Tuesday, february 23, 2016 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Nigeria’s oil earning at risk as SPDC declares force majeure Udeme akpan

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Vol. 6 N0. 1312

igeria’s crude oil export capacity and its foreign exchange earnings may be

seriously jeopardised in the days ahead as Shell Petroleum Development Company; SPDC, yesterday declared a force majeure on Forcados. The oil company’s ac-

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

EFCC to arraign NAMA chiefs this week

tion was sequel to the disruption in production caused by the spill on Forcados Terminal subsea crude export pipeline. The operator of the Continued on Page 2>>

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Modu Sheriff dares PDP leaders, says I won’t quit ...insists Boko Haram killed his family members too ObiOra ifOh and Williams attah

mbattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday said he could not have been a member of the dreaded Boko Haram, who killed his family members, including his younger brother even as he declared that he would not resign as chairman of the party. Sheriff, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, derided former governor of Continued on Page 2>>

UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for protection, Mr. Volker Turk (right) showing affection to Internally Displaced Children during the UNHCR official visit to Malkohi community that hosts IDP camp in Yola South Area of Adamawa State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

At last, Reps invite Diezani over oil swap deal Lagos strange illness confirmed as measles

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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Modu Sheriff dares PDP leaders, says I won’t quit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

old Gongola State, Wilberforce Juta, saying he lacked moral authority to ask for his resignation because he scored just one vote during the election for national chairmanship of the party. Sheriff, according to the party, scored 61 votes. The PDP chairman also said he had the mandate of the party leadership to reach out to all founding fathers, including those now in the All Progressives Congress, APC. Juta, who heads the PDP Rescue Group, had on Sunday asked Sheriff to resign, describing his emergence as an imposition. Other members of the group are former Senate president, Adolphus Wabara, former deputy governor of Sokoto State, Muktar Shagari, and former ministers Mohammed Wakil and John Odey. But Sheriff, while responding to whether he would resign, said: “I saw the person who was reading the press conference, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta. He submitted himself to the National Working Committee of this party, aspiring to be a chairman. “Wakil that you saw on the television also submitted himself to the Working Committee to be appointed chairman. And votes had been cast. The man that was reading the press conference got one vote and he’s asking me to resign. “Therefore, I will not resign. The leadership of this party in their wisdom asked me to lead. If the NEC of this party collectively asks me to leave, I will leave, but not somebody who contested an election and got one vote. I think if there is morality, he should not even go to the television. In this country, people are allowed to say what they want. “You want something, you got into the party, the party has submitted your name. In the midst of everybody, you got one vote and you go outside and asked the chairman to resign. “My brother, where is the credibility? Where is the justice? I would have listened to him better if he did not aspire to be one. Therefore, I did not plan to resign, I will not resign, I will reposition this party and take it to election within a time frame decided by the leaders of this party to conduct a credible, effective congress that will stand the test of time.” While he denied that he was specifically assigned to woo back the Senate Presi-

dent, Bukola Saraki, to PDP, he said he would speak to every person that had left the party. He said: “Nobody gave me any assignment to bring back Saraki. My assignment is to rebuild PDP. In the course of that I will talk to everybody. “I will talk to every person that left the PDP. I don’t want you to have a front page to say Saraki will come back to PDP. My assignment is to talk to everybody.” Sheriff said he planned to bring the instrument which made APC acceptable to Nigerians to the PDP, stressing that he did not regret leaving the ruling party, adding that he left on principle. “I was the founding father of UNCP and APC. I have principles, when I left APC, I stood by my principle. It is not an issue I talk on newspapers as an elder statesman. “There are issues I don’t talk about. I left because of principles. The same instrument I used to attract APC to Nigerians I will bring it to PDP,” he said. Speaking on his alleged links to Boko Haram, the PDP chairman said: “I was not the sponsor of Boko Haram. I was governor when Boko Haram erupted. I was also those that brought it to an end within five days then. “I was governor and chief security officer of the state. Nobody who knows the truth has ever accused me. No court of competent jurisdiction has indicted me of sponsoring Boko Haram. People like Fani Kayode will not go scot free.” Saying he had nothing to

President Muhammadu Buhari (left)and FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, during the President’s departure on an official visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar from Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE do with Boko Haram, Sheriff described himself as the first target of Boko Haram, adding that his blood brother was killed by the sect. “My crime was that I fought them to an end. Those that are angry that I fought Boko Haram are angry that I fought it. How can I be sponsoring people that killed my family? “Why should I like Boko Haram? I’m not a fanatic, I like to enjoy life. My friends are across the world. Boko Haram are criminals,” he added. Sheriff further clarified that the length of time he would serve in office would be determined by the party. According to him, when he defected in 2014, he was

granted waiver by PDP to contest for any position within the party, stressing that the two years restriction for new members did not stop him from serving as chairman. He added: “I didn’t jump the fence, I followed due process. The very day I came into this party, the NWC waiver was given to me to contest any position. “I have a waiver right now in my home which was given to me by NWC signed by the national secretary.” The party’s National Secretary, Prof. Olawale Oladipo, confirmed signing the letter of waiver for his joining the party. Speaking earlier, Sheriff while receiving the hand-

over note from former Acting Chairman, Uche Secondus, begged aggrieved members to work with him to rebuild the party. He hailed the NWC for doing a good work in steering the ship of the party after the defeat at the poll. But, the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, said that it would continue to resist the appointment of Modu Sheriff as chairman. In a one sentence statement, the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the body would meet with the leadership to convey its position on the development in the party. He said the BoT was headed for another meeting and would be briefing

the media today. Our correspondent gathered that the BoT has selected three of its members to meet with the party’s governors, who also met last night in an effort to thwart the looming implosion. It would be recalled that the BoT had refused to endorse the candidacy of Senator Sheriff who was the candidate of the governors. All former ministers of the PDP since 1999 are also expected to take a position on the ensuing crisis in the party. It was gathered that the ministers are already spoiling for war should PDP Continued on Page 5>>

Nigeria’s oil earning at risk as SPDC declares force majeure CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SPDC Joint Venture comprising NNPC, Shell, Total and NAOC, however stated that it was intensifying efforts on containment and oil recovery from the February 14, 2016 spill, while also finalising repair plans. In 2014, Shell-operated ventures in Nigeria produced an average of 739,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), with 578,000 barrels coming from the Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (SPDC JV). The SPDC JV is the major supplier of gas to Nigeria LNG. SPDC’s Afam VI power plant supplied approximately 18 per cent of the nation’s grid-connected electricity in 2014.

It would be recalled that the facility had experienced several attacks in the past few months. For instance, a few weeks ago, the company embarked on investigation to determine the source of oil spill in Forcados, after observing crude oil spill on water around Forcados Terminal penultimate Sunday. The SPDC had maintained that the initial investigation would enable the company to quickly determine what suitable response is further needed, adding that all SPDC JV and third party production into the terminal was being suspended as a precautionary measure. As a further precautionary measure, the company also hinted that it had acti-

vated its Emergency and Oil Response teams to manage the incident, while booms and other oil containment resources are being deployed to the area to try to stop the spread of spilled oil. This is just as it also stated that the support of industry group, Clean Nigeria Associates, CAN, had been secured for a comprehensive response to the spill, while relevant authorities, including security agencies, had also been informed of the incident, preparatory to a joint investigation visit which will determine the cause and volume of oil spilled. SPDC, in its latest report, indicated that crude oil theft, sabotage and illegal refining were the main sources of pollution in the Niger

Delta and were the cause of 75 per cent of spill incidents from SPDC JV pipelines in 2014. It reported further that an average of 37,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boe/d) were stolen from the SPDC JV network in 2014, with an additional 110,000 boe/d of production deferred due to illegal interference with pipelines and other illegal activities, such as theft of well head equipment. The company also pointed out that one of its key priorities was to achieve the goal of no spills while also lamenting that in addition to spills caused by criminal activity, there were 37 operational spills of more than 100kg in volume from the SPDC JV network during 2014, compared to 30 in 2013.

It maintained that the volume of oil spilled in operational incidents was reduced to 0.3 thousand tonnes in 2014, from 0.4 thousand tonnes in 2013. “To reduce the number of operational spills, SPDC JV is focused on implementing a work programme to appraise, maintain and replace key sections of pipeline. 132 km of new pipelines were installed during 2014, bringing the total for the last four years to more than 900km. “SPDC JV pipeline network is covered by surveillance contracts to ensure that spills are discovered and responded to as quickly as possible. “There are also regular over-flights to detect new theft points,” it added.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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L-R: Representative of Guest Speaker, Dr Dauda Adeniran; member, House of Representatives, Hon. Temitope Olatoye and Chairman, NUJ Oyo State Council, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, during a workshop on Covering and Reporting Persons with Disabilities in Ibadan, yesterday.

L-R: Managing Director of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. Mobolaji Sanus with Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Segun Oshinowo, during the visit of NECA D-G to LASAA’s office, recently.

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L-R: Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Air Vice Marshal, Wakili Ahmed; former Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal, Abdullahi Shehu (rtd) and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Div. Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, at the 2016 Base Social-Cultural Activities of Nigerian Air Force Base In Kaduna.

Globacom’s Business Director, Ogun, Mr. Ayo Ogunranti (left) with Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, at a press conference to announce activities for this year’s Lisabi festival sponsored by Globacom, in Abeokuta, yesterday.

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FG to reconnect railway with sea ports –Minister

inister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said the Federal Government would re-connect the country’s railway lines with sea ports in a bid to boost economic activities. Amaechi said this during a meeting he had with ports’ professionals yesterday in Lagos. The minister said President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to diversify the economy has brought to the front burner the need to implement inter-modal means of transportation in the country. “We expect that before June or July, we should begin the process or we should start the construction of the Lagos-Kano, and possibly the Lagos-Calabar railway. “If those two contracts commence, then we expect that they would generate employment (and) econom-

ic activity would improve. “And, we say that all these must terminate at the sea ports, so anybody can import from any particular place in time. “You can import from Warri sea port; you can import from Port Harcourt sea port; you can import or export from Calabar sea port or any of the sea ports. “In terminating the railway, we are going to terminate one at Apapa and another at Tin Can to encourage inter-modal means of transportation.’’ The minister assured that appropriate measures would be taken to ensure that the country receives the right amount of revenue from the system. “We also want to know how much is coming in and how much is being spent. “Nobody is expected

to spend more than the budget approved for him so that we can save money for the economy,’’ Amaechi said. He, therefore, urged Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government as it works assiduously to revive the economy, beginning with the implementation of the 2016 budget.

Navy arrests 6 pirates, recover oil tanker

igerian Navy yesterday in Lagos paraded six suspected pirates it arrested for hijacking an oil tanker. Chief of Naval Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, told journalists that the suspected pirates were arrested around Sao Tome after the gang hijacked the vessel off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire. Babalola said the arrest was made after a fierce gun battle

with naval forces that left a suspect dead. ‘’Before security forces got to the hijacked vessel, two crew members, an Indian and a Pakistan, had been kidnapped and taken away by two of the gang members. ‘’The hijackers, after sighting the naval ships, refused to surrender, shut down the oil tanker and opened fire on security agents. ‘’It was at that point the deceased pirate was gunned

NIS rescues 11 girls from human traffickers in Katsina –Comptroller

igeria Immigration Service, NIS, in Katsina State, has rescued 11 girls suspected to be victims of human trafficking. NIS Comptroller, Katsina State command, Alhaji Mohammed Alfa, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen yesterday in Katsina. He said the girls were between the ages of 18 and 25 years. He said six males were

arrested for trying to cross the country illegally, adding that the NIS patrol team arrested the girls and their male counterparts at Kongolam border on Saturday while attempting to cross to Libya to seek employment. Alfa said the victims told men of the immigration service that they were on their way to Libya en route Agadez, Niger Republic. The comptroller said the

command is working hard to arrest traffickers who operate in the border areas of the two countries. He urged the media to assist the command in enlightening the public on dangers associated with human trafficking and travelling without necessary documents. He said the command would hand the victims over to relevant authorities for necessary action.

down because he came out of the ship to confront the boarding party,’’ he said. The naval chief said the operation was coordinated from the naval headquarters in Abuja and commended navies in the neighbouring countries for their cooperation. Babalola warned pirates to desist from such illegal acts or face the consequences. Captain of the hijacked tanker, Capt. Prilliea Krishna, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Navy for coming to the crew’s rescue. He pleaded with the navy authorities to help find the two crew members being held hostage by the gang. News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the pirates had hijacked a Saudi Arabian tanker, MT MAXIMUS, chartered by a South Korean company. NAN also gathered that the vessel which was renamed MT ELVIS-5 by the hijackers to conceal it, was loaded with 4,700 metric tons of diesel.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

At last, Reps invite Diezani over oil swap deal GeorGe opara AbujA

ouse of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Swap yesterday formally invited former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to explain her role in the product swap arrangements with oil marketing companies. In a letter dated February 22 and signed by Chairman of the Committee, Zakari Mohammed, sent through the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the former minister was mandated to appear on March 2. In the letter, the lawmakers requested AlisonMadueke to appear with all relevant documents that would assist the committee in its investigative hearing. The documents include a full brief on all swap arrangements, a proof of Federal Executive Council, FEC, approval, NNPC board resolution on the contract, evidence of the

approval limit of the board and that of the Minister of Petroleum and that of the NNPC GMD. The legislators also asked her to bring any other relevant documents that could assist the committee and the proof to extend a contract that had expired and not yet renewed. It would be recalled that three former Group Managing Directors of NNPC had appeared before the committee to explain their different roles during the crude oil swap regime. During the investigative hearings, many breaches were uncovered by members of the committee, including the fact that some of the companies used were illegal. The last GMD, Joseph Dawha, had told the committee how he migrated the corporation from crude oil deals to Offshore Processing Agreements, OPA, absolving himself of blames over the flawed crude oil for products exchange (oil swap) arrangement.

Modu Sheriff dares PDP leaders, says I won’t quit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

leadership fail to reverse itself on the appointment of Sheriff. Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, told the media that Senator Sheriff was not qualified to lead the party as he had not spent two years as constitutionally mandated. He also said the emergence of the chairman did not follow due process as he was merely picked by a few individuals. Meanwhile, a founding member of the party from Gombe State and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Malaysia, Yarima Abdullahi, has described the election of Sheriff as national chairman as a wrong step aimed at destroying the party. Ambassador Abdullahi, who called a press conference in Gombe to vent his disaffection over the development said the party could not survive under the new leadership. The PDP stalwart therefore called for the immediate reversal of Modu Sheriff ’s appointment if the party wants an assured future in the scheme of things in the country. “Modu Sherif must take responsibility for whatever former President Goodluck Jonathan was blamed for.

He doesn’t have the credibility or capacity to lead a very important party like the PDP. “He played a major part in the calamity that befell the immediate past government,” he said. He stated further that right after the pioneer leadership of the party formed in 1999 had given way for subsequent ones; things had continued to go from bad to worse but that it had never been as bad as it was with the election of Modu Sheriff as the new national chairman. “We have credible party members from the north down to the south. I don’t share the opinion of Modu Sheriff leading the party even if it is for a day or a short moment,” he added. He said allowing Sherif to continue was like allowing the era of impunity to continue. “The party can still do better but only if it allows a good and credible leadership to lead. It cannot survive under this new leadership. “I join my friends and elders of this party in disassociating myself from the installation of the new leadership of this party. “The party only has a future if it gets a good leadership,” he emphasised.

L-R: Chief Economic Adviser to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Philip Asiodu (CON); Vice President and Treasurer, World Bank, Ms. Arunma Oteh (OON); Chairman on the occasion, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at Chief Philip Asiodu Lecture series, themed The Proper Role of Oil in the Growth and Development of Nigeria, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMuEL AD-

EFCC arrests Abba Moro over immigration recruitment scam Marcus FatunMole AbujA

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arrested former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, over the botched and deadly recruitment test conducted by Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, an agency under the ministry. Also arrested by the agency were former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Anaesthesia Nwaobia, and a deputy director, who allegedly aided the scam. Our correspondent learnt that the former heads of the ministry were arrested yesterday evening and whisked to the anti-graft agency’s headquarters for interrogation and eventual prosecution. Calls by angry Nigerians that former President Goodluck Jonathan should sack Moro and former Comptroller-General of Customs, David Paradan over the scam was not heeded. The minister and the NIS were blamed for willfully exploiting the high rate of joblessness in the country not only to swindle the citizens, but to also snuff lives out of them. Twenty persons died in stampedes at some of the centres used for the exercise across the country. Moro and others arrested with him, our correspondent learnt, could

face 12-count charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, today. Some of the charges against him and his colleagues include obtaining by false pretence, pro-

curement offences, corrupt practices and money laundering. It would be recalled that victims of the illfated recruitment test stormed the ministry and

demanded appointment letters promised them by the Federal Government. The protest followed nearly 23 months of unfulfilled promised jobs for the victims.

Malabu oil deal: Adoke protests to Osinbajo

former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, has protested to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over what he termed as a “curious invitation” by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Adoke in a letter to the Vice President said: “A few weeks ago, I was informed through the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) that the Federal Ministry of Justice was in receipt of a letter from the EFCC inviting me to its office for an interview on the Malabu Oil Transaction with Shell/ENI. “I was however unable to immediately honour that invitation as I was writing my end of semester examinations at the University of Leiden, in the Netherlands where I am currently studying for an Advanced LL.M Degree in Public International Law. I therefore requested that the invitation be deferred to 28th December 2015 pending the completion of my examination. “However, on deep reflection, I found the invitation rather curious, unconventional and mischievous especially as I acted purely in an official capacity and

the EFCC could easily have had recourse to the sitting HAGF for clarifications since the records were in the Federal Ministry of Justice as government is a continuum. “I therefore phoned the HAGF and notified him of the development and offered a detail explanation of what had transpired. I also impressed on him the need to protect the office from unwarranted attacks and machinations of those out to destroy it in view of its unique constitutional role in governance. “I followed up by sending him a written brief with a copy of the attached Comprehensive Position Paper to enable him familiarise himself with the transaction in the event that official files in the Federal Ministry of Justice could not, for one reason or the other, be easily traced. “It was after this development that I was made to understand that there were plans by some individuals who had become aware that I would be honouring the invitation of the EFCC on 28thDecember2015 to humiliate me. “I was also informed that these individuals had enlisted an online media

to smear my name with allegations of corruption and bribery and that some agents of the Abacha family and one Lawal Abba acting for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President were behind the scheme. According to the information, their motive was predicated on the following: (a) the claim that they were shareholders in Malabu Oil & Gas Limited and had been short-changed by the main shareholder of the company, and (b) that I had refused to use my official position as Attorney General of the Federation to help them get their dues from the main shareholder. “Your Excellency, as preposterous as these assertions were, I was forced to give credence to them when on 27th December 2015, some online media published that I was scheduled to appear for interrogation at the EFCC on 28th December 2015 and will thereafter be detained and charged to court. “It was also falsely published that I was involved in the Halliburton bribery scandal, when the said scandal predated my tenure.”

Tuesday February 23, 2016

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ACP, DPOs, others face disciplinary action over misconduct GeorGe opara AbujA

isciplinary arm of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, known as Complaints Response Unit, CRU, has handed out disciplinary action against some senior police officers.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, some Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, and other junior officers were said to have been reprimanded for various cases of professional misconduct. Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Bisi Kolawole, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, said

Marafa shuns Senate probe committee GeorGe oji AbujA

enator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, who was invited to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to answer to allegations of disparaging his colleagues, failed to honour the invitation yesterday. Marafa was asked to appear before the committee, following series of newspaper publications in which he made remarks castigating not only the leadership of the Senate but his other colleagues. The decision to probe Marafa followed a resolution of the Senate last week Tuesday. It also followed the admission of a newspaper publication, which contained some of the outbursts of Marafa against his colleagues. The probe committee was last week given one week to conclude the investigation and report back to the Senate. At the hearing yesterday, the clerk of the committee detailed efforts that were made to have Marafa appear without success. Marafa is a member of the Unity Forum, who at the inception of the current 8th Senate, worked for the emergence of Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and deputy Senate President respectively. Meanwhile, some senators yesterday issued a statement in which they cautioned Marafa to put an immediate stop to his vituperations against the senate. The statement was signed by six senators, including, Tayo Alasoa-

dura, Peter Nwaoboshi, Rafiu Ibrahim, Obinna Ogba, Isa Hamma Misau and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi. “We have watched with dismay from the inauguration of the Eighth Senate how Senator Kabiru Marafa has constituted himself as a cog in the wheel of progress, unity and harmony of the institution. “Since his preferred candidates did not win elections into the leadership of the Senate, he has carried on as if the peace, order, good health and progress of the institution does not matter.

Chidi UGwU AbujA

uel queues again emerged yesterday in many parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, throwing motorists into panic. The queues, which were first noticed at about 1:30pm, soon extended to several kilometres within few hours as many motorists scrambled to fill their tanks. But, in a swift reaction, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, announced the deployment of additional trucks of fuel to arrest the emerging scarcity. NNPC in a statement by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, explained that it has increased the fuel truck-out to Abuja and environs from the usual average of 160 per day to 250 (8.25 million litres) to arrest the lull experienced due to last weekend’s House of Assembly re-run election in Niger State, which affected truck movement from Suleja depot. While calling on members of the public to refrain from all forms of hoarding, diversion

some of the erring officers have either been dismissed or redeployed, while others are undergoing serious disciplinary actions. Available statistics so far showed that the unit got 1,946 complaints, out of which 1,522 were resolved, 133 were found to be false and 291 cases are still pending.

In the distribution of complaints across the federation, Lagos State recorded the highest with 424, while Imo, Jigawa and Kebbi states reportedly had no complaints. It would be recalled that Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, commissioned the CRU on November 13, 2015, basically to address the grow-

ing citizens complaints, concerns and queries about policing activities said to be a novelty in subSaharan Africa. However, this community oriented complaint management system was not meant to demonise police activities but a wakeup call to key into international best practices and to positively radicalise

policing policy as Arase envisioned in response to the mantra of the change agenda. The police, DFID and office of the Vice President have partnered and trained CRU personnel internationally in Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, Canada for integrity and design indicators.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (left) with Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Habib Abdullahi, during the minister’s interactive meeting with port professionals in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Panic as fuel queues return in FCT ... NNPC deploys additional volumes

and panic buying, the corporation assured of availability of product to meet the demand of consumers in Abuja and

beyond. “Apart from the additional injection of volumes of petrol into the market, the Pipelines

and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, has stepped up monitoring across fuel stations to ensure strict compliance

with laid down rules and regulations on the sales and distribution of petroleum products,” NNPC stated.

Buhari arrives Riyadh on official visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday arrived in Riyadh to commence a week-long visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The President’s plane landed at the Royal Terminal of King Abdel International Airport, Riyadh, at

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Also at the airport to receive the president were governors of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari; Kashim Shettima of Borno; Rauf Aregebesola of Osun; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State. The president in com-

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FORMERLY KNOWN AS AYODELE TEMITOPE ELIZABETH NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS BABATUNDE ELIZABETH.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

Formerly known as AKINDE AFOLABI, now KOREDE OLAOLU TEMIDAYO.All former document remain validd.UBA Bank,general public should take note.

ALEILO: Formerly known and addressed as ALEILO ABEEBAT ABIODUN now wish to be known and addressed as OYINLOLA HABEEBAH IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

PEACE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS PEACE CHIJIOKE N. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FAITH CHIZOBA UDEGBUNAM All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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MBANWOKO: Formerly known and addressed as MBANWOKO JOSEPH now wish to be known and addressed as MBA JOSEPH ANAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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ADEBISI: Formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI TOYOSI SARAT now wish to be known and addressed as MISS KAREEM BILIKIS ROMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

pany of members of his entourage, were driven to the King Saud Guest Palace, where he lodged. He is expected to meet with the Saudi monarch, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and senior officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today.

about 8pm (local time). The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that President Buhari was received on arrival by a high powered Saudi government delegation, led by the Governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud.

ONIFADE: Formerly known and addressed as ONIFADE SEGUN ALABA now wish to be known and addressed as ONIFADE SEGUN EZEKIEL house no 27 ilawe st. ifako gbagada lagos. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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I formerly known as ABIOLA YEMI ASHAMU now wish to be known and addressed as ABIOLA YEMI JOSEPH. All former documents remain Valid. General Public take note.

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Formerly known as OLAIYA OLAYINKA ABIOLA now MRS BALOGUN OLAYINKA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. Authority concern and general public take note

Formerly known as Miss Arikawe Atinuke Opeoluwa now Mrs Abidakun Atinuke Opeoluwa. All former documents remain valid ,NYSC and general public take note

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Olorede Olatunji Lateef now Olorede Olatunji Oluwatoba. All former documents remain valid ,general public take note

Formerly MR OJO MUKAILA AYODEJI Now wish to be called, known and addressed as MR ELEGBELEYE AFEEZE AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid. BANKS and general public take note.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

EFCC arraigns bizman over N60m dud cheque MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said it has arraigned Managing Director of Naxpro Energy & Shipping Com-

pany Limited, Valentine Orji, on a six-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheques to the tune of N60 million. A release made available by the commission to National Mirror yesterday through its head,

media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused person was arraigned before Justice A. A. Onojovwo of the Delta State High Court, sitting in Warri. The release said the petitioner, ARC Marine

& Civil Construction Company Limited, alleged that sometime in September 2013, Orji approached it in the company of one Mr. Bimbo, requesting to buy a vessel, MV DOLA, with registration No. IMO H. 6826793.

L-R: Technical Adviser to Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Linus Adie; Minister, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State, Hon Abubakar Bwari and Niger State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Aliyu Tangwagi, during the Minister’s visit to some mining sites in Niger State, yesterday.

Gowon tasks FG on funding education sector O BIORA I FOH ABUJA

ormer Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has tasked the Federal Government to invest more in education as a way of fighting insecurity and enthroning unity in Nigeria. General Yakubu said his government created the Universal Basic Education, UBE, in 1974 for the purpose of ensuring very high quality education, which helped in discouraging parents from sending their children abroad for studies. The former head of state, who spoke at the Golden Jubilee lecture of the Federal Government College, Warri, held in Abuja on Monday said, “Soon after the war, all the students across the country from the east, south, west, everywhere - returned to the school. There was show of love, unity and respect. The school project retained quality and that is what I want to see in the present unity schools. “If the present unity schools in Nigeria can replicate these qualities, the future will be

great. It would help to ensure that the nation is truly united. “The idea of Federal Government Colleges was to ensure very high quality education and to complement it, we started the UBE. The West started it earlier, but we adopted it in 1974 for the whole country. We also created secondary schools with high standards so that parents would have no need to send their children abroad for studies. There is need to return to the old days and this could lead to the solution of the nation’s

present predicament.” National president of the Federal Government College, Warri Old Students Association, FEGOCOWOSA, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu, in his remarks called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the education sector. According to him, “the war against insurgency would amount to nothing if the education sector is not taken seriously.” Chief Iwuanyanwu also called for the return of the admission policy of the unity

schools to what it used to be as well as for training and retraining of teachers in the school system. He also advised the government to dismantle the ParentsTeachers’ Association cabal and invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to look into the books of the unity schools. He called for a policy that will prohibit sending students abroad for studies, advocating “Nigerian solution for Nigerian problems.”

Buhari appoints visually-impaired as SSA ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a visually-impaired man, Dr. Samuel Inalegwu Ode Ankeli, as senior special assistant, SSA, with responsibility for his dealings with persons living with disability. A statement issued yesterday by senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Ankeli head-

ed the Directorate of Persons With Disability at the Buhari/Osinbajo All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign headquarters, the first of any such department in a political party in the country. According to the statement, he led a team that successfully mobilised a large number of the more than 24 million disabled persons in the country to support the APC candidate and his running mate in the 2015 presidential election campaign.

Ankeli hails from Benue State. He went to school in Giwa, near Zaria and Kaduna before reading veterinary medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He worked with the Benue State government before quitting to give time to his activist role in the promotion of the wellbeing of the blind and people with all kinds of disabilities. The statement added that Ankeli leads a very active religious and sporting life.

After negotiation, the release noted, the parties agreed on N140 million, and they further agreed that the vessel would be handed over to Orji’s company after N80 million would have been deposited for the vessel and the issuance of post-dated cheques covering the balance of N60 million. It added that upon the payment of the initial amount, the vessel was handed over to his company, and that it was agreed that if by April 1, 2014, he fails to pay the balance the vessel should be returned. Orji’s cheque was, however, dishonoured upon presentation in the bank, on grounds of insufficient fund. Efforts made to recover the vessel or money proved abortive, according to the release. One of the counts reads: “That you, Valentine Orji being the managing director of Naxpro Energy & Shipping Company Ltd, on or about the 1st day of December, 2013 at Warri, within the judicial division of this court did obtain credit for yourself by issuing a First Bank of Nigeria Plc Cheque No. 06833503 in the sum of N10,000,000 (ten million Naira) belonging to Naxpro Energy & Ship-

ping Company Ltd, in favour of Arc Marine and Civil Contractors Ltd which cheque when presented for payment within three months of issuance, was dishonoured on the grounds of insufficient funds standing to your credit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act, CAP. D11 Vol. 5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria Revised Edition 2007.” “He pleaded not guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, M. T. Iko, urged the court to fix a date to commence trial. However, the defence counsel, Erikefe, prayed the court to grant the accused person bail. Justice Onojovwo granted the accused person bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within Warri or Effurun jurisdiction with landed property to be verified by the bailiff of the court. The judge ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail. “The matter was adjourned to March 22, 2016 for trial to commence,” the release added.

Strange illness confirmed as measles FRANKA O SAKWE

trange outbreak of Febrile Rash Illnesses, FRI, that claimed the lives of many young children in Otodo Gbame community of Etiosa Local Government Area of Lagos State, has now been confirmed as measles. Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, made this known in a press release yesterday. The commissioner revealed that all the blood samples taken for laboratory investigation showed that the disease was measles. “The results of laboratory investigation have confirmed measles

virus as the cause of epidemic FRI. “All the five blood samples taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, tested positive for IgM, a blood marker for recent infection with measles virus. In addition, four throat swabs and one blood sample investigated at the Virology Reference Laboratory, LUTH indicated the presence of measles virus through Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR, technique. “The result of the well water samples analysed at the Drug Quality Control Laboratory yielded several pathogens. This is an indication that the well water is not safe for human consumption,” the report said.

South West

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP tackles Aregbesola over alleged demand for workers' BVN bolAdAle bAmigbolA OSOGBO

L-R: Director, FC Barcelona Academy, Oscar Grau; Board member, FC Barcelona of Spain, Pau Vilanova i Vila Abadal and Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

Alake of Egbaland blames economic downturn on collapse of SMEs ...as annual Lisabi festival holds Femi oyeweso ABEOKUTA

lake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, yesterday, tasked the three tiers of government as well as the organised private sector to redirect energies towards revamping small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) for Nigeria to overcome the present economic downturn. Alake, who lamented the alleged failure of the nation's SMSEs’ scheme, also declared that virile and viable enterprises remain the panacea to jump-start the Nigerian economy as well as have salutary effects on it. The Ogun State monarch said this while fielding ques-

tions from journalists during a press conference in his Ake Palace to herald the week-long activities for 30th edition of the annual Lisabi festival scheduled to begin on Monday, February 29, ending on March 6 this year. Speaking further on the festival, which has as its theme, ‘Creating Wealth Through Small and Medium Enterprises,’ and heavily supported by Nigeria's second carrier telecommunication company, Globacom Nigeria, Oba Gbadebo blamed the current economic downturn in Nigeria on the failure of the nation's SMSEs, stressing that the collapse of SMEs’ sector which, hitherto had been the largest employer of labour, worsened the rate of unemployment in the

country. The monarch, however, enjoined Nigerians to strive to be self-employed in order to drastically reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. Earlier in his address, Globacom’s business director, Ayo Ogunranti, had commended Oba Gbadebo for his relentless efforts towards repositioning Egbaland "for cultural and economic advancement." Ogunranti who described SMSEs as the engine room that could move the Nigerian economy forward, also emphasised that his company holds that segment of the economy in high esteem which he said explains why Globacom is footing the bill for the one-week training of

76 Egba sons and daughters in entrepreneurial skills. Ogunranti added that those were the same attributes which "history has recorded in favour of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala" which he said his company seeks to celebrate during the 30th edition of the festival. In his remarks, the chairman of the Lisabi Festival Committee and Agbaakin of Egbaland, retired Navy Captain Rasheed Raji, noted that the annual celebration of the event has ensured the unity of the various peoples of Egbaland. Other events lined up for the programme include the booming of guns at the Olumo Rock and a football competition on the last day of festival.

APC criticises Ekiti gov's opposition to TSA Abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

ll Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has criticised Ekiti State governor's opposition to the Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy of the Federal Government, alleging that the governor's stance was a deliberate ploy to conceal fraud. The party expressed worries that while all other governors have keyed into the TSA to save their states from fraudulent practices among government officials, the Ekiti State governor remains the only one opposed

to the transparency policy. APC state publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, described the governor's attitude "as portraying Ekiti State as an island," alleging that his "aversion to accountability in financial matters has ulterior motive to allegedly defraud the state. He stated, "We can now see why the governor has opened several channels of revenue collection to be paid into several phoney accounts that revenue collection officers are describing as opaque. "We all know that the governor's second coming to Ekiti State Government House is

for nothing but to feather his bottomless pocket, kill the dream of a better Ekiti State and destroy the dignity and legacies of Ekiti forefathers as we have seen him do in his several cloudy conducts in governance. "As we speak, the present administration keeps a secret account not known to the state treasury into which taxes and fines it has mindlessly imposed on Ekiti people are paid, notably fines on traffic offences and suffocating taxes it imposed on poor traders that he deceived with abundance of life during campaigns." Olatunbosun explained

that the reason for the governor's opposition to TSA is to hide details in order to allegedly to perpetrate fraud. "TSA is aimed at ensuring that all government earnings are paid into a single account to ensure accountability and check fraud, unlike in the past where several government accounts were scattered in many banks to perpetrate frauds. "For a governor who describes himself as a friend of the poor to oppose a policy that will make the same poor people enjoy the benefits of transparent governance is the height of irresponsibility and a confirmation of allega-

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State chapter, yesterday condemned the alleged demand for Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, of workers by the state government in another round of staff audit to be conducted this week. In a statement issued in Osogbo by Prince Diran Odeyemi, the Osun PDP spokesperson, said: "BVN is a sensitive, private number to be kept secret for bank transactions and not meant to be given to anybody and we wonder why Osun State government is demanding it." According to him, obtaining workers' BVN would expose their accounts to needless risk, insisting that bank officials even discourage disclosure of details like BVN to third parties.

