Wed oct 26 2016

Buhari seeks NASS approval to borrow $29.9bn

•Money to fund Amnesty, NYSC George Oji, George Opara and Ubong Ukpong Buhari

Vol. 6 N0. 1469

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly, seeking

approval of $29.960bn external borrowing (rolling) plan for 2016-2018.

In the letter dated October 20, Buhari exCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Amosun seeks special status for Ogun in revenue P.9 allocation

Amosun

National Mirror Online @NationalMirror Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Judgegate

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Agbakoba, Agbaje call for Amaechi’s resignation It’s mere allegation–Adetola-Kazeem, Quaker Enugu assembly backs compulsory retirement of embattled chief judge

Wale Igbintade and Doosuur Iwambe

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enior lawyers are divided on whether or not the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi should step aside, following allegations that he tried to influence the outcome of some election petition cases.

Two justices of the Supreme Court, Inyang CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

No plans to increase fuel price – NNPC P.6 L-R: Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; out-going governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole; Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima and Sokoto State’s Aminu Tambuwal, after a special valedictory session in honour of Oshiomhole, during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ANAYO OPARA

Ondo 2016: Why Jegede can’t contest as PDP candidate –Poroye P.4

Tragedy as 3 die in Onitsha mysterious well

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Senators seek reintroduction of toll fares on federal P.5 roads Ekiti alerts residents to possible herdsmen attack

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Agbakoba, Agbaje call for Amaechi’s resignation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta had accused the minister of offering them bribe to help influence the apex court’s decisions in some election cases.

In separate letters to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the two accused Amaechi of instigating

their ordeal because they refused to deliver judgement in his favour.

The two justices were among the seven judges arrested recently by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS. Speaking with National Mirror on whether the minister should relin-

quish his post pending investigation of the bribery allegations made against, a former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN said that although the bribery allegation has not been proved, international best practice demands that he should step

down pending investigation of the matter.

According to Agbakoba the way the matter is handled will depend on how the President wants people to perceive his fight against corruption.

He said: “International best practice suggest that whenever such allega-

Founder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates (left) and Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, copanelists at the Le Monde Philanthropy Forum at the Le Monde headquarters in Paris on Monday.

Buhari seeks NASS approval to borrow $29.9bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

plained that the borrowing plan would enable the Federal Government to execute various sectoral development projects in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation, poverty reduction through social safety net programmes and governance and financial management reforms, among others.

In the 3-page letter addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara respectively, Buhari stated that $11.274bn is for special national infrastructure projects, while $10.686bn is for Euro bonds of $4.5bn and Federal Government Budget Support of $3.5bn.

Underscoring the urgency of the facilities, the President urged the two chambers of the National Assembly to convey timely

consideration and approval of the proposal.

He explained further that the projects and programmes in the borrowing plan were “selected based on positive technical economic evaluations as well as the contribution they would make to socioeconomic development of the country, including employment generation and poverty reduction and protection of the most vulnerable and very poor segment of the Nigerian society.”

He added: “Considering the huge infrastructure deficit currently being experienced in the county and enormous financial resources required to fill the gap in the face of the dwindling resources and the inability of our national budgetary provisions to bridge the deficit, it has become necessary to resort to prudent external borrowing to bridge the financing gap which will

largely be applied to infrastructure projects namely: power, railway, and road projects among others.”

The President also disclosed that the World Bank has approved $125m loan for the procurement of vaccines and other ancillary facilities urgently required to effectively embark on the campaign to stop and eventually eliminate polio outbreak especially in the North East region, and other states.

Other projects include $75m for community and social development project, $125mfor Nigeria States Health Programme Investment Project; $100m for State Education Programme Investment Project; $100m for Nigeria Youth Employment and Social Support Project and $50m for FADAMA III Project respectively.

Buhari has assured the lawmakers of the resolve of his administration to ensure prudent utilisation

of the funds, adding that the proposed external borrowing plan will accommodate some emergency projects that require immediate and urgent approval to avert long term damage.

Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday requested the National Assembly to authorize the virement of N180.9bn from the N500bn appropriated for Special Intervention Programme in the 2016 budget to finance other urgent priority projects.

The priority projects are the Amnesty programme, National Youth Serve Corp, NYSC, and the Public Service Wage Adjustment, PSWA. Buhari’s request was contained in two separate letters he forwarded to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives yesterday.

The President’s letter to the senate was read by CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

tions are made and you occupy a very serious position, then it is in your interest to take a leave of absence.

“It happened when the minister for defense in Canada was accused of giving a contract to his friend, he stepped aside pending when the matter was investigated.”

Agbakoba wondered why three weeks after the DSS operatives raided the homes of the judges; the Federal Government was yet to file charges against them.

Also speaking on the issue, human rights lawyer, Fred Agbaje said Amaechi should be suspended from office pending when the allegation is resolved.

He said: “It is a mere allegation until proven against him. He will still have to remain in office.

But what government can do for now is that he can be suspended from work until the allegations leveled against him are proven.”

Professor Fidelis Oditah, SAN, wondered why the judges waited until now before raising the bribery allegation.

“Why didn’t they (judges) complain when he told them to miscarry justice?

Why did they wait until they were arrested before saying such childish things? Whether it is true or not is now irrelevant,” he said.

Also speaking, Chief Gani Adetola-Kaseem, SAN, said the onus is on the judges to prove the bribery allegation.

He said: “It is an allegation which Amaechi has denied. So, the onus is on the judges to establish the truth. There are consequences for all these because attempted bribery is a crime.

“So, it depends on the evidence they have against him. Right now it’s the judges’ words against Amaechi’s words.”

Similarly, Norrison Quakers, SAN, stated that there was no need for Amaechi to step down as a minister, since Nigeria operates constitutional democracy that says an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“It is a mere allegation that has not been proven; it has not been established.

Our law is clear that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“Yes, his name has been mentioned in a bribery scandal. It has not been subjected to any form of investigation, therefore it will be improper for us to draw concussions until the issue is established.

“It is not one that will require his exiting from the government of the day because what the judges said are mere allegations and has to be substantiated and has to be proven.

“It is when the allegation has been proven and Amaechi is confronted with facts that it will become necessary for such a political officer holder to give up his office.

“You and I know that here in Nigeria; until somebody kicks the person out, nobody will leave government office on account of mere allegation,” he said.

All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State had earlier defended the minister, saying he cannot offer bribe to to buy justice.

The party which claimed that the minister has fear of God, dismissed the allegations that Amaechi had met the two justices to seek favour for APC governorship candidates.

Already, the NBA had asked judges affected to step aside pending the investigation of the matter in order to give the process a level playing field.

In another development, Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday ratified the compulsory retirement of the former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Innocent Umezulike, as recommended by the National Judicial Council, NJC. This followed a letter brought before the assembly by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the ratification of the recommendation.

Speaking during the debate, Mr. Sunday Udeokoye (PDP-Awgu North) described the compulsory retirement of Umezuike as ‘painful’ to his constituency.

“Umezulike is from my constituency and he is a CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Ondo 2016: Why Jegede can’t contest as PDP candidate Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

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hairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, Prince Biyi Poroye, yesterday said Eyitayo Jegede was not a card-carrying member of the party.

Poroye said Jegede was not qualified to contest the November 26 governorship election on the platform of the party since he was not known to be a PDP member.

The PDP chairman wondered why the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice should make a statement credited to him that the authentic candidate of the party, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, was not a member of the party.

Poroye, who stated this in a statement made available in Akure, the state capital, stressed that it was like a case of a thief accusing the rightful owner of stealing his property.

He said: “The truth of the matter is that Jegede joined our party in November 2014 alongside his boss, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, when the later abandoned the Labour Party (LP) platform which he used to win the 2007 election and a second term in 2012.

“Even at that, Jegede only came into the new party as a technocrat working with the gover-

nor as Commissioner for Justice and AttorneyGeneral and not as a cardcarrying member of any political party, not even LP. “And if by now, he likes to join PDP as a member and wants to contest any election, he will apply for waiver to the state chapter through his ward chairman. I, as the state chairman, reserve the right to grant the waiver or reject it.

“You now wonder how can that person now turn around to say an outstanding leader and promoter of the party in the state, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, is not a member; somebody who single-handedly bought 25 18-seater Toyota buses for the party and gave each of the 18 local government areas N10m to run the party offices in the council areas.

“Even the governor himself is yet to beat this record in the history of running the affairs of a political party in this state.”

Poroye berated some leaders of the party in the state, who, according to him, betrayed their people and shamefully aligned with Governor Mimiko.

“But as God would have it, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim secured the PDP ticket from the Southern Senatorial District when it became imperative that the people of Ondo State are ready to rotate the slot

to either North or South through their votes.

“That is the reason the people are happy now that

Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim is the candidate of PDP and they are ready to vote for him on November

26 as the next governor of the state instead of a stooge forcefully pushed forward to distort the

L-R: MD, Shell Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbo; Director, Shell Global Upstream, Mr. Andrew Brown; President Muhammadu Buhari and Shell Vice President, Nigeria and Gabon, Mr. Peter Costello, during Mr. Andrew Brown courtesy visit to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Agbakoba, Agbaje call for Amaechi’s resignation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

sound judge and made an impact as a chief judge.

“It is painful that he had to leave when he still had two years before this unfortunate incident.

“Since it has been backed by law, what happened to Umezulike can happen to anybody and for that we all take the condition in good faith,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Emeka Ogbuabo (PDP-Isiuzo)

said Umezulike was appointed a judge in 1993, but regretted that he did not retire with a national honour.

Umezulike was sanctioned on Septemebr 29 after investigations of abuse of office and corruption by NJC. The state governor has already appointed Justice Ngozika Emehelu as the Acting Chief Judge.

Ugwuanyi sent the message to the assembly

seeking its stand on the compulsory retirement in pursuant to the constitution as amended.

The assembly unanimously agreed on the ground that the constitution backed such punishment for misconduct.

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello yesterday reiterated his support for the ongoing anti graft war, but added that it should be done in

Buhari seeks NASS approval to borrow $29.9bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at yesterday’s plenary.

“The total recurrent expenditure requirement to be transferred is N166,630,886,954 while the capital expenditure requirement to be transferred is N14,208,367,476,” Buhari stated in the letter.

A breakdown of the N180.9bn transfer showed that Public Service Wage Adjustment takes the lion share of N71.8bn, followed by the Amnesty Programme, which took N35bn, while mobilisation of corps members received N19.7bn.

Others are: Foreign Missions; N14.6bn; Operation Lafiya Dole, N13.9bn; Nigerian Air Force, N12.7bn; Internal Operations of the Armed Forces, N5.2bn; Margin for Increase in Cost, N2bn, while Presidential Initiative for the North East received N1.5bn.

Also, contingency, salary shortfall for Public Complaints Commission got N1.2bn each.

Cadet Feeding of Police Academy, Kano and Augmentation of Meal subsidy for Unity Colleges received N932.4m and N900m respectively.

Explaining the need to make more funds available to the amnesty pro-

rotational arrangement of the party as if people from other districts have been enslaved to the central,” Poroye said.

gramme, the President said: “Only N20bn (already fully released) was provided in the 2016 budget for the Niger Delta Amnesty Progrmme.

“Consequently, the allowances to ex-militants have only been paid up to May 2016. This is creating a lot of restiveness and compounding the security challenge in the Niger Delta.”

On the NYSC funding, Buhari said: “The provision for NYSC in the 2016 budget is inadequate to cater for the number of corpers to be mobilised this year.

“In fact, an additional N8.5bn is required to cover the backlog of 129, 469 corps members who are

currently due for call-up but would otherwise be left out till next year due to funding constraints.”

The President’s letter also explained why N71.8bn has to be transferred from the intervention programme.

“Similarly, the provision for meal subsidy for the Unity Colleges is inadequate for the number of students in the schools.

“Also, there was no provision for feeding of cadets at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano. These situations are hampering the operations of the affected agencies.

“The provision for Statutory Transfer to

the Public Complaints Commission, PCC, was reduced to N2bn in 2016 from N4bn in 2015. “Consequently, the agency is experiencing difficulty in paying salaries of its personnel as and when due.

“Due to the devaluation of the Naira, the budgetary provisions for the foreign missions are no longer sufficient to cover all their costs.

“The provision for Presidential Initiative for the North East (N12bn) has a balance of less than N1.5bn, and there continue to be emerging challenges with the Internally Displaced Persons (lDPs) in the zone,” the letter added.

line with laid down rules and procedures.

In an address to mark the commencement of the court’s 2016/2017 legal year in Abuja, Justice Bello solicited the support of relevant agencies in eradicating corruption within the judiciary, adding however that it should be within legal limits and in line with the laid down rules and procedures.

While admitting that the judiciary is going through trying times, Justice Bello said: “I am bold to say that the judiciary is determined to eradicate corruption within its fold and seek support of relevant security agencies.

“However, this should be within the legal limits and in line with the laid down rules and procedures.”

He expressed dissatisfaction with the low utilisation of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, by lawyers and litigants and urged lawyers and other court users to embrace the system in order to enjoy the many advantages it offers and to also decongest the court.

He noted that out of the 22,634 cases the court contended with in the 2015/2016 legal year, 9,895 were completely dealt with.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

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43% of Nigerian girls pregnant before 18 –Report Marcus Fatunmole and Winner Ajibola

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atest world population report shows that nearly half of girls in Nigeria are impregnated before they clock 18 years, approved by the country’s constitution for marriage.

The report titled, “State of the World Population 2016”, was launched by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Tuesday.

This year’s report focused on the fate of 10 year old girls worldwide, with the theme “10: How our future depends on a girl at this decisive age.”

It sought to ensure girls get adequate care and support they need from their parents, society and government to enable them become

successful in future. While emphasising her increased relevance to global polity by 2030, the report linked the 10-year-old girl with attainment or otherwise of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. Deputy Country Representative, UNFPA, Mr. Eugene Kongnyuy, said while giving the overview of Nigeria’s portion of the report: “If we look at data from Nigeria, we find that 43 per cent of girls get married before 18, and 17 per cent of them even before 15. “We notice that for girls that are not in school, the percentage is even higher, it is 82 per cent.

They will get married before 18. But, this varies between states. “In the South-East states, it is just 10 per cent.

In the North-West, it is 75 per

cent. You see how things happen in geographic variations.

“For children who have completed secondary school, only 13 per cent of them get married (immediately) after secondary school. This is disastrous, we have to change this. We must change. We cannot achieve the SDGs if these figures remain the way they are.”

Kongnyuy explained that more than half of 10 years old girls are living in countries with highest level of gender inequality, and that if countries of the world do

not tackle discrimination, the expected rate of growth would not be achieved.

“Nigeria alone accounts for 47 per cent of out-ofschool girls. The out-ofschool rate differs between boys and girls.

“There are more boys in school than girls, although the out-of-school is still high for both.

“We equally noticed that even in some areas, like in the north, two-third of girls participate in generating household income. “Less than one percent of them

have a bank, which implies that they are working for other people, they are not paid for what they are doing.

“Almost 11 million of children in junior secondary age are out of school. And, almost five million children of primary school age are out of school. “Now, this is what we do concerning child labour when we do analysis of data from different countries.

“We realize that child labour rates are higher in countries with the highest proportion of 10 year old population.

“What does this imply? It implies that when there are many children, and this is because in a family, you have 10 children, and you are not ready to feed those 10 children. They have to work. So, there must be child labour somewhere.

Dependency ratio here is high. In those countries, they force children to work,” he added.

He listed obstacles to girlchild wellbeing to include health challenges, violence, education, lack of economic opportunities, and denial of rights.

FG warns NAFDAC, SON against importation of poisonous food Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

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ational Economic Council, NEC, has warned the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and other agencies that deal with quality of goods not to allow importation of poisonous food items into the country.

NEC is constitutionally chaired by the Vice President with the state governors, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as well as other co-opted members.

The council is saddled with the responsibility of advising the President on economic affairs.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said the council expressed concern over some of the foods imported into the country.

“We were concerned about some of the items imports into this country in the name of food and we have cautioned seriously that SON, NAFDAC

and other agencies that deal with quality of goods should do their utmost best so that rubbish is not sent into this country in the name of food.

“We realised that some of the frozen chicken and fish imports into this country are being preserved with very dangerous chemicals. So we are of the opinion that this area should be looked into,” Okorocha said.

The governor also disclosed that council resolved that agriculture should continue to take the center stage in the country for the nation to be able to feed itself.

At the council meeting, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun disclosed that the balance of the Excess Crude Account, ECA, for October stood at $2.4bn.

The council also endorsed plan by the Federal Government to increase the contribution of the solid minerals sector to the nation’s treasury.

Following presentation to the council by Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, the council also approved the appointment of professional revenue consultants to achieve the goal.

L-R: Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Lehmann; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mohammed Abbas; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Chairman of the occasion, Amb. Joseph Anyaogu and Head, Consulting and Mining Leader, PWC, Nigeria, Mr Cyril Azolu, at the opening of Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja, yesterday.

Senators seek reintroduction of toll fares on federal roads George Oji ABUJA

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enators Tuesday made a strong case for the reintroduction of fares across federal high ways in the country as a way of generating needed revenue for the maintenance of roads.

The lawmakers expressed this desire while contributing to a motion sponsored by Senator Suleiman Nazif entitled, “Need for the Re-establishment of Toll Gates on our Federal Highways.”

All the senators who contributed spoke in favour of the motion and stressed the need why the reintroduction was timely.

At the end of the debate, the lawmakers mandated its Committee on Works to carefully study the toll gate strategy together with oth-

er relevant stakeholders to determine the effective and efficient ways to carry out the policy aimed at producing a holistic package to generate funds for roads maintenance in the country.

Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at yesterday’s plenary, lauded the move.

He urged the Committee on Works to do a thorough job and report back as soon as possible to plenary so that they could take a final position on the issue.

The senate had in December 2015, passed a motion calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to reintroduce toll gates across the country in order to reduce the burden of funding the maintenance of roads on the Federal Government.

That resolution is yet

to be complied with, 10 months after.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the disbandment of all toll gates across the country on December 30, 2003. The directive however did not take effect until January 1st, 2004.

Obasanjo based his reason for scrapping the policy on claims that it had outlived its usefulness.

He had also stated that the scheme was placing serious financial burden on Nigerians who were also over burdened by other monetary demands.

In his lead presentation of the motion yesterday, Nazif said the purpose of the proposed reintroduction was to generate revenues, which will aid effective and efficient maintenance of Federal Highways.

He stated that the deplor-

able state of roads across the country has become a national shame and unnecessary embarrassment.

The lawmaker noted that the re-establishment of toll gates will solve the problem of dilapidated road networks.

He said: “Besides revenue generation, the presence of toll gates which are normally managed by armed security agents provides a level of safety for road users. The government cannot fund road construction alone.

“The poor state of roads in Nigeria has remained for many years a great source of risk for travelers and transporters. Cases of road accidents being reported daily in the new media paint terrible and pathetic pictures of this ugly development.”

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

NEWS

L-R: Head, Resourcing and Talent Management, Stanbic IBTC, Carol Olayi; Country Head, Human Capital, Stanbic IBTC, Olufunke Amobi; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni and Head, Reward, Recognition and Performance, Stanbic IBTC, Temitope Popoola; at the Annual 48th National Conference of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management in Abuja recently.

Stanbic IBTC won the Human Resources Best Practice Company of the Year at the event.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Suntory Beverage and Foods Nigeria Limited, Rajiv Das; Plant Director, Agbara Plant, Seyi Adesomi; Managing Director, Chinedum Okereke and Marketing Director, Rosemary Akpo, during a press conference to announce the entrance of Suntory Beverage and Foods Nigeria Limited, into the Nigerian Market, in Lagos, yesterday.

to si-

L-R: Speaker, Dr. Theodore Okonkwo(PhD); Legal Practitioners, Mrs. Ipaye Nwachukwu; Babatunde Ogala; Barr.(Mrs) Pauline Nwandu and President and Founder, Crusade for Justice, Barr. Richard Nwankwo, during the 14th year anniversary/Annual Lecture of Crusade for Justice, with topic: The Role of EFCC, ICPC and other agencies in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Consultant, International Road Safety Organization, Netherlands, Joop Goos; Chairman, Board of Transport Growth, Nigeria, Chief Osita Chidoka and Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, at the First International Transportation Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO:Jones Bamidele/NAN

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No plans to increase fuel price –NNPC Chidi Ugwu ABUJA

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igerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Tuesday said there is no plan by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of premium motor spirit (petrol) now or in the nearest future.

The corporation gave the assurance in Abuja, saying Nigeria has enough product in supply and still have a long term procurement contracts with the country’s suppliers.

Fielding questions from journalists, NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Garba Deen Muhammad, said every issue surrounding the foreign exchange challenge faced by petroleum marketers has been resolved by government.

Muhammad said in the past months and in the nearest future, adequate petrol

would be available in the country for consumers.

He therefore urged consumers to remain calm and not engage in panic buying.

He said: “There is absolutely no plan by government to increase fuel price above the N145 per litre. If there is going to be anything like that the agency responsible for regulating the price of petrol will definitely sensitise the people and give reasons for it.

“But as of this moment, there is no plan to do that and there is no need for that because we have more than enough supply. We have very robust stock of product in our custody.

“In addition to that we have long term procurement contract with our suppliers and the major reason for any possible hitch has been taken care of. We have enough supply to last us throughout the ‘ember’ months.”

On the forex challenge, he said: “They (petroleum mar-

keters) have been complaining and their complaints have been addressed adequately to their satisfaction.

A new window has been opened for them and in fact what is happening now is that we are waiting for them to deliver because we have fulfilled our own part of the bargain.

“We have a glut in the market; people have imported and waiting for off-takers to buy their products to sell and it in every parts of the

country.

“Discussion were held; negotiations were made within the committee that is making forex available to marketers including the CBN representatives and the marketers. The discussion started a few weeks ago and the window became effective two weeks ago. When people make complaints, you have to investigate and find solutions to the complaints.

“When we were explaining what the price modula-

tion will do, we said it would make the importation of petroleum products easier for everybody and the need to subsidise will not be there because prices will be determined by market forces. You buy and sell at prices that are acceptable to you. People sell at prices less that N145, and it is not magic but diligent pursuit of common-sense, and that is what has been responsible for the stability and we intend to maintain the mo-

mentum; there has not been any shift in policy since the new management of NNPC took over.”

Asked if there is subsidy, he said: “There is no subsidy in the market now. There is absolutely no plan to increase fuel price; there is no shortage even now and in the nearest future.”

The NNPC spokesman explained that the Kaduna and the Port Harcourt refineries are operational. He however did not give their capacity.

Protesting workers shut down NAFDAC headquarters Marcus Fatunmole ABUJA

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ngry staff of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Tuesday, shut down its headquarters in Abuja.

Continued protests by workers, which our correspondent learnt have

spanned two weeks, culminated in shutting down the agency’s premises.

Acting director-general of the agency, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, was shut out of the premises, and was not allowed in till about 11am.

“It was a perfect plot to embarrass her (Oni) following her insensitivity to our welfare,” one of the workers, who did not want her name

in print because of the risk of losing her job, told our correspondent.

“She thought she was smarter. She promptly called the police who came and rescued her. They opened the gate we had locked up and cordoned off our office. But, she should know that, that is not the solution. She should expect worse action from us if she fails to change and

listen to our cry,” the staff added.

A similar protest by the workers resulted in nearly a week-long strike by the agency over a year ago when former director-general of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, was in charge. Orhii was fired by President Muhammadu Buhari earlier this year alongside other heads of Federal Government agencies.

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Wednesday October 26, 2016

Ekiti alerts residents to possible herdsmen attack Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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kiti State government Tuesday alerted people of the state to possible attacks by the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, an umbrella body of herdsmen.

The state governor, Ayodele Fayose, who spoke Tuesday in reaction to reprisal threat by the MACBAN, which alleged

that some of their cattle were killed recently, said 5,000 cows did not equate a human life.

While dismissing Miyetti Allah’s claims that five of their cows were killed by members of the newly inaugurated AntiGrazing marshals of the state government, the governor said the five cows were alive and in state government’s custody.

The governor, who

charged Ekiti people to be on the alert against any attack by herdsmen, said: “I am using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of border towns in the state on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.”

He also reiterated his

resolve on the grazing law he signed in the state, saying, “for the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill, 2016 that was signed into law on August 29, 2016 remains in force.”

Miyetti Allah, had in a statement last weekend called on the Federal Government to intervene on the inauguration of the Anti-Grazing Marshals “before this macabre

Representative, Statistician General of the Federation, Mr. Chedi Joel, addressing students of Starville Secondary School, Abuja, during the educational visit to the National Bureau of Statistics, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Stop speaking for PDP, Sheriff warns Adeyeye George Opara ABUJA

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ational chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has warned the spokesman of the National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, to stop speaking for the party.

Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Bernard Mikko, in a statement Tuesday, said: “It will be contemptuous of the court order for Prince Dayo Adeyeye or any member of the illegal Makarfi caretaker contraption to speak for the PDP when a valid court order to the contrary is still subsisting.”

The PDP acting spokesman disclosed that the party’s “reconciliation

process appears to have relapsed due to Makarfi’s insistence not to disband when Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is inclined to stepping down at the next unity convention that will usher in new executive members of the party.”

It would be recalled that Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, had declared that the Senator Makarfi caretaker contraption was illegal.

The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to various comments on the state of affairs in the PDP credited to one Prince Dayo Adeyeye, claiming to be speaking as the national publicity secretary, particularly

as the reconciliation process appears to have relapsed due to Makarfi’s insistence not to disband when Senator Sheriff is inclined to stepping down at the next unity convention that will usher in new executive members of the party.

“On this premise, it was said to be contemptuous of the court order for Prince Adeyeye or any member of the illegal Makarfi caretaker contraption to speak for the PDP when a valid court order to the contrary is still subsisting.

“Adeyeye is hereby reminded that the terms of the MoU for reconciliation did not vitiate subsisting court orders and or without prejudice to pending legal matters.”

incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government.”

MACBAN spokesman, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, had in the statement, alleged that “Fayose unleashed the marshals against our members whose herds of cattle had gone to a stream at Agon bridge on Federal Polytechnic Road between 2.00pm and 2.30pm to quench their thirst on Friday, October 21.”

Ngelzarma alleged that “the vigilance group shot five cows and carted away the meat; but the herdsman were able to flee with the rest of his cattle.”

But the governor, who asked whether the lives of cattle is more important than that of human beings, queried why the group didn’t write President Muhammadu Buhari when their colleagues were killing hundreds in Benue and Plateau states respectively.

“Why didn’t Miyetti Allah that is now calling on President Buhari to warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands?

“Are their cows more important than human lives?

“To us in Ekiti State, lives of 5,000 cows cannot be equated with those of

7

human beings that are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.

MACBAN should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers. If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the state. After all, the law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano State and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some states in the North is also being enforced.”

The governor blamed the Federal Government for its silence on the development, saying, “four days after this threat was issued against the government and people of Ekiti State by the Miyetti Allah, the Federal Government is yet to act in any manner that will disabuse the minds of Ekiti people, who believed that the Federal Government is in support of the threat.

“The silence of the Federal Government has no doubt further confirmed the insinuation that there is plot to give tacit support to the herdsmen to invade some border towns and villages in Ekiti State and cause chaos in the state to justify the evil agenda of declaration of a state of emergency on the state,” he said.

