Thursday, november 12, 2015 new by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Senate directs CBN to suspend TSA over N25bn fraud

National Mirror www.nationalmirro ronline.ne t

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Asks finance committee to probe REMITA

GeorGe oji ABUJA

Saraki

Vol. 5 N0. 1242

he Senate, yesterday, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Broad Stree t, Lagos PHOTO : SAMU

EL ADETIMEHIN

forthwith, further implementation of the policy of Treasury Single Account (TSA) over alleged payment

Trade fair: LCCI reaffirms commitment to creative industry P.10

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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@NationalMirror

N150

Super Minister Fashola heads Power, Works, Housing ...Buhari retains Petroleum portfolio Kemi Adeosun is Finance Minister

P.2

NAME

STATE

Okechukwu Enelamah

Abia

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Mohammed Musa Bello

Adamawa

Minister of FCT

Udoma Udo Udoma

Akwa Ibom

Budget and National Planning

Senator Chris Ngige

Anambra

Labour and Employment

Heineken Lokpobiri

Bayelsa

Minister of State, Agriculture

Adamu Adamu

Bauchi

Minister Education

Audu Ogbeh

Benue

Ag riculture and Rural Development

Mustapha Baba Shekori

Borno

Minister of State, Power, Works and Housing

Usani Uguru

Cross River

Minister Niger Delta

Ibe Kachikwu

Delta

Minister of State for Petroleum

Ogbonnaya Onu

Ebonyi

Minister of Science and Technology

President Muhammadu Buhari (sixth right), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (seventh right) and other members of Council in a group photograph shortly after the swearing-in of the newly composed Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

APC senators boycott sitting as Ekweremadu presides

Conspiracy theory figment of imagination, says Senate

Pro-Biafra protest: Tension mounts in Imo

P.5 P.12

PORTFOLIOS

Reps ask Dogara to sanction fighting members P.6

News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Super minister, Fashola, gets Power, Works, Housing Rotimi Fadeyi

ormer Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, yesterday became a super minister as President Muhammadu Buhari formally constituted the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Council Chambers

of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Fashola would be in charge of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. The powerful ministry is the creation of the new government, which merged the former ministry of power with that of works and housing. The move may not be

unconnected with the confidence repose in the former governor by the president based on his performance in Lagos. Buhari, during the swearing in ceremony, publicly confirmed himself as Minister of Petroleum Resources. He also announced the Group Managing Director, GMD, of Nigeria National Pe-

Victorious Golden Eaglets on arrival from Chile at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday.

troleum Corporation, NNPC, as the Minister of State for Petroleum Ministry. Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi was announced as Minister of Transport, while National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Lai Mohammed was named as Information Minister

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Senate directs CBN to suspend TSA over N25bn fraud CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

of N25bn to REMITA, the ecollection agent in one day as one per cent of monies earned through the process. This was also as the lawmakers directed its committees on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Account to carry out a holistic investigation on the matter and report back to it in two weeks. The directive followed the adoption of the resolutions contained in the motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West). The TSA was a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all federal government ministries, departments and agencies to deposit all proceeds of revenues with the CBN in a single account. While commending President Buhari for introducing the policy, the Senate wondered if the present administration, with its anti-corruption fight, would allow a company to make such an inexplicable amount of N25 billion in a single day.

While moving the motion, Melaye noted that the federal government on September 15, mopped up the sum of N2.5 trillion through the ecollection agent, REMITA. He said that REMITA charged one per cent of any amounts it remitted to the TSA, which amounted to N25 billion made by the company on September 15 alone. Melaye argued that the appointment of REMITA as an agent for the operation of the TSA was a contravention of section 162(1) which mandated only the CBN to handle government revenue. The senator further noted that REMITA also contravened the BOFIA Act 2007 which forbids any institution which is not incorporated as a bank to carry out banking businesses. He said that contravention of the BOFIA Act attracts a prison term of 10 years or a fine of N2 million. Some of the senators who contributed to the motion insisted that a third party like REMITA was not needed to ensure compliance

to the TSA policy let alone a company that should be paid in billions. They insisted that if the investigation was concluded and some people were found culpable, they should be brought to book without any hesitation. Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who was bewildered by the allegation expressed disbelief that a company could have been paid that much just to transfer money to the CBN. He said that no matter the platform utilised, the amount was too much and as such must be investigated. Senator Eyinaya Abaraibe, however, raised more alarm when he alleged that the amount had even risen to over N60 billion since September 15 when the transfer of N2.5 trillion was done. He said that much more money had been paid to the TSA through REMITA and the company had religiously taken one per cent of the sum. He urged that senators should go beyond party lines to handle such issues bordering on corruption

and ripping off the common wealth of Nigerians. The Deputy Leader of the Senate Ibn Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Allah stressed that no more should the nation allow any company to hide under the role of consultancy to charge outrageously for services rendered. Other contributors noted that some people were attempting to derail the APCled government and such people must not be spared. However, some of the over 19 senators who contributed to the motion urged the Senate to suspend further action until the committee was done with its investigations. Senator Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central) warned that the Senate should be mindful in pursuing the case urging that proper investigations must be done first. In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who took over from the Deputy President of the Senate mid-way into plenary said that the motion was very important.

Former Anambra State governor, Senator Chris Ngige is Minister of Labour and Employment while former Finance Commissioner in Ogun State, Kemi Adeosun takes charge in the Minister of Finance

Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia) is Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment while Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa) is in charge of Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Others are Udoma Udo CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Osagie Ehanire

Edo

Minister of State, Health

Kayode Fayemi

Ekiti

Minister of Solid Minerals

Geoffrey Onyeama

Enugu

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Amina Mohammed

Gombe

Minister of Environment

Anthony Anwuka

Imo

Minister of State, Education

Suleiman Adamu

Jigawa

Minister of Water Resources

Zainab Shamshuna Ahmed

Kaduna

Minister of State, Budget and National Planning

Abdulrahman Dambazau

Kano

Minister Interior

Hadi Sirika

Katsina

Minister of State, Aviation

Abubakar Malami

Kebbi

Minister Justice

James Ocholi

Kogi

Minister of State, Labour and Productivity

Lai Mohammed

Kwara

Minister of Information

Babatunde Fashola

Lagos

Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jubril

Nasarawa

Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

Abubakar Buari

Niger

Minister of State, Solid Minerals

Kemi Adeosun

Ogun

Minister Finance

Claudius Omoleye Daramola

Ondo

Minister of State, Niger Delta

Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole

Osun

Minister Health

Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu

Oyo

Minister of Communication

Solomon Dalong

Plateau

Minister of Youth and Sports

Rotimi Chibuike Ameachi

Rivers

Minister of Transportation

Aisha Abubakar

Sokoto

Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment

Aisha Jummai Alhasan

Taraba

Minister of Women Affairs

Khadija Bukar Ibrahim

Yobe

Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

Zamfara

Minister Defence

Brigadier-General Munsur Dan Ali rtd

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Photo

Thursday, November 12, 2015

NEWS

Participants at the opening of a Workshop on Urban Africa Risk Knowledge of Ibadan City Study in Ibadan yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

L-R: Member of the Governing Council of NCF, Dr Desmond Majekodunmi; Moderator of the Event, Dr Nnadozie Isinguzo; Director, Occupational Safety and Health, Mrs Nofisat Arogundade; Guest Speaker, Dr Oyet Gogomary; National President, Oshassociation Nigeria Region, Dr Abraham Nwachukwu and Controller, Federal Fire Service, Lagos State, Mr Adeyemi Olusola, at the 5th Oshassociation International Safety Conference and Awards, in Lagos, yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Director, International Operation, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Grace Eni Nsot; Justice Sector Specialist, World Bank, Eva Melis and Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs Joy Bobmanuel, at a news conference on successful completion of the access to Justice for the Poor project, in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

L-R: Chief Operating Officer/Managing Director, Air Peace Airline, Miss. Oluwatoyin Olajide; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Barr. Allen Onyema; Air Peace Airline Ambassador, Miss. Nigeria 2015, Leesi P. Peter-Vigboro and Director of Flight Operations, Capt. Wellington Eyimina, during Miss. Nigeria’s visit to Air Peace Airline, yesterday.

National News

Low power supply threat to economic growth – Saraki GeorGe oji AbujA

enate

President,

Bukola

Saraki

yesterday said the

poor state of power generation and distribution in the country was impacting negatively on the economy. He also regretted that the situation is causing untold frustration to Ni-

ciency in the entire en-

enforcement and disci-

ergy value chain.”

plines in the sector.

“Even when you have

installed

capacity

er,” would effectively dis-

different terrain. So I

charge the functions of

believe he should have

managing the ministry

capacity to do the assign-

He said the probe

Nnaji, who superin-

12,000mw, you cannot re-

should be an opportu-

tendent the deregula-

lease the same amount

He said: “I know that

ment. “He

should

concen-

nity to right the wrongs

tion of the power sec-

of megawatts to the end

Fashola is an excellent

perpetrated in the sec-

tor and the unbundling

users. Nigeria can gener-

administrator and man-

trate

because that is the major

transmission

of Power Holding Com-

ate 7,000mw and make it

ager. I can imagine what

The probe was the re-

pany of Nigeria, PHCN,

available for consump-

Lagos State used to be

constraint; gas produc-

sult of a motion by Sen-

lamented that despite

tion, should there be no

like before he became

tion and transmission.

ate Leader, Ali Ndume,

huge

chan-

constraint in transmis-

governor and what it is

“He doesn’t control gas

during one of the recent

neled into the sector

sion where we have inef-

now. It comes with dedi-

production but he must

sittings by the Senate.

over the years, Nigeri-

ficiency in distribution.

cation and that is what

liaise very well with the

we need in this country.

ministry of

tor in the past.

Speaking at the probe

resources

ans are still not enjoy-

“Out of the amount of

petroleum

power that is distributed

“It is a very large area

and the Presidency to

this,

ter of Power, Prof. Bart

He noted that out of

to transmission compa-

to cover but the minis-

ensure that gas is avail-

while declaring open a

Nnaji, said about half

the 12,000mw of the na-

nies only about 50 per

try of power is no longer

able for all of the power

two-day public probe of

of electricity, being gen-

tion’s installed capacity,

cent of it gets to the con-

what it used to be when

plants and even though

the power sector from

erated by the various

only 5,500mw was get-

sumers. It is an incred-

I was a minister because

he is not supervising the

1999 to 2014 by the Senate

generating

ting to consumers.

ible inefficiency in the

the entire generation is

power plants.”

Ad Hoc Committee on

was actually not getting

For instance, he said

power system that must

out. He is no longer go-

He urged Fashola to

Power.

to consumers as a result

the gas being delivered

be cured,” he said.

ing to be the manager of

encourage more gas pro-

of poor transmission.

for

power generation, except

duction to support the

supervise.

power plants and to also

panel,

gerians. Saraki

stated

He said: “It is hard to put in words the level

former

Minis-

companies

He blamed the devel-

ing adequate supply.

power

generation

was a fraction of the in-

The

former

minis-

ter expressed optimism

supervise the distribu-

of frustration Nigerians

opment on the ineffi-

stalled capacity which

that the new Minister In

“He is no longer go-

have had to face with

ciency of the regulatory

would not affect the

charge of the sector, Mr.

ing to be the manager

tion companies so that Nigerians will enjoy the

power, the impact of this

agency of government,

quantity meant for ex-

Babatunde Raji Fashola

of distribution; he just

on the wider economy

which he said, failed

port through the Lique-

being “an excellent ad-

manages the transmis-

dividend of the deregula-

to carry out necessary

fied Natural Gas.

ministrator and manag-

sion network. It is a very

tion of the sector.

and the level of ineffi-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

APC senators boycott sitting as Ekweremadu presides GeorGe oji

n the first day he presided over Senate plenary yesterday since his election as the Deputy Senate President on June 9, 2015, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was met with opposition from some senators of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who boycott the sitting. Ekweremadu presided over the plenary following the absence of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki who had gone to the Presidential Villa, to witness the inauguration of the new Federal Executive Council (FEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari. It was gathered that Saraki asked Ekweremadu to preside on his behalf following the unanticipated delay experienced by Saraki at the inaugural ceremony. Ekweremadu had earlier represented Saraki to declare open the two-day public hearing on the probe of the power sector at room 231 of the senate new building. Once Ekweremadu took his seat to preside at the plenary by about 11.30am, Senators Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), George Akume (Benue North West) and Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna

Central) who were at the lobby of the senate, when Ekweremadu matched in, refused to go inside the chamber. Incidentally, Lawan had contested unsuccessfully to become the Senate President, while Akume had vied for the position of the Deputy Senate President. The duo were backed by members of the Senate Unity Forum in the quest for the presidency of the senate. Just as the proceedings were going on in the plenary, and apparently aware of the actions of Lawan, Akume and Hunkuyi, Senators Oluremi Tinubu and the Senate Whip, Senator Olushola Adeyeye, quietly, sneaked out of the chambers. Hunkuyi in a short and hand written statement minutes after their boycott entitled, “The Conspiracy Against APC Finally Consummated: As Mr. president Muhammadu Buhari Inaugurates New Federal Executive Council of the Change Agenda, PDP takes over the Hallow Chamber of the Senate,” said: “As we notice with joy,my he inauguration of the FEC by Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Executive Council today, the 10th of November, 2015. “Finally, the change

agenda has cleared the coast to start up the integrated development agenda of the APC formed Government. In equal stance, we notice with grave sadness the handover of the hallowed chamber of the senate today to the opposition party, PDP by the Senate President to Ike Ekweremadu as the PDP helmsman to preside over the the majority membership of the APC-led chamber. “It is a very sad development that must be denounced by all well meaning APC members and leaders alike. With this, to show our protest as APC senators of the 8th senate wish to announce that we shall seize the attendance

any sitting presided over by the PDP in an APC majority chamber of the 8th senate.” Upon information on what had transpired at the plenary, the senate spokesman, who had been at the ad hoc committee public probe on the power sector, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi rushed a brief statement, entitled, “Re: The Conspiracy against the APC Finally Consumate,” which he read to newsmen. The seven paragraph statement read: “The attention of the senate has been drawn to the above captioned news release. “The senate wishes to state categorically that there is no conspiracy of any nature among distinguished

senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The consumption of a conspiracy is the figment of the imagination of those behind the news release and should be disregarded by Nigerians. “The senate wishes to reiterate its total commitment to providing robust legislative actions to support the change agenda of Mr. President as he strives to move Nigeria to the next height. “The bi-partisan stand of the senate has not, and will not be an impediment. “The distinguished senators are happy with the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council and looks forward to having harmonious, rancour-free,

but inclusive and participatory relationship that has at its heart the welfare of Nigerians. “Finally, as we await the unveiling of the policy directions of the President through the members of his executive council, the senate is indeed poised to work harder and better to support the emergency of a changed Nigeria of our collective dreams.” Meanwhile, the senate adjourned further sitting till Tuesday next week. Ekweremadu explained that the adjournment was in Honour of the late Acting Senate Clerk, Adedotun Durojaiye, who died on Monday after a protracted illness.

Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, addressing troops of the 114 Task Battalion in Bitta, near Sambisa Forest in Borno, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Super minister, Fashola, gets Power, Works, Housing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Udoma (Akwa Ibom) Minister of Budget and National Planning; Adamu Adamu (Bauchi), Minister of Education; Audu Ogbeh (Benue), Agriculture and Rural Development; Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River); Minister of Niger Delta; Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Minister of Science and Technology; Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Minister of Solid Mineral ; Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu), Minister of Foreign Affairs; Amina Mohammed (Gombe), Minister of Environment. Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa), Minister of Water Resources; Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano), Minister of interior; Abubakar Malami, (Kebbi), Minister of Justice; Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole (Osun), Minister of Health; Abdulraheem Adebayo Shittu

(Oyo); Minister of Communications; Solomon Dalong (Plateau), Minister of Youth and Sports; Aisha Jummai Alhasan (Taraba), Minister of Women Affairs; Brigadier- General Munsur Dan Ali (rtd )(Zamfara), Minister of Defence Those who got Ministers of State are Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Agriculture; Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno), Power, Works and Housing, Osagie Ehanire (Edo) Minister of State, Health, Zainab Shamshuna Ahmed (Kaduna), Minister of State, Budget and National Planning; Anthony Anwuka (Imo), Minister of State, Education and James Ocholi (Kogi), Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jubril (Nassarawa), Minister of State, Foreign Affairs; Abubakar Buari (Niger),

Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Mallam Ibrahim Usman Jubril (Nassarawa), Minister of State Environment; Claudius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo), Minister of State, Niger Delta; Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto), Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment; Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe); Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and Hadi Sirika (Katsina), Minister of State, Aviation. The President speaking at the occasion said since he assumed office in May, he had been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translated into putting round pegs in round holes. Buhari explained that he had been conscious of the need not to repeat the mistakes of the past, when the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into poor perfor-

mance, despite their obvious capabilities. According to him, the ministries had been rationalised and reduced to 24, saying the economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth. The President also said that he responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across various ethnic and political divides. He said the swearing in of the ministers was another milestone in the evolution of the new government which Nigerians overwhelmingly voted into office in the March 28 general elections. Buhari explained that he and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had also been mindful of the need

to constitute a cabinet that would best deliver expectations of a better country than they inherited. He stated that his administration would work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons where citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. The President expressed optimism that bringing the new set of ministers into the service of the country was a step in the right direction, stressing that it was a timely move towards realising positive goals for the nation. He stated that with the inauguration, the APC-led government is set to continue implementing its policies in respect of the economy and other areas. He said: “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the vice president and I have been mindful of the need

to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited. “We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country. “Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Rep ask Dogara to sanction fighting members UbOng UkpOng AbujA

ouse of Representatives yesterday sustained an order seeking to call fighting members to order, even as Herman Hembe lost the bid to exonerate himself from the reported fight with Aliyu Da’u Magaji on Tuesday.

...As Hembe loses bid to exonerate self

Hembe (Benue APC), who is chairman, House Committee on FCT, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s supporter, was reported to have engaged in a fight publicly with Magaji (Jigawa APC) and House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila’s supporter. The duo reportedly

Cracks in PDP over Jonathan’s presidency ObiOra ifOh AbujA

arely 24 hours after the People’s Democratic Party, PDP National Conference Committee led by Raymond Dokpesi tendered unreserved apology to Nigerians for fielding Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as replacement to late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the party has distanced itself from the position of the committee. The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, said the statement credited to Dokpesi was his personal opinion and does not represent an official position of the party.

He said, “In the first place, Dokpesi is not a member of the national executive of the PDP and can only speak in his personal capacity; his opinion remains personal and does not represent that of the party. “The decision to field former President Jonathan in the 2015 presidential race was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Council (NEC) and the party’s national caucus. In addition, the constitution of party allows a sitting president chance to exercise his personal right to run for a second term if he so desires.

slapped each other at the lobby to the chambers over committee slots on Tuesday morning before attending plenary. Although many mistook Magaji for Aliyu Madaki, who quickly sent a message round that he was nowhere near the National Assembly or the fighting scene, Hembe was swift to deny ever slapping Madaki.

He therefore raised a point of order on the floor of the House yesterday seeking to exonerate himself, as he told the House that he was shocked to see media publications on Wednesday claiming he slapped Madaki. He however could not discharge that he never slapped nor had altercation with Magaji as published.

While Hembe made efforts to complain against the media and claim innocence, Deputy Speaker Sulaimon Lasun, who presided over the plenary, told him that he had noted his point of order, but that “you cannot be a judge in your own case.” The presiding officer advised the lawmakers not to attempt joining issues

with media organisations. In a swift reaction, Randolph Brown (Rivers PDP) raised another point of order, 6, Rules 20 and 22 on privileges and complaints against publications. Brown wanted the leadership of the House to call the fighters to order and do something quickly to address the incessant fighting in the House.

L-R: Group Executive Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Knut Ulvmoen; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alhaji Ismail Aderemi Bello; Vice President and Chairman, Membership Committee, LCCI, Babatunde Ruwase and Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications, Engr. Ahmed Mansur, at the Dangote Pavilion during the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair, yesterday.

Boko Haram: Germany deploys Super minister, Fashola, gets Power, Works, Housing more aid to Nigeria Continued from page 5

UbOng UkpOng AbujA

German Advisory Team in charge of military equipment and programme aid has arrived the country with new support packages to aid Nigerian military in the ongoing war against Boko Haram. This was contained in a statement by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Colonel Rabe Abubakar. Abubakar said the team was at DHQ in Abuja, on visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS. Speaking during the visit, the DDI said the team leader, Colonel Thomas Brillisauer said the aim of the visit was to discuss new areas of support in the fight against insurgency in the coun-

try. According to the German representative, Nigeria has been a reliable partner, therefore there was need to support her by prolonging and increasing the military relationship for the future of both countries. The DDI noted that the German military was the sole trainer of the Armed Forces Electronic and Mechatronics Engineering (AFEME) Workshop and School. Describing the engagement of the two countries as very cordial, Brillisauer stated that the German government is ever ready and willing to improve on the existing relationship by wading into the needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the ongoing war on terrorism which is different from other form of previous bilateral relation.

“I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities. “Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.” The President said while his administration was working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of sharp decline in the price for the commodity, effort was also been made to diversify the economy in such areas as agriculture to enhance employment and exploration of solid minerals as a major revenue earner. He said the primary

aim was to achieve selfsufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals. Buhari said his government intends to pursue policies that would generate massive employment for millions of youths as well as ensure improved security for the country and its citizens without letting up on the fight against corruption. “Our commitment to defeat Boko Haram and all the threats it constitutes remains as strong as ever. So is our resolve to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigeria “While recognising the challenges we face and the need to surmount them, let us not fail to note the progress we have made in the short life of this gov-

ernment, as an indication of how much better we can do as a people driven by patriotism and a common resolve to do things right. “On the moral sphere, trust is slowly but steadily being re-established between the government and the people. Now, when the government speaks, the people listen; and when the people’s expectations are not met, they appreciate that it is not for lack of commitment or trying on the part of government. “In effect, government business is now being conducted with transparency and cynicism is waning as a result. “Our adoption of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, has resulted in the blocking of financial leakages in the public sector, making more funds available for the business of governance and ensuring the welfare of our citizens.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has also assisted more than 30 states of the federation with concessionary loans to offset salary arrears for their workers. “On the monetary side, the CBN has also implemented country-specific and innovative policies that have helped to stabilize the exchange rate and conserve our reserves,” he said. Buhari charged the new ministers to proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence reposed on them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions. He expressed the believe that regardless of the present challenges confronting the nation, Nigerians would keep hope alive and sustain their optimism about the future of the economic wellbeing.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We have deliverable timeline –Environment Minister OlUfemi AdeOsUn ABUJA

ewly appointed Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, and the Minister of State, Mr. Ibrahim Jubril, yesterday formerly resumed duty. In their first meeting with the management staff of the ministry in Abuja, the ministers said they had a deliverable timeline that requires the total support of all the stakeholders in the environment sector. In her opening remarks, Amina Mohammed said she and her colleague had been given a mandate to make environment impact positively on the lives of the people and urged the staff to align themselves with the change agenda of the present government to enable them deliver within the timeframe. According to her, no part of the country is devoid of one environmental challenge or the other, adding that it is the responsibility of government to mobilise resources to ad-

dress them The Minister of State for environment, Mr. Ibrahim Jubril insisted that there would be sanction for any staff that refused to align with the change agenda of the present administration in the environment sector. Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bukar Hassan, noted that the ministry staff would give the needed support to the ministers to enable them discharge on their mandate.

Chidi UgwU ABUJA

ndication emerged yesterday that the appointments of heads of parastatals in the petroleum sector may be reviewed by the new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachichikwu. The erstwhile Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petro-

ABUJA

he newly sworn in Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has pledged to reduce the import burden of food in the country. The minister who stated this yesterday in Abuja while resuming office described as unacceptable a situation where the country spend $22billion on food importation annually. According to him, “we have to challenge the situation where certain interest out of the shores of the country has taken us prison; I don’t know how anybody can explain importing banana from Cameroon or Irish Potato from South Africa or vegetables from South America. He said Nigeria still import $400million worth of tomato from India”. Ogbeh said the ministry will have to carry a new burden as oil has serve Nigeria well, but the country did not manage the resource well. He said, “so now the pressure is on diversification of Nigerian economy to agriculture. So we have to make it

work”. He said the ministry will intensify on research and marketing both home and abroad. The new minister also pledged to deal with the nutrition problem, pointing out that cancer and kidney have increased by 25 percent in the last 25years.

Chidi UgwU ABUJA

he Minister of Power Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), on resumption of duty at the ministry yesterday, went into a close-door session with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Louis Edozien and other directors of the ministry on the way forward in tackling the enormous task ahead. According to statement by the Director of Press,

Timothy Oyedeji, the minister said his thoughts are on how to bring together processes and activities of all the ministries now put under his supervision for effective service delivery. He assured the ministry’s leadership of his willingness to learn from them as they are career people who have been on the job for a long time. In his own words, he said; “We are here to work with you, in solving problems on ground as quickly as pos-

leum Corporation, NNPC, gave the hint while addressing members of staff, and all the heads of agencies of the ministry shortly after assumption of office. He said that in the next couple months he would be working closely with all heads of the agencies in order for them to understand the change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. According to Kachikwu, each of the managing directors would have to prove that he or she posses the capacity to deliver on the change mantra that the new administration is looking for. He noted that the ministry has lost a lot momentum as a result of the goings on in the past, adding that work is going to be at rocket pace to achieve directional change with a view to mapping out very clear deliverables.

The minister, who sought the corporation of the ministry’s staff for a cordial working relationship, added that “the minister’s portfolio is not one of just being in charge of NNPC, but being in charge of the total number of subsidiaries which are critical in the delivery of the main objectives of government. Reaffirming however, the dwindling resources from oil, Kachikwu, said there is need for the ministry to cut cost as well as strategically devise means to increase earnings for the country. Earlier in her address, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Jemila Shuwara, congratulated the minister particularly for distinguishing himself in the course of the ministerial screening on the floor of the Senate Chamber.

‘Usani’ll reposition N/Delta, calm youth restiveness’

resident Muhamadu Buhari has been lauded for appointing Pastor Usani Uguru Usani as the Minister of Niger Delta Ministry and the most suitable person to address youth restiveness and reposition the zone into mainstream politics. Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday shortly after the President had inaugurated and assigned the new ministers to their respective ministries, Senator Musa Adede said; “the President has again demonstrated that the five months wait was afterall not in vain. It goes to show that he was meticulously striv-

Fashola resumes duty, charges ministry’s leadership on road map

Kachikwu to review heads of prastatatals’ appointments

Ogbeh harps on local food production, diversification of economy AdeOlA TUkUrU

News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

ing to put square pegs in square holes as can be seen in the choice of ministerial portfolios. He described the new Niger Delta Minister as a go-getter who will turn around the fortunes of the ministry for good. “Usani is a thoroughbred technocrat who left a track record as former commissioner during the military regime in Cross River State. He is highly experienced bridge-builder and has the intellectual capacity to mobilise a team that will help him set and achieve a well-grounded agenda of change for the Niger Delta area.” Adede called on all Niger Delta stakeholders to

shun partisanship and quickly rally round the new minister and provide him the necessary support and credible advice. He noted that “the time for people to begin to lay emphasis on where the minister comes from and which party he belongs is in the past, all we need now is to mobilise and support our new minister to succeed in his present assignment.” On the Niger Delta restiveness, Adede noted that “apart from his spiritual background as cleric, he has the milk of human kindness and will do everything possible within his capacity to encourage every youth in the Niger

sible, we want to know if some of those problems are man-made or systemic”. Speaking further, “we want information on what has been done, what remained to be done, and what are the future plans, we want to continue from there”. The minister said he is also interested in how best to harness the available human resource assets in the ministry, so also the physical asset, as all these information will assist the new government hit the ground running. CONFIRMATION OF NAME THIS IS TO CERTFY THAT ADENIYI ADELEYE AND AKASO KAMOLI, REFER AS ONE PERSON, now wish TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADENIYI ADELEYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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

CHANGE OF NAME NWEKE: I, formerly known and addressed as MR. NWEKE ONYEBUCHI EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. NNEBEDUM ONYEBUCHI EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known called and addressed as Ismaila Ganiyu Kayode now wish to be known, called and addressed as Isunmaila Ganiyu Kayode. Former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank and General Public to note

CHANGE OF NAME OKOLI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOLI NNEKA OBIANUJU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AGU NNEKA OBIANUJU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME ORJI: I, formerly known and addressed as MRS. ORJI IJEOMA LOIS, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS IFEKA IJEOMA LOIS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NIFTY: I, formerly known and addressed as NIFTY EDET OFUM, now wish to be known and addressed as NSIDIBE ETIM UDO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certify that EZEANIOMA JOSEPH FRIDAY and EZEANI JOSEPH FRIDAY refers to one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as EZEANIOMA JOSEPH FRIDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

We need to do more so as to regain lost time. He told his audience that Nigerians are anxiously waiting for result, which in this case, is improved power supply nation-wide. Also speaking the Honourable Minister of State, Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri, said that as matter of urgency, he wants a detailed Ministerial Briefing Document to serve as a guide as this will ensure proper take off. Director, Human Resources, Mrs. Grace Papka, gave copies of the requested documents to the two ministers, in addition a timetable for proposed briefings by departments and agencies in the power sector. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Kareem Adewale Sulaiman and Magida Yaya refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Keystone Bank and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OLUTOKUN LATEEEF, now wish to be known and addressed as AWESU LATEEF. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AMOBI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AMOBI OGONNA FLORENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KINGSLEY-OKAFOR OGONNA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly EMOGHENE: known and addressed as Miss CHRISTIANA EMOGHENE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs CHRISTIANA AKINDOJU. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKEKE: I, formerly known and addressed as MR LEONARD OKEKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. LEONARD OBELOKA. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Nig. Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AKUMA: I, formerly known and addressed as AKUMA EMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MICHAEL ODONWEBE. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Nig and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ADEYINKA GANIYAT DUROGBADE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYINKA GANIYAT SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Smith Chichi Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogunnaike Kehinde Moriliat. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

South West

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Union threatens Caverton helicopters over sack of 50 staff Olusegun KOIKI

eadership of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, has threatened to ground operations of Caverton Helicopters over the sack of at least 50 of its members without following due process. It also accused the company of what it termed “illegal deductions of salaries to the tune of 1,000 per cent.” In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the helicopter company, signed by its GeneralSecretary, Olayinka Abioye, NUATE accused the organisation of illegally deducting workers’ salaries since September this year. The letter insisted that management erred in deducting staff salaries without any iota of consideration for rules, logic and applicable standards, stressing that the exercise was not meant to safeguard the company financially as a result of “drop of two Shell helicopters.” The union further queried the non-uniformity in

the deductions and failure to involve the unions for the exercise. It alleged that some staff salaries, rather than being deductedl either remained as it was or increased by as much as 200 and 350 per cent. The letter purported further that management used “this discriminatory, segregated, corrupt and fraudulent exercise to rob some” of its members as a result of the closeness of some staff to certain elements within and outside the company. “By the end of this month, some of the irregularities observed must be addressed, while all deductions hitherto made from staff since September without recourse to extant financial regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must be reinstated to the workers,” the union said. The letter emphasised that the union would not be held accountable for the consequences that may arise over the failure of the management to rectify the shortcomings pointed out by it.

Igbos in Oyo call for sanctions on Eze Ndigbo title outside Igboland KemI OlaItan Ibadan

gbo leaders in Oyo State under the auspices of Igbo General Assembly, IGA, yesterday, called for stiffer sanctions against any individual who continues to violate the directives of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the title of Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora. It would be recalled that the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, while abolishing the title of Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora, had declared that ‘Eze’ remains the exclusive royal titles of kings in autonomous communities and kingdoms in Igbo land. President General of IGA, Nze Emeka Enwereonye, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, expressed disappointment on the continued use of Eze Ndigbo title outside Igboland since the title was abolished. He said rather than the use of Eze Ndigbo, South

East Traditional Council and the Ohanaeze had approved the title Onyendu (Igbo community leader) in their respective host community and wondered why some title hungry individuals would continue to embarrass the Igbo people. Enwereonye said Igbo people would not like a repeat of the ugly development between the Deji of Akure and Igbo people in the state, saying people would have been saved from embarrassment if they had abided with the directives on the Eze Ndigbo title. Igbo leaders, who took turn to speak at the press conference, described the behaviour of some individuals who continued to parade themselves as Eze Ndigbo as unbecoming. They called on the authorities, especially traditional rulers in host communities to impose stiffer sanctions on such recalcitrant individual, adding that there can be no king without a kingdom.

President Muhammadu Buhari (r), congratulating Mr. Babatunde Fashola, after his Oath of Office as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, at the Presidential Villa In Abuja, yesterday.

Allegation of corruption trails appointment of new judges Wale IgbIntade

llegations of widespread corruption and impunity have trailed the ongoing appointment of new judges of the Federal High Court. National Judicial Council, NJC, as the nation’s apex supervisory body has overall control in the appointment of judges. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta had in the last quarter of 2014 announced the commencement of the process of appointing 25 new judges of the court. Our correspondent gathered that the Federal

Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, in exercise of its statutory duties conducted interview for over 100 shortlisted candidates. After the interview the commission transmitted to the NJC a list of 25 nominees as priority list (Most Qualified) and for them to be appointed as judges of the Federal High Court. The commission was also said to have attached additional 25 names as reserve list (Lesser Qualified), corresponding to the number in the priority list in line with extant practice and tradition. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that upon the receipt of the list, NJC conducted

fresh interview with the shortlisted candidates. The result of the interview conducted by NJC also reflected that of the FJSC. It was learnt however that the outcome of a meeting held by the NJC last week, appeared to have made a mockery of the results of the interviews. A source told our correspondent that some persons who excelled over and above others were allegedly dropped in favour of lesser qualified persons, at the instance of influential members, who appeared to have private interests to protect. According to the source

“merit, competence, seniority and experience were sacrificed shamelessly on the altar of corruption and impunity.” Besides, NJC was said to have arbitrarily on its own also recommended the appointment of five or six additional persons over and above the 25 nominated for appointment by FRC. This is despite the fact that the Federal High Court had at all times given notice to the public of only 25 vacancies for appointment. The source lamented that a body that ought to rein in erring judicial officers is itself manifestly and recklessly guilty.

Economist article on Lagos reckless, slanderous —LASG FrancIs suberu

agos State Government yesterday criticised an article written by The Economist, a London base weekly magazine, which took a swipe at the policies and socio-economic performance of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration, saying the article is reckless and outrageous. The Economist article entitled; “Paralysed: Why Nigeria’s largest city is even less navigable than

usual”, published in the latest edition of the magazine had been highly critical of the state government. Reacting on behalf of the state government, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said government deemed it fit to write a rebuttal to the article because it contained series of bias judgement. Ayorinde wondered why the article, published just about the time Governor Ambode read the riot act to traffic offend-

ers on the readiness of his government to carry out comprehensive enforcement effort on traffic management, was latched on by traditional and social media. Attributing it to the handiwork of fifth columnists, he said the article failed to take into account the bigger picture of an emerging reform policy, designed to address the larger concerns in the management of security, traffic and the environment. “If we were to conclude

hastily, like the article did, we would have described the magazine’s effort in the same words it once famously used as “an unpleasant nose-tostranger’s-armpit experience,” he said. Explaining further, Ayorinde said it was inaccurate and preposterous for the article to suggest that Governor Ambode cut the powers of traffic controllers by banning them from impounding cars, which it concluded, had made officers reluctant to enforce the rules.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Broad Street, Lagos PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Broad Street Diary

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has reaffirmed its commitment to boost the creative industry and make it a major source of income in Nigeria. To this end, the Chamber in conjunction with the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, has put together “Eko Akete: The Lagos Creative Industry Fair,” a creative industry fair aimed at showcasing the interesting talents in showbiz, fashion and lifestyle, music, poetry, artwork and film production in Nigeria. The fair, which holds at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th November 2015, is expected to feature amongst others, the Nigerian entertainment conference tagged “Bridging pathways to the Creative Industry of our dreams; Grill fest, cultural night, musical concert by Timaya, Vector, Brymo, Project fame All Stars and many others, as well as music workshop to be facilitated by Performing Musician Association of Nigeria,PMAN, fashion shows, acting and audition workshop by DStv featuring Kate Henshaw, Lancelot Imaseun, Desmond Elliot, and Gospel Concert featuring Monique, Kunke Kenny and Nikki Laoye. According to the Corporate Communications Manager, LCCI, Segun Alabi, the Lagos creative industry fair (Eko Akete) is aimed at reviving the Nigerian economy by refocusing on the non-oil sector, to which the creative industry belongs. He enumerated the key areas to draw attention at the fair to include, but not limited to; modelling, digital arts, social-media, anti-piracy, art promotion through technology, dance education, drama and literature, fashion and film making and other corporate exhibitions. He added: “The creative industry fair is also expected to identify and groom up-coming talents by facilitating socioeconomic networking with already established brands in the industry. So far, so good, the excitement that the fair has generated has been phenomenal and we are indeed happy about it.” Meanwhile, the trade fair has grossly affected sales of major traders in the island as many of them lamented reduction in their normal daily sales.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Trade Fair: LCCI reaffirms commitment to creative industry ...as exhibitors storm Broad Street

Visitors to the Lagos trade fair, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos

PHOTO: SAMUEL AD-

Most of their regular customers have diverted to the trade fair to get their products even when the prices of most of such products are not different from what they sell in the normal market. Some of the customers who spoke to the BSD said they bought their products from the trade fair because they believed they get the original ones at the fair. Some others said that the prices of some products were reduced at the fair compared to the regular market on Broad

Street, while some believed that they would get first hand information and instruction on how best to use the products direct from the producers. In fact, some of the customers left for Tafawa Balewa Square, the main venue of the trade fair to get what they could not get at the Freedom Park on Broad Street. The traders on the Broad Street were eager to see the end of the annual Lagos International Trade Fair, which is

scheduled to end on Sunday, the 15th of November, 2015, as the event normally affected their sales even when the trade fair was held only at TBS. Dealers in all kinds of products were affected as every product could be bought at the trade fair, although Freedom Park on the Broad Street was full of Creative Industry products and services; both TBS and Muson Centre were full of all kinds of products. –Abolaji Adebayo

She stated that in a confused state and shock of what was happening, she inquired from the officer what was her offence if any and what the fines are, but the officer according to her said he cannot tell her anything. “At this point, quite frankly, I started to get really fearful and asked the officer named Mutiu Balogun from the tag on his uniform, if I could veer to the right and call my husband to come and meet me at the CBD office at Onikan Swimming Pool, Mutiu barks at me that I cannot call my husband. I have no choice, and I’ve been told not to call anyone. So I continue driving. “Since I live right by Onikan Swimming Pool, I proceeded to drive there using the route that I normally use and I’ve used for 3 years since living in Lagos Island-Marina, turning into Joseph Street, turning into Catholic Mission Street, turning into Military Road, then onto King George. I’ve taken this route many times. “As I turn into Joseph Street, this Mutiu Balogun immediately starts agitating and asking why I’ve turned, saying that is not the way to swimming pool. I tried explaining to him that this is the way I know and since he didn’t give me any directions, I was just taking the way I knew. “Before I knew it, the officer raises his

hands and strongly smacks me across my chest as he attempts to shove my hands from the steering wheel. How can a public officer put his hands on me for any reason,” she queried. At this point she stated that the car was swerving on the road which attracted a crowd gathered on Joseph Street. “Mutiu then proceeds to use both of his hands to pull the hand breaks while I was still driving. He then starts yelling about how he’s going to show me a lesson and that by the time he is done with me, I would “pay more money than I’ve ever paid in my life”. All efforts by the crowd to plead on my behalf was rebuffed by the officer who stood by the driver door of my car, refusing me entry into my car and called his colleagues on the phone saying “the madam is proving difficult now, bring the towing truck.” She stated that when the towing van eventually arrived no word was spoken to her as they towed the car to their office, while she flagged down a taxi who took her to the Onikan office of the officials. She added that on getting to their office, a Notification of Offence Form was handed to her with the sum of N20, 000 to be paid to the office of the Special Adviser on Central

Business District with a handwritten account number, and a teller for N10, 000 to be paid to City-Wide Eko Enterprises. She alleged that the Notification of Offence Form had no offence written on it, just the amount. “I asked the officer what the offence was and he said he couldn’t tell me, that I should just go and pay. “The back of the Notification shows that the highest fee was for ‘Towing of a Trailer or tanker’ or ‘Driving in a direction prohibited by Road Traffic Law’. I was neither driving a tanker, nor driving in a direction prohibited by law, so I have no idea where the fee came from and no official wanted to tell me even though I asked severally for what offence was that I committed”. She added that when she reported the action of the arresting officer at the office, she was just told that the officer just pushed her a little bit and so that was of no concern to them. She urged the Lagos State Government to ensure that all Lagos residents are treated with dignity and respect by officials who are paid with the taxes residents pay to the Lagos State Government and ensure that the offending officer be brought to book. –Dare Akogun

Woman alleges assault by CBD officials

he wanton immoral behaviour and extortion by Lagos State task force agents on the roads has reared its ugly head again, as a middle aged woman have accused the Central Business District, CBD, officers on the island of assault and extortion for a crime she did not have any idea of. Narrating her encounter with the CBD officers Mrs. Kemi Atoyebi, claimed she was on the Island to make some purchases when she stopped at the foot of the Apongbon bridge and as she attempt to lock her car, some CBD officials swoop on her, brought a towing van and about to tow her vehicle. She said: “On Thursday morning, around 11am, I stopped by a shop by the foot of the Apongbon bridge going into Marina to make a purchase. As I was putting my bags in the car, I see several Central Business District officials gather around my car with their tow truck angling to clamp my car. “While still asking what was going on, one of the CBD men, jumps into my car and tells me to drive quickly if I don’t want them to clamp my car. In the confusion, I get in the car and just start driving. I ask him where exactly we were going and he responded, Onikan swimming pool.

