Thursday, november 26, 2015 new by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

UK deports 48 Nigerians over immigration offences OLUSEGUN KOIKI

Buhari

Vol. 5 N0. 1252

o fewer than 48 Nigerians were yesterday deported

by the United Kingdom over several irregularities. The deportees arrived the Hajj Camp area of the Murtala Muhammed

Thursday, November 26, 2015

International Airport at 8am. They comprise 44 males and four females. Before the confirma-

National Mirror www.nationalmirro ronline.ne t

Thursday, November 26, 2015

LLagos beach: Filth on Broad

Street, Lagos os os

PHOTO: SAMU EL

Untapped revenue spinner

ADETIMEHIN

P.39

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

National Mirror Online

@NationalMirror

N150

Fuel scarcity

NNPC engages DSS, EFCC to stop hoarding DPR seals 17 stations in Bauchi, Gombe

CHIDI UGWU, WOLE ADEDEJI AND WILLIAMS ATTAH

igerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has engaged the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Reps probe sale, closure of newsprint company P.7 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (3rd left); President Muhammadu Buhari; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and others during the burial of the late Mama H.I.D Awolowo at Ikenne, Ogun State, yesterday.

Eulogies as HID is finally buried on centenary birthday

...Buhari, OBJ, Gowon, 17 govs pay last respect

P.2

Payment of N5,000 to unemployed kicks off in 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;FG

P.8

News

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NNPC engages DSS, EFCC to stop hoarding sion, EFCC, in a renewed effort to arrest hoarding and diversion of petroleum products by some unscrupulous marketers. The engagement of the security agencies is also meant to assist in the monitoring of nationwide fuel truck-out to retail outlets. While apologising to commuters, motorists and the general public for the noticeable hardship faced in accessing petrol across the country, the

NNPC assured that it was doing everything possible to normalise the fuel supply and distribution situation. Speaking during a working visit to the NNPC depot in Suleja in Niger State and some filling stations in Abuja and environs to evaluate the current fuel supply situation, the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment of the corporation, Dr. Babatunde Adeniran, said any marketer

found wanting in the sale of petroleum products including the NNPC retail outlet dealers, would be sanctioned appropriately. Dr. Adeniran noted that there would be no sacred cow as the corporation was working round the clock by supplying sufficient petroleum products to marketers to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed a yuletide season without the pain of fuel queues. “We must all make sure that petroleum products

get across to Nigerians at the regulated price especially as the yuletide season approaches. We have enough products and we want to plead with the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) not to be involved in the diversion of petroleum products in order to avoid causing untold hardship to motorists,” Dr. Adeniran enjoined. Providing insight on the role of the security agencies in curbing product diversion, the Man-

aging Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said the DSS and EFCC had been mobilised to bring to book any marketer involved in sabotaging the efforts of the federal government in making petroleum products available to motorists across the country. “We have invited the EFCC and DSS to join us in this campaign of monitoring the movement of

Cross-section of judges at the valedictory session for retired Justice John Fabiyi at the Supreme Court, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Eulogies as HID is finally buried on centenary FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

he remains of late Yeye Oodua and matriarch of Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, were yesterday committed to mother earth at the family’s country home in Ikenne, headquarters of Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. She was interred beside her husband inside the Awolowo Mausoleum, located within the family compound, after a funeral service at Our Saviour’s Church, Anglican Communion, Ikenne, presided over by Archbishop Met-

ropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Church Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh. Eminent personalities, which included Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who stood in for President Muhammadu Buhari; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as 16 governors all joined the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the chief mourner, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, at the church service. As early as 8:45a.m, eminent Nigerians and other clergymen, which included the Pastor of Later Rain Assembly,

Tunde Bakare, and Chief Olu Falae had filled the 690 capacity church, while others scrambled for space to pay their last respect to the late matriarch. The funeral service, however, commenced at exactly 10 a.m. after the white chariot conveying the gold-plated casket arrived the church and the bell on the belfry tolled for the third time. In his sermon, Primate Okoh described the late HID as a great wife, who stood by her husband, late Obafemi Awolowo, throughout his sojourn on earth. Okoh prayed that Mama would find eternal

rest after living a worthy life. The primate also lauded the deceased for being courageous, even when she lost three of her children. He urged the congregation to emulate her strong heart and firm belief in God. In his remark, Saraki, who spoke on behalf of President Buhari stated that Mama HID remained politically relevant nationally since the death of her husband in 1987. Saraki, however, prayed that God should grant members of Awolowo family the wisdom to sustain the good name left by their late parents and

keep the flag flying by ensuring that their legacies and values were upheld. President Buhari later arrived at the Awolowo’s residence around 2: 16p.m and headed straight for Efunyela Hall, where he was received by the Vice President, Governor Amosun and the two daughters of the deceased, Rev. Tola Oyediran and Ambassador Tokunbo AwolowoDosumu. Buhari, who was clad in milk-coloured kaftan, was led to the Awolowo mausoleum where the late Yeye Oodua was interred, while security operatives barred journalists from entering.

petroleum products and they have our mandate to sanction any errant marketer. Enough is enough,” Mrs. Nnamdi-Ogbue cautioned. She urged Nigerians and other motorists to desist from panic buying assuring that there were sufficient petroleum products to satisfy local consumption. Meanwhile, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Gombe said it had been battling with erring filling stations which were cashing in n the inadequate sufficiency level of the product to cheat costumers and make illegal profits. To this end, the DPR office in Gombe which oversees operations of the filling stations in Bauchi and Gombe states, last week, sealed off seventeen filling stations for diversion and selling above government approved pump price of N87 per litre. Briefing newsmen yesterday over their operations in the last one week, Mr. Benard Amos, the Assistant Controller in charge of Retail Outlet and Monitoring told journalists that the filling stations affected were found either selling above pump price of N87 as approved by government, under dispensing the product to customers and diversion to unknown destinations. He explained that five of the sanctioned stations in Gombe included Ummodah Investment Nigeria Limited in Billiri along Gombe Yola road for selling the product at N140 per litre. Others are NNPC Retail Limited (Alkalam) in Gombe town for hoarding the product, Shakkhato Integrated Services Nigeria Limited in Bojude on Gombe Kano road for selling in jerrycans and also selling at N140 per litre and Samafmar Nigeria Limited in Kumo, on Gombe-Yola road, for also selling at N140 per litre. Al-fatmiya Oil Nigeria Limited, Dadin-Kowa along Gombe-Biu road, for selling at N140 per litre. The other twelve filling stations sealed off in different parts of Bauchi State for diversion of between 33, 000 to 210, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

News

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UK deports 48 Nigerians over immigration offences CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tion, there was conflicting report about the actual number of people deported as information had it initially that about 500 Nigerians were involved.

Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Mr. Ekpedeme King, confirmed the deportation with our correspondent on phone, but could not give the regis-

NDLEA chairman, Giade, bows out, hands over to DG

hairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, yesterday retired from service. A statement by the agency’s spokesman, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju announced this in Lagos. It said Giade, who served two terms of five years each, handed over the affairs of the NDLEA to the DirectorGeneral of the Agency, Mrs. Roli Bode-George. According to the statement, the former chairman inspected a guard of honour after which he presented a new flag to the DG. “This is the first time in the Agency’s history that an outgoing chairman will successfully serve for 10 years without blemish,” the statement said. The statement also quoted Giade as saying that he was leaving the agency better than he met it 10 years ago. “My greatest legacy is my

zero tolerance for corruption. “If we must continue to dislodge drug barons and eradicate drugs from our society, we must remain forthright and committed to drug control programmes. “I am also leaving behind a legacy of proactive and intelligence-led organisation. “The Agency, under my watch has a representative at INTERPOL headquarters and has successfully raised the international profile of the country through unprecedented seizures of drugs and arrest of drug barons,” said. He cited the removal of Nigeria from the list of major drug transit countries by the U.S. and the cordial working relationship with stakeholders as some of his other achievements. “The removal of Nigeria from the majors list opened doors to a robust cooperation and partnership with stakeholders.

NACCIMA, LCCI says MPR’s reduction will boost nation’s investment opportunities

igerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, yesterday said cut in the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, would boost the nation’s investment climate. NACCIMA Vice-President Jani Ibrahim said in Lagos that the decision would spur the growth of the real sector and boost investors’ confidence. Ibrahim said the development would give banks the opportunity to lend more to the real sector aside other critical factors and stimulate economic growth. He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the decisive decisions and urged commercial banks to follow the trend by actively lending to entrepreneurs for the growth of the economy.

Chairman, Agro-Commodity Export Group of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Obiora Madu, however, said two per cent cut in the MPR still fell short of the mark. He said the MPR should be further reduced to achieve increased investments and higher Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in the country. “What the CBN has done is good, but interest rates reduction is not just the only one. “Government needs to do a lot more for the sectors that will drive economic growth of the country,” he said. Madu suggested that the Federal Government should address the critical issues of foreign exchange, infrastructure and logistics challenges, among others.

tration number of the aircraft that brought them into the country. He, however, confirmed that the deportees were repatriated into the country with chartered aircraft from UK. Besides, a source close to the Ministry of Aviation, confided in our correspondent that a team from the British High Commission in Nigeria had last Friday visited the MMIA Airport Manager

to inform him of the impending deportation. The source further declared that there was no way about 500 people would be deported at once, stressing that some of them might become violent while onboard and were usually shackled and accompanied by security officials. The returnees were received by various agencies such as Immigration that checked their iden-

tities to ascertain their nationalities, Police, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, NAPTIP, and other relevant stakeholders. As at the time of filing this report, the returnees had moved away from the airport. King told our correspondent that the deportees were returned to the country for overstaying their visas in the UK, adding that it was not the first

time Nigerians would be deported from Britain or any other country for that matter. He said: “What I can tell you is that some Nigerians were deported today (yesterday) for immigration offences. Most of those brought overstayed in the United Kingdom and it was not the first time Nigerians would be deported from UK or any other country for that matter.”

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi; Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, and Deputy Corps Marshal Motor Vehicle Administration, Charles Theophilus, during a working visit to FRSC Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday.

NNPC engages DSS, EFCC to stop hoarding CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

000 litres of fuel and also selling at N135 per litre were Danlami Petroleum Transport and Company Limited, Sumsons Enterprises Limited, Al-ihsan Transport Nigeria Limited, AM Naiya and Sons Limited. Others are Basirka and Sons Nigeria Limited, IMG Petroleum Marketing Co. Limited, SID Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Wahida Nigeria Limited, Chibulco Nigeria Limited, Na-Giade Oils Limited and Majidadi Petroleum and General Services Limited. However, when journalist insisted on knowing the different amount fined for each of the aforementioned offences due to allegations of extortion from some DPR staff, Mr. Amos declined comments

and said it was only the accounts department from the head office of DPR that could comment on such issues as he was only a technical staff. In Ilorin, Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed AlAmeed, the dealer of the NNPC Mega Filling Station said the lingering fuel scarcity across the country was a self-inflicting one occasioned by petrol marketers, who would not comply with the directives of DPR and NNPC. According to him, the directive of both the DPR and the NNPC was to the effect that all filling stations that were supplied fuel must open to consumers (motorists) from 6am to the midnight except when the products so supplied is exhausted. Fuel scarcity, like in other parts of the coun-

try had been biting hard in Kwara State especially in Ilorin, the state capital, almost grounding official and commercial activities. The situation had however brought back the era of old scarcity of the military regime which gives hoarders (black marketers) another round of opportunities profit at the expense of desperate motorists. For now, long queues have returned to the few filling stations that have fuel leaving them to be at the mercy of pump attendants and uniformed men that were engaged to help maintain law and order at the stations. Also, motor mechanics, touts and car-wash boys have turned fuel ‘black marketers’ who sell four litres of fuel for between N1,200 and N1,500 in gal-

lons. According to AlAmeed, the NNPC Retails Limited Managing Director, Mr. Ladipo Fagbola, and the Ilorin DPR gave the directive that all filing stations that were supplied petroleum products must stay back till midnight to dispense fuel to buyers as a way of providing succour to the suffering motorists. Apparently one of the few that complied with the directive, the dealer said, they were given the order through the Ilorin DPR Office in line with the department’s guideline that fuel distributions in the state must be equitably done. “We are all mandated to set the standard for other stations to follow to assuage the hardships on the people”, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Photo NEWS

Thursday, November 26, 2015

L-R: Former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chief Chambers Oyinbo; Chairman/Publisher, Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Publications, Mr. Adedeji Akintilo; former Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum Matters, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah(OON); Chief Presenter/Chairman and CEO Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited, Chief Tunde Afolabi and former Deputy Managing Director, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, Chief Akin Aruwajoye, during the launch of the book, Who’s Who in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry (2nd Edition), yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Nestle Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Adenekan; Ag Head, Dept of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Dr. Folake Samuel; Manager, Nestle Nutrition Institute Africa Anglophone Countries, Mrs. Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu; Consultant Gastroenterologist LASUTH, Dr. Olufunke Adeniyi and Vice President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Dr. Barthlomen Brai, during a fortification workshop, in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: WebMaster, Phillips Consulting, Lagos, Mr. Oluwasegun Ogundipe, Associate Partner; Mr. Paul Ayim; Senior e-Learning Advisor, Modupe Thomas-Owoseni; Project Manager, Phillips Consulting Bundle, Feranmi Akande; Representative Skillsoft, South Africa, Jeremie Ferre, during the launch of Phillips Learning Bundle online portal, on Tuesday.

L-R; Division F Programme Quality Director, Nigeria Toastmaster, China Ezife; Division Director, Patrick Oluyide; District Director, Inam Wilson and Area Director, Afolabi Davidson, during a media interactive session to announce the 2015 Conference in Lagos, recently.

National News

Insurgents conceal bombs in attractive objects – DHQ Ubong Ukpong Abuja

efence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday said Boko Haram insurgents have resorted to concealing bombs in attractive objects. Director of Defence Information, DDI, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, disclosed this in Abuja at a media briefing. He also revealed that after the military released the list of 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists, five of them have so far been arrested at various locations in collaboration with other security agencies. He said: “All these things we are doing is to make sure the populace remain safe from the hands of this Boko Haram terrorists, who are now devising different means of fighting through this issue of IEDs and even some cluster bombs, which they conceal in attractive objects and drop in the streets for people to pick. “We are using this platform to enlighten the citizens to

make sure that our citizens do not fall victim about what could be avoided.” Abubakar said the media was also playing fundamental

role in helping to ensure the arrest of these terrorists, urging that all information concerning military operations should be carefully verified.

“The more information you give about terrorist activities, the more they thrive, the more they become prominent, the more they become dominant.

“So, we are appealing that this is our country, and the security agencies are Nigerians who are working to serve the Nigerian people. Therefore, it

is duty bound as enshrined in the constitution for the citizens to contribute to the ongoing campaign against insurgency,” Abubakar stressed.

commercial operation of the Newsprint company. These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion brought by Hon. Henry Archibong (Akwa Ibom, PDP) to the House on call for investigation of the continued closure of NNMC seven years after privatisation. Archibong noted that NNMC located in Oku Iboku, Akwa Ibom State, was set up to produce 100,000 metric tonnes of finished newsprint papers per annum. He said until it was shut down in 1994, it was producing newsprint of internationally accepted standards which were being exported to Togo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cameroun, USA, Germany, and other parts of the world.

He recalled that in 2008, BPE, under the principle of guided liquidation, and with an expiration period of five years, sold the newsprint company for the sum of N4,020,000,000 billion to an indigenous firm, Negris Holding Limited, which renamed it the Oku-Iboku Pulp and Paper Limited, OKIPP. The lawmaker also recalled that in August of the same year, Negris Holding Limited claimed that it had put in place all financial requirements to rehabilitate the liquidated assets of the company, and in 2010 also claimed that it carried out and passed all environmental safety standards required for the smooth takeoff of the newsprint company.

Archibong worried that the glaring lack of financial capacity of Negris Holdings to resuscitate the newsprint company, resulting in its continued shutdown despite promises that by early 2013, it would have commenced full operations, even with availability of security, manpower and raw materials. He said that rather, Negris Holdings resorted to assets stripping at the newsprint mill in Oku Iboku, and the plantation yard in Akamkpa, Cross River State, where several items including cranes, heavy duty trucks, stainless steel pipes, giant electric motors, welding machines among others, were carted away and sold as scrap items.

Reps probe sale, closure of newsprint company

...ask FG to reclaim company Ubong Ukpong Abuja

ouse of Representatives yesterday resolved to probe the flawed sale processes of the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company, NNMC, by the Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, and subsequent failure of the company to operate seven years after the said sale. Accordingly, the House has mandated its Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation to investigate the seeming flawed process of valuation, liquidation and sale of the company, having apparently failed to comply with

the provisions of the BPE Act, and report back to the House within eight weeks for further legislative action. The House also called on the Federal Government to formulate a blueprint with a view to taking over the company from the buyers, Negris Holdings Limited, for violation of the legal condition that backed up the sale to it, and reactivate same for the purpose of job creation. It also called on the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investments, as well as Labour and Productivity to partner Akwa Ibom State and take advantage of the state government’s readiness to ensure full

National News

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Payment of N5,000 stipend to unemployed kicks off in 2016 –FG Obiora Ifoh Abuja

ederal Government has confirmed that payment of N5,000 to unemployed youths campaign would commence early next year. Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, revealed this yesterday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Na-

tional Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, to commiserate with the party on the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu, who was the party’s governorship candidate in the inconclusive Kogi State election. Dalong in an interview with newsmen said the APC-led government has it in mind to fulfill all the

Reps to probe status of 90,000 slain policemen

campaign promises made to Nigerians. “I would want the youths to understand that every promise must be backed up by budgetary provision and our promise to pay N5,000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016 as we have made budgetary allocations for that. “We are committed to the campaign promises

of creating jobs, providing wealth creation and combat poverty. We have embedded in our manifesto things that we are translating to reality. “Some of the youth empowerment programmes that are ongoing, we are busy reviewing them to ensure that they are more viable and people oriented. We are also looking at the possibility of realigning some of them to our

vision so that in the final analysis, it can add value to the people,” he said. The minister also said youths need reorientation because they have been frustrated for so long. “They have lost confidence in the system and we need to build that back. In not too long a time, I will be hosting a stakeholders’ summit so that we can reason

together, so that we can grow their confidence in order for them to benefit from this laudable ideas,” he added. Chief Oyegun, in his response, expressed happiness over the appointment of Dalong as a minister, saying his past performances in public offices gave him confidence that he will deliver on the premises of change.

...call for replacement, adequate funding Ubong Ukpong and George Opara,

ouse of Representatives yesterday set in motion arrangements to ascertain the status of 90,000 policemen that were slain in the country, just as it called for their replacement and adequate funding to the service. The House at its plenary, was moved by recent revelation by Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, that 90,000 men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force lost their lives in the fight against insurgency over the years, It therefore, mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to launch an investigation into the claim with a view to ascertaining its true status and report back to the House. The lawmakers also mandated the committee to liaise with other relevant committees and agencies to look into possible replacement of any shortfall in manpower the police may be facing to enable it tackle the current security challenges facing the country. These resolutions were reached following a motion on matters of urgent public importance brought by Hon. Ahmed Yerima, wherein he called on the House to mandate the Police Affairs Committee to investigate the claim by the IGP and to find out the status of the 90,000 slain police officers. Yerima noted that the IGP’s declaration was alarming and disturbing,

considering the delicate security situation in the country. He added that the disclosure was an acceptance of low manpower in the police. “The United Nations approximates a median of about 300 police officers per 100,000 citizens globally. “According to recent estimates from Interpol, Nigeria has about 205 police officers for every 100,000 citizens, which is 95 police officers shy of the global median. “There is already a large shortage of manpower in the police and its attendant effects are being felt all over the country, with kidnapping, robberies, homicides, communal clashes and ultimately, the Boko Haram insurgency among others,” he said. Members while speaking in support of the motion lamented the situation and urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to remedy the shortfall by carrying out urgent recruitment exercise with adequate training, equipment and remuneration. Nasir Ali Ahmed said: “For us to lose that number of policemen is a monumental loss and very unfortunate; and we must act fast to provide adequate funding and protective equipment for the police force to enable them protect themselves and then the public.” Ali Ahmed Patigi also submitted: “I will urge that since this is an investigative matter, it should be thoroughly looked into; because losing 90,000 policemen is no mean misfortune for a society.

President Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin(3rd right ); Father and Children of Blessing Abraham, during a wake up call for justice on the Murder Blessing Abraham after the case was adjourn to January 27, 2016, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Senate summons Fashola over failed bridges George Oji Abuja

enate has directed Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to appear before its Committee on Works to explain his ministry’s plan of action for the reconstruction of all failed bridges nationwide. The lawmakers also mandated the ministry to undertake an inventory of all bailey bridges across the country and furnish the Senate with their status within four weeks. In addition, the Senate asked the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to re-construct the bailey bridges across Ebenyi River at Ikem in

Isi Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State. The Senate gave the directives following the debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Gilbert Nnaji (PDP Enugu East). Nnaji in his lead debate noted that the Bailey bridges still in use across the country were built with pre-fabricated metal truss and have either “caved in or collapsed due to age and pressure thereby causing untold hardship to commuters, motorists and other road users.” He further said it was disturbing that commuters, motorists and other roads users in areas where the bridges collapse go through tough times as they have to terminate their journeys at

different ends of the river and then cross over to the other end to continue their journeys. He recalled the collapse of a bailey bridge across Ebenyi on November 6, this year, lamenting that such developments often result in loss of lives as well as economic deprivation for affected people. “The attendant loss of lives and livelihoods as well as other forms of economic deprivation and losses are avoidable if proactive steps were taken from time to time either to maintain or to reconstruct such bridges,” he said. In her contribution, Senator Abiodun Olujinmi (PDP Ekiti South) regretted that such bridges are still in existence in the

21st century, noting that in ideal countries, they should have long been phased out. Other senators such as Chukwuma Utazi (Enugu North) also lamented the difficulties confronting Nigerians who have to ply such bridges to connect adjoining communities as they appealed to FERMA to quickly ensure the reconstruction of all bailey bridges in the country. In his remark, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, noted that some of the bridges were so small that they don’t necessarily require the intervention of the Federal Government because they could be handled by both local and state governments.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Filth on Broad Street, Lagos

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Broad Street Diary

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tinubu Square: Politics, power and influence

ny visitor or tourists to Lagos Island may not have enough stories to tell until he or she visited the popular Tinubu Square sited in the centre part of Lagos Island. The squire now boost of a water fountain mounted on an architectural landscape and with green grasses and flowers adorned the squire with the status of the late Madam Efunroye Tinubu sitting atop. The story of business activities in the early part of Lagos history would not be complete without relishing the story of late Madam Tinubu, one of Nigeria’s businesswoman and patriot. The story of Lagos as the business hub of Nigeria today, is synonymous with the tale of Madam Tinubu said to be a great merchant whose business traverses not only Lagos Island, but other towns within what is today known as Yoruba territories in the present South West Nigeria. According to history, Madam Efunroye Tinubu after whom a prominent Lagos landmark, “Tinubu Square,” is named, lived in the 19th century and was born in Abeokuta, the Ogun State to a trading family. After a period of trading apprenticeship under her mother, Madam Tinubu went to Badagry, which was then an important trading post on the outskirts of Lagos during the colonial era, where, despite her lack of formal education, she soon established a flourishing trade in tobacco and salt. The entreprising Tinubu later expanded her trade which brought her into contact with the European slave traders, with whom she dealt as a middleperson. According to historians, Madam Tinubu in 1846, then a successful businesswoman was said to have played hostess to the exiled King Akintoye of Lagos who sought refuge in Badagry and was said to have used her influential position to inaugurate a pro-Akintoye movement dedicated to the eventual return of the king to the throne in Lagos. Thus; her involvement in Lagos politics which was before then dominated by men of wealth and education. In 1851 Akintoye regained his throne and Tinubu was invited to Lagos where she soon relocated her business activity. Tinubu strengthened her position as an intermediary in the trade between the expatriate community and the indigenous population of Lagos on the one hand and the interior which include her birth place, Abeokuta, on the others. Her influence in Akintoye’s court was said to have grown to such an extent that she was often accused of being the power behind the throne, a belief which in 1853 led to the rebellion of two prominent chiefs. By 1853, when Akintoye was succeeded by Prince Dosunmu, Tinubu’s influence grew even more. In 1855, the late Madam Tinubu was said to have led a campaign against the Brazilian and Sierra Leonean immigrants in Lagos for using their wealth and power against the King and for subverting the ancient customs of Lagos Is-

land, thus displaying a degree of nationalism which worried the British colonial government. The colonial regime latter decided to curb her influence with mass arrests of the organisers of the protest, followed by her expulsion from Lagos. Tinubu and her followers were deported to Abeokuta in May 1856. In Abeokuta, Madam Tinubu was said to have more than ever before expanded her business activities to include a wide range of wares such as gunpowder and bullets. In time, her influence began to be felt also in Egba politics in which she played two important roles; her contribution to the successful defence of Egba land during the Dahomey invasion of 1863 following which she was awarded the title of Iyalode (First Lady) in 1864. Also, in the Alake succession crisis of 1877, her chosen candidate was installed. The conferment of the title of Iyalode placed her in a position of power, which she was denied in Lagos, for, by virtue of this; she not only acquired a constitutional right to participate in Egba affairs, but was also accorded honour and esteem respect in the community. Madam Tinubu died in 1887 when she was at the height of her popularity. Today in Abeokuta, a monument stands in the town square named after her, Ita Iyalode (Iyalode Square).

Tinubu Square, Lagos

Street trading and the resurgence of slums

xcept urgent actions are taking, Broad Street on Lagos Island, will gradually turn into a place such as Ajegule, Mile 12 among others known for their environmental filth and stench with street traders and commercial bus operators over flowing both side of the streets. The street traders not only ply their trade at the sides, they also flaunt their wares dangerously close to the main road. Irked by the situation, a shopper, Mrs Fayida Salami, told Broad Street Diary, BSD, that government should as a matter of urgency do something about street trading in the market. “I don’t support the act of street trading, because since government established Central Business District Officers, CBD, sanity has returned to the market and we can shop with ease now.” She said if government closes its eyes or legalise street trading on Broad Street, the market will returned to Balogun of old where crime was the order of the day. Another shop owner who does not want his name mentioned also spoke against street trading. According to him, if the practice is allowed, shop owners may not be able to make enough sales. However, street traders in Balogun market and its environs are of different opinions. The street traders, who spoke with BSD on Wednesday, said many of them embark on street trading to survive as they could not afford the high cost of renting shops. They also appealed to the government to build shops that are affordable to masses. “We want the government to help us by building more shops that are affordable to

small-scale traders like us because shops around here are highly expensive,” Mrs. Adejoke Ogunlana stated. She told BSD that government is the only one that can ameliorate the plight of traders like her. “I don’t even have enough capital to do business, not to talk of how to get money to pay rent even if shops are available. “We are appealing to the Lagos State Governor,Mr Akinwumi Ambode to continue to allow us trade on the streets because we have dependants that we must take care off. She commended the state government efforts at reducing crime in the market and for maintaining a clean environment made possible by the Central Business District officials who were always on hand to make people comply with laid down rules. Another trader, Mr Chinedu Nwanze, told BSD that they are appealing because they want the government to allow them to continue to do business on Broad Street. “Most times we are not always comfortable because of the fear of the CBD officials who can confiscate our goods. That was why I usually come very early to sell and sometimes late in the evening when they might have closed”. Aside from being the commercial hub of Lagos State, Broad Street also plays host to some imposing multi-storey corporate organisations, impressively planned offices, vehicles of different colours and of course fashionable ladies and gentlemen who jostle with hundreds of street traders on their way to their work places. Giving some historical facts about Broad Street, a civil servant, who begged for anonymity, said the colonial masters designed it to be a replica of the ones in Britain. “In the colonial

and post-independence era, Broad Street had important offices like the United State Information Office, Paterson Zochonis (PZ),UAC and many offices of the missionaries. Because Broad Street was an administrative centre, efforts were made to make it clean everyday to prevent it from losing its aesthetic look. Also, health officials were always on hand to ensure the environment was clean,” he said. Other places in the world that share the same features and characters with Lagos Broad Street are Broadway, a thoroughfare in New York City, USA, a centre of commercial theatre. And in London, there exist other Broad Streets in Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford and Reading, all in Britain. Here in Lagos, the Broad Street on Lagos Island is also the economic hub of Nigeria, like the ones in other parts of the world which also of boasts important architectural landmarks that represent the government such as the Federal Government Press, Federal Dental Clinic, Lagos General Hospital, Odan; Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Ports Authority and Western House. Also, comfortably sited on it is the Freedom Park, Sterling Towers, AP House, 25-storey United Bank for Africa, UBA, Corporate Headquarters, 17-storey Elephant House, 14-storey Energy House, Premier Bookstore, CSS Bookshops; sundry shops and several stalls, all private business concerns and a residential building, formerly Federal Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Health Division, now occupied by men and women, and their large population of children. It is hoped that by adhering to preserve it original ideals, Broad Street, will be speared of becoming another slum. –Saidat Alausa

National Mirror National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday , November 26, 2015 Thursday , November 26, 2015

11 43

Senate to probe abandoned N2.4bn NNDC road projects George Oji, ABUJA

here are indications that the Senate may order an investigation into the abandoned Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC’s N2.4 billion Agbarho township roads project in the Ugheli North Local Government Area of Delta State. Feelers to this followed a petition tendered by Senator Ighoyota Amori on behalf of the Agbarho (Urhobo) Improvement Union before the Senate, complaining about the project. The petition showed that the contract for the 23-kilometre road was awarded in 2009 to Messer Serena Rocks Limited at a cost of N2.4 billion.