NAAPE tasks FG to empower local airlines Olusegun Koiki

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ollowing the recent pull-out and reduction in frequencies of some foreign airlines on Nigerian routes, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, has called on the Federal Government to immediately empower local carriers.

President of NAAPE, Engr. Isaac Balami, told journalists in Lagos that it was necessary for the country’s carriers to take over the vacuum left behind by the foreign carriers, but said the airlines could not do this without the support of government.

Balami also predicted that more foreign carriers would depart the country’s sky soon as a result of the biting eco-

nomic situation in Nigeria.

On the domination of the country’s aviation sector by expatriates, Balami said government must enact laws to protect indigenous pilots and engineers, stressing that there should be job protection for the nation’s experts while government should equally discourage foreigners from taking over the jobs of indigenous engineers and pilots.

Besides, Balami observed that the absence of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facilities in the country had negatively impacted on the operations of airlines, but expressed hope that the maintenance facility in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, would soon start operations as arrangement was in top gear to put it into use.

He explained that Nigerian engineers could now conduct A, B, C and Dchecks on aircraft in the country, but lamented the absence of the facilities, which he said had affected their operations.

While commending government for duty free import on aircraft spare parts, Balami urged government to make the operating environment friendly to enable them function effectively.

On airline bailout, the NAAPE boss called on government not to give additional loan to airline operators, but make available aircraft to them on lease.

Balami further called for the availability of aviation fuel for airlines in the local market, stressing that the harsh economic environment was greatly affecting airlines’ operations.

8

Editorial

Wednesday October 26, 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 – MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO •AG. EDITOR, DAILY BEN MEMULETIWON

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•AG. HEAD, ACCOUNTS OKOCHA MADUEKWE

AFTERALL

FG and Nigeria’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ D espite their fighting spirit against all odds to stay afloat, Nigerian entrepreneurs are still bugged down by all manner of setbacks that hinder their toil and breakthrough in business. The Organised Private Sector (OPS) has consistently pointed the lapses. In Lagos State, for example, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has over the years been pointing out the difficulties posed to the business community nationwide by decrepit infrastructure, stress associated with sourcing funds, policy inconsistency and somersaults, legal strictures, corruption, insecurity, weak institutions, and so forth. Take access roads to the ports as one case in point. In its ‘Economic & Business Review in 2015 and Perspectives for 2016’, LCCI expressed concern over the deplorable state of roads leading to Apapa and Tincan Island ports in Lagos.

“These ports account for over 60% of the cargo into the country and an estimated 70% of customs revenue. The poor state of the roads has multifarious effects on the private sector, economy and the citizenry. Some of these effects are as follows: (1) Risk to the lives of citizens aris-

ing from containers falling off the trucks as a result of bad roads.

Several lives have been lost in recent past as a result of this. (2) Congestion at the ports resulting from the delay in the evacuation of cargo. (3) High demurrage paid by importers to Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies as a result of delay in the clearance and evacuation of cargo in the ports. (4) High cost of transportation for evacuating cargo because of the prolonged engagement of the trucks by importers arising from the delays. (5) Serious traffic congestion along the roads leading to the ports, which often spill over into the Lagos Metropolis causing severe traffic jam and loss of man hours. (6) Delays in getting raw materials and other inputs from the ports to the factory premises in Lagos and other parts of the country”, the body stated.

Through the year, according to LCCI, Nigeria drifted into economic and financial crisis following series of adverse developments in the international and domestic oil market, leading to several, panicstricken gate-keeping measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Since the crisis was a supply-side issue occasioned by the moribund international oil price and weak productive capacity, the demand approach through capital control further reduced liquidity in the system (affecting business operations, credit worthiness and image,

From the look of things, no tangible

job has been done on improving the of

Doing Business in Nigeria

increased inflation rate, reduced profit margin)”, the body stated.

When the year 2016 set in, LCCI identified three major economic drivers as frontiers of what it called ‘the expected boom in 2016’.

“First, the successful political transition in the country… Second, the curbing of fiscal leakages through the TSA (Treasury Single Account) … Lastly, the diversification strategy adopted by the government through import substitution and export promotion which aims at increasing and broadening income stream of the economy”, the report said. It is sad to point out, however, that less than three months to the end of 2016, the reality on ground largely reflects a weak national productive capacity, increased inflation rate and reduced profit margin for virtually all businesses in the land, all of which sustain widespread unemployment, dehumanizing poverty and suffering.

President Muhammadu Buhari, when he visited Kenya recently, said Nigeria would be one of the most attractive and easiest places of doing business in the world by

ON THIS DAY October 26, 1984 ‘Baby Fae’ received a heart transplant from a baboon.

Stephanie Fae Beauclair (October 14, 1984 – November 15, 1984) was an American infant born in 1984 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She became the first infant subject of a xenotransplant procedure, receiving the heart of a baboon. The transplant at the Loma Linda University Medical Center, California, United States, initially appeared successful.

Ease

October 26, 2000 Laurent Gbagbo took over as the president of Cote d’Ivoire following a popular uprising against President Robert Guei. Gbagbo (born May 31, 1945) was president from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011. A historian by profession, he is also an amateur chemist and physicist.

He was imprisoned in the early 1970s and again in the early 1990s, and he lived in exile in France during much of the 1980s as a result of his union activism.

2019. The President said his administration was implementing policies and measures to create right and enabling environment for business and investors in Nigeria. As at the time he was speaking in Kenya, Nigeria had been ranked 169 out of 189 countries by the World Bank’s 2016 Ease of Doing Business report.

Recall that from its 134th position in 2010, the country plummeted further to 137th in the 2011, according to World Bank Ease of Doing Business report. Economies are ranked from 1 – 183, while a high ranking on the index means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of business outfits. A nation’s ranking on the index is based on the average of 10 sub indices namely: Starting a business; Dealing with construction permits; Employing workers; Registering property; Getting credit; Protecting investors; Paying taxes; Trade across borders; Enforcing contracts; Closing a business. How easy nations make businesses thrive, based on these sub indices, determines their ranking on the WBEDBI. From the look of things, no tangible job has been done on improving the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria. Mr. President and his team should be at home with this truth and buckle up.

October 26, 2015 A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the Hindu Kush mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan, killing 398 people and leaving 2,536 others injured.

Tremors were felt in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Pakistan is in the most active quake zone in the world. The earthquake was also felt in New Delhi, among others.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

9

Amosun seeks special status for Ogun in revenue allocation Femi Oyeweso ABEOKUTA

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gun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has urged the Federal Government to accord his state a special status in the revenue sharing formula of the country.

The governor made the appeal while delivering his address at the ongoing four-day meeting of the 8th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, NCITI, holding in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Amosun explained that his state’s request for a special status in the federal revenue allocation was borne out of the fact that

Ogun has been officially acknowledged as the industrial hub of the country, adequately remitting excise duties to the covers of the Federal Government.

The governor who threw his weight behind the same call from his Lagos state counterpart, also explained that Ogun State is next to Lagos State in terms of non-oil revenue generation such as VAT, among others, for the Federal Government.

Amosun explained that his administration has realised the importance of partnering with the organised private sector towards boosting the potentials of the state, adding that about

N8bn currency scam: Court strikes out motion for separate trials

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ustice Nathaniel AyoEmmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Tuesday struck out a motion for separate trials filed by some of the accused persons in the case of the alleged N8 billion CBN currency scam.

Ayo-Emmanuel, in three separate rulings, held that the applicants should be more concerned with accelerated hearing of their cases rather than seeking separate trials.

The applicants are Patience Okoro, Afolabi Johnson, Sunday Ilori, Kolawole Babalola, Adeola Olaniran and Fatai Yusuf.

“I see no merit in these applications; same is hereby refused and struck out,’’ he held.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, recalls that the defendants in the case had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the

trial judge’s dismissal of their bail applications to no avail.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi, said evidence to be used against the defendants was available, adding that the prosecution was waiting for trial to commence.

But Dr. Akin Onigbinde, Mr Olalekan Ojo, K.A. Lawal and other defence counsel had argued that their clients should be separately tried.

NAN reports that the applicants along with others are standing trial on multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery, stealing and recirculation of mutilated N8 billion currencies, being property of CBN. The judge adjourned the case to November 3 for trial.

...backs Lagos demand 423 companies with a minimum of over two billion investment capital base are currently operating from Ogun State.

According to him, over 100 out of the 423 companies have opened shops since they commenced business operations in his state with 14 new ones in the process of being commissioned.

Amosun further stated

OSOGBO

O

sun State government Tuesday declared that the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, be opened for academic activities with immediate effect just as it declared that it would not relent in its efforts to reengineer its tertiary institutions.

It disclosed that it had set up visitation panels to the Osun State Colleges of

Education at Ilesa and IlaOrangun, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and Osun State College of Technology, EsaOke. Government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Sunday Olajide, said members of the visitation panels are men of proven integrity who had worked and acquired experiences over the years in various tertiary institutions.

“According to the 2014 Ease of Doing Business Sub-national rankings, our state recorded the most improvement of all the 36 states in Nigeria. This was compared to the state’s very poor ranking of 34th position at the inception of our administration in 2011.

“We also introduced the concept of a “One Stop Shop” to assist investors in their interactions with government, particularly during their early stages.

Private sector capable of taking Nigeria out of recession –Ambode Francis Suberu

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agos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Tuesday said the drive to take Nigeria out of recession lies with the private sector, stressing that the public sector must be willing and ready to work with the sector to get out of the economic quagmire.

Governor Ambode who spoke at the Lagos House in Ikeja when he received a delegation of the NigerianBritish Chamber of Commerce on a courtesy visit, said there is no doubting the fact that the economy of Lagos is in the hand of the private sector.

He expressed the willingness on the part of government to continue to ensure enabling environment for businesses to thrive, which according to him, was why his administration has been investing massively in security and other business incentives.

The governor said his administration believes that when people and investors are well-secured, busi-

No going back on re-engineering of government schools –Osun govt Boladale Bamigbola

that in view of the new business investments trooping into Ogun State, his administration has continued to complement their investments by maintaining and expanding on the existing infrastructure with the little revenue allocation it receives, just as new ones are being constructed.

“We have continued to reap the benefits of our

prudent financial management and re-engineered our Internal Revenue Generation, IGR, drive.

We have increased our IGR from the modest sum of N700 million monthly which we inherited at the beginning of our administration in 2011, to over N6 billion per month in 2014; though, currently reduced to an average of N4.8 billion monthly due to the current economic recession in the country.

The Permanent Secretary noted that in government’s bid to restore discipline and morality at the institutions, personnel audit exercises were carried out by the authorities of the four tertiary institutions.

The statement held that the reports of the visitation panels and the personnel audit teams submitted to government were thoroughly examined with particular reference to the various recommendations of the panels.

nesses thrives and more people would be employed, while the resources generated in terms of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, would be deployed to provide infrastructure for the people.

While justifying the recent joining of O’dua Investment Group by Lagos, the governor said his administration was of the strong view that the socioeconomic integration of western Nigeria depend majorly on Lagos State, adding that it was better

for states around Lagos to be equally prosperous to address migration issues.

Earlier, leader of the delegation and president of the council, Prince Dapo Adelegan, had congratulated Governor Ambode on the emergence of Lagos State as the fifth largest economy in Africa, adding that with the development, it was now important to globalise the economy of the state.

He said the chamber would be willing to partner with the Lagos State

Government not only to globalise the economy of the state, but also in the area of policy formulation, among other critical sectors.

Adelegan who lauded the various initiatives of the present administration in terms massive investment in security, job opportunities, Light Up Lagos and road projects, among others, also announced the decision of the chamber to inaugurate Governor Ambode as one of the patrons of the chamber.

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South West

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Miyetti Allah, VGN hold peace parley

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L-R: Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, Comrade Eze Nwagu; Director, Voters Education and Publicity, INEC, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi; Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, Comrade Tosin Adetanju and a newspaper columnist, Majeed Dahiru, during a round-table on emerging issues of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state, Abuja on Monday. PHOTO:NAN

You can’t suspend me, monarch tells Deji of Akure Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

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sinigbo of Isinigbo community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Samuel Elewuju, said the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade-Aladelusi, has no authority to suspend him as the traditional ruler of the community.

Oba Aladetoyinbo had in a letter dated September 9, 2016, suspended the traditional ruler of Isinigbo from office.

The Asinigbo was alleged to have conducted himself in a manner that brought disrepute to the traditional institution.

Oba Elewuju was also accused of dishonouring invitation of the committees set up to investigate the allegations preferred against him by the Ayetoro community.

“All these actions have brought contempt and disrespect to His Imperial Majesty, Deji and paramount ruler of Akureland.

“Consequently, you are hereby suspended and you are also to stop parading yourself as the Olu of Isinigbo forthwith. I am to add that this suspension is with immediate effect.

“A copy of this letter shall be sent to His Royal Majesty, Oba Oluwadare Agunbiade, the Oloba

of Oba-Ile, who shall direct that your stipend be stopped forthwith.

“A copy of this letter shall also be sent to the chairman, Council of Olus, Akure North Local Government Area, to declare your seat vacant for your deviant attitude to the revered institution of the Deji of Akureland,” Oba Aladetoyinbo wrote in the letter.

But in his reply to the Deji’s letter, Oba Elewuju claimed he was not under the authority of the Akure monarch, saying the suspension order had no effect on him.

The reply, written by Adeleye Rotimi on behalf of the 100-year-old tradi-

tional ruler, said: “As you may know sir, I am an Oba just as you are and under the supervision of the Akure North Local Government.

“My authority as an Oba is over Isinigbo and the people therein. I also have chiefs from different quarters of Isinigbo who assist me in the smooth administration of the good people of Isinigbo.

“In view of the above, please note that I am not under your authority as I am not within the Akure City. Hence, I hereby state that your letter of September 9, 2016 is of no effect on me. My suspension is therefore null and void and of no effect.”

Illegal oil export: Court rejects Total’s request to bar journalists Wale Igbintade

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Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday refused an application filed by Total E&P Nigeria Plc, asking the court to bar journalists from covering and reporting proceedings in the case of alleged illegal oil export filed by the Federal Government against the multinational oil company.

The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, in her ruling, dismissed the application, stating that she could not bar journalists from performing

their duty in court.

Federal Government had sued Total E&P Nigeria Plc, alleging that the oil company underdeclared the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.

Federal Government accused the oil company of short-changing it to the tune of $245,258,640 by allegedly shipping several barrels of crude oil out of the country without making due remittance to the government.

But, Total, through its lawyer, Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN), in an appli-

cation, urged the court to bar journalists from covering and reporting the proceedings.

He had argued that the media reports made it appear as if his client had already been found guilty of the allegations levelled against it by the Federal Government.

Fagbohunlu had argued that the media reports were pre-judging the case.

But in her short ruling yesterday, Justice Olatoregun dismissed the application, stating that she couldn’t bar journalists from performing their duty in court.

She reminded the counsel that the court was a public place, which was open to journalists. She however warned journalists to always report accurately.

The court had on September 30, 2016 dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Total, urging the court to dismiss the Federal Government’s suit for failing to disclose a reasonable cause of action.

Meanwhile, the court also granted an application by the Federal Government to amend its pleadings in the case.

repo Local Government Area of Oyo State recently held peace initiatives among cattle breeders association of Nigeria (MIYETI ALLAH) and vigilante group of Nigeria. The peace parley which is an ongoing event took place in Kishi with state chairman of Miyetti Alla,.

Alhaji Yakubu Bello, State Commander of VGN Comrade S.A Olayide, Commisioner of Police represented

by Kishi divisional Police Officer, Security Service Officers and Civil Defence Corps. Also in attendance are traditional rulers as well as Serikis of both Hausa and Fulani communities in the area.

In his opening remark, Alhaji Yakubu Bello traced the genesis of the peace initiative to constant reports of criminal activities being leveled against Fulanis across the country which became very constant shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in. Being the grand patron of the association of cattle breeders in the country, the President immediately held meetings with the national leadership of the association and mandated them to find a lasting solution to the problem, the result of which we are now seeing.

The Chairman thereafter inaugurated a security committee for the Local Government area whose mandate is to ensure that there is peace within the local government area between the Hausa/Fulani communities and their hosts..

In his own address the state commander of VGN, Comrade S.A. Olajide thanked the state chairman of Miyeti Allah for the initiative. He said that with the assistance of the police and other security agencies, Miyeti Allah and VGN are gradually getting rid of criminal elements in Oyo State. He said though robbery and kidnapping is gradually becoming a thing of the past, it is not over yet until when peace is achieved between farmers and Fulani herdsmen. He however advised the Serikis to give up anyone in their community they known is a criminal to avoid the embarrassment their arrest might cause them.

Finally, he said crime cannot be committed in Isolation; there must be collaborators among members of their host communities, he warned Yoruba leaders not to shield their people from the laws.

Group tasks women on scourge of breast cancer

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non-gover nmental organisation, Health Education and Empowerment Initiative, HEDEN, has expressed regret that many Nigerian women are victims of cancer as a result of ignorance about the killer disease.

This regret was expressed by the executive director of the organisation, Mrs. Folasade Ofurune, in a press statement issued after an enlightenment programme by HEDEN at Oniyoyo community, Robiyan, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Ofurune said the organisation had found out in the course of its enlightenment campaign that many women remained unaware of cancer and the danger that comes with it.

Her words: “It is regrettable that despite the ongoing campaigns on cancer, many women are unaware of the killer disease. That is why we have contin-

ued to intensify efforts at spreading the news and educating women generally on how to discover cancer at the early stage and move against it.

“The World Health Organisation, WHO, has said one in every eight women is at risk of having breast cancer in her lifetime and that makes the awareness and diagnosis of breast cancer very compelling and with constancy.”

Ofurune added that the fear of the organisation was also confirmed by some of those at the programme who declared that they had never heard about the killer disease until the campaign.

Ofurune highlighted the need for Breast Self Examination, BSE, noting that early detection saves lives.

She urged women to engage in regular breast self-examination after their monthly period and report any unusual sign to a doctor.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

11

Health workers protest reinstatement of Owerri FMC boss Chris Njoku OWERRI

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embers of the Joint Health Workers’ Union, JOHESU, numbering over 2,000 in the South East, South South and South West geo-political zones of the country Tuesday converged in Owerri, Imo State, to protest the reinstatement of the embattled Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, Dr. (Mrs.) Angela Uwakwem.

Five unions, comprising the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals and Research Institutes, disrupted free flow of traffic along major roads, thereby paralysing socio-activities in the state capital.

The protest which was guided by the Nigeria Po-

…insist she has 18-count charge before EFCC lice, led by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, started from the state secretariat of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives on Wetheral road, Owerri, terminating at the Federal Medical Centre.

The protesters who were chanting union songs insisted that Dr. Uwakwem be removed from the centre.

Addressing the protesters, national chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, said they were in Owerri not to cause trouble but to address the injustice and corruption said to be perfected by some disgruntled elements in the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja.

He added that the reinstatement of Dr. (Mrs.) Uwakwem as the boss of the Federal health institution was against public / civil service rule, pointing out that in the present dispensation of President Muhammadu Buhari, there is no sacred cow.

According to Josiah,

who is also the national president of Health Workers Union, there were revelations of 18-count charges against Dr. Uwakwem pending before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, adding that the charges should have been discharged before her reinstatement.

He noted that Dr. Uwakwem was to appear before the EFCC to face the charges bothering on financial misappropriation on October 11, 2016 but that the case was adjourned to November 15, 2016, owing to

the absence of the presiding judge.

Josiah queried: “Why should the matter not be tried and concluded before her reinstatement?”

This, according to him, amounts to injustice and corruption of the highest order. “This shows that there are some ‘shadow parties’ in the Ministry of Health which Mr. President does not know,” he emphasised.

Josiah who said that salaries of workers were not paid, promotion of workers not effected and civil service rules not respected,

however, posited that there was no way there would not be anomalies in the health institution.

The union leader stated that since Dr. Uwakwem was not freed by the EFCC, reinstating her would enable her destroy all evidences that would implicate her in the course of adjudication.

Also, the national secretary of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Comrade Femi Obisesan, in his comment, described as lawless, the reinstatement of Dr. Uwakwem by the Federal Min-

istry of Health, insisting that the development is an anathema to the anti-corruption mantra of President Buhari.

In the same vein, secretary general of the Health Workers Union, Comrade Silas Adamu, described the officials of Ministry of Health as agents of corruption, adding that until the Federal Government identifies them, the fight against corruption mantra of Mr. President would be in vain.

Meanwhile, JOHESU had directed its workers in the FMC, Owerri, to stay at home until they receive circular from the national office to resume work.

NHRC investigates alleged encampment of lunatics, infants, pregnant women in Abakaliki prisons Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

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ational Human Rights Commission, NHRC’s special investigative panel Tuesday stormed Ebonyi State to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings that occurred at the Federal Prison, Abakaliki, on August 18, 2016 that resulted in the death of many inmates. Chairman of the panel, Barrister Anthony Ojukwu, said the committee was given a mandate to also investigate the alleged presence of lunatics, infants, pregnant women and nursing mothers in the prison yard.

The five-man investigative panel of the commission will spend four days on the exercise.

Ojukwu explained that a person with mental illness is not supposed to be in prison but taken to hospital for medical attention.

In her remarks, the state Comptroller of Prisons, Mrs. Emilia Oputa, said the killings at the prisons were re-

grettable.

She noted that she did not expect the inmates of the Abakaliki prisons to revolt against the officials as they were more relaxed than their Afikpo counterparts when she visited the two federal prisons on assumption of office.

The comptroller lamented that she was embarrassed by the inmates in the attempted jail break but vowed that such incidence would not happen again in Ebonyi State.

She however frowned at the suffering of the inmates at the prisons which, according to her, was caused by the delay in criminal justice in the state.

Responding, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Barrister Augustine Nwankwagu, said the state government is fully in support of the investigation by the committee, adding that Governor David Umahi would not renege in his promise to assist to improve the facilities in the prisons.

Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Most Rev. Dr Hillary Okeke receiving the 2016 Kwame Nkrumah Award for Leadership as most outstanding bishop on humanitarian service per excellence, in Nnewi, Anambra, recently.

Ugwuanyi seeks support for victims of Enugu herdsmen attack Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

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overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State Tuesday appealed to donor agencies and good-spirited individuals to support the victims of herdsmen attack in some communities in the state.

Ugwuanyi who made the appeal on the occasion of Enugu State One-Day Round Table Donor Conference, held at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, recalled that Enugu was enjoying absolute peace and security until the unfortunate

event of Monday, 25th April this year.

According to him, “the people of Ukpabi-Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area were viciously attacked by unknown persons and many lives were lost and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

“A judicial commission of enquiry is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding that incident.

“We also had such attack in Attakwu, Nkanu West Local Government Area, but we have taken strong measures, including the re-

cent constitution of a State Security Committee to prevent future incidents.

“However, the state appeals for support to ensure that victims of the attacks get back to their normal life.”

The governor described the conference as a platform “to solicit for more donor support in actualising all the development agenda of the state and invariably, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

He noted that the state had always been open to the reform initiatives of development partners, which he said “are usually integrated into our devel-

opment plans and geared towards achieving not only the state’s goals but also national and global goals.

“The state has, for instance, embraced the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and it is being integrated into the State Medium Development Plan, which is the instrument for driving our Four-point Development Agenda,” said the governor.

He applauded the development partners, especially the DFID, the UNICEF and the Southern Sahara Social Development Organisation for the roles they played towards organising the conference.

12

South South

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NPDC wants court to stop investigation into oil spillage N igerian Petroleum Development Corporation, NPDC, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, from continuing its investigation into oil spillage in the country.

Counsel to NPDC, Ayotunde Ogunleye brought an ex parte motion in this regard before Justice Ademola Adeniyi yester-

day.

Ogunleye prayed the court for a judicial review against the commission’s special investigative panel on oil spillage and pollution by prohibiting the panel from going on with the investigation.

Ademola, however, complained that the counsel was making reference to documents that were not before him.

He said the issue was

a serious one and that all necessary exhibits must be before him before he would consider the motion.

The judge adjourned

hearing of the motion till October 27 to enable counsel regularise their processes.

It would be recalled that NHRC, on February

21, set up a special investigative panel on oil spills and environmental pollution in the country.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof.

Bem Angwe, said the committee was set up following the myriad of petitions to the commission on oil spills and environmental pollution.

Tragedy: 3 die in Onitsha mysterious well

T

he mysterious death of three persons in a well located at No. 1, Hanik Street, at the Trans Nkisi Federal Housing, 33, Onitsha, has re-ignited the call for the completion of the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme.

The three corpses were recovered Tuesday after a native doctor was invited to perform some rituals.

Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Prof. Peter Katchy, described the situation as “chaotic and complicated.

“We don’t know the cause of their deaths yet whether or not it is a gaseous substance that killed them.

“That place does not look like a manual well or borehole. So, we call for more investigation to unravel the mystery,” Katchy said.

On his part, a resident of the area, Mr. Raymond Uzoma, blamed the mysterious deaths on the absence of potable water.

“I have lived in this area for the past 29 years; let government stop the drilling of borehole and complete the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme.

“We have recorded similar mysterious situations in private boreholes dug in the area.

“We are begging that Governor Willie Obiano gives us the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme so that people will stop digging holes everywhere in search of water,” Uzoma said.

Police presence was noticed at the scene, but the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in-charge of ‘33’

Police Station, Mr. Indyar Apev, declined to comment on the issue.

Apev however, said: “The corpses of the three victims have been recovered from the well,” adding that he had briefed higher authorities for appropriate action.”

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, Mrs Nkeiru Nwodu, said she could not confirm the incident as she was in a meeting.

An eyewitness said the first victim, simply identified as James, 34, was contacted three months ago to further dig the well in search of water.

The eyewitness said late James slipped-off into the well at about 10 a.m. on Monday but could not be rescued as at 6 p.m. when his relation, identified as Usai, 32, arrived to make efforts.

The source said Usai’s attempt to rescue his brother also failed as he did not make it out of the mysterious well.

The eyewitness said a third person, whose name was unknown also volunteered to go into the well with a rope tied around his waist but quickly came out of the well with bruises and swellings on the face.

“The third boy said he saw hands slapping and boxing him from different angles, making him to withdraw for his dear life,” the source said.

However, it gathered that efforts by an unidentified fourth person, who demanded N100, 000 to remove the other two victims, were futile as he also did not make it out of the well alive.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan(right) Union President, Noah Lachs, during his visit to Oxford University, United Kingdon, on Monday.

Commuters lament police extortion in Delta Elo Edremoda WARRI

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ommuters in Delta State have accused the police of incessant extortions.

In Effurun, Uvwie council area of the state, policemen from the Ebrumede Police Division have taken to two spots, Alegbo and Masoje Junction, along PTI Road and DSC Roundabout, to illegally collect money from commercial motorists.

Our correspondent, who was at the various scenes on Monday and Tuesday, reported that a police van bearing Anti-Crime Patrol, Ebrumede Police division, was parked at the entrance

of Alegbo road, while two policemen bearing guns tackled Keke Napep riders, another two were stationed after the junction to also deal with those coming from Alegbo road, leading to heavy traffic.

