of Agricultural, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Mr. Nurudeen Oyelami has been conferred with the Akwa-Ibom State honours award as the most outstanding corps member of the year. Oyelami was among the 2014 Batch ‘B’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who served in Akwa-Ibom State. Replicating the discipline instilled on him from FUNAAB, he was the first person to be registered in the Orientation Camp with the NYSC State Code, AK/14B/0001. Oyelami was later posted to the Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot-Eyo, a remote part of the state, where he participated actively in the Community Development Service (CDS) programme, by teaching people on better ways of farming, computer education and creation of awareness on HIV/AIDS across the community. Other activities that brought Oyelami into the limelight of the State NYSC management include the building of a concrete signpost for the school of his primary assignment; construction of volleyball court for nearby school and donation of textbooks to the school library through mobilisation of funds solicited from village heads and philanthropists in the community.

Single treasury account hampers smooth operations in poly —COREG boss Mr. Omonode stated this at the opening ceremony of the 66th Regular MeetHND 2, MASS COMM. FEDPOLY, BIDA ings of COREG, at the Federal Polytechhe Chairman, Council of nic, Bida, Niger State. Registrars of Polytechnics The conference was themed, “The and Colleges of Technol- Role of Registrars in the Polytechnic ogy in Nigeria (COREG), Mr. Ben System, their prospects and challengOmonode has said that the Trea- es.” sury Single Account introduced by The COREG Chairman explained the Federal Government has crip- that though the introduction of TSA pled the effective and efficient run- was aimed at curbing corruption, the ning of Polytechnics in the country. schools are left with no impressed for

Adesoye Emmanuel

the running of the polytechnic. He however expressed optimism that soon, a solution would be proffered so as to cushion the challenges of lack of funds being faced by federal government schools, to ensure its effective day to day running. Omonode commended the management of the Federal Polytechnic Bida for hosting the meeting and extolled the Leadership of the institution for maintaining its high standards.

...Varsity gets new professors

he Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), at its 84th and 85th meetings, approved the promotion of a total of 698 members of staff of the university. Breakdown shows that 102 Academic and 596 Non-teaching Staff were elevated, from which 22 are Professors, while 18 are Readers. The Professors and Readers were promoted having attained the required number of publications in reputable journals, aside having acquired the statutory numbers of years in service, while the Non-teaching Staff were also promoted having satisfied the conditions of merit for the next grades, including the statutory numbers of years on the cadre, with requisite qualifications.

Experts harp on environmental sustainability Emeka Chukwuemeka FCET, UMUNZE

xperts and major stakeholders in the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) last week brainstormed on how to chart a new direction and proffer scientifically proven solution to the national and global environmental challenges. It was at the 9th annual international conference and exhibition of Chemical Society of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State. Delivering his keynote address, a professor of Chemistry and current Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Prof. Pius Ukoha, explained that chemistry required to deal with environmental problems and challenges to sustainability. Adding that of all professionals’ bodies, only chemists are the best qualified body to fight the menace facing the environment. In his welcome speech, the Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, said the theme of the conference is imperative as the environmental problems facing the world today such as global warming, flooding, mudslide.

Non-academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) participants at the Quadrennial National Delegates Conference in Abuja on Tuesday

Engage more youths in your govt, Buhari told Afis Odeyemi

400L, HISTORY, UNILORIN

resident, Students’ Union, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Idris Ibrahim, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to incorporate youths in his administration’s programmes as part of fulfillment of his campaign

promise during the last general elections. He said this while addressing committee of journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. According to him, the Nigeria youth constitutes a larger percentage of unemployed in the country therefore “If the rate of poverty and social welfare of the populace must be improved, the

APC led Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari must live up to his campaign promises as pledge during the last general election.” He however lauded the President Muhammadu Buhari leadership quality since his assumption to office. But urged him in his magnanimity to use his good office as President General and

Pharmacy students on housemanship programme attending to people during their free medical outreach in Ejibo, Lagos, recently.

Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria and extend his hand of followership to the youth. “It is no longer news that more than 50 percent of the youth are unemployed, a situation recently described as an artificial creation of the few rich in government at the detriment of the massive poor out of government.” He added that, “even with the renewal of hope and aspiration in the ‘Change Regime’ of President Buhari, there is still a lot to be done to have the youth engaged and make us live a fulfilled and sustainable life.” Saying that it is the youth that can best advocate for themselves, Alao stated that majority of those who agitate for or represent the interest of the youth are either out of the youth age bracket or lack the understanding of the legal framework that will capture the youth.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

“I

N the first quarter of

this year, that is between January to (and) March 2015….” (Alternatively, from January to March) But, hold on: who does not know that the first quarter of any year refers to January, February and March? Does the publication think that its readers are daft? This is too clumsy, loose and uneducated for an editorial! “Local refineries are also springing up with all the pollution that come (comes) with the activities.” “…to serve as a deterrent to other people who plan to stealing (steal) our oil.” “…no other parts (part) of the country is completely safe.” “For long, Nigeria and U.S. have shared strong partnership in security cooperation except for period (the period) during the regime of late (the late) Gen. Sani Abacha when the ties were strained.” “There should be no preferential treatment for foreign trained (foreign-trained) graduates as what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.” Conscience, Nurtured by Truth: what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Did you know that ‘big brother’—usually misapplied in Nigeria—means a sinister organisation, a bully or dictator? “…whose looks belly (belie) her age.” “When they do well, we praise them but if they ere (err), we march against them.” Wrong: “If I was you”; Right: If I were you…. This is the subjunctive aspect of grammar. Wrong: “I wrote him”; Right: I wrote to him Avoid circumlocutions: “despite the fact” (although); “owing to the fact” and “for the reason that” (as/because); “in addition to which” (and); (Source: Correct English by J. E. Metcalfe & C. Astle) “…the amnesty deal has run into murky water (the murky waters)….” “Pre-schoolers (Pre-scholars, you mean?) handling hi-tech with kids’ gloves” Education Today: kid gloves “Delta swears-in electoral commission for LG polls” Is it the commission or its members that were sworn in (take note

Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

he 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, yesterday dismissed the petitions against his emergence, describing them as mere distractions which would not deter him from pursuing his set goals and vision for the premier university. He emphatically assured that by the time he completes his assignment in the next five years, he would leave behind achievements rather than enemies. Olayinka made the pledge at the inauguration service held for him at the Chapel of The Resurrection in the institution which had in attendance prominent members of the academia including Emeritus Prof. Olu Akinkugbe, Prof. Wale Omole and a host of others. The new VC while Insisting that his choice was divine, said he was very much at home in the institution where he had been for almost four decades both as student and as a lecturer during which he held various positions which ensured his interaction with both the low and the mighty

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

White elephants, no projects

of the phrasal verb)? Also, note that ‘swearing-in’ is correct as a noun. “Federation polls: Elected members walk out in protest” An example of half-literacy: ‘walk out’ demonstrates ‘protest,’ among other meanings. So, why the redundancy? “Back to the second subject matter, white elephant projects dot the construction landscape of the nation.” This way: white elephants dot…away with ‘projects’! “He described him as an examplary (exemplary) politician and enjoined others to emulate him.” “Inspection at (on) the premises of the owners will go a long way in decongesting the ports.” “Man arrested over wife’s death” The man was arrested for his wife’s death. “Recently, the chairman of Parents/Teachers Association of Federal Government College....” Education: parent-teacher association. “Remember the police are under the control of the Lord of Aso Rock who received no less than thirty million naira, unsolicited, from the Anambra-born moneybag (moneybags) when he contested the presidential election in 1999.” “If the university authorities are interested in standards, what have they done about standards in (on) the main campuses? “I’ve seen too many progressives turn cold turkey in the end in spite of their honest efforts at the onset (outset, in this context) to change the system.” “…he had to abandon the bicycle that we borrowed (lent) him for that purpose and made a hasty retreat to Jos.” “Niger threatens to hands-off (hands off) sponsorship of pilgrims” “A senator who muted (mooted) this idea had this do say…” “…in their heydays (heyday) they never imagined the time

would ever come….” “The day after the panel’s first meeting with the unamused president (a comma, please) one of the commission’s counsels....” ‘Counsel’ is unchanged even in plural applications. “From the foregoing, Japan seems to have learnt it’s (its) lessons from the atomic bomb episode.” “...it did happen, leaving immense tragedy and loss of lives in (on) its trail.” “And I am not just talking about the siege armed robbers have laid on (to) the home of virtually every Nigerian, high or low, rich or poor.” “That was what I had at the back of my mind when I almost stopped my junior (younger) brother.” “It took a de Gaul to end the senseless killings and France acquiescing to the self-rule agitation of Algerians.” Away from anarchy: acquiescing in (not to). “There will be lots of entertainment, music, a special buffet and the show will be rounded up with a Grand Ball”. The revelry will be rounded off with a grand ball. “In a bid to escape with their booties with (in—not with) a helicopter gunship….” I am opposed to misadventures in grammar: ‘booty’ is uncountable. “We’d noticed the professor was not too comfortable standing under the blazing sun, but we thought she would nerve it through.” Get it right: standing/sitting in the blazing sun. ‘Under the sun’ means ‘anywhere in the world.’ “…the two countries have since been understudying one another’s political system.” Two countries: each other; three or more countries: one another. “The Nigeria Police has also assisted in the training of Sierra Leone (sic) police and detectives. “ Always: police (collective noun) have.

Petitions against my emergence, mere distraction —UI VC Ekiti varsity alumni within the community. He recalled that all the 13 of them that contested for the position were eminently qualified to hold the position, but, it was natural that somebody would have to be picked and it was just by providence that he was chosen and expressed the readiness to work with everybody to take the institution to a higher level. Olayinka, who applauded the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for fighting for academic freedom which made L-R: Head Teacher, Community Pry. School, Amumara, Imo State, Mrs. Amaefule Keziah; Pry. 4 Student of the school, Chiamaka Onwuegbuchulam, while receiving gift item from Airtel’s Territory Sales Manager, Charles Alimikhena during the Airtel-Unilever Oral Health programme, in Imo State, on Tuesday.

the choice of VC the prerogative of every university in the country, insisted that if it had been days when three names would be sent to Abuja for the Presidency to make choice, his name would not have crossed Oba River in the university’s campus not to talk of River Niger, talk less of Abuja, the seat of power. While speaking with journalists after the service, the VC sought for cooperation and support of all the members of

the university community, insisting that pull him down attitude would not help either the individual or the university system. He pleaded with his colleagues still grumbling over his choice to accept his emergence as the verdict of God, work together with him on his vision and mission for the institution, adding, “there is always another time, five years will just be like five days, so, let’s all put behind us what has happened in the past and look forward to a glorious future”.

set agenda for new VC Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

he Alumni Association of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, has charged the new Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Samuel Oye Bandele, to strive to achieve better than his predecessor, Prof Oladipo Aina, in the development of the institution. EKSU Alumni Association National President, Prof Matthew Ayeni, urged Bandele, an alumnus, who assumed office yesterday “to build on the legacies left behind by Aina and sustain the tempo of the growth and development in the university”. Ayeni spoke during the send-forth for the former VC and the official welcoming of his successor-cum their induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame organised in Ado Ekiti by the Alumni Association. The Alumni boss, who told the new VC that his predecessor had laid a very good foundation which he must build on, said: “To make sure you achieve better than your predecessor, you must be stubborn, stubborn on principles. “You must have no room for frustration, however excruating the circumstances. You must continue to march on leaving your footprints for posterity to commend,” he said.

Business Thursday, December 3, 2015

e-Payment: Stakeholders adopt anti-fraud tools to 31 mitigate losses

South Africa, Nigeria top Africa’s gambling business

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders advocate hi-tech teaching model in schools 32

KEPCO Energy invests N46bn in Egbin Power firm Tola Akinmutimi

EPCO Energy Resource Limited (KERL) has injected N46 billion in Egbin Power Plc since takeover in November 2013. Disclosing this when he receiving officials of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) who were on a monitoring visit to the Egbin power plant last week, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Dallas M. Peavey Jr, said that the power plant which currently generates an average of 1,100mws recently had its first major overhaul in 30 years with a total overhaul of Units 4, 5 and 1, which allowed the units to peak at its 220mws each at its installed capacity. A statement by the Head, Public Communications of the privatization entity, Alex Okoh, quoted Peavey as saying that the power plant which hitherto was operating less than 50 percent capacity prior to its takeover is now operating at over 85 percent with the fixing of Unit-06 which was not operational for eight years. He revealed that preliminary work had commenced for the building of an extra 1,350MW Combined Cycle Plant. The company’s boss pointed out that 107 graduate engineers had been employed and are currently being trained for a year to progressively replace the aging population of the workforce. He listed other major works on the plant to include; major overhaul of the demineralisation plant which was achieved by the recovery of Train B; and the replacement of Turbine Vibration Monitoring Systems which assist in regulating the speed of the Turbine in the event of vibration to avoid a catastrophic failure. Others are, the renovation of the administrative building to a world-class work environment; construction of a Simulator Room to aid in training of operators and upgrade of Distribution Control System (DCS) for Units 4, 5 and 1 to the latest modern technology, as part of

the achievements of the company since takeover. Peavey however identified inadequate gas supply, nonpayment or delayed payment of proceeds of power sales with an outstanding cumulative balance for 10 months amounting to over N40 billion; delay in disbursement of CBN intervention fund for legacy debt among others as

some of the challenges facing the company. Earlier, the leader of the BPE Monitoring Team and Deputy Director (Post Privatisation Monitoring Department), Mr. Ignatius Ayewoh, said the purpose of the monitoring visit was to assess the performance of the power plant since take-

over to ensure compliance with all the tenets covenanted with the government. He commended the management of the company for the aggressive turnaround recorded so far, adding: “from what the team had seen on ground, Egbin Power Plc is up and running.”

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: Programme Officer, Livelihood/Economic Justice, Atsua Austin Terngu; President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS); General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), Ms. Abimbola Okoya; Desk Officer, Cassava Value Chain, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ayeni Olusegun; beneficiary farmers, Ota Cassava, Chief Moses Ademola, at the ‘Stakeholders roundtable on the Nigeria Cassava Policy’ held in Lagos, recently.

Lekoil to acquire Afren’s interest in OPL 310 UDEME AKPAN

ekoil, the oil and gas exploration and production company with a focus on Nigeria and West Africa has agreed to acquire Afren Plc’s entire 22.86 per cent participating interest in OPL 310, which contains the Ogo discovery, for a total cash consideration of US$13 million. Lekoil, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mayfair Assets and Trust Limited (Nigeria), holds a 17.14 per cent participating interest and a 30 per cent economic interest in OPL 310 obtained through a farm-in agreement signed in 2013 with Afren. The company indicated that OPL 310 acquisition will be undertaken by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Lekoil 310 Limited.

It stated that following the OPL 310 Acquisition, and prior to the drafting and formalisation of the detailed documentation that follows the signing of the termsheet with Optimum Petroleum Development Company, the operator and local partner in OPL 310 which retains a 60 per cent participating interest. Lekoil will hold a consolidated1 participating interest of 40 per cent (pending Nigerian Ministerial Consent and an economic interest of 70per cent in OPL 310 and will become the technical and financial partner. The company indicated that following the significant oil discovery at Ogo in June 2013, the Company acquired 3D seismic over the remaining 80% of the OPL 310 licence and interpretation of the seismic is ongoing. It maintained that following

the completion of the deal, the partners will commission and announce a detailed work programme for 2016. Lekoil disclosed that the deal would increase Lekoil’s consolidated participating interest from 17.14 per cent to 40 per cent and its economic interest from 30 per cent to 70 per cent, subject to Ministerial Consent, and will become the technical and financial partner. According to the company, of the Consideration, US$12 million is due immediately and US$1 million is due upon the earlier of receiving Ministerial Consent or two years following the signing of the OPL 310 Acquisition agreement. The Company executed a termsheet with Optimum, which will be expanded in due course into a full suite of agreements.

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 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ELAN urges govts, others to explore leasing option for devt Tola Akinmutimi

he Chairman of Board of the Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria, ELAN, Mr. Chuka Onwuchekwa, has called on all tiers of government and corporate organisations on the need to use leasing as a critical component of their developmental agenda in view of its farreaching benefits to the economy. Giving the charge at the just ended Annual National Lease Conference organised by the association in Lagos, the leasing expert recalled that over the past decade the leasing industry had added assets worth over N4.8trillion to capital formation in the Nigerian economy. The ELAN boss, who spoke on the efforts taken by members of the association in the last few years to grow the industry, noted that the enactment of the Leasing Bill into an Act last year marked a watershed in the annals of the industry, given the potential of a well regulated leasing business to the nation’s economy. Onwuchekwa, who commended the past administration for enacting the law, assured governments in the country and others whose use of leasing would add value to their shareholders’ value of the readiness of the association to partner with them in the drive

to explore leasing opportunities to the fullest for sustainable national economic growth. While describing the enactment of the Leasing Act as desirable for the industry, the leasing business expert noted that despite the current economic lull in the country, the impactful visibility of leasing was increasing in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and had great potential for the current national drive towards the diversification of the nation’s economy The ELAN boss said: “The developmental attributes of leasing, which centre on easy and convenient access to capital equipment, can be brought to bear to support the planned massive investment in infrastructure( power, road and rail), agriculture, manufacturing and solid minerals, that would stimulate production and employment. “I therefore call on Government at all levels to utilise leasing in their developmental agenda and pledge the willingness of the leasing industry to collaborate with them to achieve set out economic initiatives.The focus of this year’s conference on the Equipment Leasing Act is quite germane given its propensity to reposition the industry for greater contributions to national economic development.

Samsung Nigeria emerges ‘Best Company in Youth Focused CSR’

amsung Nigeria was conferred the Best Company in Youth Focused CSR at the recently concluded (SERAS) Nigeria CSR Awards 2015. In addition, the company’s Corporate Citizenship Manager, Abosede Modupe Alimi, was recognized as one of the top three CSR practitioners in the country. The awards, reputed to be the major force behind galvanising businesses across various sectors and industries in Nigeria to promote CSR and Sustainability in Nigeria, aims to acknowledge corporate entities who invest in society through CSR programmes. Speaking on the recognition accorded his company, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, said that the management was “humbled by this recognition but by the same token, understand that the task ahead is even bigger. We need to rise to the challenge and provide apt and innovative partnerships that will set Nigeria on the path to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.” Samsung Electronics West Africa is among several businesses assessed by a jury made up of

experts drawn from Nigeria and other parts of the world. The jury based its assessment on the outcome of field visits and verification of data. For the Best Company in Youth Focused Award, Samsung was lauded for its contribution to the lives of the Nigerian youth through Samsung Engineering Academy which has trained 118 young people.

