Tuesday, march 22,2016

Audit report: NNPC yet to remit N4.9trn –RMAFC

R Kachikwu

Vol. 6 N0. 1331

evenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, said yesterday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was yet

to remit N4.9trn into the Federation Account.

A statement from the commission’s Head of Public Communications, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, said its records showed

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

New version of PIB ready, to be presented next week –Senate

that NNPC owed more than what the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation stated in its audit report.

“RMAFC observed that CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

P.6

Saraki

N150

Power situation no more laughing matter –Buhari National Mirror Online

@NationalMirror

...says FG plans to generate 10,000mw in 3 years

Rotimi Fadeyi and Chidi UgwU

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the power situation in the country was no more a laughing matter.

But, the President said his administration plans to generate 10,000mw of electricity in the next three years.

Speaking while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a twoCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

L-R: Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yaro; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, at the National Economic Council retreat in Abuja, yesterday.

Rivers rerun: PDP blasts INEC, security, APC ...leads with one federal, 8 state seats

Protest at Queens College over sexual harassment allegation

P.5 P.6

N754.7m fraud: Court assumes jurisdiction in suit against P.7 ex-NIMASA DG Medical students to spend 7 years in varsity –NUC P.7

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Power situation no more laughing matter –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

day National Economic Council, NEC, retreat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari said his government would also add 2,000mw to the national grid this year.

He explained that his government was facing the classic dilemma of privatisation between public interest and profit motive.

The President however said since the privatisation process had already started, government must complete it.

He said: “Nigerians’ favourite talking point and butt of jokes is the power situation in our country.

But, ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer a laughing matter. We must and by the grace of God we will put things right.”

Buhari noted that there had been no significant improvement in the quality of service since the sector was privatised.

According to him, the common public complaints include constant power cuts which was destroying economic activity and affecting quality of life, high electricity bills despite inadequate supply, and low supply of gas to power plants due to vandalism.

Buhari also said other complaints were obsolete power distribution equipment such as transformers, power fluctuations, which damage manufacturing equipment and household appliances and low voltage.

The President explained that though the problems had defied successive administrations, the current All Progressives Congress, APC, government was determined to put a stop to power shortages.

He stated that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, had a vital role in ensuring that consumers got value for money and over-all public interest was safe-guarded.

The President also said government needed to fast-track completion of pipelines from gas points to power stations.

Also, security should be provided for gas and oil pipelines, while power

companies should be encouraged to replace obsolete equipment and improve quality of service.

Speaking on agriculture, Buhari said food production and self-sufficiency required urgent government action.

According to him, importation of subsidised food products, such as rice and poultry, discouraged the growth of domestic agriculture.

He said it also leads to wastage of locally grown foods, notably fruit and vegetables, which go bad due to lack of even moderate scale agro-processing factories and lack of feeder roads.

“For too long, government policies on agriculture have been halfhearted, suffering from inconsistencies and discontinuities. Yet our real wealth is in farming, livestock, hatcheries, fishery, horticulture and forestry.

“From the information available to me, the issues worrying the public today are rising food prices, such as maize, corn, rice and gari; lack of visible impact of government presence on agriculture and lack of agricultural inputs at affordable prices.

“Cost of fertilizers, pesticide and labour compound the problems of farming. Extension services are virtually absent in several states,” Buahri said.

The President, while suggesting solutions to the problems in order to ensure agricultural reform said there was the need to carry the public along with the new initiatives.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar (r) and others at the firing range to mark the opening of Nigerian Air Force Inter Command Combat Sports competition in Kaduna, yesterday.

Buhari regretted the almost comatose state of the manufacturing sector of the economy.

According to him, the problem of the sector was compounded by lack of foreign exchange to import raw materials and spare parts, in addition to inadequate infrastructure, roads and security.

All these, he said, had led to increase in costs of making Made-in-Nigeria goods pricier than imports.

While suggesting solutions to the problems, the President said the Infrastructure Development Fund should be fast-tracked to unlock resources so that infrastructural deficiencies could be addressed.

Buhari also said there should be more fiscal incentives for Small and Medium Enterprises,

SMEs, which prove themselves capable of manufacturing quality products, good enough for export while the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, should create more incentives and ease credit terms for lending to manufacturers.

He also suggested that a fresh campaign to patronise Made-inNigeria goods should be launched, stressing that one of the ways to carry out the campaign was to ensure that all uniforms in government-sponsored institutions be sourced from local factories.

On housing, the President said in order to fulfill his party’s promise to build a million housing units a year, the Federal Government would have to build 250,000 units while the 22 APC states would complement the

efforts by adding another 250,000 units.

Buhari also said the relevant laws should be reviewed to make the process of acquiring statutory right of occupancy shorter, less cumbersome and less costly.

On healthcare, the President said sound health system was part of the prerequisites for economic development, saying that Nigerians travel abroad, spending an estimated $1bn annually to get medical treatment.

According to him, despite huge oil revenues, the nation’s health sector remained undeveloped.

In tackling the challenges in the sector, Buhari said there should be improvement in funding for health centres to improve service delivery, while World Bank and

World Health Organisation, WHO, could be persuaded to increase their assistance.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri yesterday said poor state of electricity had been pulling Nigeria backward for many years.

Shehuri also announced the Federal Government’s new power generation target of 25,000mw by the year 2020.

Shehuri, who spoke at the 5th induction ceremony of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, NPTIN, Graduate Skills Development Programme in Abuja, further stated that the present government was determined to transform the power sector in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Audit report: NNPC yet to remit N4.9trn –RMAFC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the figure of N3.2trn from the 2014 Annual Audit Report was obtained from the records of the FAAC Technical Sub-Committee on Domestic Crude Oil Sales,” it said.

It said the report was also from the reconciliation statement as contained in NNPC’s mandate to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. “However, available records at the commission’s disposal indicate that between January 2011 and December 2015, the total

indebtedness of NNPC to the Federation Account is N4.9trn.

“This includes NNPC’s claims for subsidy on petroleum products, crude and product losses, strategic reserves and pipeline maintenance cost.

“The commission’s records reveal that the corporation owed the Federation Account the sum of N1.99trn only in 2014 from domestic crude sales.

“Therefore, the figure quoted by the auditorgeneral of the federation must have included reve-

nues from other sources,” it said.

On the alleged payment of $235m realised from the sale of natural gas into an undisclosed Escrow Account by NNPC, the commission said it was proceeds from funding various gas projects.

It said the proceed was from a tripartite agreement on gas projects under Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas with Nigeria Agip Oil Coy, Shell Petroleum Development Coy of Nigeria and Total E&P Nig. Ltd.

“The total amount transferred to the various accounts from 2012 to November 2015 was $1.62bn.

“The commission, through the FAAC Post Mortem, has consistently requested NNPC to provide it with updated financial statements on the projects, but NNPC was yet to respond,” it said.

It also said that RMAFC, NNPC and the ministry of finance in December 2015 agreed to carry out a forensic audit of the Corporation to ascertain its actual indebt-

edness to the federation.

It said the audit was expected to be concluded by the end of this month.

It would be recalled that the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in its report for 2014 said NNPC did not remit N3.2trn in 2014.

Afterwards, NNPC rejected the findings, which was submitted recently to the National Assembly.

According to NNPC, its balance to the Federation Account for 2014 was N326bn only.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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Tuesday, Maech 22, 2016

L-R: Head, International Affairs, EFCC, Mr. Modibo Hainman; Director, Admin and Finance, Intergovernmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa, Mr Babacar Ndiaye; Director, Financial Intelligence Unit, Mr. Francis Usani and Director, Programmes and Projects, GIABA, Mr. Buno Nduka, during the Inter-Governmental Action against Money Laundering in West Africa “Pre-Assessment Training Workshop for stakeholders in Nigeria, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Maj Gen. Bamidele Ogunkale (l), receiving South African Defence Industries Experts , Mr Johnny Chabalala, to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria premises in Kaduna, on Sunday

OSASONA

L-R: New Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr. Segun McMedal; Special Adviser on Communities and Communication, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan and Chairman, Lagos NIPR Caretaker Committee, Rev. Abraham Olusola-Niyi, during a courtesy visit to the Special Adviser in his office at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

Executive Director, Abuja, East and South Bank, UBA Plc, Dan Okeke; MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso; Strategic Business Group Head, Benin, UBA Plc, Joan Abolo and Principal, Imaguero College, Felicity Omorebokahe, flanked by students of Imaguero College, Benin City, at the Financial Literacy Day organised by UBA Plc in the school, recently..

National News

Rivers re-run: NYSC confirms killing of corps member

…INEC to investigate alleged distribution of fake result sheets

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ational Youth Service Corps, NYSC, yesterday, confirmed the killing of a corps member, Mr. Okonta Samuel, during Rivers State re-run elections on March 19.

This was contained in a statement signed by NYSC Director of Press, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The statement said the deceased, who was an orphan, was shot dead by gunmen in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.

It described the act as primitive, barbaric and ungodly, urging all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn it.

The statement said NYSC would work with relevant agencies to ensure the perpetrators of the act were caught and made to face the full wrath of the law.

According to the statement, Samuel’s death is a great loss not only to his immediate family but also the

NYSC family and the nation.

It prayed the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest and give the family and the nation the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The statement said two other corps members, who were with the deceased at the time of the incident, escaped through the help of security agents.

It said another corps member, Anana Udoetor, who was earlier reported missing, had been found and was hale and hearty.

Meanwhile, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it will investigate alleged distribution of fake result sheets in some polling units in Saturday’s legislative re-run elections.

The commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole OsazeUzzi, made this known in Abuja yesterday.

Osaze-Uzzi said the commission would also investi-

gate other allegations raised during the conduct of the election.

He, however, insisted that there was no way fake election materials could have been distributed by INEC's election officers.

“Was there really distribution of fake result sheets?

How did the people know they were fake?

“The allegation will be

investigated, anyway. We are having a meeting on Wednesday with the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Monitors and Supervisors, who went to the state for the election.

“This issue will be raised there; thereafter, we will issue a public statement on our findings.

“We will also investigate any allegation that has been

raised and backed with facts,” Osaze-Uzzi said.

On when the commission would release the remaining results of the election, he said the decision would be taken at Wednesday’s meeting.

“We are not going back to the state until the atmosphere is conducive to have a violent-free election.

“But, I don’t want to pre-

empt anything ahead of the Wednesday meeting,” he added.

On update about electoral officers abducted during the election, Osaze-Uzzi said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

“I cannot speak categorically on that, but I was told some of the people we are much concerned about have been released,” he said.

Ogoni killing: Human rights group absolves military

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human rights group, Citizen Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights, CASER, has absolved the Nigerian military of killing innocent citizens in Ogoniland in Rivers State, on February 22.

Executive Director of the group¸ Mr. Frank Tietie, who made the group’s position known while briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, described the accusation as false.

Tietie stated that he discovered the truth after a factfinding mission to Gokana, Yeghe, and Obori communities in Ogoni, where the killing was said to have occurred.

“We have called this press conference to denounce certain notions that are inimical to national interest. What are those notions?

“The notion that the Nigerian military causes problem, kills and maims in-

nocent Nigerians, which is untrue.

“We needed to take the Rivers State re-run elections as a case study, and on that note, I personally went to those flashpoints, particularly places like Gokana, Yeghe and Obori.

“We found that what happened on February 22 in an Ogoni community called Yeghe was actually an encounter between certain cultists, who were followers of

one Solomon Ndigbara, who actually engaged the army in a shootout.

“My findings from the citizens, including the video evidence and other records that I made, showed that there were only three persons they could prove to have died in the course of that encounter, whereas the military is said to have killed over 45 persons.

“Nothing could be more untrue. We must be very careful.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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Rivers rerun: PDP blasts INEC, security, APC ObiOra ifOh and dennis naku

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, said the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security operatives in Saturday’s National and State Assembly re-run elections in Rivers State fell short of the expected standard, given the level of mobilisation and preparedness.

The party expressed disappointment that INEC, under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had not been able to conduct any conclusive election in few constituencies and states so far and wondered what would be the case when the entire country is involved.

“Also grossly unacceptable is the shoddy work by security operatives, leading to escalation of violence, avoidable deaths and eventual cancellation of election results in eight local government areas in the state,” the party said in a statement signed by spokesman, Olisa Metuh.

It added that the nation and the international community should hold INEC, security operatives and All Progressives Congress, APC, responsible should there be a breakdown of law and order in the state over the nonrelease of the final results.

PDP said the only reason for the seizure of the results is that its candidates were in clear and overwhelming victory, prompting APC, in connivance with INEC, to seek to use the delay to manipulate the results.

“Nigerians and the international community can now see the desperation of APC, which has now arm-twisted INEC in the unholy bid to alter the results of the elections and subvert the will of the people.

“We want APC and INEC to mark the salient fact that PDP, the people of Rivers State and indeed all Nigerians are already aware of the results from respective polling centers, wards and local government areas and will in no way whatsoever accept any final result that does not tally with the actual and already established figures from the polling units.

“We wish to remind APC and INEC that Rivers State is a known stronghold of PDP and the results from the elections cannot show otherwise.

INEC should therefore understand that Nigerians are aware that in withholding the final results, they are ostensibly preparing grounds for chaos in the state,” the statement added.

INEC yesterday released the results of one federal constituency and nine state assembly seats in the re-run legislative elections.

The result, signed by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, showed that PDP won the only House of Representatives seat of Abua/Odual/ Ahoada East constituency Mrs. Betty Apiafi of the PDP polled 19,188 votes to beat Mr. Ewor Robinson of APC who scored 6,468 to win the House of Representatives poll.

The result also showed that the party won eight of the nine state assembly seats while APC won one seat.

The state assembly result showed that Mr. Martins Manah of PDP scored 6,654 votes to win Ahoada East I seat as against 2,077 votes polled by Mr. Apia Chinedu of APC. Ehie Edison of the PDP recorded 3,417 votes to beat Ibiso Nwobuiyeuma of APC with 1,429 to win Ahoada East II seat; Mr. Jack Major of PDP got 11,624 votes to defeat Mr. Ineye Jack of APC with 810 votes for Akuku-Toru constituency I. Emohua constituency was won by Mr. Samuel Ogeh of PDP, who polled 13,621votes to beat Mr. Chidi Lloyd of APC with 5,413 votes.

For Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni constituency, Mr.

L-R: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, at the opening session of the National Economic Council retreat, in Abuja, yesterday.

Christian Ahiakwo of PDP won with 7,256 votes at the expense of APC’s Gift Wokocha who polled 1,845 votes.

Kelechi Nwogu of PDP polled 5,568 votes to beat Mr. Anyanwu Leo of APC with 3,241 votes to win Omuma constituency.

It said that Martin Amaewhule of PDP had 9,703 votes to beat Mr. Collins Ordu of APC with 4,078 votes for Obio/Akpor constituency I seat.

In Obio/Akpor constituency II, INEC said Michael Chinda of PDP won the seat but did not indicate the votes cast.

It said that the only seat won by the APC so far was Opobo/Nkoro constitu-

ency where Mr. Andrew Miller polled 9,546 votes to beat Mr. Diri Adonye of PDP with 3,465 votes.

The re-run election was conducted in 22 of the 32 state constituencies; 12 out of the 13 House of Representatives seats and the three senatorial seats in the state.

Ikoiwak said the commission had suspended further announcement of results to conduct audit of materials and personnel used for the elections.

He also said that no date had been fixed for repeat of the poll in the eight local government areas where it cancelled the exercise due to violence and irregularities.

Meanwhile, APC in the state has called for the outright cancellation of the elections.

State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, who made the call at a news briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday, alleged that Governor Nyesom Wike, set the stage for full-scale violence by instigating agents and members of the PDP to brand the electoral materials as fake.

He said: “Governor Wike and the PDP agents did not believe in the authenticity of the electoral materials. So the scenario for violence was set from the beginning of the elections.

“If the materials were

fake, how come PDP is accepting results declared from so-called fake electoral materials?

“This election is worse than the 2015 general elections. The scale of violence is unprecedented.

Armed PDP thugs hijacked electoral materials and personally filled the result sheets.

“We thought we had moved beyond this form of violent politics. Until we punish electoral offenders, free, fair, credible and peaceful elections will be meaningless.

“We have to conduct elections within the ambits of the law. What we had on Saturday were no elections.”

Power situation no more laughing matter –Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

next four years.

The minister stated that improvement in Nigeria’s power sector had been frustratingly slow, considering the fact that the first electricity generation firm in the country was established at Ijora, Lagos in 1896 with generation capacity of 20mw.

He said: “As the past speaker said, the journey from 1896 to 2016, that is 120 years, has been very long, slow and frustrating. And I think Nigerians deserve better than this. I came to the Ministry of Power some four or five months back and I’m

privileged to know the troubles.

“I understand the ministry is the reason why Nigeria is not moving forward. It has been pulling back Nigeria from independence till date and I believe this government is here to change this for the better.

“I assure the inductees that after four years of this government, it will hand over to Nigerians a power sector that is better than what is obtainable today.”

On the latest power generation target, Shehuri said the feat could only be achieved though ro-

bust collaboration among stakeholders as well as sound improvements in infrastructural development and capacity building.

He said: “Nigeria’s plan is to continually increase the level of electricity generation to the target of 25,000mw by the year 2020. This can only be achieved through a robust infrastructural development accompanied with a competent technical workforce. This is a national developmental agenda which the ministry of power is committed to.

“Globally there is an

increased challenge of supply, not just adequate energy, but also environmentally friendly energy.

We must therefore learn new skills and harness opportunities based on research and meaningful development.”

Earlier, the keynote speaker, Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu, decried the sluggish growth in Nigeria’s power sector.

He stressed that increase in electricity generation in the past 120 years in Nigeria was about 50mw per annum as against an expected 1,000mw.

Aliyu said: “Let us am-

bitiously assume that the current 2016 total power generation capacity in Nigeria is 6,000mw. That simply implies that the average power growth rate in Nigeria in 120 years is as low as 50mw per year.

“That is extremely low and cannot guarantee and satisfy the desired and anticipated economic development of the country.

“It is expected that for Nigeria to maintain a robust economic growth rate, the power growth rate should be in the region of 500mw to 1,000mw per annum.”

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

New version of PIB ready …To be presented next week –Saraki geOrge Oji AbujA

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enate President, Bukola Saraki, disclosed yesterday that a different version of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which was put together by both chambers of the National Assembly, is almost ready and would be laid separately on the floors of both chambers next week for consideration.

Saraki made this disclosure yesterday while declar-

ing open a two-day National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable, which kicked off at the National Assembly, and drew participants from the executive, legislature and the private sector to seek workable solutions to the nation's economic problems.

The government of former President Goodluck Jonathan sponsored the PIB after wide scale consultations with major stakeholders in the oil and gas sector

and forwarded same to the National Assembly in 2012 for passage into law.

Unfortunately, despite the critical nature of the bill to the growth and development of the hydrocarbon sector, it was not possible for the 7th National Assembly to pass the bill into law.

The new National Assembly version of the bill, it was later gathered, is being sponsored by the leadership of both houses.

It remains to be seen how

the new bill will be laid before the two chambers of the National Assembly as promised by Saraki, because the lawmakers are expected to proceed on a two-week Easter holiday by tomorrow.

Saraki said in his remarks yesterday that, "The National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives are working very closely together. As part of this commitment we would all see next week when we lay down the Petroleum In-

Staff of the Nigeria Insurance Commission protesting poor welfare at the Commissions Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

dustry Bill; you will see that the bill we are going to lay in each House is the same.

"We are going to lay the same version in the Senate and the House of Representatives because that is going to be the first time we are open to our words.‎" The Senate president also on the occasion expressed concern about the harsh economic environment in the country, regretting that most of the laws regulating the business environment were obsolete.

Head of Economic Growth, Department for International Development, DFID, in Nigeria, Simon Kenny, in his contributions at the event, noted that a major economic problem facing Nigeria is the nation's unfortunate reliance on the already dwindling oil revenue.

He urged that Nigeria should take advantage of the fall in oil price to diversify its economic resources.

Kenny urged the Federal Government to encourage import competitiveness as opposed to import substitution, adding that the private sector should also be encouraged to boost the competition.

Chairman, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu, in a speech, stressed the urgent need for the National Assembly to review

the laws that regulate the conduct of businesses in the country.

Elumelu observed that; "This meeting is an effort and is humble acknowledgement by our leaders that our laws are not perfect; that we need to review, amend and enhance many of them."

On the need for government to create the enabling environment for employment generation, Elumelu said; "The important role of government is not to provide employment for everyone, but to create, sustain and secure an enabling environment for citizens who dependently create their own job as their success using their own talents. The private sector is the engine room for economic growth in Nigeria and indeed anywhere else."

The roundtable has the main objective of providing a framework for the assessment and improvement of legislations and policies affecting businesses in Nigeria.

A further objective of the roundtable according to Saraki is to provide a platform for ensuring that through research and advocacy, the private sector, legislature and executive engage to promote relevant and sound public policy.

Protest at Queens College over sexual harassment

Patience OgbO

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here was tension at Queens College, Lagos, on Monday following an online story alleging that a male teacher sexually harassed a JSS2 student in the school last month.

But management of the school has thrown its weight behind the accused teacher identified as Olaseni Oshifala, a Biology teacher, who was purportedly accused by a parent, Chinenye Okoye, of forcefully trying to kiss and touch the private parts of her daughter, a JSS2 pupil.

The story, which was published on a blog, has generated heated arguments, calling for the head of the accused teacher, while others are in support of the teacher.

When National Mirror visited the school on Monday, students, workers and residents were seen carrying placards in show of solidarity for the accused teacher whom they claimed was a man of proven integrity.

The protesters blocked the entrance to the school and caused gridlock for hours on Onike Road, Sabo Yaba, where the school is situated.

Some inscriptions on the placards read, "Leave Osifala alone”. “He is a man of integrity". "No Osifala, No Biology Examination", “Osifala Olaseni is our good teacher".

But, according to Mrs. Okoye, the teacher cornered her daughter on her way back from relieving herself.

The allegation read, "She started screaming and then students started coming out so he left her and pretended

he was punishing her,” she added.

The claims went viral on social media last weekend, forcing the college alumni to convene an emergency meeting on Sunday.

The school’s head-girl, Tony Ativie Angel, who spoke on behalf of the students, said the allegation was false.

“They also said they saw our teacher with alcohol after lights out. This cannot be true because he speaks against alcohol in class. He is our Biology teacher, not Integrated Science as the story alleges, so you can see that someone is out to dent the image of the teacher and the school,” she said.

“Knowing him from JSS1 to SS3 now, I can say the allegations are wrong. No, I just heard the story this morn-

ing. The allegation is meant to tarnish the image of the prestigious Queens College and our hard working teacher."

Also, another student, Omenyi Unoma, Students Representative Council President, stated that the allegation was false.

"We did not organise the girls for the protest. When they came for their Biology examination and were informed of the allegation against Mr. Osifala, our Biology teacher, they became angry and went on protest to vouch for the integrity of our teacher.”

Chairperson of the school’s Parents-Teachers Association, Beatrice Akhetuamen, took journalists round the PTA hostel where the alleged incident took place, but Mrs Akhetuamen

said while reacting to the allegation that the school was investigating the matter. I have two daughters schooling here,” she said.

“After six years in the school, I should be able to trust them to intimate me about things that happen in the school, especially when I ask. They have made it clear to me, no such thing occurred. Meanwhile, no parent has called me to make any such allegation against the teacher in question and I find it very strange that such a thing had happened, the students themselves would have given the matter leverage."

A statement issued by the School Principal, Lami Amodu, after the meeting, said the claims was an attempt to ridicule, not just Mr Olaseni, but the “hard-earned reputa-

tion” of Queens College.

“When I resumed work as principal here, I was told of a certain matron, who housed a person that had attempted to have an affair with a student,” Mrs. Amodu began.

“I was not here when it happened, but as soon as I was told, I made sure the matron was moved out of the school’s premises. I have zero tolerance for such behaviour. I have a daughter who schools here, even before I began working here. I will not take chances.

“As I talk to you, no single parent has come to me or any of my vice-principals to report Olaseni as a molester.

I assure you that if the allegation was true, other parents would have been buzzing our lines non-stop.

Children spread gossip fast.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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NEWS

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

N754.7m fraud: Court assumes jurisdiction in suit against ex-NIMASA DG, others Wale IgbIntade

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Lagos High Court yesterday dismissed preliminary objections filed by former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration

Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and two others, challenging jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged steal-

ing of N754,740,680, belonging to NIMASA. Akpobolokemi was arraigned before Justice Raliat Adebiyi alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Ade-

gboyega Sahib Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Limited, on a 13-count charge bordering on stealing N754,740,680 belonging to NIMASA. Akpobolokemi had through his lawyer, Dr.

A dilapidated classroom of Aleita Lea Primary School destroyed down by heavy rain in Abuja, on Sunday.

NAF destroys Boko Haram logistics base in Yobe

…troops kill kingpin of insurgents, 18 others in Dalore, rescue 67 captives Ubong Ukpong AbujA

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igerian Air Force, NAF, yesterday said its fighter jets successfully destroyed Boko Haram insurgents’ logistics base at Alagarno in Yobe State.

A statement through its Director of Public Relations and Information, DPRI, Group Captain Atodele Famuyiwa, stated that the operation was conducted by NAF Alpha Jets last Friday.

He said the target was selected after a careful Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, by NAF Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, UCAV. “The mission, which was carried out in support of surface forces in order to further degrade the fighting capacity of remnants of the insurgents, was successful as can be seen in the video of the Battlefield Damage Assessment, BDA, carried out by the UCAV,” said Famuyiwa.

According to him, the target was probably an am-

munition depot, a fuel dump or a facility housing other combustible materials.

This effort, he stated, was likely to create certain logistics constraints for the terrorists along the Alagarno axis.

He added that this was a follow-up to other interdiction missions previously carried out in Sambisa Forest, Kumshe, Iza and other suspected terrorists’ hideouts.

So far, the DPRI said NAF has carried out a total of 55 missions, comprising 14 ISR, 30 interdiction/combat air support and 11 air logistics support missions in March 2016.

Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army have killed a kingpin of Boko Haram insurgents alongside 18 other terrorists at Dalore, Borno State.

This was contained in an operational update released by the Nigerian Army through the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, who disclosed that the

troops also freed 67 captives.

He said the death of the kingpin followed an operation by elements of 22 Brigade Garrison on Dalore camp on Sunday, “in which they killed 19 Boko Haram

terrorists among whom was Ameer of Dalore.”

The troops, he said, also captured two AK-47 rifles, one small machine gun and one hand grenade and recovered four pickup vehicles.

Medical students to spend 7 years in varsity –NUC

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edical students are required to do seven years in universities and not 11 as erroneously reported in some news media recently.

National Universities Commission, NUC, made the clarification during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos yesterday.

Director, Quality Assurance of the commission, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, told NAN on telephone that every student in medical science must have a first degree in anatomy, physiology and medical biochemistry. ``Another basic requisite is that there must be clinical skill laboratory, whereby in teaching, students would use

mannequins, dolls, to simulate diseases. ``The students will then use the mannequins to practice, rather than using human beings. ``This will also assist the students to mature psychologically for the profession,’’ Mafiana added.

NAN recalled that some newspapers had quoted Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, as saying students wishing to study medicine would henceforth spend 11 years in the university.

Okojie reportedly made the remark at the maiden matriculation and inauguration of the University of Medical Science, Ondo, Ondo State.

Joseph Nwobike (SAN), filed a notice of preliminary objection dated February 12, challenging jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

He argued that by virtue of the provisions of Section 251 (1) (a) and (3) of the Constitution, only a Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over matters and causes arising from, pertaining to and or is connected with the revenue of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies.

Also, the fourth defendant, Juan, through his counsel, Ige Asemudara, had filed a similar application.

Ruing on the preliminary objections, Justice Adebiyi dismissed all the objections raised by the applicants on the ground that they lack merit.

The court held that the applicants wrongly raised the issue of double jeopardy, adding that there was no connection between the two charges filed against some of the defendants before the Federal High Court and the one before the High Court of Lagos State.

Justice Adebiyi held that the offence of stealing is clearly triable by the Lagos High Court and that it would be too early at this stage of proceedings to determine whether the Lagos High Court lacks jurisdiction to determine the suit.

The court held that the issue of jurisdiction could be raised at any stage of the proceeding, adding that if the issue of jurisdiction is raised during trial it would be determined.

Justice Adebiyi also stated that the applicants could not rely on the Supreme Court judgement in the case of Bode George vs Federal Government.

The court stated that the conviction of George was upturned because the offence on which he was convicted was unknown to law and not because the Lagos High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.

The applicants had in their preliminary objections argued that the provisions of section 251 (1) (a), (P) and (3) of the Constitution supercedes the provisions of the criminal code laws of Lagos State 2011 and that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004.

They also argued that the High Court of Lagos State lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain criminal cases and matters arising from and or pertaining to: the revenue of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the administration or the management and control of the Federal Government or any of its agencies, by virtue of the provisions of section 251 (1) (a) (p) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

But, the EFCC in its counter-affidavit urged the court to refuse the application in the interest of justice, more so, when proof of evidence before the court clearly linked the applicants to the alleged offence.

The defendants were arraigned on January 25, 2016, by the EFCC over alleged stealing of N754, 740,680 belonging to NIMASA. They pleaded not guilty the charges and were granted bail.

The defendants were alleged to have on or about May 28, 2015 with a dishonest intent converted to their own use N257,000,000 money released for the implementation of the Voluntary International Maritime Organisation Member State Audit Scheme, VIMSAS. The defendants were further alleged to have with intent to defraud, knowingly forged a document titled ‘Re: Request For Payment as Consultant for VIMSAS Administration Services,’ dated May 25, 2015 purported to have been issued by Aroward Consulting Limited.

The matter has been adjourned till April 14 and 20 for trial.

8

South West

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kuramo waters: Eko Atlantic Dredgers loses bid to stop N2bn suit Wale igbintade

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L-R: Osun State Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye; Deputy Governor (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Director General, Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), office of the Governor, Femi Faturoti, during a recent presentation on Cocoa Development Plan for the state, at the Governor’s Office Exco Lounge, Abere, Osogbo.

Census: Olubadan condemns attack on NPC officials Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

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lubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, yesterday condemned alleged attack on officials of the National Population Commission, NPC, at Ibadan North West Local Government Area of Oyo State by some area boys.

He, however, called for cooperation of all and sundry for a hitch-free exercise.

The monarch spoke through the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, after the monthly meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council held at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan, palace.

It would be recalled that the state;s director of

NPC, Mr. Olajire Balogun, had at the weeken, raised alarm that his officials were facing challenges from social miscreants, popularly called ‘Area Boys’ and residents in the ongoing demarcation in the local government area.

The NPC boss said the commission needed the co-operation of community leaders and residents of the council to make the exercise a success.

He added that the challenges would continue to hamper the commission’s work if it did not enjoy the co-operation of residents in the remaining few days of the exercise.

Oba Adetunji frowned at alleged demand of goodies by some of the residents from the commission’s officials.

He said, “Some of the residents were also running away from the commission’s field officers and not obliging them with answers to questions directed at them by the NPC officials.

“These are parts of the obstacles being experienced by the commission’s staff on the field. I hope this is not true. They have no right asking for money or anything from them to be counted. The idea of head count is to ensure that government can provide for all the people in the country facilities that may be needed.

“So, if the idea is to help in providing these, how would they be attacking those who are carrying out the exercise. I hope it is not true.

“We advise them to co-

operate with the officials in the interest of social wellbeing.”

National Mirror learnt that 11 wards in the council are being used for the demarcation ahead of the 2017 census and that seven out of the 11 wards have been concluded while the officials are still on the field to ensure the bulk of the work is completed.

It was also gathered that the second phase of the Enumeration Area Demarcation, EAD, which constitutes the foundation on which the entire census architecture stands ahead of the 2017 population and housing census taking place at the council area started on February 22 and will end tomorrow.

Sango, Ijoko residents hail Amosun over proposed LCDA Femi OyeWesO ABEOKUTA

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undreds of Sango and Ijoko residents of Ogun State yesterday staged a peaceful procession at the new Sango-Ijoko road to express their gratitude to Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the creation of the yet-to-be announced Sango-Ijoko Local Government Council Development Area, LCDA. The procession, which comprised market men and women, youths, traditional rulers as well as religious organizations, also displayed placards bearing different inscriptions to show

their appreciation to Governor Amosun for what they termed as “freeing them from the long-standing political enslavement” of OtaAwori people.

The people, however, lamented what they termed injustice in the boundary delineation of the proposed Sango-Ijoko LCDA, which ceded 21 Egba communities to the Ota-Awori-controlled local council.

Those in the procession are predominantly Egba indigenes and they declared that Governor Amosun’s good gesture in creating the LCDA would only be made complete if the long-standing boundary injustice be-

tween them and Ota -Awori people is resolved in a way that would return their 21 communities ceded to OtaAwori-dominated local government to them.

Speaking with journalists under the Sango-Ota bridge, along the OshodiAbeokuta road, Chief Imam of Sango Central Mosque, Alhaji Tajudeen Safi, urged Governor Amosun and the state House of Assembly, OGHA, to follow the old boundary demarcation between Sango- Ijoko, which is an Egba settlement or territory and Ota, which is an Awori settlement when creating the Sango-Ijoko LCDA from the

existing Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Council.

He expressed confidence that if this principle is followed, it would release 21 of their communities which were politically delineated as Sango Wards I, II and III from Awori grips.

He explained that in the last 10 years, the Sango-Ijoko people have been clamouring for justice in respect of the boundary adjustment, with many petitions written to OGHA, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state as well as the governor without respite to their plights.

fforts by Eko Atlantic Project Dredgers to stop a N2 billion suit instituted against it by a firm, Mondivest Limited, failed yesterday as the Federal High Court in Lagos held that the plaintiff has constitutional rights to file the suit.

Justice Jude Dagat in his ruling held that Mondivest Limited has a locus standi to maintain an action against Eko Atlantic Project Dredgers for damages caused to the Kuramo waters.

It would be recalled that the plaintif f had filed the suit, claiming the sum as damages suf fered as a result of the defendant’s activities on Kuramo waters.

The defendants are M.V. Breughel (sister vessel to M.V. Congo River), the Master of the M.V. Breughel and Dredging Environmental and Marine Engineering NV. But, the defendants in a preliminary objection had urged the court to dismiss the suit seeking to stop it on grounds that the plaintiff lacked jurisdiction to institute it.