A Keke rider, who identified himself as Murphy told National Mirror that the same tactics were being employed at the two other locations and any driver who refused to give them money was asked to park at a corner or show the particulars of his vehicle.

“It is best to just give them the N50 and continue your work. If you don’t, they will ask you to park and bring your particulars.

Like that guy just now, you

saw that his passengers were discharged. We know these things are wrong.

Even the AIG announced that police is not supposed to check for particulars. But all these police people can just shoot you and put one gun on your body, framing you as a thief if you try to resist them,” Murphy said.

Attempts to get the reaction of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ebrumede police station were not successful.

Meanwhile, the state police command has warned security outfits under its jurisdiction to abide by the set rules of the Force.

The command also charged Deltans to rise up against various acts of in-

timidation and extortion by its men across the state.

Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, who described such practices as “unwholesome”, in a statement, stressed the Command’s respect for human rights and urged the general public to contact him when such issues arise.

The statement read: “This is to inform the general public that all police outfits operating in Delta State (SARS, Anti-Kidnapping, Federal Highway, Dragon Patrol, Area Command and Divisional Patrol teams) are to at all times strictly adhere to stated rules of engagement in addition to the ethics of good conduct of the Nigeria Police Force.

Train crushes elderly man, injures several others in Enugu Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

I

t was a horrible sight at the Ogbete Main Market, Enugu as an elderly man was Tuesday crushed to death by a speeding train.

The incident left residents weeping uncontrollably as they watched helplessly while the train killed the man instantly.

Several other people

were also left with various degrees of injury as the train which was on a high speed allegedly came to the area without hooting the horn.

The train is believed be returning from Port Harcourt, the River State capital, when the incident occurred.

It was learnt that some traders usually displayed their wares on the rail line.

However, once the train approaches, they would quick-

ly remove the goods.

An eyewitness disclosed that before killing the victim, the train had nearly smashed a Keke NAPEP operator at Zik Avenue area, before coming into the Ogbete market.

One of the drivers, who narrowly cheated death during the incident, said the train driver was reckless.

“God saved Nigerians because what the man driving the train planed was to mas-

sacre people.

“If not God, who made it possible for all the vehicles to move out of the road miraculously, we all would have perished,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebere Amarizu confirmed the incident.

He described it as horrible, wondering why the train driver should be on high speed without horning.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Politics

Reps seeks US congress support on legislative development George Opara, Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

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he House of Representatives’ members have solicited for the support of their counterparts in the United States parliament to strengthen the country’s legislative capacity and procedures.

Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma, Chairman, House ad - hoc committee on Nigeria-United States Relations made the solicitation yesterday while receiving a delegation from House Democracy Partnership (HDP) of the US House of Representatives.

Agbonayinma said there is need for HDP to transfer some of its technical exper-

tise to members, officers and staff of the national assembly to improve on accountability and transparency in legislative business. ``The visit is timely to both teams in strengthening future and further bilateral parliamentary ties for our great democracies. `The US of America has been a close ally of Nigeria.

Our ties have been strengthened in areas of economy, public health, peace and security, education democracy and the rule of law,” he recalled.

The ad-hoc committee chairman, however, said it was not sufficient for the US to only provide financial and other forms of assistance to Nigeria but to monitor how they are utilized.

He also ask the US par-

liament to complement the existing parliamentary development programmes, particularly those funded

by USAID. Nonetheless, the lawmaker took exemption to the current abusive nature of the US presidential election campaign, describing it as worrisome and called on the institute to provide a platform to sensitize Nigerian youths to eschew the temptation of being used as instrument of violence during elections. ``Looking at the politics that is going on in America today and what is happening in the election that is going on in America, they borrowed it from Nigeria. ``It is my first time to see presidential candidate castigating instead of dealing

with issues. ``They have decided to be abusive. I thought it only happens in Africa. It has been shifted to America,’’ In his reaction, Mr. Scott Hublin, Leader of the delegation expressed the commitment of HDP in providing the technical assistance to the House of Representatives on budgetary issues, committee operations and constituency services.

Other areas in which he said HDP can provide assistance include: ethics, information services, specialized specialization and oversight.

It would be recalled that HDP was established by the United States House of Representatives with the mission to strengthen democratic institutions by

L-R: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yussuff; Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Vice-Speaker of the German Bundestag, Claudia Roth and a German lawmaker, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing 135th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.

Robert Awokuse

A

leader of the panYoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere and chieftain of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD , Chief Ayo Adebanjo has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over the recent clampdown on the judiciary which led to the arrest of some judges by the Department of State Security, DSS. Adebanjo who made his position known in a chat with National Mirror in Lagos, said while he supported the anti-corruption war by President Buhari, he however in all ramifications resented the way the president is going about it.

The elder statesman maintained that President Buhari is not following the rule of law in his fight against corruption .

collaborating with parliaments in developing democracies. And the main work of HDP are peer-to-peer cooperation to build technical expertise in partner legis-

lature that will enhance accountability, transparency, legislative independence, access to information and government oversight among others.

APC members in Cote d’Ivoire demand voting right for Nigerians in Diaspora Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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embers of All Progressive Congress, APC, living in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire have demanded voting right for citizens of the country in diaspora as being done in many advanced countries of the world.

Making the demand in his remarks during the official opening of an office in Ede, Osun state by APC members in Abidjan yesterday, Chairman of the Group, Mr. Halim Oladimeji, said over three million Nigerians are currently resident in Cote d’Ivoire According to him, Osun state alone accounts for about 80% of the number, stressing that many Nigerians living outside the country would have loved to be more active in political process, but are being put off because of non- provision for them to register and vote during elections.

He subsequently pleaded with the National Assembly to enact a law that would make it possible for Nigerians in diaspora to register in their countries of residence and vote during elections, saying monies being

expended on travelling by few Nigerians that are interested in participating in elections could be used for other beneficial purposes.

On the plans of the group, Oladimeji said members have resolved to partner Osun state government in cultivating cassava, positing that there is a booming market for cassava in Cote d’Ivoire .

He added that housing estate is also being proposed for members to cater for their accommodation needs whenever they return to the country.

Delivering a paper at the event, former Commissioner for Information, Hon. Sunday Akere, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for recording successes in key areas of security and fight against graft.

He demanded for cooperation of all Nigerians to ensure that the country remains on the right track to development.

Osun state APC Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, who represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the event, assured members of the party in diaspora of adequate support in their efforts to participate fully in electioneering processes.

Adebanjo faults Buhari over clampdown on Judiciary

“I support anti-corruption war but it must be holistic and within the rule of law. But sincerely speaking, this development on the judiciary is a very sorry occurrence. From all sincerity, has the clampdown been carried out within the rule of law? Has due process been followed? Obviously not! I condemn it in all its ramifications. I support anti-corruption war but not outside the rule of law.

“The moment you start doing anything outside the rule of law, nobody will be safe, particularly under Buhari, who by nature is already a dictator. At the moment from all indications he does not have regard for the rule of law. He claimed he is a born - again democrat but he is not. I do not agree with his politics – it is sectional, tribalistic and

dictatorial. That is where I disagree with him”, Adebanjo said.

Adebanjo however passed a vote of confidence on the president on the fight against corruption, stressing that he is the only

one who can rid the country of the scourge.

“For corruption, he is one very man that can cleanse this country of corruption because there is no concrete evidence of corruption against him. And it

is on this factor, which many did not know, that Afenifere supported him in 2007.

“At that time there were three contestants: former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; late former president, Musa Yar’Adua

and Muhammadu Buhari.

Of the three ,we said he was the only one who is clean in terms of corruption, and just like he used the mantra of anti-corruption in 2015 to win the hearts of many, we supported him.

Victor Oye remains suspended —APGA Ag. Chairman Emmanuel E zeh ENUGU

T

he All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, yesterday declared that the case of its suspended National Chairman, Mr. Victor Oye was foreclosed.

It could be recalled that the National Working Committee of the party had earlier this month suspended Oye

alongside the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Alh. Abubakar Adamu and Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Uchenna Okogbuo. They were all indicted for several constitutional breaches.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu after APGA NWC members from the South-East paid him a solidarity visit, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Hon.

Nwabueze Okafor said Oye remained suspended pending when he purge himself of all the allegations that led to his sack.

Okafor said the unconstitutional actions taken

by Oye were enough to have made the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deregister the party.

He maintained that contrary to Oye’s claims, his suspension was done clearly in line with the

relevant sections of the party’s constitution.

Okafor declared, “the suspended national chairman does not understand the constitution of the party, in article 20 of the constitution, it was clearly stated that a national officer who is found guilty of misconduct can be suspended indefinitely until the matter is resolved and that is what we have done.

14

Politics

W

hen the Senate Joint Committees on Special Duties and Establishment, which conducted public hearing on the North East Development Commission Bill 2015 submitted its report to the senate in plenary shortly before the lawmakers proceeded on their annual long vacation in July, there were two irreconcilable issues that the committee could not come to a consensus on. These were the sources of funding for the commission as well as the location of the Headquarters of the Commission.

Even when the two issues were brought before the entire senate following the failure of the committees to deal with them conclusively, again, perhaps because of the sensitive nature of the matter, there was no agreement on how to proceed with the issue.

As a way forward, the senate decided to establish a 7-member ad-hoc committee, headed by the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu to find a way out on the matter and advise the senate on the way forward.

When the ad-hoc committee turned in its report a fortnight ago, it was clear that a road map for one of the logjams, i.e. where to site the Commission’s headquarters had been found. For the other problem, which is how to derive the major source for the funding of the Commission, it was obvious that the recommendation of the committee was not an easy solution.

Regarding the issue of funding the Commission, the ad- hoc committee recommended that 3 per cent of the federally-collected revenue accruing to the federation account from the Value Added Tax, VAT for an initial ten years should be channeled to the Commission. When that recommendation was put on the table by the ad-hoc committee, it met with serious opposition, particularly by senators from the southern part of the country. The grouse of some of the senators who opposed the proposal was that it would be wrong for the senate to go for such an option when the substantial source of VAT in the country comes from tax from alcoholic consumption, which is discouraged by the north.

When the lawmakers could not make much headway debating that proposal, it was stood down for another legislative day. Eventually when the matter came up again for debate, it was clear that some of the senators, particularly, those from the South West zone of the country were prepared to shut the proposal down. Unfortunately, none of the senators from the South East or South-South geo political zone of the country mustered enough temerity like their counterparts from the South West to oppose the proposal.

Indeed, had it been that the South-East andSouthSouth senators backed the South-West senators adequately, it would have been almost impossible for the proposal to have sailed through the way it did. Opposition to the recommendation was very aggressively championed by Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West).

The logical point, which was very intelligently marshaled out by Senator Olamilekan was that there were a number of sources for the funding of the North East Development Commission, NEDC, which were recommended by the joint committees and which were accepted to by the senate, but which actual monetary value are not easily determinable. Citing section 15 of the draft bill, which contains provision for the funding of the commission, the lawmaker pointed out that there are enough provision for the commission to be properly funded through; such monies as may from time to time be granted or lent to or deposited with the Commission by the Federal or a State Government, any other body or institution whether local or foreign, all monies raised for the purpose of the Commission by way of gifts, loan, grants-in-aid, testamentary disposition or otherwise and 25 per cent of monies due to member States of the Commission from the ecological funds.

The other sources of funding the commission proposed in the draft bill and accepted by the senate according to the lawmaker were, proceeds from all other

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How Saraki influenced 3% VAT to N/East Commission

Saraki

Olamilekan assets that may from time to time accrue to the Commission, 15 per cent costs of mining lease/license granted by the Federal Government for mining within the member states, Budgetary allocation from the Federal Government made to the Commission and the royalties on mining areas in the member States.

The rest are, fees charged by the Commission and all monies collected by the Federal Government for the development of the North East Zone should be domiciled in the Commission.

The point made by Olamilekan was that for now, it is not possible to determine what amount all these sources of funding would be when aggregate in real terms. For him, the issue of the 3 per cent VAT addition should wait until the actual amount from these other sources are aggregated and determined.

According to the lawmaker, if care is not taken, the Commission would turn out to be so rich that it would be richer than many States or some States put together.

Senate Majority Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye who also opposed the 3 per cent VAT addition to the Commission came from a different angle when he cited some provisions of the Constitution to make the point that it is only the Revenue Mobilisation Commission, which has the constitutional responsibility of determining the revenue sharing formula that would be used to share the proceeds accruable to the federation account.

Adeyeye’s submission was promptly opposed by the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Ibn

N’Allah N’Allah. But the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South) who also opposed the proposal, but from a different perspective stated that if the senate was minded to approve the allocation, the allocation should be reduced to either one or two per cent.

However, sensing the direction the debate was proceeding and without allowing enough contribution on the issue, which was the culture of the previous senate, particularly under the leadership of the immediate past Senate President, David Mark, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki played very instrumental role to influence the decision in favour of the retention of the 3 per cent VAT for the Commission for an initial ten - year period.

Saraki intervened by appealing to his colleagues to let the proposal pass through because according to him, the three percent VAT allocation to the commission was very insignificant to generate the kind of division and opposition that the issue did.

Apparently influenced by the position of Saraki, when the matter was put to voice vote, the ayes had the day.

However, at a joint press conference after the plenary, the three senators representing Lagos state in the Upper Legislative chamber, Senators Gbenga Ashafa (APC Lagos East), Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC Lagos Central) and Adeola Olamilekan (APC Lagos West) said it was wrong for the senate to approve 3 percent VAT for the North East Development Commission without considering Lagos state’s proposed 1 percent economic assistance VAT, more so when Lagos as a former federal capital have more infrastructural challenge.

The lawmakers who hinted that the bill will be reintroduced in the senate insisted that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, wondering why the senate stepped down the bill.

Senator Ashafa said: “Everyone of us knows that 68 percent VAT nationwide comes from Lagos. Two weeks ago, a bill by Sen. Oluremi Tinibu was presented, asking the senate to approve one percent for Lagos state as a former Federal Capital but the bill was not passed. We feel we should present our feelings to the press and Nigerians. We are appealing to Nigerians to assist us ensure that they give us listening ear.

“We the contributors of 70 percent of income of VAT, one percent is not too much, we are calling on the senate to accommodate Lagos one percent VAT bill .

It has been agreed by our constituents to reintroduce the bill.”

Sen Oluremi Tinubu (APC Lagos central) had sponsored a bill seeking the senate’s approval of 1 percent VAT of the Federal revenue to Lagos state as a former federal capital of Nigeria.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

15

Nigeria’s First Lady as Kitchen Wife Emmanuel Asiwe

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hether he meant it to be a joke, the controversial statements credited to President Buhari, amongst which, is the obnoxious and sarcastic remark that his wife, Aisha, notwithstanding her status as Nigeria’s first lady, is consigned to endure domestication as a housewife is indeed very unfortunate. Coming from some other person, the misogynistic remarks would be an innocuous comment which Nigerians may tolerate. But the comments were not just a direct insult to the president’s wife; they were demeaning and unedifying to Nigerian women; an international embarrassment and national disgrace that not only belittled the exalted office of president of the federal republic, but did little credit to the image of Nigeria’s democracy. Above all, it undermined any claim by Buhari to statesmanship, and emblemizes the abysmal level to which leadership in Nigeria has fallen; and how small the minds are in very high places. This was an inexcusable gaffe!

Mrs. Buhari had said in an interview with the BBC that she may not support her husband’s reelection in 2019. “I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again.” In a manner that was sufficiently self-indicting, the President laughed off his wife’s comment, while talking to reporters in Germany after meeting with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. To the utter embarrassment of the nation, the president said: “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room.” The president also betrayed a worri-

some absence of democratic temperament claiming “superior knowledge” over his wife, while discounting her sentiments that he’s surrounded by strangers, who have hijacked the government.

No one can dispute the abysmal level of understanding of Nigerian politicians when it comes to the majesty of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. No one should be surprised, therefore, at their lack of sophistication in its practice. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Buhari took whatever disagreement she has with her husband public. But whether he was speaking in metaphor when he made reference to his kitchen and bedroom, Buhari’s viewpoints were callous and if he thought Nigerians would clap for his insulting denigration of his wife, he was wrong, his candor and honesty of speech notwithstanding. Beyond the embarrassment to the nation is the small, albeit important aspect of a larger and burning issue: gender equity and women empowerment. Indeed a president holding his wife in such contempt before the international community would be read as barbarism of Nigerians.

Whatever he wanted to say, his diction was absolutely indecorous and stripped his message of any significance. By saying his wife belongs to his kitchen, his living room and the other room (insinuating his bedroom), Buhari presented Nigeria as a show of shame, provoking a deluge of public outcry, against what was rightly perceived as a brazen objectification of the Nigerian woman as a cook, housemaid and sex object. Obviously, this was not the president’s intention, but the incident remains a most traumatic advertisement of the plight of the Nigerian woman and another open sore with its indelible imprint of guilt on the national psyche. Either way, it was an untold

By any streak of the imagination, the president’s remarks debased his wife and all

Nigerian women national shame.

By any streak of the imagination, the president’s remarks debased his wife and all Nigerian women, trampled on public morality, rubbished decorum, cheapened Nigeria and assaulted humanity. Against the backdrop of the missing Chibok girls; Buhari’s remarks was also a bitter reminder, given the progressive spate of sexual assault and violence against women, of how far behind the country is, in the great task of promoting the dignity of women. It is a telling sign of insensitivity that a President who announced during the 2016 International Women’s Day celebration that he would up the appointment of women into the boards and parastatals of the Federal Government, will be inclined to disparage and hold his own wife in such low esteem. And did so in a foreign country No one should fail to notice in this entire saga, how Nigeria and its many ugly contradictions were again, pitifully on display. It cast in bold, the oppression and marginalization of women, which together with the abuse of girls, form a grisly metaphor of how women are wantonly abused and dehumanized by a system and

decision-making process managed by patriarchal institutions. At a personal level, Buhari betrayed his ignorance of the changing dynamics of the women question, which he seems not to grasp, let alone appreciate. The president must be told in whatever language he understands that in today’s world, there is a changing role for women in society. Indeed, women are no longer home-makers, even though many are still saddled with the triple burden of being wife, home-maker and bread winner. Their universe is changing and must be understood.

Despite the significant gains that have been achieved in the past decade, it cannot be confidently said that women, nearly half of Nigeria’s population, occupy positions commensurate with their numerical strength in the machinery of government. Nigeria is nowhere near the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action recommendation of at least 30% women representation in governance. The sad and annoying part is that the president is not alone with his archaic and parochial thinking about women. Buhari spoke for most Nigerian men, especially Muslim men, who are obsessed with young, under-aged girls. These sex predators, carried away by misguided religious and ethnic prejudices, chose to justify the madness of child brides.

The loquacious comment did not inspire confidence that Buhari will invigorate the National Gender Policy (NGP), a thoughtfully designed and well documented policy that incorporates relevant regional and international protocols and instruments in order to mainstream gender issues and raise the participation of the female gender in all areas of national life.

Continued on page 34

Corruption in the Judiciary: An analysis on the Constitutional Duties of the executive arm Essay Palmer

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t was 1 a.m when it happened! A singular event which by any standard struck a clear cord sharp enough to reach the ears of God. An historical affront on the judiciary was recorded; most definitely the first of its kind since the end of the military rule in 1999. Nigeria had yet to encounter such a blatant disregard for the due process and the rule of the law, in all her years of Civil rule and through all her muddles. In the history of any Judicial system, when executive personnel can afford to forcefully enter the homes of their Lordships and reduce them to the equivalent of victimized children, only one possibility can be prescribed and only one such political situation could afford such idiosyncrasy; a Gestapo regime.

The inspirer of this article was the event of October 8, 2016. On this day, that Nigerians need not forget in a hurry, the DSS, took to its ravenous inclinations and arrested various judges in their homes, claiming they had been tipped as to the corrupt acts and engagements of the judges in question.

Department of State Service, DSS said it recovered over N360 million from the residences of three judges following raids of the residences of seven judges of the Supreme, Federal and High Courts across the country.

Prior to this article a lot of persons have argued back and front about the unconstitutionality of the actions of the DSS (Department of State Service). In fact the CJN, Mahmoud Muhammed, currently on the verge of exiting the bench has emphatically stated that it is not the responsibility of the DSS to

IN CLEAR TERMS, THE DSS HAS NO POWER WHATSOEVER TO PROSECUTE THIS MATTER arrest judges, and describes the DSS action as an unconstitutional means of intimidating the judiciary and undermining its independence. It is almost an impossible task to refrain from concurring with this splurge of logic.

Similarly other notable Nigerians such as Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, Augustine Alegeh and a host of others have added their own two-two kobos, All to the end of duly castigating and denouncing the acts of this federal agency.

I find great sense with the reflections of the CJN. The reason and rationale behind this liaising is best established with the words of Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) who beautifully enthused that “To make a law, yet not see it enforced, is to authorize what you yourself have forbidden”.

The implication of this thread of reasoning in addressing the sham of the recent days is that the DSS does not, will never and could not possibly have had the constitutional or legal power to do what it did. The only realm wherein the DSS can boast of such powers would be in a spiritual realm of its own conjuring; if so, the DSS need be reminded that those who machinate in covetted realms should endeavour not to confuse their metaphysical plane with our reality. The promulgated laws pointing to the establishment of the State Service (Na-

tional Security Agencies Act Cap 174 laws of the federation) does not in any way whether formally or informally, explicitly or covertly enshrine power on the DSS to prosecute any matter concerning financial crimes or other similar corruption charges. In truth, the closest to such authority can be construed in Section 3(a) of the said act, which aptly declares that “The State Security Service shall be charged with responsibility for the prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime against the internal security of Nigeria” Flowing from this limited statutory endorsement, a question is readily begged.

Are these judicial officers Security threats? Were local bombs or Boko Haram suspects discovered under their beds? Is Military Security now synonymous to Financial Security? If the answers are in the affirmative then scrap this article and ascribe its message as the consequence of over-enthusiasm and itchy hands.

In clear terms, the DSS has no power whatsoever to prosecute this matter. If for anything this should be a matter for the ICPC or the EFCC (are they the same? am I just doubling a parastatal with strikingly similar functions? well that’s a topic for another day.) or yes maybe the Police force or at least the Code of conduct Bureau but never the DSS (their job for now is Boko Haram and the Militancy in the creeks, which they are still doing a bad job at).

However, we must also not neglect the fact that these judges may indeed be guilty of the charges levelled against them. Such money, raw in cash, floating on the private floors of their Lordships!

We should also not easily forget that these judicial officers possess no immunity against prosecution on their person other than their obiters in court. ‘May’ being the underlining word here gives credence to the words of FaniKayode who says “If anyone honestly believes that such large sums of cash were found in the homes of ANY of those judges then that person needs to have his head examined. The DSS has to say these outrageous things and tell these shameful lies in order to attempt to justify their illegal actions before the world. It is called disinformation and misinformation and that is their stock in trade”.

Perhaps one may be wiser to take Kayode’s Vituperation with a grain of salt. But it cannot be said that his argument fails the rationality test. Whether the Judges are guilty or not is a question for proof. Yet, it must be argued that due process is a necessity for change in our corrupt society. The action of the DSS was not a solitary one but was indeed ordered by our supposed Mr change, the good old General Mohammadu Buhari. This act is indeed reminiscent of the events characterised by the the Buhari Regine in the year 1985 (yes, the same guy) when he was head of government. Someone should tell this man that this is 2016, and that Nigeria is a democracy. ©legalwatchmen 2017 legalwatchmen930@gmail.com legalwatchmen.wordpress.com

Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

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16

Politics

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Friday, January 17, 2014

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15

Odigie-Oyegun must resign asCommunity APC Chairman Frank Politicians’ conduct, our greatest challenge— —INEC Mirror Marcus Fatunmole ABUJA

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uling All Progressives Congress, APC may be witnessing more crack as its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, Tuesday vowed to meet leaders of the party on the need for the National Chairman,

Chief John Odigie- Oyegun to resign from his position immediately.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Frank said he would meet all leaders of parties that formed the APC and discuss lingering challenges within the party with them, including the refusal of National Chairman of the party, Chief Odigie-Oyegun to resign as demanded by

some chieftains of the ers to prevail on Odigie- party, the APC. This is a revive it at this stage.

Oyegun to resign, failure rescue mission I’m about “I’ll be paying visits to party. of which he said party to embark on.

Let me use former When the come , come to comeVice President, He said he will meet this opportunity to let you Atiku Abubarkar, Bola with President Muham- members who do not wanteverybody will sit up in this Ministry.

Rev. Chris Okotie, speaking madu Buhari, Senate Oyegun would seek alter- know that this fight to res- Ahmed Tinubu and all the natives to pursue their po- cue our party is not per- past National Chairmen on the state ofSaraki, the nation President, Bukola HON MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM RESOURCES,ALIISON MADUEKE Speaker, House of Repre- litical agendas. “If we are sonal. It’s because I love of the parties that merged not careful, there might this party so much and as to form the APC. I’ll pay a sentatives, Hon. Yakubu not be APC in 2019,” he a loyal member of this par- visit to my own National Dogara, National Leader said. ty, I’ll do everything that Chairman then, Alhaji of the party, Asiwaju Bola It would be recalled that it takes to ensure that we Kawu Baraje who led the Tinubu, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Frank has unrepentantly re-build this party to the New PDP to the APC, I’ll lent his voice to party’s party we all dream. also be visiting Chief among others. stalwarts such as Tinubu “I’ll be writing officially Ogbonaya Onu, the then Frank wants the leadwho had called for Oye- to the President to get an Chairman of ANPP, Chief gun’s resignation over al- audience with him so that Bisi Akande, Chairman leged corruption, biases I can have the opportunity of defunct ACN, Chief and incompetence. to brief him on why Oye- Toni Momoh, the NationOyegun’s sins were gun has to go. I’m also go- al Chairman of CPC and been characterized by complaints in view of its unveiled by the chieftain ing to write the Vice Presi- Governor Rochas Okoroattendant socio-economic shortly after Ondo State dent, the Senate President, cha who led a faction of and political implications gubernatorial primaries the Speaker of the House APGA to APC. “This is a visit I’ll be and called on the relevant that produced former Na- of Representatives and starting anytime soon. “It House Committee to in- tional Chairman, Nigeria other founding fathers of terface with the National Bar Association, Rotimi our party. I’ll also be pay- is important for me to let ing a visit to all party lead- you know that my first Population Commission Akeredolu Enraged Frank said on ers because it is important person I’ll be visiting is in the State on its preparaTuesday: “I just want to tell I brief them on why Oye- Alhaji Kawu Baraje, he tion for the exercise with a view to addressing the Nigerians of the next step gun has to go, we must not was my Chairman that inadequacies of the past I’m about to embark on in keep quiet till this party led many of us to the the pursuit of rescuing our die, we should be able to APC”. census.

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KWHA to review law on kidnapping, human rituals

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he Kwara State House of Assembly is to review laws on kidnapping and human rituals to ensure severe punishment for culprits in the state.

The House resolved to review the laws following a matter of general public importance raised by the House Leader and member representing Esa/ Shawo/Igboidun Constituency, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke on the rampant cases of kidnapping for ritual in the State.

The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad while reading the resolutions of the House said the reviews of related laws became necessary to ensure that punishment prescribed by the existing laws were severe to serve as deterrent to others, stressing that punishment in the current laws was weak to tackle the current security challenges in the State.

