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FG plans inter-ministerial committee on NNPC reform

Ohanaeze moves to parley govt over Biafra agitation

•As refineries attain 6.76m litres per day

ROTIMI FADEYI AND CHIDI UGWU Kachikwu

Vol. 5 N0. 1280

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said an interministerial committee would soon be established

Wednesday, January 6 , 2016

to speed up the re-organisation and reformation of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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$2.1bn Dasukigate

EFCC grills, detains PDP spokesperson, Metuh OBIORA IFOH, OLUFEMI ADEOSUN AND DOOSUUR IWAMBE

...N1.4bn traced to his company’s account

Ex-party chairman, Bello, son in court over money laundering

n continuation of its crackdown against suspects in the $2.1bn arms procurement scandal, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arrested CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Ojuelegba tragedy: Family demands N10bn from FG, Lagos P.8

Debt recovery: Lebanese bizman sues First Bank for N1bn P.9

2016 Budget: Shattered hope for healthcare

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LEFT: Former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Halliru, on wheelchair, arrainged by EFCC on Criminal Breach of Trust and Corruption at the Federal High Court, Abuja. RIGHT: His son, Bello Abba Mohammed, after being arrainged by EFCC, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Nigeria has no reason to seek IMF loan –Lagarde

... cautions Buhari against policy rigidity Bayelsa poll: PDP, APC bicker over rigging allegations

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Wednesday, January 6 , 2016

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EFCC grills, detains PDP spokesperson, Metuh CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh. Metuh, as spokesman for the opposition PDP, has been one of the virulent critics of All Progressive Congress, APC, led government, particularly its handling of the corruption scandal, accusing government of engaging in selective prosecution. Sources at EFCC said the suspect was picked up around 10 a.m. in his Abuja home where he had been holed since speculations about his arrest became rife. Our correspondent reliably gathered that Metuh, who was whisked to the Abuja office of the anti-

graft body by four operatives in a white unmarked Toyota Hiace bus, was immediately transferred to the Idiagbon House, where he was being quizzed to ascertain his level of involvement in the arms deal. Prior to now, a number of the nation’s political bigwigs, including former National Security, Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, had been detained over the arms procurement saga, now famously known as Dasukigate. As at the time of filing this report, there was no indication that Metuh would be granted an administrative bail, as he was still being interrogated. Metuh’s predicament may not be unconnected to a company, Destra Invest-

ment Limited, allegedly linked to him. It was revealed that a team of crack investigators assembled to probe the $2.1bn arms procurement deal had traced N1.4bn to the company. Our correspondent also reliably gathered that the commission had placed the activities of the company and its bank transactions under surveillance while the Department of State Service, DSS, had also invited Metuh for interaction on some issues. Detectives found out that Destra Investment Limited was used to fund PDP’s activities, including the 2015 campaign, a source close to EFCC said. The Commission found that the company, which

had N6, 676,576.06 as at November 24, 2014, recorded a balance of N1.4bn by last December. Some of the strange deposits in the account are: N400m from the Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA, on November 24th, 2014; N253m (December 2nd and 4th, 2014) from Ibrahim Kabiru, whose identity was yet to be confirmed; N91m on 2nd December 2014 from Capital Field Investment and N92m on 3rd December 2014 from Etonye Oyintoneife. EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed Metuh’s investigation yesterday. He confirmed that Metuh was being investigated over the N1.4bn traced to the account of

Destra Investment Limited, linked to him in the arms contract scam. “It is true that Metuh is being investigated by EFCC but I do not have further details on the matter. “I am not aware of his arrest by the EFCC but will get back to you as soon as it is confirmed,” Uwujaren said. However, a statement signed by Special Assistant to Metuh, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, said EFCC officials visited the PDP National Publicity Secretary’s home in Abuja yesterday. According to the statement, Metuh was invited to follow them to the commission’s headquarters. It said the officials told Metuh that he was required to clear some issues.

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) welcoming Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

FG plans inter-ministerial committee on NNPC reform CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari spoke at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of International Finance Corporation, IFC, Jin-Yong Cai, at the Presidential Villa. Buhari said the reformation of NNPC had become inevitable in view of the corruption and abuse of its present structure in recent past. The President also cited Nigeria’s current need to maximise income from every revenue source as a further imperative for reforming NNPC. He said his administration was doing everything possi-

ble to boost national revenue so that it could effectively implement its programme of change and significantly improve the living conditions of Nigerians. Jin-Yong Cai, who is also the Vice President of IFC, told Buhari that with proper reformation and reorganisation, NNPC could become Africa’s largest company. “You have brought monumental changes since you got to power. You have brought in strong leadership and Nigeria has the opportunity under you to become highly reputable. “In NNPC, you can create an entity that is dominant in Africa, and this is the right