However, Justice Dagat in his ruling held that the plaintiff has a good cause of action.

According to the judge, the plaintiff has a standing to maintain action for damages caused to Kuramo waters by Eko Atlantic Project Dredgers.

The judge, however, declined to grant an interlocutory injunction against Eko Atlantic Project Dredgers.

Meanwhile, South Energy X, which is Eko Atlantic Projects’ sponsors have applied to be joined as parties to the suit.

The court has fixed April 15 for hearing of its application.

The plaintiff had filed the admiralty case, known as in rem proceedings, over alleged coastline and property damage caused by the

defendants.

The defendants are currently engaged in dredging operations in the Kuramo waters in furtherance of the Eko Atlantic Project.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff is praying the court to determine whether the necessary permits set out for the Eko Atlantic Project from the Federal Ministry of Environment have been obtained.

Arguing its notice of preliminary objection on February 10, the defence counsel, Mr. Ken Okwujiako, had urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

He had argued that the plaintiff, not being owners of the Kuramo waters coastline, had no basis for demanding damages.

He had, therefore, urged the court to strike out the suit as the plaintiff lacked a locus.

Meanwhile, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Adedolapo Akinrele (SAN), said his client’s property on the Kuramo waters was damaged through the dredging.

“It’s clear that the plaintiff has suffered damages and is still suffering damages as a result of the dredging,” he said.

Akinrele prayed the court for an interlocutory order restraining the defendants from continuing with the dredging and sand-filling of the Kuramo waters pending hearing and determination of the suit.

He further urged the court to preserve the res (subject-matter of the suit), saying his client was only concerned about a narrow, disputed and protected part of the water.

It will also be recalled that Justice Mohammed Yunusa (the initial trial judge), had granted an order of arrest and detention of the vessels.

The vessels were, however, released upon the presentation of a N3.7 billion bank guarantee in accordance with admiralty procedure.

10

South East

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Hoodlums take over Imo PDP secretariat

…beat up caretaker committee members Chris Njoku Owerri

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ell was let loose yesterday as hoodlums beat up Imo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caretaker committee members led by Barrister Vitalis Okafor before taking over the party’s secretariat at Okigwe Road, Owerri.

The hoodlums, who barricaded the gate, preventing movement into the party’s secretariat, were allegedly led by former Caretaker Committee Chairman, Nnamdi Anyaehie, whose committee was sacked by an Owerri High Court on Friday.

According to eyewitnesses, the hoodlums numbering over 200, stormed the party’s office at about 8am, beat up Okafor and his committee members, who were already at the party’s office for a meeting and chased them out.

It was alleged that the police drafted to the secretariat to provide security were later withdrawn following directive from a serving senator, who was said to be in support of the Nnamdi Anyaehie-led committee.

It would be recalled that former party chairman, Anyaehie, and his secretary, Sir George Eguh, had gone to court to contest the cutting short of their tenure. They stated in their affidavit that their tenure would only ter-

minate after the state’s congress scheduled for March 2016. They also averred that the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, who inaugurated the caretaker committee led by Okafor, had been removed from office by a court of competent jurisdiction and can therefore not act in that capacity.

The duo also stated that it is the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party and not the National Working Committee, NWC, that can constitute a caretaker committee for a state chapter of the party.

But Justice C.A Ononeze -Madu in his judgment dismissed the prayer of Anyaehie, adding that since the NWC has the power to constitute caretaker committee, it equally has the power to remove any caretaker committee.

The court therefore dismissed the reliefs sought in the statement and grounds in support of the application.

Earlier, The PDP National Working Committee, NWC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, had informed all members of the party, particularly in Imo State, as well as the general public that the Vitalis Okafor-led Imo State Caretaker Committee of the party has not been removed, but subsists until the conduct of congresses in the state.

275 Ebonyi pilgrims leave for Israel

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wo hundred and seventy-five Christian pilgrims from Ebonyi State on Monday left for Israel as the first batch of pilgrims for 2016 Easter pilgrimage.

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, at the launch of the exercise in Port Harcourt, urged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state in particular and Nigeria in general.

Umahi, who was represented by Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe, described the pilgrims as people of indisputable integrity and impeccable characters, who would not betray their trust.

The governor said the state would continue to uphold the supremacy of God

over every other thing, adding that the economy of the state was bestowed upon God. He called on the pilgrims to go and imbibe the virtues of Christianity for the uplift of the state and Nigeria.

Umahi commended President Muhammadu Buhari for creating an enabling ground for the success of the pilgrimage.

He said the president had assured the pilgrims of the country’s adequate support and confidence in them.

The governor expressed optimism in the ability of the presidency to turn around Nigeria’s economy where poverty would be history.

Pic.5.L-R: Deputy managing director Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Anthony Okpanachi; chief medical director university of Nigeria teaching hospital (Unth), Dr Chris Amah and ecobank head of commercial banking, Mr Shehu Jafiya, during the handover of consultant doctors common room building to UNTH in Enugu,yesterday.

Court restrains FUTO from appointing new VC Chris Njoku Owerri

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ederal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has restrained the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, and its Governing Council from proceeding with the appointment of a new vice chancellor, pending the determination of an interlocutory injunction filed before the court.

The plaintiff, Professor Martin Ikechukwu Nwufo, of the Department of Crop Science and Technology, in a motion ex parte No FHC/

OW/CS/36/2016, prayed the court to restrain the defendants, its agents, privies, servants or any person whosoever acting for itself or on its behalf, from conducting any interview/screening on any persons for the post of the vice chancellor of the university, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction in the court.

Nwufo, who was allegedly edged out of the contest due to his age, also prayed the court to stop the second respondent (Governing Council) from further making any arrangement

or preparations for the appointment of any person to the office of the vice chancellor of first respondent until the case brought before it is determined.

After hearing the motion and affidavit in support sworn to by the plaintiff and after hearing Professor U.U. Chukwuma Eze appearing with I. C. Onumajuru for the plaintiff/applicant, the judge, Justice J.E. Inyang, ordered the respondents to maintain the status quo pending determination of the application brought before the court.

The judge also gave the

plaintiff permission to put the respondents on notice by serving them the order of the court dated March16, motion on notice dated March 15 and Originating Summons filed on March 15, 2016 through the office of FUTO Registrar.

The matter has been adjourned till March 24 for hearing.

Meanwhile, National Mirror learnt that the university management has appointed, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, Professor F.C Eze, as a possible replacement of the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Chigozie Asiabaka.

Anambra CJ decries poor funding of judiciary FraNCis EkpoNE Onitsha

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hief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, has decried poor funding by the executive arm, which he said, was affecting infrastructural development in the state’s judiciary.

Umeadi, who stated this at the 5th annual Chief Judge’s dinner and award night in Awka, urged Governor Willie Obiano to respect the financial autonomy granted the judicial arm of government by the court.

The chief judge lamented that out of over N300 million approved budget for the judiciary for 2015, only

N20,960,000 had so far been released to the judiciary.

He described as a fundamental error the omission of rule of law in Obiano’s pillar of development, which is anchored on agriculture, trade and commerce, oil and gas and industrialisation with their various enablers.

According to him, “let the rule of law be added as one of the pillars and the enablers will be the erection of infrastructure for the dispensation of justice, coupled with the systematic funding of the judiciary to enable training and retraining of the requisite manpower.”

While speaking on the theme: ‘The Judiciary in Nigeria: The weakest Yet The strongest Arm of Govern-

ment’, guest speaker at the event, Miannaya Aja Ese (SAN), identified judges appointment, disobedience of court orders by the executive, delay in justice delivery, legislative interference, poor funding of the judiciary, executive interference, corruption and lack of financial autonomy, especially at the state level as perceived weaknesses of the judiciary.

She cited several cases where the judiciary had excelled as the strongest arm of the government.

Stressing the importance of the judiciary in the society, Miannaya stated that Judiciary was critical to the maintenance of good governance and a just society.

She further noted that the

judiciary provides necessary checks and balances needed to keep the executive and legislative arms of government on track.

Mrs Miannaya expressed optimism that the judiciary will continue to rise to the challenges of justice delivery in Nigeria, noting that the issue of adequate funding could be addressed through the help of the National Judicial Commission.

Responding, Obiano, who also received the chief judge’s award for his infrastructural development in the judiciary sector, commended the judges in Anambra State and the entire judiciary for carrying out their lawful responsibilities without fear or favour.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

11

Perjury: Court adjourns Professor Mba’s trial till May 18 Wale IgbIntade

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Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed May 18 for continuation of the trial of Professor Joseph Mba, who is charged with forgery and perjury.

Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case following an application for adjournment by counsel to the accused, Mr. Ike Uko. Uko had informed the court that he was yet to be served with proof of evidence by the prosecution that would have made him prepare for the trial.

He therefore, prayed the court for a further adjournment to enable him regularise.

The prosecutor, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, did not

object to the prayer, and added that he would make the proof of evidence available to the defence counsel.

Justice Saidu consequently fixed May 18 for the trial.

The accused person was arraigned on February 11 by the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, on a three-count charge bordering on the offence.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge had then ordered the accused person to be remanded in custody, pending his application for bail.

According to the charge, the accused person was alleged to have forged documents in the

name of the Institute of Strategic Management Nig. Ltd. The prosecutor had told the court that the accused person allegedly forged a Special Resolution of the Institute of Strategic Management Nig. Ltd dated June 11, 2012.

According to the prosecutor, the forgery was

with the intention of changing the name of the institution to the Institute of Strategic Management Ltd. The document was alleged to have been signed by one Dr. Austin Uwandulu to make it appear genuine.

Asuquo alleged that

this was to prejudice the Institute of Strategic Management Nig. Ltd. The accused person was also said to have forged another Special Resolution of the Institute of Strategic Management Nig. Ltd, where he stated that one Samuel Ojo had been appointed secretary of the institution.

Mba was further alleged to have conspired with others at large to forge a Special Resolution of the institute’s extraordinary general meeting.

The offence is said to contravene the provisions of sections 1(2)(c) and 3(1) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

day shortly after taking a team of ADB, who was in ABUAD on a validation mission, round the teaching hospital complex project.

Peeved by constant industrial actions in government tertiary hospitals, Babalola, who had invested over N3 billion to upgrade the erstwhile Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, into a teaching hospital status, decided to construct ABUAD Teaching Hospital.

The ABUAD founder said the university is going into the partnership to develop the health sector with the aims of stopping the billions of naira spent by Nigerians for medical treatment abroad annually, teaching of medi-

cal students and treating sick people overseas.

Speaking on behalf of the ADB delegation, Mr. Akinwumi Emmanuel, said the bank rates ABUAD as one of the best private universities in Africa and globally, explaining that no amount would be too much to invest in such a committed university that is striving towards making Africa a force to be reckoned with educationally.

The ADB chief said: “The International Finance Corporation and KMWD of Germany have decided to join us to explore the possibility of the partnership,” adding that “this will be the beginning of good things in the university.

ABUAD explores partnership with ADB to finance teaching hospital abIodun nejo, Ado Ekiti

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fe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, is seeking partnership with African Development Bank, ADB, for the financing of its ultramodern multi-billion naira teaching hospital.

ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola, who said over N2 billion has been committed to the hospital project, added that over N10 billion is still required to complete and equip it with modern diagnostic equipment and hire world-class consultants and experts.

Babalola spoke yester-

ASUU urges S’West governors to refocus education policies

KemI olaItan, ibAdAn

I L-R: Manager, Citizen Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), Mr Emenike Prosper; Executive Director, CASER, Mr Frank Tietie and General-Manager, Love FM,Crowder Radio, at a news conference on political killings in Rivers State election, in Abuja, yesterday.

2 killed, 100 houses razed in Kuramo Beach inferno FrancIs suberu

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t least, two persons were killed and thousands of others displaced by fire at the Kuramo Beach end of Lekki in Lagos.

It was gathered that over 100 shanties were razed in the inferno, which started around 7am yesterday.

Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, reports that the early morning fire started after an explosion occurred, following a woman cooking in a kitchen close to where a fuel-laden keg was kept.

He said, “The fire destroyed over 100 shanty structures at small Kuramo, Lekki. Male and female adults were roasted in the fire.”

The shanties, he said, were built on three acres of land, while the fire consumed houses in only about four plots as the fire service succeeded in preventing it from spreading to other areas.

The fire service boss described the tragic incident as unfortunate, adding that it was as a result of carelessness.

He wondered why the woman stored fuel in the house and cooked near it,

thus causing the fire.

He said the fire service responded promptly and was able to prevent it from spreading; but lamented that over 100 houses had already been burnt before the fire was quelled.

He added that two fire trucks with 10,000 litres of water each from the Lekki Fire Station responded to the tragedy.

The fire service boss appealed to Lagosians to desist from storing fuel in their houses in order to avert disasters like the Lekki’s.

Fadipe said: “We understand that there is fuel scarcity at this period,

but people should not store the product in their houses or in the kitchen.”

He also appealed to Lagosians to try and memorise the emergency numbers - 767 and 112 - so that they could easily call the fire service when there is any emergency.

With regards to the Apapa fire which engulfed the Nigeria Biscuit Company, Fadipe said it razed the entire warehouse, adding that a part of the two storey building collapsed while two fire service men narrowly escaped death..

He said his men were still fighting the fire.

badan zone coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, yesterday called on governors in the South West states to refocus their education policies towards qualitative education delivery.

He also charged them to revive neighbourhood libraries for students to have access to books they could not afford.

Ajiboye, who featured on a radio programme in Ibadan, lamented the dismal performance of South West states in the last West African Examinations Council, WAEC’s examinations in which they ranked very low.

He said the dismal results could not be divorced from the short-sightedness of education handlers, who failed to provide the needed human and infrastructural needs for schools in the region.

According to the Head of Department of Teacher Education, University of Ibadan, with increasing pop-

ulation of pupils, there is no equal improvement in learning environment as well as sufficient teachers in most schools.

He maintained that while teachers in public schools remain the best around, they are poorly motivated.

He insisted that rather than equip schools, and refocus the curriculum and motivate teachers, some of the governors are busy re-classifying schools, arguing that the re-classification would not deliver qualitative education.

He therefore advised governors to seek expertise in universities and ensure effective monitoring and supervision of public schools as well as learn from the Imo State experience as executed by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

He maintained that there is yet no evidence from the education summits held by both Oyo and Osun states.

While noting that when the Faculty of Education of the university was consulted by the Oyo State government and the state’s ranking improved from 23 to 13.

12

North

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

109 million Nigerians lack access to good sanitation –FG ReginA OtOkpA

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Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom (3rd R) in a group photograph with NEMA officials and members of House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, during their visit to the governor in Makurdi, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Stop inciting workers, el-Rufai tells NLC, TUC

A zA Msue KADUNA

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aduna State government yesterday called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, to stop inciting workers against a legitimate process of updating their personnel records, describing it as counter-productive.

A statement by Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said it was compulsory to participate in the ongoing final phase of the verification exercise.

The statement said it was a priority for the

state to use the information from this phase to conclude the verification exercise and update its payroll.

“Public servants first became employees before they became union members. Cooperation with the employer to verify the status of every worker is expected. It cannot be made a reason for industrial action. Refusal to participate in verification will result in concerned persons being removed from the payroll.

“The labour leadership seems to be afraid that workers will opt out of joining unions. If that

be the case, the unions should seek ways to increase their attraction to workers, including persuading them to opt for continued membership.

Inciting workers against a legitimate process of updating their personnel records is counter-productive.

“Kaduna State government has maintained a relationship of goodwill and respect with the unions. Complying with the provisions of the Trade Union Act to give workers a chance to exercise the democratic right to voluntary membership should not be a reason

for strife. Kaduna State does not share the view that enabling democratic choice is either anti-labour or that it will spell doom for the unions.

“The government is still awaiting with keen interest the position paper of the labour unions on this matter. The Kaduna State Government has no problem with mass membership of unions.

But its legitimate desire to establish an accurate personnel database cannot be truncated just because some union leaders are afraid that they may lose members” The statement maintained.

Buhari congratulates Benin Republic President-elect ROtiMi FAdeyi ABUJA

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated President-elect of Benin Republic, Mr. Patrice Talon, on his electoral victory in the presidential runoff last Sunday, as announced by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission.

A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari also commended the government and people of Benin Republic on the peaceful

and orderly conduct of the presidential election.

He saluted the courage and statesmanship of Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou and presidential candidate of the ruling coalition in upholding the democratic process by promptly congratulating his main challenger, Mr Talon, on his electoral victory.

The president also commended President Boni Yayi for his leadership throughout the electoral process and his invaluable contribution to democratic governance in the sub-region, evidently demonstrated in

the successful conduct of the presidential elections.

The president noted that he was encouraged by the determination and exemplary conduct demonstrated by Beninoise in coming out en- masse to perform their civic duties.

Buhari said he believed that the successful conclusion of the electoral process marked an important step in consolidating democracy in the subregion and a beacon for other African countries to emulate.

The president said he trusts that the Beninese would give the incoming government all the neces-

sary support to succeed and reaffirmed that Nigeria, as a beneficiary of the dividends of democracy, would continue to build strong partnerships with her neighbours for the peace, progress and prosperity of our citizens.

Buhari

ederal Government yesterday lamented the recent statistics by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, which states that no fewer than 109 million Nigerians lack access to improved sanitation.

Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, while delivering his keynote address titled ‘Creating Enabling Environment for Youth Participation in Water and Sanitation Jobs in Nigeria’ at the Youth Forum on water and sanitation jobs in commemoration of the 2016 World Water Day in Abuja, said the statistics further revealed that about 66 million Nigerians do not have access to potable water even as some states generate about 9,000 tonnes of waste daily.

The minster, while emphasising on the theme of this year’s celebration ‘Water and Jobs’, noted that the challenges in the sector presents enormous job opportunities for teeming unemployed youths in the country.

According to Adamu, the ministry was currently working out modalities to initiate a new nationwide private sector-driven water and sanitation programme in addition to a

training programme designed for youths to create immediate employment opportunities in small and medium scale industries.

Earlier, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr. Michael Ojo, said the lack of essential services, including safe water, sanitation and hygiene was capable of creating massive crisis for developing countries, including Nigeria.

He stressed that sustainable water was only possible with clean water and adequate access to sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Meanwhile, the minister has decried the inability to capture millions of workers in the water sector under the provisions of the basic labour rights.

Speaking during the annual sensitisation walk in commemoration of the World Water Day, he disclosed that almost all jobs in the country and the world over depend on water.

The minister said: “Almost half of the world’s workers or employees work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs largely depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery, yet the millions of people who work in the water sector are often not recognised or protected by basic labour rights.

Support gender parity bill, Presidential aide urges NASS

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enior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani, has urged members of the National Assembly to support the Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence Against Women Bill.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Sani, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on Administration Matters.

She said Nigerian women were aware of the fact that the National Assembly understood their yearnings and therefore expect them to promote all laws for the protection of women’s rights and their potentialities.

She said the lawmakers should be aware of

Nigeria’s commitment to various international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Kinds of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW, and the African Charter for Human and People’s Rights, among others. ``It is in this light that I want to thank President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, for requesting that the proposed bill on gender parity and prohibition of violence against women be re-presented to the Senate. ``The Senate president has urged women to go back to the drawing board and review the document in such a way that it will stand a test of plausibility.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

SUPER TUESDAY For Nigeria to continue existing as one state we need restructuring —Nwabueze

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics 14

Lagos assembly charges CP on security RobeRt Awokuse

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agos State House of Assembly has charged the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni to as a matter of urgency restore peace and security to the people of Ijede in Ikorodu following clashes by factions of suspected notorious cultism groups.

Hon. Nurudeen SolajaSaka who raised the issue under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, expressed worry over the present cult crises that has halted business activities in the area and caused great sense of fear to the residents.

Hon. Solaja- Saka explained that all sorts of resolving measures had been deployed by chiefs in the area but the measures

proved abortive, as the warring groups have refused to sheath their swords.

Hon. Sanai Agunbiade who contributed to the motion said that the federal government needs to curb the “infantile gangsterism”, which has killed a lot of people, stressing that it was a “subvention of our value system and decadence in the society”.

He added that the subject

on cultism visited by the 7th Assembly should be re-examined with a view to getting an assent from the governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for the bill to a become law.

In a related development, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso also brought to the attention of the House an alleged molestation of a JSS 2 student at Queens College by a teacher named Mr. Oshifala who was said to have touched her

private part and forcefully kissed her on her way to the toilet before light out.

The student who was allegedly molested was said to have drawn the attention of her mates by screaming and calling names who also booed the teacher until the House Mistress arrived at the scene.

The Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi who

contributed, stated that though the incident happened over a month ago the case should be attended to because the school in question is situated in Lagos, adding that the House prides itself in defending the defenseless.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa ordered that the House Committee on Education should look into the issue and report back to the House in one week.

Sunmonu seeks foreign support for fight against corruption o lubunmi o moogun

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he Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu representing Oyo Central at the National Assembly has urged more foreign countries to support the tackling of corruption advocacy by the Nigerian government.

She said this in an International Parliamentary Conference on Sustainability, Energy and Development which held in Westminster, London.

Sunmonu who also sat as a panelist in a session titled “Curbing Corruption – what is the role of parliaments?” which was Chaired by Chair of the UK House of Commons International Development Committee, Stephen Twigg MP, said “I encourage countries to come together to help resolve the problem of corruption”, stating that with the World becoming a smaller place no country can singlehandedly fight corruption”.

She further said “No one country can fight corruption alone. With technological advances and the development of a global economy, the World has become a smaller place. This means that no single

country is able to legislate and succeed in the fight against corruption by itself. For example, if financial corruption takes place in Nigeria, but the funds are banked in Switzerland, Villas purchased in Spain and businesses are invested in the US, the problem has moved far beyond the country where the corruption or crime first took place”.

The Senator also pledged her support for President Buhari in his war on corruption, saying that as Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs committee she would do what she could to assist the Federal Government in addressing the menace called corruption.

L-R: Legal Officer of Nigeria Good Governance Group, NGGG, Mr Arinze Ugwueke; member, Dr Olubunmi Usim-Wilson and Chairman NGGG, Maj.-Gen. Chris Garuba (rtd), during the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of Nigeria Good Governance Group in Abuja on Sunday.

Court advises Edo Speaker, aggrieved parties to reconcile o nAzenA A bbey Benin

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he Court of Appeal sitting in Benin the Edo State Capital, yesterday admonished the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Victor Edoror and the Peoples Democratic Party, PD candidate in the 2015 House of Assembly election for Etsako West Constituency 11, Sylvanus Eruaga and others to reconcile their dispar-

ity .

The Court of Appeal had summoned the Speaker, Mr. Victor Edoror, to explain why he should not be committed to prison over alleged contempt of court.

Equally ordered to appear before the court was the Clerk of the House, Mr. Lawson Ugiagbe.

The duo were ordered to appear before the court as an aftermath of alleged refusal to comply with an earlier order, Form 48, which was a notice of consequence

of disobedience of court order, in the suit marked CAC/B/EPT/343/2015.

Only last week, the court was compelled to issued form 49, which is notice to show why an order of committal to prison should not be made on the Speaker and the Clerk in suit CA/B/93/2016.

The order had read, “Take notice that the judgment creditor/applicant will on 21st day of March, 2016, at the hour of 9 O’ clock in the forenoon, apply to this

honourable court for an order for your committal to prison, for having disobeyed the order of this honourable court made on the 19th December, 2015, requiring you to swear in the judgment creditor/applicant as the honourable member to represent Etsako West II constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly”.

The speaker and the Clerk were represented in the court by SolicitorGeneral of the state, Mr. Oluwole Iyamu.

Iyamu, told the court that his client had not breached any order of the court, as it had withdrawn the certificate of return from Yakubu and given it to Eruaga.

He added that what was left to be done was administrative, which the appellant ought not to have‎ brought before the court, in order to avoid an abuse of court processes .“There is no order of the Court of Appeal that has been breached,” he said

14

Politics

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

For Nigeria to continue existing as one state we need restructuring —Nwabueze Professor Ben Nwabueze is a renowned constitutional lawyer. He is also an elder statesman and Leader of the Patriot, a body of eminent Nigerians. He recently spoke with journalists in Lagos on the state of the nation. EBERE NDUKWU brings excerpts.

Nigeria recently joined Saudi Coalition Against Terror, a move some people feel is a way of Islamizing the country.

What’s your take on that?

We have had this kind of thing before when Babangida took Nigeria into the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, you remember that and how it nearly tore this country into pieces. I remember the crisis created by that. The secular status of this country must be respected. Religion is one of the things that arouse so much bitterness.

People regard their religion, their faith as an essential part of their being, but life here and life after; they shall not play with the religious character of this country. That’s why it’s said that no religion must be adopted as the religion of the state.

Now this thing about coalition of countries headed by Saudi Arabia against terrorism, where are these terrorism? But they make it a religious issue because this country is not a Muslim country; it’s not a Muslim state. If they are forming alliances of Muslim states, okay. Don’t drag Nigeria into it; Nigeria is not a Muslim state. And I’m not surprised that Christian Association of the North is up in arm. But the opposition

by Christian Association of the North is not enough, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, all over the country should be up in arms as they were when Babangida took us to OIC. I’m surprised that the action so far has not engulfed the whole country.

But he explained that he only meant to help mobilize support for the fight against terrorism?

Don’t make the fight against terrorism a religious issue please. We are all against terrorism but you don’t drag this country to one religious group because of terrorism or because you are fighting corruption, using the war against corruption as a justification of almost everything. If you kill an individual today, you’ll say it’s part of the war against corruption, Nigerians will jump at it because we are all clamouring for an end to corruption. We should be very-very careful. I have said all that I can say on this issue, the use of war against corruption to do all sorts of things, to assault the constitution, to handcuff people because of war against corruption. No! The thing I’m saying is that Buhari shouldn’t have done it without consultation.

He should carry the National Assembly with him, he shouldn’t just do this kind of thing without consultation. The National Assem-

going. This is what we experienced from Obasanjo. I said then, that we should not allow history to repeat itself. In spite of all that, we elected Buhari as President, so we should not be surprised of what we are getting.

Nwabueze

We are all against terrorism but you don’t drag this country to one religious group because of terrorism or because you are fighting corruption, using the War against corruption as a justification of almost everything. bly is there. Was this approved even by his Council of Ministers?

You have always remained unshakable that Nigeria will one day achieve its status as an iconic state, with the way the country is going under the leadership of Buhari, is the country going in the direction that you have always wanted?

That’s a loaded question, but the answer is no. It’s not going in the direction of democratic rule. He declared himself to be a born again democrat, that’s what he said after his election and installation. But, I don’t think the way he’s been going has really proved him to be a born again democrat. I’m not surprised considering his antecedents because I pointed out before the election, I said a man who throughout his career was a military

commander, commanding some units in the army and therefore used to giving orders and requiring his orders to be obeyed and they were obeyed. That’s the principle governing the armed forces in this country.

The commander gives orders and those under him obey the order without questioning. Two, for being the military commander, he became Head of the Federal Military government in absolutism. Everybody must carry out his orders. Now, with that background, with those antecedents, he cannot overnight change to become a born again democrat, I didn’t see it as possible.

So, before the election I said all this at various fora as leader of the Patriot, leader of Igbo Leaders of Thought, I gave a number of press interviews on this, issued a number of press releases. My advice in this country is that we have to beware of where we are

In what ways has the President not demonstrated the expected status of a born again democrat?

First was to rule this country for four months without ministers contrary to the constitution. The constitution is very clear, though it confers absolute power on him; he has to rule with a Council of Ministers.

He ignored all that, he went ahead and imposed personal rule on us for four months.

That’s not the action of a democrat. What he did was anti-democracy. That’s not to the command of our constitution. Four months, he did not appoint ministers. What are we getting? Are we really getting institutional government? The government by institution not by one man, where are the Council of Ministers now? Is the government of this country really run by the Council of Ministers? Is it not whatever he tells them?

Under the constitution he has the power, but the constitutions also says that the power should be exercised in a certain way, manner and form.

They are two issues; investing of power, investing of the title of power in him, verse 75, the same constitution that invest the title of power in him goes on to say that he has to exercise it with advice of Council of Ministers and he must hold regular of meetings with his council of ministers who will advise him on how to exercise these powers. He didn’t do that, for four months he was ruling alone, making appointments, deciding policies and doing all sorts of things for four months.

In October, he installed ministers, what are we getting? Are we not still having more or less personal rule. The constitution knows the difference between personal rule and institutional rule, rule by institutions established by the constitutions. What are the institutions doing? The Council of Ministers is just one; there are so many institutions, Council of States, the Security Council, etc.

Constitution can fairly be described as consultative government; you have to consult with various agencies established by the constitution. Is he doing that? The constitution imposes so many other limitations in power.

Are those limitations being observed?

The bill of right is there guaranteeing right to every individual, every citizen. Are those rights being obeyed? That’s part of the essential character of democracy.

The constitution outlaws ill human treatment among so many rights that were with it. You see a citizen been handcuffed for corruption. Olisa Metuh, he’s not accused of anything else but for corruption. Is that enough to handcuff a citizen? Ill-human treatment. The constitution prohibits ill human treatment. Handcuffing is accepted if a man committed murder and there’s evidence that he may try to escape. That may well be justification for handcuffing. That’s

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

15

A PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

C’River, American firm sign MoU for new city richarD nDOma, CALABAR

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he dream of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State to build three new cities in the three senatorial districts that made up Cross River State received a boost in far away United States of American when the state signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an American firm, DXB Group Incorporated, to build a new city to be known as Calas Vegas.

Calas Vegas is the new city planned for the southern senatorial district. It is to be sited in Calabar.

The other two new cities planned by the governor are the Centicort City for the Central Senatorial District and Northstradam for the Northern Senatorial District.

Commissioner for New Cities Development, Barr. George Ekpungu, signed the MoU on behalf of the state while the Managing Director of DXB Group Incorporated, David Binton, signed on behalf of his company.

Eddy Omoregbee joins Edo guber race Oarhe DicksOn BENIN

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renowned entrepreneur, Mr. Eddy Usunobun Omoregbee Elema, has declared his intention to contest in the 2016 Edo State governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Elema who was accompanied on the occasion of his declaration by the APGA national vice chairman, (South South) Ogbushi Tony Eboka, state chairman of the party, Elder Godfrey Ehimien, Edo Central and North vice chairmen of the party, Mr. Godwin Ogudu and Hon. Paul Ukonga, disclosed on Saturday that he was on the race to provide a better alternative to governance in Edo State.

Elema maintained that as a promise to the people he would ensure that ailing industries in the state was revived.

He noted that where other political party failed, “APGA is here to make a difference.”

The event was witnessed by Governor Ayade, the chairman of New Cities Development Board, Mr. K.J. Jeddy-Agba, and the secretary of the board, Mr. David Attoe.

In line with the MoU, DXB Group is expected to develop the

city by building structures such as casinos, a hotel, malls and upscale residential apartments.

The development is to be done under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) regime.

Apart from signing the MoU, the governor and his entourage

inspected some estates and districts in the United State with a view to determining the concept that will best suit the proposed new cities.

Estates and districts inspected included Sugarland, Houston Colony West, Richmond, Hous-

ton, Lakes of Bella Terra, Torino Reale Drive, Richmond, Houston.

The team also met with the Managing Director of Insite Architecture Incorporated, Mr. Antonio Flamenco.

The firm is to design the masterplan for the new cities.

Group photograph: Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (6th left) posing with the chairman of newly inaugurated Special Task Force on Identification and Recovery of Government Land, His Royal Highness, Iboro Ige Edaba (5th left) and members of his team at Government House, Yenagoa.

Oshiomhole bags honorary Doctorate Degree Oarhe DicksOn BENIN

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has been conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration by the Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State.

At a special convocation held on Saturday, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Benard Eronmonsele Aigbokhan, extolled the humanitarian qualities of Governor Oshiomhole, which he said stood him out for the honorary degree.

He said the governor gave his full support and did everything possible to ensure the smooth take-off of the university which has now graduated its first set of students.

Also, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the University, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Okebukola, noted the “unquantifiable contributions of His Excellency , Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiom-

hole, who used his position as governor, and within his constitutional power to contribute to the development of Samuel Adegboyega University.”

He said the award is the university’s recognition of the governor’s meritorious service to his fatherland, Nigeria in general and Edo State in particular and his love for educational advancement in all ramifications.

In his remarks, Governor Oshiomhole expressed gratitude to the authorities of the university for the honour done to him.

He said, “I want to lay on record my gratitude to the authority of Samuel Adegboyega University for the honour bestowed on me this afternoon. I appreciate this honour for several reasons. I believe that it is coming genuinely from your heart based on your evaluation of my stewardship in this community, this state and in our country. I want to thank you; may God honour you the way you have honoured me today.

“But let me congratulate you

even more importantly for what you have accomplished with this university.

“I think you pose a challenge to other churches to look at rural areas where the forgotten majority reside and carry development right to their doorsteps. Such actions, more than volumes of sermons are more potent in encouraging our people to remain in their communities because they don’t have to move in order to have what modern life offers.

I believe without asking you, that you have created already, so many direct jobs, not only for the people of Ogwa or Edo State, but many people across the length and breadth of Nigeria. I salute your courage.”

According to him, “I believe that government alone cannot deliver or provide all the universities that Nigerians desire. Everywhere around the world, the private sector play a major role in building universities and faith based organizations are well reputed in managing universities.

“I like to join you sir in your appeal to the federal government to extend federal support through TETFUND to Samuel Adegboyega University. I like to appeal to federal government to support universities that are owned by faith-based organisations. There is a difference between a university owned by the church, a church that is driven not by profit motive but with common good of humanity. There is a whole lot of difference. Looking at what I have seen here today, compared to what I saw the first time, it shows that every revenue that has accrued to this institution has been re-injected into developing the institution. Whereas, if it is a private outfit, some of those revenue will be classified as profit and would belong solely to the proprietor of the university.

“I think what the federal government needs to do is to make a distinction between university owned by nonprofit organisation and those that are owned by individuals.”

16

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cult group invades Edo community over suspended chairman

L-R: Chairman, Dinner/Award Night, Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom, Chief Charles Uwensuyi; President Worldwide, UNIBEN Alumni Association, Hon. Ifaluyi Isibor; Representative, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Prince Rotimi Oyekan, and Chairman, University of Benin Alumni Association, UBAA, Lagos branch, Barr. Emmanuel Oriazuwa, during the 86th National Council Dinner and Awards night in Lagos.