Senator Amori explained that the contractor received N360 million as mobilisation fee in 2011 and another N360 million in 2012 from the Federal Government for the execution of the contract, but unfortunately, there is nothing to show for it in the town. He lamented that all efforts by the community’s leaders to get the contractor to return to site met with brick wall, and regretted that the NDDC is not forthcoming with any explanation on the contract. The petition which was co-signed by the community’s leaders, reads: “We formally write to bring to your notice a clear case of massive corruption going on in NDDC relating to

several development projects in the Niger Delta, using our great kingdom, Agbarho, as a case study. “After several years of neglect, in 2009, the NDDC awarded the contract for the contraction of Agbarho Township Roads (23Km) to Messers. Serena Rock Limited at a cost of N2.4b only. “After a long process of securing presidential approval for funding of the aforesaid project, in 2011 the contractor (Serena Rocks Limited) was paid N360.7m, being 15 per cent mobilisation, to commence work on the project. In 2012 the contractor received another N360 million payment for the same project with nothing on ground. “We were later told

that the project design did not include stone base and drainage, although in NDDC’s approved budget for 2011 and 2012 the project was captioned as ‘Construction of Agbarho Township road with comprehensive drainage.’ “All efforts by our community leaders to get the contractor (Serena Rock Limited) to execute the project has met brick wall and NDDC is not forthcoming with information. NDDC officials also confirmed to us that over N668 million is in the custody of the contractor for over five years now without any job done on the project. “We are not unaware of the Federal auditor general’s findings of over N183 billion fraud in the commission and we are

Buhari attends CHOGM, UN Confab on Climate Change Rotimi Fadeyi

resident Muhammadu Buhari leaves Abuja today for Malta to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which begins in the island nation on Friday. The Commonwealth is made up of Britain, Nigeria and 51 other countries that work together to pursue common goals and promote development, democracy, peace, security and good governance. A statement issued yesterday by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari and other Heads of State and Government CORRECTION OF NAME

NAME: MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS SIMON UFFIA ON MY BVN INSTEAD OF:UFFIA EMMANUEL SUNDAY. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MR. UMAR DANLLADI JUBRIL now wish to be known and addressed as MR. UMAR BABA JUBRIL. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as BLESSING ZAINAB ZAKARI ABDULLAHI now wish to be known and addressed as ZAINAB BLESSING ABDULLAZEEZ. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

who would be in Malta for this year’s summit are expected to deliberate on fresh Commonwealth initiatives on development and climate change with a view to adding greater value to ongoing global efforts in these areas. A new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth who would take over from the incumbent, Kamalesh Sharma, would be announced at the summit which would also feature the presentation of a progress report on the eradication of polio. Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, would formally declare the summit open and host a banquet in honour of Buhari and other participating CONFIRMATION OF NAME

To confirm that I am one and same person bearing OKWUMA IJEOMA ANNA and NWAOGU IJEOMA ANNA as obtainable in some of my documents. CHANGE OF NAME DAUDA: I, formerly known and addressed as GANIYU DAUDA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as GANIYU ALANI BAMIGBOSE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, SERIFATU BISHI AYOKA, I am the same and one person known as SERIFATU TAIWO as contained in some documents bearing my names. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Heads of State and Government. At the conclusion of the summit on Sunday, President Buhari would leave Malta for Paris where he would present Nigeria’s statement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled to open in the French capital on Monday, November 30. The President would join over 100 other world leaders at the Leaders Event on the opening day of the conference which would be hosted by President Francois Hollande of France and the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon. Buhari would also participate in a summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad CHANGE OF NAME : Formerly known and addressed as FUNSO EMMANUEL IYANDA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADESOJI FUNSO VINCENT. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AJOSE ABISOYE AJOKE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEBANWO ABISOYE AJOKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

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

Basin Commission and Benin Republic which has been scheduled to take place on December 2 in Paris on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. Deliberations at the Paris meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic would focus mainly on the war against Boko Haram and other security issues of common interest to participating countries. President Buhari would be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ABIODUN GBOLAHAN ADEOYE now wish to be known and addressed as ABAYOMI ABIODUN JASON. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AMAECHI VIVIAN CHINEYE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IHE HENRY VIVIAN CHINYERE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, JOSEPH EKENE NSIDINAYA, that i am also known as IGWE JOSEPH EKENE as contained in some documents bearing my names. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

persuaded that this is one of such cases. NDDC officials in the last eight years awarded several contracts to their cronies and made advance payments and sometimes full payment with little or no job done in the affected communi-

ties.” The petition was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition by the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at yesterday’s plenary.

E/Guinea urged to check maltreatment of Nigerians Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has called on the government of Equitorial Guinea to check cases of maltreatment of Nigerians doing legitimate business in that country. He made the call when he met with a delegation from the country led by its ambassador, Job Obiang Esono Mbengono, who paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly yesterday. Dogara said the government of Equitorial Guinea has a responsibility to address the bad treatment meted out to Nigerians who reside and do legitimate business in the country. While commending the long-standing cordial relationship between the two countries, the Speaker said nothing short of full brotherly protection is expected for Nigerian citizens living in the country, adding that reports stating otherwise are worrisome. Highlighting the huge mineral resources in the country, the Speaker noted that in its diversification drive, the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari is giving priority to investment in these sectors in order to ensure that they are developed for the benefit of the country. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OGBONNA HOPE OSINACHI now wish to be known and addressed as IKORO OSINACHI HOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HALIMAT USMAN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM HALIMAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EGBO SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as EGBO SUNDAY COLLINS ONABUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

The Speaker assured the delegation that the National Assembly would work on outstanding memorandum of understanding and other agreements for the mutual benefit of both countries, while assuring of cooperation between the parliaments of both countries. Earlier, Mbengono had said he was on the visit to convey the best wishes of the Speaker of his country’s parliament. While appreciating Nigeria’s support in the security of the Gulf of Guinea, he noted the long standing cordial relations between the two countries and expressed the desire of his country to continue to work with Nigeria and draw from its experience, especially in the area of election. He informed the Speaker that his country is with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and in addressing the situation in Nigeria’s North East. He assured the Speaker that his country is willing to invest in areas of interest, saying, “I have been given specific directions to give priority to African investors and Nigeria is a priority.” CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as lgbawaje Ukumba Emmanuel now wish to be known and addressed as lgbawase Ukumba Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EZE UCHE now wish to be known and addressed as EZEAKU OBINNA ALEX. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as LEIGH TAIWO OLUFUNMILAYO now wish to be known and addressed as OYEKANMI TAIWO OLUFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as IGWE SIMEON SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as IGWE JOSEPH SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

South East

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Federal character, solution to Biafra agitation —APC chieftain Chris Njoku OWERRI

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and National Coordinator of Rochas Fan Club, Rev. Simeon Nwaulu, has urged the Federal Government to strictly adhere to the principles of federal character for the unity and peace of the country. He also described this as the panacea for the agitation of Biafra. Nwaulu, who stated this yesterday in Owerri, Imo State capital, at a press conference, noted that marginalisation has become one of the burning issues in the country that needs to be addressed for peace to reign. He added that a situation whereby one part of the country is marginalised like is currently being experienced in some states, particularly the South East

in terms of agitations, would continue. He said, “There is no doubt that of all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, the South East is the most marginalised in everything.” He noted that the former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and few others spearheaded the formation of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 1998, “but shockingly, he was denied the presidential ticket of the party in 1999, because he was from the South-East zone. Owelle Rochas Okorocha was denied twice the presidential ticket in 2003 and 2007 because he was from the South East. “The resurgence of proBiafra agitators is due to the marginalisation of the people of South-East and the Federal Government has to urgently address this anomaly if there is to be progress in the country.”

Imo raises panel to fight criminals Chris Njoku OWERRI

mo State government yesterday constituted a Joint Taskforce Committee to checkmate all activities going on in various uncompleted buildings in and around the state, with a view to bringing to book any individual using such buildings as den to perpetrate heinous acts. Inaugurating the committee made up of officials of Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Secretary to the Government of Imo State, SSG, Sir Jude Ejiogu, stated that government decided to set up the committee to check crimes being perpetrated in the state as a result of availability of uncompleted buildings to criminal-minded individuals, who use them to perfect their activities. He expressed optimism that with the committee in place, every activity going on in any uncompleted building in the state would be monitored. The state scribe therefore, charged the committee to work collectively to ensure that the assignment given to them is carried out effectively, while advising them not to compromise with any person no matter whose ox is gored in the ex-

ecution of their functions. Ejiogu, while challenging the committee to work hard, also reminded them that half of the uncompleted buildings in the state have been turned into hideouts by hoodlums who commit various atrocities like kidnapping, armed-robbery and other vices against the state. Speaking on behalf of other members, the committee Chairman, Prince Chidi Nwoke, thanked the state government for finding them worthy to serve, and assured of their readiness to fight hoodlums using the uncompleted buildings as hideouts.

Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has dismissed a media report alleging that he was using the House of Assembly to probe his predecessor, Sullivan Chime. An online medium had accused the governor of being behind the House’s probe of Chime. However, in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu yesterday by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Uwakwe Abugu, he described the

Cross section of members of NUJ Enugu State Council led by the Chairman, Chief Louis Dilibe (left) during a thanksgiving service as part of activities to mark NUJ Enugu Press Week at the Cathedral of Good Shepherd Anglican Communion in Enugu, recently.

Protests: MASSOB turns down S’East governors embers of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday said they rejected the resolutions of South East governors and stakeholders to end ongoing protests. It would be recalled that the governors, including former governors, Ndigbo Ministers, National Assembly members and other leaders had in a meeting recently in Enugu State resolved to set up a committee to dialogue with the pro- Biafra agitators with a view to end the protests and other crisis.

Shortly after that meeting in Enugu, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State told journalists that a committee would be set up to dialogue with the pro-Biafra group and discuss other issues affecting the zone. But MASSOB in a press statement signed by its National Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, said the only way to end the protest and looming crisis in the zone was the unconditional release of Director of Radio Biafra and leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Madu said MASSOB rejected the resolutions as it did not address the major issue behind the protests – Kanu’s continued detention by the government. The group also said it was worrisome that South East governors met in their usual characteristic with-

out their South South counterparts where Biafra uprising also holds sway. In another development, a concerned group of Igbo in Nigeria and Diaspora under the aegis of Izumunna Cultural Association has faulted the decision of governors of the five South East states to meet for the purpose of finding a solution to the ongoing protests by youths in the area occasioned by the quest for the actualisation of Sovereign state of Biafra, saying the meeting was exclusive and might not achieve the desired results. The group said though the governors’ initiative in finding a solution to the burning issue was a welcome development, they might not have acted in the interest of the entire Igbo nation because Igboland extends far beyond the five

news report entitled ‘Enugu Governor Begins Probe of Predecessor, Godfather,’ as a huge deception of the massreader. Abugu said it was “a deliberate attempt to create and stoke the embers of a non-existent rift among political leaders in Enugu, which currently enjoys visible peace, harmony and progressive actions midwifed by the administration of Governor Ugwuanyi. According to him, “it is an embarrassing distortion of journalistic story-telling

for the headline of the said news report to scream an alleged probe of the former governor of the state by the incumbent governor when the body of the story contains nothing about any action of the governor in that regard, but purely legislative oversight functions of the Enugu House of Assembly. “Any discerning mind, which goes through the report would naturally ask, ‘Whither the role or hand of the state governor in the actions of the state Assembly, which decided to look into

executions of some contracts in the state? “At the moment, Governor Ugwuanyi is engrossed in several salvage actions of his administration aimed at raising the bar of performance in all spheres of governance. “His is an administration embedded in momentous actions involving flag-off of development projects, continuous engagements with various stakeholder groups, business groups with a view to ensuring that no stone is left unturned in the drive to

Aliuna Godwin and James Abraham

Ugwuanyi denies rift with Chime

eastern states to include states in the South South zone and the Diaspora. The group in a statement issued yesterday in Jos by its President, Dr Ugo Ihekuna, and Secretary General, Chief Elvis Chukwu, said much progress on Biafra agitation would be made if such issue was handled by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which is a representative of Ndigbo in Nigeria and the Diaspora. “Therefore, it is our humble opinion that the governors should allow Ohanaeze Ndigbo handle this issue of agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra on behalf of Ndigbo in Nigeria and the Diaspora as Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands a better chance of negotiating and achieving better results.

achieve all aspects of the four-point agenda of the government.” He added, “The governor being a true democrat, and having served his people for a decade and two years, as a dependable National Assembly member, would not use his office to meddle in the affairs of the legislative arm of government in Enugu State. “In fact, the Assembly goes about its constitutional duties without any form of encumbrance by the executive arm.”

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Challenges before new ministers

As change agents, the new ministers have just resumed in their various ministries to confront myriads of challenges in the course of their new assignments. In this report, GEORGE OJI, ROTIMI FADEYI, UBONG UKPONG AND DOOSURR IWAMBE examine some of the key issues the ministers may have to deal with as matters of priority.

ven though President Muhammadu Buhari had described Nigerian ministers as noise makers, there is however no gain saying that the ministers play very pivotal roles in driving the policies of any administration. This fact was even underscored by the President himself with the circumspect which he deployed in the choice of the appointment of the present ministers. For instance, it took the President a whopping four months before he came up with the list of the ministers he eventually sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation. Even the controversies and interests generated by the confirmation process speaks volumes about the importance and the strategic role of the ministers in this administration. As chief executive officers of the ministries, the ministers are expected to be key drivers of the present administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s change policies. That is perhaps, why after their confirmation by the senate, the President subjected the new ministers to a two-day rigorous retreat, during which, Buhari took time to ram into their heads, his administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style of governance, particularly his position on anti-corruption and rule of law as well as his policy on prudence in governance. The ministers have since assumed offices and have received hand over notes from the Permanent Secretaries of their various ministries on the state of affairs in those ministries. Some of the ministers have also been making policy statements that explain the direction of their tenures in office. However, besides the briefs being handed over to the new ministers by the staff of the various ministries, there are general expectations from Nigerians on some priority issues to be addressed by the ministers as they go about their new tasks.

Ministry of Defence Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali has been assigned the Defence ministry. Of course, the ministry was created for the comfort of the military, to serve and facilitate the needs of the military before government. The minister therefore must be able to recognise and drive these needs towards achieving results. As it were, the ministry is currently challenged by the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency that the military is fighting in the North East. The minister is even more challenged by the presidential deadline to end Boko Haram insurgency by December 2015. Though he has just taken over as minister of Defence, he is inexcusable because is an Army General, he was around since the war started and merely retired few months ago. His posting was apt and appropriate and he just must justify the confidence reposed in him by Nigerian people and President Muhammadu Buhari. Dan-Ali is aware of the various Defence needs in terms of funds, hardware, logistics, personnel to prosecute the war. They have, but it is never enough. He has to ensure that the military lacks nothing. He is aware of complaints bothering on troops welfare and has to discharge this diligently with the Service Chiefs. The welfare of both serving and retired personnel, as well as that of deceased families, has remained a great

Dan-Ali

Fashola

Dan-Ali is aware of the various Defence

needs in terms of funds, hardware, logistics,

personnel to prosecute

the war.

They have, but it is never enough. He

has to ensure that the military lacks nothing challenge in the sector, which he is aware. Allowances, pensions, gratuities, accommodations amongst other welfare issues have remained vital areas of concern over the decades and in view of the change mantra, Dan-Ali has a lot on his hands. Already as a military pensioner, he has said that he is paying close attention to pension issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In line with the anti-corruption stand of the present administration, the Ministry of Defence in conjunction with the Military Pensions Board recently conducted a verification exercise of all military pensioners. The exercise was intended to streamline and check leakages in the system as well as maintaining accurate and comprehensive data of military pensioners, the minister told journalists in Abuja. He has the challenge of continuing to engage pensioners through relevant organs like the Nigerian Legion, the Veteran Affairs Division and the Military Pensions Board to ensure that government obligations to them are met. Dan-Ali would also face the challenge of carrying the services and their chiefs along in key government decision

processes and making them to work in synergy to support government to achieve its policies.

Interior Ministry This is a unique ministry and its challenges too are enormous, but certainly, may not outweigh Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, who has been said to be the right choice for the ministry. Dambazzau is already at the ministry and he is faced with internal security challenges. For the administration of Buhari to be peaceful and smooth, then Dambazzau has to work. As a former Chief of Army Staff, COAS. He is now overseeing all the paramilitary services: the Police, the Prisons, the Immigration, the Civil Defence and Fire Services especially, and he has the challenge of ensuring that they synergise to keep the country peaceful. The challenges of the Boko Haram insurgency, Biafra movement, Niger- Delta militancy and restiveness, cattle rustling, armed robbery, communal clashes, amongst others are already staring him at the face but he cannot afford to blink. The welfare of these personnel must be accorded priority attention as issues of accommodations, pensions, allowances, salaries, gratuities amongst others, have continued to form the basis for complaints in these services. Also to face the minister is the problem of recruitment such as that of the Immigration where several persons died and others injured without still getting the job. Recently, the House of Representatives commenced probe into the Immigration recruitment saga and asked the service to deploy all those issued appointment letters. The minister is now faced with the challenge of ensuring that their appointment is regularised and salaries secured for them. Recruitment exercises by various paramilitary agencies in the ministry have often been characterised by crisis CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 and fraud in most cases.

Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs The importance of this region to the country underscores the retention of this ministry by Buhari and the subsequent assignment of Pastor Usani Uguru of Cross River state as minister and Claudius Omoyele Daramola of Ondo state as minister of state. These gentlemen and Niger Delta leaders would face enormous challenge delivering development in the region, as they would be blame for any failure. The creation of the ministry by late Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration followed the need to end militancy and develop the region. The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC was not good enough to push the issues in the region as it was not a policy making and cabinet body. The ministers have the challenge of rolling out and pursuing policies that would keep the development of people and environment in Niger Delta on.

Budget and National Planning The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and his minister of state, Zainab Ahmed, have since resumed duties, in the face of daunting challenges of the country’s economic crisis. First of all, the challenges of early budget presentation and budget implementation have to be resolved. Monitoring and evaluation of budget implementation and performance by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to improve the economy and bring wealth to Nigerians are of the essence. This could explain the reason for poverty as presently experienced in the country, but these ministers have to bring a change. The current level of hyper inflation and poor standard of living must be addressed to reflect the change mantra of this administration and these ministers would face the challenge of getting the sectors involved to fix these and the entire economy.

Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nigeria has been noted as an oil-dependent economy but the unfortunate thing is that the corruption in the sector has brought great harm on the economy. With President Buhari personally heading the oils ministry with Ibe Kachiukwu as minister of state, it is believed that something substantial would be done to revive the sector. However, there is the challenge of fighting the cabal in the sector to free the country. The issues of oil subsidy, fuel importation by Independent Marketers is a big challenge these ministers would face. The challenge of fixing the nation’s refineries and building new ones for high capacity production is waiting for them. Raking in revenues from oil companies as taxes into the federation account is a challenge. Corporation, NNPC.

Judiciary The Judiciary as we all know is key to every democratic setting; and as the third arm of government, it acts as a check on the executive and the legislative arm of government. In the past, the judiciary was known for its reputation to function at an

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Challenges before new

Adeosun

Fayemi

The issues of oil subsidy, fuel importation by Independent Marketers is a big challenge these ministers would face optimum level in dispensing justice without fear or favour but unfortunately, in recent times, many judges have been found guilty of corruption and other sordid acts. With some exceptions, corruption, undue political and other influences, flawed process of judicial appointments, poor performance and denial of justice have become the judiciary’s lot. The consequence is a loss of faith in the justice system. The importance of criminal justice to the smooth running of any society cannot be over emphasised. Indeed an effective criminal justice system is regarded by many as fundamental to the maintenance of law and order. However the Nigerian criminal justice system is not only dysfunctional, it is also outdated and absolutely not fit for purpose. Experts say change is possible with fundamental reforms, which must begin from within. Malami is coming in at a time the judiciary is grappling with the challenge of defending its independence and its integrity, it is however not in doubt that the new AGF has an enormous task ahead of him, whether he will be able to implement the required reforms that will assist in repositioning the judiciary that will not only regain the trust of Nigerians but will also meet the hope of the common man, only time will tell.

Rotimi Amaechi: Transportation Contrary to the expectation of some Nigerians who had tipped him as Minister of Niger Delta, Rotimi Amaechi was assigned to the Ministry of Transportation. He is assuming office amidst the torrents of challenges besetting the transport sector. He will have to contend with the Herculean task of revamping the road sector, which has almost collapsed..

Mohammed

sector suffered a major setback because of oil boom with the groundnut pyramid of the North, cocoa plantations in the West and the oil palm and rubber plantations taking the back seat. Ogbeh is expected to consolidate on the relative success achieved by the immediate past minister of Agriculture, Dr Adesina Akinwunmi, as Nigeria was heavily dependent on agriculture, with the sector accounting for more than 40 per cent of pre-1973 GDP, but which, by 1983, declined 1.9 per cent, while exports fell 7.9 per cent.

The challenges facing the road network are occasioned by the abysmal neglect of the rail and maritime sectors of the economy. The lacklustre attitude towards the rail sector gave rise to the heavy pressure put on the roads in moving goods such as petroleum products and agricultural produce from the hinterland to the cities and sea ports. Rail transport, considered cheaper and most suitable mode of transportation for heavy traffic flows, today contributes less than half per cent to the Gross Domestic Products of the transport sector. Thus, the prolonged relegation of the Nigerian Railways Corporation has turned the corporation to drain on the Federal purse, as the NRC depends on government subvention to thrive instead of achieving self-sustenance by providing freight and passenger services. Amaechi has the onerous responsibility of giving fillip to water transport, which at the moment has share of about 1.6 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product. The sector comprises ocean transport, coastal water transport and inland water transport. The new minister will be required to tackle the variegated challenges at the major sea ports in the country.

Amina Mohammed as the new head of the Ministry of Environment, which was established at the inception of the Chief Obasanjo administration in June 1999, is to ensure effective coordination of all environmental matters. She is expected to also ensure environmental matters are adequately mainstreamed into all developmental activities. The protection of the environment is paramount to the achievement of the objectives of the country’s socio-economic reforms, including National Economic Empowerment Strategy, NEEDS and other regional and global initiatives such as the New Partnership for African Development, NEPAD, Millennium Development Goals, MDGs which has since changed to Social Development Goals, SDGs and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, JPOI. The minister is also expected to prepare a comprehensive national policy for the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources, including procedure for environmental impact assessment of all developing projects.

Audu Ogbeh – Agriculture

Education Ministry

Ogbeh is returning to a familiar terrain as this is his third time as a minister. In the Second Republic, he was the Minister of Communications and later became Minister of Steel Development. His latest assignment as the Minister of Agriculture is seen as yet another veritable opportunity for him to put into practice all he has been advocating over the years on how agriculture could be restored as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The

Amina Mohammed - Environment

The education sector is a very important area needed for the progress and development of any nation. It is a sector saddled with the responsibility to ensure that the conducive environment and conditions are provided for the impartation of knowledge. With Mallam Adamu Adamu as the Minister in charge of the Education Ministry, he needs to tackle the problem of the rapid fall in quality of education in the country by ensuring improvement in the infra-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Thursday, November 26, 2015

ministers structure in schools at all levels. Poor funding of the education sector at all levels of government is also a challenge in the education sector which must also be urgently addressed. The new Minister also need to ensure that there is strict compliance with regulations and guidelines for private schools at all levels in the county to ensure that they don’t compromise standards.

Communication Ministry For the new Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu, the achievements recorded so far in the Communication sector should be sustained while efforts should be intensified to ensure further development in the sector. The communication sector is now a very important area that requires attention because the world has become a global village where we need to communicate and connect with other people in the world regarding trade, social interaction, politics, education and other areas of human life. The ministry should also urgently address the issue of poor service by telecommunication companies in the country and ensure that they improve on their services. The provision of quality service to the growing mobile telephone subscribers should be of utmost importance.

Finance This is a very important ministry in any government as it is in charge of the revenue and expenditure of the government as well as financing projects of the Federal Government designed for the benefit of the people. With Kemi Adeosun, a financial expert and former Commissioner of Finance in Ogun State now at the Federal level as Minister of Finance, it is expected that she would bring her expertise to bear in the area of managing the economy. The ministry needs to ensure probity and proper management of government fund and check excesses in government spending and block all financial leakages.

Information The Ministry of Information also has a key role to play in the affairs of the country as it is expected to inform the people on the activities of government. Without properly disseminating information, the people would be in the dark and may not be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. The Ministry of Information under the leadership of the new Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, should ensure that people are adequately informed on the activities of government. The need to ensure positive image of the country before the international community should also be paramount in the affairs of the ministry.

Industry, Trade and Investment The ministry is responsible for attracting foreign investments into the country and ensuring the growth of local industries and businesses. With the fall in the price of oil in the international market, the minister in charge

of this ministry has a responsibility to go all out to attract investments in all the sectors in order to stimulate the economy. The ministry under Okechukwu Enelamah as the minister should also ensure that government provides the conducive environment for the existing industries in the country to grow while funds should be provided to revive those that are dead The ministry also has the task of ensuring that the investments in the country generate employment for the teeming youths while also boosting the economy of the country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs This is one of the critical ministries of every Government. It is the foreign affairs ministry that markets every administration to the outside world. The President is believed to have made a good choice in the person of Geoffrey Onyeama as the minister in charge of the ministry. A seasoned lawyer and an astute administrator, Onyeama is expected to bring his wealth of experiences as a Diasporan to bear in the ministry.. The minister will be confronted with the issue of positioning Nigeria as a nation of investment destination, given the present administration’s quest for foreign investment to complement the dwindling revenue from the oil sector. Already, the new minister has given indications as to his policy direction while in office., Onyeama promised to block all financial leakages in the ministry and mis-

Adewole

Malami

sions abroad as part of the effort to actualise the change agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari-led government. He also hinted that the country’s missions abroad would also be reduced in order to better manage the budgetary allocation of the ministry.

At the moment, the country is losing huge revenue from the solid minerals sector to illegal miners through uncoordinated and disjointed mining activities. From Plateau State to Nasarawa state to Katsina State to Zamfara and Ebonyi States, the length and breadth of Nigeria is endowed with minerals of various kinds and qualities. Unfortunately, as a result of huge resources from hydrocarbon, Nigerians have over the years failed to tap the boundless mineral resources that abound all over the country. Perhaps, it is based on this enormous potentials in the ministry that President Buhari decided to chose somebody like the former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a well tested administrator, academic and technocrat to head the ministry.

Ministry of Solid Minerals This is again, one of the critical ministries that is expected to drive the new administration’s change agenda. The Solid Minerals ministry is more critical now particularly because of the dwindling income from the oil and gas sectors. If the principle for the diversification of the economy as promised by the President is to make any meaningful impact, the solid minerals ministry must play a pivotal role.

Group caution against campaign of calumny on SGF office

he Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET has condemned what it termed serial campaign of calumny against the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by a group from Ebonyi State. In a press statement issued by the Centre’s Executive

Director on Public Affairs, Comrade Anthony Kola, the centre said it has become necessary to call the persons behind such campaign of calumny to order, insisting that such action will continue to discourage people from serving their fatherland if their hard earned reputation is being tarnished.

“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is one man who has performed all his responsibilities with God and humanity at heart” “It will therefore be disheartening for some mischief makers to go to the street with his image and reputation to make some cheap political goals against

him knowing well that no one can bend his principles. “The President was in the first place not wrong about his choice; the SGF has so far demonstrated to be at home with the workings of that office and we implore these elements to desist from dragging his name to the mud,” the statement said.