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Court adjourns KPMG suit against FRC till Nov. 19 GbenGa OGunbufunmi

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba yesterday adjourned till Thursday, November 19 hearing of the fundamental human right suit filed against Financial Reporting Council, FRC, and its Executive Secretary, Osayade Obazee, by KPMG Professional Services and its partner, Mr Ayodele Othihiwa. When the matter came up for mention yesterday, Mr Norrosion Quakers (SAN) appearing for FRC, told the court that he had just been briefed about the matter and was still studying the file. He therefore pleaded for time to file response to the suit, while Mr Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN), representing the applicants, informed the court that they have not been able to serve the court process on Obazee, adding that this may necessitate the applicant bringing in application for substituted service. Based on the submission and mutual agreement of the two counsels, Justice Buba adjourned the matter till next week when all the parties must have been served.

South West

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Meanwhile, the order of the court restraining FRC and its Executive Secretary, Mr. Obazee, from taking any action, sanction or measure against KPMG Professional Services and Mr. Othihiwa, a Partner in the firm, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the applicants, still stands. The interim order of the court granted on Friday was sequel to an application argued before the court by Mr Chuka Ikwuazo from the law firm of Aluko and Oyebode, urging the court to restrain the respondents from taking any sanction and also order an accelerated hearing of the suit, now fixed for November 19. The KPMG and its partner, Ayodele Othihiwa, had filed an application for the enforcement of their fundamental rights following FRC’s letter of October 26, 2015, which it called a final notice and its ‘regulatory decision’ conveyed in another letter of October 30, on the financial statements of StanbicIBTC Holdings Plc for 2013 and 2014. The FRC in one of its regulatory decisions had suspended Othihiwa until the investigation as to the extent of the negligence of KPMG Professional Services is ascertained.

Property seizure: Court rules in Kashamu’s case Nov 18 wale iGbintade

ederal High Court, Lagos yesterday fixed November 18 to decide on the case filed by embattled Senator Buruji Kashamu against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF. Kashamu is praying for an order of perpetual injunction barring NDLEA and AGF from taking over his properties, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe and several hectares of land on Lekki Peninsula, Lagos worth over

N20bn. The trial judge, Ibrahim Buba, adjourned for ruling after listening to the argument from the parties. Counsel from the AGF’s office, Mr. Oyin Koleosho, in his preliminary objection described Kashamu’s suit as premature, incompetent and an abuse of court processes and asked the court to dismiss it. He submitted that Kashamu failed to substantiate the claim that the AGF had/or was about to take possession of his properties. The AGF also challenged the subject matter jurisdiction of the court to

entertain Kashamu’s case. Koleosho argued that since Kashamu’s case bordered on landed property title, the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain it. But Kashamu’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, said Kashamu was in court to protect his fundamental right to own properties as enshrined under sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution. “That is the reason we have come to the court this time round to protect the right of the applicant to own property. “This action is not pursuing a right in property;

the action is pursuing a right to own properties. The right in property and the right to own property are two different things. “It is on the basis of these facts and on the basis of this law that we urge Your Lordship to discountenance this argument,” Oluyede said. On its part, the counsel who appeared for NDLEA, Mr. Oigoga Ichakpa, said the agency was also opposed to Kashamu’s suit and had filed a counter-affidavit. Ichakpa adopted the counter-affidavit and urged the judge to dismiss Kashamu’s case. Buba adjourned till November 18 for judgment.

NSCDC arrests woman over suspected stolen crude femi OyewesO AbeokutA

peratives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in Ogun State have arrested a 45-year-old woman for allegedly being in custody of 2,000 litres of fuel suspected to have been siphoned by vandals from NNPC pipelines in Akute axis of Ifo local government area of the state. The suspect, identified as Toyin Olatunbosun, was arrested with the petroleum product said to have been hoarded in her residence at Daramola Close, Oniyanrin area of Akute. The Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Kareem Olanrewaju, who disclosed this to journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, explained that the suspect had already confessed to being the custodian of a group

of vandals that includes her husband. Olanrewaju further stated that Toyin, in the course of the interrogation, confessed that her husband and one other unidentified accomplice had always gone out in the night and returned with the stolen products the next morning. Toyin further revealed that her husband had been patronising the vandals for their domestic needs of the product which he would buy in one or two kegs to power their generating set since 2014, before he eventually became a member of the gang earlier this year. Exhibits recovered from the suspect included 2,000 litres of petroleum product, several empty jerricans and a phone. The civil defence spokesman said the case was being investigated and efforts were being made to arrest other suspects now at large.

L-R: Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Emilolorun Ayelari; Pro-Chancellor, Dr Umar Mustapha; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, at the university’s convocation lecture in Ibadan ... yesterday.

Digitalisation: Broadcasters strategise on compliance

ITH the compulsory switch to digital broadcasting around the corner, the Southwest zone of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, has urged its members to hone their new computer skills and technologies. The charge, which dominated talks on Tuesday at the Southwest zone meeting of the organisation, hosted by Lagos State Television (LTV8), in Agidingbi, Lagos, became imperative for broadcasters to remain relevant in the new broadcasting dispensation. The immediate past Zonal Chairman, Ayinde

Soaga, said digitisation and re-equipment have been the biggest challenges facing BON members, urging members to face digital-age realities which have become the vogue in broadcasting all over the world. Similarly, the Executive Secretary of BON, Segun Olaleye, said the idea of digitisation came up as a result of the emerging trend in technology, adding that when full digitisation commences, many of the stations would be compressed into channels. The BON scribe said the digitisation process will involve all Nigerians buying a sector box and all stations

as currently constituted will become a channel on a decoder. Olaleye said stations will have to specialise and distinguish themselves because of the competition that will follow. The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, tasked media practitioners to be prepared for the directive from the Federal Government to all media organisations to migrate from analogue broadcasting to digital. Ayorinde, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Fola Adeyemi, said broadcasters should

leverage on the multimedia nature of the television as against the print media to gain public confidence. The broadcasters also identified loss of revenue from advertising and drastic cut in jobs when the digitisation policy commences. According to the General Manager, LTV, Deji Balogun, the threat of digitisation calls for new thinking on the part of practitioners on how to protect themselves. Another broadcaster, Lemi Olalemi, said BON should be proactive in order to make money.

South East

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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2 killed, 7 injured in Nkpor cult clash Gloria anaeze Onitsha

o fewer than two cultists were yesterday reportedly killed, seven injured and six arrested by the police when two cult groups clashed in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Trouble reportedly started when cultists numbering about 10 stormed the hideout of a rival group at Nkpor and a free-for-all ensued, leading to the death of two members of the host cult members. It was gathered that broken bottles were used to stab the deceased who died instantly. Some residents of the area who witnessed the fight said members of the rival cult gangs were in-

digenes of Abakaliki and Izza communities, in Ebonyi State, adding that as the war raged, both spoke Ebonyi languages. According to them, knives, machetes, charms, clubs and guns were freely used. However, while confirming the incident, the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO Musa Hassan said, “Only one person was killed and we have taken the corpse to St Charles Boromeo Mortuary. “We arrested six of them and will soon transfer the case to the State Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, SIIB Awka for further investigation.” He believed a minor issue caused the loss of life, though the story was yet to be ascertained.

Forum demands unconditional release of Biafran agitators emmanuel e zeh enugu

n Igbo socio-political organisation, Njiko Igbo Forum, NIF, yesterday called on the Federal Government to release all detained Biafra agitators unconditionally. Leadership of the forum made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting at Ohanaeze Ndigbo secretariat in Enugu. In the communiqué signed by its President, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, it said, “We appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB, Benjanin Onwuka and other detainees of the Biafran Zionist Movement and all other pro-Biafran detainees.’’ The group pointed out that Biafran agitators were non-violent unlike Boko Haram, hence they should not be molested. Members of NIF, who did not hide their allegiance to the Nigerian nation, also called on President Buhari, to as a matter of urgent national importance, fasttrack the process of implementation of the 2014 National Conference report handed over to him, “as we consider

it the only panacea to peace, true federalism and calming of nerves to various monstrous and fired-up agitations that may engulf our nation, Nigeria.” They also called on the President to initiate dialogue with agitators of Biafra now that the agitation looked like a rumour “before it becomes cancerous like the Boko Haram terrorists which has gone faceless.” The Igbo socio-political group also suggested that Nigeria vigorously pursue massive agricultural revolution as alternative considering the dwindling oil revenue.

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Mrs Peace Nnaji; Chief Whip, Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Mathias Ekweremadu and Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Mrs Felicia Ikpeama, at the Unicef Workshop on Child Right’s Act in Enugu ...yesterday.

Pro-Biafra protest: Tension mounts in Imo …security beefed up … Igbo govs move meeting to Enugu

Chris njoku Owerri

ollowing Biafra agitators’ protest that ground socio-economic activities on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, tension is now mounting in Imo State where the protest has not taken place. This is as an expected meeting of governors of the South-East states, leadership of Ohanaeze and other stakeholders initially slated for this weekend in Owerri, at the instance of Governor Rochas Okorocha to discuss the continued pro-Biafra protests across the SouthEast and neighbouring states, has been moved to Enugu and would now hold on Tuesday, November 17. As tension builds in the

state, some people have expressed the fear that if such protest is allowed to take place in Imo seen as a seat of pro-Biafra agitation, what happened in Rivers and Anambra states where scores of people had been killed in the wake of protests for the release of the Director, Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, may be a child’s play. It was gathered however that some stakeholders have been appealing to the Pro-Biafra groups including Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB leadership to sheathe their swords and allow intervention for peace to reign. However, security in the state especially along major roads that link neighbour-

ing states has been beefed up following the expectation that the pro-Biafra groups may storm the state any moment from now. For instance, a number of checkpoints were seen along Owerri-Onitsha, OwerriAba and Owerri-Port Harcourt roads. These routes, believed to be entry points for vehicular and human traffic into the capital city, Owerri, had before now, had few security checkpoints manned by Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and surveillance kept by the Army during night hours. Meanwhile, the meeting by South-East governors, leadership of Ohanaeze and other stakeholders initially slated for this weekend in Owerri, at the instance of Governor Rochas Okorocha

to discuss the continued pro-Biafra protests across South-East and neighbouring states, has been shifted to Tuesday, November 17. Also, the venue of the meeting has also been moved from Owerri to Enugu known as the traditional headquarters of the SouthEast states. The postponement was informed by the need for all those expected at the meeting to be in attendance, a statement signed by Governor Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said. According to the statement, the governors, Ohanaeze leadership and stakeholders at the meeting will deliberate on the pro-Biafra protests that has gained momentum in recent time.

Enugu Assembly declares emergency on S’East roads emmanuel ezeh enugu

nugu State House of Assembly has declared state of emergency on all federal roads in South-East zone. The declaration is sequel to a motion where the House condemned the deplorable state of all federal roads in the zone. In the motion, which was sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East constituency, the lawmakers took turns

to speak and called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards rehabilitating the roads. After extensive deliberation, the House urged the Federal Government, through the federal ministry of works/Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to commence work immediately on the said roads to avoid more mishaps. Nwamba had in the motion stated that “residents in Enugu State and its environs for over a decade now, are faced with myriads of

problems as a result of the deplorable condition of federal roads there. “It seems the state is forgotten in the areas of construction of new roads, rehabilitation and maintenance of federal roads. Incidentally, this ugly trend has persisted despite promises made by the successive federal government regimes on the said roads. “Among the roads in question, the Port-HarcourtEnugu and Onitsha-Enugu highways are in the most pitiable condition.”

He added: “Whereas, the Enugu-Onitsha road that usually took about 40 minutes when in good condition, now takes three hours. The road is so bad that almost every vehicle that plies it usually breaks down before completing its journey. On the Enugu-Port-Harcourt highway, the story is the same as the journey that normally lasts two hours, now takes about five hours. “Whereas Mr. Speaker, the bad condition of those roads to the lives of Enugu inhabitants is enormous,

the poor condition of those roads has indeed hampered both the economic, political and socio-cultural activities of the people. This is followed by countless record of accidents on those roads. ‘‘Undoubtedly, Enugu State is one of the economic hubs of the South-Eastern States. “Whereas, there appears to be porous security on those roads since criminals use the opportunity of slow movement of vehicles to dispossess people of their valuables.”

Thursday, November 12, 2015

fter very long expectations, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki last Wednesday, announced the composition of the new senate standing committees for the 8th senate. The announcement came about two months after the lawmakers had resumed from their annual long vacation in September. According to the tradition of the senate, the committee list ought to have been made public, on the last day before the senate embarked on their last long vacation in July. At the worst case scenario, the list would have been made public the very week the senators resumed from their long vacation. But that was not to be. Even though there were no official explanations as to why the list was delayed for so long, it was however gathered that the lateness in making it public was not unconnected with the crisis in the senate, which resulted from the circumstances of the emergence of Saraki as the Senate President, against the wishes of the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. Indeed, it was alleged that one of the major reasons why the presidency and APC moved against Saraki by dragging him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, over alleged violation of his assets declaration while in office as the former governor of Kwara State was not unconnected with Saraki’s planned unfair treatment of his opponents in the Senate Unity Forum in the distribution of the chairmanship positions of the committees. The eventual release of the list two months after the lawmakers resumed from their annual holidays in September finally put to rest all the rumours and anxieties generated by the long delay. Watchers of the National Assembly had thought that the list would be a booby trap for the embattled Saraki, who had had to wage one political war after another, following the unpredicted and unorthodox process that threw him up as the Senate President. Incidentally, when the list was eventually made public, it turned out to be a win-win situation for both Saraki’s perceived enemies, his supporters, as well as minority senators of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Unlike the past, the list of the new senate standing committees showed that there was something cheery for everyone this time around. Surprisingly, many new comers to the senate (against the spirit of ranking) went home chairing committees. For those who opposed Saraki’s ascension to power, who had thought that the Senate President would use the committees to extract revenge, they went home pleasantly at the fair share of their committees. Expectedly too, Saraki’s supporters all had positions to rejoice about. Even among the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP minority senators, the list turned out to be a win-win for many of them. An analysis of the list of the committees showed that the likes of Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume were specially taken care of by the Senate President in the chairmanship of the committees. Lawan, who is a four time returnee to the senate and who contested the position of the Senate Presidency with Saraki was made chairman of the senate committee on Defence. Even though many analysts had expected Lawan to emerge as the chairman of the senate committee on appropriation, defence is equally a very critical committee, which ranks among the A-class committees. In the case of Senator Akume, who is also a very ranking senator and contested unsuccessfully for the position of Deputy Senate President, he too was given

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Senate: New committees and challenges of oversight GEORGE OJI writes that though the Senate has finally constituted its standing committees, the greatest challenges lie in the ability of the lawmakers to effectively oversight the ministries, departments and agencies of Government.

Saraki

Ndume

an A-class committee to chair as chairman of the senate committee on Army. Curiously, the immediate past Senate President, David Mark was completely missing in the list. He was neither given any committee to chair nor his name mentioned in any of the committees. It was gathered that the treatment meted to Mark on this matter was by choice; he had instructed that he be left out of the exercise. A further analysis of the committee membership showed that while the ruling All Progressive Congress,APC senators heads 40 committees, the minority Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senators chair 25 of the committees. It showed that Senators Dino Melaye Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dajuma Goje appropriation, Ahmed Yerima Sani, marine transport, John Owan Enoh, finance, Abdullahi Adamu, agriculture, Kabiru Gaya ,works, Andy Uba, Public accounts and James Manager, power. Others are senators Adamu Aliero, customs, excise and tariff, Oluremi Tinubu, women affairs, Uche Ekwunife, petroleum (downstream), Aliyu Wamako, education (basic and secondary), Monsurat Summonu, foreign affairs, Lanre Tejuosho, Health, Barnabas Gemade, Housimg, George Thompson Sekibo, interior, Sam Egwu, industries, Ben Murray Bruce, privatization, Oninna Ogba, sports and Donald Alaosaodura, petroleum (upstream). Some of the senators who retained the same committees from the 7th senate are Senators Hope Uzodinma, aviation, Gilbert Nnaji, communication and Enyinnaya Abaribe, information and national orientation. The following other senators are to chair the following committees, Senators Duro Faseyi, Air Force, God-

frey Utazi ,anti- corruption and financial crimes, Rufai Ibrahim banking, insurance and other financial institutions, Isiaka Adeleke, capital market, Abubakar Danladi, cooperation and integration in Africa and NEPAD, Mathew Urhoghide, culture and tourism, Rose Oko, Diaspora and civil societies, Joshua Ledani, drugs and narcotics, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, ecology and climate change, Suleiman Nazi, employment, labour and productivity, Olaka Nwogu environment, Emmanuel Pulker establishment and public service and Salihu Egye, federal character and inter governmental affairs. Others are Bassey Akpan, gas, Buhari Abdulfatai, ICT and cyber crime, Abubakar Kyari ,INEC, Bayero Usman Nafada, inter parliamentary affairs, David Umaru, judiciary, human rights and legal matters, Olugbenga Ashafa, land transport, Abdullahi Gumel, local and foreign debts, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, media and public affairs, Abdulsalami Ohiare, public procurement, Marafa Kabir, National identity and national population and Musa Rabiu Kwakwanso, national planning and economic affairs. The rest are Isah Hamman Misau, navy, Peter Nwaoboshi, Niger Delta, Abu Ibrahim, police affairs, Mao Ohuabunwa, primary health care and communicable diseases, Robert Ajayi Boroffice, science and technology, Joshua Dariye, solid minerals, Murtala Nyako, special duties, Abdullahi Gumel ,states and local government, Binta Masi Garba, tertiary institutions and TETFUND, Fatima Raji Rasaki, trade and investment, Mohammed Shittu, water resources and Ali Wakili, poverty alleviation and social welfare. The new senate spokesman, Senator Abdullahi while CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 fielding questions from newsmen on the committees explained that the composition was carried out carefully by the selection committee to ensure that all the contending interests were taken care of. He stated that the two main groupings in the senate, i.e. the senate unity forum and the senate like minds were all evenly accommodated in the chairmanship of the committees. The lawmaker also dispelled what he described as the misinformation about juicy committees, stressing that as far as the leadership of the senate was concerned, all the committees are equal and there are no special or juicy committees. Perhaps, one of the innovative strategies that Saraki adopted, which enable him to accommodate everyone in the committee sharing and navigated out of troubled waters was the increment of the number of the standing committees. From the existing 57 committees, Saraki upped the number to 65 this time around. Saraki may have also taken after the House of Representatives, which also raised the number of the House’s standing committees from 89 to 96. Even though the strategy may have worked in Saraki’s favour, it at the same time attracted public odium to the senate. For instance, following the release of the list last week, some members of the civil society organizations promptly came out to criticize the senate and the House of Representation over insensitivity, regarding the agitation for the reduction of the high cost of governance, which incidentally, the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been championing. The groups argued that by their actions, the leadership of the National Assembly had demonstrated that they were working at cross purpose with the All Progressive Congress, APC Government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari. For instance, one of the foremost civil society organizations and a parliamentary watchdog, Friends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative (FGAI) was the first to criticize the two chambers of the National Assembly over the increment. The group in a statement decried the action as not reflective of the stance of the Buhari Government, which has been pushing for the reduction of the structures of the civil service as a way to cut down on the recurrent component of the nation’s budget, which incidentally has accounted for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s annual expenditure in the past five years or so. In the statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, and entitled, “Senate: Mindless Bloating of Standing Committees,” FGAI said it considers the bloating of the standing committees in both chambers of the National Assembly at this point in our national development, “unnecessary, irresponsible, superfluous and out of tune with the present economic reality in the country.” It describes the increment as unfortunately, “coming at a time the present executive arm of Government is concerned about the increasing cost of governance and in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s philosophy of reducing the recurrent expenditure component of our national budget, Government has em-

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Senate: New committees and challenges of

Akpabio

PerhaPs, one of the innovative strategies that

saraki adoPted, which enable him to accommodate everyone in the committee sharing and navigated out of troubled waters was the increment of the number of the standing committees barked on measures aimed at reducing the number of the existing ministries, departments and agencies of government.” According to the group, “the least we expect from our elected representatives is to key into the philosophy of the present executive arm of government and seek ways of drawing down on the high cost of governance, especially recurrent expenditure, in response to the current dwindling resources of our economy.” It said a comparative review of what obtains across other parliaments globally shows that while the rest of other jurisdictions of the world are thinning down the size of their parliamentary committees for effectiveness, in Nigeria, the reverse is unfortunately the case. While condemning the current increment of the number of the committees by the two arms of the National Assembly, the group urged the leadership of the parliament to have a rethink over this matter. It, “urge that the increment be reversed because our national economy can hardly sustain the increase,” stressing that, “It is our opinion that what our elected lawmakers should presently be concerned about, is how to join efforts with the exec-

Mark

Maleye

utive, to seek ways of lifting our economy from its present near comatose state. A comparative review of what obtains across other parliaments globally shows that while the rest of other jurisdictions of the world are thinning down the size of their parliamentary committees for effectiveness, in Nigeria, the reverse is unfortunately the case. In the United States of American, where Nigeria borrowed our presidential system of government from for instance, the senate with 100 membership has only 20 committees (16 standing committees and 4 select committees), while the House of Representatives with a membership of 435 has only a paltry 21 congressional committees, (20 standing committees and one select committee). In the United Kingdom, committees are broken down to two; select and legislative committees. While the select committees embark on investigative activities, the legislative committee engages more in debate of bills. The House of Lords, with a membership of 745, has a small 16 select committees, while the House of Commons has only 47 of such committees. In France, the situation is not any different. With a membership of 577, the House of Representatives otherwise known as the National Assembly has only a meagre six standing committees, about the same number with the senate comprising 348 membership. The case of Canada also conforms no less with what is obtainable in the rest of other advanced democracies of the world. With a population of 105, the senate of Canada has only 18 standing committees while that country’s House of Commons with a population of 338 members has only 23 committees. The worry of many analysts regarding the new senate list of the standing committees is not so much about who got what, or indeed the size of the new committees. Instead, there is the concern as to the degree of effectiveness the lawmakers would bring to bear on their oversight responsibilities of the ministries, departments and agencies of Government with their membership of the new committees. Ideally, the senators are expected to use the opportunity of their membership of the various committees to up their

monitor and oversee the activities of the executive. In fact, among the advanced jurisdictions of the world, the committees are veritable platforms for the parliament to check the excesses of the executive. In a country like the US, for instance, where Nigeria incidentally borrowed its current presidential system of government, the congress performs its greatest responsibility of acting as a check on the executive, through the activities of its standing committees, sub committees as well as the joint committees. Unlike Nigeria, in most advanced democracies, the parliament hardly sits in plenary on daily basis, instead it is at the standing committees, sub committees and the joint committees that the greater job of the parliament is performed. Indeed, in most advanced democracies of the world, it is at the standing and joint committees levels that the screening and eventual confirmation of statutory appointments are carried out. Unfortunately in Nigeria, the lawmakers perceive their membership of the standing committees as avenues for self enrichment and aggrandizement. That is why there is so much fuss about the class of the committees the lawmakers are allocated to. Here, the legislators are concerned that they are made members of A-class committees or what they describe as juicy committees. In the past, members of the National Assembly were caught compromising themselves with some of the ministries, departments and agencies of government they oversight. There was an instance for instance, in 2006, when the then Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was, together with members of the senate committee on education involved in a complicity of extortion of a former minister, Professor Osuji, which eventually led to his sack. The former chairman of the House ad hoc Committee, which probed the power sector in 2007, Hon. Ndudim Elumelu was also indicted for extortion during that exercise. Also in 2012, the House ad hoc committee chairman that probed the fuel subsidy scam, Hon. Farouk Lawan was accused of extorting a whopping sum of $720,000

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

f oversight from the Lagos-based business mogul, Femi Itedola in the course of the probe in order to exculpate him from any form of involvement in the deal. That deal was unfortunately exposed and the lawmaker from Kano is still at the courts trying to prove his innocence. There was also another instance of members of the House ad hoc committee, which probed the former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh for alleged abuse of office being turned round to be accused of asking for bribery from the commission in the course of their probe. Only recently, the South African-based telecommunication giant, MTN was fined by the Nigeria Communication Commission,NCC, as the regulator of the sector, the sum of $5.2 billion for violating the directives to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered SIM cards users in its network. From the Q2 2015 quarterly report of the NCC, it was discovered that MTN was also in violation of about 28 directives of the NCC, as the sector’s regulator. What came out of that incidence was the fact that over the years, both the Nigerian Communication Commission as the regulator and the senate and House committees on Communication, were involved in alleged criminal conspiracy or neglect of their oversight responsibilities. There were so many unreported cases of members of the National Assembly, taking advantage of the membership of their various committees to either extort, defraud and over reach the agencies of government they are supposed to oversight. Even in the budgetary processes, the lawmakers have been alleged to have taken advantage of the system to make markups for themselves and allowed the executive to get away with many untoward financial acts. As the new committees are constituted by the senate, National Assembly observers are of the view that the lawmakers must this time around turn a new leaf and ensure that they take advantage of their new membership of the committees to engage the executive more effectively to guarantee more accountability and transparency. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki made as much point last Wednesday after he announced the committee members. Bukola charged the lawmakers to ensure that they carried out their oversight functions in such a way that the electorates would have renewed confidence in them. Indeed, from the body language and the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the fight against corruption, any lawmaker who would attempt to take advantage of their membership committees to try any corrupt acts would be taking a very big risk of his life. Already, it was gathered that during the retreat for the ministers’-designates at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President used that opportunity to direct the ministers to endeavour to expose any lawmaker who makes corrupt demands from any of the ministries, departments and agencies of governments under their watch.

L-R: Guest Speaker, Chief Olabode George; Senator Bode Olajumoke; Chairman of the event, Prof. Kayode Soremokun and President, Minerva Philosophical Association(MPA), Mr. Shina Oludare, during the MPA’s 2015 Public Lecture theme “Leadership, Change and National Continuity” in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Why Lamorde was sacked as EFCC boss

he reason behind the sack of the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde has finally been unveiled . Lamorde’s sack according to sources has been linked to his handling of the corruption case against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, who was being investigated for taking bribes from a former Comptroller of Customs

(names withheld). According to documents signed by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Bello Adoke (SAN), the EFCC’s investigation revealed that Danladi Umar did not only meet the accused but he also accepted the bribe through his Personal Assistant and he also allegedly kept on pestering the former custom boss for the balance of the N10million that he had requested. “ Helpless to meet up with the balance, the cus-

tom boss petitioned the EFCC in the case against Danladi. The EFCC was said to have launched a case against Danladi and found out that he texted the custom boss his account number and that Danladi also sent custom boss details of his PA, to Custom Comptroller‘s number The Custom boss allegedly paid N1.8 million into Danladi’s account, and Danladi’s PA withdrew the money on the same day , 12TH December 2012.

Ekiti OPC sure of Fayemi’s success as minister Abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

he Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC in Ekiti State yesterday lauded the swearingin of Dr Kayode Fayemi as minister and expressed confidence in the former governor’s ability to succeed in his new assignment as Minister of Solid Minerals. OPC state leader, Niyi Adedipe praised President

Muhammadu Buhari for giving Fayemi an opportunity to serve at the federal level having distinguished himself during his fouryear tenure as Ekiti State governor. Ogundipe, represented by his Personal Assistant, Kamaru Lateef, said that with the constitution of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, Nigerians would soon begin to reap dividends of democracy. He said: “We believe

that President Buhari has assembled a dream team, men and women of pedigree, experience, ability and good track record and they will bring this to bear on the national assignment just given to them”. The OPC also lauded the All Progressives Congress, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for playing a pivotal role in enthroning a government of change in Nigeria.

Legislator canvasses robust evaluation mechanism for ministers Ayo esAn

he House of Assembly member in Osun State representing Obokun Constituency and Chairman, House Committees on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has stated the need to institute a robust and proactive evaluation mechanism into every segment of service delivery with the appointment of diligent team of ministers

to work with President Muhammadu Buhari. Oyintiloye stated this in Ibokun while reacting to the composition of Federal cabinet and the portfolios attached to them. Oyintiloye who spoke on the process of their emergence as well as the dynamism of the screening exercise as one in tandem with democratic principle said proactive approaches must be encouraged in the days ahead.

It was gathered that after reviewing the facts of the bribery case, the former AGF, Bello Adoke (SAN), wrote to President Jonathan on the 7th of May, 2014, stating that : “In light of the foregoing therefore, Your Excellency may wish to initiate the necessary steps for the removal of the Chairman.” Lamorde wrote back to the AGF stating that there was in-fact strong evidence to suggest an attempt by Danladi to “cover up” the bribery scandal.

He also said, institutionalization of evaluation mechanism is not only critical to the actualization of the big picture, but will put everybody on his toes and ensure that the change agenda is on course. He expressed great optimism that the ministers by virtues of their backgrounds and experience, would also bring a lot of virtuosity and innovation to governance. “The ministers will no doubt take their brief from

Mr. President, adopt a blueprint and follow action plans, however we need to subject our march forward to critical examination, scientific evaluation, the national assembly, of course, will play their oversight role, we must be willing as a government to periodically review, update and address critical barriers based on circumstances and changing needs” The lawmaker stated that there was abundant possibility of distraction in the effort

to reposition Nigeria, either from opposition element, feeble institutional structures or from enemy within, saying, this mechanism will help in keeping the eyes of all key players on the goal. “It implies that all the citizens, as well as players in all tiers of governments, legislature, executive and judiciary must put on a new consciousness of diligence to rescue the nation”. He said anything that does not add to the critical

He said “Tinubu has uncanny ability to identify talents and transform them to goal getters while Buhari is the new face of change who has already launched Nigeria on the path of good governance and restoration of lost glory”. The group, however, urged Nigerians to support the Buhari administration to translate its dreams to realities urging for patience as the new team settles down to work..

goal should be excused, adding that the nation cannot afford to continue to bear the unnecessary burden of inefficiency, mediocrity and grope in the tunnel of underdevelopment. “We should be able to measure our progress systematically and meticulously in the short, middle and long term, we must not yield the process of change to chance, and eternal vigilance must be the price of our liberty”

Politics

ayO esan

ormer Deputy National Chairman of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George has said that for the country to move forward it needs an enlightened leadership that would be uniform to friends and foes in the shepherding of the state. George who was speaking while delivering a public lectureorgnaised by Minerva Philosophical Associataion, MPA with the theme: Leadership, change and continuity in Lagos yesterday said such a leader is available in developed world where he said politics is never perceived as some narrow personification of a provincial agenda. According to the PDP chieftain, Nigeria is now in a change era with a new team coming on board at

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Nigeria needs enlightened leadership to move forward –George the Federal level, saying a true leadership desiring to endure and move the country forward must not yield to favours or lean to partisan prejudices. Speaking on the role expected of the ruling party and the opposition, George said both must play to engage each other now that election was over, warning however that there should be no dubious recourse to believe that beyond self or the purview of a particular party, all else must crumble and disappear. “No sir. That is not politics. That is not an enlightened participation in statecraft. The enduring leadership then transcends far beyond immediate personal advantages. Leadership is not about

a restrictive personal agenda which is coloured by discrimination and biases. “Whether in opposition or in power, the enlightened and developmental leadership must always be perceived in sweeping, unbiased patriotic affirmations. It must be seen in balanced, equitable logic. “Leadership must be uniform to friends and foes in the shepherding of the state. It must not yield to favours, or lean to partisan prejudices. Leadership must be woven in the fulcrum of order and ethical signposts. Leadership must be believable, perceived in sweeping moral cadences. “Here, in this thematic largeness, the true leadership, either in opposition or

in the saddle of power cannot really endure if it has two conflicting prongs of engagement- one for friend and another for the foe,” he said. Speaking further in what apparently looked like setting agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari- led Administration on programmes it should embarked upon, George said running a government was not pursuit of just an agenda, but attending to several issues confronting the nation simultaneous According to him, , President Buhari must also attend to the decay in the country’s school system, the degenerative state of communities, the brazen larceny in the corporate circles, the general malaise among the youth and

the deepening loss of hope in redeeming Nigerian dream that was now driving thousands of unemployed youths into foreign lands. “A national pursuit is not always about one agenda. A nation is always a simultaneous confrontation with several issues. We must now steer towards other grave issues like the decay in our school system, the degenerative state of our communities, the brazen larceny in the corporate circles, the general malaise among our youths, the deepening loss of hope in the redemptive totality of the Nigerian dream that is now driving thousands of our unemployed youths into the tragic hopelessness of foreign isles. “My humble position is that an enlightened leader must erect genuine and enduring structures of a pannational agenda where merit and the content of character will displace the narrow parochialism of ethnic prejudice and religious bias, where atavistic bigotry will collapse amid a new engaging universal enlightenment. “Along this path of new nation and national identity, I suggest that we strengthen the paramount

idealism behind the National Youth Corps Programme which is predicated on promoting national unity by compelling that all the major three languages – Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo are made compulsory at the secondary school level. “This will not only strengthen mutual understanding but will equally deepen the cultural accommodation and unifying values among our people. In knowing each other, in gaining a better appreciation of our subtle differences, we can invoke and cultivate deep chords of national unity,” he said. Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olukayode Soremekun, in his remark, lamented that Nigeria had always been moving one step forward and two backwards, saying that some 40 years after Biafran debacle, the country was back again with same agitation by the people of the area asking to be excised from Nigeria. Besides, he said the problems of Fulani herdsmen and farmers as well as the Niger- Delta militants were still with the country as a nation, just as equally lamented that the country’s economy was not home- grown.

Lagos assembly tasks LASTMA on gridlock RObeRt awOkuse Hon. Aliyu N’dawu Magaji Second to right surrounded by some Hon members of the House of Representatives after the brawl at the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Don’t plunge Ondo into more debt, APC warns Mimiko OjO Oyewamide AKURE

he All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo state has warned Governor Olusegun Mimiko against increasing the state’s debt burden. The State House of Assembly had on Tuesday approved N7bn loan for the state government. Reacting through a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, APC said the loan was “uncalled for, callous and smacks of suspicion as election to Local Councils in the State is being hurriedly arranged.”

It called on the governor to tread softly and learn from former governors of other states who are currently facing various court cases across the country over their stewardship. The party also urged members of the House of Assembly to stop being a mere “rubber stamp” in the hands of the Executive. It said: “The APC would not have raised any eyebrow over the new loan if those previously obtained had been used to better the lots of millions of Ondo State citizens. “The APC recalled with sorrow that a government that inherited over N38billion from its predecessor

could resort to taking loans now and then as its past time and priority. “One other reason for our apprehension in the APC is the fact that a government that is yet to satisfactorily disburse the bail-out fund granted it by the Buhari-led Federal Government has again gone cap-in-hand to borrow more money. “Reports reaching the APC in Ondo State lend credence to the fact that the bail-out fund meant for the payment of worker’s salaries and benefits of pensioners has been squandered on purchasing cars for recent appointees of Governor Mimiko as well

as his 18 Caretaker Chairmen he appointed for the 18 Local Councils in the State. “The APC recalls that the present Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not recognise the existence of Caretaker Chairmanship. ”It is regrettable that inspite of all the bonds and loans hitherto taken by Mimiko’s administration, roads all over the State are in a state of dilapidation, portable water for the masses has become a forbidden fruit not to talk of lack of electricity supply to the Southern Senatorial District of the State for years.”

agos State House of Assembly has tasked the leadership of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA to as a matter of urgency provide solution to the perpetual gridlock on Lagos roads within shortest possible time as the traffic situation in the state is worrisome in recent time. This was part of the position of the House when the Chief Executive Officer, CEO and General Manager GM , of the authority, Mr. Chris Olakpe appeared before it. The CEO had earlier intimated the assembly with his eight-point agenda towards achieving more, effective and efficient smooth operations of the authority. Amongst other outlined strategies he listed are ro-

bust anti-corruption act between LASTMA officials and public; improved and robust public relations; motorcycle monitoring, especially the black-spot places, public complaints and LASTMA Community Relations. The CEO however warned the general public to desist from driving against the traffic and strictly comply with traffic regulations. He further called for the collaboration of the lawmakers to assist the authority. Olakpe stressed that LASTMA would not spare any bad personnel as standard punishment such as reduction in rank and dismissal would be used as punishment for erring officials. He further asked the lawmakers to give him three months to address the perennial gridlock in the state.