The statement reads, "How many staff audit will Aregbesola conducted in five years? What is the outcome of the Peter Babalola staff audit conducted last year? We believe this is another tactics to delay payment of the irregular half salary that workers have been receiving since last year. "What is CHAM, the consulting firm that handled payment of workers salary for government, doing? What are workers and pensioners’ sins against Aregbesola and theAPC?" The opposition party further averred that N97million has been allegedly wasted on staff audit by Aregbesola between 2011 and 2015, adding that "additional N35 million which was released on Thursday, February 18, 2016 for compilation of workers BVN is a huge anomaly," Odeyemi concluded.

…Aregbesola dismisses alleged plan to replace striking doctors bolAdAle bAmigbolA OSOGBO

sun State government yesterday described as a "cock and bull story" the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the Rauf Aregbesola administration plans to replace doctors working for it with native doctors. In a statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, issued yesterday and signed by its director, Semiu Okanlawon, the government said the allegation that the government intends to sack some striking doctors and replace them with traditional healers (herbalists) could only be a "figment of an inelegant and unrefined mind." He argued that PDP's criticism must be misplaced when put side by side with the performance of the state in the health sector as second to Lagos State in the provision of sound primary health care delivery in the whole country. “The statistics are there for the PDP to fault. Osun, under Aregbesola, has enviable record of sound health delivery. To come second to Lagos in Nigeria cannot be a

mean feat. "Frankly, what is there to respond to in this PDP's market place, naked dance? Weird is the logic of PDP and nothing can change the illogical reasoning of people whose illogical ways brought Nigeria to its present predicament. "Because of those who abandoned their jobs as a result of seemingly irreconcilable terms, the government has left no one in doubt in its effort to deploy doctors from the state Ministry of Health, doctors in the security agencies in the state to complement the consultants and local government doctors who are working. "The native doctors’ idea is in the imagination of those who are touting it and honestly such thoughts can only come from the PDP and no other party on earth," the statement said.

Aregbesola

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wale IgbIntade

ourt of Appeal, Lagos Division, yesterday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Honeywell Group, asking for the vacation of an order limiting its financial transaction. The appellate court also reserved for judgment Ecobank’s cross appeal bordering on the same subject matter. Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos had on December 14, 2015, issued the interim order in a suit between Ecobank Plc and Honeywell Group. The suit is sequel to an alleged N3.5bn unpaid loan facility granted by Ecobank to Honeywell.

South West

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

N3.5bn loan: Appeal Court reserves judgment in Honeywell/Ecobank dispute Yunusa had issued an interim order limiting Honeywell to N15m weekly withdrawals from its account. Dissatisfied, Honeywell appealed and prayed the court to set aside the interim order. At the hearing of the appeal yesterday, the 3-man panel of justices presided over by Justice Sidi Bage, reserved judgment after counsel to Honeywell, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and that of Ecobank, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, SAN, adopted their briefs of arguments. Adopting appellant brief

dated December 24, 2015, Olanipekun urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the Exparte order made by Justice Yinusa. Olanipekun urged the justices to see the appeal as a “Save Our Soul” from the appellant, adding that the activities of Honeywell Group have been paralysed as a result of the Exparte order. Olanipekun argued further that the activities of the appellant had been in comatose and that salaries of over 5,000 workers were yet to be paid due to the Exparte order granted by the lower court.

He urged the court to hold that the lower court judge erred in law when he granted a winding up petition through an Exparte applicant. Opposing the appeal, Ogunba adopted the respondent brief, dated February 22, 2016 and urged the court to uphold the preliminary objection and dismiss the application. Ogunba argued that it was a misconception that the appeal filed by Honeywell was as a result of Exparte order granted by the lower court stressing that

the Exparte order had been varied by the lower court on December 4, 2015. On its cross appeal, Ecobank challenged the entire consolidated ruling of the lower court in respect of the appellant’s motion on notice of November 26, 2015. Ogunba avers that the Company and Allied Matters Act allows for the preservation of assets by interim orders in a winding up petition, pending the appointment of a liquidator. He avers that the trial court erred and caused a miscarriage of justice by

allowing the respondent a weekly cumulative withdrawal of N15m from its attached account, having not denied its indebtedness to the appellant. He submitted that the lower court occasioned a miscarriage of justice by allowing Honeywell to dissipate the preserved assets, pending the hearing of an application for appointment of a liquidator. But, in his response to the cross appeal, Olanipekun argued that there was no cross appeal before the court and called for the dismissal of same as it constitute an abuse of court.

APC commends Ambode on light rail project

L-R: Registrar/ Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Adefisayo Awogbade: Exco member, CITN, Mr. Otitoju Ayodele Oluyomi; President, CITN, Dr. Teju Somorin; President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University, Prof Ademola Steven Tayo and Senior Vice President, Academics, Prof. Iheanyichukwu Okoro, during CITN courtesy visit to Babcock University yesterday.

Reps may include 1% consolidated revenue fund in health budget —Jibrin Franka Osakwe

hairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says it is not too late to accommodate the one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, allocated for health in the current budget. According to him, the committee would critically scrutinise the budget to work out modality to accommodate the allocation in other to provide effective health care services at all levels. The chairman made this known during an advocacy

visit to Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, and a developmental partner, primarily to advocate for fund mobilisation and adequate budgetary allocation to child and family health in the country. “While the whole essence of advocacy is to educate and inform the legislature of important issues affecting the country, the issues affecting budgetary allocation to child and family canvassed by the group have informed the Committee to without further delay, constructively work out modality and prioritise the one per

cent Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, to the health sector as stipulated in the National Health Act, 2014,” Jibrin added. The group was received by Deputy Majority Leader, Buba Jubril, Chairmen of House Committee on Appropriation, Health, Agriculture, Women Affairs, Finance, Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Rules and Business, CSOs and Developmental Partners, Petroleum Down Stream as well as the Director General of National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS. Speaking during the visit, the group said it has a mandate to support the Fed-

eral Government to identify and assist in scaling up the high impact solutions that could help people lift themselves out of poverty and build better lives. It charged the House on exhaustive oversight to ensure effective implementation of the National Health Act. The Speaker, represented by Jubril, commended the group on its research and evidence-based advocacy in the health and agricultural sector, advising that the group should also consider advocating to the executives to ensure effective implementation of the Health Act at all levels.

ll Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, yesterday described the Light Rail project as a legacy development by successive progressive administrations in the state. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has given a December deadline for inauguration of the Phase I of the multi-billion dollar project. In a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, APC said the Light Rail project, when inaugurated, will not only bring relief to commuters, but change the face of business in the state. The party lauded the Ambode administration for continuing the project in deference to the rich governance antecedents that had been in the state since the dawn of democracy in 1999. According to the party, the project will positively impact on mass transportation in the city, lauding the administration for investing in the project. The statement reads: “When it becomes operational, the project will vindicate the progressive commitment of the APC government to taking Lagos to another height of development as it has been doing for the past 16 years. “We are elated by the news from the governor that the Light Rail project that promises to revolutionalise mass transportation in Lagos, will commence operation in December. “We see this as the clear

justification of the rare vision and foresight that has been brought to bear on the governance of a complex state like Lagos for the part sixteen years. “We see the Lagos Light Rail project as a reward for vision and good governance and we salute Governor Ambode for the manner he is speedily achieving this huge project, initiated by his predecessors as an ambitious way of dealing with the huge challenges that come with the role of Lagos as the driver to Nigeria's economic progress. “The salutary way the project is being executed points to the rich leadership potentials in our great party that believes that Nigeria can progress if rightly governed. “We share the joys of millions of Lagosians that at long last, a project with the capacity to radically alter the increasingly demanding challenge of public transportation in Nigeria's mega city is about to commence operation and we cannot adequately express the relief Lagosians feel by that development. “Lagos APC wants to assure Lagosians that even in the midst of the economic woes facing the country, the state is ever ready and competent to continue playing the role of an absorber to teeming Nigerians seeking to escape the impacts of shrinking oil based economy.

South East

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

You’re all cowards, MASSOB blasts South East govs, senators EmmAnuEl EzEh ENUGU

ovement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has decried what it called “the insincerity and hypocrisy” of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over negotiations with pro-Biafra groups. In a statement yesterday by its leader, Uchenna Madu, the group also described South East governors and senators as cowards, alleging that whereas their northern counterparts were collaborating with Boko Haram, they had refused to identify with the genuine Biafra struggle.

He said the Buhari government was deceptive on the much publicised and clamour for dialogue on the release of Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB. “The Federal Government through her several agents has clamoured for a peaceful dialogue to effect the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose arrest and detention has exposed and battered the image of Nigeria before the international community since October 2015. “Though many groups and persons, which claim to represent Biafra agitators in the dialogue have failed because of their selfish and group interest, what of the meeting the real leadership of Biafra agitators held on

December 22, 2015, in Enugu, in the house of a prominent and respected Igbo leader, with representatives of Federal Government, with the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Abuja, and other Igbo leaders, who are genuinely rooted in Igbo course? “The Federal Government representatives assured us that based on their findings, observations, interactions, feelings and grievances of Ndi’Igbo during the weeklong tour, which climaxed with meeting of the leader-

ship of Biafra agitators, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be released to an Igbo leader of our choice after their report and intimate meeting with the presidency. “Two months after the meeting, instead of heeding our agreement of releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which will reduce the political tension and uprising in Biafraland, Nigeria’s government continues to unleash terror on our people and deriving joy in killing our non-violent Biafran agitators.

“We know that freedom can never be achieved on a platter of gold and calculations can never make a hero. “MASSOB has vowed that the gruesome murder of over 40 non-violent Biafran agitators by the Nigerian security agents at Aba will not be wished away. “Their death has become a motivational force, a quick reminder and a Biafra cross on Golgotha for the undying spirit of Biafranism. “MASSOB also condemned the silence of Igbo

governors and senators on the plight of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafran agitators. "Some Igbo governors and senators are stooges and cowards, we doubt if Igbo blood is running in their veins. “The northern and western governors/senators openly and secretly collaborate and work with Boko Haram and Odua People’s Congress, OPC, respectively, for the interest of their ethnic block but their Igbo counterparts are always shying away as cowards.”

Husband punches wife to death

…alleges adultery • Man killed over N100 debt AliunA Godwin ABAKALIKI

man, James Uguru, has been arrested by the police in Ebonyi State for beating his wife to death. Uguru, who hails from Ndubia Inyimaegu in Izzi Local Government Area, allegedly punched his wife, Jacinta, to death over alleged adultery. It was gathered that Uguru, who is based in Lagos, occasionally visits home to see his family and became suspicious of the wife’s alleged promiscuity, following rumours making the round in the community. Our correspondent gathered that the bubble bust when the couple was having a chat in their sitting room and suddenly a phone rang inside the bedroom. It was learnt that as the husband made attempt to enter the bedroom, his wife held him by the waist, which prevented him from making any move. At this point, the wife’s lover allegedly rushed out from their bedroom. According to an eyewitness, the man descended on the wife when she insisted that he should not chase after the lover. “It was in a bid to allow the wife leave him that he saw a man rush out from his bedroom, which made him

to descend on her. “Then he started punching the woman, who eventually collapsed and was rushed to hospital where she was confirmed dead by doctors,” the eyewitness said. Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, George Okafor, confirmed the incident, stating that the suspect had angrily beaten his wife to stupor when the deceased stopped him from chasing after her alleged lover boy. He said the suspect has been arrested and efforts were on to arrest the lover boy. In another development, tragedy struck in Onyikwa Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state yesterday, over the killing of one Onuigbo Nwankwoeke by his kinsman, Michael Ochaya, over a N100 debt by the suspect. Confirming the incident, the PPRO said one Nwabueze Nwedu reported to the police that Mr. Nwankwoeke, 50, went to Ochaya’s house to demand for the N100 owed him. And instead of recovering the said amount, he was killed in the process. Okafor noted that Mr. Nwedu told the police that when the late Nwankwoeke got to Ochaya’s house and demanded for his money, the wife of the suspect gave the deceased the money.

National Population Commissioner Enugu State, Mr. Festus Uzor (left) addressing newsmen on 2017 population and housing census in Enugu, yesterday. with him is the State Director, Mrs. Ngozi Onyia. PHOTO: NAN

EmmAnuEl EzEh ENUGU

eople of Aku community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State under the auspices of Aku Progressive Forum, APF, have urged Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to sustain his administration’s efforts in engaging the Federal Government towards the completion of Adada dam. The request was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day

Enugu community seeks Ugwuanyi’s attention over abandoned dam ‘thank you support and solidarity rally’ in honour of Governor Ugwuanyi by the community, in appreciation of his landmark achievements since inception of his administration. The community appreciated the governor, who was present at the event, for “the most significant visit” he paid to Adada dam site within few months of assump-

tion of office. They noted that the governor has made his marks in the advancement of good governance in the state in spite of the economic woes in the country through massive roads construction, prompt payment of salaries and wages to workers and pensioners, payment of 30 per cent equity contribution for acquisition of 100 hous-

ing units for civil servants, among others. Responding, Governor Ugwuanyi thanked the people of the community for appreciating his efforts and urged them to continue to offer special prayers for his administration to surmount the present economic challenges in the country which have drastically affected the revenue of the state.

UNN inducts 69 medical doctors

ixty-nine medical students of the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, were yesterday inducted as medical doctors. Performing the ceremony in Enugu, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Uche Nwagha, said the graduates passed through ‘acid test’ before overcom-

ing the challenges. He extolled the management for providing an enabling environment for the graduates to attain their academic goals. The dean urged all tiers of government; parents and corporate bodies to support the college financially to enable it upgrade deteriorating facilities in the college.

Vice Chancellor of the University, represented by his deputy, Dr Edith Nwosu, congratulated the new medical doctors for their perseverance and urged them never to put the college to shame. She described the UNN College of Medicine as the ‘best in Africa’ and encouraged the graduates never to forget the college

that nurtured them. In a remark, Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Enugu Chapter, Dr George Ugwu, appealed to health institutions to accept the doctors for their one year house jobs. Ugwu regretted that many doctors roam the streets in search of a place to do their house jobs, describing it as unfortunate.

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News

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Electricity tariff: NERC, Discos lose bid to stall suit Wale IgbIntade

fforts by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to stall a suit filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos over hike in electricity tariff failed yesterday as Justice Mohammed Idris dismissed the commission’s application for stay of proceedings on the matter.

The suit was instituted by a lawyer and rights activist, Toluwani Yemi Adebiyi. NERC had in its application prayed the court to stay proceedings until its appeal against two previous rulings delivered by the judge was heard and determined by the Appeal Court. Justice Idris had in one of the rulings barred NERC from implement-

ing any upward review in electricity tariff pending hearing and determination of the suit. The other ruling has to do with the dismissal of NERC’s preliminary objections to the suit. Justice Idris, in his ruling, held that the application lacked merit, adding that there is nothing before the court to show that the appeal has been listed for hearing at

the Appeal Court. “It is clear that the applicant has an application before the court seeking for an extension of time to compile and transmit its record at the Appeal Court. “There is also another motion for leave to rely on the same record of appeal in this present appeal. However, there is no indication that the application has been

Kolama Youth of Southern Ijaw protesting over the 2012 rig explosion in their community near Elebele Road in Bayelsa State, yesterday.

listed on the cause list or that it had been heard or adjourned for hearing. “In the circumstance, this court cannot grant a stay of proceedings on an incompetent appeal which is awaiting regularisation at the Appeal Court,” the judge said. On the whole, Justice Idris held that “the application lacks merit and is dismissed accordingly.” After the ruling, there were arguments among parties in the matter as to which application should be taken by the court. The plaintiff, Adebiyi, in his submissions, insisted that the ruling of the court cleared the way for the hearing of his motion for contempt. However, the defendants’ lawyers want the court to hear the substantive matter. According to them, the plaintiff has not met any of the conditions prescribed by law for his contempt charge to be heard by the court. In a short ruling on the matter, Justice Idris

Chemical engineers seek FG’s intervention in raw materials development RegIna OtOkpa

ollowing drastic fall in value of the naira, the Federal Government has been urged to focus attention on the development of local raw materials for the manufacturing sector. National president of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSChE, Professor Emenike Wami, during a visit to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in Abuja yesterday, said government’s intervention was needed to address the challenges faced by industries in the country. According to him, “with the crash of crude oil and shortfall in foreign exchange accruing to Nigeria, there is no alternative than to look inward. “The issue of development of local raw materials for the manufacturing

sector should be back to the front burner and accorded utmost priority. We urge you to set up the necessary structures and programmes in your ministry and associated parastatals for positive intervention in this area.

“For example, we know that the last government had initiated a policy drive towards partial substitution of wheat flour with cassava flour for bread. Actualisation of the policy will provide value for our economy in

multiple dimensions.” Wami also noted that the 70 per cent reliance on natural gas for power generation “in Nigeria represents a very unbalanced portfolio and unacceptable risk. There

salami Abubakar; director of finance and accounts, Mrs. Clara Aliche; general manager (Finance), Segun Nurudeen Agbolade; acting general manager (Procurement), Muyiwa Adegorite; acting general manager (ICT), Akinribido Bolaniran; acting general manager (Electromagnetic Services), Atiku Abubakar; and Felicia Agubata (project manager). The officials are held over allegations of financial impropriety amounting to about N5 billion. This is as our correspondent also gathered that the anti-graft agency would in

a matter of weeks, visit the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over alleged corrupt practices. Those arrested were made to explain how Abdulsalam and his predecessor, both singlehandedly signed off payments of over N3 billion on ‘questionable contracts’ between 2013 and 2015. Documents obtained by our correspondent revealed that the bulk of the payments were for clearing of containers and customs duties, which amounted to N2,101,689, 304.14 within the period under review. Most of the clearing/

is therefore a pressing need to diversify our primary sources of primary energy for better supply and stability, especially in expanding the contributions of coal and re-

held that even though contempt charge affects the integrity of the court, it would be in the interest of justice if all applications challenging the contempt proceedings are heard first. NERC’s lawyer, Anthony Idigbe (SAN), then moved his application challenging the filing of forms 48 and 49 by the plaintiff. He urged the court to dismiss the application for not following due process of law. The plaintiff however urged the court to dismiss all objections to the contempt charge and commit the NERC chairman and the chief executive officers, CEOs, of the distribution companies (discos) to prison for desecrating the judiciary. He said the action of the alleged contemnors is highly condemnable and should not go unpunished. After listening to the arguments of the parties, Justice Idris adjourned till February 29 for ruling on the application challenging the contempt charge. Adebiyi, in the substantive suit, is seeking an order restraining NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply for, at least, 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigeria.

EFCC to arraign NAMA chiefs in Lagos this week Olusegun kOIkI

ndications emerged yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would any time this week arraign the arrested and detained officials of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA. A source close to the agency confided in our correspondent that the officials, who are still being held at EFCC’s custody in Abuja, would be brought to Lagos to face justice. Those in EFCC custody include Managing Director of the agency, Engr. Abdul-

customs duties payment were said to be non-transparent, as the agency had never really undertaken any “major importation that warrants payments in tens of millions of naira at different times as claimed by the management.” To further show how questionable some of the payments were, the trail of approvals and payments revealed a lack of due process and transparency in approving the sums involved, which, in most cases, were said to be above the approval limits of the managing director of NAMA and should

have either been referred to the agency’s board or the minister of aviation. Investigations by National Mirror indicted that the letter was received in the office of the MD on October 9, 2014, which in turn passed it to general manager (Finance) same day. Immediately, on the same day, payment process was concluded without any trail of the letter going through other key departments such as the legal and audit for authentication and confirmation of the contract as stipulated by public service rules guiding NAMA.

North

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC, Alhassan lack locus standi to challenge Ishaku’s election –Supreme Court DOOSUUR IWAMBE ABUJA

upreme Court yesterday gave reasons why it dismissed appeal challenging the election of Darius Ishaku as governor of Taraba State. The apex court said All Progressives Con-

gress, APC, and its candidate, Aisha Alhassan, who were petitioners at the state’s governorship election tribunal, lacked locus standi to challenge the governor’s nomination by his party. Giving their unanimous reasons for the judgement of February

11, Justice Bode RhodesVivour also held that the governor was duly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Rhodes-Vivor further held that the evidence brought before the court had confirmed Ishaku’s membership of the PDP. “The matter is very

simple, the apex court has ruled on matters of this nature at different occasions. “There is no way a candidate of another political party, who did not participate in the primaries of another political party, could suddenly rise to challenge the conduct of

Sympathisers at the Kara building Material Market gutted by fire on Saturday night in Sokoto.

Zaria clash: Panel adjourns sitting for all parties to appear A ZA MSUE KADUNA

aduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Shiite Islamic Movement yesterday adjourned sitting to Wednesday to enable all parties involved to appear. Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, had asked its counsel, Yusuf Ali, to find out the whereabouts of the leader of the

Shiites, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and report back to the commission. Justice Garba said, “This sitting has to be adjourned till Wednesday because of the absence of one party involved in the inquiry. “Counsel to the commission, Yusuf Ali, SAN, has been asked to find out the whereabouts of the leader of the Shiites and report back to the commission. “It is required by law for every party in the

clash to be present at all the sittings of the proceedings.” It would be recalled that Governor Nasir elRufai had inaugurated the commission of inquiry to look into the causes of the clash between the army and Shiite followers, which led to many deaths and destruction of properties. However, at the commission’s inaugural sitting in Kaduna yesterday, personnel of the army were around to tell their own side of the story in

the December 2015 clash. But lawyers representing the Islamic Movement were not present. They had allegedly written to the commission of their inability to submit memorandum because of lack of access to Zakzaky, whose directive they needed to obey and work with as the leader of the movement. Speaking with journalists shortly after the adjournment, Ali promised to locate Zakzaky within 24 hours to enable his lawyers get access to him.

egation that the House, in recognition of the plight of IDPs and the need for their rehabilitation and resettlement, and to find lasting solutions to the problem, set up a committee that is in charge of IDP related issues, as well as passed a bill to set up the North East Development Commission. And added that it was not acceptable that the over 2 million displaced persons were asked to return to their communities until the causative factors are sorted out and security provided in the affected areas. “There is no way we can do that unless we bring the conflict to an end and it

makes no sense, absolutely no sense, for anybody to insist that people displaced should go back to their communities, knowing that chances are there that they may be attacked and then the conditions that gave rise to the crisis are not totally eliminated,” he added. Earlier, leader of the delegation, Assistant High Commissioner in charge of protection of rights of refugees and IDPs, Mr. Volke Turk, urged the Speaker to expedite action on the domestication and ratification of the UN convention on the protection of the rights of refugees in the House of Representatives.

Laws protecting IDPs coming soon –Dogara GEORGE OPARA ABUJA

peaker, House of Re p r e s e n t a t iv e s , Yakubu Dogara, has assured that legislative structures were being put in place to ensure that the rights of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, are protected at all times. Dogara stated this when he received in audience a delegation from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, UNHCR, in his office yesterday, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan.

On Nigeria’s domestication and ratification of the UN Kampala treaty on the rights of refugees, the Speaker said efforts were in top gear by relevant committees to conclude all work on the document and submit to plenary for further legislative action. “The bill for the proposed North East Commission and the Kampala Commission are before the committee and sooner or later, the report will be brought before the House in plenary for consideration and hopefully we’ll pass it and in no distant time it will be ratified,” Dogara said. He also informed the del-

such an exercise. “It is therefore, clear that the appeals and all cross appeals against the election of Darius Ishaku of Taraba State have no redeemable substance,” Rhodes-Vivour held. He noted that the Taraba State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal misdirected itself by upturning Ishaku’s victory on the basis of allegation that he was not properly nominated by the PDP. The court had on February 11 held that the claim of APC that Ishaku was not properly nominated by PDP for the April 11, 2015, election lacked merit and substance and could not be used to invalidate the election. The court consequently upheld the election of Ishaku on the ground that APC and Alhassan could not challenge the primary election that produced the governor for the poll since they were not members and participants in the PDP primary election. Justice Rhodes-Vivour held that the claim of the appellants that section

85 of the Electoral Act 2010 was breached in the nomination of Ishaku did not hold water because they had no locus standi to enquire into the internal affairs of another political party. He said nomination of candidates by political parties was an internal affair of the parties and that only those who participated in the primary election and who were eligible members of the party had legal rights to enquire or challenge the nomination of the party. APC and its governorship candidate had approached the Supreme Court with a prayer to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which in December last year upturned the judgment of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that nullified Governor Ishaku’s election on the ground that he was not duly nominated by his party. They had contended that PDP did not conduct primary elections to nominate its candidate as required by the law.

FG to revoke dormant mining titles, formalise illegal mining

inister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, has promised to revoke all dormant mining licences this week. Fayemi announced this during a one day working visit to Kurupka site in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State yesterday. He said the administration would no longer accept operators who kept their licences from the purpose they were issued, adding that they would be revoked and issued to genuine mining investors. He noted that most of the land that were allocated as mining sites to miners had been acquired illegally. It would be recalled that the Mining Cadestre Office under the ministry had said that more than 500 mining licences would be revoked due to non-com-

pliance with the 2007 Mining Act. He said the ministry would begin formalisation of illegal miners into a structure to enable them to earn their livelihood in a safe environment and according to world standard. He promised that the Federal Government would devise means of assisting them with necessary equipment and financial support among others. A c c o rd i n g t o h i m , G o l d wh i ch i s a v i t a l mineral, is not on the re c o rd o f t h e Fe d e r a l I n l a n d Reve nu e S e rv i c e s, F I R S , a n d i s being mined in the s i t e. “Gold is being smuggled out of the country to other countries without tax, record and revenue to show on a daily basis from the mineral that we are endowed with; this will no longer be acceptable,” he said.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

SUPER TUESDAY

‘Why Ekiti PDP chieftains are leaving party enmasse’ —Babatola Abiodun nejo ADO EKITI

former Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ekiti State, Hon Ayodeji Babatola, has said that many chieftains are dumping the party in the state over alleged institutionalization of giving tickets to highest bidders. Babatola said many leaders, who had contributed immensely to the chances of the party in past elections had abandoned the party over the grouse for All Progressives Congress, APC, after the 2015 general elections. The former PDP chief and chairmanship aspirant in the December 19, 2015 council election in the state spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday while officially joining the APC alongside his teeming supporters. He alleged that the PDP, especially in the present administration in the state had converted the tickets for all elections to avenue to make money and reward loyalty, especially those that are loyal to the governor. Babatola, who praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his fight against

corruption, described criticisms against his anti-corruption policy as another attempt to derail the country after the 16 years of PDP misrule. He promised to abide by APC rules and regulations, while he advised his supporters not to engage in unnecessary competition in the ruling party. Babatola, who described PDP as a dead party that could never win any election in the state in the nearest future, urged the governor to concentrate on how to improve the standard of living of Ekiti people, rather than engaging in supremacy battle with Buhari. He also advised the governor to pay Ekiti civil servants the two months salaries owed the workers. APC Ado Ward Seven Chairman, Otunba Ilesanmi Obafemi, said Babatola’s entrance into the APC would further “boost the chances of the party at the ward level and in turn, boost the chances of the party in the state and I want to assure you that you will not be treated as a new member, but as people, who reunite with his family”.

PDP has no future with Sheriff —Abdullahi WilliAms AttAh GOMBE

founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from Gombe State and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Malaysia, Yarima Abdullahi has described the election of former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sherif as the party’s National Chairman as a wrong step aimed at destroying the party. Ambassador Yarima Abdullahi who called a Press Conference in Gombe to vent his disaffection over the development told Journalists that the party cannot survive under the new leadership

following the antecedents of the former Governor in Borno State. The PDP stalwart is therefore calling for the immediate reversal of Ali Modu Sheriff election if the party wants an assured future in the scheme of things in the country. According to him, “Modu Sheriff must take responsibility for whatever former President Goodluck Jonathan was blamed for. He doesn’t have the credibility or capacity to lead a very important party like the PDP. He played a major part in the calamity that befell the immediate past Government”, he said.

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Politics

Kogi rerun: INEC reverses decision, declares PDP candidate winner WAle ibrAhim LOKOJA

arely 24 hours after the Kogi Central Senatorial rerun election was declared inconclusive, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has reversed its decision and declared the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Ahmed Ogembe as the winner. National Mirror gathered

that the returning officer has admitted that there was mistake somewhere and that the mistake has been corrected which now pave way for the PDP candidate to emerge as the winner of last Saturday Kogi Senatorial rerun election. The Returning Officer, Mr. Professor Rotimi Ajayi who reported the incident at the State Headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC

was ordered to return to Okene to announce the result with immediate effect. Announcing the result at Okene Local government. INEC office, Ajayi disclosed that the people of the affected area assisted by providing for the original voters register and fell short to what was originally believed to be the number of registered voters in the area. The Returning Officer therefore declared Hon.

Ahmed Salawu Ogembe as the winner of Kogi Central Senatorial seat having polled 46,305 votes , while Senator Nurudeen Usman Abate of PPA scored 32,169 votes and Dr. Moses Wokili of SDP polled 10,064 votes. The winner, Ogembe expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for him to win this election, pledging that he will not disappoint the people of his constituency.

L-R: Member of the House Committee on Procurement, Hon. Aminu Mani; Chairman, House Committee on Procurement, Hon. Oluwole Oke, and Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Ahmed Abdu, during an oversight function visit of the committee to the bureau in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ojo oyeWAmide AKURE

member of the House of Representatives, Kolawole Babatunde, has said he is not the mastermind of the attack on an All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Ondo state, Segun Abraham. Abraham was penultimate week attacked by suspected party thugs at Iwaro Oka-Akoko, where he had gone to meet likely delegates of the party. Five vehicles in his convoy were damaged by the hoodlums while some of his supporters sustained different degrees of injuries. Supporters of Abraham are pointing an accusing finger at Kolawole, who rep-

Lawmaker denies sponsoring attack on APC guber aspirant resents Akoko South- east/ Akoko South- west Federal constituency in the National Assembly. But while speaking with reporters at the weekend in Akure, the state capital, Kolawole said he was a man of peace who could not have sponsored any attack on anybody, let alone a leader of the party. He explained that he was not in Ondo state the day the incident happened but was in Abuja where he was busy attending to his legislative duties. The lawmaker, who described the attack as unfor-

tunate and condemnable, said: “I wouldn’t know why I was accused because I was not in Akoko when the attack took place. I was in Abuja. I was called that our leader, Mr. Segun Abraham, was attacked and that my boys were seen there with the vehicle I gave them. “The boys were alleged to be responsible for the condemnable act. The first thing I did was to ask them on what ground did they think I was involved in it. When I came back home, I called the boys to order and asked them the true position of things.

“I was reliably informed that the meeting was allowed to take place peacefully. At the end of the meeting, some party members, in their usual manner, demanded for money. But Chief Segun Abraham was not ready to play ball. That was what provoked the crisis. “My boys said they were not in anyway involved, though they saw the vehicle I gave to them. The vehicle is for the party. I used it to empower them, to ease transportation and promote my party in my constituency.

Politics

Engr. Adedeji Doherty is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos State. He was also a governorship aspirant in the 2015 general election. He speaks in this interview with ROBERT AWOKUSE on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crusade among other issues. Excerpts:

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Buhari not on right path in fighting corruption —Doherty

What can you tell us about Nigeria of today since the last general election that saw the emergence of a new political party at the helm of affairs? Well Nigeria of today is Nigeria that we need to build or rebuild. Unfortunately the 2015 elections has created enmity, it has created division, hatred, misunderstanding and other negative things that are telling on all facet of the economy, political, social and as a matter of fact, religion. So we see that Nigeria of today needs a lot of mending, rehabilitation, love for the country to be able to progress. And I hope and we pray to be able to achieve that. There have been allegations and counter allegations that President Muhammadu Buhari is not following the rule of law in his fight against corruption and that it has been lopsided, especially in the 2.1 billion dollars arms deal scam, what is your take? It is very clear that we do not and we cannot tolerate corruption; because corruption only destroys. It does not give room for an equal level playing ground, it does not allow healthy competition, it does not allow the youths to grow; it gives a negative illusion about the country. But the question is how do we fight this corruption? Is it the way that it is being fought now? Or there is a better way to fight it? Let us look at it from this angle, there is corruption everywhere- in our homes, schools, organisations, civil service, ministries, defence, in all facets to the extent that you might even say democracy supports corruption because most voters are influenced by candidates. If not why do candidates need so much money for elections to win elective offices? So when looking at corruption and you want to fight it you need to fight well so that you can sustain that fight. So the sustenance of an anticorruption drive must be the first thing to attack; that is the ideological background of the people that live in the society where you are trying to fight corruption. For instance students who cheat in the exam hall is corrupt. If you use your position as the president to raise N80 billion for an NGO that your family belongs to, you have used that office for corruption. If you pay a policeman on the road to buy your way, it is corruption. So I think we need to fight corruption by first putting in place strong structure, strong ideology that will carry the youths of today, that will win their minds which is through creation of what they want, an environment that they can thrive, from which they can be hopeful of tomorrow. That is the environment we need to create for us to start fighting corruption. Now if we want to take this to the Dasukigate, we know the position of Dasuki, we know the worth of the office of National Security Adviser, NSA. First of all the 2.1 billion dollars has been thrown into the media as money for ammunition whereas there is nothing like that. The thing is 2.1 billion dollars the entire amount spent in that particular office within that time. That means NSA office what they spent five or six years period was 2.1 billion dollars and not the money for ammunition as they are widely made us to believe. But it has been thrown in there for the public that the 2.1 billion dollars was for arms purchase whereas it wasn’t, because it is the office of National Security Adviser. For instance there are a lot of things that, that office cannot talk about in public. Are you going to talk about the money given to the president of Ghana to campaign for his election, are you going to talk about how much given to the government of the Republic of Congo to support fight for insurgency? Are you going to talk about the money given to the Niger Republic to help fight Boko-Haram? Would you include monies given for intelligence in Europe, America or any of those places to keep an eye on enemies of the country? We are talking about the office of the National Security Adviser. So the amount of monies spent there cannot be audited not to say that the presidency

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Doherty

The APC hAs dug A hole so deeP ThAT They CAn’T even Come ouT of iT And They will keeP Telling A lie in order To Cover uP Their defiCienCies.