“Consequently, this conference shall among others things, consider key ingredients and impacts of the Act, exploring evolving opportunities and succinctly establish how it could serve as an elixir for the industry’s greater service to national economy, sharing the

experience from other countries with leasing law and issues of implementation of the Act”, Onwuchekwa added. He also urged ELAN members and other stakeholders to embrace the Equipment Leasing Act, key into the opportunities, ensure

L-R: Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft, Mr. Adeniyi Adebote; Country Manager, Dell Nigeria, Mr Akin Banuso; Sales Manager, Dell Nigeria, Mr Olumbe Akinkugbe and Director, Solutions Architecture at 1Source, Mr. Victor Okigbo, during the launch of 1Source’s E-Distributor App in Lagos recently.

FCMB launches Youth Account, Flexx, Unveils Promo

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has introduced a new proposition called Flexx for youths aged 16 – 24 years old. The proposition includes a savings account “Flexx account”, a mobile app, and a debit card and the account is designed to promote a healthy savings culture and promote the use of technology in the conduct of banking services. At the launch of the event in Lagos on Wednesday, the FCMB Flexx account promo, which forms part of the rewards of the account, was unveiled amid en-

thusiasm and excitement among the youths. A statement by the bank indicated that at the end of the promo season, one of the account holders will smile home with a Hyundai Veloster car, while several others will be rewarded with various fantastic gifts such as smart phones and bursaries. To participate in the promo, all that a Flexx account holder needs to do is to maintain an average balance of N10,000 for the six months period of the promo. The Flexx account is an interest bearing savings account that

Obi of Onitsha endorses Life Beer’s Entrepreneurial scheme

he entrepreneurial scheme of Life Continental Lager Beer, a product form the staple of Nigerian Breweries PLC, christened: ‘Life Progress Booster Radio Show’ has received endorsement of the Royal Father, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnayelugo Alfred Achebe. The royal father expressed support for the scheme when the Life Continental Lager Beer Team, led by Patrick Ejidoh, Public Affairs Manager, East, NB; paid him a visit in his home in Onitsha, Anambra State at the weekend. The Obi said that the scheme

compliance and its implementation, adding that what is needed to explore the immense opportunities in the leasing business is the good will from all stakeholders to ensure successful implementation that would lead to achieving the desired results.

would assist Nigeria in engaging the youth now facing the challenge of unemployment, noting that with this the social issues of communal unrests like those propagated by Boko Haram, MASSOP and the Biafra Agitation will be curtailed. Under the scheme, Life Continental Lager Beer has given out a grant of N250,000 each to over 50 young entrepreneurs operating in the Eastern part of the country. The non-refundable grant was given to help alleviate the financial challenges operators of the affected Small and Medium Scale Enterprises might be facing in their respective operations.

Obi Achebe noted that the basic challenge of the youth agitating for Biafra Republic is joblessness. According to him, the system is not creating enough job opportunities for the enormous workforce turned out annually by the nation’s higher institutions of learning. He explained: “Corporate entities should cultivate the habit of ploughing back their profits into the aggregate economy. I am charging employers of labour to come up with programmes that are sustainable. Besides, our universities should henceforth turn out graduates who can employ themselves.

enables youths carry-out all their banking activities in a hassle-free manner without having to step into the banking hall. The account seeks to bring maximum convenience by permitting customers to open the account via the mobile app, online from the FCMB website and at any of the bank’s branches nationwide. The Flexx mobile app, in addition to providing convenient account opening and banking transactions, will be a channel for peer to peer payments and communication, information dissemination and provision of exciting content (such as employment tips, access to skills acquisition resources, entertainment and recreational information) and special offers exclusive to users of the app. Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun, explained that the launch of Flexx was as much a statement of substance as it is one of intent. “The platform we are creating through Flexx will be both a community and a channel to bring the best of opportunities to our youth. While our primary objective is to encourage savings and the use of digital channels in banking, we are doing this in an exciting and highly rewarding manner to our customers within the target segment’’, Balogun said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Thursday, December 3, 2015

U.S. manufacturing contracts, other sectors grow slowly

.S. manufacturing contracted in November for the first time in three years as the sector buckled under the weight of a strong dollar and deep spending cuts by energy firms, but robust automobile sales suggested the economy remained on solid ground. Other data released on Tuesday showed a sturdy increase in construction spending in October, which should help offset the drag from manufacturing on fourth-quarter economic growth. With manufacturing accounting for only 12 per cent of the economy, analysts say it is unlikely the persistent weakness will deter the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates this month. “Manufacturing is being pummeled by the stronger dollar and the weakness of global demand, but the other 88 per cent of the economy continues to perform well. This won’t prevent the Fed from raising interest rates at the mid-December meeting,” said Steve Murphy, a U.S. economist at Capital Economics in Toronto. The Institute for Supply Management said its national factory index fell to 48.6 last month, the weakest reading since June 2009 when the recession ended, from 50.1 in October. While a reading below 50 indicates a contraction in manufacturing, the index remains above 43.1, which is associated with a recession. Factory activity has also been undercut by business efforts to reduce

Janet Yellen

an excessive inventory build, which is putting pressure on new orders. The ISM said a gauge of new orders tumbled 4 percentage points to 48.9 last month. Inventories at manufacturers continued to shrink and their customers reported stocks of unsold goods were too high for a fourth consecutive month. Ten out of 18 manufacturing industries, including apparel, machinery, primary metals, electrical equipment, appliances and components and computer and electronic products reported contraction in November. Five industries reported growth. Manufacturers cited dollar strength, slower Chinese and European growth and lower oil prices as headwinds. Recent data on business capital spending plans and fac-

tory output had offered hope that the worst of the sector’s woes were over. But with auto sales and construction spending remaining robust early in the fourth quarter, economists still expect U.S. gross domestic product to expand at around a two per cent annual pace, almost matching the thirdquarter pace. Though November auto sales dipped to a seasonally adjusted annualized 18.19 million-unit pace from October’s brisk 18.24 million rate, according to Autodata Corp, they kept the industry on track for record sales this year. “The good news is that the much more important services sector continues to do very well, benefiting from solid domestic demand. In that environment, the Fed will begin to raise interest rates at the upcoming meeting,” said Harm Bandholz, chief U.S. economist at UniCredit Research in New York. Fed officials meet on Dec. 15-16 and are expected to raise benchmark rates for the first time in nearly a decade. Prices for U.S. government debt rose, while the dollar fell against a basket of currencies. U.S. stocks ended higher. In a separate report the Commerce Department said construction spending increased 1.0 per cent to a seasonally adjusted $1.11 trillion rate, the highest since December 2007, after rising 0.6 per cent in September.

Facebook’s CEO, wife to give 99% of shares to new foundation

ark Zuckerberg will put 99 percent of his Facebook Inc (FB.O) shares, currently worth about $45 billion, into a new philanthropy project focusing on human potential and equality, he and his wife said Tuesday in a letter to their newborn daughter. The plan, which was posted on the Facebook founder and chief executive officer’s page, attracted more than 570,000 “likes,” including from singer Shakira, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The Gates and other high-profile billionaires such

Zuckerberg

as Warren Buffett have set up foundations of their own to dedicate their massive fortunes to philanthropic endeavors. Zuckerberg, 31, who will control the new initiative jointly with his wife, Priscilla Chan, while remaining in charge of the world’s largest online social network, said he would sell or give up to $1 billion in shares in each of the next three years. Zuckerberg will keep a controlling stake in Facebook, valued at $303 billion as of Tuesday’s close, for what the company called the “foreseeable future.” According to Facebook’s most recent proxy statement, Zuckerberg owned 4 million Class A shares and 422.3 million Class B shares, which have 10 times the voting power of A shares. Combined he held 54 percent of the voting power of the company’s shares. Zuckerberg said he plans to remain CEO of Facebook for “many, many years to come.” Zuckerberg’s new project, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, is not his first in the world of philanthropy. When he was 26, he signed the Giving Pledge, which invites the world’s

wealthiest individuals and families to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to philanthropy or charitable causes over their lifetime or in their will. “Mark and Priscilla are breaking the mold with this breathtaking commitment,” Buffett said on Facebook. “A combination of brains, passion and resources on this scale will change the lives of millions. On behalf of future generations, I thank them.” Melinda Gates chimed in, “The first word that comes to mind is: Wow. The example you’re setting today is an inspiration to us and the world.” Buffett himself pledged shares of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) company that were then worth $31 billion to Gates’ foundation in 2006, and at the time ranked as the largest single gift. Zuckerberg is relatively young to commit so much of his wealth. Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) co-founder Gates was 45 in 2000, the year he and his wife founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett was 76 in 2006 when he committed to give away all of his Berkshire Hathaway stock to philanthropic organizations.

KKR, Thoma Bravo, Vista eye $4bn Dell assets – Sources

uyout firms KKR & Co LP (KKR.N), Thoma Bravo LLC and Vista Equity Partners Management LLC are competing for $4 billion worth of Dell Inc’s assets, people familiar with the matter said, as the computer maker steps up asset sales. Divesting these assets would help Dell bolster its balance sheet after it agreed in October to buy data storage company EMC Corp (EMC.N) for $67 billion. That deal is expected to close by October 2016, subject to approval by EMC shareholders. The three private equity firms are vying for Dell’s Quest Software, which helps with information technology management, as well as SonicWall, an e-mail encryption and data security provider, the people said this week.

Quest Software and SonicWall are each worth around $2 billion, the people said. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) is advising Dell on their potential sale, the people added. Dell is also working with Citigroup Inc (C.N) on the sale of IT services company Perot Systems, which could be valued at between $5 billion and $6 billion, the people said. Dell is marketing Perot Systems to large companies in the business services industry in the United States and abroad, the people added. The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Representatives from Vista Equity, Thoma Bravo and Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dell, Citi and KKR declined to comment.

Dell computer

Australian economy picks up pace on exports

he economy grew 2.5 per cent in the three months to September from a year ago, compared with 1.9 per cent in the previous quarter and above forecasts of 2.4 per cent. It grew 0.9 per cent from the previous quarter, also beating expectations of 0.8 per cent. Despite a slowdown in its biggest trading partner, China, and falling commodity prices, exports rose, giving the economy a boost. Exports jumped 4.6 per cent in the quarter, adding one percentage point to gross domestic product (GDP) growth. This was during a period when the Australian dollar dropped nine per cent on record low interest rates

Australain Bank Gov. Glen Steven

in the country as the central bank tried to boost economic activity. The Australian dollar surged to its highest level in almost seven weeks to $0.7345 after the growth figures were released. Just a day earlier, the Reserve Bank of Australia had left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low of two per cent, and also provided an upbeat view of the economy. But Paul Dales, chief Australia economist at research firm Capital Economics said that the strong performance in exports is unlikely to be sustained. “With overseas demand soft, we are not convinced that net trade can completely fill the hole [from declining mining investment ahead],” he said in a note. “This is the main reason why we doubt that economic growth will accelerate significantly next year.” Australia’s economy has been seeing moderate growth in recent years after investment in the mining sector - which had been a key driver for growth over a decade peaked. Resource companies in the country are in the midst of scaling back operations and cutting production costs to cope with slumping commodity prices.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Equities slide 0.09% as investors’ stock sale booms Stories: Johnson Okanlawon

rading in equities continued on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors sold their holdings. Specifically, the All Share Index depreciated 0.09 per cent to close at 27,287.89 points, compared to the decline of 0.25 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 27,314.00 points. Market capitalization shed N9billion to close at

N9.382 trillion, compared to the drop of N24 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N9.391 trillion. Unilever Nigeria Plc led the gainers table with N4.08 or 10.23 per cent to close at N43.98 per share, while MC Nichols Plc with six kobo or five per cent to close at N1.26 per share. NAHCO Plc gained 18 kobo or 4.95 per cent to close at N3.82 per share, while Air Service Plc

added eight kobo or 4.40 per cent to close at N1.90 per share. Wema Bank Plc appreciated three kobo or 3.26 per cent to close at 95 kobo per share, while May and Baker Plc was up three kobo or 3.26 per cent to close at N1.04 per share. Conversely, Portland Paints Plc dropped 40 kobo or 9.52 per cent to close at N3.80 per share, while Forte Oil Plc shed N13.08 or five per cent to close at N248.65 per share.

UACN Plc depreciated N1,34 or 4.97 per cent to close at N25.61 per share, while Union Homes Plc dipped 26 kobo or 4.97 per cent to close at N4.97 per share. Oando Plc lost 28 kobo or 4.68 per cent to close at N5.70 per share, while Seplat Plc declined N10.00 or 4.61 per cent to close at N207.00 per share. A total of 383.4 million shares valued at N5.34 billion were exchanged in 2, 857 deals.

Foreign reserves drop below $30bn, lowest since July

oreign reserves dropped below $30 billion for the first time in more than four months, putting more pressure on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s bid to defend the naira and avoid devaluation. The gross reserves slipped to $29.92 billion on November 30, the first time they have fallen below $30 billion since July 13, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria. They have fallen by 20 per cent since the end

of June 2014, when Brent crude prices began a more than 60 per cent plunge, hammering the finances of the country. “With the oil price remaining low, the pressure isn’t dissipating,” said Ikechukwu Iheanacho, who manages N40 billion of stocks and bonds for Lagos-based Chapel Hill Denham Securities Ltd. “It raises questions about how long the central bank can continue defending the naira.” The naira has been all but fixed at N197 to 199 per

dollar since early March after Governor Godwin Emefiele restricted bank access to foreign exchange, even as other major oil exporters such as Russia, Colombia and Angola let their currencies weaken. In June, Emefiele stopped importers of about 40 items, including toothpicks and glass, from obtaining dollars. Emerging-market investors including Aberdeen Asset Management Plc, AllianceBernstein and Investec Asset Management have sold Nigerian bonds

and stocks this year to avoid what they see as an inevitable devaluation, which would cause losses on their holdings in foreign-currency terms. The Deputy Governor of CBN, Mrs Sarah Alade told bankers last month that the CBN would further curb dollar supplies because its reserves were running short. The naira rose 0.6 per cent to N197.90 per dollar. Forwards prices suggest the naira will fall 19 per cent to 243 in a year.

Credit Suisse now most cautious on equities since 2008

t’s been just a few weeks since Credit Suisse released its 2016 forecast for the S&P 500, and already the bank is downgrading it. “We reduce our weighting in equities to a small overweight, our most bearish strategic stance on the asset class in seven years,” Credit Suisse analysts, led by Andrew Garthwaite, said in their 2016 global equity strategy outlook published today. It’s a change of stance for Garthwaite, who has long been bullish on stocks, predicting in mid-2013 that the S&P 500 would rise 15 percent to hit 1,900 in 2014 (it did). In fact, and as noted above, it’s a tweak to Credit Suisse’s most recent call for the index, too. In mid-November, the bank reiterated its previous call for the S&P 500 to reach 2,200 by the middle of next year. But the analysts seem to have since changed their minds and now expect the

index to trade at 2,150 both at midyear and at the end of 2016, which would equate to a rise of just over 2 percent from the S&P’s current levels. Why the change? The firm sees a few reasons, which it addressed in previous notes but has apparently become more worried about in recent days and weeks. Here are some of the key concerns: Specifically, China and the Federal Reserve. “China’s economic growth has never slowed to such a degree when it has been such a major component of the global economy,” Garthwaite says. And you can’t forget that the Fed is about to embark on its first rate hike in nearly a decade. “Historically, the drawdown in equities has averaged 7 percent after the first Fed rate hike, but the first rate hike has not marked the end of a bull market, however, with equities, on average, rising 2.2 percent in the six

months after the first rate hike. The risk on this occasion is that the first rate hike has not occurred this late into the profit margin cycle.” In other words, there’s not much upside here. According to Credit Suisse’s two preferred measures for valuations, the equity risk premium and a fair-value price to earnings model, only about 2 percent upside is left. “Our fair value P/E model for the S&P 500 suggests a target multiple of 16.9x compared to 16.6x now, suggesting only 2 percent upside,” Garthwaite notes. The firm says it has a number of “bottom-up concerns.” Over the past few years, regulation has more and more been threatening to strangle innovation both domestically and internationally, according to the analysts. “We struggle to recall another time when so many sectors have faced threats

from disruption, regulation, or emerging markets,” they say. “Moreover, we believe that the competitive threat posed by Chinese corporates continues to be under-estimated as China continues to over-invest, driving down the gap between the [return on equity] and the cost of debt, as well as moving up the value added curve.” 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 27,287.89 points Market capitalisation 9.38trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

UNILEVER

39.90

43.98

4.08

10.23

MCNICHOLS

1.20

1.26

0.06

5.00

NAHCO

3.64

3.82

0.18

4.95

AIRSERVICE

1.82

1.90

0.08

4.40

WEMABANK

0.92

0.95

0.03

3.26

MAYBAKER

1.01

1.04

0.03

2.97

AFRIPRUD

2.46

2.53

0.07

2.85

STERLNBANK

1.90

1.95

0.05

2.63

WAPCO

89.11

91.25

2.14

2.40

LAWUNION

0.54

0.55

0.01

1.85

CHANGE

% CHANGE -9.52

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

PORTPAINT

4.20

3.80

-0.40

261.73

248.65

-13.08

-5.00

UACN

26.95

25.61

-1.34

-4.97

UNHOMES

5.23

4.97

-0.26

-4.97

OANDO

5.98

5.70

-0.28

-4.68

SEPLAT

217.00

207.00

-10.00

-4.61

UNITYBNK

0.89

0.85

-0.04

-4.49

SKYEBANK

1.60

1.53

-0.07

-4.38

VONO

0.78

0.75

-0.03

-3.85

GLAXOSMITH

38.00

36.66

-1.34

-3.53

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.40

108.34

8.65

109.34

7.93

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.58

115.47

10.68

116.47

10.36

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.20

112.31

11.73

113.31

11.44

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.16

119.29

11.87

120.29

11.67

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.28

112.13

11.85

113.13

11.68

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.64 87.78

11.77

88.78

11.61

Closing Market Prices of November 25, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

03-Mar-16

3.98

4.02

WAUA

270

USD

196.98

02-Jun-16

3.37

3.42

EURO

214

20-Oct-16

5.10

5.34

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.0350

POUNDS STERLING

293

8.4904

10.4731

SDR

273

NIBOR

12.3254 CBN Clearing Rates of December 2, 2015

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Info Tech

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

e-Payment: Stakeholders adopt anti-fraud tools to mitigate losses After recording a whopping loss of N6.8 billion coupled with the inability to arrest 1,420 suspects, stakeholders in the e-payment industry have resolved to effective collaboration to battle electronic fraud in Nigeria, writes Isaiah Erhiawarien.

rantic efforts to curb the increasing spate of electronic frauds may soon yield some results as stakeholders are said to have agreed to adopt the option of aggressive collaboration, a tool that fraudsters have consistently employed to execute their trade, and also to cover their track. At the end of a one-day conference with the theme ‘Addressing Electronic Fraud through Industry Approach: Regulator’s Perspective, the stakeholders, who included officials from telecoms firm, the banking industry, e-payment companies, mobile money service providers, card service companies and regulatory organisation noted that unless they collaborate effectively, the fight against electronic may not be worn. The event, which was the 6th edition of the E-Payment Conference organised by the E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria, E-PPAN, exposed antics of electronic fraudster, which is collaboration. Sharing his experience, on how he was defrauded , a banker said that the fraudster were successful because there was a massive network of collaboration employed by the crooks. The banker, who did not want to be named in print, said that the money was moved from an account in Kaduna and spread to other bank account in Benin City and Asaba within a week and then finally withdrawn through a microfinance bank. Director, Banking and Payments System, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, who delivered the key paper that spurred the quest for collaboration by the stakeholders said that “if fraudsters collaborate to defraud electronically, it would be a lost war if we fail to collaborate to combat the menace.” According to him, all stakeholders must find strength in unity to combat electronic fraud noting that “security is a service; service to all is service to self.” He disclosed that the apex bank as such will be leading the collaboration efforts of the stakeholders stressing that the CBN is leading the charge and will continue to collaborate across industry and disciplines to ensure that electronic fraud is put at bay in Nigeria. Fatokun said that the new channels of electronic transactions have pop-up new channels of challenges that the stakeholders must collaborate to address and deal with.