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Ken Saro-Wiwa: Twenty years after CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

uesday November 10, 2015 exactly marked 20 years after the judicial murder of the famous Ogoni environmentalist and one of the most vociferous social critics in Nigerian history, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa. Born on October 10, 1941, the indefatigable Ogoni son, who co-founded the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) in 1990, devoted all his adult life to waging sustained non-violent battles against all forces threatening the survival of his native land. Several years of unconscionable exploitation of crude oil with no concomitant sustainability and ethical programmes by the multinational oil companies had left most parts of the Niger Delta region ecologically degraded with the land infertile, and the people impoverished. This, coupled with the Federal government’s infrastructural neglect of the area, constituted callous human rights abuse which inspired Saro-Wiwa to activism. Saro-Wiwa’s energies and passion for procuring justice for his people were so remark-

able that he became the symbol of the struggles. His philosophy of non-violence found parallelism in the ideology of the late popular African-American activist, Martin Luther King, and he was adored by many for this. In propagating his single-themed survivalist crusade, Saro-Wiwa travelled all over Nigeria and the world. He sponsored documents of the abuses to the United Nations as evinced in instruments like Ogoni Bill of Rights. In all these, Saro-Wiwa never got tired of dazzling his audiences with his oratorical prowess. With his trademark pipe delicately poised in his mouth, he would beam an infectious smile, then gingerly remove the pipe and launch softly into his survivalist homiletics, and along the way, his voice would boom, soaring many octaves high with unwavering vigour as he methodically reeled out the gory tale of modern tragedy being conspiratorially perpetrated by the Nigerian state and the oil exploiting multinationals against the minorities of the Niger Delta. With fact and figures at his fingertips and the tool of honesty as his inspiration, SaroWiwa would paint convincing pictures that essentially underscored the degradation of Ogoni’s biophysical environment then going on (and still extant) in the region. He was a real prophet championing the cause of justice for his people. Saro-Wiwa was a promoter of a sacred mission, the inspirer of a noble ideology, the light in dark tunnel of oppression and champion of the cause of the downtrodden. He was a vanguard in the terrifying battle

ALTHOUGH HIS TRIAL WAS FLAWED BY MANY ENLIGHTENED COMMENTATORS... THE TRIBUNAL PRONOUNCED DEATH SENTENCE ON HIM against greater powers; and though bloodsoaked and sapped from the fiery darts of the enemies, he remained unflinching till the very end. Though arrested, incarcerated and held incommunicado several times by successive Federal Governments, Saro-Wiwa was too engrossed with the preservation of his Ogoni people to be daunted by mere personal misfortune. When they saw that his indomitable spirit could not be broken; that the message of humanity was spreading, the coalition of enemies employed the most damned ancient trick of all - they sponsored discord within his treasured “household” which finally blew apart the unity of purpose among his Ogoni people. Alas! In-fighting began and Saro-Wiwa was roped in the allegation of masterminding the killing of four of his kinsmen. He was arrested alongside eight others. Although his trial was flawed by many enlightened commentators for being sub-

standard to modern concept of justice administration, the tribunal pronounced death sentence on him. Saro-Wiwa was eventually hanged by Sani Abacha-led military government alongside eight other co-accused activists on November 10, 1995. Standing unfazed before the military tribunal that sentenced him to death, the courageous Saro Wiwa, still had the presence of mind and the poise to craft the following moving speech: “My Lord, we all stand before history. I am a man of peace, of ideas. Appalled by the denigrating poverty of my people who live on a richly endowed land, distressed by their political marginalisation and economic strangulation, angered by the devastation of their land, their ultimate heritage, anxious to preserve their right to life and to a decent living, and determined to usher to this country as a whole a fair and just democratic system which protects everyone and every ethnic group and gives us all a valid claim to human civilisation. No imprisonment or death can stop our ultimate victory.” Now history has proved him right, his killers only succeeded in killing the messenger and not the message. When armed insurrection and violent struggle began, the Federal Government, not able to contain it, resorted to the pacifist amnesty package for the region’s militants. May Kenule Saro-Wiwa’s gifted soul rest in perfect peace. Ketefe may be followed on twitter @ Ketesco

Buhari and restoration of the dignity of Nigerians TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA

igeria lost her innocence that day Chukwuma Nzeogwu and his band of dilettante revolutionaries, in an attempt to shoot their way into power, murdered the innocent in cold blood. It was an abhorrent act that should have offended the sensibility of every Nigerian, and attracted unambiguous condemnation. Unfortunately, it was applauded by some Nigerians. Six months later, Murtala Mohammed and Theophilus Danjuma and their band of bloodthirsty, vengeful, hate-filled murderers shot their way into power and orchestrated the mass murder of Igbo civilians in Northern Nigeria. A British reporter in Nigeria characterized that unjustifiable slaughter of the harmless and guiltless as a “pogrom of genocidal proportions”. That murderous lunacy should have startled the conscience of the country, and nauseated every Nigerian, and consequently denounced by all Nigerians. Lamentably, it was gleefully celebrated by many Nigerians. Nigerians were subliminally beginning to glory in violence and trivialize human lives. This exaltation of bloodshed and repudiation of the sanctity of human life by Nigerians gained increased currency over the years. Not surprisingly, presently, Nigeria is a very violent country, where there is very little regard for life. This is evinced by stories of violence, wanton butchery and bloodshed that suffuse Nigerian newspapers. The Nigerian Police Force is triggerhappy and has, on occasions, shot and killed people for trivial reasons like refusal to pay bribe at road blocks. The police hierarchy benefits financially from police brutality

THE NIGERIAN POWER

ELITE ARE ALSO CULPABLE OF DISDAIN FOR HUMAN LIVES and extortion, and is therefore, prepared to concoct alibis to exonerate their men from the most heinous acts of inhumanity. Periodically, Nigerian soldiers, although confined to barracks, foray into civilian centres to kill and maim civilians for the flimsiest reasons. With their commanders’ protection and willingness to confect falsehood in their defence, they mostly go unpunished. Officials of other government agencies, like Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LATSMA) are known to have occasionally beaten people to death. The Nigerian power elite are also culpable of disdain for human lives. In October 2007 at Anyigba, Kogi State, Sullivan Chime, the then governor of Enugu State, ordered his security men to shoot at Kogi State University students on a peaceful protest because they were blocking the route of his motorcade. They opened fire and killed six persons (two protesting students and four pupils of a nearby nursery school killed by stray bullets). As though the office of the governor conferred him a licence to kill, he, in a demonstrated derision for human lives, offered no apology and condoled none of the bereaved families. The governors’ and the governors’ wives’ motorcades have, on a number of instances, ran people over, and caused accidents that resulted in loss of lives. For the most part, they neither apologized nor showed any sign of com-

punction. Apologists for former President Goodluck Jonathan were right in their protestation that Jonathan did not cause the myriad problems that plagued Nigeria during his presidency. However, his presidency accentuated all our societal ills. Evils, like the cheapening of human lives, whose origin is traceable to military intervention in Nigerian politics, became exacerbated by Jonathan’s visionless and directionless presidency. Consequently, it was during his presidency that Nigeria had her worst job recruitment accident. In 2014, 23 job seekers, including four pregnant women, died at different stadia in Nigeria where they were herded, in their tens of thousands, for job recruitment tests. It was the Minister of Interior’s (Abba Moro) greed, negligence and insensitivity to the welfare of the job applicants that caused the deaths. In a country that places premium on human lives, such a tragedy would have elicited remorseful, tearful, unreserved apologies and immediate resignation of the minister, and a nationally televised address from a sombre and gloomy president apologizing to Nigerians, consoling the bereaved families and promising investigation and restitution. But, as life is despised in Nigerians, the minister was neither apologetic nor remorseful. Above all, he did not resign. He was quoted as saying that, “They lost their lives through their impatience”. Blaming the dead for their death was repulsively coldhearted. With the mass poverty and the dangerously high unemployment level in Nigeria, the job seekers were understandably impatient. It be-

hooved the Ministry of Interior to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate the inconceivably numerous youthful, unemployed and impecunious, and of course, anxious and frantic job seekers penned up in different stadia. The Jonathan presidency, in its equivocation and dereliction, glossed over the issue, and failed to penalize Abba Moro and other errant government officials. It is exhilarating that President Buhari has ordered an investigation into that job recruitment disaster. Abba Morro is being investigated by the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). This is most apropos for Nigerians voted for change. Therefore, in their justifiable optimism, they are expecting a change from corruption to accountability, from lawlessness to the rule of law and, of course, disrespect for human life to reverence for human life. As attitudinal changes come at glacial pace, it will take a long time of concerted, multi-prong efforts to wean Nigerians off their violent ways and despise of human life. However, on the short run, the investigation, prosecution and punishment of all culprits in the death of those 23 youths and in other deaths in other instances of official contempt for human lives will help immensely in restoring respect for human lives in Nigeria. Ezukanma wrote from Lagos via maciln18@yahoo.com Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Thursday November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

Banning, unbanning of prayers in Cross River schools

ross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, recently ordered the indefinite suspension of the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anne Odey, for banning religious devotions in public and private schools across the state. Security Adviser to Ayade, Mr. Jude Ngaji, who conveyed the governor’s directive on Odey’s suspension to the public, told the media in Calabar, the state’s capital, that his boss was not aware of the Permanent Secretary’s ban, adding that she did not route her directive through the governor. Odey, as the story goes, was apparently alarmed by the briefing she got from the Cross River State Commissioner of Police that devotions in all schools in the state be put on hold, considering the unsettling security challenges the country is entangled with. Indeed, the fear of Boko Haram was on the cards. As Ngaji said it: “It is true that (the) police got intelligence information that Boko Haram were (sic) planning to bomb schools during morning devotion; and therefore, directed authorities in the Ministry of Education to act fast. But the Permanent Secretary did not bother to revert to the governor or call for stakeholders’ meeting to that effect. So, the governor feels pained that she got such

sensitive information without seeking for his advice; and rather went ahead to issue a directive suspending morning devotions in private and public schools”. Still baffling to us is why the state CP found Odey the best official in the state to pass such information. Indeed, if the Cross River State CP clearly understood his charge as one of the security chiefs that is supposed to be closest to governor Ayade, why did he diminish the governor’s high office and chose, instead, to pass the delicate information to Odey? Is the CP not in good working terms with the governor? If that is the case, what is happening between Ayade government and the state Police Command? Has the CP volunteered sensitive security information to the governor that Ayade refused to act on? Even if this happens to be the case, does that make Odey an alternative Cross River State governor and the Chief Security Officer of the State? What really necessitated the provocative passing of security intelligence that should first be fed to the Governor’s Office to a Permanent Secretary? Our fear is that out of anger, and in his resolute resolve to punish the denigration of his office by Odey’s whimsical ban on morning devotions in Cross River schools, the Governor’s Office not only suspended her

WITH ODEY’S SUSPENSION, AYADE AND THE POLICE HIERARCHY SHOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO INTERROGATE THE PROCESSES OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION FLOW IN THE SYSTEM indefinitely and lifted the ban with unfettered wrath, perhaps without looking at the pros and cons. Religious matters, whether Christian or Muslim, the two dominant hues in the country, are very sensitive to be toyed with. Boko Haram threat is also no less a scare that the state or any part of the country for that matter cannot afford to overlook whenever it rears up its head. Nonetheless, Mrs. Odey, with her wealth of experience in public bureaucracy, ought to have realised the possible throwbacks of her decision, should the ban backfire. Indeed, even if Ayade were to be her close relative, courtesy demands that she should consult him before going public with the ban. But all that is now history. She did announce

the ban, and the governor has reversed it and suspended her indefinitely. The logical questions that arise, therefore, are: how true is the Boko Haram intelligence the CP availed Odey; and with the governor feeling sidelined in the handling of the information, what effect(s) would his suspension of Odey and immediate lifting of the ban have on security imperatives in Cross River schools? Indeed, with the astonishing level of moral decay nationwide, can public and private schools afford to carry on for even a brief period without devotions in schools? Our thinking is that with Odey’s suspension, Ayade and the police hierarchy should be in a better position to interrogate the processes of sensitive information flow in the system. It is possible that the Cross River State Security Council is on recess. Besides, the state’s CP eminently deserves a significant portion of the blame and punishment, too, like Odey. But perhaps, more importantly, in addition, Ayade should not allow anger becloud his judgement. He should feel, weigh and balance the information Odey got from the CP, and on which she acted arbitrarily. Thereafter, the governor should take the right steps to avoid possible future regret.

ON THIS DAY

November 12, 1996

November 12, 2011

A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakh Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane collided in mid-air near New Delhi, killing 349 people. It remains the deadliest mid-air collision to date. On November 12, 1996, the Boeing 747-100B, flight 763, was on its way from New Delhi, India, to Dahran, Saudi Arabia when a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il76 collided with it over the village of Charkhi Dadri, some miles west of New Delhi.

Silvio Berlusconi resigned as the Prime Minister of Italy due, in large part, to the European sovereign debt crisis. The European sovereign debt crisis (often referred to as the Eurozone crisis) is an ongoing financial crisis that has made it difficult or impossible for some countries in the Euro area to repay or re-finance their government debt without the assistance of third parties.

November 12, 2014 The ‘Philae lander’, deployed from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe, reached the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Philae is a robotic lander that accompanied the Rosetta spacecraft until it landed on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, more than ten years after departing Earth. On November 12, 2014, the probe achieved the first-ever soft landing on a comet nucleus.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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Education Today

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

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

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

ednesday, November 4, 2015, was not like every other day for Master Idowu Sonoiki. That was the day he performed the pseudo roles of Lagos State governor, based on his performance in this year’s state organised Spelling Bee competition among students of public secondary schools in the state. Just like the past winners of the annual competition, Sonoiki, a 17-year-old SS3 student of Ikotun Senior High School acted on that day as one-day governor of Lagos State. By virtue of the honour, he had almost all the paraphernalia attached to the office of a governor to himself. He started the journey from the hotel where he passed the previous night on the bill of the state government and moved to the State House in Marina where he had his breakfast with the First Lady before setting out for the day’s business. In his complete flowing Yoruba attire, ‘Agbada’, Sonoiki rode in one of the Governor’s official cars, a black-colour Land Rover Jeep with registration number Lagos 01 AA with a security attaché moving round the city of Lagos in a convoy that included some top officers from the ministry of education. Others in his entourage include his first and second runners-up in the competition, Masters Abdullaidi Faaiz from Omole Senior High School, Ojodu and Fehinti Dahunsi from Senior Model College, Badagry who also served as deputy governor and speaker and three others. Sonoiki was accorded due regard as a mark of honour at every place he visited including the governor’s office where he addressed the state’s cabinet members. “For me, this honour is an experience I will never forget. The Governor vacating his seat for me is an honour I don’t have enough words to describe. It is simply wonderful because ordinarily, I don’t deserve the treatment if not for God who has destined it,” Sonoiki, said. Apparently because of the sweet experience, Sonoiki who had earlier been rewarded with N200, 000 and a trophy in addition to the university scholarship, all for his effort in the competition, is already thinking of the possibility of venturing into partisan politics in future. The journey actually started in February when he made his intention known to his English teacher that he would love to participate in this year’s Spelling Bee com-

It’s sweet to be a governor —Lagos One-Day Governor … achievement didn’t come cheap —Father

One-Day governor, Master Idowu Sonoiki(middle) flanked by father, Mr. Rafiu Sonoiki (right) and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo during Sonoiki’s visit to ministry. petition since it is open to every student in government-owned schools. The competition was developed 15 years ago as a concept by the New Era Foundation, a non-governmental organisation formed by Senator Oluremi Tinubu as a way of contributing to the educational development of the state during the tenure of her husband. And any student, who comes first at the final stage of the secondary school category (as it also has the primary school category) irrespective of his or her state of origin and religion background, automatically becomes the one- day governor. Interestingly, this year’s edition was not Sonoiki’s first appearance. He started when he was in primary school by competing for the primary school category but couldn’t go far.

“I entered again two years ago in SS1 for the secondary school category; I still couldn’t go far before I was knocked out from the race. But I didn’t allow my past performances to discourage me. I believe I am not a failure. So, I entered again for the last time this year and prepared very well for the competition and God crowned my efforts with success,” the Ogun State-born Sonoiki who is also the last born in the family of eight children, noted. “But I must say that the road to this stage was not a smooth one. It involved hardwork, perseverance, commitment and God’s benevolence,” he added. According to him, he made all types of dictionaries his companion during the preparation, studying them to get familiar to as many words as possible with their correct

spellings, pronunciations and meanings. He also made reading of novels and other useful materials a practice to enable him discover new words. “My English teacher, Mrs. Abosede Obiakalusi as well as my father also contributed in a way to the success. They coached me while in school and at home respectively,” Osinoiki also said appreciatively. Interestingly, at the final, the word “Fettuccine,” which, among others means a flat thick noodle made of egg and flour gave Sonoiki the victory over the other 55 contestants who made it to the final. In spite of the joy as a day governor, one thing remains painful to Sonoiki and that is the fact that his mother is no more. He lost her just two weeks after his birth as the last CONTINUE ON PAGE 21

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Kogi varsity expels 71 students 20

Lagos: Mixed reactions trail Adebule’s appointment as commissioner for education 23

Nigeria needs more teacher training schools —Babalola

Education Today

School proprietors want education devt bank

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Kogi varsity expels 71 students

FemI OyeWesO

Wale IbrahIm

Lokoja

abeokuta

rimary school proprietors of low income schools under the aegis of Association for Formidable Education Development, AFED, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as part of his change agenda, establish Education Bank to help develop the sector. Speaking at the association’s stakeholders meeting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the national president, Mrs Dada Ifejola, said the proposed bank would operate solely to empower school proprietors through provision of loan facility at ‘low interest rates for education to witness desired change.’ Ifejola noted that if there could exist in the country, financial institutions such as the Banks of Agriculture and that of Industry, then Education, the bedrock of all development effort, she argued, should be accorded same importance. She however bemoaned the high tax her members pay to various state governments, saying the schools by the policy of the association charge very little, hence the need for government not to discourage them with heavy tax. “I keep advocating that they should make all my schools tax free because by providing low cost education, we are saving governments billions of naira they would have expended on the pupils if they were to be enrolled in public schools. “We are helping them. I want President Buhari to look inward and improve education standard through empowerment of association like ours. “The UK agency, DFID, carried out research on our efforts and scored us high. I want President Buhari to look inward at low income education. He should establish Education Bank. “The Bank is very important to us. When there is Agriculture bank and BOI, we should have Education Bank for our sector. This will afford us the opportunity to access loan at low interest. “Government should see us as service providers and should not kill us with heavy tax because we are only helping them,” Ifejola said. The special guest of honour at the event who is also the association’s international patron, Professor James Tooley from the United Kingdom while supporting the national president said by participating in educating the young ones at low cost, the proprietors are saving government billions of naira that would have gone into educating the pupils. Earlier, the state controller AFED, Deacon Omoyele Israel, called on government to reverse the ugly trend of Nigeria having over 10.5 million out of school children, saying with adequate motivation AFED can do a lot in bringing the figures down.

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ogi State University, Anyigba has expelled no fewer than 7I students for various forms of misconduct, while others were withdrawn for poor academic performance and failure to register within stipulated period or using wrong en-

try requirements. This was contained in the university’s bulletin, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja. According to the bulletin, the expulsion or withdrawal of the affected students is with immediate effect, adding that the action was in line with the university regulations as stipulated in the student handbook.

Statistics showed that 19 were expelled for examination misconduct, 10 for poor academic performance, 32 on the wrong entry requirement, six for failure to register for two consecutive semesters and two others were suspended for one academic session and one was issued a warning letter and urged to desist bringing incriminating materials into examination hall.

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Dr. Adamu Kazaure; Rector, Yaba College of Technology(YABATECH), Lagos, Dr. Kudirat Ladipo; representative of Lagos-State Governor, Mr. Semasa Sutton and representative of Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa, Dr. Hassan Sani at YABATECH 29th convocation ceremony, recently.

abIOdun nejO ado ekiti

renowned educationist and founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola has advocated establishment of more teacher training institutions in Nigeria. He said the role of quality teachers in the country’s bid to have sound education cannot be overemphasised. Babalola, who spoke at the 22nd Convocation Ceremonies of College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, where 2438 National Certificate in

Nigeria needs more teacher training schools —Babalola Education (NCE) students graduated for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic sessions, having satisfied the requirements in learning, character and entrepreneurial training. Twenty nine Post-Graduate Diploma graduands also graduated on the occasion which took place recently. The institution also honoured Senator Biodun Olujimi and the Chairman of

Capital Oil Limited, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah with the Fellowship of the college in view of their contributions in the service of education. Babalola said: “Lecturers in universities must have background in teaching as well. That is done worldwide and it will improve the standard of education in our country. “You can’t give what you don’t have. We need more

Strike: COEASU begs Bauchi govt to redeploy members to former school ezekIel TITus bauchi

he national body of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has appealed to the Bauchi State Government to immediately redeploy the 13 lecturers from the College of Education Azare who were redeployed to various other tertiary institutions in the state back to the college. The group also asked for payment of their two months salaries arrears. It will be recalled that 13 academic staff of COE Azare were redeployed to other higher institutions of learning in the state for their involvement in strike embarked upon by COEASU national body. A press statement signed by the Public Relations Of-

ficer of the college, Mallam Suleiman Shehu reads in part: “The National President of COEASU, Dr. Emmanuel Asagha has appealed to government at the 7th National Zonal Conference of COEASU held in the Northeast with the theme: “A Repositioning Teacher Education Towards Value Re-orientation: A Panacea to Corrupt Practices in Nigeria and the launch of its journal at the College of Education Azare main campus. “We are appealing to state government to return the academic staffers that were deployed due to the strike by COEASU and the payment of their two months salaries.” According to him, COEASU would work alongside the government policies in achieving greater height of education in the country.

He however challenged his members to dedicate themselves to the development of education in the college and the state at large. In his remark, the Provost of the college, Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed Isyaku made

a passionate appeal to the state government to consider the request. He also called on the government to grant the management approval to recruit more lecturers as recommended in the just

concluded accreditation exercise by the National Universities Commission (NUC) which according to him would enable the College to meet the required staff needed as recommended by the NUC.

L-R: Mathematics Teacher, Precious Sprout Muslim School, Lagos, Mr. Abdullakeem Adekola; CEO, Edutrend Service Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Napoleon Omiunu; Director, Training, Edusoft Associates Ltd, Mr. Devesh Varriam and another teacher, Mrs Hassan-Sulaimon shortly after the training of students with abacus at the school, on Tuesday.

teacher training colleges in this country. When the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo wanted to start his free education policy, the first thing he did was to establish teacher training colleges. Babalola, who is a fellow of the college, lauded the governor for his support for the college and untiring efforts at repositioning education in the state. The college Provost, Prof. Francisca Aladejana, advised graduands to fall back on the entrepreneurial skills acquired in the school to serve their employment needs. She also advised them not to be discouraged if they could not get jobs on time, stressing that entrepreneurship would give them selfemployment. The governor of Ekiti State, who is visitor to the institution, lamented the dwindling fortunes of education in the country. The governor appealed to the graduates to go out and multiply in the most positive manners. He however assured that he would place high premium on the welfare of staff and improvement in the infrastructures facilities of the college to make it a model among its peers.

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Alaafin asks undergraduates to promote Yoruba culture Oluwaseun BOlaji

he Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III has restated the need for students of tertiary institutions in the country to join the campaign towards the promotion of the rich Yoruba culture and tradition. The monarch gave the advice at the “Cultural Day 2015” celebration organised by the Law Students Society (LSS) of University of Ibadan. The forum was part of activities to mark the 30th ‘Law Week’ of the faculty. Oba Adeyemi who was the special guest at the event, urged the students to study, practise and promote the rich cultural heritage of Yoruba, charging them not to see Yoruba language as a vernacular. He said, “Foreign nationals have now been coming to Nigeria to study Yoruba language as a course. This has shown to the whole world that Yoruba as part of African languages is a very rich language. We also have to appreciate it and that is why I implore you youths to propagate this advocacy.” The Dean of the Faculty of Law of the institution, Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, said to promote Yoruba culture, it is mandatory for students and management staff of the faculty to put on Yoruba attire every Friday. Speaking also, the LSS President, Opeyemi Adeleke, said the objective of the programme was to celebrate Yoruba culture, reason for choosing the Alaafin, the symbol of culture himself, as the guest to add colour to the week. In response to their request for a vehicle to enhance their academic and social activities, Oba Adeyemi, promised to donate a brand new bus to the students, while in appreciation, the society presented an award to him and some other guests.

Lagos One-Day Governor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 baby of the house. “How I wish she is around today to share in this joy,” he said. But his father, Mr. Rafiu Sonoiki, a business centre operator, is around and was part of his entourage. The elated father who said he felt fulfilled as a father of one–day governor reaffirmed his son’s painstaking effort to attain the achievement, which he also claimed to have put smiles on the faces of family members. The boy, according to him, is always inquisitive to learn new words with their meanings such that many at times he skipped meals and had sleepless nights just to study dictionaries and read novels. “So, the achievement didn’t come cheap,” he re-emphasised. In his remark, Governor Ambode commended Sonoiki and his mates for their brilliant performances during various competitions that produced them and urged them to take their studies more seriously. He however restated his administration commitment to quality education as well as rewarding excellence in academic circle and other sectors.

Education Today

Thursday, November 12, 2015

British Council boosts girls’ education with GEARn TunBOsun Ogundare

n a bid to a develop a strategic approach to equity and inclusion of marginalised groups and aid development of a holistic policy on inclusive education, British Council has announced the introduction of the Girls’ Education and Advocacy Research Network (GEARn). The network is made up of research teams whose primary goal is to contribute to the body of knowledge on issues of inclusion and equity in basic education in Nigeria. The network of researchers will produce progressive research reports which will support the development of government and donor policy in response to the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, those focusing on education quality, access and equity. This will be achieved through support-

ing the production of peer reviewed research output of the highest quality and use of evidence in developing education policy in Nigeria. The project is particularly focused on identifying and explaining where education systems, models, innovations and institutions have resulted in improved participation and outcomes for girls and other marginalised populations. On launch of the project, British Council Director Society, Mohammed Ahmed said, “The council has committed to supporting women and girls in Nigeria through our work and with the GEAR Network our ambition is to ensure that we support the development of a more inclusive education system based on evidence of programmes that work.” The research teams are expected to work at state level and the British Council has picked Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara States for the exercise.

TETFund’s intervention will reduce fees in private institutions —BELLSTECH VC saidaT alausa

ice-chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi has reiterated the need to extend Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, intervention to private tertiary institutions. He said this may assist these institutions to bring down tuition costs, enhance enrolment and encourage research. The VC said this during the 7th convocation ceremony of the institution, last weekend. According to him, the existence of private higher institutions is to complement the efforts of the Federal and State governments to pro-

vide access to tertiary education as well as cutting edge research for national development. “Hence, these institutions should be supported because of their valuable contributions to the economic and technological development of the nation.” Prof. Adeyemi also called on the federal government to implement the communiqué at National Conference on Transparency, Accountability and Ethical Values in Tertiary Institutions for Sustainable Development held last year which states that government should consider support for private tertiary institutions especially universities.

He listed the areas to include staff training and development, research and innovation and library development. “Government may also wish to consider granting these institutions access to loans at single digit interest rates for infrastructure development and equipment procurement, among others. Congratulating the graduating students, the vice-chancellor charged them to keep the good legacy which has been committed to them by the university and their parents. A total of 338 students graduated at the ceremony which includes 21 First class, 136 Second class (upper), 131 Second class (lower) and 50 Third class.

Ekiti hunts for sport talents in schools aBiOdun nejO Ado Ekiti

kiti State Commissioner for Education, Mr Jide Egunjobi, has said that the weeklong schools’ athletic competition was a real opportunity to discover new talents, encourage budding ones as well as check restiveness and boredom in youths of school-age in the State. Egunjobi said the 2015 Ekiti State Secondary Schools Athletics Carnival which would climax tomorrow (Friday) was sponsored by private investors. He reiterated the resolve of the present administration in the state to partner with the private sector in the efforts at boosting sports activities in schools in the State. The commissioner, however, stressed that the State would collaborate with only genuinely interested, sincere as well as committed individuals and corporate organizations. According to him, the 2015 Schools Sports fiesta which began on Monday (9th November) with the zonal elimination series that would hold till yesterday, while the grand finale would come up at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti tomorrow.

L-R: Outgoing Principal, King’s College, Lagos, Otunba Oladele Olapeju; Principal, Queen’s College, Lagos, Dr. Lami Amodu and Desk Officer, Federal Unity Colleges, South\West, Mrs. Olusola Shoda during the media chat to commence the activities in line for Olapeju’s retirement from public service, on Wednesday.

TREM organises free soccer clinic for students saidaT alausa

he Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Football Academy (TFA) will tomorrow organise a one-day free football clinic for secondary school students who are between the ages of 11 and 15 years in Lagos State. The event will take place at the Nigerian Institute of Sports (NIS), National Stadium Surulere, Lagos with over 1,000 participants expected. TFA was established by the Presiding Bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo to discover talents who are youths and sharpen their skills

and bring them to lime light. The Coordinator of the academy, Rev. Denis Kenkwo in a press release made available to National Mirror, said about 20 schools were expected across state with each to come with about 25 students, both males and females. The whole idea of the TREM Football Academy (TFA) according to him is primarily to sharpen the raw skills of the football loving boys and girls, thereby improving on their ability to perform better and be able to maneuver opposing teams psychologically on the playing field during football tournaments. The one-day free clinic is in collaboration with the Lagos State Football Association (LAFA).

Education Today

Govt should make health education compulsory in schools —NSHA Tunbosun ogundare

he Nigerian School Health Association, NSHA, has advocated compulsory and effective teaching of health education in schools and communities to fast track the attainment and sustainability of health-related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, in the country. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of NSHA’s 28th Annual Conference held at the College of Education Warri, Delta State recently. The conference was themed: “Meeting Health Related Millennium Development Goals through Health Education.” Keynote and lead papers presented at the conference focused on attainment and sustainability of health related MDGs as well as the roles of federal and state ministries of education and health in the implementation of school health programme in educational institutions. The various papers dwelt on the three health-related MDGs, pointing out the role of achieving the attainment and sustainability of the MDGs generally in the years ahead hinged on health education. Other issues contained in the communiqué include: effective implementation of healthful school environment, school health services, school feeding services, skills-based-health education, schoolhome-community relationship which are the components of the school health programme in schools; the need to use health education teaching in primary and secondary schools to reduce the prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases generally but especially in rural communities.

STAN inaugurates excos JusTina Kingsley

he Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Lagos State branch has inaugurated its new executive officers. The inauguration took place during the association’s annual general meeting held recently. The officers include: Mr. Oyekan Oluwafemi (Chairman), Dr. Eko Maria (Vice Chairman), Mrs. Akinleye Omolara (General Secretary), Mr. Opeolu Sunday (Assistant General Secretary), Mrs. Mosunmola Alalade (Treasurer) and Mrs. Onwuegbu Regina (Curriculum Coordinator). Others are Mrs. Akanji Comfort (Financial Secretary), Mrs. Olanrewaju Olayemi Olufunmilayo (Science Fair Coordinator), Mr. Olayinka Sanwo (PRO), Dr. Adeniyi Ajewole Adebukola (ExOfficio). They have started work immediately.

Abacus enhances study of mathematics —Expert

n Indian arithmetician and Director of Training, Edusoft Associates Limited, Mr. Davesh Varriam has re-emphasised the use of Abacus in schools, especially at basic level to improve students’ skills in mathematics. He made the observation on Tuesday at Precious Muslim Sprouts Ikotun, Lagos State where he trained the students of the school arithmetic using abacus. Abacus is an ancient counting and calculating tool that is still much relevant today to traders, students and others. Varriam urged students of the school to key into the device to enhance their calculation prowess.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

My sack was political—VC, PLASU Professor Doknan Danjuma Sheni is the Vice-Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos.In this interview with JAMES ABRAHAM, Professor Sheni who was recently reinstated as PLASU VC spoke on the controversy which led to his sack by the former administration of Governor Jonah Jang, what paved the way for his reinstatement by Governor Simon Lalong, the problem of NUC’s non-accreditation of programmes run by the institution and how the university is tackling the challenge, among other issues It is now over two months since your re-instatement as the Vice-Chancellor of PLASU. How has it been so far? First, I thank God for my recall. God has a programme for me and the university. I also thank the state Governor, Hon.Simon Bako Lalong, his deputy and those in the cabinet for taking time to study the issues involved which eventually culminated in their decision to re-instate me. Since then, I think the cooperation I have been receiving from the current government, members of staff and other stakeholders have been very encouraging. I really thank God because they understood what has been going on and they stood behind me. So, I can confidently tell you that it has been very good since my return. What exactly led to your suspension? The issue was that when people were appointed into council of a university and their mindset is to make money, they are likely to have problem with the vice-chancellor because the university is not a money making entity. Because the university is not a money making place-that was the problem. The chairman of Council then wanted to chair the Tenders Board at all cost which was outside his duties and allocate things to himself and family members. This was in spite of letters from the NUC, TETFund and Bureau of Public Procurement against the move but he insisted on having his way. That was the major conflict. I told him as the VC, I am the Chief Executive of the university while he is a part time chairman of council. I account for the university and he doesn’t but only oversees what we do in terms of policies and superintendent functions. You cannot move from being the superintendent to an actor, who then superintends you? That was the issue and the then governor being an in-law to the chairman of council felt that the only way for the chairman to have his way was to remove me albeit wrongly. So, how did you come back? The issue was that the action of the former governor to have removed the VC the way he did was unjustifiable, illegal and unprecedented in the university system. You don’t just wake up and remove somebody without even one panel indicting the person on anything. You don’t do things like that. Appointment goes through procedures so also removal. And because it is totally illegal, the whole Plateau and the nation rose up against it. They like the policies that I have initiated, the renewed vigour which I brought on board to develop the university. And to rubbish the whole efforts through suspension was something they could not accept. That I am back as the VC shows that God was also not in support of that illegality. Nonetheless, the day I resumed after my reinstatement, I announced to the people that I have made a decision to forgive Governor Jonah Jang who announced my suspension as well as the chairman of council and all those who played whatever role in the game. I forgive them because God has proven that they are not a factor to my future. A total of 319 students could not graduate last year due the issue of non-accreditation of courses by NUC and there are fears that similar fate may befall another set of over 400 students expected to graduate before the

end of this year. How do you intend to resolve the problem? Well, the problem of non accreditation of courses run by the university will soon be a thing of the past because that is the primary focus now since my reinstatement. As I speak with you, the accreditation by NUC team is ongoing and we hope that by the end this month, the whole process would have been over. Why did it take the university so long to begin the exercise 10 years after its establishment? It is rather unfortunate that since the university was established, it is now that we are doing the first accreditation. First, the rules of accreditation are like this-The university was founded in 2005 and in 2006, the laws were in place. It is expected to do accreditation two years after commencement of academic programmes. So, the first accreditation should have been done since 2008 perhaps. If it failed, then it should have taken place say 2010 and subsequent one in 2012 and so on. It is rather unfortunate we are doing the first accreditation by now. But unknown to many people, accreditation is a fact finding exercise and it is professionally done essentially and not politics. If there is any atom of politics in it, then, it is less than 10 per cent and the rest is 90 per cent. I think the past administrations have been approaching the matter politically. That is why it couldn’t work because it is not an issue of carrying influential people to the NUC or going to the press. It is an issue that has to do with whether you are ready or not. And if you say you are ready, certain facilities must be on ground before the accreditation process would go through. When we came on board, we decided to adopt the right approach to the matter, and by the Grace of God, the accreditation which has started is the result of our efforts. So, it is not the fault of the students or the staff but the proprietor. If you did not fund or put the university in a proper situation, what do you expect? We had done mock accreditation and it pointed out the areas of weaknesses. We wrote to the proprietor who is the visitor to the university on what needed to be done. The then proprietor obviously did not give positive support to the university over the matter. Up till now, we are still recruiting staff. And we will continue to improve upon that. That is why we have a very robust staff development programme. My goal is that in five years time, we should have about 85 people who have finished PhD programmes or undergoing training for it. Apart from accreditation problem, what other challenge is confronting the institution? The major challenge is funding and we are very grateful to TetFund. If not for them, I don’t think we could have done anything. They have done tremendously well and that is why we have the kind of infrastructure you see here. But we need funding in terms of staff salaries, overhead, running cost and recurrent expenditure generally. How would you want to be remembered after your tenure as PLASU VC? I am a system person. It will be my joy to see that the foundation of this university is laid correctly. This is why we are doing everything possible to ensure that the university does not lag behind in any way. This is fundamental in order to make the system function effectively and serve the purpose for which the institution was established

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ccording to the November 5, 2015 edition of The Nation Newspaper, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Julius Okojie was reported to have lamented the high rate at which Nigerian trained professors are relocating abroad. He reportedly also provided a cogent explanation for the mass exodus stating that the absence of conducive environment for teaching and research in the country. The setting for these comments was the opening ceremony of a-four-day training on internal quality assurance in West African institutions of higher learning which began in Abuja on Tuesday November 3 2015. The workshop is aimed at capacity building for academic staff of universities in West Africa in quality assurance matters with the aim of achieving some measure of harmonization of qualifications and degrees issued by institutions in the sub-region. Bemoaning the poor standard of education in the country, he complained that nobody regulates the students anymore! In his despondency, Professor Julius Okojie reportedly told President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria cannot be ranked with Yale University because of problems with research and quality assurance! I wondered why Professor Okojie singled out Yale University which is currently trending in the twelfth position worldwide according to the Times Higher Education (THE) “World University Rankings for 2015-2016). While I do not want to believe that the erudite Professor is hallucinating or in a state of self delusion, he may be temporarily out of touch with reality to contemplate such an absurdity. Professor Okojie ought to know that no Nigerian university is ranked among the best in Africa, how could he imagine anyone would be among the best in the world? But what the Executive Secretary did not tell Mr. President is that the National Universities Commission is the principal Quality Assurance agency of the universities in Nigeria and that he, Professor Okojie is the Chief Quality Control Officer!

When Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State assigned portfolios to his newly inaugurated cabinet members and assigned the ministry of education to his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, Lagosians received the news with mixed feelings, report OLUWASEUN BOLAJI and JUSTINA KINGLEY.

Aminu Sulaiman Olaitan, lecturer

I love the idea and the reason is simple. The state’s record in examinations such as the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in the recent years is not all that encouraging. In the last eight years, it is up to 40 per cent of candidates that obtained credit passes and above in five subjects including English language and mathematics and that is not good enough for a state like Lagos that prides itself as a pacesetter. The tertiary education is not also doing well. Look at the situa-

Education Today

Thursday, November 12, 2015

tion of the state-owned university, LASU. It is crisis today, crisis tomorrow. So, having the deputy governor in charge of the sector is a sign of sending warning signals to stakeholders particularly the teachers that it is no longer business as usual in the sector. Deputy Governor will be able to put head teachers and principals on their toes like what Princess Sarah Sosah did when she was in charge of the ministry.

Femi Thompson, trader

Appointing deputy governor to double as a commissioner for education has almost become a tradition since

What NUC did not tell Buhari Among its numerous functions, the NUC is saddled with the responsibility of granting approval for all academic programmes in all Nigerian universities, granting approval for the establishment of new universities and assuring the quality of the programmes offered. The accreditation process that leads to the granting of approval for academic programmes has been the most bungled by the regulatory body and has had the greatest negative impact on the quality of Nigerian university graduates. Very commonly, full or partial accreditations have been given to academic programmes without adequate facilities or any guarantees of their being provided in the near future. Concurrently, the NUC in connivance with local university administrators, desperate to increase their internally generated revenue base, continue to approve unmanageable admission quotas far beyond the carrying capacities of existing facilities. Science students often graduate without exposure to relevant pieces of equipment and techniques. These kids, though highly intelligent are literarily disenfranchised by a poor educational system that leaves them bereft of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills relevant for the appropriate job market! Unless they know “somebody”, they cannot secure employment and thereafter, require extensive training to accomplish even the simplest tasks.

The plethora of problems of quality assurance in the universities cannot be attributed to dearth of appropriate policies but rather to non implementation of existing ones. In a recent keynote address to academic planners and university administrators in a workshop to review the grading system in the Nigerian university system (NUS), the NUC Chief recalled that the Commission had abolished the Pass Degree since 2006. Regrettably, it took nine years for the Commission to evaluate the potential implications of the policy change on the course grading system in the NUS. It may be of interest to note that since the abolition of the Pass Degree by the Commission in 2006, many universities have not implemented it. In the same vein, many other provisions of the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) are either not implemented at all, side tracked or manipulated by some universities in order to produce artificially better qualified graduates, thereby deceiving and defrauding potential employers. The commission does not appear to have the capacity to ensure compliance with it policies and hence cannot guarantee the quality of the products of the system. This is the crux of the matter. Professor Okojie assumed office as the Executive Secretary on August 3, 2006 and has been at the helms of affairs at the National Universities Commission for over nine years. He is therefore in a position to accept full responsibility for the current state of affairs of Nigerian universities. After the reported conversation with Mr. President which amounted to an unequivocal acknowledgement of failure, one would have expected the Executive Secretary to tender an unreserved apology to the nation and simply throw in the towel. Obviously, there is a need to chart a new course and explore new possibilities if we must achieve a different result!

Lagos: Mixed reactions trail Adebule’s appointment as commissioner for education 2003 in Lagos State. And if looking at it critically, the implication so far for me has been a positive one. It is more or less like the ministry is directly under the supervision of the governor himself. The deputy governor will also be busy as a government official. The idea will also save cost as there won’t be special salary for the deputy and her support staff for overseeing the ministry. The money can be channelled to something else. Even at that, permanent secretary of a ministry does most of the serious jobs and not the commissioner. So, it is a welcome development.

Shodeke Omolara, Politician

Although, I am not totally against the idea, the one thing I can say is that many people are also out there qualified

for the same post and that means the governor has denied that individual job opportunity. The deputy governor should have better be left alone to function only in that capacity.

Isioma Ifejiokwu,teacher

ministries that can be merged together to become one. I won’t want to mention them. But education ministry deserves total attention and concentration. So the idea of putting the ministry under the deputy governor can easily lead to ineffectiveness and we should know that it will be difficult for the governor to discipline his deputy.

Charles Chukwuma

I don’t agree to the idea and the reason is simple. There are many other people out there who are fit for the post. There should be a division of labour between the office of the deputy governor and that of the Commissioner of Education. Education is as a sensitive sector is demanding. The commissioner for the ministry should be somebody who possesses the quality required. Even if government wants to curtail expenses, it should look other ministries and not education. There are some

When we are talking about education, we are talking indirectly about the economy. This is because no state can grow economically beyond its level of education. There must be sound policies and programmes to move the sector forward. The leader must be somebody who is creative and commands respect and be able to monitor projects and not sit down in the office nor rely on hear saying. The commissioner must be able to visit schools on regular basis to see things herself and not sending representatives who will lie to her. She must be able to put all

the tutor-generals as well as school administrators like principal and head teachers on their toes. The commissioner must also be somebody who believes in investment in human resources and not only to build infrastructures. But I doubt if the deputy governor can do all that. Lagos deserves real transformation in education and other sectors.

Bamgbose Babatunde, lecturer

For me, I am not in support of the idea. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should have put somebody else, an education technocrat who will be more focused and dedicated to the job than the deputy governor who has other responsibilities to carry out by the virtue of her office. Education is not something to play politics with. It is also not a sector to take for a

joke. That Sarah Sosan performed to some extent during her time is not enough to now put the current deputy governor in charge of the ministry.

Regina Udom, Civil servant

I have no objection to the idea. Although, there should be a division of labour based on individual areas of specialisation, nothing is wrong if the deputy governor has good quality, exposure and the experience to function well combining the two portfolios. She must also believes that the ministry can do better under her direct supervision more so that she has the chance of seeing the governor directly. Moreover, this is not the first time this arrangement would happen in Lagos State with no negative report so far. So,

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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

MSSN: UNILAG students decry suspension of officers MiftaudEEn Raji

100L, mass comm, UniLag

isturbed by the directive of the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, that the current executives of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), UNILAG branch should vacate their offices, shut their Secretariat and suspend all activities UNILAG Muslim students have begun to complain about the action of the management. This directive was contained in a letter titled “Completion of tenure of office,” and signed by the Deputy Dean, Students Affairs Division of the university, Dr. Adebayo on behalf the authorities of the university. The letter read in part, “The current executives of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria came into office September, 2014 and by general practice and in accordance with the rules and regulations guiding students associations, clubs and society in the university, your tenure lapsed in September, 2015. “You are hereby expected to forward your hand over notes to the staff advisers on or before November 9, 2015.” The directive also instructed that the keys to the MSSN vehicles and the secretariat, reports on the finances and any other property of the society be handed over. The letter did not state whether an electoral committee shall be constituted or election will be conducted in January when the school is expected to resume, leaving a power vacuum. Meanwhile, the students have taken to the social media, as they launched a hash tag campaign, #BRINGBACKOURMSSNUNILAG, less than 24 hours after the announcement, to press down their dissatisfaction over the suspension. The students expressed grief that the suspension will create inconveniences for different categories of students and beneficiaries who will need to access the services of the branch. They lamented that the newly-admitted undergraduates, Distance Learning Institute (DLI) and the Diploma students will mostly be at the detriment.

EzEkiEl EfEobhokhan 500L Pharmacy, Uniben

ife of former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Arese Carrington has told women to stand up and get involve in leadership activities so they don’t get relegated to the background. She also admonished the men to respect women and acknowledge their academic prowess. She said this during the first eminent lecture series titled, “The Female Imperative in The New Africa” held in the University of Benin, recently. Carrington who is also the VicePresident, Africana Consultants USA also said that women need to be given the opportunity to advance in science and technology. “A lot of women are gifted in Mathematics and Science but some can’t harness this potential to the fullest. Some are easily discouraged and don’t pursue their aspiration. A young lady once told me she thought about studying Mathematics in a top university but on the first day of Lectures she found herself the only female in the class. She was made to feel uncomfortable by the males who asked if she was majoring in Mathematics to learn the ratio of ingredients needed for cooking.” Meanwhile speaking on the topic “Nigeria and Future of the black World”, Ambassador Walter

Saidat alauSa

Professor of Mass Communication at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Mr. Cecil Blake has urged African universities to produce graduates who would serve as change agents and restore the dignity of the ‘Black man.’ He disclosed this while delivering the institution’s 44th public lecture titled, “Engaging the Mission to Restore the Dignity of the Black Man: Challenges and Prospects,” recently. According to him, the mission to restore the dignity of the black man has a long and complex history dates back to the days of slavery in the United States and the Caribbean. He explained that this had led to the Euro-American Rhetorical construction of the African and Africa to be inferior to whites; have no contribution to civilisation; that they were destined to serve mankind and that Africans are incapable of governing themselves without firm white oversight among others. The professor also said that notable Americans and Europeans advanced arguments in support of their assertions by citing evidence presumably from anthropological,

Participants during the Nigeria Entrepreneurship Challenge and Enterprises Award 2015, held at UNIZIK, recently.

UNIBEN lecture: Carrington advises women to be more courageous Carrington disclosed why Nigeria still remains where it is despite its possession of crude oil. He decried the poor state of leadership and gave reasons why the international communities could not trust the country enough to integrate them into some key developmental process-

lic Relations Officer Mr. Michael Osasuyi stated that the lectures were held to address topical issues that concern the growth and relaes. He however said the country tive development of the country. “The Vice chancellor Professor must do what so many OPEC Faraday Orumwense has seen it members are doing in order to difit to begin the university’s first versify its economy to lessen the lecture series so he could bring dependence on petroleum which highly placed individuals to come provides an outsized portion of and share ideas to address certain the National budget. issues.” Speaking at the event, the Pub-

Don tasks universities on restoration of African dignity philosophical and religious resources. The Sierra Leonean indigene however disclosed to the audience at the lecture that the paradigm and shame regarding Africa and Africans was not left unchallenged by leading Black spokesperson who argued that Africa and Africans has a noble and rich past. “They argued that Africa made significant contributions to history about which whites were ignorant,

in fact it was that glorious past that serves as a badge of dignity and a dignity that needed to be restored only if Blacks in America and parts of Caribbean would return to Africa and work towards the regeneration of the continent and restoration of its pride.” Professor Blake, who is a former Minister of Information and Broadcaster in Sierra Leone said in order to dismiss any claim of the characteristics being employed

Student of Federal University of Technology, Akure and overall winner, National Essay Competition organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Opeoluwa Akinradewo (left) receiving his prize from the President of the institute, Mr. Murtala Aliyu at the award ceremony recently.

to deal with Africans, students, faculties, management and staff of institutions should constitute that man power charged to carry out the mission. He also said the second Pan-African Congress resolution which states that natives of Africa must have the right to participate in government as fast as their development permits in conformity with the principle that government exists for the natives and not the natives of the government must be adapted in restoring the dignity of the black man. Commending the establishment of Covenant University whose aim is to restore the dignity of the continent, the renowned professor said “for the first time in human history, we have a university with a clearly stated mission to restore the dignity of the black man and the founding of this institution concomitantly announced the demise of the paradigm of ignominy and shame.” The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Charles Ayo charged Nigerians to be provoked to protect the dignity of Africans, saying that the current problems are not beyond the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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

Rotary Club lauds FUNAAB’s entrepreneurial education Saidat alauSa

otary Foundation and the Rotary Club of SagamuCentral, District 9110, recently paid a follow-up visit to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB),Ogun State to evaluate how the five-day New Generation Entrepreneurial Education (EE) training, organised for students of the university have impacted on them. It was also to encourage sustainability, as prizes were also presented to participants with outstanding business plans. Speaking on behalf of the club, Rotarian Grace Okaro expressed satisfaction that the university now had in place, a magnificent structure for Entrepreneurial Studies, noting that it was an indication that the project would survive. She, however, called on the university management to ensure that the training, which was sponsored by the Rotary Foundation, was sustained by enacting a policy whereby those that had been trained could train others in a bid to transferring knowledge. Okaro said Rotary International is an international service organisation, whose purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders, to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, to advance goodwill and bring peace to the world. She added that the body is structured into clubs, districts and international levels in carrying out projects on maternal and child health; economic and community development; basic education and literacy; disease prevention and treatment; peace, conflict prevention and resolution; as well as water and sanitation. Okaro later decorated the Vice-Chancellor, of the university, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Professor Felix Salako, as well as the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), Prof. Adewale Dipeolu; and the immediate past Director of CENTS, Prof. Olufemi Onifade. Responding, the vice-chancellor expressed gratitude to the Rotary Foundation for its support, noting that the university was happy to be associated with them. He also pointed out that teaching of Entrepreneurial Studies was in line with Federal Government’s policy and that the university recognised the need to impact youths with relevant skills.

...as two staffers bag awards

wo staff of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have been honoured with the Excellent Media Southwest, Nigeria Awards for their outstanding performance in their chosen fields of endeavours. The organisers of the award, Excellent Media Group, is made up of media practitioners that are based in the Southwest geo-political zone of the country in a bid to promoting the culture of excellence in the society. The awardees are: Dr. Elizabeth Oluwalana, a Senior Extension Fellow and Programme Leader, Gender Issues and Youth Development (GIYD) programme, Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) and Mr. Kunle Agboola, a Chief Academic Technologist in the Textile and Clothing Unit, Department of Home Science and Management, College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC) of the university. While Dr. Oluwalana was specifically recognised as the Ogun State Outstanding Personality of the Year 2015, based on her immense contributions in empowering students and graduates in vocational and entrepreneurial skills, Mr. Agboola was honoured as the Ogun State Outstanding Technical Instructor of the Year 2015, based on his efforts at developing and imparting technical skills in the area of indigenous African textile technology, with special focus on Adire.

Pharmacy students, University of Benin with secondary school students during their anti-drug campaign in Edo State, recently.

LAUTECH graduates to collect transcripts online security agencies to intensify efforts in the affected areas to ensure safety of OsOgbO lives and property. adoke Akintola University of He equally stated that a fact-finding/ Technology ,LAUTECH, is set security committee has been set up to to commence online issuance of look into the matter and report back academic transcripts to old students of within two weeks. the institution. According to Bewaji, LAUTECH President, LAUTECH Alumni Asso- alumni can now apply for their tranciation, Mr Babajide Bewaji disclosed script online and obtain it within 24 this in a press statement signed on his hours from any part of the world, addbehalf by the Public Relations Officer ing that the innovation was borne out of Osun state chapter of the associa- of the need to put a stop to the long bution, Mr Damilare Adeyemi. reaucratic process and difficulties of Bewaji, who in the statement, con- obtaining the transcript through the old demned the recent armed robbery at- system. tacks on hostels and residential halls He said: “We have signed a Memoranof the institution in Ogbomoso, urged dum of Understanding with the LAUT-

Boladale BamigBola

Rahmah adetayo Lautech.

fter a six-day rigorous and impacting training sessions for its members, the Union of Campus Journalists ( UCJ), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, crowned this year’s Campus Journalists Training Forum (CJTF) with a mind blowing Campus Journalism Symposium (CJS2015), which was themed: “Campus Jour-

ECH management for the online release of transcript for the old students of the institution. This we have done to erase the difficulties and long bureaucratic process of obtaining transcript by our members. “With the new development, the issue of waiting for several months before obtaining academic transcript is now a thing of the past. Our members who are all over the world can now apply and obtain their transcript online with 24 hours. “We have finally put an end to 25 years mirage and headache of waiting endlessly to obtain transcript, this was one of the cardinal promises we made on assumption of office.”

... as institution hosts campus journalists nalism: A veritable tool for national development.” The event which was held at the Chemical engineering Lecture hall, high rise building of the prestigious Faculty of engineering and technology, left the attendees asking for more, courtesy the various breath-taking segments incorporated into the one day programme. The symposium, first

of its kind not only was anchored by the versatile and talented Parrot FM sport analyst who is a 500 level student of Mechanical Engineering, Wisdom Daniel odetayo and was co anchored by Adegoke Ajiboye, the Love doctor. The event kicked off with exquisite and wisdom filled poetry rendition by talented poets among which was the famous Vicadex, and Joy

A cross section of freshers at Covenant University, Ota, during their matriculation ceremony recently.

of Eloquent concepts. The U.C.J LAUTECH President was not left out in the feat as he treated the engrossed audience to his Yoruba laced poem titled “Arise O Compatriots!” In his speech, the President of the group, Zubair Alabi emphasised how the country could be refurbished purposefully with the use of pen. The business of the day commenced with an insight into the origin of journalism, its evolution up till date and how it can be employed as a tool for tilting the Nation to a greater height. That was meticulously addressed by the publisher, The Insight Newspaper as he unveiled the theme. His presentation was substantiated and further examined by the General Manager Parrrot FM, Mr. Ademola Adeniyi popularly known on-air as Kukulaja who did justice to the topic, “Broadcasting; Rudiments and opportunities.”

Thursday, November 12, 2015

“F

IVE PDP gubernatorial aspirants in Abia State said at the weekend they have (had) uncovered plots by some persons….” Reported speech is always in the

past tense. “Three Egypt (Egyptian) soldiers die in Gaza tunnel collapse” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY Headline, October 19) THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 12 mistrusted one of its advertorials: “…under (on) the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).” VANGUARD of October 7 circulated seven blunders: “Atiku commissions (inaugurates) Ekiti’s 300-bed hospital, asks voters to shun PDP in 2015” “Lawyers, judges pay last respect (respects) to late Justice….” Yank off ‘late’ for obvious reasons “FG to fast track (fast-track) oil communities’ development” “…the economic potentials (potential or potentialities) of the abundant natural resources” “Why Toyota dominates Nigeria (Nigerian) roads” “Police shifts ban on use of motorcycles” A rewrite: Police extend ban on motorbike usage” “NNPC raises alarm (the alarm) over fake letter of authorisation” “Amosun’s wife flags (kicks) off Ogun community health scheme” THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 5 comes next: “… takes a look at the fortunes of the emerging business conglomerate vis-à-vis its strengths, potentials and weakness.” Again, ‘potential’ is uncountable, but ‘potentialities’ (THE GUARDIAN INTERVIEW Page of October 2 contained this same blunder). “There were no furnitures and the entire premises were in a derelict state.” Politics: it is unfortunate that an Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice from the South East does not know that ‘furniture’ cannot be inflected! “Few (‘A few’ because of context) days ago….” “…all stakeholders in an all night (all-night) meeting at the Hilton, Abuja.” “…the decision to tow (toe) a different political part from

Saidat alauSa

13-year old JSS3 student, Master Dein-Dumo Anaye from River State has emerged the first winner of ‘Indomie Tazomania promo.’ He was rewarded with a mega prize winner of an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai alongside a companion of choice while other winners were also rewarded with N500, 000 worth of scholar-

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Get on (not in) a taxi/bus his.” Lastly from THE NATION under review: “Japan to invest N2.8b on (in) health, education” THE GUARDIAN Editorial Page of October 2 takes over from THE NATION ON SUNDAY: “The losers in these (this) façade are the….” “Firm launches campaign to sensitise public on (to)) chemicals” “IPI condoled his family….” The institute condoled with his family or consoled his family “The capacity of women to raise funds for recognition have been further….” The capacity…has’. “The human greed has now reached its highest peak.” This amounts to tormenting functional items. ‘Peak’ abhors any intensification. “The individual common man has little access to the press, so the injustices the common man suffers atimes do not merit media attention.” (SUNDAY VANGUARD, October 5) ‘Atimes’ is Nigerian English. Standard expression: ‘at times’. “He had defiled (defied) all odds at the end of the Nigerian Civil War….” “These kind of write-ups drive journalism into irrelevance.” Correct form: This kind of or these kinds of.… “Since such may not come into reality.” Right expression: “Since such may not come to reality.” “The budget planned originally to be a surplus usually result into a huge deficit.” Approved form: result in. “Definitely, the wounds which the recent political crisis have distributed across the nation… “ It is not ‘the wounds’ that should determine the verb to be used here, but ‘crisis’ (singular) or ‘crises’ (plural). “Formulation of past budgets have more often been hailed but their implementation….” Concord problem in an edito-

rial: ‘Formulation…have….’? Gentlemen, I am blushed. “The top flight accountant assured that if the government can provide the pensioners with good things (comma, please) there will be minimal of embezzlement and its….” (NIGERIAN TIDE, October 10) ‘Minimal embezzlement’, please. “…with a view to meeting (sic) out appropriate sanctions on all those found to have been involved in any way.” The (formal) phrasal verb is ‘meting out to’ (not ‘on’). “Israel moves to diffuse tension with Egypt” Who is the sub-editor diffusing illiteracy? Let us always distinguish between ‘diffuse’ and ‘defuse’. “Among items destroyed were textile materials, jewelleries, television and radio sets….” ‘Jewellery’: plural unchanged. “Nigerians pay last respect to Dimgba Igwe” ‘Last respects’, please. FEEDBACK MR. Kola Danisa (07068074257) contributed the next two extracts: “Has there been a change of mind by the APC or is the Comrade warming (worming) his way to the PDP….” The phrase ‘sticking point’—not ‘sticky point’—is grammatically correct. FROM the columnist: I thank Elder Danisa for his telephonic admonition/counsel/chastisement/rebuke/reprimand (choose one!) on the need for me to be more forensically clinical as much as possible before going to press having corrected the preceding paragraph a long time ago only to inadvertently allow the same slips uncorrected last week! Is it printer’s devil, slip-shoddiness, ancestral/generational language witchcraft, amnesia or mid-age senility? This is certainly not ignorance. Whatever it is, I take therapeutic responsibility and apologise. “Get on (in) a taxi.”

Student wins Indomie overseas’ trip

ships, Play stations and TV sets. Thanking Dufil Prima Foods, Anaye expressed passion for the brand with the promise to remain an Indomie brand ambassador for a life time. “I am indeed very delighted to be a winner of an all-expense paid trip to Dubai. This is my first time of going outside Nigeria and I want to thank Indomie for the

opportunity given to me to have a great experience outside the shore of Nigeria,” he said. Also speaking with journalists at the presentation ceremony, N500, 000 scholarship winner 11 years old, Miss. Vanessa Peter from Imo said the promo will erase doubts from the mind of those that believed that such promos are not real.

Event Manager, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju said the promo was in line with the brand’s rooted philosophy to The Indomie TazoMania is a pro- continue to give back to consummo where participants are expected ers who have remained loyal to the to purchase the Indomie chicken brand and will continue to stand by flavor SKU of 70g or 120g Super pack them. He reinstated the company’s containing the Tazo. Tazos are flat circular discs with commitment to continue to reward, the images of the indomitable char- give back and touch the lives of its acters and numeric code imprints diverse consumers scattered across on them. Participants are required the nation. He said Dufil would continue to to gather 11 of such unique codes. Mega winners are however select- come up with activities that would ed from the pool of participant who further sustain the relationship have collected and flashed codes of and engender deeper connection between the brand and the consumthe unique 11 Tazos. The Head, Public Relations and ers.

Olapeju retires as King’s College principal

O L-R: Head, Public Relations and Event, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju, Tazomania Dubai Mega Prize winner, 13 years old JSS 3 student, Master Dein-Dumo Anaye and Marketing Manager, Indomie Instant Noodles and Head of Indomie Fan Club, Sony Dorai at Tazomania Promo prize presentation ceremony held at Dufil Head office in Lagos.

tunba Oladele Olapeju will be officially retired as the Principal of King’s College, Lagos on Saturday. He is already has a successor, Mr. Thomas Oluseyi, a director in the Federal Ministry of Education who has since resumed duty. Olapeju, who will be 60-year-old on Saturday, has served the college which is regarded as flagship of unity colleges in the country for five years, 10 months. He said he was reluctantly as a director in the ministry accepted his posting to the college about six years ago but now like look he should not go again. “But my joy, among others is that I am leaving the college far better than what I met on ground and I want my successor too to surpass my achievements,” he said yesterday at a media chat to commence activities in line for his exit from the public service, where he served for 33 years.

Business Thursday, November 12, 2015

Online job seekers up by over 100,000 in five months –NBS

$5.2bn fine: Mixed reactions trail NCC’s sanction on MTN

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State mining officers lack tools to work –Shehu 30

Economists lament Nigeria’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ poor ranking AbolAji AdebAyo

takeholders in the nation’s economy have bemoaned the low ranking of Nigeria in the list of Ease of Doing Business released by the World Bank, which indicated the poor performance of the country among other nations.

The 2015 edition of the report by the World Bank on Ease of Doing Business has ranked the country 52nd out of 189 countries surveyed. Speaking at the investment conference of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair, the President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry, LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, said that the ranking showed a dismal performance by Nigeria, though with marginal improvements in some indicators. Nigeria was ranked 129 on the ease of starting business as against 138 last year. On dealing with construction permits, it ranked 171 this year as against 168 last year, while it retained its 185th position as it was the previous year on registration of property. In respect of investors’ interest as explained by Bello, Nigeria fell by one basis point on protecting minority investors ranking as it moved from 61st position last year to the 62nd position this year and on paying taxes, Nigeria was ranked 179 as against 177 in 2014. The LCCI Boss said that all these indicators were relevant to having an attractive investment climate. He Said: “I wish to use this opportunity to call on government to put in place a conducive policy and business environment where investment can thrive. the much needed industrial revolution in Nigeria requires massive inflow of foreign investments into productive sector of the economy. “There is therefore the need for strong institutions with strong adherence to sound corporate governance and international best practice. Our regulatory environment must portray a good sense of certainty and consistency of regulations and

policies.” Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan Baba, who informed that access to finance was one of the indicators used by the World Bank in its “Ease of Doing Business” report, said that Nigeria’s ranking may slide by seven point in 2016, advising that efforts should be made to ensure that there is an improved ranking but not the reverse. She lamented that despite be-

ing the largest economy in Africa and 21st largest in the world, Nigeria was still lagging behind smaller countries in attracting FDI. She said that the picture became more worrisome when FDI from oil sector was discounted because the bulk of FDI into Nigeria was from the oil sector as opposed to the countries in comparison where the bulk of FDI was from non-oil sector. She declared that NIPC has recently developed an investment

promotion strategy to make the Nigerian investment environment more investor-friendly. “The strategy, christened “NIPC Diamond” is aimed at taking Nigeria to a future beyond oil. The salient futures of this strategy include investment climate; financial value chain; sectoral and geographical prioritization; regulatory support and investor aftercare; market intelligence, national branding and image as well as investor engagement platform.”

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: Kabiru Yusuf Mohammed, Chief of Staff to Managing Director; Engr Munir Abiola, General Manager, Projects; Hon Silas Agara, Deputy Governor, Dr Ibrahim Idris, Director, Planning Research & Strategy, Alh Tanko Al-Makura Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Surv Remi Aromiwura, General Manager, Land, Water & Survey during the inspection of Lafia Airport project by FAAN management.

SMILE rolls out 4G LTE mobile network in Benin City isAiAh erhiAwArien

esidents of Benin City and environs now have access to the 4G LTE Mobile communication platfom as Smile Communications Nigeria Limited rolled out its broadband services in the Edo State capital. With the switch on of the facility, people in the city can now enjoy faster internet access and its associated communication benefits. The Chief Marketing Officer of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Alero Ladipo, assured residents of Benin City and its environs of the company’s commitment to providing the best customer ex-

perience on the network. She enthused: “Our main objective in Smile is to ensure our customers have a memorable experience while on the internet. A customer must enjoy the simplicity of the service. We adapt quickly and innovate constantly, passing on the benefits to our customers through quality, simplicity and reliability”. Ladipo pointed out that the company was renowned for innovative practices and has, on a consistent basis, continue to provide high quality 4G LTE broadband Internet accesses that is quite affordable. According to her, the launch in Benin gives practical expression to Smile’s objective of using the best and most innovative technologies

to provide its customers with high quality, easy to use and affordable communication services as well as enabling its customers to fully benefit from the Internet world. She explained that with this latest launch of Smile services, residents of Benin City would henceforth join other Nigerians in enjoying the most reliable and consistent online experience in the country. Ladipo explained that Smile’s entry into Benin City follows its earlier launch of services in such cities as Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt was part of its systematic rollout of its network services in line with the strategic objective of making available.

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, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Online job seekers up by over 100,000 in five months –NBS Tola akinmuTimi

he National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, at the weekend reported a growing increasing in completed online applications for jobs in the country, moving from 212,409 recorded last May to 313,694 by the end of September, representing about 50 per cent The Bureau, in its latest Online Recruitment Report published at the weekend, noted however that despite the surge in completed applications during the five month review period, the number of vacancies posted remained relatively stable, from 3,897 in May to 4,441 in September, implying some relative competitiveness over the period. It also reported that while the majority of applicants were between the ages of 20 and 30 years with over 70 per cent of them possessing degrees from tertiary institutions, the Trade/Services industry dominated in the number of vacancies posted, with over two thirds of vacancies were posted by companies operating within this industry, and an average of 36 per cent of applications

made during the period made to such companies. When analyzed based on applications by location, the NBS reported that Lagos was the most active and dominant state during the reference period, accounting for over half of both applications and vacancies posted. It also found that over 7,000 of the applicants were living outside the country. NBS clarified further: “The information published in this report covers the period May to September 2015 and is by no means a replacement to data generated from our regular Quarterly Job Creation Survey or the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. “It is simply additional labour market information, specifically on online recruitment activities, generated for the purpose of enriching the already existing database. Though Jobberman occupies the largest share of the online recruitment market in Nigeria, the information published in this report is only indicative of the activities in the industry and not necessarily conclusive. “Over the period the number of applications received grew considerably, from 212,409 in

May to 313,694 in September, showing that the number of applications grew by roughly 50 per cent. There is a clear upward trend in the number of applications; every month saw an increase apart from July, when the number fell by 56,563 or 21 per cent. “The largest increase in the number of applications was between July and August, when the number increased by 73,625, or 34 per cent”, the Bureau added. On the vacancies trend, the

agency found that in contrast to the number of applications, the number of vacancies posted had been relatively stable each month, despite an increase over the period, from 3,897 vacancies in May to 4442 in September, representing a 14 per cent increase. This compared to the number of applications which rose by 50 per cent over the same period. It hinted that the highest number of vacancies that were recorded in any month was 4,915, in August while the low-

est amount of vacancies recorded was in May with 3,897 posted. The number of vacancies fell by 10 per cent in September, and the highest growth recorded in the number of vacancies in any month was 15 per cent in June. The Bureau expatiated on the educational qualifications of the covered applicants, stating that the majority of applicants online were well educated, with 64 per cent having a degree, and 76 per cent having a degree or higher (including MBBS, MBA, MSc and MPhil/PHD.

R-L: Mr. Grama Narasimhan, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Sterling Bank Plc; Mr. Umezinwa Philip Nonso, winner in the on-going New Sterling Bank Cash Reward Scheme and Mrs. Oluwatoyin David of Delloitte at the presentation of N1 million prize money to Nonso in Lagos

Skills devt critical for successful FG to mainstream nutrition into agriculture public private partnerships

he Chairman of the Governing Council of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), Stephen Karangizi, has harped on the need to equip officials with the appropriate skills so that they are in a position to deal with the complexity of PPPs in their countries. Making this known during a five-day training on Public Private Partnerships (PPP) organised by ALSF at the African Development Bank offices in Abidjan recently, Karaginzi, who represented the Chairman of the Governing Council of the ALSF Charles Boamah, at the event, noted that institutional structures as well as regulatory and legal frameworks on PPP were critical for the successful implementation of PPPs. The workshop was coorganised with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), through its corporate university, the CEFEB, Expertise France, the PublicPrivate Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), and the West African Economic and

Monetary Union (UEMOA.\ Specifically, the forum was designed to provide 35 government officials from 10 francophone African States with the capacity to structure PPP projects in an effort to efficiently bridge Africa’s infrastructure financing needs. Addressing participants, Isaac Dé, Advisor of the President of the National Steering Committee of Public-Private Partnership of the Côte d’Ivoire government stated that an operating environment with functioning institutions will more likely attract foreign investors. In attendance are regulators, private and public lawyers, professional services practitioners and financiers from Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, the Central African Republic, Senegal, Chad and UEMOA. The participants will go through principles of structuring PPPs, legal frameworks, and contracting models for PPP entities and PPP financing.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny Echono, has unveiled plans by the Federal Government to mainstream nutrition into agriculture, using bio-fortification, home fortification and large and medium scale fortification in a value chain approach. Echono made this disclosure at the International Nutritious Food Fair held at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Station, Kubwa, Abuja, where he represented the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The Permanent Secretary explained that the present administration viewed bio-fortification as complementary to dietary enrichment and had therefore embraced a broad and comprehensive food systems approach to address malnutrition. He said: “We easily visualize how food fortification fits into broader agribusiness model to make nutritious food available, accessible and affordable to enable us provide diverse foods and make more foods more nu-

tritious”. Echono explained that after a full decade of promoting large scale fortification, it should equally be of importance to optimize industry compliance to expected food fortification standards. According to him, the bio fortified crops currently promoted include the Vitamin A rich cassava and orange flesh sweet potatoes. He said that Nigeria’s agricultural sector’s vision was to achieve a hunger-free country through an agricultural sector that drives an all inclusive income growth, accelerates achievement of food and nutritional security, generates employment and transforms Nigeria into a leading player in global food markets to grow wealth for millions of farmers. To achieve this, he said the government had embarked on a comprehensive review and resuscitation plan that revolves around unlocking the potentials of agriculture through a total value chain to enable the private sector leadership grow food, create jobs and wealth, as well as improve nutrition.

He said, through malnutrition, especially inadequate mineral and vitamins to women and children, posed a major challenge to the health of citizens, saying available statistics have revealed that 30 per cent of our children and 20 per cent of pregnant women are malnourished. He therefore emphasized the need to develop and multiply more production nutrient rich crops and scale up bio-fortification research through research institutes like IITA and Nutritional Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI). This is even as he hinted government plans to review and prioritize the strategic plan for Transformative Partnership for High Energy Nutritious Food for Africa, saying the plan would ensure the sustainable consumption of high energy nutritious food to address a range of nutrition needs in Nigeria and Africa. Earlier in the remarks, a Director with Harvestplus, Howarth Bouis, noted that mineral and vitamin contents should be included in crops so that people immuned system would not be

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Business News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

FPSO integration: LADOL assures FG of 55, 000 jobs FRaNCiS EZEM

he Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base LADOL has said it is committed to boosting the Federal Government’s policy of creating employment opportunities for the nation’s youths with the creation of over 55,000 job opportunities. LADOL is Nigeria’s first and only wholly owned indigenous Deep Offshore Logistic Base providing world class solutions in the areas of deep off-shore support for maritime and oil and gas projects, agriculture and fabrications located at the Apapa Port Pilotage District, Tarkwa Bay, Lagos. The company is currently at the final completion of the integration of the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading FPSO project, through which it projects to massively create jobs for the teeming youths of the country. Managing Director of LADOL, Dr Amy Jadesimi, who gave the assurance, told the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi, who led other top management staff of the author-

ity during a visit to the LADOL Base in Lagos that the company plans to create no fewer than 5,000 direct and 50,000 indirect jobs in the next few years, According to her, the company aims at changing the entire economic landscape of the country through the provision of 5,000 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians, This she argued would launch the country into the league of G20 group of nations. She however called on NPA as technical regulator for the nation’s port industry to ensure a level playing field for all the operators in the industry to strive. The LADOL-boss argued that only this could guarantee the best of services to end-users as well as encourage economic growth for the country. Investigations showed that apart from the FPSO integration project, the company also has other ongoing projects such as a passenger terminal with an emergency response facility which has the capacity to accommodate 1000 passengers expected to be completed in 2017. The company is also building an integrated quay wall with a built design of 13.5metre draught

Neustar acquires MarketShare for $450m DaviD auDu

d tech, marketing data and analytics provider Neustar acquired marketing analytics company MarketShare Partners for a reported $450 million. The deal provides Neustar with stronger analytics capabilities aimed at providing marketers and advertisers with improved real-time data on which to base their ad spending. “Combining Neustar’s leadership in authoritative identity, audience targeting and segmentation, and realtime media measurement with MarketShare’s marketleading technology and predictive analytics will enable CMOs to look across their entire business—from planning to execution, online and offline—to get a comprehensive and accurate reading of what is driving their sales,” Lisa Hook, Neustar president and CEO, said in a company statement. “This will enable them to make more precise allocation decisions to achieve better returns on their investments.”

Earlier this year, the two companies announced a deal to share data. “By combining the two companies, the two are seeking to help marketers figure out the best media to use for a particular campaign,” according to CMO Today. “As marketers have more and more places to put their ad dollars nowadays, they are eager for ways to prove which channels work best.” Bringing the two companies together will allow CMOs to better gauge which marketing activities are increasing and driving sales, which market segments to focus on, as well as how best to allocate their marketing and advertising resources across channel and media platforms. “The addition of MarketShare will enable us to offer a complete, data-driven solution to CMOs as they plan, optimize, and allocate their online and offline marketing budgets and resources,” according to this Neustar blog post announcing the deal. “In the increasingly complex world in which major brands operate, this really matters.

and 500-metre long due for completion in February next year. Managing Director of NPA had while speaking at the event, pledged of the continued promotion of international best practice in the nation’s maritime industry by the technical regulator. He also assured that the authority will at all times strive to discourage monopoly while promoting healthy competition amongst the various players in the industry.

According to him, the efforts of LADOL, a fully indigenouslyowned organisation was praiseworthy, especially in the area of technical expertise as well as in the creation of multiple jobs.. “I am very impressed and very proud as a Nigerian, that a company owned by a Nigerian is doing very well in such a specialised area. As a landlord and technical regulator, NPA will continue to encourage not only LADOL, but

all other companies in the maritime industry that provide similar services”, the NPA-boss said. Abdullahi, who was visibly elated also said: “I am quite impressed by what the MD of LADOL said that what she wants is competition, collaboration and reconciliation and not monopoly. From our own end as a technical regulator, we will continue to provide a level playing field which is vital for economic growth”.

L-R: Regional Bank Manager, Abuja 1, Fidelity Bank Plc, Hassan Imam; the Bank’s Executive Director, North, Mohammed Balarabe, and Proprietor, Hope for Survival Orphanage, Gishiri, Abuja, Kephas Thaddeus at the commissioning of the motorized borehole and kitchenette donated to the Orphanage by the Bank last weekend.