And unforTunATe ThAT is whAT nigeriAns will ConTinue lisTening To in his own wisdom, within the ambit of the law, cannot investigate internally the dealings of that office, especially if a new NSA has come in. now what do you achieve by doing such? The propaganda being done both locally and internationally is it going to expose that to the public? The money that is spent on the ammunition to fight insurgency is now in public discourse, is it supposed to be? But most of the people who have been linked with the money have not denied the fact that they collected the money from Dasuki , and it is not in the purview of the office of the NSA to disburse money. I am not going to speak for the NSA. But what I can say is that you cannot be 100 per cent right being in the office of the NSA or in any other position you are. There will of course be the idea of give and take. The issue of who got money and who did not is simple. Put the monies together, if you are going to do propaganda for the office of the presidency, the NSA is not supposed to disburse such money. Do you know that the Zika virus in Nigeria is an issue of national security? Do you know the further spread of polio or cholera and Lassa fever are issues of top national security. It depends on what the NSA terms as national risk or a risk to the president or a risk to the former president. For instance it was said that three bullet proof cars were bought for President Buhari. Those bullet proof cars cost about 400, 000 dollars. What is the reason for buying this for Buhari and not buying for the others? The office says you should buy a car for a former president every one or two years but it does not say you should buy a bullet proof car. But the NSA saw that it will be a national security risk if anything happens to the president like assas-

sination or anything. And that is why after the attack on him in Maiduguri those three vehicles were bought and handed over to him by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. This is because it was an issue of national security risk. So at the end of the day, it is very clear that even those who must have collected money, except those that collected and did not use it, they all collected the money to make sure that the president was secure under the ambit of security risk. Now if at that time former president Jonathan was president, any amount of money spent to keep him as president, to keep his constitutional duties as president of the country is something that the NSA must do till May 29. So even if it was a national risk for him to spend one billion dollars on water because he can’t find the water in Nigeria, and he thought it was a national risk and he had to spend that one billion dollars on buying imported water, then so be it. The moral of who took money and who shares it is a different issue not for the public space but for the internal space of the presidency because once you have made this mistake, we are civilians, we don’t know the workings of the presidency. Once you have taken this step of exploding the dealing of the NSA on the pages of newspapers, TV and other media platforms, what of when the APC leaves the government and another party takes over with another NSA, would they start digging the dealings of today’s NSA, because for me, the motive for probing can never be achieved? For instance America’ NSA released billions of dollars in cash into Iraq to settle communities to accept the fall of Sadam Hussein. Do you think when Obama came he didn’t see some fraud relating to the disbursement of the money? Obama saw the fraud but he didn’t investigate it in the open but he did internally within the presidency, the outcome of which nobody outside the presidency knew. You said the last election created enmity, division in Nigeria. Could you be specific on what group, class, region, or party this enmity and division entrenched? Well we all saw what happened in the last general election. Out of all the elections that we have had in this present democratic dispensation, the 2015 elections was the one that campaign of hate was very high. It is like digging a hole by lying; you lie and lie and lie. By the time you dig the hole so deep, you have forgotten that you that is digging will have to come out of the hole you have dug or else you will remain in there. And then you will continue digging because you think you can come out through another route so you will have to keep telling a lie in an effort to liberate yourself. And that is what is happening. The APC has dug a hole so deep that they can’t even come out of it and they will keep telling a lie in order to cover up their deficiencies. And unfortunate that is what Nigerians will continue listening to; it is going to continue to be lie because if they stop they are going to bury themselves in the hole. They said Boko-Haram has been defeated; that is not true. Their position is that Boko Haram has been defeated technically because they are not holding territories any more? That’s a lie, Boko-Haram are still holding territories; in Borno few communities have been overrun. Unfortunately our journalists are not going into the middle of war like reporters of CNN and Aljazeera go to Syria and Afghanistan to cover wars. Our journalists should go in, stick with the Nigerian force to get first hand information and then report. You don’t report what you hear. You see our officers dying, they are not dying because they don’t have ammunition, and that is another lie, that the Jonathan administration never bought ammunition, that it was a fraud. Then later on they said they bought ammunition, then later on they said the bullets were expired and backdated and substandard but that is the same ammunition they are using now. Do you think the present administration has the will power to effect the change mantra it promised, in your own assessment looking at the development so far since CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Police redeploy Delta DPOs over misconduct

he Nigeria Police Force said it had redeployed all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Delta Command over professional misconduct. The Force Public Relations Officer, Acting Commissioner of Police, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, disclosed this at a news conference to mark 100 days of establishment of the Compliant Response Unit (CRU) on Monday in Abuja. ``Several officers have been redeployed from duty posts including a total of DPOs by a police command,`` he said. Kolawole said the action was in response to complaints received from members of the public on misconduct of policemen. She said that an Assistant Commissioner of police was also being investigated, 16 junior officers were facing disciplinary action for misconduct, while a traffic warden was dismissed. Kolawole said that Lagos had the highest complaints with 424, representing 33 per cent, while Imo, Jigawa and Kebbi had two each. She said that the platform was not aimed at castigating activities of police but to ensure international best practices. The spokesperson added that beyond the feedback on police

misconduct, there was the reassurance of the force’s commitment to prompt efficient service delivery. In a remark, Head of CRU, CSP Abayomi Shogunle, said the unit received 1,946 complaints, resolved 1,522, while investiga-

tion was ongoing into 291compalints and 133 were discarded for lack of evidence. He said that there was a considerable reduction in reporting police officers’ misconduct by members of the public. ``The force is worried about

the low rate of complaints from the public,`` he said. Shogunle said that the force would conduct a scientific research to ascertain the reason for the reduction. He said that the unit would ensure that Nigerians got the po-

lice they could ``truly call their own’’. The CRU is a social media platform established through which members of the public can lodge their complaints and get feedback on police officers’ misconduct.

A cross-section of leaders from different communities affected by oil spillage, during the inauguration of a National Human Rights Commission’s Special Investigation Panel on oil spills and environmental pollution in Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

C’River begins demolition of illegal structures in Calabar RichaRd Ndoma CAlAbAr

he Ministry of Environment has commenced the demolition of illegal business structures built on green areas, open spaces and verges along major roads within Calabar metropolis. The Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Mike Eraye, stated during the exercise that all unauthorised business structures built on green areas within the state capital would be demolished in order to restore the aesthetic value for which thesState had been known for. Similarly, the Republic of Ireland has indicated its preparedness to partner Nigeria, using Cross River State as the pilot state, to ensure it attains socioeconomic and infrastructural development; believing that this will help address the problem of youth restiveness in Niger Delta

region. Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy, who disclosed this while on a courtesy call on the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, explained that he was in Calabar to develop a framework for development that involves the states and federal government in a bid to find the way forward in their respective developmental strives as well as help curb restiveness in the Niger Delta region. Amb. Hoy, who also announced the establishment of a development centre in Calabar as part of the initiative, said: “I have visited Bayelsa and Rivers states before arriving here in Calabar and what I saw in those communities were disappointment in development process as I saw communities sit in the dark while some miles away, I saw light in the sky.” “We are here to support them, look at how the development of

Niger Delta can be done better than before’’, adding that, ‘’resources are not actually the problem, but how to prioritise issues of development for the impact on the people is where the missing link is and where government needs to come in.” Responding, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade said it was critical to address the restiveness that had characterised the Niger Delta region as no development could take place where crisis and tension exist. Said he: “The crisis and challenges of Niger Delta are unpardonable. It is a legal, moral, complex, anthropological and sociological issue to resolve the complex within the ambit of human nature.” According to him, “no matter how much you have given to a man, liberty is better than slavery.” He pointed out that the people of the area yearned for, “redemp-

tion which comes from a philosophical change of attitude, reorientation and restructuring of issues to ensure equity and fair play.” “How would you stay in perpetual darkness with all your waterways spilled with oil, no source of livelihood, living in a hut, defecating into the river that you use as your source of drinking water, and just a mile away, somebody is lighting the sky?’, he asked. The governor said “a child that grows up in such circumstance must become restive by nature.” He therefore commended the Irish government on the choice of Calabar for the development centre, which it intends to run in partnership with the Savannah Centre. In another development, the President, Germany-Africa Consortium, Mr Martins Jevor, has disclosed the readiness of his or-

ganisation to partner the state by taking advantage of enormous potentials that abound in the state to establish a mining factory. Jevor who stated this during a courtesy visit to the governor, said, apart from the peaceful investment climate that he sought, they were also ready to create the needed capacity among the young ones especially the vulnerable through educational exchange programme and assured the governor of adequate financing for all their proposed businesses in the state. His words: “We are not here only for business but to build a future that will be beneficial to all. I am passionate about children’s welfare and wellbeing, I can give my life in ensuring that they live happily and get trained in vocational and entrepreneurial skills to better their lots and build a sustainable future for our countries.”

CRHA to partner with HIT FM on information dissemination RichaRd Ndoma,

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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Rights group worried over underwater gas leak in Bayelsa

CAlAbAr

peaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, has promised to partner HIT FM, a newly established radio broadcast station in Calabar for the dissemination of the activities of the state legislature to the people. The Speaker made the promise while receiving a team from the private radio station, who were in his office for a courtesy visit to seek the support of the state legislature. Receiving the team led by Mr. Patrick Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, HIT FM, the Speaker congratulated the CEO, describing him as a seasoned media professional and for taking a shift from the political scene to pursue his career to an enviable height by establishing the station. He added that the coming on board of the private radio station would offer the state legislature an opportunity to be assessed by an independent medium, as against the hitherto presence of only government owned media in the state. Speaking earlier, the CEO of HIT FM, Mr. Patrick Ugbe thanked the Speaker for giving the team an audience and further poured encomiums on him for the excellent manner the legislature has been carrying out the legislative affairs. Mr. Ugbe who is a former Commissioner for Information in the state, said the HIT FM team was in the Assembly to seek partnership and sought timely invitation to cover the activities of the state legislature.

L-R: Director-General, Centre for Management Development, Mr Kabir Usman; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Fatima Mede-Nana, and Director, Macroeconomic Analysis, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Tunde Lawal, at a stakeholders’ validation workshop of the revised draft report of the needs assessment survey of the states’ statistical and planning agencies in Bayelsa, Delta and Edo, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

n environmental rights group, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), on Monday expressed worry over an underwater gas leakage which has caused water pollution in Kalaba community in Bayelsa. The group which made the report, alleged that the leakage was coming from an oil field operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). A field report signed by Mr. Morris Alagoa, its Head of Field Operations, indicated that the development started on Saturday. The report says the leakage is from a gas pipeline beneath Taylor Creek in Kalaba community, Okordia Clan, Yenagoa. The non-governmental organisation noted that the high pressure leak was causing giant bubbles at the Taylor Creek which serves as the sole source of water to the community. ``What we are seeing is the bubbles of gas leaking

from the pipe of NAOC. This was discovered in the early hours of Saturday. ``I got to hear about it first when some children were shouting that oil was bubbling and that there was a leakage. ``As a trained field monitor, I also came around to see what was happening in the environment; whether what I heard was true. When I pulled down here by canoe, I discovered that it

was true, gas was actually bubbling. ``Incidentally, this creek is our only source of water and where we carry out almost all domestic activities. And right now, the water is polluted. ``What I did then, as a monitor of the environment, I promptly informed the Environmental Rights Action because that is the organisation we know that has been helping us to reach

out to Agip whenever such things happen,” the report said. The NGO advised the oil firm to immediately deploy to the site to shut the source of the leak and forestall further pollution of the environment and exposure of residents to the hazard. The organisation also urged the management of Agip to convene a joint investigation visit to unravel the cause of the leak.

C’River expresses satisfaction with NEWMAP projects RichaRd Ndoma CAlAbAr

he state government of Cross River has expressed satisfaction with the level of work being undertaken by the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Agency Programme - NEWMAP. The Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, made this known in Calabar while on an on-the-sport assessment tour of all NEWMAP proj-

ect sites in Calabar. He described the erosion control works as wonderful in terms of technical expertise and aesthetic outlay and commended the programme operators and engineers for job well done. Prof. Esu, who is himself a soil scientist, noted that the projects would form a good basis for studies by soil physicists and other soil conservation programmes. He maintained that his

regular visit was as a result of his desire to motivate and encourage the contractors, adding that that was a clear indication of government’s interests in that regard. The deputy governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done so far saying that it justified government’s huge commitment and energy directed towards erosion control and environmental conservation works for the State.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Remita-TSA: Partnership for good governance REMI ADEBAYO

he Muhammadu Buhari propelled revolution anchored on ‘change’ was timely as Nigeria was heading on a perilous path requiring urgent intervention. It was obvious that the nation was ripe for change, having reversed to a point where corruption was assuming kleptomaniac trend. Charting the path for his government in a highly challenged economy already battered by the free fall of the price of crude oil and endemic corruption, only a disciplined government could sail through such difficult period. President Buhari has not for once hidden his passion to fight corruption, believed to be the bane of the Nigerian nation. In doing this, all loopholes must be blocked while pursuing various legal processes to bring looters of public treasury into justice. Capturing the mind of the President is the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, in a speech during a media briefing on January 26, where he said:”We all know that ICT is now redefining how we live, how we do business, how services are delivered both in terms of government to government, as well as between government and citizens.” There is no gainsaying the fact that the advent of information technology has changed the global space. When in 2015 President Buhari directed all government ministries, departments and agencies to immediately join the Treasury Single Account (TSA) scheme with September 15 timeline, it was greeted with commenda-

tions and uncertainty. The TSA is one intervention through which payment and collection is made centrally to the coffers of government. It is worth noting that the company behind this feat is an indigenous company that has been widely misunderstood. SystemSpecs, fully Nigerian, is the copyright owner of Remita, a software designed to provide shared services technology platform for companies, individuals, government agencies and banks to make and receive payment with ease. And through its technology savvy minds, Remita is integrated with all commercial banks in Nigeria, including over 500 OFIs, ERP systems and portals of many organisations for the stated purpose. Verifiable records indicate that Remita, indeed, passed through rigorous processes to beat other firms, including of foreign ICT providers, before it was selected to provide the electronic payment technology to power the Federal Government’s TSA initiative. The process which began in October 2011 included an open, competitive and due process evaluation involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), with support from their foreign consultants. On December 14, 2011, the contract between CBN and SystemSpecs for the provision of Remita as the gateway for the payment and collection of government revenue was inked in an event where the Deputy Director Operations and the Director ICT signed for the CBN, while the Executive Directors Business Development and Technology Services signed for SystemSpecs.

IT IS A PRIDE TO NIGERIA THAT REMITA, A FULLY INDIGENOUS

SOFTWARE SOLUTION, COULD BE CHOSEN WHERE OTHERS FAILED Prior to the engagement of Remita by the CBN and the OAGF in 2011 to implement the TSA initiative of the Federal Government, the apex bank had written to the OAGF foreclosing the feasibility of the project due to inadequate technology, even from their foreign options. After competitive presentations at three different times, the evaluation panel became convinced that a wholly-Nigerian conceived and developed Remita met all the requirements highlighted by the OAGF and its foreign consultants to support the e-payment and e-collection of government receipts which is the main mandate of the TSA. By January 2012, Remita was deployed to directly pilot 108 MDAS at commencement, and that has grown to over 900, together with all commercial banks and over 400 micro finance banks already linked to offer seamless payment to government with ease, both for the payee and government. It is a pride to Nigeria that Remita, a fully indigenous software solution, could be chosen where others failed. And for SystemSpecs to emerge through a transparent process in a lawful and competitive business transaction for unprecedented technology solution deserves some commendations.

The benefits of Remita is in tandem with the mandate of the present administration in empowering government to electronically track and monitor all inflows and disbursements, thereby enhancing transparency in government business. Specifically, designated officials of government can see the individual balances of all MDAs on a single screen at any time. Also, the Remita platform helps to monitor outflows to keep and present comprehensive log of all approving officers, to whom payment is made and the purpose. Indeed the software allows government to centrally monitor all inflows and outflows. It also allows each organ of government to monitor who is paying what amount, where the payment is made and the purpose for the payment. In addition, Remita has been beneficial in ensuring online validation of receipts whereby designated officers are authorised to confirm any presented online receipt as a way to curtailing fake presentation of receipts in government business transactions. Good enough, all these processes are user friendly. In collaboration with other industry players, Remita allows payers to walk into any bank, including the growing micro finance banks in Nigeria, make their cash payment and the TSA domiciled in the CBN is instantly credited. Alternatively, payers can opt to log into the Internet Banking Platform of their banks or use their Visa, Verve, Union or MasterCard to remit payment online. Such can also be made through payers’ Mobile Wallets or at Remita.net, including integrated website of participating MDAs. Adebayo wrote from Lagos.

Technology for entrepreneurship growth in Nigeria SUNDAY ONYEMAECHI EZE

mongst government’s long term interventionist programmes for wealth creation and the empowerment of Nigeria’s army of unemployed was at the heart of the establishment of Technology Incubation Centres across the nation. The pivotal role the centres play and their contribution to both technological and economic growth and development of a nation cannot be over emphasised. In 1993, the first Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) was born in Agege, Lagos. At the moment, there are over 27 of such centres in Nigeria. They were designed to “nurture new start-ups in science and technology-related businesses; and speed up the commercialisation of research and development (R&D) results by effectively linking talents, technology, capital and know-how in order to accelerate the development of new enterprises.” The beauty of technology incubation centres in advancing the fortunes of a nation lies in the fact that “it is a unique and highly flexible combination of business development process, infrastructure and people designed to nurture and grow new and small businesses, products, innovations and entrepreneurs by supporting them through the early stages of development”. In a nutshell, this centre offers a one in a life time opportunity for promoting and nurturing the innate potentials of

budding talents to bear in their personal, family lives and that of the nation. At the last count it was estimated that the number of unemployed Nigerian youths has hit over 40 million. Therefore, the centres are no doubt curative destinations for joblessness, indolence and vices. According to Dr. Mohammed Jibrin, the Director-General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), “At the centres, access to experts across all engineering and management disciplines is easy. The centres have contributed to the promotion of awareness on the essential role of innovation; its programme is helping Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to be innovative”. While the process begins with the admission of a value-added technology based enterprise into a Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) and ends with graduation after three years of resident incubation, it offers Nigerians the platform to nurture and grow their innate technological potentials in a cost efficient way. At TIC, shared facilities such as working spaces, offices, networking and exposure to critical business, technical and legal support services that enhance the success of enterprise during incubation, are provided at subsidised rates. At present, the NBTI has 27 TICs spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. What are you waiting for? It is high time one grabbed this rare opportunity of self-reliance with both hands. But how easily accessible are these centres and the abundant opportunities they could offer to Nigerians?

NBTI SHOULD MAKE THE PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES OF HANDY TO

TICS

NIGERIANS

NBTI should make the programmes and activities of TICs handy to Nigerians. The benefits accruable from them should not be hidden in the hay-sack of NBTI. It is high time the board began nationwide sensitisation programmes of its responsibilities. Just 27 centres in the country as large as Nigeria are a far cry from what is required to attend to the high unemployment rate in the nation. Therefore, all the 774 local government areas in the country should be considered for at least two such centres. The local governments should be the focal point for incubating technology owing to the level of neglect and poverty in that tier of government. The 21st century growth and development no doubt is primarily powered by technology. It should begin from the grassroots. Government should encourage privileged individuals to establish these centres, which can operate with little or no support from government. Our tertiary educational institutions could also introduce Technology Incubation studies to complement already existing entrepreneurial studies offered in them. The Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) and the National Economic Reconstruction Fund should be adequately mobilized to meet the demands of their man-

dates to Nigerians. The utilisation of funds lent to entrepreneurs should be closely monitored, while it should be incentivised for the beneficiaries. It is difficult to strategically place and position a new product or services in the market, especially by new entrepreneurs. NBTI should also take the position of a mentor by assisting new entrepreneurs funded and trained to ensuring visibility of their products in markets in and around Nigeria. The establishment of technology incubation centres was a milestone geared towards positioning Nigeria at the fore front of technological advanced nations. Has the nations attained the desired objectives from creation of the centres? Although the nation was not where it was before the introduction of these centres, more still needed to be done. In fact, there is no other time the nation should take a critical look at the centres and take a bold step towards their effective utilisation for entrepreneurial growth and development than now. Eze, a media and communications specialist, wrote via sunnyeze02@yahoo. com and can be reached on 08060901201 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

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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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 ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

On Lagos mobile court

he Lagos State Government, Friday February 5, inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Court service aimed at summarily dealing with burgeoning cases of traffic and environmental abuses. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said the court would be manned by competent magistrates drawn from the Lagos judiciary. Kazeem said the initiative was one of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration’s ways of broadening and guaranteeing citizens’ access to justice and compelling civilized behaviour in the state. Lagos, the nation’s former capital, foremost economic hub, biggest metropolis in the country and one of the fastest growing mega-cities globally, is home to over 20 million people and counting. Her role as a Mecca of sorts for Nigerians and other nationals in search of economic succour is trailed by daunting problems of traffic lawlessness and challenges of environmental cleanliness. The state’s worry about the level of filth it generates and the careless handling of same by the public found expression some years back in the introduction monthly environmental sanitation days, which are observed by all residents every last Saturday of the month, all things being equal; as well as weekly environmental sanitation days observed every Thursday of the week by the business community, especially traders.

To complement the efforts of the regular police and other federal agencies in traffic management, the state established the Lagos State Traffic Management authority (LASTMA) in July, 2000. In furtherance of that, the former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola administration, in August 2012; came up with a new law - Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 - which repealed the Road Traffic Law Cap R10 Vol. 17 Laws of Lagos State (as amended) in 2004, with Fashola expressing the hope at the time that the law would eradicate the diverse, anti-social, abnormal and dangerous practices associated with traffic operations in the state; and facilitate the free flow of traffic and orderly transportation in the mega city. Not to be discountenanced, too, is the Special Offences Court, SOC, (Cap 180 Laws of Lagos State, which commencement date was January 7, 1994); which the mobile court is ostensibly out to complement, among others. The cases the SOC handles include infractions of the Environmental Sanitation Law; Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Law; and the Road Traffic Law, among several others. It is obvious, based on daily experiences, however, that the cumulative efforts are yet to yield the desired dividends. Kazeem was quoted as saying that henceforth, traffic offenders, persons crossing the highway where pedestrian bridges were provided, nondesignated vehicles driving on Bus

February 23, 1905 Chicago attorney, Paul Harris and three other businessmen met for lunch to form the Rotary Club, the world’s first service club in the United States. Harris was a Chicago, Illinois, attorney best known for founding Rotary International in 1905, a service organization that currently has well over one million members worldwide. Harris organized the first Rotary Club “in fellowship and friendship” with three clients.

LAGOS STATE AUTHORITIES SHOULD NOT ALLOW THEIR GOOD INTENTIONS TO BE VITIATED BY THE PRANKS AND COMPLICITY OF THE

DIRTY-MINDED AND THE CORRUPT Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes, et cetera; would now face the wrath of the law if caught. It may only be hoped that with the coming of the mobile court, the reckless violation of traffic and environmental laws in Lagos State will be curtailed to a significant extent. Nonetheless, unjust it will be in the long run, if the primary purpose of the mobile court is strictly to generate revenue for the government, as many now fear. Indeed, the initiative might become an effort in futility if revenue generation is the sole purpose. For, should this be the case, it is only a matter of time before the police and non-scrupulous operators of the court turn the service to a lucrative public window to enrich private pockets. Ours is a nation where the nexus of law enforcement and justice dispensation is drenched with corrupt exploits and manipulations, as is evident by public lamentation about the police and the judiciary nationwide. In most countries that operate

ON THIS DAY February 23, 1998 Osama bin Laden published a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and “Crusaders”. The latter term is commonly interpreted to refer to the people of Europe and the United States. Bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization, AlQaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the US and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets.

mobile courts, such constraints of citizens as the lack of finances and long distances to courts are some of the major considerations. Lack of easy access to legal facilities; far-flung court locations, backlog of cases, among others, encourage citizens in remote areas to embrace mobile courts. Governments also allocate huge resources for public enlightenment - outreaches, radio and television broadcasts, et cetera - to educate citizens on the importance of the courts. But ours is a country where law enforcement officers hide and literally lay ambush for citizens to run afoul of the law; and then emerge like hungry wolves from nowhere to pounce on offenders, instead of taking pains to enlighten and lead possible lawbreakers away from infringing on the law. Most times, this hide-and-seek approach to law enforcement is not without dubious underbellies. Therefore, Lagos State authorities should not allow their good intentions to be vitiated by the pranks and complicity of the dirtyminded and the corrupt. Investing in adequate public enlightenment; insisting on civilised and acceptable work and ethical standards on the part of law enforcement officers, prosecutors and lawyers that relate with the court; and ensuring that the magistrates that will sit in judgement are of unblemished integrity, or the contrary, will contribute to the huge success or grave failure of the court.

February 23, 2005 The controversial French law on colonialism was passed, requiring teachers to teach the “positive values of colonialism”. The law was an act passed by the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) conservative majority, which imposed on high-school teachers the teaching of the “positive values” of colonialism to their students. It generated public uproar and opposition from the whole of the left-wing.

Business

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Stakeholders accuse FG of removing PHCF from PIGIF Bill 22

Global report lists Nigeria among freshwaterdeficient nations 24

Assessing corporate branding impact on Nigerian airlines’ market competitiveness

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FG committed to promoting private sector investments –Udoma 21 AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline

Branding is one of the most critical aspects of business communication strategies for attracting customers. Despite the value-adding importance of this marketing communication initiative, several businesses, including airlines in Nigeria, have failed due to poor branding, which has made their operations in most cases not appealing to air travellers. In this report, Olusegun Koiki analyses how deliberate efforts by airlines to showcase their USPs through effective branding campaigns could help improve their earnings and returns on investments.

irlines are not to be distract distracted by economic, regulatory, safety, environmental and other external influences beyond management’s control and are expected to maintain a vital emphasis on customer relationships and brand management. Airlines have many consumer touch points and each is an opportunity to reinforce brand value and loyalty. Often these opportunities are squandered with irritating service, petty fuel, baggage or other surcharges that can make all airlines seem a distasteful commodity to air travellers. Building brand value in the airline

comindustry means constructing com munities around the product; the service and the experiences that lead to a strong trusted relationship. Brand showcases the Unique Selling Proposition, USP, of any business organization, including airline operators. In a time of economic uncertainty, airline brands need to connect with both leisure and business travellers. In difficult economic times, people are looking hard for value in everything they purchase. Part of airline’s objective is to improve travel value of passengers. There is a transformation underway in the business world as environment force companies to reinvent

Airlines must find wAys to mAke Air trAvel eAsier, smoother And more humAn, which mAjor nigeriAn cArriers hAve keyed into. they must hope to ActivAte new customer groups And stimulAte demAnd As A whole by creAting more emotion Around

the way they build brands. This has made brands more participatory and collaborative. Airlines like any other business all over the world now build strong brands and influence to compete in a much-changed and dynamic environment. To be world class and earn public trust cannot be achieved in one day or even a decade; some of the biggest airlines in the world like Delta, United, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish, Qatar and Air France have been in existence for several decades and have over the years developed solid brands that further attract clients to their services. For instance British Airways is known as ‘the world’s favourite airline,’ which focuses on popularity and quality of its service to its clients. Emirates brand is ‘Fly Emirates, Keep discovering,’ which sums up the airline’s philosophy

on travel; “Only Emirates lets you discover a more authentic and fulflling life.” Virgin Atlantic USP is the service rather than price. Delta Air Lines brand is ‘Digital business traveller,’ which stipulates that its main attraction is for international business travellers who consistently use the new technologies to achieve their goals. For Malaysia Airlines, it is ‘five-star value carrier,’ meaning an airline that provides top-quality products and services at the most affordable prices and many other renowned airlines around the world with practical brands. In Nigeria, several indigenous carriers have opened and closed shops due to several reasons including poor branding and poor management by their sponsors. The country’s carriers in the past like Chanchangi, IRS, EAS, NICON, Virgin Nigeria, Dasab, Bellview, Sosoliso, ADC, Air Midwest, Fresh, Chrome, Space World, Afrijet and others, had long term visions of competing among the best in the world. Unfortunately, their visions were cut short at the infancy stage as a result of fickle branding and bad management. However, the current airline operators are wiser as they place more emphasis on product branding and proactive management. The current carriers, despite CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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 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

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Assessing corporate branding impact on Nigerian airlines’ market competitiveness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 the obvious challenges of poor infrastructure at airports, inconsistent government policies and insufficient support from financial institutions, have created a niche for themselves and are loved and identified by their passengers for their brand names and USP. Arik Air, the country’s and West African largest carrier with 28 aircraft in its fleet, brands itself as the ‘Wings of Nigeria.’ The airline commenced flight operations on October 30, 2006 with three brand new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft and has since been expanding its brands regularly to become one of the leading and fastest growing carriers in the continent. In a recent interview with our correspondent, the Chairman of the airline, Sir. Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide disclosed that the airline has secured a loan worth $1 billion from Exim Bank to acquire at least additional 26 aircraft between now and 2016. With the acquisition of another 26, aircraft, the fleet of the airline would increase to 54 from its present 28 aircraft. Arumemi-Ikhide said that main investors in the airline had approved of the latest developments, adding that after running the airline as a private investor for eight years, it was proper for him to allow interested investors acquire shares in the airline. He explained that the determination of the management was to enlist the airline on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, by May 2016, thereby finally living to its brand name of ‘Wings of Nigeria.’ He declared that right from the outset, the slogan ‘Wings of Nigeria’ was developed to allow investors buy into the airline and fly Nigeria’s flag to routes hitherto flown into by Nigeria Airways while also developing new routes. He said: “Arik Air is on the verge of going public, which would be by May next year. Also, we have secured a $1 billion loan from Exim Bank to acquire more aircraft for our operations. Lots of people run their companies for several years before going public, which is what we are planning to do with Arik Air. When we go public, the slogan Wings of Nigeria will eventually come to fruition.” For Med-View, it has the brand name ‘The Airline for Nigeria,’ which like Arik Air hopes to be the major flag carrier of the country in the next few years. There are plans by the management to also enlist the airline on NSE, expand its fleet and grow its network routes. The airline, which commenced operations over two decades ago as a General Sales Agent, GSA, to Saudi Airlines on hajj operations is at present flying into Accra, Ghana, Saudi Arabia and plans to commence Dubai and London in United Kingdom before the end of first quarter of 2016. Its Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole told our correspondent that the management constantly works towards building its brand name while also giving air tarvellers the best treatment on ground and onboard.

Bankole

Amaechi When Air Peace came into airline subsector in 2014, its Chairman, Mr. Allen Onyema, said its coming into the industry would help air travellers have arrays of choices in choosing airlines to fly with. It then chose ‘Your peace our goal’ as its brand. Onyema lamented that the existing carriers are not offering the passengers their desired and hoped with the coming onboard of the airline, air travellers would achieve their set goals with more ease. He said, “At Air Peace, we are striving to become Nigeria’s airline of choice for your travel needs by providing a unique travel experience with safe, professional and reliable service at an affordable price.” First Nation Airways is founded and chaired by the ex-Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Bellview Airlines, Mr. Kayode Odukoyain 2011 after the acquisition of Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The airline, which has the brand name, ‘The First Choice’ some stakeholders said, is yet to live up to its trademark. ‘The First Choice,’ slogan primarily means that the airline is the first carrier considered by air travellers, but since it came onboard five years ago, is yet to make major impact with two aircraft, Airbus 320 it commenced flight with. Dana Air, which was founded in 2008 has the slogan ‘Smartest way to Fly.’ The airline carried the slogan with pride for four years as domestic passengers trusted the carrier and its schedules until the unfortunate fatal crash on June 4, 2012, which killed 153 souls onboard and another eight or so on

the ground at the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos. Analysts however said that in terms of on-time departure, Dana Air still remains the first choice of passengers. Aero Contractor founded in 1959, became a company with the initially 40 per cent Nigerian holding in 1973 and subsequently 60 per cent in 1976 and by July 2010 the airline was wholly owned by the Ibru family, but today, it has ran into murky water with its trademark. It comes with the slogan, ‘The reliable way to fly,’ which underlines its enviable safety records. Since commencing operations either as a fixed or rotary wings, the airline is yet to have any major accident and despite its recent troubles, which led to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, owning almost taking over the entire assets of the company, the airline is still perceived as ‘The reliable way to fly’ in the country’s aviation industry. Aviation analyst, Mr. Emmanuel Olisemeke told our correspondent that for airlines to succeed in the present environment, such must focus on the brand experience as customers would choose the carrier that provides the best overall value to their interest and wants. Olisemeke said that by focusing on the brand experience, not only would airlines retain existing customers, but they would also attract others with the competition, adding that overall, this hedges against the potential of a consumer making a purchase decision on price only. He however said that the current crop of airlines in the industry have brought

Strong brand identitieS help potential cuStomerS underStand what makeS a company and itS productS or ServiceS

unique. when done properly, it iS an effective way of ‘intruding’

into the target’S conSciouSneSS, to get cuStomerS acquainted with the product or Service

Ikhide intense change in air travel business, especially with the advent of online booking and low-cost carrier alternatives for travellers. He said that the new carriers are emulating what budget airlines such as Southwest had been doing in some western markets for the last decade, and avoiding the pitfalls of defunct private airlines in the country. He declared that the Nigerian aviation industry was for the first time facing a competitive challenge on the ground and in the air. Research he said indicated that air passengers were dissatisfied with the reality of domestic air travel and were increasingly open to new carriers on the block. He said, “The state of domestic air travel in Nigerian before now was impersonal and a hassle. And since the tragic events of 9/11, air transport security measures around the world including Nigeria has been stepped up, making it more inconvenient for travellers. “From this reality, airlines around the world are developing the idea that air travels can be made simply and enable customers to complete a journey by air in the most hassle-free way from booking a fight to collecting their baggage upon arrival at destination. “Airlines must find ways to make air travel easier, smoother and more human, which major Nigerian carriers have keyed into. They most hope to activate new customer groups and stimulate demand as a whole by creating more emotion around the brand.” An engineer with the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Sheri Kyari urged the nation’s carriers to be more careful when choosing brand names for their airlines. First, he said that the operating environment should be put into consideration when choosing a slogan for an impending carrier, adding that the country’s airlines are bedeviled with lots of challenges, which made rubbish of their brand names. He hinted that none of the carriers in the sector could be commended for satisfying their clients, adding that some airlines

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Business News

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

FG committed to promoting private sector investments –Udoma Tola akinmuTimi

udget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has restated Federal Government’s determination to create enabling infrastructure for private sector participation in growing the country’s economy. The Minister was quoted by his Media Adviser, Akpadem James, as giving the hint when a delegation from Cerberus/ Dyn Corp of the United States of America visited him in Abuja last Tuesday. The spokesman for the team and former Economy and Finance Minister of Egypt, Youssef Boutros Ghali, had told the minister that his group will like to participate in the turn-around of economic infrastructure in the country, including advising and financing moribund and ailing industries. He explained that government’s focus was on stimulating the environment through the cre-

ation of enabling infrastructure that will entice private investors to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy. Udoma said the group’s interest actually fits into what the Federal Government was trying to do; since government was not going to be involved in floating and managing businesses directly. Minister of State, Hajia Zainab Ahmed told the delegation that Nigeria at this time needs investors who can look at ailing and moribund industries and infrastructure and not only put in their resources into revive them but administer them to profitability. Going through the array of services and industries that the delegation said their group was interested in, the Minister of State said that Nigeria had opportunities in all the sectors indicated and noted that it is indeed heartwarming to meet investors that have a large appetite for risk taking. Boutros-Ghali told the min-

MTN, Jumia to empower students with entrepreneurship skills isaiah ErhiawariEn

TN Solution Space and Jumia have unveiled a new entrepreneurial initiative aimed at equipping Nigerian students with skills that will make them their own boss. The initiative, which is a competition will challenge students to develop a unique digital application or smart solutions that will solve a tangible problem faced on the continent The Pan-African competition will be the first of its kind in Africa, bringing together over 1000 entrepreneurs, students and investors, to collaborate on ways to amplify and consolidate the continent’s entrepreneurs, and targeting more than 60 universities in 13 countries across Africa. Commenting on the project, Manager of the MTN Solution Space, Sarah-Anne Arnold explained that the company was excited to partner with Jumia to launch the entrepreneurship challenge, adding that Africa is a continent of promise, and that aim of MTN with the MTN Solution Space has always been to help fulfil this promise by developing uniquely African solutions. She said: “We believe that the entrepreneurship challenge is a key element of this. The response and willingness from universities across Africa to collaborate on this initiative has been truly remarkable and certainly exemplifies the

ister that Cerebus/Dyn Corp has capacities in funding and turning around distressed companies and rehabilitating moribund infrastructure in several areas including logistics, technology, agriculture, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals. He stressed that as the leading econ-

omy in Africa, Nigeria needed such investments; pointing out that the current economic reforms going on in the country requires private sector support which the group can facilitate investments to the tune of at least $1 billion by the end of 2016.