We never endorse Dickson for second term –Bayelsa Elders Osahon Julius YENAGOA

s controversies continue to trail the gale of endorsement by stakeholders on candidates ahead of the Bayelsa gubernatorial poll, a prominent member of the Bayelsa Elders Council, BEC, Chief Andy Oputa, yesterday, denied that the elders endorsed the re-election of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson. Oputa, a retired Major from the Nigerian Army said it was wrong for some persons to have sponsored media publications claiming that the council was in support of

Dickson’s second term ambition. He however confirmed that the council held a meeting with the governor and his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) on November 15 at the Wetland Centre, Yenagoa. Oputa said the council at the meeting deliberated on the state of Bayelsa and, thereafter, raised a four-point communique. Oputa in a statement he signed in Yenagoa said the governor only received blessings from the first class chiefs present at the meeting as the tradition demands. He said: “I was physically present at a meeting held by

the council on 15th November, 2015 and l hereby react to a purported news item making the rounds in certain sections of the media in Bayelsa State to the effect that the Bayelsa Elders Council endorsed Governor Dickson’ second term bid. “I maintain that there was no resolution to that effect and could not have been since the BEC is non-partisan. Rather the governor received blessings from the first class chiefs present as tradition demands. “The four-point resolution adopted by the council are well documented and duly signed by the chairman and the publicity secretary. I strongly

advise politicians and other political office seekers not to make political capital out of meetings of this highly respected elders council.” Also, a copy of the communique made available to the National Mirror, showed that none of the four-point resolution contained a statement endorsing Dickson. The council in the document urged all political parties to ensure that their candidates, leaders and followers were of good conduct in the interest of peace and in accordance with the Peace Accord they signed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Politics

Kwara Deputy Speaker empower constituents Dare Akogun

he Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Mathew Okedare in conjunction with a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Royal Heritage Health Foundation last Monday in Jebba Moro local government area of the state brought succour to five physically challenged with the provision of wheel-chairs and cash gift to widows. Okedare while presenting the materials and cash also used the opportunity to commend the government for resumption of work at the Oloru/Jebba road, saying that with the return of the contractors to site the people can now heave a sigh of relief. He however enjoined other well meaning individuals to imbibe the spirit of helping the less privileged in the society, adding that, the empowerment programme is apart from his monthly disbursement of N280,000 to his constituents. “I am glad our efforts on the deplorable condition of Oloru/Bode-Saadu/Jebba road, through the media, liaising with the National Assembly members and the Presidency had yielded positive result because works had commended on the abandoned road project, many lives and property worth millions of naira had been lost to deplorable condition of the road. Okedare also disbursed the cash of N200,000 to widows, aged and other less privileged members in his constituency. The beneficiaries of wheel chairs who also received cash gift of N5,000 each included Afolabi Ibrahim from Bode-Saadu, Rukayat Raheem from Jenkunu; Azeez Olarewaju from Jebba; Gbadamosi Taiye and Azeez Dada who also came from Jebba community. In their separate remarks, the chairman of the APC in Jebba Ward, Alhaji Muyideen Bakare and the spokesperson of Jebba Youths Development Association, Yusuf Abdullateef noted that the gesture would go a long way in bringing succour to the beneficiaries.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

No political thugs harass Suswam –Benue Commissioner Henry Iyorkase MAKURDI.

enue State Commissioner for Trade and investment, Dr. Tersoo Kpelai has debunked the claim of former Governor, Gabriel Suswam that he was harassed by hoodlums at Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. The commissioner who doubled as the Chairman Central Planning Committee for the burial of the paramount ruler of

Ter-Ukum, Chief Daniel Dzahan who was buried in the area explained that the burial essentially was non- partisan. He explained that few people were initially billed to give funeral oration at the programme and that Suswam was not on the list of those to speak at the occasion. He further stated that “soon afterwards, the former governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam arrived the venue with his lieutenants and a detachment of

Mobile Police and other entourage he insisted to make a speech” “Since his name was not among to speak, it was initially rejected but due to the pleadings of traditional rulers of the area and other sympathizers, he was allowed to make a speech” “Soon as he mounted the podium, he started with vulgar language and subsequently confusion set in and at that point I left the venue . “For anyone to allude

that the occasion was disrupted by party supporters is not true” “Frankly speaking, those who are insinuating that there was political clash between supporters of different political parties at the occasion are not saying the truth and there is no iota of truth whatsoever in that . “ I wish to disabuse the minds of the people that the insinuation is borne out of envy and misrepresentation of facts”, he explained.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (centre) acknowledging cheers from ecstatic people of Peretoru Gbene Town on arrival during his Community to Community Meet the People Campaign Tour in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the State, yesterday.

Kashamu urges Court of Appeal to validate his election Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

he Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district, Prince Buruji Kashamu, yesterday urged the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, to nullify the judgement of the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified his victory in the March 28 senatorial election. At the hearing of his appeal against the judgement of the tribunal before the three-man Court of Appeal panel led by Justice A. G. Mshelia, his lead counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), said the tribunal erred in basing its judgement on the evidence of Prosecution Witness 44, who is not an expert. Other members of the panel are Justice Ignatius

Agube and Justice M. L. Shuaibu. According to Izinyon, since the witness himself confirmed that he was enlisted by the first respondent, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the second respondent, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to analyse the polling materials, his evidence should and cannot be relied upon. He insisted that since the star witness do not have an established skill and expertise as a forensic expert, the appellate court should allow the appeal of his client and set aside the decision of the tribunal while it should also dismiss the first and second respondents’ petition at the tribunal. Speaking in the same vein, lead counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. R. A. Oluyede,

urged the court to allow the appeal of his client, stating that statues and cases are unanimous that elections are not meant to be perfect. He said out of the 11 complaints presented before the tribunal by the first and second respondents, only four were accepted by the tribunal on the basis of faulty evidence. He maintained that the judgements and findings of the tribunal cannot stand when it is clear that they are based on manufactured evidence. However the lead counsel to Abiodun and the APC, Mr. Yusuf Alli, enjoined the court to dismiss the appeal of both Kashamu and the PDP, noting that the over flogging issue of the evidence of P44, is uncalled for. According to him, while there have been various judgements on the need

to rely on the evidence of forensic expert in electoral disputes, it is important that each case must be decided on its merit with its peculiar facts. After listening to the more than three hours fireworks on the appeals filed by Kashamu and PDP, and cross-appeals filed by Abiodun and APC, the court said it will communicate the date for judgement to all the parties in the matter. The appeal filed before the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan by Senator Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the judgment of the Ogun State election petition tribunal which nullified his victory in the March 28 senatorial election, was Tuesday halted by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.

N45M payment error, ex Naval Officer dares EFCC to arrest him Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

retired Naval officer, Navy Captain Jerry Ogbonna who is said to be on the wanted list of the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for stealing has said the N45M in question was a part payment of a contract his company executed in 2012 even as he dared the EFCC to arrest him. EFCC has said the N45 million was paid into account of the former military officer in error by the Central Bank of Nigeria, but he absconded with the money. In a release made available to journalists in Abuja, the retired Naval officer denied ever stealing the sum of N45M as was alleged, rather he said “the payment to my account with Diamond Bank PLC in 2012 was credited for a contract I have with Ministry of Petroleum Resources for the lease of three helicopters from Tunisia for Department of Petroleum Resource. “ The helicopters were President Yar’dua’s idea to prevent DPR from hiring helicopters from the IOCs who they are supposed to police. The N45M was partpayment of the mobilization for the contract. The full mobilization is N110 million. So a total of N90 million has been paid by the ministry for the mobilization. “However the CBN staff and some staff from Ministry of Petroleum wanted me to launder the money and share the money without supplying the helicopters but I refused. This is against my principle and what I stand for.” He said the matter is in the Federal High court and International court of arbitration for adjudication. “I am not on the run from EFCC because they know my office in Abuja and my residence. I have no need to run from anybody but no one can intimidate me. Rule of law must be followed at all times. The truth must prevail over lies. I sacrificed my life for 30 years in the military for this nation and cannot at this stage change my habits at 61”, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Nigeria: Between fancies and realities CRITICAL STROKES

KAYODE

KETEFE

kketefe@nationalmirroronline.net 08032147720 (SMS only)

KAYODE KETEFE

t is one thing to desire a thing, and another to be ready to pay the price to bring that object of desire into reality. Today, everybody would agree the nation is reeking with disunity and fear, pandemonium and stagnation. While these four depressing nouns “disunity, fear, pandemonium, stagnation” might have aptly captured the current realities, they are by no means mere fortuitous sequence of lexical items by this writer. The words are, ironically, just the direct opposites of the lexemes in the “national motto” enshrined in Section 15 of the 1999 Constitution. The said section provides that the “Motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.” With the rate of insecurity in the land a la Boko Haram; armed robbery and wanton killings of Nigerians, kidnapping of prominent personalities and et al, is it not ironic that the nation now seems a perfect negation of everything each of those ideal

concepts in the national motto denotes. But the paradoxical discrepancy between stated objectives and realities is not confined to the motto alone; it extends more palpably to the virtues described as “national ethics” under Section 23 of the Constitution. The said section states “The national ethics shall be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Patriotism” To project the palpable incongruities between our behaviours and each of these ethics would certainly require writing volumes of encyclopedia-sized treatises. Let us briefly examine each of the virtues against the backlight of our experiences, starting with “discipline”. What amount of discipline inheres in our socio-political and cultural contexts? How often do you see Nigerians jumping queues at public places in defiance of social etiquette, and in glorification of indiscipline? Do our policy makers set targets and remain committed to them in consonance with disciplined mindset? What about financial discipline; and moral discipline, too? At the lowest rung of the ladder, you see people urinating or even defecating ubiquitously in public places with utter shamelessness. Where is discipline? Integrity comes next, everyone will agree that if ever there is one scarce commodity in Nigeria, it is men and women of integrity; the extent of corruption in the land is a direct index of want of integrity in the character contents of a sizeable segment of Nigerians. One of the reasons Nigerians clamoured for and voted President Muhammadu Buhari into power is because

MANY CIVIL SERVANTS ARE NOT ONLY LAZY, THEY SEE THEIR OFFICES AS AVENUES FOR SELFENRICHMENT he is perceived as a person of integrity – a rarity among the legions of corrupt souls in the political class! What of “dignity of labour”? Many civil servants are not only lazy, they see their offices as avenues for self-enrichment, most of our past governments itself had no workable blueprints for efficient, dynamic labour-force; people also have the attitude of looking down on many jobs for being lowly and menial as if white collar jobs are the only ones essential in the society. As for social justice, is our sociopolitical and economic order not structured in such a way that the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer? In justice sector for instance, you would realise the poor’s access to justice is not only curtailed by the exorbitant cost of adjudication, it is also hampered by selectivity. Somebody who stole billions of naira, our justice system would allow him to plea-bargain his way into safety and impunity after been made to part with just a fraction of his loot, whereas a poor man would steal yam and banana in the market and be sent to many years in jail. That is social justice, is it not!

Then we have “religious tolerance” as the next ethic. Don’t we jump at each other’s throat on account of the slightest religious differences. Mind you, don’t let us even talk about Boko Haram because Boko Haram might have taken the affair to an infernal level, it did not start interreligious belligerence in Nigeria. Our various faiths have always proved incapable of harmonious co-existence as a result of mutual intolerance. Now, who is talking of self-reliance? We cannot even rely on ourselves just to refine our natural products like crude oil, having to import refined PMS from abroad. Don’t we spend hard-earned foreign exchange to import necessities, luxuries and even vanities? Our rate of reliance on foreign expertise is so painfully enormous that it is debatable if we can survive without foreign dependency. In every household in any modern Nigerian city today, 98 percent of all items, utensils, fitting and fixtures are of foreign provenance. As for patriotism, where are the patriotic Nigerians? May be one in a thousand! The pertinent question here is why is our national character so diametrically opposed to our self-chosen, much-vaunted national motto cum ethics? People as rational, sentient beings must purposefully and tenaciously work towards accomplishment of whatever worthy goals they have set for themselves. Ketefe may be followed on twitter @ Ketesco

Paris massacre and agony of a bleeding world TAYO OGUNBIYI

hat terror has attained a global dimension, once again, became viciously evident as it recently struck in a damning and audacious fashion in far away Paris. As at the last the count, the well coordinated six strikes by ISIS that devastated Paris, thereby leaving the entire world in a state of palpable awe, had left 132 people dead and more than 200 others injured. This is the second time in less than 11 months that the magnificent city would fall into the devilish hands of terror. The first was the last January 7 attack on Charlie Hebdo, a Paris based satirical magazine, which led to the death of 17 people. In terms of planning, execution and casualties figure, the recent attack is more menacing. Indeed, Sylvie Bermann, the French ambassador in the United Kingdom has compared the latest terror strike to the 9/11 incident in America. She said: “I think this is totally different from Charlie Hebdo attacks. This is more like 9/11. It is an act of war.” Her stance was reinforced by French President, Francois Hollande. In honour of the dead, the French government declared three days of national mourning. Expectedly, there has been widespread global condemnation by world leaders. Even the Russian President, Vladimir Putin termed the attack as “the latest testimonial to the barbaric essence of terrorism which throws down a challenge to human civilisation.” The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis had said: “There cannot be

DAY BY DAY, THE

WORLD IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING TROUBLED AND VULNERABLE justification, religious or human, for the evil act. It is absolutely inhuman”. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, called the attack “despicable”. Without a doubt, terrorism has become a major global concern. There is hardly any part of the world that has not tasted the bitter pills of audacious and vicious terror assaults. Day by day, the world is increasingly becoming troubled and vulnerable. Indeed, the world is in a state of severe bleeding. Leading in this renewed onslaught on global peace are Islamic State, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and the Taliban. A recent data from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) reveals that almost 18,000 people died from terrorist attacks in 2013, a 61 percent increase over the 2012 figure. The IEP statistics equally confirms that 80 percent of the deaths that arise from terrorists’ attacks took place in just five countries: Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria while India, Somalia, the Philippines, Yemen and Thailand accounted for between one percent and 2.3 percent of global deaths by terrorism. The rest of the deaths occurred in 60 countries across the world. This, no doubt, is a clear indication that the intensity of terrorism is precariously

increasing across the world. It is not really clear what exactly terrorists want that could warrant such monumental disdain they have demonstrated for mankind. Religion seems to be a major umbrella under which majority of the terrorist groups hide to accomplish their callous and depraved acts. For instance, four of the main terrorist groups namely: Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Boko Haram and Islamic State hinge their dastardly activities on religious ideologies based on excessive interpretations of Wahhabi Islam. Many adherents of Islam have, however, disowned these organizations’ claim of fighting for the course of Islam. President Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, once referred to Boko Haram as a ‘godless and mindless’ sect that knows nothing about Islam. Indeed, the Boko Haram sect has given itself out as such, considering its various onslaughts against Muslims. This goes to actually confirm that the group might by no means be championing the promotion of Islam. The fact that the sect particularly chose the revered month of Ramadan to launch criminal attacks on renowned Muslim locations and faithful, is a pointer to the reality that it is , indeed, a ‘godless’ and ‘mindless’ sect. No sane group, purporting to promote religious course, should take recourse to bloodletting when God is known to abhors such tendencies. If, indeed, terrorists are not fighting to advance religious course, what

then could they really want? Could it be that they are being driven by political or separatist tendencies? A recent IEP report discloses that increased social hostilities among diverse ethnic, religious and linguistic groups, state-sponsored violence such as extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses could stimulate terrorism. There is, of course, some degree of legitimacy in this claim. Fears of subjugation of a particular race by another could easily encourage a people or race to embrace terrorism. The protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a clear-cut example. The Palestinians, rightly or wrongly, believe that they are being unfairly and unduly denied their ‘right’ to settlement at the West Bank. They also believe, erroneously or appropriately, that America and other leading western nations are not favourably disposed to their plight. Since they do not possess the financial and military force to surmount perceived opposition to their nationalistic aspirations, terrorism could, therefore, be the easy response of a frustrated and disenchanted people. Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja. 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 26, 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

Mallam Adamu and the challenges on ground

he Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, glistened and glowed with hope for a revamped education sector recently when he assumed office in Abuja after the inauguration of ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a meeting with the top hierarchs of the ministry in the nation’s capital, the minister reeled out pervasive corruption in Nigeria’s educational system, under-funding, dearth of regulatory frameworks, among others as some of the challenges responsible for the deafening regress and rot in the sector. Said the Minister: “The core problems of education in the country, while inter-related, vary from one level of education to another. It is the crisis of underfunding which gave birth to a whole series of other problems, such as poor infrastructure for teaching and learning. It is also the cause of absence of laboratory equipment for teaching and research, poor condition of service for teachers and the menace of brain drain from our tertiary institutions of learning…the crisis of poor enrolment and access which leave millions of school-age children roaming the streets; and millions of others competing for some thousands of places in our tertiary institutions; and the crisis of regulation, which have turned the entire education system into a jungle where everything goes…”

Incidentally, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), early October while marking the 2015 World Teachers’ Day in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, drew attention to a lot of the challenges Adamu outlined, and canvassed the convening of a ‘serious, result-oriented and purposeful’ education summit where professionals and stakeholders would bring their experiences to bear on solutions to them. Indeed, the sullied reputation of the nation’s education sector occasioned by the embarrassing academic performance of Nigerian students in recent decades; and the huge failure the country’s entire public educational enterprise now represents, equally troubled the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the extent it also contemplated a summit similar to the type the NUT suggested at a time. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Adamu’s predecessor in office, dropped the hint at the 60th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital between November 3 and 7, 2014. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of those promises not kept until power exchanged hands between Jonathan and Buhari last May 29. Education in the country, like several other sectors, has suffered retarded growth for long. Some of the tell-tale signs include reports that Nigeria is home to roughly 10 million out-of-school children. Indeed,

HOW THE BUHARI ADMINISTRATION COOPERATES WITH

MALLAM ADAMU

IN TURNING DREAM TO REALITY WOULD DETERMINE THE

NATION’S SUCCESS IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT SECTOR with the recent revelation by the Director of UNESCO’s Regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Benoit Sossou, that “there are still many challenges (for Nigeria), especially with high level of illiteracy more prevalent in the 19 states of the North, and more than 40 million adult illiterates nationwide”; and several millions more between the ages of six and 11 years out-of-school in a country with a population estimate of 178.5 million (2014 projections), there is every reason to worry about Nigeria’s future in a globalised world that thrives on choking competition. Education in Nigeria, whether at the primary, secondary or tertiary level, is truly underfunded. The country has never come close to funding the sector with 26 percent of its annual budget as the United Nations recommended. Mallam Adamu says his immediate objectives would include reforming primary

ON THIS DAY

November 26, 1983

November 26, 2000

In London, 6,800 gold bars worth nearly £26 million were stolen by a robbery gang from the Brink’s-MAT vault at the Heathrow Airport. When the bandits arrived Brink’s-MAT, they found three tonnes of gold bullion and stole £26 million worth of gold, diamonds and cash. Once inside, they poured petrol over staff and threatened them with a lit match if they did not reveal the combination numbers of the vault.

George W. Bush was certified the winner of Florida’s electoral votes by Katherine Harris, and subsequently won the United States’ presidential election, despite losing in the national popular vote. George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 43rd President of the US from 2001 to 2009. He was the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

education through regulation and incentives, as well as reviewing and enforcing regulations relating to staffing, capacity building and quality assurance. He said his ministry, working closely with states and Local Government Councils would trash out modalities for offering free meals to pupils; and enact laws that would make it mandatory for all school-age children to be enrolled. He also promised a detailed look at the needs assessment reports conducted for public universities, colleges of education and polytechnics with a view to implementing some of the far-reaching recommendations. “The new action plan that will guide my stewardship as Minister of Education will present practical steps geared towards addressing these burning issues…”, he said. Like a new broom, Nigerians expect the Education Minister to sweep clean. No less! If the chaos and self-afflicted threat of extinction trailing the nation’s public education sector can be halted; and the nation’s schools repositioned for better performance, then only can the country sincerely parade itself as being part of the emerging new world; and not a gloating mockery. Ultimately, however, how the Buhari administration cooperates with Mallam Adamu in turning dream to reality would determine the nation’s success in this very important sector.

November 26, 2011 Two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Apache helicopters, an AC-130 gunship and two F-15E Eagle fighter jets, entered into the Pakistani border area of Salala in the Baizai subdivision of Mohmand Agency, FATA, at 2am local time, from across the border in Afghanistan and opened fire at two border patrol check-posts, killing up to 24 Pakistani soldiers and wounding 13 others.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

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

REGINA OTOKPA ABUJA

t is no longer news that the nation’s education sector could no longer produce satisfactorily unlike those old good days the right manpower needs to develop the economy. Observers and critics believe that the sector is sick at all level-from primary to tertiary education- with successive governments promising to revamp the system’ without the ability to do so. Now is another government with two ministers, one as a substantive minister and the other as minister of state for the sector. And since President Muhammadu Buhari sworn them in alongside their colleagues two weeks ago, Nigerians just as they often do are continued to express their expectations from them. But last week in Abuja, the Minister of State, who is a professor and two terms Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Mr. Anthony Nwukka, had an interactive session with journalists to unfold his plans by virtue of his position for the sector. He told them that of all his plans for the sector, the primary and secondary education with emphasis on the former would be his major concern based on the fact that the level is a foundation upon which other levels are built on. Speaking like somebody who knows his onion, the minister disclosed that his administration would start from the calibre of teachers to be engaged both by private and public schools as well as providing enabling environment in schools. According to him, the ministry would ensure that only the right calibre of teachers who are trained and passionate about the job would be allowed to teach at various levels of education henceforth in the country without pointing out how possible this is. While expressing displeasure over the activities of some school administrators in engaging uncertified teachers without considering it crippling consequences, the minister who is a former Secretary to Imo State Government vowed that it would no longer be business as usual in the area of teachers’ recruitment. He lamented the system which he said was defective, saying what worried him most now is the fact that many teachers at the primary school level are not qualified to be there. He explained that “Ordinarily by law and structure, the National Certificate of Education, NCE, is the minimum qualification for entrant to teach at the primary school level.

My priorities —Minister ...lists teachers’ training, high remuneration, others WE WILL ENSURE WE IMPROVE ON OUR REMUNERATION AND MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE EXTENT THAT ALMOST EVERYBODY WOULD WANT TO BE TRAINED

TO BECOME A TEACHER.

Onwuka Unfortunately, NCE training does not appear to be in consonance with the expectations of primary school teaching and learning. According to him, “We have a NCE student studying Education Physics, Education Chemistry, Education Biology; I have looked through the primary school curriculum, at best what they have is science as a subject, they have language of the environment, English, French, Arabic, Mathematics, Science, Physical and Health education, Religious knowledge, Agriculture, Home Economics, Social studies and Civic education, culture and Creative Arts but there is no place I have seen Physics or Chemistry. “You prepare young men or ladies at the NCE programme with education Physics but comes to the primary school to teach basic science which is not his major course. That has been the practice all along. But now, we

have to address the real demand and supply of teachers at primary school level. This is a task I have set upon myself to ensure we get it right once and for all. This is because what we are doing right now is to prepare NCE graduates for admission into faculties of education in the universities to study bachelors of education. They are not prepared to teach at the primary school level. We must change the mindset and structure and refocus degree education programmes.” The minister, who believes the National Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)) has a lot to do in this regards, said teachers must have to be professionally trained and certified by the council before going into the system rather than accepting jus anybody who see teaching as a last resort due to high rate of unemployment in

the country. “We just have to elevate the status of teaching in this country at least to a professional level. That is the assignment we have given ourselves and we are ready to do them. Now, the sector is off the rail and we must bring it back to function properly for the betterment of the students, the system, the industry and employers that depend on the products of the school system. We must have to give them what they want to ensure our country moves forward.” The minister believes that the Federal Government is set to tackle the challenge by introducing measures that will entice many youths to take up teaching as a career. “We will ensure we improve on our remuneration and make it more attractive to the extent that almost everybody would want to be trained to become a teacher. That is where we are going and we hope to get the president support.” On his other plans, the minister said he would ensure that zero tolerance to examination malpractice, corruption, indolence, truanting, cultism and other forms of social ills are maintained across schools just he did according to him during his days in the university as a vice-chancellor. “We will equally provide necessary basic amenities and learning aids that will make learning and teaching friendlier to both the students and their teachers,” he vowed, while calling for support and cooperation of school administrators, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to achieve the plans.

‘‘

Piracy: Copyright Commission clamps down on bookshops in Kwara 20

FG has zero tolerance for corruption in universities —Buhari 23

FG should investigate 2015 NECO results —Onoja 21

Education Today

RCCG lifts school

he Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 37, Solomon’s Porch Parish, penultimate week donated 200 sets of school uniforms (for boys and girls) and 20 sets of chairs and tables worth N800,000 to the pupils and teachers of Ebenezer Primary School, Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State. The Assistant Pastor in-charge of the province, Oluwayemi Olajide said the donation was in line with the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, a vision of the General overseer of the mission, Pastor Enoch Adeboye to contribute own quota towards the improvement of life of the less privileged in the society. He noted that the church assisted the school following observing the fact that the school was really in need of the donated items. “The church leadership believes that government cannot all alone provide basic needs of the citizenry,” he stressed. He however urged the users not only to make good use of the items but also to ensure they translate to better service. Also speaking, Mrs. Uzoamaka Okpe, a member of the church said the gesture would be extended to many other schools as resources permit in future. Responding, the Head of Schools and Social Mobilization Officer of Alimosho Local Government Council, Mrs. Modupe Opadoyi enjoined the church not to get tired in doing good to schools and the society because she was optimistic that their children would receive favour in return. On her part, the head teacher of the school, Mrs. E.O Adeyemi thanked the donor, saying the items would enhance service delivery in the school.

Board gives license to Pankshin Health Tech College

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Piracy: Copyright Commission clamps down on bookshops in Kwara

…asks FG to amend Copyright Act Wole Adedeji ILORIN

ooks worth several millions of naira were recently confiscated in Ilorin, Kwara State by the Nigerian Copyrights Commission, NCC which raided many bookshops in the state capital. The head of Ilorin Liaison Office of the commission, Mrs. Justina Akinwumi led a team of the commission staff, representatives of the Nigerian Publishers’ Association, NPA and policemen to carry out the raid. Pirated books published by Learn Africa Plc (formerly Longman) were confiscated at, among others First Sunday Sunday Bookshop and Monday Monday Enterprises both in the metropolis where large number of pirated books were seen displayed on their shelves. While speaking, Akinwumi said the books pirated were moving titles of Learn Africa like New Concept Mathematics for Senior Secondary School from 1 to 3. She told newsmen that the commission acted on a tip-off. She said although the commission had no power to seal up

any bookshop or warehouse where pirated books were discovered, the commission has the right to confiscate have pirated books. She however noted that the owners of those bookshops were already in their office for interrogation, adding that the commission has zero tolerance for piracy. A representative of Nige-

rian Publishers Association, NAP, Alhaji Maruf Ajitoni while speaking lamented that the publishing industry in the country now loses almost 50% of the total turnover of the publishing industry, which runs to several billions of naira. He said publishing industry could not fold its arms and watch pirates wreck havocs at will unchecked pointing out

that the jobs of over 100,000 workers in the publishing industry were on the line already if this illegal activities remained unchecked. Ajitoni appealed to the government to empower NCC to seal up bookshops caught selling pirated books and materials and to parents and students not to patronise pirated books.

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Professor Adebiyi Daramola; Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission and Representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Julius Okojie; Chancellor and Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwan Adamu and Pro- Chancellor, Dr Muhammed Shata during the 27th Convocation ceremony of the institution, last Saturday.

Education ministry generates N343m in Ogun—Commissioner

James Abraham JOS

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tunbosun Ogundare

Although she didn’t disclose the sources through which the money was generated, she however promised that the ministry would do better in revenue generation next year. The commissioner disclosed this while addressing members of the state’s House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology who paid her courtesy visit in her office recently. She said her administration would en-

he Registration Board of Nigeria, Community Health practitioners, he newly installed Commissioner for has finally granted provisional acEducation, Science and Technology creditation to College of Health Technolin Ogun State, Mrs. Modupe Mujota ogy, Pankshin to train community health has disclosed that the ministry was able to practitioners. In a letter to the college signed by the generate a sum of N343m internally beboard’s Acting Registrar/CEO, Salisu tween January and August this year. Abubakar and dated November 3, 2015, the board said the approval was sequel to the earlier recommendations of a visitation panel to the college. But the board pegged the number of Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEWs) to 75 and 50 in a session, respectively. The board also gave the college two years within which to address some lapses it identified to include the college’s relocation to its permanent site and provision of more offices for lecturers among others. Reacting to the news, the college provost, Dr Jonathan Daboer expressed gratitude to God and the board for the good gesture, which he described as very encouraging and long awaited one. He A cross section of students of Queen’s School, Lagos at King’s College, Lagos, during the promised to go for quality training start- inter-school football competition as part of activities of retirement ceremony organised for the immediate past Principal of King’s College, Otunba Oladele Olapeju, last week. ing from next session.

Amosun

sure nothing but standards is adhered to at all tiers of education in the state. Ogun State according to her would create an inspection team that would be going round schools especially the private schools to enforce compliance to set standards by the ministry. She said standards were not based only on beautiful environment, but also on availability of competent workers, well-equipped facilities as well as instructional materials. “We will also renovate the dilapidated schools across the state and ensure that public schools compete favourably with their private counterparts,” she stressed. Responding, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Oladotun Fasanya decried the poor learning environment and the low quality of teaching staff engaged by private schools in the state, saying that if not checked, it could negatively affect the standard of education in the state. He called on the ministry to put machineries in motion to check activities of private schools especially in the area of infrastructure, manpower and remuneration.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Principal advocates stakeholder’s support for education Saidat Alausa

he Principal, Babcock University Schools, Ogba, Lagos, Mr. Gabriel Fasanu has called, on well to Nigerian in the country particularly politicians who represent their communities in state and National Assemblies to assist in the development of education in their various communities. He said this is necessarily to complement the effort of the government in providing conducive learning environment for pupils and students of such communities. The principal stated this during the Community Guest day organised by the school, recently. He explained that such assistance will contribute immensely to the growth of the educational sector. Fashanu also added that such assistance can be by way of providing infrastructure, special training for teachers, award of scholarships to deserving students among others.

Speaking on why the school organised the programme, the educationist said that the programme was to afford the staff and students the opportunity to interact with invited guests from the community on how to protect their mutual interests in the community. He added that the day would also helps to promote good relationship between the school and the community. Speaking during the occasion, the President of Western Nigeria Union Conference, Pastor Oyeleke Owolabi commended the leadership of Babcock University Schools, Ogba and prayed for the staff and students of the school and charged them to make hard work their watchword and also to depend on God. The climax of the event was the presentation of award of recognition to some individual for their contribution to the growth of the school including President Western Nigeria Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor (Dr) Oyeleke Owolabi, among others.

Dankwambo restates commitment to quality education Williams Attah GOMBE

n keeping to his promise of making education his first, second and third priorities, the Dankwambo administration in Gombe State has continued to make headway in this direction with not just the establishment of a college of education, but the commencement of full academic activities. Known for its educational backwardness compared to other regions of the country, the North has continued to contend with these challenges despite efforts to bridge the gap. However, not all efforts have been seen to be really sincere as political will has been lacking in seeing to the success of the education sector. It has become a known fact that the education sector has largely been politicized by many state administrations. The reason why policies and pronouncements only end on paper or at most building school structures without facilities or motivation and capacity building to propel the sector to achieving its desired level. In Gombe State however,

Education Today

Thursday, November 26, 2015

the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has been trying in marching words with action since its inception on 29th May 2011when he promised to make education his first, second and third priority. This resulted in the establishment, upgrading and renovation of many schools, primary, post-primary and tertiary institutions. This is apart from the recruitment of over two thousand NCE and first degree graduates as teachers in primary and secondary schools. And now, having another mandate of four years, the tempo hasn’t stopped, as a promise that hitherto seemed “political promise” has now seen the light of the day, thus, shaming his opponents. Since the pronouncement in December 2012 to establish a college of education in Billiri, Gombe State, the usual structures for the school had stood out as a sign and commitment of the administration to fulfill its promise. But that is not so with many, because all over the country, many structures have littered many parts of the country as abandoned projects.