He said that the challenge to the twentyfirst century bankers is managing funds for its customers using cutting edge technology to deliver services and ensuring the safety of customer funds in spite of growing cyber-crime saying that it has become the biggest revenue earner for organised crime. Fraud trends, he observed are not likely to abate, and that the challenge is not for individual institution or an industry, but a national and global challenge stressing that “fraud is neck on neck with technology advancement, and every form of physical crime has migrated online.” Attributing the trends of electronic frauds to the fallout of global and national economic crisis, he said yet nations are sponsoring fraudulent electronic attacks against each other at corporate levels. Fatokun disclosed that the trend has become critical because no business thrives without effective deployment of ICT to gain efficiency and competitive edge. He noted that although, many businesses are on the edge tackling electronic frauds on their electronic business platforms but collaboration is needed. He said that about 1, 420 suspected perpetrators of various kinds of electronic frauds in the nation’s financial services sector evaded arrest in 2014 noting that fraud is still largely driven by domestic transactions, and advocated the need to create an industry body to handle e-fraud issues in the country. Explaining further on how the collaborative efforts of fraudsters have resulted to a huge lost to the industry, he said that organised criminals are primarily motivated by financial gain adding that they increasingly purchase components they need to commit crime through online marketplaces. He added that criminals are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and often

electronic

Emefiele

use blended attacks saying that these actors know what they want and are relentless in their efforts to obtain or attack it. He said that not all attacks are sophisticated, and that Verizon report that 95 per cent of attacks utilised phishing saying “hacktivists aim to cause maximum disruption and embarrassment to their victims. They have captured media attention with campaigns co-ordinated through social media.” The melee in the electronic fraud cannot be effectively tackled if the actions of the bank in the whole saga is not addressed, the Chairman, Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Initiative, CRAAAI, Mr. Moses Igbrude has advocated. He said that effective collaboration entails that banks do not leave the customer alone whenever any fraud case is reported noting that the trend is for the banks to leave them to their fate and abandoned the victim midway. Igbrude said that the outright denial of the case of fraud by the banks in most case makes it even difficult in tracking the criminals saying that the banks often do

Fraud is no longer a

new crime but the ways in which electronic payment fraudsters operate have evolved significantly in recent years

not respond even when cases of fraud are reported by victims. He said that the often a step ahead of the banks disclosing that most the acts are carried out in-house by outsourced staff who are paid meagre income by bank and as such they easily jump out every opportunity to defraud. But the Head of Cards and eBanking at EcoBank Nigeria Limited, Ayotunde Kuponiyi denied the claims of Igbrude saying that at Ecobank customers’ case on fraud is taking often serious. He said that what needs to be done is to educate the customers on what to do whenever they fall victim to the whims and caprices of fraudsters noting that customers need proper education. Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Regha Onajite, said electronic Fraud is no longer a new crime but the ways in which electronic payment fraudsters operate have evolved significantly in recent years, saying this has pointed to a need to develop a new holistic industry fraud management institution that allows concerted efforts to be made towards talking fraud menace. She advocated the creation of a body to be christened the ‘Nigeria Baking Risk Information Centre (NIBRIC)’ similar to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC). According to Onajite, in order to significantly reduce fraud, it is essential to formulate a solid and comprehensive ap-

proach adding “one of our main approaches over the years has therefore been to advocate for a collaborative approach in fighting fraud.”

Info Tech

Thursday, December 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders advocate hi-tech teaching model in schools Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

takeholders have requested that government adopt technology learning models in all strata of the nation’s education system. They expressed this view at a teacher’s professional development programme organised by Intel observed that globally technology enhanced education is the trend. Speaking at the four-day event at the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASEUD, Global Education Specialist, Intel, Shelly Shott, who facilitated the training sessions said that there was the need for a student-oriented environment where technology is used in learning. He said that to improve effective teaching among teachers, technology should be integrated into their teaching, adding that this will promote amongst students, problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills. Shott pointed out that the old format of teaching did not necessarily support technology in the classroom, “which is why we are advocating for a student-oriented approach to learning.” A Fellow at the African Humanity Programme (AHP) and American Council of Learned Societies, ACLS, Dr. Yomi Okunowo, harped

on the need to advocate the usefulness and possibilities of employing technology teaching and learning in the country. Okunowo explained that beyond the university authority, there should be a survey of how technology is used in schools and conduct a survey of the professionals in the school saying that “the survey would address questions like, what do they know? What is it that they do not know? What are the facilities on ground? From what we see on ground, how then can we intervene and help to project the knowledge we have learnt from here?” A Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at TASEUD, Dr. Kemi Banjoko said that he was intrigued about the use of mobile phone and tablets in teaching noting that “the training has opened up a world of new possibilities for me in using them to enhance learning and teaching.” Director Academic Planning, Quality Assured and Research, TASEUD, Dr. Niran Adetoro said the training could not have come at a better time, given that the school is looking for exciting and innovative ways to help teachers and by extension the children learn better. He stressed that the level of commitment from the management team is very high, especially from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade, who he de-

scribed as a thoroughbred teacher that believes in innovative ways of impacting the profession. Adetoro added a report will be made to the University management and thereafter, “we will want to step it down to teachers within

Business Development at Microsoft Peggy Johnson said that through the fund, Microsoft hope to kick-start the entrepreneurial process by identifying promising ideas that it can help nurture, grow and scale. Under its Affordable Access Initiative, Microsoft partners with Internet access providers and other public and private sector entities on innovative and practical connectivity and services solutions designed to deliver the greatest socio-economic impact to the greatest number of people. Other efforts underway by Microsoft include the deployment of TV white spaces technology, which repurposes TV frequencies not being used locally to provide affordable, robust Internet access to entire communities. With its partners, Microsoft is currently deploying the technology in 17 countries and five continents. The software company is also actively engaging in Africa’s

pilot saying that “we hope to do a lot of studies from this and ask for some funding from government and TETFUND. We will be doing this first and foremost with the Secondary schools and the schools around for the piloting.”

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, InnJoo Technology Company Ltd.,Bruce Chen, PR Associate, Jumia Nigeria, Laolu Oloyede and Managing Director, InnJoo Technology Company Ltd., Robert Lians during the launch of the InnJoo 2 mobile phones in Lagos.

Alcatel OneTouch new device ready for Nigerian market

martphone manufacturers, Alcatel Onetouch said its latest device, the Pop Star is ready for sale in Nigeria.

Microsoft to fund internet access in Nigeria icrosoft Corporation has unveiled plans to fund internet access in Nigeria by cultivating companies with solutions that bring affordable Internet access to underserved markets. The selected companies will receive cash awards along with free technology and mentorship from Microsoft to scale solutions that help close the digital divide The fund is part of Microsoft’s Affordable Access Initiative, which invests in new last-mile access technologies, cloud-based services and applications, and business models that can reduce the cost of Internet access and help more people get online. A statement from the said that the effort will give internet access to over four billion Nigerians without Internet access adding that the ability to close that gap is more achievable than ever with technology that is readily available and affordable in many parts of the world., Executive Vice President of

the University that technology can be very useful in facilitating learning.” According to him, we intend to pass on the knowledge to teachers in the secondary school and do a

economic development to improve its global competitiveness through locally relevant innovation, affordable access and skills development. Applicants for the fund must be commercial organisations with two or more full-time employees and have a prototype of a working solution and preferably paying customers.

The compnay’s Regional Director, Nigeria and Central Africa, Nick Imudia, who made the disclosure ahead of the yuletide, said that the mobile phone would meet the needs of the Nigerian market adding that the company is partnering with online shopping mall, Konga.com for the retail of the new smartphone. Imudia said the Dual SIM phone has a 5” HD screen display with IPS technology for detailed images and wide viewing angle, eight GB expandable internal memory, running on the Android Lollipop OS and a quad-core Mediatek Processor saying that the device also has eight MP camera with auto-focus function for quality photos and selfies. The device, he said comes

with a curved back cover, which gives the phone an elegant slimness at the edges, and makes it a pleasure to hold noting that when purchased at Konga.com, the buyer will get an additional free eight GB memory card. Imudia disclosed that its partnership with Konga is based on its logistics and operational framework, which is needed to deliver the Alcatel Onetouch Pop Star to shoppers in the country. “We believe that this partnership will greatly advance our mission of bringing quality and

affordable mobile phones to Nigerians” saying that the device has been on sale at Konga.com since the 26th of November.

MTN, Absa to provide free online banking

he Absa banking application will be pre-loaded on Huawei’s latest smartphone range. The Absa banking application will be pre-loaded on Huawei’s latest smartphone range. Financial banking institution Absa has partnered with MTN to offer free access to mobile and Internet banking via the bank’s application and Absa.mobi for all MTN customers. In a statement, Absa noted that clients who don’t have data or airtime will be able to access digital

banking at no charge through this initiative. Chief Executive of Customer Channels and Distribution at Absa, Marius de la Rey disclosed that consumers will now be able to migrate to the exciting world of smartphones and, with our preloaded banking application, they can bank anywhere and at any time for free. Sales and Marketing Executive at MTN, Larry Annetts, added that the partnership will ensure MTN customers can conduct banking services with Absa without hav-

ing to worry about the associated costs of online banking saying that “this will facilitate digital access for our customers and will further give them a distinct customer experience.” Absa has also partnered with Chinese equipment maker, Huawei Technologies, to pre-load its app on all Huawei Y560 entry-level LTE smartphones. General Manager of Huawei Consumer Business Group, Charlene Munilall, said, “Huawei is proud to strategically align with institutions such as MTN.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Brands & Marketing

Experts task corporate entities on sustainable investment for growth DAVID AUDU

he benefits of having experts gather to deliberate on issues of national concern is the hope that they will proffer solutions to nagging economic problems, and one of the major issues confronting Nigeria, and indeed Africa, today is how to turn economic opportunities into sustainable investment. This, experts believe has become imperative considering the huge youth population of Africa, which is expected to surpass those of India and China by 2040. In is in the light of this that experts who gathered at the FirstBank Sustainability forum at the Lagos Business School in Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, recently underscored the need for greater effort to produce jobs for the youths. In their words, job creation should be part of sustainable solutions by businesses as only being meaningfully employed or engaged in jobs confer more dignity on beneficiaries than providing aid and handouts These expert views were contained in a communique that captured the thoughts of the speakers which included the CEO, Goldem Palms Investments, Ghana and USA, Mr. Sangu Delle; Group Head, strategic partnerships and initiatives, Equity Bank, Kenya, Dr. Olajobi Makinwa; Chief Transparency & Anticorruption and Africa, UN Global Compact, Mr. Jumanee Tafawa; and CEO, Tolaram Group, Mr. Deepak Singhal and others. The communique noted among other economic measures to be taken to encourage economic growth, was that Africans must think of ways to create sustainable businesses that will at once make impact on the society, adding that this will be done by generating employment and ensure returns on investment for its shareholders It however, cautioned that this does not

From left, Executive Chef and Director, Dumebi Agbakoba, Senior Partner, Legal, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and Communication Manager, Yetunde Ogunnubi, all of Samantha’s Bistro and Grille Restaurant during the official opening in Lagos, recently.

BUSINESS CAN BE USED AS A FORCE FOR GOOD. IT CAN BE USED TO TRANSFORM PEOPLE’S LIVES, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THEM, EVEN WHILE THE SHAREHOLDERS MAKE GOOD RETURNS ON THEIR INVESTMENTS excuse the need for good governance by the government. “ “This is absolutely necessary in order to create the necessary environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to flourish. Both the public and private sector need to work together to transform Africa” The forum noted that “business can be used as a force for good. It can be used to transform people’s lives, educate and empower them, even while the shareholders make good returns on their investments. The communique also acknowledged that businesses could do a lot to put Africa

on the world map, and to do this, however, efforts should be made to ensure gender balance and equity in the society; abolish the current visa regimes that inhibit travel across the continent. Encourage interAfrican trade, which they noted currently stands at a negligible 16 per cent. This is in addition to putting mechanisms in place to encourage, empower and support young entrepreneurs in Africa to create sustainable businesses that will impact positively on the society The experts also noted that since businesses enjoy so much power, they must

also accept the responsibilities that go with it. “For where there is power, there is also responsibility. With the understanding that businesses operate in society and are also affected by societal problems, therefore solving nagging societal problems can be very good for businesses. It was recommended that businesses should key into the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and play their part towards ending hunger, poverty and helping to ensure prosperity for all. It was also restated that businesses must also think and act long term. “The only way to do this is by adopting a good corporate governance culture. Corporate governance – simply meaning - decent behaviour – is part of the DNA of how businesses should function. “In the long run, it affects the bottom line because the trend globally is to do business more with companies with a solid reputation of good corporate governance. To encourage and demonstrate the importance of good corporate governance to companies, policies could be designed to rank companies on a corporate governance scale. “This would ensure that companies with good corporate governance get patronised while those that are corrupt risk losing good businesses. This will serve as incentive for businesses to improve their corporate governance culture. Finally, the expert team noted that Africa must continue to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in its youth. This is the surest way to solve the unemployment problems in the society. “Greater encouragement and support for innovators and entrepreneurs in Africa to create sustainable businesses. Sustainable businesses are always built around empowering people and helping to solve society’s problem”.

Glo prepares Aba subscribers for Yuletide with Slide ‘n’ Bounce DAVID AUDU

lobacom on Saturday night prepared the residents of Aba, Abia State, for the forthcoming Yuletide season with a big-bang edition of Nigeria’s tour concert, the Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce. For top dignitaries and other fun seekers who trooped out in their thousands to watch the show at the Binez Hotel, Aba, there could have been no better way to herald the Christmas season than the Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert which had an array of the biggest entertainers in the country. The residents of the city also

confirmed that “in Aba, age is not a barrier to fun”, as 78-year old Chief Silas Nwakandu, was one of the Aba residents who attended the show. “My presence here tonight is a validation of that statement. As you can see, when the young man who is the MC (Okey Bakassi) announced that he had gifts for people above 50 years, more that 50 people came out. I am 78 years old and I looked round the hall and I saw some of my contemporaries there. Even, you also saw how very well the old people danced”, said Chief Nwakandu. Parading the likes of Omawumi, MI, Wizkid and Flavour, and

with guest appearances by the duo of Nollywood actors, Charles Awurum and Victor Osuagwu, the show offered the crowd a funfilled evening and kept them dancing and rocking all through the event. Jennifer Njoku, one of the guests at the show said, “in a long while, Aba had not had so much fun like we are having tonight. And with the number and calibre of artistes Globacom has brought to perform at this show, Aba is being prepared for a fun-filled festive season. Kudos to Globacom”. Henry Nwabinike, the leader of the Ghetto All Stars Dance Crew, which gave a superlative

performance at the show, submitted: “in all the years of my dancing career, I had never performed at a huge platform like the Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce show. This is a rare opportunity Globacom has given to us and we shall forever be grateful to Glo for this privilege. For Ihetu Adaobi, a pregnant woman who won the rapping competition, she said, “it will go down in history that the Aba Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce delivered to us a full package of entertainment. Music is my passion and with the number of stars performing tonight, I can imagine the huge investment Globacom has committed to this show all to delight

us in Aba free of charge. I thank Glo for the opportunity to be part of tonight’s fun”. Among the dignitaries at the show were the Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Cosmos Ndukwe; the Senior Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Health and former Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikechi Nwabeke; two Special Assistants to the governor, Hon. John Okiyi Kalu and Hon. Bright Chinedu Ikeokwu. A host of others from the business community such as Mr. Innowni Obi and his wife, Mrs. Chinese Obi, Mr. Chimezie Chineye and Mrs. Chimezie Chioma.

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Noah’s Ark emerges top at LAIF Award DAVID AUDU

ne of Nigeria’s leading creative advertising agency, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited has emerged the overall best agency at the 2015 Lagos Advertising Ideas Festival, LAIF, held in Lagos recently. The Lanre Adisa led agency won a total of 10 awards including a Grand Prix, five Gold, two Silver and two Bronze plaques to emerge the number one agency for 2015 upstaging the old generation agencies including Insight, DDB among others. Noah’s Ark communication clinched the Grand Prix which is the only one awarded on the night for a Press Ad tagged Obama for Gala, one of the brand managed for UAC Foods Limited. The Grand Prix was the cutting edge for Noah’s Ark to emerge the best agency for 2015. The five Gold includes; Best Use of Photo Manipulation for its CSR campaign- Boko Halal (Naomi Za-

kariyah), another Gold was won in the Ad that never ran category (Press) for Gala tagged Gala Queen, the agency also won two gold in the Food and Consumables category one for Three Crowns Milk, (Outdoor) and the other for Gala (Obama) Press while the last Gold was for Indomie in the best use of copy (Print) for the Ramadan campaign. The Minime Chin Chin (POV Bus Stop) won the agency Silver in the Food & Consumables category while the other Silver was won in the Best Use of Photo Manipulation for Gala (Soyinka). The two Bronze plaques were won in Public, Political & Social category (Press) for Boko Halal (Grinding Stone) and Food and Consumables category for the Indomie (Ramadan). Speaking after the ceremony, the Executive Creative Director, Noah’s Ark Communication Limited, Mr. Abolaji Alausa described the feat as a well deserved honour and reward for creativity and excellence which the agency is reputed for.