The team, which was led by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah also comprised the former Prime Minister of Guinea, Kouyate Lansana and one-time Executive Secretary General of the ECOWAS Commission, Tibo Sharon.

L-R: Head, Construction and Real Estate, Fidelity Bank Plc, Wale Mesioye, Executive Director, Shared Services and Products of the bank, Chijioke Ugochukwu, President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Managing Director Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; and the Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Adeyeye Adepegba when the bank’s EXCO and management visited Dangote Group’s Board and Management in Lagos last Thursday.

Obasanjo lauds OPS on roles in nation’s economic devt

impact of collective efforts to foster entrepreneurship among our next generation of business DaviD auDu leaders.” MTN’s Group Chief Digital ormer President, OluseOfficer, Herman Singh, also said gun Obasanjo, has lauded that the company is proud to both the role of the private secsponsor and endorse the initiator in economic development tive. and jobs creation. Obasanjo who was the chief “The Entrepreneurship Chalguest at the commissioning lenge is strongly aligned to of British American Tobacco MTN’s own entrepreneurial culNigeria head office in Lagos ture and history as well as our recently, said the project was values as a business. We believe a milestone and a testament to in the inspiration of new busigovernment’s efforts towards ness leaders in Africa and their attracting foreign direct investenablement to success will be key ment. drivers for the future rapid evoluTracing the return of BAT tion of a broader start-up culture to Nigeria, which began with on the continent”, Singh said. the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the He said that Africa is an envigovernment and the company ronment already teeming with in 2001, Obasanjo said BAT was excellent potential and we hope among the first companies that to assist in accelerating its furheeded his government’s invitather growth and to raise MTN’s tion to invest in Nigeria. role in creating new businesses Highlighting the role that in Africa. companies such as BAT play Managing Director, Jumia Niin the country, he said almost a geria, Fatoumata Ba, said that decade after the signing of the “Jumia is proud to unveil a new MOU, he was at BAT to witness dimension of MTN partnership another milestone, noting that both aiming at promoting youth he was particularly delighted unemployment and fostering enbecause the head office building trepreneurship. We take pride showcases faith in Nigeria and in building and harnessing poBAT’s continued investment in tentials not only to create sucNigeria. cessful business leaders but also In reference to the legality to ultimately improve the whole of the tobacco industry and the ecosystem through direct job crebenefits Nigeria derives from ations.”

the legitimate tobacco industry, the former president said that the health warnings on cigarette packs are conspicuous enough. “With the warning on cigarette packs, the government and tobacco companies have fully discharged their duties. We cannot sacrifice the huge benefits BAT brings to the economy,” he emphasised. Managing Director, BAT Nigeria Chris McAllister, in his address noted that one of the major benefits of democratic rule is the relative stability the country enjoys, in addition to engendering an environment conducive for businesses to thrive. Listing the objectives of the MOU BAT signed with the Federal Government to include the development and expansion of a fully vertically integrated tobacco industry; the building of potential for regional exports; significant increase in both the quality and quantity of tobacco grown and establishment of an independent foundation to address rural economic development, Mr. McAllister said that the company has continued to fulfil its obligations to Nigeria.

by highlighting and celebrating the values and attributes that are unique to the Nigerian nation, the private sector can assist the government to achieve its global objectives. We are an ideal model of how, if properly structured, foreign direct investment can spur economic development,” he stated. He said the multi-storey building will serve as the headquarters of BAT for its West African operations. The Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Chief Moses Adeyemo, who represented the governor of the state, said the state has benefited tremendously from BAT’s factory and its corporate social responsibility programmes, which have helped farmers to elevate their practice, raising productivity and enhancing their incomes. “I make bold to say that BAT has made positive impact in Oyo State. The state has earned more than N1billion from BAT since 2003, its indigenes are full time staff at the factory, and Nampack, a packaging firm, is also in Oyo State courtesy of BAT; Nampak has also invested more than US34million, about N7billion, in the state. BATN Foundation is training our farmers on modern farm“As an economic developing practices in order to increase ment partner, we believe that their productivity. However, we want more,” he stated.

Business News

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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Stakeholders accuse FG of removing T PHCF from PIGIF Bill

Allocating 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund to Health not late –Hon. Jibrin

UDEME AKPAN

he Federal Government has been accused of removing the Petroleum Host Communities, PHC Fund, PHCF, from Petroleum Industry Governance and Institutional Framework (PIGIF) Bill. The PIGIF Bill is targeted at enabling the government to pass the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB in phases. The Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Mrs. Victoria Ohaeri, alleged that the Federal Government extracted provisions of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that deals with institutions, industry regulations and governance, and synthesized them into a separate bill known as the Petroleum Industry Governance and Institutional Framework (PIGIF) Bill. She explained that under this new bill, the Petroleum Host Communities (PHC) Fund was missing

among the new governance structures and institutional vehicles that will drive the revolutionisation of the oil and gas industry. Ohaeri pointed out that the exclusion of the PHC Fund diverged from the institutional reorganization proposed under the PIB, which was deemed necessary for making the sector more transparent, productive and accountable. She maintained that as the central point of oil production, the Niger Delta region is most gravely affected by oil prospecting and exploration activities in which the traditional means of subsistence, farming and fishing in the creeks, streams and mangroves are adversely affected by constant oil spills, gas flares, blow-outs and leaks, with spiraling effects on health, soil productivity, aquatic life and the environment. According to her, the widespread agitations against abysmal neglect, poverty and decades of reckless destruction of the en-

vironment and other natural resources have spurred unrest and growing militancy in the region, which till date, continue to cause significant disruption of petroleum industry operations. Spaces for Changes boss noted further that the establishment of the Petroleum Host Community Fund in the PIB formed part of a broader institutional response and regulatory measure to address local discontent, improve environmental governance and bolster healthier relationships between operators and the communities where they operate. Ohaeri indicated that under Section 118 of the bill, every company that is involved in oil and gas exploration and production is required to remit into the fund on a monthly basis, 10 per cent of its net profit, which the PIB defined as the adjusted profit minus the Nigerian hydrocarbon tax and minus the companies’ income tax.

he Chairman of House Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said that providing the one per cent from Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for Health in the 2016 Appropriation Bill as provided for in the National Health Act 2014, was not too late. While acknowledging the strategic position health plays in national development, the lawmaker promised that the committee would critically scrutinise the budget to work out the modalities for accommodating the allocation of the one per cent statutory requirement in order to provide effective health care services at all levels of government in the country. Honourable Jubrin made this known during an advocacy visit to Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and a developmental partner, primarily to advocate for fund mobilisation and adequate budgetary allocation to child and family health in the country. “While the whole essence of advocacy is to educate and inform the legislature of important issues affecting the country, the issues affecting budgetary allocation to child and family canvassed by the group have informed the Committee to without further delay, constructively work out modality and prioritise the one per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to the Health Sector as stipulated in

the National Health Act, 2014,” the Legislator said. The group was received by Deputy Majority Leader, Chairmen of House Committee on Appropriation, Health, Agriculture, Women Affairs, Finance, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Rules and Business, CSOs and Developmental Partners, Petroleum Down Stream as well as the Director General of National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS). Speaking during the visit, the group said it has a mandate to support Government of Nigeria to identify and assist in scaling up of high impact solutions that could help people lift themselves out of poverty and build better lives. It charged the House on exhaustive oversight to ensure effective implementation of the National Health Act. The group said: “We aim to reduce the number of preventable deaths by improving access to healthcare, particularly for women during pregnancy, by strengthening childhood immunization programs; and work with Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations to advocate to policy makers and raise public awareness in child and family health. “We also collaborate with smallholder farmers to increase the yield of priority crops, such as yam, cassava, sorghum, cowpeas, and rice, and improve the agricultural productivity of livestock.”

U.K. currency tumbles to lowest level in almost seven years

L-R: Managing Director Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Ndegwa; Managing Director of FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange,Mr Bola Onadele Koko and CEO, Standard Chartered Capital and Advisory (Nigeria) Limited, Mr Leke Ogunlewe, during signing of the FMDQ Cp Quotation Register and Presentation of the Cp Quotation Certificates to the Issuer In Lagos, yesterday.

Promasidor names judges for 2016 Quill Awards

romasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk and organisers of the Promasidor Quill Awards, has announced the list of judges for the 2016 edition of the coveted journalism awards. The panel of judges, which will appraise entries for the awards, has as its chairman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole. According to Mr. Andrew Enahoro, the company’s Head of Legal and Public Relations, Ambassador Cole, a veteran journalist, is returning as chairman of the panel of judges. He also hinted that Kadaria Ahmed, a veteran journalist and television personality; Reze

Bonna, a trained Architect and celebrated photographer; and Ray Echebiri, a British Chevening Scholar/seasoned financial journalist; will work with Amb. Cole in screening the entries submitted. On the justification for their selection, Enahoro said selection of the judges was hinged on their high profile based on their wealth of experience and integrity. He therefore expressed optimism that with the calibre of judges in place, Promasidor is confident that the ultimate goal of the awards of rewarding excellence in journalism profession in Nigeria will be achieved again this year.

He said: “Promasidor Quill Awards is committed to setting the pace on rewarding journalists based on merit for their work and not a self-seeking approach to get accolades, but a professional platform of assessment, recognition and reward for outstanding journalistic work”. There are seven Award categories available for potential contestants to apply for. The categories are: Brand Advocate of the Year; Best CSR and Industry Report of the Year; Best Photo Story of the Year; Best Report on Children and Nutrition; Education Reporter of the Year; Future Writer of the Year; and Best Online Reporter of the Year.

he pound fell the most since the U.K.’s 2009 banking crisis after London Mayor Boris Johnson, one of the nation’s most popular politicians, said he’ll campaign for Britain to leave the European Union in a June referendum. Sterling dropped to its lowest level in almost seven years against the dollar, and weakened at least 1 percent against all its 16 major peers. The move reversed a gain made on Friday when Prime Minister David Cameron secured a deal on membership terms with EU leaders in Brussels. Gauges of pound volatility versus both the dollar and euro surged to the highest levels since 2011 as Conservative MP Johnson’s backing of a so-called ’Brexit’ pitted him against the prime minister, who said he would fight to keep Britain in the bloc at the June 23 vote. “The pound is tumbling after the deal clinched by Prime Minister Cameron at the EU summit failed to alleviate fears about Brexit,” said Valentin Marinov, head of Groupof-10 currency strategy at Credit Agricole SA’s corporate and investment-banking unit in London. “The

fact that prominent members of the Conservative Party announced they will campaign for Britain to leave the EU likely underscored investors’ concerns that Brexit risks could increase from here despite the deal.” The pound dropped 1.9 percent to $1.4126 as of 4:26 p.m. in London, set for the biggest decline since March 2009. It earlier reached $1.4058, the lowest since March 18 of that year, the day a report showed U.K. unemployment climbed above 2 million for the first time since 1997. Higher Volatility Sterling weakened 1 percent to 78.03 pence per euro. Although the announcement of the date removes one aspect of ambiguity for traders, they now face months of polls and

campaigning that may boost volatility further. With traders already pushing back bets on the timing of a Bank of England interest-rate increase, the prospect of Britain leaving the world’s largest single market had been causing further concern, helping push down the pound against all of its Groupof-10 peers this year.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Pensioners give conditions for N5.2trn pension fund utilization Olufemi AdeOsun AbujA

igerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has rejected the proposal that the N5.2 trillion pension fund be invested in some critical infrastructure, insisting that such action would jeopardize the interest of contributors. A statement signed by the union’s National President, Dr. Abel Afolayan, and General Secretary, Mr. Actor Zal, in Abuja indicated that such proposal could only work in an environment with sound financial management culture. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had at a forum in Abuja canvassed the re-investment of the N5.2 trillion pension fund in critical sectors of the nation’s economy,

particularly in the areas of infrastructure. But the pensioners described the minister’s proposal as not only reckless, but also unfortunate. According to the union, contributors which comprise Nigerian workers and other contributors are saving the money for the rainy day, adding that it would be callous for anyone to create avenue through which such savings could be frittered away. It stated:”The Nigeria Union of Pensioners takes exception to the position expressed by the Hon. Minister and wishes to state that this statement is not only reckless but unfortunate. “How on earth will government decide to use hard earned people’s money that is contributed for a specific purpose under the law and the money would be used for

another purpose that has no backing of the law. “The Nigerian workers alongside other contributors are saving their money for the rainy day in order to make life better for themselves after retirement, and for government to think of diverting the money to infrastructural development without proper safeguards is unthinkable. What will be the fate of these people when they finally retire to fall back on their money and the money is nowhere to be found?”, the union queried. The union also stated that it was not against investing on infrastructural development per se but that its fear is premised on the fact that there is high rate of impunity in the system coupled with the corruptive tendencies of government officials who see pension money as a gold mine and

Fashola

their penchant for reckless infringement on pension funds.

Kwara Aviation College trains Airforce cadets, Naval Pilots WOle Adedeji IlorIn

he Kwara State owned International Aviation College, IAC, has trained 25 cadets of the Nigeria

Ahmed

Airforce in 2014 in addition to several other pilots sponsored by states’ and foreign governments to be trained in the college. The governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed dropped this hint in Ilorin while flagging off training of helicopter pilots in the college with a set of 2XAB206 Helicopters that joined IAC training fleet. The helicopter pilots training by the college is in partnership with the Nigerian Navy, NN found a suitable facilities in the IAC because of the longest runway available at the Ilorin International Airport that the college had taken good advantage of. Governor Ahmed said the inclusion of helicopter training was part of the efforts to transform IACto a one-stop aviation training institution and showcase the Kwara State as an aviation hub in the country.

Perm Sec re-orientates staff on new Ministry’s status

he Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Fatima Nana Mede, has told the staff of the new Ministry to now appreciate and adhere to the administrative guidelines as being implemented in the federal civil service, as the status of the former National Planning Commission had now ceased. A statement by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Press, Mallam Salisu Haiba, quoted Mede as reminding the employees of the ministry’s new status in her address during a one-day capacity building on service procedures and ministry’s work plan organised by the ministry for all officers in the Directorate cadre at the weekend in Abuja. The capacity building training was organised by the new ministry of budget and national planning for the officers in the directorate cadre in the ministry with the view of sensitising and acquainting them with the civil service operational procedures away from their former working operation as a commission. Three

papers were presented at the training session; ‘consolidating the public service rules and regulations within the current dispensation in the ministry’, ‘Internalisation of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) rules and regulations in the Ministry and Public Procurement act 2007 as amended’ and ‘ Institutionalisation of Public Sector financial regulations and procedures within the current Federal Government financial regulations reforms. She said: “The ministry of budget and national planning must be properly positioned inline with the extent rules and regulations in the federal civil service, to be in a good stead to carry its official mandate as a key ministry that will facilitate coordination in the implementation of the present administration’s policy initiatives and reforms” The three papers were presented by the Directors from Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and Office of Accountant General of Federation (OAGF).

He added that the growing reputation of IAC as a centre of excellence in aviation industry has manifested in its partnership with various organisations, especially, the Nigerian Navy and Airforce. The governor called on aviation operators in Nigeria to employ more locally trained pilots boasting that IAC has shown through its accomplishments, facilities and partnership with elite organisations that the country had the training facilities, structures and personnel to train world class pilots. The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, in a message to the flag-off of ceremony through Rear Admiral J.O Oluwole; the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited said the Navy’s partnership with IAC was to bring together the college expertise and facilities with the “Navy’s rotary facilities, experience

and reputation”. He noted that partnership with the college would reduce the Navy’s dependence on foreign technical training requirements and promote local capacities in line with prevailing national policy. He added that the Nigerian Navy through the partnership hopes to train its aviators to global standards, improve their capacities through the unique combination on civil and non civil organizations that the partnership with IAC offers. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of IAC, Captain Edward Boyo, in his remarks said the College had since its establishment in 2011 successfully trained pilots and other professionals for the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Airforce as well as many civil pilots.

Job vacancies

irst Access Microfinance Bank Limited Fresh Job Recruitment 2016 First Access Microfinance Bank Limited, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions below: 1.) Manager Location: Osun Requirements Must have a minimum of 5-7 years working experience in microfinance bank, also CIBN or ACIB certificate, must also not have been sacked or dismissed. 2.) Head of Operation Location: Osun Requirement Must have worked as head of operation in microfinance bank 3.) Experienced Marketer Location: Osun Requirement Must have worked in a similar capacity for 10 years. Applications Closing Date for the above

positions: 29th February, 2016. Ericsson Nigeria Fresh Job Recruitment 2016 Ericsson is a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment & services to mobile & fixed network operators. Over 1,000 networks in more than 180 countries use Ericsson equipment, & more than 40 percent of the world’s mobile traffic passes through Ericsson networks. We are recruiting to fill the following positions below: 1.) Head Network Performance Improvement Education and Experience •Bachelors/Master’s Degree in Telecommunications or equivalent. •7-10 years of experience preferably familiar with Ericsson processes/procedures and good internal contact network. •Ability to work on senior management level.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Real Estate & Environment

Global report lists Nigeria among freshwater-deficient nations A global report released on the state of freshwater situation in most coutries has listed Nigeria among those lacking adequate capacity to provide for their citizenry and meet national needs thereby putting the country at risk in the looming freshwater shortage crisis. In this analysis, SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE captures the findings in the report, which projects that two-thirds of the world population may be seriously endangered in the next five years.

rior to 2016, the United Nations, UN, had raised serious concerns over possible freshwater shortage, disclosing that global demands for water would vastly outstrip reliable supply in many parts of the world in the next twenty-five years.

Attributing the situation to the growing world population, the UN officials said humanity would draw more heavily on shared river basins as well as underground aquifers for agricultural purposes. This, according to the UN would be in addition to global warming, projected to exacerbate shortages in already water-stressed regions while accelerating rapid melting of glaciers as well as snow cover upon which, billions of people depend for ultimate source of water. As the world and indeed Nigeria are bracing up for the challenges ahead, a fresh report emerged fortnight ago, that about four billion people, about two-thirds of the world’s population would face severe water shortages far more than previously believed. This time not from the UN but a Professor of Water Management, University of Twente, Netherlands, Dr Arjen Hoekstra, said that half of the four billion people would experience

House rent soars in Lagos, Abuja, other cities 27

severe freshwater scarcity in China, India and Africa, including Nigeria. According to his statement, ‘’of the remaining two billion, the majority live mostly in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mexico and the Western and Southern parts of the United States, such as California, Texas and Florida’’. On how he arrived at the figure, Hoekstra, a renowned global researcher said he used a computer model to divide the world into grids, measuring approximately 1,200 square miles each. While using the process to analyze the monthly water demands and availability in each grid to determine the

scarcity level, he came to a conclusion that ‘’about four billion people or twothird of the world’s population will face severe water shortages at least one month every year, far more than was previously thought. Explaining further, he said he designed a computer model together with his professional colleague, Mesfin Mekonnen to create what they described as a more accurate picture of water scarcity around the globe. Severe water scarcity, they however noted could lead to crop failure as well as low crop yields, which might result into food price increase, famine and widespread starvation. ‘’An area experiences severe water

This Time noT from The Un bUT a Professor of WaTer managemenT, UniversiTy of TWenTe, neTherlands, dr arjen hoeksTra, said ThaT half of The foUr billion PeoPle WoUld exPerience severe freshWaTer scarciTy in

china, india and africa, inclUding nigeria

scarcity when its farms, industries and households consume double the amount of water available in that area. This means that groundwater levels are falling, lakes are drying up, less water is flowing in rivers, and water supplies for industry and farmers are threatened’’, Hoekstra stated. According to a water expert, Chris Uwajeh, the report might have element of truth, however, he said all the countries mentioned might not suffer equally. He said, ‘’In affluent countries, water scarcity could mean water rations for showering and gardening, it could mean shortage of drinking water in poor countries’’. Previous studies had shown that between 1.7 and 3.1 billion people were affected by extreme water shortages. “Freshwater scarcity is actually a major risk to the global economy, hence many people in the world receive part of their foods from the affected areas, it involves all of us all”, he added. Uwajeh said, clean and safe drinking water has become scarce, saying that statistics revealed that nearly 1 billion people in developing countries CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Ups and Downs in Nigerian Real Estate/ Finance market 26

Zuma restricts foreign ownership of lands 27

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global report lists Nigeria among freshwater-deficient nations CONTINUED FROM 25

do not have access to freshwater, yet some countries are not taking the issue seriously saying, ‘we waste it and even pay much to drink it from little plastic bottles’. He said water is the foundation of life, but regretted that many people are spending days searching for it. He said for instance, in sub-Saharan Africa, many people are suffering from water-borne diseases, thus limiting the true potential of people, excluding time wasted in searching of water. Reliable statistics revealed that over 63 million Nigerians have no choice, but to get water from wherever source possible. In Nigeria today, water services are not enough to cope with the rapidly growing population, as a result of this, more than 63 million people live without access to safe water. The nation’s water infrastructure is also suffering from severe neglect as rural areas in particular face a decline in services while urban people are forced to buy water from private vendors, which they may not afford. Local governments often do not have the funds to make necessary improvements and instead, forced to use short-term solutions, which cannot be maintained by the communities that need them. Not quite long ago, WaterAid, a Nongovernmental organization based in London in partnership with governments to provide water, said lack of running water killed more people in Nigeria last year than the insurgence. ‘’While the terror campaign claimed more than 4,000 lives, the shortage of potable water and poor sanitation led to about 73,000 deaths, according to the organization non-profit organization. It further noted that the water deficit was not only limited to isolated areas in the country’s vast area of the north, saying in Lagos also; about 15 million of the coastal metropolis has limited access to pipe-borne water. The organization however noted that Africa’s accelerating urbanization is colliding with governments’ failure to provide the most basic services, disclosing that very soon, Lagos will add more than the population of Boston, worsening its infrastructure shortfall. Lagos State Water Corporation said Lagos residents need about 25 gallons of water a day. The Corporation’s water capacity is 210 million gallons a day compared with the 540 million gallons needed by the residents. Its potable pipe-borne water reaches about 7 million people, leaving two-thirds of the residents struggling to find safe water. Lagos water officials have developed a $3.5 billion plan to more than triple capacity to 745 million gallons a day by the year 2020, to meet a projected population of 29 million, according to the company. Also, the third-biggest killer of chil-

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon,

dren under the age of 5 in Africa is diarrhea, a disease that can be prevented by access to safe water and sanitation, according to WaterAid. Nigeria accounts for 11 percent of all global under-5 deaths, according to the UNICEF. Nigeria is not the only sub-Saharan African country struggling with shortages, about 325 million people on the continent did not have access to improved drinking water, according to a World Health Organization and UNICEF joint report released last year. Dakar, Accra, Abidjan and Nairobi were cited as other water-stressed cities. Vandalism of the water pipes remains frequent and even when the pipes are intact; the flow is as erratic as electricity supply in a country that suffers from daily blackouts. The water situation is worst in Ajegunle city, where WaterAid said at the dustbin estate slum, where the ground is soft from building over a refuse dump and swamp land, pipes are often broken. Sanitation in the community is poor. Residents dump bags of trash and faeces into adjacent canals The simultaneous ubiquity and scarcity of water is one of Earth’s little ironies.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu

Globally, 97.5 percent of water is contained in world’s oceans. Of the planet’s “fresh” water (the residual 2.5%), more than two-thirds is encased in ice packs while another thirty percent in groundwater, and almost one percent in high latitude permafrost. This leaves us with about 0.4 percent of global fresh water to account for: about two-thirds of what is contained in freshwater lakes with the rest distributed among soil moisture (12 percent), the atmosphere (9.5 percent), wetlands (8.5 percent), rivers (1.5 percent) and vegetation (1 percent). The need for reliable sources of fresh water is as old as our species, of course. What is new today is the combustible combination of surging global demand for increasingly scarce fresh water in certain volatile regions of poor governance. Several factors are driving this trend. By 2025, experts said, the world’s population would swell from seven to nearly eight billion. The vast majority of this increase would occur in the developing world, particularly Africa. In rapidly expanding urban centres, demand for fresh water would rise for

Not quite loNg ago, Wateraid, a NoN-goverNmeNtal orgaNizatioN based iN loNdoN iN partNership With goverNmeNts to provide Water, said lack of ruNNiNg Water killed more

Nigeria last year thaN the boko haram iNsurgeNcy

people iN

personal consumption, sanitation, industry and hydroelectric use. According to Global Water Security, “one third of the world’s population would live near water basins, where the water deficit would be larger than 50 percent by 2030. Many regions that are already experiencing water stress would become “extremely more stressed” or even “exceptionally more stressed.” In some areas, rapid depletion of underground aquifers would be the culprit. In others, it would be reductions in melt water as glaciers recede. Poor water management: adapting to a new era of water scarcity would require enormous investments in integrated water management, particularly in the developing world. This would include improving agricultural efficiency through new irrigation systems and drought-resistant crops; renovating infrastructure to reduce urban “water leakage” (which averages 30-50 percent in many cities); clarifying rights to the use of subterranean, riverine, and lacustrine water resources. Simply put, water scarcity is either the lack of enough water (quantity) or lack of access to safe water (quality). It is hard for most of us to imagine that clean, safe water is not something that can be taken for granted. But, in the developing world, finding a reliable source of safe water is often time consuming and expensive. The problem of water scarcity is a growing one. As more people put ever increasing demands on limited supplies, the cost and effort to build or even maintain access to water will increase. And water’s importance to political and social stability will only grow with the crisis.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

NESREA enlists Police support on environmental crimes

MORTGAGE NOTES with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja

Olufemi AdeOsun,

Email: Nike@MVPSolutionsinc.com https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35277333

AbujA

Ups and Downs in Nigerian Real Estate/Finance market

ast year was an unprecedented success in the real estate development sector in Nigeria. This is the year Nigeria finally took her place as the “beautiful bride” of the African real estate market, with global investors falling over them to partake in the huge margins achievable in the Nigerian housing market. It seemed everyone wanted to build and sell – from international funds to local magnates. The universal logic seemed to be “If you build it, they will come”, and buildings started springing up all over the nation, with developers catering to every housing need, from luxury to affordable. State governments also threw their hats in the ring, with Lagos State as usual spearheading the drive with an end-to-end housing solution through the Lagos H.O.M.S project. State governments saw the wisdom in negotiating with seasoned developers for the construction of housing for their citizens, while participating in the profits realized, simply by contributing state owned land as their equity capital in each project. In my opinion, one of the most important events in the Nigerian housing market was the appointment of the former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, as the Minister of Housing, in addition to other components in a portfolio that has earned him the nickname of “Super Minister”. Mr. Fashola brings with him the hands on experience of the Lagos H.O.M.S project as earlier stated. He also brings with him a global viewpoint as a former Chief Executive, as well as a seasoned legal professional. It is to be expected that this background will serve him well in the task of building to meet the growing demands of a nation with the burgeoning population being experienced in Nigeria. In fact, he has already stated a plan to build about 480 houses in each state from the commencement of the 2016 budget. The difference between his plan and that of the previous regime is that government will go back to being the actual builders of the properties, instead of contributing land to private developers for building. The Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC) commenced full operations earlier this year, and I was privileged to facilitate for them at an industry awareness campaign in May this year. It was gratifying

to hear that they had successfully commenced the purchase of some mortgage backed transactions from the industry, which would be a major step in its recapitalization. The fact that the NMRC has access to extremely low rates is a plus, as the mortgage operators in the nation could potentially get rid of their high interest rates by selling their mortgages to the NMRC. It is to be hoped that such entities would in turn offer their customers the opportunity to refinance their current home loans for lower rates and longer terms, thereby creating a more sustainable funding market. It was also encouraging to learn that the NMRC had successfully floated a bond at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, also potentially providing funds for the market. It remains to be seen how substantially the NMRC will affect the market, and how closely it will align with its mandate of reshaping the Nigerian mortgage sector. One of the most disturbing issues we continue to notice in the sector is the low level of mortgage activity in the nation. This may not be unrelated to the guidelines and terms of the type of funding typically available to the mortgage industry players. Unfortunately, the NMRC guidelines seem not to have helped much in solving this problem because quite a few of the criteria required for the repurchase of mortgages, are alien to the Nigerian market. The concept of debt ratio should absolutely be the first to be reviewed (ad scrapped) because it just does not work in a nation where by far the greatest majority is still resistant to filing taxes, or even declaring their total income. It is critical for the NMRC guidelines to be reviewed ASAP, so it does not become yet another failed project in the housing sector. It is also critical for the industry to accept the role of the NMRC as an umbrella guideline solution, to encourage standardization and unification of the industry, leading to a more

Real Estate & Environment

sustainable market, and more favourable international investing. One of my biggest issues this year has been with the use of the concept of “Affordable Housing”. These have been probably the most abused buzzwords in the sector, with developers categorizing any and all property price points as “affordable”. I literally located properties priced over fifty million naira, with the “affordable housing” tag. I have not been sure whether to laugh, cry or simply pull my hair out. I am baffled as to the criteria being used to determine if a property should meet the “affordable housing”, and have yet to find a plausible explanation for the variances in price. Even using the argument of a free market, there really should be a floor and ceiling type of approach to this, e.g what is the median income in the community where the property is located? What is the maximum ratio of “affordable housing” pricing in the community to the median income? Is there a home buyer program to raise awareness and educate buyers prior to purchase? How is the program expected to be sustainable without concrete guidelines? Anyway, the year is almost to an end, and I have to admit that the positives far outweigh the problems. Congratulations to all my industry colleagues. No matter what may be said about the industry, the talent is immense and the opportunities are unending. We look forward to a 2016 where more concrete solutions will be achieved for the market and where the name “Nigerian” will continue to be synonymous with creativity, intellect and achievement in the global real estate market. As usual, all comments and questions are welcome. Please follow me on Twitter @NikeFinancePro, and make it an AWESOME 2016.

ABOUT THE WRITER Fasanya-Osilaja a lawyer and mortgage expert has owned and operated Marvel Ventures Mortgage, Inc. (www.marvelmortgage.com), a Chicagobased Mortgage Brokerage Company since 2000 and has worked in the US Mortgage industry since 1996. She also consults and facilitates industryrequired activities, from set up of mortgage organisations to documentation, training and compliance.

he Nigeria Police Force has declared support for the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in its efforts to curtail the rise of environmental crimes and prevent Nigeria from being used as dumping ground. The deal was sealed at the Force Headquarters between the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director-General/ CEO of NESREA, Dr Lawrence Anukam. Speaking, the Police IG promised to reinforce and reinvigorate all existing pacts between NESREA and the Nigeria Police, including the implementation of the environmental Training programme for Nigeria Police initiated by NESREA. He admitted that it was necessary for the Nigeria Police to be acquainted with environmental issues, including the laws and regulations. According to him, there is the urgent need for capacity building in the Police Force, in order to deliver on their mandate and effectively protect the Nigerian citizens. Mr. Arase stated that the Police would duly participate in the Environmental Training programme initiated by NESREA in partnership with the Nigeria Police, even as he assured maximum assistance to NESREA, particularly in the area of environmental compliance and enforcement nationwide. He said that the modalities for implementing the Training Programme would be quickly worked out and put into practise, and would involve all the Nigeria Po-

lice colleges. Earlier, the Director-General NESREA, Dr Lawrence Anukam, alerted the IG on the growing rate of local and transboundary environmental crimes and that it was time for collective effort to fight against the menace. He stated that his visit to the Force Headquarters was to solicit for continuing collaboration and partnership between NESREA and Nigeria Police towards effective implementation of environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement programme nationwide. “We need to enforce the environmental laws and regulations, and to do that effectively, we need Police cooperation”, he declared. He expressed appreciation for the security services provided by the Nigeria Police during NESREA enforcement activities. The NESREA chief spoke on various programmes and activities of NESREA including the active involvement of the Agency in the Environmental Crime Programme of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and how Nigeria has benefited from the capacity building and intelligence sharing exercises. Anukam who is currently a member of the Governing Board of the Interpol Environmental Crime Programme at the Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France, stated that Nigeria would soon be establishing the Environmental Security Task Force (ESTF), using the Interpol template as it is being done presently in many member countries of the Interpol. He said that the membership of the ESTF would include all relevant agencies and organs of Government.

FG urges states to embrace solar system Olufemi AdeOsun, AbujA

he Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri has urged state governments to consider the deployment of solar technology to complement their energy sources. Shehuri stated this in Anuja at a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Hadejia. He disclosed that for Jigawa State, which has no gas or adequate water source for generation of electricity, solar power remained the most viable option. The Minister described the support of the state government for the deployment of solar powered energy as a laudable and welcome development, while assuring that the

Federal Government would provide the necessary support and encouragement to drive the project. He also assured Nigerians that with an appropriate energy mix for the country in the power sector, tariffs would eventually crash as obtained in the other countries, globally. Earlier, the Deputy Governor informed the minister, his state intention to generate 80 megawatts of solar power which would be added to the national grid, in partnership with Nova Scotia Power Development Limited. Hadejia said that the Company had so far fulfilled all requirements by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (N.E.R.C.) and wete in negotiation with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (N.B.E.T) for the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (P.P.A.)

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

House rent soars in Lagos, Abuja, other cities SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

ouse rent in Lagos state and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja has experienced continuous rise in the last six months with low demands for residential buildings.