FG should investigate 2015 NECO results —Onoja Chief Sylvester Onoja is a former Commissioner for Education in Kogi State and now the Executive Chairman of the state’s Teaching Service Commission. He is also a member of Nigeria Academy of Education and former Principal of King’s College, Lagos. In this interview with TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE, Onoja faults the choice of non professional as a Minister of Education and the huge disparity between WAEC and NECO in their 2015 May\June SSCE results while advocating a special regulatory agency for the nation’s secondary education. Excerpts:

How would you react to the appointment of Mr. Adamu Adamu as the new minister of education? Honestly speaking, Mr. Adamu Adamu is a fantastic gentleman and I have nothing personal against his person. But I don’t think he has the required knowledge and competency to run the ministry well. His appointment is like putting a square peg in a round hole. And I wonder why Mr. President didn’t make the junior minister who has been in the sector all his life a substantive minister and vice-versa. Adamu may probably perform very well as a minister of information considering his background as a columnist and public analyst. But it would have been much better if a professional is given the portfolio and my argument is simple. That is the fact that we don’t need to gamble with the sector again. We have to get it right this time around as a nation so as to move forward. But all the same I wish him best of luck. But the minister of state is a professor and two-term vice-chancellor of a university. That is the home truth but does not follow since he is not the person in charge. As a matter of fact, even if he has brilliant ideas, he may not want to say it out so that his boss will not think of over shinning him. That is the nature of man. So, what would think should be their priorities? The major problem of education is at the level of primary and secondary education. For any country to make meaningful impact in education it must make quality of primary and secondary education a priority but Nigeria’s primary education has nothing to write home about while the secondary education is an orphan. I could recall that in May 1999, the then military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar signed into law the establishment of the National Secondary Education Commission. But because his regime is short, he couldn’t implement the policy and sadly up till now none of the subsequent governments deemed it fit to consider the commission worthy. That commission is to serve as a regulatory agency solely for secondary education. This is just like the Universal Basic Education Commission for basic education-primary and junior secondary, the National Commission for Colleges of Education for colleges of education, National Board for Technical Education for polytechnics and monotechnics and the National Universities Commission for the universities. So, why can we also have an agency for secondary education? We are wasting our times as a country unless we have such an agency. It is what we produce at that level that go for higher studies and later become manpower for the economy. So, I want the government to address this issue because all attempts to improve tertiary education would not yield desirable results. And secondly is the teachers’ training. Everybody is say-

Onoja ing that people are not being attracted to teaching. How can they when teachers are not enjoying the same benefits with their counterparts in other professions? Come to think of it, if somebody wants to study medicine, law, pharmacy or accounting in any of the public universities in the country for instance, such person must have to get up to 270 score or more from possible 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) while you just need to score 180 points to study education courses. Why this has to be so? Teaching should be made competitive too. The profession is where there is no hiding place for those who know and those who don’t what they are to teach. That is why we have many teachers who cannot express themselves correctly in a simple grammar. So, just because of poor remuneration and welfare package, many run away from joining the profession. Take for instance, if you pay teachers almost the same salary with those in banks, oil companies or ICT, everybody would like to be a teacher. So, the new government should look into this for positive change. How do you think recurrent mass failure of students in the senior secondary school certificate exams can be tackled? It is simply for all hands to be on deck. Students have to be more committed; teachers have to be all and doing, parents have to dedicate more attention to their children’s education while governments should provide enabling environment. The examination bodies must also live up to their mandate. Look at the last SSCE May/June results conducted by WAEC and NECO, while WAEC recorded that less than 40 per cent of its candidates passed at credit level and above five subjects including English Language and mathematics, a few weeks later NECO came out to tell us that over 68.9 per cent of its candidates passed its exam. Is that not ridiculous? These are the same exams, for the same set of students, taught by the same teachers under the same curriculum using the same syllabus and marked by the same people. How do we interpret this? What yardsticks NECO used in arriving at its own figure? Is that the way to compensate students or what? That is a gross deception on the part of NECO. The council wants to tell us that everything is going on fine in secondary education. Is that the true position? A state that scored nine or ten per cent in WAEC and now scored up to 60 per cent in NECO and nobody is queried the huge disparity. Nothing stops government to query the record because the implication is that next year, many students would want to abandon WAEC and go for NECO just because they can easily pass the exam. These are some of the problems in education and at the secondary level in particular.

Education Today

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Expert makes case for engineering studies Saidat Alausa

Professor of Chemical Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adebayo Sanni has said there was need to develop a new paradigm for engineering education in order to create a new breed of engineers capable of adding value to the nation’s economy. This according to him will require a separation of engineering as an academic discipline from engineering as a learned profession like in medicine and law. The emeritus professor said this while delivering the 7th convocation lecture of Bells University of Technology, Ota, recently. The lecture was titled, “Technology Education in Nigeria: Bridging the 21st Century gap.” He said this was necessary because university system in Nigeria seems to produce graduates particularly engineering graduates who are not sufficiently discipline and equipped with the appropriate academic and professional skills to satisfy the needs of industry. “The engineering programmes in most Colleges of Engineering in Nigerian universities are mostly those that existed in the 60s and 70s and the challenges facing Nigeria in the 21st century are completely different from those of the 60s and hence require different approach and solutions. “It is not surprising therefore that the graduates of those programmes are finding it difficult to fit into the present dispensation because teaching 20th century curriculum in the 21st century prepares our students for a world that no longer exist,” he explained.

Phillips Consulting launches e-learning certification Saidat Alausa

hillips Consulting, a management consulting firm has launched an online learning platform called: “Phillips Learning Bundle.” It was launched on Tuesday in Lagos in partnership with a South African-based learning and talent management outfit SkillSoft. The bundle is designed according to the firm to empower individuals through a hassle free learning experience to improve their knowledge, skills and competences. In his welcome address at the launch, Chairman, Phillips Consulting, Mr. Foluso Phillips reiterated the need for the platform which according to him would provide a wide range of e-learning courses, customised specifically to the needs of learners in a manner that ensures learning on varied devices. “It is our own contribution to national capacity development to help further develop our society,” he stressed. Explaining why the company is introducing the bundle, Associate Partner of the firm, Mr. Paul Ayim disclosed that the World Economic Forum in its 2015 Global Competitiveness index rated Nigeria as having one of the poorest education and skills development index in the world. “So, it is in response to this challenge that we are introducing this to Nigerians because we believe that the value of our large population can only be realised and its inherent potential harnessed if it is educated, skilled and continually retrained,” he stressed. The bundle which he said is affordable, according to him makes learning engaging and effective, by offering 24/7 online mentoring, test preps (practice questions for certification exams) and virtual labs for practical application of what is learnt. “We believe that undoubtedly this will have a national impact, because of the digitally driven environment of today. We believe that this platform will be a game changer in empowering the nation with more knowledge and capabilities,” he said. Listing those to benefit from the platform, Mr. Anyim said they include, secondary school leavers, university students, unemployed graduates, underemployed citizens who can now enhance their skills to get better jobs and the fully-employed.

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Supreme Education Foundation, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo; Director, Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Mrs. Olufunke Fowler-Amba; Chairperson, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN), Dr. Olufemi Ogunsanya; Proprietress, Doregos Private Academy, Mrs. Clementina Doregos; Director, GreenSpring School, Mrs. Lai Koiki and Director, Vale College, Ibadan, Mrs. Funso Adegbola, during APEN’s 6th Annual Conference in Lagos, recently.

Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO.

he new Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu has been urged to ensure that the education sector does not witness closure of higher institutions as a result of industrial disharmony during his tenure. This was disclosed in Ede, Osun State by the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Builder Patrick Hussein, who noted that whenever schools are closed to academic activities, previous gains of having the students in school are usually lost before they are back on campus after every closure. He added that the main

Rector sets agenda for new education minister agenda for the new helmsman at the education ministry must be how to end incessant closure of schools due to strike action, stressing that leadership by example was also a key to ensuring stability in education sector. Hussein, who was addressing newsmen as part of activities for the 9th Convocation of the institution, said those in academic environment most times, tailor their behaviour after whatever people at the helms of affairs are doing and called for governance with human

face and respect for law to gain the trust of the populace Reacting to discrimination between degree certificate and Higher National Diploma, HND, by employers, Hussein said polytechnic education and its products would only face discrimination from people that are yet to have full understanding of what that form of education stands for. Although, he conceded that there had been a disconnect between what poly education ought to be and what it is, Hussein however added

that the management of the institution had been able to identify the point of disconnection and fix it by ensuring that all students learn a vocation regardless of their course of study. Rather than being in competition, Hussein said HND and Bsc certificates are meant to complement each other because the two have distinct roles that do not conflict, stressing that the collapse of many industries owing to poor power situation further slowed down demands for HND graduates.

Adebule wants teachers to acquire ICT skill Francis Suberu

he Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule has advised principals and teachers in the public and private schools in the state to improve on their knowledge in Information Communication Technology (ICT) so as to enhance their teaching skills and stay relevant on the job. She gave the advice at the 29th annual conference of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) held in Lagos, saying for any teacher to remain relevant, such person must have to meet the 21st Century teaching, learning requirements else will become out-dated in the system. Adebule noted that educational system that is devoid of the use of integrated information technology in teaching and learning would end up turning

out half-baked graduates who would be dysfunctional in the global market. Adebule reassured participants that the present administration would double efforts in ensuring that the state’s educational system is further made ICT compliant, urging them to always update their knowledge of ICT as well as making use of relevant teaching

and learning tools that will enable school children compete globally. She explained that the state government recognised the impact schools managers have on the conduct of teachers and students to improve the general outlook of schools and outcome of teaching and learning exercise, stressing that government will be demand-

ing more from ANCOPSS as a group and individual school managers to justify the confidence reposed in them Earlier, the Chairman of ANCOPSS, Lagos State branch, Mrs. Omotunde Lawson said the association would continue to advance course for welfare of members and development of education

Lagos state Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule(middle) flanked by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Olabisi Ariyo (right) and Principal, Agidingbi Junior Grammar School, Ikeja, Mrs. Folayibi Olayinka during an unscheduled visit and inspection of public schools by the deputy governor recentlly.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Laying solid foundation in education

n the mist of the myriads of problems plaguing the education sector, most observers and stake holders seem to have agreed on the need to begin the expected revolution from the foundation, that is, from the primary school level! This could be considered a huge leap forward considering that progress in the proposed revival could be stalled by indecisions or uncertainties as to where to begin. The primary school undoubtedly provides the raw material with which the other tiers of the educational sector are constructed. The inability to recruit the required number and quality of teachers in the primary school system has continued to plague the managers of the universal basic education system in Nigeria and remains a serious obstacle to laying a solid educational foundation. This in turn depends on the availability of candidates and facilities for training the teachers, a mechanism for selecting only the best from the pool of available teachers and a means of attaining optimum output from the teachers so recruited. It is therefore not surprising that, in the Education for All (EFA) global monitoring report released in April 2015, Nigeria leads the rest of the world with a whopping deficit of 220,000 teachers in primary schools alone, accounting for 15% of the global shortfall in primary school teachers! The Education for All 2015 national review (2000-2014), published by the Federal Ministry of Education shows that the number of primary school teachers required in fundamental subjects (English, Mathematics, language of immediate environment) were by far more than the available teachers in most of the states. More critical is the fact that not a single state in the country has anywhere near the required number of teachers in these fundamental subjects! An evaluation of the teachers/pupils ratio over the years shows a worsening trend which stood at 1:70 for

nearly half the potential primary school pupils are currently out of school will put a lot of strain on the quality of the products of schools in these regions. The total enrolment in the primary school in 2012 was 23,476,939. With an expected influx of the large population of out of school kids following the improved security in the North-East and the smooth implementation of the free school feeding programme, primary school enrolment may top the 30 million mark within two years. “qualified teachers” to pupils in 2012. Furthermore, re- This will require a total of not less than 750,000 trained ports from all over the country indicate that the majority teachers to maintain a teacher to pupil ratio of 1:40 in the of available teachers do not have the required competence primary school system. This is the formidable task we to impart the basic skills of reading and writing to the must accomplish if we must move away from this appallpupils. Primary four level tests in English language and ing educational statistics. Mathematics administered to primary school teachers in Training competent teachers is not an easy task, if Kaduna and Kwara states revealed competency levels of not we would not be in the present dilemma. There is between five and twenty percent only among the teachers a need to review the curriculum to improve on knowlin the respective states. edge of subject areas. The primary school teacher is a The predominance of incompetent teachers in other multi disciplinary personality with a deep knowledge for states became obvious from the strong resistance against the fundamental subjects and effective communication competency tests in those states. Competent teachers skills; the curriculum should reflect these core values. should not be afraid of competency test; rather they should Candidates for training should have a fair grip of both see it as an opportunity to show off their sterling qualities! the Sciences and the Arts at the Senior School Certificate Unfortunately, the situation would get worse unless level and a flair for children and teaching. something drastic is done to stabilize and ultimately reThe first challenge is to provide the necessary incenverse the situation. A successful implementation of the tives to attract such gifted candidates into the teaching one-meal-a-day free school feeding programme and expect- profession. The second major challenge is to provide ed improvements in the security situation in the North the necessary facilities to train the required compleEast is bound to increase the population of pupils enrolled ment of teachers, especially in the era when every in the primary school system significantly. If indications seemingly functional College of Education seeks confrom the pioneering programme in Osun state are any- version into Universities. The qualities of teachers we thing to go by, a dramatic increase in the number of pupils produce will determine the quality and output of our registered in the primary school system should be expected primary school system. We should begin to make the on a national scale. A massive influx of candidates into the necessary adjustments today to achieve the desired obprimary schools in the North East and North West where jectives tomorrow.

Ex-students asked to invest in alma maters

FG has zero tolerance for corruption in universities —Buhari

Robert Awokuse

Tunbosun Ogundare

resident Mohammadu Buhari has called on Nigerian universities and other institutions of higher learning to reposition themselves and encourage education for sustainable development. He also called them to eschew themselves from any form of corruptible practices, saying his government campaign against corruption was applicable to ivory towers nationwide. He made the call at the 27th Convocation ceremony of Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA (FUTA) held last Saturday. A total of 4,435 were conferred with Diplomas, first and postgraduate degrees with 28 of them graduating with First Class honours. He was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie. Buhari, who is also a visitor to the university described universities as potential powerful agents of change, explaining that Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] which is an expansion of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were a new set of goals, target and indicators that the United Nations member states have collectively agreed to use to frame their agenda, aspirations and political policies over the next 15 years. To achieve this, he urged ivory towers which are research centers to take the lead in championing and mainstreaming the SDGs in order to address the educational re-

A cross section of new students of College of Education, Billiri, Gombe State, during their orientation programme, on Monday. lated issues for national development. The president equally enjoined universities to be at the vanguard of the fight against corruption and eroded ethics which constitute a major component of the social ills as well as enthroning the spirit of hard work, honesty and inspirational leadership. Reiterating the government stand on “zero tolerance to corruption” he urged school administrators to be prudent, transparent and accountable in the activities. According to him “Government is determined to fight corruption at all levels, including schools. We cannot speak of effective and efficient funding of the education sector if our universities are mired in confusion, fraud and lack of vision.” Addressing graduands, the president urged them to take advantage of the various aspects of the economic programmes of the Federal Government to turn themselves into employers of labour rather than job

seekers. Speaking on entrepreneurship education, he said since the increased advocacy for entrepreneurship and its inclusion in the curriculum of universities by NUC and its partners, higher institutions should henceforth strive to graduate students who are enterprising-driven. Speaking separately, the trio of Chancellor, Dr. Rilwanu Adamu; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Mohammed Shata and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola urged the graduands to follow the path of honour, integrity and faithfulness as they continue in their journey of life. The ceremony witnessed the investiture of the new Chancellor, Dr. Rilwanu Adamu, the Emir of Bauchi as the fourth Chancellor of the University and the conferment of Honorary Doctorate of Management of the institution on him.

takeholders in education sector have called on private individuals to invest more in schools, especially their alma mater, which has made most people what they are today. The call was made at the 20th anniversary celebration of Trinity International College, Ofada, Ogun state, held in Lagos last week. In his address, the chairman on the occasion, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde said selfless-giving to school where one is trained is imperative, stressing that alumni association of any institution should take investing in schools more seriously. The chairman noted that if funding of schools was solely left to government, the expected development of educational institutions may be far from reach. “Harvard is what it is today because many of its products went back to give towards its development. If you also go to Igbobi College, Lagos today, most of the projects that are standing there are provided by the old students. Ogunde enjoined the gathering to encourage their children to render selfless services to their alma mater. In her speech at the forum, the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Modupe Mojota charged all wellmeaning individuals to give selflessly to educational institutions, especially schools, saying government cannot do it all alone.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

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

Kemi Busari

S Dutse

FEDPOLY Bida produces new ASUP President

Matthew Inyanda

HND2 MASS COM.FEDPOLY, BIDA.

he just concluded 2015 election of the Academic Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has elected Mr. Usman Dutse of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State as President. The election which took place at the Polytechnic on the 20 of November, 2015 was conducted during the 13th National Delegates conference tagged Bida/Zungeru 2015 of the union. The elected President in his acceptance speech lay down agenda for his administration. He said the dichotomy between the polytechnics and universities has created a wide gap of inequality in the labour market adding that his administration is ready to work with the National Association of Polytechnic Student (NAPS) to fight the menace. Dutse also lamented over the poor funding of the polytechnics, he said the federal government has punished polytechnic graduate a lot. He believes that if Polytechnics are well funded, technology in the country will be developed. Other elected executives include, Mr. Timothy Ogunseye as Vice-President, Financial Secretary, Kpanja Shammah; Secretary, Anderson Ezeibe and Joel Akowe emerged the Assistant Secretary General. Other positions are Internal Auditor, Dr. Bidagbara Godpower; Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nlolo; Zone A coordinator, Kabir Yunusa; Zone B Coordinator, Abdulahi Valwa; Zone C coordinator; Olawale Adetunji and Zone D coordinator, Nelson Oganwa.

tudent journalists who are editors of their various journals and magazines across tertiary institutions in the country have inaugurated a national association to serve as umbrella body of campus editors. The body called National Association of Nigerian Campus Editors (NANCE) was inaugurated at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife last week. Addressing his colleagues at the inauguration, the National Chairman, Oyedeji Olanrewaju said the association had come to assert the strength of the pen towards a better society. The association according to him will serve as a body to protect all campus journalists from any form of victimisation and also train editors in the art of objective reporting. Campus journalists in over 20 tertiary institutions nationwide participated in the historic event. The head of Southeast region and a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mr. Divine Nwonye expressed happiness at the feat, charging his colleagues to work as agents for national development. “This association is fashioned after the Nigerian Guild of Edi-

Nigerian participants in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in Accra, Ghana with the counsellor at Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, Mr. Fonma Thompson Usoro (middle) during their visit to the envoy.

Campus journalists inaugurate editors’ association tors and it will function strictly within the four walls of tertiary institutions and I use this opportunity to call on both members to join hands to uplift the union to a greater height. I also urge us all to be committed towards nurturing that writing spirit in us for the development of our nation,” he emphasised. Officers of the association

who will serve for six months pending when election will take place include Olanrewaju Oyedeji (Chairman from OAU); Chukwu Daniel (Vice Chairman UNILAG), Fawole Isreal, Vice-Chairman 2 (LAUTECH); Secretary, Abdul Ganiy Shehu (UNILORIN). Others are; Hassan Abdulquadri Temitope(Treasurer, Usman Danfodiyo University So-

UNILAG sociology dept honours lecturer

epartment of Sociology, University of Lagos, Akoka, recently published a book to mark 35 years of service of one its lecturers, Prof. Felicia Oyekanmi. The book was titled: “The Social Science, Humanities and the Human Condition: An Impact Appraisal- a Festschrift for Prof. F.A.D Oyekanmi at 65.” The event which was held at the institution was coincidental to the opening ceremony of the 2015 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Practitioner’s Association. The 22-chapter book is a discourse on various topical issues that Prof. Oyekanmi pursued in all

her academic career such as the advancement of the human condition from a demographic perspective. It also highlights how academia should use their intellectual competences to advance the welfare of humanity. Although, Prof. Oyekanmi is a little older than 65, She said It couldn’t have come at a better time than this. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity that life has given me to serve in my field of expertise.” Prof. Oyekanmi still lectures at the Department of Sociology and seats on several boards of organisations and NGOs.

zzzz

L-R: Director, Centre for Gender studies Ekiti State University, Prof. Olabisi Aina; International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Sweden, Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, Celebrant, Prof. Felicia Oyekanmi, lecturers, Sociology dept. UNILAG, Prof. Omololu Syombo; Prof. Ifeanyi Onyeonoru, Lecturer, Sociology dept. University of Ibadan, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, Dean School of Postgraduate Studies, UNILAG, Prof. Iyiola Oni; Dean Faculty of Social Sciences UNILAG, Prof. Lai Erinosho during the book launch in honour of Prof. Oyekanmi, recently.

koto); Toyibb Adeyemo (Financial Secretary,FUNAAB and Sam Adeyinka(Assistant General Secretary from the Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan. The association is to be run at regions by regional heads while a Constitution Drafting Committee was also formed to put up a working legal framework for the association.

Ekiti Varsity VC honoured Abiodun Nejo EKITI

he Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Prof Oladipo Aina and the Provost of College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Prof Francisca Aladejana, will today (Thursday) be honoured for promoting academic excellence in their institutions. The awards to the duo are in recognition of their distinguished performance at the helm of affairs at the institutions and for being change agents. NUJ State Council Chairman, Comrade Laolu Omosilade, in a statement in Ado Ekiti lauded Oladipo and Aladejana for promoting education in the state, saying “their contributions have rekindled education, the only thriving industry in the State”. Omosilade said the award conferment formed part of the 2015 serial lectures of the union. He said that the state governor would be Special Guest of Honour at the event where the lecture series entitled ‘Journalism, a Catalyst for Real Change in Nigeria,’ would be delivered by Senator Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South). The NUJ Chairman stated that other chapels that had distinguished themselves in union matters would be honoured.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

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

UK, Nigerian teachers share knowledge Oluwaseun Bolaji

s a way of boosting knowledge and skills of Nigerian teachers, some educationists from United Kingdom have commended training workshop for teachers in both public and private schools in Abuja and Lagos. The workshop which is in partnership arrangement between UK-based Taylor Partnership, an immigration legal consulting firm and Nigeria-based ALTS Consulting is free of charge for participants. Speaking on the objective of the project, the Executive Director of The Taylor Partnership, Mark Taylor said the programme was designed for participants to exchange ideas that would translate to better service delivery that would benefit school children in the country. He noted that the UK schools were represented by experienced teachers who are specialists in their fields– including Special Educational Needs. “But we see this as the start of a process and hope that, next year, we can have another event in Nigeria and also arrange for Nigerian teachers to come to the UK,” he stressed. In her own contribution, Mrs. Anthonia Sawyerr from ALTS Consulting Nigeria said the training was aimed at addressing the dwindling quality of education in the country. While noting that the desire by Nigerian youths to study abroad had risen drastically in the last five years, Sawyerr said the free workshop would help the teachers from the UK understand the Nigerian environment and the constraints to acquiring quality education. The initiative according to her is definitely going to benefit both parties and hopefully create a real appreciation for both sides.

Miftaudeen Raji 200L, MASS COMM.

NILAG Determined to empower the youths in the nation’s building through capacity development and entrepreneurship, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has approved the establishment of a youth center by an American-based non for profit making organisation within the campus of the university. The university is partnering with We’re Empowered to Achieve the Impossible (WETATi) International to empower youths through entrepreneurial development. Speaking while receiving the founder of the organisation, Dr. Margaret Dureke in his office, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, expressed satisfaction with

UNILAG boosts entrepreneurial skills of students the aspirations of the organisation, saying that the university looks forward to further collaboration with WETATi. Earlier, at the maiden edition of a 2-day WETATi Youth Empowerment Conference Nigeria held at the UNILAG Staff School auditorium, students were awarded scholarships just as some key personalities were also honoured with special policy awards. The conference was graced by the Dean of Students, Prof. Tunde Babawale and hundreds of studentparticipants. The Dean, Students Affairs, expressed delight for the partnership saying it would bring global youth

empowerment conference 2015 to the university because the institution believe in the vision and mission of WETATi, adding that it was a synergy in the right direction for the growth of the teeming youths. Dureke, a US-based Nigerian author, disclosed to Campus News that the move was to inspire by the need to impact creative thinking into whatever students want to do; businesses, service, internship concept, among others. She however, said the organisation would continue to prioritise on building a nation through mindset, service, volunteerism, mentorship, leadership with integrity and entrepreneurship.

Babcock VC cautions minister against politicising education Saidat Alausa

he outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof. James KayodeMakinde has urged the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu not to play politics with the sector. He stated this while fielding questions from journalists during the Presidential luncheon organised by the university for the Education Writers Association of Nigeria, EWAN at Ilisan-Remo, last weekend. According to him, the minister should make use of right people-who are proven to have high level of probity and commitment in the sector rather than make do with those who would not add any value to the system. Makinde also advised the government to perform more of regulatory roles rather than establishing more universities that may be starved of funds. “If government continues to establish new institutions without their proper funding, the exercise will amount to nothing as quality of education will continue to go down,” he observed. Also urging the minister to give out more scholarships that would be competitive, the VC asked schools to build students with creativity and analytical skills that would make them globally competitive. In his speech, the incoming Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo said both the media and educational institutions have a major stake in the progress and performance of institutions of learning anywhere in the world, particularly in Nigeria. He however implored the media to work harder and ensure the sector is taken to greater heights according to the world best practices. He observed that if not for the interventionist role of private universities, education sector could have been worse.

New President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Olugbenga Adeyeye (middle) with other executive members during their inauguration at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, recently.

Ex-Ekiti Speaker advocates vocational training for undergraduates Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

ormer Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Tope Ademiluyi has called for continuous training of technicians to drive industrialisation in the country. He made the call while

delivering the 10th annual alumni lecture of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, titled, “The Privatization and Democratization of the Nigeria Education Sector: The Dangers Ahead.” He said it was high time the nation’s universities of technology and polytechnics

were encouraged to produce graduates in line with the concept that led to their establishment. He said, “We must have mechanical engineering graduates, who can practically fix faulty cars. Our agricultural universities must produce graduates, who will take artificial ViceChancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Prof. Charles Ayo (left) and guest lecturer, Prof. Cecil Blake shortly after delivering the institution’s 44th public lecture, recently.

insemination of animals in their strides in the regular day job. “Students, who choose to go into these schools, should be encouraged with incentives like grants and scholarships.” The President of the association, Mr. Babajide Bewaji, who stated that construction work on the proposed alumni civic center was ongoing, said. “Members of the association would collectively proffer attainable solutions to problems affecting students and fellow alumni members as we fight the scourge of unemployment with creative innovations.” Bewaji said Nigeria at the moment was at a crossroad with identifiable problems like insurgency, economy instability and massive corruption and deficit infrastructures.