NESREA to commence enforcement of EPR policy DaviD auDu

he National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, has announced its determination to commence the enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR, policy in the first quarter of 2016. This was disclosed recently by the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Lawrence Anukam, at a 2-day workshop with stakeholders organized in Lagos to further sensitize companies in the food and beverage sector, in particular, on the EPR operational guidelines released by the agency last year. Anukam said the EPR is “the extension of the responsibility of producers, and all entities involved in the product chain, to reduce the cradle-to-cradle impacts of a product and its packaging”. He stressed that the primary responsibility of EPR lies with the producer, who makes design and marketing decisions. He noted that as a concept and tool the EPR has become a global best practice operated successfully in several developed and developing countries to deal with the environmental, social and economic challenges of packaging waste.

While deploring what he described as the slow response by industries generally to the policy, the Director-General acknowledged and commended the exemplary commitment to the EPR programme demonstrated by the Nigerian Beverage Alliance, a growing coalition of beverage companies founded by Coca-Cola in collaboration with Nigerian

Bottling Company, Nestle Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries and Seven Up Bottling Company. He said the Alliance is one of only two Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), along with Resource Renewable Limited, currently recognized by NESREA as the EPR implementation platforms for their respective member companies.

AfDB mitigates Cameroon’s Eurobond currency risk

he African Development Bank (AfDB), has approved a EUR 500 million partial credit guarantee to cover the payment obligations of the Republic of Cameroon related to the cross currency swaps executed with commercial banks to hedge the proceeds of a USD denominated Eurobond currently being marketed. A statement by the continental development finance institution at the weekend indicated that Cameroon would be tapping into the international capital markets to finance development projects, in particular its Three Year Emergency Plan and certain long-term investment projects identified in

the 2015 budget. The development projects are aligned with the AfDB’s overarching Ten Year Strategic goals (20132022) namely, to promote inclusive growth and support the transition to green growth and will impact two operational priority sectors for the Bank: infrastructure and the private sector of the Bank, , as well as the Bank’s High Five Agenda to light, feed, industrialize, integrate and improve living standards in African countries. The AfDB stated further: “The Bank’s involvement is intended to help mitigate currency risk that could arise from Cameroon’s ongoing international capital markets operation.”

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Steel & Mining Industry

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

State mining officers lack tools to work –Shehu StorieS by CHiDi UGWU, AbUJA

he President, miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) Alhaji Sanni Shehu has decried the seeming idleness of the state mining officers across, lamenting that they have been denied the tools with which to carry out their duties. Shehu, who spoke during at ‘One on One’ a popular Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) programme monitored in Abuja, urged the federal government to urgently mobilize the state officers, for its programme reviving the mining industry to yield the desired fruits. “State mining officers are denied tools to work, they need more funding. Some of them are reading newspapers at work because they were not mobilized” he said. He explained that there are many illegal miners ‘because some companies who obtained exploration license have ended up using same to mine’ adding that government should focus on identifying such people and meting out appropriate punishment as a deterrent. Shehu also urged miners across the country to defend the industry by reporting the smuggling of precious stones, and other anomalies found within their various zones. Nation Mirror recalls that a Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report once revealed that Nigeria is losing huge revenues running into billions of naira from the mining sector, due to weak mining regulations and policies and inefficiency of government agencies that should

be responsible for collection of royalties, taxes and levies from mining companies operating in Nigeria. According to the report, mineral titles in Nigeria are issued by the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) to many companies, but only a few pay their annual fees and other fees as stated in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. Increase in mineral exploration activities arising from the creation of the Ni-

Aspirant vows to revive Ajaokuta steel firm CHiDi UGWU, AbUJA

he candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate for the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu has reiterated his pledged to revive the moribond Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Company if voted into power. Prince Audu, who made the remarks weekend in Abuja, while receiving over 100 Okun youths from Mopa-muro Local Government Area of the state that paid him a solidarity visit ahead of the forthcoming coming election, assured that a fresh life will be breathed into the company soon. Basking on his presidential connection and closeness to the top hierarchy of the ruling APC, Audu said his administration’s determination to address the problem of youths

unemployment would be achieved through revitalisation of the steel company. The former governor of the state noted that the APC government will work assiduously towards ensuring that the company is revived, because it has the capacity to absorb 90 percent of workforce of the state. Audu told the delegation of his readiness to alleviate the suffering of the people of Kogi State by working closely with the government and relevant authorities at the centre to ensure realisation of the dream by raising funds from the capital market to achieve the objective of the industry. The APC leader in the state expressing

concern over the high rate of unemployment among the teeming youths population in the state, noting that revitalizing the company is the panacea to addressing the issue of joblessness confronting the state and the country in general.

geria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), which had done a geophysical survey of the country’s mineral abundance, led to the creation of the MCO, which is charged with the administration of miner-al titles on a first-come-first-served and use-or-lose-it basis, and resulting in increase in mineral title acquisition by both local and international mining operators. As such, all companies operating in the

solid minerals which engage in exploration or mining operations are to pay royalties, as stipulated in the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, section (33). Royalty payments are supposed to be collected by the Mines Inspectorate Department (MID), on behalf of the federal government. But whether this section of the Mining Act has been adhered to by mining companies in the country, or if they have taken ad-

Zimbabwe to impose more tax on miners

imbabwe’s tax agency missed its revenue collections in the quarter that ended in September by nine percent after it collected $878, 2 million revenues. The southern African country finances its entire budget through mainly taxes and the failure to meet revenue targets would have far reaching negative impact on government meagre coffers. According to a trading update, the bulk of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) revenue was realised from individual tax, excise duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on local sales, which contributed 22 %, 20 % and 16 % respectively. Mining royalties at $17 million were 55 % below target. Year on year, the sector’s contribution fell 47 % from $33, 12 million in 2014. Corporate tax contributed $85, 14 million of total revenue against a target of $124 million. “The performance of the revenue head (corporate tax) was dampened by reduced

margins as the local companies felt the heat from competing imports. Company closures also continued to depress the revenue head,” said board chair Willia Bonyongwe in a statement. Revenue from excise duty surpassed the targeted $151 million after Zimra collected $176 million while customs duty collections also increased by 1.22 % to $89, 32 % compared to $88 million realised in the same period last year, although falling below the targeted $100 million. Zimra collected $202 million through VAT against a target of $161 million with net revenue collection also increasing by 10 % to $123 million. VAT collected from imports was $116 million, surpassing the targeted $104 million. Zimra expressed concern over low uptake of the tax amnesty that was meant

to give clients whose tax affairs were not in order, a chance to regularise them. The amnesty ended in September with a few clients heeding the call.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Info Tech

$5.2bn fine: Mixed reactions trail NCC’s sanction on MTN Generally, regulatory authorities do wield the big stick in their efforts to ensure conformity with operational guidelines relating to areas of their statutory responsibilities. In Nigeria, the experiences over the years have not been different. However, the latest sanction imposed on one of the telecommunications services provider, MTN, by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has continued to attract stakeholders attention, with some saying that the amount of $5.2 billion imposed on the telco is outrageous. Isaiah Erhiawarien reports.

he imposition of $5.2 billion fine by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on South African mobile network operator, MTN Nigeria over the flouting of the regulator’s directive may not have gone down well with some stakeholders in the sector, and as such some stakeholders could possibly be sprouting a show-down. National Mirror investigations revealed that the aggrieved stakeholders who are of the aegis of the body of subscribers, known as National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS are wearied about the myriad of monetary sanctions, which has in no way benefitted them. Besides, NATCOM, it was learnt that groups in the industry like the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ALTON, and Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON both of which MTN is a member is taking the news with a peach of salt. MTN Nigeria, which was the first mobile network operator to be issued license was slammed with $5.2billion fine by Nigerian Communications Commissionafter allegedly violating a SIM registration order from the government. The NCC said it discovered that MTN still had active pre-registered SIM cards on its network and penalise it for failing to deactivate lines with incomplete registration details. The gravity of the offence has been linked to the recent kidnap of the Former Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Chief OluFalae whose kidnappers were said to have used an unregistered MTN phone line to carry out their nefarious activity. That raised serious security questions over the action of the MTN one of the key reasons for the SIM registration to enable security operatives in the country to have access to the biometric details of mobile telecoms subscribers for national security purposes. A source at the NCC at a function in Lagos disclosed that MTN was in the habit of disobeying several directives issued them describing the fine as belated. Although, this is not the first time that the Commission will issue such fines to mobile network operators who defaulted but it was the sheer amount of the sanction that is making tongue to wag in the sector. An analysis of the fine showed that the fine was calculated based on N200, 000 per undisconnected line at the stipulated time, and

MTN didn’t disconnect 5.1 million unregistered numbers. In July, 2012, the four mobile network operator, MTN, Airtel, Etisalat and Globacom were fined a total N1.17 billion for not meeting stipulated quality of service benchmarks called key performance indicators. Also in January this year, 2015, three mobile network operators again incurred the wrath of the NCC over their failure to meet the Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, for Quality of Service, QoS. The Commission imposed N647.5million fines on Airtel, Globacom and MTN Nigeria Limited. The three operators were also barred from selling Subscriber Identity Module, SIM, cards with effect from 1st till March 31, 2014, and were also barred from all promotions in their networks until they improve on the failed KPIs for which they are sanctioned. The details of the sanction showed that Airtel Network Limited and MTN Nigeria are to pay N185million each, while Globacom is liable to the tune of N277.5million. A new twist however occurred at the weekend concerning the MTN $5.2 billion fines as NATCOMS, the subscribers’ body has joined forces with some lawyers dragging the NCC to court over of the fine. The President of NATCOMS, Mr.DeoluOgunbanjo in a telephone chat absolved MTN Nigeria of any blame concerning the un-registered SIM for which it is currently facing sanctions. According to him, the seven firms initially recruited by the NCC for the exercise should be blamed and held liable noting that they did the shoddy job that has now landed MTN Nigeria into trouble. It was learnt that in 2011, the NCC signed a contract agreement with seven contracting partners to drive the SIM Card registration

Ikpoki, MD, MTN Nigeria process for six months. The seven contracting partners which handle the registration process in different parts of the country then were SW Global, Private Networks Nigeria (PNN), Chams, Joint KomputerKompany, JKK, DATAGROUPIT, EAGLE/CBCand E-Kenneth/ SageMetrics, and were coordinated by KPMG. The contract stipulates that SW Global will cover South East, PNN, North Central, Chams, Lagos; JKK, South West and DATAGROUPIT, North-East. Ogunbanjo disclosed that in desperation to meet the NCC target, the enumerators recruited by the contracted firms were asking four questions from subscribers instead of twelve thereby generating data that did not match the data that was expected to be generated from the exercise. While querying the NCC for putting the blame on the mobile network operators instead of the firm that that did register, he advised that the Commission should have mandated the operators to give a N10, 000.00 worth of airtime as compensation to sub-

in desperation to meet the

nCC

target, the enumerators reCruited by the ContraCted firms were asking four questions from subsCribers instead of twelve

scribers to enable to go through the exercise again. It was however, also learnt that in 2010, the regulator accepted telecom operators as first level option instead of consultants to carry out the process of SIM card registration of telecom subscribers. But that was after ATCON AND ALTON had kicked against the appointment of consultants for the SIM card registration. Last weekend, ATCON filed a legal suit against the NCC as first respondent and MTN Nigeria as second respondent, over the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on MTN by NCC on SIM card deactivation. They are challenging NCC at the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, praying the court to stop NCC from further imposing fine on MTN. They also want the court to compel NCC to account for all the monies it collected from telecoms operators in the past as fines, and to pay such monies to subscribers as compensation for poor service quality they had suffered from in the past. Ogunbanjo disclosed that it is certain of getting justice for subscribers of the mobile network operators who have been on the receiving end thereby ending the era of sanctions that not benefitted the subscriber. According to the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, the fine could cripple the entire industry saying that fines have never been able to address or removed the problems being encountered in the industry. He expressed further that the imposition of such a huge fine of N1.04 trillion for noncompliance with the SIM card registration procedures needed further clarification.

Info Tech

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ICT firm tasked on digital divide Polaroid launches Cube action business opportunities

camera, portable printer

StorieS by iSaiah erhiawarien

CT companies and other innovators in the country have been asked to take advantage of the significant business opportunities digital divide creates to add value to their countries’ socioeconomic development . A Chinese telecoms vendor, Huawei in its Digital Enablement, a research paper aimed at accelerating progress in giving people access to digital information and resources, showed that closing the deepening gap between digitally connected populations and those

olaroid, a company best known for its instant cameras, has just launched the Polaroid Cube action camera and Zip portable printer in India. The new devices will be sold exclusively through Flipkart in the coming days. The company will also be launching more products like the Polaroid Cube+, come December. The Polaroid Cube is a mini, action camera similar to famous GoPro range of cameras. It measures 35mm across all dimensions and weighs 9 grams. The Cube features a 6-megapixel sensor capable of full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) video recording and a 124-degree wide-angle lens. The camera also supports microSD cards up to 32GB. The built-in battery lets you record up to 90-minutes of footage and will be available in different colours like Black, Blue, and Red. The Cube also boasts of a magnetic base, making it easy to stick onto any metal surface. It’s also weatherproof and shock-proof, making it ideal for outdoor activities. The Cube+, which will launch in December, will come with Wi-Fi so you can control it through a smartphone app. The Polaroid Zip printer features NFC which lets you quick-

ly pair it with your smartphone and uses the special Zink paper to print your images without the need for ink cartridges. The printer can produce a 2x3-inch photo on-the-go. The Zip printer measures 119x73.6x22.8mm, weighs 187 grams, and will be available in Black, White, Blue and Red. The printer also features a built-in 500mAh battery which can print 25 sheets per charge. Regalix, a digital marketing firm based in Palo Alto, California, will be the authorised licensee for Polaroid cameras in India. Commenting on the launch, which took place in Delhi, Sridharan Narayan, Vice President, Consumer Services, Regalix India Pvt. Ltd, said, “Taking a cue from the demand for action cameras in the country, Polaroid has decided to foray into the Indian market. According to Adarsh K. Menon, Vice President Electronics, Flipkart, the action photography category on the online shopping portal has been increasing steadily over the past few months. Polaroid hopes to capitalise on this momentum with its debut with the Cube camera and provide a more competitive solution to something like the GoPro range of action cameras.

cut off from the Internet is a global challenge. But it however stated that it was an opportunity for the ICT industry to develop new business models to address the digital divide, making the investments needed to provide users with lifechanging technologies. The study also provides case studies showing that the ICT industry is already working on initiatives to do these things and to do so profitably. Huawei Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chief Executive Officer, Ken Hu disclosed that mobile communications play a significant

role in bridging the digital divide saying that “We need to focus on availability and affordability. This requires ongoing technological innovation both in infrastructure and on the device side to drive adoption in underdeveloped regions.” He suggested that the regulators can grant more spectrum resources to mobile communications, and further subsidise network rollout in underdeveloped regions adding that Huawei can work together to promote mobile communications for inclusive and balanced growth around the world.

Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Abuja Chapter recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a Medical Missions programme at the Internally Displaced Person’s Camp in Wasa, Abuja. Photo shows IDPs waiting to be attended to by a member of the NMA team at the event which was sponsored by Globacom.

Vodafone, Globacom sign pact to improve customer services

odafone and Globacom Limited jointly announced a new, non-equity partnership agreement that will boost experience of consumer and business customers that covers Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. Under the Partner Market agreement, Vodafone and Globacom will be utilising a wide range of their world-beating mobile, voice and data products that unrivalled global experience. Vodafone Partner Markets Chief Executive Stefano Gastaut said that it is delighted to welcome Globacom to the Vodafone Partner Markets community which now spans 57 countries across six continents saying that this strategic partnership with Globacom for Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. He added that it will help deliver enhanced roaming benefits for Globacom’s consumer and multinational corporate custom-

ers, including countries where we have an ultra-fast 4G network. Vodafone will gain from Globacom’s expertise and deep understanding of African markets. Commenting on the also on the agreement, Globacom’s Executive Director for Special Projects, Mr. Mike Jitubohdisclosed that the “This partnership is unique and far-reaching, giving corporate and individual subscribers on the Globacom network in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin an edge, particularly in voice and data services. He said: “The partnership is in line with Globacom’s tradition of partnering with global leaders to avail consumers of the best telecommunications services.” Reacting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright noted: “As the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, a large element of my role is to support British companies to invest and do business here in Nigeria.”

He said that he is delighted to witness the agreement between Globacom and Vodafone saying that “I wish both companies luck as they start this important journey working together, and I am sure this will be a very fruitful partnership for both.” Globacom said it is committed to building the best telecommunication network in Africa noting since inception in 2003, it has offered revolutionary and innovative services starting with as the first telecommunication network to introduce the Per Second Billing Service, Mobile Internet, Blackberry, 3G and numerous other cutting edge products and services in Nigeria. The company added that one of its major accomplishments is its international submarine cable, Glo 1, which connects Africa to Europe and the United States of America stressing that “Glo 1 has provided the much needed Internet bandwidth in Africa.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Government Technology

Security reports uncover threats to connected home StorieS by iSaiah erhiawarien

aspersky Lab researchers have discovered serious threats to the connected homethat exposes the homeowner’s WiFi password, a baby video monitor that can be controlled by a malicious third-party, and a smartphonecontrolled home security system that can be fooled with a magnet. According to Kaspersky Lab in 2014, its Security Expert, David Jacoby discovered all devices he owned in his living-room were susceptible cyber attack. Following this, in 2015 a team of Kaspersky Lab anti-malware experts repeated the experiment with one difference while Jacoby’s research concentrated mostly on network-attached servers, routers and smart TVs, this latest research was focused on the various connected devices available on the smart home market. Kaspersky revealed that the devices selected for the experi-

ment were a USB-dongle for video streaming, a smartphonecontrolled IP camera, a smartphone-controlled coffee maker, and a smartphone-controlled home security system noting that the investigation discovered almost all of these devices contained vulnerabilities. The research showed that a baby-monitor camera in the experiment allowed a hacker, while using the same network as the camera owner, to connect to the camera, watch the video from it and launch audio on the camera itself. Other cameras from the same vendor allowed hackers to collect owner passwords and the experiment showed it was also possible for a hacker on the same network to retrieve the root password from the camera and maliciously modify the camera’s firmware. When it comes to app-controlled coffeemakers, it’s not even necessary for an attacker to be on the same network as the victim, says Kaspersky Lab. The coffeemaker examined

L-R, Digital & Public Relations Manager, Erhumu Bayagbon; Director, Corporate Communications & CRS, Emeka Oparah with Director, Regulatory Affairs, Justin Damsa, all of Airtel Nigeria, during the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) 21st anniversary inner where Airtel Nigeria was honoured with a Merit Award, held in Lagos.

during the experiment was sending enough unencrypted information for an attacker to discover the password for the coffeemaker owner’s entire WiFi

network. When looking at a smartphone-controlled home security system, Kaspersky Lab researchers found the system’s

software had only minor issues and was secure enough to resist a cyber attack. Instead, vulnerability was found in one of the sensors used by the system.

Financial Technology

Ericsson to explore innovation power in networking society

ricsson’s ‘must-see’ demos at AfricaCom 2015 will explore the power of innovation in building the Networked Society in Africa and include Ericsson’s Connected Vehicle Cloud solution, Remote Patient Monitoring and Streamr, a 5G-ready tool that enhances the concert experience through real-time sharing of live videos. Head of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, Fredrik Jejdling will be delivering the to deliver keynote that will focus on The Impact of a Digital Africa on a Connected World. At AfricaCom, Ericsson will be demonstrating its commitment to enabling innovators in the Networked Society, as well as the impact its latest technologies and services can have in unlocking new business opportunities for its customers, businesses and society in general. AfricaCom, the continent’s premier ICT conference starts on Tuesday, November 17 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa. This year, Ericsson’s exhibition will be hosted in the Ericsson AHUB innovation sta-

tion at AfricaCom located in the ballroom on the first floor of the CTICC. The Ericsson AHUB innovation station will bring together Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and angel investor communities to encourage investment and showcase talent in the technology sector. Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, will deliver a keynote presentation at AfricaCom at9:30am and the Welcome Address at the launch of the Ericsson AHUB at 12:00. Beyond meeting the people shaping the new connected African experience through innovation, visitors to the Ericsson AHUB will also engage with Ericsson experts who will demonstrate a range of innovative solutions that are designed to enable change-makers in areas such as mobility, broadband and the cloud, creating the foundation for new eco-systems, and transformation across industries such as transportation, education and even entertainment as they explore demos showcasing the Connecting smart products opens doors to new business opportunities and disruptive ideas involv-

ing things yet to be named, and markets yet to be discovered. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables radical innovations and services that will revolutionize our lives and change established and emerging business models. To capture emerging business opportunities it is important to understand all the dimensions. Discuss the possibilities with

experts at AfricaCom, where Ericsson will host interactive demos of innovative solutions including the Volvo Connected Car, Ericsson’s Connected Vehicle Cloud solution, Remote Patient Monitoring and Stream, a 5G-ready tool that enhances the concert experience through realtime sharing of live videos. In the Networked Society suc-

cess for operators builds on a flexible and efficient infrastructure that enables them build offerings towards new value chains, support millions of different services and, devices and work perfectly where ever people want to connect. At AfricaCom, Ericsson will showcase how our networks support the frontrunners of tomorrow.

NCC donates ICT facility to JAMB

n order to facilitate smooth conduct of Computer Based Tests (CBT) by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has built and donated four of such centres to the examination board. The Acting Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, made the disclosure when JAMB officials paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. The four centers are located in Kano, Niger, Bayelsa and Oyo states. The centres are equipped with computers, printers, other accessories and Internet connec-

tivity. Danbatta told the JAMB officials led by its Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde that NCC does every of its activities and projects in line with international best practices,saying that “we have a minimum standard that we maintain for all our projects and there is no exception.” He said: “Standards are necessary for projects to be appreciated but provision of equipment for tertiary institutions through Advance Digital Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI).” ADAPTI is aimed at bridging Digital divide in tertiary institu-

tions through the provision of computers and other ICT facilities to equip the lecturers and other experts in order to improve their ICT skills. Earlier in his remarks, Ojerinde said JAMB appreciated the Commission’s support, adding that JAMB is also deploying its CBT centres in Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), facilities in Abuja, Kano and Oshodi, Lagos state and this is in addition to the over 500 of CBT centres across the country. “These centres are now being used for registration by potential candidates for the next Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) instead of cyber cafes,”

Ojerinde submitted.

Global News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

brands suing Alibaba McDonald’s investors eager for Luxury say mediation looks futile breakfast, REIT, dividend news L

cDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) is expected to announce early results from its domestic all-day breakfast push, give a verdict on whether it will spin off its U.S. real estate and announce a dividend increase at its investor meeting on Tuesday. Shares in the world’s biggest restaurant chain have been trading at record highs since Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said on Oct. 22 that a rebound in quarterly sales at established restaurants showed his turnaround plan was beginning to take hold. McDonald’s launched all-day breakfast on Oct. 6 in the United States, its top profit market. The move, hailed by so-called “breakfastarians,” has irked some restaurant operators. They complained in a survey that allday breakfast has complicated kitchen operations, slowed service and prompted diners to choose less-expensive breakfast items over higher-priced lunch and dinner options. Still, the median estimate from 29 U.S. franchisees polled by Nomura analyst Mark Kalinowski pre-

Steve Easterbrook

dicted that all-day breakfast would boost this quarter’s domestic samerestaurant sales by 1.5 per cent. Analysts anticipated that the recent sales improvement should ease pressure on McDonald’s to put its U.S. properties into a real estate investment trust (REIT). That move has been promoted by activist investor Larry Robbins, CEO of Glenview Capital Management, who believes it could unlock more than $20 billion in value. Real estate historically has been an important part of McDonald’s business. The company collects rents from franchisees and those payments have

increased 26 per cent from 2009 to 2014. Last year, when company sales and profits dropped, rents accounted for more than 22 per cent of McDonald’s total revenue. The “rent and royalty income we receive from franchisees provides a stable revenue stream that has relatively low costs and enables us to return significant cash to shareholders,” McDonald’s said in its 2014 annual report. Some experts say McDonald’s stellar credit rating could result in real estate returns that are too low to be attractive. And, the Internal Revenue Service recently signaled that REITs and other corporate spinoffs may violate rules aimed at preventing companies from avoiding taxes. “It’s difficult to see McDonald’s wanting to meaningfully change this successful long-term approach. That said, never say never!” said Kalinowski, who expects the chain to raise its quarterly dividend to 89 cents per share from 85 cents. Shares in the chain, whose New York City investor meeting was targeted by workers protesting for higher wages, were roughly flat at $113.14 in morning trading.

Easyjet chief cautions on global airport security

n her first interview since the possible terror attack on the Russian plane that blew apart over Egypt, Carolyn McCall said the idea of bombs on board was a thing that “kept airline chief executives awake at night”. Ms McCall would not name the airports, but said it was a global issue. She has spent five days battling to fly home stranded tourists. Ms McCall made it clear that following the 224 deaths on Russian flight 9268 from Sharm el-Sheikh it was time for a fundamental rethink. I asked her about the foreign secretary’s comments at the weekend that airport security would have to be increased if it was found that a bomb had brought down the flight from Sharm to St Petersburg. “[But] I think Philip Hammond is right to point out that there are other countries that airlines fly to where it perhaps needs to be tightened.” I asked if Sharm el-Sheikh was one of the airports that fell into that category. Remember, there have been criticisms of security there. “I think the government has come out quite clearly and said that Sharm will have to tighten airport security,” Ms McCall answered. “I think everybody would agree with that. It’s not a blanket message, it’s a very specific message

uxury brands suing Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N) have asked a U.S. judge to be relieved of the obligation to mediate, which they say looks futile after Alibaba founder Jack Ma was quoted in a magazine as saying he would rather lose the case than settle. Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and other brands held by Paris-based Kering SA (PRTP.PA) filed a suit in New York in May accusing Alibaba of being a giant conduit for counterfeiters and alleging that China’s U.S.-listed e-commerce leader had knowingly made it possible to sell fakes. In an article published late last week, Forbes magazine quoted Ma, Alibaba’s executive chairman, as saying there was no chance of settling. “I would [rather] lose the case, lose the money... But we would gain our dignity and respect,” Ma was quoted as saying. The plaintiffs were “greatly troubled” by the comment, particularly since Alibaba had requested mediation in the first place, the lead lawyer said in a Nov. 6 letter to a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. “It leaves the impression... that Alibaba’s request for mediation was not made in good faith, but rather as a tactic to delay this case and to force Plaintiffs to expend resources spinning their wheels in an expen-

Alibaba Executive Chairman, Ma

sive and time-consuming mediation,” said the letter, seen by Reuters. The letter said the plaintiffs “do not want to foreclose the possibility of mediation in the future, but right now mediation would appear to be a futile exercise”. Alibaba spokesman Bob Christie said Ma had made the comments prior to Kering agreeing to Alibaba’s proposal to mediate. “If they want to return to the path of litigation, instead of mediation, we will vigorously defend our legal rights and reputation,” he said in an email to Reuters. China’s biggest e-commerce company has been dogged for years by allegations that its online shopping sites are riddled with fake or otherwise copyright-infringing goods. It says it is constantly improving its monitoring and enforcement of rules against counterfeits, but critics say it has not done nearly enough and fakes remain rampant.

Vodafone boss warns of ‘Re-Monopolization’ in U.K., Germany

V Easyjet aircraft

about certain airports around the world. “This will be a global thing, not just an Egyptian thing or a North African thing. “And I think passengers will be happy about that and I think airlines will support that, because noone wants a security threat.” After days of criticisms that Easyjet has left some passengers confused (and, on the other side of the ledger, plenty of praise about the way the airline has dealt with the issue, putting up passengers in hotels as regulations oblige them to do), Ms McCall pledged that all stranded passengers would be home by the weekend. “Our message is we will look after our passengers as we are doing,” she said. “They will be comfortable, they will be in hotels. All their [reasonable] expenses will be paid.

“We had about 4,500 passengers in Sharm [last] Wednesday, which is when this kicked off. “We will have by the end of today [Monday 9 November], brought back 1,500 of them. “By the end of the weekend, we would hope to have brought back all of the delayed passengers.” Ms McCall apologised to passengers for the frustrations, pointing out that the issue of how many flights they could operate out of Sharm was a matter for the Egyptian authorities. “We know it’s frustrating, we apologise for it, even though this is not caused by Easyjet. “Of course we are empathetic. We know this is not easy.” The confusion was not helped last week when Easyjet initially said that eight flights would be returning on Friday, only to subsequently cut that number to two.

odafone Group Plc Chief Executive Officer Vittorio Colao urged European regulators to examine the former state phone companies of Britain and Germany for signs that the old monopolies are reappearing. BT Group Plc and Deutsche Telekom AG are modernizing older copper networks with the support of regulators and taxpayers’ funds, to the detriment of newer, faster, fiber technology, Colao said on a call with reporters Tuesday. “The European Commissioner, who has shown not to be afraid to take on powerful forces, should look at the risks of re-monopolization in Europe,” Colao said. Regulators “should favor real fiber investment.” Vodafone competes against BT and Deutsche Telekom, both of which have roots as government-run landline phone carriers before being privatized and expanding to services such as wireless, broadband and TV access. Vodafone, founded in the 1980s, got its start as a wireless carrier before expanding to fixed-line services. Colao repeated calls for a breakup or tighter regulation of BT and its Openreach unit, which resells access

to the national network in the U.K. at regulated rates to BT’s competitors. Local watchdog Ofcom is conducting a review of the telecommunications market and may consider splitting up BT. BT Chief Executive Officer Gavin Patterson has said it needs to keep Openreach in the fold to ensure continued investment in the network. The company has pledged to offer high-speed Internet coverage to more than 95 percent of the U.K. and sell “ultrafast” service with speeds up to 500 megabits per second to 10 million homes by the end of 2020.

British Prime Minister, Cameron

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Brands & Marketing

Analysing LG Electronics CSR activities’ impact on Nigeria’s market As competition for brands’ market share intensifies, corporate entities are increasingly exploring the opportunities of corporate social responsibility, CSR, to endear themselves to emerging market customers. In this news analysis, DAVID AUDU critically assesses the CSR activities of LG Electronics, in Nigeria’s increasingly expanding market for digital electronic products.

he technological revolution of the past 150 years has given people around the world easy access to everything from smartphones to life-saving medical devices. While we may not yet be aware of all the implications of our hyper-connected society, it is clear that the rapid growth in the capability and availability of smart technology is a net positive for everyone. However, despite the progress of bringing these technologies to many homes, it has also brought in its wake negative impact on the environment, and emerging markets still lag far behind developed nations in tackling some of these negative effects. Which is why, many corporate organizations, in order to mitigate the effects of these technologies, have earmark portions of their earning to use in addressing and tackle some of the bad effects of technology on environmental and health and at the same time endear themselves to these markets.. In the emerging markets however, for instance, in order to command better public perception, corporate entities step out of their daily services portfolio to engage in public activities that will benefit not only their immediate consumers and clients, but also, the general goods of the society. Generally speaking, any of such corporate gesture is seen as CSR. CSR therefore embraces any responsible corporate actions which encourage making positive impact on the environment and on the stakeholder, including consumers, employees, investors, communities, and others. It is line with these philosophy that household electronic manufacturer, LG Electronics, is striving to contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable development everywhere it does business. Speaking to National Mirror recently, the company said in order to effectively respond to global and local issues, it abides by three principles and these principles govern the operations of its corporate social responsibility initiatives. These are, one, it strives to gain consumer trust and encourage stakeholder participation through CSR programs that are designed to address the specific local issues that are important in each market. two, it expands the impact and range of its contributions by utilizing its unique products and technologies, and third, the company seeks to engage with communities to bring about change at the local level by promoting employee participation through the donation of time, talent, and money. In its contribution to raising the standard of education in Nigeria, LG Electronics recently opened a Commercial Air Conditioning Academy, CACA, an evolving aspect of air conditioning, as well as awarding scholarships to 10 meritorious students of the faculty of Engineering of the University of Lagos. The projects, the company said were aimed at enabling students gain up-to-date skills and training in Commercial Air Con-

LG Image

AS A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND PURPOSE DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, LG ELECTRONICS BELIEVES THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST OUT OF STUDENTS, THE RIGHT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OUGHT TO BE CREATED ditioning and positioning engineering students of the University with necessary skills and training in air conditioning. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Academy, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Seonghak Kim said: “As a socially responsible and purpose driven organization, LG Electronics believes that in order to get the best out of students, the right learning environment ought to be created, which is what informed the establishment of the LG Commercial Air Conditioning Academy in the University of Lagos. Indeed, we believe this will go a long way to boost the intellectual and technical capabilities of the students. “This scholarship is being awarded to 10 students of 400 and 500 levels from the Faculty of Engineering who emerged as best students after a careful selection by both the university authority and LG Electronics based on their Grade Points of 4.0 to 5.0, which made them stand out from their colleagues.” Also speaking at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Rahamon Bello said: “on behalf of the University of Lagos, we are highly appreciative of this gesture from the people at LG Electronics- for counting us worthy to be the site for this iconic academy. All over the world there is a great push for more of our young people to be involved in engineering and it is good to see a company of this magnitude investing in the development of Nigerian Youths, giving them the enabling platform

to live their dreams”. Speaking further, Professor Bello said that the annual LG scholarship grants to deserving UNILAG Engineering students which is in its third year is really empowering its students enabling them focus on the things that matter. LG Electronics’ partnership with the University of Lagos has been longstanding as the company has continually contributed to the growth of the university with its donation of the LG Design Lab containing 100 computers for students’ convenience and its continuous initiative of scholarship awards program. The company said, besides, its involvement in education, it has been a leading partner in the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. The MDGs established in the year 2000 with the backing of 191 world leaders as an international pledge for the eradication of world poverty and hunger. The MDGs and the World Health Organisation, WHO, estimates that over 300 million new cases of malaria arises each year, with 2-3 Million deaths resulting from contraction. In Nigeria, malaria is a massive health problem as the available methods of mosquitoes control all have some inconvenience in one form or another. Sickeningly, this malady affects the morbidity and mortality rates as well as the national economy. LG Electronics said, in order to support the local communities’ fight against malaria, it introduced the “Mosquito Away” Air

Conditioners which repel mosquitoes. The product according to LG emits ultrasonic waves that repel mosquitoes and is completely harmless to humans. The effectiveness of the product was certificated by the University of Ibadan College Of Medicine, and the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON. The Mosquito Away AC comes with all the advantages of LG’s advanced air conditioning technologies, such as powerful cooling and dependable operation in extreme temperatures in the process offering true comfort to users. LG Electronics said it donated units of Mosquito Away AC as well as malaria medicine and mosquito nets to provide further protection against mosquitoes in communities. So far, this ground-breaking product has been donated to primary health centre’s in Nigeria, one of which is Ojokoro Primary Health Centre in Ifako Ijaiye LCDA in Lagos among others. To further deepen it commitment to healthy environment, LG Electronics over the years, has constantly marked the World Environment Day, WED, with a tree planting activity. This has not gone unnoticed given by the fact that in recognition of its pioneering work in the area of tree-planting and environmental protection initiatives, the company was, in 2012, honoured as the corporate organization with the best nurtured trees by the Lagos State government. The award was presented to LG Electronics by Governor Raji Fashola at an elaborate tree planting event in Lagos. In Nigeria, the community of persons with disability is growing at a geometric rate. Going by the fact that these groups of people are often viewed from the prism of invalids and dependants they have been increasingly marginalized and vulnerable. In response to this, LG Electronics in conjunction with its only distributor, Fouani Nigeria Ltd, recently initiated an empowerment programme which has so far benefited 15 deaf and mute persons who have been offered employment at the company’s facility in Apapa, Lagos. The LG empowerment initiative was put together in response to the large-scale call for the engagement of people with disabilities. Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani said: LG Electronics is committed to support the reintegration of disabled persons into the workforce and society. In recent times we have offered employment opportunities to them. The LG Electronics Empowerment initiative is a pragmatic approach towards the betterment of the lives of the citizenry irrespective of their status.” On the whole, LG is committed to leaving a positive impact in the markets it enters. It believes in giving back to the communities it operates with its far-ranging CSR initiatives.

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, November 12, 2015

MTNF plans to impact 200 communities DAVID AUDU

ollowing entries received under its ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative, MTN Foundation, MTNF, has commenced verification visits to 384 shortlisted communities across the country. The verification visits are targeted towards finally selecting 200 successful communities to be impacted through the programme. Launched as part of efforts to reach out to more Nigerians, the ‘What Can We Do Together’ campaign, which commenced in September, ended on October 9, after numbers of communities were nominated by Nigerians for MTNF-project sighting. A total of 36,881 nominations were received out of which 384 communities spread across the six geo-political zones were selected for verification exercise.

According to the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, a lot of rigour went into shortlisting the potential community project beneficiaries. “Part of the campaign promise of the ‘What Can We Do Together’ initiative is to ensure high-level transparency and communal involvement by carrying the public along through the nomination and selection process, which is what we are doing at the moment. To ensure credibility and fairness in the process, all the 384 project nominators have been contacted to confirm the actual project locations of the nominated communities” It would be recalled that during the nomination stage, by partnering with the MTN Foundation, promised Nigerians that 200 communities in 200 Local Government Areas in the country will benefit from 200 projects across the country and invited nomina-

tions from interested parties. The projects interventions under this campaign are: provision of school furniture, boreholes, transformers or household items for orphanages. Speaking on the high level of participation by Nigerians in the nomination process, Ugboma said, “We at MTNF are indeed pleased with the massive participation of Nigerians in nominating the community of their choice. It was heartwarming to see the eagerness with which Nigerians are willing to partner with MTNF in its unrelenting commitment to continue to complement government’s efforts in infrastructure development across various communities in the country. Following the verification visits, we will commence the final selection of 200 beneficiary communities, whilst the roll out of the projects will commence in the month of November”.

L-R: Publisher, Marketing World Magazine, Akin Naphtal, Group Head, Corporate Communications BUA Group, O’tega Ogra and Special Assistant to the Executive Director, BUA Group, Gbolly Oluwasegun, at the 5th Edition of Marketing World Awards 2015 where BUA Cement won the Cement Brand of the Year Award.