Investigation reveals that asking rent costs have been rising in some other states, following the growing economic downturn in the country. While asking rent costs are much higher in Lagos Island, rental yields are generally higher in the mainland due to

the surging prices in the Island market. Tenants said Nigerian rental market appears to favour landlords than tenants as rents are freely determined; saying the Rent Control Law of Lagos has not been implemented. Rents, according to a tenant,

L-R: Manager, Events and CSI, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Ame Okwudi; Artist and Photographer, TY Bello; Baby Precious Orisaguna; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Trustees Ltd, Mrs. Binta Max-Gbinije; Model, Mrs. Olajumoke Orisaguna; Head, Legal Services, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Angela Omo-Dare and Mr. Sunday Orisaguna, at the presentation of an Educational Trust Fund of N1.5m by Stanbic IBTC Trustees to each of the Orisagunas’ children, in Lagos on Thursday.

Senegal’s Environment Minister tasks African govts on green economy

enegal’s Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Abdoulaye Balde has urged African governments to use green economy to create employments on the region. The country launched a green growth blue-print, aimed at creating 4,000 green jobs directly and 6,000 jobs indirectly. Lack of adequate skills and human capital remain one of the key obstacles for many African countries to adapt to climate change while achieving full potential for green growth, decent work, green job creation as well as eradication of poverty. ‘’Building the right skills will enable African countries to create new jobs in a range of economic sectors to attract investments, create sustainable and green jobs for a growing labour force, saying it would help to increase productivity of the workforce and make African economies more competitive. Manager of the Compliance and Safeguards Division at the African Development Bank, AfDB, Anthony Nyong said the continent should move towards a low carbon development to create vibrant green economies. “We need to adopt green economy, if we are to create

more jobs for our youth. This calls for inclusive and innovative ways to develop necessary skills we need,” Nyong stated. Also, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, ILO, Guy Ryder noted that solving climate and employment crises are global challenges that must be addressed to combat climate change. “Today, 200 million people with majority of them being youths are unemployed. In order to create 600 million jobs by 2030 to reach 100 percent employment for all, we should handle climate change well, as

it has potential to achieve this,” Ryder noted. He however called for Africa’s preparedness to tackle the challenge. “Most African countries are not well equipped for green jobs, but have the comparative advantage. We need to restructure our education systems which focus on primary education much to the expense of higher learning,’’ he said. “Vocational and technical trainings should be promoted. We must carry out skill upgrades to create new jobs as we focus on relevant higher levels of qualifications,” he added.

Bolaji Adeyemi are paid in advance for two to three years, saying tenants might not have the financial muscle to fight the injustice due to cumbersome court system. ‘’Our court system is cumbersome and expensive, most landlords prefer to evict tenants using assortment of tricks, phony legal cases, intimidation, locking out tenants or physically throwing them out of the house’’, he stated. Some tenants have blamed the soaring prices of locallyproduced and imported building materials for the high cost of accommodation in major cities nationwide. According to a tenant, Louise Ehis, the present economic downturn as well as instability in the price of building materials have been responsible for the high cost of accommodation in some parts of the country. As a result of the growing costs of accommodation in the country, stakeholders in the housing sector have urged the Federal Government to provide tax relief for local manufacturers and importers of building materials in order to reduce the high cost of accommodation in

ready disappeared’’, the team stated. The hunted species are mostly mammals while others are reptile and bird species. In many areas, they are the only cheap and easily available source of animal protein for the rural community. However, the commercialization of the bush meat trade has meanwhile led also to the “Empty Forest Syndrome” in forest ecosystems throughout Africa. The sale of bush meat allows the rural community to purchase products or services which go beyond simple self-sufficiency. This has far-reaching ecologi-

know how much they pay workers”, a tenant in FCT told the National Mirror on phone.

Zuma restricts foreign ownership of lands

nvestors in South Africa have kicked against President Jacob Zuma’s policy on land ownership, put at 12 000 hectares. Zuma had sponsored a Bill to place a ceiling on land ownership at 12,000 hectares. This angered offshore investors, who kicked against government’s policy to limit foreign ownership of land in South Africa. Africa Property News Media Director, Ortneil Kutama said the

Hunters mount pressure on forests, animals

opulations of African animal species have decreased dramatically. A team of European researchers led by Goethe University Frankfurt has predicted that hunting for animals has put serious pressure on the Congo Basin. Since 25 years, animal species in West and Central Africa are no longer being hunted, solely for the purpose of local self-sufficiency, but increasingly also for sale in urban areas. ‘’As a consequence, many populations have dramatically decreased while some had al-

major cities. Unless this is done, they said, Nigerians would continue to pay more for accommodation, until the cost of building materials was subsidised through tax holiday. Beyond this, government should also provide enabling environment for the private estate developers to strive by providing them with proper incentives, credits and mortgages. Today, an average Nigerian worker must contend with the lack of access to affordable land as well as mortgage facilities, which has become a major hindrance to Nigerians, having their own houses. In Abuja, the cost of buying a land is much more than building a house. Civil servants cannot afford houses due to meagre earnings, even as it is also difficult for them to access mortgage loans. “I do not think government has civil servants in its plan for housing; if they do, the process of acquiring housing loans should be made more civil service-friendly, since they

cal consequences, which ultimately also threaten the existence of the rural population. For example, with the disappearance of the herbivorous animals which serve as seed carriers, the forests disappear in the long term too. The research team led by Bruno Street analysed reports pub-

lished between 1990 and 2007 on the bush meat on sale on markets in the Congo Basin (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo.

President disappointed operators in the property market in South Africa. However, President Zuma said he was encouraging land reform programmes, thus raising restrictions on foreign ownership of land. Investors said regulation of Land Holdings Bill was an imminent feature for the legislature as the draft bill is expected to be presented to the Cabinet by April this year. The draft bill seeks to limit land ownership to 12,000 hectares and prohibit foreign land ownership, which would have great impact on foreign investments as currently, a sizeable portion of privately owned land lies in the hands of foreigners. The President said, foreigners could take up long term leases on land. “Land reform remains an important factor as we pursue transformation. I spoke about the fifty/ fifty policy framework last year, which proposes relative rights for people who live and work on farms. Twenty-seven proposals have been received from commercial farmers and four are being implemented in the Eastern Cape and the Free State”, Zuma said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Aviation

We’re fully prepared for ICAO’s audit – Dati Hon. Yakubu Dati is the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. In this exclusive interview with OLUSEGUN KOIKI, he speaks on the preparation of the agency towards the forthcoming ICAO audit, lapses in the industry’s security networks and compliance with accident reports, among others. Excerpts: How prepared is the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, audit slated for next month? The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is working round the clock to ensure that Nigeria as usual scale the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, audit As you are aware, our Managing Director, Engr. Saleh Dunoma who himself had served in several capacities like Airport Manager, Director of Security and Director of Project is fully aware of what is required to be done for us to scale the audit. In a bid to ensure that the country comes out in flying colours, he has set up a taskforce committee under his chairmanship, which primary duty is to ensure that the gaps noticed by ICAO in the past are closed. At present, we have closed most of the gaps identified in the past. You will also recall that in order to close the gaps, our Managing Director invited the Airports Council International, ACI, Apex to carryout independent audit of our facilities apart from the ones that we have done ourselves. FAAN disclosed recently that it had commenced the installation of airfield lightings at 13 airports. What is the state of the project now? That is already on course and we have visited some airports that have been designated for that purpose. We are working tirelessly to ensure that we complete that installation so that most of our airports can carry out night operations. With this, we would be optimising the opportunities of airlines to be able to operate their aircraft more efficiently. As you are aware, there is a complaint that the airlines can’t maximise the usage of their equipment, but with airfield lightings coming up in most of the airports now, such a complaint would be a thing of the past and their business would grow more. We can’t really tell you when the installations would be completed because this is determined by budgetary provisions, releases and other procedures that are very key. The most important thing is that we have started it. This is another way of improving safety in the system. When the Minister of Transport, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika visited, they insisted that safety is very paramount to the industry than any other issue and you will agree with me that the issue of airfield lighting also falls into that category. To what extent would you say FAAN has complied with safety recommendations of Accident Investigation Bureau in the face of the various airside incidents in the past year? This is part of what we are doing in the agency. The markings are there. On the issue of Hak Air and Emirates incident on the tarmac, we were all there including the past Permanent Secretary of Aviation and we discovered that the incident had nothing to do with markings because the incident did not occur on the runway, but on the way to parking. These are issues that we should look at holistically even

ish with the core responsibilities and provision of safety that has to do with airport operations, we won’t be able to look at other issues. So, we priotise what is needed to be done, but I assure you that those issues are given close identification and we are in consultation with the unions on this. Also, the non-payment of gratuities is not peculiar to FAAN alone; in fact some State Governments can’t even pay salaries not to talk of gratuities. When is the construction of FAAN’s headquarters commencing as ordered by the Minister of Transport last December? We are practically on course with the order. We recently advertised for the consultancy in the media. That’s the first step and very soon, the consultant would be selected through a transparent process in line with the procurement Act. We also hope that as soon as we play our own role, they would begin to roll their sleeves to ensure that

Dati

Security aS it iS in nigeria today iS everybody’S buSineSS. We are not only collaborating With other Security agencieS,

but We are alSo engaging With the public for them to be aWare of their environmentS though AIB is more competent to speak more on it. However, the issue of runway markings is very high on our agenda, not only in Lagos, but in all the other airports across the federation. The markings are already there, but the wear and tear makes them to fade gradually. Gratuities of FAAN pensioners have not been paid since 2013. What is the management doing now to ensure payment of retirees? Since Dunoma came in about two years ago, the issue of staff welfare has been on the top burner and prompt payment of staff salaries have been on over the years and the increment of their allowances have consistently been paid. We are also doing so much in terms of payment to our pensioners. In fact, the Chairman of Pensioners told me just last week that FAAN has been selected as one of the agencies that is paying pensioners gratuities and meeting up with its responsibilities to staff and others as at whe due. Sometimes, when there are hiccups here and there, it doesn’t mean we are negating our responsibilities, we are very alive to our responsibilities and we operate within the confines of what the situation at hand allows us. We are airport operators and until we fin-

FAAN gets a befitting headquarters. There are several lapses in security at our airports, what steps have you taken to curb some of these obvious lapses in the system? Security as it is in Nigeria today is everybody’s business. We are not only collaborating with other security agencies, but we are also engaging with the public for them to be aware of their environments. Just recently, Sirika inaugurated a committee on security and the committee has already begun their work and they have visited some of our airports. Security is one of the core areas of our operations. Apart from this, we have also deployed lots of technologies to enhance security at our airports. We have installed body and baggage scanners and we have also intensified our checks on travellers. We also have Closed Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras at most areas within the complex. We have security both on the land and airsides. What have you done to prevent a recurrence of the infiltration of airports in the country by angry passengers like what happened in Abuja Airport last December? We have taken quite a number of step and that is why when a similar incident recurred by the same airline, it didn’t result into what happened the first time. First and foremost, we have been able to deploy security as at when due and officers on duties have also gone to inspire other officers to be alive to their responsibilities. Also, we discovered that most of the angry passengers passed through an opening in the carousel area, we have also fortified that area such that it would not be porous again for people to use. If I mention the security measures we have deployed, it would be inimical to the system because we are dealing with public here.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

SAHCOL wins Air Cote D’Ivoire handling contract in Abuja StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi

Chairman of Kasapreko, makers of Alomo Bitters, Dr. Kwabena Adjei with the 5th edition of Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award in West Africa.

African Airways as a preferred ground handler in its Abuja operations, which commenced January this year 2016. The agreement with the Southern African carrier kicked off the beginning of another long standing relationship between both companies in providing seamless services to the airline. Till date, SAHCOL has successfully established a very strong market presence in the domestic and international aviation industry, with its unmatched expertise in providing exceptional passenger, ramp and cargo/warehousing services to its clients. Also in 2015, SAHCOL delivered ground support equipment worth several millions of naira. The equipment were manufactured by TUG, United States;

Denge, United Kingdom and TBD, United Kingdom and included conveyor belt loaders and baggage tractors; baggage carts; pallet and container dollies, respectively. The equipment were immediately deployed for use to further improve services to clients across the network. SAHCOL had in earlier showcased some newly acquired equipment to the tune of N600m to the public. SAHCOL is certified by the International Air Transport Association, IATA, having undergone and passed the ISAGO Audits for its Headquarters, Lagos, Abuja and Kano Stations. SAHCOL provides daily scheduled ground handling services in 17 locations in Nigeria, among which are Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Jos, Yola, Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kebbi, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Owerri, Uyo, Ilorin, Benin and Asaba airports.

Med-View connects Kaduna with Abuja

ne of Nigeria’s fastest growing carrier, MedView Airline, has concluded plans to commence direct flight operations from Lagos to Kaduna. According to a statement by the airline’s media consultant, Obuke Oyibotha, flights on the additional route would begin on Monday, March 7, 2016. He stated that the new schedule indicated that the Lagos flight would connect Abuja from Kaduna on its return journey, departing Lagos by 7.30 am and arrive Kaduna at 8.30 am after which it would depart for Abuja at 9.10 am. With Kaduna, Medview Air-

Alh. Bankole

shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

Time to clean NAMA books in the face of EFCC’s visit?

kyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, has won the contract for ground handling services to Air Cote d’Ivoire’s flight operations at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. A statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, indicated that the new contract would see the company providing passengers, ramp, cargo handling and crew bus services to the airline thrice weekly on its flight operations to Abuja. SAHCOL is a major provider of aviation ground handling support for international and domestic airlines operating within and into the Nigerian Airports. In the past six years after its privatisation, the company has won more than 70 per cent of the new airline ground handling contracts signed in Nigeria, thereby becoming a leader in the sector. Agboarumi hinted that the leapfrogging of the company over its counterpart was largely due to new investments in ground support equipment, good customer service, infrastructural development and appropriate trainings of its staff. Just in the last quarter of 2015, SAHCOL was named by South

Airside

line has eight cities- Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Yola, Kano and Maiduguri on its domestic network. Commenting on the new route, the Managing Director, Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the intention of the airline was to ease the pains of travellers in that axis and promised to continually rendered the quality services it is known for on all its routes to the new route. Med-View Airline was in 2012 issued the Air Operator’s Certificate, AOC, to commence scheduled flight operations after two years of rigorous attempt to get the certificate by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Since the commencement of Lagos-Abuja-Lagos flight operations in 2012 with just two aircraft, the airline –as increased its routes to other cities in Nigeria and added, Lagos-Accra to its number of growing routes less than two years later. Today, Med-View operates direct flight operations to Gatwick International Airport, London four times a week while it equally commenced direct flight from Kano via Lagos to Jeddah, Saudi

Arabia on December 31, 2015. Just last week, Med-View added another Boeing 737-400 to its fleet and equally signed an agreement for the delivery of another B747400 with Air Atlanta of Iceland, which would be delivered to it soon. The arrival of the B737-400 grew the fleet of the airline to six while the impending acquisition of the B747-400 would increase its fleet of aircraft to seven.

n the 2nd of this month on this page, Airside hinted about the visit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to one of the aviation agencies and the anti-graft agency’s astonishment at discovering a staggering N800 million in the accounts of one of a career civil servant who could not convince the agency as to how the staggering amount of money got into his account. Airside did say then that when EFCC officials checked the books of the agency, it unearthed several unwholesome practices in the agency and in the private accounts of several senior and middle cadre staff of the agency. Officially, EFCC eventually stormed the headquarters and

the annex offices of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, two Fridays ago and now, all is history. However, Airside has also gathered that one of the past Managing Directors of NAMA is actually the whistleblower. Information reaching Airside indicates that the very vocal Managing Director in and out of office has been cooling his feet in the net of the anti-graft agency and when showed documents, he decided to vomit all he knows. Airside insists that whatever the anti-graft agency might have been discovered in NAMA would be a child’s play when it eventually comes public with its findings in other agencies in the sector. Airside and others are watching.

Revisiting the case of jobless 500 Nigerian pilots and engineers

t a time in the Nigerian aviation industry, stakeholders and professionals raised the alarm of dearth of professionals and lack of replacements for ageing technical staff. Analysts then called for training and retraining of young and vibrant youths to take over from the ageing workforce, a call, which several State Governments especially those in the Northern States of the federation hearken to by sending their indigenes to aviation colleges within and outside the country. But, Airside is worried that barely after three years of intense training for these set of people, no fewer than 500 Nigerian licensed pilots and engineers are roaming the streets with their certificates in their hand folder.

Ironically, most of the country’s airlines apart from MedView Airline that has consistently given employments to Nigerian technical personnel engage the services of no fewer than 1000 foreign pilots without much consideration to the young graduates. Airside observes that most of the local operators don’t want to expend their money on training of pilots and engineers in the sector, a situation, which has not made the young graduates type-rated on any aircraft. Airside insists that this is a bad policy from the domestic carriers as the foreigners they engage are paid in enormous foreign currencies especially dollars, given accommodation and full security while they discharge their duties in the country.

Air France wins Customer Relations award

ir France has won the first prize for Customer Relations in the transport sector at the 12th edition of the Customer Relations BearingPoint – TNS Sofres awards held in Paris, France recently. Statement by the media manager of the airline in Nigeria, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ojesina said that the survey was conducted by BearingPoint and TNS Sofres in November 2015 with customers and users of companies and authorities, from a sample of 4,000 people. The statement said that this award recognises the efforts made by the company in terms of custom-

er relations. The statement recalled that in recent years, Air France has digitised its services and now offers multi-channel availability to meet its customers’ needs always, both in France and abroad. The statement hinted further that the airline is also committed to a vast move upmarket of its products and services and intends to make a difference with its caring attitude towards customers. Commenting on the award, the Chief Executive Officer, Air FranceKLM, Mr. Alexandre de Juniac, assured that the airline would constantly strive on a daily basis to con-

tinually improve the service it offers its customers. He also dedicated the award to all Air France staff who he said daily ensured its customers had a stressfree and relaxing travel experience. Air France, a global airline of French inspiration, with high standards and a caring attitude, turns the flight into a moment of real pleasure on all its daily operations in France, Europe and worldwide. Since 2004, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have formed a global air transport giant with a strong European base. The Group also offers cargo transport and aeronautical maintenance solutions.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Insurance

IAAG partners FRSC to deepen motor vehicle insurance Isaac asabor

n its bid to create awareness on motor vehicle insurance among drivers and transporters in the country, the Federal Road Safety Corps has entered into partnership with the Insurance Awareness Advocacy Group, IAAG Nigeria. The formal flag off of the campaign which took place at the Lagos Sector Command attracted members of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW which was led by its Vice Chairman Comrade Wale Ajilo, representatives of insurance companies and logistic managers who represented companies that are into haulage. In his address, the sector commander, Hyginus Uche Omeje, noted that the flag off of the campaign coincided with the 28th Anniversary celebration of the corps which was established on February 18, 1988. He pointed out that the decision to integrate the insurance awareness campaign into the activities lined up to mark the anniversary celebrations of the corps was deliberate. Omeje explained that “Section 139 (1) of the

National Road Traffic Regulation 2012 makes it an offence for any person to drive uninsured vehicle, trailer, stage carriage or omnibus on any public road.” In addition, he cited sub section 3 of the same Regulation which makes it an offence for any person to drive any vehicle with forged or false insurance papers, pointing out that insurance of vehicles as required under these regulations shall be in accordance with the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 2004 or comprehensive insurance cover. The industry player explained that the corps was collaborating with the insurance industry in stamping out the incidences of crash victims being denied of compensation precipitated by the prevailing high rate of fake motor insurance certificates, adding that “our proactive enforcement, we believe should be preceded by a robust awareness campaign as most motorists who carry fake insurance certificates are not even aware of it and its implications.” In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigerian Insurance Association, Mr. Sunday Thomas, who was represented by the Controller, IT, Research and Statistics of the

Miss Insurance promises to rev up insurance drive Isaac asabor

he newly crowned Miss Insurance, Adaeze Okeke, has promised to use her position as the reigning beauty queen in the sector to help in reving up the rate of insurance penetration in the country. She made the promise during her courtesy visit to the management of Linkage Assurance Plc in Lagos. Adaeze assured that she would use her position to campaign for the awareness of insurances in such a way that every Nigerian would become aware and develop interest for insurance products. The beauty queen quipped: “I intend to concentrate on creating insurance awareness focusing more on micro-insurance products. Adaeze explained that she will ensure that the messages for the awareness campaigns

are translated and disseminated in different Nigerian languages to ensure that her effort gets to the grassroots, adding that her planned communication strategy would improve the financial inclusions of the huge market at the bottom of the pyramid. She noted that it is regrettable that a significant percentage of the people in the insurance market are not insured. She added that it is discouraging that Nigeria with a population of over 166 million had only 0.5 percent insurance penetration. She said more efforts have to be taken in the insurance sector of the economy given the abysmal low rate of insurance penetration. While bemoaning the low insurance penetration, she applauded the efforts of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Nigeria Insurance Asso-

ciation, NIA and the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers for their efforts so far toward the deepening of insurance penetration in the country. She said “I am aware of the fantastic job being done by registered intermediaries in promoting insurance awareness, especially in the grassroots. I will leverage on what they have done so far and work assiduously to deepen insurance awareness and penetration.” Okeke said her determination to use her position as the reigning beauty queen in the sector is predicated on the fact that the insurance sector is strategic to the growth and development of the Nigeria. The Managing Director, Mr. Godwin Wiggle, in his response assured that Linkage Assurance Plc, would support Okeke to ensure that the beauty queen achieved her set goals during her reign.

association, Mrs. Bola Omole, thanked the officers of the corps for giving the NIA the privilege of working with them. Responding to commendations made in respect to the awareness campaign, the President of IAAG, Mr. Idongesit Mbat, congratulated the Federal Road Safety Commission on its Anniversary celebrations and also applauded the good work which the members of the corps have been performing and the continuous innovation in their operations in the recent years and said that it is a great privilege to work with the FRSC. Giving an insight into the activities of IAAG Nigeria, he said it is “a body of professionals from different sectors of the economy working together to promote insurance awareness in Nigeria.” Mbat lamented that despite the efforts of the National Insurance Commissions (NAICOM), the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) and Insurance Companies towards toward the creation of awareness on insurances that many Nigerians are still not aware of the tremendous benefits they can derive from insurance. He said: “Many still live with negative impressions about insurance. This suggests that the work is enormous and cannot be left to the Insurance industry alone since insurance benefits are available to all sectors of the economy, we encourage participations from all sectors and the government at all levels in promoting insurance awareness.” The risk underwriter explained that the group was determined to bring insurance awareness to at least 20 million people in Nigeria in the next 3 year and admitted that It seems tough but that the group is determined to achieve the its target. Mbat noted further that apart from the partnership with the FRSC towards the promotion of motor insurance awareness in Lagos that IAAG planned covering other states of the fed-

President, IAAG, Mbat Idongesit

eration. He noted that in order to achieve the objectives of the group that partnership with the Fire Service towards the commencement of Fire Insurance awareness is indispensable. He said that the campaign which the group is carrying out is not limited to motor vehicle insurance but to builder’s liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, contractors all risks and other related insurance product as well as working with Healthcare professional to promote health insurance awareness. The IAAG boss also hinted that the group is also working with educational institutions and religious organizations to promote insurance awareness. Mbat assured the participants that the awareness campaign would be taken directly to the local communities, estates, schools, churches, mosques, markets, Associations and clubs. He affirmed that the group would continue to mobilize and deploy the required resources that are needed to drive the insurance awareness campaign in the country until the set goals are achieved.

China: Second mainland reinsurer officially opens for business

aiping Reinsurance (China) yesterday staged an official opening ceremony, becoming the second mainland Chinese reinsurance company. Taiping Re (China) is part of the China Taiping Insurance Group, a Chinese state-owned financial and insurance group whose headquarters is located in Hong Kong. The group already has a reinsurance company in Hong Kong, called Taiping Reinsurance, that

was established in 1980. In November 2015, Taiping Reinsurance received approval from CIRC to convert its Beijing branch into a subsidiary which is now Taiping Re (China). The registered capital of Taiping Re (China) is CNY1 billion (US$153.4 million). The new company provides reinsurance services in the property, life, medical and accident insurance arena. (Source -asiainsurancereview.com)

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Charting feasible course to enhancing PMBs’ financing capacity The Nigerian mortgage industry requires a vibrant primary mortgage market that should be actively supported by stakeholders in the construction and financial services sectors in order to tackle the burgeoning housing deficit in the country. In this analysis, UDO ONYEKA undertakes a critical appraisal of the mortgage sector today and how the much needed funding gap could be bridged from experts’ perspectives.

egulators in the financial sector and other stakeholders are not unmindful of challenges militating against the growth of the mortgage sub sector, thus compelling them to rally their efforts towards mitigating the sub sector’s funding constraints. Taking a look at mortgage in the country, Head, SIID, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mr. J.J Etopidiok, last year in Katsina, Katsina State, said that the reform in the financial sector particularly the recapitalisation initiative would invariably rob on positively on the mortgage investment drives. Etopidiok said before the recent recapitalisation requirement of Primary Mortgage Banks, PMBs, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the mortgage bankswere poorly capitalised with some having a capital base of N100 million or less, which accounted for their inability to meet national housing needs. “The CBN approach towards addressing this issue by sanitising and strengthening the subsector resulted in the introduction of a tiered capital bases for PMBs operating at different levels. These were N5bn for mortgage institutions which wish to operate nationwide and N2.5bn for those which wish to operate in a state”. According to him, under the new guidelines PMBs would only be allowed to perform such duties such as mortgage finance, real estate construction finance, acceptance of savings and time/term deposits and acceptance of mortgage- focused demand deposits, adding that the 2013 guidelines clearly stream lines the activities of a PMB to provision of mortgage finance and exclude other related activities such as the provision of estate management duties. Etopidiok said to address the finance challenge of mortgage sub sector more attention should be given to corporate governance in managing and reporting on the activities of PMBs in the country, manpower development, amendment of the land use act, timely conclusion of CBN;s PMBs recapitalisation. Similarly, the President of the Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria, MBAN, Femi Johnson, said recapitaliasation of the mortgage sector remained critical to the growth of the system, noting that at the end of the process, operators who remain in business will operate within the best corporate governance and regulatory requirements benchmarks. Johnson said a lot of the operators have decided to operate at state levels while a few others are ready to operate at the national level, adding that those who cannot make it to the national level can operate at the state now and upgrade to the national level later. The Managing Director, UACN Property Development Co Plc, Mr Hakeem Oguniran, identified five drawbacks in mortgage financing as cost, character, capacity, collateral and conditions. According to him, counterpart funding for mortgages remained an issue in mortgage fi-

Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Limited, headquarters

Interest rates are at a very hIgh rate. the problem of access to long term fund for housIng must be addressed. rIght now you have people who are workIng, earnIng salary and payIng rents that If we structure mortgage properly, theIr rent Is hIgher than mortgage nancing, adding that the country’s system is people-driven rather than system driven. He pointed out this type of challenge largely depended on the availability of a particular person to run smoothly, calling for a one-stop shop to facilitate transaction. Many analysts believe that the revised guidelines would bring a positive turnaround in the mortgage industry, hoping that it will, in the first instance, provide a level playing field for all operators and engender confidence in the mortgage banks. They pointed out that the revised guideline is an opportunity for the mortgage sector to be more creative, envisaging that growth will be witnessed among those mortgage banks that are able to add value to their customers in terms of product offering and cost of doing business. According to a mortgage finance expert, Mr. Frank Ogunbor, issues of liquidity challenges cannot be ruled out; mortgage banks have the options of raising capital through rights issue, private placement, public offer, business combination, mergers and acquisition, take-over or downscaling. In the same vein a financial expert, Mr. Lawrence Ekeh said access to mortgage provision is key to affordability, especially when the cost and tenure of finance are very competitive. “The interest rate/charges payable on a mortgage and the tenure of the loan are critical

elements of affordability.” He reasoned that the lower the rate and the longer the tenure, the more affordable the house type because it means more people will be able to take and repay such loans based on their current earning since constitutionally, individuals are not allowed to spend more than about 30 percent of their earnings on housing. “Interest rates are at a very high rate. The problem of access to long term fund for housing must be addressed. Right now you have people who are working, earning salary and paying rents that if we structure mortgage properly, their rent is higher than mortgage”. In other climes especially in the advanced economies housing finance is synonymous with mortgage, because in such societies, the only known way of buying and owning a home is by applying for, and accessing a mortgage facility. But in Nigeria, the story is different. This is a country where homeownership is realised almost 100 percent from own savings or through communal and co-operative efforts. Experts have revealed that housing finance by public authorities in Nigeria is about 10 percent; mortgage banks contribute about two per cent, while contribution from banks and other institutions is insignificant. On his own MD/CEO, Resort Savings and Loans plc, Abimbola Olayinka, says the Land Use Act should be used to empower the people

and not as an economic and political tool by state chief executives, adding that the Act should be taken away from the constitution so that it could be easily tinkered with. He recommends that land administrators should adopt what he called three-one-three strategy for land registration, explaining that land titles should be perfected in three days at one central place, and at the cost of three per cent of the value of the land. In order to deepen and strengthen the mortgage sector the NDIC has urged operators of PMBs to embrace good corporate governance and sound risk management practices to avoid creation of huge toxic assets that could put insured deposits at risk. Chief Executive Officer of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, gave the advice recently in Lagos at the NDIC sensitisation workshop for operators of PMBs. He said weak corporate governance and poor risk management frameworks can result in risky behaviours by PMBs and this can result in creation of huge toxic assets and ultimately put insured deposits at risk. “Given the recent regulatory efforts and the associated high cost of cleansing the system of toxic assets of DMBs through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, the supervisory authorities are deeply concerned about the build-up of toxic assets of the microfinance banks ,MFBs, which stood at about 45.70 percent as at December 2013 as against the prescribed maximum of 5 per cent. “Our attention is now being focused on both the MFB and PMB sub0sectors so as to address the emerging challenges. Our efforts can only be successful if the operators can embrace corporate governance and sound risk management practices. We cannot afford a repeat of 2008/2009 crisis,” Ibrahim said. According to him PBMs in Nigeria can create significant impact if and if only they adhere to recommended corporate governance practices based on effective and sustainable risk management practices as instituted by regulatory authorities.

Buhari

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Capital Market

We need conducive environment for firms to list on Exchange – Balogun The Managing Director, CSL Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Gboyega Balogun, speaks on how to some yet-to-be listed companies, especially telecommunication entities, to explore the capital market for capital and by so doing increase the market’s contributions to the economy in this interview with JOHNSON OKANLAWON. Excerpts: CSL Stockbrokers over the year has joined the big league in volumes traded on the equities market.What is the drive behind this? A number of years ago, we decided to go after International investors. It has been very successful because what we offer to a lot of these investors is the best of both worlds. On the one hand, we have a local presence but on the other hand through our international offices, we offer them International best practice when they come to us. International investors are able to get a local perspective as to what is going on in the capital markets. It is something our international peers cannot offer whilst feeling safe in the fact that their counterparty is regulated by the same regulators as they have become accustomed to. Information is key and to invest in Nigeria’s capital market, you cannot do this remotely, You must have a deep insight of what really is going on, which is where we come in for our international clients who are sitting overseas. We have been able to develop that relationship with international investors and that is what differentiates us from the pack. What is CSL Stockbrokers doing to drive domestic investors since their exit in 2008? We are institutional brokers. We look primarily at your Pension funds, Asset managers and HNI/Family Offices. Those are our primary focus. In terms of retail investors, particularly in periods of depressed activities and price volatility, we prioritize on the following two options for our clients. One is going through mutual funds, of First City Asset Management, which is a far safer option in times of price volatility. Furthermore, cost of execution is cheaper and there is an inherent ability to diversify one’s investment. Second is one line real time solution, which takes away the human interface and allows clients access to all the necessary data to make informed investment decisions. Our core business however is institutional investors. We are a corporate and institutional brokerage organization. How can the capital market support the nation’s GDP?

& Gas, Power and industries companies listed on the Stock Exchange. When there is a better implementation in the economy, we will feel the required impact of the capital market on the nation’s GDP. As of now, few company would want to be listed due to decline in prices of listed companies. I think there is need for more conducive environment, cost of listing must be reduced and macro economy environment must be conducive for investment.

Balogun

InformatIon Is key and to Invest In nIgerIa’s capItal market, you cannot do thIs remotely, you must have a deep InsIght of what really Is goIng on, whIch Is where we come In for our InternatIonal clIents who are sIttIng overseas For the capital market to support the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we need a conducive environment for sectors within the Nigeria to list on the NSE. Right now, the full spectrums of the sector are not represented in the capital market. We don’t have the telecommunications, full complement of upstream Oil

With the fall of shares in the capital market, are you not worried? Everybody should be worried. We brokers should be more worried because we are going to feel the full effect of it. But I think all these things have a cycle; they will come and go. The reality is that Nigeria is too big an economy to be ignored by FPIs. It is during these quiet times you consolidate on your relationship with these clients whilst at the same time think outside the box to generate incremental revenues. It is important to note that so long as you can find the other side of the trade, and there is always the other side if the price is right, as a stockbroker whether a foreigner is buying or selling, we will still make our brokerage commission. They may leave now but they will be back. We must note that there are different types of investors. If I am an investor with five-year investment horizon or I have a strategic interest in a business, I will put my money in the capital market right now because valuations are compelling. There is still going to be more volatility over the next six to twelve months. As such if you are a short term investor, you cannot stand the volatility, the stock market will be a very tough proposition Nigeria is very well endowed with the people and natural resource. The rational for not devaluing or limiting the supply of dollar is to limit the importation of inflation and force import substitution to allow industries develop locally. There are many sectors FG can develop. Unfortunately, we are not quite there yet to pursue full import substitution and there will be the inevitable demand for imports to cover the gap. Government is looking into it but we’ll see how far it will go.