According to him, trouble started when the suspended C.D.A chairman was upon the unanimous decision of elders and indigenes of the land suspended him from being the chairman of the C.D.A following alleged falsification of community documents to sell off the community land without remitting all such monies.

He said further: “When this was observed and a breach of agreement signed prior to appointing him as the C.D.A chairman was noticed, it was therefore resolved that he be suspended and relieved of the position and that an investigation committee headed by Sunday Omoruyi be set up.

“Findings by the committee indicted him that truly, Evbuekoi community lands were sold through forged documents and other monies collected on behalf of the community were never remitted rather diverted to his private pocket.

“These monies were never used for the purpose for which it was meant, running foul of agreement entered and leading to his earlier appointment that such monies should be used for the development of the community. It was on account of this that he was suspended; and left for him to apologise.”

Corrobating the account of the chief priest, his personal assistant, Mr. Sunny Amas, added: “as you can see for yourselves, we have all abandoned our homes and had to run away for fear of more attacks to save our heads and family from the rampaging cultists who brandished their dangerous weapons in broad daylight with a threat to cause harm on any one on sight.”

The SA harped on the importance of exclusive breast-feeding, noting that it helps to build a child’s sensories, cognitive abilities, enhance bonding, as well as help to guard against infectious diseases.

Also speaking on the issue, a non-governmental organisation, Expanded Social Marketing Project in Nigeria (ESMPIN) also advocated for the establishment of crèche at work places nationwide in order to encourage exclusive breast-feeding.

ESMPIN’s deputy chief of party, Boladale Akin-Kolapo, while acknowledging that the government had some baby-friendly policies, Akin-Kolapo emphasised on the need for the implementation of such policies, including the establishment crèches in the nation`s work place, adding that failure to do the needful was an infringement on the rights of women.

She said that such development

would spur nursing mothers to breast feed their babies for six consecutive months, as required

by World Health Organisation.

Akin-Kolapo, who charged the nursing mothers not to be distracted by the myths surrounding breast-feeding, said exclusive breast-feeding provides a child all the nutrition and balance diet required to ensure rapid growth.

“The government already has a baby friendly policies, all that is required is to ensure its implementation.

“If anyone says I can’t breastfeed at my work place because government does not provide an enabling environment, then it’s not fair. It infringes on my right as a woman.

“Government should do the needful. The establishment of crèches at work places, both in the public and private sectors will enable women to conveniently and easily breast feed their babies,” she added.

Oarhe DicksOn BENIN

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ome unidentified persons who are suspected to be members of a cult group have ransacked indigenes and the chief priest of Evbuekoi community in Uhunmwode local government area of Edo State, Mr. Adesuwa Osaghea Osarodion.

People of the community have now abandoned their homes as they have fled for safety.

The suspected cultists were said to have invaded the community following the suspension of the former Community Development Chairman (C.D.A), Mr. Osakpanmwan Okhionk-

panmwenyi.

National Mirror gathered that the suspected cult members stormed the community in broad day light, headed to the palace of the traditional head of Igiohen Okhuare Ni-Ikhuen clan, the administrative head of Evbuekoi community where they allegedly vandalised the palace property and carted away every available item and community documents they could sight.

“We were all seated here at the palace for a meeting so as to look at ways to appeal to our traditional head and custodian of land on the issue of the suspended former C.D.A chairman when, to our surprise, some group of persons stormed the

premises, beat up everyone on sight, vandalised the community vehicles before further heading into the community and attacking members of the community for unanimously supporting the suspension of Okhionkpanmwenyi,” Sunday Omoruyi, one of the elders of the community said.

Addressing journalists on the matter at the weekend after a team of police investigating officers from the force headquarters, Abuja, who was in the community for on the spot assessment of the damage done, Chief Priest Osarodion claimed that the said suspended C.D.A chairman masterminded the attack.

Ayade’s aide canvasses for exclusive breast-feeding richarD nDOma CALABAR

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he Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on primary health care, Dr. Betta Edu, has charged nursing mothers to begin to do exclusive breastfeeding for their new born babies even as she emphasised that exclusive breastfeeding goes a long way to fortfy the babies`s immune systerm.

The SA also cautioned Nigerian nursing mothers against breast-feeding their babies for up to two years as at two years the breast milk would no longer have the ability to produce enough nutrient to boost the growth of the babies.

Edu dropped the charge while speaking at a one day stakeholders’ advocacy and sensitisation dialogue on exclusive breastfeeding held at the weekend in Calabar.

While faulting the practice,

Edu stated that after six months of exclusive breast-feeding, the nutrients from the breast milk would no longer be enough to sustain the child.

Edu charged the nursing mothers to introduce other complementary feeding in addition to breast milk, even as she cautioned them against giving their babies water at the initial stage.

According to her, “You cannot exclusively breastfeed a child for 2 years. It’s wrong.

“After six months, the nutrients from the breast milk will not be enough to continue to sustain that child and so beyond six months you must introduce another form of complementary feeding in addition to the breast milk.

“You are not stopping the breast milk, but you are just adding something to it so that the child can be properly nourished.

They shouldn’t be given water at that stage.”

National Mirror learnt that the indigenes of Evbuekoi community including the traditional head had since January 28th, 2016 deserted their homes and businesses in the community.

According to him: “If not for the presence of the police, you wouldn’t have seen anyone of us here. And it is our hope that they [the police] having seen what has been done and the magnitude of damaged caused on us

by Osakpanmwan and his cult gang members, they should be brought to justice and pay for the horror committed on our land.”

Calabar: Radiography graduate killed by robbers buried richarD nDOma CALABAR

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tim Otu Offiong, a 29-yearold devout Christian, who was allegedly murdered by men of the underworld at the famous White House Street, Calabar South Local Government Area in Cross River State while waiting for his friend to accompany him to church at night has on Friday been buried at the Hawkins Cemetery, Calabar, Cross River State.

National Mirror, while on a visit to the late Etim Offiong’s home in Atamunu Street, Calabar, during his interment, gathered that the deceased who is a Radiography graduate from the University of Calabar.

A sources close to the deceased’s family who narrated the incidence to our reporter said that the deceased was killed penultimate Friday, about two days after he marked his 29th birthday.

According to the source, unfortunately robbers struck at the kiosk of his friend with whom he was to go to church..

Offiong was shot at the leg while they went away with money and other valuables in the kiosk.

His friend, according to the source, with the help of people around immediately reported the matter to the police station in the area, and later rushed Effiong to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for treatment.

On getting to UCTH, the hospital demanded N7,000.00 as deposit before treatment and no one had such money to pay.

The source said that by the time Effiong’s family could be reached, he had died.

Reacting to findings, Cross River State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Asp. John Eluu, said he was not aware of the incident and yet to be briefed about it.

Effort to get the state Security Adviser to Cross River Government, Mr. Jude Ngaji, to make comment on the issue proved abortive as he could not be reached on his telephone line.

Until his death, late Effiong was the president of the second branch of Federal Ex-students Christian Association (FECA), Calabar.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

9

Police arrest 3 robbery suspects during operation Femi o yeweso ABEOKUTA

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Scene of an accident at Alapere, Ketu Road, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Lawmaker escapes attack as communities protest new LCDA Boladale BamigBola OSOGBO

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ragedy was narrowly averted at the weekend when some youths attacked the lawmaker representing Ifelodun, Boripe and OdoOtin Federal Constituency of Osun State in the House of Representatives, Hon Yinka Ajayi, at the palace of Olona of Ada. Ajayi, who hails from the town, was at the palace of Olona to attend a meeting over the location of the headquarters of new Boripe North Local Council Development Area cited in Iree, but incurred the wrath of some of those present when

addressing the gathering, who accused him of complacency.

The lawmaker was, however, whisked away by the police when the situation was becoming too rowdy to prevent him from being physically assaulted by the youths.

Meanwhile, three communities in Osun State, namely: Aagba, Ada and Ororuwo, have rejected location of the headquarters of Boripe North Local Council Development Authority, LCDA, in Iree and has demanded reversal of the decision.

The communities in a letter to Governor Rauf Aregbesola signed by Alaagba of Aagba, Oba

Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole, Olona of Ada, Oba Abimbola Abioye, and reagent of Ororuwo, High Chief James Dada, said the reversal was necessary because it was at variance with the content of a white paper released on the memorandum written by the three communities in 2012.

The letter explained that Iree was not part of the struggle for the creation of the new LCDA in the area, just as it claimed that in the proposal the three communities presented before Professor Mojeed Alabi- committee, it demanded Ifesowapo Local Council Development Area, with Modaa,

Ada proposed as its headquarters.

The letter reads in parts: “creation of Boripe North Council Development Area and its headquarters at Modaa, Ada was corroborated and confirmed via the White Paper released on the exercise by your good government upon discreet and meritorious consideration of our memorandum.

“The White Paper in 2nd schedule specifically column 4 stated Ada; Aagba, Iree and Ororuwo communities with their villages as the newly created Boripe North LCDA and Modaa, Ada as the headquarters.

en of Ogun State Police C o m m a n d have arrested three additional armed robbery suspects, who have been terrorising the state in recent time.

A statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the three suspects were picked up during a joint raid operation by the police and personnel of Vigilante Service of Ogun State, VSO, at Gbaga Eriyo area of Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

Adejobi in the statement further stated that the suspects in an operation led by Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Ogijo last Monday, March 14.

He gave names of the suspects as Yusuf Olatunji, Jamiu Babatunde and Tunde Ajasa.

The PPRO said the suspects have been confirmed to be members of a notorious robbery gang that has been terrorising the state.

“The command has been conscious of the influx of some hoodlums and criminals from neighboring states to Ogun State and has put measures in place to flush them out from their hideouts within the state, particularly at boundary towns which

include; Ogijo, Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Igbo, Isheri, Akute Ajuwon, Otta among others.

He also explained that the strategies adopted by the police in keeping the state safe included that of raid, intelligence gathering and rigorous patrol which have paid off, stressing that the command will not relent in its efforts to sustain such strategy.

Items recovered from the suspected robbers included one locally made pistol, live cartridges, knifes, cutlasses, bags of weeds suspected to be India hemp, various mobile phones and assorted char ms.

“The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abdul-Majid Ali, has commended the DPO, Ogijo Police Station for his good initiatives and achievements”.

Following the success recorded by the Ogijo DPO, Adejobi further stated that CP Ali has challenged other DPOs within the command to re-engineer these strategies in order to make their areas safe with emphasis on constant raid of black spots.

The police boss has directed that the suspects, who are presently assisting the police with useful information be handed over to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Ogun State for further investigation.

Ekiti lawmakers solicit support over detained members doosuur iwamBe ABUJA

M

embers of Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday cried out to the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the Amnesty International over the refusal of Department of State Services, DSS, to obey court order directing it to immediately release a member of the House of Assembly, representing Efon Constituency, Hon Afolabi Akani.

The lawmakers, who could not control their emotions, said it was obvious the DSS wanted Akani

and some other members of the House dead so that they can be replaced by members of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Akani, who was paraded before the press last week Thursday to debunk the rumour of his death, was allegedly whisked away from the House of Assembly complex on March 4, 2016, during an invasion by armed men of the DSS and had been held in DSS custody in Abuja.

On March 11, a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti ordered that Akani be released immediately or be brought to the court

in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, but the DSS refused service of the court order when the court Bailiff, Araromi Ademola, went to the DSS office in AdoEkiti, prompting an order that the order be served through newspaper advertisement.

“Despite the fact that the order was published in the Nigerian Tribune of last week Thursday as ordered by the court, the DSS claimed it was yet to see the order,” the lawmakers said.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Segun

Adewumi, Chairmen, House Committee on Information and Health, Gboyega Aribisogan, and (Dr) Samuel Omotoso, respectively, were said to have gone to the NBA national headquarters and the Amnesty International office in Abuja to submit the petitions.

They were also said to have submitted copies of the court order, newspaper advertorial in which the order was published among other documents.

The lawmakers, after submitting the petition, were said to have raised the alarm over the health condition of the detained

lawmaker, saying; “Akani said on Thursday, when he was paraded before the press that he slumped twice and no medication was given to him even when he asked for drugs.”

Omotoso said; “Since it is now obvious that they cannot coerce us into impeaching our governor and leader, Ayodele Fayose, it appears that these people are now working on a sinister theory of snuffing life out of Akani and some of us so as to pave way for the conduct of bye-election through which they hope to rig APC members into the House of Assembly.

“We have therefore come here to alert the NBA and the Amnesty International of this blatant disregard for orders of our courts by the DSS and infringement on the fundamental rights of our members, especially Akani, who is dying in detention.

“We are putting the entire world on alert that should anything untoward happen to Akani, who is being detained without access to his doctors despite being terribly sick and any of us, the DSS and by extension, the Federal Government should be held responsible,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The new priority list in Abuja emmA Adoghe

A

common saying goes thus: When one’s path is obstructed by a heap of logs which must be cleared for passage, the topmost logs must be removed first in the dislodgment process. Or, as the renowned economic historian David Landes would suggest, “Whenever there is ambiguity, then the first duty is to clearly define the term in question”.

‘Prioritize’ means “to organize so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first”. Currently, Nigeria is swarmed by burning issues. A grade schooler can count them off his/her digits, proffer insightful remedies and warn you that implementation of the solutions has been the Achilles’ heel.

To be sure; corruption; insecurity; diversification of economy; unemployment; derelict infrastructure; healthcare crisis; absence of a manufacturing base; and Institutional decay, etc., are no less burning issues that are in dire need of attention. If the aforementioned issues are to be prioritised, the question then is, in what order should this administration tackle same?

For the Buhari administration, therefore, to prioritize in this sense refers to the selective urgency with which some burning national issues are delivered to the “intensive unit” for appropriate attention with respect to others. A drastic downturn the country’s earnings purse from oil (with low prices in the international market) may further count as a motivational factor towards the need for an effective prioritization strategy.

Few would disagree that corruption remains the singular virus that has systematically infected every facet of Nigeria, and its

eradication or at least, reduction of its ‘viral load’ to the barest minimum, is a task that must be immediately accomplished. Fortunately, Buhari administration is right on target on the war against corruption, placing it on top of its list of priorities.

Because corruption enervates, degrades and finally destroys any/all good intentions of any project irrespective of significance, the failures of past administrations have their roots in this menace. In a piece I wrote under the Goodluck Jonathan administration titled “The Real Housemates of Corruption”, I suggested some enablers of the practitioners of corruption that government should take a closer look at, and action against, but the advice obviously meant little to that administration, which has now been exposed as deft architects of the temple of corruption.

In the prioritization strategy, certain “vitals” must be stabilized before any measurable improvement in other sector is even possible. Because of their synergetic linkages, issues like insecurity and power infrastructure take precedence over essential priorities. There is hardly any point in constructing first class hospitals all over the country for healthcare if the equipment cannot be powered, or fatalities inflicted by marauding terrorists and armed gangs that have no use for emergency rooms.

Permit me to reproduce here a part in my piece, ‘With Light Most Things are Possible’.

In the boring spat between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military President Ibrahim Babangida, the former waxed strong about his administration’s power development achievement.

“Because it was important you know that power is the driving force for development and for any developing country. But since

Few would disagree that corruption remains the singular virus that has systematically inFected every Facet oF nigeria

the building of Egbin power plant, until I came back in 1999, there was not any generating plant for almost 20 years and Babangida spent eight years out of that.

Now, he has the audacity to talk about anybody; I think that is unfortunate.

“I started five of what they called independent power stations which were stopped for two and a half years when I left office. Now the present administration has started building a new power project at Uyo. As a country, Nigeria should be adding nothing less than 1,500 megawatts annually. South Africa with a population of 50 million generates 50,000 megawatts. Nigeria with a population of about 165 million is not generating.

“As at 1999, I met 1,500 megawatts before we took it up to 4,000 megawatts.

What we started they are now allowing it to go on. I believe if they continue with the programme that we left, in another two years, we will get to 10, 000,” he said (Vanguard 19 August 2011) Sixteen years later with billions of dollars “expended”, electricity generation currently fluctuates between 1,500 and 5,000 megawatts (as at March 13th, 2016), with intermittent nationwide blackouts - situation that emphasizes

17

the time to declare a national emergency on the power sector is way past due.

And even after a temporary relief is achieved in stable electricity, sustaining the growth in the power sector cannot be assumed to be secured in the hands of incoming administrations. Hence, I had suggested in the same article that “Perhaps, time has come for a constitutional amendment that requires any incoming administration to increase the existing power capacity by a minimum of 5,000 megawatts for every four-year tenure in office. Failure to execute such a requirement should result in impeachment. If our leaders can’t dream, perhaps the constitution can force-feed dreams to them”.

Next up is the industrial sector which touches the entire spectrum of the country’s well-being – employment, improved living standards, wealth creation, food security, and global competitiveness. Without a vibrant manufacturing sector, Nigeria continues to engage in the pretence of economic growth without development, and wears the cloak of a developing economy without the substance. Make no mistake about it, “without industrialization, development will not happen” is a welldocumented fact both by United Nations agencies, and top researchers worldwide.

Whatever compass the Buhari administration employs to design its chain of priorities, the manufacturing sector is a recurring enigma that should not be ignored. For Nigeria, the old knee-jerk policy responses to socio-economic fundamentals should be confined to the dustbin of history.

Adoghe wrote via adoghe@gmail. com

On the good fortunes of three BMJS girls Leke Ademo

L

ife is fun, but certain things happen at several times that make people ask certain questions. The recent abduction of three students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS) by kidnappers came as a shock.

It made many Nigerians to think of the aspect of life that makes us think and ask questions. Life is fun when all is rosy, but when certain things that are not fun at all happen, everyone asks questions, especially when the situation bothers them directly.

Although, as a sociologist, I write on social issues by proffering solutions to societal problems, such as my recent write up ‘the naira, the dollar and the heat in our houses’, but the kidnapping of those girls really got to me. By decision, I don’t write or speak about negative things, but the kidnapping got me thinking, and thank God the damsels were found. It really penetrated through to me for obvious reasons. I chose not to write about it while ‘we’ were ‘looking’ and praying for the release of our girls.

When the news filtered in that Sunday afternoon that our BMJS students had been found, I was elated, and still am.

That’s why I am writing this article now.

i was so concerned about the development because yours truly was a student oF bmJs…

the Foundation oF my social, spiritual, mental and physical values were laid at bmJs

First, I thank God that they were released, that’s a proof that our God answers prayers. I also appreciate the Akinwunmi Ambode-led Lagos State government and the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for their call to action and their drive in seeing that these girls were recovered. I appreciate all bloggers, news agencies, tweeters, and facebook users, who contributed in making the news viral. This only shows that social media goes a long way as a ready tool for societal transformation.

I was so concerned about the development because yours truly was a student of BMJS. I’m proud to be an alumnus of that great institution. The foundation of my social, spiritual, mental and physical values were laid at BMJS. This explains why I have chosen to write at such a time as this. I remember with fond memories my first day in BMJS as

a JSS 1 student, which took me away from my parents and siblings for some time because of the boarding house nature of the school . Gradually, I learnt how to adapt to and how to live with my ‘new family’. It was both challenging and fun. The school has grown over the years, so are its products. BMJS’s products are doing well all around the world. Amazingly, the school turns 20 this year. Undoubtedly, it has maintained its excellent records.

Away from my BMJS, the proficient use of social media has come to stay in our nation. It has proved to be the new media with a difference. With it, news gets to those that need to see or hear it. One can readily tweet at anybody at any time. Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Nairaland, etc have proved that social media really has a great impact on relevant issues in the society. It has shown that if properly utilised, social media can help address a lot of issues in the society. It is only evident that people need to be more aware of trending issues and respond to them positively.

I am so glad that the Lagos State government and the Nigerian police responded to the call of Nigerians promptly. Because this was done, Nigerians are celebrating the release of

the three BMJS girls that were recently kidnapped. Kudos once again to the relevant authorities! This is the Nigeria I have always dreamt of – a place of serenity and security, a place where citizens can be sure of safety wherever they find themselves. The release of these girls has given a sense of respect and trust to the Nigeria Police Force. I also congratulate Nigerians who chose to be their ‘sisters keepers’ by broadcasting until the girls were found. I believe this is the beginning of better things for Nigeria.

The Nigeria of my dreams would continue to progress!

God bless the BMJS that raised me, God bless the Nigeria Police Force, God bless Lagos State government, God bless social media and others who contributed immensely to the release of the girls, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Ademo, a sociologist and content developer and social media strategist, wrote via ademoadeleke@gmail.com and can be reached on +2348077454779 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.

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Editorial

Tuesday March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

Tackling building-collapse, the Lagos example

T

he government of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State took a bold step a couple of days ago when it meted out punishment on government officials who the call of duty strongly indicted of compromising their jobs, a development that resulted in the recent Lekki Garden’s buildingcollapse on Lagos Island. A fivestorey building still under construction at Horizon 1, Lekki Gardens, Ikate, Lagos, , collapsed on Tuesday March 8, 2016 during a heavy downpour, leaving about 35 people dead in its trail. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said 95 per cent of the casualties were foreigners, mostly Togolese and Beninoise. There were also victims from the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Reports indicated that Governor Ambode has approved the dismissal of the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Adeigbe Olushola; the Head of Inspection and Quality Control in LASBCA, Mr. Adeoye Thomas Adeyemi; and the Zonal District Officer, Mr. Dosunmu Gbadebo; while the Head of the agency in Eti-Osa West council area, Mrs. Akinde Adenike Sherifat, was compulsorily retired from the state civil service. A statement credited to the state Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, said the affected officers were dismissed following their indictment for negli-

gence, which is an act of misconduct under the state’s Public Service Rule 040401. Rule 040401 defines such misconduct as a willful act of omission or general misconduct of public scandal magnitude or to the prejudice of discipline and proper administration of the state government. It attracts dismissal from the public service in line with Public Service Rule 040503.

According to the (HoS), the disciplinary measure was the outcome of the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board (PMB) to Governor Ambode. The board was of the view that the officers be sacked after investigations revealed that the building, which was initially sealed off, was reopened without due process. In the course of investigation, according to the board, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors; and was, thereafter, sealed by LASBCA. But the ‘promoters’ criminally unsealed the property and continued building, while LASBCA officials turned a blind eye to the ongoing illegal building construction. The HoS said it would no longer be business as usual for public officials, private building owners and contractors that violate or subvert building regulations.

It is sad, though, that the harshest punishment the Public Service Rule recommended is dismissal for erring officials, when, in addition,

How serious

country and their agencies take the enforcement of standards, governments at all supervise and regulate the construction of buildings nationwide, levels and tHeir holds the key to stemming buildagencies take tHe ing-collapse.

Private builders or building enforcement of contractors would not have the standards, supervise effrontery to embark on the erecand regulate tHe tion of death traps as buildings in any state that strictly enforces the construction of laws regulating building construcbuildings nationwide tion. Many buildings nationwide, not just in Lagos, have gone down Holds tHe key simply because public officials, like those the Lagos State Governthey ought to be prosecuted for ment just gave the boot, comprotheir complicity in superintending mised their jobs because of the the deaths of many. lure of filthy lucre. But hardly are We, nonetheless, commend the such officials brought to justice. At Lagos State Government for the best, they are posted to other beats, needful measure it has taken, which to public knowledge, appears where they continue with the desecration of the system. the most penetrating so far, after The drastic measure taken by the several cases of building-collapse Lagos State Government is strongly that have claimed scores of lives in recommended to other state governthe state. Worth reiterating is our argument when the tragedy struck, ments desirous of checking incessant cases of building-collapse. In that building-collapse is a global addition, it is not just new buildings trend. In Nigeria, unfortunately, under construction that crash like a such tragedies are mainly traceable to compromised standards and pack of cards. Many old buildings, both public and private, have lost grossly inefficient supervision by the regulatory authorities; whereas their integrity bearings. The relin most of the known foreign cases evant agencies in charge of monitoring building standards should seek of building-collapse, natural disasout such buildings and recommend ters and error in the handling of how best to either bring them to safe explosives are the major causative habitable complexes or ensure they factors. Consequently, how serious are demolished. governments at all levels in the

ON THIS DAY March 22, 1945

March 22, 2004

The Arab League was founded when a charter was adopted in Cairo, Egypt. The League of Arab States is a regional organization of Arab states in North Africa, Northeast Africa (Horn of Africa) and Southwest Asia (Middle East). The founding members were Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (renamed Jordan in 1949), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on May 5, 1945. It currently has 22 members.

Ahmed Yassin, co-founder and leader of the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group, Hamas, two bodyguards, and nine civilian bystanders were killed in the Gaza Strip when hit by Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache-fired Hellfire missiles. Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) is the Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization, with an associated military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

March 22, 2014 About 251 people died when a boat capsized in Lake Albert, Uganda. Two boats carrying people from the Kyangwali refugee camp left the Ugandan shore of Lake Albert heading to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

On the way, one of the boats capsized. Its passengers were returning home after United Nations and Congolese forces won major victories over the Allied Democratic Forces and M23 rebel groups.

Business

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

JTB, Police parley to curb illegal fees, levies at road 21 blocks

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Housing: Developers adopt new strategies to build for workers, retirees 24

Appraising investment options for stable power supply, economic growth

19

MPC Meeting: Expect no changes in MPR, other indices –Experts22 AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline

The prolonged inadequate and epileptic power supply has continued to impact negatively on corporate entities’ performance in the past few months with attendant negative implications for the nation’s economic growth trajectory. Though not a new phenomenon per se, the current ugly situation of the power sector is raising serious concern among development experts, especially when analysed within the context of the mounting challenges facing the nation’s economy.

UDEME AKPAN in this report harps on the need for improved investments in the under-performing but key sector.

E

xpectations were high that the restructuring of power sector, making of new policies, provision of incentives and placement of generation and distribution arms at the hands of private investors would culminate in improved generation and distribution of electricity to consumers in the country.

First, the private sector is known for its capacity to source for funds needed grow the sector as well as the managerial competencies required to drive its operations based on global

best practices.

After close to 10 years of the reforms in the technology-based industry, the sector is still beleaguered with sundry problems that continued to undermine its potential as the most vital sector to growing the nation’s economy.

Investigations showed that the advent of private investors have not yet resulted in significant increase in power generation and supply, despite the fiscal incentives granted them by government and several billions of

After close to 10 yeArs of the reforms in the technology-bAsed industry, the sector is still beleAguered with sundry problems thAt continued to undermine its potentiAl As the most vitAl sector to growing the nAtion’s economy

dollars invested in critical infrastructure by them over the past years.

For instance, the Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP over the weekend indicated in its report that the nation generated 4,014.78 megawatts, mw of electricity. It disclosed that of the quantity generated, 3,932.82mw was distributed while the balance was conserved to stabilise the system.

The low generation and supply were not peculiar. The nation has not really witnessed any sustainable leap in generation and supply in the past few months. For instance, early this year, electricity supply dropped from over 5,000 megawatts, mw to 4,150.64mw.

According to the PTFP, of the 4,150.64mw generated, 4,068.51mw was supplied while the balance was conserved to stabilise the system.

The supply seemed grossly inadequate, considering the na-

tion’s 12,800mw estimated peak demand. The situation is said to be worsened by poor transmission, especially as the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN has not yet been able to meet set targets in transiting commercial power for distribution nationwide.

Consequently, stakeholders have started to call for increased investment in the sector.

For instance, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, in a telephone interview with National Mirror said that the President Buhari-led administration should explore new ways and means of increasing investment in the sector to reverse the sagging trend of power supply to the economy.

He pointed out that the sector called for increased investment, especially as it is capital intensive and technologically demanding to generate, transmit and distribute power in Nigeria and other African nations.

The Chief Executive Officer, SME Funds, Mr. Femi Oye pointed out that the Federal Government may not be able improve electricity nationwide if drastic measures were not taken to stimulate investment in the sector.

He said that the government should encourage massive private small and medium investments in CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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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

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20

Business News

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Appraising investment options for stable power supply, economic growth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 the sector.

Specifically, he said that priority should be given to renewable energy because of the location of the nation in the tropics, availability of resources and competent personnel.

While maintaining that this would require the creation of a conducive environment and investment guarantees to enable commercial banks provide loans to serious investors, the industry player said that the establishment of small and medium scale investments in different areas and communities would reduce pressure from the government.

Oye said his company; Go Solar Africa, had since started to provide power in selected parts of the nation, including Computer Village in Lagos just as he also disclosed that Sokoto State Government had made available 20 communities for his company to provide solar to consumers in the coming months.

With the encouragement of stakeholders, he noted that the company had the capacity to replicate the initiatives in other parts of the nation.

The principal partner of Lubeservices, Engr. Kayode Sote said that experts’ advice should not be ignored by government, especially as productivity would be grossly reduced if conscious efforts are not made to increase investment in the sector.

Sote said many individuals, companies and households had not been in a position to sustain operations because of poor power supply.

“The government does not need to provide all the funds. But it can do a lot through encouraging others, including financial institutions as well as local and foreign inventors to invest in the sector,” he added.

In its recent report, the African Development Bank, AfDB, has noted that Africa’s power sector was facing many challenges, mainly due to insufficient generation capacity which has limited electricity supply, resulting in low access to electricity by the productive agents in most economies in the continent.

The Bank reported that the main obstacle to the increase in electricity generation capacity is the high cost of producing electricity, forcing governments to subsidize consumption.

It noted further that in 2010, the average effective electricity tariff in Africa was US $0.14 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) against an average of US $0.18 per kWh in production costs, adding that that consumption is effectively subsidised, but with significant disparities among African countries.

The Bank disclosed the most cost-effective way of generating electricity is through large power plants, which allow for economies of scale. It indicated that in Africa, the power generation industry is dominated by costly small-scale power systems.

The development finance institution clarifies: “Geographical constraints represent an additional constraint to development of the electricity market in Africa. In countries where electricity is mainly generated through hydroelectric power stations, availability and reliability of power is highly dependent on weather conditions.

During periods of poor rainfall or heavy flooding, power shortages and disruptions can be a frequent occurrence. These uneven weather events add up to the cost of generating and transmitting electricity in countries with challenging geographic conditions.

“Fossil-fuel based generation: Fossil-fuel based power generation is the single largest source of electricity generation in Africa.

However, fossil fuels are the most expensive means for generating electricity, and this could be exacerbated by high fuel prices. In a number of countries, emergency energy solutions, which constitute a large part of installed capacity, also rely mostly on fossilfuel energy. The costs of emergency generation are in the range of US $0.2 to US $0.3 per kWh, which is much higher than the cost of conventional generation.”

“Although the demand for electricity is growing rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa – from 153 kWh per capita today to 235 kWh it is low compared to the global average of 2,730 kWh recorded in 2009. Including North Africa and South Africa, per capita electricity consumption is 620 kWh. Coupled with low tariffs, the low demand for electricity does not permit utility companies to generate a good return on their investment,” AfDB added.

The situation is not different in Nigeria.

Potential investors and related government agencies have at different times stressed the need to increase tariff to enable investors cover cost and make profit.

While outlining his blueprint for the sector, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had disclosed that tariffs, particularly in populous areas and industrial clusters would increase when the new rates are unveiled.

Fashola had emphasised that the government would prioritise the completion of ongoing power projects and would consider setting up embedded power generation stations at industrial located in commercial centres in various states.

“We will want state governments to help us identify and enumerate the very populous, industrial and commercial clusters in their states where we can provide embedded power. This will make life easy for those who are involved in manufacturing, fabrication and other related activities.”

“Perhaps the tariffs here, honestly, may be slightly higher than what is obtained, but the truth is that there will be a significant improvement on what we have and we will need the collaboration of Discos to achieve this,” he had added.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr Anthony Akah, had noted that electricity must be priced rightly. He had reiterated this when he paid a courtesy call on the Director General, National Envi-

Fashola ronmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) as part of the Commission’s engagement with strategic institutions/organisations.

He had said the functions of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), includes protection of consumers and to ensure that providers of electricity are allowed to make reasonable profit from their businesses. Akah had noted that the Commission should never be seen as siding with either the consumers or the market participants, rather it works to create a level playing field for all market participants and other stakeholders.

He had observed that the Commission promotes competition for market practices based on the realities in the sector and the dynamics of the economy. Akah had noted that power is a product and should be rightly priced.

He had maintained that NERC ensures best practice in power, adding that the new tariff is to provide fair return on investment in the value chain. He told his host that the impact of the Commission needed to be felt across the country, thus the need for collaboration with NESREA for the purpose of sustained energy efficiency.

Already, NERC has licenced eight companies with a combined capacity to generate 1,648.25 Megawatts electricity and a distribution company. The event took place at the Commission headquarter in Abuja. The licences were a mixture of on-grid, off-grid, embedded generation and distribution of electricity. One of the licensees, Ossiomo Offistes and Utilities/ Ossiomo Power &Infrastructure, based in Edo state will engage in electricity distribution and in embedded generation of 55 Megawatts gas power electricity.

Although the demAnd for electricity is growing rApidly in sub-sAhArAn AfricA – from 153 kwh per cApitA todAy to 235 kwh it is low compAred to the globAl AverAge of

2,730 kwh recorded in 2009

Yusuf Meanwhile, Anambra State Independent Power Generation Company Limited, located in Onitsha, an on-grid gas-fired plant has the capacity to generate 528mw. There is Cummins Power Generation, Nigeria Limited (NBC) Ikeja with a capacity for a 3.5mw capacity, off- grid. The company also has licence for a 1.7mw to serve A&P Foods, in Agege, Lagos.

The Commission has also granted licence to Sinosun Investment Limited, based in Jibiya, Kastina state is for an on-grid, solar power generation of 100mw capacity. In the same vein, LR-Aaron Power Limited, located in Gwagalada has licence for 100mw solar powered electricity generation.

Also licensed is Lafarge Africa Plc for an on-grid, gas-fired 260 MW in Ewekoro, Ogun state. For Azikel Power Limited, the on–grid licence is for 500MW power plant, located in Obunagha in Bayelsa state. While Middle Band Solar One Limited from Kogi State, was granted an on-grid licence for 100mw.

Before then, the Government of the Akwa Ibom State, promoter of Ibom Power Plant, was issued an amended licence to increase its generating capacity from 190 megawatts to 685megawatts by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Ibom Power Plant currently supplied 190mw to the national grid. Receiving the licence on behalf of the State and the company’s management, Governor Emmanuel Udom was enthused by the near absence of beaucracy and the speed with which the application to increase the generating capacity was treated by the Commission.

Governor Udom had said, “Ibom is one of the first independent power project in the country. This achievement did not come as an accident. It is because the previous administrations in the state invested heavily in this sector.