ATIONAL Mirror of

Thursday, November 26, 2015

October 22 opens the floodgate this week: “CJ inaugurates two divisions of FCT Court to fast track (fast-track) justice” “Ijesa in Diaspora backs (back) Osun’s ministerial nominee” Alternatively, Ijesa indigenes in Diaspora—never singular verb “Delay in cases are (is) caused by multi-factors—Kachina” “Don decries first class (first-class) graduates opting out of teaching” “The study found that in Nigeria, among multiscreen users between ages 16 to (and) 45….” “Judgment debts: Why luxury cars rot in (on) court premises” Still on National Mirror: “Access Bank earnings hits (why?) N2.58bn in nine months” “We are unaware of Emenike (Emenike’s) retirement— NFF” “Sincerely, if you break my glass cups you will pay for it (them).” “The release came a day after the IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, was given a marching order by President Muhammadu Buhari….” Polscope: marching orders “First class (First-class) interiors for first class (first-class) travellers” “As one of the foremost citadel (citadels) of learning in Nigeria….” (Full-page advertorial by Plateau State Government, THISDAY, September 26) “FG commissions (inaugurates/auspicates, et al) tremor monitoring (tremor-monitoring) centre in Ebonyi” “Lamorde, EFCC boss, in soup…accused of relooting Tafa Balogun, Alams, others’ loots” Once again, ‘loot’ is uncountable. This informal and rudimentary bit: be in the (take note of the article) soup “Groups petition on (against) Oyo, Rivers, Kwara, Kaduna, 6 other nominees” “Retired teachers blame Chime over (for) pension arrears” “N15bn debt: Ondo pensioners give Mimiko 4 days (days’)

Saidat Alausa

n author, Mr. Shola Giwa, has urged book publishers to display their books electronically to address the piracy and high cost of production in the country. He said that e-books would totally bypass print and reduce piracy. Giwa stated this at the launch of his book titled: “Lost Love Form: African Chronicles.” According to him, piracy was quite difficult to combat as law enforcement was not been implemented. “If the government pays attention to enforcement of existing laws, we will be fine.” The book launched on an online platform-Amazon and Amazon kindle is a 320-page aiming at the typical 21st Century African youths and incorporated humour into the very serious business of life, He said the book was born out of the desire to make the world a better place by helping to reconnect the concept of being a youth with positive and realistic attributes such as self motivation, true love, conflict resolution and the beauty in being global but African. “I started this project in 2005

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Ijesa’: Plural noun

ultimatum” “Money laundering: Traders decry incessant arrest (arrests), seizure of dollars” “Ortom pardons convicts, reads riot act (the riot act) to criminals” “Masquerade (Masquerader) kills one, community deserted” “Domestic abuse: India (Indian) court dismisses minister’s wife (wife’s) allegations against dog” “However, pastoralists and agriculturists (agriculturists’) conflicts are not the only challenges affecting crop outputs (output)….” “Govt commended over (for/on) rice importation” THE NATION ON SUNDAY of October 11 takes its turn with a few “familiar” errors: “Reps calls (how?) for national policy on Hepatitis B,,,raises (why?) alarm (the alarm) over….” “With such record (a record)….” From the news pages to the COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of the above medium under review which disseminated two improprieties: “Still, legally a pardon wipes the crime clean; and a fair legal system cannot, in all good conscience, revisit that crime again.” Yank off ‘again’ in the interest of linguistic justice! Finally from THE NATION ON SUNDAY under focus: “NFF mourns late Okugbe” Once more delete ‘late’! “…the counsels to the various parties were ready to present their written addresses for adoption….” ‘Counsel’ is noncount. DSP: “Bayelsa declares 7 days (7-day or 7 days’) mourning” “…in an evening of pomp and pageantry.” Addressed below (Centrespread advertisement by glo Unlimited, DAILY SUN, October 13)

“…many are wondering why the federal government did not made (make) its promise to come up with long term (longterm) strategies….” NATIONAL MIRROR Front Page of October 15 goofed: “Again, gunmen abduct Bayelsa monarch, shot (shoot) police corporal” “As you handover (hand over) the mantle of leadership….” (Full-page advertorial by NICON Insurance Limited, National Mirror, October 15) “SON to clampdown (clamp down) on fake lubricants’ producers”

FEEDBACK

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

Author advocates e-books to reduce piracy not knowing when it would end, so technically, it has taken 10 years to complete it. “Like many young writers in Nigeria, I was faced with several challenges, the most challenge being lack of understanding of the economics of the process. Most of us just write (and expect a book to magically appear at the end of it,” he said. He said more Nigerians are

buying books now because the writers have become more aggressive marketers, harnessing every single networking tool including the social media and poetry events adding that the situation was better than what it used to be. Giwa also disclosed that, on the average, there are more youths writing now than in the past but what was being written

is triggered by what was in demand. He urged the Nigerian government to look at other means apart from advertising jobs that Giwa usually don’t trickle down to the people who really deserve and need it.

L-R, MD/CEO, Mobi Tutor, Barry Taylor; Head, Youth Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Aderinokun; Airtel Smart Trybe Junior Ambassador, Oluwakorede Akande; Winner, Airtel Nigeria’s Got Talent Season 1, Amarachi Uyanne; and Vice President, Segment, Usage and Retention, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, at the launch of Airtel Smart Trybe Junior in Lagos.

Airtel offers school children multimedia learning platform Tunbosun Ogundare

ne of the telecommunications service providers in the country, Airtel Nigeria has launched a mobile education platform designed to enhance learning experience of children from age five to 16 years across the country. The tool, branded Airtel Smart Trybe Junior, integrates three of the major aspects of education: audio visual, textbooks and test to deliver more than 120 courses to students in that category nationwide. The tool which offers a 3D interactive multimedia based learning environment designed to help students achieve deeper understanding and higher retention also features highly engaging animations of laboratory experiments and lecture notes, classroom approved textbooks and an indept h compilation of key points and definitions presented as quick study flash cards. The package also enables users to access pre-loaded e-books, which are exclusively developed for the company based on the current academic curriculum in the country.

Business Thursday, November 26, 2015

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

Moody predicts declining oil output for Nigeria

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria’s mobile users dump voice calls for data –Ericsson 32

Aviation Minister seeks Yamoussoukro Decision implementation Olusegun Koiki

he Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has called on African governments and airline operators in the continent to take full advantage of the Yamoussoukro Decision, which encourages air transport connectivity in the continent. Sirika, who gave the charge at the 10th African Air Transport Safety and Security Summit held at the weekend in Accra, Ghana, reiterated that safe, secure and efficient customer focused air transport system remained the benefit of sound aviation worldwide and said Nigeria could not be an exception. The minister, who was represented by the Director of Safety in the Ministry, Captain Taba Alkali, pointed out that connectivity would play a critical role in the development of African economics, which could be achieved by implementing the ideas of Abuja declaration that set a target for African airlines to reach world class safety levels by 2015. He said: “Connectivity is vital for African growth and development, supporting about 6.9 million jobs and $80.5 billion in economic activity and I hope this will closely knit relationship with seamless connectivity between Nigeria and Ghana in the near future.” While recalling the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria to over several decades, which had led to the exchange of knowledge and friendship through many bilateral partnerships in the area of personnel training, expertise and information sharing, the minister charged airlines to live up to their responsibility of ensuring travellers confidence in the sector through the service provided to the public. Noting that socio-political and cultural ties had been made possible and galvanised by a robust Bilateral Air services Agreement, BASA, Sirika explained that no less than three Nigerian airlines with the fourth commencing operations shortly, business connections, leisure travelers and students between bother countries would be strengthened.

He commended the Ghanaian Ministry of Transport and the professionalism of the highest standard exhibited by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority in allowing the implementation of the Yamoussoukro decision between Nigerian and Ghana.

He also noted that significant progress had been made in the Abuja Declaration with airlines meeting deadline, but stressed the need for synergy between government regulators and operators to ensure that goals were achieved. Describing air transport as the

most efficient and effective means of transportation for people and high value low volume goods for the West African continent, Sirika stressed the need for improved infrastructure, upgrade facilities and trained personnel to the highest level of proficiency and professionalism

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: Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonathan Richardson; President, Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Shehu, and Managing Director, Golden Jewel Trade Ventures ltd., Ahmed Ahmad, at the ipad Nigeria Mining Conference, in Abuja.

Terrorism: Port Security Officers seek access control measures STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

he Port Facility Security Officers FPSO, Forum has made a strong case for the re-introduction of strict control measures at the nation’s seaports and other related facilities in view of the increasing terrorist attacks in public places globally The office of the National Security Adviser NSA, to the President, had recently issued a security alert on the likelihood of terrorist elements attacking the nation’s seaports in Lagos. Vice Chairman of the forum, Dr. Zeb Ikokide, who spoke in an interview, disclosed that Nigeria has reached an advanced stage in her implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security ISPS Code, especially in terms of ensuring the compliance of many of her port facilities. He, however, said that the security operations at the major en-

trances to the nation’s seaports, especially those in Lagos are still loose and uncoordinated, a development that has given rise to strict access control into the ports. According to him, given the high insecurity situations not only in the country but also across the world, there was urgent need for a streamlining of security operations, especially at the major entrances into the nation’s seaports and other related facilities. He regretted that more than 10 years after Nigeria began the process towards complying with the ISPS Code in 2004, the relevant authorities and agencies have yet to take full control of who enters the seaports and for what reason, a development that had made the ports a market place of some sort. “Access control to the various port facilities has been tightened but the general access gate is still very porous and this is not good enough because if anything hap-

pens to the general areas, it will affect the other terminals and so there is need to beef up security everywhere around the seaports”, he said. He said: “At commencement of the implementation of the ISPS code in 2004, the Nigerian Ports Authority promised that it would install electronic access control mechanisms at the gates to ward off unauthorized persons from coming close to the access gates but more than 10 years after, it has yet to fulfill this pledge, which is also a critical factor in the implementation of the code”. It was gathered that the forum might be compelled to write the current management of NPA to remind it of the urgent need to install electronic access control mechanism, which is the practice in most seaport locations across the world forestall easy access to unauthorized persons.

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 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Moody predicts declining oil output for Nigeria SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

enior Analytical Adviser, Africa of Moody, a rating agency, Mr Aurelien Mali, has raised serious concern that Nigeria’s oil output would continue to drop by as much as 15 percent by the year 2017, unless Federal Government attracts more investments as well as resolve cash shortages at state oil firms. A report by the agency indicated that officials and lawmakers were often six months late in giving approvals to national budgets, thus making proposals irrelevant as costs exceed original budgets due to unpaid bills have been piling-up. Mali projected: “By 2017, if there are no more invest-

ments, oil productions will drop by 15 percent, affecting government revenues. “So the cash call funding issues for the joint ventures and the long term funding to drive the deep offshore fields is something that will have to be addressed to maintain at least the production levels of 2.1 million,” he said. According to him, the present government promisrf to reform the oil sector and end corruption as well as mismanagement, leading to the appointment of the former Exxon Executive, Ibe Kachikwu as the Head of the NNPC. He noted that President Buhari had taken his first steps towards overhauling the state oil firm by giving its exploration joint ventures control over their own budgets as a

FG, China to strengthen diplomatic ties Regina Otokpa, ABUJA

he Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has expressed Nigeria’s readiness strengthen diplomatic ties with China in order to advance technological development in the country.

Speaking during a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. GU Xiaojie, he stressed the importance of technology on creating increased wealth and job opportunities. According to ONU, it would be of immense socioeconomic benefit to the nation if existing relations were deepened, following the ability of China through a technological driven economy to fight poverty and boost employment of its citizens. “There is a need for the both countries to come together and the Xeno-Nigeria relationship will be best if it is based on science and technology because your economy is innovation driven and you have done what no other nation at least in the recorded history have done, that is to grow your GDP at a rate of 8 percent and above for more than three decades. “We want our two countries relationship to grow much further for the benefit of our people because as Nigerians we are interested in the achievements of China one of which is in the level of job creation, which you were able to deal with. “We want to make sure that we have job for those who wants to work and also in terms of pov-

erty, move many people to the middle class. So the cooperation is important and we believe that this visit will help in many processes to get our both nations to where it ought to be,” he added. Furthermore, Onu disclosed that the ministry was on the verge of presenting proposals that would be of mutual benefit given the numerous similarities binding both countries. Earlier, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria GU Xiaojie identified science and technology as key towards developing other industries in the country and to this effect, revealed that China was ready to expand cooperation and share experiences and technologies with Nigeria. Xiaojie stressed that science technology would help foster development of others sectors of the economy.

way to overcome cash shortages. The analyst also noted that Nigeria’s economy had taken been hampered from a plunge in vital oil revenues, weakening the naira currency while

slashing growth. Currently, Nigeria produces about 2.1 million barrels per day of oil with foreign and local companies through production sharing contracts and joint ventures.

L-R: Kayode Lawal, Executive Director; Bukola Awosanya, Group Head, Agric Finance; Yemi Adeola, MD/CEO and Abdulhadi Yau, Business Executive, North West, all of Sterling Bank Plc, at the commissioning of the Labana Rice Processing mill financed by the Bank at Birnin Kebbi.

Total assures customers on quality service delivery David Audu

anaging Director, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Alex Vovks has assured customers that the company is committed to quality services delivery across the country. He made the commitment when the company observed its Customer Service Week tagged, ‘Top Service Week’, in Lagos recently. According to Vovks, the customer service week is a week top management staffs of the company go around some total filling stations to dispense fuel to

customers by themselves. During the service week, Vovk led members of his management team on field visits to some Total fuel stations. At the Total station in Onigbagbo, along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Vovks and some of his staff dispensed fuel to customer, where he said Total has stepped up its efforts at providing one-stop-shop customer service in its fuel stations across the country. He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that customers were well served in Total

FG to support incumbent ICAO’s President for 2nd term Olusegun Koiki

he Federal Government has expressed its readiness to support the current President of International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Dr. Olumuyiwa Aliu for another term in office. The Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, gave this hint at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada while on a visit to the President-incouncil. Sirika declared that Aliu had nurtured the organisation in its role of being an enabler for the development of international

Moody however reported that the projects had been held up due to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s, NNPC, needs for parliamentary and regulatory approvals for spending.

civil aviation, thereby enhancing friendship and understanding among nations and Peoples of the world. FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, in a statement said that Sirika cited some of Aliu’s laudable projects such as the ‘No Country is Left Behind” policy, aimed at providing more direct assistance to States, especially developing countries. He emphasised that the minister promised to leverage on the office of the President-in-Council to deepen development in the country’s aviation industry. The Minister who was accom-

panied by the Acting Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Balarabe Ja’afar Mohammed and top echelon of Nigerian aviation also urged Aliu to continue to take his job in the organisation as a worthy ambassador. In his response, Aliu congratulated Sirika on his appointment and expressed confidence that he would bring his experience as an aviation expert, to bear on his office. He called for the upgrading of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, into a regional institution in the African sub-region, promising to support such initiative.

filling stations, noting that quality services is at the heart of the company. Vovks explained further that each outlet was expected to provide services such as free air, lube bay, wheel alignment, burnet check, mini-super market and cleaning of wind screen, among others. He urged that when customers were not satisfied with services rendered by a Total attendant, such customer should lodge his or her complaints through the customer line provided by Total or via Facebook and Twitter. Vovks revealed that the company’s enforcement team would be visiting the retail outlets across the country regularly, during which customers’ complaints would be attended to. Speaking with journalists in Onigbagbo, filling station in Lagos during his tour as the new Managing Director of Total, Vovks said that the public was witnessing the top service week by all the Total management, including himself to serve our customers in all the stations in Nigeria. “Total brand is known for the quality of it service and we want to ensure that this top quality is implemented on a regular basis. That is why we came to do it ourselves.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Thursday, November 26, 2015

U.S. GDP growth raised for third quarter

.S. economy grew at a healthier clip in the third quarter than initially thought, but strong inventory accumulation by businesses could temper expectations of an acceleration in growth in the final three months of the year. The Commerce Department on Tuesday said the nation’s gross domestic product grew at a 2.1 per cent annual pace, not the 1.5 per cent rate it reported last month, as businesses reduced an inventory bloat less aggressively than previously believed. The pace of economic growth, which was also boosted by upward revisions to business spending on equipment, suggests a resilience that could help give the Federal Reserve confidence to raise interest rates next month. While consumer spending was revised down a bit, its pace remained brisk, suggesting consumers were cash-flush. “The economy continues to move along at a good clip relative to its potential. With growth like this, the Fed has the data it needs to light the candle finally and lift off on December 16,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York. When measured from the income side, the economy grew at a

sturdy 3.1 per cent clip, the fastest in a year and an acceleration from the second quarter’s upwardly 2.2 per cent pace. Wages and salaries increased $109.3 billion, $61.6 billion more than initially estimated. The third-quarter’s respectable expansion should set up the economy to achieve at least two per cent growth in the second half of the year, around its long-run potential. In the wake of robust job growth in October and strong domestic demand, the Fed is expected to raise rates at its Dec. 15-16 policy meeting. Other data on Tuesday showed consumer confidence fell further in November, hitting a 14-month low, as sentiment towards the labor market surprisingly soured. Economists suspected the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and rising tensions in the Middle East had weighed on consumer confidence. Despite the drop, more consumers say they plan to buy homes, automobiles and other big-ticket items over the next six months. “The bigger picture suggests that domestic demand is still firm, spending plans are evolving positively and the housing market continues to post gains,” said Robert Kavcic, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto. A third report showed house prices rose solidly in August.

Obama

U.S. financial markers were little moved by the data as investors worried about global security after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane. In the third quarter, businesses accumulated $90.2 billion worth of inventories, instead of the $56.8 billion reported last month. That followed more than $100 billion worth of inventories accumulated in each of the prior two quarters. As a result, the change in inventories chopped off only 0.59 percentage point from third-quarter GDP growth, rather than the 1.44 percentage points the government reported in October. That, however, suggests inventories could be a drag on fourthquarter growth.

German prosecutors launch tax evasion probe at Volkswagen

erman prosecutors have launched an investigation into suspected tax evasion in connection with cheating on emissions tests by Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), adding to the intense scrutiny of Europe’s biggest carmaker. The investigation focuses on five Volkswagen employees, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in the northern German city of Braunschweig, near Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg headquarters, said on Tuesday, confirming an earlier media report. As is customary in Germany he did not name any of the suspects. Volkswagen admitted in September that it installed software in up to 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide that vastly understated their actual emissions of smog-causing nitrogen oxides, causing the biggest business scandal in Volkswagen’s 78-year history. Earlier this month it said it had also understated carbon dioxide emissions, and thereby also the fuel consumption, of 800,000 cars sold in Europe.

Volkswagen President, Michael Horn

As Germany’s car tax is rated according to a vehicle’s fuel consumption, the prosecution is now looking into whether owners of the affected Volkswagen vehicles underpaid on taxes, a matter which the prosecution’s spokesman said was “not small”. The main focus of the investigation is tax evasion, but it could also involve fraud, he said. This investigation will run alongside an ongoing separate probe, in which Braunschweig’s prosecution is investigating several people connected with Volkswagen on suspicion of criminal offences like fraud or violation of competition rules.

Rolls-Royce boss accepts investor ‘confidence not good’

Cabin crew union, Lufthansa attempt to avert strikes

he main cabin crew union at Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) is working with the airline’s management to find a way to ease tensions and ward off the strikes that the union has threatened for the end of this week. The union, UFO, on Monday called for a fresh round of strikes starting on Thursday and Friday and continuing on Monday, if Lufthansa did not show more willingness to deal directly with the union in a long-running and increasingly bitter row over early retirement and pensions.

Cabin crew

“We are trying to defuse the situation with Lufthansa management in order to possibly call off the strikes,” union head Nicoley Baublies said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that more information would be made available on Wednesday. The cabin crew union staged a week-long strike, the longest in the carrier’s history, earlier this month, resulting in the cancellation of about 4,700 flights. On the final day of the strike, UFO said Lufthansa must change the way it deals with its staff.

Lufthansa, trying to cut costs to better cope with low-cost rivals in Europe and Gulf carriers on longhaul routes, has also seen a series of costly walkouts by its pilots over the last 18 months. Last week, in a bid to improve relations with labor, Lufthansa invited UFO and two other unions representing pilots and ground staff to a roundtable to be held on Dec 2 to discuss jobs and pension issues that have caused tension. In a letter to management in response, the cabin crew union complained that Lufthansa management was communicating via the press, rather than with the union directly, and that Lufthansa had determined the time and topics for the roundtable without discussing it with the other parties. Lufthansa declined to comment on the new talks on Tuesday. Lufthansa shares were down 4.5 percent on Tuesday, following other travel stocks lower .SXTP in the wake of a U.S. travel alert and as the downing of a Russian warplane near the Syrian border added to geopolitical tensions.

Rolls-Royce engine

arren East said the engineering group had developed an “accounting fog” which had left investors unclear about the direction it was going. He said investor “confidence was not in a good place”, and the company must make shareholder returns a priority. Rolls-Royce’s share price has plunged after a series of profit warnings. Earlier this month, the company saw one of the sharpest falls in its share price since it floated in 1987 after announcing that profits could be £650m lower than expected next year. The share price fell by a fifth. Mr. East’s comments came as he unveiled details of a review of the business. He insisted that despite a downturn in the aircraft engine business and oil exploration, Rolls-Royce was still a fundamentally strong company. He said it would focus on boosting its engineering skills and reducing

the number of senior managers. Although the company is cutting costs, Mr. East refused to be drawn on the precise number of jobs that might be lost. “I don’t actually know the job numbers right now,” he said, explaining that more will be revealed when the company reports its full-year results in February. Rolls-Royce employs more than 21,000 people in the UK, with more than 12,000 employed at its Derby aerospace engines and submarines division. Mr. East said he wanted to employ more engineers, so it appears that any job losses will be a relatively small addition to the 3,600 already announced. “The last thing I want to do is lose engineers,” he said. Rolls-Royce will become a “simpler” business which will operate with more “pace” after Mr East admitted that the business was “overmanaged” and cumbersome.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Thursday, November 26, 2015

SEC may delist 94 operators over non-rendition of returns Johnson Okanlawon

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, may withdraw certificates of registration of 94 Capital Market Operators, CMOs, for their consistently failed to render their statutory returns to the commission. A notice at the commission’s website indicated that the operators may have been unable to comply with the new minimum capital requirements before the deadline stipulated by the commission, which expired on September 30, 2015. The commission stated: “ The under-listed ninety-four (94) Capital Market Operators, CMOs, were registered by the Securities and Exchange Com-

mission for various functions in the Nigerian capital market. “In view of this fact, the Commission hereby directs the affected CMOs to make presentations to the commission, on or before 4th December, 2015, giving reasons why their registration as CMOS should not be cancelled.” The affected operators are, 2As Amao Consult, AIQ Venture Capital Fund Managers Limited, Allbond Investment Limited, Amalgamated capital Funds, Associated Investment Trust Company Limited and Bayhead Alpha Capital Limited Bluebird Capital Limited. Others are Seasons Trust & Investment Limited, Secu-

rities Solutions Limited, Securities Trading & Investment Limited, Skylimit Investment Limited Slamad Securities, Stacoprime Capital, Stock Investment Limited, Synergy Investment & SEC Limited, Taricol Investment Limited, Treasureline Interlink Limited, Truevine Global Asset Management Limited, Unic Insurance Plc, UTB Trustee Limited, Ventures & Trust Limited, Vileo Capital & Asset Management, Visa Investment & SEC Limited, West African Infrastructure Investment Managers Limited, WizeTrade Capital & Asset Management Limited, WT Securities Limited and Zuma Securities Limited. Also on the list are, Boston Capital Investment Limited,

Brickfield Road Associates Limited, Capital Partners Limited, Capital Structures Limited, Circular Trust Limited, Citi Asset Management Limited, Citizens Investment & SEC Limited City Investment Management Limited, Consolidated Investment Limited, Consult and Capital Limited, Dakal Services Limited, Deap Capital Management & Trust Limited, DeCanon Investment Limited, Development Business Company, Dolbic Finance Limited, EazyTrdae Concept Limited, Equinox Asset Management Limited, Express Discount Limited, First Alstate Securities Limited and Gombe Securities Limited, among others.

ForexTime unveils new trading apps for stock markets Isaiah Erhiawarien

new forex trading apps that will enhance trading at trading floors globally has been released by forex broker, ForexTime, FXTM. The launch of the ForexTime App, a all-in-one, free-todownload mobile trading tool means easy trading for traders and investors with all the essential news, live currency rates and up-to-date analysis they need to trade the world’s financial markets. The app is available to download from in English, Chinese, Arabic and Indonesian for both iOS and Android devices. Chief Executive Officer, ForexTime Limited, Olga Ry-

balkina, said that in today’s mobile era, “our home and work lives demand on-the-go products and services that allow us to do what we want to do, when we want to do it.” He said that at FXTM aims to support its clients with hightech products and services that allow them to make the most of their trading day saying that saying that FXTM proactively track evolving global trends, so that it can effectively anticipate the needs of clients. “The ForexTime App is our latest release and it taps into the mobile trading trend by giving traders reliable access to live currency rates, breaking financial news and useful analysis, wherever they are in the world”, he noted. Rybalkina explained that

FXTM was constantly looking for ways to integrate new features into the app and several upgrades will implanted over the coming months stressing that every trader has a go-to trading tool and we believe that the ForexTime App is just that. He also disclosed that the ForexTime App features is user-friendly, and customisable interface that allows traders to create custom groups to track the financial instruments they are most interested in and to filter newsfeeds so that they only see news that is relevant to their trading style and requirements. He added that users of FXTM’s advanced new release now benefit from up-to-the-minute information, direct from the world’s financial markets. The main features of the

ForexTime App include, Live Currency Rates streamed from top-tier liquidity providers via FXTM’s ECN Server, latest Financial Market News. Other features are FXTM’s Economic Calendar of key upcoming financial events, Advanced, real-time Currency Charts ,which allow users to analyze market movements across multiple time-frames, Forex Trading Calculators for the calculation of profit, pips and exchange rates as well as daily FXTM Market Analysis prepared by FXTM’s in-house team of experienced analysts. Users can opt to activate notifications to receive breaking news as it happens.

Wall Street clings to meager gains ahead of thanksgiving

all Street held onto meager gains in subdued trading on Wednesday, underpinned by healthcare and consumer stocks after a flood of data suggested the U.S. economy was growing modestly. The data left intact expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for the first time since 2006 when it meets for the last time this year on Dec. 15-16. Worries about the fallout from the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey, which weighed on stocks on Tuesday, eased as traders looked forward to Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday. Data showed claims for

jobless benefits fell more than expected to 260,000 last week, while durable goods orders for October, excluding aircraft, increased 1.3 percent, far more than the 0.4 percent expected. However, other reports suggested consumers were not in a spending mood, with consumer spending increasing just 0.1 percent in October compared with the 0.3 percent expected. The University of Michigan’s final index on consumer sentiment for November also fell short of estimates. The focus now turns to Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping

season. “That’s going to be the key, the swing factor for the next couple of weeks - how holiday sales shape up,” said Michael Baele, senior portfolio manager at U.S. Bank Private Client Reserve in Portland, Oregon. “When you consider the job market, low energy costs (and) low interest rates, the consumer’s in pretty good shape.” At 12:42 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 30.57 points, or 0.17 percent, at 17,842.76, the S&P 500 .SPX was up 2.82 points, or 0.13 percent, at 2,091.96 and the Nasdaq Composite index .IXIC was up 18.70 points, or

0.37 percent, at 5,121.50. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.98 Market indicators All-Share Index 27,743.92 points Market capitalisation 9.54trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CAVERTON

2.37

2.59

0.22

9.28

DIAMONDBNK

2.36

2.48

0.12

5.08

IKEJAHOTEL

3.23

3.39

0.16

4.95

GUARANTY

21.00

21.99

0.99

4.71

LIVESTOCK

1.45

1.50

0.05

3.45

TRANSCORP

1.74

1.77

0.03

1.72

NEM

0.65

0.66

0.01

1.54

DANGCEM

158.00

159.99

1.99

1.26

ACCESS

4.60

4.64

0.04

0.87

115.72

116.70

0.98

0.85

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

ETERNA

1.76

1.61

-0.15

-8.52

UNITYBNK

1.14

1.08

-0.06

-5.26

MOBIL

138.99

132.05

-6.94

-4.99

JBERGER

39.50

37.53

-1.97

-4.99

HONYFLOUR

2.09

1.99

-0.10

-4.78

VONO

0.90

0.86

-0.04

-4.44

LAWUNION

0.56

0.54

-0.02

-3.57

INTBREW

16.50

16.00

-0.50

-3.03

ETI

16.50

16.00

-0.50

-3.03

LEARNAFRCA

0.67

0.65

-0.02

-2.99

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.42

110.79

6.98

111.79

6.29

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.59

121.00

9.02

122.00

8.73

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.22

119.11

9.88

120.11

9.61

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.17

128.59

10.05

129.59

9.86

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.30

122.89

10.06

123.89

9.90

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.66 95.27

10.64

96.27

10.50

Closing Market Prices of November 25, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

25-Feb-16

2.16

2.17

WAUA

270

USD

196.98

26-May-16

4.03

4.11

EURO

214

20-Oct-16

3.95

4.09

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.2067

POUNDS STERLING

293

9.9951

11.8784

SDR

273

NIBOR

13.8911 CBN Clearing Rates of November 25, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Info Tech

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Government Technology

Former NIMC boss applauds NIMS project, as successor takes over Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

he former Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Chris Onyemenam, has described the implementation of the components of the National Identity Management System (NIMS) in the country as a successful paradigm shift in the history of the Commission. He told journalists in Abuja that the specific value proposition that flowed from the NIMS cuts across the three tiers of government, as well as the private sector and includes the family, and even the international society. According to him, the NIMS by extension have impact on the civil service noting that the concept of ghost workers or duplicate identities will be eliminated through it. “No one can be in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) more than once, because the individual will be traced through the alignment of the ‘unique’ identities in the biometrics driven IPPS and the National Identification Number (NIN)”, he said. Expressing confidence in the current setup of the Unique Identification Scheme under the NIMS, he said what the Commission is doing is in tandem

with global best practice, which saying, “Uniquely identify every citizen and legal resident, in terms of ‘who you are’ and not what you are eligible to like benefit identities or what you can participate in like the Voter card, or what you are obliged to like Tax, or what you need to have like the driver’s license.” Onyemenam explained the ability to create a single version of truth of the identities of individuals that will serve the entire country is what NIMC has set up for the nation, “because the NIMS is a cross cutting platform. If you don’t know people and they commit a crime, they can deny it. If someone is able to have more than one identity then they can benefit from their own acts of deception.” He added that NIMS platform provides economic planners of the country that hardcore data about some of the socio-economic characteristics of citizens in a slightly more factual sense than what other organisation provides. He noted that it’s a bit easier and more purposive with the NIMS because “you will use the uniqueness of the identity that has been given to them, to ensure that the benefit goes to them only.” He added that harmonisation with the BVN is over 95 per cent complete and the data mi-

L-R: Head of Community Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs for Mushin Local Government, Alhaji Ahmed Akeju; Marketing Manager Home Care Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Bamigbaye-Elatuyi Omotola; Marketing Director, Oguzhan Silivrili and Director United Nation Information Centre, Ronald Kayanja during the 2015 Harpic World Toilet Day Celebration in Partnership with UNIC and other Associations in Lagos, yesterday. .

grations which will enable the NIMC have a copy of the BVN data has been successfully piloted and would soon be completed. “Although the harmonisation will help populate the database, I hope that Government will stop funding all schemes that are not fully aligned with the NIMS as a way of ensuring the speedy completion of the harmonisation and eliminating needless fiscal provisions that continue to undermine the future of identity management in Nigeria”, he said. While admitting that Govern-

ment would still provide for data capture during this transitional/harmonisation period, Onyemenam said this would be very minimal and would certainly stop the planned billions of naira for data capture activities for 2019 and the 2016 biometric census – two needless duplication of efforts. He also added that the previous efforts driven by the Department of National Civil Registry (DNCR), before it was taken over by the NIMC, focused on Card issuance, and the cards were issued to people

aged 18 years and above as if they are the only citizens who were entitled to being identified. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Engr. Aliyu Aziz Abubakar as the new Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC.