BUA Cement wins 2015 brand of the year award ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

UA Cement, one of the cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria, has been announced as the “Cement Brand of the Year 2015” at the 2015 Marketing World Awards in Lagos on Saturday, beating other major manufacturers including Lafarge and Dangote Cement to clinch the award. BUA Cement, a wholly owned subsidiary of BUA Group with factories in Obu, Edo State and Sokoto (through a majority stake in Cement Company of Northern Nigeria) is owned by BUA Group led by its Executive Chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu. According to Instinct Media, organisers of the Marketing World Awards, BUA Cement was given the award for its consistency in delivering superior product offerings as well as setting the pace for cement manufacturing in Nigeria,

adding that the Cement has also shown a very strong brand equity and leadership in its key markets and achieved a high perception of quality amongst users of cement in Nigeria. Receiving the award on behalf of the company, O’tega Ogra, Group Head, Corporate Communications at BUA Group thanked the organisers for the award, promising that BUA Cement would continue to push the boundaries of innovation in its processes and products whilst offering an unparalleled level of service which has so far endeared it to its customers. “To further entrench our place as a leading manufacturer, make cement more accessible as well as bring about a sustainable and fairer pricing regime, we are currently expanding our cement lines in Northern and Southern Nigeria by adding about 5million metric tonnes to our production capacity within the next 2 years.”

In its fifth year, the Marketing World Awards has been celebrating excellence, innovation and creativity as well as rewarding outstanding performance in various sectors of the economy. The theme for this year’s award ceremony was “Breaking the mould in marketing excellence” and the ceremony had in attendance major players in the marketing industry across various sectors of the economy, who gathered to celebrate outstanding marketing achievements in over twenty categories of the award. BUA Cement currently operates cement manufacturing concerns across Nigeria as well as a two million MTPA floating terminal, BUA Cement I. Its flagship 3.5 million MTPA Obu Cement Plant in Edo State was supplied by the worldrenowned FL smidth of Denmark with civil construction by Julius Berger. The company intends to increase its capacity to 10million MTPA by 2017.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lucozade, Ribena flag off Save & Win Promo DAVID AUDU

ucozade and Ribena have announced the launch of shopper promotion designed to reward new and existing consumers in Nigeria. The promo which commenced last week offers shoppers up to 20 per cent discount on their favourite Lucozade and Ribena products in participating stores across the country. Explaining details of the promo, the Group Product, Drinks, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc., Ms. Aigbeme Momoh said, “The Save and Win Big” promo is our way of thanking our esteemed consumers with a unique offering for their loyalty and patronage over the past years and also to restate our commitment of helping people do

more, feel better and live longer. We also want to use this as a platform to reach out and encourage patronage from new consumers.” There will also be a mystery shopper looking out for loyal Lucozade and Ribena shoppers participating in the promo. Shoppers who get spotted by the Lucozade and Ribena Mystery shoppers will get rewarded instantly with an array of instant prizes. These prizes include: I-pads, Home theatres, Shopping Vouchers, Generators, PSP, amongst others. Aigbeme stated further that the promo which will run till the end of Dec 2015 is an avenue for everyone to enjoy the goodness of Ribena and get everyday energy fast with Lucozade Boost, the credible drink that contains glucose and provides energy for the body.

Carat rated world’s leading media agency

arat has been named the world’s leading media agency network once again, after regaining the top spot from MediaCom. The Dentsu Aegis network has taken the top spot in Recma’s Qualitative Network Diagnostics report, pushing MediaCom to second place. It is the fifth time that the agency has been named the Global Media Agency Network in the last six reports. The last report in June saw MediaCom secure the top spot. Carat picked up the Mondelez International UK and US media business last month. October also saw Carat retain the European Arla business, adding the German market to its books. MEC and OMD remain in third and fourth place, respectively, and Mindshare rose one place to fifth as

ZenithOptimedia fell to sixth. UM and PHD both moved up two places, and Vizeum and Inititative dropped two places on the table. Johnson & Johnson consolidated its media business into UM around two weeks ago. Recma assesses agencies’ new business success, business retention, awards and talent to come up with the scores. This is the first time that Recma has produced a report in November as it moves to publishing three reports a year instead of two. Doug Ray, the global president at Carat, said: “This is the most global and most exhaustive report out there; being named as number one is a true indication of the talent in our agency and the quality of work we produce for our clients.”

Neustar acquires MarketShare for $450m

d tech, marketing data and analytics provider Neustar acquired marketing analytics company MarketShare Partners for a reported $450 million. The deal provides Neustar with stronger analytics capabilities aimed at providing marketers and advertisers with improved realtime data on which to base their ad spending. “Combining Neustar’s leadership in authoritative identity, audience targeting and segmentation, and real-time media measurement with MarketShare’s marketleading technology and predictive analytics will enable CMOs to look across their entire business—from planning to execution, online and off-line—to get a comprehensive and accurate reading of what is driving their sales,” Lisa Hook, Neustar president and CEO, said in a company statement. “This will enable them to make more precise allocation decisions to achieve better returns on their investments.” Earlier this year, the two companies announced a deal to share

data. “By combining the two companies, the two are seeking to help marketers figure out the best media to use for a particular campaign,” according to CMO Today. “As marketers have more and more places to put their ad dollars nowadays, they are eager for ways to prove which channels work best.” Bringing the two companies together will allow CMOs to better gauge which marketing activities are increasing and driving sales, which market segments to focus on, as well as how best to allocate their marketing and advertising resources across channel and media platforms. “The addition of MarketShare will enable us to offer a complete, data-driven solution to CMOs as they plan, optimize, and allocate their online and offline marketing budgets and resources,” according to this Neustar blog post announcing the deal. “In the increasingly complex world in which major brands operate, this really matters.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brands & Marketing

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Chain Reactions unveils ‘The Nu Natives’ DAVID AUDU

hain Reactions Nigeria, a Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consultancy firm, has set the new pace for the Integrated Marketing Communications ,IMC, sub sector as it will unveils Nigeria’s first-ofkind bespoke youth trends report, Nigerian Trends Report today. Speaking about the youth reports initiative, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, Managing Director, Chain Reactions Nigeria, said the intent of the report is to change the way government and indeed businesses in Nigeria see and engage with the Nigerian youth segment by offering them deep insights into the thinking and preferences of the millennial. He said: “This report contains a selection of common trends that are peculiar to the Nigerian youth segment. While insights in this report have been analyzed specifically for the Nigerian market, many innovation examples have also been handpicked from various markets from across the continent to show how these cultures and behavioural

patterns are also traveling across borders.” “The report is focused on the trends that are currently hip amongst the ‘NU Natives’, a new Nigerian youth that is not defined by his or her geography, finance or society. The new native defines himself or herself and celebrates his/ her afro-centric roots but he/she is still very technology savvy and worldly. The trends are illustrated with cross-industry innovations, insights from Trends Watching’s global spotters, and relevant statistics. By keeping your finger on the pulse of these changes, you’ll be better able to see relevant opportunities and act nimbly with your own business,” he added. The Nigerian Trends Report is an in-depth survey of common trends among members of the Nigerian youth class, globally referred to as the millennials, to help both public and private sector organisations to understand the new cultural and behavioural patterns among the youth population and how to engage with them. The youth trends report, powered by Chain Reactions Nigeria,

was put together in association with Trends Watching, the consumer trends and insight research firm based in the United Kingdom. Conceived as a leverage document for public and private sector organisations to get into the heart of the youth class, the launch of the Nigerian Trends Report will be attended by a galaxy of mixed industry leaders from across the music, media, arts, sports, fashion and ICT sectors as well as government and indeed from other sectors that have a need to engage with the Nigerian youth segment. The unveiling event titled, “Naija Decoded” ,under the inspiring theme, “Unwrapping The Nu Natives”, is scheduled for 4pm at Protea Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja Lagos while a panel of eminent industry leaders has also been assembled to engage in live discussions around common behaviours among the youth population. The panelists include celebrity fashionista, Clement Mudiaga Enajemo, Founder of MUDI Africa, the fashion house whose clientele comprises notable music icons, businessmen and top politicians.

Multichoice Africa increases Bet Channel offerings DAVID AUDU

ultiChoice Africa has announced that from next mont, the general entertainment channel, BET, will launch on DStv Compact Plus and Compact bouquets. DStv Compact Plus and Compact subscribers will now have access to BET’s content that celebrates African and AfricanAmerican culture with a rich mix of contemporary and classic reality shows, drama, family friendly sitcoms, entertainment news, comedy, and more. The new channels windfall hit a high in September with the addition of TCM to Compact Plus and BBC Brit, CBeebies, BBC Lifestyl MTV, Vuzu and MNet Family to the Compact and Compact Plus bouquets. To mark the expansion to DStv Compact and Compact Plus, BET has compiled an exciting new schedule that will kick off in December with firstrun entertainment shows such as Season 4 of Real Husbands of Hollywood (spoof reality), Punk’d (BET’s reworking of the classic MTV prank show), documentary strand The BET Life of…, Series 3 of Being Mary Jane (drama), and reality series DeSean Jackson, Blood Sweat and Heels and Frankie & Neffe, plus new episodes of The Wendy Williams Show (chat show) and The Real (talk show). At the same time, BET2 (DStv channel 135 and GOtv channel 23) will be removed from all

packages on the DStv and GOtv platforms on Monday, 30 November 2015. This termination will allow MultiChoice Africa to create more capacity on our satellite for new channels in order to ensure that our subscribers continue to get a broader variety of programming. MultiChoice Africa constantly reviews its operations to streamline and enhance its subscribers’ television viewing experience. The channel consolidation will also allow more subscribers access to locally-produced content which will play a bigger role on the channel with BET Buzz (local and international entertainment news) continuing to air every weekday, a second season of Top Actor currently in production and additional local commissions set to air in early 2016. Another local content at launch will include a two-part documentary about South African designer David Tlale, reality series The New Atlanta and classic comedy sitcoms The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, My Wife and Kids, and Are We There Yet?For more information on BET, visit www.betafrica.tv, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BETinAfrica or join the conversation about the channel on Twitter and Instagram @BET_Africa using the hashtag #BeAllYou. Visit the TV Guide on www. dstv.com to check out what BET has in store for you!

TopCheck unveils insurance products online JOHNSON OKANLAWON

L-R: Art Professor, Mark Kross; Drama Instructor, Ronya Man; SPAN Founder and Festival Director, Sarah Boulos; Music Academy Director, Bright Gain and Dance Instructor, Jackson Obinna, during the SPANFEST 2015 Art Workshop at SPAN Hub in Lagos yesterday.

Verve, Quickteller partner Flytime group on Trey Songz DAVID AUDU

rammy award nominee and R&B Superstar, Trey Songz has been announced as the headline act for this year’s Rhythm unplugged, sponsored by Verve and Quickteller. Billed to hold next weekend in Lagos, this year’s concert promises to be one of the most exciting yet with American singer/song writer Trey Songz headlining the show. The annual Music concert which has a tradition of showcasing some of Nigeria’s biggest music and comedy artistes has previ-

ously featured an array of huge international acts. Explaining why Verve and Quickteller, both flagship brands of Interswitch have partnered with Flytime Group, Chief Marketing Officer, Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele stated, “We are very delighted to partner with Flytime on this year’s Rhythm Unplugged, Nigeria’s number 1 music and comedy concert. Verve and Quickteller are very cool, lifestyle, fun brands with an esteemed following. Our users have strong passion for entertainment, music and comedy. We fully recognize this and are

very happy to help facilitate platforms that deliver these customer interests. Trey Songz has delivered successful tours and opening acts in the US and this concert gives his Nigerian fans an opportunity to experience same” Produced by Flytime Promotions, Rhythm features the best Nigerian artists. This year marks the 11th edition of the concert bringing together top musicians, comedians and dancers on one stage. The surprise performances have also helped to solidify Rhythm Unplugged as the ONE entertainment concert to attend every December.

platform where internet users can compare and buy insurance policies directly from insurance companies using their mobile phone or computer has been launched by TopCheck. The company, which was a price comparison platform for financial services like insurance, banking, or loans, offers the public the benefits of different insurance products online, from the comfort of homes. Speaking at the launch in Lagos, the founder, Thomas Pilar, explained that the company offers a platform that set the standards of buying insurance by providing the fastest, most secure and most comfortable way to do so. “We connect insurance companies directly with insurance seekers on our website topcheck.com. ng. Additional product categories will be innovated soon,” he added. The company, which was cofounded by Christian Wiesner,

stem from Germany, but came to Nigeria due to its abundance of opportunities in the country. “We love Nigeria, and here in Nigeria, we experience a level of dynamism and a optimistic business mentality that we miss in Germany. For this reason Thomas and I moved here recently,” Wiesner said. According to him, Nigeria’s online market shows tremendous potential for e-commerce businesses, saying that recent numbers show that the enormous amount of 97.2 million Nigerians is already connected to the internet. He stressed that the company provides a new marketing channel for financial service providers to extend their reach to this massive audience. “We try to make the insurance space more customer friendly by offering innovative solutions that traditional insurance companies do not offer. With TopCheck users can buy insurance policies from the ease of their homes and get coverage within minutes.

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Insight Insight

National Mirror Thursday, November 12, 2015 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net Thursday, October 1, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

Extortion: What passport officers, The more the government reforms its operations by insisting that revenue-generating agencies upgrade to online collection of fees to ease payments for services rendered, avoid touting and extortions, the more officials of the agencies device new means to undermine the processes. PATIENCE OGBO reports that immigration officers at passport offices and road safety corp marshals continue to ensure with their privies that Nigerians pay higher for travelling documents and driver’s license.

hile online electronic or e-payments have been adopted by these agencies to ease the hassles involved in going to government parastatals, investigations however show that majority of Nigerians are not using the online platforms, but are rather patronising unofficial channels to ease payments for obtaining international passport and drivers license. In July 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan launched the 64 page e-passport at the Presidential Villa Abuja. The passport is to take care of frequent travellers and will cost N20,000, while the normal 32 page passport is also valid and costs N15,000. The e-passport for those below 18 years will cost N8,750, those aged 60 years and above will pay N8,750 for the passport, while those from 18-60 years will pay N15,000 for the e-passport. Change of data or of loss of passport will attract N20,000. Change of name as a result of marriage, divorce and deceased spouse will cost N8,750, while change of data on request will attract a processing fee of N30,000. Bearing this in mind and barely one year after its launch, National Mirror visited some passport offices in Lagos and aside from their bursting environment one will notice the desperate faces of Nigerians waiting eagerly to be attended to. Some of these Nigerians said they had been on the queues for months to get their international passport, adding that they would rather spend the time and energy to go through the official channels rather than pay extra fees to get their documents out faster. While these set of Nigerians are willing to wait for their turn to be served officially, others and majority according to our investigations, are resorting to back channels to get their travelling documents, which however, comes at a heavy cost. According to the official website of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), one can apply online for the e passport, however, unlike the United States of America and other European countries’ websites where fees are displayed, the NIS fees are not displayed. National Mirror investigation reveals that when a person seeking to renew a passport goes to the NIS passport office, immigration officers usually direct one to private outfits usually situated in make-shift shops within and outside the premises to help with filling the online forms and payment of fees. It is these private agents that determine what fee one pays. Some Nigerians who spoke with our correspondent claimed they paid varied fees for their international passport and added that the fees one paid determined how one was treated and how long the passport would be ready for collection. Miss Lucy Okagbare who spoke with our correspondent said she paid N22,000 to renew her international passport. “My passport expired in April and I went to the passport office at Alagbon in Lagos to renew it. The immigration officer I met informed me that he did not know how much I would need to renew my passport and he directed me to a make shift kiosk where some people were helping to fill online form for others. The man I met there told me to pay N22,000 to renew my passport. I asked him what the official fees was, but he told me to go and ask the immigration officers. “I tried to get the official amount I needed to pay but after visiting the website, I found out that the fees were not displayed. I had to go back to the private guy and I paid him the money and the next day I went for capturing. In less than one week, I got my 32 page passport which I later found out should cost about N15, 000. I

FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi

NIS CG, Martin Abeshi

The PassPorT office frusTraTes ProsPecTive

aPPlicanTs. iT can Take more Than one monTh if one follows The normal

Process, buT wiTh

n20, 000

or more you geT iT fasTer

went to challenge him and he told me that if I had gone through the official process, I would have paid less but would have gone through stress to attend interview and it would take months for me to get the passport. In a way, I am happy that my passport is ready,” Okagbare said. A mother of three, Jessica Oni said she would rather pay a higher fee for her passport to be ready than go through the tedious official process. She said, “My family and I, that is my husband and three children are planning to travel abroad for holidays. My husband went to the passport office at Ikoyi and they informed him to pay N28, 000 for one passport, They gave him a flat rate meaning that the children too will get their passport done for N28,000. I went to the passport office at Alagbon and they informed me to pay N24,000 for one including that of the children, aged 11 months to four years. This is very confusing because I feel that it should be an official rate for documents like this. I went to the website to browse and they did not it display the fees to be paid. I was directed to a private firm within the passport office to assist me fill the forms online. I met a lot of people waiting to get their forms filled.

When I asked how much they were charged, they gave me varied rates from N24,000 to N34,000. “I don’t want to wait for months to get the passports because we are due to travel soonest, so I am going to pay the fees the private guy is asking. I don’t want to go through the online process because the requirements are tedious and we had to take an interview that will take me longer time to get the passports, but they informed me that once I go through the private guys I will get captured that day and in less than three days, our passports will be ready. I don’t seem to have a choice. I will pay for it,” Mrs. Oni said. Information obtained from the NIS website shows that after filling the form online and paying the fees, applicants would be required to come for an interview. The general documents required for interview for a Standard Passport include Local Government Letter of Identification, Birth Certificate/ Age Declaration, two recent colour passport photographs, Guarantor’s Form sworn to before a Commissioner of Oaths/Magistrate/ High Court Judge, Parents’ Letter of Consent for minors under 16 years and Marriage Certificate where applicable, Police report in case of lost passport A civil engineer, Ezekiel Bob Manuel, said he paid N26,000 to get a new 32-page e-passport. “Last year, I was asked to pay N18,000. I found out that the Immigration officer was a fraud and I got my money back. I decided to go back in 2015 and the Immigration officers I met asked me if I had filled my forms online. I told them no. One of them directed me to a make shift kiosk situated in a bus outside the passport office at Alagbon. The computer operators collected my data after I had given him N26, 000. He told me to go back to the Immigration officer that directed me to him. I went back and the officer took me for capturing and he told me to go home and come back in three days time. I went back and my e-passport was ready. A student, Seyi Bagundu, blames the NIS officers for conniving with the private firms to defraud Nigerians seeking to get e-passport . He said, “There is no way that the NIS officers are not getting their cut from the exorbitant fees these private agents demand. They are the ones that direct you to these private guys and I am sure they get something

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Insight

Thursday, October 1, 12, 2015 Thursday , November 2015

39 39

FRSC agents and VIOs have in common

Nigerian Passports processed at the Immigration office

in return. The fee is N8,750 for children and the elderly while the 32 page cost N15,000 and the 64 page costs N20,000. However, from my experience, the Passport Office frustrates prospective applicants. It can take more than one month if one follows the normal process but with N20, 000 or more you get it faster. It took me nine weeks before I got my passport and that is after I got assistance from a top government officer. Government should not only launch new e-passport but they should check the corruption in the system by curtailing the excesses of Immigration officers who connive with these private agents to rip prospective applicants off.” When contacted over the extortion at the passport offices in Lagos, the spokesperson, Nigeria Immigration Services, Lagos State Command, Mr. Muyiwa, said he could not comment on the issue. The story is not different from the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) as our correspondent learnt that sharp practices are involved in getting drivers license. A friend, John, filled the form online himself and he is still waiting to take the interview. I guess the long process is why one pays more to get the job done on time. Our correspondent also went undercover and found out that Nigerians pay higher fees to FRSC officials for the drivers licence than what is officially prescribed. According to the FRSC website, the process for getting a driver’s license is as simply as “ABC” but this is not what applicants experience. National Mirror gathered that one needs N7,000 official fee to renew an expired driver’s licence after one has filled the form online. Also, a fee of N11,000 is charged for a new license, but officials demand higher fees to help applicants cut corners and the fees can be as high as N24,000 for a renewed licence and N30,000 for a new one. An alleged victim, who identified himself as George Kola said, “When I went to the FRSC office at Anthony village, Lagos, I met one of the FRSC officers and he told me to bring N18,000 for him to help me renew my driver’s licence. He told me to pay N7,000 to the bank and bring the rest. I asked him why and he said he would need to settle VIO (Vehicle Inspection Office) since I did not attend government approved driving school. He said I would not waste time to get my capturing done and the licence would be out on time. I paid the

My friend that went to the official channel is still waiting after two

Months; he is yet to get his driver’s licence.

hardly drives his car for fear of being arrested

money and in less than one week, I got my temporary licence. I went back after two months and my permanent drivers licence was ready,” Kola said. Some other Nigerians, however, stated that due to the delay experienced in getting driver’s licence, they resorted to driving without one as they prayed that they would not be arrested. Others stated that they hardly drove their cars around because of fear of arrest. A clerk, Jude Bornfree, said, “I went to the FRSC office at Ojota and I was told to bring N20,000 for renewal of drivers licence. I challenged the man why he was asking for that much and he told me that I can go through the official process, but I will wait for months before I can get my licence. I told him I would rather go through the normal process but after waiting for months to get my licence, I decided that it was not worth the hassle, so I paid what he asked me. That same day, I was captured in their system and a temporary license was issued to me. My friend that went to the official channel is still waiting after two months; he is yet to get his driver’s licence. He hardly drives his car for fear of being arrested.” A civil servant, Miss Kemi Dayo, blames government for allowing corruption in the system. “Nigerians know how to cut corners and despite the online registration they still have a way to make you part with more than is required. My driver’s licence expired last year and I went to the FRSC office at Alakara, Surulere to renew it. I was told to come in one

month time to get my capturing done. What that means this that I can be arrested for driving without a licence or I had to just stop using my car. I decided to risk it but one day, VIO officers arrested me. I went back to their office for the licence. The officer I met told me to bring N12,000 to renew my licence on time. I felt this was not right and I travelled to Benin and paid N7,000. I was captured that day and I got the temporary licence,” Dayo said. Job Adam said he paid N24,000 for a new driver’s licence but still got a fake one. “I paid N24,000 but still got fake licence. It was after I was arrested that I knew that the licence I paid heavily for was fake. The FRSC officers destroyed it in my presence and directed me to their office to get another one. I went to their office at Berger but the process to get a driver licence was long and tedious. I went there more than three times and still could not get captured, I was fed up and abandoned the process. I had to get a friend’s brother that works there involved and in less than two days, I got my temporarily licence. I gave him some N5,000 to ease the process though.” Commenting on the discrepancies in the fees, the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Lagos, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, said, “We have said it over and over that nobody should patronise touts or pay money to any officers to get their licences. The process of obtaining the driver’s licence is very easy through our website. The fees to pay are on the website and the banks to pay are also on the website. You do not need to wait until your licence expires before rushing to get another one. Any driver’s license you get without you being physically available to be captured is fake. You can monitor the process your driver’s licence is undergoing. People use touts because they are impatient. On our part, we do not spare any officer caught extorting. We investigate and if they are found wanting, they are shown the way out.” The Director of Human Rights Education Centre (HUREC), Barrister Ene Sarah Unboe, said Nigerians are exposed to corrupt practices due to the moral decadence in the society. “Government established the online platforms so that officials would not be corrupt and to ease payments, but sadly, Nigerians are not educated on how to use these platforms. We need to create awareness on customer’s rights to quality services. Government agencies are representing the government and any form of corruption or loopholes that will create rooms for corrupt practices should be checked. Government should be committed to stamping out corruption among officials and that brings us to the issue of morals. It is not about how much one earns, it is about instilling discipline to the point that even if one is poor and hungry, one will not succumb to corruption. This also brings us paying our workers well, giving them conductive working environment and boosting their morale on the job. That is the spirit and moral discipline government and our society should be preaching. There is also the need to reward honesty, hard work and the same time punish corrupt persons to serve as deterrent,” Sarah Unboe concluded.

Cocktail

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Wrongful termination: Legally blind barber gets cash award

legally blind barber, Joel Nixon, has been awarded $100, 000 by a Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination after it was established he was wrongly sacked. Reports said Nixon had been working for Tony’s Barber Shop in Norton for a year before his boss discovered his condition. The 29-year-old has retinitis pigmentosa, which affects his peripheral vision and makes it hard for him to see at night. He has been declared legally blind by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, and Nixon said there’ was a possibility he may lose his sight forever. “I could wake up someday and be completely blind,

but my goal is to have a nice home with a nice backyard for my son,” a tearful Nixon recalled yesterday. “I’ve never been to Disneyland, and I want to take him. I want to take him before I lose my vision. I’m trying to do the best I can.” But Nixon said it had not affected his work. “I was fired in 2012 after I tripped over a customer’s legs and then later that day tripped over a chair in the waiting room,” Nixon said. But boss Tony Morales disputed Nixon’s account. “Nixon isn’t a licensed barber and simply wasn’t pulling his weight in the shop. It’s a bunch of lies and all of this is false accusation,” Morales said.

Oddities

Parking lot caves in, swallows 12 cars

cave-in of a restaurant parking lot in Mississippi swallowed 12 cars and now experts are expected to begin work Tuesday to determine the cause of the weekend collapse, authorities said. No one was reported injured when the pavement gave way on Tuesday night, leaving a long gash in the ground into which the vehicles tumbled. Meridian Public Safety Director, Buck Roberts, however said the collapse was not the result of a sinkhole, which is generally caused when an under-

ground water aquifer dries and leaves a void in the ground. “You can call it what you want, a cave-in or whatever, but it is not a sinkhole,” Roberts said yesterday. “Engineers and contractors will be on the scene to study the site shortly,” he added.

Emergency crews were called to the IHOP restaurant in Meridian on Tuesday evening and found a section of parking lot about 35 feet wide and 400 feet long had collapsed. Cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles had dropped into the gash in the earth, which appeared to be about 15 feet

Boy, 9, drives drunken man to gas station

olice said yesterday that an Ohio man was drunk when he had his 9-year-old neighbor drove him to a gas station to buy barbecue sauce for their chicken dinner. A Tiffin police spokesman said the boy drove the man to the gas station

but clerks would not let the child drive home and reported the situation. Police also said the 27-year-old man tried to drive home but was pulled over by officers. “His blood-alcohol content was several times the legal limit and he faces several charges, including

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

child endangering, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, refusing a chemical breath test and driving under suspension,” the spokesman said. “The man had the child over for dinner and the boy’s parents didn’t know the neighbour was drunk,” he added.

A car is seen here perching on the caved in ground

deep. Gwendolyn Fikes said her daughter’s car was one of the vehicles that fell into to the chasm, stressing that said she and her daughter had stopped by the restaurant just minutes earlier when it happened. “We had been in there about three minutes before

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, November 12, 2015

First Stockbrokers, Signet Investment, others conclude merger Johnson okanlawon

ine stockbroking firms have consolidated their operations through mergers, to comply with the new capital base issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. Data from the SEC’s website showed that Woodland Capital Plc, Covenant Securities & Asset Management Limited and Cradle Trust Finance & Securities Limited have received approval. Others includes First Stockbrokers Limited, Summa Guaranty & Trust Company Limited, Signet Investment & Securities Limited,

Vision Trust & Investment Limited, Securities and Capital Management Company Limited. Analysis of the data showed that Woodland Capital, Covenant Securities and Asset Management Limited and Securities and Capital management merged their operations under a new company referred to as Woodland Capital Plc. First Stockbrokers Limited and Summa Guaranty& Trust Company Limited consolidated operations as First Summa Capital Management Limited while Signet Investment & Securities Limited acquired

Vision Trust & Investment Limited. Another two capital market operators, Securities & Capital Management Company Limited and Strand Capital Partners Limited received regulatory nods to merge and form Constellation Capital Limited. Meanwhile, only 963 capital market operators have so far scaled through the recapitalisation hurdle of SEC that ended on September 30, 2015. The capital market operators include brokers, broker/ dealers, receiving bankers, corporate investment advisers, registrars, fund managers, issuing houses, rating agencies, reporting accoun-

tants, corporate sub-brokers and Trustees. Others include solicitors, portfolio managers, custodians, venture capital managers, underwriters securities lending agents, private equity fund managers and over the counter (OTC) dealers among others. SEC had earlier increased the minimum capital base for brokers/dealers by 329 per cent to N300 million from N70 million. Brokers capital base also rose to N200 million or 400 per cent increase from N40 million while the minimum capital base for dealers increased by 233 per cent N100 million from N30 million.

Equities rebound, gain 0.12% Johnson okanlawon

rading in equities closed on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, after rallying from a lower start. The All Share Index appreciated 0.12 per cent to close at 29,014.78 points, as against the decline of 0.64 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 28,981.12 points. Market capitalisation rose N12 billion to close at N9.974 trillion, in contrast to the depreciation of N64

billion recorded the preceding day to close at N9.962 trillion. Research analyst at DLM Securities noted that the strength of the market partly reflects a positive reaction to the appointment of a new cabinet by the president, which suggests investors are optimistic of clarity of policy direction going forward. Mansard Insurance Plc led the gainers’ table with 13 kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N2.75 per share, while Dangote Flour Mills Plc added 11 kobo or 4.76

per cent to close at N2.42 per share. Flour Mills Plc appreciated 95 kobo or 4.55 per cent to close at N21.85 per share, while Eterna Oil Plc gained eight kobo or 4.52 per cent to close at N1.85 per share. Access Bank Plc increase by 18 kobo or four per cent to close at N4.68 per share, while United Bank for Africa Plc added 11 kobo or 3.02 per cent to close at N3.75 per share. On the flip side, Oando Nigeria Plc lost 82 kobo or 9.67 per cent to close at N7.66 per share, while Transcorp Plc shed 18 kobo or 8.87 per cent

to close at N1.85 per share. The Cement Company of Nothern Nigeria Plc fell 72 kobo or 8.25 per cent to close at N8.01 per share, while Cadbury Plc dropped N1.00 or 4.98 per cent to close at N19.10 per share. AG Leventis Plc was down five kobo or 4.90 per cent to close at 97 kobo per share, while Ikeja Hotel Plc depreciated 17 kobo or 4.86 per cent to close at N3.33 per share. A total of 217 million shares valued at N1.45 billion were traded in 3,067 deals.

Poor energy, retail stocks’ performance dips US trading

nited States stocks were slightly lower in choppy trading yesterday, as a drop in oil prices weighed on energy stocks and disappointing results from Macy’s pummeled retailers. Oil prices slipped more than two per cent after data showed an increase in US stockpiles. The S&P energy sector fell 1.41 per cent, leading the six decliners among the 10 major S&P sectors. Exxon and Chevron dropped about one per cent. Macy’s fell as much as 14.7 per cent to $40.10 after the company reported a 3.6 per cent drop in quarterly samestore sales and slashed its fullyear sales and profit forecasts. Analysts had expected a rise in same-store sales. Shares of other retailers also fell. JC Penney dropped

as much as five per cent to $8.24 despite a 6.4 per cent rise in same-store sales. Nordstrom, Dillard’s and Kohl’s dropped between five and seven per cent. Alibaba’s shares - which up to Tuesday had risen more than 40 per cent since September 29 - slipped three per cent to $79 even though the e-commerce giant said sales in its Singles’ Day online shopping event on Wednesday hit a record $14.32 billion. Sales in the event last year totaled $9.3 billion. US bond markets are closed yesterday for Veteran’s Day, adding to the muted trading. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 37.65 points, or 0.21 per cent, at 17,720.56, the S&P 500 was down 3.96 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 2,077.76 and the Nasdaq Composite index

was down 5.36 points, or 0.11 per cent, at 5,077.89. Apache Corporation fell 5.9 per cent to $50.16 after Anadarko Petroleum confirmed its offer to buy the company had been rejected. Anadarko was down 2.4 per cent at $61.91. Horizon Pharma slumped 19 per cent to $18.03 after prescription drug plan manager Express Scripts removed a pharmacy connected to Horizon from its network. Boston Scientific fell 3.3 per cent to $18.18 after the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed limited reimbursement coverage for a type of heart device, including the company’s recently approved Watchman device. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by 1,738 to 1,145. On the Nasdaq, 1,543 issues fell and

1,034 advanced. The S&P 500 index showed nine new 52-week highs and 10 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 71 new highs and 80 new lows. 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 29,014.78 points Market capitalisation 9.97trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

MANSARD

2.62

2.75

0.13

4.96

DANGFLOUR

2.31

2.42

0.11

4.76

FLOURMILL

20.90

21.85

0.95

4.55

ETERNA

1.77

1.85

0.08

4.52

ACCESS

4.50

4.68

0.18

4.00

UBA

3.64

3.75

0.11

3.02

129.51

133.00

3.49

2.69

282.00

287.98

5.98

2.12

ZENITHBANK

16.99

17.20

0.21

1.24

UBCAP

1.38

1.39

0.01

0.72

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

OANDO

8.48

7.66

-0.82

-9.67

TRANSCORP

2.03

1.85

-0.18

-8.87

CCNN

8.73

8.01

-0.72

-8.25

CADBURY

20.10

19.10

-1.00

-4.98

AGLEVENT

1.02

0.97

-0.05

-4.90

IKEJAHOTEL

3.50

3.33

-0.17

-4.86

CHAMPION

4.17

3.97

-0.20

-4.80

HONYFLOUR

2.51

2.39

-0.12

-4.78

CONTINSURE

1.06

1.01

-0.05

-4.72

INTBREW

16.00

15.26

-0.74

-4.63

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.55

101.99

13.62

102.14

13.51

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.73

106.01

13.86

106.31

13.76

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.35

105.41

13.83

105.71

13.74

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.31

109.40

14.08

109.70

14.01

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.43

99.49

14.30

99.79

14.24

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.79 68.00

15.59

68.30

15.52

Closing Market Prices of October 7, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

07-Jan-16

8.93

9.13

WAUA

270

USD

196.98

07-Apr-16

11.05

11.69

EURO

214

01-Sep-16

11.63

13.00

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

2.0833

POUNDS STERLING

293

14.0654

15.3013

SDR

273

16.7049

NIBOR

The Fixings of October 7, 2015

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015

Equities as at November 11, 2015

Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001

Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001

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)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

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

No. of Deals 17 12 29

Current Price 28.82 30.50

Quantity Traded 65,970 34,150 100,120

Value Traded 1,829,527.43 1,082,034.96 2,911,562.39

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 1.41

Quantity Traded 529,665 529,665

Value Traded 746,533.17 746,533.17

629,785

3,658,095.56

Quantity Traded 58,000 5,076 20,153 13,282,528 604,507 13,970,264

Value Traded 56,260.00 19,072.08 18,540.76 25,949,334.89 16,825,756.24 42,868,963.97

AGRICULTURE Totals

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 CONGLOMERATES

Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Diversified Industries Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONGLOMERATES Totals Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT Daily Summary TRANSCORP UACN

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 5 2 9 (Equities) 132 43 191 191 No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.97 3.76 0.96 1.85 27.91

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 39.50

Quantity Traded 1,775 1,775

Value Traded 68,312.50 68,312.50

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 6.61

Quantity Traded 47,109 47,109

Value Traded 306,595.77 306,595.77

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol SKYESHELT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 100.00

Quantity Traded 28 28

Value Traded 2,800.00 2,800.00

193,912

450,208.27

Value Traded 1,012,400.00 13,248,774.70 81,590,708.00 133,568,814.33 229,420,697.03

Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals CONSUMER GOODS

CONOIL PLC OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Quantity Traded 255,000 96,417 5,104,000 996,055 6,451,472

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 184.50

Quantity Traded 3,740 3,740 Page

Value Traded 683,830.70 2 683,830.70 of 12

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON

No. of Deals 30 20 65 14 17 146

Current Price 2.42 6.51 21.85 2.39 7.30

Quantity Traded 698,882 150,782 587,285 222,210 901,713 2,560,872

Value Traded 1,673,506.56 977,664.32 12,776,195.34 532,127.40 6,583,166.95 22,542,660.57

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

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 30 37 67

Current Price 19.10 817.00

Quantity Traded 425,820 107,722 533,542

Value Traded 8,230,017.81 87,830,056.65 96,060,074.46

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 30 1 31

Current Price 5.19 0.88

Quantity Traded 710,413 2,800 713,213

Value Traded 3,532,185.47 2,464.00 3,534,649.47

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

Quantity Traded 359,628 82,096 441,724

Value Traded 8,989,608.06 2,858,167.67 11,847,775.73

Household Daily Summary as Durables of 11/11/2015 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals

PZ UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 SKYE BANK PLC Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services FINANCIAL AIICOSERVICES INSURANCE PLC. Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. Published byNIGER The Nigerian Stock Exchange INSURANCE CO. PLC.©

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 Micro-Finance Banks Totals Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY UBA CAPITALon PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals ICT Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

25.00 36.38

Page 10,704,563

483

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 169 DIAMONDBNK 30 ETI 36 FIDELITYBK 49 GUARANTY 178 SKYEBANK 69 STERLNBANK 204 UBA 166 UBN 33 UNITYBNK 17 Daily Summary (Equities) WEMABANK 11 962

Current Price 4.68 2.75 17.60 1.39 23.35 1.90 1.95 3.75 5.60 1.30 0.98

Quantity Traded 95,624,637 1,805,530 2,777,727 3,029,218 3,930,664 3,785,130 1,815,248 5,322,478 621,992 2,034,261 314,662 121,061,547 Quantity Traded 2,872,458 Quantity Traded 424,000 224,800 35,000 795,333 21,500 20,775,200 230,095 Page 30,000

7,000 25,415,386

3,500.00 59,679,510.24

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 2 7 9

Current Price 5.42 0.98

Quantity Traded 49 251,444 251,493

Value Traded 252.35 246,415.12 246,667.47

No. of Deals 32 5 (Equities) 30 22 71 160

Current Price 2.61 4.10 2.00 20.00 1.39

Quantity Traded 407,077 55,350 4,097,819 1,307,441 4,191,562 10,059,249

Value Traded 1,075,932.55 228,535.00 8,219,359.52 26,079,203.33 5,834,683.32 41,437,713.72

156,787,675

734,965,382.86

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS Daily Summary FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

1,207

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

No. of Deals 9 8 9 17 5 6 54

Current Price 0.50 3.07 37.07 1.26 0.98 4.91

Page Quantity Traded 99,600 128,826 9,531 129,098 31,700 7,583 406,338

1,037,583.00

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 2.67 1.69

Quantity Traded 5,000 9,451 14,451

Value Traded 12,700.00 15,216.11 27,916.11

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 4 5

Current Price 0.50 2.70

Quantity Traded 400,000 191,000 591,000

Value Traded 200,000.00 490,870.00 690,870.00

605,451

718,786.11 6

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 R T BRISCOE PLC. Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals SERVICES