“This is not a power plant that would have gas supply challenge. We have set up a gas processing plant that is supplying gas to the adjoin power plants. We would soon come for an embedded generation licence that would supply power to our industrial estates” to be established along the coastal line, “ Udom had said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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MPC Meeting: Experts predict MPR, other indices’ retention A

s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) concludes its two-day meeting in Abuja today, industry experts have advised Nigerians not to expect any change in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) and other indices such as Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, until the Appropriation Bill is passed into law.

This is even as some financial analysts have charged the apex bank to address the foreign exchange monetary policy thrust in view of the increasing depreciation of the Naira exchange value at the foreign exchange market (forex).

Speaking with our correspondent during a telephone chat at the weekend in Lagos, Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau Limited, Ahmed Tunde Popoola, projected that it was unlikely to see any major rate changes at the end of the MPC meeting.

Popoola explained that the current government has been driving the nation’s economy through the monetary policy since it came to power and the fiscal policy part is still moribund, adding that until the budget is approved, which will show the direction this government will go.

According to the CRC boss, the challenge in the Foreign exchange (FX) is going to accelerate the inflation rate, which has happened already.

“All in all, I don’t expect them to change the MPC rate, but to maintain what we have and also maintain the position of not devaluing the Nigerian currency, Naira”, he noted.

Similarly, some analysts believed that the rate between the parallel market and the official market at the forex remained wide, leading to increase in consumer goods and hike in inflation.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported inflation for February at a 3-year high of 11.4 per cent from 9.6 per cent in January.

The Naira closed flattish at both the official and parallel market last week, trading at a range of N320-326 against the dollar at the Bureau De Change (BDCs) segment and at N199/$ at the official segment due to CBN’s continued support of the local currency.

They noted that the foreign exchange policy of the CBN drove demand to the parallel market, contributing to spike in inflation in February.

They explained further that the MPC must come up with policies

Heritage Bank’s boss harps on benefits of financial literacy

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he Executive Director, Heritage Bank Limited, Mary Akpobome, has described financial literacy as a strong catalyst to financial inclusion and wealth creation that will aid the nation’s economic growth.

She disclosed this in her opening remarks, at the Financial Literacy Day Programme organised by the bank at the University of Ilorin Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State, last week.

Akpobome, who was represented

by Mrs. Moji Niran – Oladunni, Divisional Head, Public Sector, Heritage Bank, explained that the Bank’s Financial Literacy Programme was a platform to help children and young adults establish a positive relationship with money.

She pointed out further that the programme remained a key enabler to the achievement of financial inclusion that will sustain economic growth and development in the country.

The banking expert said: “At Heritage Bank, the importance of financial inclusion for the youth cannot be over-emphasized. The youth represents a vital force for socio-economic development and hence, the need to begin to work with young people through educational institutions.

“As a bank, we are here to grow with you and see you create wealth, preserve and transfer wealth across generations. This must begin with being financially literate,” Akpobome added.

Addressing the students, Miss Zuriel Oduwole, the education advocate teenager and Heritage Bank’s Financial Literacy Ambassador, noted that financial literacy was about how to earn money and preserve it for the future.

to address the rate between parallel market and official market in order for the nation’s economy to witness alteration in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and steady economy.

The Chief Executive Officer, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said, “Price fluctuation between the official and parallel market exchange rate had caused instability in nation’s economy.

“To redress that problem, CBN

C

participants are not captured in that market. The government and several oil & gas companies are not participating; the market is retail market that does not have wholesale context.

“That is why monetary authorities must formal organize a single market that will cater for both retail and whole participants which is expected by the MPC members to address quickly.”

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Koinonia Ventures & President, Koinonia Global Services Inc., Canada, Olufemi Boyede; Executive Director, Shared Services & Products, Fidelity Bank Plc, Chijioke Ugochukwu; representative of the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Alhaji Labaran Yinusa and Lead Consultant, ECOWAS, Professor Ken Ife at a one-day workshop on export promotion organised by Fidelity Bank Plc, in conjunction with Koinonia Ventures Ltd in Lagos… recently.

FCMB adopts school, urges students on savings culture Tola akinmuTimi

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irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has urged Nigerian youths, especially students, to expand their knowledge base on financial literacy and its principles.

The Bank explained that this can be achieved by imbibing a savings and investment culture at an early age which will help to empower them and secure their future in a sustainable manner.

Speaking during an outreach programme organised by FCMB for students of Federal Govern-

U.K cuts company tax, targets sugar as economy’s growth slows hancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has announced a further cut in the main rate of company tax and put a levy on sugary drinks as he warned the U.K. economy will grow less quickly in each of the next five years than previously forecast.

In his annual budget speech to the House of Commons, Osborne said corporation tax will be lowered to 17 percent by 2020 from 20 percent now.

He also set out higher thresholds for business rates for small companies, seeking to emphasize his Conservative Party’s image as the champion of enterprise, while

must come up with a policy that will properly organize the forex market such there will be only one forex market.”

He noted that the nation’s economy adjusted to the parallel market rate, dragging inflation rate to a double digit of 11.4 per cent.

According to him, “the parallel market has not been at the efficient level because proper

tightening loopholes that allow corporations operating in many countries to minimize their U.K. tax bills.

“This is a Budget which gets rid of loopholes for multinationals and gets rid of tax for small businesses,” Osborne told lawmakers in London on Wednesday. “A 7 billion-pound tax cut for our nation of shopkeepers. A tax system that says to the world: We’re open for business. This is a government that’s on your side.”

The expected 2 percent economic growth this year, as calculated by the Office for Budget Responsibility, compares with a prediction of 2.4 percent in November.

ment Girls College, Akure in Ondo State, the Bank’s Vice President/ Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Diran Olojo, pointed out that imbibing financial principles at an early age will go a long way to help students and the young ones to manage their resources effectively.

In addition, who represented the Group Managing Director, Mr. Ladi Balogun, explained that such principles would also enable appreciate the students appreciate how money works and how it can be channeled to productive ventures.

Olojo, who delivered a presentation to more than 300 students in attendance at the session took them through the topic ‘Growing your Money’’, advised them to avoid spending money on frivolities.

He also counselled them on the need to open bank accounts and develop the habit of saving part of their income, no matter how small.

He explained: “We want our young ones, who are the hope and future drivers of the nation, Nigeria, to understand and appreciate the importance of prudent management of resources for their personal well-being and to ensure their financial security and independence in future.

“Saving your money in a box, wallet or at home is a good starting point. However, this method of saving does not grow your money.

Money saved at home should be transferred to a Bank or invested

after a while. This reduces the risk of impulse buying, or theft as this gives your money the chance to grow ‘’By being financially literate, youths will be able to build their capacity for future business endeavours thereby securing their future and guaranteeing freedom from poverty.,You should spread the message of financial inclusion to your friends, family members and others”, Olojo added.

The FCMB Group Head, Corporate Affairs restated the commitment of the Bank to ensure that school children understand and appreciate the importance of judicious management of resources as well as other initiatives with the capacity to positively impact lives and by extension, the society.

FCMB has adopted the school for a full year as part of the Bank’s financial literacy programme support.

This adoption will result in the participation of the bank’s staff in various mentoring projects, the provision of teaching services to the students and other support activities during the next 12 months. In addition, the Bank also announced the donation of a power generating set to the school.

In her response, the Principal of Federal Government Girls College, Akure, Mrs. Florence Ejikeme, commended the CBN and FCMB in particular for committing both human and financial resources to execute the financial literacy initiative.

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Business News

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Workers’ protest paralysis NAICOM’s operations Chidi UgwU, AbujA

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ctivities at the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, were yesterday completely paralysed following workers’ protest over allegations of high-handedness and violation of financial regulations, amongst others, levelled against the Commission’s management.

The workers, under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRE), sought the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari to checkmate the excesses of the executive management or they will go on with the protest for seven days.

In an interview with journalists during the protest, AUPCTRE chairman, NAICOM chapter, Comrade Ibrahim Abdulateef, alleged gross mismanagement of the Commission’s fund by executive management of the Commission.

Abdulateef listed other grievances of the workers

against the management to include, non-adherence to government circulars and financial regulations, lack of transparency in staff recruitment and promotions, non-provision of working tools, failure to conduct 2015 promotion exams, refusal to release 2014 promotion letters among some others irregularities.

National Mirror gathered that the workers also rued the alleged appointment of one Barineka Thompson, as Director in the Commission. He was said to lack both the academic qualifications and cognate experience to be so appointed.

Indeed, eye witnesses confirmed that neither Kari nor his deputy, George Onekhena, was available to calm the workers down, thereby causing total paralysis of activities there.

A source hinted that the workers had vowed to take the protest to the National Assembly and Presidency in order to resolve the contentious issues leading to their protest.

It was also confirmed that some directors caught in the

web of the protest and who were apparently not happy with the embarrassing situation at the Commission, hurriedly held a closed door meeting to discuss the situation and a way forward out of the quagmire.

Feelers from industry showed that operators and brokers were happy with the action of the workers as many of them were reported not to be happy with the approach of Kari in regulating the industry.

One of them who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “the past few months of Kari have been characterized by regulatory highhandedness and I am sure this is what has led the workers to protest today”

Automakers need hybrid approach to emissions targets –Analyst

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ooming SUV sales are driving down average gas mileage, as Americans opt for fuel-intensive trucks in lieu of cars. But that doesn’t mean the end of the road for fuel efficiency targets.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration want the average fuel economy for vehicles in the U.S. to be around 40 miles per gallon in real-world conditions by 2025. Since carmakers receive credits for beating targets based on a particular vehicle’s size and type, only 40 percent to 60 percent of vehicles would have to hit or beat their 2025 targets for carmakers to be compliant, according to estimates in the EPA’s 2015 trends report.

As of 2015, hybrids and electric vehicles were the only autos that met 2025 standards. So far, most carmakers aren’t inclined to beat emissions requirements a decade before they have to — and

instead usually choose to ratchet up fuel-efficiency annually as the rules tighten. Even so, 26 percent of 2015 cars already reached benchmarks coming due in 2018.

To eventually meet the 2025 standards, automakers will have to embrace a mix of increased electrification and other existing fuel-saving technologies. They also will have to invest more money in research and development, which may result in higher sticker prices on cars. Here are several technology-adoption scenarios which the EPA believes car companies could embrace in order to reach emissions targets.

In January, 2.9 percent of new U.S fleet sales included electric or hybrid electric technology, according to HybridCars.com data. The EPA scenarios expect hybrids and electric cars to increase to 4 percent to 14 percent of the entire fleet within a decade. The Auto Alliance, a trade group representing major automakers, estimates that 39 percent of the 2025 fleet would need to be full hybrids to reach fuel efficiency standards — a feat they say that gasoline vehicles alone couldn’t pull off.

In the interim, the EPA is signing off on fleets that feature mild hybrid electric vehicles: internal combustion engines with electric capabilities that add fuel efficiency but cost much less than full hybrids. The estimates assume 13 percent to 36 percent of the 2025 fleet, cars and trucks alike, will be mild hybrids (though currently this technology is little used outside China). (By Roni Molla of Bloomberg)

IHS acquires financial data firm Markit for $5.5bn

T L-R: Dr. Otefe Edebi, Certified Mental Health Professional, Avon Medical Services; Eniola Obe, Business Executive (Retail) Ikeja & Beyond; Mojisola Bakare, Business Executive, Corporate Banking and Kike Kuponiyi, Group Head, Retail Lending all of Sterling Bank Plc at the Women’s Health/Stress Management Talk organized by the Bank to celebrate the International Women’s Day last Friday.

Aero announces special offers for Easter passengers OlUsegUn KOiKi

A

ero Contractors has announced distinct offer for its clients ahead of the forthcoming Easter celebrations.

The airline stated that the aim of the promo tagged ‘Family and Friends Promo,’ w as to appreciate and reward the loyal airline customers during the Easter period.

According to the airline, as part of the promo, Aero branded Tshirts could also be won in-flight as its passengers travel with it this Easter season.

Commenting on the offer, the Commercial Manager of Aero, Chima Okereke hinted that for passengers to participate in the promo,

which officially commenced last week, such client would have to purchase five tickets in a group, and then get one ticket for free.

Okereke noted that all the five bookings must come under the same booking reference.

He clarified: “The free sixth ticket can be used at any other time within the validity of the complementary ticket and based on applicable terms and conditions.”He urged customers to take advantage of this special promo, which he said is available online at its website and across the sales counters.

He further explained that the Tshirt was a way of rewarding the airline’s customers, promising that the airline was working to offer

more rewards to its esteemed customers in the coming months.

The airline’s top official restated the company’s commitment to provision of world-class flight services at competitive rates for customers who will be travelling to visit families and friends within the Easter period.

“Aero is most delighted to introduce this special promo. We appreciate our customers, and we promise to continue to offer them memorable travel experience, with on-time departures, and commitment to wonderful customer packages. We shall endeavour to introduce more innovative products and services during the year.”, Okereke said.

he aerospace-to-energy analysis company IHS Inc. agreed to acquire Markit Ltd. in a deal that values the London-based firm at about $5.5 billion, another sign of consolidation in the financial-infrastructure industry.

IHS shareholders will get about 57 percent of the enlarged data and analytics company and Markit stockholders will receive the rest, according to a statement on Monday.

The tie-up, which will be called IHS Markit, will be based in London and would have $3.3 billion in revenue based on 2015 results.

IHS is a publisher and provider of information for industries including finance, aerospace, automotive, energy and technology. Markit compiles indexes for financial products, including credit-default swaps.

Data, index and over-the-counter trading businesses are becoming sought-after assets at a time when increasing competition has made exchange-traded products such as stocks less profitable. In December, Intercontinental Exchange Inc. spent almost $6 billion buying Interactive Data Holdings Corp., a bond-pricing service, and Trayport, an energy-trading platform.

Markit shareholders will own 43 percent of the combined company. Their stake is worth about $5.5 billion based on both firms’ market capitalization at the end of trading last week.

That’s about 4 percent more than Markit’s $5.2 billion value.

Bloomberg LP, the owner of Bloomberg News, competes with IHS and Markit by providing data to the financial-services industry.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Jobs & Career

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

Rekindling unemployed youths’ hope through Bank of Industry’s ‘YES’ scheme

Last week, Bank of Industry, completed the first phase of its vocational skills competition programme, with winners receiving key business tools, cash and monitoring opportunities. In this report, OLUFEMI ADEOSUN, examines the import of the initiative on the nation’s knowledgebased manpower capacity and the implications for industrialization.

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part from the fact that graduates’ turnover surpasses available jobs in the economy, the disconnect between market demands and available skills has been identified as one of the reasons for the acute rate of unemployment in Nigeria.

Expectedly, the National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest report, revealed that about 1.8million young Nigerians enter the already saturated labour market yearly while the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity estimated that more than 41 per cent of tertiary institution graduates were usually unemployed after the mandatory NYSC programme, It is against this background that the various initiatives by the Bank of Industry, BoI, and a few other development-oriented and futuristic organizations, to link the nation’s skills to industrialisation, have continued to elicit reactions from economic development analysts in recent times.

Apart from the vocational skills competition programme, the bank, in furtherance of the Federal Government’s poverty alleviation and inclusive development strategy, has been proactive in addressing the financial inclusion challenge of small business operators in the country.

Some of the programmes include, the N2 billion Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF) designed for serving members of the National Youth Service Corps; the N10 billion Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) scheme aimed at developing the entrepreneurial capacity of youths within the age bracket of 18-35, with a view to funding their business plans.

Under the YES scheme, each beneficiary is eligible to access a loan up to a maximum of N5m for the procurement of machinery and equipment as well as for working capital.

However, of all the interventionist efforts of the BoI, industry analysts have rated the vocational skills competition scheme high, describing it as one programme with the most practical step towards aligning the nation’s skills to market demands. Organised in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the programme is aimed at supporting and promoting the acquisition of vocational skills among the Nigerian youth.

In the competition which featured 82 participants drawn from Vocational Enterprise Institutions accredited by (NBTE), contestants were tested in seven vocational areas which include: Automotive Mechatronics/ Mechanic, Carpentry & Joinery, Electrical & Electronics, Fashion Design, Painting & Tiling, Plumbing & Fittings and Welding & Fabrication While 20 contestants attended the region-

Minister of Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah

BoI’s Acting MD, Wahab Olagunju

If you look at the carpentry and electrIcal electronIc, paIntIng and tIlIng, plumbIng and wIeldIng and fabrIcatIon, they all have unIque roles to play In the natIon’s growth and development. In a

country where we have housIng defIcIt of

17 mIllIon, there Is no way we can brIdge that gap wIthout qualIty home-grown manpower

al competition which took place in Kaduna, 62 candidates attended the Lagos regional session out of which 21 successful candidates, three from each vocation qualified for the competition’s grand finale held in Abuja last Thursday Also, while first to third in each category got key business tools, equivalent of cash price of N2 million, N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, other participants were given N50,000 each as consolation prize to cover their logistics expenses. Apart from cash prizes, winners are also expected to enjoy internship with key government institutions and access to loans.

Speaking during the first leg of the competition in Kaduna, the bank’s Acting Managing Director, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, explained that the programme was initiated as part of the bank’s strategies to provide the needed linkage between the nation’s available skills and market demands.

He lamented that although the nation’s institutions churn out thousands of graduates year-in, year-out, there had been consistent dearth of required skills for the industry because the skills being produced by the institutions do not relate to industrial demands.

The BoI boss noted that the lack of requisite skills was what forced Aliko Dangote to source for over 30,000 wielders from outside the country to work in his cement factories.

Olagunju said:”This programme will address the challenges of unemployment in Nigeria. Industrial analysts have revealed that we have a lot of youth who have certificates but do not have the requisite skills to be employable. The programme they went for do not relate to the real industry or the world.

Most employers of labour do not find them employable. They have to seek for such skills outside the shore of Nigeria.

“If you look at the seven key areas that have been identified, five of them have to do with the construction industry which has been identified as one of the drivers of our national economy. In terms of employment generation, construction industry has precipitate potential for empowerment.

“If you look at the carpentry and electrical electronic, painting and tiling, plumbing and wielding and fabrication, they all have unique roles to play in the nation’s growth and development. In a country where we have housing deficit of 17 million, there is no way we can bridge that gap without quality home-grown manpower.

The Head, Strategy and Corporate Transformation of the bank, Mr. Yinka Adegboye, noted that the competition was organised to support and promote the acquisition of vocational skills amongst Nigerian youth.

According to him, the larger outlook of the scheme is to help the country in its quest to develop the requisite technical skill base to achieve the goal of industrialisation.

“We also believe that building value-adding incentives around such a competition will rejuvenate the interest of the youth in acquiring these skills, which are key requirements to achieving industrial growth.

It is also aimed that this initiative will spur other institutions (both private and public) to follow suit by developing initiatives along the lines of supporting vocational skill acquisition and growth,” he added.

While formally declaring open the launch, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, said his ministry would partner all agencies of government to create new jobs.

The minister said that the ‘YES’ project of BoI was a major component of the Federal Government’s youth employment scheme, promising that about 36,000 jobs would be created annually through the scheme.

He therefore urged prospective beneficiaries to repay the loans to ensure the success of the scheme and its sustainability.

Similarly, the Special Assistant to the Vice President on Youths and Job Creation, Afolabi Imokhuede, commended the bank’s initiative, adding that job creation was at the centre of the current administration’s drive to ensure socio-economic empowerment of the youths for national leadership roles.

According to him, the government is committed to creating jobs for the unemployed in the country through carefully packaged programmes, including the ‘YES’ programme.

Like the minister, the Vice President’s aide admonished beneficiaries of the loans to take the ‘YES’ seriously given its online platform and opportunities since online courses are now becoming the most resourceful channels for employment worldwide.

The Governor ok Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, assured of his the state’s support for the BoI’s YES programme in view of its far-reaching benefits for the economy.

Other analysts and human capital capacity building experts, who spoke at the forum, described the BoI’s initiative as desirable for building a strong foundation for the country’s industrialization and broad-based development since innovative skills, which remain part of its focus, are crucial to current drives by governments for global economic competitiveness.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Real Estate & Environment

Housing: Developers adopt new strategies to build for workers, retirees

Following increasingly worrisome cases of eviction of scores of states and federal workers as well as retirees from their residential quarters by corporate landlords in recent times, estate developers have devised new strategies of encouraging workers to acquire their own homes that will guarantee stress-free post-retirement life experience. SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE reports.

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ecently, investigations have shown that some private and public workers as well as government retirees have been evicted from their apartments and residence by landlords in a manner suggested clearly that such affected tenants are in for harder times ahead.

This unhealthy development is primarily occasioned by the penchant of some landlords and landladies to raise their rents at the expiration of a tenancy, possibly in their efforts to survive the increasingly inclement economic situation in the country As expected in such a situation where demand for housing is on the surge, estate developers have latched-in on the situation, caused by the growing housing deficits in the country, to lure many Nigerian workers into private estate developments.

Some developers said, since government could not provide affordable houses as promised, coupled with the eviction of government workers from their quarters, developers have assured that they would

Rallying stakeholders for Corporate Governance Code implementation31

provide popular choices for workers and retirees in their private estate projects.

For instance, some months ago, the retirees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, were evicted from Egbin housing estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos, following the privatisation of the power plant. Federal Government had few years ago privatised the largest power-generating station in the country, with an installed capacity of 1320mw, consisting of six units of 220mw each.

Sequel to this, the workers, who had spent decades at the housing quarters of the organization, were ordered to move out of the affected estates by the new core

investors, which is a joint venture between Sahara Power Group and Korea Electric Power Corporation, KEPCO. One of the retirees, Mr Ebenezer Omonijo, had stated that the new investors of the power holding took the matter to court, but when they discovered that the case could not be in their favour, they decided to take laws into their hands by attempting to forcefully eject them from the premises.

He said the workers resisted the attempt by refusing to comply with the quit notice based on the fact that the conditions of service accorded them, the privilege to acquire the property, when they want to sell.

“I have been staying in this quarters for the past 30 years and the condition of service states clearly, that we should be the first to be considered when they want to sell it’’, Omonijo noted that the houses had been sold on ‘owner-occupied basis’ across the country.

As if this was not enough, Customs retirees, who pleaded for anonymity, derided the National Pension Commission, PENCOM, for its inability to pay their entitlements, nearly one year after their selfless

In nIgerIa, housIng provIsIon Is fraught wIth a plethora of problems, especIally for low-Income earners, who IncIdentally constItute the majorIty of the populatIon. fundamental to thIs, Is the lack of access to housIng fInance by thIs segment of the socIety

CIIN partners LBS on survival measures for insurance firms

30

service to the nation, saying the situation had led to his ejection from his apartment in Lagos state.

He said he was ejected from his apartment, as he could not afford the payment of house rent, after his selfless service to federal government, urging the federal government to intervene.

Some of his colleagues said such ugly development had brought untold hardship to some of them, who have nowhere to lay their heads, even as they as they can no longer take care of their families.

The same situation of ejection of workers as well as retirees from government quarters had also being reported in the Federal Capital Territory, leading to some workers going to leave in areas like Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu, Jikwoyi, Orozo and many other communities in the outskirts of the FCT. Ditto to other states in the country, where ejection of workers as well as menace of landlords have become the order of the day.

Sadam Ameh, a resident of Nyanya said due to housing challenges in Abuja metropolis, he had gone to Nyanya to live, forcing him to wake-up as early as 4.30am in order to beat the chronic traffic situation that characterizes the area. ‘’It is along this axis that thousands of Abuja workers reside as they were unable to afford the exorbitant costs of houses in the FCT. Citizens who domiciled in these areas, are mostly civil servants, traders and semi-skilled labourers, who earn between of N10, 000 and N50, 000 in a month’’, he stated.

However, some estate developers have reported that following this situation, they have developed a means of luring some Nigerian workers into their housing programmes.

For instance, one of the real estate companies, Messrs Rock of Ages Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Chicason Group of companies, has commenced the construction of an estate, consisting of 10,000 housing units at Lugbe, Abuja, where workers are free to buy into the projects, to avoid the pitfalls of the past, where somebody would work for several years without a home of his own.

The Group’s Chairman, Chief Chika Okafor, who noted that 3000 houses would be ready soon, said the housing programme would be for civil servants as well as other interested individuals.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Rekindling unemployment youths’ hope through Bank of Industry’s ‘YES’ scheme 32

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Housing: Developers adopt new strategies to build for workers, retirees CONTINUED FROM 25

Disclosing that the Trade Union Congress, TUC, had already indicated interest in the estate, Okafor said that out of the 10,000 housing units in the first cluster, the company would begin with 3,000 housing units.

According to him, one thing that made the project more unique from other housing projects in Abuja is the good reputation that Chicason Group has created for itself over the years, assuring subscribers that the houses would be ready before the second quarter of this year.

Executive Director, Chicason Group, Adike Chux also noted that the United Workers Housing Scheme is a housing project, aimed at delivering 10,000 housing units in Plot 301 and 302 of L22 Southern Lugbe of the FCT in the phase 5 FCT developments.

“The subscribers will make equity contributions depending on the house type referred; the apartment blocks ranges from 2 bedroom flats to 3 bedroom flats, and workers, who are contributors to Pension and National Housing Fund automatically qualify to apply for the houses’’.

“Some of the facilities and social infrastructures the subscribers will enjoy are good road network, for the middle class. as well as huge family and social responsiindependent power supply, water that will With the move, the bank said its huge bilities, retirement planning can be more be metered to various apartments, hospital, investments in real estate developments in complicated. secondary school, primary school, banks, Ofada, Ogun state; Karu Area Council in Some of the social issues that affect efpetrol stations, office complexes, motor serAbuja; Lekki in Lagos state among other fective retirement planning in Nigeria invice stations, shopping mall. areas in the country would increase the clude the size of families and inadequate Also, Professor Charles Ofoegbu, former number of beneficiaries for its facilities. access to medical facilities.

Director General of NBBRI while speaking Head of Business Development, Mr. In addition, Nigeria does not have an opwith newsmen on the housing scheme, said Yemi Popoola had in a statement said the erable social security system that takes care the United Housing Scheme for Nigeria bank had invested over N3.0 billion in real of the aged, unemployed, and most disturbworkers conformed to what he had been estate while creating mortgage in excess of ing, the disabled, meaning that all these catadvocating for in the past 10 years in the naN5 billion, which would help in reducing egories of people constitute an additional tion’s housing policy. housing deficits in the country. responsibility on the worker’s resources.

“Many super countries today used the Yemi also said the estates would be tasteNigerian Housing Funds issues loans housing infrastructure to reach where fully furnished in prime locations within for workers to make outright purchase of they are today; when you build a house, Abuja and Lagos, putting the unit sells at residential houses, renovate or expand an you build an economy, what I mean is that N9 million to N 20 million. existing one; hence the loan is strictly for many lives will be touched by employing “We are in an era that requires great residential houses. people to work on the construction site. For tact for those who want to survive. One of Its law mandates all Nigerian workers to a country like Nigeria that claims to be the the ways to live in this era is to take advancontribute to the scheme, as the Fund also giant of Africa, more than 20 per cent of its tage of facilities like this. With the prodoffers additional housing loan facility to citizens lack adequate housing. ucts in our bank, it is easy for anybody, who such workers.

Loans advanced under the Mind you, housing is a fundamental huwants to own property to do so, our terms NHF scheme cannot be used to refinance man right, everyone should have the right are flexible’. another loan. to own a house, and government have the Planning is especially important in the Some foreign property firms have repreresponsibility of providing the houses area of housing. Nigeria still does not have sentatives in Nigeria and are courting prothrough the use of credible Estate Developa functioning mortgage system, and acquispective buyers, who must understand the ers like Rock of Ages properties to meet the sition of real estate is still mainly on a cash market so as not to run into problems. housing needs of its citizens while Mortand carry basis.

In Nigeria, housing provision is fraught gage Banks should be empowered to deliver In major cities like Abuja and Lagos, as with a plethora of problems, especially for on its promises. well as in cities throughout the country, low-income earners, who incidentally conA private estate developer, Johnson properties are very expensive and beyond stitute the majority of the population.

Bassey said a lot is being offered for the the reach of the average worker.

Fundamental to this, is the lack of access housing sector of the market across the As part of its monetization policy for to housing finance by this segment of the country, urging workers to avail themselves its employees, the federal government had society . the opportunity existing in private housing begun the process of selling its houses to In view of its enormous cost, housing projects in the country. workers on an owner-occupier basis. is the item of the highest expenditure of According to him, there has been a conIt was envisaged that a mortgage backed every household and it can rarely be purcentration of retirement options, saying security would be created to finance these chased directly from one’s earnings. some properties range from one-bedroom acquisitions, and this would also herald Access to housing finance is thus imunits to three-bedrooms at affordable pricthe development of a mortgage system in perative in the acquisition of housing, but es that would be friendly for low-income the country. this has always eluded low-income earners states.

For Nigerian workers, who are chala great deal.

Some units, he said, are sold on first lenged by low levels of income and savings Investigation shows that the level of accome, first serve basis, giving some workers the right to buy apartments or houses, after nvestIgatIon shows that the level which ownership of the property would be transferred to them by developers. of accessIbIlIty of low Income earners to A leading mortgage bank, Resort Savings and Loans Plc said it is collaborating housIng fInance In IgerIa Is stIll very with some estate developers to build 500 low despIte the IntermedIatIon of prIvate housing units in the country before the end of the second quarter of 2016. developers and cooperatIve socIetIes In Such alliance, according to the bank would enable it provide mortgage finance sourcIng housIng fInance to off-takers interested in housing estates

I

,

n

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cessibility of low-income earners to housing finance in Nigeria is still very low, despite the intermediation of private developers and cooperative societies in sourcing housing finance.

Housing is paramount to human existence as it ranks among the top three needs of man.

Its provision has always been of great necessity to man. As a unit of the environment housing has profound influence on the health, efficiency, social behaviour, satisfaction and general welfare of the community.

The provision of adequate housing in any country is very vital as housing is a stimulant of the national economy.

Housing is a set of durable assets, which accounts for a high proportion of a country’s wealth and on which households spend a substantial part of their income.

In Nigeria, like in many other developing nations of the world housing problems are multi dimensional.

The problems of population explosion, continuous influx of people from the rural to the urban centres, and the lack of basic infrastructure required for good standard of living have compounded housing problems over the years.

Access to this basic need by the poor who constitute the largest percentage of the world population has remained a mirage and it needs to be critically addressed. The cost at which houses reach the market goes a long way to determine affordability. Where the unit cost of houses is abnormally high only a few people are able to afford the houses.

A panacea to the problem is the contribution of cooperative societies and private developers to housing finance, whose activities, particularly in tertiary institutions, this paper focuses on towards facilitating improved accessibility level to housing finance by lowincome earners in the country.

Ironically, the low-income groups, who constitute the majority in the Nigerian society, are the most affected by the finance menace.

The problems of housing shortage grow worse by the day in many developing nations, including Nigeria.

26

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

SON, NIA partner to curb building collapse incidents

MORTGAGE NOTES

Olufemi AdeOsun,

with Adenike Fasanya-Osilaja

AbujA

S

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

I

How “affordable” is “affordable housing” in Nigeria?

know I need to stop harping on the whole “affordable housing” issue…but I can’t. I remain focused on this subject because it is absolutely the most important unresolved situation in the Nigerian housing market. I often wonder how it is possible to have so many diverse interpretations of the same subject. What is “affordable” when it comes to housing?

Who determines the price point, and more importantly, what is the process for conveying ongoing market information to the public in a cogent and timely manner?

The sustainability of the market is one hundred percent dependent on finding solutions to these questions (problems) asap. As usual, I was having a conversation with a colleague in the Nigerian housing finance industry, and of course we ended up trying to figure out why the mortgage industry still seems almost invisible in the market.

The people who should actually be the primary customers of the mortgage companies are almost oblivious to their existence, or are scared to death of taking out a mortgage loan. The funny thing is that these same people think nothing of taking a personal loan or a car loan. As I have said before, banks are actually giving personal loans to customers, knowing the customers plan to build properties with the funds received.

A first time homebuyer, Ike Ejekam was so terrified of getting a loan, that he raised his money from unconventional sources like family and friends. As he put it ““I don’t like to think about mortgages because it scares me when I see how difficult it is for my friends to get a loan. (Analysis: Nigeria’s property boom: only for the brave,

by Joe Bruck. Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/15/us-nigeria-property-analysisidUSBRE98E0362013 0915#phZVie5VHKcDeK4y.99) This is the overwhelming response from the public when asked if they would countenance a mortgage for their home purchase. They don’t understand the product, but they know their friend (or brother, or sister or somebody else) applied for a loan

and was rejected. The funny thing is, this gentleman actually worked in the banking industry. I thought that was a sad reflection on the industry. It is imperative that the housing industry address this problem with all urgency. It is a huge sign. It is imperative that the housing industry address this problem with all urgency. It is a huge sign of impending disaster when the general public sees the mortgage industry as “for the elite” because, as with every other national program, it is very much a numbers game.

The more widespread the product is, and the larger the number of people that partake in it, the more standardized it becomes, and with that, the lower it becomes in price. Are there national home buyer awareness shows on television?

What is the vehicle for conveying ongoing information to the general public in a language they can understand? If a banker admits to being too scared of a mortgage to apply for one, what is the hope for a driver or a clerk?

So what does the mortgage industry have to do with affordable housing? A recent statistic on green housing in the US might present some clarity. “According to McGraw-Hill Construction’s report, “World Green Building Trends—Business Benefits Driving New and Retrofit Market Opportunities in over 60 Countries,” client demand (35 percent) and market demand (33 percent) were the top two reasons the global green building market grew to $260 billion in 2013, including an estimated 20 percent of all new U.S. commercial real estate projects.”

(Byron Carlock, writing for National Real Estate Investor at http://nreionline.com/financeinvestment/sustainability-newnorm-real-estate-development-

Real Estate & Environment

andinvesting). Forget the “green” part for a minute even though that is a very important component for the future of the housing industry, and just look at the statistics.

It is an amazing recognition that client demand plus marketing demand make up 68% of ANY market, whether real estate, insurance or whatever you may have. This is a clear indication of the need for any consumer related industry to build its program on the needs of their market rather than on their own conception of what their market might want. In essence, the Nigerian market needs to move from being a Transaction-oriented industry to being a Customer-oriented one if the goal of a sustainable real estate market is ever to be achieved. One of the clear indicators in the Nigerian affordable housing market, in my humble opinion, seems to be that the houses are not as functional for the first time buyers as they should be. Let me be clear, a civil servant who makes 750,000.00 naira per year cannot afford a 10 million naira “affordable” house, so the question is, why build it? And when a condominium style apartment is sold in Lekki for 60 million naira and listed under “affordable housing”, how are we supposed to take the seller seriously?