Miners push Europe stocks higher, FTSE 100 gains amid `Brexit’

rally in commodity producers is pushing European stocks toward a three-week high, and U.K. equities climbed amid a weakening pound. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 1.3 per cent at 12:45 p.m. in London. Gains in commodities sent Anglo American Plc, BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group up more than six per cent, extending gains after the group entered a bull market last week. In the U.K., where the debate over whether to leave or stay in the European Union is in full steam, the FTSE 100 Index climbed 1.3 per cent. The gauge is also benefiting from a tumble in the pound after the mayor of London said he’ll campaign an exit. “While we still have some pretty big risks out there, the market has sold off so much it was about time we got a

bounce back,” said Allan von Mehren, chief analyst at Danske Bank A/S in Copenhagen. “We’ve seen a turnaround in the commodities sector. Some of the drag from China is also starting to ease. We have a bit further to go in this relief rally.” The Stoxx 600 jumped the most in a year last week, taking its gains from a Feb. 11 low to 7.5 per cent. The gauge was still down 11 per cent for the year through Friday, with a valuation of about 14 times estimated earnings, compared with a high of 17 last April. Italian equities, among the most hurt in 2016 as its banks plunged, was the biggest gainer in western Europe on Monday. In the U.K., the FTSE 100 is rising for the first time in three days. The gauge is the best performer among major peers this year, helped by a weakening

pound and rebound in miners. Prime Minister David Cameron last week negotiated new terms for Britain’s membership in the EU, and a referendum will be held on June 23, where voters will chose whether to exit or stay in the 28-nation bloc. Both London Mayor Boris Johnson and Justice Secretary Michael Gove said they’ll campaign for the country to leave. While JPMorgan Chase & Co. says an exit would be “quite negative” for the market, it doesn’t expect it to happen. The bank just turned overweight British equities after being underweight for three years, citing attractive valuations and a lower commodity exposure. Among stocks moving on corporate news, Associated British Foods Plc added 1.7 per cent after the owner of discount-clothing retailer Primark and Kingsmill bread raised its annual profit

outlook. Umicore SA rallied 7.3 per cent after UBS Group AG recommended buying shares of the maker of catalysts. Home Retail Group Plc jumped 13 per cent after Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd. offered 1.4 billion-pounds ($2 billion) to buy it, countering a bid by J Sainsbury Plc. Sainsbury dropped 2.2 per cent. Air France-KLM Group dropped 3.6 per cent amid a strike of runway employees at the Charles de Gaulle Roissy airport, which the company said isn’t affecting traffic. HSBC Holdings Plc slid 2.7 per cent after posting a quarterly loss, hurt by a decline in income from lending, higher loan-impairment charges and fair-value losses on its debt. Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey Plc and British Land Company Plc, a real estate investment trust, fell more than 2.3 per cent (Source – Bloomberg.com)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Edo must move beyond ethnicity politics in 2016 –Esele W

hat is it that brought you here today? I am interested in the position (of governorship ticket) to be chosen by the delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its gubernatorial aspirant in the next election. That is why I am moving around. Considering the crowded nature of the APC field, what are your chances? The bottom line is that it is a matter of ideas and that is what I try to tell the delegate that if anybody has the superior idea to move the state forward, they should go along with the person but if you think I have the superior idea to move the state forward, to build on what Governor Oshiomhole has achieved in the last seven years, then, choose me. One other thing we need to tell ourselves is that we need to move beyond this politics of ethnicity; politics of I know someone; you queue behind somebody and he is not going to add value to your life. Somebody comes, gives you a bag of rice, after a while it is exhausted; somebody comes, gives you N10, 000 that may not cook a pot of soup that will last you for three weeks. We have to move beyond that. It is somebody you know that can build on what has been done today and that can secure or guarantee their future and that of their children. That is why I am in this race. Some people believe you are not on ground in Edo State. How do you see that? Anybody can say what they want just to damage whoever they want to damage. People say what they want. But I will say I am not based in Abuja. I was born in Benin City; Agbado to be precise. All my life, I have lived here; apart from my working life in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country. Why go into a race that the governor has expressed his preferred candidate? The governor has a right to have a preferred candidate and nobody should take that from him. I also have the right to contest for the office of the governor. So, it doesn’t have to be whether the governor has a preferred candidate or not. It is the delegates that will determine who will be the next governor. We are in a democratic process and I think we should be open to discussions. We should be open to ideas and if you try to shrink the space, you start creating problems. So, people will look for other means to ventilate their anger. Open up the space, let everybody go up there and see how they can move the state forward. For me, I have always said either as PENGASSAN or TUC President, in anything I do, the first thing I ask myself is am I happy with what I am doing? Do I love what I am doing? If I love what I am doing and I am happy with what I am doing, I never lose. It depends on how you will describe what losing means because I know, of course, that in my dream and drive to want to move

Comrade Peter Esele is the immediate past president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC). TUC is one of the two pivotal and foremost Organized Labour Movement umbrellas for workers in Nigeria. In this interview, Esele explains why he is aspiring to succeed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State in 2016 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and why Edo people are one. SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN reports.

Esele Edo State forward, I have combed all the nooks and crannies to know what Edo State actually lacks and how I will be different because I enjoy being different. So, what I am coming with is something new; something people don’t talk about; something that I think that will make the state better. So, I am concentrating on only three areas of interest: Education, Agriculture and Culture. When you talk about education, I am talking about functional education. I am a testimony to that. When I was working for an American company, I didn’t have a degree. I acquired a degree at Airport Road here in Benin and that skill is the foundation of everything I am today. Going to get a degree was more like: let me get a degree to sell my skill. Not that I wanted to get a degree to go and work or apply in any company. So, that is an area we all need to look at; which is serious functional education. The governor, Oshiomhole, has done well with his red roof revolution. But we have to look at the functionality of the red roof. You don’t run a government on ad-hoc basis. You run a government to say: in 10 years’ time, this is the number of people that will be leaving primary school and be entering secondary school and you can also tell yourself this is where the vacancy is. I have done mapping of the entire state. So, I am not coming to tell you I am going to learn the rope in one or two years. I already have my programmes lined out. I have done the mapping of the entire state and I can tell you what each community can survive on. In other parts of the world you will know who is in a particular class and you will know the best before they get to the last class and you know the state resources to put behind

those people and you also now know what to do. There is no connection between government and our campuses. If you are a professor under my watch, you are going to profess your profession or your research. When I talk about culture, I know what culture is and I know what I can do with Igun Street. I know what I can do with Ogbe quarter and what the Oba’s palace can also be. You can notice what is going on already; the price of crude goes down, everybody is panicking. The price of crude goes up, everybody is panicking. So, you don’t need money coming from Abuja. But without self-reliance, how do you sustain your state? I know what to do to make sure that those rural areas are able to generate income from their own. From my own research, there are a lot of people in the communities that N50,000, N100,000 can change their lives. But they have no opportunity to do it. But I know the part of those communities that I will touch and some microfinance bank will go there and be giving them loan. What is your view about zoning of political offices? When I hear people say: he has to be a governor because he is from Edo South, Edo Central or Edo North, I laugh. The only way we can sustain ourselves is to make sure that our language also exists. Let me tell you what I will do: all the primary schools in Edo South must teach the language dominant in Edo South; all the primary schools in Edo Central must teach the language dominant in Edo Central; all primary schools

in Edo North must teach the language dominant in the North. What that will do is that there will be integration and a sense of belonging to one place. In doing that we will now have to build that infrastructure which invariably means that we will create employment because people are going to teach all of these. I will also make sure that every child in the primary school learns one foreign language. Why? Because if a child doesn’t love his book before he is 10 or 12, he will never love it even when he is 20! So, that early time is better because we need to project into the future. Our children must think local and act global. If you have a leader that is narrow in his thinking and that sees Benin as an ancient, local city, we will not go anywhere. We must have a leader that has a vision that this is what I want the state to be; first in Nigeria. And this is how I want the people of this state to be looked at outside. That is my goal. Others believe you are merely targeting the deputy governorship ticket. Is this true? I have heard that. That is also one of the reasons I am doing a routine campaign. We have never had that conversation; we have never had that discussion. I think it is pure blackmail and that is not what I am here for. If that is why I am here, I will not tell you I have professors working for me. I had to do mapping of the entire 18 local government areas. It cost me money. Not government money and they had to do the interpretation for me. I will not spend money to know about tourism; the culture in Europe and how to make so much money. I went to the Vatican and I paid some Euros for some private tours and I found out that they get over a thousand people visiting that place every day and they are making money out of that. Whether the price of crude is 10 or 100 dollars it is none of their business. I went to the British museum and I saw the Ankara that was used to celebrate the Oba of Benin’s 30th anniversary hung in the British Museum. Is there any where you will see that in Benin or in Nigeria? No. Because we don’t tell our own stories; we don’t build anything. So, I wouldn’t waste my time trying to say let us be different. What are your views about youth empowerment? I don’t like to do something that is over flogged. You are going to hear people talk about youth empowerment and all that. But if you talk about agriculture, there

When I hear people say: he has to be a governor because he Is from edo south, edo central or edo north, I laugh.

are companies outside of this country who are looking for just 500 hectares and they will do serious farming and it will create employment. There is this culture that strives from tourism. There is no old man that can do it; it is the youth that will take people around and talk to them. So, in all of these various sectors or segments in the society, people are factored in. So, I am not going to come out and say youth empowerment. I am not going to speak the language that people have been hearing. You can’t expect a different thing when you keep doing the same thing. You can’t be a Commissioner of Agriculture under my watch and you are not doing a research to know the modern seedlings; and the modern act of farming and trying to see how you impact them to lives of rural dwellers; and you can’t tell me how many farmers you have lifted from poverty. That is what I will use to judge you. It is KPI: (key performance indicators). You can’t tell me you are a Commissioner of Education and you can’t tell me the best student in Primary one or two in Ologua Village; you can’t tell me the best student in Uromi or Opoji? There is no data to show how many children we have in all our primary school, how many are doing well, and how many are high fliers? Then you are not qualified to be a Commissioner for Education under my watch. You can’t tell me you are a Commissioner for Housing and you are not finding out the modern technology to build houses that will be affordable to the ordinary people? You can’t say you are a Commissioner for Works and you are not telling me the modern technology in constructing roads? I will give you my expectation, you will give me results. I will give you the necessary input so that you can give me the appropriate output. If you don’t win the APC governorship ticket, are you going to defect to another party? That is not part of me. It took me a long while to make the decision to be here. I am not going to say I will be jumping. I am not even thinking about that. My appeal to the leaders of the party is to ensure that we have free, fair and transparent primary because if we don’t have a transparent primary crisis will follow. I know Governor Oshiomhole is going to do everything to make it work. Governor Oshiomhole strives for legacy. He must be asking himself continually what will I be remembered for? I don’t think he will want to be remembered as somebody who led a primary that was inconclusive. And I think there are also a lot of things that will be said about the governor which is just politics. People will want to blackmail the governor but the fact is that let us have a situation where if somebody loses in an election that is transparent, the person will be very happy and move to congratulate the winner. That is what I think has to be done.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016

Equities as at February 22, 2016

Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary (Bonds)

1st Tier Securities

No Debt Trading Activity 1st Tier Securities

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals Quotation(N) Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 6 6 12

Current Price 30.00 34.00

Quantity Traded 12,629 11,640 24,269

Value Traded 374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 1.25

Quantity Traded 1,078,511 1,078,511

Value Traded 1,358,964.30 1,358,964.30

1,102,780

2,154,839.65

Quantity Traded 33,500 6,740,423 65,995 6,839,918

Value Traded 25,070.00 7,635,453.96 1,344,425.15 9,004,949.11

6,839,918

9,004,949.11

AGRICULTURE Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN Daily Summary

No. of Deals 5 68 13 (Equities) 86

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers

Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING Activity Summary on COMP. Board PLC. EQTY

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Food Products Infrastructure/Heavy Construction DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. FLOUR MILLS NIG.Construction PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Totals HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Real Estate Development Totals

ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC Daily Summary asPLC of 22/02/2016 CAP Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC

Daily

Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC Activity Summary Board FLOUR MILLSon NIG. PLC. EQTY HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC CONSUMER GOODS Food Products Published by The Nigerian StockINDUSTRIES Exchange © PLC NASCON ALLIED N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals

Current Price 41.50

Quantity Traded 31,970 Page 31,970

Value Traded 1,409,214.78 11 1 1,409,214.78 of

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 5.20

Quantity Traded 28,901 28,901

Value Traded 154,716.48 154,716.48

60,871

1,563,931.26

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Quantity Traded 190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

Value Traded 528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 168.50

Quantity Traded 166,476 166,476

Value Traded 28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95

Symbol Symbol DANGSUGAR JBERGER FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR Symbol UAC-PROP

No. No. of of Deals Deals 54 13 38 13 6 No. of Deals 5 5

Current Current Price Price 5.61 41.50 19.00 1.37 Current Price 5.20

Quantity Quantity Traded Traded 2,120,306 31,970 314,421 31,970 40,000 Quantity Traded 28,901 Page 28,901

Value Value Traded Traded 11,610,520.13 1,409,214.78 5,953,792.96 1,409,214.78 55,716.00 Value Traded 154,716.48 11 2 of 154,716.48

60,871

1,563,931.26

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 6 24 7 98 135

Current Price 2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

Quantity Traded 190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

Value Traded 528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 168.50

Quantity Traded 166,476 166,476

Value Traded 28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95 Value Traded 11,610,520.13 5,953,792.96 55,716.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

No. of Deals 54 38 6

Current Price 5.61 19.00 1.37

Quantity Traded 2,120,306 314,421 40,000

Symbol NASCON NNFM TIGERBRANDS

No. of Deals 12 1 29 140

Current Price 6.86 6.65 1.27

Quantity Traded Page 119,863

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

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 11 54 65

Current Price 17.86 700.00

Quantity Traded 18,825 98,360 117,185

Value Traded 329,518.50 68,567,962.00 68,897,480.50

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 4.46

Quantity Traded 99,050 99,050

Value Traded 420,455.00 420,455.00

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.

Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Products Totals Personal/Household

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 13 21 34

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY DIAMOND BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Daily Summary as ofBANK 22/02/2016 WEMA PLC. Printed 22/02/2016 Banking14:36:10.010 Totals

Current Price 21.90 28.00

394

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

No. of Deals 82 51

Current Price 4.10 1.49

433 3,285,739,119 3,288,334,142

Value Traded 820,034.75 3,737,067.92 4,557,102.67

3,289,575,498

4,244,727,629.11

Quantity Traded 3,962,506 2,163,396

Current Price 15.60 1.21 16.70 1.07 1.76 2.95 5.30 0.63 0.98

Quantity Traded Page 278,470 790,900 4,847,312 1,969,858 1,204,932 8,586,418 39,752 501,617 5,920,564 30,265,725

No. of Deals 14 (Equities) 8 2 3 7

Current Price 0.80 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.06

Quantity Traded 200,107 276,500 5,004,000 1,000,000 351,540

Value Traded 160,838.67 251,350.00 2,502,000.00 500,000.00 720,728.80

Value Traded 245,325.31 18,854,067.50 5.00 23,234,315.28

Symbol AIICO Daily Summary CONTINSURE HMARKINS LASACO MANSARD

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol NEM UNITYKAP WAPIC

No. of Deals 10 1 1 46

Current Price 0.76 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 327,285 37,708,135 10 44,867,577

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.08

Quantity Traded 4,760 Page 4,760

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FCMB STANBIC UCAP

No. of Deals 31 7 105 7 20 170

Current Price 2.46 4.00 0.85 14.15 1.31

Quantity Traded 1,149,464 27,041 31,257,120 38,035 708,255 33,179,915

Value Traded 2,830,722.84 104,002.06 26,613,309.20 537,985.34 931,556.31 31,017,575.75

108,317,977

195,681,762.26

Quantity Traded 614,065 551,998 16,020 597,000

Value Traded 1,572,223.05 13,903,164.18 15,299.40 412,110.00

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

893

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 27 32 4 6

Current Price 2.69 25.33 0.94 0.69

Page

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and on Production Totals Activity Summary Board EQTY

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED EXPRESS PLC Daily Summary asSTAR of 22/02/2016 Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES ANDEQTY LOGISTICS PLC Activity Summary on Board NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC OILTransport-Related AND GAS Services Totals OIL AND GAS Totals Support and Logistics SERVICES CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Support and Logistics Totals R T BRISCOE PLC. SERVICES Totals Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED EXPRESS PLC Daily Summary asSTAR of 22/02/2016 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals© Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Transport-Related Services Activity Summary on Board AIRLINE SERVICES ANDEQTY LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Transport-Related EQTY Board Totals Services Totals Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Support and Logistics Activity SummaryOFFSHORE on Board EQTY CAVERTON SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM

EQTY Board Totals

SERVICES Totals CONSUMER GOODS

FoodSummary Products on Board EQTY Activity

MCNICHOLS PLC Activity on Board ASeM FoodSummary Products Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © EQTY Board Totals CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER Totals Daily Summary as ofGOODS 22/02/2016 Food Products Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 MCNICHOLS PLC ASeM Board Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER Totals Daily Summary as ofGOODS 22/02/2016 Food Products PrintedActivity 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Summary on Board PREMIUM MCNICHOLS PLC ASeM Board Totals Food Products Totals Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking SERVICES CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL ZENITH INTERNATIONAL Other Financial Institutions BANK PLC Activity Board PREMIUM Banking Totals on OtherSummary Financial Institutions Totals

ASeM Board Totals Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM

Value Traded 4,950.40 4 of 11 4,950.40

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. Daily Summary as ofOIL 22/02/2016 FORTE PLC. Printed 22/02/2016 MOBIL14:36:10.010 OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

11 3Value Traded of 4,136,459.40 958,864.34 80,963,793.44 2,115,552.11 2,087,767.85 25,302,954.71 205,645.40 316,018.71 5,813,502.17 141,424,920.83

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE Activity Summary on BoardPLC. EQTY AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC

No. of Deals 69

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Banking FBN HOLDINGS PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS Other Financial Institutions Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM Banking Totals Building Materials Other Financial Institutions Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Building Banking Materials Totals FBN HOLDINGS PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS GOODS Totals INDUSTRIAL Banking Totals Building Materials Published by The NigerianCEMENT Stock Exchange © DANGOTE PLC Other Financial Institutions PREMIUM Board Totals Building Materials PLC Totals FBN HOLDINGS

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN PORTPAINT WAPCO

ETP Activity Totals 11

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Current Price 1.69

Value of Shares(N)

Quantity Traded 1,779,083

Value Traded 15,902,796.63

1,779,083

15,902,796.63

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 805.00 805.00

500

805.00

No. of Deals 16 9 4 6 10 31 76

Current Price 24.00 9.30 35.78 8.62 3.36 80.50

Quantity Traded 110,727 40,229 26,700 142,300 299,900 14,373,223 14,993,079

Value Traded 2,707,053.97 362,501.29 992,680.00 1,227,076.00 966,480.00 1,157,057,077.16 1,163,312,868.42

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 1.51

Quantity Traded 134,500 134,500

Value Traded 204,240.00 204,240.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 50.00

Quantity Traded 24,529 Page 24,529

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 1,165,135.50 of 11 1,165,135.50

15,152,108

1,164,682,243.92

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 24,262 24,262

Value Traded 12,131.00 12,131.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 90 90

Current Price 3.47

Quantity Traded 3,827,573 3,827,573

Value Traded 13,288,632.05 13,288,632.05

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 21 7 8 21 7 64

Current Price 18.34 1.84 342.00 150.00 145.00

Quantity Traded 81,125 100,300 20,300 16,295 13,699 231,719

Value Traded 1,505,034.50 182,832.00 6,595,470.00 2,396,080.60 1,959,692.96 12,639,110.06

Quantity Traded 389,934 389,934

Value Traded 124,037,602.56 124,037,602.56

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

33 33

318.00

Page 4,473,488

189

7 of 11 149,977,475.67

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 941 941

Value Traded 470.50 470.50

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.80

Quantity Traded 32,870 32,870

Value Traded 127,756.40 127,756.40

Symbol LEARNAFRCA

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 0.89

Quantity Traded 624,500 624,500

Value Traded 538,430.00 538,430.00

No. of Deals 1 22 23 189 No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals 1 1 43 1

Current Price 2.29 4.00

Quantity Traded 4,588 251,094 255,682 4,473,488 Quantity Traded 10,000 Quantity Traded 10,000 941 923,993 941

Value Traded 10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64 149,977,475.67 Value Traded 16,000.00 Value Traded 16,000.00 470.50 1,694,242.54 470.50

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 3.80

Quantity Traded 32,870 Page 32,870

Value Traded 127,756.40 8 127,756.40 of 11

No. of Deals 13 13 (Equities)

Current Price 0.89

Quantity Traded 624,500 624,500

Value Traded 538,430.00 538,430.00

No. of Deals 1 22 23 (Equities)

Current Price 2.29 4.00

Quantity Traded 4,588 251,094 255,682 3,428,226,216

Value Traded 10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64

5,785,390,675.15

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

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 16,000.00 16,000.00

3,428,226,216

5,785,390,675.15

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Symbol CAVERTON Symbol RTBRISCOE

Symbol REDSTAREX

Symbol LEARNAFRCA

Daily Summary Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Daily Summary CAVERTON

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol MCNICHOLS

Current Price 1.68 Current Price 0.50

1,811 1 1

1.68

1,811 43

No. of Deals 2 2

923,993

Current Price 1.21

1,811

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol MCNICHOLS

2 No. of Deals 2 2 2

Current Price 1.21

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

2 2 2

1.21

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals 2 Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) 306 ZENITHBANK Symbol No. of Deals Current 11.45 Price 306 278

Symbol FBNH ZENITHBANK Symbol Symbol DANGCEM Symbol Symbol FBNH ZENITHBANK Symbol DANGCEM Symbol FBNH

No. of Deals 278 306 No. of Deals 306 No. of Deals 278 35 No. of Deals 584 35 No. of Deals 278 306 35 306 No. of Deals 35 No. of Deals 619 35 278

Current Price 3.74 Current 11.45 Price Current Price 139.83 Current Price Current Price 3.74 11.45

Current Price 139.83 Current Price 3.74

270,464 Quantity Traded 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 Value Traded 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

270,464 Quantity Traded 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 Value Traded 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

Quantity270,464 Traded 13,929,679 Quantity Traded 13,929,679 10,438,552

Value Traded 327,261.44 159,605,439.23 Value Traded 159,605,439.23 39,515,087.18

Quantity Traded 24,368,231 Quantity Traded 10,438,552 13,929,679 Quantity Traded 13,929,679 Quantity Traded 10,438,552 Page 38,770 Quantity Traded 24,368,231 38,770 Quantity Traded 10,438,552 13,929,679 38,770 13,929,679 Quantity Traded Page 38,770 Quantity Traded 24,407,001 38,770 10,438,552

2,432 35

3,452,903,681 38,770 Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETBANK Daily Summary Daily Summary VETGOODS VETGRIF30 Symbol VETINDETF Symbol NEWGOLD VETBANK VETGOODS VETGRIF30 VETINDETF

619 2,432

(ETP) (ETP)

No. of Deals 2 2 2 2 No. of Deals 2 No. of Deals 2 10 2 2 10 2 2

1,694,242.54

Quantity Traded Value Traded 270,464 327,261.44 270,464 327,261.44 Page 5,785,390,675.15 8 of 11 3,428,226,216

270,464

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) 584 Current Price

Equity Activity Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals

Current Price

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Exchange Traded Fund Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Equity Activity Totals Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF Exchange Traded Fund VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Name VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Traded Fund VETIVA BANKING ETFTotals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF ETF Board Totals VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF

Quantity Traded

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 16,210,255.82 3,314,106.88

No. of Deals 21 25 200 41 16 147 11 15 67 676

Electronic and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Packaging/Containers Totals

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

Value Traded 11 2 842,442.48 of 2,736.56 4,074,348,894.07 4,092,814,102.20

Quantity Traded 36,887 133,117 170,004

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. on Board EQTY Activity Summary

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol

Quotation(N)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 6 24 7 98 135

Symbol DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR

Daily Summary as ofNIGERIA 22/02/2016 UNILEVER PLC.

PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

No. of Deals 13 13

No Of Deals

ICT Totals

Symbol JBERGER

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Summary as of 22/02/2016 Totals

Current Price 0.77 1.13 20.47

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Daily Summary as ofBREW. 22/02/2016 CHAMPION PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities)

HEALTHCARE Totals

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016

CONGLOMERATES Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010 Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Company name

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Sector

Current Price 2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 Current Price 18.07 Current Price 2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 18.07

327,261.44

Value Traded 199,120,526.41 Value Traded 39,515,087.18 159,605,439.23 Value Traded 159,605,439.23 Value Traded 39,515,087.18 11 9 5,304,666.00 of Value Traded 199,120,526.41 5,304,666.00 Value Traded 39,515,087.18 159,605,439.23 5,304,666.00 159,605,439.23 Value Traded 9 5,304,666.00 of 11 Value Traded 204,425,192.41 5,304,666.00 39,515,087.18

5,990,143,129.00 5,304,666.00 9

24,407,001

204,425,192.41

3,452,903,681

5,990,143,129.00

Quantity Traded 3,000 20 20 20 Quantity Traded 15 Quantity Traded 3,000 3,075 20 Page 20 3,075 20 15

3,075

Page

Value Traded 6,986,000.00 46.70 120.20 221.80 Value Traded 270.65 Value Traded 6,986,000.00 6,986,659.35 46.70 11 10 of 120.20 6,986,659.35 221.80 270.65

6,986,659.35

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

APC fielded Bello without running mate —INEC document

f the Certified True Copy of Form CF002B issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is anything to go by, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, may have violated Section 187(1) of the Constitution by contesting the December 5, last year election without a

running mate. According to constitutional provision, a governorship candidate can be deemed to have been validly nominated by a political party before contesting for the exalted position. Section 187(1) states: “In any election to which the

Human rights: Call Kano State to order, Musa urges Buhari AzA Msue

KADUNA

he former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act fast and resolve the conflict of interest in Kano State over the seizures and destruction of some branded products in Kano worth hundreds of millions. He also condemned the incessant kidnapping of Fulani herdsmen in some parts of northern Nigeria pursuant to the protection of Fundamental Human Rights in Nigeria. Musa who stated this in Kaduna while speaking with journalists on the current economic status of northern states and the country , noted that although “ Islam is against alcoholism, because of its effect on the human person ( who abuse it) if the consumption of alcohol will

harm the human person, even Christians control the consumption of alcohol but again as Nigerians, the promotion of National Unity and protection of Fundamental Human Rights is supreme’’ ‘’ Before now the issue of cattle rustling was alarming and then this act of kidnapping Fulani men is gradually taking over. In some cases, these Fulani herdsmen will have to sell off all their cattle to pay for ransom, this is not the change we ask for, the President must protect the lives and properties of the Fulani herdsmen wherever they are because they are also Nigerians and also have their Fundamental Human Rights’’, he added. Musa emphasized that ‘’the Government legalized Hisbah and through it, products are seized and destroyed (without taking into consideration the business owners investment and

foregoing provision of this part of the chapter, a candidate for the office of governor of a state shall not be deemed to have been validly nominated for such office unless he nominates another candidate as his running mate for the office of governor, who is to occupy the office of deputy governor and a candidate shall be deemed duly elected to the office of the deputy governor if the candidate who nominated him is duly elected as the governor in accordance with the provisions.” The discovery contradicted a claim by Bello’s party - the All Progressives Congress, APC - that his

names and those of the running mate to the late Prince Audu, James Faleke, were forwarded to INEC for the supplementary election that produced Bello as governor. Faleke had declined to run with Bello because he felt the election had been won on the first ballot by the late Prince Audu, with him as the running mate before the poll was declared inconclusive by the electoral umpire. He communicated his position to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu and APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urging INEC to declare him winner and advising the

party against participating in a supplementary election after emerging victorious on November 21. The CTC INEC 2015 governorship election submission of names of candidates by the APC for the Kogi governorship election contains only Bello’s name, his 40 years, political ward and local government. This contradicts claims by the APC that it submitted the name of Bello and Faleke to INEC for the December, last year supplementary election. INEC, which said it heard of the demise of the APC governorship candidate on

November 23, had on November 22, declared the November 21 governorship election inconclusive. The late Audu was set to win the poll. Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2010 provides “that in effect that if a person duly nominated as a candidate of his party dies before the election then the political party has the right to replace him. Section 179 (2) A and B and 181 (1) of the constitution also say “upon the death of a person duly elected as the governor of a state, the person elected with him as the deputy-governor is to be sworn in as the governor of the state.”

L-R: Co-convener, Restart PDP Project, Mr Emmanuel Dennis; other convener, Mr Nwosu Emmanuel and leader of the Project, Mr Ibrahim Galadimawa, at a news conference to protest appointment of Senator Ali Modu-Sherrif as new National Chairman of the party in Abuja, yesterday.

Buhari not on right path in fighting corruption —Doherty CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 its swearing-in? Change is the only constant thing in life. When you talk about change, what change are we talking about? Change from what to what; what do you want to change? Economically, socially, politically, ideologically, financially, what do you want to change? Frankly speaking what is the change so far; economically, financially, morally, what is the change so far? Have we seen anything? Have you gotten the one day per meal? Have you gotten the 25 million jobs they promised? Take the promises made and match them with actuality, is there any balance? I wouldn’t want to talk from opposition point of view. I want to take the entire political class as one body, PDP, APC, whichever party, if politicians do not change their ideology, irrespective of their party affiliation, and put the cap of service, then we cannot move forward as a country. The politicians must create the change. It is not for APC to create the change through a change in ideology, starting from ourselves. What is the difference between party A and Party B. APC wants to build good roads, PDP wants to build good roads; APC wants to provide good housing PDP wants to do same; APC wants to provide good health facilities, PDP wants to do the same; APC wants to create good financial environment and strong naira, PDP wants to create good financial environment too. So what is the difference? What are they selling? They are selling the same product. You noted that in checkmating corruption there must be good structure in place. The Jonathan administration was said to be characterized by the highest

level of corruption. Does it mean there was no proper structure or institution in place to checkmate the menace? Let me tell you where change came from; from Obasanjo, PDP; Yar’Adua, PDP; Jonathan, PDP. Right from Obasanjo coming in, which is one of the reasons why I came into politics, Obasanjo had already noted corruption was something he had to fight, power is something he must fight; when he was tackling power, he spent a lot of money. He even brought someone from the opposition party, Bola Ige to be minister of power so that the problem would be solved. He also started the fight on corruption by bringing RIbadu, having created EFCC. The two anti-corruption agencies we have today, EFCC and ICPC were created by PDP. But did they use them? Where is Ibori today? What happed to Alamiesieagha before he later died recently. Fayose still has a court case and some other PDP governors. Who has fought corruption in this country? It is PDP. Even to the extent that a PDP chieftain was locked in jail. Adolph Hitler said when you continue to lie over and over again, at a particular time that lie becomes a reality. When you open the paper you find PDP is corrupt; on your radio you hear PDP is corrupt; on the TV, PDP is corrupt; billboards, PDP is corrupt. In the long run people believe what is continuously being fed to them. People have been made to believe that corruption was barely fought by past administration and that it is the present government that is actually checkmating the menace, whereas they have not even started because if you do not fight corruption in your home first then you have not started at all. It is said that charity begins at home. You should clean your home first. Do you think the

international community does not see an Amaechi, a Fayemi, a Fashola and then you want to collect 5 billion dollars while you also lament that the country is corrupt. Won’t they withdraw from helping us because they have already been fed by the president that the country is corrupt hence giving a financial assistance will be foolishness? If I was the bank I won’t give you the money either. I am not saying some of these people are not corrupt, but what we need is a change in ideology. For instance we have been talking about the Treasury Single Account, TSA for a long time even during the Jonathan administration. In my stand, I said we should bring in a ministry of treasury so that everybody is accountable. You cannot make CBN accountable for a single treasury account. It is corruption. You cannot make a single account for the entire nation into the CBN. That is corruption in the highest level. What we need is a treasury ministry that will be subjected to the audit that will know all the areas of income of the nation and that is what will be the rallying point for all revenue generating arms of government. They do not spend money in the treasury ministry, they only take money and they work with CBN to either disburse and also peg dollar for dollar, naira for naira. The CBN should not be the one to determine what the rates are. It should be a collective effort among the ministry of budget and economic planning, the treasury ministry, CBN and the ministry of finance. These are the people that are supposed to come together. These are the macro - economic brain of the nation. So in retrospect, it is clear that we are not on the right path to recovery, we are not on the right path in fighting corruption and we are not in the right path in moving Nigeria forward.

Mail Mirror

Politics

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

THE HOUSE OF REPS with

Ubong UKPONG

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

House of Reps: Need for urgent rehabilitation of infrastructure

08036017966, email: ubongpong@yahoo.com

oint of Order! Mr. Speaker, I come under my fundamental human rights and freedom, to say that it is a matter of urgent national importance that this House considers the urgent need to rehabilitate the infrastructure in the House of Representatives’ wing of the National Assembly. I am drawing attention to this issue because perhaps, everyone have been watching helplessly without saying anything, while the infrastructure in this wing of the National Assembly continue to wear unpleasant looks. In some cases, it is not a decay, but outright refusal to upgrade the facilities to meet standards befitting of modern parliaments. Although the Senate wing seems to be making some progress, the House of Reps is obviously, carrying on with obsolete and analogue equipment in some sectors. I will like to take you round the House of Reps wing of the complex, show to you things, one after the other, and you would surely be amazed that a place meant for honourable people is looking dishonourable. You would at the end of this facilities tour not fail to agree with me that there is urgent need for change, and would thus support my motion to sail through with the speed of light it deserves. Beginning with the chamber itself, where huge amounts of money would soon be appropriated to make other agencies look very good, the chamber needs an overhaul, but the Reps seem to be comfortable with what they met in June. Since June, after the inauguration of this 8th Assembly on the 9th, everyone had noted with serious concern that the entire Reps’ wing including the chamber needed a facelift. The business of lawmaking is about talking, and talking and talking, which everyone, both in the hallowed chamber and gallery, must clearly hear the contributions by the lawmakers, but this is defeated by the poor audio quality in the chamber. The microphones often malfunction and when they function, there are no loud speakers to project the sounds. Sometimes the presiding officer would request the members that have the floor to speak up so that he could hear and understand, to be able to give sound judgment. It is even worst at the gallery, where there is nothing projecting the sound at all, and we, members of the fourth estate of the realm, would have to do extra work by unnecessarily over-stressing our ears so as not to misrepresent or misquote the legislators’ contributions. From the poor audio projection, you would be shocked that what is used to project the visuals from the chamber could easily pass for glorified white clothes. The hallowed chamber is such that you need video projections to allow those in chamber and the gallery to have an adequate view of images from the chamber, but with the present situation , you are made to view the images with quite unease. This is in sharp contrast with the provisions in the red chamber of the Senate, where big-size digital screens are mounted round strategically, which bring clean im-

ages from the chamber. Now this had given cause for worry, and what people are asking is whether the Senate is given higher funding than the Reps, or maybe they task themselves more because most of them are of rich class. I doubt it much that they task themselves or given more funds for infrastructure, but I am forced to believe that it is a matter of class and taste, that led to the fine sights you see in that wing. The air conditioner sets appear to be either malfunctioning or overstretched, as the chamber which is a very closed and airtight environment is always very hot and stuffy, especially at the gallery. Last December, when President Muhammadu Buhari visited for joint session to present the 2016 budget proposals, it was a regrettable environment. Also, around September last year , when the Speaker inaugurated the committees and their leadership, it was regret as the facilities could not carry the people and the place was quite stuffy. Now that the heat season is here , you need to see how papers wave from all corners, as everyone tries to invoke some air to avoid being drained. Most of the green chairs, both the fixed and moveables are also going dilapidated and defaced. I hate to recall what happened few weeks ago, and would not like to be among those who reported that a presiding officer fell down because his chair too was bad. We all sympathized with him from the gallery, but thanks to the Principal Officers who went on a rescue mission. Sometimes too, the gallery is very unkempt. I don’t know about the chamber because I view it from up. It appeared that the cleaners do not clean the place with the whole of their hearts, as you could still find same pieces of waste items on the floor day after day. Moving from the chamber to hearing and meeting rooms, it is a sorry state, especially in the old building. Here, there are neither workable fans nor air conditioner sets, but meetings and hearings are carried out there under stuffy conditions. Although it is slightly different in the new building extension, there are still several rooms there and cases where the sound systems and air conditioner sets often are not working. The old building, which represent the “White House”, looks very dilapidated and unpleasant, as most of the hearing and meeting rooms, are losing their ceilings and face values, yet people occupy them and hearings and meetings also take place there from time to time. Yes, you may applaud the cleaning firms managing the new building, which houses the legislators’ offices, the same could not be said of those managing the white house which often looks dirty. For the water closets, especially at the white house old building, they are in sorry states. Apart from looking ancient and unattractive, their sorry states even discourage one from patronising them with all pleasures. Sometimes too, there is water failure

Dogara

Lasun

around the facilities, which ends up leaving them unclean. Also, some of the elevators in the buildings are not functional as you could find them always locked up and people have to do with the few that are functional or resort to staircases to approach the levels they intended to go. Let me even report that chairs are often not enough in the meeting and hearing rooms as people would have to stand for hours whenever such meetings were going on. All these leave one with questions as to why infrastructures at the National Assem-

bly, especially the House of Representatives are allowed to be overstretched and even decay. The 8th House of Reps had since taken off in a good footing, and the leadership, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, looks determined to succeed. I am very sure that he sees all these decay in the wing of the House of Representatives as he had even visited some of the places with promises to fix them immediately, but things had remained the same . Perhaps I should ask if there is no finances for this rehabilitation or maybe there is no political will to up the standard.