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST OF NIGERIA PLC. Published by The NigerianCOMPANY Stock Exchange © Hotels/Lodging Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 Printing/Publishing Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES BankingTotals SERVICES ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Banking Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Other FinancialStock Institutions Published by The Nigerian Exchange © FBN HOLDINGS INDUSTRIAL GOODS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC PREMIUM Totals BuildingBoard Materials Totals

Current Price 22.01 9.61 39.00 8.01 1.14 3.53 93.75

Quantity Traded 163,218 27,877 96,995 504,672 2,222 27,032 77,642 899,658

Value Traded 3,602,942.74 269,684.88 3,782,116.80 4,076,205.92 2,421.98 90,827.52 7,163,400.21 18,987,600.05

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 1.45

Quantity Traded 55,905 55,905

Value Traded 81,217.25 81,217.25

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 3 1 4

Current Price 1.52 48.51

Quantity Traded 10,000 800 10,800

Value Traded 14,500.00 36,872.00 51,372.00

966,363

19,120,189.30

Quantity Traded 7,875,000 7,875,000

Value Traded 3,937,500.00 3,937,500.00

100

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 1 1

PREMIUM Board Totals

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF Exchange Traded Fund Published byName The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exchange Fund NEWGOLDTraded EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Name BANKING ETF VETIVA LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Current Price 0.50

7,875,000 Page

3,937,500.00 12 7 of

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,918,777 1,918,777

Value Traded 959,388.50 959,388.50

Symbol

No. of Deals 222 222

Current Price 7.66

Quantity Traded 4,729,338 4,729,338

Value Traded 36,506,720.81 36,506,720.81

Symbol CONOIL

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 27.41

Quantity Traded 2,250

Value Traded 58,590.00

Symbol ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 11 66 15 8 102

Current Price 1.85 287.98 138.99 143.00

Quantity Traded 559,320 104,944 3,717 10,403 680,634

Value Traded 1,028,310.80 29,735,300.81 493,856.24 1,503,463.33 32,819,521.18

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 225.00

Quantity Traded 15,834 15,834

Value Traded 3,642,397.91 3,642,397.91

7,344,583

73,928,028.40

OANDO Daily Summary (Equities)

342

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 1 1 (Equities)

Current Price 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

12 8Value Traded of 5,000.00 5,000.00

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 4.20

Quantity Traded 52,000 52,000

Value Traded 221,490.00 221,490.00

Symbol REDSTAREX

Symbol Symbol ETERNA CILEASING FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. No.ofofDeals Deals Current CurrentPrice Price Quantity QuantityTraded Traded 111 1.85 559,320 0.50 5,555 661 287.98 104,944 5,555 15 138.99 3,717 8 143.00 10,403 102 680,634 Page

Value ValueTraded Traded 1,028,310.80 2,777.50 29,735,300.81 2,777.50 493,856.24 1,503,463.33 32,819,521.18 9 of 12

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 8 8

Quantity Traded 15,834 15,834

Value Traded 3,642,397.91 3,642,397.91

7,344,583

73,928,028.40

Current Price 225.00

342

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 5,000.00 5,000.00

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 4.20

Quantity Traded 52,000 52,000

Value Traded 221,490.00 221,490.00

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,555 5,555

Value Traded 2,777.50 2,777.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals 14 1 15

Current Price 3.33 3.51

Quantity Traded 1,526,350 50 Page 1,526,400

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 191,000 191,000

Value Traded 95,500.00 95,500.00

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 17 2 19

Current Price 0.65 5.73

Quantity Traded 261,101 2,000 263,101

Value Traded 169,675.65 10,900.00 180,575.65

No. of Deals 5 21 26

Current Price 1.91 4.00

Quantity Traded 54,614 215,750 270,364

Value Traded 104,442.71 876,012.44 980,455.15

Symbol ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 68 130 130

Current Price 17.20

Quantity Traded 2,318,420 3,751,179 3,751,179

201,802,354

Value Traded 6,913,804.30 64,601,321.06 64,601,321.06

1,251,688,229.73

Symbol Symbol FBNH ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals No. of Deals 374 130 374 130

Current Price Current Price 5.01 17.20

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 11,226,458 3,751,179 11,226,458 3,751,179

Value Traded Value Traded 56,364,449.52 64,601,321.06 56,364,449.52 64,601,321.06

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Daily Summary (Equities)

2,522

Symbol FBNH Symbol DANGCEM

Symbol DANGCEM

504 No. of Deals 374 374 No. of Deals 41 504 41 41 No. of Deals 41 545 41

Equity Activity GOODS Totals Totals INDUSTRIAL Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Equity Activity Totals Exchange Traded Fund

Value of Shares(N)

No. of Deals 20 7 15 28 1 2 19 92

EQTY Board Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions Banking FBN HOLDINGS PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals Banking Totals

Quantity Traded

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

OIL AND GAS Totals

5 of 12 Value Traded 51,292.00 395,687.75 359,716.04 162,300.91 29,913.00 38,673.30 1,037,583.00

406,338

Page

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Value Traded 2,636,737.19 Value Traded 428,260.00 112,400.00 17,500.00 397,666.50 10,750.00 55,898,064.00 159,632.55 4 15,000.00 of 12

Symbol CWG TRIPPLEG

Courier/Freight/Delivery ActivityRED Summary on BoardPLC EQTY STAR EXPRESS Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals OIL AND GAS Petroleum andSolutions Petroleum Products Distributors Employment ETERNA PLC. PLC. C & I LEASING FORTE OIL PLC. Employment Solutions Totals MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 445,497,806.05 5,005,748.40 49,914,375.67 4,221,031.81 91,725,472.45 7,233,502.45 3,539,753.60 20,015,570.49 3,498,727.76 2,646,327.23 303,175.52 633,601,491.43

No. of Deals Current Price 30 0.91 No. of Deals Current Price 6 1.01 4 0.50 2 0.50 5 0.50 1 0.50 17 2.75 7 0.70 1 0.50 3 0.50 76

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL ANDasGAS Totals Daily Summary of 11/11/2015 Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers© Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

12 3 of 364,089,687.96

Symbol AIICO Symbol CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD NEM NIGERINS WAPIC

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

29 29 58

NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL RESOURCES Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL AND GAS Energy and Services Daily Summary as Equipment of 11/11/2015 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board Products EQTY Distributors Petroleum and Petroleum

Current Price 3.97 137.27 15.26 133.00

GUINNESS INTBREW NB

NATURAL RESOURCES Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Mining Services Totals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

No. of Deals 7 43 6 116 172

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol

CHAMPION Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

42,868,963.97 Value Traded 72,500.00 1 of 12 72,500.00

Symbol JBERGER

Printed CONSTRUCTION/REAL 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 ESTATE Totals

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS Daily Summary as of 11/11/2015 BETA GLASS CO PLC. Printed 11/11/2015 14:33:01.001 Packaging/Containers Totals

13,970,264 Quantity Traded 145,000 Page 145,000

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Sector

ActivityCompany Summary on Board EQTY name

Current Price 5.01 Current Price 163.00

Current Price 163.00

14,977,637 Quantity Traded Page 11,226,458 11,226,458 Quantity Traded

85,668,131.24 120,965,770.58 85,668,131.24

525,713 Quantity Traded 525,713 15,503,350 525,713

85,668,131.24 Value Traded 85,668,131.24 206,633,901.82 85,668,131.24

217,305,704 525,713

1,458,322,131.55 85,668,131.24

545

15,503,350

206,633,901.82

3,067

217,305,704

1,458,322,131.55

Daily Summary (ETP) No. of Deals Current Price Symbol LOTUSHAL15

9.29

Symbol NEWGOLD Symbol VETBANK LOTUSHAL15 VETGOODS

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

Current Price 2,091.00 Current Price 3.07 9.29 7.44

1 1 7

13.20 20.86

Daily Summary (ETP)

VETGRIF30 VETINDETF

120,965,770.58 Value Traded 10 of 12 56,364,449.52 56,364,449.52 Value Traded

525,713 14,977,637 525,713

3,067 41

Daily Summary (ETP)

Value Traded 5,427,839.00 9 of167.0012 5,428,006.00

Quantity Traded 505 Quantity Traded Page 5 Quantity Traded 5 505 5 10 Page 5 535

Value Traded 4,706.45 Value Traded 11 of 12 10,455.00 Value Traded 15.35 4,706.45 37.20 132.00 12 11 of 104.30 15,450.30

ETF Board Totals

535

15,450.30

ETP Activity Totals

535

15,450.30

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Group grooms youths for leadership Leonard okachie

welve lucky finalists who have been selected for the Grooming for Greatness fellowship programme, have spent three days gaining insight from accomplished speakers and engaging in actualization sessions to guide them on their

leadership journey. The programmed kicked off on October 22 after a search which received over 350 applications from Africans all over the world. The Managing Partner of Biola Alabi Media and Founder of the leadership programme, Biola Alabi, kicked off the event by explaining that the year-long fel-

lowship is about growth, learning and encouragement. “Grooming for Greatness was developed to change the narrative around leadership in Africa by validating the next generation’s leadership yearnings and goals. If we want compassionate value based leaders we have to teach it and live it,” she said. The programme featured

dynamic speakers who gave participants ample advice, and profound insight into their personal leadership journeys. Among the speakers were Chief Executive Officer, Bestman Games, Nimi Akinkugbe; Business Development Manager, Wartsila Finland Energy Solutions, Ade Audifferen; Founder, Narachi Leadership, Rachel

Alabi (m) and the beneficiaries of Grooming for Greatness.

Nyaradzo Adams; Co-founder, Seedstars world, Pierre- Alain Masson; and Managing Director, AlitheaCapital,Tokunboh Ishmael. During a session led by Rachel Nyaradzo Adams, burning questions about true leadership were thoroughly examined, and participants used the opportunity to openly share their private leadership struggles. Adams said, “Emerging leaders on our continent need to be first and foremost validated in their ambitions. There is so much around us that discourages us and tells us that what we dream for the continent is impractical, absurd and impossible. Leadership programs like [The Grooming for Greatness Program] provide a different kind of message.” “Leadership development has always been a passion of mine and I’ve always believed that it is our responsibility to develop the next generation of African leaders,” Alabi said in a statement at the close of the 3-day launch event. The finalists will be trained on leadership skills for a year after which entries will be open for the next set of participants.

Youths showcase talents at SPANFEST art workshops Leonard okachie

ince last Saturday, November 7, the atmosphere around the Agidigba Community Centre in Marina, Lagos has been electrified by a group of youths, who have been showcasing their talents and creativity in breathtaking music, dance and drama presentations. The 10-day intensive art workshops which end on November 16, with over 200 youths participating, at the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) Hub, is part of the numerous activities linedup for the second edition of the SPAN Festival called SPANFEST 2015. SPAN is a non profit organisation with a vision to build a performing arts centre in Nigeria where it will educate, empower and present the performing artists and their God given art. It offers different classes of training which ranges from Music to Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Creative Combo, Drama,Contemporary African, fitness, Naija Craze, Salsa and Latin Ballroom dance for beginners, intermediate and professionals Over the last decade it has acquired considerable expertise in the performing arts through the

presentation of over 50 shows, empowering over 500 artists and 10,000 children in its community. However, the intensive performing art workshops with local and international arts’ professors will unveil the new voices in Nigerian artists using the medium of dance, music and drama. Some of the experienced trainers like Mark Kross , Louise Rogers, Ronya Man and Jackson Obinnato. The training sessions, which involve interactive classes and performance, are geared towards revealing a new understanding and awareness of the community’s historical diversity and culture. Contemporary African and western dance styles like hiphop, salsa, and ballets are being presented alongside different music genres driven by artistic innovations to produce memorable and breathtaking experiences during the festival. One of the workshop participants, Olatunji Oladejobi, a male dancer based in Lagos, said “I find so much joy when dancing, i love what I am doing..SPAN has nurtured us and discovered many talents with so much influence in the entertainment industry today. The theme of the festival – Voice of the

Voiceless just goes to show how SPAN is building and changing lives.” Another young female dancer, Joy Hanson, noted that passion was the motivating factor for her and through dancing she is able to express God given creativity. She applauded the efforts of SPAN for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn new dance moves. Meanwhile, SPAN Founder and Festival Director, Sarah Boulos said SPANFEST 2015, with the theme: ‘Voice Of The Voiceless’ will be filled with memorable events as the community’s voice is revealed through the voices of its dancers, musicians, actors,

poets and visual artists. “I have faith that SPANFEST 2015 will also rekindle in our community a desire to invest in performing art education and performances to sustain a vibrant and healthy environ-

Participants performing at SPAN workshops in Lagos, recently.

ment in our Lagos- the city we cherish”, maintained Boulos, who further revealed that the grand finale will hold on November 22, at the Grand Ballrrom Eko Hotel &Suites, Victoria Island.

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, November 12, 2015

The Future Awards Africa sets up hubs in North East

Leonard okachie

orried by the challenges confronting young people in the North East, as a result of conflict, The Future Awards Africa (TFAA), has set up hubs in the region to solve problems at scale. The hubs were set up in Mubi with the Initiative for Human Rights; Yola with Centre for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiative (CCEPI) and Chibok with the Red Cross. These hubs will work together with the Global TFAA Secretariat to pull resources and media attention to solve the identified problems in each community. The hubs were set up last week when the awards visited conflict zones across the North as part of the 100-city tour for its 10th anniversary, to highlight challenges and spotlight inspiring stories. The delegation was led by the cofounder of TFAA, Chude Jideonwo and visited Chibok, Mubi and Yola. The tour, led by project managers Bukonla Adebakin and Seun Oluyemi had previously visited Enugu, Banjul, Badagry, Ibadan, Akure, Port Harcourt and Kano. The tour has a three-pronged focus: re-focus attention on the issues young people are facing across the continent; the case studies of how TFAA’s global brain trust has solved these issues and then set up hubs in each city - made up of past winners, nominees, partners and volunteers at community-levels – to solve these problems. “The stories and the people we have met on this trip have confirmed some of our worst fears, but more important-

Children at the IDP camp, Kano

ly also fired up our resolve,” said Jideonwo after the tour. “There is so much work we have to do, and we are building a network of problem solvers across the continent to engage, solve and sustain the solutions to these problems. “We are celebrating 10 years of TFAA, but more importantly, we are fired up to begin 10 more years of building entrepreneurs, supporting change makers and transforming societies.” The one-year tour, which kicked off in October 2015, has now visited Kano, Banjul, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Yola, Mubi and Chibok. “The challenges we saw on this tour are enough to make you worry,” said Mohamed Diaby, a member of the Central Working Committee, from Abidjan. “From young people feeling their own communities and countries to commu-

nicable diseases from rescued individuals coming back into town, rebuilding of clinic/hospital, school, bridge and markets, education, employment, drug use, to cities that urgently demand government reconstruction, there is so much work left to be done. We are determined to lead an army of young people, through our hubs, to do this urgent work, to solve these problems.” The next stop for the tour is Johannesburg, South Africa, after which phase one of the tour will conclude. The Future Awards Africa 2015 is powered by RED and held in partnership with the Ford Foundation, Microsoft, the US Consulate, the Canadian High Commission Nigeria and The Tony Elumelu Foundation. The event will be hosted in Lagos on December 6, 2015.

Music therapy reduces depression in children, adolescents –Report

Atilogu cultural dancers in Lagos.

esearchers at Queen’s University Belfast have discovered that music therapy reduces depression in children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems. In the largest ever study of its kind, the researchers in partnership with the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, found that children who received music therapy had significantly improved self-esteem and significantly reduced depression compared with those who received treatment without music therapy. The study, which was funded by the Big Lottery fund, also found that those who received music therapy had improved communicative and interactive skills, compared to those who received usual care options alone. 251 children and young people were involved in the study which took place between March 2011 and May 2014. They were divided into two groups - 128 underwent the usual care options, while 123 were assigned to music therapy in addition to usual care. All were being treated for emotional, developmental or behavioural problems. Early findings suggest that the benefits are sustained in the long term. Professor Sam Porter of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University, who led the study, said: “This study is hugely significant in terms of determin-

ing effective treatments for children and young people with behavioural problems and mental health needs.” Dr Valerie Holmes, Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences and coresearcher, added: “This is the largest study ever to be carried out looking at music therapy’s ability to help this very vulnerable group, and is further evidence of how Queen’s University is advancing knowledge and changing lives.” Ciara Reilly, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, said: “Music therapy has often been used with children and young people with particular mental health needs, but this is the first time its effectiveness has been shown by a definitive randomized controlled trial in a clinical setting. “The findings are dramatic and underscore the need for music therapy to be made available as a mainstream treatment option. For a long time we have relied on anecdotal evidence and small-scale research findings about how well music therapy works. Now we have robust clinical evidence to show its beneficial effects.” Source: Queen’s University, Belfast

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Science for Kids

Why do honeybees die when they sting?

hen a honeybee stings, it dies a gruesome death. The bee’s stinger is structured in such a way that once it punctures human skin, the bee can’t yank it out without selfamputating. As the honeybee tries to pull out the stinger, it ruptures its lower abdomen, leaving the stinger embedded, pulling out instead a string of digestive material, muscles, glands and a venom sac. What results is a gaping hole at the end of the abdomen. “It’s kind of like bleeding to death, except bees don’t have blood,” said Eric Mussen of the University of California at Davis. Mussen is an apiculturist, a fancy word for beekeeper. “It’s fake, clear insect blood.” The honeybee stinger is hollow and pointed, like a hypodermic needle, Mussen said. It contains two rows of lancets, or saw-toothed blades. These blades are barbed in shape, and face outward like a harpoon. As a bee stings, the blades alternate, “scissoring together into your flesh,” said Mark Winston, biologist and author of “Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive.” It looks — and works — like a screw anchor, meaning that once in, the stinger can’t retract. Muscles connect the stinger to a venom sac, from which a cell-destroying toxin is pumped into the hole. The scent of the venom released from the honeybee signals a threat to the hive. And weirdly, it smells like bananas, Mussen said. But let’s back up. It is only the female honeybees, also known as the worker bees, that sting. Each hive contains some 60,000 worker bees, followed by a few hundred male drones and a single female queen bee. Worker bees are like disposable soldiers for the colony: their sole function is to gather nectar, pollinate, and defend the base. They are all infertile females. The queen lays all eggs and the drones fertilize them. The queen bee only stings when fighting for dominance against another queen, Winston said. And while the hornet and the wasp are known for being more aggressive, honeybees are more docile, and typically only attack when threatened. “A wasp or a bumblebee can sting again and again, but the honeybee only gets you once, and it’ll get you good,” Mussen said. PBS Newshour

Bee

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Night of honour for journalists at Golden Pen Award StorieS By Leonard okachie

t was a night of honour for media practitioners last Friday at Oriental Hotel in Lagos as Nigerian Breweries Plc rewarded distinguished journalists at the 7th edition of the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award. The annual ceremony also witnessed a lot of accolades for Nigerian media as various speakers, including government officials, captains of industry, and members of the acadamia, among others took turns to laud the media for the important role it has played in the development of the society. Anthony Akaeze, a Senior Assistant Editor with Tell magazine emerged the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year. Anthony’s work, “The ivory towers of rot”, an investigative piece on the infrastructural, social and moral decay in Nigerian universities earned him the award as the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year, One Million Naira cash prize, an iPhone 6 and a special statuette. Other winners at the award include Lawrence Njoku of The Guardian, who emerged the first runner up and MojeedAlabi of New Telegraph, who won the second runner up in the Golden Pen Reporter of the Year Category. Canicepara of BusinessWorld, emerged winner of the Nigeria Breweries Report of the Year with the story “Beer: Any Health Benefits to Consumers”.

Winners of this year’s Golden Pen Award in a photograph with the judges

In the Golden Pen Photojournalist of the Year Category, Godwin Irekhe of New Telegraph won Best Photojournalist of the Year. Isaac Ayodele of The Nation was first runner-up and Stanley Ogidi of The Punch was the second runner up. At the well-attended event, Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu, CFR, applauded the Nigerian media for supporting the initiatives and aspirations of Nigerian Breweries over

the years. The Chairman of the Jury, Dr. YemiOgunbiyi said the entries for this year’s award were an improvement over the last years. He praised the efforts of Nigerian Breweries at sustaining the award and commended the Nigerian media for its unrelenting desire to set an agenda for the good of the Nigerian people. Also speaking at the event, His Excel-

NUJ secretary cheats death in Kogi WaLe iBrahim Lokoja

Scene of accident at Aliyi Attah Road in Lokoja.

arely one week after 14 journalists escaped death narrowly at scene of petrol tanker explosion on Itobe Bridge on Anyinba - Ajaokuta Road, the Secretary of Kogi State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Alhaji Adeiza Momoh Jimoh has escaped death by whiskers when a 33,OOO petrol tanker lost control. The accident occurred opposite Guarranty Trust Bank on Aliyu Attah Road, Fen Junction recently in Lokoja. Jimoh explained that he was directly behind the tanker when the driver lost control as result of brake fail by the tanker. He said he was on his way to his office when the accident occurred, noting that he suddenly saw tanker moving back, but before he tried to manoeuvre, the 33,000 petrol tanker loaded with inflammable gasoline hit hard his car. He expressed gratitude to God for saving his live, noting that though the

lency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia state hailed the Nigerian media as patriotic citizens, who despite the peculiar challenges of the country and their working condition, have done a lot to build the nation and market her potentials. This Year’s Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award focused on Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development

car was badly damaged still thank God for his life. It took the intervention of operatives of Federal Road Safety Corps and the Police to control traffic at the ever busy Fen junction, while the men of Kogi State fire services were on standby to safe the situation at scene of accident in case of eventuality. The tanker driver, Mr. Musa Abubarka stated that he was heading towards Ganaja village when he noticed that the brake failed suddenly. Abubarka explained that he had earlier stopped at about 500 metres to the scene where he repaired the clutch problem, stressing short he started the vehicle and approached the GTB junction when he lost control as result of brake failure. It would be recalled that 14 journalists almost lost their lives when fully loaded petrol tanker suddenly exploded when the NUJ bus was on motion on the bridge the penultimate week and caught fire and ran over for over 600 metres before the fire was quenched with help of fire extinguishers

Media

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Commissioner highlights importance of printed text stories by leonard okachie

ommissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, has reiterated the determination of the State Government to use every available means to disseminate information to the people of the State, including printed text, in order to keep them abreast of government policies, programmes and activities. Ayorinde made the pronouncement in Lagos recently when he paid an inspection visit to the Lagos State Printing Corporation, in continuation of his assessment tour of agencies under the Ministry. He stated that the importance of printed text cannot be overemphasised, saying “In spite of technological development, printed materials have come to stay”. Ayorinde expressed happiness at the turn of things in the Corporation, espe-

cially with the newly purchased equipment and urged all hands to be on deck to justify the huge investment committed by the government to the Corporation. The Commissioner also commended the management team of the Corporation for their efforts, most especially in making the environment conducive, but urged it to intensify efforts to attract patronage. “The huge resources gone into procurement of the equipment and general rehabilitation necessitate that all hands must be on deck to attract patronage and sustain the vision of the current administration”, he said. The Commissioner also commended the General Manager for the efforts toward the development and growth of the Corporation, noting that such efforts demonstrated that they were in tune with the vision of the current administration, especially in the area of job creation, as it is expected that the place will be a beehive of activities once

the machines are installed. The Commissioner also tasked the contractor handling the Administrative Block to speed up the pace of work and ensure that they meet the contractual deadline so that work could commence in full scale. Receiving the Commissioner earlier, the General Manager, Mr. Sakirudeen Odusanya, thanked the Governor of the State for the investment committed to the Corporation, adding that with the new machines, the Corporation is set to go full blast and meet the needs of Lagosians. He expressed the hope that the installation work would be completed before the end of this year. During the visit, the Commissioner inspected the various Hi-tech machines which have just been purchased from the Manufacturers – KBA, Heidelberg, Perfecta and Kodak Nexpress from Germany.

Media Abroad

Staying off Facebook can make you happier - Study

ou may not like it, but staying away from Facebook will probably make you happier. Researchers in Denmark asked people to stop using their social media account for a week to see if it made any difference. And, it did according to the report: ‘The Facebook Experiment: Does social media affect the quality of our lives?’ by the Happiness Research Institute. Researchers noted that 94 per cent of the participants visited Facebook daily before dividing the 1,095 Danish partici-

pants into two groups. One group continued to use Facebook as they normally would, while the others stopped using the social networking site for a week. Once the week was finished, participants were asked to evaluate their “life satisfaction” out of a score of 10. This was then compared to the rating they had given before the study began. Researchers found the group who continued to use Facebook initially produced a score of 7.67. This marginally increased to 7.75 following the week that

Slain Charlie Hebdo editor’s book to be published posthumously

tephane Charbonnier, the slain editor of French satire magazine Charlie Hebdo, is getting the last word. Charbonnier, known by his pen name Charb, was one of the 12 people killed at the magazine’s offices by terrorists in January. The gunmen reportedly called out Charb by name. Days before, Charbonnier had completed a manifesto about free spech, which will be published in 2016 by Little, Brown. “Open Letter: On Blasphemy, Islamophobia and the True Enemies of Free Expression” will be published in January and includes a preface by the New Yorker’s Adam Gopnik. In a news release about the book, Michael Pietsch, chief executive of Hachette Book Group, parent company of Little, Brown, said: “Freedom of speech is the foundation of our business, and Stephane Charbonnier was one of free speech’s great proponents. We’re proud to publish this vital book.” Arnaud Nourry, chairman of the Frenchbased Hachette Livre, parent company of Hachette Book Group, added: “The murder of Stephane Charbonnier and his colleagues at Charlie Hebdo was a tragic moment for France, and for the world. To have journalists and illustrators silenced so brutally for lampooning bullies and extremists was a brazen attack on the fundamental freedom to

publish. I am pleased that we will be able to share Charbonnier’s views with readers, and to contribute to the conversation about the insidiousness of religious intolerance.” The killing of the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo led to an outpouring of support, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating, other outlets taking up the cry and millions using the hashtag #jesuischarlie (#iamcharlie).

Charbonnier

nothing changed. However for the group who abandoned the site, their average happiness rating increased from 7.56 to 8.12. Additionally, these participants also were found to be more decisive and enthusiastic and were less worried, lonely and stressed compared to those who remained on Facebook. Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute attributed the results to people’s tendencies to compare themselves to others on social media. He told The Local: “Facebook distorts our perception of reality and of what other people’s lives really look like. We take in to account how we’re doing in life through comparisons to everyone else, and since most people only post positive things on Facebook, that gives us a very biased perception of reality.” “If we are constantly exposed to great news, we risk evaluating our own lives as less good.” “There can also be positive benefits from Facebook and social media, but I think the real thing to always be aware of is the effect it has on our perception of reality. This constant flow of great news we see on Facebook only represents the top 10 per cent of things that happen to other people. It shouldn’t be used as the background for evaluating our own lives,” he says. The study comes after teenage Instagram and vlogging star Essena O’Neill made an emotional post revealing what it’s really like to live your life through social media. In the video she said social media made her “miserable” and warned her thousands of followers: “Social media, especially how I used it, isn’t real. It’s contrived images and edited clips ranked against each other. It’s a system based on social approval… It’s perfectly orchestrated self-absorbed judgment.” The Independent

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MTV Base introduces #BaseRateOrHate for upcoming acts

pcoming Nigerian artistes can now get their videos played on MTV Base with the introduction of an interactive platform called #BaseRateOrHate which gives members of the public the chance to choose which upcoming artistes’ videos get played on MTV Base. The contestants’ videos are available at www.basenigeria.com where viewers can watch and then vote for their favourite video. The video that wins the highest number of votes will get to be played on MTV Base Channel 322 to an audience of more than 90 million people across 50 African countries. This month’s contestants are Kefchild (@ kefchild) with ‘Oluwa’, Icee (@iceebnw) with ‘I No Go Tell’, Banging (@wwwbanging) with ‘Good Morning’ and Loxxy (@loxxymusic) with ‘Jeje’. Commenting on #BaseRateOrHate, Head of Marketing and Communications, Nigeria at Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Collette Otusheso said,“MTV Base has given a lot of Nigerian artistes a huge platform to grow and improve over the years and it makes us happy to continue in this tradition. “We decided that the process should be democratised, and our viewers who actually watch the video content on MTV Base should be the ones to decide which upcoming artiste they want to listen to and see on TV. “ #BaseRateOrHate is a game changing platform for future music stars in Nigeria because it places the power to become known and liked squarely in the hands of viewers. We are very proud to once again be at the forefront of promoting Nigerian talent the right way as is our tradition.” #BaseRateOrHate is the latest in a series of interactive platforms by MTV Base which continues to set the pace as a dynamic and responsive media channel.

NAWOJ tasks new ministers on real change sekinahl awal

ew ministers have been urged to hit the ground running and make Nigerians experience real change in health, infrastructures, education, power, economy, security and other sectors within the shortest possible time. Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Lagos Chapter, gave the advice at the end of her November Congress. In a release signed by its Chairman, Mrs. Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu, the group also called on those calling for the state of Biafra to do so peacefully and stop resorting to road blocks thus disturbing free movement. Moreover, the group also condemned the rampant cases of rape and called for stiffer penalties against offenders in order to serve as deterrent to others. NAWOJ, however, enjoined Nigerians to keep up their prayers for God’s guidance for the leaders at all levels.

Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Broad Street Diary

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Kakawa, Kings Street the home books

lthough, the standard of education is falling due to what many said was as a result of apathy shown by Nigerian youths lately towards education, this does not mean that there are no books for interested students and members of the public to read. Honestly, there are books for varying shades of academic fields from primary schools to tertiary institution level and even books for leisure readings. Somebody had humorously said that, “there is nothing one cannot find on Lagos Island it is matter of locating the spot. Broad Street Diary found out right on Lagos Island the depot of all manner of books for interested buyers. Kakawa, off Kings Street Lagos Island, is the place where scholars, academics and lovers of reading who still understand the value of education visit regularly from all over the country to buy books. Broad Street Diary,BSD, spoke with Sunday Aremu one of the veteran booksellers in the area who had been in the business for many years. He said: ‘’I have been in this business for over 40 years because I inherited from my late father. Asked how the business has been since he inherited it, he said: “The business used to be very lucrative when students were forced by their school authorities to come and buy books in this area. “You know we work with the schools syllabus. So, when the syllabus is out we get those books and stock them and the students have no option, but to come and buy because their teachers will tell them that they can only get those books from us. “But lately, it is no longer so because the publishers themselves take their books to those schools, thereby affecting our business, nevertheless, we still give God the glory. When asked how they managed to survive in the business considering the number of people selling just books in the same area, he said; “even though we are many here, we do not sell the same type of books. This is the intrigue in the business as we have different areas of specialisation. For example there are people selling primary school books alone, there are people dealing with secondary school books, law books, medical books religious books to mention but a few. “What makes this place a cynosure for book selling not only in Lagos State, but all over Nigeria is that over the years, the place has been noted for book selling and our books are very cheap as we

sell whole sale prices and because buyers all over the country know that because of the concentration of booksellers in this area, there is every likelihood that they would get their choice anytime. “We are in partnership with the publishers who come directly to supply us books and this has also made us to deal with the is-

sue of piracy because we have a strong association. On how to start up the business, he stated that; “You have to go through the basic training because the business has its own techniques. You have to update yourself with the current syllabus, where to buy and how to sell and so on.

You do not go into the business just because you have money. Of course money is important in the business, but it does not start with money otherwise, the person will just be buying irrelevant books that are not in demand and soon that person will go bankrupt. So you have to go through some

training on how to identify with the publishers also. He noted that the business was seasonal. “The business is very seasonal, for instance, anytime schools resume there is a boom particularly when the universities just resume for new sessions. –Omoju Busayo

Xmas season: Lagos Island traders groan over poor sales

A trader displays her wines on Broad Street

cross the world ember months are very significant not only because they are months preceding the end of the year which is usually associated with Christmas celebration, but significantly because of the attendant boom in economic activities. This time, business activities pick up briskly with all sorts of seasonal materials and products on shelves and stalls for sale. Traditionally, in this season, the rate of turn-over for business owners usually skyrocket with traders particularly those dealing in clothing materials and assorted drinks smiling daily to the banks. The question on agitated lips is that, is this still the situation with traders?. The answers to the question were sought by Broad Street Diary, BSD, from traders themselves owing to the notion that he who wears the shoe knows better where it actually pinches. For Mr. Christian Augustine a trader at Sunny Lad Plaza Broad Street, who has been selling clothing materials for 10 years on the Broad Street said, it is not business as usual as everything had been on stand still lately. “In fact, everything is stagnant businesswise. The situation has assumed a worrisome dimension

and now from bad to worse. “This condition is primarily so because of the exchange rate of the Nigerian currency to some major international currencies around the world. “You can imagine one dollar exchanging for as high as N230 as against N100.00, 120.00 or worse still at N160 that it was few years back. “This has no doubt, impacted negatively on the prices of the goods we buy and how we eventually sell. “For example the cloths we used to sell for N2,000 now sells for N4000. “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 powers 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 to clear our goods at the port. The charges on our goods by the custom officials are killing, which invariably hikes the prices we sell to the end users who find it difficult to afford. When you mention the price of these materials to our customers they just walk away. I do not blame them as some of them

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN would say that their salary has not been increased to be able to buy such materials. Some are not even employed at all, while those who are employed 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. Because we import from Turkey as Turkish products have better quality and more durable than London or American materials. If per adventure these guys would buy cloths compulsorily, they would prefer to go for cheaper ones probably from Asia. He lamented that; ordinarily businesses ought to have picked up by now. Imagine; we are days into November 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 because of the influx of customers coming in and out to purchase our materials either for themselves or to resell. Asked what could be done to reverse this trend, he said: “The ruling government should as matter of urgency, bridge the gap between the dollar and naira as

this is the basis for the hyper inflation the country is facing currently.” This is affecting every fabric of the nation’s economy, since our own kind of economy is import based. A lady who simply identified herself as Mariam in the same Plaza added that the Buhari led administration should start implementing the N5,000 monthly stipend for young unemployed youths so as to give them means of livelihood. Mrs. Nkechi Anum, a graduate who ventured into buying and selling of ladies wares after looking for white collar jobs to no avail, but now 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 season unlike before, but I hope business would pick up gradually as the year runs out because that is our prayer. I have placed order for goods from Turkey and I pay as high as N600,000 for this inner stall annually and it is from what we make here that we pay for our rents. So we earnestly pray that there should be a boom in business in this yuletide. –Omoju Buasyo

News

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Court sentences trader to 3 months jail over theft

Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a trader, Daniel Odoh, to three months in prison without an option of fine for stealing armour cables. The Magistrate, Mrs Yetunde Pinheiro, said that evidence before the court showed that only two bundles of cables were found in the complainant’s bag as against 12 bundles as levied against the accused. She said ``I hereby find you, Daniel Odoh, guilty of stealing and you shall be convicted accordingly. ``The accused is hereby sentenced to three months in peison which will run concurrently without an option of

fine.’’ The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Odoh was first arraigned on March 15, for allegedly stealing 12 bundles of cables worth N500, 000. The prosecutor, Insp. Ignatus Okeke, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 13 at No. 11, Adebisi St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State. He told the court that the accused broke into the premises of Mr Chuks Ema, an engineer, and stole the cables. The prosecutor added that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2014.

FRSC fines motorists for traffic offences gEorgE opara ABIA

Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, mobile court sitting at Okpala in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo state have handed out fines various sums of money on 32 motorists for different road traffic violations. The motorist who were arrested by men of the FRSC , RS 9.44 unit, along the over busy Aba/Owerri highway for various traffic offences were taken to a mobile court sitting within the premises of FRSC Ngor Okpala for offences ranging from driving with expired tyres, absence of fire extinguishers, broken windscreens, not using seat belts and dangerous driving. The presiding magistrate, Magistrate Emeka Charles Ukachukwu, found the 32 drivers who pleaded guilty to the offences fined them between N2, 000 to N20, 000 which the magistrate disclose would serve as deterrent to others.

Speaking after the exercise, the FRSC unit commander, Mr. Augustine Anya Kalu, said the exercise was part of the efforts of his men in sanitizing the roads particularly now that the rainy reason was approaching. The commander said that before the exercise, the unit had mounted public campaigns on the need for people to obey traffic laws and maintain highway codes. He regretted that despite the public campaigns, many motorists ran afoul of the law, pointing out that such offenders would be made to face the wrath of the law. Kalu who stated that the unit had in line with the improved supervision establishment Act 2007 section 10(4) ensured a 15 percent reduction in Road Traffic Crash (RTC) and fatality by 25 percent through massive use of Breathalyzer, saying the convictions would serve as deterrent to other road users and motorist alike.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Teenage suspect remanded Elo ogwara, WARRI

16 year old girl, Oluchukwu Nzenwokwu was yesterday sent to the Sapele remand home in Delta state by a Warri magistrate court after escaping from police custody in Warri. Oluchukwu, also known as Mary Jane, had been arrested for alleged burglary but sneaked out of cell and scaled the fence of the ‘B’ Divisional Police Station in Warri on October 14. The items stolen include one laptop, a bottle of wine and N66, 000 belonging to one Okoyo Gods power, a neighbor at her parents’ residence in Nelson Williams Street, Warri. Following her escape, her father had petitioned

the police over her whereabouts and this prompted intense investigation that led to her re-arrest in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, where she was said to have also escaped from cell before being caught again and transferred to Warri. During her arraignment last Friday, one of the charges against her read thus: “That you Nzenwokwu Oluchukwu ‘f ’ on the 14th day of October 2015 at The Nigeria Police Force ‘B’ Division, Warri did escape from lawful custody which you are duly detained in Police Cell for offense of stealing and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 135(a) of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, a Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.” Counsel to the accused, Samson Ugen, while plead-

ing for her bail, explained that her escape from police cell was as a result of the harsh environment of the cell, as well as, carelessness on the part of the police who, in his opinion, should be held responsible and urged the court to consider her age and the fact that she could get bail for the case of theft. Refusing the suspect bail, S.O.S Yalaju, the presiding Magistrate of Court 5, Warri GRA, relied on the objection of the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Evelyn Ojobor, who cited the dual attempts by the accused to escape police custody, noting that it may pose a big risk to anyone standing surety for her bail. Magistrate Yalaju pointed out that the suspect’s record of attempted escapes from police detention had compounded her

A woman who runs her shop in a bus.

case, hence ordered that the accused be transferred to the remand home for teenagers in Sapele from where she would be attending court proceedings including a separate trial on her alleged theft. She further said that the case file could be transferred to the nearest court within the Sapele jurisdiction, if the cost of bringing her to appear in court in Warri would be too expensive. Onogbori Margaret and her daughter Omo Ademete, two other detainees at the Warri ‘B’ Division Police Cell, also charged along with Oluchukwu for alleged conspiracy in her escape were however granted bail with a fine of N50, 000 each by a surety resident within the Warri Magisterial jurisdiction in like sum.

PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

Businessman bags 10 years in prison over trafficking

38-year-old businessman, Chibueze Onedigbo, on Monday was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos for drug trafficking. Onedigbo, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge of drug trafficking on August 29, 2013. Delivering judgement, Justice Musa Kurya, said that the sentence was in line with the sentencing guideline recently released for Federal High

Court judges “I have considered all the above, and I am of the view that the prosecution has discharged its burden of proof. “I have listened to the plea for leniency by the accused, and have taken into consideration all that has been said. In any case, the court is duty bound to sentence the accused having found him guilty. “Moreso, the court is guided by the sentencing guideline recently released for Federal High Court judges. “Consequently, I hereby

sentence the accused to 10 years imprisonment, from the day of this judgment. “The drug exhibits in custody of the NDLEA are to be destroyed within 30 days, if there is no appeal against this judgment,’’ Kurya said. The NDLEA Prosecutor, Mr Linus Nor, while testifying in court said the convict was arrested on April 7, 2013, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport with 210 grammes of cocaine during clearance of passengers on board a Qatar airline flight.

Nor told the court that the convict had concealed the substance in a black leather bag. The prosecutor said the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004. When the charge was read, the 38-year-old pleaded not guilty. The NDLEA called two witnesses to prove its case against the convict. Justice Musa Kurya consequently sentenced Onedigbo to 10 years in prison.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Oshiomhole: Igbinedion looted Edo to enrich family • I’ll react to allegations soon —Esama sebastine ebhuOmhan Benin

overnor Adams Oshiomhole has shed light on how Edo State government intends to look into the unlawful withdrawal of $31m (about N7 billion) for a questionable business and related matters by the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion. Addressing members of

civil society organisations and students of Ambrose Alli University, AAU who mobilised to Government House yesterday in support of the governor and his policies, especially the Land Use Charge Law, Oshiomhole accused the Igbinedion family of using its Independent Television, ITV and radio stations to wage a war against Edo government because he recovered over

DPR decries unauthorised filling stations in Bayelsa OsahOn Julius Yenagoa

ayelsa State office of Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has lamented the proliferation of unauthorised and unlicensed filling stations in the state, where adulterated products are sold to unsuspecting consumers. Disclosing this in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, after his meeting with Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, IPMAN, the state’s Operations Controller, Mr. Bassey Nkanga, said when he came on board, there were more than 40 illegal filling stations operating in the state. He, however, said the department had been able to reduce them by 70 per cent and warned operators of unlicensed filling stations to regularise with the DPR or face the full wrath of the law. Nkanga also sounded a note of warning to IPMAN officials who are in the habit of selling petroleum products above the government regulated prices, saying despite the scarcity of petrol at the moment, marketers

should stick to the regulated price of N87 per litre of fuel and N50 per litre of kerosene. He said some filling stations were cashing in on the short supply of petrol to cheat consumers by adjusting their meters, warning that the department will soon swoop on such filling stations. ‘‘The marketers are taking advantage of the short supply to be selling fuel at exorbitant prices. That’s why we are telling them that the issue should not be so because on no account should fuel be sold above government regulated price of N87 per litre for petrol and N50 for kerosene,’’ he warned. He also cautioned marketers against siting their filling stations on areas declared unsuitable for sale of petroleum products. He said DPR will not hesitate to destroy such stations found to have contravened the law barring them from building such petrol stations in those places. He urged marketers to operate within the confines of the law if they do not want to be sanctioned.

200,000 hectares of land that was illegally gifted to Chief Gabriel Igbinedion by his son, Lucky, when the latter was the governor. Oshiomhole said he was not deterred by the campaign of calumny the Igbinedion media organisations had launched against him and insisted that he would always work in the interest of Edo taxpayers, no matter whose ox is gored. “In the interest of Edo people, even the one yet unborn, I want to be remembered after my stewardship not only for roads, hospitals, and schools. More importantly, I want to be remembered as the man who brought an end to exemption. “Let me share with you some of the things that are going on and why they are angry. I did not promise to make everybody happy. What I promised was to

make the majority happy. I will publish records in black and white and Edo people will be shocked how they have been raped by the gang masters of original fraudster.” “You are here looking for a small parcel of land and Lucky Igbinedion, former governor here gave out to his father, Gabriel Igbinedion, over 200,000 acres of government land (free). They took that land on the premise they will use it for mechanised farming. That is what is in the books. But what is on ground is that Igbinedion takes this land and gives this land to cocoa farmers, some of them from Edo, some from Yoruba land. “These cocoa farmers will farm and sweat to grow their cocoa on government land, Igbinedion will sit in his house on which he is not paying ground rent and is

collecting royalties. Is Igbinedion the Oba of Benin? The great Oba of the great Benin Kingdom never subjected his people to that level of exploitation. Can you accept that one chief collects royalties as if he is a traditional ruler? “Based on the powers vested in me as the elected governor of Edo State, I have used those privileges to revoke the over 200,000 hectares of land that Igbinedion the son gave to Igbinedion, the father. I have revoked and returned it to government. “Let me tell you what I have done. I told those cocoa farmers, you are Nigerians, you do not need resident permit to live in any part of Nigeria as a Nigerian citizen. “Why will a Nigerian be asked to pay rent on a farmland to a chief who collects

royalties? I directed, ‘You go and do your farming and whatever you make from it, you pay tax, personal income tax to Edo State government to ensure that Edo people have the resources to develop Edo State. And I said never again should you pay money to a chief,” the governor said. “That is the battle line that Igbinedion has been fighting. He tells me he is above the law and I tell him, if you fault the law, you will go to prison. He must obey the law, laws made by Edo State government and laws made by the Federal Government. If he does not want to obey those laws, he will have to relocate.” Efforts by Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Igbinedion, to speak with our correspondent on telephone suffered setback due to network issues.

Bayelsa State governor/PDP gubernatorial candidate, Seriake Dickson (right), and his APC counterpart, Timipre Sylva, during a Peace Summit organised by INEC, and UNDP, ahead of the Dec. 5 election in the state, at Creek Motels, Yenagoa.

Navy nabs 8 illegal migrants, 18 other suspects in Rivers Dennis naku

Port Harcourt

igerian Navy said it has arrested a 26man gang that allegedly has been terrorising residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, disclosed this yesterday to newsmen.

Ibrahim said the gang was arrested during a raid of criminal hideouts in the city. According to him, the arrest followed an intelligence report of incessant terror campaign by the group. He said that eight of the 26 suspects are illegal migrants from Niger Republic, while the others claimed to be Nigerians. He said, “Troops of NNS Pathfinder raided a Mam-

my market around Borikiri area of Port Harcourt following intelligence report of criminal activities and presence of illegal migrants in the area. “Following the raid, eight illegal migrants from Niger Republic were arrested over their involvement in drug peddling, robbery and harassment of innocent citizens in the area. “Also arrested during the raid were 18 others, who

claimed to be Nigerians,” he said. Ibrahim who was represented by the NNS Pathfinder’s Base Operations Officer, Cdr. Chidi Ejiofor, said the raid was made in view of the present security challenge in the NorthEast and other parts of the country. He said the suspects had been handed over to operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, for

further investigation and deportation of the aliens. Receiving the 26 suspects, the Assistant Controller of NIS, Mr Ahmed Isiaku, called for intelligence sharing between security services in the state. Isiaku said synergy with security services would lead to the arrest of more criminals and terrorists, especially at a time when Boko Haram insurgents were fleeing to other parts

of the country. According to him, collaboration with other security agencies will enable NIS flush out and checkmate illegal aliens and their known associates from the state. Isiaku said the eight illegal migrants would be thoroughly screened and deported to their country, while the 18 other suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

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Dangote, others flag off nationwide campaign on cooking gas

L-R: Kaduna State deputy governor, Bala Bantex; APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu; Governor Nasir el-Rufai and State Assembly Speaker, Hon, Aminu Shagali, at the flag-off of the first phase of Kaduna Cabs Scheme at Murtala Square, Kaduna, yesterday.

Evidence against CCT chairman not weighty to sustain prosecution–EFCC DOOSUUR IWAMBE ABUJA

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday disclosed that it did not put the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar on trial over the N10m bribery allegation against him because the evidence was not weighty and sufficient to sustain a possible prosecution. The anti graft body claimed that the accusation against the CCT Chairman was a mere suspicion, which in law, cannot take the place of proof. In a memorandum forwarded to the office of the Secretary to the Govern-

ment of the Federation, SGF, EFCC however confirmed that one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a personal assistant to the CCT boss, admitted receiving N1.8m in 2012 from one Rasheed Taiwo standing trial at the tribunal. The said Abdullahi was alleged to have used his salary account at Zenith Bank to collect the graft. EFCC in a letter with reference no. EFCC/EC/ SGF/03/56 entitled: “Investigation report on N10m bribery allegation against the chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja”, dated March 5, 2015 and personally signed by immediate past Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, said Mr. Taiwo,

a retired Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, who is the complainant in the bribery saga, failed to produce the alleged telephone conversations and text messages exchanged by him and Justice Umar. The former Customs chief was said to have persistently claimed that he had lost his phone since 2012 and could not trace or recover it. EFCC said the telephone exchanges would have been subjected to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the bribery allegation. Justice Umar, according to EFCC, admitted meeting the complainant in his chamber at the tribunal. The meeting, the anti graft agency noted, was

unethical and a highly suspicious conduct on the part of the chairman. Meanwhile, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, said the CCT chairman cannot be removed from office by mere fiat of the executive arm of the government. Adoke in a letter dated March 25, 2015 to the SGF, clarified that the process of removing the CCT chairman was cumbersome and tedious because of the uniqueness of the law that back the appointment. The former minister explained the Presidency and the National Assembly shared the power to remove the CCT boss or any of the tribunal members.

PDP charges new ministers to focus on economy OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday charged the incoming federal cabinet to quickly settle down, move fast and focus on the economy. The party said the present administration has so far played heavily on dramatising routine procedures and processes, which was even glaring in the prolonged swearing-in ceremony of ministers. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh said in a statement that the much-expected

assignment of portfolios to the ministers did not inspire confidence that any change was being introduced in the system. The party said with the inauguration, the APC administration should fully resolve the issues surrounding the actual position of the economy and the direction therein “Whereas President Muhammadu Buhari had announced that the nation is bankrupt to the extent he cannot pay his ministers, his new Minister of Information had contradicted him directly by stating how the government is buoyant and ready to deploy $2.5bn in-

frastructure fund, saved N1.4trn with another N2.5trn ready as special intervention fund, which goes to say that the country is not actually broke. “These new ministers should note the challenge before them regarding the image of the country which the APC government has changed from being the ‘Heart of Africa’ and a country of ‘Good people, Great nation’ to that of ‘Corrupt people, Broke nation’. “Furthermore, we counsel the ministers, especially those who will be the face of the government, to note that the campaigns are over. Nige-

rians therefore will no longer condone propaganda, lies and deceit but expect a responsible dissemination based on truth, honesty and openness,” Metuh said.

he pilot scheme of Gas to Health Initiative, GTHI, which seeks to encourage Nigerians to embrace the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, has been launched in Abuja. The GTHI, with the aim of protecting the health of Nigerians, as well as the preservation of the environment from deforestation was launched by Vice President of Dangote Group, Sani Dangote Mr. Dangote, who is the president of GTHI, said with an over abundance of resources and population of 165million, Nigeria still ranks amongst the lowest in LP Gas consumption in ECOWAS member countries, with per capita consumption of 1.8kg, trailing countries like Senegal at 8.46kg, Cote D’Ivoire at 9.3kg and Ghana at 10kg per capita. He regretted that despite being rated as the leading producer of LP Gas in Africa, with annual production of about 3.2million MT and 12th in global ranking, the country still ranks abysmally

low in terms of consumption of gas and its application to other relevant domestic, industrial and social purposes. According to him, about 56 per cent of energy needed for cooking in the country is supplied by firewood, particularly in the rural areas, adding that the cumulative effect of this trend is the negative impact on citizen health, the environment, and economy as a whole. He said the flag off of the “Operation Mama Put/Local Food Vendors Conversion to LPG Usage” is notable, as the project is designed to take a practical approach to addressing lack of awareness and sensitisation. Speaking at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Anthony Ogbuigwe regretted that Nigeria produces ten times the LP Gas it consumes, and that the country ranks very low in Africa. Secretary of GTHI, Mrs. Betty Ugona, attributed the success of the campaign to the support of its sponsors.

Bindow inaugurates Adamawa Economic Management Team LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

overnor Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa State yesterday expressed the determination of his administration to ensure diversification of the state economy and wean it from its dependence on federal allocation in the wake of dwindling oil revenues. The governor, while inaugurating the state economic management team in Yola, the state capital, said it has become imperative for the state to look for ways to sustain itself because of dwindling oil

revenues which he noted will continue to fall. Hon. Martins Nasir Babale, who performed the inauguration on behalf of the governor, said the team has the responsibility of ensuring increase in internally generated revenue, to cushion the effect of the shortfall in federal allocation. The governor said the delay in payment of workers was due to drop in federal allocation to the state for the month of October, adding that if the administration fails to be proactive, it may find itself in a precarious situation.

ASUU Adamawa Varsity chapter kicks against removal of Vice Chancellor

embers of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Adamawa State University, ADSU, Mubi chapter, have kicked against the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shall David by the state government. Chairman of the union, Mr Abubakar Song and

Secretary, Mr Aliyu Umaru, made this known yesterday, in a signed statement issued in Yola. “The removal of the Vice Chancellor is a great setback to the university as it draws the university from the glaring development it is witnessing before the sudden change. “This action contra-

venes the autonomy of the university and therefore unacceptable to the union.” the statement said. It urged the government to reconstitute the institution’s Governing Council to contain the problem it described as “administrative shortcomings.”

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Army dislodges rustlers, recovers cattle in Niger PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

Wife of Kebbi State governor, Hajiya A’ishatu Bagudu (right), during her visit to the Emir of Zuru, Sani Sami, in Kebbi State, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Police foil assassination attempt on Taraba LG boss JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

araba State police c o m m i s s i o n e r, Shaba Alkali, yesterday said the command has successfully foiled assassination attempt on the chairman of Wukari local government council, Daniel Angyu. Shaba disclosed this while parading the two suspected assassins before newsmen in Jalingo. He told journalists that the crisis in Wukari was caused by two groups, all from one family but divid-

ed along party lines (APC and PDP). According to him, the group loyal to All Progressive Congress, APC was celebrating the tribunal judgment that nullified the election of Darius Ishaku as governor and ordered the swearing in of Aisha Alhassan of APC as governor, which led to crisis in the area. The commissioner further explained that he received reliable information that one of the groups had perfected plan to assassinate chairman of the local government (a PDP

member) and he quickly sent police to guard his house, successfully arresting one Bitrus Henry and Christopher Danladi in the process. The commissioner warned those sponsoring youths to kill innocent people to leave the state and vowed to unravel the sponsors of the recent crisis in Wukari and charge them to court to serve as deterrent to others. The 28-year-old Henry in an interview with journalists confessed to the crime, saying they went to the chairman’s house to apolo-

gise for their wrong doing and not to kill him. “I was with a gun and five bullets which I collected from somebody. I wanted to go home and keep it, but I decided to come and apologise to the chairman over my attitude towards him the previous day, when we wanted to beat him up. Our intention was not to kill him,” he said. He said sudden discovery that the chairman was his uncle prompted the apology, adding that unfortunately he was arrested by the police at the gate of Angyu’s house.

Cleric docked for stealing $100,000 ABDULGAFAR OLADIMEJI KANO

cleric has been arraigned before a Kano senior magistrate court sitting in Nomans –Land for allegedly conspiring with one of his faithful and stealing $100,000 from a businessman resident in Nasarawa Quarters. Police prosecutor, sergeant Haziel Ledapwa, said the cleric named Sayyadi Hassan Muhammad of Unguwa-Uku Quarters spurred his student, Mukaila Ibrahim, 37, of Nasarawa GRA, to steal the equivalent of N20 million from his employer. The accused persons had however denied the allegation levied against them. The prosecutor said: “Mallam Sayyadi Mu-

hammad of Unguwa Uku Quarters, Kano, a selfacclaimed Islamic scholar induced a domestic servant, Mukaila Ibrahim aged 37years of Nassarawa GRA Kano, to steal the sum of $100,000, the equivalent of N20 million from his employer. After the deal was done, the Mallam gave the sum of N6 million to the said Mukaila and converted the balance to himself. “The Mallam used his loot for the following: to buy a Honda Civic valued at N850,000; a tricycle valued at N430,000; a Mercedes Benz valued at N1.6 million; rented a shop at Kantin Kwari Market for N1.5 million, bought textile materials valued at N1,650 and cash sum of N432,100. “Mukaila bought a plot of land built at Hotoro

area valued at N2,165,200; a Golf automobile valued at N550,000; Zongshen motorcycle for N135,000; bought a fridge, television set, decoder and gas cooker. One Habibu was given the sum of N90,000.” The accused persons de-

nied the allegations levied against them. Senior magistrate, Ahmed Hassan Fagge, ordered that the suspects be released on bail, and adjourned the matter to November 25 for further mention.

he 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna has dislodged rustlers’ camp in Bagabaga village, within Alawa forest, Rafi local government in Niger State and recovered 100 cows and 92 sheep, according to Captain Njideka Agwu, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, ADAPR of the Nigerian Army. In September 2015, the army arrested a suspected cattle rustler and recovered 97 cows and 41 sheep in Sarkin Pawa, Munya Local Government Area of the state, handing them over to the rightful owners. Agwu stated that during the exercise headed by the Brigade Task Force commander, Lt Col. Dzarma Zirkushu on Sat-

urday, the brigade also successfully collected 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 19 cartridges of double barrel, one locally made revolver, an empty AK-47 magazine, 3 handsets and a motorcycle. She explained that the livestock recovered have been given to the chairman of the local council. The presentation, she said, was done in the presence of the DSS officer in charge of the council, Mr Barnabas Idzi, representative of the police, Mr. Lawal Yinusa and District Head Alawa, Alhaji Shehu Adamu Gajere. According to her, the operation was taken to rid the state of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the area, warning that the brigade would not tolerate any criminal act.

Kaduna: Tinubu flags off el-Rufai’s taxi scheme A ZA MSUE KADUNA

ational leader of All Progressives Congress, APC and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, yesterday flagged off the first phase of 200-taxi scheme of the Kaduna State government, saying the initiative was long overdue. Tinubu also commended the state governor, Nasir el-Rufai, for the scheme, saying the initiative showed he was no longer an accidental civil servant, but a thorough-breed governor that is ready to develop the state.

Tinubu said the Kaduna Green Cabs programme is an initiative to revive taxi service in the state using modern cars and well-trained ownerdrivers. He added that it will also create a new generation of owner-drivers. On his part, Governor el-Rufai stated that the taxi scheme is a business and not an exercise for political patronage. Aside from the 10% deposit each of the pioneer owner-drivers of the Kaduna Cabs have made, they will pay for the full value of the cars in monthly installments. The repayments will be concluded in 36 months.’’

DPR helpless as fuel scarcity lingers in Gombe …seals five filling stations WILLIAMS ATTAH GOMBE

he lingering fuel scarcity hitting many parts of the country has turned severe in Gombe, even as the Gombe and Bauchi Operations office of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, expressed helplessness in managing the tense situation. With alleged sharp practices by owners of some of the filling stations in con-

nivance with DPR officials, National Mirror’s visits to many of the stations yesterday uncovered disorganised, unruly and impatient crowds awaiting the product. A motorist, Inusa Mohammed, alleged that there is no roadside petrol vendor (black marketer) in Gombe town that does not have fuel. According to him, it is an open secret that most of the filling stations, with the knowledge of DPR, sell

fuel to these illegal vendors at night, between 1a.m and 4a.m. He blamed DPR for worsening the scarcity, accusing the agency of allowing the filling stations sell to black marketers at above the N87 per litre official price, while the black marketers sell at N120 per litre and above. However, Mr. Bernard S. Amos, assistant to the controller in-charge of Retail Outlet Monitoring, who spoke on behalf of the DPR Controller, said Gombe was

suffering from insufficient fuel. He explained that instead of the 594,000 litres that would prove adequate for Gombe, the state only got 561,000 litres from Friday all through Monday. According to him, with very few staff to monitor stations in Gombe and Bauchi states, the DPR office is totally helpless coupled with the fact that they are not security agents, which leaves most of the filling stations in crisis situation.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as SEMIU AKANNI IBRAHIM, now wish to be known and addressed as SEMIU IBRAHIM OJORA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME That i was formerly known, called and addressed as ABASIAMA ANIEKAN AKPANSUNG, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NSIKAK ANIEKAN AKPANSUNG. All former documents remain valid. The general public and Local Government service Commission please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as MICHAEL NGOZI DIVINE, now wish to be known and addressed as OKEKE NGOZI DIVINE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EZEUGWU THEOPHILUS ANIAGOROM, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUMA THEOPHILUS ANIAGOROM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certify that OKWARAONYEJI JOSEPH CHUKWUEMENEM and ONYEJI JOSEPH CHUKWUEMENEM refers to one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as OKWARAONYEJI JOSEPH CHUKWUEMENEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Thursday September 4, 2014

AFN releases entry standard, promises athletes cash

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

We have dedicated the League win to Abia State Governor, the people of Abia State and all our fans

–Enyimba FC Chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu

L-R: NFF Vice Chairman, Seyi Akinwunmi, FIFA U-17 World Cup highest goal scorer, Victor Osimhen, NSC Director General Al-Hassan Yakmut with others at the reception, yesterday in Abuja

Joel AJAyi ABUJA

reception worthy of heroes was accorded players and officials of the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, as they returned to the country yesterday following a successful campaign at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. The Coach Emmanuel Amuneke –led Eaglets touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard Emirates Airline flight EK 785 from Dubai. The team had stayed the night in Dubai on Tuesday after flying from Santiago the previous day. “The entire nation is proud of you. You have done a great thing to bring honour to this country, and Mr. President is very delighted. ‘’ I also wish to convey to you the joy of

Victorious Golden Eaglets arrive amidst pomp, ceremony ...FG to host team soon –Yakmut

the new Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports,” said Mallam Yakmut. A cultural troupe entertained the Golden Eaglets just outside the arrival hall and made it possible for several airport officials, travelers and fans to take photographs with the players and officials, as Captain Kelechi Nwakali held aloft the glittering trophy. Thereafter, players and officials were driven round some areas of the Federal

Capital Territory in a motorcade before the convoy arrived at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The new Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, later had dinner with the Golden Eaglets at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The team will be decamped on Thursday, to reconvene for a presidential reception at a later date. On hand to receive the victorious boys

and their officials were DG, Sports of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mallam Alhassan Saleh Yakmut, NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF 2nd Vice President, Mr. Shehu Dikko, directors of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, NFF Board members Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi, Alh. Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande and Alh. Ahmad Kawu, and NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

Oliseh urges Nigerians to be patient with Eagles ...says 2018 World Cup ticket not negotiable Joel AJAyi ABUJA

uper Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, yesterday, called on Nigerians to exercise patient with his wards, saying that he is doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the coun-

try has a formidable squad. The former Super Eagles midfielder added that much as there is pressure on the team, securing the 2018 World Cup ticket is not negotiable. Oliseh who said this during a media parley in Abuja, remains resolute and confidence that the

Eagles would come out of the debacle unscathed. “I am very optimistic that Nigeria will be in Russian when the 2018 World Cup kicks off. “The players are roaring to go. They are now more united. Even though I was not 100 percent fit when I was watching

them train, I am impressed with their level of display. “If they can translate all those features in training to the match proper, it will be a good result for Nigeria.” The former Borrusia Dortmond FC of Germany player, however allayed fears on the ab-

sence of his former goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, adding that his absence has well been taken care off. ‘’Enyeama’s issue is past tense, let us not dwel so much on it, there is always a replacement of any play as i have always maintained.’’

Sports

Thursday, November 12, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Blatter remains in hospital after stressrelated ‘small breakdown’ Blatter

uspended FIFA President, Sepp Blatter remains in a Swiss hospital after what his spokesman called a “small breakdown” related to stress. The 79-year-old suspended FIFA president expects to leave the hospital next Monday, Zurich-based spokesman Klaus Stoehlker told The Associated Press yesterday.

“(Blatter) will be back officially in business on Tuesday next week,” Stoehlker said in a telephone interview. “The checkup is finished and he is recovering.” On Friday, Blatter’s American lawyer told the AP that he was at a hospital. On Wednesday, longtime Blatter aide Walter Gagg told the AP “he was always at

Man United ready £42.4m January bid for Algerian star

an United ready £42.4m January bid for international star to solve forward troubles The Red Devils have scouted the Algerian international, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, who is enjoying an impressive season at the Estádio do Dragão. The 25-year-old has made 12 appearances so far this season and terrorised Chelsea rightback Branislav Ivanovic in Porto’s 2-1 win in the Champions League last month. United boss Louis van Gaal has spoken of his desire to add more pace and creativity to his side in the upcoming transfer window and it is reported that Brahimi’s qualities have caught the Dutchman’s eye. “I have said already in my first year many times we need speed and creativity on the wings” However, United will have to pay big money if they are to land the wide man with Brahimi having a £42.4m release clause in his contract. Van Gaal has frequently bemoaned his side’s wingers this season as he looks to add greater

balance to his squad. Summer signing Memphis has failed to live up to expectations since arriving from PSV Eindhoven with academy graduate Jesse Lingard taking his spot. But Van Gaal spoke after United’s 2-0 win over West Brom on Saturday of the need to add speed to his squad. “I have said already in my first year many times we need speed and creativity on the wings,” he said.

Brahimi

the hospital.” Blatter is appealing against his 90-day provisional ban by the FIFA ethics committee over suspected financial misconduct. He still hopes to host the Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Zurich on Jan. 11, after the suspension expires, Gagg said on the sidelines of a meeting of Olympic sports.

Blatter’s main goal is to host the FIFA election congress on February 26, Gagg said. On that day in Zurich, FIFA will elect a successor to Blatter, ending his more than 40 years working for soccer’s governing body. Even if Blatter gets his interim ban lifted, by the FIFA appeal committee or Court of Arbitration for Sport, he then faces a

full hearing before the ethics committee. Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini were banned in the wake of a Swiss criminal case investigating financial misconduct at FIFA. The criminal case centres on whether Blatter misused FIFA money by making a $2 million payment to Platini for backdated salary in 2011.

Oshoffa tourney kicks off in Lagos

he 2015 edition of the annual Samuel Bilewu Oshoffa champions League has kicked off in Lagos among 16 Parishes of the Celestial Church of God that registered for the competition. Chairman of the international organizing committee of the championship, Moses Adeyemi said that the championship which is the brain child of Olajuwon Tejuosho Cathedral of the Church would be played on a home and away basis with the grand finale coming up in Lagos at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on November 28. According to him, the parishes participating in the championship are; Canaan Parish, Ikorodu Road Parish, Government Layout Parish, Igbe Olu Parish, Ore- Ofe Parish, Holy Cross Redemption Parish, Osopa London Parish, Omo- Aladealafia Parish, Abesan Cathedral and Zion Parish. Others include, Ayilara Parsih, Akoka Parish, Olajuwon Parish, International Headquarters, Holy Mary Cathedral and the defending champions, National Headquarters Parish. Ayeni explained that the championship is part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the death of the founder of Celestial Church, SB Oshoffa.

Neymar

Injury-hit Argentina seek 2018 World Cup qualifying win against Brazil

rgentina coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has a number of absentees to cope with as the Albiceleste go in search of their first win in 2018 World Cup qualifying when they host Brazil on Friday. Argentina coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has a number of absentees to cope with as the Albiceleste go in search of their first win in 2018 World Cup qualifying when they host Brazil on Friday. Carlos Tevez has joined Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero on the sidelines

for Argentina after the Boca Juniors forward was ruled out for the qualifiers against Brazil and Colombia with a sprained left knee. Manchester City right-back Pablo Zabaleta and Zenit defender Ezequiel Garay are also sidelined through injury. The absence of Messi has been costly for Argentina, who have failed to prevail in their last three games and have not scored in 181 minutes. “It’s logical to miss a player like Messi,” Argentina’s Benfica midfielder Nico Gaitan said to Ole newspaper. “He is crucial

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Thursday, November 12, 2015

YSFON congratulates Golden Eaglets IfEanyI Eduzor

Medal winning Nigerian girls

Ahead Rio 2016

AFN releases entry standard, promises athletes cash

MERCY JACOB The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has released entry standard for athletes intending to represent Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. AFN’s Head of Communication and Media, Olukayode Thomas, said men and women competing in the 100m must run 10.09secs and 11.10secs to make it to Brazil. “For the 200m, the men must run 20.20secs and the women

22.50secs while in the 400m, the entry standard is 45.20secs for men and 50.90secs for women. “For the men’s 800m, the standard is 1.45.30secs and 2.00.00secs for women. “The men’s 110 hurdles standard is 13.35secs and women 100m hurdles is 12.85secs, men and women’s 400m hurdles must run 48.95secs and 54.93secs respectively while the men’s high jump standard is 2.31 meters and women 1.98meters. Men long jumpers must jump 8.20me-

ters and women 6.90meters. Triple jumpers must achieve 17.25meters for the men and 14.60meters for the women and for pole-vault, the standard is 5.70meters for men and 4.60meters for women. “Men and women shot-put must achieve 20.60meters and 18.50meters while the standard for discuss throw is 66.00meters for men and 65.15meters for women and 79.00meters is the standard for men hammer and 72.20meters for women.

“Male javelin must achieve 83.00meters and women 65.10meters. 8, 200points is for decathlon, while hepthalon is 6, 300points.” Thomas, who revealed that the standards must be achieved between January 1 2016 to June 30 2016, also said: “The AFN will pay athletes that meet this standard $2, 000 and athletes that make the Rio finals will get $2, 500, bronze medalists $10,000, silver medalists $30, 000 and gold medalists $50, 000.

Tennis: Kano set for Dala Hard Court Ajunwa’s Athletics championship kicks off Nov. 19 a G Paul ErEwuba

tlanta ’96 Olympics gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara (MON), has revealed her age long-bottled interest in giving back to the society that made her. At the unveiling of her pet project, Chioma Ajunwa Athletics Foundation (CAJFON) held in Lagos, the Police Woman and former Super Falcons player, said she had long nursed the feeling of creating an enabling environment for Nigeria to produce future Olympics medallists like the onyalis, Falilats, etc. ‘’Since my sporting career, I have always thought of empowering the youth to attain their God’s given talents. We now have a centre complete with athletics equipment. ‘’The aim of setting up this

Athletics Foundation is to provide a platform for the discovery of talents to win laurels for Nigeria. The Foundation, in conjunction with with Lagos State Sports Council has fixed November 19- 21 for the maiden edition of the U-13 athletics championship billed at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. According to Ajunwa ‘’over 2000 youth athletes are expected to participate in the three days event which includes, 400m, 100m, 200m, 4x1, 4x4, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, etc.’’ She explained further that 20 male and 20 female athletes who excel in the championship would be camped at the built camp in Mairan, Lagos state. ‘’The athletes would be taken to the foundation’s camp site at Mairan where their skills would be further horned by qualified

folabI

ambarI

he Kano Tennis Club will host the 2015 Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship, starting from today. Organising Secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Datti, told National Mirror yesterday that the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) had been directed to invite the first 20 men and 10 ladies ranked players in the country for the main draw of the annual competition. “The preliminaries will hold between November 13 and 15 while the main draw will commence on November 16,” Yusuf said. The organising secretary disclosed that the committee had received what he called encouraging response from the sponsors, saying however that more response from corporate bodies and individuals was still

outh Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), has congratulated the victorious Golden Eaglets for winning the just concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup back to back in Chile. The Eaglets last Sunday defeated their counterparts from Mali 2-0 to lift the trophy for a record five times. In a statement by the Federation’s President, Dr. Yusuf Gawuna, it noted that the victory is an indication that with proper and adequate planning Nigeria can dominate the world in sports particularly in football. According to him, YSFON is particularly happy that most past and present members of the squad are its products even as it pledged its continuous development of grassroots sports in the country. “ We are particularly happy that YSFON over the years has played an important role in discovering talents that later played for the Golden Eaglets and we as a body will continue to be in the vanguard of grassroots football development;, the statement said. In a related development, the body also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for the victory saying; the fact that Nigeria first lifted the trophy in 1985 when he was Military Head of State and wining it again when he became civilian President is a sign of good things to happen to sports under this present administration.

expected. “The organising committee will provide accommodation and feeding to national officials and players while Kano State Governor Dr. Umar Abdulahi Ganduje will be Special guest of Honour at the final ceremony on November 21,” he submitted.

Pa Ajom begins final journey

Pa Ajom

he remains of Pa Jerome Nyiam Ajom will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 14, at his family compound at Arangha, Isobendeghe in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River

State. The final journey begins on November 13 when the body leaves Holy Family Hospital mortuary, Ikom for Isobendeghe. There will be a lying-in-state and a Christian wake keep at his family compound. Interment will follow on the 14. Pa Ajom was survived by children, grand children and great grand, among whom is Jacob Ajom of the Vanguard Newspapers.

WORLD RECORD

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

Vol. 05 No. 1242 Thursday, November 12, 2015

N150

After Golden Eaglets’ triumph, what next? M y friends all, again, since the amazing triumph of 1985, when the relatively unknown youngsters, Nduka Ugbade, Victor Igbinoba, Jonathan Akpoborie, Tonwoerimi Duere, Fati Atere et al stunned the world and placed their fatherland on the high echelons of achievement in global soccer, Nigeria has become the toast of the soccer world. On the night of Sunday November 8 at the Estadio Sausalito, Vina Del Mar, Chile, much to the admiration of the world, history repeated itself in an even sweeter fashion. For not only did Nigeria retain the cup she won in 2013 in the UAE, becoming the second nation ever to attain the feat, she sat atop the world as the first nation ever to win the cup five times! Not only that, Victor Osimhen got his name in the record books as the first player ever to score 10 goals in the cadet

ussian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has said Britain’s anti-doping system has “zero value” and is “even worse” than Russia’s. A World Anti-Doping Agency commission report has accused Russia of running a “state-sponsored” doping programme.

Guest Columnist

Sola S l

Ojewusi

tournament, smashing Florent Sinama Pongolle’s 2001 and Souleyman Coulibaly’s 2011 nine-goal records. This is sweet victory for Nigeria over their Malian rivals, who incidentally had earlier in the year bested Nigeria by claiming the African U-17 championship. The fact that Nigeria came a distant fourth in that tournament makes this victory over Mali even sweeter. The emphatic 2-0 win affirmed the Eaglets’ standing as the team for the bigger occasion, having proved same over Cote d’Ivoire in 2013. This victory is also a kind of delightful vindication for President Muhammadu Buhari under whose leadership Nigeria first won the crown in 1985. Already many Nigerians are pointing to this victory as a sign of the many goodies to come from the symbol of change. Congrats, Mr President. One cannot but be proud of the dogged and determined manner Barrister Amaju Pinnick and his NFF team prosecuted and won this one battle. In a season of despair brought about by insurgency and dwindling economic fortunes, giving Nigerians something to cheer about is not only patriotic but historic. The coaching crew, led by veteran Emmanuel Amuneke must also be commended. All in all, the heroes of the moments have earned for themselves niches in the annals of Nigerian football fame and it is my fervent wish that their footballing star will not fade, and that their fortune in the game will lead them to the pedestal of unwaning success. Having said that, one must not be carried away again by the euphoria of suc-

THE DEMYSTIFICATION OF

BRAZIL IS A

METAPHOR OF WHAT COMES WHEN ILLUSION OVERWHELMS REASON AND PREPAREDNESS cess. Too often in the past, we have failed to seize moments like this to advance our soccer fortunes beyond the cadet level. It is thus a huge responsibility on the necks of Amaju and co to ensure that sustenance emanates from this one victory. Too often we have squandered the opportunities offered by triumphs like this, either through development policy somersaults, or administrative lethargy and official rascality. I am sure Amaju and co will not want to toe this squandermaniac line. The Federal Government should use its weight to ensure that strong teeth are given to real football development. The first step is to invest seriously in keeping the boys together. It is disheartening that the Super Eagles that were once so feared have now become the butt of jokes by those who can’t even zip their soccer fly. That is what you get when you drop mightily from being among the best five in the world to Number 59! Folks, to borrow a Nigerian parlance, that is not our

portion! We should be up there among the best because out talents are just too many for this kind of pedestrian trek by oncesoaring Eagles. Our incoming Sports Minister must have his job cut out from the scratch. Football in Nigeria is bigger than mere pastime. It is the ladder through which our banner of unity has been hoisted over the years. It is also the step by which many youngsters have been catapulted from extreme poverty and obscurity to wealth and fame, becoming bread winners and inspiration to many. Through football, Nigeria has earned fame and respect. The last time I was in Dubai, the very first thing my Emirati friends asked me was, “What’s the Nigerian magic?” They have not forgotten what we did to Brazil and Argentina, world football potentates, at Atlanta 96. Neither have they forgotten the wizardry of the Nigerian World Cup class of 1994. Nor the elegant artistry of the Eaglets class of 2013. We need to soar again for the sake of our national pride and psyche. We need to be high up in the sky where the true eagles thrive! But out football administrators must either put up positively or ship out. Allowing this moment to fritter away will be too costly for our national pride. Concrete development strategies, the kind that worked for winners at the highest level should be adopted and even perfected. Brazil’s debacle in the last world cup, losing so ignominiously at home to Germany did not start in 2014. Their dwindling fortunes in soccer began when proper planning was upstaged by the illusion of invincibility long before the fall. The demystification of Brazil is a metaphor of what comes when illusion overwhelms reason and preparedness. If the Super Eagles must shed the unflattering toga of “super chickens”, we must avoid the tactical blunders of recent years like a plague. Once again, congratulations, Nigeria. Ojewusi wrote via solaojewusi@yahoo.com

Sport Extra UK anti-doping system worse than Russia’s, says minister The report also accused the country of “sabotaging” the London 2012 Olympics. Mutko said: “We’re hearing that medals won by our athletes in London must be taken away. But it’s the British system of doping control that operated there.”

And he told Russian news agency Interfax: “It was Britain’s anti-doping organisation under the leadership of the International Olympic Committee. “Each medal winner was tested for doping and received their medal only after having tested negative.”

The Wada independent commission chairman Dick Pound said the All-Russia Athletics Federation (Araf) should be banned from international competition when he made his address on Monday to accompany the publication of the report.

Vitaly Mutko

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