He urged the House Committee on Ethics, Judiciary and Director Legal Department to take a look at the current laws and report to his office within a week.

The House while equally urging the security agencies in the State to design security architecture to nip the problem in

the bud, enjoined the State Government to give necessary support in tackling the menace.

Other members who spoke on the menace enjoined parents, traditional and community leaders to play complementary role in tackling the problem by sensitising and exposing suspected kidnappers in their localities .

The Legislature also in its sitting urged the State Government, traditional rulers and religious leaders to initiate effective mass mobilisation programme through public awareness, enlightenment and sensitisation ahead of the forthcoming National Population Census.

The House took the decision following a Motion on Notice raised by a member representing Ilorin North West Constituency , Hon. Abdul Rafiu Abdul Rahman.

The House also directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Judiciary to meet with the management of the National Population Commission in the State on its preparation for the forthcoming census in the State.

Hon. Abdul Rahman had while raising the motion, noted with displeasure that past census had

L-R: Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Senator Mustapha Bukar; MD, Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Co Ltd (NELMC) Adebayo Fagbemi and Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, during the committee’s oversight of the Status Report of NELMC for Year 2016 budget implementation in Abuja, yesterday.

Petition: Edo PDP accuses Obaseki, APC of evading court services Isesele Ezekiel BENIN

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he leadership of Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has accused the Governor- elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki of evading court services by going into hiding since the party filed petition at the State Election Petitions Tribunal challenging the outcome of the September 28 Governorship poll The party also slammed

the ruling party for allegedly shutting down its state party secretariat out of reach and placing barred on security agents and officials of the party from coming to office .

State publicity secretary of PDP, Chris Nehikhare who disclosed this in a press statement made available to newsmen in Benin City, expressed concern over APC inability to celebrate and put in place transition committee over a mandate it claimed to have

gotten from the people .

“You will also recall that Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Interim Governor-Elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the State Chairman of APC, Barrister Anslem Ojezua and some other APC party chieftains too inconsequential to mention boasted that they won the election fair and square and challenged PDP and its candidate to go to the tribunal.”

“To our amazement, not surprise, since the

APC heard that PDP had indeed filed a robust and detailed petition at the tribunal, they have put their party secretariat on airport road under lock and key. Even the security man has been warned, barred from showing up at work and all party officials no longer stay in their known residences. In fact, they’ve gone into hiding.

Even The Interim Governor-elect has gone underground” But in a swift reaction, Executive Director on Pub-

licity to the state Governor, John Mayaki described the allegation as not only fabricated but lacking in merit “The Governor-elect was not under the control of the court, to have known that the PDP had filed her petition which makes their allegation patently false. Also, how does the PDP expect Godwin Obaseki to know that legal summons or notices will arrive his home or office?

“The PDP knows what to do – we are not aware they have filed case, be-

sides we are not to help them do their job. I urge the PDP to do their best and make sure they serve all the parties involved to enable them prepare their reply.”

“Godwin Obaseki is a man whose addresses both home and office are not unknown. He has no dog at home to unleash or one that will jump on anybody who attempts service on him. I urge the PDP to freely knock at his door and do the needful”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

17

Health & Wellbeing

Birth spacing saves women’s lives –Expert

Chevron targets 60,000 Lagos pupils for deworming

18

Do you know your genotype?

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... knowing it could save you bitter experience of sickle cell anaemia

SAM EFERARO

I

f you are a bachelor or spinster and you answer “NO” to the above question, you are advised to race to the nearest lab today for a genotype test – especially if you plan to get married one day and have children.

Knowing your genotype could be the only way to save yourself and future spouse the agony of having sickle cell anaemia, a dreaded genetic disease said to be affecting millions of Nigeria presently.

Experts say genotype refers to the type of haemoglobin you have in your blood cells. Haemoglobin is the substance in the blood cells which carries oxygen from one part of the body o the other. It is also the substance that gives the blood its red colour.

By knowing your genotype you will be in possession of a most valuable information about yourself – whether you have a normal haemoglobin, referred to as “A” or you have the “AS” haemoglobin which makes you a carrier of sickle cell anaemia. An individual with sickle cell anaemia will have the “S” haemoglobin.

“If you find out that your genotype is “AS”, it means your future spouse must have the haemoglobin “A.” Marrying someone with haemoglobin “AS” or “SS” puts you at risk of having children with sickle cell anaemia,” said an expert.

Unfortunately, here’s no way you can tell anyone with haemoglobin “A” or “AS” unless through a genotype test.

Doctors say an individual with haemoglobin “AS” does not show any sign that he has an abnormal genotype.

He’s normal in look, he feels normal and does not have any kind of illness.

“Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic disease, that is, you pass it on to your offspring in a predetermined manner. If somebody who is a carrier (with haemoglobin AS) marries someone else or has a child with another person who is also carrier, that couple is likely to have a sickle cell child, that is, a child with SS.

Planning to get married? Know your genotype first to avoid having children with sickle cell

“This is why it is important that people should know their genotype when they are very young before they begin to fall in love and consider getting married because by hen, they are beclouded by the love,” a Lagos-based doctor who pleaded anonymity counsels.

For every pregnancy to a couple who are both carriers (SS) there is one in four chances of ending up with child with sickle cell anaemia. It doesn’t follow as it is erroneously believed that once an “AS” “AS” couple have one sickle cell child, the other children will be normal. That’s not the case. For that couple, every pregnancy is a risk that the child will end up with sickle cell.

“Sickle cell anaemia is however not a disease that one will wish on one’s child. It is a disease that is associated with so much pain, agony and sadness.

Indeed, it has put a dangerous wedge between many couples who had begun their marital lives on a healthy, loving and promising note,” an education leaflet from the Genotype Foundation

says.

“It’s a disease of the African race, the doctor says. Usually, many patients with this condition don’t live long. Our blood cells have a normal life span of about 120 days. In other words, the body mops up the old blood cells and replaces them with new ones.

The problem with sickle cell anaemia is that the blood cells die off within a month and that’s why they always end up with anaemia – lack or shortage of blood. For that reason, they are always weak and are prone to infections. They are always ill.

“The normal blood cell shape is a nice rounded disc so that it flows through the blood vessels without impediments. It hits the side of the blood vessels and slip through but the cell that is sickled hits the side of the blood vessel and gets stuck. Then as the blood flows, blood clot begins to form and as this happens the blood flow is blocked and as the blood flow is blocked it means blood is not reaching the end organ. And when that happens,

pain is what the patient experiences.”

“Bone pain is the hallmark of the disease. This is because blood supply to the bone is impeded. That’s what happen when oxygen is not reaching the bones. Oxygen gets to all the organs and takes away impurity from the organ in a process called tissue respiration. Without tissue respiration, tissues die and that is the problem with sickle cell anaemia,” the leaflet says.

This is why it is important for those who are not yet married to know their genotype so that they can make an informed decision.

“We are not compelling them not marry whoever they love but the essence is to educate them so that they know the problems associated with this condition – knowing that it is more than a medical problem, that it is a serious social problem which affects the family and the community. It costs money to treat and it’s incurable,” a counsellor at the Genotype Foundation says.

18

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

USAID re-launches $10,000 reward for whistle-blowers on fake malaria drugs Marcus Fatunmole and Ajibola Winner ABUJA

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he office of Inspector-General (OIG), of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has re-launched its reward for persons who would help it with information on stolen and falsified anti-malaria drugs and other commodities for treating or preventing the disease in the country.

The reward had earlier been offered by USAID at the launch of the campaign in the country last year to help apprehend persons involved in falsification and illicit trading in malaria drugs and commodities funded by USAID. USAID offers rewards between $100 and $10,000 for previously unknown, usable information about theft, counterfeiting, resale, or other abuses of U.S. gov-

ernment-funded antimalarial commodities, Jonathan Scotfield, International Investigator for the organization said recently in Abuja at a media briefing.

The organization seeks adequate punishment for persons involved in the crimes, and would be partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Scotfield stated.

“OIG started the MAD malaria campaign in 2015 to remind Nigerians of the dangers of using stolen and falsified antimalarial medications or other goods.

Malaria is transmitted throughout Nigeria with an estimated 100 million malaria cases and about 300,000 deaths each year.

Nigeria’s National Malaria Strategic Plan reports that malaria is the cause of 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under-one year, and 11 percent of maternal deaths in the country.

Pharmacists technicians blames PCN on fake drugs

RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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he Calabar branch of the Council for Pharmacist Technologists/Technicians Association of Nigeria (PTTA) has indicted the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) of being responsible for the production and circulation of fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.

The Cross River State Chairman for Pharmacists Technologists/Technicians Association of Nigeria, Sir Henry Obuagu Tita KSJ made the allegation while fielding questions from journalists on the wide spread of counterfeit and fake drugs in the country.

The pharmacists Technicians chairman urged Nigerians to hold the PCN

(which regulates and control the practice of pharmacist activities in Nigeria) stressing that it was the PCN that is responsible for issues of fake drug.

According to him, it was the PCN`s name that had been linked with the manufacturing and marketing of fake drugs.

Obuagu who spoke few days after his association presented an award of excellence to the association`s National Trustee Chairman in Council, Dr. Lawrence Henshaw for rendering selfless service to Nigerians.

He said that the bulk of fake and counterfeited drugs being sold to innocent citizenss of Nigeria was the handiwork of members of the PCN whose name had been linked to fake drugs.

WHO, partners call for better working conditions for midwives

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners have called for an end to the discrimination, harassment and lack of respect that hinder midwives’ ability to provide quality care to women and newborns.

“It’s time to recognize

the pivotal role midwives play in keeping mothers and newborns alive,” says Dr Anthony Costello, Director of Maternal, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health at WHO. “Their voices have gone unheard for too long, and too often they have been denied a seat at the decisionmaking table.”

Mrs. Uzamat, representative of the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, performing the de-worming exercise on a pupil at the launch of the Mass De-worming campaign in Lagos state by Chevron recently.

Birth spacing saves women’s lives –Expert Marcus Fatunmole and Ajibola Winner ABUJA

A

professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, and Country Director, JHpiego Corporation, Prof Emmanuel Otolorin, says family planning could save 44 percent of women of child-bearing age who die from pregnancy and related complications in the country yearly.

He also said the same measure could prevent 44 percent neo-natal deaths recorded in the country yearly.

Addressing journalists at a Family Planning Media Roundtable in Abuja at the weekend, Otolorin said 40,000 women, and 241,000

new-born die in the country annually.

He said even though family planning campaigns in the country had been sustained, and should be strengthened, there had not been commensurate results from couples. He appealed to couples to embrace the measure as one of the ways to improve family’s wellbeing.

Quoting data from the National Demography and Health Survey, NDHS 2013, Otolorin said the nation currently accounts for 14 percent of global burden of maternal deaths, and that use of family planning among couples substantially remains solution to reversing the trend.

According to him, recent

data revealed 15 percent of women will have pregnancy and childbirth complications when children are not well-spaced.

He argued that 95 percent of causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria are caused by seven preventable conditions namely bleeding, raised blood pressure with convulsions, infection, unsafe abortion, obstructed labour, malaria and anaemia.

Similarly, new-born mortality in the country, he said, is caused by five conditions which are failure of a child to breathe at birth, prematurity, infections, tetanus infection and diarrhoea.

He also opined that lack of family planning results in abortions. “Each year, Nigerian women obtain ap-

proximately 610,000 abortions, a rate of 25 abortions per 1000 women aged 15 – 44.

The rate is much lower in the poor, rural regions of northern Nigerian than in the more economically developed southern regions.

An estimated 40 percent of abortions are performed by physicians in established health facilities while the rest are performed by nontrained health practitioners,” he said.

“Family planning saves the lives of women, newborn, children and teenage girls. The best time for a woman to become pregnant is between the ages of 18 to 34 years, at least 24 months after a live birth, and at least six month after a miscarriage.

Chevron targets 60,000 Lagos pupils for deworming SAM EFERARO

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he co-venture of NNPC/Chevron has announced plans to deworm over 60,000 primary school pupils in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State this year. The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, (PGPA) Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Deji Haastrup disclosed this recently at the launch of the company’s mass deworming project at Ikota primary school, Lekki.

Mr. Haastrup said the company, in launching the project, aimed at having a healthy population, which is a prerequisite for socioeconomic development of any nation, adding that the company had previously dewormed over 500, 000 chil-

dren between ages six and 12 in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo, Imo and Lagos states, using the WHO-recommended drug, Albendazole (Zentel).

“Research has shown that children that are not regularly dewormed are prone to loss of iron and protein, and this can lead to stunted growth,” the GM said, adding that the exercise is the second in Lagos in the past five years.

“Other social investment are provision of health centre at St. Kizito Clinic in Lekki, to control and eradicate tuberculosis and other infections common to HIV/AIDS patients; HIV/AIDS testing campaign in Badagry and mass de-worming exercise for school children in Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe, Eti-osa and Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas (LGAs)

respectively among several others.

“The company has also executed Roll Back Malaria (RBM) awareness campaign in Ojo, Oshodi, Ikeja Epe and Ibeju-Lekki LGAs, and donated a molecular biology research laboratory to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH). It was the laboratory that detected the first case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria thereby contributing to Nigeria’s ability to control the spread of the highly infectious and dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in 2014.”

The Co-ventures, he said has also instituted specialised educational scholarship programmes in support of health and engineering manpower development in Nigeria through targeted support for medical, nursing, labora-

tory sciences and engineering students on whom the Agbami Co-ventures have so far invested about N7.5 billion.

Represented by the Manager (PGPA), Lagos, Mr. Sam Otuonye, he said it was important to note that the event is as a result of the collaboration among the State Government, the people of the state, the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture and various stakeholders that have contributed to the success of this year’s exercise.“We will continue to count on your support for subsequent editions,” he further said.

Also speaking at the event, the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management (NAPIMS), NNPC, Mr. Dafe Sajebor commended Chevron for the deworming efforts.

Business

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Wednesday, October 26, 2014

World Bank rates 137 Selling national assets for Output cut ‘l stabilise countries high on SMEs’ consumptive spending‘ll hurt global oil market business reforms economy – ABUCCIMA boss 20 23 25 – Barkindo Nigeria loses N31bn yearly to low ship bunkering FRANCIS EZEM

S

trong indications emerged that Nigeria loses over $65 million (N30.7billion) annually on seeming ban placed on ship bunkering activities in the country.

Ship bunkering, also called refuelling, is a global and legitimate practice in the shipping industry, which involves the process of ships buying fuel, engine oil, lubricants and other related materials in large quantities that would last the ship for the length of time she would be on water in the course of a voyage before she could berth at her next port of call, which seems prohibited in Nigeria, Managing Director of Delta Marine Shipping Company Limited, an indigenous shipping firm, Engineer Basil Uba, disclosed that more than 95 per cent of the vessels comprising tanker, bulk cargo and container carriers all do their bunkering activities outside Nigeria, mostly Port of Lome, Togo or in Ghana through which the country loses in excess of $65 million that would have come into the country.

According to him, there is no legislation in the country that has prohibited the provision of bunkering services but lamented that the Nigerian Navy had dubbed such services as ‘illegal bunkering’, thus making it difficult to embark upon them in the country.

Uba, who is a Marine Engineer and a member of the Marine En-

gineering and Naval Architecture MENA, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE, disclosed that a country like Singapore earns far above $65 million from bunkering services rendered by her citizens for the vessels that call at the country’s seaports.

“All over the world, ship bunkering is a legitimate practice whereby the vessels seek to replenish their stock of fuel, grease, lubricants and other related materials before sailing into the sea since such services cannot be rendered while the vessels is mid sea”, he said.

It is a common knowledge that the Nigerian Navy, which is saddled with the responsibility of

securing the nation’s territorial waters, has so many vessels and platforms of various sizes and configuration. The question one has to ask is how does the Navy bunker its fleet?” Uba also questioned rhetorically.

He insisted that bunkering anywhere is a legitimate service in the shipping industry, without which the vessel will run short of supplies, a development that might truncate the voyage since the vessel cannot run with the same fuel she took from the port of departure to all the ports of call and back, which takes more than one month, depending on the countries involved.

Stakeholders have argued that if $65 million is injected into the nation’s economy through the maritime industry, such huge inflow of foreign exchange from foreign shipping lines would help in re-flatting the economy, at a time like this when the country is in dire need of foreign exchange.

This is in addition to the scores of jobs that would be created in the process.

They argued that at best, the Federal Government could strictly monitor and regulate ship bunkering activities to forestall any form of abuse or illegalities, which cannot always be ruled out completely in any human endeavour.

Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. AbujaYola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air

L-R: Head of Savings, Fidelity Bank Plc, Janet Nnabuko; Regional Bank Head (RBH), Apapa & Chairman, Promo Committee, Fidelity Bank, Obaro Odeghe;, two million naira winner, Damilola Emmanuel Olufemi; Executive Director, Lagos & South-West, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Divisional Head, Retail Bank, Fidelity Bank, Richard Madiebo at the prize presentation ceremony of the Fidelity Get Alert In Millions promo held in Lagos yesterday.

MultiChoice upgrades contents for DStv subscribers NIYI JACOBS & DAVID AUDU

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AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES

ne of Nigeria’s pay TV companies, MultiChoice Nigeria, said it had upgraded its contents to allow DStv subscribers get value for money, starting from next month.

In a press conference to announce the new offer, General Manager, Maeketing and sales, Mr. Martin Mabutho said the company will be delivering more entertainment value to the DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access bouquets, noting that the content upgrade affects all DStv bouquets, thus allowing a whole family enjoys varied and quality channels.

This latest move, according to the firm, is in line with the company’s promise of putting its customers at the heart of the business.

“This major boost in entertainment value across all DStv bouquets demonstrates our commitment to ensuring DStv customers receive great entertainment and best-in-class value. The price reductions in our state of the art decoders – Explora and HD Zapper – will ensure that great family entertainment is available to everyone at the most affordable price.

“We are all living in tough economic times – and while the everyday costs of food, water, power and fuel are increasing at an alarming rate, we recognize that there is still a need to take time to escape and relax with the family at home to enjoy quality and entertaining programmes from movies to sports, series, documentaries and a whole lot more.”

He said the changes will not only mark a defining moment in MultiChoice story, but also in the African entertainment landscape,

adding that they are proud to to delight DStv customers.

Giving further details, he said in the current month, DStv Premium customers will celebrate with M-Net on the M-Net Movies Blockparty pop-up channel and that subscribers should look forward to more exciting pop-up channels in the coming months like the M-Net Movies Harry Porter pop-up channel.

“In the last nine months, DStv has delivered the world’s best football leagues to DStv Compact customers (February) followed by the DStv price freeze in April – and in the latest giant leap in providing customer value, DStv is combining more quality and variety to its bouquets to ensure everyone has access to the best family entertainment at a price they can afford”, he said.

Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abujaph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, UyoLagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

20

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Selling national assets for consumptive Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye is the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which recently concluded its 11th International Trade Fair. In this interview with our correspondent, CHIDI UGWU, he speaks on the challenges and prospects of trade fairs in period of recession, among other topical issues related to the present state of the nation’s economy.. Excerpts: Sir, what is your assessment of the just concluded 11th Abuja International Trade Fair, especially based on level of participation by exhibitors?

Considering the present economic downturn in the country, the turnout both in number of exhibitors and in number of footfalls has been quite impressive. What I mean by footfalls is the numbers of visitors on a daily basis. Like I said why we consider it very good is that when you consider how the purchasing power of the average Nigerian has been very badly eroded you find that it has been quite impressive. The number of exhibitors is a lot better. Also what has happened this time is that the number of foreign exhibitors has actually reduced from about 55 to 30.

What would you say is responsible for the reduction in the number of foreign exhibitors?

Most of them, when they reached out to us were complaining about the unpredictability of the Nigerian market. They are yet to understand what is happening in the Nigerian economy. They have to understand the banking policy, the foreign exchange remittance policy. So, most of them felt that doing business in Nigeria, they are not sure how they will remit their money back to their respective countries. So, that uncertainty as a matter of fact is was what made most of them not to attend.

Some stakeholders have complained about the time the Abuja International Trade Fair is usually fixed. Some say the timing is wrong because it is the time for paying school fees and parents who would have made much of the visitors would not better disposed to attend?

Well, keep in mind that there are a number of other fairs in the country and we belong to national body. And of course you will understand that all the fairs done in Nigeria is authorized by the ministry of Trade and Investment.

So they actually help to direct or determine when one can schedule fairs. We cannot actually fix the date on our own, it has to be in consultation with the national body and Ministry of Trade and Investment. But let me also point out that in as much as people use it as an opportunity to buy consumer things during the fair, the essence of the exhibition is just for the exhibitors to create awareness, and tell people about the new products and services

Ejikeonye they have, because all these exhibitors have their various showrooms, shops, factories, or offices where they

sell these good and services. What exhibitors look out for in this type of fair is not actually to sell directly to

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS STREAMLINE IMPORTATION OF THE GOODS THEY HAVE TO EXHIBIT IN NIGERIA. WE ALSO HELP TO ENSURE THAT REMITTANCE OF ANY SALES THEY MAKE DURING THE FAIR BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRY IS MADE LESS DIFFICULT. WE HAVE ALSO WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THAT WE PROVIDE VERY GOOD FACILITY FOR EASY EXHIBITION

people. They come here together to let you know the latest offerings and all that but our people have used it as opportunity to be buying directly from the manufacturers eliminating the usual middle man like the wholesaler and others, hence things are usually cheap.

Could you speak on the level the awareness of the Trade Fair because some of the exhibitors complained of low visitors?

Well, awareness can never be enough. Like you know no matter how popular a newspaper or television station is, it is not everybody that will have access to it. We started marketing this particular fair since last year. So we marketed it for over one year engaging both print and electronic media, even social media platform but like you said the more publicity was still needed both in local and international level. So awareness can never be enough.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Executive Discourse

21

spending‘ll hurt economy - ABUCCIMA boss What is your chamber doing to attract more international exhibitors to the yearly economic event?

We have been working with relevant stakeholders to help international exhibitors streamline importation of the goods they have to exhibit in Nigeria. We also help to ensure that remittance of any sales they make during the fair back to their respective country is made less difficult. We have also worked hard to ensure that we provide very good facility for easy exhibition. However, the Abuja international Trade Fair is yet to get to the level you see overseas but we continue to improve every year.

What you find in this year’s fair is an improvement from last year’s fair and that is how we keep improving for the better. And as we continue to improve on the structure and the facilities we also continue to market these improvements to our foreign partners to take advantage of the added values.

Last year, some exhibitors complained about noise in the exhibition ground you can see that this year we worked to drastically reduce noise pollution. And some of them have confirmed to us that the noise level is considerably minimal and everybody is happy.

You talked about the economic downturn in the country, is the fair structured in such a way that it helps to address the economic recession?

Yes, the theme of this year’s fair is ‘Make it in Nigeria’. You know Nigeria has relied so much on oil. So, what we are trying to do is to try to see if we can encourage our people to think homewards. Let them think how local services and local products can be developed further for export. This year’s fair is designed to encourage local manufacturers to improve on the exploits and take advantage of vast opportunities that abound not only in Nigeria but also around the world. For instance, there is one solar electricity manufacturer, who attended this year’s fair. He is into solar panel street light installation, a lot of people do not know that he does such project even right here in Abuja. And right on this exhibition ground he has managed to meet with some people who need the solar energy. You can see it is a ground for business opportunities. That is why exhibitions or trade fairs like this are very critical to the economy.

Are you considering bringing together stakeholders and indeed policy makers with a view to assuring participants that the gains from the fair are guaranteed?

We rely very much on our reputation, our goodwill. We are businessmen we are not government so we rely on the

WE DO NOT SUPPORT IF IT IS ENTIRELY FOR CONSUMPTION. BUT IF IT IS TO REINVEST THE PROCEEDS BACK INTO THE ECONOMY IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, WE SUPPORT THE MOVE. WE HAVE HEARD IN SOME QUARTERS THAT A LOT NIGERIANS ARE NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNED SALE, AND YOU DO NOT BLAME THEM BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS SALE OF ASSETS IN THE PAST WERE NOT TRANSPARENT exhibitors’ trust. We rely on our ability to put the right things in place and sincerely answering their enquiries in such a way that they are left without doubt. For instance, if they asked me ‘do you have so and so things on ground, I will be able to tell them that this and this is on ground. If they ask what is the exchange rate I will be able to provide that answer sincerely. I should be to say this is that exchange rate as at today, I cannot tell you what the exchange rate is going to be tomorrow.

I cannot give you guarantee that if you bring in your goods that you will sell those goods, I cannot guarantee that 100 per cent of your funds can be remitted within one month. I cannot because I am not in a position to take decision on those areas. So, our selling point is the

Ejikeonye

honesty which we display in dealing with them. That helps them to take decisions on what to do at a particular point in time.

But at least in the course of the fair you did interface with these government agencies with a view to providing robust information to the exhibitors as what government requires of them and what they can also benefit , didn’t you?

We do. As you can see the Central Bank of Nigeria is even here, you will also notice that there are some commercials banks also, what we do to provide a common ground for all stakeholders to bring to the notice of the public their available services and products for the ease of doing business.

But also usually they take decisions based on the prevailing business model as at that particular time. Like you will notice that it is not all the states that is represented in this year’s exhibition.

There are supposed to be 36 states and FCT, but some will tell you that their budget does not cover the fair, that is how business men also think.

The Federal Government, in its efforts to bridge the budget 2016 deficit gap and meet other urgent fiscal needs, is considering outright sale of some national assets. What is your view on the plan?

Let me tell you the position of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding the option to sale some national assets is that there is nothing wrong with selling your property in order to achieve a goal. But it is not right if you sell your property in order to finance consumption. If the national assets are being sold in order to reinvest the proceeds into the economy we see no problems with that.

Some are of the opinion that the assets are being sold in order to finance 2016 or 2017 budget. We do not support if it is entirely for consumption. But if it is to reinvest the proceeds back into the economy in terms of infrastructure, we support the move. We have heard in some quarters that a lot Nigerians are not in support of the planned sale, and you do not blame them because the previous sale of assets in the past were not transparent. However, if such transactions are transparent there is nothing wrong with selling national assets to boost the economy and make life better for the majority of the citizenry. Government does not have any business in business. Government should as much as possible not be involved in business, they should leave business for private sector operators.

What areas do think the Abuja International Trade Fair needed improvements generally?

First, we have to have a permanent exhibition ground in the first instance which we are planning seriously to do. We have met with so many organizations and reached out to see if we can finance a permanent exhibition and convention centre.

We already have a model of how our permanent exhibition and convention centre will be. That is exactly what we planned because once we have that it we boost the quality of our future exhibitions. In Nigeria there is no city that has exhibition centre that meets international standard. We do that because the fair is international trade fair, we reach out to embassies and engage stakeholders within and outside Nigeria.

22

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Output cut ‘ll stabilise global oil market – Barkindo 23

Experts decry animals’ extinction risks to Nigeria’s ecosystem 24

Investors lose N163.64bn as bears sustain market hold 26

Assessing oil theft, pipeline vandalism impact on operators, nation’s economy

Despite efforts by the Federal Government and investors in the petroleum sector to curb militants’ insurgency in the Niger Delta region, the incidents of oil theft and pipeline vandalism appear to continue unabated. In this analysis, UDEME AKPAN reports that recent cases have culminated in low export and drop in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings with the attendant implications for lower revenues to the three tiers of government.