REP’S SCORE CARD

Jisalo breaking through in Reps

on. Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT who is also a member of the Federal House of Representatives is breaking through in the 8th Assembly to save the people of FCT, Abuja, from the age- long exclusion from the scheme of things at the federal level in the country. Even though they are original inhabitants and still having FCT as their state of origin, they have for the past 40 years only watched policies and federal actions from afar, without participation or representation. Pained by this, Jisalo has assumed a struggle that would not only benefit the original inhabitants, but all residents of the territory, as they also have equal rights to offices in the territory. The constitution provided that the FCT has equal status with the states, but also left lacuna on some issues especially ministerial and mayoral appointments. Consequently, as a lawmaker, representing the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC/ Bwari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Jisalo has taken a bold step to see that the constitution is amended to remove this lacuna. He has been very vocal at the plenary and in committees’ participation and apart from his contributions to motions on the floor, he

has brought some bills too, some of which had passed second reading. Chief amongst them are the Bill for an Act to alter section 147 (3) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to require that a Minister be appointed from the Federal Capital Territory, and for other Matters connected therewith (HB 342), which passed second reading last Tuesday and has gone to the ad-hoc committee on constitution review, headed by Deputy Speaker, Sulaimon Yussuff Lasun. Also passing second reading was another bill for an Act to establish the FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji, which was referred to committee on FCT. Speaking very eloquently in his lead debate, Jisalo said that there was a lacuna in the constitution regarding the nomination of a minister from the FCT to FEC, which was responsible for the lingering agitation by the people of FCT. Presently, the constitution allows the FCT to occupy just a Senatorial and two Federal Constituency seats in the National Assembly.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

ASO ROCK FILE with Rotimi FADEYI

When Ooni, Adeboye visited Buhari in Aso Rock sues discussed. He simply said “God bless you” and entered his waiting car and left the Villa. Shortly after his visit, Ogunwusi and his retinue of aides in a convoy of cars also arrived at the forecourt of the President’s office. He met with Buhari and Osinbajo for some minutes and when he came out of the meeting, Ogunwusi disclosed that the purpose of the meeting with the President was about peace and progress of the nation which they both stand for. On his acceptance as the Ooni of Ife, Ogunwusi said he had a clear strategy to ensure that he is accepted, stressing that his emergence was divine. He said, “If you don’t want to accept me, I will ac-

cept you. It is very important and I will be very persistent about it because it is a divine calling. “It is not by my power nor by my might. It is a calling from the King of kings who actually appointed me to this throne. So I will be very persistent. About acceptability, if you do not accept me today, you will accept me tomorrow. It is a clear mission and I will be persistent about it”, Ogunwusi added. Speaking on his social welfare plans for his people apart from mass transit, the Ooni said he was working towards ensuring that the youths go back to agriculture. “I am currently working with the Minister of Agriculture. We have been able to assemble over 200,000

youths within a space of 30 days. It is unbelievable. We are encouraging them to go back to the farm” “Something happened in Nigeria that we did not notice. Last year October, crude oil price started going down astronomically but cocoa price went up over 100 percent and nobody noticed it. Nigeria in the early 1930s and 1940s was the largest exporter of cocoa in the world and the farmlands are still there” “We have been able to assemble youths and we are giving them five acres per youth so that they will go back to the farm. The Federal Government is supporting us very well. So it is going to be a model that will be replicated in all parts of the country”, he said.

Osinbajo, traditional rulers and the fight against corruption

or the Vice President who is also a Professor of law, the fight against corruption which is one of the priorities of the present administration must not be left for the government alone. He is of the view that everybody, including traditional rulers in the country who are close to the people at the grassroots must join hands with the government to ensure that corruption was eliminated in all sectors of the economy. At a meeting with a group of traditional rulers and leaders from Remo-land in Ogun State, Osinbajo tasked them to raise a strong voice of condemnation against those who have stolen public funds and engaged in corruption capable of crippling the country. “I think it’s right that we condemn corruption in strong terms, more so that traditional rulers do not belong to any political party. The kind of corruption we experienced in the recent past is the kind that in any other part of the world it would be considered as a crime against humanity.” He noted that the kind of corruption that has been observed in the country is one for which people should be ashamed. Osinbajo lamented that while the nation is fighting a war, some people were stealing the money, the resources meant to provide the weap-

ons, stressing that what the leaders did in the past few years was very shameful Corruption is such a terrible thing and I don’t think it is a matter of politics. I think it is one thing everybody should be ashamed of, if you consider what the leaders of this country had done. Such corruption can completely cripple the nation. Osinbajo told the delegation led by Akarigbo of Remo-land , Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was fully committed to the anti-corruption crusade, saying that the determination of the government was to ensure that people know that corruption has consequences. “We will not only hold those who have served to account, but also hold ourselves to account, this is how to avoid the Hobbesian state of nature where life is poor, nasty, brutish and short”, he said. Osinbajo explained that anti-corruption fight was hinged on transparency, saying that the government was trying to put in place a system that ensures that there is consequence for wrongdoing. He noted that the system that the government would put in place would ensure that leaders do not treat the people that they are to serve, the very poor people, like animals

Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Left) and President Muhammadu Buhari at a joint press conference, during her visit tto the Presidential Villa

Ministers and the support for Buhari’s foreign trips

or many Nigerians who had expressed concern about President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent foreign trips, they see it just as a waste of resources and time needed to address the myriad of problems confronting the nation at this time With the dwindling revenue from oil and the downturn in the economy, they are of the view that Buhari and his team of ministers need to quickly ensure that the economy is put back on track in order to deliver electoral promises made to Nigerians. But last week at the Federal Executive Council ,FEC meeting, the Ministers rose

in defence of the foreign trips of the President saying that they were necessary to bring the country back on the track of development and growth. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that FEC was in support of the foreign trips as such trips had started paying off as the investors’ confidence in the country had been restored unlike when Nigeria was almost a pariah state under former President Goodluck Jonathan. “You do not run a country by being isolated. The personal presence of Mr. President in

resident Muhammadu Buhari last week Tuesday hosted two prominent Nigerians same day at the Presidential Villa, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adedeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, PasPas tor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. Adeboye was the first to arrive the forecourt of the President’s office in the PresPres idential Villa where Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was waiting to receive him. The Clergy was later ushered into the President’s office where he met with Buhari behind closed door for some minutes. When he emerged from the meeting, he declined to speak on isis

many of these fora is important because before now, we were almost a pariah state. And the issues that have been driving investments away from this country are terrorism and corruption “One thing that nobody can fault this President for is his determination and strength of purpose in resolving these matters. So, Mr. President’s presence in many of these fora is highly crucial even in fixing our economy back at home.”, Mohammed said He explained while briefing State House Correspon-

dents after the FEC meeting that before Buhari took over power on May 29 last year, the level of corruption in the country was so high that nobody was ready to risk his investment in Nigeria Mohammed said that at that time, the cost of doing business was so high that most international business people did not want to come to the country, adding that there was high level of insecurity during the last administration and the situation did not encourage investors to come to the country to invest.

“And of course, who wants to come to a country where there is insecurity to invest? And these are the issues that the President has addressed in the last few months.

“We have the responsibility to tell Nigerians who have been complaining about the various trips of Mr. President to know that this is what was achieved”, he said.

Last week Presidential Villa’s visitors 1. Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 2. General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye 3. Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi 4. Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo 5. Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello 6. Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Baratai 7. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright. 8. Director-General, World Trade Organization, Roberto Azevedo. 9. President, Association of Law Teachers, Dr. Abdulkarim Kana. 10. Cameroonian Ambassador to Nigeria, Salaudeen Ibrahim 11. United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle 12. British Member of Parliament, Chi Onwurah

Features

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Defeating terrorism via de-radicalisation strategies Sani adamu

resident Muhammadu Buhari recently renewed his plea that the global community should act with more determination and vigour against radicalism and extremist ideologies which encourage terrorism. Buhari made the appeal at a memorial service organised in honour of some Kenyan soldiers who were killed by the Al-Shabaab group in Somalia recently. Mr. Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement, quoted Buhari as saying that peace-loving nations must now come together and deal with the threat posed by terrorism to global security with greater zeal and cohesion. ``Terrorists should not have a place in our communities, villages, towns, cities and countries. We must all rise against the culture of intolerance, hatred and extremist ideologies, which drive terrorism. ``We must also act with more firmness against radicalisation and all those who promote values and principles that threaten our unity and cohesion as a people. ``Nigeria is willing to work with Kenya, other African countries and the global community, with a view to defeating these undesirable elements. ``We must take the battle to the terrorists; whoever they are and wherever they are. ``However, this requires commitment, sacrifice, resources, collaboration and above all, a realisation that no country is immune to the scourge; as terrorists do not respect national boundaries, race, colour, religion or creed,’’ Buhari who was on a three-day visit to Kenya said. Applauding the bravery of Kenyan soldiers who died in the terrorist attack on their base in Somalia, Buhari said that the soldiers ``have remained faithful and committed to the cause of ensuring a secure and peaceful world in spite of daunting challenges. ``I wish to use this occasion to pay tribute to all the fallen heroes of the El Adde attack and pray for the repose of their souls. ``In our efforts to collaboratively tackle terrorism, it is our sacred duty as leaders, politicians and compatriots to ensure that the blood of these fallen heroes was not shed in vain,’’ he said. Further stressing the points at bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta, Buhari called on the global community to develop and implement comprehensive and coordinated counter-extremism strategies at sub-regional, regional and continental levels for peace to reign in the world. Buhari warned that radical-

Troops combating insurgency ism and violent extremism were increasingly taking root across Africa and must be tackled headon with new strategies. His words: ``The threat posed to national, regional and global peace and security by terrorists has taken an alarming dimension in recent times. `Ìn Nigeria, Boko Haram has wreaked havoc, especially in the north-eastern part of the country; killing, maiming, destroying livelihoods and displacing hapless citizens, majority of whom are women and children. `Ìn Kenya, you also face terrorist challenges. Similarly, Iraq and Syria are facing their own brand of terrorism which has thrown the entire Middle East into turmoil. ``Terrorism does not respect religion, creed, race or national boundaries. No country is safe from the menace. ``This is why the entire global community must work in a concerted manner, particularly in areas of sharing intelligence and pooling resources and finance to confront the scourge. `Òur armed forces and security services should also be adequately supported and well-motivated to fight terrorism.’’ Buhari noted that terrorists were constantly changing tactics, building alliances, merging and getting more sophisticated, all in an attempt to build their capacity to inflict pain and misery on societies. ``To win the war on terror, therefore, we must respond to this phenomenon by developing new

Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. T.Y. Burutai and versatile strategies. ``Together with our allies, Nigeria and Kenya can successfully tackle these challenges that have traumatised and brought untold suffering to our people,’’ he said. Buhari underscored the need to tackle and defeat terrorism, reiterating that there could be no meaningful development and prosperity in an atmosphere of insecurity and instability. He also emphasised that communities must be aided to build resilience against violent extremism. He said that extremist narratives and ideologies by radical elements and militants in all societies must be tackled via counter-narratives which emphasised education, moderation and tolerance. ``For our efforts to achieve the desired results, communities, religious leaders, civil society and educational institutions must be fully involved,’’ he added.

Religion is the tool which insuRgents use to indoctRinate ouR childRen with

extRemist ideologies; they misinteRpRet ouR scRiptuRe to Radicalise the youth against us but Religious leadeRs have a duty to discouRage this.

Underscoring Buhari’s resolve to defeat terrorism through proactive collaboration with the global community, Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, said that the Federal Government would mobilise all elements of national power to counter terrorism, corruption and lift Nigerians out of poverty. The minister, who spoke at a recent workshop on Conflict Sensitive Communications and Reporting for the Media and Security Spokespersons in Abuja, said: ``Through communication processes and infrastructure, we will synchronise government efforts in support of better coordination and access to information by the media. ``We will also support online communication in deepening democracy and building the capacity of Nigerians to participate in the decision-making process.’’ Besides, Mohammed said that the Federal Government would empower Nigerians with requisite information on government policies and actions, so as to enable them to make wise decisions and take due advantage of opportunities. ``Our country is facing numerous challenges at this time; the challenges include terrorism, widespread corruption, poverty and economic issues. ``But the good news is that Nigerians across faiths, tribes, age groups and income levels have made a choice to break from the past and embrace a future free from insecurity, corruption and poverty. ``With this choice, difficult but necessary paths to opportunities have opened up, promising to defeat terrorism, free public funds from the web of corruption and put our people back to economic prosperity,’’ he noted. The minister, however, underscored the need for every Ni-

gerian to play a role in efforts to achieve these goals. ``Across the globe, Nigeria, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, continues to enjoy the goodwill and support of big nations and organisations, all of which want to see us free from the scourge of terrorism and corruption,’’ he noted. Mohammed said that the Federal Government recognised the opportunity to tackle the ills facing the country and seized it promptly. ``As spokespersons of various agencies, defence correspondents and media stakeholders, Nigeria relies on you to understand this changing pattern of our fortune and report it in a conflict-sensitive manner,’’ he said. Mohammed pledged that he would welcome any pragmatic recommendation on the roles which the ministry could play in efforts to strengthen the lessons garnered by the workshop’s participants. He said the workshop was imperative to bridge existing communication gaps, while building trust and learning from each other’s challenges. Speaking on the government’s efforts to engage the citizenry in the on-going war against insurgency, the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, underscored the government’s determination to partner with all relevant stakeholders to bring about better management of conflicts. He said that communicating and reporting conflicts in a sensitive manner was critical to all peace and conflict resolution efforts. Moguno emphasised that governance relied on communication, as part of designed efforts to connect with the citizenry in a credible and efficient manner. He said that with the increasing communicative roles of the social media, both government and the media must work closely to manage emerging communication changes and trends in ways that ensured national security and progress. Observers, nonetheless, insist that efforts to de-radicalise the mind-set of the youth can only be fruitful if religious preachers are fully mobilised to key into the venture. ``Religion is the tool which insurgents use to indoctrinate our children with extremist ideologies; they misinterpret our scripture to radicalise the youth against us but religious leaders have a duty to discourage this,’’ Alhaji Nuru Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Abuja, said. •Culled from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Spirited move to stem rice importation

he Policy Research Centre, (PRC) an advocacy group, in one of its recent public advocacy quoted Shoprite Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Whitey Basson, as saying “the Seven Nigerian stores we already have sold more Moet Champagne than all our South African Stores combined”. The centre went further to say that that the Shoprite Chief executive’s declaration apparently did not mean anything bad about Nigeria. “Indeed, he might have meant it as a compliment to the huge potential of Nigerian market”, the PRC stated. However, hidden in that statement is his expression of undiluted appetite of Nigerians for foreign things. The centre went further to say that the Shoprite CEO assertion only revealed the problem with Nigerians; wasting precious foreign exchange on luxury goods, thus putting undue pressure on the foreign reserves. Between 2005 and 2015, Nigeria’s monthly import bill went up from N148 billion to N917 billion. Paradoxically, most of the items Nigerians import are needless items and things that could be produced locally. The crash of the crude oil price which has remained the main foreign exchange earner for the nation, has laid bare the helplessness of Nigeria as a monolithic import dependent economy. With the oil not able to sustain the economy anymore, the attention expectedly is shifting to agriculture which decades ago was the propeller of the then buoyant economy. This is one of the reasons the seasoned business man and President of the pan-African conglomerate, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, made a foray into productive agriculture. Penultimate week he launched his Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme in Hadejia, Kafin-Hausa local government area of Jigawa State. Starting with 20,000 hectares of rice cultivation under the scheme known as outgrowers, to be expanded to cover 800, 000 hectares over the next three years, Dangote said time is now to turn to agriculture to save the nation’s economy. The business mogul commenced the scheme with the distribution of treated rice seedling for planting to some 5000 farmers expected to participate in the scheme. He explained: “We are committed to the development of Outgrower scheme by providing local, value added products and services that meet the ‘basic needs’ of the populace. To this end, the Dangote Rice Farm Limited, will run an initial pilot in Hago-Fadama, Kafin Hausa and Auyo areas which would see Dangote Rice developing small hold farmers by providing quality inputs (certified seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals and petrol), improved agricultural practices and technology to increase yield and produce quality rice paddy which would also be bought back from them by Dangote Rice Limited. The Outgrower programme in Jigawa State is expected to create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs to the host communities.” Over the period, aside the outgrowers aspect of the investment, he explained, Dangote Rice is planning to plant approximately 150,000ha of long grain white rice and produce near one million tons of high quality par boiled white rice for sale into the Nigerian market. “Our internal policy within Dangote Rice Ltd is to procure 30% of our Rice production from local farmers who will be developed into outgrower groups. These Outgrowers will be simultaneously developed alongside our commercial farming

Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri; Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Muhammed Abubakar; President/CEO, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, presenting seeds of rice to one of the beneficiaries, at the launch of Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme, in Hadejia, Jigawa State, recently. operations.” Why Rice? Dangote said, “Before the discovery of oil, our economic was built around potentials from our palm oil, groundnut, cotton, and rubber plantations. Now the price of oil has plummeted from a peak of $116 per barrel in June 2014 to as low as $29 per barrel in January 2016; this means there is huge loss of revenue to the government”. Dangote said Nigerian agricultural commodities and food imports bills had averaged over One Trillion Naira in the past two years in 2013 and 2014, with foods like sugar, wheat, rice, fish accounting for 93 per cent of the total cost of imports, a situation he described as unacceptable for anyone who loves the country. He justified his investment in rice cultivation pointing out the situation the

eration and wealth creation opportunities. “Yet the allocation of foreign exchange to import these items depleted the foreign reserves continually.” Dangote disclosed that the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme had been designed as a one stop solution for the rice value chain. In his remark during the rice seedling distribution, Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heneiken Lokpobiri, lauded the initiative of Alhaji Dangote, saying his intervention in the government efforts at providing food security for the citizenry, creating jobs and reducing dependency on food importation were being boosted. According to him, a whopping sum of $20 billion is spent on importation of food items that could be produced locally, a situation he said Dangote Rice investments

We are committed to the development of outgroWer scheme by providing local, value added products and services that meet the

‘basic needs’ of the populace

country has found itself needs a reversal. According to him, Nigeria spends nearly $1.8bn per annum importing approximately 3.2 million MT of rice to feed its population. These are dollars that could be used on more impactful social development interventions if they were not needed for food imports. Currently the average yield of rice in the country is between 1.8 to 2.5 MT/ha, depending on the region and the crop (wet or dry) and with or without irrigation 1.8 MT/ha, which is significantly lower than the best practice yields in Africa of 9.2 MT/ ha generated in Egypt. Locally produced rice is more expensive than imported rice due to the high cost of production relative to the low yields in the country because of poor agronomic practices. In addition the Government of Nigeria has implemented policy incentives that encourage investment in domestic rice production and milling. He regretted that the huge amounts were being expended on food items that the country has potential to produce locally with attendant losses of employment gen-

would help reduce. While expressing the government’s readiness to provide all the needed support to make the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme a success, the minister said the government was putting in place a strategy that would make farmers have greater access to farm implements to help them produce with ease. Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Alhaji Dangote on Rice and Coordinator of the Outgrowers Scheme, Mr. Lulu Carlos, explained that 6.1mmt of rice is consumed annually but not more than 2.6 million metric tons are produced locally leaving the rest to importation. Lulu said: “We are happy to start today the partnership with the 1st Out Growers bloc of 200 hectares, shared among 8 communities. I’ve seen the same project born in my country, Brazil, whereby from 2.5 Mt tons in the beginning to today where we reached 9 tons of paddy rice per hectare in productivity. “This has transformed our country (Brazil), from a net importer of rice in the year 2000 to a net exporter in the year,

2009. This was achieved through a big out grower scheme in the rice region, which, today involves thousands of independent farmers responsible for 80% of the 12 million tons locally produced rice and a small number of large commercial farms supplying the remaining 20%. “Also, Alhaji Aliko, has instructed me to conduct the project here for at least 30% from out growers and 70% from our commercial farm to be established in the state. But this is not our limit. We are today convinced that this equation will have more and more out growers participation in the future, due to very good and welcome response we are getting from all the communities we are dealing with. “We are bringing to the people top quality seeds, fertilizers and chemicals as well the training and teaching the best and most modern agricultural practices, to enable you to boost your productivity and quality of your rice. We are also committed to roll out the scheme to cover another 1,000 hectares for the coming rainy season in June/July, using the experience of this 1st plot to guide our progress.” The Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Badaru Muhammed Abubakar thanked Dangote Rice Limited for choosing Jigawa as the pilot state for the project. He pledged the readiness of his administration to provide all necessary support to the project. He said the project was part of his government’s commitment to improve agriculture and industrialise the state for job creation and poverty eradication. “Right from my inaugural speech, I made it clear that, agriculture was one of my government cardinal points and we are ready to collaborate with private investors in achieving the desire goals. “The project we are launching today is one of the numerous projects we intend to embark in collaboration with private investors from within and outside the country, and we have already signed memorandum with many of them,” the governor said. The governor then assured Dangote Group of the state government’s support in making any policy and intervention that will make the investment profitable and generate jobs for the teeming population of the state.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 22, 2016

Market capitalization dips N1bn, as Seplat, GSK lead gainers Johnson okanlawon

rading in equities started the week on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as investors keep an eye on developments in global markets and 2015 financial year results. The All-Share Index lost 0.14 points or 0.04 per cent to close at 24,423.37 points as against 24,423.51 points recorded last Friday. Market Capitalisation also dropped marginally by N1 billion to close at N8.39 trillion in contrast to N8.40 billion posted during the last

trading session. Investment analysts at DLM Securities attributed the decline signals to a renewed uncertainty over the near term outlook for the market. Among the subsector index, the banking and consumer goods sectors provided the negative headwinds for the day, with a decline of 0.51 per cent and 0.18 per cent respectively. At the close of trading for the day, Seven Up Plc led 18 others on loser’s table with N1.50 or 0.88 percent to close at N158.50 per share.

Nigerian Breweries Plc followed with 99 kobo or 0.99 percent to close at N99.00 per share, while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc (CCNN) lost 38 kobo or 4.22 percent to close at N8.62 per share. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc lost 17 kobo or 1.01 percent to close at N16.70 per share and African Prudential Plc with 12 kobo or 4.65 percent to close at N2.46 per share. Despite the bearish trading, Seplat Plc topped the gainers table with N15.62 or 5.13 percent to close at N318.00 per share.

Glaxosmthkline Plc trailed with N1.16 or 4.80 percent to close at N25.33 per share, while Guinness Plc added 85 kobo or 0.72 percent to close at N118.85 per share. Flourmills Plc was up 60 kobo or 3.26 percent to close at N19.00 per share and West African Portland Cement Company Plc (WAPCO) added 50 kobo or 0.63 percent to close at N80.50 per share. In all, investors traded 3.45 million shares valued at N5.99 million exchanged in 2,432 deals.

Naira gains 3.8% at parallel market on dollar demand drop

he naira firmed sharply to N375 on the parallel market yesterday after importers started to reduce demand for dollars following the president’s defiance to devalue the currency hit hard by the fall in global oil prices, one trader said. The naira firmed four per cent from Friday’s close of 390 to the dollar, while the official interbank rate remained at N199.50 to the dollar at the close of trading on Monday. The President of Bureaux de Change Association, Aminu Gwadabe, told Reuters that retail currency operators were working to introduce a single quote

across the parallel market and maintain a bid-ask spread of 3.5 per cent for trades. The Managing Director, Cowry Assets Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu has said that the movement in exchange rate of other oil dependent economies indicates that most of them have allowed their currency to adjust to the strength of their export earnings apart from Venezuela and Egypt. Chukwu said the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has been engaged in aggressive demand management with the disqualification of 41 items from accessing the foreign exchange market so as to keep the naira exchange

rate within the N197 to dollar and a band of plus or minus three per cent. He said that trade policies are better tools to use in discouraging the importation of goods whose import hurt local manufacturers. “We have proven cases of successful use of appropriate trade policies to develop specific industries in the country. A classical example is the Cement industry where local manufacture has grown from 2,000 metric tonnes per annum, to more that 40,000 metric tonnes per annum in 15 years. “Nigeria has moved from a net importer of cement to a net exporter as a result of targeted use of trade policy

concerned about the state of their country’s finances, since many were created to either be stabilization funds, intergenerational savings vehicles or a combination thereof.” Sovereign funds from Qatar to the United Arab Emirates and Russia, which amassed about $7 trillion of assets as oil soared higher than $100 a barrel, are now liquidating investments after a more than 70 percent slump in crude since 2014. During the boom, oil countries led a surge in investments in the U.S. and Europe, buying stakes in iconic companies such as Barclays Plc as well as trophy assets including Manhattan hotels, European soccer clubs and London luxury homes. “The commodity-price scenario changed sovereign institutional investor behavior from their heydays starting in 2004, which include invest-

ing in the Chrysler Building, Chicago Parking Meters and bailing out banks like Citigroup to make them more focused on where capital is being allocated,” according to the report. Direct investments by sovereign funds also dropped to $113.9 billion in 2015 from $122.9 billion a year earlier, the report said. Funds based in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Qatar Investment Authority, are facing the most “financial distress”, the report said, while Russia has also “steadily been depleting its sovereign wealth fund to finance large-scale projects, fund parts of government and attract direct investment,” it said. Abu Dhabi is reassessing its largest state companies with an eye toward selling as-

in the sub-sector,” he said. Speaking further, he said the ongoing naira volatility in the parallel market is being triggered by the inability of the CBN to meet legitimate demand for foreign exchange adding that while the regulator has effectively maintained the official exchange rate at N197 to dollar, it has been impossible for the apex bank to meet all legitimate demand at the official window. He said a backlog of unmet demand which has spilled over to the shallow parallel market is driving down the naira to its current levels.

Sovereign Wealth Funds may sell $404bn equities

overeign wealth funds may withdraw $404.3 billion from global stock markets this year if crude prices stay between $30 to $40 per barrel as oil-rich nations seek to shore up their finances, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute. The value of listed equities held by the world’s largest wealth funds will probably drop to $2.64 trillion this year, from about $3.04 trillion at the end of 2015, the Las Vegas-based SWFI said in an e-mailed report sent yesterday. Withdrawals are set to approximately double from last year, when sovereign funds sold about $213.4 billion of equities, it said. “The era of petrodollarfilled wheelbarrows being dumped into giant vats seems to be numbered,” according to the Institute. “Commodity wealth funds have to be

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 24,423.37points Market capitalisation 8.41trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LEARNAFRCA

0.81

0.89

0.08

9.88

SEPLAT

302.48

318.00

15.52

5.13

UNITYBNK

0.60

0.63

0.03

5.00

GLAXOSMITH

24.17

25.33

1.16

4.80

ETERNA

1.76

1.84

0.08

4.55

NEM

0.73

0.76

0.03

4.11

FLOURMILL

18.40

19.00

0.60

3.26

DANGSUGAR

5.44

5.61

0.17

3.13

MCNICHOLS

1.18

1.21

0.03

2.54

STERLNBANK

1.73

1.76

0.03

1.73

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

AFRIPRUD

2.58

CLOSING 2.46

CHANGE

% CHANGE

-0.12

-4.65

LIVESTOCK

1.31

1.25

-0.06

-4.58

CCNN

9.00

8.62

-0.38

-4.22

NEIMETH

0.72

0.69

-0.03

-4.17

DIAMONDBNK

1.55

1.49

-0.06

-3.87

FCMB

0.87

0.85

-0.02

-2.30

CONTINSURE

0.92

0.90

-0.02

-2.17

WEMABANK

1.00

0.98

-0.02

-2.00

TRANSCORP

1.15

1.13

-0.02

-1.74

UBA

3.00

2.95

-0.05

-1.67

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid

sets, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Saudi Arabia’s net foreign assets tumbled more than $19 billion in December as the kingdom withdrew reserves. (Source – Bloomberg.com)

Description

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.18

106.28

9.31

107.28

8.44

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.35

114.93

10.58

115.93

10.25

15.54 13-FEB-2020

3.97

111.90

11.71

112.90

11.41

16.39 27-JAN-2022

5.93

118.73

11.89

119.73

11.68

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.06

111.67

11.90

112.67

11.72

12.50 22-JAN-2026

9.92

102.71

12.02

103.71

11.85

Rate (%) Inflation

Price

Closing Market Prices of February 19, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

26-May-16

3.51

3.54

18-Aug-16

6.21

6.41

16-Feb-17

7.90

8.57

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.5833

7.0352

POUNDS STERLING

293

8.2224

SDR

273

9.5201

NIBOR

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

World News I think it’s going to be Hillary and myself. Frankly, only is she gets indicted will she be stopped against me. –US REPUBLICAN PARTY’S PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL, DONALD TRUMP

Poll aftermath: Police arrest Besigye over protest A FOLABI GAMBARI

WITH AGENCY REPORT

ganda’s main opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was yesterday taken into police custody after vowing to lead a protest march against President Yoweri Museveni’s election victory. Museveni won Thursday’s poll by a landslide to extend his 30-year rule. Official results gave Museveni nearly 61 per cent of the votes, with Besigye taking 35 per cent. Besigye was bundled into a police van when he tried to leave his home, where he had been under house arrest since Friday, hours before the poll results were announced. His wife Winnie Byanyima described their Kampala home as “a military barracks”. Besigye said the result had been rigged, while foreign observers said the poll had been

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye being taken away by Police in Kampala yesterday marred by fear and intimidation. But Museveni rejected allegations of vote rigging, and accused Besigye of planning to incite violence. Besigye had vowed to march

to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission to ask for a copy of the official declaration of results. It was the fourth time Besigye, candidate for the opposition Forum for Democratic

Change party, had lost to Museveni. The two men were once allies, with Besigye serving as Museveni’s personal doctor when they were guerrilla fighters.

The Munak canal supplies around three-fifths of water to Delhi’s 16 million residents. Schools in the city were also closed after supplies from the canal were sabotaged during the protests. The land-owning Jat community is relatively affluent and has traditionally been seen as upper caste. Haryana State Minister, Ram Bilas Sharma, however said yesterday that the situation was returning to normal. “Traffic has resumed on national highways and railway

lines between Delhi and the cities of Jaipur and Chandigarh have reopened,” Sharman said adding, “Government will introduce a bill on reservations and quotas for the Jat commu-

nity in the next assembly session.” Meanwhile, sixteen people have been killed and hundreds hurt in three days of riots.

Indians face water supply threat

ore than 10 million people in India’s capital are without water despite the army regaining control of its key water source after protests, officials say. Head of Delhi’s water board, Keshav Chandra, said yesterday that it would take about four days before normal supplies resumed to affected areas. Chandra said that prior warnings meant that people had managed to save water, and tankers had been despatched to affected areas of the city, but that this would not be enough to make up for the shortfall.

Egypt centre challenges repression

n Egyptian centre that helps alleged torture victims and documents their cases has vowed to continue to work despite an order for it

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi

to shut down. Officials had given the Nadeem Centre until Monday to cease activities, saying it had breached regulations. The group has filed an urgent appeal against the decision. Rights g roups h ave criticised Eg ypt for its c r a c k d ow n on dissent, amid a surge of reported tor ture of detainees. But officials denied the alleg ations.

WORLD BULLETIN ‘Poll rigging claims false’ Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni yesterday dismissed opposition claims of poll rigging and criticism by the international community. The 71-year-old leader was declared the winner of the country’s presidential election with 60 per cent of the vote on Saturday, far ahead of the 35 percent won by detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whose house was surrounded by police in riot gear as the results were announced. “The opposition are not leaders, they are just demagogues, liars, just talking, talking,” Museveni said in a speech broadcast from his home in western Uganda, his first comments since winning. “Besigye cannot be allowed to disturb our peace. I am very happy with Ugandans, they came out in big numbers and voted. We shall use both soft and hard means to guard the peace in Uganda. By soft means I mean talking to the youth, who these criminal politicians try to use. We can also use non-lethal but tough methods, to deal with any trouble makers.”

Ethiopia dismisses ‘Oromia lies’ Authorities in Ethiopia have dismissed allegations of violently suppressing protests in the country’s restive Oromia region as an absolute lie. At the last census in 2007, the Oromo made up Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group, at about 25 million people out of a population at the time of nearly 74 million. About 200 people have been killed in the protests since November, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The unrest began over government plans to expand the capital’s administrative control into the region. The government later dropped the plan, but protesters dismissed the decision as too little too late. Many people in the region complain of being politically and economically marginalised in a country where the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition has ruled since 1991.