Aziz was a pioneer staff of NIMC and the Director, Information Technology and National Identity Database Department of NIMC before he retired in 2014.

Financial Technology

Pioneer Sub-Sahara Africa’s CWG, Oracle students graduate

he students in the CWG Academy organised in partnership with Oracle has graduated. The students from were the first Oracle Summer boot camp in the entire Sub-Sahara African region. The boot camp aimed at equipping participants from tertiary institutions in the country with requisite IT skills to proffer solutions to challenges in the industry. The CWG-Oracle boot camp gave concise, intensive and real-time training to participants in the fields of Java Fundamentals, Java Programming & Database Administration. It featured a combination of classroom lectures, handson exercises and case study sessions that will afford the participants a competitive

advantage in the IT industry. Twenty-two participants from Nigerian tertiary institutions successfully completed the three weeks-long programme free of charge. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc Mr. Austin Okere, said that the training is part of the company’s CSR policy, which is focused on quality education. According to Okere, the CWG-Oracle boot camp was designed to bridge the IT workforce gap in the Nigerian IT industry and in the Sub-Sahara region saying CWG believes that it can empower the Nigerian youth to compete favourably in the world sphere, if trained to become the best IT professionals. He charged the students to live out the lessons they have

learnt and ensure that they prove themselves worthy ambassadors of CWG and Oracle everywhere they go. “Let me leave you with three

important life lessons today. First, let your future be brighter than your past. Second, let your contribution be your focus and not applause.

And third, let your gratitude be more than your requests. I wish you all the best”, he advised.

Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke said that the upgrade will provide MainOne the capability to offer higher capacity bandwidth to its wholesale customers in West Africa who are increasingly demanding such services for Internet access via their 3G and 4G networks. “We are starting to see an information explosion in West Africa that has brought about a dramatic increase in network traffic this year and this has highlighted the need to scale up our network for future demand” she said. Opeke disclosed that “as a leading provider of data capacity

to eight countries in West Africa, and with the pending integration of our NigerCam system to Cameroun and Nigeria’s SouthSouth region, we needed to deploy more advanced technology to reliably meet our customer’s need for advanced and robust communications services.” She said that the upgrade to 100G provides MainOne the platform to further deepen broadband penetration in West Africa and meet the demands of growing wholesale data business noting, “Xtera is extremely pleased to help MainOne upgrade its subsea cable infrastructure between Nigeria and Portugal.”

MainOne upgrades submarine cable network

he growing impact of MainOne in the West African region has successfully upgraded its submarine cable network between Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal to a 100G wavelength system. The West Africa’s Communications Services and Data Centre provider said the 100G wavelength upgrade was implemented using the Xtera Nu-wave Optima optical networking platform, which is expected to provide additional capacity support for MainOne’s delivery of highbandwidth services, and a more resilient network for its customers in West Africa.

Info Tech

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria’s mobile users dump InnJoo’s fingerprint technology voice calls for data –Ericsson

flagship smartphone

n one single event, InnJoo, Chinese mobile device maker, has unveiled its brand of finger technology mobile phone in the Nigerian market. Prior to the launching of its second flagship model ‘InnJoo 2’ and two smartphones with big battery Max 2 and Max 2 Plus, the company had early this year launched the first model ‘InnJoo ONE’, in Lagos. The flagship model InnJoo 2 is equipped with Fingerprint 2.0 technology which is with the latest module of fingerprint detector and recognition algorithm. With its high speed of 508PPI resolution of finger print, it’s easier and quicker to recognize and record the users’ finger print. Users will benefits from this new technology with its easier photo taking, higher security and the faster phone unlocking time with only 0.46 seconds. InnJoo 2 sports a dual 13-megapixel camera, the most advanced cameras ever. Both cameras are adopted with Samsung CMOS Sensor, f/2.2 aperture, 88 degrees shooting range, 5P lens, and Blue Glass IR filter, which can produce sharp detailed photos and full HD videos with full-sided zero-delay shutters whenever wherever. What’s more, InnJoo 2 support Live Photos selecting the live photo mode, with just a press, reveal the moments immediately before and after the shot was taken, so you can enjoy a living memory rather than an instant frozen in time.Users also have several

modes including continuous capture (up to 40 and 90 pieces), panorama mode and face beauty optimization mode. InnJoo’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tim Chen, “We are dedicated in bringing the new technology to the market, with an affordable price and premium quality the market are chasing”,. “Think as a normal user while design products, define the new functions and apply the new technology to the devices. As we see the increasing demands for privacy and security for every personal products, the Fingerprint technology helps to satisfy it completely.” InnJoo 2 is designed in 2.5D full metal frame, 7.3mm thickness and 126g weights. Adopted the world’s strongest Dragontrail glass touch panel, it has 8 times of hardness than its rivals and displays a stunning visual effects with 5.0inch screen. The new device is also equipped with a powerful Octacore processor and running the Android Lollipop operating system, 2GB RAM and 16GB flash memory which can be further expanded to 64GB via microSD card. The built-in 3200mAh battery with fast charge technology, it ensures a longer battery usage. Based on the Android 5.1 lighter Lollipop OS, InnOS allows a better user experience for browsing the Internet, playing games, watching videos, listening to music and talking on the phone.

Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

ore mobile phone users in Nigeria are abandoning the use of their mobile for voice call to use of data on platform like FaceBook, Whatsapp, Twitter and the traditional text message. Latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report subscriptions listed Nigeria as among top five countries for third quarter net global mobile subscriptions additions reflected the choice of data to voice. According to the report, the average revenue per user (ARPU) for data has been rising, leading to a higher contribution of data revenue to total operator revenue, adding that this does not quite offset the drop in voice ARPU. The report predicted that by the end of 2021, monthly mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to be almost 2,200 Petabytes (PB). It said that between 2015 and 2021, data traffic is projected to grow 15 times in Sub-Saharan Africa, driven by an increased spread of LTE saying that “smartphones will account for almost 95

per cent of mobile data traffic by 2021, up from close to 80 per cent in 2015. Voice traffic over the same period will only marginally increase.” The Ericsson Mobility Report also revealed that 5G mobile subscriptions will hit 150 million by 2021 forecasting that mobile subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa will reach one billion by end of 2021, with 690 smartphone. According to Ericsson, in SubSaharan Africa, LTE subscriptions are projected to grow almost 28 fold by 2021 with WCDMA/ HSPA combined with LTE accounting for almost 80 per cent of subscriptions. The report said that South Korea, Japan, China and the US are predicted to lead with the first, and fastest, 5G subscription uptake noting that 5G will connect new types of devices, enabling new use cases related to the Internet of Things (IoT); the transition will open up new industries and verticals to ICT transformation. The report, a comprehensive update on mobile trends, revealed a significant increase in mobile video consumption, which is driv-

ing nearly six times higher traffic volumes per smartphone in North America and Europe (2015 to 2021). With 20 new mobile broadband subscriptions activated every second, global increase in mobile subscriptions is another clear driver for data traffic growth, Ericsson observed, adding that as of now, there are the same amount of mobile subscriptions as there are people on the planet; in 2016 we will reach the four billion mark for smartphone subscriptions alone. According to the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, global mobile subscriptions are growing around five per cent yearon-year. India grew the most in terms of net additions during the quarter (+13 million), followed by China (+7 million), the US (+6 million), Myanmar (+5 million), and Nigeria (+4 million). The regional report covering Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that while total mobile subscription

penetration currently sits at 80 per cent, the region expects to see 100 per cent mobile penetration by 2021 with over one billion mobile subscriptions.

L-R: Head, Education Committee, Female Muslim Doctors (IMAN) Dr. Halima Alimi, Marketing Manager Home Care Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Bamigbaye-Elatuyi Omotola, Director United Nation Information Centre, Ronald Kayanja, Marketing Director Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Silivrili and the Seriki Hausawa Idi- Araba Community, Alhaji Idris Lawal at the 2015 World Toilet Day Celebration where Harpic donated two mobile toilets to Idi- Araba community in Lagos.

Worker wins Samsung’s Picture Your Dream Competition

volunteer worker with Destiny Trust, a nongovernment organisation based in Abuja, has won the Samsung’s Picture Your Dream competition. The winner, Ifeyinwa Obienu received a plaque from the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Kim Brovo while six other finalists in the competition got the Samsung Galaxy J7 for their effort. The platform availed Nigerians the opportunity to ex-

press their dreams through a palm selfie contest, which was launched at the end of August 2015. Commenting on success of the contest, the Head, Product Marketing (IM), Samsung Electronics West Africa, Jumoke Okikiolu said “It was truly a challenge short listing the top seven finalists for this contest,” saying that over 1,300 entries initially received were very inspiring. She said that the seven final-

ists selected after the first round had a busy time soliciting votes from friends and family via social media noting that Obienu’s dream to ‘help destitute kids get off the street’ pulled the highest number votes in the second and final round. While expressing her gratitude to Samsung, Obienu said that it felt really good winning saying, “I still cannot believe that I actually won as I am very sure that there were so many entries..”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Brands & Marketing

Experts advocate change in Nigeria’s CSR storyline At a recent forum on corporate social responsibility, CSR, experts x-ray its practice in Nigeria with a verdict that the storyline must change to reflect global best practices. DAVID AUDU reports.

ith the world attention shifting gradually to sustainability, the practice of corporate social responsibility, CsR, has assumed a new dimension. The focus now more than ever before is how to synegise global efforts to attain sustainable development. At a recent forum organised in Ibadan in Oyo state, experts agree that the way forward is getting corporate organisations to adhere to agreed standards, reporting CSR activities on global best practices, and in the same breath getting the watch dog of the society, the media, not only to report on these issues but for them to adequately understand the dimension involved. The even organized by Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria, BJAN, brought together experts in marketing communications industry, but with special bias for corporate social responsibility. Among the speakers include the Managing Director of TruContact, the organiser of the yearly Sustainability and Environmental Reporting Award, SERA, Mr Ken Egbas; the Managing Director of SO&U Limited and current chairman of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, Mr. Ufot Udeme, among other seasoned professionals. With the theme: Challenges of Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria- Roles of Organisations, Government and the Media, Udeme, in his presentation titled, ‘Pushing the moral boundaries between CSR spend and CSR marketing budget’, noted that “CSR is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large”. He opined therefore that CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Profit. It is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society – to “make the world a better place.

From Left: South West Editor/Bureau Chief,The Sun Publicity Ltd, Mr Yinka Fabowale, Managing Director, First Class Production Ltd, Pastor Yinka Adepoju, Chairman BJAN, Mr. Goddie Ofose Mr Head, Media Relation Access Bank Plc, Abdul Imoyo, at the 2015 Annual Brands & Marketing Conference in Ibadan in Oyo State at the week end.

WHERE THAT LEAVES YOU IS THAT IT DROP THE STANDARD SO LOW BECAUSE THE JOURNALIST WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO DEMAND FOR STANDARD DO NOT EVEN KNOW THE STANDARD FOR CSR AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING, WHICH IS VERY SAD However there are pertinent questions raised in the practice of CSR in Nigeria, such as where does CSR money really go, in whose interest, society, organization or the CEO? Besides, he also queried whether these CSR programmes are designed to create value for society or to earn a bragging right for the company? “Is there really a need to leverage an organization’s CSR initiatives? It is argued that some of the highest givers around the world give quietly, sometimes even anony-

mously; they sincerely want to meet a need without attracting unnecessary attention to themselves. Why don’t organizations do the same”? While admitting that CSR investments and objectives can sometimes be difficult to evaluate, he stressed that these usually makes accountability difficult and even raises suspicion towards organizations that manage to come up with seemingly flawless CSR reports. On his part, Ken Egbas, believes many

companies are not doing enough in their CSR, saying many companies do not understand what they should be doing with the money and at the same same time many of them do not even know how to go about their CSR initiatives. “They call people together and give them gifts, or give exercise books to school children or renovate a school classroom, grade a small stretch of road here, then, they call the journalist and splash the photos on the pages of their paper and they call that CSR. He pointed out that while the companies themselves do not understand most of what they were doing, the media themselves also do not understand, hence everything goes and as such activities of journalists that are supposed to complement what they do at the end contribute in lowering the standard “Where that leaves you is that it drop the standard so low because the journalist who are supposed to demand for standard do not even know the standard for CSR and sustainability reporting, which is very sad” He therefore urged on the need to pay attention to standards, which he said informed his yearly CSR awards. He stressed that “until the media pay attention to standard, we may not be able to hold organizations accountable”. In his presentation, Mr. Abdul Imoyo, representing Access Bank Plc, while acknowledging that business must be done ethically and in a responsible manner, for them as a bank they create a mutually beneficial relationship or synergy amongst all stakeholders. “We want our employees to perceive us as caring and catering to their needs; our customers to feel involved and engaged in our business decisions for new products; our local communities to know that we recognize them as the very fabric on which our business is built; our investors to continue to believe in our vision; and our regulators to perceive us as transparent and ethically responsible”.

Gulder Promo winners tell tales of persistence, determination DAVID AUDU

efore Benjamin Akuruka, a 300 level undergraduate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology participated in the Gulder search competition, he had told his 86 year old father, Pa Emmanuel Akuruka, that he would drive him home from a wedding ceremony in a brand new car. The octogenarian had planned to attend a wedding the same week. He then intimated his father of the Gulder Ultimate Chase event which was billed for the same Saturday his cousin was getting married; as well as his resolve to win the brand new Hyundai

Elantra grand prize up for grabs. Even though his father doubted the authenticity of the promo, he gave his son the nod to participate. According to him, he vowed to replace the family car which had to be sold to offset certain financial obligations. Akuruka joined over 1000 other contestants who had assembled at the Dan Anyiam Stadium to participate in the Owerri leg of the Gulder Ultimate Chase. Despite lagging behind more than 500 contestants, he eventually won the competition and the gift of a brand new Hyundai Elantra car. After his feat, Benjamin was driven in a convoy to the Presbyterian

Church, Aladinma venue of the wedding ceremony of his cousin. This was to enable him fulfill his promise of driving home his father in a brand new car. There was however uproar as the Gulder convoy drove into The Presbyterian Church as it coincided with the period the couple and invited guests were taking photographs. As Benjamin stepped out of the Gulder branded car Hyundai Elantra car, there was uproar of celebration as members of his community who recognized him deciphered that their ‘son’ had just won a brand new car. A weeping Benjamin then made his way to his father knelt and said:

“Daddy, I brought the Gulder car to you. I told you I was going to do it and I’ve done it.” His father replied: “Thank you Jesus, my son said he was going to bring this car and take me home. Oh God, I came with keke, now I’m going home with a brand new car. I am overwhelmed. I am happy.” In furtherance of the celebration, the Gulder brand team donated 10 crates of the premium alcoholic brand to the wedding celebrants. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ayobami Ogundeji emerged the star prize winner at the last electronic raffle draw of this year’s edition of Gulder national consumer promotion which was held

at the Sweet Garden Bar in Onitsha, Anambra, making the first time a female would win a car in the Gulder promo The wife and mother stated that she was shocked when she received the phone call informing her of her good fortune. She said: “When I received the call that I was the winner of the brand new Hyundai Elantra car, I did not believe at first. It was after I was informed that I won the car courtesy of the Gulder Ultimate Promo that it dawned on me that it was genuine. It has been celebration galore in my house with my husband and my children ever since I received the good news.”

South South

Lagos communities lament eviction by govt officials Paul Erewuba

illages in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State have cried out to Governor Akinwumi Ambode to come to their rescue, following forceful eviction from their ancestral land by officials of the state’s New Town Development Authority, NTDA. The villages, which are being taken over with their farmlands and fish ponds by the state officials, include Moliki Salabiu, Daudu Bashiru, Abolade Owoseni and Ishola Saidu. According to the residents, NTDA officials invaded their locality on November 9, 2015, and destroyed their crops and fish ponds with bulldozers with security allegedly provided by officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The communities have therefore, through their solicitor, Prince Ademola Adewale, of De-Vine Chambers, called on the governor to prevail on the officials to retrace their steps in the interest of peace. They regretted that their farmlands and fish ponds had been destroyed by the NTDA, a move that is against the policy trust of the present administration both at federal and state levels. In a petition to Governor

Ambode, Prince Adewale condemned the use of the police by the state government officials to chase away the people from their farmland and fish ponds without prior notice. The solicitor in the petition claimed that his clients were told that it was Governor Ambode that gave the instruction to destroy their farmlands and fish ponds. The community leaders, according to their solicitor, were also worried about the likely repetition of the incident that happened in Lekki Free Trade Zone (Okunraye community), where the managing director of the zone was killed. It was to avert such a development, they said, that made them to restrain their youths and farmers from taking the law into their hands. They therefore, appealed to the governor to take urgent action to save the community from extinction, even as the Atlantic Ocean had almost eaten up their ancestral home, lamenting that they had no other place to go. According to the petition, the government’s actions are now inappropriate and ran contrary to its responsibility of protecting farmers and local communities’ right to their lands and properties.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IBEDC to release over 300,000 meters in 2016 Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

badan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, yesterday said it would provide meters for over 300,000 customers in 2016. This was disclosed by Managing Director of IBEDC, Mr. John Donnachie, at a business session. He appealed to customers to take advantage of the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI, scheme introduced by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, as an intervention to bridge the huge metering

gap across the country. He said CAPMI allows customers to get refund on their meter payments via electricity unit rebates over a period of 36 months with 12 per cent interest, while ensuring they only pay for what they use. He added that IBEDC was committed to serving its esteemed customers, saying that it has embarked on a robust meter roll-out scheme to cater for customers with unique challenges. According to him, examples are those who could prove that they are victims of burnt or stolen meters and customers who paid for meters under

the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, with evidence of payment. He stressed that the initiative would also help eradicate estimated billing and energy loss faced by IBEDC, while at the same time serving as a support scheme to CAPMI. He, however, stated that as a permanent solution, IBEDC has put in place a 10-year (2015 – 2024) metering plan – with a total investment estimate of about N47.18bn. “The roll-out plan makes provision for over 80 per cent of our customers to be metered by the end of 2018. Only 182,338

customers were metered at the time IBEDC took over in November 2013, while most of the meters had become obsolete or faulty and would need to be replaced to ensure quality service. “From 2016 to 2024, we have projected to meter over 300,000 customers annually, inclusive of the CAPMI scheme. To bridge this metering gap immediately, a team headed by the Deputy Managing Director, IBEDC, Engr. John Ayodele, has just returned from China where they have been able to facilitate the supply of cost-efficient smart meters,” he concluded.

Lawyer warns governors against salary reduction Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

human rights lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, has warned governors against reducing workers’ salaries. Ogele called on Houses of Assembly to impeach governors who support reduction of the N18,000 minimum wage. In a statement issued yesterday in Akure, he also charged workers not to fold their arms but mount pressure on their lawmakers to scuttle the plan. The lawyer accused governors of wastage, which has unleashed unbearable hardship on the people of the country, lamenting the huge amount of money governors spend on political appointees. Ogele, who noted that majority of the political appointees add no value to the economy of their states, wondered

why they would be receiving huge amount of money while workers who are doing the job receive peanuts. He said: “A serious governor is expected to utilise the resources within his reach to pay the monthly wages of the workers. Some governors who fail to meet their obligation to the indigenes of their states are punishing them with sundry levies. “In Ondo State, you have to show your Kaadi IgbeAyo that you acquired with N2,000 before you can have access to government hospitals, maternities, schools and other infrastructural facilities. Court filing fee has risen by 200 per cent. “They should reduce the number of their aides because some governors are having 800 aides, ranging from special assistants, personal assistants, principal assistants, personal assistants on markets, roads.

L-R: Special Adviser to Governor of Lagos State on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Femi Onanuga; immediate past Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. John Obafunwa and Registrar, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Prof. Wole Atoyebi, during the 2015 Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference and Continuing Medical Education, in Lagos, yesterday.

Churches must help in national development —Cleric

pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lagos Province 37, Solomon’s Porch Parish, Egbeda, has called on churches in the country to always contribute to the growth of their immediate environment. Assistant pastor in-charge of the parish, Oluwayemi Olajide, made the call when his church donated 200 sets of school uniforms and 20 sets of upholstery chairs and tables worth N800,000 to the pupils and teachers of Ebenezer Primary School,

Egbeda, Lagos. According to him, the donation is in line with RCCG’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, project, a vision of the church’s General Overseer, Pastor E.O. Adeboye. Olajide said it was the church’s way of contributing its quota to the improvement of life of the less-privileged in the society. He added that the church decided to intervene, having seen that the school was in dire need of the items donated. His words: “The church

is able to do this because of visionary leadership. The problem we have in our churches, which fail to understand the importance of this is leadership. They should understand that we have to complement the efforts of government.” He said the gesture has enabled the teachers understand that they are important, and have reasons to smile. Head of Schools, HoS, who is also the social mobilisation officer, Alimosho Local Government Area, Mrs.

Opadoyi Beatrice Modupe, enjoined the church not to be tired in helping schools and the society, stressing that she was optimistic that their children would receive favour in return. She, however, warned that the teachers would be held responsible for any careless handling of the furniture. Head teacher of the school, Mrs. E. O. Adeyemi, expressed gratitude to the church especially for making teachers’ job worthwhile.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Youths display talents at NICON Insurance basketball initiative Joel Ajayi Abuja

s part of its effort to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, the NICON Insurance Plc. in conjunction with Alfa Plus has organised a three-day basketball tournament, an initiative toward empower and help the youths to have a brighter future. Also, it is aimed at teaching personal excellence in basketball and life. Not only that, the event is also channeledl to stimulate youths’ interest in actively taking up sports, particularly basketball for recreation and profession instead of crime. However, no fewer than 200 children from 24 schools across the FCT converged at the Basketball Indoor Court National Stadium Package B Abuja, to compete in the tournament. On the importance of the event, the Senior Manager Corporate Affairs NICON Insurance PLC, Mr. Ade Adesokan explained that it is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the NICON Insurance to reduce social vices such hooliganism, cultism amongst others to in the country. He said: “We want our youth in Nigeria to be fully involved one activity or the other that will impact their life positively. “Because an adage says ‘an idle hand is the devil’s workshop’ so, when they are engaged they will be very happy to leave up to expectation, this will assist them by making their brain well alert. “This is not the first time we are doing something like this. It has become part of our Corporate Social Responsibility in NICON insurance. We have done it in the past; we have sponsored Nigeria Universities Games, a programme that produced people like Seyi Olofinjana.” “Our former Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi was discovered by the defunct insurance company. We have sponsored basketball team to Olympic, we have sponsored squash in Ikoyi Club Lagos amongst others. These are part of things we do to encourage youth to be active in a positive manner.” Adesokan also disclosed that the company had embarked on what he called Student Welfare Insurance Scheme SWIS, an initiative that will allow parents paying premium or token of five thousand naira or three thousand naira. He stated that with that token if a parent dies or suffers any form of disability then, the management of NICON will take over the responsibility of

Participants at Nicon Insurance basketball initiative

payment of the school fees till graduation. He appealed to parents to encourage their children to be involved in this kind of activities that will discourage them from cultism but rather help them to discover their talents at tender age. “Government alone cannot solve this entire problem that is why corporate organisations have to reach out with youth in the country to assist in the area of sponsorship. Representative of Alfa Plus, Tony Ujadugele also said the significance of this tournament is to groom the youth to under-

stand the game of basketball “and we believe that we have to start from private secondary school level. “We are doing this in conjunction with NICON Insurance Plc. and our goal is to take Nigerian kids (10 boys and 10 girls) to the US for them to have more knowledge of this game. We have 24 teams from all over Abuja playing against each other. “I want to use this medium to call on individual company to invest on youth, to have a better society.” Meanwhile at the end of three days tournament in the girls’

category Pace Setter School beat Royal Family School while Louisville school emerged winner in ladies’ category after beating Jesuit School 22-12. However, in the boys’ cat-

egory Glisten Int. Academy Schools thrashed Kingsville 24-12 to emerge the winner as Loyola School edged out Rabato School 23 -13 to emerge second runner-up.

The Mandators, Majek Fashek, others for Raggae music festival Leonard Okachie

ll is set for the Africa Meets Reggae and World Music International Festival scheduled for tomorrow and Saturday in Lagos at Ember Creek, Ikoyi and Hockey Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, respectively. It will be showcasing the top names in Reggae and world music among whom are the firstliners such as Victor Essiet and The Mandators (Rat Race), Majek Fashek (The Rain Maker), Oritse Femi, Eljai (USA), Burna Boy, Pasuma Wonders( Oga nla 1), Ras Kimono(Dub Master), Orits Wiliki( Cool Man Revolutionair), Tee Mac, Righteous Man, Stella Monye, Black

Rasta(Ghana), Redfyah(Ghana), St. Peters. Others billed to perform are: Black Face, Fadabasi, Safin De Coque band, Black Rice, King Wadada, C-Stroke band, Sweat Reggae band, Francis Goldman, Kupa Victory, Empero Zigzag. The upcoming artistes include: Delight, Realman, Young Gracy, Jayru, Diggy Dor, Rosey Bassey, Jethro Lion and many many more. Occation MCs: Da Queen, DJ Rattata( Wazobia FM), Comedian MC Soro-soro. Host / Comedian Koffi Da Guru. Africa Meets Reggae has been an annual musical event hosted by Echodelic Music and Dub Club in Los Angeles for the past years but now franchised to Vic-

tor Essiet (Mystic Records, USA) for Nigeria / Africa. This year’s Africa meets Reggae music festival, according to

Victor Essiet

the organisers, will be unique and memorable as it cuts across all genre of music with good lyrical contents.

Young & Next Generation

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPAN graduates 29 artists, exhibit creativity Leonard Okachie

fter years of hard work and intensive training session, the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN), recently graduated its second set of 29 artists at a colorful and elaborate ceremony. The event which was held at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites showcased the best of contemporary African dance and music styles among youngsters in Lagos. The graduation was a true reflection of the world-class standard for arts education in Nigeria as SPAN used the opportunity to exhibit the richness, faith and diversity of Nigeria’s culture. It was a colorful gathering of art enthusiasts, iconic dancers, music lovers, members of the diplomatic community and high profile personalities like Mr. Aditya Chellaram, Mrs. Evita Moussalli, Mr Ingo Herbert, and Mrs. Olufunmi Olajuyegbe among others. SPAN displayed a combination of dance and musical performances from graduating students who thrilled guests to a show-stopper with the likes of AbimbolaFakiya, AmbilaJaja, Bamidele Olonisola, Blessing Elikwu, Bobi Odafe, Bryan Ogini-Peters, Busayo Olawole, Daniella Ilechukwu, Promise Enweribe,

Bidemi Shokunbi, Nneoma Onyekewelu, Gloria Idundun, and Obinna Jackson to mention a few. Founder of SPAN, Mrs. Sarah Boulos, said, “In 10years, we have served the Lagos community by educating Nigerian

youths to achieve greatness in the performing arts and created opportunities for young people to develop and also overcome limitations using the arts as a transformational tool. The graduating students we have today are prepared for

Performers at the SPAN graudation ceremony in Lagos

Youths celebrate Hellofood at 3 Leonard Okachie

t was all fun for a group of youths , who gathered recently in Lagos to celebrate Nigeria’s leading online food ordering and delivery platform, Hellofood as it clocked it third year in business in Nigeria. The platform, which began its operation in Lagos in November 2012, was the

first to be launched in Africa and remains one of the biggest. Speaking on the anniversary at its office in Yaba, Lagos, the Managing Director of Hellofood Nigeria, Guillaume Leblond stated, “We are very proud of serving tens of thousands of customers in Nigeria, and to work with most restaurants in the Industry, from local Bukkas to big chains. It has been a fantastic journey and it is just the beginning. “We have made incredible learning’s

in how to serve our customers and our restaurants better, to deliver food faster, hotter, and smarter. The best is ahead of us and we are very excited.” Leblond added that many lives have been changed from over 500 job creation in 11 challenging markets, with roughly 50 per cent of female workers in the group and six Hellofood alumni who have now started their own technology companies. He said that Hellofood has provided an online food delivery marketplace by connecting people with a variety of cuisines for people to enjoy in all areas of their city and discover new places at all prices. He also noted that the Hellofood mobile app (free on IOS and Android), provides the simplest and fastest way to order your favourite foods from over 250 of the best restaurants, local restaurants and fast food chains across the country. The company scooped an award this year by winning the best customer service company in food retailing at the Nigeria Customer Service Awards (NCSA).

Guests at Hellofood event

TFAA announces nominees for Youth Employment ... winner to get $5000 Leonard Okachie

he Future Awards Africa has announced successful candidates for The Ford Foundation Prize in Youth Employment - selected after an intensive four month period. Successful applicants were interviewed in selected cities Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Ibadan, Kano and Lagos. “This prize is very dear to our hearts,”

said Chude Jideonwo, who is co-founder of the awards. “It goes to the core of our work, which focuses on enterprise. “We are delighted to have gotten young Nigerians taking charge, doing their bits and solving the issues of unemployment. “With the goal of the Ford Foundation in West Africa to improve governance systems and livelihood opportunities and TFAA to inspire the entire continent of Africa through the works

of her citizenry, this award is designed to recognise and support young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 33 involved in a social program or projects that contribute to fight youth unemployment in Nigeria.” The Ford Foundation Prize in Youth Employment nominees are: Kabiru Seidu-Dankata, Eze Ifedy-Ralph, Olamide Adeleye, Ukinebo Dare, Ifeanyi Aniagoh, Olajide Kabir-Tosin

the future.” Mrs. Boulos stressed that as the fresh graduates move into tomorrow, they need to hold fast to the words of Frederick Douglass, remembering that “if there is no struggle, there is no progress”, and that progress in their own communities , in their world, can only happen when brilliant minds like theirs decide to become engaged. Some of the top patrons and sponsors of SPANFEST 2015 include 7Up Bottling Company, Indomie, Cool FM, Orlean Invest, Chellarams Plc, SCOA Nigeria Plc, I.T.B Nigeria Limited, Eko Hotel & Suites, GA Productions and Power Horse among others. Furthermore, the second graduation ceremony was part of the lined-up activities infused into the 2015 edition of SPANFEST which paraded several local and international artists and celebrities across different cultures and background. SPAN is a registered non-governmental organization founded in 2004 with the Helen O’Grady franchise in schools. 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.