Shell Petroleum Dev Company MD, Osagie Okunbor

P

resident Mohammadu Buhari has at various times promised to provide adequate security backup for oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta.

For instance, on May 20, this year, Buhari informed operators at the State House that the Federal Government would put adequate actions in place to protect strategic assets in the region.

At a meeting with the Global Director (Upstream) of the Royal Dutch Shell Group, Mr. Andrew Brown, Buhari disclosed that he had directed the Chief of Naval Staff to strengthen the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta to deal effectively with the resurgence of militancy in the region.

Again, on August 19, 2016, Buhari promised to protect and support indigenous companies operating in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. At a meeting with members of the Independent Petroleum Producers Association in the Presidential Villa, Buhari promised to address the challenges, adding that the present administration will take appropriate actions to enhance security in their areas of operation.

Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum, Austin Avuru

INVESTIGATIONS SHOWED THAT OPERATORS STILL FACE SERIOUS SECURITY AND RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE REGION. FOR INSTANCE, SHELL PETROLEUM RECORDED FIVE MAJOR OIL SPILLS IN SEPTEMBER, THIS YEAR ALONE. ONE OF THE SPILLS WAS RECORDED AT NKALI, IMO RIVER ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 FOLLOWING AN ATTACK ON THE COMPANY RIVER 2 PIPELINE Before then, the Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum, Mr. Austin Avuru, who spoke on behalf of the indigenous oil producers, had informed the President of challenges of joint ventures. Avuru had told Buhari that the indigenous oil producers were already making significant contributions to the development of the nation’s economy and could do more with the support of the present administration.

But despite the promises, the challenges, especially those relating to security, re-

main unsolved.

Investigations showed that operators still face serious security and related problems in the region. For instance, Shell Petroleum recorded five major oil spills in September, this year alone. One of the spills was recorded at Nkali, Imo River on September 8, 2016 following an attack on the company River 2 pipeline.

While no recoverable oil was found, assessment was completed on 06 Oct 2016.

The second incident was recorded at Ota-

miri well 5 flowline at Umuechem on September 21, 2016. Recovery was completed the same day while assessment is planned for this month.

The third incident took place at 12” Imo River - Ogale Trunkline RoW at Ogale on September 17, this year. While no recoverable oil was found, assessment has been scheduled for December 2016. The fourth oil spill happened at 12’’ Imo River-Ogale Pipeline at Owaza on September 18, 2016.

Recovery was completed on Oct 5, 2016, while assessment was completed the following day. Assessment was completed on October 6, 2016 while remediation is planned for January 2017.

The fifth incident was experienced at 28’’ Nkpoku-Bomu Pipeline at Gio on September 30, 2016. Recovery is planned for October, this year. The company which attributed all the incidents to sabotage estimated total spills at over 471 barrels of oil. Shell indicated that crude oil theft, sabotage and illegal refining are the main sources of pollution in the Niger Delta today and were the cause of 85 per cent of spills from The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited operated Joint Venture (SPDC JV) pipelines in 2015.

In its latest report, the company indicated that security in the Niger Delta remains a major concern with persisting incidents of criminality, threats from militant elements, violent host community agitations and most recently, offshore piracy. It disclosed that crude oil theft and related damage to oil and gas facilities in particular continue to present significant security concerns. The company pointed out that oil and gas operations in parts of the region are severely impacted by these criminal activities.

The company disclosed that theft of crude oil on the pipeline network was 25,000 barrels of oil per day (bbl/d) in 2015, which is less than the 37,000 bbl/d in 2014, adding that the number of sabotage-related spills declined to 93 incidents compared with 139 in 2014.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

23

Output cut ‘ll stabilise global oil market – Barkindo UDEME AKPAN

T

he recent output cut is targeted at achieving stability in the international oil market.

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting countries, OPEC, Dr. Mohammad Barkindo disclosed that excess crude oil would gradually be eliminated to pave way for stability.

He said that the Conference decision to opt for an OPEC-14 production target ranging between 32.5 and 33 million barrels a day was focused on the need to accelerate the ongoing drawdown of the stock overhang and bring the rebalancing forward.

Barkindo urged stakeholders not to forget the importance of lessening volatility and sustaining stability for the mediumand long-term given the world’s desire for more oil.

He disclosed that the situation that has evolved over the past two years or so is putting the future at risk.

The Secretary General noted that players are currently witnessing a dramatic drop off in oil market investments.

He said that global exploration and production spending fell by around 26 per cent in 2015 and a further 22 per cent drop is anticipated this year.

We believe the agreement made in Algiers will be beneficial to our economies, to consumers, to the global oil market,

Pipeline

and the world economy as a whole. Let me stress that last week’s decision was also taken following a thorough review and analysis of the global economic outlook, specifically the weaker than desired global growth and the economic uncertainties.

This includes the already mentioned sharp decline in oil investments, which has had a considerable negative impact on the energy sector of many major economies, the role of main central banks on monetary policies, weakening world trade, and political developments, including upcoming elections in a num-

ber of major countries. At OPEC, we fully appreciate the significant role that oil and other commodity markets play in the global economic landscape, and the expanding share of global GDP attributed to emerging economies and commodity exporting countries.

Stability in commodity markets is vital for future global economic growth prospects. To conclude, OPEC’s agreement in Algiers will help return stability to the global oil market, and lessen volatility. Moreover, it is important to underline that things have progressed further over the past week.

Total Nigeria enlightens Kaduna students on career options CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

N

o fewer than 30 students benefited from this year’s Total Job Shadow, an employee engagement initiative by Total Nigeria Plc, designed to increase career awareness among senior secondary school students.

The third edition of “Total Job Shadow”, which took place recently at the Kaduna Blending Plant and Kaduna Sales Office simultaneously, was organised in conjunction with Kasher Consulting.

The Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jean Philippe-Torres, said the programme is part of the company’s social responsibility projects which aims to help model students’ behavior through examples set by employees who serve as their mentors.

Represented at the event by the Corporate Affairs Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Albert Mabuyaku, the Total Nigeria boss explained that through the experience at the Job Shadow, the link between classroom learning and practical workplace requirements is re-enforced in the

students.

“It is an employee engagement activity designed to increase career awareness among senior secondary school students and to help model students’ behavior through examples set by employees who serve as their mentors. “through the experience at the Job Shadow, the link between classroom learning and practical workplace requirements is re-enforced in the students” he stated.

According to him, other key features of the programme included, pairing students

with employees to enable them experience firsthand the employee’s work environment, occupational skills in practice and potential career options, facility tour of the blending plant by Kaduna Plant Manager, Mr. Daniel Chukwu as well as a field trip to Total service stations organised by the Retail Sales Manager (Kaduna), Mr. A. J. Jimoh.

He noted that the overall objective was to expose young Nigerians, who are leaders and employees of tomorrow, to the work environment whilst also inspiring

Shell confirms planned sale of 16 assets worth $8bn

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oyal Dutch Shell at the weekend confirmed plans to sell over 16 assets each worth more than $500 million.

However, the report was silent on the locations or countries where its assets are up for sale, but explained that the move is part of its vast $30 billion threeyear asset sales programme.

An international news agency, Re-

uters, quoted Shell’s head of upstream, Andy Brown, as saying “There are 16 assets currently in the market that are above $500 million in value” Brown was said to have made the disclosure at the Oil and Money conference in London.

It will be recalled that the AngloDutch Company, had earlier this year, launched the programme to reduce its

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

50.05

-0.47

-0.93%

11:44 AM

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

50.89

-0.57

-1.11%

11:43 AM

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

32,800.00

-280.00

-0.85%

11:49 AM

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.83

+0.00

+0.04%

11:44 AM

Source: Bloomberg as at October 25, 2016

them to become positive change agents despite the many challenges they may face.

debt following the acquisition of BG Group. Uncertainty over future oil price has led to a sharp slowdown in deal making in the sector in recent years.

The company which had announced that it planned to end operations in some countries however affirmed its commitment to remain in Nigeria.

Hey Shell’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden said that the company would not leave the country, and reaffirmed the continuity of liquefied natural gas and deep water operations there.

The company’s facilities have come under attack on several occasions this year, which posses a lot of deficit to its financials, as the cost of repairs on some of the damaged facilities is greatly on the high side.

24

Environment & Wildlife

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Experts decry animals’ extinction risks to Nigeria’s ecosystem SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

N

igeria’s ecosystem appears threatened as some wildlife species that render valuable services in the ecosystem as well as contribute to sustainability of the environment, have been pushed to the brink of extinction with many being critically endangered species.

A case in point, according to the latest assessment of birds carried out by Birdlife International, is that of Africa’s vulture species, which are currently at higher risk of extinction.

President, Board of Trustees,

Tiger

Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, Chief Philip Asiodu, while reacting to this, also not-

ed with dismay, that elephants are hapless victims of wildlife trade, urging African countries

Freshwater biodiversity has positive impact on global food security

I

nland freshwaters with a greater variety of fish species (biodiversity) have higher-yielding and less variable fisheries according to a new study from the University of Southampton and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

At least two billion people depend directly on inland freshwaters, such as lakes, rivers and wetlands, for the provision of food.

However, despite thousands of freshwater species contributing to food security, the relationship between biodiversity and yield remains poorly understood.

Using datasets from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and

IUCN covering 100 countries in Africa, Europe and parts of Asia, researchers from the University of Southampton have conducted the first large-scale test of the impact of freshwater biodiversity on fishery yields and the variability of yield over time.

After taking into account other factors that would be expected to have an effect on yield, such as fishing effort, the size of lakes, and temperature and precipitation, they found that those fisheries with a higher number of species are also producing higher yields.

In addition, they showed that in parts of the world where there was a higher number of fish species there was also more stability

in the yield year on year. Countries with the strongest relationship included Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Vietnam and Thailand.

Emma Brooks, Postgraduate Research Student in the University’s Centre for Biological Sciences and lead author of the study, said: “The results suggest that fish biodiversity may deliver benefits for human wellbeing. As such, these results provide a powerful argument for placing biodiversity conservation centrally within fisheries management, particularly in countries with the highest yielding inland fisheries as these also tend to have high freshwater biodiversity.” (Source – sciencedaily.com)

Malawi Police hone skills in wildlife crime fight

M

alawi Police Service (MPS) has embarked on a five-day training aimed at building capacity and acquiring new skills in the modern fight against wildlife crime.

The training, with support from United States Fish and Wildlife Centre and Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, drew participants from Tanzania, Botswana, United States of America, among other countries.

Speaking yesterday at Central Region Police Training

Wildlife in Malawi

Centre, Deputy Commissioner of Police, John Nyondo, said it is time wildlife crime was defeated in Africa.

“Cases of poaching have been ongoing on the continent despite several interventions in place. Our elephants have been killed for their precious ivory and it’s very pathetic,” Nyondo said.

He, however, hailed the training workshop describing it as timely.

“This has come at a right

time when the country [Malawi] is still going through challenges in terms of protection of wildlife of various species.

“It will be ideal for you participants to take this opportunity as an eye-opener regarding on how best the challenge can be overcome, not only for the benefit of MPS but for the betterment of the country and beyond,” Nyondo said.

Coordinator for Wildlife Investigations in Africa, Samuel Friberg, commended MPS for its stance on wildlife crime fight.

“Apart from equipping wildlife investigators with wildlife skills, this training will also help progress other criminal investigations,” said Friberg, who is based in Botswana.

In his remarks, MPS service training officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Josiah Kanthiti asked the participants to utilise skills gained from the workshop. (Source –times.mw)

to desist from such an illicit act.

He estimated that one elephant is hacked down every 15 minutes, making it urgent for countries to close their domestic elephant ivory trade routes and markets fuelling this cruel act.

“Currently, some wildlife species that render valuable services in the ecosystem and contribute to the sustainability of the environment have been pushed to the brink of extinction, with many on the list of Critically endangered species’’, he stated..

According to his statement, ‘’Pangolins, rhinoceroses, sea turtles, chimpanzees, gorillas and many other fauna and flora species have also headlined the agenda of Conservationists at several fora in recent time as more and more of them now make the list of endangered species because of wildlife trade’’.

For instance, Pangolins have unfortunately been rated the world’s most trafficked mammals with more than a million pangolins estimated to have been poached from the wild in the past decade.

This, he disclosed was due to current protections not being adequate to control unceasing demand for their meat and scales believed to have curative powers in the keratin found in them as such demand comes from many parts of the world, particularly, Asia.

Apart from the economic and environmental importance of this wildlife, humans are also under a moral obligation for their protection. This is why we support the efforts of countries advocating against the legislation of rhino horn trade during’’ “We also commend the efforts of governments and corporate organisations that have shown greater commitments to the protection of the environment and the ecosystem in their activities while enjoining individuals, corporate organisations as well as governments at states and federal levels to support NCF in our Green Recovery Nigeria Initiative as we strive towards the recovery of the lost forest cover in the nation’’, he added.

Conservation: NCF hosts Africa’s longest canopy walkway SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

W

ith Africa’s longest canopy walkway located in Lagos state, Nigeria can boost of good tourism potential as well as conservation experience.

Lagos state government had in 2005 handed over the longest canopy walkway to Nigerian Conservation Foundation.

The 401-metre long sky walkway offers nature interpretation, animal sighting opportunities as well as enterprise developments while boosting visitors’ satisfaction and experience.

With this facility, the NCF said it would continue to raise awareness on environmental and sustainable development issues in the country while striving to develop new conservation projects in the country.

This is in addition to expand-

Canopy walkway in Lagos

ing its frontiers with other notable organisations involved in nature conservation activities.

Some of the foreign organizations include the World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF, an international non-governmental organization working in preservation and reduction of humanity’s footprint on the environment.

“We are resolute and determined not to rest on our oars as we intend to increase our efforts at breaking new grounds in stakeholders’ engagements and awareness creation in conservation and environmental issues in consonance with our strategic action plan”, NCF noted.

It, however, urged Nigerians to support the Foundation to realize its vision as we all work towards attaining a Nigeria, where people prosper while living in harmony with nature.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Business News

25

137 countries make progress on SMEs’ business reforms – World Bank …Kenya makes list of 10 top countries TOLA AKINMUTIMI

T

he World Bank Group yesterday reported that 137 economies around the world had adopted key reforms that made it easier to start and operate small and medium-sized businesses within their domains.

The Breton Woods institution, in its annual report on the ease of doing business titled ‘Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All’, noted that developing countries carried out more than 75 percent of the 283 reforms in the past year, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for over onequarter of all reforms.

In its global country rankings of business efficiency, Doing Business 2017 awarded its coveted top spot to New Zealand, Singapore ranks second, followed by Denmark; Hong Kong

SAR, China; Republic of Korea; Norway; United Kingdom; United States; Sweden; and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The Bank reported listed the world’s top 10 improvers, based on reforms undertaken as, Brunei Darussalam; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Belarus; Indonesia; Serbia; Georgia; Pakistan; United Arab Emirates (UAE); and Bahrain.

The report also cited research that demonstrates that better performance in Doing Business is, on average, associated with lower levels of income inequality, thereby reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

Commenting on the report findings, the Bank’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Paul Romer, ex-

Nigeria can save $280m yearly on vaccine production – NIFT REGINA OTOKPA Abuja

T

he Nigeria Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT), has said that local production of vaccines could fetch Nigeria about $280m gross profit by the year 2020, and $215m in the current year, 2016.

The Chairman NIFT, Dr. Ben Anyene, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, during a meeting with the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ognonnaya Onu. Lamenting the huge financing gap within the nation’s immunization programme, he disclosed that 28% of under five children die annually from diseases which have vaccines.

He added that Nigeria, known for its history in exportation of vaccines to other African countries between 1947 to 1991, was today the biggest importer of vaccines.

According to him, there was need for the Federal Government to achieving a sustainable immunization funding that would cover the vaccination of the 7 million new born in the country, to help prevent vaccine preventable diseases.

In this vein, Anyene called for an increase in the federal budget allocated to immunization, financial contributions from state governments, establishment of immunization fund and local production of vaccines to attract more revenue.

He said: “Government should

be able to pay for the immunization of every Nigerian child.

28% of the deaths of children under five is attributes to diseases of which there are vaccines and every year, 7 million children are born in Nigeria.

“We require immunization to protect them from vaccine preventable diseases and the immunization programme faces a large funding gap owing to new vaccines and transition from Gavi support.

When we were doing routine vaccination it cost N4,000 to fully immunize a Nigerian child but now that new vaccines has come, that has shot up to N14,000 to immunize a Nigerian child and every year we produce 7 million of them. We need to have efforts to address this funding gap.

plained that “simple rules that are easy to follow are a sign that a government treats its citizens with respect. They yield direct economic benefits - more

entrepreneurship; more market opportunities for women; more adherence to the rule of law,” “But we should also remember that being treated with re-

Total Nigeria Plc’s Kaduna Plant Manager, Mr. Daniel Chukwu and students of Kaduna state’s Government Day Secondary School Makera, Government Day Secondary School Kakuri and Queen Amina College, Kakuri touring the facilities of Kaduna Blending Plant during Total Job Shadow Event recently

FG seeks OPS’ support on cybercrime threats ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

T

he Federal Government said that it was willing to partner with the private sector in its efforts to reduce the menace of cybercrime to the barest level in the country.

It estimated that the country had lost about N159 billion to the ICT-triggered menace in the last 13 years.

The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu said that the move became necessary because of new prospects and emerging trends in cyber security, noting that it is ready to partner with agencies to catalyze and develop world-class human and institutional capacities in cyber security for the country.

Shittu, who gave these hints at the National Computer Sci-

ence Conference on Cyber Security & The Emerging African Economies at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, said that the his ministry was doing the needful in sensitizing, raising awareness and impact skills on cyber protection nationwide.

Specifically, he explained that government was doing this by creating the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to handle computer security incidents and examining the implementation framework of the Cybersecurity Act with amendments where necessary in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

According to him, there is the need for other frameworks across all strata of public and

IATA to review interest rates of Nigeria’s travel agents OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, has said that the International Air Transport Association, IATA, is set to review and sustain guidelines that would enhance and promote the growth of travel trade business in Nigeria.

A statement by the association indicated that the global body disclosed this plan at a recent strategic meeting held with its executive, led by its President, Mr. Bankole Bernard, in

spect is something that people value for its own sake and that a government that fails to treat its citizens this way will lose its ability to lead.”, Romer added.

Jordan.

It also hinted that IATA promised to review the interest rates charged against defaulting travels agents who delayed remittal of funds to IATA and a faster updating of exchange rate on its Billing Settlement Plan, BSP, link to help discourage speculation and confusion among travel agents.

The Regional Director, IATA, Mr. Dusankostic who received the NANTA delegation in Amman, Jordan regional Headquarter, of IATA, Africa and Middle East, also assured that the global

aviation regulatory body would henceforth play more proactive role in the training and retraining of NANTA members.

Dusankostic also promised that IATA would back a possible presence of a second Dual InLine Package, DIP, Provider in Nigeria.

He commended the NANTA leadership for its visit to the Amman facility and used the opportunity to introduce the Gen ISS Program, a global management process for travel agents meant to ease compliance with local trade laws.

private sectors to arrest the spreading crime.

“The need for other frameworks like cyber security awareness across business and members of the public; cooperative arrangements between law enforcement and communication service provider across the nation and a criminal justice system that facilitate the efficient prosecution of cases of cybercrime are very germane”, he said.

Shittu, who said that Nigeria currently loses about N78 billion annually to the activities of cyber criminals who target financial institutions, and government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as their affiliates, emphasized the need for the enactment and enforcement of policies to ensure cyber security within the ICT and financial institutions.

He said such policies should address the framework of cyber risk management, enforcing security through a ‘defense in-depth’ strategy as well as enforcing vigilance through early detection and signalling system.

On the indispensability of the cyberspace to global development, the minister said the internet and digital technologies were the biggest transformational forces in the world today with over five billion internet-connected devices globally generating over $10 billion to the global economy in 2015.

26

Capital Market

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Investors lose N163.64bn as bears sustain market hold Johnson Okanlawon

T

he bearish trend of the Nigerian Stock Exchange trading in equities continued yesterday as more investors sold their holdings.

Specifically, the All Share Index shed 476.43 absolute points, representing a decline of 1.73 per cent to close at 27,093.52 points.

Similarly, the market capitalization shed N163.64 billion to close at N9.307 trillion. Yesterday’s unimpressive performance pulled the Year-to-Date losses to 5.39 per cent.

Market analysts noted that investor sentiment weakened on a bearish outlook

on third quarter earnings, saying “Weakened macroeconomic fundamentals coupled with expectations of unimpressive earnings scorecards continue to drag investor sentiment in equities,” they said.

Barring any positive news to stoke investor sentiment, they expect market to trade sideways in the sessions ahead.

Market breadth was negative with 11 gainers versus 27 losers.

Presco led the gainers table by 5.09 per cent to close at N42.30 per share.

Wema Bank followed with a gain of 4.92 per cent to close at 64 kobo, while Unity Bank advanced by

4.84 per cent to close at 65 kobo per share.

While Caverton went up by 4.44 per cent to close at 94 kobo and Skye Bank rose by 3.28 per cent to close at 63 kobo per share.

On the other hand, Ashaka Cement led the laggards’ table by 9.65 per cent to close at N12.26 per share. AG Leventis trailed with a loss of 4.94 per cent to close at 77 kobo, while Vita Foam declined by 4.92 per cent to close at N2.51 per share.

Also, CCNN declined by 4.91 per cent to close at N5.23, while Dangote Cement shed by 4.83 per cent to close at N174.17 per share.

Total volume traded decreased by 12.17 per cent to 113.5 million shares, valued at N1.23 billion, and exchanged in 2,435 deals.

Transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank topped the activity chart with 19.24 million shares valued at N288.42 milSource: NSE lion. Access Bank followed with 12.54 million Market indicators Gainers and Losers shares worth N70.84 mil- and Losers Gainers Start Date 24/10/2016 through End Date 25/10/2016 Start Date 24/10/2016 through End Date 25/10/2016 All-Share Index 27,098.52 points lion, while FCMB traded Print Date 25/10/2016 Print Date 25/10/2016 11.94 million shares valMarket capitalisation 9.31trn ued at N13.12 million.

International BrewerGainers for Equities Gainers for Equities ies traded 10.1 million 2016-10-24 2016-10-25 2016-10-24 2016-10-25 S/N Symbol Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Gain(N) % Change shares worth N19559 and S/N Symbol Gain(N) % Change Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) 1 PRESCO 40.25 42.30 2.05 5.09 1 PRESCO 40.25 42.30 2.05 5.09 United Capital trans2 WEMABANK 0.61 0.64 0.03 4.92 2 WEMABANK 0.61 0.64 0.03 4.92 3 UNITYBNK 0.62 0.65 0.03 4.84 acted 8.98 million shares 3 UNITYBNK 0.62 0.65 0.03 4.84 4 CAVERTON 0.90 0.94 0.04 4.44 4 CAVERTON 0.90 0.94 0.04 4.44 valued at N22.28 million.

5 SKYEBANK 0.61 0.63 0.02 3.28 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11

Waste mgt firm lists shares on NSE

T

he Initiates Plc, a bespoke waste management company serving various sectors of the Nigerian economy with significant strides in the Nigerian hazardous waste sub sector, was listed on the Alternative Securities Exchange Market (ASEM) board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday.

A total of 889.98 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were listed at 85 kobo per share by introduction.

Speaking at the listing ceremony, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Reuben Ossai said listing by introduction of the company is part of the management’s strategic plan to promote inclusive growth, transparency and price discovery.

According to him, in order to ensure that the business is not overly exposed to the effects of falling crude prices, the company has diversified their operations to provide incineration services, leading to a remarkable improvement in revenue base for the company and reported in their most recent half year numbers.

He noted that 21st Century Nigeria is expected to witness technological growth, increased urbanisation, private sector controlled economy and environmental awareness.

“These changes will be accompanied with increased waste yield and complexity, more public demand for environmental protection and waste management services.

These changes stress the need for the revision and implementation of environmental laws and policies that will improve the commercial value of waste management services. “ Hence, companies involved in the waste management industry shall have a huge market to serve, making it a very profitable venture over the long term. The Initiates Plc seeks to develop these processes and remain a key player in the waste management industry,” he said.

Ossai disclosed that the company commenced operations in 1997, providing consultancy services in the oil and gas industry through development of strong operational systems and tailor-made services.

C

Index edged down 0.1 percent, to 3,124.89 points.

Investors stayed wary over further yuan depreciation as the Chinese currency touched a fresh six-year low against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Tuesday.

But it drifted back into positive territory by midday, after China’s deputy central bank governor Yi Gang said the exchange rate would remain broadly stable.

China’s 10-year treasury futures, however, which fell the most in two months on Monday, slid further, as investors took profits after the

recent sharp rally and amid concerns of tighter liquidity, as a result of suspected currency market intervention to support the yuan.

Most sectors lost ground, with infrastructure and transportation shares leading the decline, as they gave up some of the recent sharp gains.

But coal miners, including China Coal Energy and Pingzhuang Energy continued to rise, on the back of higher coal prices as government efforts to reduce capacity caused supply shortages in some areas. (Source – Reuters.com)

0.61 185.54 185.54 43.50 43.50 0.98 0.98 0.58 0.58 386.40 386.40 2.99 2.99

0.63 190.00 190.00 44.51 44.51 1.00 1.00 0.59 0.59 390.00 390.00 3.00 3.00

0.02 4.46 4.46 1.01 1.01 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 3.60 3.60 0.01 0.01

3.28 2.40 2.40 2.32 2.32 2.04 2.04 1.72 1.72 0.93 0.93 0.33 0.33

The Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the Losers for Equities Losers for Equities 2016-10-24 2016-10-25 admission into market, 2016-10-24 2016-10-25 Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) S/N Symbol Loss(N) % Change Symbol Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Loss(N) % Change puts the company on a S/N 1 ASHAKACEM 13.57 12.26 -1.31 -9.65 1 ASHAKACEM 13.57 12.26 -1.31 -9.65 2 AGLEVENT 0.81 0.77 -0.04 -4.94 pedestal for growth and 2 AGLEVENT 0.81 0.77 -0.04 -4.94 3 VITAFOAM 2.64 2.51 -0.13 -4.92 3 VITAFOAM 2.64 2.51 -0.13 -4.92 sustainability. He reon4 CCNN 5.50 5.23 -0.27 -4.91 4 CCNN 5.50 5.23 -0.27 -4.91 5 DANGCEM 183.00 174.17 -8.83 -4.83 terated that the Exchange 5 DANGCEM 183.00 174.17 -8.83 -4.83 6 FIDSON 1.45 1.38 -0.07 -4.83 is committed to helping 6 FIDSON 1.45 1.38 -0.07 -4.83 7 DANGFLOUR 3.75 3.57 -0.18 -4.80 7 DANGFLOUR 3.75 3.57 -0.18 -4.80 indigenous companies 8 GLAXOSMITH 15.78 15.03 -0.75 -4.75 8 GLAXOSMITH 15.78 15.03 -0.75 -4.75 9 NAHCO 2.95 2.81 -0.14 -4.75 grow into globally com9 NAHCO 2.95 2.81 -0.14 -4.75 10 FIDELITYBK 0.86 0.82 -0.04 -4.65 FIDELITYBK 0.86 0.82 -0.04 -4.65 petitive brands whilst 1110 HONYFLOUR 1.30 1.24 -0.06 -4.62 11 HONYFLOUR 1.30 1.24 -0.06 -4.62 1.15 1.10 -0.05 -4.35 facilitating the creation 1212 DIAMONDBNK DIAMONDBNK 1.15 1.10 -0.05 -4.35 13 NPFMCRFBK 1.05 1.01 -0.04 -3.81 NPFMCRFBK 1.05 1.01 -0.04 -3.81 of durable wealth and 1413 FCMB 1.13 1.09 -0.04 -3.54 14 FCMB 1.13 1.09 -0.04 -3.54 20.00 19.35 -0.65 -3.25 engendering the sus- 1515 FLOURMILL FLOURMILL 20.00 19.35 -0.65 -3.25 16 UCAP 2.54 2.46 -0.08 -3.15 tainability of emerging 1716 INTBREW UCAP 2.54 2.46 -0.08 -3.15 19.95 19.40 -0.55 -2.76 INTBREW 19.95 19.40 -0.55 -2.76 businesses in Nigeria, 1817 ETI 9.96 9.70 -0.26 -2.61 18 ETI 9.96 9.70 -0.26 -2.61 19 AFRIPRUD 2.55 2.49 -0.06 -2.35 through ASeM Board.