Cyclone: Fiji faces clean-up Resident scouting water in downtown Delhi yesterday El Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence has operated since 1993, providing support and counselling to victims of torture. The organisation was due to be closed last Wednesday accused of violating unspecified health ministry re gulations. But authorities ag reed to delay the order to give it time to contest the decision, amidst assertion by the g roup’s Director, Aida Seif al-Dawla, that the move to close it was political.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi led the military’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, following mass protests. Since then, as many as 40, 000 people are estimated to have been detained while more than 1, 000 protesters, mostly Islamists, have been killed on the streets. Egyptian officials have denied that the Arab world’s most populous nation has returned to the repression of the past.

A clean-up operation has begun after the most severe cyclone to hit Fiji in living memory killed at least 20. Rescue workers said that number could rise as some of the worst-hit outlying islands have yet to be reached. Cyclone Winston, which hit over the weekend, brought winds of over 320km/h (200mph), torrential rain, and waves of up to 12m (40ft). The category-five storm-among the biggest ever to hit the southern hemispheremoved westward after making landfall at 18:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Saturday in the north of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. It changed direction at the last minute, sparing the capital Suva the full force of its winds. The cyclone cut electricity and communication lines and destroyed hundreds of homes. Thousands are now living in 750 evacuation centres opened by the government, which is now encouraging people to start returning home to clean up.

National Mirror National Mirror Tuesday, 4, February 23, 2016 47 Tuesday, February 2014 www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror I am calling on all APC members to accept this judgement and join me, so that we can work together for the socio-economic development of our dear state. – Governor of TArAbA STATe, DArIuS IShAku

Francis suberu

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kazeem Obayemi has extended a helping hand to over 100 widows, the aged and youths of Ijede Local Council Development (LCDA) in Lagos State. Coordinator of the empowerment programme, Seun Olanrewaju, told journalists that the initiative also reached out to pupils in all primary schools in Ijede, as it doled out exercise books to 80 pupils. “In this outreach, we have given foodstuffs to 100 widows and aged persons. There has also been vocational training for 100 youths and then pupils of primary schools also got exercise books,” Olanrewaju said. According to him, Hon. Obayemi, who has indicated interest to vie for the position of Chairman of Ijede LCDA, has continued to contribute his quota to the development of the communities in Ijede over the years, expressing optimism that if elected as Chairman of the council, he would extend such gesture across many other communities within the area. He said, “About 150 people ben-

APC chieftain empowers 100 widows, youths in Ijede LG

ncorporated Trustees of Dredgers Association of Nigeria has instituted a contempt proceeding against Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Water Front Infrastructure Development over alleged disobedience to court orders barring the state from regulating their activities. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had in a judgment in 2014 in a suit filed by the Dredgers Association along with Boat Operators against the Lagos State Water Ways Authority held that the Lagos State government and its relevant agencies had no power to regulate activities of dredgers. Joined in the suit as co-defendants, were Lagos State Governor, Lagos Commission of Water Front Infrastructure Development, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigerian Maritime

Dare akogun

Bubbles on surface of Taylor Creek at Kalaba community, reported to have been devastated by oil spills, spewing from six points in Yenagoa Local Government Area following a gas leak from an underwater pipeline at Nigeria Agip oilfield, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN efited from the empowerment programme organised by Hon Kazeem Obayemi at Ijede LCDA. For any local govt to excel and be able to deliver dividends of de-

mocracy to its people, that local govt must have as its chairman a very dynamic and a visionary leader, who loves his people”. Olanrewaju said the latest

gesture by Hon. Obayemi was going to be a continuous programme to reach out to the less privileged and indigents in Ijede LCDA.

Dredgers sue Lagos AG for disobeying court order Matthew irinoye

Ayede Ogbese kingmakers endorse Prince Oluyede as next monarch

Standard and Safety Agency. Also joined in the suit were Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Minister of Transport and Attorney-General of the Federation. In the suit, the Dredgers and their Boat Operators counterpart had contended that the demand for payment for their operations by the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos

Ministry of Waterway Infrastructure Development, National Inland Waterways Authority and NIMASA amounts to multiple charges and therefore, unlawful. The two associations sought the court’s interpretation of relevant laws and a declaration of which agency should regulate their activities. Delivering judgment, Justice

J.T. Tsoho declared that the National Inland Waterways Authority and NIMASA were the proper and lawful agencies with authority in matters relating to the commercial activities of both associations. Justice Tsoho subsequently restrained the Lagos Waterways Authority and Attorney General from seeking to control the two bodies.

Appoint new monarch for Ikeja, youths urge Ambode

ising from a two-day consultative meeting, Ikeja Youth Vanguard, IYV, an umbrella body of young elites in Ikeja, has made a passionate plea to Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, to install a new monarch in the community, as a means of enhancing good governance and progress for residents of the area. Specifically, IYV in a communiqué signed by its coordinator, Mr. Shina Rilwanu, said the community’s kingmakers had since two years ago selected an Oba-elect in the person of Alhaji Shamsudeen Adeleye, but wondered why his

installation was being delayed. According to the group, the Ikeja kingmakers, led by a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Chief Rafiu Jafojo, had written a letter addressed to chairman of Ikeja Local Government, for onward delivery to the governor, who is expected to approve the appointment of Adeleye. “The letter was written over two years ago during the tenure of former Governor Babatunde Fashola and we decided not to mount pressure when Governor Akinwumi Ambode came to power because we believed that

a new administration must be allowed to first settle down to critical works before being confronted with a chieftaincy issue. “We also gathered that the delay in approval is caused by activities of some opposition elements to the reigning political party, who appear too powerful and wish to dominate the entire length and breadth of the council area,” the IYV said. The group also said similar appeal has gone to the state’s House of Assembly, to wade into the quest of Ikeja people to have their ‘Obama’ installed in earnest.

ingmakers of Ayede Ogbese, the gateway kingdom to the east of Akure, capital of Ondo State, on Wednesday ratified the selection of Prince Isaac Ayodele Oluyede as next monarch of the community. Prince Isaac Ayodele Oluyede was chosen by the two living kingmakers of the kingdom, the Lisa, High Chief Femi Fajembimo and the Odopetu, High Chief Oladimeji Abitogun, while his younger brother, Prince Adeniji Oluyede lost the competitive bid. High Chief Fajembimo in announcing the ratification, which he said was in accordance with the rules set by the Akure North Local Government, in accordance with Ondo State Chieftaincy laws, said the 14 days deadline given for conclusion of the process had been met. He said the kingmakers removed themselves from the horse-trading complications often associated with the process of king-making and worked by the rules contained in government white paper guiding the emergence of traditional rulers. Concerning a last minute attempt to truncate the ratification process, the Odopetu, High Chief Oladimeji Abitogun said it was curious that a government that sat by and did nothing while persons acting at the behest of a disgruntled losing candidate attacked its representatives at the royal family’s meeting where the prospective candidates were screened, has suddenly become the champion for the same culprit. He said the attitude portrays impunity as government directed that the process be halted. High Chief Abitogun denied that the candidate who protested was sidelined at any stage of the contest. He said the candidate, Mr. Reuben Adegoriola Oluyede, contested with two other candidates whose names were eventually submitted to the kingmakers, but the family made up of six units voted and because majority of the voters said his name could not be sent to the kingmakers, the decision was implemented to the letter.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North 43

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

NPC collaborates with UNICEF to enhance birth registration EZEKIL TITUS BAUCHI

Second Batch of 4,500 IDPs from Gwoza being screened by camp officials on Monday before evacuating them from Government College Maiduguri, to Bakassi Camp as schools are set to reopen. PHOTO:INUSA NDAHI

Again, Borno relocates 4,500 IDPs from schools INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

n continuation of its relocation of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, from public schools to camps in Borno State, the state’s Relocation Committee, SREC, yesterday commenced evacuation and transportation of 4,506 displaced persons to Bakassi camp in Maiduguri metropolis. Just last week, more than 600 IDPs at the Government Girls Secondary School, Yerwa, in Maiduguri metropolis were successfully evacuated to Dalori camp, after which

they were reunited with their families. This followed the state government’s decision to reopen all public schools closed for almost two years due to insecurity posed by insurgents. The relocation exercise, which commenced at 8am yesterday, was coordinated by the military and other security agencies amid tight security. Addressing newsmen on the IDPs’ relocation exercise at Government College, Maiduguri, Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Musa Inuwa Kubo,

who doubles as SREC chairman, disclosed that the Bakassi camp has basic facilities for family size tents, water and security to accommodate and protect 4,500 displaced persons relocated from the college. He said the relocation committee is satisfied with the IDPs’ willingness to be relocated from the college to the Bakkasi camp on Damboa-Biu road. He however said before any IDP boards the bus to the camp, he must register first, indicating his or her name, family members and wives (if any)

to join them and resettle in the family size tent of eight persons. He however warned that “any IDP that wants to exit and stay out of camps, has to fill the exit form, indicating that the Borno State government would hands off his resettlements and feeding before returning to his community in the course of the year. He said the massive relocation of displaced persons from schools is to enable government reopen schools closed since March 14, 2014 over Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

Islamic Movement holds zonal protest in Nasarawa IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

slamic Movement of Nigeria yesterday held a zonal protest in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, demanding unconditional release of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenatuddeen, and others being detained. Members of the group, who were in their hundreds, came from Kadu-

na, Benue, Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa states, carrying placards with different inscriptions as they marched peacefully on major streets of Lafia, beginning from Masalanci Idi praying ground, along Shendam road and terminating at Masalanci Gabas, near Makurdi road. Addressing the protesters, coordinator of the movement in charge of the zone, Adamu Tsofo

Ahmed, stated that the purpose of the protest was to appeal for the unconditional release of Sheikh el-Zakzaky. The zonal coordinator claimed that the movement was not a group because it does not register anybody before joining the movement even as he also claimed that the movement was not the Shi’a movement in Nigeria because the movement comprises Dariqa, Izala

and Shi’a. Ahmed therefore, lamented that one of the weapons some people are using against Shi’a is that it is insulting the companion of the prophet, which according to him, “Sheikh el-Zakzaky had earlier stated that he who said he is a member of this movement and is insulting companions, such a person is not from the movement.”

3,000 students get entrepreneurial skills in Katsina poly JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

hree thousand finalyear students of t Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina State, have acquired

entrepreneurial skills to make them self-reliant after school. The students, who were trained last year in 16 different vocational skills, are the first set of students to benefit from the programme.

Speaking on the issue yesterday with newsmen, Rector of the institution, Prof. Yusuf Haruna, said another 2,000 students were about to commence training, with the programme expected to be a continuous

one. Haruna said the students were trained in carpentry, hairdressing, barbing, furniture-making, soap-making, handset repairs, satellite installation and poultry, among others.

ational Population Commission, NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF plans to leverage on the phase 2 Enumeration Area Demarcation, EAD, field work to registered unregistered children in selected local government areas. Alhaji Hassan Bashir, who is Federal Commissioner, NPC, Bauchi State, disclosed this while briefing newsmen yesterday on the second phase of the EAD for 2017 census, which takes place from February 22 to March 21, 2016, in Misau Locl Government Area of the state. According to him, the idea of collaboration was conceived because of the low level of birth registration in Nigeria, especially of under-5 children in Nigeria, which stands at 30 per cent in the National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, 2013 with 70 per cent

unregistered. The NPC commissioner stressed the importance of EAD, saying it forms the basis for the planning and execution of the census project, adding that EAD is the vehicle that drives the entire census process in the pre-census, actual enumeration and post-census period. So also, were some of the critical issues that made previous censuses contentious attributable to the quality of the EAD for those exercises, he said. Bashir said the commission has adopted a meticulously and gradual approach to the 2017 census EAD that allows experimentation of the methodology and necessary adjustments in implementation. He however called on all stakeholders to give the field functionaries unfettered access to facilities and place to demarcate in the communities while also sensitising the people on the essence of the project.

My govt won’t be for salary payment alone –Bello WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

ogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has vowed not to be a governor that would only pay salaries without meaningful development in the state. Bello, who disclosed this while speaking at the inauguration of a steering committee to carry out Kogi State civil service staff screening exercise at the banquet hall of Government House in Lokoja yesterday, said federal allocation could no longer pay workers’ salaries. The governor explained that he had in his inaugural speech vowed and pledged to reposition the state’s civil service for better performance, noting that the civil service was the engine room of government and that there was need for a paradigm shift from what it was in the past. He stated that the screening exercise for the civil servants became necessary in view of dwindling federal allocation to the state, which could not pay October 2016 salaries. He pointed out that Kogi State was created alongside

other states 25 years ago and that its contemporaries were far ahead. The committee comprises members of senior citizens, labour, higher institutions, civil service and private sector as well as the civil society. It is headed by Brigadier General Paul Olusola Okotimo (rtd) and is expected to reposition the civil service for better service delivery and efficiency. According to him, the steering committee would review the report at the end of the screening exercise, pointing out that appropriate recommendation would be made by it as he urged the members to complete the assignment within 30 days. The governor also pointed out that the committee would liaise with Cyber Space, while Zenith Bank would take charge of financial responsibility, stressing that Cyber Space would carry out the biometric data of all civil servants. Bello disclosed that the committee would continually liaise with the chairman of the steering committee, stressing that the outcome of the exercise would be implemented to latter.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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Formerly known and addressed as MISS. DEBORAH FALUYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. RISKAT BELLO ODUOTI. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OBRERENEME FRANK MENSAH, now wish to be known and addressed as FRANK NELSON MENSAH. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authority concern should please take note

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Formerly known, called and addressed as Hussaina Ibrahim now wish to be known, called and addressed as Hussaina Yakubu. Former documents remain valid. General public note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Ogbu Jacob Ogbonnaya and Ogbonnaya Christian belong to one and same person. All documents bearing these names to remain valid. General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Abdulahi Monsurat Mosunmola now wish to be known and addressed as Odukoya Monsurat Mosunmola all former document remain valid. General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Eluebhose Felix Aghedo, now wish to be known and addressed as Eluebhose Felix Ebose. All former documents remain valid. General please take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, PAUL EFFIONG is one and the same person also known, called and addressed as DANIEL PAUL EFFIONG. All former documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

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KALU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS KALU EBERE EBERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ABARIJOSHUA EBERE.O. All former documents remain valid. general public should take note

ADDITION OF NAME

That I was formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU FLORENCE that I now wish to add AMAKA to my former name that I now wish to be known and as CHUKWU AMAKA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHRIST INSPIRATION ASSEMBLY The general public is hereby notified that the above-mentioned Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. Cap 1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Deacon Olanrewaju Olugbenga Oyetade 2. Sis. Adanna Nancy Oyetade 3. Reverend Temitope Oluyomi Popoola 4. Bro. Kehinde Kolade Agbele AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ·To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God to people within and outside Nigeria. ·To provide systematic study in the Bible to those who desire to be fed the Word of God ·To act with charitable concerns for, and to help all people in need of any help which the Church can give, regardless of race, social position or religious affiliation. . To serve as a channel of inspiration, through which the breadth if God is released unto man. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED Yetunde Martins Ground Floor World Oil Plaza, Isheri-OPIC, Logos

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Formerly known and addressed as MISS JACOB ALAD, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS JACOB OJOMA JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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I formerly Miss ODU OGECHI now wish to be called and addressed as MRS USIFOH OGECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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RABIU: Formerly known and addressed as RABIU LAWAN now wish to be known and addressed as RABIU LAWAN ABDULLAHI and my correct date of birth is 14th march 1991. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

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We, formerly known and addressed as OBIESO, now wish to be known and addressed as IKEJEHOVAH, All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

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IJALE: Formerly known and addressed as Ijale Comfort Ugwo now wish to be known and addressed as Joseph Mary Comfort. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Without the use of drugs our athletes are like drivers of a racing car with one gear less than their rivals

Wenger urges ‘clinical finish’ gainst Barca

–Harvey Smith (1967)

Ahead Battle of Kaduna

NFF stops Oliseh’s Euro tour

...as coach wants Babangida’s sack reversed S uper Eagles’ preparations for next month’s all-important double-header AFCON qualifiers against Pharaohs of Egypt next month appears to be in disarray as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday cancelled a planned tour of Europe by Coach Sunday Oliseh, apparently over lack of funds. The football house had at the weekend ordered Oliseh, who is currently in his Belgium base, to appear before its Technical Committee on February 26 to defend the choice of players he hoped to invite for the continental encounters scheduled for March 25 and 29 in Kaduna and Cairo respectively. Oliseh opened up in a radio interview last week when he said he is “struggling financially” in his preparations for the AFCON qualifiers. It however emerged yesterday that his plan to travel around Europe and possibly the United States of America to

monitor players he planned to invite was not approved. “Oliseh’s request to tour Europe and possibly the USA, where he wanted to see a very interesting striker, was not approved. That’s the long and short of the story,” a source said. “He has therefore not been able to compile his list of players. But the NFF are hell bent on getting him to Abuja to defend his list of invited players,” the source added. It was further revealed that the NFF had yet to reimburse the coach of the expenses he incurred when he embarked on another tour of Europe to meet with the country’s top stars in October last year. Meanwhile the Super Eagles gaffer has now agreed to pay his former Ajax Amsterdam teammate Tijani Babangida after he insisted on having the exEagles star on his backroom staff. “He has maintained he will decide

who he works with and that is why Babangida will return to the Eagles camp when it reopens for the AFCON qualifiers against Egypt next month,” an NFF official stated yesterday. “Tijani has been his close and trusted confidant right from their playing days and he counts on him a great deal,” the official explained. The contract Oliseh signed with the NFF allows him to appoint an assistant coach as well as a special assistant. This scenario also played out in the case of Stephen Keshi, when the NFF let go his assistant coach Hounadinou Valere. But Keshi agreed to shoulder the responsibilities of his assistant, who he also worked with in Togo. Last week, the NFF disengaged Babangida without giving any reasons, although he was on a monthly salary of N600, 000 and has not been paid since he was appointed as assistant to Oliseh in July last year.

NPL reschedules Enyimba, Nasarawa, Akwa matches

atch Day 2 fixtures involving three clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have been rescheduled and will now hold on March 16, 2016. The fixtures are Akwa United versus Ikorodu United, Enyimba International versus Shooting Stars and FC Ifeanyi Ubah vs. Nasarawa United. Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company explained that Match Day 2 fixtures were put on hold at the instance of the clubs involved in continental competitions. Match Day 3 fixtures involving the three clubs will accordingly be played on March 23, 2016. “The clubs were already not in the Match Day 3 fixtures due to their continental fixtures holding on the weekend of February 26-28 but we have received representations from officials of the three clubs pleading to be allowed to focus on their continental fixtures”, Abubakar explained. Nasarawa United are already billed to fly out today to Dakar, Senegal for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie against AS Academie Demonstration Foot. The first leg saw the Lafia side in a narrow 2-1 win. Enyimba International will host Vipers of Uganda in the second leg of the CAF Champions League after losing the first leg 1-0 in Kampala. The match will hold at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. Akwa United will also play their second leg tie of the CAF Confederations Cup against Vita Club de Mokanda of Congo. Abubakar said the adjustment in fixtures did not affect other clubs whose games will hold this Wednesday as previously scheduled.

Sports

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wrestling: Igali assures on African championship

P Champions League Today’s Fixtures Arsenal v Barcelona Juventus v Bayern Munich

Wenger

Wenger urges clinical finish against Barca

rsene Wenger says that Arsenal will have to play better if they’re to beat Barcelona in today’s champions League match, with a warning that his side must be clinical in front of goal if they are to beat the reigning European champion. On Saturday, Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by Championship leaders Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round and Wenger has claimed that it is far more difficult to prepare his players for the clash against the Tigers than for Barcelona. “Well, honestly, of course the difficulty of the task is completely different,” the Arsenal manager said. “It is more difficult to prepare against Hull than it is against Barcelona. “With Barcelona everyone is focused, naturally, so it makes easier to create belief and confidence as Barcelona are super favourites to win this game. “Against Hull, it is more to raise the urgency level and convince everybody is it very difficult game. Tomorrow everybody is convinced that we will need to be absolutely at our best and, as a whole squad, have total focus to have a chance and that’s what I try to raise that belief, confidence

and let’s go for it.” Barcelona arguably boasts the world’s most inform forward line in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, who have scored a combined 91 goals between them this season. Despite this, Wenger is confident he has the defence capable of nullifying Barcelona’s attacking threat that will allow them to secure a positive result to take to the Nou Camp on March 16. In a related development, Wenger has also charged his players to

ensure they silence Luis Suarez if they are to overcome holders Barcelona in today’s important cracker. Luis Enrique’s side is unbeaten in 32 league and cup games, with Suarez scoring 12 in his last seven outings. “Suarez is the kind of guy who manages to create that spirit in teams,” said Wenger, who tried to sign the player in July 2013 when he was at Liverpool. Fellow forwards Lionel Messi, 28, and Neymar are also likely to line up against Arsenal at the

Emirates. Messi has scored seven in his last six league and cup appearances, while Neymar, 24, hit the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Las Palmas which sent Barca eight points clear at the top of La Liga. Suarez, 29, is the leading scorer in La Liga with 25 goals and Wenger added: “We have to keep him quiet today night. “I believe that apart from the individual talent the three have, they have a good understanding and cohesion.”

Sanchez is unpredictable –Iniesta

ndres Iniesta has described Arsenal as “dangerous” and former team-mate Alexis Sanchez as “unpredictable” ahead of Barcelona’s trip to the Emirates Stadium today. Barca go into the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie as overwhelming favourites to see off the Gunners, having knocked them out of Europe’s elite club competition in 2010 and 2011 as well as beating them in the 2006 final. Arsenal’s main threat is likely to come from Chile international Sanchez, who

played alongside Iniesta at Camp Nou between 2011 and 2014. “What makes Alexis so dangerous is that he is unpredictable,” the Spaniard told Arsenal’s official website. “When he dribbles, when he attacks, he is a very strong player. “He’s got skill and when he has the ball he always creates doubts. In that sense, we have to try to make him feel uncomfortable on the field and try to minimize his strengths.” Despite Barca’s strong record against Arsenal, and Luis Enrique’s side

coming into the game on the back of a 32-match unbeaten run, Iniesta does not expect the tie to be straightforward. He added: “Arsenal is known for having a style of play, a way of understanding football through having the ball. I also think that the type of players that their coach or that Arsenal look for are very similar. “I think their strong spots are their quality, their talent and the way they play. The way they attack, the way they combine. I think they’re a very dangerous opponent in that sense.”

resident of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali has expressed great optimism that the nation’s Greco Roman wrestlers will excel at the Africa Championship. The African championship is scheduled for Egypt from March 2 to March 7, 2016. It will be recalled that at the 2015 All Africa Games held in Congo, Emmanuel Nworie won a Gold medal for Nigeria after 23 years. Igali said Emmanuel Nworie remains the nation’s champion and needs the support of the country. “Nworie is the shining light in his category; he has been consistent and presently competing at a high level. So he Nworie remains our best chance at the Africa Championship”, Igali said. On funding wrestlers to the Africa championship, the president said

the federation is awaiting the approval of the National Sports Commission. He added that if adequately funded, the federation will depart with more than three Greco Roman wrestlers. “Unfortunately, we don’t know how much the federation will have access to in attending the championship. As at now, the federation is yet to know the weight classes that will represent Nigeria. All these listed will depend on the funding we get from the National Sports Commission”, he said.

Igali

Barcelona to establish academy in Lagos Francis suberu

arcelona Football Club yesterday revealed that it has concluded plans to establish football academy in Lagos, making it first Barcelona Academy in Africa. FC Barcelona’s Director of Social Area, Pau Vilanova made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode at the State House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja. The director who lead a delegation which includes Oscar Grao, the head of the Barcelona academy and Carlos Garcon, FC Barcelona associate. Amaju Pinnick, Lesley Ogomenu, business adviser of

Ambode

Barcelona FC in Nigeria and Kayode Adeleke, said the football academy upon completion would be established by Barcelona in Africa. Vilanova explained that when the idea was muted to the Barcelona Football Club Management, the Club had special interest in the city considering its population and other laudable achievement recorded by the state. He added that they wanted to be in the city because of its status as the fastest growing megacity, saying “We have 17 football Academies across the world. We have in America, China, Canada and others. But there was none in Africa.” Ambode while welcoming the decision and pledging support for the football club, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said his government will ensure the successful take off of the project. The Governor, who described the development as an historic moment for the state, said it was indeed a thing of joy coming at a time when the state was still basking in the euphoria of the successful hosting of the International Marathon.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports 47

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

World bits…

Kenyan athletics chief bags long suspension

Mercyjacob_26@yahoo.com Tel: 08063056537

Rehm awaits decision on Olympic participation

arkus Rehm, the Paralympics long jump champion, is hoping to come to an agreement with the IAAF that will allow him to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio this year. The German, who wears a prosthetic limb after his right leg was torn off by a boat propeller when he was 14, took gold at London 2012 with a jump of 7.35 meters, over a meter clear of his nearest rival. Rehm defeated ablebodied rivals at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday with a jump of 8.10m and his personal best of 8.40m is five centimeters further than Greg Rutherford’s winning leap at the London Games four years ago. Under IAAF rules, Rehm has to prove his prosthetic leg does not give him an unfair advantage, and the 27-yearold is seeking a meeting with the governing body

Rehm

and the Code of Conduct Commission of the International Cricket Council. “The chairman of the IAAF Ethics Board (formerly Ethics Commission), Michael Beloff has today provisionally suspended Isaac Mwangi, CEO of Athletics Kenya, from all offices or positions in either Athletics Kenya or the IAAF in the interests of the integrity of the sport,” said an Ethics Board statement. “Mwangi is provisionally suspended from any office or position in either Athletics Kenya or the IAAF which he presently holds and is precluded from assuming any new office or position in either organisation for a period of 180 days starting on 22 February 2016, pending investigation of a complaint made against him and information that the IAAF Ethics Board has seen. “The Ethics Board stresses that the imposition of an Order for Provisional Suspension in this case in no way prejudges the outcome of the investigation which will now be carried out by the Board’s appointed investigator, Sharad Rao.

IAAF World Indoor winners book Portland place

to discuss his potential participation in Rio. “If my leg was such a big advantage why can no other Paralympic athlete jump the same distances as me?” he said. “In the world championships, the gap between my nearest rival was 1.14 meters and they had the same take-off leg, technique and

equipment as me. If it was that easy everyone would be jumping those distances. “We wrote the IAAF a letter, but we got an answer that they are quite busy.”I would like to meet with them, face to face, to discuss the possibility of making a good advert for our sport”, he said.

NACAC backs Coe’s reform process

thletics Kenya chief executive Isaac Mwangi has been provisionally suspended for 180 days by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Ethics Board ahead of an investigation into allegations he asked for money to reduce the doping bans of two athletes who failed drugs tests. Mwangi, who asked to step aside from his role for 21 days on February 16 as the scandal developed, was named by 400 meters runner Joy Sakari and 400m hurdler Francisca Koki Manunga, who told the Associated Press that the official had asked for $24,000 to reduce their bans. In response, Mwangi has said that the allegations are “unsubstantiated” and that they have caused him “a lot of mental anguish”. The Ethics Board has now appointed Sharad Rao, a former director of public prosecutions in Kenya and the current chairman of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board, to investigate the matter. Rao is also a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport

orth , Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association Council has put its full support behind IAAF President Sebastian Coe’s reform process, the Area Association’s Council announced in a signed resolution during its meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Council stated that it, “fully and unequivocally supports Lord Coe in his role, recommendations and actions as IAAF

President, both now and in the future.” It also added: “The policies, practices and governance of the IAAF must drastically be changed to ensure the integrity of the sport of athletics and to protect our clean athletes. “The sport of athletics must be united in our efforts to severely punish past wrongs, clean up past practices and be clear in the path to a positive future. In such a

time of crisis, strong leadership is critical to addressing the crisis and moving forward. “IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe, on his record as an athlete and leader, has demonstrated the integrity and resolve needed to lead athletics into a better future.” IAAF Interim CEO/General Secretary Jean Gracia represented the IAAF President at the meeting.

Star Quote…

I have styled my races and training towards the Rio Olympics where I hope to challenge Mo Farah in the 10,000 meters. I have learned from the mistakes I made in past competitions. –Geoffrey Kamworor

ith the inaugural season of the IAAF World Indoor Tour having come to a close after the last of its four meetings, eleven athletes, comprising of six men and five women from the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix held last Saturday have booked their place at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016. In addition to a winner-takesall USD $20,000 first prize for each of the 11 individual event winners, one of the attractions of this innovative new series is that each individual event winners will automatically qualify for the next edition of the IAAF

World Indoor Championships by ‘Wild Card’. This means, for instance, that in Portland there will be possibly three Americans in the men’s 60m and triple jump, three Ethiopians in the women’s 1500m and three Britons in the women’s long jump. The final decision about entering an individual athlete for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 still remains with the individual IAAF Member Federation but it’s certainly possible that several nations’ squads will be boosted by the success of their athletes on the World Indoor Tour.

Kipsang expresses Olympic worry

ilson Kipsang has warned Kenya “will never be the same again” if athletes from the nation are banned from the Olympic Games this year. IAAF president Sebastian Coe warned that Kenyan track and field athletes face the threat of being banned from the Rio Games if the country’s athletics federation is deemed non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. WADA last week stated that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) still has a lot of work to do in order to prove it is conforming to regulations amid allegations made against athletes and officials. Former marathon world-record holder Kipsang has urged for the government to take action with the Olympics getting under-

way in less than six months. “We must all step up the fight against doping because if we are banned, Kenya will never be the same again. This is a country which has made its name as athletics giant,” Kipsang, President of the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya, said. “We have done well in the Olympic and World Championships and therefore, we should not miss out complying with the doping directives. “Since the formation of ADAK, the agency has never been formalized and most importantly given powers to deal with doping. It also needs legislative will from government.” Russian athletes are currently banned as a result of a doping scandal and Coe warned that competitors from Kenya may suffer the same fate.

WORLD RECORD

Largest smoothie Fastest marathon dribbling two basketballs The largest smoothie contained 2,300 litres (607.6 US gal) and was prepared by Dry July (Australia) at Circular Quay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 30 June 2014.

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1313 Tuesday, February 23, 2016

How TSA is curbing corruption

he organisation of this workshop on Treasury Single Account (TSA) is apt and timely, especially at a time when the global economic downturn is creating challenges that demand efficient and effective management of cash resources. The global economic challenges as they affect our nation demand optimum efficiency in the management of public funds. This will require an overhaul of the financial management approaches adopted to meet financial obligations on time and ensure that cost-effective financial support is provided to public institutions. Much has been reported and debated about the merits of Treasury Single Account (TSA), its impact on the financial autonomy of the various arms of government and on the profitability of

Guest Columnist

Kemi

Adeosun

commercial banks. In practice, TSA is an essential reform for any government wishing to pursue fiscal sustainability and prudent management of its resources. It increases accountability and transparency, improves the processing of payments and collections and reduces borrowing costs. It is worth reiterating some of the key benefits of TSA that we have recorded to date: • TSA at federal level has allowed, for the first time, visibility of the total quantity of government funds at any point in time. • The balance, which changes daily as MDAs remit revenues and make payments, according to the latest reports from CBN, exceeds N2.2 trillion. I can report that work is now ongoing within the Treasury to determine how much of these funds can potentially be utilised to part fund the 2016 budget and how much relates to pending commitments. This, of course, will reduce the amount to be borrowed. • The TSA has provided us with financial information on the revenues of agencies funded by government and has reduced revenue suppression. This information is being used to drive our programme to enforce compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and ensure that revenue generating agencies generate expected surpluses and remit same to the federal purse. • TSA has eliminated opportunities for brokerage and other corrupt practices that previously encouraged agencies to accumulate funds with commercialbanksratherthanapplythemtotheir intended uses. We believe that this will reduce payment delays to contractors, minimise late payment penalties and will consequently improve project completion times and service delivery.

TSA IS AN ESSENTIAL REFORM FOR ANY GOVERNMENT WISHING TO PURSUE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND PRUDENT MANAGEMENT OF ITS RESOURCES • TSA has corrected the practice of government borrowing short term funds at high rates of interest, whilst simultaneously having idle funds in various bank accounts. Finally, by reducing the number of accounts in operation, monitoring and control has significantly improved. I urge the participants for this workshop to also brainstorm on ways and means of improving the revenue base of the country through full implementation of TSA, blocking all leakages and improving the efficiency of revenue administration in their respective states. The revenue base of the country is still low and its administration leaves room for improvement. This is bedevilled with a range of problems like poor computerization, lack of skilled and dedicated employees, corruption, lack of awareness, and of course, unpatriotic conduct by some of the operators. This clearly indicates that the underlying assumptions underpinning the 2016 budget may only be realised with serious efforts geared towards revenue efficiencies and expenditure discipline – which the implementation of

the TSA and cash management concepts by all tiers of government is all about. Therefore, I commend the efforts of the Office of the Account General of the Federation (OAGF) and organisers for hosting this very important workshop aimed at sensitizing the states’ AccountantsGeneral on the need to key into the TSA scheme of the Federal Government. I also wish to thank IMF (FAD Mission) for partnering with Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in this noble initiative. I may also emphasis that timing of this workshop cannot be more auspicious than now when the present Muhammadu Buhari administration is vigorously pursuing the war against corruption. As professionals in charge of Public Financial Management of your respective states, the ball is in your court and l hope you will take advantage of this workshop to clarify issues that have agitated your minds regarding the implementation of TSA. TSA will no doubt enable you to block all financial leakages and conserve more funds needed for development in your various States. I am also aware that some states are already implementing TSA. I urge those states to kindly share their experiences with the rest of you so as to encourage those who are yet to decide to take their first step in this direction. At the federal level, I can assure you that our experience has been worthwhile. TSA has provided complete and timely information on government cash resources; improved operational control on budget execution; enabled efficient cash management; reduced bank fees and transaction costs; facilitated efficient payment mechanisms, and reduced the FG’s Ways and Means requirement to bridge the budget funding gap. Distinguished invited guests, participants, ladies and gentlemen, it is remarkable that this workshop will come-up with ways of improving the efficiency of our scarce resources. I urge all participants to share ideas that would improve transparency and accountability in the management of our nation’s scares resources. Edited text of an address by Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on the occasion of a recent workshop on TSA for states’ Accountants General held in Abuja.

Sport Extra

ormer president of the Thailand football federation Worawi Makudi has been banned by FIFA for three months for failing to comply with a decision passed by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee. Football’s world governing

FIFA extends former Thai football boss ban body found he had breached an earlier ban that barred him from all football activity. In October 2015, the Ethics Committee banned Makudi from all football activities for 90 days. The Disciplinary Com-

mittee found that Makudi was still involved in football affairs during this period ; constituting a breach of article 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and has therefore decided to ban him from taking part in any kind

of football related activity at national and international level for a period of three months. The 64-year-old was part of the group when it voted on who should host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in 2010.

According to Fifa, Makudi was “still involved in the affairs” of his national association during his suspension. Makudi has also been fined 3,000 Swiss francs (£2,133) with a warning.

Makudi

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