Alausa remarked that emerging first in the 2015 LAIF awards ahead of the other leading advertising agencies in Nigeria poses a very big challenge for the agency to continue to strive to improve in the quality of creative work. Reacting to the exploit of the agency at the 10th edition of LAIF in a mail sent to the entire staff of the agency and the group at large, the Group Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Group, Mr. Lanre Adisa congratulated the team while noting that the agency is now one of the best agencies in Africa. ‘’I am also proud of our Clients for allowing us to do great works, the fact that we crowned the night with a Grand Prix on the 10th Anniversary of LAIF is indeed historic and symbolic.’’ He added Adisa then charged the Noah’s Ark team not to relent and continue to push the limit of creativity until the agency achieve the dream of being the first agency in Nigeria to win a Cannes Lion.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Samantha’s Bistro & Grill restaurant opens in Lagos DAVID AUDU

ormer publisher and Editorin-Chief of Side View Magazine, Dumebi Agbakoba, have extended her creative dexterity to the kitchen as she formerly launched a high brow restaurant located in Lagos state recently. Speaking on the occasion, Dumebi who is the Head Chef, said the opening of the restaurant was a lifelong dream comes true, saying she has clung on to her first love, food and Samantha’s Bistro & Grill restaurant was a dream fulfilled. The restaurant is made of a bitro, cafe and outdoor grill; while the indoor is the bistro and bar, the outdoor is the village grill and the cafe is for easy relaxing drinks and bar. She said despite working in the media before, she had forever clung on to her first love, food. “Now ready for a fresh challenge, I am transitioning into the role of private chef, maximising my natural flair for cooking that I had from a young age, and my ability to cook dishes that don’t just tickle the taste buds, but absolutely ravish them. “She is bringing with her a

wealth of discipline that has been gained from years of professionalism and combines with a natural talent that is well trained in the kitchen, with methodical practice and a spark that stands out from everybody else”. Dumebi promised to infuse her knowledge of Italian, French and Nigerian food “to create an ever changing seasonal menu, which is expected to be modern eclectic menu that will feature Jacqueline Bonssergent breakfast burger and a classic cheese burger done the American way with Caramelised onions”. The mother of three with the ability and drive to juggle her career with her children, she is said to be constantly experimenting with exciting new recipes and strives to deliver something that is not only technically brilliant, but tastes amazing, too. “Aromas, textures, nostalgia, layers, scents, sensations, moreish taste and a dash of just knowing what works all goes in to her cooking, with her talent as a chef steadily maturing.

Experts to train 100 SMEs Start-Ups on branding DAVID AUDU

T Glo Brand Ambassador, Charles Awurum, Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Cosmos Ndukwe; female artiste, Omawumi; Senior Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Health, Hon. Ikechi Nwabeke, and Glo Brand Ambassador, Victor Osuagwu, at the Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert held at Binez Hotel, Aba, Imo State, on Saturday

KNORR restate commitments to reduce iron deficiency anaemia DAVID AUDU

ne of Unilever Nigeria’s brands, Knorr, has restated its commitment to help reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in Nigeria, through its Knorr social mission, aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians with a special focus on teenage girls and maternal health. Knorr’s social mission is a demonstration of the brand’s fight against iron deficiency anaemia through its unique culture of good nutrition targeted at making nutritious meals a priority, easy to achieve and more desirable. In partnership with its brand ambassadors, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and her daughter, Meraiah, Knorr is propagating the Knorr social mission tagged Green Food Steps. The Green Food Steps

encourages Nigerian mothers to toss leafy green vegetables into their stew, stir it all together and crumble in iron-enriched Knorr cubes to achieve a tasty, nutritious and iron rich Knorr Stew for healthy living. Knorr’s Green Food Steps campaign is part of the brand’s social mission to improve the quality of life through healthy nutrition by getting Nigerian mothers who are the cooks of today, and teens, the cooks of tomorrow, to adopt simple cooking behaviours the Knorr Way, and enrich the nutritional value of their weekly meals. The quick steps showcase that it is easy for people to effectively change their cooking habits without compromising on flavour, time, or cost. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia amongst women and young adults and eat-

ing food with too little iron over an extended period of time can actually cause iron shortage in the body. Reports say that In Nigeria, almost 1 in 2 women of reproductive age are anaemic and 50% of these cases are caused by iron deficiency. Explaining the rationale behind the campaign, Mrs. Nsima OgediAlakwe, Brand Building Director - Foods, Unilever Nigeria Plc said the campaign is part of Unilever’s commitment to bringing the UN global goals to life through its Knorr social mission, which is aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians with a special focus on teenage girls and maternal health. “Through our social mission campaign, Knorr is championing the fight against iron deficiency, giving hope to two billion people worldwide who suffer from micronutrient deficiencies”, She added.

he Executive Director of Rain Oil Ltd, Mrs. Godrey Ogbeche and Lead Consultant Thixtle/ Convener African-CEO Roundtable on CSR, Mrs. Ini Onuk, are among experts that will train over 100 startups at the 2015 Brand Forum on the importance of branding for local businesses. Holding this Friday, the organizer of the event, Thots & Works, stated that the theme for the 2015 edition of the forum is “Starting Small Growing Big”. The experts are expected develop the capacity of participating small and medium enterprises in the area of using branding and positioning to grow their businesses from local, national to global reckoning.

The Chief Executive Officer of Thots & Works, Mrs. Ayanfeoluwa Ogunleye explained her company discovered that most SMEs have erroneous mindset that branding is an exclusive right of bigger brands such as MTN, Coca-Cola. She, however, stated that Ogbeche, one of the experts, who started her oil business with N300, 000 will share the nuggets for positioning and branding a local brand for global competitiveness. “We are bringing people who have grown a local brand to global reckoning. They will come to enlighten us on what it takes to grow a local business to global brand status. Participation is free. People can visit www.eventbrite.com to register for the forum which takes place this week Friday,” she noted.

GOtv offers subscriber seasons freebies

n the spirit of the festive season, new and existing GOtv subscribers are being treated to another exciting end-of-year campaign tagged ‘GO Pick Ya Own’. The festive offer will give new subscribers three months complimentary viewing of all GOtv channels, while existing subscribers will be rewarded with household items. For new subscribers, the GO Pick Ya Own offer is irresistible as N6,900 now gives new subscribers a GOtv DVB-T2 decoder, three months GOtv Plus subscription and an outdoor antenna (GOtenna). GOtv offers two bouquets – GOtv

Plus and GOtv Value. At the expiration of the complimentary three months, subscribers can choose either the GOtv Plus bouquet for a monthly subscription of N1,800 which gives over 40 channels, or GOtv Value for N1,200 monthly with over 25 channels. Existing subscribers are not left out on this festive season delight as subscribers who renew their subscriptions and thereafter send a text with the words ‘YES’ and ‘PICK’ with their IUC number to the short code, 4688 will automatically qualify for the weekly draws and a chance to win exciting items.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Matheba, Dare host The Future Awards Stories by LEONARD OKACHIE

outh Africa’s favourite media personality, BonangMethaba and award-winning artiste and music entrepreneur Dare ArtAlade have been announced as announced as the hosts of the 10th anniversary of the The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) 2015 by the Central Working Committee. The hosts represent the best of young Africans from across the continent, and will be presenting the 10th year celebrations of TFAA in grand style. Darey returns as a host after first hosting in 2009. “I am excited to be coming to Nigeria for The Future Awards Africa,” said Matheba, who is also the first international brand ambassador for Revlon. “This is an exceptional platform telling Africa’s story in a unique, impactful way. Young Africans see these nominees and winners and have been inspired over the past 10 years to act right, to get involved and to live their dreams to the fullest.” Darey just released his 4th studio album #Naked, highlighting a career at the top of songwriting, performing, running a music label and hosting West Africa’s most prestigious

events. “The Future Awards Africa is Africa’s biggest youth event because consistently for 10 years they have celebrated efforts of youths across the continent,” Darey said. “It’s an honour to be a part of this landmark celebration, and I am excited to be back on the TFAA stage!” The Future Awards Africa 2015 - celebrating 10 years! - is presented by RED and UBA. The award is held in partnership with the British High Commission, the FordFoundation, Microsoft, the US Consulate, the Canadian High Commission, Sterling Bank and The Tony Elumelu Foundation. The Future Awards Africa (official hashtag: #TFAA10) will hold on 6 December in Lagos, Nigeria at the Intercontinental Hotel. The Future Awards Africa has been called the ‘Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, and the ‘most important youth awards’ by Forbes. It is a set of prizes given annually to celebrate and accelerate innovation, creativity and enterprise amongst young Africans aged 18 – 31 and has produced over 150 winners and over 1550 nominees since its first edition in 2006. It is presented in conjunction with The Future Project,

Students’ admission portal joins French start-up

igerian start-up, 1Plify. com has been selected among 11 other start-ups to join NUMA, a French accelerator with interests in the India’s tech eco-system. This follows a rigorous selection process which received over 200 applications across India. NUMA Bengaluru is the first 6-month mentor driven accelerator and growth program for entrepreneurs in India. “The entire NUMA Bengaluru team is excited to have 1Plify as one of the first cohort of start-ups we will be accelerating. We are revved up to deliver maximum value to these startups. Everything has been put in place to fast track the growth of all the start-ups we have on board. We are convinced that the next 6 months is going to be redefining for these start-ups,” says CEO of NUMA Bengaluru, Naresh Narasimhan. During the acceleration program, NUMA will provide bootstrapping financing, office

space, access to over 400 mentors and industry experts, network of 40,000 IT and end user community, and access to over 500 international investors among other benefits. “We are delighted to join NUMA. As we continue to make admissions easier for students through our portal, the acceleration program is a good step in aiding our growth efforts. It is great to have an international accelerator such as NUMA supporting us on this mission,” says OluwatobiSoyombo, Co-founder of 1Plify.com. NUMA is the first accelerator in Paris and has accelerated over 100 start-ups since 2011. About 65 per cent of NUMA start-ups have gone on to raise funds after the program. The acceleration program will take place in Bangalore, India’s Information Technology capital. 1Plify is a portal that connects students directly to institutions of their choice around

Bonang

which has a mandate to build empowered citizens across Africa, through (inclusive) enterprise and (active) citizenship.

Dare

This focus on Human Capital Development is informed by our value proposition: Africa’s growth needs a generation of

young people who are gainfully employed and able to demand and secure better leadership.

the world, allowing them apply directly to any of 1Plify partnered institutions. Till date, 1Plify has partnered with institutions in the UK, France, Cyprus, India, Dubia, Vietnam and Philippines, with a working plan to expand to other countries as well as add more institutions to offer students more options.

Unemployed youths in Lagos trained on ICT

o fewer than 1000 unemployed youths in Lagos State have received training on IT Digital Entepreneurship Skills by the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology. A statement signed by Lagos State Commisioner for Science and Technol-

ogy, Mr. Olufemi Odubiyi, in Lagos, urged the youths to utilise the privilege to become self-employed by improving their skills and become fully committed to micro-working. According to the statement, the workshop should not be seen as mere propaganda, but a commitment from government to curb unemployment, urging the participants to get the best

Youth applicants at the Immigration recruitment exercise in 2014.

out of the workshop, by joining in the new phase of work and moving online. It noted that the commissioner appealed to the participants, who were drawn from all over the state, to ensure that they internalized the new opportunity offered them to become employers of labour. “The training session which was held in five batches of 200 participants each, was meant for Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduates with basic computer knowledge on how to expand their knowledge about online work, which will serve as a source of income for the job seekers,’’ it said. The statement said that the participants, upon completion of the workshop, were expected to be well grounded in graphic design, programming, instructional designs, web designs, report writing

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, December 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Upper Room Baptist Church rewards excellence in youths Dare Akogun

pper Room Baptist Church held its Excellence Award ceremony for Public Secondary School in Kosofe Zone, Education District II of Lagos at its headquarters recently. The award which was its second edition of the Excellence Award which was established in 2012 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the church is aimed at rewarding excellence and improving the education sector of the state. General Overseer of the church, Pastor Oluleke Akinola pointed that the church’s purpose for instituting the

award is to acknowledge, recognise and reward annually good performance in public secondary schools in Kosofe zone on the basis of West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination. “It is a corporate social responsibility programme which we believe will encourage hard work among students, teachers and principal irrespective of religion or tribe. “There is no gainsaying that government alone cannot bring the changes we desire in the country rather it will be through the efforts of corporate organizations and individuals, as they need our support to achieve a better society,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Lagos State Education District II Barrister (Mrs.) Solarin Margaret Titilayo noted that the state government always appreciates partnership in the field of education especially from religious organisation. Mrs. Tititlayo who represented the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the event pointed that the state government is working assiduously to tackle all the problems confronting the state especially security of lives and properties. Ambode appealed to the general public to ensure they pay their taxes, because the bulk of funds used by govern-

ment to execute projects that will be of benefit to the populace come from it. The recipients of the awards are the three best overall students in WAEC includes Adebo Amos Ehije of Ikosi Senior High School, Ketu, Igwe Timothy Ugochukwu, Mende senior High School, Mende Maryland and Alebiosu Simbiat, Ikosi Senior High school, who came first, second and third respectively. In the schools category, Comprehensive Senior High, Alapere-Ketu emerged the best school with 88 per cent pass rate, Mende Senior High School came second with 85 per cent while Ayedere Ajibola Senior High School came third with 80 per cent.

Youth mentoring linked to many Why is the Sun yellow? positive effects –Study M Science for Kids

Youths in a mentoring class

he Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada (BBBSC) have released the first results of one of the largest mentoring studies ever conducted. The five-year study, which tracks the experiences of almost 1,000 children and teenagers registered with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across Canada, found that those with a mentor are significantly more confident in their academic abilities and considerably less likely to display behavioural problems. One stand out finding is that girls in the study with a Big Sister were four times less likely to bully, fight, lie or express anger than girls without a mentor. “This ground-breaking research confirms that mentoring changes the trajectory of young lives,” says Bruce MacDonald, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC). “The findings will have a profoundly beneficial impact on our mentoring programs.” The study was conducted by a team of academics led by Dr. David DeWit, a

senior research scientist CAMH in London, Ontario, and Dr. Ellen Lipman, a psychiatrist and Professor at McMaster University in Hamilton. The research was made possible by a $1.7 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The study’s findings are expected to bring about significant advances in how the agencies of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) deliver mentoring services. Expected outcomes are more specialized pre-match training for the child, parents and mentor; more effective match support for all three participants to better manage expectations and earlier detection of special needs among children and teenagers. BBBSC believes that this landmark study’s legacy will be longer and more successful matches and mentoring that is more closely tailored to individual needs. “We showed that the positive findings held regardless of the children’s age, personal history, family circumstances or cultural identity,” explained Dr. De-

Wit. “Over time, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies will be able to counsel mentors on how best to engage with their ‘Little’ and will make it easier to identify the children most likely to benefit from having a mentor.” Key findings: •Girls with a Big Sister are two and a half times more likely than girls without a mentor to be confident in their ability to be successful at school. •Boys with a Big Brother are three times less likely than boys without a mentor to suffer peer pressure related anxiety, such as worrying about what other children think or say about them. •Mentored boys are two times more likely to believe that school is fun and that doing well academically is important. •Mentored boys are also two times less likely than non-mentored boys to develop negative conducts like bullying, fighting, lying, cheating, losing their temper or expressing anger. Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

ost pictures of the Sun depict it as a yellow heavenly body. The primary reason why the Sun appears yellow is the fact that it is made up of gases such as hydrogen and helium along with other elements like sulfur, magnesium, carbon, neon, iron, oxygen, nickel, chromium and calcium. The interaction of these elements caused by the nuclear fusion and collision of their ions makes the surface of the Sun reach temperatures to about 10 000 Fahrenheit. The very hot temperature of its different layers makes the Sun to have white colour. The scattering of light particles in the earth’s atmosphere when the Sun is gazed from earth gives it yellow colour. The scattering of light particles is also the same reason for the colours of different objects around us. When light particles enter the atmosphere, blue light is filtered giving the sky its very cool blue colour. Most of the red light particles are left which at times appear yellow when we look at the Sun. At sunset more blue light is scattered than normal making the Sun appear darker in shades of red or orange. A theory associated with light scattering is the human eye’s interpretation of the light seen. When light is scattered and strikes the retina of the eyes, it gets processed by the visual cortex and sends signals to the brain which then tells that the Sun’s colour is indeed yellow. Different animals have different eye structures. Some animals do not have eye cones like humans do. Due to this, other animals might interpret the Sun’s colour in shades of grey because their retinas have black-white sensitive rods instead of the eye cones. Other animals such as dogs and cats have some level of colour blindness, so when they look into the Sun, it might not even appear as yellow. Source: Planet Facts

Yellow sun

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, December 3, 2015

araba State- owned newspaper, Nigeria Sunrise, has been facing some challenges in recent time, leading to the paper’s disappearance from the newsstand. In this report, our correspondent in Taraba, JUSTIN TYOPUUSU, takes a look at the plight of the staff who have not been paid for the past 15 months and wonders whether the paper will ever return to newsstand. For over 15 months, Nigeria Sunrise newspaper, a Taraba State-owned newspaper has been off the newsstand. The absence of the paper has become a source of worry for the teeming readers and staff of the company who are facing untold hardship having been out of work for so long. Former governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Danfulani Suntai in 2009 engaged the services of a veteran journalist and media consultant Mr. Danjuma Adamu to establish a state newspaper that would project government policies and programmes. Staff recruitment was conducted on December 15, 2010 and by January of 2011 the paper hit the newsstand. Within a spate of three months, the paper captured all the states in the North East, Benue, Nasarawa and Abuja in the North Central and established a bureau in Kaduna to take care of the North West. The paper’s editorial content and quality was same as that of national dailies and its standard was far above other state- owned newspapers in the country. There were no issues in the payment of staff salaries and production until the unfortunate air mishap of Governor Suntai on October 25, 2012. National Mirror gathered that though Suntai did not send a bill to the House of Assembly backing the establishment of the paper, he was funding the paper directly from his office. He was releasing money twice a year (every six months) to take care of publication and payment of salaries. It was also gathered that Garba Umar who succeeded Suntai in acting capacity managed to sustain the legacy and kept the paper on the stand till August, 2014. Though he tried to maintain the legacy, Umar reduced the funding from six months to three months. Salaries of over 92 staff and productions started witnessing delays; sometimes staff go without salaries for three months, an indication that all was not well. Babangida Umar, a regular reader of the paper blamed the misfortune of the paper on the desperation of Garba Umar to rule the state by all means, saying Umar UTC wasted the state resources in his bid to become governor in 2015, plunging the state into debts running to over 22 billion naira. The situation he said affected the state including the paper, ‘Nigeria Sunrise.’ “The state was in a serious financial crisis before Alhaji Garba Umar was ousted. The then acting governor was busy giving hundreds of millions in

Nigeria Sunrise newspaper: Will the sun rise again?