19 AFRIPRUD 2.55 2.49 -0.06 -2.35 FX FUTURES OPEN CONTRACTS (4:30PM) 20 OTC WAPIC 0.51 AS AT OCTOBER 0.50 25, 2016-0.01 -1.96 WAPIC 0.51 0.50 -0.01 -1.96 He said, “The com- 2120 CHAMPION 2.63 2.59 -0.04 -1.52 Tenor 21 Contract CHAMPION 2.63 Settlement 2.59 Value of Open -0.04 Current Rate -1.52 Contract 22 ZENITHBANK 15.00 14.90 -0.10 -0.67 (Month) Date Contracts ($’mm) ($/₦) pany has successfully 22 ZENITHBANK 15.00 14.90 -0.10 -0.67 270.63-0.50 1 NGUS OCT 26 2016 80.50 26-Oct-2016 80.00 295.50 23 GUINNESS -0.62 23 GUINNESS 80.00 -0.62 passed our stringent list382.02 -0.50 2 NGUS NOV 23 2016 80.50 23-Nov-2016 290.50 425.27 3 NGUS DEC 21 2016 21-Dec-2016 285.50 ing requirements and I 146.22 4 NGUS JAN 25 2017 25-Jan-2017 280.50 Page 1 of Published by The Nigerian Stock © FEB 22 2017 178.79 5 ExchangeNGUS 22-Feb-2017 commend their efforts Page275.50 1 of Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 206.17 6 NGUS MAR 22 2017 22-Mar-2017 270.50 to submit themselves to 794.42 7 NGUS APR 26 2017 26-Apr-2017 265.50 141.65 8 NGUS MAY 24 2017 24-May-2017 260.50 international best prac498.93 9 NGUS JUN 21 2017 21-Jun-2017 255.50 465.09 10 NGUS JUL 19 2017 19-Jul-2017 250.50 tices in governance.”

China stocks dip amid yuan weakness; Hong Kong flat hina stocks were slightly weaker on Tuesday, but hovered around nine-month highs, as a correction in infrastructure and transportation shares offset gains in coal miners.

Hong Kong stocks were roughly flat, as investors remained cautious ahead of next month’s U.S. presidential election, and a possible U.S. interest rate increase in December.

China’s blue-chip CSI300 index dipped 0.2 percent, to 3,361.77 points at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite

SKYEBANK MOBIL MOBIL WAPCO WAPCO TRANSCORP TRANSCORP AIICO AIICO SEPLAT SEPLAT FBNH FBNH

11

NGUS AUG 16 2017

16-Aug-2017

12

NGUS SEP 20 2017

20-Sep-2017

Total

160.19 28.20

3697.58

240.50 243.50

Termination of Trading Trading shall cease at 2:00PM eight (8) calendar days before the expiry date of each respective Contract. i.e. the Tuesday preceding the week the contract expires.

Rate (%) Inflation

17.61

MPR

14

Crude oil price

$51.46

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

418.2653

USD

305

EURO

331.2605

CFA

0.4964

YEN

2.9103

SWISS FRANC

305.2136

POUNDS STERLING

370.575

SDR

418.521

NITTY Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

1M

15.9706

0.03

2M

16.4878

0.13

3M

17.0531

0.19

NITTY as @ October 24, 2016

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

15.4167

1M

17.7904

3M

19.3298

6M

21.1318 NIBOR as @ October 24, 2016NIBOR FAQs

4

4

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Excitement as LagosPhoto 2016 starts Obviously, the frenzy associated with soap operas has waned. Is the problem with content, the audience, the producers or the air time vendors?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

28

“We are committed to raising creative entrepreneurs” 28

Making Nigerian soap operas competitive

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

N

igeria in the 70s and 80s captured what excellence in television programming entails; if you ask many people. As the prime time approached, neighbours, who were not privileged to own television sets would cluster around any that was available in the vicinity. The audience would be glued to the sets, taking in every action and emotions of the characters. Thereafter, they would leave with so much suspense, wondering what would happen next. Often times, some members of the audience would shed tears over the agonies of a character. Some would rejoice over the triumphs of their heroes. Those were the days of the monumentally successful soap operas like ‘New Masquerade’,’ Village Headmaster’, ‘Behind the Clouds’, ‘Checkmate’, ‘Mirror in the Sun’, and ‘Cock Crow at Dawn’ to mention a few.

But this excitement seems to have left the Nigerian audience.

Although a few soap operas, like ‘Tinsel’, ‘Spider’, ‘Domino’, ‘Treasures’, ‘Clinic Matters’ ‘Super Story’ and ‘Footprints’, amongst others have emerged in the last couple of years, fortified with excellent acting, and good technical details, none has been able to sway the audience like it was the case in those days, when acting and filming were probably at their lowest ebbs in Nigeria’s televisions history.

The situation however portends a scary picture when compared to the reaction of the Nigerian audience to soap operas imported from South America like ‘Passion’, ‘Secrets of the Sands’, ‘The Rich also Cry’, ‘When You are Mine’ and ‘Second Chance’, which have over the years, recorded astounding success with the Nigerian audience that the faces of the stars in the soaps are currently ‘illegally’ branding products in Ni-

Tinsel geria.

Arts Lounge inquiries revealed that the advertising revenues in Mexican soaps, like ‘When you are Mine’, was so much that the local marketing company in charge of advertising became selective about the commercials show. While the local soap opera producers are keen to see the industry blossom, a lot of challenges seem to be confronting them.

Chico Ejiro is a director and he says the problems being encountered by producers of soap operas are a reflection of the problems afflicting the entire nation. “One of the biggest challenges we have is the lack of sponsorship, which is traceable to the economy. The truth is that we have many shows pursuing the few commercials.

If you take a look at the movie industry, you will realise that there was a time when the sales were high, until people came from all walks of life. The same thing is happening in the soap opera industry now. But a few of us, who have a knack for quality, still manage to confront the challenges. But it is not easy.”

Bolaji Dawodu, a director, whose directorial skills ex-

27

cited audiences in ‘Checkmate’, heaps the blame on the poor talent in the industry.

“If you produce a soap that is good, there is no way, advertisers will not come. I tell the young ones that they must come up with fantastic ideas that advertisers cannot afford to resist, before complaining that things are so bad. When we were younger, we understudied people; that has been thrown overboard today. These days, what they do is to graduate and think they can do it one day. It has never worked that way”.

Jerry Isichei, who produces ‘Footprints’, another soap opera currently running on 20 stations, told Arts Lounge that he decided to branch off to television soap operas when it became difficult to recoup investments in the movie industry, but cited one of the greatest

New Masquarade pains of the TV soap industry as the price of airtime. “There was a movie I shot in Nollywood a couple of years back, and I was almost drowned in debts because of piracy. That was why I decided to move to soap operas because here we do not bother about pirates, but things are not so well here as well. After sourcing funds to make the soap opera, you will have to contend with the greatest challenge, which is paying for air time.”

Air time, Arts Lounge, learnt is as high as N1.2million on the network service of the African Independent Television for an episode of a soap opera that runs for thirty minutes.

One of the biggest challenges we have is the lack of sponsorship, which is traceable to the economy. The truth is that we have many shows pursuing the few commercials

At Silverbird Television, with five television stations on its network, it is not any easier as most soap opera producers are usually asked to pay at least 70% of the value of the cost of the air time in a quarter before the programme begins to run.

It is only when these conditions are met that the producer would begin to look for commercials.

Aside this, the Nigerian audience appears not to be having the suspense that would command viewership, which is vital for the success of a soap.

Mojaide Mariah, a publisher, who once documented the lives of some Mexican stars on Nigerian TV, toldArts Lounge that suspense is what the Mexican writers have over their Nigerian counterparts. “If you follow the Mexican soap opera, you will realise that they have suspense, which makes Nigerians want to see the end of the programme. I have published a number of books on the stars from the Mexican soap and they sold well, but can I do that with the stars in our local soap opera? Mexicans soaps know how to hold the audience and since they are shown on daily basis in most cases, Nigerians do not have any option than following the story because they are equally interesting.”

While it may seem that the bane of soap operas in Nigeria lied on the fact that the producers usually cast unknown faces, the trend has been changing these days with a lot of movie stars, being offered roles in the soaps. But this has not helped so much.

Madu Chikwendu, another filmmaker said, the success of the Mexican soaps in the country can be traced to people putting their best feet forward. “All over the world, South America is known for their tele-novella culture. Their movies are not as hot as their soaps, and they have realised that and right now they are everywhere. Nigeria can do the same thing with what they are best known for”.

Nigerian can do a great deal also by creating stories that are indigenous to them, which would hold audiences for long similar to what ‘Coronation Street’, has been able to do in the Western World as the longest running soap in history.

28

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

FAR AND NEAR

Excitement as LagosPhoto 2016 starts NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

T

he foremost international festival of photography in Nigeria, LagosPhoto, is currently having its seventh edition of exhibition, workshops, screening, artists’ presentation and large scale outdoor installations in Lagos.

The Festival, which is featuring 42 photographers spanning seventeen countries, according to its organizers, aims to provide a platform for the development and education of contemporary photography in Africa by establishing mentorships and cross-cultural collaborations with local and international artists.

Titled: “Rituals and Performance,” the Curator, International Projects, LagosPhoto Foundation, Maria Pia Bernardoni, said they decided to explore the act of repletion to enact the idea and it becomes like a ritual. “We looked at the repetition that shapes gender, image identity, social agency, power and social constructs in contemporary soci-

Azu Nwagbogu ety. The repetitive acts imbued with belief become coercive and normative, it shapes our general idea of what is true and African image, gender, beauty, religion, social class and so forth.”

In the same vein, Director, LagosPhoto Foundation, Mr. Azu Nwagbogu, said the festival which runs at 11 venues (nine indoor venues and three outdoor venues) has 42 artists from different parts of the world.

Also speaking , Head, High Value Events

and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Modupe Thani, said they are proud to be partners with LagosPhoto Festival for seven years. “We have a platform that celebrates writers such as the NLNG competition and the Etisalat Photo Competition for photographers. We urge talented photographers to send in their pictures when we open for the competition next year,” she said.

The festival opened to the public on October 22, 2016 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Satellite exhibition venues in arts and cultural spaces throughout the city extended to Omenka Gallery, Africans Artists’ Foundation, Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, Goethe Institut, A White Space Gallery, Red Door Gallery.

Outdoor exhibitions in public spaces in Lagos include Muri Okunola Park, Falomo Roundabout (Ikoyi), Beko Ransome Kuti Park, Awojobi Park (Onike) Freedom Park, MKO Abiola Park, (Ikeja) and Dolphin Park (Ikoyi).

The festival will end on November 21, 2016.

“We are committed to raising creative entrepreneurs” OLUWASANMI FEMI

A

s the country diligently battles recession, amidst growing unemployment rate and poverty, the need to raise creative entrepreneurs came to the fore recently in Lagos during the opening of Easybiz Entrepreneurial Complex located at Odo Eran Bus Stop, Isheri-Iba Expressway.

The event which had participants drawn from all over the country saw the Chairman of Easybiz, Godswill Ogidi reiterating his resolve to build a new generation of entrepreneurs who would take Nigeria out of the current economic quagmire. “That is our resolve here. We are committed to raising new generation of creative experts who will be the engine room of Nigeria’s transformation”.

Speaking on the mission of the initiative, he said: “The company was established with the major aim of developing viable investment vehicle(s) that could be deployed to empower the populace.

Going forward in 2014, we realized further that access to funding is one of the

major challenges confronting Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME). To contribute our quota in solving this problem, we incorporated Easybiz Universal Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited which offers members micro loans at minimal interest rate and flexible repayment plan.

Barely one year into the life of the cooperative it dawned on us that beyond the problem of funding, that average Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) owner lacks economic know-how, access timely information, professional advice, guidance and requisite management skills. We therefore, reviewed our plan and decided to evolve into a comprehensive enterprise development and promotion outfit offering all round business development and support services. Our new services shall include promoting creativity and innovation, providing business training, capacity building programmes and a variety of wrap around services such as advisory services, mentorship, access to information, and finance and market. Though they are institutions and agencies that offer similar services, we designed our program to accommodate all persons irrespective

of their gender, education and economic status. With understanding of the power of incentive which has been proven as an effective way of encouraging mass participation, our services shall be delivered via a well research compensation scheme.

This method will reduce the cost of burden on interested persons and encourage membership growth as there shall be financial incentive for referring people to the scheme.”

Ogidi is a renowned entrepreneur with many years of experience in various sector of the economy ranging from communication to manufacturing and consulting.

Ogidi

Tourism: Hotel Owners applaud shake-up in FAAN REGINA OTOKPA

A

s a way of boosting tourism in Nigeria, the Hotel Owners Association, Lagos State chapter has commended the Federal Government over the recent shake up in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The association had recently in a widely published petition appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the on-going probe to FAAN because of some fraudulent activities it alleged were happening there.

Speaking on the sack, demotion and rede-

ployment of the top management staff of the agency, the publicity Secretary of the association, Jubril Agabi described it as a welcome development.

According to him, what has been going on in FAAN has been economic sabotage because they are killing tourism by frustrating the display of hotel signs at the airports as it is being done in other climes.

Agabi said for instance the actual cost five square metre space in the airport was N360,000 while hotel owners are being asked to pay over six million Naira for the space.

According to him, the airport management firm also does not allow hotel owners to pick or drop their clients at the airport as

it is done in other airports around the world.

He said after watching the fraudulent activities at the airport, they had to cry out to President Buhari to beam his searchlight on FAAN to arrest the ugly trend that has being going on there.

“We want to appeal to whoever that would take over the management of FAAN to avoid the banana peels in the firm. Hotel owners means well for the country. .All we want is for us to be given the opportunity to be displaying our hotel at the airport at reasonable cost and also for us to be allowed to be dropping and picking our clients at the airport. In fact, we appeal for a designated park for hotel owners at the airports.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mike Okri’s pains

Mike Okri

IFECHI OKOH

U

.S based celebrated act, Mike Okri has lost his 91 year old loving mother, Mrs Mary Okri; she passed on peacefully in Ughelli, Delta State.

The late woman, many see as a symbol of discipline and love, cannot be forgotten in haste because of her commitment to the development of Aficere, in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State.

Mrs. Okri according to one of her sons, Lucky Okri, a consummate musician was a mother to many, aside from her biological children which include Mike Okri and Eddie Okri, two U.S based wave making acts.

The woman will be laid to rest in her home town on February 24th, 2017. Already, many dignitaries from all walks of life have indicated interest to storm the sleepy town to send mama home on that date which means a lot to her children and some concerned top Nigerians.

Ebube Nwagbo’s movie trends online UGOCHUKWU MAYOR

A

fter the date pronouncement of her movie premiere come November 13, 2016, Nollywood actress, Ebube Nwagbo’s #NotEnoughPremiere took to a nationwide trend on twitter for Nigeria users of the social networking platform, Twitter.

The trend which came in appreciation and support for Nwagbo’s yet-to-be released movie also made her fans to tweet fervently alongside the official released poster and trailer of the movie.

The movie was produced Ebube Nwagbo and Ogonna Mbonu under PoshWorld Productions and it features Oge Okoye, Alexx Ekubo, Nazo Ekezie, Michael Bonny Bassey, Susan Zayat, Tina Amuziam and more.

The story is about two young sisters from an affluent family who, out of youthful exuberance, decided to know what the other side of life looks like, but they ended up endangering their lives in the hands of a make-for-all young man, Chukwudi, as played by Alexx Ekubo.

The movie as directed by Afe Olumowe will be premiered next month, November 13, 2016 at the Silverbird Cinema in Victoria Island, Ebube Lagos.

Nwagbo

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

29

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

From The Civil Service 10,973 cases filed in FCT NPDC wants court to stop courts in 2015/16 legal year investigation into oil spillage N T he Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from continuing its investigation into oil spillage in the country.

Counsel to NPDC, Ayotunde Ogunleye, brought an ex parte motion in this regard

before Justice Ademola Adeniyi on Tuesday.

Ogunleye prayed the court for a judicial review against the commission’s special investigative panel on oil spillage and pollution by prohibiting the panel from going on with the investigation.

Ademola, however, complained that the counsel was making reference to docu-

ments that were not before him.

He said the issue was a serious one and that all necessary exhibits must be before him before he would consider the motion.

The judge adjourned hearing of the motion till October 27 to enable counsel regularise their processes.

The News Agency of Nige-

ria (NAN) recalls that NHRC, on February 21, set up a special investigative panel on oil spills and environmental pollution in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the committee was set up following the myriad of petitions to the commission on oil spills and environmental pollution.

NYSC laments decay of facilities at orientation camps

B

rig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the DirectorGeneral, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), on Tuesday lamented the obsolete, dilapidated and grossly inadequate facilities at the orientation camps across the country.

Kazaure made the observation in Calabar during the 2016 `Batch B’ Pre-orientation Workshop organised for stakeholders to fashion out ways for a successful orientation programme.

According to him, the panacea for the challenge is for all the three tiers of government to live up to their statutory roles in the operations of the

scheme.

The director-general said the Federal Government was providing funds for robust activities of the scheme in spite of the current financial challenges.

“The NYSC scheme started with less than 2,700 corps members in 1973. Today, the scheme is now mobilising over 300,000 corps members annually.

“Presently, the facilities in most orientation camps are obsolete, dilapidated and grossly inadequate for the ever increasing corps population.

“The panacea for this challenge is for all the three tiers of government to live up to its statutory roles in the operation

of the scheme.

“As we commence this exercise, I urge all stakeholders, especially the traditional rulers, transport workers and security agencies to assist our prospective corps members safely to their places of posting and throughout the service year.’’

Earlier, Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, said the scheme was established as a platform for engendering oneness and national cohesion.

Ayade said he was pleased with the new curriculum of the NYSC which placed emphasis on skills development and cultural assimilation.

According to him, the state

is diversifying its economy in the area of agriculture.

The governor advised the NYSC management to post a large number of agriculture graduates to the state.

Ayade announced that N1million would be shared among the 14 best performing corps members in the 2015 Batch `B’ session in the state.

Mr. Asu Okang, the state Commissioner for Youths and Sport, said that corps members in the state had contributed greatly to the socio-economic development of Cross River.

Mrs. Ifeoma Anidobi, the NYSC coordinator in the state, thanked the state government, traditional rulers and security agencies for ensuring peaceful stay of corps members.

o fewer than 10,973 cases were filed in various Federal Capital Territory courts during the 2015/16 legal year, while 26,707 cases were brought forward.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello, at a ceremony to usher in the new legal year of 2016/17.

Bello said 6,961 cases were filed at the High Court levels, 5,931 at Magistrates’ Courts, while 81 were filed at the Abuja Multi Door Courthouse (AMDC).

“In total, 7,695 were disposed with while 9,252 pending, the Abuja Multi Door Courthouse dealt with 99 cases disposed 67.

“The prevailing situation as indicated by the numbers above is illustrative of the fact that we have all worked tirelessly in the year to ensure that expectations of the judiciary are met,’’ he said.

The chief judge also enjoined stakeholders to make use of the Abuja multi door courthouse for disputes and conflict resolution.

“I am still not satisfied however with the use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the multi door

courthouse.

“In this regard I call upon my brothers, lawyers and court users who are yet to appreciate and embrace ADR to please do so in view of the many advantages it offers including speed, reliability and cost effectiveness,’’ Bello said.

He said that their activities were open for all to see and the court proceedings could be accessed, for this serve as tools in objectively testing the effectiveness of the system.

“This breeds transparency and shows that we have nothing to hide.

“To further this objective we are embarking on partnerships and collaborations that will help us take a critical look at our operations through different eyes,’’ he said.

He further said that in the last legal year, three magistrates’ courts were commissioned at Zuba, Lugbe and Mpape to bring justice closer to those who needed it most.

Bello said that there were plans to open a judicial division at Nyanya/Karu axis, and that seven courts were renovated, while work on the High Court building at Jikwoyi was 70 per cent completed.

ICT key to Nigeria’s diversification agenda –Perm Sec

T

L-R: Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar and Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru EL-Rufai after the Special ValedictorySession Held to honour Oshiomhole during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY ANAYO OPARA

Ministry to partner agencies over cyber crimes P–Shittu .30

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Mr Sonny Echono, on Tuesday said Information and Communication Technology (ICT) remained key to the success of the nation’s economic diversification agenda.

Echono stated this at the opening of the technical session of the 4th Regular Meeting of National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT) hold-

P.30

FG approves task force to rebuild North East

ing in Kaduna.

He said that current efforts at moving Nigeria from a monolithic to a multi-economy-base would only succeed with the full adoption of the ICT. According to him, ICT is a game changer in socioeconomic development, through multilayer contribution to the various sectors of the national economy.

“ICT holds the key to solving various challenges affecting the country as a nation, from employment generation to effective check on crime and other social vices and insecurity in general.”

He said that council meeting would focus on the state of ICT in the country

and come up with effective ways of transforming the nation’s economy using ICT. “About 69 memoranda would be deliberated upon during the meeting and resolutions would be submitted to the government as recommendations for effective utilisation of ICT in economic development,” Echono said.

The permanent secretary explained that Kaduna State was chosen to host the meeting because of its lead in deployment of ICT in governance.

Declaring the session open, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof.

Andrew Nok, also said no nation could move forward

P.30

30

Civil Service

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ministry to partner agencies over cyber crimes –Shittu Gloria Usman ABUJA

A

s new prospects and emerging trends in cyber security is on the increase globally, the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has expressed the readiness

of his ministry to partner with agencies to catalyse and develop world-class human and institutional capacity in cyber security for the country.

In a statement, he said the ministry was living up to its expectation of sensitising, raising awareness and impacting skills on cy-

ber protection by creating the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to handle computer security incidents and examining the implementation framework of the Cybersecurity Act with amendments where necessary in collaboration with the Office of the National Security

Adviser (ONSA).

The minister, in a keynote address, delivered at the National Computer Science Conference on Cyber Security & The Emerging African Economies at the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State on Monday, Barr. Shittu said there is the need for other frame-

works across all strata of public and private sectors to arrest the spreading crime. ‘’The need for other frameworks like cyber security awareness across business and members of the public; cooperative arrangements between law enforcement and communication service provider across the nation and a criminal justice system that facilitate the efficient prosecution of cases of cybercrime are very germane”, he said.

The minister who noted that Nigeria currently loses about N78 billion an-

nually to the activities of cyber criminals who target financial institutions and government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as their affiliates, emphasised the need for the enactment and enforcement of policies to ensure cyber security within the ICT and financial institutions.

He said such policies should address the framework of cyber risk management, enforcing security through a ‘defense in-depth’ strategy as well as enforcing vigilance through early detection and signaling system.

NOA, PTAD set to verify North East pensioners Joel Ajayi ABUJA

Members of the Governing Board for Office of Disability Affairs taking their Oath of Office during their inauguration

by Governor Ambode at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

FG approves task force to rebuild North East Marcus Fatunmole and Winner Ajibola, Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved a task force to rebuild North- East.

The task force has the mandate of restoring infrastructural facilities that have been ravaged by insurgency in the region within six months.

Minister Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, stated this in a statement made available to National Mirror, Tuesday, by Director, Me-

dia and Public Relation in the ministry, Mrs. Boade Akinola.

Adewole made the announcement when he visited Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alh. Usman Durkwa, at the weekend, the release said.

He said that the task force would look at health, nutrition, water and environmental challenges and provide quick solutions to the problems. The team is being coordinated by the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, while the Minister of Budget and

National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma is the chairman, according to the release.

“Adewole said that each of the components, water, health, environment is headed by a Hon. Minister adding that the Minister of Health is coordinating health and nutrition components of the task force.

He said the task force would work in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa with more emphasis on Borno State.

He added that budget for the programme had been approved, stressing that they were now developing

Architect urges women contribution to national growth Gloria Usman ABUJA

T

he chairperson of the female architect of Nigeria, Jemi Ogesi, is urging all women to contribute their own quota to the national development of the country, especially at this period when the economy of the country is dwindling.

She made this call while briefing journalist at the biennial general meeting of the association.

The theme of the conference is “The role of the architect in nation building.”

She advised her colleagues in the profession not to be deterred by the high number of men in the profession, but should rather see it as an avenue to go the extra mile.

Architect Jemi further highlighted that even though the profession is not for lazy individuals, women architect should stay focused and be resilient in order to achieve the best in a male-dominated environment.

She disclosed that in order to stimulate excellence among the female students of Architecture, the FAN

best student award was initiated in 2013.

She said so far, three female awardees had benefited from the offer.

While giving her keynote address, the acting coordinator of Abuja metropolitan management council, Hajiya Safiya Umar, disclosed that the female architects had played a great role in developing the Nigerian building industry.

She further added that the female architect had contributed greatly to the revenue base of the city.

work plan to swing into action and provide the necessary facilities in the states.

“The minister said that the task force would work under the umbrella of the Presidential Initiative for the North-East which would be inaugurated by the President Muhammadu Buhari soon. He further said that the Federal Ministry of Health in her capacity has provided health commodities worth about N1.2 billion to Borno State, the first consignment was for about N400,000 million and was already in Maiduguri adding that the second batch would follow later.

“He said that the Ministry would continue to partner with Borno State in the area of healthcare delivery.

He added that the challenges of Borno and other North Eastern States affected not only North- East but the whole country,” part of the release said.

A

s part of government’s efforts in rebuilding the confidence of Nigerians in the North East, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) are partnering to verify pensioners in the zone towards prompt and accurate pensions payments.

This was the fall-out of deliberations when the NOA Director General, Garba Abari, received the PTAD Executive Secretary, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor in his office.

Abari noted that citizens in the North East had for long felt alienated from the country owing to the security challenges in that zone, hence the verification of pensioners in the zone would help restore their sense of belonging.

He stressed that senior citizens who had served the nation ought to retire in peace through prompt and constant payment of pension claims, describing non-payment of pensions as a systemic problem which PTAD must address.