Students showcase electric car at NSE conference Leonard Okachie

t was an exciting moment recently at the annual gathering of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) conference in Akure Ondo state, when the a team of Mechanical Engineering students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) showcased an electric, eco-friendly car made by them. The car named DOVE PI, was the product of a project initiated by Olusanya Olukoya, now a graduate of Mechanical Engineering. It was first unveiled recently at an exhibition organised by Designed for Zero Vehicle Emission (DOVE) Initiative at the Julius Berger Hall of the university The conference supported by Star Beer had series of activities from the plenary sessions, young engineer programme, presidential cocktail, cultural night, concurrent session and more. The rare conference was well attended by top dignitaries in Nigeria as well as engineers who trouped in en-masse to learn more about the business and to examine avenues through which infrastructure can be improved to catalyse national growth and economic development. Guests present at the conference included President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, Aare Afe Babalola and several others.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Media

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Future of media is content –Adebola Williams

Africa’s leading omni-media company with a focus on youth, Red Media Africa (RED), is celebrating its 10th anniversary . Its founding partner and journalist, Mr. Adebola Williams, in this interview with LEONARD OKACHIE, tells of the organisation’s incredible journey and the future of media. Excerpts:

Adebola Williams

ongratulations on your 10th anniversary. How would you describe the journey so far? It is an incredible journey building one Africa’s most influential communication agencies, particularly the agency that you can use to reach the largest number of youths in Nigeria and in Africa at every point in time. It’s been a story of starting out amongst all difficulties and challenges that life can throw at you, personally for myself and my partner Chude Jiodeonwo.And then dealing with all the challenges that Nigeria throws at you- the helplessness and hopelessness that you can feel, living in this country, if you are allow your environment to control you rather than you rising above the environment. So it has been an amazing ride. We have run several amazing campaigns for Blackberry, Guinness, British Council, and recently for the Nigerian presidency. We have created several amazing platforms: from YNaija to Rubbin’ Mind, YMagazine and others, including the one that was started in 2006/2007 in the Guardian called ‘Young &Nigerian’, NTA Youth Talk. It’s been an incredible journey all of these years going to the media. Would you say that your dream has actually come through? When we began we wanted to solve the

problem of the coming together and the evolution of the Nigerian youth, which is why we have that much huge influence in youth space because we led that evolution of the Nigerian young person – that finding a voice, a platform for a generation that wanted to succeed but didn’t have the model to be able to do that. So we started by presenting them with those models. We started by bringing them together, building that gathering, that gathering that they will rub mind, sharpen each other , and then create a combustion and light up the country, and other people are beginning to rise and join the movement that you can be young, conquer and succeed in spite of all the challenges. So we wanted to create that media platform to be able to engage those young people, through television, radio, print and social media. We created those platforms. Ten years down the line Nigeria has changed with the huge bulge of young people and out of that youth bulge you had a great number of influence who have come out of the platforms that we have created over the years. Why did you expand into Africa? We expanded into Africa because we realised that the model we had created in Nigeria worked. Over seven years we had

built the platform for young people who were bold, self sufficient, modelled for other people and who were creating a ripple effect- building other young people and had now moved into a realm of themselves, not depending on government, not depending on the failures of the society but actually taking charge of their lives and then using that inspiration to challenge status quo and make better demands in leadership, government and so on. So that model has worked. And every time you empower people they are able to make better choices. Africa currently needs an empowered generation that is educated and employed so that they can make better choices. We have done that in Nigeria. We did for seven years and it worked. So we have to extend it to Africa gradually on the 8th, 9th and the 10th year through our platform – The Future Awards. Even at the communications company as well, we have been working with the footprints across Africa. For us it is an African plan; it is an African takeover. We always tell people that it is not necessarily about going global. For us it is bout focusing on the African community everywhere. The global relevance will but it will come because of the incredible work being done on the African continent or for Africans around the world. You recently honoured some media icons in Nigeria. What informed such awards? We did that because as we turned 10 it was important that we looked back. So we had the Red Summit which was named West Africa’s biggest media summit. The summit focused on looking back and taking stock of where we have come with communications business and industry in Nigeria. It was about assessing presence and analysing the future and then come up with then come up with the roadmap of what the future communication in Nigeria and Af-

rica will look like. So we did that for institutional legacy. It is an annual summit. Now the gala, as we turned 10 as well it was important for us to look back and take stock and celebrate those who created this path where we walk on now. Rather than celebrate ourselves, we thought why not honour the living legends and also present them to young people to connect them with the power of their story? They are the likes of Modele Sharafa, Jimi Solanke, Dele Momodu, Boiodun Shobanjo, Lola Akinwunmi, Nduka Obaigbena etc, who have done it and some of them are still doing it and some of them have moved on to other careers. But they were the foundation. It was important to spotlight those stories so that young people would be inspired and take lessons from the successes these people created in their time. What is your impression about media in Nigeria, especially with the presence of social media? The media landscape is very exciting. The options are innumerable. I say to people that the future of the media is the Internet. At any point people would always say ‘Oh this medium will close down that medium’. There will always be different demographics, depending on the demographic you want to reach. If you want to reach young people you use the Internet. But if you want to reach certain demography you still have to sue the radio. If you want to reach the North for example, you use the radio because it is the biggest in the North. If you want to reach certain executive it is the newspaper or nothing. If you want to reach certain people it is lifestyle magazine or nothing. There will always be segmentation. So it is really not about what is current now. I have always told people there will always be tools. How you use the tool is what matters. If you don’t use the tool properly you can lock in your target market. So even if you are going to use the papers, television or radio, what are you communicating? I think the future of media is actually content. Content is king; it is what drives the emotion; it is what drives the connection; it is what people see and believe and buy in. Platforms will always be platforms and will forever remain.

Media

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Connect our station to national grid –FRCN begs CRSG Richard Ndoma

24 hours of operation. “It is a serious problem. We run the station on generator and because of that, we operate only 12 hours daily, from 5: am to 5pm when we are supposed to be broadcasting 24 hours. “I want the state government to come to our aid because we are here primarily to serve the state and we can only dis-

charge this duty well when we have the required power supply, ‘’ he said. The Canaan City FM boss charged the state government to sanitise the station’s surrounding and make it green and clean in keeping with the tourism nature of the city. Inah maintained that the young station was doing its best to satisfy the information needs of the state and country. Speaking earlier at the courtesy visit, chairman of the NUJ Cross River council, Mr. Ndoma Akpet, told the general manager that the committee was in the station to intimate him on preparations for the 2015 NUJ – Media Week and solicited the cooperation of the station through highlighting of the programmes of the weeklong event. Also speaking, chairman for the NUJ Media Week Planning Committee, Mr.. Judex Okoro, called for full participation of all journalists in Canaan FM in the activities of the week from Nov. 22 to 28, 2015.

categories of the award. OLX is the world’s leading classifieds platform in growth markets and is available in more than 40 countries and over 50 languages

OLX connects local people to buy, sell or exchange used goods and services by making it fast and easy for anyone to post an ad through the mobile app..

Calabar

eneral Manager of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Canaan City FM Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. EbriInah, has appealed to the Government of Cross River State to assist the station in connecting power to the national grid. Inah made the appeal when the Planning Committee for the 2015 NUJ –Media Week paid him a courtesy visit in his office to solicit the station`s cooperation for a successful event. The general manager stated that the station had been operating with a power generator set since the electricity supply in the station is not linked to the national grid. Inah averred that the power outage situation in the state had drastically affected smooth operation of the station as the station now goes on air only for 12 hours on daily basis against its normal

Governor of Cross River, Ben Ayade

OLX wins best online classified of the year LEONARD OKACHIE

igeria’s leading online classified, OLX, won the award for best classified ads website of the year at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Technology Awards (N.I.T.A) which held recently in Lagos. While receiving the award on behalf of the company, Country Manager, OLX, Lola Masha thanked the organisers of the awards for the recognition. Masha acknowledged that although it had been a challenging year, OLX nonetheless remained steadfast in providing a safer and secure platform for its users. “We are truly honoured to have emerged winners in this category. I want to specially thank our OLX users who believe in us. I will like to dedicate this award to them and to the OLX team.” she said Nigeria Technology Awards (N.I.T.A) is organised to recognise and reward technology entrepreneurs, innovators, inventors, academicians, and policy makers (Government) in Nigeria. The theme for this year’s award ceremony was “Rewarding Technology Excellence & Innovations”. The ceremony had in attendance major players in the ecommerce industry across various sectors of the economy, who gathered to celebrate outstanding achievement in various

L-R: PR & Communication Lead, Uche Nwagboso; Business Development Manager, Mayokun Soremekun; Country Manager, Lola Masha and Brand Marketing Manager, Fife Aiyesimoju, all of OLX at the recent Nigeria Technology Awards in Lagos

Firms support capacity building for journalists Johnson Okanlawon

ffort of Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) to improve on the capacity of its members has received a boost from some market stakeholder companies, which are supporting the 2015 annual workshop of the association. They include: FMDQ OTC, Access Bank Plc, Oando Plc, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), United Bank for Africa Plc, Forte Oil Plc, Ster-

ling Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, United Capital Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, NASD Plc among others. The annual workshop serves as an avenue for journalists covering the nation’s capital market to sharpen their professional skills. And the 2015 national workshop is slated to hold on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29 in Lagos with theme: “Effective Reporting of Changes in the Nigerian Capital Market.” According to CAMCAN, the nation’s capital market has witnessed some new developments in the past two years since two new over-the counter (OTC) platforms- FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange and NASD Plc commenced

operations. “These two platforms have brought some dynamism into the market and it is instructive for members of CAMCAN to understand their operations better in order to educate the wider reading public. By so doing, the market is being developed and made more attractive to investors,” the association said. CAMCAN disclosed that the Managing Director of FMDQ OTC, Mr. Bola Onadele.Koko and his counterpart at NASD Plc, Mr. Bola Ajomale would be the guest speakers, who would talk about their respective organisations, the many benefits they have brought to the market and investors among others.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Madumere endorses 2015 special media forum Chris Njoku Owerri

mo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere has endorsed and hailed the resolve of the Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council to organise a Special Forum to discuss critical issues on national development. Prince Madumere expressed this support while receiving in audience a committee on 2015 Special Correspondents Forum led by the Chairman of Correspondents Chapel Athan Agbakwuru of Nigerian Pilot and the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Val Okara when they paid the Deputy Governor a courtesy visit at his official residence in Owerri. Addressing the group, Prince Madumere hailed the idea and averred that agenda setting is one of the cardinal functions of the members of the fourth estate of the realm. He enthused that bringing people together to chart a course towards contributing in the national development is a right step in the right direction. The number two citizen of Imo State also used the visit to urge journalists to insist on abiding by the ethics of the profession. He told them to be objective in reporting in events while admonishing them against being willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians who will stop at nothing in encouraging unethical practices. He however called for partnership with the journalists to showcase the activities of the government; saying that people oriented policies of the government can only be better appreciated if the media could use their platform to educate the public on the import of policies and programmes of government and their supposed benefits. Prince Madumere who is also a patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo State Council in his closing remark thanked the delegation from the Correspondents Chapel for the honour and respect shown to him by coming to intimate him on their forthcoming programme, which he described as timely and thoughtful. He therefore pledged to support the event by playing his expected role so as to ensure that the event come out successfully. Speaking earlier, members of the committee also revealed that the programme will feature lectures with the topic, “Diversifying Nation’s Economy: The Role of Media in Agricultural Revolution”. The journalists who disclosed that the event is slated for December 13, said they have chosen the Vice Chancellors of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka and his Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia counterpart, Prof. Hilary Edoga as Guest lecturers. They also revealed that Governor Okorocha will be the Chief Host Governor while Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his Enugu State counterpart Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, will be the Chief Guests of Honour.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Broad Street Diary

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Lagos, cradle of Nigeria’s carnivals

agos State has a long history of holding carnivals, particularly on Lagos Island, as a result of historical links with the returnees and their descendants from Brazil, West Indies and Sierra Leone in the late 19th century. Traditionally, these have being in the form of street parades within various locations, but the new Lagos Carnival was conceptualised in 2011 where all the parades and floats will culminate at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island. Through the effort of the immediate past Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola in changing the way carnival are held and streamlining many cultural ceremonies in Lagos State, it is also educated the populace on how the ceremonies originated. Fashola is said to have play an important role in the renewal of culture, tradition and history of Lagos. The Fashola’s government was credited to have involved older Lagosians in activities or projects that require knowledge of the history of Lagos with the hope of bringing the formal and oral history of Lagos to the younger generations and encourage their sense of pride and belongings. Origin of Lagos Festival During the 1850’s there was a large influx into Lagos of educated Africans who had earlier been sold into slavery, from Sierra Leone, Brazil and Cuba. The Sierra Leoneans were known as Akus or Saros, the Brazilians and Cubans as Agudas. In the 1880s there were four distinct groups in Lagos, the Europeans, the educated Africans (Saros), the Brazilians and the indigenes. The town was physically divided into four quarters corresponding to these groups. The Europeans lived on the Marina axis, the Saros mainly west of the Europeans in an area called Olowogbowo, the Brazilians behind the Europeans their quarter was known as Portuguese Town or Popo Aguda or Popo Maro and the indigenes on the rest of the island behind the three groups. By 1888 there were 3,221 Brazilians in Lagos. A prominent member of the Brazilian group was Placido Adeyemo Assumpçao, who later changed his name to Adeyemo Alakija. Fanti Carnival (also known as Caretta) was brought to Lagos Island by these Brazilians who settled around Campos area of Lagos Island to be specific. It was introduced by the Da Souza and Kanaku families. The masked rider and the horse are aspects of Brazillian ranch life. Some of the men dress like cowboys and they are known as FASUTINI and they ride bicycles while their leader rides a horse. It is important to stress that in the early days, women did not partake in the dressing up in masks and different clothing, but they were allowed to go around with the different actors. The carnival comes up three times in a year, Boxing Day, Easter Monday (the first celebration after Lent and Easter Sunday) and on New Year’s Day. As time went on, the people living in Lafiaji area of Lagos Island, also started to participate in the carnival. Later still, other areas of Lagos, like Obalende, Surulere, Yaba, etc caught the carnival bug. It is important to note that until recently, Lagos was the only part of Nigeria that hosted the carnival.

Lagos Island carnival dancers A new innovation was however, added to the celebration of carnival with the introduction of the Junior Carnival. Primary and secondary schools on Lagos Island are invited to send students to represent their schools at the junior carnival. The procession usually kicks off at the

Giwa Barracks, Falomo. Some floats then proceed along Awolowo Road to Tafawa Balewa Square. Another kick off point is Campos Square on Lagos Island. Celebrants parade down to Igbosere Road, Broad Street, Catholic Mission Street, Marina Street and on to Tafawa Balewa

Square. Some floats go through Ozumba Mbadiwe Road and Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island on their way to the Tafawa Balewa Square. The junior carnival kicks off at the National Museum Onikan. The floats then proceed to Campos Square and then to the Tafawa Balewa Square.

Lagos beach: Untapped revenue spinner

ll over the world countries leverage on the existence of their natural water front and beaches as source of huge revenue. Unfortunately, Nigeria has not tapped into this area of money spinning venture, thereby leaving the country’s beaches undeveloped. The Gbara-Maiyegun beach, popularly known as Lekki Beach is one of Nigeria’s famous nature site for beach exploration and tourism in Nigeria. It is usually a place with beehives of activities from music concerts, to parties and relaxation centres for nature lovers who often stand by the beach to look at the sea body and the panoramic view of the environment. The beach used to be a place of elegant coconut trees typical of beach environment all over the world which are arranged on a row, with chalets, entertainment arenas being land marks at the beach. The Lekki beach is a beautiful place to reside with different tourist activities going on especially on weekends. Though the beach is nothing but beautiful, its present look are nothing to be compared to its formal glory where the coco-nut trees are giant prices won naturally by the beach from the Creator. Apart from the beauty endowed by nature on the Lekki beach, the warm crispy sand of the area is being eroded and encroached upon by the unrestricted water and waves, with filth, various criminal activities and vices corrupting the tourist activities of the beach. A sixty two old beach crawler, Emmanuel Tunde, told Broad Street that

though, Lekki beach still retains some of its glamour, its current status irritates him. “I have been coming to this beach at least every month for the past fifteen years, this beach is a very significant place for me because this is where I proposed to my late wife. I usually come here to enliven my memories for her. But I discovered that the place is deteriorating, these coco-nut trees where more than these but the water is washing them away with the help of strong winds. Nobody is taking care of this place even with all the money they collect” Others complain about the criminal activities going on at the place especially with the red tiny light of cigarettes and strong smell of Indian hemp, not to talk of the prostitutes that harass onlookers especially at night. A couple that came to the Lekki beach for picnic said they came here to relax their nerves. A first timer at the beach would know that the beach which is being got rid of its beauty, is gradually becoming a shadow of itself. No doubt, the elegant coconut trees are still erect as though arranged on a row along the beach’s stretch. But a year ago, there were more trees. As at the time of coverage, the shoreline had advanced by at least 900 metres land-ward and the ocean keeps advancing with an unrestrained vehemence as it’s every roar slaps the motionless ships on its shore. The beach chairman, Moses Enebeli, who was in office a year ago, when three ship wrecked, simultaneously reported that tents, chalets, entertainment spots dotting the beach, have been washed away by

the Atlantic Ocean’s turbulent waves, and the ones seen presently, are newly built. Economic costs Lekki Beach, one of the most valuable stretches of Nigeria’s coastline, is the beehive of fun and activity during festive seasons and a source of income generation to many Nigerians “If there is a disaster, Lagos being the financial hub, accounting for over 55 percent of industrial activities and for 70 percent of imported goods which comes through the ports, may be adversely affected. To render this place a horrible scene of unimaginable disaster is damaging to the Nigerian economy,” Philip Asiodu president of Nigeria Conservation Foundation says. In summary, analysts’ estimates put the amount of land lost to erosion on this prime real estate at over a billion Naira. Already millions of naira that could be made from tourism is lost due to the wreckage of the alpha beach in October 2010. The erosion may also threaten food security in terms of fish production believes Jide Ayinla, the executive director of the Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR). “It is bound to affect the marine life because it affects the breeding ground of the fishes, by so doing, it creates obstruction to fishing. It can restrict movement of fishermen and if the normal marine habitat is disrupted they will get less fish.” He says the supply of fish production in Nigeria now is 0.65 million metric per annum yet the requirement is 2.0 million metric per annum.

South West

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Police kill 5 robbery suspects in Lagos shootout

olice in Lagos yesterday killed five armed robbery suspects and arrested one with bullets wounds. Police sources told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ikeja that the suspects had engaged policemen from Elemoro Division, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, in a shootout where they were killed. The source said five of the robbery suspects were killed on the spot, while the one injured was arrested. “The police in Elemoro got information that the suspects were operating at Abule Parapo, opposite Awoyaya in Elemoro area of Ajah around 2am. “The suspects engaged the police in a shootout as soon as they saw them. Two

locally-made double-barrel shotguns, one cutlass and iron cutter was recovered from them. “The gang had been terrorising residents of Ajah, robbing and raping women,’’ the source said. NAN reports that corpses of the dead and injured suspect were brought to the Lagos Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, at about 12.15pm. Operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have taken over the case file from the Divisional Police Officer at Elemoro, SP Sani Limawa, for further investigation. When contacted, the command’s spokesman, DSP Joseph Offor, said he was yet to get details from the division at press time.

Tin-can Customs generates N24.4bn

ssistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Zone A, Lagos, Mr Eporwei Edike, yesterday commended Tin-Can Island Port Command of the service for generating N24.4 billion so far in November. Edike gave the commendation during his official tour of the command and Port Terminal Multi-Services Ltd (PTML) command in Lagos. He said the amount was collected by the command between November 1 and 24. He urged officers of the service to put more efforts to enable the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (retd), to achieve his policy, anchored on transparency, honesty and integrity. “Forty-six per cent of all containers coming to Lagos go to Apapa, while the rest comes to Tin-Can and few goes to Terminal Multi-services Ltd. “You should work hard, be at alert and you must collect every kobo due for government, and never collect less than the amount you are meant to collect. “If the document or declaration of any agent is complete and cleared, do not look for faults,’’ he said. Edike said, ``If any officer is having a problem with Single Trade Goods (STG) platform, such an officer should quickly get in touch

with his or her supervisor.’’ He said STG should not be processed in more than 15 minutes, because its delay would amount to delaying Nigerian trade. According to him, if any officer delays STG, it means he or she is an enemy of the nation. He remarked that a customs officer’s job was very important, claiming that the government used revenue collected by the service to pay workers in the country and provide other needs of the people. The customs boss urged all officers not to encourage smuggling and to respect all rules and guidelines of export. He warned female officers to desist from plaiting their hair in such a way that would not enable them to wear their beret properly. “You ladies are also advised to stop wearing tight trousers and always dress the way it is approved by the Board, ‘’ he said. Edeki commended officers at the PTML command for displaying discipline, and expressed confidence in the ability of the Area Commander, Mrs Talatu Isa. “I trusted the CAC for her efficiency and hard work; that is why she was given this position, ‘’ he said. He advised officers not to hold onto anybody’s document, adding that ``if there is any fault, such fault should be checked appropriately’’.

L-R: Enterprise Technology Specialist, Intel Nigeria, Shada Oluwatobi; Global Education Specialist, Intel, Shelley Shott; Corporate Affairs Manager, Intel Nigeria, Babatunde Akinola and Business Development Director, Intel Nigeria, Stanley Muoneke, during Intel’s Business Partners Professional Development Training Workshop in Lagos, recently.

Olusegun Koiki

igerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has suspended some oil marketing companies from supplying Jet A1, otherwise known as aviation fuel, from supplying the products to airlines in the industry. The regulatory body in a letter to the affected companies said it took the decision following their lack of depot facilities. Affected companies include Jushad Oil and Gas Limited, Lubcon Limited, Ascon Oil Company Limited, Acon Petroleum Limited and Star Orient Aviation Limited. The NCAA in a circular to the companies with reference number: N C A A / DAW / A D. 1 1 0 4 / AOL052/VOL.1, dated November 9 and addressed to Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, with the title, ‘Notice of Suspension of Some Companies from Providing Aviation Fuel to Airlines at Air-

NCAA suspends oil marketers over depot …bars them from entering airports

ports in Nigeria,’ said the suspension was because the affected companies lacked depots facilities and therefore should not be engaged in the distribution of aviation fuel at the airports. The circular was signed by Director of Airworthiness Standards, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka, on behalf of Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman. The circular also noted that the regulatory authority had required the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to deny the aforementioned companies access into airports in Nigeria, including their aviation fuelling vehicles and personnel till further notice. The circular further

stated that the integrity and competences of these companies could not be ascertained by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, and advised FAAN that these companies be disallowed from further supply of aviation fuel to airlines located in Nigeria. The letter said, “This is to notify you that the authority is in receipt of a letter from DPR that the under-listed companies have no depot facilities and should not be engaged in aviation fuel distribution at the airport. “You are hereby required to suspend the fueling of your aircraft by any of these companies until further notice.’’ It would be recalled that NCAA had in September

2015 commenced official registration of all aviation fuel marketers in the country. The agency, according to Usman, took the action as a result of the recent controversies and allegations concerning the Jet A1 supply and usage by the airline operators. Usman said he had signed all the modalities and prerequisites for registration in readiness for the exercise. Usman, however, charged the relevant departments and officials of the authority to quickly hold a meeting with the marketers and all the stakeholders to sensitise them on the guidelines and requirements for registration prior to the exercise.

Ondo Assembly extends tenure of LG caretakers Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

ndo State House of Assembly has elongated tenure of caretaker committees of all 18 local governments in the state for another six months. The approval was given yesterday during plenary of the House in Akure, Ondo State capital.

The House, presided over by Speaker Jumoke Akindele agreed that there was no need to stress the issue since democracy and governance has to be sustained. A member representing Akoko North West constituency 2, Gbenga Araoyinbo, moved the motion to grant the extension of tenure to the committees. Quoting section 12(4), 1 and 2 Local Government

Law 2007 as amended, Araoyinbo said there should be no vacuum in the administration of the local governments. The lawmaker sought cooperation of all members to grant approval of the tenure extension request of the state governor. The request of the governor had earlier been read at the floor of the House by the Clerk, Bode Adeyelu.

The motion was seconded by Olamide George, representing Akure North constituency. Meanwhile, the House has invited four commissioner-nominees to appear before the House Committee on Selection on December 1. The nominees include Mrs. Yetunde Adeyanju, Dayo Awude, Femi Adekanbi and Segun Ayerin.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, November 26, 2015

AIG seeks royal fathers’ cooperation to fight crime Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

ssistant Inspector General of Police, IGP, in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Mr. Baba Bolanta, yesterday called for cooperation between the police and traditional

rulers in Rivers State to effectively check and prevent crime. Bolanta stated this in Port Harcourt when he paid a courtesy call on the chairman of Rivers State Traditional Council, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja, as part of his familiarisation tour

CRPP wants Lucky Igbinedion probed

oalition of Registered Political Parties, CRPP, in Edo State has urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to probe the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion as governor of the state. Chairman of the group, Dr. Samson Isibor, made the call during a news conference following a meeting of the body in Benin yesterday. Isibor said it did not matter whether the probe began seven years after Oshiomhole became governor of the state; “what is important is that it will bring transparency and accountability, especially on the Ava cement factory issue.” He urged Governor Oshiomhole not to apologise to Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, father of the former governor, adding that government should stand for the truth

and should not be misled. “An apology from the governor to the Esama will be an insult to all residents of the state. We stand by the comrade governor. “Nothing will happen to him; he should not apologise to anybody. “We condemn in strong terms the protest by some sponsored, misguided elements, selfish individuals and groups to discredit the comrade governor’s development strides. “We expect the governor to take good advantage of the dry season to step-up his development efforts and complete all ongoing projects,” he said. Isibor said Governor Oshiomhole could not have commenced any probe of the former governor when the Federal Government was under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party.

of police formations in the zone. He explained that traditional rulers are best partners in fighting and preventing crime due to the influence they wield at the grassroots. The AIG also said their closeness to the grassroots puts them at a vantage position to be able to identify those likely to engage in crime. “My visit to Rivers State is part of my familiarisation tour to identify and familiarise myself with the traditional institutions and the state police command on the need to maintain security and nip crime in the bud. “The police always succeed in fighting crime because of the role traditional rulers play in giving vital information on ways of preventing crime.

“We will continue to rely on traditional institutions on security and crime prevention. Security is the collective responsibility of everybody and should not be left in the hands of police alone,” he said. Speaking, King DouglasJaja urged the police to be thorough in their investigation of criminal cases and not allow external forces to influence their decisions. The traditional ruler frowned at situations where criminal cases brought by traditional rulers were allegedly influenced by prominent politicians, urging the police not to be influenced by anybody while investigating any crime. Also speaking at the state police command, AIG Bolanta urged the rank and file to see their work as a voluntary service to the fa-

therland. He admonished them not to relent, adding that policing could never come to an end as long as there are people who seek easy and criminal means of livelihood. “Police is a humanitarian work. I say it is a humanitarian work because you leave the comfort of your homes and come out every night to guide others who are sleeping in their respective homes. “If we want to make this country to move forward, police must be in the forefront because we are the principal agents for the maintenance of law and order. “Any other agency that comes in is complimentary,” the AIG said. In his welcome address, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, highlighted the achievements of

the police under his command, promising that his officers and men would not shirk their responsibilities. Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike has ordered chairmen of the 23 local government areas in the state to buy 46 vehicles for security agencies in their communities. Speaking while receiving AIG Bolanta in his office, Wike said the decision to provide additional logistics for security agencies in the state was reached at the last state security council meeting. The governor also disclosed that the council chairmen have been given specific directives to mobilise community support for the police and other security agencies as part of efforts to further reduce crime in the state.

Nuel Mark set to unveil foundation David Audu

o demonstrate its commitment to giving back to the society, especially the lessprivileged, Nuel Mark & Partners has announced plans to unveil its nongovernmental organisation, the Nuel Mark Foundation, today. The company’s lead consultant and head of practice, Emmanuel Mark, stated that though the company has been involved in philanthropic gestures in the past few years, the foundation demonstrates the resolve of the company to positively impact on the lives of its business environment. He stated that the foundation has played some vital role in the past, especially during the last flood disaster in Egbema, Ogba-Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Riv-

ers State by donating reasonable quantities of beddings, food items and other instructional materials to flood victims. The foundation, he noted, was currently constructing a state-of-the-art police station at Omagwa, Port Harcourt, which it hopes to formally handover to top echelons of the Nigeria Police at an event that would also coincide with the foundation’s official public presentation. “We have also given scholarships to some indigent children of Rivers State, who are of school age,” he stated. According to him, the foundation, in partnership with Nuel Mark & Partners, is also packaging an inaugural summit on land administration and mass housing construction in the Niger Delta, a summit designed to enhance effective delivery of housing in the country.