Please don’t get me wrong, there is a market for a 60 million naira condominium apartment and we are very happy for anyone that is able to purchase one of them. We just advise that it should be labelled what it really is-Unaffordable Affordable Housing. As usual all comments and critiques are welcome on this article, and I wish you a very prosperous week.

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.

tandards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) have resolved to work together to check the current wave of production and sale of substandard building materials in the country.

Production and deployment of substandard building materials have been identified as a factor that significantly contributes to high cases of building collapse incidents nationwide.

Speaking at a meeting with the executive members of NIA led by its President, Architect Tonye Braide, SON Acting Director General Dr. Paul Angya noted all professionals in the built environment need to come together with a view to addressing the scourge.

Angya, who described the incessant building collapse in the country as worrisome, called on members the Institute to see themselves as partners in the development of Nigeria in terms of quality and standards.

According to him, one of the surest ways of tackling the menace was for all Nigerians to Vanguard of Standards.

He informed the Institute of an existing Task Force in SON, and invited them to join the agency to fight and instill discipline in the built industry,particularly the Iron and Steel sector including other components that constituted major problems and causing building collapse in

the country.

The Director General also expressed the willingness of the agency to sign a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute, and promised to put together a team from SON that would work out the criteria with the Institute.

He, however, charged them to have a better understanding of Standards, adding that it would form the basis of the working together.

Angya used the forum to inform members of the Institute that ElectricalCables made in Nigeria ranks amongst the best in the world, but regretted that some unscrupulous Nigerian businessmen and women in connivance with their foreign cohorts import substandard foreign cables and label them “ Made in Nigeria” in order to deceive the unsuspecting consumer.

He stated that the fight against substandard products/ services in the country should be seen as a fight by all Nigerians in order to minimize the influx of substandard products in our country.

Earlier in his address, the president of the Institute, Braide informed the DG that they were in SON to seek ways of collaborating with SON in the fight against the production and sale of substandard building materials.

Architect Briade frowned at the rate at which substandard building materials had overflown the markets and called for urgent steps to redirect the construction industry in line with the accepted specification/standard.

Rand slump fails to attract foreign property buyers

H

ouse prices in South Africa are declining once again, after a gradual price rise two years ago.

The house price index for medium-sized houses rose by 3.9 percent year-in, year out, according to ABSA. However when adjusted for inflation, the average house price actually fell by 0.8 percent, a slowdown from the 9.2 percent, about 3.2 percent in real term price increase during the same period last year.

Small-sized houses rose, as their prices up only 1.8 percent, about 2.8 percent in real terms.

Large-sized houses, on the other hand, rose by 8.3 percent, about 3.4 percent in real terms.

The average price of small homes, 80-140 sq.m was ZAR 877,000 (US$ 52,293), the average price of mediumsized homes (141-220 sq. m) was ZAR 1,241,000 (US$ 73,997) while the average price of large homes (221-400 sq. m) was ZAR 1,989,000, about $ 118,599.

Nominal house price growth of 5 percent-6 percent is forecast for 2016 with the risk to the downside against the background of economic and consumer sector trends and prospects.

Real house price growth is ex-

pected to remain under severe pressure in the next 12-18 months,” says ABSA. Foreign buyers’ aren´t taking advantage of the rand´s decline South Africa exchanges rates Property in South Africa is now dramatically less expensive for foreign buyers than four years ago.

Since July 2011, the Trade-Weighted Rand Index has fallen 47.8 percent to December 2015, according to First National Bank, FNB).

The rand has fallen from US$1=ZAR 6.76 then, to US$ 1 = ZAR 15.02 in December.

“The drivers of this have been numerous,” noted FNB, “including a multi-year export commodity price slide, frequent Emerging Market jitters in an uncertain global economic environment, the arrival of US interest rate hiking and a well-documented myriad of domestic structural constraints on economic growth.”

Despite significantly cheaper property prices for foreign-currency buyers, there was no major rise in home buying by foreigners, according to FNB´s Q4 2015 Estate Agent Survey. Foreign buying is “off its “highs” reached around 2014”. FNB attributed this to:

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

Minister decries slow work on Kaduna recycling plant

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She stated that the abandonment of the project contradicts government’s intention of setting up the plant, assuring the people that a thorough assessment of the situation would be made with a view to revamping the plant for optimal use.

She likened the project to a situation where government continued to expend its scarce resources on projects with little or nothing to show for such expenditure.

Mohammed, who made the comments during an on the spot assessment of the plant site, frowned at the attitude of payment for contracts without proper execution of jobs.

According to her, it is criminal for any contractor to receive payment up to the tune of N600 million from the government to execute a project only for the government to discover that there is practically nothing done on the site”.

She therefore averred that the Buhari led administration would not accept such from any contractor irrespective of how highly placed they are maintaining that the government has zero tolerance for such retrogressive acts.

Earlier, the Minister had at the Kaduna Women Economic Empowerment Summit called for the empowerment of women and girl child as an integral components in the realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) While delivering a keynote address at the Summit to mark the 2016 International Women’s Day, themed “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up For Gender Equality, the Minister said that the issue of early child birth, early marriages and the Chibok girls challenges are some of the factors that negate the emancipation of women in their quest for optimal contribution to the development of the country.

The Minister used the occasion to canvass for the provision of equal opportunities for women and the girl child in the areas of education and technology, wages as well as right to land and inheritance.

Olufemi AdeOsun, AbujA

he Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, has decried the deplorable state of the Kaduna Scrap Metal Recovery and Recycling Plant project, describing it unacceptable.

She also called on the Private sector, Non –Governmental Organizations, (NGOs) Students and Community Leaders to join in the

AbujA

T

he Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv.

Ebisintei Awudu, has charged the zonal directors of the office to be proactive in their responsibilities in order to ensure the fulfillment of their mandate in current efforts to fast-track national development.

Awudu, who gave the charge during a meeting with the Zonal Directors of the geo-political zones, pointed out that the meeting was conveyed to enable them understand his vision for the Office with a view to replicating same in their zones.

According to him, the vision of the Office is to be properly positioned to provide geo-spatial information for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As my representatives in the various zones, if you know how I think, you will think alike, and this will improve the lot of the Office”, Awudu said.

As part of the plans to

move the Office forward, the Surveyor-General explained that four new department are being expected in the Office with a Director heading Special Duties, who is to function in the SurveyorGeneral’s Office, adding that approval is also being expected from the Head of Service for the employment of new staff.

He also disclosed that the United Nations had directed that all member countries must have their statistical data presented with geospatial data input endorsed by the Surveyor-Generals of their countries, adding that to keep pace with the directive, a minimum of 1 hectare of land must be acquired this year at all zonal levels.

While reiterating that Federal Government had approved a Consultancy/Public Private Partnership for the Office known as OSGOF Consult, the Surveyor-General urged the Zonal Directors to open doors for contracts with state governments for surveying jobs and lease out equipment through due pro-

awareness of the SDGs. “Every Nigerian child should be in school, Education is a right not a privilege” she added.

Environmental activists and enthusiasts during the symbolic one-hour of darkness to commemorate the Earth Hour 2016 at the Lekki Conservation Centre,a project of Nigerian Conservation Centre (NCF), Lagos on Saturday, March19, 2016.

Environment Ministry, NCF harp on sustainable forest benefits BY sYlVA emeKA-OKeReKe

M

inister of Environment, Amina Mohammed has said her ministry would convene

Surveyor General restates commitment to surveying standards Olufemi AdeOsun,

struggle for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whilst maintaining that the government would continue to provide an enabling environment for the creation of

cess.

Awudu noted that through the appropriate use of the Office’s equipment, more revenue would be generated for the government this year, urging them to interface with officers of the Department of State Services and other stakeholders in their areas of jurisdiction.

In his remarks, the Director, Surveys and Geodesy, Surv. Barde Jatau, urged the Zonal directors to see themselves as ambassadors of the Office in their respective zones and therefore initiate programmes and ideas that would move their areas of jurisdiction forward.

He urged them not to be indolent or see their postings as a punishment, but as opportunity to put in their best in their service to the nation.

Responding on behalf of the Zonal Directors, the Zonal Director, South East, Surv.

Adebayo Omosowon, appreciated the Surveyor-General for his developmental moves and called for an increase in the quarterly allocation to the Zones.

an emergency forest and biodiversity interactive session with relevant stakeholders to disclose its zero-tolerance for the level of damage done to forest in the country.

Mohammed, who disclosed this during the celebration of International Day of Forest in Abuja, noted that all commissioners of the environment, directors of forestry, the Ministry of Finance and relevant Nongovernmental Organization would be involved in the dialogue, aimed at putting a stop to activities causing deforestation and forest degradation in the country.

According to her, forest in wetlands depends on water sources and at the same time, forest ecosystem sustains water quality and helps mitigate the risks of water related disasters.

“Many see forest as source of revenue generation with little or nothing ploughed back for forest development.

Activities of timber merchants, especially illegal loggers, continue to worsen the situation and the Ministry has zero tolerance for the damage done to the forest in Nigeria”, she stated.

She however described the rate of deforestation and forest degradation arising from intensive logging of timber and fuel wood extraction as unacceptable In his own submission, the Director General of Ni-

gerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, Mr Adeniyi Karunwi said, ‘’if about two-third of the estimated population of 170 million Nigerians will individually plant or adopt a tree within their precincts and accord the trees the needed care, the nation would well be on the pathway towards having 25 percent of its landmass under forest.

According to him, it is pertinent to be interested in Trees outside the Forest, TOF, simply defined as trees in cities, farms, along the roads and places other than forests, and the roles they play in urban greening and microclimate management.

Karunwi said myriads of opportunities forest offers had exposed it to “unhealthy exploitation by forest-dependent population beyond its regenerative capacity. This unsustainable extraction and the attendant dwindling stock of forest resource have made calls for its conservation.”

He said the present level of stakeholders’ involvement in forest conservation agenda was commendable, observing that more could still be achieved collectively and individually, urging Nigerians to engage in thought-provoking reflections on how best to address the challenges of securing the remnant of the nation’s forest.

28

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Aviation

Stakeholders differ on desirability of state governments’ airport projects The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, recently advised state governments against construction of more airports at this time of the economy unless it is critically important for them to do so. However, stakeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry are divided over the minister’s stance given the potential benefits of the projects, despite the current fiscal challenges facing the states.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

T

he construction of Moshood Abiola International Airport, Ido Osun has been ongoing for close to a decade. The airport, which the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration inherited is said to cost the state a whopping N15.5 billion according to the leading opposition party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Away from the cost, the airport is surrounded

by Ibadan and Akure Airports, which is a close distance from the state. The two airports have consistently remained unviable jointly recording insignificant 8,731 passenger traffic in 2014.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, have annually been expending some billions of naira on some of the airports with low traffic, deploys the inadequate technical and Aviation Security, AVSEC, personnel to the airports while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, equally sends Air Traffic Controllers, ATCs, to the dormant airports.

Some of these airports only record one landing and take-off daily while others are operational during the annual hajj exercise to Mecca, Saudi Arabia only. Yet, they are called airports.

Apart from the Moshood Abiola International Airport, other State Governments have equally taken the construction of airports as one of the critical projects they are embarking on in their states.

States like Ogun is embarking on Agro Cargo Airport, Sagamu while Bayelsa, Gombe, Ekiti and Zamfara airports are also in the pipeline.

Asaba, Kebbi, Bauchi, Delta and Dutse International Airports in Jigawa were opened some few years back, but are suffering from lack of effective utilisation.

The antagonists of these airport projects are alleging that airport construction is a conduit pipe for governments to siphon revenues of their states, claiming that the actual amount of money expended on them are always hyperinflated.

For instance, PDP in Osun State claimed that the government inflated the project by N11 billion. PDP alleged that the project was overblown from N4.5 billion to N15.5 billion, but a source close to the State Government recently told our correspondent that the total amount of money budgeted for the project was N10 billion in which over N5 billion had been expended on perimeter fencing and grading of the airport land only.

But, the protagonists of more airport constructions claimed that such airports could be necessary in case of an emergency and war.

Some of them equally argued that in the United States there are airports within 5km radius and that in London, United Kingdom, there are about five airports.

However, in a bid to discourage the obvious frivolous spending by the State Governors, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in Abeokuta, Ogun State recently advised them

Dutse Airport, Jigawa

AviAtion goes beyond building An Airport And terminAl, they Are enAblers to the economy. if you go round the world, there Are some cities thAt they even hAve more thAn one Airport.

viAbility should

be A source of considerAtion more so thAt

fAAn hAs designAted 14 Airports for cArgo operAtions

to be more concerned with projects that would profit the generality of the nation’s poor and down-trodden instead of pursuing ventures that further serve the bourgeoisie’s interests.

He specifically cited airport project as one example no governor should undertake to build now unless the socio-economic fortunes of such a state and the country could support such additional airport.

The Minister insisted that the airport project remained elitist and would not benefit the masses, adding that Nigeria already has many airports that have proved to be unviable.

Commenting on the issue, the erstwhile Managing Director of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Mohammed Joji, during an interview with our correspondent pointed out airport project should not be the priority of states in the face of dwindling revenues.

He insisted that various states must first stimulate their economic environment, develop skills and develop agricultural resources on a mechanized scale.

He opined that State Governments should set up industries before embarking on building airports, which according to him were to serve the opulent lifestyles of few elite, adding that governors must first address the poor state of the roads, dilapidated hospitals, schools, lack of water, sanitation, unpaid salaries still bedeviling most of them.

Rather than embarking on what he called a

waste venture, Joji has suggested that a state like Ekiti should drop the idea of building an airport and join hands with neighbouring Ondo State to make the Akure airport viable.

He equally advised Osun State government to cooperate with Oyo State to make the Ibadan airport more attractive.

“Regional approach to infrastructural deficits should be initiated. States should please not go to capital market or issue boards to build airports. They should conduct a bankable feasibility analysis before embarking on airport construction.

“If you have the fund, utilise it on critical infrastructural deficits that would add value.

Let us have viable alternatives, but not grandiose projects like airport with most of them unviable and could only turn to football pitches or abandoned in the nearest future or at best a tourist attraction or a cinema house. A word is enough.”

Besides, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati emphasised that airports are not only a window to any city or town, but also enablers to the economy.

He noted that those people who have money to spend and invest are more comfortable with flying for just one hour to go and invest their money, rather than spend eight to nine hours on the road.

He insisted that airport development should

not be based on the premise of balance sheet of profit and loss, stressing that the nation’s aviation industry should be connected with to other forms of transportation as is done in other developed climes.

For instance, he said that Dubai operates a very vibrant aviation industry, which is tied to the economy, declaring that the government was not looking at people coming in or tickets that are sold alone, but other benefits brought into the country by tourists and investors.

He explained: “Airports are the windows of every economy. In the past, cities on the river banks usually grow faster because the ship would berth on the river, gradually, developments grow from that to cities that have railway stations. Now, we are in the era of aviation and this sector is growing beyond just passenger perception to cargo. The future of aviation is cargo.

“Personally, aviation goes beyond building an airport and terminal, they are enablers to the economy. If you go round the world, there are some cities that they even have more than one airport. Viability should be a source of consideration more so that FAAN has designated 14 airports for cargo operations especially now that we are looking at diversifying our economy.”

Also, the former Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos Commandant, Grp. Capt. (rtd) John Ojikutu said that most of the current airports are not viable and needless when compared to the number of personnel deployed to them.

He noted that the average air traffic movement at most of these airports annually is as low as 1,000 to 2,000 and wondered how such airport could drive development.

“Also, the total revenue is far less than what government spends to maintain the airports.

With the national economy gasping for breath always, government should hands off these unprofitable airports to private investors under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement.”

Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

1.3 million passengers pass through Nigerian airports in four months – FAAN StorieS: oluSegun KoiKi

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he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has revealed that no fewer than 1,300,487 passengers passed through the nation’s airports between September and December 2015.

This is as the agency also declared that aircraft and cargo movements in the country also increased significantly within the period.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati disclosed these during an interview with our correspondent at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos.

According to Dati, in September, airports managed by FAAN recorded 316, 680 passengers while the traffic in October was 318, 503.

Also, in November, the nation’s airports recorded 328,652 passengers’ movement while the number slightly increased to 336,652.

Dati however attributed the growth to some significant steps taken by the Federal Government in recent time and assured that the traffic would increase astronomically this year.

It would be recalled that a total of 59,233 aircraft landed in all airports across the country in the first quarter of 2015 according to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. Expectedly, the Murtala Mohammed Airport (domestic) however recorded the airport with the highest number of domestically travelling aircraft.

The figure is however lowered by 17.06 per cent or 12,181 when compared to the last quarter of 2014, which recorded 71, 414 aircraft movement.

NBS however said that a quarterly decline was also observed in the opening quarter of 2014, and year-on-year, which was actually an increase of 6,049 aircraft or

O

shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

Dashing the hope of National carrier proponents

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Yakubu Dati

11.37 per cent when compared with the latest statistics.

The bureau stated that the portion of domestic and international aircraft traffic has remained relatively constant, with domestic aircraft holding 82.78 per cent of the total in Q4 of 2014 and 82.43 per cent in the opening quarter of the current review.

TBI, Royal Caribbean Cruises partner to excite Nigerian tourists

ne of the leading tour operators in Nigeria, Tour Brokers International Nigeria, TBI, has formed a partnership with a South African based company, Royal Caribbean Cruises in order to enhance travelling experience of Nigerians and expatriates, especially those embarking on tourism and leisure holidays.

With this partnership, Nigerians and expatriates travelling to the Southern African country for holidays who hitherto booked their cruises through United Kingdom, United States and other countries would now be able to book their total packages right in the country.

Speaking at the unveiling of the partnership with journalists in Lagos, the Managing Director, TBI, Mrs. Uloma Egbuna said that the company decided to come up with the idea in order to ensure value for money for Nigerians.

She declared that with the partnership, clients would now have a onestop cruise shop in Nigeria where its

Airside

cruise team would effectively plan the travelling tours of customers.

Egbuna disclosed that the company already had a partnership with Emirates Airlines, KLM and Delta Air Lines for clients travelling to Mediterranean, Arabian and Caribbean countries at very affordable rates.

She said, “One of the reasons why we are embarking on this project is to ensure value for money for our clients.

We didn’t start the planning now, but I can tell you that this is the right time to go. Nigerians need different form of adventure apart from booking into hotels and travelling by road whenever they go out for holidays. “”TBI has been operational since 2002 and it is the largest professional tour operator in Nigeria with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Our clients include Nigerian business and leisure travellers and expatriates residing in Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Cruises International, South Africa, Mr. George Argyropoulos, described the

partnership as successful; saying that this would further increase the number of its clientele in Nigeria.

He hinted that 60 per cent of US citizens had had done or planning to do cruises in the future, stressing that Nigerians needed to change their holiday experience, just as citizens of other countries are currently doing.

He assured of total safety and security while on board and noted that the company was the largest marketing and sales representatives of nine luxury brands in Southern Africa.

“Nigeria has overtaken South Africa in Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and we also hope they will overtake us in cruising also. This is the right time for customers to look at how they can maximise their holiday or any amount of money they are spending,” he said.

With an average of $1,250, a client can book flight ticket, hotel, embark on cruising and other forms of leisure during his holiday.

presidency allowed the report to gather dusts and cobwebs on its shelf before making its position known on it. President Buhari dashed the hope of many who had hoped that the jinx would be broken during his regime.

Buhari said that the government would not re-establish a national carrier for the country in the nearest future.

So, all the hopes of Nigeria having a national carrier for the second time that will compete with other foreign carriers operating into the country and effectively use the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, arrangements Nigeria has with several countries came to an abrupt end.

Airside still wonders why it is difficult for Nigeria to re-establish a national carrier for the country 13 years after the former was wrongly liquidated and at a time when smaller countries like Rwanda, Egypt, Cote D’Ivoire and others are coming out with vibrant national carriers.

Unveiling of new national aviation policy

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he Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, disclosed last week that the Federal Government would unveil the new national aviation policy to the public within two weeks.

Sirika said that the ministry would engage stakeholders, the media and members of the public to acquaint them the government’s policy direction and programmes towards actualising the change agenda in the sector.

But, Airside insists the aviation industry in Nigeria does not need new national policy. This is so because the industry has over the years consistently come up with policies, but when a new minister comes on board, such policies are

thrown overboard.

One of the recent former ministers came with a policy of beatification, remodelling, construction of airports while the successor came with the policy of Information Communication Technology, ICT, to gather statistics and turned the air travellers to kings.

The question on the lips of Airside is where are the policies today? If Sirika goes tomorrow, his policy too will go with the winds.

No wonder we have several policy summersaults in the sector.

The only way for the nation’s aviation industry to evolve is for us to be consistent with our policies no matter who is at the helms of affairs.

Delta, KLM, Jet Airways synergise to ease connectivity

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L-R: Regional Manager, Kaduna, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Engr.

Mohammed Sanni; Executive Director, Business Development, Med-View Airline, Alhaji Ishaq Na’Allah, Executive Director, Technical, Engr. Lookman Animashaun, Northern Zone Coordinator, SAHCOL, Nzomisaki Pmasato and Managing Director, Batake Resources Handling Company Ltd, Alhaji Bello saliu on arrival at Kaduna International Airport during the inaugural flight of the airline to Kaduna, recently.

nxiety was high among aviation stakeholders and professionals that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari will eventually break the jinx of not providing a new national carrier for Nigeria after the collapse of Nigeria Airways.

In fact, immediately the government came on board in May 2015, it set up a 12-man committee headed by the former Managing Director of Discovery Air, Capt.

Mohammed Abdulsalam with the mandate of reviewing previous consultants’ submissions and recommendations on a national carrier, review the report on the failure of the defunct Nigeria Airways and other failed private airlines.

The committee was given four weeks to submit its report to the government. By September 2015, the committee’s report was submitted to the Ministry of Aviation, which was reportedly immediately submitted to the presidency for perusal.

But, expectedly in Nigeria, the

elta Air Lines has entered into a codeshare partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Jet Airways to provide convenient connections for passengers to and from key destinations across North America to the Indian Subcontinent via Amsterdam.

Effective from this weekend, Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, would launch daily non-stop flights from Amsterdam to each to its hubs in Mumbai and New Delhi. These the airline said would complement KLM’s daily flight between Amsterdam and New Delhi.

A statement by the airline’s media consultant in Nigeria said that

Jet Airways would also operate a daily flight to Toronto from Amsterdam.

The three-way partnership would enable customers to enjoy enhanced connectivity and seamless travel throughout the combined networks of Jet Airways, KLM and Delta. Schedules of all three flights had been planned to allow quick and convenient connections between India and Toronto via Amsterdam.

Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa,, Delta Air Lines, Nat Pieper said, “With more than 11,000 customers flying between the U.S. and India each day, our partnership with Jet Airways

will enable us to meet the high demand for flights between the United States and the Indian subcontinent. Plus, our customers will benefit from reciprocal loyalty offerings and lounge access, meaning they can enjoy the same benefits as they would when flying on Delta.”

The Chairman, Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal also said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of our new services to Amsterdam. India’s trade relations with the Netherlands go back over 400 years and have continued to prosper in the modern age. The recent meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and the Netherlands has given a new impetus to this relationship.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Insurance

CIIN partners LBS on survival measures for insurance firms Isaac asabor

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he Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has announced a partnership with the Lagos Business School (LBS) on sur-

vival measures for insurance companies in the country.

The partnership, which was disclosed during an international seminar held last week in Lagos, is designed to avail insurance operators a platform to brainstorm on how to keep their opera-

tions going in the face of the prevalent economic challenges which is speculated to have a negative impact on year 2016 gross premium.

The seminar, with the theme ‘Key Economic and Strategy Imperative for the Nigerian Insurance Industry in 2016 – The way forward for Insurance Business in A Challenging Economy’, was convened to enable them brainstorm on some challenges that pose as threats to the sector particularly when viewed from the happenings on the political landscape as it affects the insurance sector of the industry.

According to the Institute, “With the planned cut in budget of most states, the Federal government planned financing of the 2016 budget with an estimate deficit portion of N2.2 trillion, the

continuous downsizing and employment cut done by most firms heavily exposed to exchange rate risks in Nigeria, the insurance sector is no doubt exposed to a likely risk of decline in gross premium in 2016.

“As we await the approval of the 2016 Nigerian appropriation bill, there is urgent call for a paradigm shift in the insurance industry.”

CIIN explained that the seminar was primarily initiated for insurance leaders to have the opportunity of gaining insights into expected approaches that would be required to reposition the sector in a challenging economy.

Speakers at the seminar were drawn from a team of experienced faculty members of the Lagos Business School.

Insurers urge Nigerians on insurance adoption

I L-R: Rector, College of Insurance & Financial Management, Dr. (Mrs.) Yeside Oyetayo; Chairman, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Enugu State Chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Onu; CIIN President, Lady Isioma Chukwuma; Vice Chancellor, Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), Prof. Luke Anike; CIIN DIrectorGeneral, MR. Kola Ahmed and Deputy Vice Chancellor ESUT, Prof. S.G.N Eze, during a courtesy visit to the University by CIIN in Enugu, Enugu State recently.

FG may approve N50bn for 2016 retirees

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here are strong indications that the current Outstanding Accrued Right may increase, when the 2016 budget is passed as the Federal Government only made provision for N50 billion as against N91 billion needed to pay the federal government workers who will retire in the current year.

Already, the 2015 outstanding accrued right yet to be paid by Federal Government to pensioner stands at N20billion and the figure might rise to N61 billion, if the N41 billion outstanding accrued pension right for 2016 is added.

Speaking on this development at a media parley in Lagos, the Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Anohu-Amazu, said that N91billion request was made by the commission to the budget office for those who are due to retire in 2016 but only N50 billion request was granted in the budget.

If the N50billion requested is funded by the government, she said there is going to be a deficit because from PenCom’s figures, N91billion was needed to pay every retiree that will retire in 2016.

The PenCom boss further said that the problem only affect federal government employees, while those in the private sector don’t have such issues because they are already funded.

She, however, stressed that government is making efforts to clear all outstanding pension payment, while attributing the growth in pension deficit to the financial crisis ravaging the country.

To resolve this problem, she said PenCom is soliciting for support from the media and other stakeholders to support the commission in prioritising the pension process and proffer ways for government to end the pension deficit in the country.

She said the funds are not available due to competing demand for draggling resources available; assuring that the outstanding payment will soon be sorted out.

She assured that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) remains the safest scheme, adding that since the commencement of the scheme in 2014, it has not record any form of fraud, which she said, was made possible by the pension law.

nsurance operators, under the auspices of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) have charged Nigerians, to place premium on insurance at it remains the only risk mitigating mechanism designed to bring succour to those who suffer or lose their relations and/or property.

NIA, while commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the collapse five-storey building in Lekki, said, as a nation, we should learn to place premium on human lives by doing the needful, adding that this is where the insurance companies can be called to action.

According to a statement from the association signed by its Director General, Mr. Sunday Thomas, indicated that the body was aware of the heavy burden deceased families go through at the death of their bread winners during work, pointing out that part of the burden could be have been mitigated if the contractors have done the right thing by providing insurance cover to their workers.

It stated: “We are mindful of the heavy burden the death of bread winners have placed on their families and we pray God to grant the children and other dependants of victims of the disaster the fortitude to bear the loss. We are however quick to note that the heavy financial burden placed on their dependants and loved ones would have been mitigated if the contractors had done the needful.”

The body cited Section 64(1) of the Insurance Act 2003 which provided that ‘No person shall construct any building of more than two floors without insuring with a

registered insurer, his liability in respect of construction risks caused by his negligence or the negligence of his servants, agents or consultants which may result in bodily injury or loss of life to or damage to property of any workman on the site or of any member of the Public.

All the stakeholders in the construction industry, it noted, should take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with the extant laws to stop the needless loss of lives and property and the resultant problems for the families.

“This is not the time for the blame game but indeed a time for sober reflection and a call to action. Those who are vested with the power to enforce the laws of the land owe it a duty to ensure that laws are obeyed. What is more? The Lagos State government had domesticated the law on Insurance of Buildings under construction. What remains is for the law enforcement agents to enforce the law,” it pointed out.

The nation, it stressed, cannot afford to waste its citizens and its assets given the robust insurance arrangement opportunities provided by the insurance Act 2003.

‘Enough of this waste! Take Insurance to cover your risks and be assured of better tomorrow in case the unexpected happens,’ the statement added.

As at the weekend, about 34 people were reported to have died in the collapsed Lekki five-storey building, including artisans, labourers, hawkers, women and children while the number of those injured is yet to be made public.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Money

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

31

Rallying stakeholders for Corporate Governance Code implementation As the National Code of Corporate Governance, NCCG is expected to become operational this year, the Central bank of Nigeria and other key stakeholders in the nation’s financial system are adopting a collaborative approach in their drive to ensure hitch-free implementation of the Code for national economic benefits. UDO ONYEKA reports.

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n order to address current institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance and enforcement of standards and the development of robust arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with financial reporting standards in Nigeria, the National Code of Corporate Governance, NCCG, is said to be key.

The code is also very important as it is all about transparency in business. It would also attract more investment better disclosure provides more relevant information for investors and lenders to make sound investment decisions and risk assessment.

According to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC the proposed National Code of Corporate Governance, NCCG for the country would be operational before the end of this year.

However in order to deepen the NCCG, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in a circular issued last Friday and signed by Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Kevin N. Amugo, noted that most of its inputs/observations, submitted during the public hearing, which it considered critical to the smooth operation of the banking industry were not considered in the released drafts.

The CBN also observed that other significant contributions from a number of banks and other financial institutions on the private sector code were not also considered.

The circular read in part “We advise on the need to ensure that relevant inputs that would enhance the status of the codes as well as facilitate the efficient and effective operation of the financial system are factored-in by the FRCN before the codes are finalized,” it said The apex bank also advised banks and other financial institutions to forward their inputs and/or concerns on the National Corporate Governance Codes to the Director, Financial Policy and Regulations Department

by March 29, 2016, “to enable us articulate a common position for the banking industry and to engage with the FRCN in respect thereof”, the CBN said.

The Executive Secretary of FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee, had said at the 12th annual corporate financial reporting summit with the theme: “National Code of Corporate Governance for Nigeria: A New Dawn in Compliance,” held in Lagos last year that the adoption of the NCCG would create a better business environment He said proposed NCCG, which is a harmonised code of corporate governance, covers both the private sector, public sector and not-for-profit organisations, adding that the private sector code as well as that for notfor-profit, would be operational before the end of the first six months of next year and that the public sector code would have to be approved by the Federal Executive Council,

CBN Gov, Emefiele

Obazee

For us in FrC we believe that only enForCement and regulation oF the national Code oF Corporate governanCe will lead to FinanCial stability and sustained wealth Creation FEC. “Once we conclude this summit, we would definitely progress with the NCCG. In 2016, the private sector code and the notfor-profit code would be operational. For the public sector code, we still intend to go to FEC because there are already corporate governance structures within legislations by different government bodies.

“So, we need the government to make a pronouncement wherein there would be like a general harmonisation such that irrespective of what you have, you are to comply with the National Code of Corporate Governance for Public Sector. But, within the first six months of next year, we would go through our Minister, to the FEC, to secure the nod of the government to implement that,” he said.

Obazee said that during the last public hearing on the NCCG, comments were received and would be discussed at the summit, saying that the aim is to have an allembracing code that would be acceptable and useful to all.

The harmonisation of the existing code of corporate governance, he said, followed the need for it to serve as a catalyst for enhanced and credible economic activities in Nigeria.

He explained that the FRC’s commitment towards a national code of corporate governance followed the code’s potency in stimulating sound financial systems of internal control and protection of investments and asset, adding that the drive towards having a national code of corporate governance re-

volves around mitigating corporate failures.

The FRC boss also said the beauty of an emerging national code of corporate governance is the migration of the code from persuasive to enforcement and regulation.

“For us in FRC we believe that only enforcement and regulation of the national code of corporate governance will lead to financial stability and sustained wealth creation.

“We also can attest that the persuasive nature of existing codes of corporate governance accounted for the obstacles in implementing sustainable good corporate governance,” Obazee said.

While revealing that some amendments had been made on the proposed NCCG, Obazee, pointed out that the FRC still intends to retain the area of joint auditors.

“If your turnover is over N10bn, you will definitely have joint auditors which will require you to have joint auditors. If you have an international firm, like one of the big four auditing you, you will still need a national firm because we want a situation where the international firms, in the course of working with the national firms, are able to develop them technically and build the capacity that is required for our environment. We don’t just want to have the big four firms, we want a situation where in Nigeria, we can have the big 12. That would lead to employment generation.

“Of course, another controversial area has to do with not-for-profit. The point that is required is that there is openness, accountability and objectivity, so that some-

body can be held responsible at any point.

All of the concerns at the public hearing have been reviewed,” he also said.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, who was represented by acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Malam Mamman Azia at the FRC 2015 event, said institutional investors, accountants, auditors and members of the public were increasingly becoming aware of the continuing need to promote corporate governance reforms. He said the present administration was poised to bring about genuine reforms and improve the ease of doing business in the country.

He said the Financial Reporting Council, FRC, of Nigeria Act, 2014 is a landmark legislation, which provides the framework for managing risks, aligning stakeholders’ interests sanctions and also improve corporate governance beast practices.

In addition he said the Act enables the council address judgment and estimates in the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, IPSAS. “Corporate governance is one major area requiring regulatory and institutional reform. Globally, regulatory reforms and structures are usually put in place to ensure entities continually strengthen their corporate governance systems, focus on shareholder and stakeholder relations and accountability as well as improve the performance of boards of directors, auditors and the accounting function”, Enelamah said.

Before the FRC’s current effort to establish a national code of corporate governance, numerous industry specific codes were issued by regulators.

The regulators with subsisting code of corporate governance include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Pension Commission, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission, National Insurance Commission and Nigerian Communication Commission.

The FRC is a unified independent regulatory body for Accounting, Auditing, Actuarial, Valuation and Corporate Governance practices in public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The body is also to address current institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance and enforcement of Standards and the development of robust arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with financial reporting standards in Nigeria.