The NOA boss assured

of his agency’s cooperation in sensitisation, mobilisation and advocacy not only for an effective pensioners’ verification in the North East but also for greater public confidence in PTAD and the pension system.

He said it would also stem the tide of pensioners falling into the hands of fraudsters and expressed confidence in the capacity of the new PTAD Executive Secretary to deliver in that regard.

Earlier, Barr. Ikeazor said the visit was to solicit collaboration with NOA toward “sanitizing the pensions payroll and creating an accurate and credible database of pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) for efficient pension management”.

She said PTAD, this year, commenced nationwide verification of pensioners and was counting on NOA’s formations in the North East for the success of the next phase, having completed the verification of the South West and South East zones.

She further explained that the verification would continue until all pensioners and next-of-kins of deceased pensioners under the DBS were verified.

ICT key to Nigeria’s diversification agenda –Perm Sec CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

without using ICT as a driver of economic development.

He described Kaduna State as a practically egovernance state, stressing that the state uses ICT

in most aspects of governance.

According to him, the egovernance adopted in the state is already yielding the desired result.

“Since the deployment of ICT in our revenue col-

lection system, our revenue has risen from N800 million to about N1.6 billion monthly.

“We are equally deploying various ICT platforms towards reducing the level of crime in the state,” Nok said.

10

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I Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEWUNMI FUNMILAYO REBECCA Now Wishes To Be Known And Addressed As MRS EGBESOLA FUNMILAYO REBECCA. All former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Should Please Note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to affirm that AKHANIEME DADA SIMON is the same person bearing AKHANIEME DADA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ANTHONY LINDA ONYINYECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as BARTHOLOMEW LINDA ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as EZEMA EUGENIA CHIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as ONAH EUGENIA CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. KAYODE HELEN OLUWAGBEMISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AFOLAYAN HELEN OLUWAGBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I,ALASIRI BISOLA OMOLASO am the same person as SODIPO BISOLA OMOLASO. Henceforth, i wish to be known and addressed as ALASIRI BISOLA OMOLASO. All documents bearing these name remain valid.GTB,UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS SHOETAN OLUWASHOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OJO OLUWASHOLA AJOKE.All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AZEKHORAI JULIET ENIYE, But now wish to be known and address as MRS AKINPELU JULIET ENIYE. All former documents remain valid and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOLI: I, formerly known and addressed as OKOLI LEONARD UCHENNA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOLI LEONARD MONDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, February 14, 2014

CHANGE OF NAME

OMADA: Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS ETHEL UGOCHI OMADA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ETHEL UGOCHI UGWOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as AZEEZ OPEYEMI CHRISTIANA/C., wish to state that I am the same person known and referred to as AKINWANDE OPEYEMI AZEEZ. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR SHITTU RASHEED ABONDE now wish to be known and addressed as MR SHITTU RASHEED OLATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. ADELEKE SUIBAT ADEBIMPE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINTUNDE SUIBAT ADEBIMPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AMAKU CHUKWUMA NICOLAS, now wish to be known and addressed as AMAKU PETER CHUKWUMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that OSINUBI YETUNDE RITA and OSINUBI FUNKE RITA is one and same person. But now wish to be known and addressed as OSINUBI YETUNDE RITA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS FAGBEMI OLUWASEUN MODUPE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OJO OLUWASEUN MODUPE. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C. and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my correct name is ONABANWO YETUNDE OSIFUNKE not ONABANJO YETUNDE OSIFUNKE as it was written, as my JAMB name.

Henceforth i wish to be known and addressed as ONABANWO YETUNDE OSIFUNKE. All former document remain valid general public and JAMB office should please take note CHANGE OF NAME

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH ABDULLAHI: I, formerly known, called and addressed as NURENI BINTA FATIMO, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI BINTA FATIMO and my date of birth was wrongly written as May 25, 1983 instead of May 25, 1987. All former documents remain valid. GTB and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEGOKE ADEBOLA TAIWO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMONOYAN ADEBOLA TAIWO. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AMOO AGNES ADEJOKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BABATUNDE AGNES ADEJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Formerly known and addressed as ALMAHROOF KOLAWOLE ALIBALOGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MORUFU KOLAWOLE ALI. All former documents remain valid, General public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as UMEH JENNIFER NNEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MADUAKOR CHIOMA STEPHANIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

11. This is to confirm and certify that VICTORIA OLAIDE ADEWALE and VICTORIA AINA NURAT ADEWALE is one and same person. But now wish to be known and addressed as OLAIDE VICTORIA AINA NURAT ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certify and confirm that DADA OLUWATOYIN OLORUNSOLABOMI is the same person as DADA OLUWATOYIN IKEOLA. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as DADA OLUWATOYIN OLORUNSOLABOMI. All former documents’ remain valid. Access Bank PLC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ENIOLORUNDA DAMILOLA MODUPE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBOLA DAMILOLA MODUPE. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as OLUYEMI OLUWOLE JOSHUA now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLANREWAJU OLUWOLE JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Authority concerned and general public take note.

Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS IRINYENIKAN FEYISAYO now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS ADETOYE FEYISAYO. All former documents remain valid. Authorities Concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OPASINA RUTH IFEOLUWA, But now wish to be known and address as MRS OLAYIWOLA RUTH IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE GLADYS UZOAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDE GLADYS UZOAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS RAIMI ESTHER, But now wish to be known and address as MRS EMMANUEL ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AKACHUKWU: I, formerly known and addressed as AKACHUKWU BENJAMIN CHUKWUEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as AKA BENJAMIN CHUKWUEMEKA. My correct birth of birth 1st June, 1974. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EDUZOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EDUZOR IFUNANYA NKEM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKONKWO IFUNANYA NKEM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ABOCHI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ABOCHI EJURA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EJURA JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and General public should please take note.

ILEDIAGU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EUGENIA CHINONYE ILEDIAGU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EUGENIA CHINONYE EKWUAZU. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ONOVO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONOVO JACINTA NKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ORUKA JACINTA NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu and general public should please take note.

ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANI GLADYS OBIAGAERI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ORJI GLADYS OBIAGAERI. All former documents remain valid . General public should please take note.

ONYEANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AMUCHE ANGELA ONYEANI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMUCHE ANGELA ONYEANI. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS BERNADINE NGOZI EZECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BERNADINE NGOZI JERRY ALINOUS All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNSANYA ADEDOLAPO CECILIA OLUWAFUNMILOLA Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AJUWON ADEDOLAPO CECILIA OLUWAFUNMILOLA. former documents remain valid. NYSC. and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS FATUKASI GLADYS YEMISI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FALODI OLUWAYEMISI GLADYS. All former documents remain valid.

General Public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT OBIPEHIN MORIYU RUFAI IS STILL THE SAME PERSON KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBIPEHIN MORIYU RUFAI AS OBTAINABLE IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC, PLEASE TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as NWAGUMA EMMANUEL CHINEDU, now wish to be known and addressed as VITUS EMMANUEL CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ABUBAKAR AFEEZ OLATUNJI, now wish to be known as BAKARE OLATUNJI AFEEZ. All formr documents remain valid. General Public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certify and confirm that SALAMI RAHMON ALABI is the same person as SHEU WABILAHI TAOFEEK. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI RAHMON ALABI .

All former documents’ remain valid. Skye Bank PLC, ECOBANK PLC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly know and addressed as BABATUNDE AFUSAT ABOSEDE now wish to be known and addressed as ADEMOLA AFUSAT ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to certify that my correct name is ADEDOYIN AYOBAMI FIYINFOLUWA not ADEDAYO AYOBAMI FIYINFOLUWA henceforth my name will be spelt, called and addressed as ADEDOYIN AYOBAMI FIYINFOLUWA. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZENWA: I, formerly known and addressed as OGBU KINGSLEY EZENWA, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBU KINGSLEY TREASURE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWU FRANCISCA ANEZI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EDEH FRANCISCA ANEZI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGWU NNEKA MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDE NNEKA MARY. All former documents remain valid.

Federal College of Education EhaAmufu, Enugu State Government and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZE CYNTHIA AMAOGE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZE CYNTHIA AMAOGE. All former documents remain valid . General public should please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ADEGORIOLU OLUWATOBILOBA MARY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS AROWOLO OLUWATOBILOBA MARY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE .

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed MISS OYENEYE IYABODE TEMIDAYO Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLULEYE IYABODE TEMIDAYO. ALL former documents remain valid. School of Health, NYSC and general public should take note..

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS FALAYE ELIZABETH FOLAKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADIGUN JOSEPH ELIZABETH FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid.

General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ENOBONG GERALD ALEX, now wish to be known and addressed as GODWIN ESTHER ETUKUDOH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. ADEBISI OMOLAYO OLUWASEUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMOGBESINU OMOLAYO OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUBOWALE RUTH TOSIN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DARAMOLA RUTH TOSIN. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C. and General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certify and confirm that ORILOYE TEMILADE DEBORAH is the same person as FUNMILAYO DEBORAH ORILOYE. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ORILOYE TEMILADE DEBORAH. All former documents’ remain valid. Heritage Bank, ECOBANK PLC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEWUNMI EBUNOLUWA Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SALAU EBUNOLUWA MARY. All former documents remain valid General public note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as MISS AYELAGBE YETUNDE OLAPEJU, now wants to be addressed as MRS. ADEYANJU YETUNDE OLAPEJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UBAGU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UBAGU CHINWE CHRISTABEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SAMUEL CHINWE CHRISTABEL. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ANYAEGBU: I, formerly known and addressed as ANYAEGBU OSITADIMMA PAUL, now wish to be known and addressed as ANYAEGBU OSITA PAUL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NWIGWE: I, formerly known and addressed as NWIGWE MUNACHIMSO PETER, now wish to be known and addressed as NWIGWE PETER CHISOM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBIORA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBIORA CHIOMA MARIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOROMBA CHIOMA MARIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

11

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS SHODIYA OLUBUKOLA OLAMIDE COMFORT now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONATUNDE OLUBUKOLA OLAMIDE COMFORT.All former documents remain valid. General Public take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADENIJI FATIMOH OMOLARA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BANKOLE FATIMOH OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid; National Youths Service Corp (NYSC), general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to affirm that LATEEF ALADE OLABINJO is the same person bearing LATEEF ALADE OGUNKOYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as LIADI LUKMON KEJI, now wish to be known and addressed as LIADI LUKMON KUNLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as BALOGUN SARAT, now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNTIMEHIN KIKELOMO HOPE, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OSOGWU KIKELOMO HOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certify and confirm that MRS EGUNLAE ADEOLA ADEDOYIN is the same person as BOBOYE ADEOLA ADEDOYIN. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS AJIBOLA ADEOLA ADEDOYIN. All former documents’ remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAWORE MARIAM OLAJUMOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS WAHAB OLAWORE MARIAM. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as MISS IBRAHIM RUKAYAT BOLA, now wants to be addressed as MRS. HASSAN RUKAYAT BOLA IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKECHUKWU: I, formerly known and addressed as OKECHUKWU EMMANUEL ONYEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKECHUKWU EMMANUEL OKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UCHE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UCHE VIVIAN OGADIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWANKWO VIVIAN OGADIMMA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONUNYEREOFOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONUNYEREOFOR CHINELO PERPETUAL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MBOGU CHINELO PERPETUAL. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NSEOBONG: I, formerly known and addressed as NSEOBONG TOM INYANG, now wish to be known and addressed as DONALD OKON JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

33

Court remands 3 suspected armed robbers Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

A

A cross section of legal luminaries during opening of 2016-2017 Legal Year of FCT Judiciary, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Troops arrest another 9 suspected Boko Haram collaborators

N

igerian troops have arrested another nine suspects said to be aiding the Boko Haram sect in the North East Zone, bringing the number of those caught in the last two days to 30.

According to a statement issued Tuesday by

army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, the suspects included two officers, two soldiers, two policemen and 26 civilians.

Usman said that investigation carried out on the 21 suspected collaborators and saboteurs earlier arrested led to the

nabbing of the nine.

“Many more suspects would be arrested and prosecuted based on evidences against them and level of culpability,” he said.

Usman described the suspects as “unpatriotic elements” whose

commence a laudable project for the benefit of Nigerians.

He added that this would also accelerate the advancement of market development while promoting overseas business quality and efficiency.

“Many contractors shy away from working in the North-East; so, CGGC should be commended for the bold step it has taken.

“The project, apart from making water available for industrial use, will also help cater for the well-being of the generality of the people,” he added.

He said the company was qualified because it is the company that constructed the world’s largest dam.

Also speaking, CGGC President, Mr. Lv Zeziang, expressed optimism that the establishment of the headquarters in Abuja would improve on its technical strength, investment and financial capacity in regional and economic construction.

Zeziang said the company would help share the fruit of development

as well as build a well-being environment among North West African countries.

He added that the company would ensure that its promise to contribute to social development and promote friendship between China and Nigeria was sustained.

“Nigeria is an old friend of China; this is because China is confident of the Nigerian market.

“Setting up a regional headquarters in Abuja managing 28 countries in the North Central and West Africa is not a mistake.

“Having done this, we will do everything possible to improve the living standard of the people in the region,” he said.

He called for support from the governments in the region, especially, Nigeria, to meet the social contribution of the economy.

In his remark, Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Mr Boss Mustapha, welcomed the progress CGGC had made

acts were “likely to jeopardize” the collective efforts of clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

He advised members of the public to report any known or suspected illegality with regards to Operation Lafiya Dole to security agencies.

Mambilla hydropower project to commence soon -Minister

M

inister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Mustapha Shehuri, said Nigeria is working closely with China to fast track the execution of the Mambilla Hydropower project.

Shehuri said this at the official unveiling of the China Gezhouba Group International Company Ltd., CGGC, North Central/West Africa Headquarters in Abuja Tuesday.

The minister noted that the establishment of the company in Abuja would ensure speedy mobilisation to site for the commencement of the Mambilla 3,050 MW HEPP. He said the project would be completed within the next 63 months.

“We have no doubt that our Mambilla project will be delivered in due date with the establishment of the company in Abuja.

“Eighty-five per cent of the finance is coming from NEXIM Bank of China, while 15 per cent is from the Nigerian government,” he said.

He commended CGGC for coming to Nigeria to

in the area of unlocking the potential of inland waterways.

Mustapha commended the company for its strategic role in the completion of the construction of Baro Inland Port in Niger State.

He called for more support from the company to further strengthen the economic and social development of Nigeria

Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has remanded in prison custody, three members of an alleged armed robbery syndicate that specialised in robbing commuters of cash and valuable properties on highways in Kogi State.

The accused, John Angulu, 20 of Kosa village; Shaba Abel, 18 and Silatu Gwatana, 18, both farmers of Bangede in Koton-Karfe council areas were charged with criminal conspiracy and armed robbery contrary to sections 91(1) and 298 of the Penal Code Law. The Chief Magistrate, Levi Animoku, who gave the order in his ruling on arraignment of the accused, described armed robbery as a grievous social vice that had permeated the state.

He said bail in the matter was not granted as a matter of course, adding that the offence was prevalent in the country and had led to the death of many Nigerians.

“The degree of escape from justice is high. The presumption of innocence guaranteed under section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution notwithstanding, I decline to admit the accused persons to bail.

“Consequently, they shall be remanded at the Federal

Kaduna teachers to undergo compulsory proficiency test

K

aduna State Government said Tuesday that the

Plateau Deputy Speaker dumps PDP for APC James Abraham JOS

T

he camp of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Plateau State further depleted Tuesday when two top ranking members, including the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yusuf Gagdi, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The member representing Mikang constituency, Daniel Nanlong also defected alongside the Deputy Speaker.

Gagdi represents Kantana constituency.

Prisons, Koton-Karfe,” he said. He adjourned the case to November 3, for further mention.

Prosecuting police officer, Sgt Tuesday Ganagana had earlier told the court that on July 29, at about 3:30 a.m., one Hassan Yakubu, a member of Vigilance group in Gegu-Beki in Koton-Karfe Local Government of Kogi reported the matter.

Ganagana told the court that while Yakubu was on duty with his vigilance team, he received a distress call from commuters that there was an on-going robbery operation on GeguKosa road.

He said the vigilance group immediately mobilised to the scene and arrested one of the robbers, Gwatana, while other members of the gang took to their heels and escaped.

The prosecutor said the vigilance group handed Gwatana over to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Lokoja while investigation later led to the arrest of the two others, Angulu and Abel.

Ganagana said that two Dane guns and one mask were recovered from the accused, adding that upon investigation, the three accused admitted being members of same robbery syndicate terrorizing Gegu-Beki and its environs.

Reading a letter on the floor of the House Tuesday, the Speaker Peter Azi, welcomed the defected members to the APC, stressing that in the ruling party, there is no discrimination.

He called on the party to remain resolute and call on citizens of the state to continue to support the APC both at the state and federal level.

Speaking to newsmen, the deputy speaker said he dumped PDP because most of his supporters are in APC. “I hearken to the call of my people to join the APC,” he said.

planned compulsory proficiency and competency test introduced for primary school teachers across the state was not to witchhunt anybody.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Andrew Nok made the clarification in Kaduna.

He explained that the test became necessary following the low quality of teaching observed in primary schools.

According to him, the proficiency test is normal in any establishment, especially if effective and quality service is at stake.

“What we want to do is to know who is teaching what in our schools and whether the person is competent enough to teach.

34

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

“Winning candidates don’t threaten prosecution of individuals with a view to putting them in jail. Donald Trump is wrong on this”.

–FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, ARI FLEISCHER

Al-Shabab storms Kenya town, slain dozen

The group’s producer, Daud Otieno, who survived the attack, said the gunmen raided the hotel just before dawn yesterday, shouting “actors, actors” while firing at the rooms.

Eight cast members who stayed in the hotel, which has a capacity of 20 people, survived.

The actors were on their final day before the gunmen struck.

“We have been receiving threats and we have experienced attacks wherever we

stayed before they finally got us,” Otieno said.

“The gunmen spoke in Somali and fired at us repeatedly and some of us hid in the toilets as the gunmen fired at us and set off explosions,” he added.

But Al-Shabab militants who claimed the attack declared in an affiliated radio station, saying the group had “launched an attack in Mandera, killing 15 Kenyans”.

Earlier this month, the mili-

tants killed six people in an attack the group said was aimed at forcing Christians out of the area.

Mandera borders Somalia, making it vulnerable to attacks from militants based there.

Many of the Christians in the area are skilled workers from other parts of Kenya, making a vital contribution to local hospitals and schools.

Meanwhile, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has said on its Twitter account that ten attackers were involved in the attack and they have been killed while the situation has been brought under control.

The mission however declined stating the casualty figures.

Al-Shabab, affiliated to alQaeda, has been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush them.

The militants have lost control of most Somali towns and cities in recent years but still control rural areas in southern and central Somalia.

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, has seen similar attacks by both separatists and various Islamist militant factions in recent years.

Hundreds of trainees were evacuated from Balochistan Police College as troops arrived to

repel the militants. Local media reported at least three explosions at the scene.

“I saw three men in camouflage whose faces were hidden carrying Kalashnikovs,” one cadet said, adding, “They started firing and entered the dor-

mitory but I managed to escape over a wall.”

“The police academy is home to hundreds of students and many of the cadets who died were killed in the blasts,” Major General Sher Afghan of the Frontier Corps said yesterday.

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

R

eports yesterday said at least twelve people were killed in an attack in Kenya’s north eastern of Mandera, claimed by Somaliabased militant Islamist group al-Shabab, even as Kenyan authorities counter that the outlaw group did not carry out the attack.

The target was a guest house hosting members of a theatre group who were performing plays in schools in the town.

According to the reports, the 10-member theatre group was composed of university students who had travelled to Mandera to perform the plays.

Two members of the little known theatre travelling group, Pearls Quality Edutainment, were killed.

The others were among among 10 people rescued after the dawn attack.

This was the fourth attempted attack on Pearls Quality Edutainment actors who had been in Mandera town for three weeks performing plays in secondary schools.

The guest house where victims of the attack were killed

Qetta Police College blasts kill scores

A

t least 59 cadets and guards were killed yesterday in an attack by militants on a police college in the Pakistani city of Quetta, officials said.

Three militants wearing suicide bomb vests had according to reports entered the college late on Monday, taking hostages.

A major security operation lasted for hours and all attackers were killed.

ISIS said yesterday that its fighters had carried out the attack, although officials have blamed another militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Rescuers helping a victim into a truck after the blasts yesterday

Nigeria’s First Lady as Kitchen Wife

Continued from page 15 The question of women in the public space should be the pre-occupation of any enlightened leader, because the level of freedom of any society can be glimpsed from the level of freedom that its women enjoy. Today, the global demographic is weighted in favor of women and to exclude them from the processes of development is itself negating to the cause of development. Therefore, it cannot be over-emphasized that many more women are needed in the public sphere to drive development.

Affirmative actions are meant to right historical hedges against women, more compelling in countries like Nigeria where men still don’t believe in gender inclusivity; that women’s rights are human rights and women

ought to be treated with dignity and respect. Buhari’s archaic vision of women best advertises this.

Women should therefore reject the treacherous role of serving negative patriarchal values, and frontally attack the cultural and religious devices of subjugation. Irrespective of social norms, religious traditions and tribal customs, it should be sounded loud and clear to Buhari, whose understanding of common law is impaired by sectarian values that it is not only unconscionable, but also illegal for a man, however high his social status, to abuse a woman, even if that woman happens to be his wife. A situation where an elected lawmaker slapped his female colleague and went scot free; or where a Senator threatened to rape and pregnant a female colleague,

is barbaric and never permissible by any religious doctrine.

Nigeria is awash with big men but not many with big ideas. People merely occupy positions of authority, but are bereft of big dreams and visions of greatness for the nation.

Such is the tragedy of Nigeria’s leadership question. Nigeria must strive to be one nation of equal people with inalienable rights and dignity, and the president must lead by example.

With the rising wave of rape, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse involving women, the President’s comments cast all Nigerian men in very bad light. We wish to assure the international community that Nigerian men don’t share the president’s opinion of his wife and women in general.

WORLD BULLETIN France begins ‘jungle’ demolishing The dismantling of the “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais began yesterday as its inhabitants left by coach for other parts of France.

A group of workers started to demolish unoccupied tents and shacks by hand, according to reporters at the scene.

About 2, 000 migrants left voluntarily on Monday, and hundreds more have followed on day two of the clearance.

The Jungle has become a key symbol of Europe’s migration crisis, housing some 7, 000 residents in squalid conditions.

The operation to close the camp has been largely peaceful so far, but concerns remain that some migrants will refuse to give up their attempts to cross the Channel to the UK. The French authorities prioritised departures yesterday morning but the first group of workers started demolition shortly after 1500 local time (1400 BST).

Chinese fines over Zim flag A judge in Zimbabwe has fined a Chinese national, Weidong Li, for selling the national flag without authorisation, the state-run Herald newspaper reported yesterday.

Li, 28, was fined $20 (£16) and in total 314 flags were seized.

Last month Zimbabwean officials warned that anyone who “abused” the flag risked prosecution.

Anti-government protesters have been using flags and the hashtag #ThisFlag.

The protest movement, initiated by a pastor Evan Mawarire, called on Zimbabweans to re-own their flag and to force politicians to answer questions on their lack of accountability and corrupt ways without fear.

On passing the sentence against Li, presiding judge, Tendai Mahwe, said he was showing leniency, saying the accused had saved the court time by pleading guilty.

Four killed in Aussie park

Two men and two women were yesrerday killed on a ride at a theme park on Australia’s east coast.

Two victims were thrown from a raft on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld on Queensland’s Gold Coast, while two others were trapped inside, according to officials.

The park in Coomera has been closed and an investigation is under way.

Dreamworld bills itself as Australia’s biggest theme park with more than 50 rides and attractions.

The Thunder River Rapids ride whisks visitors in circular rafts along a fast-moving artificial river.

Dreamworld describes it as a “moderate thrill” attraction.

Queensland Ambulance spokesman Gavin Fuller blamed a “malfunction” for the accident.

12

Business & Finance

Friday, February 14, 2014 Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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35

Clean-up committee arrests 11 miscreants, prostitutes in VI, Ikoyi Francis Suberu

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pecial Committee on Clean up of Ikoyi and Victoria Island has arrested 11 suspects, including eight women suspected of prostitution and three men who are believed to be hoodlums for constituting environmental nuisance in the area.

The suspects were arrested in an abandoned building on Club Road, Ikoyi. The building is said to be owned by a deceased retired military officer.

The operation which also involved policemen from the Ikoyi Police Division was coordinated by the chairman of the Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, Superintendent Yinka Egbeyemi, and was carried out following series of complaints by residents of Club Road who had been inundated with reports of untoward activities in the building especially at dusk.

Speaking with newsman while parading the suspects at his Alausa office, Egbeyemi said when questioned, all the CHANGE OF NAME

OGBONNA: I, formerly known and addressed as OGBONNA LYNDA CHIDIMMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZEONU LYNDA CHIDIMMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

suspects could not offer explanations on their means of livelihood.

He added that they would be charged to court soon based on circumstantial evidence, just as he warned that the committee is resolute about its determination to rid Ikoyi and Victoria Island of abandoned buildings and miscreants.

He emphasised that the next stop of the Clean Up committee is Lekki where all such infractions have been identified and would be cleared to restore the original master plan of the area.

Supol Egbeyemi added that before this latest operation, the task force had earlier warned the operators of the abandoned building which has become a convergence point for all sorts of characters, including uniformed men who allegedly purchase alcohol and drugs, while at night it serves as a joint and brothel for women of easy virtues to relocate.

He said after the first visit, surveillance was placed on the building which is close to the CHANGE OF NAME

AMILE: I, formerly known and addressed as AMILE ELIZABETH CLETUS, now wish to be known and addressed as EKEH LORRITA CHINAZA. All former documents remain valid NYSC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Ikoyi Police Station and indicated that different questionable characters were still patronising the place and terrorising the residents, a development which spurred the Cleanup team to act.

The paraded suspects

include Ajoke Precious (22) from Kogi State, Akaana Agateh (26) from Benue State, Agbo Elizabeth (18) and Augustin Mary also from Benue State; Ajanjo Blessing (24), Mary Douglas (22) both from Bayelsa State

CHANGE OF NAME

EVEVAKPOR: I formerly known and addressed as MISS JOSEPHINE EVEVAKPOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JOSEPHINE DIESERUVWE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This to confirm that OGIDAN OLAJUMOKE SEGILOLA and OGIDAN OLAJUMOKE YEJIDE refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ANIUGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANIUGWU DORIS CHIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NGWUEZE DORIS CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

OKARIA: I, formerly known and addressed as OKARIA ANASTESIA OBIAGERI, now wish to be known and addressed as OKARIA JOSEPHINE OBIAGERI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that OGHENEMEGA LOVINNA ERHIKOWHODO, JOEL LOVINNA ERHIKOWHODO and OGHENEMEGA LOVINNA ERHIKOWHODO JOEL is the same one person but now wish to be known and addressed as OGHENEMEGA LOVINNA ERHIKOWHODO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and General public please take note.