Nigeria Sunrise office

Ex-Governor Suntai

Abuja to secure PDP nomination and that was why the N34 million cheque he issued to the company was not honoured by Zenith Bank. But I hope by the time the state government access the bailout fund, it would consider the company and the sun would rise again,” he said. Some staff of the company who spoke to National Mirror wondered why government was paying the state civil servants but chose to neglect them. One of them said they have been patient enough, but the situation was getting out of hand. “Even if government does not want to continue with the production of the newspaper, our salaries should be paid. Families are suffering, we keep hearing promises without any thing coming out of them,” one of the concerned staff lamented. The staff who spoke on condition of

anonymity wondered why the state government was paying the salaries of other civil servants in the state but had refused to pay salaries of the over 92 staff working in the state owned newspaper outfit for 15 months. Just recently, a 76-year-old Abel Orih a staff writer with the newspaper died of a common disease that ordinarily he would have treated himself, if his salary was regular. A staff of the company told our correspondent in Jalingo. Today, many staff of the company cannot afford to pay the school fees of their children and wards in private schools and have transferred them to public schools, just as many have taken to farming and other petty jobs to earn a living. Governor Darius Ishaku had during a dinner with journalists in the state promised that he would soon ‘rise the sun,’ but

months after, there is no sign that the governor would rise the sun soon. Following this development, indications emerged recently that members of staff of the company are planning a protest to the state House of Assembly to demand for their intervention. According to a source in the meeting where the protest was planned, the staff were of the opinion that government did not feel their pains, arguing that government cannot claim it does not have money when it procured brand new Land Cruiser Jeeps for 24 members of the state assembly and was paying staff salaries monthly. The source said the state government had at its maiden state executive council meeting approved N1.7billion for the digitisation of state broadcast media outfits in the state, but failed to comment on the plight of staff of the company who have not been paid for over a year. “We have been silent over the situation waiting patiently and hoping that government would address the matter, but it is now clear that government did not care about us. We were employed by government and government cannot abandon us midway like that. “We were employed like any other staff of government and we do go to the same market like other citizens of the state that are being paid, so why are we been treated like outcast. But reacting to the development and claims by the staff of the company, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Sylvanus Yakubu Giwa in a text message to National Mirror said, very soon the issue would be solved as the governor recently had a meeting with consultant on the matter and in no distant future, the paper will bounce back.

Media

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Ayade promises stronger tie with media Richard Ndoma Calabar

overnor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, has said that one of his administration’s policy trust, was to form stronger tie with the media to enable him achieve meaningful development for the state. Ayade made the remark while receiving an ``Award of Excellence as Grand Patron of NUJ, Cross River State ’’ presented to him by the state council of NUJ during the Union`s Gala/Award Night ceremony held last weekend in Calabar. Ayade, said that he was happy for the honour done him and described the award as a morale booster and stressed that the award was surely going to spur him in the task ahead. ``I am excited and humbled for this award, especially as it is my first award by any organization since my assumption of office. “I assure you that I will work with the media for the full realisation of our collective dream of making Cross River State the most industrialised and economically viable state in Nigeria, ‘’ Ayade added. The governor stated that no respon-

Gov Ayade

sible government can succeed in the task of leading his people without working in one accord with the media given the fact that the media plays a very significant role in the task of nation building. Ayade lauded the NUJ for the award and promised not to disappoint them and the entire people of the state. The NUJ also conferred various categories of awards on some deserving individuals, corporate organizations and posthumous awards to some departed

colleagues. One of the awardees, His Holliness Olumba Olumba Obu was honoured by the NUJ as an Outstanding Patron, following his outstanding contributions to the state NUJ. Other awardees are: the Chief Medical Director of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr. Thomas Agan; Chairman of Cross River State Water Board Ltd, Ntufam Ekpo Okon and General Manager of Cross River Basin Development Authority Mrs. Etta Eyo-Eta. The former member of House of Representatives Hon. Obeten Okom was given an Excellence Award while Mr Frank Effa also received excellence award. Two corporate organizations, Asi Ukpo Diagnostic Center Calabar and Bakor Specialist Hospital were honoured for their contributions to the improvement of the health sector. Many of the awardees in their various responses praised NUJ for recognising their modest contributions to the growth of the society. Speaking also at the occasion, Chairman of NUJ Cross River State council, Mr. Ndoma Akpet stated that the awards were in recognition of the contributions of the awardees to the service of humanity.

Adibua, Do2dtun, others for MTV Naija Hottest Artist debate Stories by LEONARD OKACHIE

TV Base has released the names of those on the panel for the hotly anticipated all-new TV special, Naija’s Hottest Artist 2015 Roundtable. Music entrepreneur Olisa Adibua leads the line up alongside editor in Chief, Pulse Nigeria, Osagie Alonge and OAP Do2dtun. The trio are joined by OAP Omalicha, OAP Sade Ladipo, DJ Spinall and MTV VJ, Ehiz. Featuring a no-holds barred panel discussion-cum-argument, the show pits panel members against each other as Sade Ladipo, Osagie Alonge and Omalicha constantly disagree with Olisa, DJ Spinall and Do2dtun on who should be on the list and at what position. Commenting on the reason behind the selection, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Viacom International, Alex Okosi stated, “ Nigerian music has evolved from where it was ten years ago and with the aid of the panelists we have chosen, we hope that the Base Naija Hottest Artist 2015’ will spark up the kind of conversations we need among music fans, thought leaders and critics in order to improve on the type of music we put out there and produce some of the best talents globally and not just Africa alone.” The show ranks the year’s ten biggest performing artists in Nigeria using a list of six criteria namely: Style, Impact, Sales/Success, Buzz, Music and Intangibles. It features enhanced audience interaction with viewers and music fans who can get involved by tweeting their favourite artist’s name to @MTVBaseAfrica using the hashtag #BaseNaijaHottestArtist.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

African broadcasters tasked on quality content

resident Muhammadu Buhari has charged broadcasters in Africa to invest in quality media content in order to impact positively on their target audiences. Buhari gave the charge at the Ninth African Union of Broadcasters’ (AUB) General Assembly held in Abuja. The President was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. He said that the creation of content and world-class production had the capacity to create jobs as well as provide revenue for the government and quality entertainment capable of increasing broadcasters’ share of the advertising benefits. He said: “It is the creation of content and world class production that will create jobs, provide revenue for government and quality entertainment capable of increasing the broadcasters’ share of the advertising pie. “Therefore, I challenge you to be the stimulant for growth in your creative industries and serve the promotion of culture. “You must not lose the younger generation, who are fast changing their view of television, what they watch and how they watch it. “If the issue of content is not addressed urgently, public broadcasters in Africa that once dominated the broadcasting landscape will have no viewers in the next 10 years. ``Equally important, is the Digital Switch Over (DSO). ``This must not see the Digital Switch Over as a simple crossover from Analogue to Digital, but an opportunity to provide enhanced services, quality programming, interactive content, and a new and vibrant media industry that will help grow the economy of the various African countries and create more jobs.’’ Buhari said that Nigeria had recorded significant progress in its digitisation effort, adding that it would willingly share experiences with AUB member countries He urged the assembly, formerly known as the Union of African National Television and Radio Organisations (URTNA), to retake the initiative of ensuring that more African viewers watched global sport events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

L-R: Osagie Alonge, Shade Ladipo and Olisa Adibua

12 finalists emerge for Wole Soyinka Award

welve journalists have emerged as finalists for the 2015 edition and 10th anniversary of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting. The shortlist includes Fisayo Soyombo of The Cable, Adekunle Yusuf of The Nation, Chukwuemeka Emenike of The New Telegraph, Sumner Sambo of Television Continental, Motunrayo Joel and Adedayo Odusanya of The Punch, Ikechukwu Ibe of The Daily Trust, Emmanuel Ogala and Bassey Udo of Premium Times, Ayodele Ojo of The Sun, Asukwo Bassey of Business Day and Kikelomo

Abosede Ifekoya of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). According to the statement by the Centre Coordinator, Motunrayo Alaka, the winning stories were selected out of a total of one-hundred and thirty entries by a panel of judges chaired by veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede. Other members of the panel include Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, a lecturer at the Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos; Umaru Pate, a Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri;

Boye Ola, a lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ); Editor of Sunday Trust, Theophilus Abbah; Gbile Oshadipe, a lecturer at the NIJ; the Dean of the Lagos State University School of Communications, Lai Oso; and the NIJ Provost, Gbemiga Ogunleye. The award presentation ceremony where winners will be unveiled will hold at the same venue where the maiden edition of the award event held in 2005, the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Wednesday 9 December, 2015 by 5pm.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos Okada riders sue NURTW over leadership imposition Abolaji Adebayo

he leadership of Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, MOALS, Zone A, has protested an alleged attempt by the Lagos State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, to disband them on the guise of preventing a situation of violence in MOALS ZONE A, Lagos State. Consequently, the Okada riders have filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, suit number FHC/C/CS/1811/15, MOALS ZONE A, praying the court to restrain the NURTW from acting as a superior and supervisory body over them. They are also asking the court to stop the purported appointment of a crop of NURTW members as new leaders for Okada rider under the pretense of coming to resolve an internal crisis in the MOALS

News

Thursday, December 3, 2015

ZONE A. In addition, the suit is also urging the court to declare the acts and conducts of NURTW and its leaders as unlawful, illegal, inconsistent and amounting to a flagrant infringement of their ‘’applicants’’ fundamental human rights. The plaintiffs are also asking for an order of injunction restraining the NURTW from violating the applicant’s rights to freedom of association and personal liberty. When National Mirror visited the NURTW secretariat at number 360, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway,head of the 5-man-fact-finding committee, Alhaji Akeem Adetola, declined to confirm service of any summons. It was however, alleged that the committee has concluded plan to take over the reins of power at the Okada-MOALS ZONE ‘A’ secretariat which is adjacent to the NURTW building.

Group donates relief materials to Okobaba fire victims Patience Ogbo

uccour has come the way of hundreds of residents of Okobaba community in EbuteMetta area of Lagos State whose houses and businesses were engulfed by fire early last month. Following the fire incident many of the residents had resorted to begging, while others sleep outside in the open haven

lost all their properties to the fire. After waiting for assistance from the government to no avail, a group called Team Social Media, led Mr. Mike Achimugu an Abuja based philanthropist stormed the community on November 21 and distributed relief materials to the victims of the fire. Achimugu said: “One of our friends pasted the story of the Okobaba fire incident on facebook

and I initiated an appeal fund for the victims and friends contributed to the fund. Our members came from far and near to put smiles on the faces of these people. “Social media can be used for good and bad. I encourage members of the public that nothing is too small to give to alleviate the plight of the less privileged. I had to sell my car for this course. I believe that we should make sacrifices to put smiles on

the faces of others especially the less privileged,” he stated. The traditional ruler of the community, Chief Musbau Junadu, expressed joy over the donation, saying that it is a big surprise from an unexpected quarter. Items donated by the group includes bags of rice, beans, toiletries, garri, detergents, insecticide, disinfectants, mosquito nets, blankets and cash to hundreds of residents.

Community petitions IG over unlawful arrest Francis Ekpone ONITSHA

alpable tension is gradually brewing at Umunze community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State following the recent arrest and detention of two community leaders, Mr. Sylvester Madumere and Mr. Lebechukwu Okafor who were arrested since day of October 20, 2015 and detained till date on the order of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 9 Umuahia, Mr. Usman Gwari. In a petition signed by the Vice Chairman of Umucheke Development Union, Mr. Peter Igwebuike, and his secretary Livinus Nwafor, the community called on the IG to investigate the alleged armed robbery and the death of Ole, who they said died in far away Zaria. They expressed shock that one Jude Umunnakwe petitioned the Anambra Commissioner of Police, Hassan Karma, through his lawyer, alleging armed robbery against the chairman of Umucheke, Mr. Syl-

vester Madumere, which prompted the police to arrest the villagers indiscriminately. “We wrote a petition to the AIG over police unlawful arrest of our people, but surprisingly, the AIG of zone 9 with headquarters in Umuahia, ordered for the arrest of our two kinsmen that went to deliver the letter till date. “The said matter was not in any way investigated by the police before the mass arrest. So, we want our kinsmen released and the matter investigated properly. “We also want you to prosecute Jude Umunnakwe, and his cohorts for alleging that we killed Mr. Ole who died in far away Zaria and is still boasting that he has bought over the police. “The latest now is that they are planning with a medical practitioner in Nnewi, Anambra State to produce a fake autopsy result that will indict our community. We want the autopsy arrangement to be investigated too and transparent as they are trying to use their wealth to armtwist the result”

Head Media UBA Plc, Mr. Ramon Nasir; MD/CEO Trucontact Communications Limited, Mr. Ken Egbas; in handsake with Chairman of Brand Journalist Association of Nigeria (BJAN) Mr. Goddie Ofose (right) while Communication Manager; Coca- Cola Nigerian Ltd Sam Umukoro(2nd right), watch during the BJAN 2015 Annual Brands & Marketing Conference of held at Ibadan, recently.

Police charge 2 for abducting 11-yr-old girl Wale Igbintade

he Nigeria Police yesterday arraigned two persons; 27-yearold Sunday John and a 30 years old woman, Rita Idim before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court over alleged abduction and rape of an 11 year old girl (name withheld) The defendants who reside at Oribanwa area of Awoyaya in Lekki and Bamboo 1, Ikota Housing Estate, Lekki, respectively were arraigned before Magistrate O.A Ogunbowale. The defendants are facing a four count charge bordering on conspiracy, abduction, assault and unlawful sexual intercourse, preferred against them by the police. The prosecutor, Asu Fed-

dy, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences on October 26, 2015 at about 4pm, at Ikota Housing Estate Ikota, Lekki area of Lagos State. He said the defendants abducted the girl who is a niece of one Flora Udoh, whom the victim lives with. He further alleged that John on November 23, at Oribanwa area of Lekki

had unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl without her consent. The prosecutor also told the court that John engaged the victim on sexual activities, stating that the offences committed are punishable under sections 404,266, 259 and 263 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011. But, the defendants pleaded not guilty when

the charge was read to them. In a short ruling, the Magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. One of the sureties must be a relative, gainfully employed and their addresses verified. The case was adjourned till January 28, 2016, for mention.

Cleric tasks leaders on good governance

inister in charge of El’Ash Church of Christ Cherubim and Seraphim a.k.a. Ijo Olorun Alatileyin Kristi, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos, Elder Reuben Olabanji Ajayi, has reminded political office holders in the country to live up to expectations by discharging their responsibilities with

the fear of God. He also reminded them that they would be made to account for the responsibility given them and be judged according to their actions in office. Ajayi made the statement in a chat with newsmen during the celebration of the 20th anniversary and harvest thanksgiving of

the church tagged “Thou Defendest Them” recently. The cleric also frowned at what he described as escalating rate of corruption in the country, noting that it has had adverse effect on the nation’s development and called on all Nigerians to support government in its fight against the menace.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, December 3, 2015

World News In this new era, we are determined to cut spending that has no bearing with our march to true greatness as a nation. –TANZANIAN PRESIDENT, JOHN MAGUFULI

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

ussian military officials yesterday revealed what they say is hard evidence that Turkey is involved in an oil trade with ISIS, offering more detail on earlier claims that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has flatly denied. “We presented evidence how the illegal oil trade is carried out to finance the terrorist groups,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Anatoly Antonov, said, according to state media. “We know how much Erdogan’s words are worth,” Antonov added Officials presented photographs and videos that they said show links between Turkey and oil refineries in ISIS-controlled territory in Syria, estimating $3 million worth of oil per day was traversing this route before Russian airstrikes cut that roughly in half. Antonov also credited Russian journalists for their reports claiming one of Erdogan’s sons had a role in the scheme. “If they think the evidence is fake, let them make these areas available to journalists,” Antonov further said. Wednesday’s defense briefing is the latest verbal salvo since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on November 24. Turkish authorities maintained that the plane was giv-

ISIS oil link: Russia, Turkey trade words

Trudeau in ‘nannies’ saga Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was yesterday accused of hypocrisy after it was revealed he was using public money to pay for nannies to look after his children. During Trudeau’s campaign, he criticised the Conservative Party’s approach to child care benefits and argued that rich families didn’t need taxpayers’ help. Two nannies were hired as “special assistants” at the prime minister’s home under the Official Residences Act. The positions were approved last week by the cabinet, though the nannies will be paid for their work from November 4, the day Trudeau and his cabinet was sworn in. Section 7.1 of the Official Residence Act says that “a steward or housekeeper and such other employees” can be hired to manage the prime minister’s residence if considered necessary.

Ex-Guinean leader faces smuggling charge

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin en ample warning and was in Turkish airspace. But Moscow denied both assertions, saying the aircraft was downed over Syria. Erdogan had said on Sunday that he was saddened by the incident but refused to apologize. Hours after, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into

law various measures aimed at hurting Turkey economically. Erdogan countered the Russian claims to ISIS links, saying: “I will resign if Moscow’s claims are proven true because the nobility of our nation requires me to do this. But Putin should also resign if the allegations are not true.”

Sino-South Africa pact offers hope hinese President Xi Jinping arrived in South Africa yesterday for talks with President Jacob Zuma that are expected to focus on flagging investment and trade worth around $20 billion dollars a year. One South African cabinet minister said that bilateral deals were expected to be agreed during the meeting between both leaders and the government issued a statement, adding that the trade imbalance was one of the issues to be discussed. Trade between South Africa and China more than doubled in the four years to 2013 to 271 billion rand, the South African statistics office said. Xi will co-chair the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

AFRICAN BULLETIN

this week, with several African heads of state expected to attend, and the summit discussions are seen centering on whether China will extend new loans despite its slowing economy, while African states

South African President Jacob Zuma

may push for debt moratoriums and technology transfers. The Chinese president started his Africa tour in Zimbabwe on Tuesday where he witnessed the signing of 10 business agreements, including Beijing providing $1 billion for the country’s largest thermal power plant. China is Africa’s largest trading partner with trade amounting to $220 billion in 2014, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Its investments in Africa amounted to $32.4 billion at the end of 2014, according to a research. But China’s direct investment in Africa has fallen roughly 40 percent in the first half of 2015 to $1.19 billion, China’s commerce ministry said on November 17.