The implementation of the FRC Act is expected to lead to increased management credibility, more long-term investments, lower cost of capital, improved access to new capital and higher share values.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Capital Market Low confidence, ignorance bane of retail investments in stock market – Stakeholders Capital market operators have said that trades in the Nigerian capital market had been largely dominated by institutions, especially foreign players, while retail investors’ interest in the market remains low, despite efforts by the authorities to encourage them. In this analysis, JOHNSON OKANLAWON takes a critical look at the situation in the market and what experts believe is responsible for the ugly trend.

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ata obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange website showed that the institutional composition of the domestic market accounted for 54 per cent while the retail composition accounted for 46 per cent in between December 2015 and January 2016.

This indicates more active participation by institutional investors over their retail counterparts in the same period under review.

The Managing Director, Securities Africa Financial Limited, Mr. Folabi Afolayan, said the market still suffered from confidence issues within the domestic sector. “We need increased level of domestic participation to improve the volume of trades and to contain the high volatility currently being experienced in the market.

“Other challenges include the issue of brokerage commission which continues to be squeezed as stockbrokers pursue limited clients for business as well as the increase in regulatory costs of doing business, which is like a double jeopardy. Of course operational costs or what I will call high infrastructural deficit costs is a common challenge across board for anyone running a business in Nigeria as you try to maintain a good and conducive working environment and service a level of redundancy,” he added.

According to him, the main challenges that face the industry include awareness, confidence and distribution. He explained that other issues like increasing operational and regulatory costs are quite common to all regulated businesses.

He stressed that awareness of the benefits of the capital market and traded securities is quite low in Nigeria even amongst those you expect should know when you compare with more developed markets.

“If you measure the stock market penetration, measured as a ratio of turnover to Gross Domestic Product, GDP, it is estimated at 1.67 per cent, which is dismal, compared to a country like Kenya which has 4.08 per cent market penetration,” he said.

The Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Limited, Mallam Garba Kurfi, said that equities were selling below their fair value, in spite of strong fundamentals.“Equities are undervalued because of uncertainties in the economy and activities of profit takers,” he said.

Kurfi said that investors should take advantage of the development and increase their stake in the market in un-

SEC DG, Gwarzo

NSE DG, Onyeama

We have pursued a lot of initiatives in the last year and We are pursuing more this

year.

We are taking it from a perspective

that this market has never Witnessed and the perspective is to address some of the

lingering complaints of the investor.

We

believe that the retail investors are the oWners of this market so our strategy should focus on them dervalued stocks with strong fundamentals. He said that investors should not wait for earnings rebound before taking position in the market, to maximise profit.

He advised that investors should be very analytical and reasonable in stock market investment, and should invest now before it will be too late.

The Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Limited, Mr Ambrose Omordion, said investors should position ahead of 2015 full year results, and increase their holdings in good companies with strong track record.

Omordion said the market would experience a rebound in the next couple of weeks, in anticipation of positive corporate results.

“Investors should take advantage of the low prices and falling macroeconomic indices to reposition in strong companies with strong prospects,” he said.

Omordion said that investors should seek opinions of experts before investing in the market to reduce risk, and must not invest with borrowed funds.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, recently noted the low participation of retail investors in the country’s capital market, saying its vision was to attract more players to help deepen and develop the market.

The Director General of the commission, Mounir Gwarzo told the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets and other Institutions in Abuja, that less than two per cent participation of retail investors exists in the country’s capital market.

Gwarzo, who said Malaysia has nine per cent; United Kingdom 13 per cent; South Africa 19 per cent, and USA 43 per cent, said Nigeria’s retail investors’ participation level was poor.

He said due to the dominance of the foreign investors, the market goes down anytime they exit the market.

The SEC effort, he said, was to see that in the next five to ten years the level of involvement of the retail investors would be raised to at least five per cent.

Gwarzo said one of the reasons the Commission embarked on various ini-

tiatives, namely e-Dividend, Direct Cash Settlement, National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF), among others, was to attract retail investors to the market.

“We have pursued a lot of initiatives in the last year and we are pursuing more this year. We are taking it from a perspective that this market has never witnessed and the perspective is to address some of the lingering complaints of the investor. We believe that the retail investors are the owners of this market so our strategy should focus on them,” he said.

The SEC boss said the commission had identified some of the challenges hindering retail investors from accessing the market, saying removing them through the recent initiatives would enhance productivity.

Some of these challenges, which have been there in the last 30-40 years in market, included investors not receiving their dividends, which necessitated the introduction of the e-dividend system to address the problem.

The DG disclosed that the SEC was also addressing the issue of dematerialization, where share certificates have not been fully dematerialized in the market.

He said since the introduction of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) about 21 years ago, the Commission has not yet been able to dematerialize certificates fully.

As at August last year, only 40 per cent of certificates had been dematerialized, pointing out that as at today, about 97.5 per cent of shares have been dematerialized to remove the rigorous process of verification, which takes six months to one year.

With the inauguration of the National Investors Protection Fund, he said so far over 300 investors that lost their money in the market have been paid.

He said the SEC was also encouraging the listing of more companies in the market, as it believed that the market needed to be deep to be sustainable.

The Chairman of the House Committee, Tajudeen Yusuf, said the Committee members were in the Commission to see what has been done in 2015 as that will give them a good platform to look at 2016.

Lamenting that the market was not doing well at the moment, with SEC generating its revenue from the market, he said whatever happens in the market has a direct correlation with the revenue of SEC.

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Rivers: PDP advises INEC to release results

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately release all final results of Saturday’s legislative re-run elections in Rivers.

This call is contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Monday in Abuja.

INEC had early on Monday announced the suspension of release of further results of the elections due to reports of ``violence, attacks and even the deaths of INEC officials and adhoc personnel in the state’’.

The PDP alleged that the reason for withholding of the results was the fact that its candidates were in clear and overwhelming victory in all the re-runs.

It added that the delay in the release of results was a plot to rob PDP of its victory.

“We wish to remind the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC that Rivers is a known stronghold of the PDP and the results from the elections cannot show otherwise.

“INEC should therefore understand that Nigerians are aware that in withholding the final results, they are ostensibly preparing grounds for chaos in the state.

“We caution INEC to extricate itself from the evil web and immediately release all the final results of the ballot as cast by the people and nothing more,” it said.

The party decried the conduct of INEC and security operatives in the elections, saying that the election “falls short of the expected standard, given the level of mobilisation and preparedness.”

It also expressed disappointment with INEC ``under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for not being able to conduct any conclusive election in few constituencies and states so far.’’

“One wondered what would be the case when the entire country is involved,” it added.

L-R: Former Senate President, Sen. David Mark; wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun; Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Novena University, Chuks Ochonogor, at the Novena University 3rd combined Convocation in Ogume, Delta State, yesterday.

Edo guber: Indigenes declare candidates unfit

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he umbrella body uniting Edo indigenes worldwide, Edo Progressive Indigenes Association(EPIA), has said that none of the over 40 candidates running for governorship in this year’s forthcoming elections is qualified to rule Edo State.

The group gave the damning verdict in Benin at the weekend, stating that the candidates had been busy rigmaroling, instead of crafting manifestos that are centred around the wholesome development and progress of Edo indigenes, communities and values.

Bishop E.O. Edokpolo, president of the organisation, told newsmen that, having spoken with some of the candidates, written to others, and adjudged their plans for Edo State, the indigenes are not satisfied with their line-up of programmes for Edo as governor.

He, however, stated that the

solution was for them to go back to the drawing board, update their manifestos to reflect the needs of the indigenous peoples of Edo, before they could qualify.

Edokpolo said: “We have done our research, we have conducted our interview in the three senatorial districts, and out of the survey, with about 5, 014 Edo indigenes across the state, none of the candidates have the portfolio of Edo empowerment in their agenda.

“Also, none of them has any record of indigenous empowerment record in their history as Edo. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not academically qualified. It doesn’t matter whether you are an astronaut, economist or holds whatever degree. That is secondary to Edo indigenes. What is primary to Edo indigenes is for them to have Edo indigenes in mind.

He listed the basic expectations of Edo indigenes: “Edo indigenes want their prospective governors to provide bursary for Edo indigenes, welfare package for the physically-challenged, and older citizens - 60 years and above, free medical care for children between 0 and 9 years old, and tax cut for investors of Edo origin. They are also looking out for soft loan for Edo indigenous investors; they are looking for 65 per cent job slots for Edo indigenes.

“It is common to say that they are not qualified. But as far as we are concerned, this is a foundational template we are setting up for our children unborn. An organisation like EPIA is working at attracting these slots to our people.

“In Jonathan’s administration, it was signed into law that local content act empowers that companies cited in classified settlements should not only

C’River police command recovers arms, stolen vehicle

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he Cross River State Police Command on Monday said it recovered arms from hoodlums during a stop and search operation mounted by its personnel at Etung Local Government Area of the state.

ASP John Eluu, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this in Calabar while displaying the recovered arms before newsmen at the state police command.

Eluu said the arms include

eight locally made pistols and one live cartridge, while five army berets, seven singlets, one axe and seven phones were also recovered. ``On the 22nd of February 2016, information reached the police that some hoodlums had planned to disrupt a burial at Efraya community in Etung Local Government Area of the state. ``Etung Division of the police had to mount a stop and search operation. During the

operation, they intercepted a black unregistered space wagon car with six occupants. ``Questioning ensued and the occupants fled the scene, leaving behind a bag containing eight locally made pistols, one live cartridge, five army berets, seven singlets, one axe and seven mobile phones’’, he said.

According to the PPRO, investigation is ongoing to arrest the suspects.

He also displayed a recov-

ered Volkwagen Passat car with registration number TGD 60 AA snatched from one Mr. Otu Egeh on Jan. 11, 2016.

Eluu said the car was snatched at gunpoint at 105, White House Street, in Calabar South Local Government Area of the state.

He said the car was recovered by men of the command on February 20.

The PPRO said that two suspects who were arrested would be charged to court soon.

employ the indigenes, but also train them if they are not familiar with the job.

“But look at the oil sector today; you realise that less than 15 per cent of Edo indigenes currently work there.

“If you find out that the people in the settlement do not have the expertise, that act provided that the company train the local indigenes with knowledge to work.

“But some greedy leaders and traditional rulers collect bribes and allow their citizens to suffer.

“We are calling on the over 40 Edo guber candidates across board to update their manifestos to reflect empowerment of their people.

“They should go back to their drawing board, and let indigenous agenda reflect. There is nothing wrong with the government having a Commissioner for Edo Indigenes Affairs, there is nothing wrong with that.

“We have met with aspirants like Osagie Ize Iyamu of the PDP, we have sent messages to Godwin Obaseki of the APC, Solomon Edebiri, met with Don Pedro Obaseki, Nowamagbe of the UPP, we have called out to them, because they are all our children.

“During the course of our reaching them, we made it clear that they must reflect Edo empowerment in their agenda. If they don’t heed to what we advised, that will be wickedness to their future generations who will be beneficiaries of this.”

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Capital Market

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at March 21, 2016 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

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Sector

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Rivers Rerun: Conduct yourselves within the ambit of law, group tells politicians ObiOra ifOh AbujA

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he Buhari Media Support Group, BMSG has condemned the ongoing violence and killings in River state while it has also calling on the Federal Government to act swiftly to arrest the unfortunate situation to forestall total breakdown of law and order in the state.

The BMSG urges the security agencies to rise up to the task and fish out those behind the recent killings and prosecute them to serve as deterrent to those who are bent on throwing the state into a state of anarchy.

Politics

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

In a statement signed by Muhammed Labbo and Cassidy Madueke, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Buhari group said, “We appeal to all political parties and politicians in Rivers state to conduct themselves and their activities within the ambit of the law.”

The BMSG also condemned the recent provocative statements by Governor Nyesom Wike and advised him to desist from making further reckless and irresponsible statements capable of emboldening his party members and supporters to unleash violence on opposition supporters and innocent citizens of the state.

35

Lagos assembly moves to revive naira rObert awOkuse

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ollowing the free fall of the naira which has become worrisome in recent time, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the federal government to direct the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to embark on sensitisation campaign on the need for Nigerians to patronize locally made goods as this would help the economy consumption shift.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo who moved the motion noted that the continuous fall in the value of naira against other major currencies in international market, especially the American dollars was due to

increasing demands for foreign exchange.

“We keep importing toxic and exotic goods because we fail to produce goods for exportation which makes our naira valueless. It is high time we limit ourselves from foreign product to locally made goods so that we can strengthen and upgrade our currency”, he said.

Contributing, Hon. Tunde Braimoh stated that the fancies and fantasies of foreign made goods led to the devaluation of Naira, adding that a campaign should be launched to encourage Nigerians patronize locally made goods, which according to him, would improve naira strength.

The Majority Leader, Hon.

Sanai Agunbiade in his contribution lamented the poor power supply bedeviling the country, noting that the economy would have been better if power was stable.

“Due to epileptic power supply in Nigeria, many companies have relocated, if our power supply is stable then our productivity will be high; investors will start producing and we will revive our value system that has lopsided.”

In his remark, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said “We have to change our attitude in a way that will affect our economy positively, the federal government must also wake up to its responsibilities by providing qualitative education,

well equipped healthcare centers, electricity and good roads so that our people will patronize made in Nigeria goods.”

The House further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele to enforce compliance with the monetary regulations prohibiting indiscriminate use of dollars for domestic transactions, ostentatious lifestyles and to review fiscal policy as at when due.

Similarly, the President was enjoined to direct the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to intensify efforts on improving power supply across the country

Lagos lawmakers to amend Customary Court bill rObert awOkuse

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he Lagos State lawmakers are set to amend the Lagos State Customary Court bill.

Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Human Right and LASIEC, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso enumerated amongst other reasons that the amendment became necessary for the addition of some bye-laws of the local government and ensure more criminal jurisdictions to the customary courts.

She also added that there was a need to amend time of imprisonment and community work in addition to an upgrade of penalty fees.

Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh who also contributed to the debate was of the opinion that a lot of people including lawyers are not aware of bye laws, thereby soliciting for bye laws to be publicized.

Hon. Tunde Braimoh observed the need to make competent court at the local level effective.

The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade was however of a contrary opinion.

He explained that the amendment was subject to restrictions in the constitution and that customary courts are not courts of records and cannot assume proceeding in criminal matters.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 the only circumstance where you can arguably justify such a treatment handcuffing. I heard also that Nnamdi Kanu was handcuffed. What did he do? Declaring Biafra, is that enough to handcuff him? Several other things, appointments like the thirty-one strategic appointments in a constitution that says that social order is founded in justice. What does justice mean and what does it require? He appointed thirty-one appointees none from the South-East, is that what they call justice?

Specifically looking at Buhari’s fight against corruption, is there any way corruption will be fought without tampering with rule of law?

That’s what I’ve been saying all the time. We are all against corruption. We all supporting the war against corruption but that war must be fought in accordance with the constitution. This is a decision, a choice we have to make, whether we want to fight corruption at all cost irrespective of the constitution, disregarding all the restrains and the limitations of the constitution and power. Is that what we want? The moment you throw away the constitution, you’re inviting anarchy, yes. The constitution is like glue, it may be weak glue, but it holds all the 389 ethnic groups in this country together. The moment you throw it away, what you have is anarchy. Relatively speaking, corruption is a very small

Member, House of Representatives, representing Yola North,Yola south and Girei Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Constituency Outreach, Hon. Lawal Garba (r) presenting cash donation to Chairman Yola Traders Association, Alhaji Ali Kachalla (l), on behalf of victims of recent Yola market fire incident in Yola on Sunday.

For Nigeria to continue existing as one state we need restructuring —Nwabueze part of the problem of this country.

What then is the real problem?

The national question is the real problem. How do you hold 389 nationalities together to form one nation, how do you? That is the problem and the fundamental question so complex. 389, all of them are nations by every definition.

What we want is unity but not unity at total expense of the ethnic nations, it won’t work. We have to try and find a way to preserve the sacred identities of these ethnic nations and at the same time create some kind of unity. The so called principle of diversity or unity in diversity has not worked and doesn’t work because of over concentration of power at the centre.

We need to restructure this country if we ever want Nigeria to continue to exist as one state.

Would you say the National Assembly and the Judiciary have really done what they needed to do to move this country forward?

Every agency in this country is soaked into this corrup-

tion web, the National Assembly, the Judiciary they are all soaked in it. So, it is a difficult problem but it is not impossible, what we need is the will, you have to have the will, let people believe that you are genuinely fighting corruption and that you yourself are free of corruption.

Professor Soyinka recently advocated for economic conference to address the economic problems in Nigeria, do you see that as needful?

What Soyinka suggested may help because the economic situation right now is really biting and nobody should ignore it. Some solutions must be looked for, I don’t know what the solution is, but we cannot continue like this.

Look at the exchange rate of our currency is almost valueless.

A week or so ago, we needed N490 to buy one pound sterling, I remember clearly when it was one pound to one naira and now it’s N490 to one pound sterling, N350 to one dollar.

How can we go on like this, everything including sachet water has go up because of exchange rate even things that has nothing to do with dollar.

Mail Mirror

36

Politics

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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THE HOUSE OF REPS with

Ubong UKPONG

08036017966, email: ubongpong@yahoo.com

2016 Budget: Integrity test for Reps

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f you ask me, I will tell you that the controversies surrounding the 2016 Appropriation Bill, is an integrity test for the House of Representatives, which has sounded it very clearly that it has no pecuniary interest in the budget and its processes.

Going by all the happenings and what I have seen, I would have said that the Reps have passed the test, but I would reserve ruling on this matter, to a later date.

Very serious executive bills such as the budget, had often been the battlefield, where the legislature and executive arms of Nigerian government met to settle their scores, by attempting to assert independence, supremacy and superiority.

Of course, the undercurrents in such issues are often kept tight at the top echelons, while in the periphery, the other players and stakeholders, especially the Nigerian people, are made to believe that the issues therein are not politically motivated but based on technical and professional hitches.

In the past, we have heard issues of the National Assembly refusing to treat or pass budget because their allocation was either meagre or not included, or on the other hand, the executive denying assent because the budget was inflated beyond the figure that was sent.

However, at the level of the legislature in this 2016 budget, passage has been delayed, not because of such frivolous claims, but technical issues, errors, and executive paddings, which were exposed by the lawmakers, and the executive did not denied it.

These, may have certainly teamed up to delay the processes, leading to the passage of the budget, but some critics are shouting foul, believing that there is more to it than being made public.

Basically, they tried to convince everyone that the delay was not unconnected with the present travail of the Chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who has been accused of fraudulent practices in asset declaration .

Yes, the House of Representatives, like its Senate counterpart, had passed a resolution in October 2015, asking its leadership to defend and ensure protection for the National Assembly Chairman and all its Principal Officers and to resist by all means possible, every external influence.

The move in this direction has also met attendant power game with allegation of the executive starving the legislature of funds, which crippled activities at National Assembly since November, including payments of salaries and allowances.

To this effect, after President Muhammadu Buhari brought his 2016 budget on December 22, 2015, the legislature received it and proceeded on the planned Christmas break.

Upon resumption, there was a controversy that the budget was missing, which people took to be the usual ‘politics’ in order to delay the process and settle their grouses.

While the Senate insisted and proved that their copy was missing, the House of Representatives also proved that its copy was intact.

Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, had at one of the plenary announced through the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara that all members should send their staff with valid means of identification to collect copies of the budget to enable debate to commence.

The Speaker also publicly displayed the original copy of the budget as presented by Buhari at the same plenary session protecting the integrity of the House.

However, few days later, the President came back to the House with a new version of the 2016 budget, which the House did not hesitate to receive and immediately commenced work on it.

While the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs led by Hon Abdulrasqk Namdas said that the budget would be passed before Easter, that of Appropriation, saddled with the budget duties, Jibrin, was so definite that it would be laid and considered on March 16 and passed on the 17.

However, these were not so, even though we are still optimistic that it would be passed before Easter, which was the earlier position.

At a joint media briefing last week, with his counterpart in the Senate, Namdas had told all who care to know that the legislature is not a failure in this regard.

It is clear that all the committees worked in tandem with Appropriation Committee under strict supervision of Jibrin and brought the budget to the level it is presently.

At the committees, so many errors in the budget were detected, including double allocations, over allocations, under allocations and many more with due diligence in order to protect the integrity of the House.

Throughout the budget defence period, we did not hear issues of arm-twisting of the agencies or request for gratification to facilitate the processes and quick consideration of the budgets by the lawmakers.

The defence actually came with startling revelations, some of which made the Reps very angry with the breakdowns.

During the defence by some ministries and agencies at the committees, it was noticed that there were several areas in the proposal that the members believed did not reflect the true position of change as canvassed by the Buhari administration.

As expected of them, in all the cases, they boldly spoke up and demanded convincing explanations and evidences on the items in the budget of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs. This meticulous action put the House at an honourable pedestal as it became clear now that it was not the legislature that was padding budgets as people were made to believe earlier.

In view of all these paddings and errors, one could not expect the legislators to hur-

Jibrin riedly pass a bad budget and attract lampoons from their critics and the public, thus the Appropriation Committee has chosen the honourable path of delay in order to come up with a good and implementable budget.

The committee has said that the delay or none passage on stipulated date did not connote that they are failures, and it does not also show that the House has no integrity.

At the briefing, it was said that all committees work had been completed and what was holding the budget back now were data cleansing and integration.

“We cannot afford to turn out errors. We do not need to rush just because we want to keep to our promise”, this is the position of the National Assembly but it promised to hopefully by the grace of God, pass it this week.

The legislature is on course and riding smoothly to deliver what they owe to Nigerian people, which is a good, workable and implementable budget.

What some people and indeed the executive failed to realise was the uniqueness of the 8th Assembly which is first rooted on the principles of right practices as seen in the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives and also the fact that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, does not have larger control of both chambers as did the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Again, the fact that even with the majority that the ruling APC have in the both Houses, the party does not have full control over all its members considering the party’s factions in both Houses, the interests and tight accord between the leadership of the House and Senate which is often evident in the final decisions of National Assembly.

As against the PDP era where they would have covered up some errors and passed a bad budget in party’s interest, this 8th Assembly is protecting its integrity and would not try such.

REP’S SCORE CARD Jibrin protecting Reps’ integrity in 2016 budget

H

on. Abdulmumin Jibrin is making a name for himself as he is closely protecting the integrity of the House of Representatives in the course of passing the 2016 budget as Chairman Committee on Appropriation.

He has assured that the country’s budgets would no longer be business as usual and he is standing strongly by this, subjecting the entire process to serious scrutiny.

Jibrin is from Kano state and he is representing Bebeji/ Kiru Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

Jibrin only left the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2013 as one of the leaders that led 37 other lawmakers to the APC, which was the leading opposition party at that time.

Being the focal person in the Yakubu Dogara’s struggle to be Speaker of the House, Jibrin was thought to have been rewarded with the Chairmanship of Committee on Appropriation.

But on the contrary, the truth remains that this position transcends his relationship and belief in the course of Dogara, as he is obviously meticulous and resolute to achieve successes for the 8th House and country.

He has demonstrated this in his leadership

style at the committee where all other committee heads report to him on budget matters.

He has been strict on procedures, straight forward and transparent in his approach to budget processes and has shown determination to place the 8th House on a high pedestal.

Though strict over procedures, he has demonstrated flexibility in accommodating the weaknesses of some committees’ heads and closely guided them to ensure good budget, believing that success and victory were collective responsibilities in Green Chamber.

That the budget had not been passed as scheduled, it is because of the belief of Jibrin that things must be done right and neatly as he could not present to Nigerians a defected budget document.

The lawmaker is also a member of the House committee on Foreign Affairs, Gas, Electoral Matters, Youths Development and Special Duties where he has contributed significantly in the works of these committees.

He is the chairman of the yearly joint committee that modifies the federal government Medium Term Expenditure and Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF which deals with all the macro-economic indices that serve as the fore-runner for Nigeria’s national budget.

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ASO ROCK FILE with Rotimi FADEYI Nigeria’s support for Paris agreement on Climate Change

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igeria is expected to join other nations of the world next month at the United Nations to sign the Paris agreement on Climate Change reached at the end of COP21 meeting held in France last December.

For Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria was pleased with the meeting and its outcome-the Paris Agreement.

Osinbajo made the position of the Federal Government known when he met with the French Minister for the Environment, Power and Marine Affairs, who presided over the meeting in Paris, Ms. Segolene Royal.

During the meeting at the Presidential Villa, the Vice President disclosed that working together with the legislative arm of the Nigerian government, the country would play its part in signing the agreement and ensuring ratification.

While expressing Nigeria’s support for the Paris agreement on Climate Change, Osinbajo said, “COP21 outcome is important for everyone, it is the largest landmark agreement on climate change”.

The Vice President highlighted the need for the rehabilitation of Lake Chad which he said was being threatened by climate change.

Osinbajo stated that Lake Chad was also important from the point of view of security and economic factors

and restated Nigeria’s concern about the lake while welcoming international support on its preservation and rehabilitation.

He thanked the French Minister for her visit as she tours countries in the continent while expressing the hope that Nigeria and France would continue to expand diplomatic and economic relationships, Osinbajo said this was important especially as the federal government now confronts a number of economic issues including diversification and development of infrastructure.

The Vice President who was joined at the meeting

by Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, commended the effort of Royal in her role as COP21 president and pledged Nigeria’s continued support.

Royal while explaining the purpose of her visit told the Vice President that she was visiting Nigeria and a number of other African countries to ensure that the Paris Agreement was established through the signing and ratification process and to encourage the signatories take concrete actions in line with the agreement after the signing.

She noted the support of the international community on the preservation and rehabilitation of Lake Chad, saying that the Paris Agreement would be signed April 22 at the United Nations.

O

solved to collaborate to create three million jobs in three years, staring from this year.

However, the private sector-led job creation plan would be different from the direct creation of government jobs planned by the present administration including 500,000 teaching jobs for unemployed graduates.

As laid out in the plan known as Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan for Job Creation and Youth Employemnet in Nigeria, the jobs would be create in the area of Technology, Wholesale & Retail, Construc-

37

Buhari and the desire for sufficiency in food production

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari last week said that his administration would enen sure the implementation of policies which would revive Nigeria’s agriculagricul tural sector and reposireposi tion it as the mainstay of the national economy.

The President spoke at an audience with the new BulBul garian Ambassador to NiNi geria, Mr. Vesselin Blagoer Delcher.

Buhari said that his administration would evolve and implement policies that would help Nigeria become

self-sufficient in food production because continued importation of food could expose the country to more external shocks.

The President noted that the unbridled importation of food also contributes to the depletion of the country’s foreign reserves and deprives citizens of job opportunities. ‘‘We must produce what we eat. We don’t have unlimited resources to continue the importation of food items that can be produced locally.

“Fortunately, some Nigerians have shown foresight by building factories that process agricultural products within the country.

‘‘They have created a value chain that boosts employment, protects our foreign reserves and safeguards the economy from external shocks.

“We will do all that we can to encourage others to join in the effort to achieve national self-sufficiency in food production,” Buhari said.

The President said that his administration would also help and encourage Nigerian farmers to adopt modern, technology-driven methods that guarantee higher production and returns on investment.

Buhari also received Mr.

Paul Lehmann, the new High Commissioner of Australia, Hajiya Afsatu Olayinka Ebiso-Kabba, the new High Commissioner of Sierra-Leone and Thordur Aegir Oskarsson, the new Ambassador of Iceland.

He told them that Nigeria would welcome further strengthening of relations with their countries, especially in the areas of agriculture, solid minerals and trade.

The President wished the four envoys, who were at the Presidential Villa to present their letters of credence to him, very successful tenures in the country.

VesPresident Muhammadu Buhari receiving letter of credence from the new Ambassador of Bulgaria to Nigeria, Mr. Ves selin Blagoer Delcher at the Presidential Villa.

Power expansion plans get a boost

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari last week said he would welcome the support of the International Atomic Energy

FG targets 3 million jobs in three years

ne of the promises made by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC during the 2015 general election was to tackle the unemployment problem in the country, especially among the teeming youths.

Nine months after the party took over government and with President Muhammadu Buhari at the helm of affairs, the issue of unemployment continues to appear on the front burners.

The issue again was the focus of attention last week as the Federal Government and the private sector have re-

Politics

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

tion and Agro-allied sectors of the Nigerian economy.

According to the plan, over 700,000 private sector jobs are expected to be created in the Agro-allied sector this year Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while receiving an implementation plan on job creation and youth employment in Nigeria jointly packaged by the Job Creation Unit of the Presidency and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, said the issue of job creation was the central focus of government policy

Agency, IAEA for Nigeria’s aspiration to generate electricity using nuclear energy.

Buhari spoke when he received the Director-General of the IAEA, Mr. Yukiya Amano at the Presidential Villa.

The President, who was in company of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and a number of ministers, said he was happy that the organization was developing a programme from which Nigeria would benefit.

Buhari charged the IAEA to do more to support Nigeria in view of the long years of its association and support for the nuclear regulatory agency.

In his address, Amano said he was pleased to see that Nigeria was taking the correct steps toward a safe usage of nuclear energy for

peaceful purposes.

The Ministers of Power, Solid Minerals, Health, Science and Technology who briefed the meeting said preparatory steps taken so far included the training of doctors and other medical specialists to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, the establishment of specialist medical centres and the

procurement of necessary equipment aimed at protecting the health of the citizens.

The ministers said Nigeria was aspiring to start a programme in the coming years that would give the country one thousand megawatts of electricity in the first instance, to be increased to 4,000 megawatts thereafter.

Last week’s Presidential Villa’s visitors 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Vesselin Blagoer Delcher High Commissioner of Australia, Paul Lehmann High Commissioner of Sierra-Leone Hajiya Afsatu Olayinka Ebiso-Kabba

Ambassador of Iceland. Thordur Aegir Oskarsson Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Mr. Yukiya Amano 7. French Minister for Environment, Power and Marine Affairs, Ms. Segolene Royal 8. Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Kyari Bukar 9. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola 10. Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, 11. Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi 12. Minister of Science Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu

38

Features

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari’s diplomatic foreign trips and matters arising Sani adamu

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ritics have, on many occasions, asked whether or not diplomatic foreign trips made by President Muhammadu Buhari from the inception of the present administration are beneficial.

But Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister Information and Culture, observed that the trips had developed the nation’s economy.

The minister stated that the president’s trips were reviewed at a recent Federal Executive Council meeting, insisting that the country had started witnessing influx of foreign capital into the economy. ``If you look at the various trips the president undertook towards the end of last year, that is the trip to Iran, it was a conference by gas exporting countries. ``Nigeria is more of a gas exporting country than actually an oil country and with the decline in the price of crude (oil) it was about time that Nigeria put much more emphasis and that was the meeting he attended. ``That meeting also provided the opportunity for the various heads of state also to even talk about the falling price of crude because don’t forget that, incidentally most of the countries that export gas also export crude. ``So, it was an opportunity to address the falling price of crude.

The world today is so global that you cannot stay in your country and think that what is happening elsewhere would not affect you. ``You are supposed to be there also to contribute and let the people see it from the perspective of your country,’’ he noted.

According to him, in the last nine months, the president has succeeded in addressing the fear of insecurity, corruption and terrorism being expressed by foreign investors.

In the same vein, the Minister of Environment, Hajiya Amina Muhammed, said the president’s foreign engagements had been yielding stronger partnerships for Nigeria among other nations.

She argued that Nigeria’s participation at the Paris Climate Change conference, in particular, was a unique opportunity to state the country’s position on Climate Change and how it aggravated security challenges in the country and the West African region.

She also said the Gas Exporting Forum held in Teheran, Iran, assisted Nigeria to enhance efforts aimed at attracting joint investment in the gas sector.

She pointed out that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta also addressed the issues of migration and strategies of tackling corruption which are central to the current security challenges facing

L-R: UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon and President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) Nigeria.

In spite of critics’ view in that regard, observers insist that Buhari’s nomination to address the 24-member European Union (EU) Parliament in Strasbourg, France, is significant, being the first of its kind to be extended to any sitting African leader since 2004.

Such rare privilege, according to them, has also presented Nigeria with the opportunity to attract greater global attention to its development challenges.

Stating more gains from such trips, Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the

determination to rescue the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno in April 2014. ``The government will not rest until the girls are rescued alive and reunited to their parents. We have reorganised the Nigerian Armed Forces and repositioned them to deal decisively with the Boko Haram terrorists. ``Local government areas in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, where the insurgents once dominated have been gradually recaptured,’’ Buhari told the EU parlia-

Such rare privilege, according to them, haS alSo preSented nigeria with the opportunity to attract greater global attention to itS development challengeS. President on Media and Publicity, said while in Strasbourg, Buhari briefed the parliamentarians on key development issues being tackled by his administration since its inception.

He said that Buhari chronicled the efforts of his administration in tackling Boko Haram and his

President Buhari

mentarians.

At the meeting in Strasbourg, Buhari commended a number of European countries for pledging to support the military operations against Boko Haram and to help in the rescue of the Chibok girls.

On human rights, Buhari told the EU Parliament that his ad-

ministration was doing its best to protect the fundamental human rights of persons in the course of the operation against the Boko Haram insurgents.

Buhari said that his government also shared the EU’s commitment to peace and security, respect for human rights, democracy and good governance, equality and tolerance as ways of developing prosperous and strong societies.

Buhari also spoke of Nigeria’s concerns about the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group of states which was endorsed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said that Nigeria had yet to sign the agreement because pertinent technical issues raised by the Federal Government had not been satisfactorily addressed. ``Giving due consideration to the mismatch of the two regions -- Europe-ECOWAS -- in terms of technology and manufacturing experience, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Associated Trade Unions raised concerns over the negative impact of the agreement on Nigeria’s industrialisation programme. ``Nigeria is working towards addressing its own side of the issues and I, therefore, urge our EU partners to also address our own concerns to allow for an economic partnership agreement that is mutually beneficial,’’ he said.

The president solicited greater support from the EU to complement Nigeria’s efforts at checking oil theft.

Disturbed by the large number of African migrants to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, Buhari pledged to collaborate with Europe to address issues of illegal migration. ``Our government is making concerted efforts to address the push-factor that propel migration, especially from Nigeria, as both

destination and transit country. ``In this year’s budget, the government has provided for more than 500,000 graduate employments in the teaching profession alone. ``We are equally collaborating with the states and local governments to strengthen skills acquisition centres in order to train the teeming youth in various vocational skills, so that they can be self-employed and eventually become employers of labour,’’ he stated.