This to confirm that ADINNU ONYINYE and LUCY ONYEBUCHI ADINNU refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

This to confirm that NURUDEEN OWOLABI , NURUDEEN JIMOH and NURUDEEN OWOLABI JIMOH refer to one and same person. All former documents remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ANWUHUBO FLORENCE CHEKWUBE, now wish to be known and addressed as ODERA FLORENCE NCHEKWUBE. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AZEEZ RACHAEL JIBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAYIWOLA RACHAEL AJIBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PRECIOUS: Formerly known and addressed as MS PRECIOUS IMUWAHEN OGBOMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PRECIOUS IMUWAHEN AJOONU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

ABUBAKAR: Formerly known and addressed as MISS ABUBAKAR IYABO OMOLADE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ABDULGANIYU UMMUANI ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IZUAGBE: I, formerly known as MISS ELIZABETH IMISOMHE IZUAGBE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ELIZABETH IMISOMHE OTONO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ABIODUN MORUFA OLUTOSIN, now wish to be known and addressed as ABIODUN MORUFA ODUTAYO. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that AZIAGWU OGECHI, AZIAMA OGECHI and AZIAWU OGECHI refer to one and the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as AZIAGWU OGECHI. My correct date of birth is 31/1/1976. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as DAIBU MUHAMMED, now wish to be known and addressed as DAIBU MOHAMMED. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AWODELE TAIWO FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AWODELE TAIWO FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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

Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS TITILAYO OMOWUNMI ADEYOMOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ODALIKI TITILAYO OMOWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Defence, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This to confirm that BABAJIDE OLUWAKAYODE BALOGUN and OLUSEGUN OLANREWAJU BALOGUN refer to one and same person. henceforth I wish to be called and addressed as OLUSEGUN OLANREWAJU BALOGUN. All former documents remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS NWANGA REBECCA BLESSING, now wish to known and addressed as MISS CLEMENT REBECCA BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUSEGUN: Formerly known and addressed as OLUSEGUN ADENIKE DOLAPO, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ABAYOMI ADENIKE DOLAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

They all denied paying any rent to Salau, adding that they were only allowed to stay on compassionate ground pending when they would be able to find an alternative abode.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Patron, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Chief Micheal Olawale-Cole; immediate past president, Prince Yemi Adefulu and Asiwaju Fola Osibo, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

AGBALAGBA: I formerly known and addressed as MISS JANE SHOLAYE AGBALAGBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JANE SHOLAYE ETAMUEMU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMOBOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as OMOBOYE HONESTY, now wish to be known and addressed as OTONNE HONEST. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

and Mati Dodi (28) who claimed that they all engage in menial jobs and were permitted by one military personnel named Salau to stay in the building since they had accommodation issues.

CHANGE OF NAME

HAUWA: Formerly known and addressed as HAUWA SAIDU DANSADAU, now wish to be known and addressed as HAUWA ABDULAZEEZ. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

UZOAMAKA: Formerly known and addressed as UZOAMAKA NJIDEKA UZONDU and UZOAMAKA NJIDEKA OKEKE now wish to be known and addressed as UZOAMAKA NJIDEKA UMEAKAEZE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

PATIENCE: Formerly known and addressed as PATIENCE AKANINYENE NSE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PATIENCE ISAAC IHIMEKPEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as FOLASHADE ADEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as FOLASHADE ADEYEMI JOKO. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that BLESSING BELLO, NNENNA NWOSU and NNENNA VINCENT refer to as one and the same person. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ALAYANDE GRACE AYANGBEMIJO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINYEMI GRACE AYANGBEMIJO. F.D. R.V. Skye Bank, all Embassies and authorities concerned and general public take note.

AKINFENWA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINFENWA ELIZABETH BUKOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ALIMI ELIZABETH BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly spelt and stated as MAUKUN PAULINE instead of GALO MAHOWO PAULINE AND MY DATE OF BIRTH IS 1ST DAY OF MARCH 1982 NOT 10TH JANUARY 1982 Hencforth I wish to be known and addressed GALO MAHOWO PAULINE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

TIJANI: Formerly known and addressed as TIJANI KEHINDE AYO, now wish to be known and addressed as TIJANI KEHINDE OLUWAGBEMIGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKORIE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OKORIE BLESSING ONYINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NWANKWO BLESSING ONYINYE All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

KANIFE: Formerly known and addressed as KANIFE CHINENYE . R., now wish to be known and addressed as OKECHI CHINENYE. R. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SAHABA FORUM FOR DA’WAH BOARD OF TRUSTEES This is to inform the general public that the above named Forum has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under PART C of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 Amb. JA AFAR ABUBAKAR KOGUNA 2. ADAMU YAHAYA MAIKIFI 3. AYATULLAHI ABDULLAHI SALIHU 4. MUHAMMAD BIN UTHMAN 5. ADAMU MUHAMMAD WAYA 6. ABDULLAHI MUHD GETSO 7. ALIYU ABBA ABUBAKAR 8. ISA GALADIMA 9. AHMED ADO DAURA AIM AND OBJECTIVE The promotion of Islamic teachings and values Any objection to the above 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.

Submitted by: Ibrahim Umar Abere Esq.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Guardiola wants Aguero to stay at City

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Sport

FIFA has no reason to suspect there has been misuse of funds that FIFA has provided to the Sierra Leone Football Association – FIFA

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Super Falcons have no excuse to fail –Omagbemi

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head of next month’s 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Super Falcons head coach, Florence Omagbemi has assured Nigerians that the Falcons will do everything

humanly possible to retain the continental title.

The Super Falcons are the record holders in Africa, winning the title seven times out of the previous nine editions. Although, the for-

I’ll rediscover my form at Rotherham –Osaze

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igeria World Cup star Osaze Odemwingie has said he hopes to rediscover his form at English Championship bottom club Rotherham United.

Osaze, 35, has signed for Rotterdam till January. It is a difficult challenge for the Nigeria star as the club is rock bottom of the 24-team Championship with six points from 14 matches.

“Class is permanent, form is temporary, so I just need to find my form. All the Osaze movements are

still there,” he said.

“Rotherham and Bolton showed interest over the weekend. Time is not on my side at my age and the Championship is a bit closer to where I wish to be.

“Thanks to Bolton for their interest in me but I’m really pleased to join Rotherham.

Kenny showed some interest in me a few months ago and we have been in touch since then. I am pleased he got a job and he offered me a contract.”

Osaze was released by Stoke City in the summer and tried out with Hull City but was not given a contract.

eign -based players are yet to arrive camp, Omagbemi revealed that she is happy with the form of the team so far.

“I am impressed with the sessions I have had with the ladies since I got in. It’s a process and we just started. We want to build from where we stopped from the qualifiers because I still have the players we used to execute those matches.

Just waiting for the foreign -based to join the team and we will continue.

“We are all aware of the time bound. I’m not going to make an excuse of that and just want to work with what we have at hand. We may not have enough time but hope to work with those who are fit and get ready.

“Coming down to join the team

with few sessions we’ve heard towards our preparations, I’m happy with what my assistants have done so far. The players’ mindset and spirit in the camp are high.

“From the qualifiers against Senegal, we know we have the team that will go and represent the country in Cameroon. The players are aware of the task ahead.

“We are still expecting our professional players though and I’m sure they will join us soon. We will continue to work hard we will blend well in time before the tournament.

She explained that when the team gets to Cameroon, they will not fear any foe but take each game as they come.

“When we get to Cameroon we will take each and every of our matches one at a time, but right

now the main objective is to prepare the team well for the tournament. I know that everyone is expecting us to go to Cameroon to do well. By God’s grace, with sound preparation we will do well,” Omagbemi concluded.

The overseas -based Super Falcons players expected are: Rita Chikwelu (Umea IK, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi (Vittsjo FC, Sweden); Faith Ikidi (Pitea IF, Sweden); Ngozi Ebere (PSG Ladies, France); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Avant Guingamp, France); Desire Oparanozie (Avant Guingamp, France); Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA) and; Asisat Oshoala (Arsenal Ladies) The 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals hold 19th November – 3rdDecember in Cameroon. Nigeria will play Ghana, Kenya and Mali in Group B.

NFF AGA fixed for November 13 in Uyo

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he Nigeria Football Federation has concluded plans to host the severally postponed Annual General Assembly on November 13 in Uyo, a day after the Nigeria World Cup qualifier against Algeria.

This is the outcome of a meeting held in Abuja between some chieftains of the football house.

At that meeting, it was resolved that board members, state FA chairmen and secretaries should all converge on Uyo for the November 12 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Algeria and the next day, the

AGA will hold at the Le Meridien hotel, camp base of the Super Eagles.

The proponents of this idea believe this is the only way they can cut cost and maximise the little money available.

It was further revealed that the secretariat of the football house has put forward a budget of 40 million Naira to the NFF president whose priority for now is sourcing for monies to successfully prosecute Nigeria’s the vital World Cup qualifier with Algeria in Uyo. Top on the agenda of the 2016

AGA will be Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualification, the journey so far, reviewing the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season and deciding a new kick-off date for the new season, among others.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick, who was in Abuja Monday, has been briefed on this new date as an official announcement is expected anytime soon.

It also understood that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Udom Emmanuel will officially declare the event open on November 13.

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Sports

Ronaldo boos baffle Zidane

R

eal Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he is confused over why some fans have turned on Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 31-year-old striker, on the shortlist for the 2016 Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player with team-mate Gareth Bale, has not scored in four games at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, a first in his Real career since joining in 2009.

He was jeered during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, even though the result returned Zidane’s side to the table summit.

Zidane said: “I don’t understand the jeers but at the same time, I was also jeered and it can happen.

“The public demands a lot from the players and the Bernabeu is special. Cristiano knows that and is not concerned by it”, he concluded.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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anchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that he wants Sergio Aguero to stay at the club “for a long time”.

The City boss insisted after their defeat in the Nou Camp that Aguero was firmly in his plans and, after confirming he could play against United at Old Trafford, Guardiola said: “I want to be clear again - I am so happy with Sergio.

“Hopefully he can stay for a long time here. I want, from deep in my heart that he can stay here and play with us.

“He is a special player, he is a striker who scores millions of goals in his career. I know for strikers it depends on the moment, but we cannot forget how many goals he scores for us.”

Guardiola said he had not yet decided on his line-up to face Jose Mourinho for a second time this season, but did confirm he would rotate the team following injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Pablo Zabaleta.

Guardiola wants Aguero to stay at City

Odunukwe, Ikeanusi give gains of Ohanaeze Sports Club Ifeanyi Eduzor

Ronaldo

Pogba needs time to adapt to EPL - Henry

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atron of Ohanaeze Sports Club, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Chief Obi Odumukwe said that the club which was set up to enable members play football as hobby has been used to touch the lives

of less privileged people in the society.

He told National Mirror during the clubs new yam festival that apart from the club been a football team that encourages members to exercise their body and keep fit; it has always been in the vanguard of giving succor to the needy.

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hierry Henry has leapt to the defence of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba after the France international’s slow start to life back at Old Trafford.

Pogba rejoined United for a world-record transfer fee of £89m in the summer, but has come in for some criticism following a handful of underwhelming performances.

Henry has backed his compatriot to come good, however, stressing that the 23-year-old needs time to adapt to the Premier League.

Speaking at a Puma event in Kolkata, the former Arsenal striker said: “I think that Jose Mourinho is still looking for his best XI, his best system.

“To talk about Paul Pogba, we are talking about a quality player.

When I arrived in the Premier League, I didn’t play well in the beginning. A lot of players don’t play well in the beginning. It’s a process, [but] nowadays the press and fans don’t give a lot of time for people to adapt.

Pogba

Members of Ohanaeze Sports Club cutting new yam

“Ohanaeze Sports Club was basically set up by people with like minds who love football to enable them play the game after their work or business and interact positively among themselves. “ We have not limited ourselves to playing football as we have also identified with the less privileged in the society as well as touched the lives of the needy”, noted the President of Balogun Business Association.

Chairman of the club, Chukwunonso Ikeanusi noted that the idea of the new yam festival was to remind members who are mainly Igbos of the need to embrace their culture wherever they are.

The chairman who stated that the association is different from the mainstream Ohanaeze ‘Ndi Igbo’ because the later is a socio cultural organization while

Azi assures on FEPSGA Games

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hairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2016 annual Public Service Games, Izam Azi has assured participants in the games that Plateau State is ready to host this year’s event.

He told National Mirror shortly after his committee met with FEPSGA officials at the Games secretariat located at Riwa Pam Stadium, Jos, the Plateau State capital that the state was lucky to be given the hosting right and are working round the clock to ensure a successful competition.

“We’re lucky to be given the hosting right of the competition and we will do everything humanly possible to have a successful games”, he said.

Also speaking chairman of West African Public Service Games, Comrade Dahiru Hassan commended the Local Organising Committee for a job well done saying that barely two weeks of their inauguration, a lot of renovation and construction work has been carried out in preparation for the games.

“I want to commend the LOC for proving that they can deliver.

The level of work done so far by them is an indication that they are real sports administrators and managers who are ready to deliver and on time too.

The LOC secretary, Mrs. Mary Dashan was also full of praises for the LOC and commended FEPSGA for given Plateau State

the hosting right with a promise that her committee will not disappoint the body and the state government just as the Public Relations Officer of the organization, Nasiru Nasaga noted that Plateau 2016 will be unique due to availability of facilities.

Games Media Officer/ consultant, Pastor Faith Udochukwu Emmanuel revealed that with the facilities on ground, Plateau State will enhance the image of the games and FEPSGA IN GENERAL. The competition will commence with pre- seminar games on 23rd November while the tournament proper will kick off four days later.

theirs was set up basically for the purpose of playing football.

“Our club boasts of many important dignitaries in the society such as bank managers, business men, directors and it is different from the mainstream Ohanaeze because we only play football.

Host of the new yam festival and Nigeria’s Sports ambassador, Friday Nwankwo Kujah expressed joy that members’ turned out in large numbers to be part of the event noting the club will continue to grow from strength to strength.

It’s hard to be without your family –Mourinho

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anchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he has to adjust to life without his family for the first time.

Mourinho began work at United in July following the departure of previous boss Louis van Gaal.

However, the 53-year-old Portuguese has since been living by himself in the Lowry Hotel in the centre of Manchester, with his wife, Tami, and two children opting to remain in the family home in Chelsea.

Even if Mourinho does eventually buy a house in the city, though, he thinks it is unlikely the three of them will move north and join him in Manchester.

His daughter, Matilde, is at university in the capital, while his son, Jose Jr. signed a two-year scholarship contract with Fulham last summer.

If I find a nice apartment with a good connection from the garage to the apartment, maybe I do it, but I can’t cook.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

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Oshewa breaks NNPC/Chevron tennis jinx Stories By Ifeanyi Eduzor

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ichael Oshewa last Sunday finally broke the jinx of not winning the NNPC/ Chevron Junior Masters Tennis Tournament. He achieved the feat by defeating hard fighting Augustine Stephen in straight sets of 6-4, 7-6 in the finals of the 17th edition of the championship decided at the Lord Rumens centre Court of the Lagos Lawn tennis club.

Osewa, who lost to Augustine in their last seven meetings, showed determination this time as he came from 2-5 down to win the second set.

The victory was the first for the African number two U-14 player in the championship in the last three years.

Osewa told national Mirror shortly after the game that he was happy winning the title after many attempts and praised his opponent for giving him a tough fight in the final.

“I am very happy winning the title because for the last three years I’ve not been lucky to be in the finals.

“It gives me great joy because my opponent is a very experienced player and really gave me the run for my money but I’m happy that at the end of the day, I emerged victorious.

“My aim now is to become the best player in Africa and move on to the ITF circuit. I am working towards it and I believe I will be there in a very short time’, he stated.

He commended the organisers for investing in grassroots tennis saying that the championship was one of the platforms that would propel him to greater heights in the game.

In his own remarks, Augustine while congratulating the winner expressed surprise that he lost in the finals to the man whom he has beaten in their last six meetings.

“I was leading by 5-2 in the second set and before I knew what was happening, we were on 6-6. This is my first loss to Osewa in seven meetings and I want to say that I have learnt a lot form it,” he said.

In his speech at the games, Chairman/Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria, Andrew Fawthrop commended the finalists for the high level of skill and sportsmanship they displayed and for giving fans a wonderful tennis to remember just he congratulated other participants at for representing their states and being among the very best junior players in the country.

He described the tennis program as one of our several Social Investment initiatives targeted at youths by the company.

“The NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture has used this tennis program to contribute to the improvement of sports and youth development in Nigeria over the past 17 years. We are very pleased with the positive feedback and the positive impact that this tennis program is having in the country”, he concluded.

Heritage Bank- Lagos State Skoolympics project holds November 2 Organisers of the maiden Heritage Bank- Lagos State Skoolmpics has announced that the maiden competition aimed at building heritage of champions through youth sports competition at the secondary school level will hold from November 2- 4, 2016.

Disclosing this during a press conference to herald the games, Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo, affirmed that the bank was spearheading the noble project in the state because Lagos State has been known to be successful in driving sports initiatives.

He said the bank has a sustainability plan to organise the programme yearly in a bid to identify, and mentor the winning youths over a long period of time to become medalists in international competitions.

“We are organizing this competition to tackle the dearth of insufficient sports talent by catching them young; mentoring them by facilitating the development of their talents and dreams whilst attaining good education. ‘ It is also aimed at creating a platform through sports where youths will imbibe great leadership attributes and lead their communities

well as well as increasing participation in sports I order to discover more talents and future champions and Olympians”, he explained.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Sports/Chairman Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu noted that Heritage Bank is the only bank at the moment that is undertaking such a lofty sporting project in the state with an appeal to other corporate organizations to emulate them.

Also speaking, Mary Onyali, the Brand Ambassador of the project said she was really moved when she was approached to be the ambassador even as she urged the stakeholders to make the Heritage Bank Skoolympics a continual project, as it consist of concepts that would benefit Nigerian children.

Over 200 public and private schools with about 6,000 students are expected to be part of the competition. The competition which will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Rowe Park Sport, Yaba will feature various sporting activities like basketball, athletics, handball, table tennis, swimming, track and field events among others.

Uba, Afolabi headline Rafiu Oladipo All-Stars Cup final

P

roprietor of Ifeanyi Uba FC and chairman of Capital Oil Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba as well as Managing Director of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi and the National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Honour Sirawu are amongst dignitaries expected at the grand finale of the maiden Rafiu Oladipo All- Stars football tournament billed for the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on the 20th of November, 2016.

The championship which began with 16 teams will climax with just two teams namely; Festac All- Stars and Ifako Ijaye All Stars to decide winner of the competition organized for ex-internationals and former national team players.

Third place match between Arsenal Nigeria and Ajah- All Stars will open hostilities at 1pm before the final game at 4pm.

Oladipo who is the President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club in whose honour the championship is being organized told our correspondent that there will be a lot of side attractions to add colour to the event which would attract exinternationals like; Henry Nwosu (MON), Emmanuel Amuneke, Jonathan Akpoborie, Victor Agali and a host of others.

According to him, the club’s musical group would be complemented with traditional dancers from Oyo State and Atilogwu dancers from the Eastern part of the country.

“Rafiu Oladipo Sports Foundation decided to organize this competition to keep our ex-internationals and former national team players busy and give them a sense of belonging after serving their fatherland for many years.

“Many of them have been neglected after serving this country

FIBA Zone 3 b/ball championship: ASPAC’s coach, captain rate Nigeria high

FIBA Africa Zone 3, President Col Sam Ahmedu ( rtd)

D

espite beating Nigeria Customs in their team’s opening game at the FIBA Africa Zone 3 club basketball Championship, ASPAC coach, Basil Klegou has said that Nigeria basketball is way ahead of that of Benin Republic.

Speaking after his team’s second victory over AS NIGELEC of Togo on match day three, Klegou admitted that the inclusion of two Nigeria players and a Beniniose, Romaric Quenum who returned from the Nigerian league has given a boost to his team.

Akita Akpara, who played for

Bauchi Nets last season was the only one registered, while Victor Koko was not cleared to play for the Benin Republic team.

“It a good development that we have Nigerian players in our team, they have helped improve our players. Basketball in Nigeria is better than Benin Republic and because of the international nature of sports; we were able to get these players to play with us.”

Speaking in the same vein, the team’s captain, Hounnou Brice noted that their Nigerian imports bring enough to the team but expressed sadness that Koko did not get the clearance that would have enabled him play at this championship.

“The Nigerian players come with a lot of experience and they have helped our players to improve their game. I must admit that they are bringing enough to the team and our players are picking some of their skills,” Brice added.

and we felt it was necessary to organize the tournament to show appreciation to their contributions to the country”, he concluded.

Tournament Director, Coach Sunny Epochi says that the technical crew is putting logistics on ground to ensure a memorable final.

Oladipo

Med-View/NUJ Media Games 2016: Indoor Games begin today

A

ll is now set for the indoor sporting events of the games which will hold at the Secretariat of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos chapter.

The events namely scrabble; chess, draught, and ayo will hold at the Lagos SWAN secretariat while table tennis will take place at the Knock up hall of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation.

Meanwhile, quarter final matches of football events will come up today at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos with winner in Group A taking on runners up in Group C while winner in Group B will take on runners up in Group D and winner in Group C battling runners up in Group A while the last quarter-final match will be between winner of Group D and runners up of Group B.

WORLD RECORD

Biggest bubblegum bubble Vol. 06

No. 1469

The current record in bubblegum bubble is held by Chad Fell (USA), who blew with a diameter of 50.8 cm (20 in)-without using his hands to steady or stretch the bubble-at the Double Springs High School, Winston County, Alabama, USA, on April 24 2004.

N150

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Ewuare and his controversial coronation speech M ost Nigerians were either bemused or celebrated with the people of Benin on the coronation of their most recent Oba of Benin.

Benin was one of Nigeria’s most iconic and prestigious empires especially from the 1400 AD. It is fitting that the new Oba chose Ewuare as his royal name as Ewuare the first was responsible for transforming Benin from a small village state to the massive empire it would be known for across much of West Africa and Europe.

For some reason, a change of the guard seems to have occurred over the last two years in the leadership of many hereditary dynasties in Nigeria. From Kano, Ife, Warri and now Benin, the cycle of life burns bright for the living to experience. Many traditional rulers from all parts of Nigeria congregated to witness the coronation of the new Oba. The Oba

B

razil legend Carlos Alberto, the captain of the 1970 World Cupwinning side, has died aged 72.

He scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history in the 1970 final against Italy, rounding off a sublime team move with a powerful low finish.

Right-back Alberto was capped 53 times by Brazil and won domestic ti-

Guest Columnist

Dele

Awogbeoba

in his coronation speech was reported, by the Punch newspaper (in an article titled “Oba of Benin gets staff of office, unfolds development agenda”), to have stated: “I therefore stand before you as the 40th Oba of Benin, a direct descendant of Oranmiyan, the son of Oduduwa, whom the Benin people of that era knew as Ekaladeran, their self-exiled prince who later became ruler in Ile-Ife. The Benin people recognise Oduduwa and his origin but it is not our place to force this recognition on others outside our boundaries. “The history of the world is a shared one and there will certainly be unexpected connections in the future. This is, thus, a time for unity and not divisiveness, a time for mutual respect, recognising that our wholeness as people is so much more than the sum of our parts.”

Such a statement seems ill-advised and in extremely poor taste when viewed against the prism of the invitation to the Ooni of Ife and other Yoruba Kings and their presence at that event. I say it was ill-advised because his assertion is clearly at variance with the position of the Ooni of Ife on that matter. Secondly, it is extreme bad manners to invite a guest and then to call into question his ancestry to his very face when it would be impolite for the guest to dispute and correct such an erroneous statement at that occasion.

One also needs to make clear a number of factors here. Both highly controversial accounts (the Bini and Yoruba accounts that is) come from word of mouth accounts handed down from generation to generation. Apart from the fact that Oba Ewuare’s account is

The Ogiamien family has stated that

the Oba of Benin has no connection whatsoever with the

Ogiso family line

disputed within Benin by the Ogiemien family (who point to the Ekiokpagha Treaty that requires every new aspiring Oba of Benin to pay a once in a life time rent to the Ogiamien (as the true aboriginal monarch) before being able to ascend to the throne of Benin), one doubts that the Oba of Benin is in a better position than his cousins in the South West to give an account of the ancestry of their common ancestor. I say this for the following reason. Eweka the 1st had minimal contact with (a) Oduduwa (b) Oduduwa’s son Akanbi and (c) Oduduwa’s grandson (and Eweka’s father) Oranmiyan.

By Benin’s own account, Oranmiyan spent less than a year as Oba in Benin and had a child with a Bini native and mother of Eweka I. Eweka’s mother was not the wife of Oranmiyan nor was she a long time concubine of Oranmiyan.

Their time together was less than a year.

Oranmiyan left her in Benin and she raised the young minor and new King Eweka I in Ile Ibinu (now called Benin) after Oranmiyan’s departure to his newly founded Oyo Kingdom.

Thereafter, Eweka had minimal contact with Oranmiyan or his paternal line. As his view of his origin emanates from his Bini mother

(who in turn had very limited knowledge of Oranmiyan or his ancestry), the history as espoused by the current Oba of Benin (the descendent of Eweka I) can be nothing other than one premised on lack of knowledge.

The Oba’s of the South West have no such impediments. Oduduwa was king In Ife and his descendents in the South West grew up with him, his children and grandchildren. They had the benefit of direct communication and constant interaction with the Oduduwa side of the family (a luxury Eweka I never had).

Additionally, the Ogiamien family averred that the new narrative espoused by the Oba of Benin was a story that only started to rear its head in the 1970’s and has described it as false.

The Ogiamien family has stated that the Oba of Benin has no connection whatsoever with the Ogiso family line.

What is clear is that neither Oduduwa nor Oranmiyan coveted the Benin throne.

Oduduwa delegated the throne to Oranmiyan.

Oranmiyan, interestingly enough, abdicated Kingship thrones twice in favour of his sons.

He abdicated the Benin throne in favour of an infant offspring in order to set up a new Empire at Oyo Ile. He thereafter abdicated his throne at Oyo Ile in favour of an adult son in order to take up the Ife throne when it became vacant. Clearly, Oranmiyan’s home and heart were in Ife. Whatever may be the case, the issue highlights the destructive effects of the long term dangers to children and their descendents caused by the long term absence of a father from the life and upbringing of a child. The mother is left to fill in the gaps of one’s knowledge and of one’s heritage. This becomes an evening more daunting task where the mother herself had minimal knowledge of the paternal history of the father of such child. In Eweka’s case, it appears (if one where to assume that the Benin version was passed down through word of mouth as opposed to the Ogiamien view that it was a case of latter day revisionism to hide the Ile Ife roots of the current monarch) that Oba Ewuare II’s rudimentary knowledge of his ancestry (including all its errors) has been passed down through many generations and over many centuries.

Dele.Awogbeoba@gmail.com

Sport Extra

Brazil legend, Carlos Alberto dies at 72 tles with Fluminense and Santos, for whom he made more than 400 appearances.

He died in Rio de Janeiro following a heart attack.

The 1970 Brazil side that won the World Cup, which also contained

greats Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao and Rivelino, is regarded by many as the finest in history.

Alberto was named in the world team of the 20th Century in 1998 and the Fifa 100 for the greatest living players in 2004.

After finishing his playing career in North America with New York Cosmos, he managed 13 clubs and Oman and Azerbaijan.

He won the 1983 Brazilian Championship with Flamengo and finished his coaching career with Azerbaijan in 2005.

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