L-R: AIG zone 6, Mr Baba Bolanta; Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike; Commissioner of Police, Rivers Command, Mr Musa Kimo, and others, during the AIG courtesy visit to the Governor in Port Harcourt, yesterday.w

Edo lawmakers walk out commissioner for improper dressing

embers of Edo State House of Assembly yesterday asked Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Aihamuwa Eregie, to vacate the house for improper dressing. Eregie was asked to leave the hallowed chamber during presentation of the 2015 budget performance of the Ministry of Health. Deputy Speaker, Mr. Bright Osayande (APC-

Ovia North East II), who raised the observation, said the commissioner was not properly dressed and should not be allowed to appear before the house. Mr. Adjoto Kabiru (APC Akoko-Edo), who concurred with the observation, said the commissioner’s mode of dressing contravened the house’s rule. “Mr Speaker, you will recall that when one of us was not properly dressed,

he was asked to leave the chamber. “So, the commissioner should excuse us because she is not properly dressed,” Kabiru said. Other lawmakers, who commented on the point raised by the deputy speaker, gave their unanimous support that the commissioner should quit the chamber. They asked the commissioner to leave despite pleas by Mrs. Elizabeth

Ativie, member representing Uhunmwode constituency. Speaker Victor Edoror thereafter directed the commissioner to leave the chamber. He said a new date would be communicated to her to appear for the briefing. News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commissioner wore long sleeved shirt over trousers.

North

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi: Faleke supporters may sue INEC, party

risis generated by last Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Kogi State may not be over yet, as supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, deputy governorship candidate, James Faleke, have threatened to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to court for declaring the election

inconclusive. The supporters rose from their meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, yesterday and accused INEC of ambushing the people’s will by declaring an election that had produced a clear winner inconclusive. Their spokesmen, Messrs Achama Matthew and Mohammed Abdu-

lahi, said the fresh primaries being proposed by the APC to fill the vacuum created by the death of the party’s standard bearer at the poll, Prince Abubakar Audu, was unnecessary. According to a communiqué signed by the duo of Matthew and Abdulahi, last Saturday’s election was conclusive and

won by the Audu/Faleke ticket. Relying on information at their disposal, they said only 32,785 of the 49,953 registered voters in the area, where INEC has scheduled to hold the December 5 supplementary election, have Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. The communiqué reads: “INEC should be

L-R: Director, Skills Acquisition Unit, Centre for Educational Technology and Entrepreneurial Development of Nigeria (CETED), Dr Grace Jothan; Executive Director, Centre for Human Resource Development and Empowerment Initiative, Mr Muhammed Ali; Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Tenebe; Registrar, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Josephine Akinyem, and Director-General, National Teachers Institute, Dr Ladan Sarehu, at the inauguration of NOUN’s Centre for Educational Technology and Entrepreneurial Development Skills Acquisition Unit, in Kaduna, yesterday.

courageous to declare Audu/Faleke as winner of the election. With 240,867 votes, Audu was leading his closest rival and incumbent Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 199,514 with 41,353 votes. “From our record, not all the 49,953 registered voters in areas where INEC has scheduled to hold supplementary election have PVCs. Only 32,785 eligible voters have the PVCs in the 18 council areas. These outstanding votes would still not give the PDP victory even if they all go to the PDP. “So, even if they all cast their ballot for the PDP, the APC would still be leading with 8,528 votes. That is in the worst scenario. The APC, which have its spread in 16 local government areas have its supporters all over the state. The votes would be shared. “We feel that INEC should be bold enough to

do its calculation very well and do the needful. The APC won the November 21 election squarely. There is no point for a pupil who had passed an examination to repeat class. A party should be saved the agony of going through a process that had produced a winning team. “What the electoral umpire has done amounts to aborting the people’s will as expressed in the ballot of last Saturday. It is like attempting an abortion after the baby had been birthed. It won’t work. “As law-abiding party members, we will join issues with INEC if the body fails to declare the election conclusive and announce the APC candidates as winner of the November 21 governorship poll.” The National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC is billed to meet today to take a stand on INEC’s request that it replaces the vacuum created by the demise of Prince Audu.

Diarrhoea kills 400 under-5 children daily –UNICEF

Reps chide Customs over poor service delivery, exploitation

…says Nigeria among 5 top countries practising open defecation

...ask CG to remove road blocks

REGINA OTOKPA

UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

ouse of Representatives yesterday expressed displeasure over what it described as low service delivery and exploitation by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS. This is even as the House also implored the Service’s Comptroller General, CG, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), to stop the practise of mounting

road blocks in search of goods that have already been brought into the country. The House in its resolutions further urged the service to engage in continuous training and development programmes for its officers for optimal performance. It also urged the Controller-General to deploy more personnel to the borders to curtail activities of smugglers. These followed a mo-

tion brought by Hon Olatoye Temitope Sugar on low service delivery and exploitation of the masses by the service. The lawmaker, while noting that the NCS, if effectively managed could be the highest revenue generating agency of the country, said the potentials of the service is being hindered by negligence of duties and corrupt practises among its personnel. “Many factors, including connivance of personnel in allowing contraband goods to be smuggled

into the country, failure to enforce payment of requisite duties, poor accountability of revenues generated, preferential treatment of high net worth individuals, among others, are responsible for the low revenue generation by the service,” Sugar told the House. The House called on the Federal Government to invest more on Information and Communications Technologies, ICT, for the advancement of customs operations to improve operational efficiency.

Group moves to halt youth recruitments for terror GEORGE OPARA ABUJA

gainst the backdrop of terrorism, kidnapping and other social vices in contemporary times, Society for Promotion of Peace in Nigeria, SPN, has designed a project meant to sway the minds of youths from being possible recruits for criminal gangs and terrorist organizations. SPN plans to do this

through educational seminars and workshop that would impart knowledge, skills, experiences and exposure in entertainment. Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Dr. Godson Nnaka, Director-General of the organisation, said the terror- free world project is a two-part programme initiative comprising educational workshop/ seminar and talent audition.

He stated that the organisation would directly interface with the youth and offer them opportunity to harness the inner talents, provide career, jobs and help them to attain fame and achieve their dreams. He noted that visiting Hollywood stars supported by their local counterparts would be responsible for counseling interested youths and judging and selecting winners. In addition to cash and

material prizes, Nnaka said winners in each of the six categories would receive scholarships for training in the United States, Europe and modeling contract. This programme is anticipated to have hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths with extended audience of more than five hundred million people through live media and internet coverage within and outside Nigeria.

nited Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF, has said about 400 children under the age of five, die daily due to diarrhea-related diseases in the country. This was revealed during a four days ‘National Stakeholders Workshop on Draft Hygiene Promotion Strategy’ in Abuja, organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the National Tax Group on Sanitation and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Expressing worry over the figure, Chief Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) UNICEF Nigeria, Kannan Nadar, noted that the deaths could be prevented if the right measures were employed to scale up establishment of basic sanitation facilities and awareness on proper hygiene and sanitation practices. According to him, the disease was related to the consumption of contaminated water and unhygien-

ic practices undertaken in the processes of food preparation and disposal of stools, given that children were more prone to infections and as a result could fall sick quickly. The Chief WASH, however, maintained that the high number of diarrhearelated deaths recorded annually in the country could be reduced by half if the culture of hand-washing was inculcated among children from a tender age. In a report made available by UNICEF, the analysis revealed that “As per WHO/UNICEF-led joint monitoring programme 2015 in Nigeria, only 29 per cent of the population have access to improved sanitation facilities, 34 per cent rural population still defecate in open and 30 per cent indulge in other unimproved sanitation.” Nadar further lamented the rate of open defecation practice in the country, which he said has placed Nigeria among the top five countries in the world still engaged in unimproved hygiene as a result of low access to basic sanitation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Thursday, November 26, 2015

We’ll make use of NITT’s expertise –El-Rufai A ZA MSUE KADUNA

Graduates of Sure-P Disbanded Internship Scheme Programme in Benue protesting non-payment of their monthly salaries at the entrance of Benue State House of Assembly, Makurdi,. yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Buhari mourns Tor Tiv, Wada ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed sadness over the death of paramount ruler of Tiv people of Benue State, the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula, and a Minister of Defence in the first Republic, Muhammadu Inuwa Wada. In separate condolences, the president commis-

erated with the immediate families, friends and associates of the deceased, the governments and people of Benue and Kano states. He urged them to take solace in the knowledge that the departed distinguished Nigerians lived well and contributed significantly to the development of not only their states but the country in general.

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari noted that the fourth Tor Tiv was a great advocate of peace and unity during his 24-year reign, and urged his subjects to maintain the existing peace during and after the succession process. On Wada, the president recalled with pride his ac-

tive years as a renowned teacher, parliamentarian and minister, up until his post-political career as a foremost transporter and industrialist. He prayed that God grants rest to the souls of the two senior citizens whose wisdom and fatherly counsel would certainly be missed by the current crop of leaders in the country.

Armed robbers abduct, release Plateau lawmaker JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

ajority Leader of Plateau State House of Assembly, Daniel Dem, yesterday narrated how armed robbers abducted him at his residence at Bukuru area of the state capital, and whisked him away to unknown destination. It was learnt that the four robber suspects later took him to the bush where he was severely tor-

tured and dispossessed of his belongings, including his official car, a Toyota Avensis, before releasing him. Dem, who described his escape as a miracle, told National Mirror that the incident happened around 7:30pm on Friday while he was driving home from work. He said: “As the security man in the compound opened the gate, the robbers who had laid ambush at a nearby street, drove

behind me into the compound. Immediately, four men brandishing AK47 rifle ordered me into their vehicle and drove off alongside my own vehicle.” According to him, while three of the robbers carried him to a bush, the one who drove his official car headed towards JosAbuja highway. However, luck ran out on the robbers when police commissioner in the state alerted secu-

rity agents on the road, with assistance also coming from members of the community, who mobilised themselves, a development which forced the fleeing robbers to abandon the car in Hakibo village and fled. The lawmaker thanked the security agents and members of the community for coming to his rescue even as security has been beefed up in the community following the incident.

Adamawa defends application of bailout funds LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

damawa State government has said the bailout fund it received was only used for settling salary liabilities and allowances owed its workforce. The state government, through Finance Commissioner, Mahmood Yunusa, disclosed this yesterday in Yola, while announcing that payment of N362.5m to settle outstanding salaries and allowances of 952

health officials, whose September and October 2014 salaries had lingered. Yunusa, while addressing newsmen accompanied by his Health and Information counterparts, Dr. Fatima Abubakar and Ahmed Sajoh, respectively, maintained that there was no cause for alarm over the N9.5bn bailout fund it received. The commissioner said the government only utilised the funds to settle salaries and allowances owed its workers, as well as

offset the two months salaries owed the 952 health officials working with the state’s Primary Health Care Development Agency. He stressed that the bailout, part of which had already been dispensed for settlement of workers’ leave grant and allowances earlier, “remains very safe and locked away in a bank. “Every kobo that was received to settle liabilities of our workers is still safe and will be utilised solely for that purpose.” Yunusa further stated that the gov-

ernment was able to make a savings of N42.5m after verification of the number of nurses and health workers owed outstanding salaries turned out to be 952 against the 987 initially listed. According to the finance commissioner, a total of N362.5m has already been earmarked for payment of the affected health workers beginning from November 30, adding that the money would be disbursed through table payment after they must have been screened.

aduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has pledged to make good use of NITT’s unique expertise in the areas of training, entrepreneurship and consultancy. El-Rufai stated this when management of the institute led by DirectorGeneral, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, paid him a courtesy visit at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House. He maintained that his government would work hard to restore the glory of the state, adding that already 200 yellow cabs had recently been launched to improve transportation in the state, noting further that thousands more yellow cabs would soon be commissioned, not just for the state capital but Zaria and Kafanchan as well.

He stressed the need for further areas of collaboration with NITT, particularly the training and certification of the next batch of drivers recruited to man the states Yellow Cab Scheme. The governor further informed the management on the progress of the survey on light rail and tram way he recently flagged off, as well as the engagement of General Electric to establish a railway assembly plant in railway compound, Zaria, due to its proximity to NITT. Earlier, NITT DirectorGeneral, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, outlined the institute’s long and short-term programmes as well as NITT’s collaborations with several local and international organisations. Yusuf stressed the inherent benefits in the state government taking full advantage of the institute’s unique programmes and services.

KACCIMA lauds Dangote Group at Kano Fair

ustomers and visitors to the Kano International Trade Fair yesterday were excited at the ongoing Mega Million Dangote Cement promo, as the company’s management told visitors that N1million would be won every day while the promo lasts. This is even as president of the Kano State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KACCIMA, Umar Dansuleka, described Dangote Group as a worthy partner and major sponsor of the Trade Fair. He said Dangote Group has contributed to the development of businesses in the country through sponsoring of business activities like the Trade Fair. Most of would-be customers that visited the Group’s pavilion said they were thrilled with the promo and would like to participate in the company’s promo that seeks to create new millionaires as the marketing team of Dangote Cement explained the process of participating in the promo. Similarly, Director General of KACCIMA, Aliyu Mustafa, hailed Dangote Group for the sponsorship and for supporting the growth of businesses

in Kano State. “Dangote Group is our major sponsor. We want to commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote for helping businesses to grow in Kano State and by extension the whole of Nigeria,” he said. Mustafa expressed optimism that this year’s trade fair, with the theme: ‘Improving Products Quality and Packaging to Competitiveness for the Attainment of Sustainable Economic Growth,’ is seeing a higher patronage. He said as usual West African countries are participating. Other countries participating, according to him, include India, Poland, Pakistan, Turkey and Argentina. Companies from Dangote Group on ground at the fair include Dangote Sugar Refinery, NASCON Allied Industries Plc (Dangote Salt), Dangote Cement Plc, and Dansa Foods Limited, among others. Some of the products displayed at the fair include Dangote sugar, cement, salt, DanQ seasoning, tomato paste, various ranges of fruit juice products and bottled water from Dansa Foods. Dangote Sugar will be offering customers different sizes of granulated sugar packs at the fair.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Miss. Sobanke Omowunmi Morenike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adegbore Omowunmi Morenike. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as miss Adebayo Sadia Abake now wish to be known and called MRS OGUNTUNJI MARIA. All former documents remain valid. First bank plc and general public should please note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss.Arotimi Esther lyabode, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Olujimi Esther lyabode. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ADEDAYO ADESEGUN OGUNNIKA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEDAYO ADESEGUN DAUDA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as ANTONIO FOLASHADE OJUOLAPE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. ADESANYA FOLASHADE OJUOLAPE.former documents remain valid general public note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as IBE Justina Nkechi but now wish to be known as Ugwu Jusina Nkechi. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed to SUNDAY ODIGIE, now wish to be known and addressed as EHIZOGIE SMART EHIS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Adenaike Omobusola Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Odunewu Omobusola Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as James Isaiah, now wish to be known and addressed as James Isaiah Ukpong. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

I, OWUAMANAM Emeka Christian Frank is one and same Person as Owuamanam Emeka frank christain Emeka, now to be known as Owuamanam Emeka Christian Frank. All former documents bearing the above names are valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SUNDAY KOBINU ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as FASEUN SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME ODIATU: I, formerly known as ODIATU NKEIRUKA HELEN, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYELOBI NKEIRUKA HELEN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME PAUL: I, formerly known and addressed as SENJONG PAUL, now wish to be known and addressed as MAKTEP SHIKPHIR SENJONG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, UMEH PAUL IZUNDU is the same person as UMEH VALENTINE as contained in some documents. All former documents bearing my names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as SILAS UYOMATA PAUL, now wish to known and addressed as JUBRIL ABUH SILAS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ALOR EKENE M. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUOZOBA EKENE M.. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ORJI PRECIOUS OZIOMA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UDEBUANI PRECIOUS OZIOMA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE. CONFIRMATION OF NAME THIS IS TO CONFIRM ENABELE IYOHA AND PEACE ATALOR ARE FOR SAME PERSON, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ENABELE PEACE IYOHA ATALOR. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. DIAMOND BANK AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

Formerly known and addressed as ABD RAHEEM YUSUF OLATUNJI, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULRAHEEM YUSUF OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME EBERE: I, formerly known as MISS EBERE CAROLINE NNALU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EMENAKO CAROLINE NNALU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as KELLY LORENZ, now wish to be known and addressed as YVONNE AMBAKS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ADEDAYO ADESEGUN OGUNNIKA , now wish to be known and addressed as ADEDAYO ADESEGUN SOLOMON-DAUDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS USMAN AYIMI CHRISTIANA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DAUDA IDOWU ABASS AYIMI CHRISTIANA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKINTOYE MOJISOLA FASILAT. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MOJISOLA FASILAT SUFIANU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AYEBO SEYI FLORENCE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MOSOBALAJE FLORENCE SEYI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

ADDITION OF NAME That MUSA RAFIU ABIMBOLA DAVID is my name. That on my Zenith Bank account my name appears as MUSA RAFIU ABIMBOLA, while on my GTBank I used MUSA ABIMBOLA DAVID. I am now adding ‘RAFIU’ to the names I used in GTBank. That my complete names now is MUSA RAFIU ABIMBOLA DAVID. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as OBIOHA EZINWANNE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. IGWEGBE EZINWANNE MARYAN. former documents remain valid general public note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that moses stephen chiemela, moses steven chiemeka and moses steven chiemela belong to one and same person. All documents bearing these names to remain valid.general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Mercy lydia David is the same person as Lydia Agbo now known as Mercy Lydia David. All former documents bearing the above names are valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Moses Glory Chizoba, now wish to be known and addressed as Agomo Glory Chizoba. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Idris Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Idris kafilat Aduke. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS NWANOLUE EMILIA OLUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS NWANOLUE NCHEDO EMILIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME CHUKWUEMEKA: I, formerly known and addressed as MR. CHUKWUEMEKA VICTOR NDIDIGWE, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. EBIGBO VICTOR EMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as. OBINWANNE MAUREEN ONYEMAECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUDUM MAUREEN ONYEMAECHI.former documents remain valid general public note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm to the general public that I, MUSA MOHAMMED is one and the same person known as MAMMAN MUSA. That any documents bearing any of the above mentioned names belongs to me and remain valid. UBA and the general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, KHADIJAH MUKTAR confirms that HADIZA MUKTAR is also my name. Banks, Foreign Embassies,Missions and general public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ogbu Helen O, now wish to be known and addressed as Ani Helen O. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as LAWAL ABDULLAHI MOHAMMED now wish to be known and addressed as ADEGOKE KEHINDE ADENIYI. Former documents remain valid general public note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS OMIDIJI LATEEFAT BOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ABDULWAHAB LATEEFAT ARIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as HAMMED OMOWUNMI, now wish to be known and addressed as FAUSAT YAHAYA ONYINOYI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, AJAYI SOLOMON AREMU is the same person as AJAYI TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Sule Sunday Ojonugwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Abutu Anthony. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWOKEDI AMARACHI GLORIA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKEMEFULA ONWUKWE AMARACHI GLORIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HAUWA SULEIMAN ALIYU. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABEL HAUWA SULEIMAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EHIZIELEN KELVIN NAPOLEON now wish to be known and addressed as OKUBANJO OLAIFE SAMUEL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as UKIWO Iro Elijaw, now wish to be known and addressed as Nnanna Kalu Dede. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEJARE ADENIKE KHAFILAT, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEYINKA SULU ADENIKE KHAFILAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ASIYA AMINU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ASIYA IMAM FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

This is to inform the general public that Plot 250 original Customary Certificate of Occupancy with No FCT/MZTP/ LA/4257 Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT, Abuja are missing. All efforts to trace the missing documents proved abortive. Ministry of Lands take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as. ANTONIO FOLASHADE OJUOLAPE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. ADESANYA FOLASHADE OJUOLAPE. former documents remain valid general public note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as IBE Justina Nkechi but now wish to be known as Ugwu Jusina Nkechi. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Macaulay Festus Irewole, now wish to be known and addressed as Macaulay Olatunji Festus. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Nwogu Goziem Uzoamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Nwaegbu Goziem Uzoamaka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as Oyesidi Sodiq now wish to be known, called and addressed as OYESIJI SODIQ OLALEKAN, All former documents remain valid. First bank plc and general public should please note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS. JOSEPHINE M G B E C H I K W E R E AGBARAKWE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JOSEPHINE MGBECHIKWERE OSIGWE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Balikis Bolaji, now wish to be known and addressed as Oguneso Balikis Bolaji. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Sanni Rukayat Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss. Falabi Taofikat Bola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EDUVIE: I FORMERLY KNOWN. CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EDUVIE OMONIGHO CYNTHIA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ORHERHE OMONIGHO CYNTHIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as ONIFADE OLUWAKEMI BIMBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as FATADE OLUWAKEMI BIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as CHIDI DONALD OBUNA, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUDI DONALD OBUNA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

UGWOKE: I, formerly known and addressed as UGWOKE ONYEMA CHARITY, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWU ONYEMAECHI CHARITY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ENYEREIBE: I, formerly known and addressed as VICTOR .E. HALLIDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as ENYEREIBE VICTOR CHUKWUDI. All former documents remain valid. ZENITH BANK, General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as NWODE EBERE RITA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWANGA EBERE RITA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Philip Igbinosa, now wish to known and addressed as Mr Philip Igbinovia. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force {NPF} and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODEY MARY OGEYI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKORI MARY OGEYI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME JAMES: I, formerly known and addressed as JAMES SUNDAY DANIEL, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AMOO OLUWAGBENGA DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AGBO GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as ONUH O. JAMES. . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as HENRY LAYA now wish to be known and addressed as JASON E. ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that joseph ogbu, JOSEPH Oforbuike ogbu and gilbert okoye belong to one and same person.all documents bearing these names to remain valid. general public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OTO STEVEN ANITA, now wish to be known and addressed as OTO STEVEN WILLIAMS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ujunwa Chinenye Umeh, now wish to known and addressed as Ujunwa Chinenye Awili. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYERO IFEOMA FIDELIA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ALOZIE IFEOMA FIDELIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC, ABSU AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as ISA ABDUL WAHID now wish to be known, called and addressed as SHEHU BABA BELLO of no 67 Oba Awolesi street GRA sagamu Ogun state. general public note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MUSTAPHA YEMISI MORIAMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MUSTAPHA YEMISI MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MUSTAPHA FATAI OLAWALE now wish to be known and addressed as OLUSEGUN OLAWALE OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public pls take note.

Thursday September 4, 2014

PSG offer €355k-aweek for Ronaldo

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Sport

Yes, there was a bit of disagreement between myself and the manager. But it’s all for the good and we have settled everything

– Chelsea striker, Diego Costa

Rio Olympics qualifying ticket

Awoniyi returns to Senegal …Promises to replicate U20 Championship feat

D Awoniyi

ream Team VI striker Taiwo Awoniyi returns to Senegal for the Caf Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations with so much hope, eight months after playing a role in helping the country win the continent’s under-20 championship. Awoniyi said yesterday before departing to Senegal that he feels a deja vu kind of hunch as he joined Samson Siasia and his Nigerian under-23 teammates in The Gambia ahead of their trip to Senegal, where they are expected to play in the city of M’Bour in Group B alongside Egypt, Algeria and Mali. “Yes Senegal reminds me a lot,” began the striker, who is on loan from Liverpool to FSV Frankfurt. “I am thankful to God for this opportunity to be part of the squad going for this competition.” Awoniyi scored three goals at the African Under-20 Championship in March. He netted the opening two goals in their 3-1 win over Senegal and followed up with another goal against Congo in which

Nigeria won 4-1. The Nigerian under-20 finished as champions after defeating hosts Senegal 1-0 through Bernard Bulbwa’s superb goal. The 18-year-old forward hopes that the Nigerian under-23 team will get off the ground running in Senegal and win a spot to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Jainero, Brazil. But the teenage striker does not want the spotlight to focus on him as he wants to see Siasia’s men perform well at the tournament. “I feel good and humble to be in the team. There are many good players here (in The Gambian camp). I pray that we do well and win the Olympic ticket which is very important. The team is not just about one player, but I want to play my role,” he said yesterday. It is not the first time that Awoniyi will feature for Nigeria’s under-23s as he scored twice to help his country defeat Zambia 2-1 in a 2015 All Africa Games qualifying match in Lusaka in April.

Dalung tasks sportswriters to expose rot in sports Paul Erewuba

he Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has challenged sports journalists to be courageous to expose corruption that has bastardised Nigerian sports. In his congratulatory message to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos State Chapter, as they mark their 50th anniversary today in Lagos, Dalung said SWAN’s contribution to sports development in Nigeria cannot be quantified. “For decades, SWAN has been informing, educating and entertaining Nigeria with brilliant sports stories, excellent documentaries, celebration of our best moments in sports and defending the rights of the oppressed in the sports industry, ” he said. Dalung, who said he was proud to be as-

sociated with SWAN, urged the body to not only to continue its watchdog role in the sports industry, but join hands with President Muhammad Buhari and other change agents in the All Progressives Congress, APC, government and fight corruption and other vices that had prevented Nigeria from achieving its potentials in sports. “Education, entertainment and sports are the most important tools of providing escape from poverty for children from less privileged backgrounds. As at today, our sports industry is facing several challenges, the biggest is corruption which has become a behemoth in the industry. Sports journalists should take advantage of President Buhari’s determination to fight corruption and expose corrupt practices,” the Minister said in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Nneka Anibeze.

Dalung appealed to sports writers that government’s effort at fighting the rot in sports will be easier with their support and cooperation. The Minister also urged SWAN to invest more in training and education of its members. “Going forward, SWAN should report and celebrate more of its own and turn them to national and global icons. We should take a cue from the English press and celebrate our sports stars,” he said. To Dalung, SWAN’s laudable achievement in the last 50 years is not only worthy of celebration but also worthy of emulation by other professional bodies and unions. The Lagos chapter of SWAN has lined up some activities to celebrate the association at 50 on Friday at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

These include Achievers’ Day, an event designed to appreciate SWAN patrons and friends and the investiture of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Executive Governor of Lagos State, as Grand Patron.

Dalung

Sports

Thursday, November 26, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PSG offer €355k-aweek for Ronaldo

aris Saint-Germain are set to make a mammoth offer for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer, according to reports. The Daily Mirror have reported that the French giants are willing to pay Real Madrid star Ronaldo, 30, a deal worth a staggering £250,000-a-week (355,000 Euro) after tax. This would be the equiva-

Ronaldo

lent of £500,000 (711,000 Euro) per week by Premier League standards, ruling Manchester United out of the race. United manager Louis van Gaal confirmed at the weekend that the club were interested in re-signing Ronaldo, who left United to join Real for a then-world record £80m in 2009. “We are looking at all players,

not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable,” said Van Gaal after United’s 2-0 win over Watford. “With Ronaldo, let’s wait and hope.” Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic earns a reported £220,000-a-week (310,000 Euro) after tax at PSG and the Ligue 1 side are prepared to go even higher to get Ronaldo.

Europa league: Klopp insists Sturridge must prove his fitness

Arsenal eye January move for Manchester United Carvalho

rsenal are said to be eyeing up a deal to bring Manchester United target, William Carvalho to the club in January. According to reports from the Standard, Arsenal are believed to lining up a January raid for Manchester United target, William Carvalho. The Portuguese midfielder has been identified as a prime target to replace Francis Coquelin who suffered a long term injury last week, leaving him out for months. Gunners boss, Arsene Wenger has never been a fan of the January window, but has already been urged to consider opening up his cheque

Sturridge

book in the new year. The speculation comes after in-form Coquelin was sidelined for at least two months after picking up an injury during the 2-1 loss away at West Brom. Sporting Lisbon wonderkid, Carvalho, 23, has been on the Arsenal and Manchester United radar for some time now and the vacant positions in defensive midfield for the Gunners could be the perfect excuse for him to join the North London side. No fee’s have been brandished around as of yet, but there’s no doubt the Portugese star would certainly place a huge dent in the Gunners transfer budget.

iverpool manager Jurgen Klopp continues to play a patient game with Daniel Sturridge and insists the striker must prove he is more “robust” before he is fully thrown back into first-team action. The 26-year-old was on the bench for Saturday’s 4-1 win at Manchester City, the first time he has featured in a matchday squad for the German, but that does not mean he will get a runout in the Europa League at home to Bordeaux today. Klopp has stressed the need for the England international to prove he will not suffer any more injury breakdowns, hav-

ing seen last season decimated by thigh and calf problems which resulted in a hip operation in May. His latest issue was a knock to his knee in training and, while he has recovered from that, it does not mean an instant return to the starting line-up. “Daniel is coming closer and closer so he can train now seven or eight times in a row - that is the longest period since I’ve been here - and that will help him and in the end help us,” Klopp said. “My decision you will see (on Thursday) but it is closer and that is very good.

Drogba and Cech

Drogba tips Arsenal to win EPL trophy

D Carvalho

idier Drogba has tipped Arsenal to win the Premier League title because of his former team-mate Petr Cech. The Gunners were beaten 2-1 by West Brom on the weekend and slipped to fourth in the table, two points behind surprise leaders Leicester City. Cech moved to the Emirates

in the summer from Chelsea for around £11million and has quickly settled to life under Arsene Wenger. Drogba, who played with the Czech international for nine years at Stamford Bridge, believes that while Manchester City will be strong, he’s backing Arsenal because of his “friend”. “I think Manchester City will be as strong as they have been in

the last few years,” Drogba told Sky Sports News. “Unfortunately Chelsea are too far [behind in the title race], so I will go for my friend Petr Cech at Arsenal.” And when asked if he felt Arsenal had the strength in depth to maintain a title challenge throughout the season, he added: “They’ve got Petr Cech.

National Mirror National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Thursday , November 26, 2015 Thursday , November 26, 2015

47 43