Buhari said that his administration was also making efforts to diversify the economy by giving impetus to agriculture and solid minerals exploitation to create wealth and employments. ``Nigeria welcomes the outcome of the Valletta EU-Africa summit on migration, including the inauguration of 1.8 billion Euros Emergency Trust Fund to address the root causes of migration from Africa to Europe. ``Nigeria will work with the countries of the Sahel and Central Africa to submit our identified projects for funding to the board of the emergency trust fund in due course,’’ he noted.

Besides this, Buhari also renewed his plea for the international community to provide more support to people in the Lake Chad region affected by insurgency. ``Climate Change poses serious threat to Nigeria’s security and development. We watch as the Lake Chad dries up, EU should lend support,’’ he pleaded.

Buhari said that Nigeria had no choice, nor could the country afford to be an island in itself, thus it had partnered its neighbours and beyond in its developmental initiatives.

At a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja recently, Buhari said that his administration was pursuing the foreign policy vision anchored on meaningful engagement with Nigeria’s neighbours, the African continent and the world at large. ``We would continue to build strong partnerships, strengthen regional ties and promote global solidarity. ``Nigeria will remain a responsible and active member of the international community, promoting tolerance, accommodation, reconciliation and pacific settlement of disputes. ``We will also continue to shoulder responsibilities in peace keeping under the auspices of the United Nations,’’ he maintained.

By and large, analysts are hopeful that the president’s diplomatic foreign trips will open more vistas of opportunities and greater economic prosperity for Nigeria.

•Culled from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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Features

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

39

Fire Service: Gov. Sani Bello’s bail out moves Jide Orintunsin MINNA

F

ire, one of the many creations of God, is both a blessing and a curse to mankind. It brightens life and shatters darkness but it’s devastating effect can be of collateral disaster. Whenever it rages, it ravages all and leaves nothing but ashes, sorrow, pains and tears.

In the last ten months Niger State has had its own share of fire disasters. It has claimed no fewer than five lives, raised down many houses to rubble, vehicles reduced to carcasses and markets stalls and multi-million Naira merchandise consumed by the inferno. The attendant effects of various fire incidences on the fragile economy of the state and psychological trauma on Nigerlites are better imagined than experienced.

From Kontagora to Kagara and Minna it was a tale of agony whenever fire disaster struck. The devastation however is blamed on inability of the Fire Service to respond rapidly to distress calls due to lack of working tools occasioned by years of total neglect of the Service by successive administrations in the state. Fire fighting engines are as old as the 40 year old state, with majority of them grounded while the fire stations across the state have assumed a status of mere meeting points to the highly demoralised fire fighters in state to idle away.

Moved by the increasing rate of fire disasters in major cities and towns, especially in markets across the state, the wanton destruction, debilitating trauma and scars fire outbreaks have effected on the people and the economy of the state and the near to non-existence of infrastructural facilities of the fire service department to meet the current challenges due to age long neglect, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello vowed to stem down the effect of fire havoc in the state by re-positioning the fire service to meet the yearnings of the people.

To this end the governor undertook unscheduled visits to various fire stations. He was alarmed by his findings. For him, the state Fire Service is grossly inadequate to meet 21st century urbanisation challenges as it was evident in the inability of the department to deliver in critical moments when fire strikes.

Expressing concern recently during a sympathy visit to a section of Engineer Abdulkadir Kure Ultra-modern Market in Minna that was gutted by a mid-night fire, Governor Sani Bello said, “nobody prays for fire disaster or any other disaster but we have to prepare for it. It is sad that the service has been neglected for years, we are set to put in place a fire service that will not only fight fire outbreaks but a service that will guide the public on how to ensure strict compliance with the minimum safety rules. We are committed to putting in place a well equipped, trained and motivated Fire Service that can promptly respond to distress calls, to salvage lives and properties when fire strikes.

“It is sad that the service lacks the basic tools, no fire fighting engines, no water to fight fire and most of the fire fighters are not only demoralised, they are old and feeble hands. The fire station in Minna, the state capital is an eye sore and the fire fighting engine in Kontagora has been parked

The newly purchased fire fighting engines by Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello administration to replace the ageing engines.

Gov. Sani Bello on stones for years. I also learnt that some fire stations have been in existence without engine. The entire service needs a total overhaul”.

To actualise his dream fire service, Governor Sani Bello sort for and secured the assistance of the Federal Fire Service for an holistic assessment and recommendation for the Niger State Fire Service. Thus a new blueprint for a 21st century fire service was perfected for implementation.

In fulfilment of this laudable desire, Governor Sani Bello administration has ordered for sixteen new fire fighting engines to be distributed in some strategic places across major cities and towns in the state.

The first since the creation of the state. As successive administrations played more of lip service to the development of the sector.

He disclosed this when he took delivery of the first set of six fire fighting engines in Minna the state capital recently.

Speaking recently after inspecting the engines, Governor Sani Bello said, “the revival project of the fire service will be holistic and in compliance with the global best practices and as recommended by the Federal Fire Service. This will see to the total overhauling of the service, ensure capacity building and infrastructural development.

“We intend to acquire sixteen fire fighting engines. This set of six engines is the first phase. Others will be brought in while concerted efforts are on to renovate and where necessary reconstruct fire service stations and equipped them with modern fire fighting equipment to enable them meet the increasing demands”.

The governor directed that one of the six engines be dedicated to Minna Central Market in view of the adverse effect of fire attacks on the market. The Trade Fair Complex, on the outskirts of the state capital is also allocated one while the remaining four will be strategically positioned in Minna.

Other major cities and towns, such as Bida, Kontagora, Suleja, New Bussa, Kagara, Agaie, Lapai, Mokwa and Sarkin Pawa have been slated to benefit under the next phase.

To address the ageing manpower, Governor Bello who learnt that the workforce of the service has been depleted due to no recruitment to replace retired officers over the years, has put machinery in motion to scale up the state owned Fire Academy at Tunga, Minna to provide qualified and adequate manpower.

“We are conscious of the fact that the right personnel is vital for the revival and re-positioning of the service. Currently most of our personnel are ageing, while some need capacity building. We shall leverage on our Fire Academy here in Minna to train new fire fighters and re-train

To acTualise his dream fire service, Governor sani Bello sorT for and secured The assisTance of The federal fire service for an holisTic assessmenT and recommendaTion for The niGer sTaTe fire service.

Thus a new BlueprinT for a 21sT cenTury fire service was perfecTed for implemenTaTion.

personnel for the envisioned fire service.

Aside from this, we shall also engage the Federal Fire Service in our capacity building drive”.

As part of his revival plan for the sector, Governor Sani Bello has directed the redesign and reconstruction of some fire stations. Top on the list is Minna. “Our fire stations shall be given facelift and equipped.

Minna will be given a standard and befitting station with necessary paraphernalia such as water tanker as back up to the fire fighting engine, water dump and regular source of water supply.

“By this arrangement we plan to have a fire station in each of our local government headquarters. Though we are handicapped by funds, we shall continue with the scheme,” Gov. Sani Bello assured Nigerlites.

Professionals and safety managers in the state have showered enconmium on the initiative of Governor Sani Bello to re-position the sector. Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi a retired officer from the department described the governor’s move as a new dawn for fire service. “The service has never had it so good since the inception of the state.

As an insider, having worked in the service for over two decades, I can say, this is a dawn of a new era for the service.

“Past administrations paid lip service to the department. For years we were left unattended to. Even when our hope was raised by the past administration, it dashed eventually midway”.

For Mr. Tony Aweta, a Suleja based safety manager, government should ensure the logical conclusion of the revival exercise.

“The government should endeavour to effectively carry out the revival project. Urbanization of our communities comes with its challenges. Fire outbreak is one and with a functional fire service is in place, it helps to mitigate the devastation. The huge losses incurred to fire outbreaks in the state were due to poor or lack of fire service department. Any investment on safety is a worthy investment”.

•Orintunsin is Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor of Niger State.

40

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Dividend prospects lift equities by 0.8% Johnson okanlawon

T

rading in equities continued on a positive note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday as more investors took position on stocks over excitements of dividend announcements.

Specifically, the All Share Index appreciated 0.81 per cent to close at 25,902.95 points, compared to the increase of 0.06 per cent recorded on Friday to

close at 25,679.03 points.

Market capitalization gained N72 billion to close at N8.910 trillion, compared to the increase of N5 billion recorded on Friday to close at N8.838 trillion.

United Capital Plc led the gainers’ table with 16 kobo or 9.41 per cent to close at N1.86 per share, followed by Fidelity Bank Plc with eight kobo or 6.67 per cent to close at N1.28 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc gained 71 kobo or 4.53 per cent to close at N16.38 per share, while Unity Bank Plc was up three kobo or 4.29 per cent to close at 73 kobo per share.

Law Union Plc rose three kobo or 4.29 per cent to close 73 kobo per share.

Conversely, Mobil Plc shed N8.55 or five per cent to close at N162.45 per share, while NASCON Plc

Lafarge Africa reports 20% drop in profit Johnson okanlawon

L

afarge Africa Plc has reported a dip in its key performances in the group consolidated and separate financial statements for the financial year ended December 31, 2015.

The group’s profit after tax dropped N6.547 billion, a decline of 19.52 per cent, from N33.545 billion recorded in the same period of 2014 to end the current year at N26.998 billion.

According to the results presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, profit before tax stood at N29.275 billion at the end of 2015 from N40.358 billion of 2014, this is N11.083 billion which is 27.46 per cent decline.

The cement producing company’s spent 69.12 per cent of its revenue on cost as its cost of sales rose to N184.703 billion against N177.783 billion which is 68.17 per cent of revenue

spent on the same purpose during the 2014 financial year.

Lafarge Africa revenue slightly increased by N6.424 billion translating to 2.46 per cent at the end of 2015 year end.

Its earnings per share slumped by 138 kobo or 17.99 per cent from 767 kobo in 2014 to 629 kobo in 2015.

The total equities and liabilities of the group increased by N37.065 billion from N415.947 billion of 2014 to N453.012 billion it made at the end of 2015 financial year.

In the same vein, Lafarge Africa declared N3.60 kobo dividend for their shareholder, which is lower than N3.60 kobo paid last year.

Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Peter Hoddinott maintained that the company continues to deliver good performance with significant upsides to come as new cement and power generation capacities come on stream and syn-

ergy benefits from the merger in Nigeria flow through.

He said, “Our company’s business integration process has been successful and as a company we are optimistic to deliver improving performances in 2016 and beyond, improving value to our shareholders”.

On the future outlook, he explained that the company’s overall Nigerian cement market is foreseen to grow robustly in 2016 behind a strong individual home building segment.

He stressed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has also shown strong indications to support Infrastructure growth in the coming year.

“Lafarge Africa will be able to leverage its unique footprint in 2016 with Ashaka returning to growth, ReadyMix securing high volume contracts to support its 8 existing, and new plants to be commissioned as well as the new 2.5 million tons cement line due to be commissioned in Mfamosing in half

Energy, miners drag Europe shares down

E

nergy producers and miners led a retreat in European stocks, while chemical companies climbed amid merger-and-acquisition speculation.

Total SA dragged oil shares to the biggest drop on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index. Commodity producers snapped a three-day advance, with ArcelorMittal leading declines. BASF SE and Bayer AG led chemical stocks to the best performance on the equity gauge as Monsanto Co. was said to have explored possible deals with the two German companies.

The Stoxx 600 slid 0.3 per cent to 340.82 at the close of trading, after swinging between gains of as much as 0.6 percent and a loss of 0.9 per

cent. The volume of shares changing hands was 26 per cent lower than the 30-day average.

“We have seen a pretty strong recovery after the selloff and the market is losing steam these days,” said Matthias Jasper, head of equities at WGZ Bank in Dusseldorf. “The market needs new orientation for the time being as it is getting weary of the old discussion of the glass being half full or half empty. Markets have been so shaky lately that people’s willingness to lock in profits is higher than previous years.”

European equities rebounded as much as 14 per cent since a Feb. 11 low amid a rally in banks and miners, and centralbank steps to spur growth.

Still, confidence in monetary policy has been tempered by concerns over earnings prospects, and European shares ended last week little changed.

Among stocks moving on corporate news today, Swedbank AB lost 1.7 per cent after naming a new chief financial officer. Boliden AB fell five per cent after Citigroup Inc. double downgraded the miner to sell from buy, saying its balance sheet isn’t attractive after it bought the Kevitsa mine in Finland.

Telecom Italia SpA climbed 3.1 per cent after saying that Chief Executive Officer Marco Patuano resigned.

Gas Natural SDG SA added 1.7 per cent after changing its

dropped 38 kobo or five per cent to close at N7.22 per share.

PZ Cussons Plc dipped N1.20 or 4.99 per cent to close at N22.84 per share, while Union Dicon Salt Plc declined 56 kobo or per cent to close at N10.69 per share.

Gainers and Losers Start Date 20/03/2016 through End Date 21/03/2016 Champion Breweries Gainers Losers Print Date and 21/03/2016 Market indicators Plc depreciated 15 Start kobo Date 20/03/2016 through End Date 21/03/2016 Print Date All-Share Index 25,902.95 points or 4.81 per cent to close at 21/03/2016 N2.97 per share.

Source: NSE

Market capitalisation 8.91trn

Gainers for Equities

S/N 1 S/N2

2016-03-18 2016-03-21 Gainers forClosing Equities Closing Price(N) Price(N)

Symbol UCAP Symbol FIDELITYBK

2016-03-181.70 2016-03-211.86 Closing Price(N) 1.20 Closing Price(N) 1.28 1.70 1.86 15.67 16.38

Gain(N) 0.16 Gain(N)0.08

% Change 9.41 % Change 6.67

year,” he added.

1 3 UCAP 0.16 9.41 GUARANTY 0.71 4.53 2 4 FIDELITYBK 1.20 1.28 0.08 6.67 UNITYBNK 0.70 0.73 0.03 4.29 He noted that the South 3 5 GUARANTY 15.67 16.38 0.71 4.53 LAWUNION 0.70 0.73 0.03 4.29 African market will remain 4 6 UNITYBNK 0.70 0.73 0.03 4.29 MAYBAKER 0.95 0.99 0.04 4.21 5 7 LAWUNION 0.70 0.73 0.03 4.29 AIICO 0.78 0.81 0.03 3.85 challenging, but Lafarge 6 8 MAYBAKER 0.95 0.99 0.04 4.21 NPFMCRFBK 1.13 1.17 0.04 3.54 Africa will leverage the 7 9 AIICO 0.78 0.81 0.03 3.85 ZENITHBANK 12.79 13.19 0.40 3.13 8 10 NPFMCRFBK 1.13 1.17 0.04 3.54 AFRIPRUD 3.20 3.29 0.09 2.81 2015 investments within the 9 11 ZENITHBANK 12.79 13.19 0.40 3.13 UACN 20.05 20.48 0.43 2.14 cement operations with a WAPCO 81.00 82.61 1.61 1.99 1012 AFRIPRUD 3.20 3.29 0.09 2.81 DANGCEM 165.00 168.00 3.00 1.82 1113 UACN 20.05 20.48 0.43 2.14 revamped sales team and DIAMONDBNK 1.40 1.42 0.02 1.43 1214 WAPCO 81.00 82.61 1.61 1.99 route to market.

CUSTODYINS 3.81 3.86 0.05 1.31 1315 DANGCEM 165.00 168.00 3.00 1.82 CUTIX 1.58 1.60 0.02 1.27 “In aggregates, the com1416 DIAMONDBNK 1.40 1.42 0.02 1.43 15 CUSTODYINS 3.81 3.86 0.05 1.31 pany will continue to ben16 CUTIX 1.58 1.60 0.02 1.27 efit from its strong network Losers for Equities 2016-03-18 2016-03-21 delivering results with two S/N Symbol Loss(N) % Change Closing Price(N) Price(N) Losers forClosing Equities 1 MOBIL 171.00 162.45 -8.55 -5.00 new quarries, being opened 2016-03-18 2016-03-21 7.60 Closing Price(N) 7.22 -0.38 % Change -5.00 Symbol Closing Price(N) Loss(N) in the Gauteng market and S/N23 NASCON PZ 24.04 22.84 -1.20 -4.99 1 MOBIL 171.00 162.45 -8.55 -5.00 UNIONDICON 11.25 10.69 -0.56 -4.98 Ready-Mix growth. Overall, 2 4 NASCON 7.60 7.22 -0.38 -5.00 3.12 2.97 -0.15 -4.81 3 5 PZCHAMPION 24.04 22.84 -1.20 -4.99 new strategies in penetratLEARNAFRCA 0.88 0.84 -0.04 -4.55 4 6 UNIONDICON 11.25 10.69 -0.56 -4.98 VITAFOAM 4.29 4.10 -0.19 -4.43 ing retail, new geographies 5 7 CHAMPION 3.12 2.97 -0.15 -4.81 LIVESTOCK 1.14 1.09 -0.05 -4.39 6 8 LEARNAFRCA 0.88 0.84 -0.04 -4.55 and the technical segment NEIMETH 0.72 0.69 -0.03 -4.17 7 9 VITAFOAM 4.29 4.10 -0.19 -4.43 are expected to allow LaTIGERBRANDS 2.90 2.78 -0.12 -4.14 8 10 LIVESTOCK 1.14 1.09 -0.05 -4.39 11 PAINTCOM 1.04 1.00 -0.04 -3.85 9 NEIMETH 0.72 0.69 -0.03 -4.17 farge Africa volumes to 12 DEAPCAP 0.58 0.56 -0.02 -3.45 10 TIGERBRANDS 2.90 2.78 -0.12 -4.14 grow above a flat market in 13 FCMB 0.79 0.77 -0.02 -2.53 11 PAINTCOM 1.04 1.00 -0.04 -3.85 14 OANDO 4.00 3.90 -0.10 -2.50 12 DEAPCAP 0.58 0.56 -0.02 -3.45 all three product lines.

15 HONYFLOUR 1.62 1.58 -0.04 -2.47 13 FCMB 0.79 0.77 -0.02 -2.53 “Overall, the Lafarge Af16 UBA 3.77 3.70 -0.07 -1.86 14 OANDO 4.00 3.90 -0.10 -2.50 17 NEM 0.76 0.75 -0.01 -1.32 15 HONYFLOUR 1.62 1.58 -0.04 -2.47 rica group will continue to 18 FBNH 3.65 3.61 -0.04 -1.10 16 UBA 3.77 3.70 -0.07 -1.86 FGN Bonds seek innovative ways of im17 NEM 0.76 0.75 -0.01 -1.32 proving product offerings in 18 FBNH 3.65 3.61 -0.04 -1.10 Page 1 of Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Offer Bid the Nigerian cement, concrete and aggregate market Page Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Description Price Yield Price Yield1 of in 2016,” he said.

15.10 27-APR-2017 1.10 105.83 9.38 105.98 9.24

dividend proposal and increasing its payout ratio. (Source – Bloomberg.com).

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.27

115.03

10.44

115.33

10.34

15.54 13-FEB-2020

3.90

113.82

11.07

114.12

10.98

16.39 27-JAN-2022

5.85

120.48

11.48

120.78

11.41

14.20 14-MAR-2024

7.98

111.44

11.94

111.74

11.88

12.50 22-JAN-2026

9.84

102.50

12.05

102.80

12.00

Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

13

Crude oil price

$58.96

Closing Market Prices of March 21, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

23-Jun-16

5.90

5.99

22-Sep-16

7.49

7.78

16-Mar-17

8.41

9.16

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.95

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

4.9682

1M

7.8016

POUNDS STERLING

293

3M

9.3257

SDR

273

6M

10.5998

NIBOR

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016

4

4

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

World News The number of people involved in the terrorist network is much larger than originally thought as investigations reveal.

–FRENCH PRESIDENT, FRANCOIS HOLLANDE

Obama lands in Cuba, sings ‘change’ tune AfolAbi GAmbAri

WITH AGENCY REPORT

P

resident Barack Obama met with Cuban leader, Raul Castro yesterday, hours after his arrival on the historic visit.

Both leaders met at the Palace of the Revolution in Old Havana where they had talks, the third time since the resumption of diplomatic relations in 2014. But it was unclear whether the leaders would later take questions from the press.

Obama started his morning laying a wreath by the Jose Marti memorial, a massive monument to the Cuban revolutionary leader where a Cuban military band played the “Star Spangled Banner,” another in a series of previously unthinkable moments that marks this week’s visit.

In an elaborate welcome ceremony, Obama and Castro met with smiles and brief conversation before moving down long hallways lined with Cuban troops.

Obama was overheard telling the Cuban leader he enjoyed his tour of Havana Sunday night along with his family.

He also told Castro he had a great dinner at a paladar, one of hundreds of privately run restaurants that only recently became permissible in the state-run econ-

President Barack Obama with wife, Michel and daughters Malia Shasha after arriving in Havana late on Sunday here and I think that Raul Castro understands that,” Obama had said on Sunday night.

“Our intention has been to get the ball rolling, knowing that change was not going to happen overnight,” he added, stressing, “Although we still have significant differences around human rights and individual liberties inside of Cuba, we felt that coming now would maximize our ability to prompt more change.”

The vast differences between the Obama administration and the Castro regime were no less evident Sunday as Havana hurried

omy. Those types of businesses, along with new investments from American firms, give U.S. officials hope that Cuba is on a path to open its economy after decades of isolation.

The meeting provided Obama and his aides another reality check on their mission to extract reforms from Castro. Until this point, there have been few signs that the Cuban government wished to work as quickly as the Obama administration hoped in opening the state-run economy and improving human rights.

“Change is going to happen

to prepare for the U.S. president’s arrival. As Obama was en route, scores of anti-Castro dissidents from the group Ladies in White were arrested and detained after their weekly protest in Havana, with dozens of the protesters being driven from the site in buses.

A Cuban dissident, Jose Daniel Ferrer, who was imprisoned for eight years beginning in 2008, said Obama could harness the attention from his trip to make a loud demand for political reform, citing President Ronald Reagan’s demand in 1987 for the Soviet Union to “tear down this wall.”

Zinsou concedes Benin defeat

R

epublic of Benin’s outgoing Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou has conceded defeat to businessman Patrice Talon in Sunday’s presidential runoff.

Zinsou posted on Facebook that he had called Talon to congratulate him on his victory and wished him luck.

President Thomas Boni Yayi is stepping down after two ter ms.

Talon, known as the “king of cotton”, used to be a close ally of Yayi, but was accused of master minding a plot to poison him in 2012.

“The provisional results point to a decisive victory for Patrice Talon; the difference is significant, electoral

victory is certain” Zinsou said yesterday.

It was a tur naround from the first round vote last month when Talon came slightly behind Zinsou with 25 per cent compared to his 28 per cent.

Benin’s electoral commission was expected to for mally announce the provisional results later yesterday.

F

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

c a p i t a l a n d h ave b e e n i n c u s t o dy f o r m o re t h a n a we e k .

Amids t claims that the men s aid of fic ials at the air por t had given them per mis s ion to film, au thorities s aid they would remain in detention at the polic e c ells of the main inter national air-

Paris attacks: DNA reveals accomplice Belgian prosecutors said yesterday that DNA has identified Najim Laachraoui as an accomplice of captured Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam.

But Laachraoui, 24, is still on the run.

A statement said he had been using false ID and that his DNA had been found in houses used by the suspected jihadist network.

Abdeslam was captured in Brussels on Friday and is still being interrogated as French President Francois Hollande is due to meet relatives of some of the 130 killed in the November 13 attacks.

Meanwhile, Abdeslam’s lawyer, Sven Mary, has denied Belgian media reports that the suspect will become an informer in return for more lenient treatment.

The earlier statement said that Abdeslam had travelled twice to the Hungarian capital Budapest, using

Warlord guilty of war crimes

Former Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba has been found guilty of war crimes in a landmark trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Bemba was accused of failing to stop his rebels from killing and raping people in neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002 and 2003.

He had sent more than 1, 000 fighters to help put down an attempted coup.

Bemba, once vice-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will remain in custody until sentencing.

The court in The Hague found him guilty of several charges including rape and murder. He is expected to appeal.

It is the first time the ICC has focussed on sexual violence as a weapon of war.

MH370: Debris arrives in Australia

Lionel Zinsou

Plane spotters face Kenyan jail terms our British plane spotters in Kenya have been ordered to pay £1, 400 ($2, 000) or face a year in jail for trespassing at an air por t in Nairobi.

The four men f ro m G r e at e r M a n c h e s t e r we re caught taking p i c t u re s at Wi l s o n A i r p o r t i n t h e

WORLD BULLETIN

por t u n til th e fin e w as paid.

A leaked memo from the Kenya Airports Authority last month war ned of possible attacks by al-Shabab militants.

The Somalia-based group has been behind several deadly attacks in Kenya in recent years.

Two pieces of debris found in Mozambique which may have come from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have arrived in Australia for analysis.

One item was found on a sandbank by an amateur US investigator in late February and the other in December by a South African tourist.

MH370 disappeared in March 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, carrying 239 passengers.

Despite a huge search, only one fragment of the plane has been found.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed to the BBC that they had received the debris from Mozambique on Sunday and would work with the Malaysian investigative team to analyse it.

National Mirror National Mirror Thursday, March 22, 2016 47 Tuesday, February 4, 2014 www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

42

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

Leadership crisis rocks Lagos Hausa community Dare akogun

S

even persons have been arrested and charged before a Magistrate’s court sitting in Ejigbo for allegedly disrupting the coronation of a Hausa leader otherwise known as Seriki in Igando, Lagos State.

The suspects are Aliu Abdulkareem, 30, Habib Rabiu, 31, Aliu Bindawa, 33, and Musa Sani, 20.

Others include Mohammed Ali, 30, Arisu Mohammed, 29, and Babangida Mensarawa, 20. They were alleged to have conspired among themselves to cause breach of public peace by obstructing the coronation of Abubakar Muhammed Geiro as Seriki CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OMERAKWA EBUBE WISDOM CHUKWUEMEKA and JOSEPH CHUKWUEMEKA WISDOM, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSEPH WISDOM EBUBE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as JIMOH TUNDE AJAO, now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH BABATUNDE USMAN. All former documents remain valid. FIDELITY BANK and General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as REUBEN NGOZI BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as VIVAIN FESTUS NNEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as KABIRU IDRIS, now wish to be known and addressed as IDRIS ALASAN. All former documents remain valid, public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

of Igando.

The police also alleged that the suspects threatened Geiro with knives, charms and other weapons to disrupt the event on 14 March, 2016.

It was gathered that trouble started after former Seriki of Igando died and the position became vacant.

Two contestants emerged for the position, namely: the late Seriki’s son, Alhaji Danjuma Alhassan, and Alhaji Abubakar Geiro.

This led to disruption of peace in the community as factions jostling for the position sprang up.

It was further gathered that following the tension it generated, the Hausa community in Lagos waded into the matter CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UGWU CHUKWUMA PAUL, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE CHUKWUMA PAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OHAZURIKE ELSHADDAI EMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUEMEKA ELSHADDAI EMMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU NNAETOO NNAEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as JAMES MALCOLM XESUS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEJUMOKE OLUWATOBI AKINGBADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEJUMOKE OLUWATOBI OGUNLEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS BAKARE MODUPE ALIMAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ALAPAFUAJAH MODUPE ALIMAT. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known as AYANYEMI MUTAIRU ISHOLA now which to be known, called and addressed as AYANYEMI MUTAIRU ADEDIWURA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWUMA HENRY AWAZIE is one and same person known and addressed as CHUKWUMA IFEANYI NJOKU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as KEHINDE SHADE ABOLOMOPE now wish to be known and addressed as KEHINDE SHADE IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

and summoned the warring parties to Surulere in Lagos, where Alhaji Danjuma Alhassan was chosen and crowned as new Seriki of Igando.

The decision did not go down well with Geiro’s group and they contacted the Oba of Igando, who also crowned him Seriki of Igando.

Since then, peace has eluded the Hausa community in Igando, Akesan and Badore areas.

The crisis continued until the day Oba of Igando crowned Geiro as Seriki.

The group allegedly belonging to Alhassan disrupted the event before the police intervened and restored peace.

The suspects were arrested, while other acCHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as AYOKU SILIFATU OGUNDAIRO now wish to be known and addressed as AYOKU AJOKE BRIAN - AKINLADE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SULIEMAN AMINU SUNNY, now wish to be known and addressed as SULEIMAN JONAH. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AGASHI: I, formerly known and addressed as AGASHI IKECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBU IKECHUKWU MARTHIAS. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

complices escaped.

When our reporter contacted leaders of the two groups, they both laid claim to the title.

Alhaji Danjuma Alhassan told our reporter that after the burial of his late father, the Hausa community in Lagos State summoned all parties, including Geiro to Surulere, where he was elected and crowned as Seriki of Igando.

He said confusion started after the Oba of Igando decided to crown Geiro against the wishes of the people and Hausa leaders in the state.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as OLASUPO DOYIN RUKAYA, now wish to be known and addressed as AKANDE OLASUPO DOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

DENNIS: I, formerly known and addressed as DENNIS HARRISON EJIKE AYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as DIKE HARRISON EJIKE AYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWABUEZE: I, formerly known and addressed as NWABUEZE KINGSLEY NWABUEZE, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYE NWABUEZE KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWU CHIZOBA LUCY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EDEH CHIZOBA LUCY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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

UDEOFIA: I, formerly known and addressed as MONDAY UDEOFIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MONDAY UDOFIA PETER. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF NAME

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

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that MARYROSE NGOZI NWANKWO and MARYROSE NGOZI OKEKE refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as MARYROSE NGOZI NWANKWO. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OMULUCHE OMULUCHE AMARACHI, but my voters card was wrongly written as OMUNCHE AMARACHI EUNICE but now wish to be corrected and addressed as OMULUCHE EUNICE AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that GABRIEL EMEKA and UGWU GABRIEL CHUKWUEMEKA refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. GT Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank and general public please take note.

Alhaji Alhassan explained that it was the Hausa community leaders that chose their king, according to Hausa tradition, and present such Seriki to the Oba and not the Oba picking a king for them.

Geiro, on his part, said it was the Oba that has right to install Seriki because the kingdom belongs to him.

He insisted that the Hausa community has no right to crown any person as Seriki outside their land, adding that the Oba was right in choosing him as Seriki

in his land.

Meanwhile, the suspects arrested in connection with the disruption of the coronation of Abubakar Muhammed Geiro, were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.

Presiding Magistrate, Mrs J. O. E. Adeyemi, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was subsequently adjourned till April 11, 2016, for hearing.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ABDULRAHEEM: Formerly known and addressed as ABDULRAHEEM OLADIMEJI SHONIBARE now wish to be known and addressed as RAHEEM OLADIMEJI SHONIBARE All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKPAN: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AKPAN UWEM CHARLES, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. OMEKE UWEM CHARLES. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as EGWU NNAEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as EGWU OBASI NNAEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

YECHE-WALI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JANE YECHE-WALI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UWAKWE JANE MARY UGOCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKEANONIFE: I, formerly known and addressed as OKEANONIFE FAUSTINA IJEDIMA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKEH FAUSTINA IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONYEMAOBI: I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEMAOBI CHUKWUDI GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as OKECHUKWU CHUKWUDI FREEDOM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

We formerly known and addressed as EZE now wish to be known and addressed as KING. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME That I was formerly known and addressed as UBOGU PATRICIA NWAZURU that I now wish to add OBIOMA to my former name that I now wish to be known and as OBIOMA-UBOGU PATRICIA NWAZURU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

MUFUTAU OMOLABI and MUFUTAU OMOLABI ALABI is same and one person now wish to be known and addressed as MUFUTAU OMOLABI, with DATE OF BIRTH, 5TH FEB 1975. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ABDULLAHI: I, formerly known and addressed as ABDULLAHI MOHAMMED INUWA DUTSE, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI YUNUSA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKORIE: I, formerly known and addressed as OKORIE GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as GABRIEL CHIME OKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOLO: I, formerly known and addressed as OKOLO AGOZIE FIDELIS, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOLO FESTUS OFFORAGOZIE. All former documents remain valid.

Zenith Bank, and general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that UGWUANYI CHINONSO BLESSING and UGWUANYI OLUCHI BLESSING refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWUANYI OLUCHI BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AIRAHUOBHOR HELEN, now wish to be known and addressed as OSENI HELEN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

43

We’re engaging Kaduna Assembly over preaching bill –PFN A zA msue KADUNA

P

L-R: Senior Pastor, ECWA Church Plateau State, Jos, Rev. Samuel Atu; representative of Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Mrs Maria Pawa; former Governor, of Plateau State, Sen. Joshua Dariye, and member, Board of Trustee, Le Pan Medical Centre, Wubel, Dr. Pokop Bupwatda, at the official inauguration ceremony of Le Pan Medical Centre in Wubel Chakfem District, Mangu Local Council of Plateau State, recently.

Katsina sets up panel on N70bn siphoned monies

JAmes dAnJumA KATSINA

A

judicial commission of enquiry has been inaugurated to look into alleged embezzlement of over N70 billion by past administration in Katsina State.

Named Judicial Commission of Enquiry into Loss of Funds and Properties, the commission is to investigate misappropriated funds in the last three years of former Governor Ibrahim Shema’s government.

Speaking shortly before the oath-taking, Governor Aminu Bello Masari said investigations carried out found that more than N70.33 billion was alleged to have been diverted during the period the investigation is to cover.

Masari said 90 per cent of the amount was taken in raw cash from bank accounts of the state government, and the matter would not have been an issue if the monies were insignificant amounts.

He said the figure was arrived at after handover documents from the previous government showed discrepancies in figures when compared with money withdrawn but unaccounted for.

He said inaugurating the commission of inquiry wasn’t a happy decision, but that the people of the state have the right to know how their money was spent or what it was used for.

Masari said efforts had been made to meet with the previous state government to reconcile differences and keep the

commission from being inaugurated, but that the efforts didn’t yield positive results.

The governor said the past administration had always insisted that none of such monies were missing, and wondered how the over-N70 billion was conjured up.

He said the state had received about N1 trillion between 2007 and 2015 in federal allocation, but lamented that there was little to show for such huge amount in the last eight years.

He however said the commission would limit itself to monies unaccounted for, and not dabble into issues like inflated contracts and road projects, among others.

The commission, which consists of 11 members,

is chaired by a seasoned lawyer, Muhammadu Ibrahim Suraj; with Usman Musa as its secretary, while Liman, Liman & Co serves as counsel to the commission.