Gun battle claims Taliban leader

fghan Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, has been wounded in a gunfight at a meeting of militants in the Pakistani city of Quetta, reports said yesterday. A source close to the Taliban said shots were fired after an argument at the meeting, killing four people and seriously wounding Mansour. But the Taliban’s spokesman denied that the firefight took place. Mansour’s appointment prompted splits in the Taliban after its founder Mullah Omar’s death emerged in July and a number of senior Taliban commanders refused to pledge allegiance to him and a faction opposed to him was set up last month under Mullah Mohammad Rasool. It is not confirmed if the splinter faction were behind the attack. Some senior Taliban leaders had been suspicious of Mansour’s support for peace talks hosted by neighbouring Pakistan, and accused pro-Pakistani circles of installing him as the new leader.

Former Guinean president and serving African Union General, Sekouba Konate, has pleaded guilty to smuggling money into the US. The 51-year-old tried to sneak in more than $64, 000 (£42, 600) after arriving on a flight from Ethiopia in 2013 and faces up to five years in jail when he is sentenced next February, the US Department of Justice said yesterday. Known as “El Tigre” for his military prowess, Konate was in the junta which took power in December 2008 but handed over power in December 2010, after Guinea’s first democratic elections in 50 years and was appointed General Commander of the security forces of the African Union. He repeatedly said the questioning was improper given his status as a former president.

British terror suspect jailed A British man, Jermaine Grant, accused of plotting terror attacks on the Kenyan coast has been jailed for nine years in Mombasa. Grant, from London, was jailed for trying to illegally obtain Kenyan citizenship. He faces separate charges of “conspiring to improvise an explosive device” and a trial in Mombasa is ongoing. He denies the terror charges. Grant was arrested in 2011 when batteries and chemicals were discovered in his apartment in Mombasa. UK police, who have provided forensic assistance to Kenyan authorities, allege they were “precursors for making highly volatile explosive substances”. Samantha Lewthwaite, known as the “White Widow” and wanted in connection with the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005, is also suspected of being involved in the alleged plot.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Thursday, December 3, 2015

APC youth group rejects Yahaya Bello as Audu’s replacement WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

L.R: Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; his Special Assistant on Media Alhaji Imam Imam Agai and former Deputy Governor Alhaji Chiso Abdullahi , at the retreat for Political Office Holder and Senior Government Officials Organised, by Sokoto State Government in Kaduna, yesterday.

Panic in Jos as lion escapes Wildlife park JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

esidents of Jos and environs were yesterday gripped with fear following a lion’s escape from a wildlife park in the city. It was learnt that the animal escaped from a cage when it was being fed, a development that has created tension among residents.

Some, especially those living close to the park had to stay indoors for fear of being attacked. Acting General Manager of Plateau Tourism Corporation, John Doy, who confirmed the development, told journalists that the animal escaped at the early hours of yesterday. He said the lion, which had been caged since 1972, slipped through the gate

of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding. “It is believed that the animal is still within the premises of the park, and we are struggling to recapture it but we want members of the public to be vigilant,” he said. “We have already informed all security agencies to come to the park’s assistance,” he added. Spokesman of Plateau

State Police Command, DSP Abu Emmanuel, confirmed news of the escape to our correspondent on phone and said the park’s authorities were doing everything possible to recapture the animal. However, it was not clear if the lion had been killed by security operatives said to have launched a manhunt for it, a source from the wildlife park said yesterday.

Dogara appeals to Britain for help in resettling IDPs U BONG U KPONG ABUJA

peaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday, appealed to the government of the United Kingdom to assist in the resettlement and provision of basic services to internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Nigeria to avoid a global spill. The speaker, who said this when he received the British High Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright, and his entourage at the National Assembly yesterday, also appealed to the United Kingdom to help track crude oil thieves in the country. Acknowledging the role of Britain’s assistance to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism,

he noted that terrorism was a global problem that leaves victims displaced and in need of basic amenities. The speaker lamented that due to the poor revenue accrual to Nigeria as a result of dwindling oil prices in the global market, attending to these needs have become a serious challenge, hence the need for nations like Britain to come to Nigeria’s aid. He continued: “The best thing is for the international community to help us look after these IDPs so that we can contain them so that they don’t run into other neighbouring countries and spread from there. “We don’t have the required expertise; so if there is anything your home country can do

to help in the areas of accommodation, mobile schools, temporary hospitals, it would go a long way because these things are critical.” The speaker also appealed to the high commissioner to take up the training and retraining of the nation’s security agencies in order to wipe out terrorism, noting that though there was a December 2015 deadline to end the attacks, terrorist activists have increased, hence the need for assistance to end the scourge. On the issue of crude theft in the country, Hon. Dogara noted that “one of the problems we are experiencing in this country is the issue of crude theft and the lords of London can assist by tracking vessels to contain the theft.” While calling for col-

laboration in diversifying Nigeria’s economy to boost revenue and create jobs for the teeming number of school leavers in the country, the speaker urged Great Britain to invest meaningfully in the energy, tourism, agriculture and solid minerals sectors. Earlier, Arkwright had assured the speaker of Britain’s support in carrying out its duties as a parliament, adding that in any thriving democracy, the parliament is the corner stone. Saying his country is willing to help in any useful way, Arkwright encouraged the speaker to take its role of holding the executive to account, saying the legislature should continue to engage development partners, civil societies and constituents.

group, APC Youth Coalition for Good Governance, has rejected the nomination of Yahaya Bello as replacement for the late APC governorship candidate in the 21st November election, Prince Abubakar Audu, who died on November 22, 2015. While addressing journalists in Lokoja yesterday, spokesman of the group, Mr. Rotimi Sunday, stated that Hon. James Abiodun Faleke should be picked as authentic replacement for the late Prince Audu. Sunday explained that recent developments in the state have shaken the emotion of the people and their confidence in the APC, which has gone ahead to endorse Alhaji Bello, the first runner-up, who has since courted the attention of the opposition party and worked against the interest of APC in the gubernatorial election, stressing that this was confirmed by results of his base in Okene. “It is against this backdrop that we are

challenging the rational behind the selection of Alhaji Bello who had secretly pitched tent with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and worked assiduously for the success of it in polling units. He cannot reap where he did no sow. It is a moral issue,” he stated Sunday lamented that the decision of the APC leadership is the height of injustice and that it is a political aberration orchestration by the opposition party to collapse the structure of the late Prince Audu and make a mess of our toil and solidarity to the party. “We vehemently kick against such a move and will fight it with the last atom of our power, basing our fact on the wrongness instituted by the Independent National Electoral Commission for failing to declare Audu and Faleke as winner even when election had been won as enshrined in the constitution of the country,” he pointed out. He therefore called on the leadership of APC to revisit the party’s slogans of fairness, equity and justice.

Reps summon health minister for denying 58 Nigerians employment UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

ouse of Representatives yesterday summoned the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, to explain why his ministry denied employment for 58 Nigerians sent to it by the Federal Civil Service Commission. This resolution was sequel to a motion titled “Non - compliance by the Federal Ministry of Health with Federal Gover nment’s directive for employment of 58 Nigerians issued letters of employment by the Federal Civil Service Commission” brought by Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma. Moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that the Federal Government in 2014 had

directed the Civil Service Commission to employ qualified Nigerian graduates into the service to cushion the effects of unemployment in the country. He lamented that while other ministries, departments and agencies have since absorbed candidates sent to them by the commission the Ministry of Health was yet to absorb the 58 Nigerians sent to it. The lawmaker, while expressing concer n that the 2015 Appropriations Act captured the salaries and emoluments of the 58 Nigerians, wondered what happened to the funds appropriated for them. The House adopted the motion after it was put to a voice vote by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

North

Thursday, December 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sokoto must diversify revenue sources to survive –Tambuwal A ZA MSUE KADUNA

L-R: Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu; Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abubakar and Acting Rector, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, Malam Suleiman Lame, during the commissioning of Computer Based Test Centre, at the Polytechnic in Bauchi, yesterday.

Insurgency claims over 1,000 policemen in N’East –CP INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

ew Borno State Police Commissioner, Shuaibu Lawal Gambo, yesterday said the police have lost over 1,000 of its men to insurgency over the last six years in the North East.

CP Gambo, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on Governor Kashim Shettima at Government House, Maiduguri, however, stated that Borno will soon witness lasting peace. He said he was determined to work assiduously to ensure that in-

surgency ravaging the country was brought to an end within December deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari. “The IGP has given me a mandate to come and serve the people of Borno State. God willing, we will work hard to see that Borno regains its lost glory as ‘Home of Peace.’” He commended Borno people for cooperating with security agencies by giving useful information and urged them to continue the good work, adding that the state government also within its meager

resources has assisted the police and other security agencies in the effective discharge of their duties. Responding, Governor Shettima said with the new commissioner’s background as immediate past commissioner in charge of Counter-terrorism, he believes the IGP was putting a round peg in a round hole and would bring his experience to bear in ending insurgency in the state. He said: “The Borno government will continue to give the police all necessary support to succeed, as no mean-

ingful development could be achieved without peace.” Shettiima requested the police high command to equip the police in the state with sophisticated weapons, as Boko Haram insurgents wield even more sophisticated weapons. He said the state government has procured 40 Hilux vehicles, renovated Benisheik and Gwange and Jakana police stations, assuring that his government would continue to support the police to achieve their mandate.

Why cancer is rising in Nigeria –Radiographers’ Board OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

egistrar, Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria, RRBN, Sunday Opaleke, has attributed rising cases of cancer in Nigeria to wrong diagnoses often carried out by quacks. As part of moves to check activities of quacks in the sector, the registrar hinted that the board had constituted a committee to review the database of all radiographers and radiograph centres across the country.

Opaleke spoke in Abuja during a leadership retreat organised for zonal heads of RRBN in collaboration with Blueace Management Consultants. He stated that efforts were being made by the board to increase the tempo of awareness on wrong diagnosis by establishing more zonal offices to monitor radiography activities across the nation. According to him, at present the board has zonal offices in Port Harcourt, Asaba, Lagos, Calabar, Sokoto and Kano. He said, “We have a

database of all radiographers and all the radiography centres across the country. Be that as may, we want to review the database to accommodate emerging trends. New centres are coming on stream daily. We are going to commission a committee that will handle that very soon. “Before I came into office, we only had two zonal offices, one in Enugu and another in Kano. There is no way we will be in Lagos and monitor all that is happening across the country. If we are to check quackery, we must have men on

ground. To achieve this will entail having offices in all the states of the federation. But we cannot do that now because of lack of adequate manpower and resources. And that is why we are currently operating a zonal structure.” On the effects of quackery in the sector, he added, “Quackery in the system raises incidence of cancer in the population because of wrong diagnosis. Radiation is dangerous; it causes cancer and when somebody is not trained, and he handles diagnosis, there is that possibility of danger.

okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday said the state must diversify its revenue sources if it hopes to survive and ensure meaningful future for its citizens. Tambuwal at a twoday retreat organised for political office holders and senior government officials from Sokoto in Kaduna, said though various states now face financial challenge, looking inwards and away from federal allocation guarantees future security. Tambuwal urged the participants to reduce rancour and promote cooperation for the smooth running of government. He said friction among functionaries of government, irrespective of whatever arms or tier they belong to, is only possible if they resort to personal or selfish indulgence as against genuine commitment to public interests. He said as the societ-

ies evolve, governments must evolve new ways to deliver quality service to the citizens. Tambuwal said: “Public service today faces varied challenges which we may not have been taught while we were in school. With the advent of social media and citizen awareness, it has become imperative for us to run the affairs of government in the most transparent manner. “So, we envisage that deliberations and brainstorming sessions at this retreat will have far-reaching impact in evolving policies and programmes that will guide us to address the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate, who gave us their mandate with the hope that we will ensure good governance. “Roles and functions have been clearly streamlined and procedures sufficiently articulated and delineated. I strongly believe that ambiguities are only created if, and only if, public need is sacrificed on the altar of vested interest.”

Child Rights’ Act: Discordant tunes in Gombe parley Williams Attah Gombe Stakeholders who gathered to chart the way forward in domesticating the Child’s Right Act in Gombe State have cited lack of proper understanding as a major challenge facing the law. Our correspondent, who witnessed the two-day sessions, reports that discordant positions divided the participants along religious and cultural lines with participants resolving that they must be presented with a draft copy of the law before any discussions could begin. However, in a communiqué issued at the end of the high-octane dialogue on the domestication of Child Rights Law in Gombe State with the support of European Union, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the UNICEF, the participants also observed that some sections of the Act were controversial. It stated that there were

no proper representation from various groups in the state as well as the lack of collaboration between the organisers, that is, the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Justice for guidance. The communiqué, which was signed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Women Affairs and Mrs. Hanatu Ahmed Yaro, the UNICEF Consultant in Child Protection as well as the drafting committee that included Mr. Akpan Effiong of Save the Children and Mr. Dija Abubakar from the Child Protection Network, also observed that there was no machinery for the implementation of the law in the state. It also stated that there were no specific courts to handle the children issues apart from the conventional courts just as the two major religions have made provisions for the protection of children. It noted that those provisions that contravened religious beliefs should be expunged.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Capital Market

Daily Summary (Equities)

Stock exchange daily equities summary Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol UCAP

No. of Deals 52 151

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

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

Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015

Equities as at December 2, 2015

Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 14 5 19

Current Price 26.90 31.00

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 1.38

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Daily Summary as Industries of 02/12/2015 TRANSNATIONAL Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Activity Summary on Board EQTY Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ROADS NIG PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 75 35 110

Daily Summary (Equities)

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Current Price 1.63 25.61

110

Quantity Traded 121,001 16,481 137,482

Value Traded 3,203,489.80 519,566.50 3,723,056.30

Quantity Traded 292,400 292,400

Value Traded 400,473.39 400,473.39

429,882

4,123,529.69

Quantity Traded 3,729,599 3,243,921 6,973,520

Value Traded 6,105,697.55 83,085,258.90 89,190,956.45

6,973,520

89,190,956.45

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 5

Current Price 37.44

Quantity Traded 5,740

Value Traded 213,501.20

Symbol ROADS

No. of Deals 1 6

Current Price 6.60

Quantity Traded Page 10,000 15,740

Value Traded 1 of 12 69,300.00 282,801.20

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 6.00

Quantity Traded 143,102 143,102

Value Traded 854,212.86 854,212.86

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

158,842

1,137,014.06

Quantity Traded 198 198

Value Traded 99.00 99.00

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 5 31 4 222 262 (Equities)

Current Price 3.71 123.12 15.77 116.00

Quantity Traded 14,950 522,893 19,500 1,506,869 2,064,212

Value Traded 54,727.00 64,382,023.39 309,050.00 174,771,169.72 239,516,970.11

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 183.00

Quantity Traded 59,281 59,281

Value Traded 10,848,623.00 10,848,623.00

Symbol DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM TIGERBRANDS

No. of Deals 22 100 10 19 3 26 180

Current Price 6.06 19.00 2.00 7.01 8.99 1.40

Quantity Traded 1,436,465 Page 2,262,394

Value Traded 8,723,392.20 243,202,608.18 of 12 451,422.00 3,143,912.00 211,226.88 351,159.90 56,083,721.16

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 13 42 55

Current Price 19.66 807.00

Quantity Traded 27,133 138,516 165,649

Value Traded 517,112.43 111,598,362.00 112,115,474.43

Household Durables NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC.

Symbol ENAMELWA VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 1 22 6 29

Current Price 29.78 4.90 0.75

Quantity Traded 150 771,343 76,526 848,019

Value Traded 4,245.00 3,739,499.13 57,394.50 3,801,138.63

Symbol

No. of Deals 44 66 110

Current Price 25.00 43.98

Quantity Traded 640,397 3,635,280 4,275,677

Value Traded 15,874,649.69 153,870,572.94 169,745,222.63

12,072,528

592,111,248.96

Current Price 4.81 2.22 15.68 Current Price 1.39 4.81 19.99 2.22 1.53 15.68 1.95 1.39 3.71 19.99 5.80 1.53 0.85 1.95 0.95 3.71

Quantity Traded Page 10,963,239

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Activity Summary on COMP. Board PLC. EQTY 7-UP BOTTLING Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock © FLOUR MILLS NIG.Exchange PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals

Daily Summary as ofNIG 02/12/2015 VITAFOAM PLC. Printed 02/12/2015 VONO14:32:16.016 PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015

Personal/Household Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMERSERVICES GOODS Totals FINANCIAL Banking Activity Summary on Board EQTY

DIAMOND BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Banking FIDELITYBANK BANKPLC. PLC ACCESS GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED STERLINGBANK BANKPLC PLC. FIDELITY UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. UNIONBANK BANKPLC NIG.PLC. SKYE UNITY PLC PLC. STERLING BANK Daily Summary as of BANK 02/12/2015 WEMA BANK UNITED BANKPLC. FOR AFRICA PLC Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Banking UNIONTotals BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services WEMA BANK PLC. AIICO INSURANCE PLC. Banking Totals CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Activity Summary on Board EQTY AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL FINANCIAL SERVICESREINSURANCE PLC

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. INSURANCE CO. PLC. © Published byNIGER The Nigerian Stock Exchange STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Carriers, Brokers and©Services Totals PublishedInsurance by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Daily Summary as ofCarriers, 02/12/2015 Mortgage Brokers and Services Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN ALLIEDEQTY PLC Activity SummaryAND on Board FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © UNITED CAPITAL PLC

Symbol DUNLOP

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Daily Summary

Daily PZSummary (Equities) UNILEVER

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI Symbol FIDELITYBK ACCESS GUARANTY DIAMONDBNK SKYEBANK ETI STERLNBANK FIDELITYBK UBA GUARANTY UBN SKYEBANK UNITYBNK STERLNBANK WEMABANK UBA

Symbol GNI HMARKINS LAWUNION MANSARD NEM NIGERINS STACO WAPIC

No. of Deals 14 2

5.80 0.85 Current Price 0.95 0.90 1.05 Current Price 0.90 1.05

217,000 Quantity Traded 8,263,188 877,894 171,027,611 18,700

184,450.00 Value Traded 7,431,433.92 790,143.30 2,695,272,859.08 18,700.00

Quantity Traded 877,894 18,700

Value Traded 790,143.30 18,700.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 99,791,688 99,792,688