Suraj said members would try to be fair and do their best in line with the investigative duty given them.

Suraj assured that it would give ample time for those expected to appear before it, to enable them explain themselves on the matter.

He however asked for prayers and cooperation from stakeholders to enable them achieve the objectives.

The commission has three months to complete its assignment, with possible extension of the period should the need arise.

entecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, says it is currently engaging Kaduna State House of Assembly on the proposed preaching bill.

Addressing a news conference in Kaduna yesterday, PFN state chairman and secretary, Rev. Femi Ehinmidu and Rev. Tony Inwulale, respectively, said though Governor Nasir el-Rufai has sent the executive bill on religious activities in the state to legislators, Pentecostal churches would not protest on the streets or take legal action against the state government.

PFN, while saying it has made its position known to the legislators, noted that there are existing laws in the state that have already taken care of the proposed bill.

PFN added that government should strengthen such laws against violators, stressing that government should properly engage stakeholders on the bill.

PFN explained that the bill, which suggests that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, should regulate churches, said the body was only a Christians’ block.

It stated: “We are engaging the Kaduna State House of Assembly on the executive bill on religious activities in Kaduna State 2016. We are engaging; we are not protesting on the streets or taking any legal action. There are many laws that legislate on the rights of other people.

Let those laws take their full course.”

It would be recalled that CAN, Kaduna State chapter, after a meeting with the state deputy governor, Arch. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, last week over the preaching bill, its chairman, Bishop George Dodo, who led the 12-person CAN delegation, said el-Rufai’s proposed bill should follow lay down constitutional procedures on religious practice.

CAN added that it does not think el-Rufai’s religious bill before legislators would ban Christianity in the state.

Zaria clash: Commission of inquiry adjourns to March 23

J

ustice Muhammad Lawal-Garba, chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the December 12 ArmyShiites clash in Zaria, yesterday adjourned sitting till Wednesday.

Lawal-Garba said the adjournment was to enable the defence counsel meet with the sect leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who is in custody of the Depart-

ment of State Services, DSS. He said the adjournment followed assurances from the DSS that the defence counsel would be given access to their client by 12 noon yesterday.

The panel had on March 17 mandated the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, to submit a memorandum on March 21.

1.6bn people depend on forest resources, says Minister Olufemi AdeOsun ABUJA

M

inister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, yesterday, stated that over 1.6 billion people across the world depend on forest resources for livelihood.

Mohammed, who spoke in Abuja at this year’s International Day of the Forest, urged all Nigerians to join hands with government in its quest to preserve the na-

tion’s forest resources.

UN General Assembly on November 28, 2012, adopted a resolution to declare every March 21 as International Day of the Forest.

The significance of the day is the need to create awareness among people on why they should protect the nation’s forest cover for the survival of humanity and other living organisms.

However, while the

recommended forest cover for every nation, according to Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, is 26 per cent, in Nigeria is less than six per cent.

On the significance of this year’s celebration, which theme is, ‘Forests and Water,’ the minister said: “This year’s celebration will raise awareness on how forests are key to the planet, supply of fresh water, which is essential to life and the

multiple links within the forest and water sources.

“Forest and wet lands depend on water sources but at the same time, the forest eco-systems sustain water quality and helps mitigate the risks of water-related disasters. Forest covers one-third of the earth’s land mass, contributing significantly to reducing soil erosion and the risks of landslides and other natural disas-

ters.”

She called on various stakeholders to collaborate with government in its quest to institute sound forest management in the country.

Also speaking, the director general, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Mr. Adeniyi Karunwi, lamented the state of forest in Nigeria, stressing that most of the trees that could have provided the needed cover, have been felled all in the name

of industrialisation.

He said development and protection of the forest could co-exist with proper understanding of the significance of the forest to man.

While calling on the Federal Government to declare emergency on the state of the nation’s forest, the DG also called for massive awareness campaigns with a view to making the people know its importance to the country.

44

Tuesday March 22, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as NAJA’ATU SHEHU ABUBAKAR now wish to be addressed as AMINA AMINU ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known as MISS GLORY EFFANGA EKOP now wish to be addressed as MRS GLORY JULIUS ODIKO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

This is to confirm that OJO MORONRANTI OLAJUMOKE is the one and same person as OJO MULIKAT OLAJUMOKE. All documents bearing the two names are mine and remain valid.The general public, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ATIKU: FORMERLY known and addressed as TANIMU AYUBA ADAMU NOW wish to be known and addressed as ATIKU ABUBAKAR . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME GRACE: FORMERLY known and addressed as ALHERI GRACE MUKADDAS NOW wish to be known and addressed as TIMEHIN OLAYEMI ALHERI GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MARGARET: FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS MARGARET FOLASHADE JOHN NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS TINA T. MUSE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR SUNDAY PAUL NZIWU NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN AS MR SUNDAY PAUL EDE. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS AWOLAJA OMOTOLA .O. NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS POPOOLA MUINAT OMOTOLA. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ZENITH BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME ABDUL RASAK MARUF SAME PERSON AS RASAKI KUNLE CLINTON NOW wHICH TO BE KNOWN AS ABDUL RASAKI KUNLE MARUF ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

AJADI: Formerly known and addressed as AJADI TAJUDEEN ROBIU now wish to be known and addressed as TAJUDEEN MUHAMMAD ROBIU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OBIORAH: Formerly known and addressed as OBIORAH OGOCHUKWU AMARA GRACE now wish to be known and addressed as EZUDIKE OGOCHUKWU AMARA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKINYELE OLABISI QUBURAT NOW WHICH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKINYELE OLABISI OMOBOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

JANE: Formerly known and addressed as JANE OGBENE OKWOCHE now wish to be known and addressed as JANE OGBENE ODEY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF AGE

CHANGE OF NAME

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME ABUBAKAR: FORMERLY known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR ADAMU NOW wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ADAMU DANGONGOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ARIKE: FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS ABDULMOJEED ARIKE SHUKRA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEOYE ALFANLA ARIKE. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ONANUGA OLAJUMOKE ZAINAB now MRS KADIRI OLAJUMOKE ZAINAB. All former documents remain valid and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BALOGUN ADERONKE IDOWU NOW MRS OLATUNJI-OSHO ADERONKE IDOWU. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME ADEBAWO: Formerly known and addressed as ADEBAWO OLUWATOSIN now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAWO OLUWATOSIN ELIJAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME TRINITY: Formerly known and addressed as TRINITY OLUWADAMILARE now wish to be known and addressed as ASIMI MOTURAYO LATIFAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as AFISU ADIJAT, now wish to be known and addressed as MORUFF ADIJAT. All documents remain valid. First Bank PLC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I Formerly known and addressed as, PEACE OGHENEMAIRO AKENI, now wish to be known and addressed as PEDRO OGHENEMAIRO ANDREW all former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

Former known and addressed as JANET BLESSING JOHNSONABAH, now wish to be known and address as ABAH JANET BLESSING. All former document remains valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known as ADELEYE MUNIRAT AJOKE will like to be known and addressed as MRS LATILO BLOSSOM ADEJOKE. All former documents remain valid. Public please take note.

I formerly known as MRS. HAJJA OMOLADE now wish to be known as MS OPAL OMOLADE RUTH. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MISS OSUOLALE OLAITAN JENBAYODELE ADUNNI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ISIKALU AYODELE OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known as OYEKANMI OLUSUNMADE BRIDGET now wish to be known as OLASUNMADE BRIDGET MOYINOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS SHEWU MARTHA AINA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OSILAJA MARTHA AINA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS IDIATU ADEBODUN ARIKE OPOOWU, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. IDIATU ADEBODUN ARIKE SHITTU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CORRECTION OF NAME THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MY FULL NAME IS ADENIJI ABOSEDE YETUNDE. MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS ADENIJI ABOSEDE MARY IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS. GENERAL PUBLIC, PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CORRECTION OF NAME THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MY FULL NAME IS MR. ALABI KARREM MUSTAPHA. MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS MR. ALABI KARREM IYANDA IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS. GENERAL PUBLIC, PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OLASUPO TOLUWALASE WUMI, now wish to be known and addressed as FAGBEMI TOLUWALASE WUMI. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank plc, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex and the general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ITAMAKINDE: I formerly MISS ITAMAKINDE CHRISTIANAH TEMIDAYO now wished to be known and addressed as MRS. OLISA CHRISTIANAH TEMIDAYO, all former document remain valid,the general public take note.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BABANGIDA UMARU TSALIBAWA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS BABANGIDA ABUBAKAR. ALL FORM DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS DAINA BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINPELUMI BLESSING OZOZOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IYONAWAN: I, formally known and addressed as IYANAWAN MARVEL, now wish to be known and addressed as IYONAWAN MARVEL NOGIE. All former documents remain the same, general public, take note.

FOLARIN: Formerly known and addressed as MISS FOLARIN MODUPE OLAOYE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FOLARIN MODUPE ODUGBESAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SAMUEL: Formerly known and addressed as SAMUEL OMOGBOLAHAN ADEBUSAYO now wish to be known and addressed as SAMUEL OMOGBOLAHAN OSISANYA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UGWUIRO: Formerly known and addressed as UGWUIRO VICTORIA CHINYERE now wish to be known and addressed as MADUABUCHI VICTORIA CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ORDONDO: Formerly known and addressed as ORDONDO RICHARD DENEN now wish to be known and addressed as ORDONDO SOLOMON DENEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IGWE: Formerly known and addressed as IGWE CHUKWUDI SUNDAY now wish to be known and addressed as IGWE CHUKWUDI CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IJEOMA: Formerly known and addressed as IJEOMA MBOMA now wish to be known and addressed as DIALA IJEOMA GLADYS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME

DAUDA: I, DAUDA SIDIKATU OZIOHU born on 3 Feb, 1963 was mistakenly written as DAUDA SKATU born on 7 Feb, 1963 now wish to be known and addressed as DAUDA SIDIKATU OZIOHU born on 3 Feb, 1963. All former documents remain valid.

UBA PLC/ GTBANK PLC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ATIKU: FORMERLY known and addressed as TANIMU AYUBA ADAMU, NOW wish to be known and addressed as ATIKU ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ABUBAKAR: FORMERLY known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR ADAMU NOW wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ADAMU DANGONGOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as ESTHER JIMMY USORO, Now wish to be known and addressed as OSCAR ESTHER JIMMY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as CHINAKUMANO ALEXANDER NNOROM, Now wish to be known and addressed as NWOKE ALEX NWOROMU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

ADAMU: FORMERLY known and addressed as ADAMU ADAMU MUSA NOW wish to be known and addressed as ADAMU A. MUSA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME THEOPHILUS: I, formerly known and addressed as THEOPHILUS DARLINGTON CHINONSO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NKWOCHA CHINONSO DARLINGTON. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

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

Formerly known as EZEKWEMO NDUBUEZE BESTEST now wish to be addressed as EZEKWEM NDUBUEZE BESTEST. All former documents remain valid,general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

TIPPER DRIVERS ASSOCIATION MAKURDI, BENUE STATE

Names of the proposed Trustees are: 1. Gbaden Akighir 4. Gregory Ukum 2. Joseph A. Dura 3. Asor Elijah Vershima 5. Toryila Tyav The Objectives of the Association includes: i. Promotion and fostering of unity among members ii. Regulation and control of the activities of members iii. To ensure and maintain safety of members and the general public in the course of business.

Anybody that is opposed to the incorporation of the Association, should forward this objection to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Plot 420, Tigirs Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed Barr. F.T. Anongo (Solicitor)

Ternenge Akaka (President)

CHANGE OF NAME

JAKIRI: FORMERLY known and addressed as ZODI JAKIRI GENERAL ENTERPRISES NOW wish to be known and addressed as ALHAJI MUHAMMAD HARUNA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWAEME: I, formerly known and addressed as OSEMEKA EMMANUEL NWAEME, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OSEMEKA EMMANUEL COLLINS-OBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MUSA: FORMERLY known and addressed as AMINU MUSA NOW wish to be known and addressed as SHAMAKI YAKUBU KURUTSI. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF NEW NAMES ASSEMBLY

The general public is hereby notified that the above Church has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Pastor Chinedum Onyekaonwu Bro. Ifeanyi Ani Pastor Mrs Ebere Onyekaonwu (Nee-Ani) Pastor Ngozi Promise Ani Pastor Francis Ndubisi Ani

— General Overseer Chairman — Member — Secretary — Member — Member

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To minister the words to God world wide.

Healing the sick Helping the less-privilege, the poor and Needy Visitations/donations to motherless Babies Homes To open orphanage Homes.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama , Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Pastor Chinedum Onyekaonwu Chairman

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as OLUSOTE OLUSEGUN OKIKI now wish to be known and addressed as OLUSHOLA OKIKI OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MARGARET: FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS MARGARET FOLASHADE JOHN NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS TINA T. MUSE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

HARUNA: FORMERLY known and addressed as ABDULLAHI DAJIN ADAMU NOW wish to be known and addressed as HARUNA ABDULLAHI DAJIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known as WASILAT AMOPE OKOKO now wish to be addressed as WASILAT ANIMASHAUN. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME SOETAN: I, formerly known and addressed as MOSES OROMIDAYO OLUTOMISIN SOETAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MOSES OROMIDAYO OLUTOMISIN ADEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IDAHOSA: I, formerly known and addressed as IDAHOSA KELLY, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NSUE ANGUE ERIC. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

The general public is hereby notified of the proposed registration of TIPPER DRIVERS ASSOCIATION, Makurdi, Benue State under the part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

CHANGE OF NAME

ARIKE: FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS ABDULMOJEED ARIKE SHUKRA NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEOYE ALFANLA ARIKE. All former documents remain valid.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

PUBLIC NOTICE

BERESIBI IGBETIOKUN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST, BERESIBI WARRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE This is to inform the general public that Beresibi Igbetiokun Community Development Trust, Beresibi in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria has apply to the Corporate Affairs Commission for incorporation of the Trustees under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

TRUSTEES Prince Kenneth Omamuli Ekwejunor-etchie — (President) Prince Michael Edemayibo Erike-Etchie — (Vice President) Engr. Alfred Erike-Etchie — (General Secretary) Surv. David U. Erike — (Public Relations) Prince Benson Ekwejunor-etchie — (Treasurer) Prince David Erike-etchie — (Fin. Secretary)

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide leadership and authority to Beresibi Igbetokun Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria 2. To provide welfare community development and security to the people or indigene of Beresibi Igbetokun Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria.

3. To laise with Federal, State, Local Government Councils, Multinational Companies, Corporation, Non-Governmental Organisations, etc. for the purpose and on behalf of Beresibi Igbetiokun Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria.

4. To do everything humanly possible for the socio-economics WELFARE of Beresibi Igbetiokun Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Any objection to the incorporation of the Trustee should be forwarded to The Registrar-General, Corporation Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigiris Crescent, off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama-Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: EDWARD YALAJU ESQ., For Edward Yalaju & Co, Afoke Amejor Chambers, 114A, Akpakpava Road, Benin City, (Solicitor)

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

T/tennis: Egypt’s Magdy thinks Nigerian Open

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

45

Sport

Seb Coe is a Yorkshireman.

So he’s a complete bastard and will do well in politics.

47

–Daley Thompson (1993)

Arsenal mate taunts Iwobi ahead of battles

...coach says Eagles are favourites

E Alex Iwobi

AFCON qualifier:

Eagles hit Kaduna today

…Siasia misses Omeruo, Balogun in defence Joel AJAyi, ABUJA

N

igeria’s Super Eagles will relocate to Kaduna today, three days to the crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with the Pharaohs of Egypt on Friday.

The home-based players have been camping in Abuja in the last three weeks until the caretaker coach, Samson Siasia, made a cut of six on Sunday, just as the foreign-based professionals started trooping into camp.

Arsenal prodigy, Alex Iwobi, was the first overseas-based player to arrive in camp on Sunday, before Turkey-based Umar Aminu, Godfrey Oboabona, John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, Aaron Samuel and Etebo Oghenekaro.

England-based goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme; defenders Efe Ambrose and

Abdullahi Shehu; midfielders Kelechi Iheanacho and Azubuike Okechukwu and forwards Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Victor Moses and Fanendo Adi were being expected to land in Abuja as at press time last night.

South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi; defenders Stanley Amuzie and Elderson Echiejile and midfielder Ogenyi Onazi were also due to arrive in Lagos last night and travel to Abuja by first flight this morning to join the trip to Kaduna later in the day.

National Mirror gathered that the Eagles did not train yesterday, but will have open training this morning to be attended by journalists.

Eagles spokesman, Toyin Ibitoye, confirmed that the training will start at 7am at the Abuja National Stadium and the squad will, thereaf-

ter, travel by road to Kaduna, where they will also train in the evening at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

Meanwhile, the absence of defender Kenneth Omeruo is a major setback for Nigeria leading up to two all-important AFCON qualifiers against Egypt.

Omeruo has been ruled out of the qualifiers due to a groin injury. Possible replacements for the 22-yearold Chelsea loanee to Turkish club, Kasimpasa, would be Efe Ambrose from Scottish champions, Celtic, with CHAN Eagles centre-half, Austin Obaroakpo, an outsider.

Another possible replacement would have been Germany-based Leon Balogun. But the NFF said yesterday that Balogun, who has hamstring trouble, is being programmed for the return leg in Alexandria on Tuesday next week.

gypt international midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, has taken a shot at his Nigerian Arsenal teammate, Alex Iwobi, ahead of Friday’s 2017 Afcon qualifying match in Kaduna.

The 23-year-old told popular Arab satellite television, MBC, that he had been discussing the crucial match between his country, Egypt and Nigeria with Iwobi, who has been capped twice by Nigeria, only in international friendly matches.

Elneny revealed in his brief discussion with Iwobi over the matches by warning his Gunners’ teammate that it would be difficult for Nigeria to defeat Egypt.

“I told him that it will be hard for Nigeria to beat Egypt,” Elneny said.

The former FC Basel man also has the hunch that the Pharaohs can beat Nigeria on Friday despite acknowledging that their opponents will be tough.

“I have a good feeling that we will be able to win the match. Nigeria is a good tough team, but we’re good too. I also feel that I am surrounded by support from everyone encouraging us to get back to winning,” said Elneny.

Meanwhile, Assistant Coach of Egypt, Osama Nabih, has identified three factors that could derail his side’s chances of posting creditable results against Nigeria.

Nabih says Nigeria are favourites for three reasons.

“The first difficulty is Nigeria is a big name on the African continent, despite failing to reach the last edition of the Africa Cup. “Nigeria is coached by Samson Siasia who reached the Olympic Games by (winning a silver medal) first with the Under-23 team.

“Moreover, Nigeria have 22 foreign-based players alongside well-prepared ones in the domestic Nigerian league. So Siasia possesses all the tools that lead to success.

“Despite the difficulty of the Nigeria game, we are working to improve our chance of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in the coming Nigeria game,” Nabih told Egyptian media outfit, www.nilesports.com.

Elneny

46

Sports

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAZ new president praises Bwalya

F

Giggs

Giggs gets support to succeed LVG

R

yan Giggs is ready to become Manchester United’s next manager if Louis van Gaal is shown the door a year early at the end of this season, former club captain, Bryan Robson, told Reuters.

Out of work former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has been tipped to takeover at Old Trafford but Robson says United great, Giggs, who has been assistant to Van Gaal, would be a perfect choice.

“The thing for me is that Van Gaal was always

going to be a three-year contract with Ryan working under him so that they could see whether he was ready to step in,” Robson said at the launch of United’s partnership with Gulf Oil International at the club’s Carrington training centre.

“Ryan was a great player for this club, he loves playing football the United way, he’s done all his badges and for me he’s in the right place at the right time.”

Former England skipper Robson, 59, was still

at the heart of United’s midfield when a teenaged Giggs broke into the first team in 1991. The Welsh winger went on to make a record 963 appearances and claim 34 trophies.

He has been working alongside the much-travelled Van Gaal in what has been a tricky transition period for United following the retirement of Alex Ferguson, who had been in charge for 26 years, in 2013.

But Robson said despite a tough baptism in the dugout, Giggs has the cre-

dentials to revive United.

“People say it’s too big a challenge, too big a jump. But I don’t agree.

Look at Pep Guardiola, he came through the ranks at Barcelona as a player and then as a young coach and then they trusted him and he stepped up. He was tremendously successful,” Robson said.

“It’s the same with Ryan. He knows what this club is all about and the fans would be totally behind the club if they made that decision and totally behind Ryan.”

Inter chief sees Champions League wildcard merit

I

nter Milan chief executive, Michael Bolingbroke, can see the merit in the idea of Champions League wildcards.

Barcelona want to invite teams into the competition that have not qualified through their league position.

Major English sides discussed it and Bolingbroke uses Serie A to show how a club’s history can carry more weight.

Bolingbroke told BBC Sport, “The TV income

distribution here is based on performance not just in the last year but the last five and last 50. There is merit in that.”

News of the Premier League’s most wealthy clubs meeting to talk about the concept was greeted with scepticism, particularly as three of them - Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea - would not qualify for next season’s Champions League on their current Premier League perfor-

mance.

Like the three English clubs, Inter Milan are a former Champions League winner, lifting the last of three titles in 2010, when Jose Mourinho was in charge.

They have not qualified for the tournament since 2012 and did not play in any European competition for the second time in three seasons this term.

Bolingbroke added, “There are clubs who have not got to the competi-

tions they think they need to. Many of these clubs have huge fan bases. That drives UEFA and drives revenues.

“The question is: do you need to find a balance between that and having the clubs in the competition that have performed well in the last 12 months?

“The conversations we have had with Uefa indicate to me that they fully understand what the concerns are and are going to address them.”

ootball Association of Zambia (FAZ) new president, Andrew Kamanga, has praised the contributions of his immediate predecessor in office, Kalusha Bwalya, to the development of football in the country.

Zambian football legend, Bwalya, has vacated his position as president of the FAZ after losing the presidential election to Kamanga.

According to BBC. com, Bwalya lost his position as FAZ president after being defeated by businessman Kamanga on votes.

Kamanga beat the legend by 163 to 156 votes in what many thought was an impossible task for the challenger.

Bwalya, who was named the 1988 African Footballer of the Year, first joined FAZ as vice president in 2004 before being elected president four years later.

He was in the office and served as association president for two terms, but he was gunning for a third term as boss of FAZ. “I will not turn our soccer icon, Kalusha Bwalya, into a villain,” Kamanga said in his victory speech.

“This I promise but we’ll respect the laws of the land and those of football and reforms that have happened in world football and will not spare Zambia.”

Meanwhile, the legendary Bwalya also wished Kamanga success, saying football is all about winning and losing.

“Football is about winning and losing. I want Zambian football to win. All the best to FAZ and the new leadership,” Bwalya said via Twitter.

During his tenure as president, Bwalya helped Chipiopolopolo to successfully hoisting the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

Omagbemi resumes as Falcons head coach

T

he Chief Coach of the Super Falcons, Florence Omagbemi has expressed joy at being handed the job, as well as the persons that have been appointed as her assistants.

There have been insinuations that her absence from the team was because she wanted to be named as the permanent coach and not the interim coach.

Omagbemi, a FIFA technical group analyst told thenff.com: “I am hearing this for the first time.

It is like breaking news to me. I don’t know where the writer got the story from.

I know that I was in touch with my other coaches and the Federation. They knew where I was; I took permission to be with the FIFA group.

“Right now, I am in camp. I worked alongside my other coaches with the girls on Monday morning.

I’m very happy with what has been done in my absence with the team. I am 100% with the team and I am happy with everything that’s going on.”

Omagbemi debunked the story of not being happy with the assistants assigned to work with her.

“I am happy with my assistants. These are my people.

We are one family here in camp. Ann Chiejine and Perpetua Nkwocha, we all

played together for years and we are just like sisters.

We are happy to work together now.

“When I first heard the news, I was so excited because I believe this is the time to come and give back. We fought battles on the field for Nigeria, now is when to do our job and be role models to the girls.”

Omagbemi featured in four different FIFA Women World Cup final competitions for Nigeria in 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003.

She was a member of the golden generation of the Super Falcons that reached the second round at USA 1999, where Nigeria narrowly lost the semifinal ticket to Brazil. She led the Falcons to win the African Women Championship title in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 and also led the team to participate at the Olympics for the first time, at Sydney 2000.

Omagbemi

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A

fter making his presence felt at the just concluded ITTF World Tour tagged Kuwait Open, Egypt’s Shady Magdy is hoping for a return to Lagos for the Nigerian Open scheduled for May 18 to 22 at the Molade OkoyaThomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The 20 year-old Egyptian defeated Nigeria’s Ojo Onaolapo to claim the U-21 title at the 2015 Nigerian Open and with his performance at the Kuwait Open; he is roaring to conquer in Lagos.

Despite being edged out in the semi-final of the Kuwait Open last weekend, the impact Magdy made in Kuwait caused heartaches to some top players from Japan and Denmark.

He caused a major surprise by beating Japan’s Toni Ryuzaki, the no.11 seed, in the first round and maintained his good form as the player with no current world ranking in the second round accounted for another Japanese Kohei Sambe, the no.4 seed, saving three match points in the fourth game, before gaining

and early lead the fifth and never looking back (3-11, 1210, 9-11, 15-13, 11-8).

Equally, in the opening round of the Men’s Singles qualification event, he had been in good form; he had extended Denmark’s Zhai Yujia, listed at no.105 on the current Men’s World Rankings, the full seven games distance (11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 117, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8).

But Magdy’s adventures came to a conclusion on March 18 at the semi-final stage of the U-21 Men’s Singles event. He found the fast attacking skills of Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit, the no.2 seed, just too hot to handle; a straight games defeat was the order of the day (11-5, 11-3, 11-9).

Disappointed, the Egyptian said, “Looking back I have to be pleased with my level here. Now I want to play more high level matches; hopefully I will go to the Polish Open and the Nigerian Open.”

He is the defending champion of Nigerian Open U-21 Men’s Singles title, beating Ojo Onaolapo 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 last year.

ASMA conference holds in Abuja Joel AJAyi ABUJA

T

he third edition of international conference of African Sports Management Association, (ASMA) will hold in Abuja in June.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Engr.

Habu Gumel, disclosed this while giving an overview of the global symposium expected to witness the gathering of many professionals including sports managers, technocrats and scholars from several African countries.

Gumel said the conference which will hold between June 16 and 18, was first held in 2011, following the establishment of ASMA in 2010 with headquarters at Nairobi, Kenya.

ASMA, he explained exists to strengthen sports management practices in Africa.

“You will agree with me that establishment of NGO’s such as this should be encouraged as it will go a long way to chart a new roadmap for sports management

Sports 47

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

and development not only in Nigeria but also in Africa and beyond.

“With time, I will recommend that ASMA be affiliated to International Olympic Committee, (IOC) for more improved efficiency,” the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) who doubles as a member of IOC submitted.

Earlier, Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, represented by Director Grassroots Sports Development, Dr. Ademola Areh, assured of Federal Government readiness to support any well-meaning sporting organisation tailored towards assisting to develop Nigerian sports.

Also speaking, Vice President of ASMA, Sylvester Ikuejamoye, was optimistic of an organised sporting sector free of rancor in Nigeria, adding; “We are looking at the possibility of a well-structured administration in Nigeria which will limit incessant frictions in various sporting organisations.”

T/tennis: Egypt’s Magdy thinks Nigerian Open Shady Magdy

Doping: CAA wants African athletes to stay clean

P

resident of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Kalkaba Malboum, has expressed sadness over the growing practice of doping among African athletes.

Malboum said in Yaounde, Cameroun that if the practice was not nipped in the bud, it could well spread like a wild fire.

“So, we need to protect those athletes who are not part of this despicable practice. The abusers are in fact a minority and definitely not the exaggeration portrayed by overseas media.’’

Malboum, who is also the Vice President of International Association of Athletics Association (IAAF) said athletics on the continent needed protection from its own African media.

He said this was when and where overseas media distorted facts or exaggerated the truth.

“But we are not asking African media to condone doping and any other wrong doing.

“But it’s also a fact that

the majority of African athletes are being tainted by a minority, and we need to protect that.

“It is sad that there are serious allegations and disciplinary actions

against some, either in Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco, for example by the IAAF,” Malboum added.

He said the CAA currently has no financial capacity to create its own

laboratories, which it can equip in order to carry out its own doping tests on the continent.

He urged Africans to take charge of their own destiny.

Air Force maiden games end in Kaduna tomorrow

T

he maiden Inter Command Combat Sports Competition of the Nigeria Air Force which began on Monday in Kaduna with 500 athletes participating, ends tomorrow.

The event, which drew participants from all Air Force Commands and sister agencies was declared open by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Danali.

Danali, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs. Osai Sai, said the event was a celebration of the successes recorded by the military against Boko Haram and an opportunity to assess the combat readiness of the personnel.

“Even more important is the fact that an event of this nature is being organised at a time the NAF and its sister services are making meaningful gains against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North

Eastern part of Nigeria,” the minister said.

Chief of Air staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, also said the event would “test the physical and mental readiness of personnel to test the challenges of combat situations.”

“I am confident that entrenching this form of sports at all levels in the NAF would make us more effective in discharging our constitutional responsibilities.”

According to him, sol-

Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar

diers approach to fitness at all times must be centred on the concept of “total fitness for war”.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the athletes are competing in boxing, taekwondo, shooting, combat relay, obstacle crossing, and combat swimming.

The athletes were drawn from Kaduna, Makurdi, Bayelsa and Lagos Commands of the Air Force, as well as the Air Force Headquarters, Abuja.

WORLD RECORD

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

N150

Vol. 06 No. 1331 Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Anti-corruption drive: A war that must be won

C

orruption as a hydra-headed monster glories in the gory of its recidivistic propensities. Whosoever declares war against this metastatic malady must be prepared for martyrdom, because corruption will fight back with maniacal viciousness.

The outlandishly weird responses we are getting from the vast majority of Nigerians on the declared anti-corruption war by the Muhammadu Buhari administration glaringly shows that many Nigerians are not yet ready to join Mr. President in this once in a life time fight to salvage the soul of a nation from the horrendous graft that has hobbled it.

Indeed, it beggars belief that corruption and its psychotic practitioners are now hiding under the canopy of the rule of law, democracy, human rights and freedom to avoid authentic justice, thereby strangulating the jugular of the fight

L

eicester City manager, Claudio Ranieri, once again played down his team’s Premier League title chances after their seventh win in nine games kept them five points clear of second-placed Tottenham after the latter’s win over Bournemouth last Sunday.

Guest Columnist

Benson

Gbinije

against corruption. In the words of Augustus Caesar “In times of war, the laws are silent”. We cannot fight corruption and deracinate it with all the legal acrobatics and Machiavellian manipulations we have been witnessing.

Agreed, democracy thrives under the rule of law, but, the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ must be discretionarily invoked to enable us move forward in this woeful fight against corruption. In his prophecy just before the French revolution, S.T. Joust posited that “soon, enlightened nations will put on trial those who had hitherto ruled over them; kings shall flee into the deserts into the company of the wild beasts whom they resemble and nature shall resume her rights”.

Some well meaning Nigerians have advised President Buhari to adopt the Parento’s Principle, which stipulates that 20 percent of governance time is dedicated to the past, in governance. What this means is that 20 percent of Nigeria’s resources will be used to go after looters, while 80 percent should be given to creating an enabling environment for Nigerians. Some have suggested the stoppage of the fight against corruption, while some have said we should go back to 1960 to enable us do a complete overhaul.

We are all entitled to our opinions, but I think the situation is so desperate that it calls for a much more drastically desperate solution. The kernel does not bring out oil unless it is subjected to intensive heat.

I believe that Buhari should dedicate 100

Those who fighT corrupTion also have To fighT The aggressiveness and impuniTy of The corrupT percent of this administration’s time to fighting the monster of corruption and by doing so the gains of fighting corruption will yield dividends in terms of all-embracing developmental strides for the vast majority of Nigerians. To go back to 1960 or whatever time frame is not relevant because as evidences begin to come out the suspects will be called upon to answer question, or say what they know about the charges, notwithstanding the parenthetical placidity of time. Therefore, the time frame of 1999 or only the Jonathan administration is wrong.

Let investigations, probes on corruption in Nigeria be ongoing as an openended omnibus. It must transcend the totality of the Nigerian system. It should not be seen as a Buhari/APC, PDP, APGA or a political act of witch hunting. The fights against corruption must cut across the totality of the nation; it is a moral and ethical war which must involve every Nigerian and all our institutions.

It is said that those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat their mistakes. We remember the admonitions of

the late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzogwu in his speech during the January 15, 1966 coup: “Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds”. We must make sacrifices by joining the bandwagon against corruption in Nigeria.

Buhari, must humbly call for laws, jurisdictional canons and amendments to the constitution etc, to invest him, the EFFC, ICPC and such-like bodies with special powers to fight corruption. Nigerians must make sacrifices and the laws must be silent in certain respect to enable us fight this corruption magus and lamia to a standstill.

BUHARI MUST BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT because when you fight corruption, corruption fights back with vehemence. Those who fight corruption also have to fight the aggressiveness and impunity of the corrupt. Their weapons include manipulation of the judicial system, shameless deployment of primordial, regional and ethno-religious sentiments, as well as trying to reduce the issue of corruption and economic sabotage through splendiferous political dramaturge to a superfluity of political nothingness.

The essayist Herbert Spencer said “every unpunished delinquency has a family of delinquencies”, and this is buttressed

by Publillus Syrus when he said that “you yourself are guilty of a crime when you do not punish crime” and substantiated

by Napoleon Bonaparte in his saying that “the contagion of crime is like that of the plague”.

In this cause, Buhari and the totality of Nigerians must assert most vociferously their patriotic and unwavering commitment to stamping out corruption from Nigeria.

Sport Extra

EPL: Ranieri plays down Leicester title chances For the Italian, “focus” continues to be the buzz word as one of the most open Premier League seasons in the recent past enters a potentially dynamic and dramatic final stretch.

The 64-year-old manager underlined his side’s small-team tag and

adhered to the cautious stance he has embraced right from the point underdogs Leicester jumped into the fray as title contenders.

“There are seven matches to go, but it’s not easy for us. We’re Leicester. We’re not a team like Manchester City or Chelsea, five points or

eight points clear... that would be finished,” Ranieri told the club’s website (www.lcfc.com).

Leicester’s remaining fixtures include two potentially key games against teams perched at top five of the table: West Ham at home on April 17 and Manchester United away on May 1.

Ranieri

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