Value Traded 500.00 495,964,689.36 495,965,189.36

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

Quantity Traded 571,206 664,300 1,180,415 1,508,203

Value Traded 1,445,229.40 2,700,730.96 2,318,435.55 24,873,612.80

Quantity Traded Page 1,623,066

Value Traded 5 2,180,461.86 of 12 33,518,470.57

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

No. of Deals 1 11 12

12,476,554.80

Current Price 0.50 4.97

Symbol UCAP

Current Price 5.15 1.02

3,717,611.41 Value Traded 4,680,212.81 53,388,237.43 2,569,765,744.41 12,476,554.80 1,619,367.36 3,717,611.41 6,147,698.07 4,680,212.81 34,111,864.07 2,569,765,744.41 1,749,684.80 1,619,367.36 184,450.00 6,147,698.07 7,431,433.92 34,111,864.07 2,695,272,859.08 1,749,684.80

Value Traded 159.65 42,979.25 43,138.90

AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FCMB STANBIC

No. of Deals 1 4 5

5,661,101 Quantity233,928 Traded 3,418,155 10,963,239 128,485,489 5,661,101 1,046,577 233,928 3,284,484 3,418,155 9,145,381 128,485,489 309,069 1,046,577 217,000 3,284,484 8,263,188 9,145,381 171,027,611 309,069

Quantity Traded 31 42,625 42,656

Symbol RESORTSAL UNHOMES

Current Price 0.50 0.50 0.55 2.65 0.65 0.50 0.50 0.50

Value Traded 12 3 of 53,388,237.43

Value Traded 49,500.00 500.00 7,209,880.00 39,568,017.00 509,284.75 12 4 84,515.00 of 500.00 56,562.00 12 4 of 48,287,602.05

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 2 1 29 10 8 1 1 2 70

225,661 448,529 22,413 264,030 4,659,492

Quantity Traded 99,000 1,000 13,098,000 15,208,800 778,650 169,030Page 1,000 113,124 30,365,198Page

Other Financial Institutions Totals

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

651

No. of Deals 158 49 22 No. of Deals 30 158 287 49 51 22 43 30 108 287 23 51 5 43 31 108 807 23

UBN UNITYBNK 5 Symbol No. of Deals WEMABANK 31 14 DailyAIICO Summary (Equities) 807 CONTINSURE 2 Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE

30 16 35 18

2.53 4.06 1.94 16.50

No. of Deals 52 151

Current Price 1.35

5,547,190

1,045

Symbol EKOCORP UNIONDAC

306,775,343

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 3.72 0.50

Quantity Traded 738 35,625 36,363

Value Traded 2,612.52 17,812.50 20,425.02

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.73

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 330.00 330.00

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 1 1 11 14 3 30

Current Price 0.50 2.85 36.66 1.04 0.89

Quantity Traded 4,000 3,000 175,274 181,331 17,000 380,605

Value Traded 2,000.00 8,550.00 6,424,814.19 186,112.24 14,450.00 6,635,926.43

417,168

6,656,681.45

Page

HEALTHCARE Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS Published by The Nigerian StockPLC Exchange © CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 Totals Packaging/Containers Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Value Traded 2,180,461.86 33,518,470.57

306,775,343

3,273,087,259.96

Symbol EKOCORP UNIONDAC

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 3.72 0.50

Quantity Traded 738 35,625 36,363

Value Traded 2,612.52 17,812.50 20,425.02

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.73

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 330.00 330.00

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded No Of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded EVANSMED 1 0.50 4,000 FIDSON 1 2.85 3,000 GLAXOSMITH 11 36.66 175,274 Daily Summary (Equities) MAYBAKER 14 1.04 181,331 NEIMETH 3 0.89 17,000 30 380,605 33

Value Traded

Value of2,000.00 Shares(N) 8,550.00 6,424,814.19 186,112.24 14,450.00 6,635,926.43

417,168

6,656,681.45

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 11 5 7 6 4 48 81

Current Price 23.01 9.70 37.95 7.41 3.80 91.25

Quantity Traded 60,064 105,700 Page 16,074 41,440 62,500 2,055,896 2,341,674

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 1.72

Quantity Traded 36,040 36,040

Value Traded 59,114.60 59,114.60

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 50.93

Quantity Traded 22,581 22,581

Value Traded 1,096,448.50 1,096,448.50

2,400,295

190,623,490.95

Quantity Traded 13,773 13,773

Value Traded 52,323.72 52,323.72

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

4 4

3.98

Value Traded 1,381,477.00 12 6 1,025,229.00 of 596,161.66 292,340.60 239,400.00 185,933,319.59 189,467,927.85

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Published by The Nigerian Stockand Exchange © Totals Energy Equipment Services

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 50,000 Page 50,000

Value Traded 25,000.00 7 of 12 25,000.00

Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 OANDO PLC

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 132 132

Current Price 5.70

Quantity Traded 2,599,854 2,599,854

Value Traded 15,156,819.09 15,156,819.09

Symbol

No. of Deals 21 2 31 11

Current Price 26.04 1.60 248.65 126.11

Quantity Traded 16,868 52,792 119,546 54,949

Value Traded 417,314.32 84,459.28 29,725,112.90 6,991,432.41

Symbol MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 5 6 76

Current Price 49.66 147.00

Quantity Traded 1,470 30,833 276,458

Value Traded 69,354.60 4,532,737.64 41,820,411.15

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 207.00

Quantity Traded 59,864 59,864

Value Traded 12,398,498.00 12,398,498.00

2,986,176

69,400,728.24

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL

OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Apparel Retailers Totals Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 R T BRISCOE PLC. Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 Hotels/Lodging Printed SERVICES 02/12/2015 IKEJA 14:32:16.016 HOTEL PLC

Hotels/Lodging Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC © Hotels/Lodging Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Media/Entertainment Totals SERVICES Printing/Publishing Hotels/Lodging ACADEMY PRESS PLC.PLC TRANSCORP HOTELS LEARN AFRICA PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. Media/Entertainment Printing/Publishing Totals DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Transport-Related Services Media/Entertainment Totals Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. Totals Transport-Related Services LEARN AFRICA PLC SERVICES Totals STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015

Board Totals PrintedEQTY 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Transport-Related Activity Summary on Services Board ASeM AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC CONSUMER GOODS Transport-Related Services Totals Food Products

CONSUMER GOODS Totals Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 FINANCIAL SERVICES Board Totals PrintedASeM 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015

Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM

FBN HOLDINGS Building Materials PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Other Financial Institutions INDUSTRIAL GOODS DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Totals Building Materials FINANCIALBoard SERVICES Totals PREMIUM Totals Building Materials Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS INDUSTRIAL Equity Activity GOODS Totals Totals Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

PREMIUM Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.00

Quantity Traded 31,250 Page 31,250

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 8,913 8,913

Value Traded 4,456.50 4,456.50

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 3 1 4

Current Price 4.00 1.02

Quantity Traded 38,000 6,125 44,125

Value Traded 159,600.00 6,553.75 166,153.75

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL Symbol TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 7 No. of Deals 1 8

Current Price 3.69 Current Price 6.42

Quantity Traded 71,000 Quantity Traded Page 200

Value Traded 237,310.00 Value Traded 12 9 of 1,220.00

71,200

238,530.00

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 43,050 43,050

Value Traded 21,525.00 21,525.00

No. No. of of Deals Deals 11 98 2 No. of Deals 12 3 No. of Deals3 2 24 No. of Deals 261 9 552 (Equities) 12

Current Current Price Price 0.57 6.42 0.60 2.19 Current Price 0.50 Current Price 1.90 3.82 Current Price 0.57 0.60 2.19

Quantity Quantity Traded Traded 49,667 200 1,176,000 71,200 3,200 Quantity Traded 1,228,867 43,050 Quantity Traded 43,050 69,476 Quantity271,433 Traded 49,667 340,909 1,176,000 1,768,314 3,200 1,228,867

Value Value Traded Traded 27,316.85 1,220.00 712,650.00 238,530.00 7,008.00 Value Traded 746,974.85 21,525.00 Value Traded 21,525.00 132,004.40 1,031,170.71 Value Traded 27,316.85 1,163,175.11 712,650.00 2,434,565.21 7,008.00 746,974.85

Current Price 1.90 3.82

Quantity Traded 69,476 271,433 Quantity 340,909 Traded

333,995,841

4,228,817,798.69

Daily Summary (Equities) TRANSEXPR

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol DAARCOMM

Symbol Symbol ACADEMY TRANSCOHOT LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS Symbol DAARCOMM Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS

Daily Summary

2,258

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 24 26 No. of Deals

Symbol Daily Summary (Equities) MCNICHOLS

1 55 1

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 11 (Equities) 1

VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Traded Fund Totals ETPExchange Activity Totals

ETF Board Totals

Current Price 1.26

51,704 1,768,314 51,704 Page

Daily Summary

Current Price 1.26

4,228,817,798.69 Value Traded 65,147.04 65,147.04 65,147.04

51,704 Page

Symbol FBNH Symbol ZENITHBANK

Daily Summary Symbol

Symbol FBNH Symbol DANGCEM Symbol

232 232

15.85

No. of Deals 296 No. of Deals 296 232 (Equities) 232 528 No. of Deals 70 No. of Deals

Current Price 5.00 Current Price 15.85

Symbol DANGCEM

296 No. of Deals 70 296 70 No. of Deals 528 598 70 70 2,857 No. of Deals 70

Daily Summary (ETP)

598

VETBANK VETGOODS VETGRIF30 VETINDETF

(ETP)

Current Price Current Price 5.00 Current Price 158.00 Current Price

Current Price 158.00

65,147.04 of 12

65,147.04

Quantity Traded 29,135,762 Quantity Traded 29,135,762 15,683,804 15,683,804 44,819,566 Quantity Traded 4,516,360 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 141,949,865.05 Value Traded 141,949,865.05 248,420,767.56 248,420,767.56 390,370,632.61 Value Traded 722,233,540.41 Value Traded

29,135,762 141,949,865.05 Quantity Traded Value Traded 4,516,360 722,233,540.41 29,135,762 141,949,865.05 4,516,360 722,233,540.41 Quantity Traded Value Traded 44,819,566 390,370,632.61 49,335,926 1,112,604,173.02 4,516,360 722,233,540.41 Page 11 of 12 4,516,360 383,383,471 Quantity Traded 4,516,360

49,335,926

722,233,540.41 5,341,487,118.75

Value Traded 722,233,540.41

1,112,604,173.02

12 Page 5,341,487,118.75 11 of 383,383,471

No. of Deals 1 1 1 1 No. of Deals 2 1 1 1 7 1 1 2 1 7 7

Current Price 9.23 2,052.00 2.79 6.89 Current Price 12.35 9.23 20.42 2,052.00 2.79 6.89 12.35 20.42

Quantity Traded 10 50 1,000 7,709 Quantity Traded 105 10 10 50 8,884 1,000

Value Traded 92.30 102,600.00 2,790.00 53,115.01 Value Traded 1,296.75 92.30 204.20 102,600.00 160,098.26 2,790.00

7,709 105 10 8,884 8,884

53,115.01 1,296.75 204.20 160,098.26 160,098.26

8,884

ETF Board Totals

8,884

Value Traded 248,420,767.56 248,420,767.56

ETP Activity Totals

65,147.04

Quantity Traded 15,683,804 15,683,804

2,857 Symbol LOTUSHAL15 Daily Summary NEWGOLD VETBANK VETGOODS Symbol VETGRIF30 LOTUSHAL15 VETINDETF NEWGOLD

65,147.04 2,434,565.21 10 65,147.04 of 12

51,704

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

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 132,004.40 1,031,170.71 1,163,175.11 Value Traded

51,704 333,995,841

ZENITHBANK

Value Traded 93,750.00 12 of 93,750.00

Quantity Traded 51,704 51,704 51,704

2,258

Published by Activity The Nigerian StockFund Exchange © Equity Totals Exchange Traded Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING Exchange TradedETF Fund VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF Name VETIVA HALAL GRIFFIN 30 ETFETF LOTUS EQUITY VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Traded Fund VETIVA BANKING ETFTotals

52,323.72

Symbol LENNARDS

CONSUMER EQTY BoardGOODS Totals Totals CONSUMER GOODS Food Products ASeMMCNICHOLS Board Totals PLC Food Products Totals

13,773

220

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM

Quantity Traded 1,623,066 5,547,190

1,045

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Other Financial Institutions FINANCIAL SERVICES FBN HOLDINGS PLC Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Banking Other Financial Institutions Totals ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Banking SERVICES Totals FINANCIAL Totals Building Materials Building Materials Totals Other Financial Institutions INDUSTRIAL GOODS

3,273,087,259.96

Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

HEALTHCARE Totals

Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals Daily Summary as of 02/12/2015 Pharmaceuticals Printed 02/12/2015 14:32:16.016 Sector name EVANSCompany MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 1.35

Page

160,098.26

160,098.26 of

160,098.26 12

Thursday, December 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NLC urges FG to revive education sector to combat poverty, unemployment

resident, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to make education accessible to all youths to combat poverty and unemployment. Wabba said this at the

ongoing Sixth Quadrennial Delegate Conference of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions in Abuja. He said education was the best tool to combat poverty and unemployment among the less privi-

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CHANGE OF NAME DAODU: I Formerly MISS. DAODU OLUFUNKE. Now wished to be known and addressed as MRS. AJEWOLE OLUFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME UDUGWU. I, formerly known and addressed as UDUGWU EZINNE JULIET, now wish to be known and addressed as ODINDU EZINNE JULIET. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Amamchukwu Ogochukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Arazu Ogochukwu Augustina, former document remain valid general public note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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leged in the country. According to him, reviving the sector will create more opportunities, as well as make the youths self-sufficient and less dependent. He said education had become too expensive and inaccessible to many CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

I confirm that the same person is SUNDAY MISCHRAK SEMEON and NNAEMEKA ABEL SEMEON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OGADI MOSES ONYEBUCHI, OGADINMA CHUKWUKA DICKSON now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEMAECHI MOSES OGORCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Alfa Ibrahim, now wish to be known and addressed as Daibu Ibrahim. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME UKAMAKA: I formerly known and addressed as ODO CHARITY UKAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE CHARITY UKAMAKA All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Odex Okananwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Larry Jacob Nwajiaku. All former documents remain valid. general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME NWAGBA: I, formerly known and addressed as CHIDINMA NWAGBA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. CHIDINMA EMMANUEL OMALE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Azoms Maduabuchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Richard Maduabuchi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Okerhibo Princess Ufuomawuvefe, now wish to be known and addressed as Okerhibo Ufuoma Peace. UBA bank and general public should take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that, I AMOS EDEH ADOGWU BLESSED is one and the same person that is known, called and addressed as AMOS EDEH and AMOS ADOGWU BLESSED. That former documents bearing all the names mentioned above are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Alao Bilikisu Bolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Kadiri Bilikisu Bolanle Alao . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as MISS. OMOWUNMI PATRICIA SAMUEL now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMOWUNMI PATRICIA OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

youths, and decried the poor state of infrastructures in most tertiary institutions in the country. “What will benefit the system is educating the children of the poor, so that they can become selfsufficient. “Education has become CHANGE OF NAME

OHANWEH: Formerly known and addressed as OHANWEH NKEM PERPETUAL now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUMA FAVOUR NKECHIYERE.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF DATE OF BIRTH

This is to confirm that I, FRIDAY EJEMBI. My name was written as FRIDAY JOSEPH OJABO and my date of bith written as 2nd september 1982 on my access bank accountwhile my correct date of birth is 10th day of March 1984. My Former documents remain valid. General public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to confirm that name was wrongly written as TAJUDEEN ALABI instead of HABEEB ISSA. That my correct name is HABEEB ISSA. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ADENIKE AYISAT ADEDAMOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIKE AYISAT ADEDAMOLA-APANPA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ALIBE IFEOMA DORIS, now wish to be known and addressed as UCHE IFEOMA DORIS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that l, Kareem Adewale Sulaiman and Bola Balogun refer to one and the same person All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OMAKA AKAMA PRICILLIA, now wish to be known and addressed as OMAKA AKAMA CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Modinat Saidi, now wish to be known and addressed as Modinat Lewis. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME OYENEKAN: I, formerly known and addressed as OYENEKAN OLUWABUNMI MOTUNRAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AKINBAMI OLUWABUNMI MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SAMUEL: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OMOWUNMI PATRICIA SAMUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMOWUNMI PATRICIA OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ODUNBAKU: I, formerly known and addressed as OLAYINKA ODUNBAKU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLAYINKA KAZEEM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Nene Benson, now wish to be known and addressed as Nene Attah Archibong. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Tijani Mojisola Omowunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agbaje Yekini Mojisola Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

so expensive that the children of the poor cannot access it. “Many families cannot afford to send their children to state and federal universities because they have become too expensive,” he said. The NLC president said education was the only tool that could end poverty among millions of Nigerian youths, if adequately utilised. He listed poor funding, lack of sponsorship, CHANGE OF NAME

IGBO: Formerly known and addressed as Formerly MISS IFEOMA ESTHER IGBO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IFEOMA ESTHER OMEDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Formerly CHRISTOPHER JOHN now wish to be known and addressed as DHNDAN CHRISTOPHER YOHANNA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Formerly MISS ADESINA HABIBAT TEMITOPE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ABDUS-SALAM HABIBAT. N.Y.S.C. and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIAMAKA AMARACHI HEART, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKECHUKWU CHIAMAKA AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OLukemi Adeparusi Ajiboye, now wish to be known and addressed as Adeparusi Olukemi Esther. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, ANTHONY ESTHER IYABO is same as one person as OFE OLUBUNMI CHRISTIANA now ANTHONY ESTHER IYABO. All documents bearing my names remain valid. GTBANK and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR. JAMES OWOBI BENEDICT, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ONYEKE JAMES BENEDICT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Mr. Salawu Rahamon Alao is the same and one person bearing Mr. Salaudeen Ramon. All former documents bearing the names remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME OGBU: I, formerly known and addressed as OGBU WILLIAM ODINAKA WILSON, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OGBU ODINAKA WILSON. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, OLAJIDE HASSAN OMOBOLAJI KOSOKO is one and same person known and addressed as HASSAN OMOBOLAJI OLAJIDE and HASSAN OMOBOLAJI KOSOKO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

grants and inconsistent government policies as many hurdles preventing the less privileged from becoming educated. He expressed dissatisfaction that no Nigerian university was ranked among the first 1000 institutions in the world because of the falling standard of the sector. “How to end poverty in the country is by giving education to the children of the poor. CHANGE OF NAME AMAECHI: Formerly known and addressed as MISS AMAECHI BLESSING ADANMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NDIMAORA BLESSING ADANMA.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Formerly OMIETE BATUBO now wish to be known and addressed as WEST PAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Uche Iheukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Chinedu Daniel Dike. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ADEMOLA TAIWO AKANDE, now wish to be known and addressed as AKANDE ADEMOLA SHERIFF. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Falilat Bolatito Alao, now wish to be known and addressed as Falilat Bolatito Ajibade. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Zion Odoh is the same person as James Anbi Odoh now Zion Odoh. All documents bearing my names remain are valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as SAMSON ADEBAYO OGUNDELE, now wish to be known and addressed as SAMSON OKIKIADE ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly spelt as Johnson instead of Johnsakennedy while my correct names are Mmaduabuchi Johnsakennedy Uzoagbaike. and my correct date of birth is 12th November 1983 not 11th of December 1983.

CHANGE OF NAME AGADA: I, formerly known and addressed as AGADA VERONICA AJUMA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ONOJAH VERA UGBOJOIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME TAIWO: I, formerly known and addressed as FLORENCE OBRUCHE TAIWO, now wish to be known and addressed as FLORENCE TAIWO OMOJEME. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Thursday September 4, 2014

Quadri ends 2015 in top 50

Thursday, December 3, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I think looking back, Arsene shouldn’t have risked Alexis Sanchez when he did. The cost on the club going forward could prove disastrous

– Former Arsenal captain, Thierry Henry

Road to Rio:

Dream Team walks tight rope Paul Erewuba

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

N Ighalo

Awoniyi

d r a w A r e y a l P n a EPL Afric

ever-say-die Egypt kept alive their hopes of booking a place at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro when they came from two goals down to earn an exciting 2-2 draw with Nigeria in their second Group B clash of the U-23 African Cup of Nations on Wednesday. Two highly controversial penalties from Oghenekaro Etebo put Nigeria 2-0 up inside the first half of an hour in Senegalese city Mbour but Egypt roared back in seven second-half minutes, thanks to goals from Ramadan Sobhi and substitute Karim Mamdouh. Egypt, who are aiming to finish as one of the top three in the Nations Cup to qualify for the Olympic Games for the second straight time, having reached the quarter finals at the 2012 London Games, have yet to bag any win but they still have a good chance to advance to the Nations Cup semis. They are third in their group with two points from two draws, two behind leading duo Nigeria and Algeria, who meet each other in the last game while Egypt face already-eliminated Mali. A win for Egypt coupled with a victory for Algeria or Nigeria will see them through. Should Egypt defeat Mali and Algeria draw with Nigeria, the three will be equal on five points. Nigeria had the better possession in the opening first half, with Egypt

Ighalo, Ayew, Bolassie, Kone shortlisted

or the first time in the short life span of the African Players awards in the English Premier League, the preceding month’s award winner has appeared on the shortlist for the current month. Odion Ighalo won the award by an overwhelming majority in October, and, according to a release by New African Soccer, he seemed to “continue where he left off in October, playing well enough to earn him a place in the shortlist for November”. The Nigerian international played every minute of Wat-

ford’s November fixtures, which was a difficult month for them given the home loss to Manchester United and the away loss to Leicester City. But according to Awards Director Tunde Adelakun, “Ighalo shone through these games and deserves his place on the shortlist”. Another old face in the shortlist was August winner, Ghana’s Swansea City star Andre Ayew. Again, Ayew’s Swansea team are going through a rough patch in the League and it showed in November

but the Ghanaian’s quality still showed through it all, and again, the award organisers felt it worthy of a place in the shortlist. In the release, the two obvious stars of the show were Crystal Palace’s Congolese winger Yannick Bolassie with a stunning performance in his team’s 2-1 away win at Liverpool and his double strike against Newcastle. But not only that, according to Adelakun, “Bolas has been a thorn in many defences all season and he has proved a consistency that really deserves to be

mentioned and praised”. Ivorien Arouna Kone of Everton makes up the quartet of shortlisted players. One has featured prominently in his team’s resurgence in November, starting with an emphatic hat trick in their 6-2 drubbing of Sunderland. New African Soccer believes that the 32 year old, who made a remarkable recovery after injury that put him out for over a year, was one of the League’s most consistent performers this month. The award winner will be announced in a matter of days.

unable to move the ball around smoothly despite the presence of some talented attacking midfielders including Sobhi and Karim Walid, who had little service from two sluggish central midfielders The first soft penalty was awarded on 19 minutes when Cameroonian referee Antoine Essouma adjudged Egypt’s defensive midfielder Rami Rabia to have handled a cross but television replays showed that the ball had struck his knee. Egypt goalkeeper Mosaad Awad dived the right way but could not block Etebo’s effort into the bottom corner as Nigeria took the lead. The Pharaohs conceded again from another penalty after half an hour when a Nigerian pass deflected off a defender and looped to the failing arm of fullback Mohamed Hani. Etebo sent Awad the wrong way to double Nigeria’s lead and leave Egypt with a mountain to climb. Egypt came on with all guns blazing in the second half, narrowing the gap just two minutes after the restart with a firm header from Ahly playmaker Sobhi after a neat left-wing cross from Mohamed Hamdi. Five minutes later, substitute Mamdouh, who replaced ineffective lone striker Hussein Ragab, leveled the score with a fortuitous goal when his weak effort from a tight angle hit a defender to wrong-foot the keeper. Both sides created several goalscoring opportunities in an endto-end second period but were let down by some poor finishing. Acres of space in Nigeria’s defence were exploited by four marauding attacking midfielders, with Egypt going the closest to scoring a decisive goal on 72 minutes when substitute Mostafa Fathi made a darting run towards the area but he missed a sitter when his angled shot went just wide from eight yards out. Nigeria were also unlucky not to score as both sides shared spoils to throw the group race wide open ahead of the final round of matches.

Sports

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Klitschko

ladimir Klitschko will attempt to regain his world heavyweight titles by taking up his option for a rematch with new champion Tyson Fury next year. Briton Fury, 27, beat the Ukrainian in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Saturday to take the WBA, IBF and WBO belts. The contract for the fight included a clause for a rematch, for which the date and the venue have to be decided.

Klitschko agrees to take Tyson rematch option “Failure is not an option,” said Klitschko, 39, on his prospects of winning back his titles. “I was really frustrated directly after the fight, but after some short nights, I now know that I am much better than my performance on Saturday. “I couldn’t show much full potential at any time. This is what I want to change in the rematch, and I will.” Klitschko has had two spells as world

champion, the first from 2000 to 2003. Having regained the WBO belt in 2004, he went 11 years and 19 successful defences before losing to Fury on Saturday. Manchester fighter Fury said on Sunday that he would beat Klitschko again if they were reunited in the ring next year. “If he had 10 years to train, the result would be the same next time,” Fury said. He added: “I want to be a great champion. And I’d like to do it all again. One

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tyson

thing I can say about the rematch is that it’s going to be explosive.” Mick Hennessey, Fury’s promoter, is open to the prospect of a rematch in England. “Wembley Stadium would be very appealing at the right time of year, definitely,” he said. “It was close to 55,000 in Düsseldorf. It would easily do 80,000 at Wembley. But it would have to be at the end of the football season.”

FIFA set for U-turn on reform proposals

IFA executives may face fixed terms of office and tougher checks following a U-turn on proposals about how the organisation is run. A raft of other reforms will be discussed at a two-day meeting of FIFA’s executive committee in Zurich. Initially, committee recommendations had ruled out fixed terms but they will now be put forward for approval. The U-turn means proposals by FIFA’s independent auditor Domenico Scala are likely to form the basis for reforms.

Hayatou

Last month, prior to the U-turn, FIFA’s reform committee chairman Francois Carrard published recommendations permitting executives to remain in post for an unlimited period of time, which were criticised at the time. Sources close to the process say the former International Olympic Committee (IOC) director general has since been effectively sidelined in recent weeks. Instead, it is believed Scala’s earlier framework from September is set to form the basis of the reform proposals and will be put forward for approval almost wholesale. Governance experts regard term-limits as an effective safeguard against corruption and help prevent conflicts of interest occurring. If approved, FIFA’s 209 member associations will have the final say when they vote on any changes to the governing body’s statutes at an emergency congress to be held in Zurich on 26 February. The new president of FIFA will be elected the same day.

Woods says he has ‘nothing to look forward to’ F ormer world number one Tiger Woods says he has “nothing to look forward to” in his recovery from back surgery. The 39-year-old 14-time major winner has not swung a golf club since operations in September and October. Asked about his return, he said: “I’ve no answer. Neither does my surgeon or physio. There’s no timetable. “There’s nothing I can look forward to, nothing I can build towards. Where’s the light at the end of the tunnel? I don’t know.”

Woods had two operations to alleviate pain from a pinched nerve. Revealing that he has spent most of his time playing video games, the American said he had not done any rehabilitation work on his back and that physical activities were limited. “I walk and I walk. I’m just walking, and that’s it,” said Woods, whose last major victory was at the US Open in 2008. “It’s different from the other surgeries I’ve had in the past. For nerves there are really no timetables.”

Woods

Woods, who turns 40 on 30 December, missed the cut at three of the four majors this year and played in only 11 events. He remains on 79 PGA Tour victories. He played only seven tournaments in 2014, having missed three months of the season after surgery on a pinched nerve in his back in March 2014. “For my 20 years out here I achieved a lot,” he said. “I think pretty much everything beyond this will be gravy. If that’s all it entails then I’ve had a pretty good run. But I’m hoping that’s not it.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, December 3, 2015

NPFL, 22 others form World Leagues Association in France

Quadri

Quadri ends 2015 in top 50 ... As Assar remains Africa’s best

rom starting the year among the top 30 players in the world, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri ended 2015 as number 50, according to the latest ranking released on Tuesday by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). However, Egypt ‘s Omar Assar, who started the year as number 43 finished as Africa’s best rated player in the world by occupying 31st in the latest ITTF ranking. This year, Quadri featured in more than five ITTF World Circuits with his best being the Lagos Open where he played in the final against Assar. But in Europe, he took part in the German, Spanish, Polish, Croatia and Swedish Opens

while he was also in Kuwait and Qatar Opens where he managed to make it to the last 32 in some of this tournament. His best outing in Europe was at the Croatia Open where he made it to the last 16. In Africa, twice he played second fiddle to Egypt’s Assar at the African Senior Cup in Cameroun and African Games in Congo Brazzaville. Despite these, Quadri, whose performance at the 2014 World Cup in Germany earned him the 2014 ITTF Star Player award attracted a lot of European teams from Germany and France but the Oyo State-athlete decided to pitch his tent with Jura Morez in the French elite league, while he also feature for Sporting Lis-

bon in Portugal. Former national coach, Babatunde Obisanya believes Quadri has not utilised his potential considering the rare skills possess by the player. “I think Quadri has not really lived up to expectations considering the kind of potential he has. For a player to make it to the top 30, it is no child’s play and for him to have ended the year at 50 shows that he needs to work harder in 2016. I believe he can remain among the top 20 but he just need to get the cooperation of those that matters in the sport and he also need full support as well. I believe he can make it up there in 2016 if he continues to work hard,” Obisanya said.

he Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was among the world’s leading football leagues that reached a decision in Paris, France on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 to form a new global organization that has been set up to work with FIFA on issues affecting professional football. Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko was one of the 23 heads of national Professional League bodies at the meeting where the formation of the ‘World Association of Leagues’ was announced following the second World Leagues Forum. The first held in England. A total of 23 professional leagues were involved in the meeting, which has led to the creation of a permanent association to liaise with world football’s governing body. The LMC Chairman said, “this meeting also provided platforms for most of the leagues to hold bilateral talks and for us from Nigeria, it was an opportunity to finalise discussions already initiated with the La Liga, the Bundesliga and the FA Premier League that will assist us

in capacity building, technical training and club development”. Dikko also described the meeting as beneficial to global football as the four candidates to the FIFA Presidency made presentations on their vision for world football to the World Leagues Association. “I will be presenting my report to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the presentations made by the four candidates running for the office of FIFA President as we had time to interact with them on their plans for football”, stated Dikko.

Shehu Dikko

Wolves, Nasarawa chase Akwa United’s Awakan

arri Wolves and Nasarawa United are on the trail of Akwa United midfielder, Abdulazeez Awakan, it was gathered. The former Shooting Stars player was a key performer for the Promise Keepers last season.

Awakan

He scored the crucial goal that ensured the Uyo-based outfit’s safety on the final day of the Glo Premier League campaign against Lobi Stars and was also on song against the same opponent in the final of the Federation Cup, where

he was named Most Valuable Player. Warri Wolves who will campaign in the CAF Champions League next season after finishing second in the league behind Enyimba are looking to bolster their squad ahead of their campaign in the continental competition. Same for Nasarawa United who look good to secure a berth in the CAF Confederation should they maintain their 2-0 lead against Giwa FC in their abandoned week 38 fixture. Both teams however face tough time in securing the services of the experienced midfielder as Akwa United are keen to hold on to their star man.

COPA Lagos begins

s part of activities to herald the 2015 edition of Copa Lagos, the flagship International beach soccer festival in Nigeria, the organizers have announced its annual Clean The Beach event scheduled for the 5th of December 2015, at Clean The Beach is an initiative of Kinetic Sports Management. The event attracts celebrities, celebrated local and international sports

stars and corporate executives who come together with other beach soccer enthusiasts to gather garbage and other waste material from a selected beach within Lagos. Copa Lagos, Nigeria’s highly entertaining international beach soccer festival, will hold this year at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, from Friday December 18 to Sunday December 20, 2015.

WORLD RECORD

First use of marine mammals in defence

Vol. 05 No. 1256 Thursday, December 3, 2015

N150

The earliest use of marine mammals in active military defence was during the Vietnam War between 1970–71, by US Navy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Minister Fashola, arise and shine once again C itizen Babatunde Raji Fashola is a queer fellow, queer because in the chequered history of democracy I’ve never seen a man with such huge penchant for trouble courting. How do I mean? This innocent man with jet black hair, when he assumed the governorship of Lagos in 2007, was so tasked by the demands of statecraft he emerged eight years after bereft of the dark sheen of his hair. This transmogrification of hair was not unexpected. Fashola went into government in 2007 under a grand swell of skepticism. He was a virtual green horn and after Tinubu’s mighty sway, he was not expected, as Tinubu’s former aide, to work independently enough to make a difference. But from day one, Fashola came out determined to shut the skeptics up. And that meant unusual innovations spiced with hard work. It was just

ormer Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has been named as Valencia’s head coach until the end of the season. The 40-year-old, who will take charge officially on Sunday, will remain part of the England coaching set-up.

Guest Columnist

Sola S l

Ojewusi

impossible for a man to approach his duties with such sleepless doggedness and determination to succeed and come out unscathed by the rigors. Having successfully made a beauty of true leadership and set a pace others are still groping to emulate, one would then expect this man to take a long rest. Never. The queer adrenaline peculiar to go-getters has again propelled Fashola to an even greater challenge and this is where some of us his admirers are apprehensive. One, he has accepted and assumed the midwifery of a ministry considered the most energy sapping and brain draining. Who but a queer fellow would willingly accept that awesome trio of national infrastructure hardliners: Power, Works and Housing, seemingly intractable national conundrums, and assume the challenge unblinkingly? It takes courage to handle just one of these portfolios not to mention being saddled with all three! “What was Fashola thinking?” many have marveled. The best in a man will only be seen when challenged by apparently impregnable odds. There is a legion of skeptics out there. In fairness to them, such doubts can be excused by the years of abject failure by those sent to manage the three ministries now concatenated into one. If those considered eminently qualified could not handle one of the three successfully, how would a man now combine the three and succeed? That is where Fashola must fasten his belt and acknowledge the immensity of his challenges. He must insist on working with

THE BEST IN A MAN WILL ONLY BE SEEN WHEN CHALLENGED BY APPARENTLY IMPREGNABLE ODDS the best hands and be ready to step on toes. Fashola must also demand and insist on adequate, optimum funding for the projects. Otherwise, if he is not ready to put his foot down, he had better resign. The vagaries of erratic power supply, the demons of dilapidated roads and the lunacy of inadequate shelter must be appeased with the offerings of adequate funds midwifed by visionary, devil-maycare leadership. Even when he gets the funding, there are still demons to confront. They include the hydra headed demon of some powerful generator merchants, who in their morbid fear of running out of business, would always want to sabotage his best of efforts. The cable and wire vandals already entrenched in a seemingly intractable preoccupation are also ready for the battle of their lives. The demons of ministry officials fond of colluding with road contractors ever ready to cut corners with the amount of inches of road thickness, adequate tarring etc. are also waiting in the wings. Fashola must look beyond the current largely analogue road construction and maintenance technology to new innova-

tions like the concrete initiative being tried by one of the south eastern states. Enduring roads would save money. Shoddy jobs will not end with the attendant symptoms like accidents, dilapidated highways, traffic jams etc. They will impact terribly on the efforts of this government to curb the waste of the past. He should also not be ashamed to seek help from nations that have crossed the threshold. It is no longer a matter of pride. It is survival for the millions of Nigerians whose very livelihood depend on regular power: plumbers, vulcanizers, barbers, welders and even the viewing centre entrepreneurs, many of whom are already contemplating folding up due to the heavy burden of skyrocketing fuel prices and generator maintenance. Millions of low income families depend on this dishearteningly elusive power supply. The euphoria that greeted the few weeks of somewhat regular power after Buharis inauguration has turned to despair and Fashola cannot but revive the people’s faith. Yes, there are many SCEPTICS, Minister. Millions have been so traumatized by the vagaries of power disruptions and death-trap roads that they don’t believe anyone, no matter his pedigree, can perform wonders. But I know you can! Yes, you can! So I challenge you to disappoint the skeptics positively. You are the symbol of the hope of millions regarding your jurisdiction. Even the President who saddled you with so huge a responsibility is frantically hoping for results. You cannot afford to break our hearts. To whom much is given, much is expected. And I have a word for the miracle seekers. It would be unfair to expect overnight magic from this man. Yes, he has his job cut out and WE EXPECT RESULTS, but the results should not be expected to come so easily. Once again, Fashola, disappoint the skeptics. Ojewusi wrote via solaojewusi@yahoo.com

Sport Extra Gary Neville named Valencia coach Peter Lim, Valencia’s Singaporean owner, has a stake in Salford City, the non-league club co-owned by Neville. His brother Phil, who joined the Spanish club as assistant manager in July, will stay on the coaching staff. “I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity with Valencia,”

the new head coach said. “Valencia are a huge football club of immense standing - and I know from my time as a player the passion and dedication of the Valencia fans.” Neville, who has stepped down from his position as a Sky Sports pundit with immediate effect, will

attend a news conference with club president Layhoon Chan today. Chan said of Neville: “He is hugely respected in English football and it was his personal qualities which persuaded us that he was the right choice to lead Valencia until the end of the season.”

Neville

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