time to do it, with the momentum you have created,” he told the President. NNPC also said yesterday that the nation’s three refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri had attained a combined daily production of over 6.76 million litres of petrol, which is projected to increase to over 10 million litres by the end of January. A statement by the Group General Manager, Group 3 XEO LF $ IIDLUV 'LYLVLRQ Ohi Alegbe, which gave a breakdown of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, yield from the plants indicated that while Port Harcourt Refinery, which was re-streamed a week earlier is producing 4.09 million litres, Kaduna Refin-

ery is contributing 1.29 million litres and Warri which was re-streamed on Sunday is posting a yield of 1.38 million litres. The Corporation said the PMS volumes from the refineries, which are currently operating at an appreciable percentage of their nameplate capacities, will help stabilise fuel supply and distribution situation in the country “The injection of this volume into the system will significantly impact ongoing special intervention efforts designed to bring relief to motorists across the country,” the Corporation stated. NNPC said the Special Fuel Supply Intervention

it introduced had been effective in reducing queues with sustained truck-out of petrol to the nooks and crannies of the country. $O HJEH QRW HG W KDW ZLW K relative product stability in some major cities like Abuja, Kano and Lagos, the intervention is trucking-out large volumes of petrol to the hinterlands and deep countryside where product distribution remains a challenge. Despite the public holidays, over 22 million litres of petrol was trucked-out nationwide within the last 24 hours with the bulk of the volumes hauled to fuel stations in the countryside to ensure adequate product penetration.

“Upon enquiry on the reasons for the invitation, the officials stated that he had some issues to clear with the commission. “They also said he was not being arrested but on a friendly invitation. “The operatives, four in number, came in a white unmarked Toyota Hiace bus,” the statement said. It said Metuh was still being kept at the commission’s headquarters and that his lawyers were making “frantic” efforts to reach him. It added that the commission had yet to make public why Metuh was invited. In its reaction, the national leadership of the party said the arrest of its spokesperson was the last straw that might break NiJHULD·VGHP RFUDF\ The party, while warning against any attempt on Metuh’s life, demanded for his immediate release. Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday remanded former National Chairman of PDP, Haliru Bello and his son, Abbah Mohammed at Abuja Clinics and Kuje prison till Thursday, when the court will rule on their bail application. Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the order after the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by EFCC. The judge said: “The 1st defendant (Mohammed) is hereby remanded in Kuje prison, while the 3rd defendant (Bello), having sworn to an affidavit to be on admission at Abuja clinics, is hereby put under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police at Abuja Clinics pending the determination of their bail applications.” Bello who was in his wheelchair throughout the court’s proceedings, intermittently recited the Carbi, Muslims’ prayer bead while his bail applications and that of his son were being argued by their lawyers. Bello and his son are being tried on four counts charge of money laundering involving N300m, which they allegedly collected from the office of the embattled former NSA. EFCC had charged Bello, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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L-R: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Engr. Omon Uduokhai, during the conferment of Omoluabi of Yorubaland title on Aregbesola by Alaafin, in Osogbo, yesterday.

L-R: Former Deputy Governor of Plateau State Mrs Paulen Tallen; Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed and Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, during the Christmas/New Year children’s party at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

L-R: Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and wife of Otunba Balogun, Olori Abimbola Balogun, during the thanksgiving service organised by FCMB Founder at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, yesterday.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige (left), with Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, during the governor’s courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja, yesterday.

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rganised labour has continued to agitate and warn that it would resist any large-scale job cuts by the federal and state governments, as well as private sector employers in the New Year. A check by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Lagos revealed that over 500,000 jobs have been lost since July 2015. NAN gathered that the job losses were in the construction, oil and gas and telecommunications companies, due to one issue or the other. Acting secretary-general, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, warned that it would resist a further sack of its members in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Okugbawa said although the association believes in reforming the oil and gas sector, it is averse to any reforms that would jeopardise the welfare of its members. “There is nothing wrong with the unbundling of NNPC to bring about greater efficiency and effectiveness. The unbundling and repositioning of the corporation should be done with a human face,’’ the acting secretary-general said, adding that the restructuring, which has heightened tension in workplaces and the labour market would be resisted if it negatively affects the association’s mem-

Labour cautions against job losses bers. According to him, the planned sack is not in tandem with the “change” the government promised Nigerians, especially in the area of job creation. Okugbawa said the plan to sack half of the current NNPC employees, would further compound the unemployment situation in the country. President of the Federation of Construction Industry, FOCI, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, said the industry is at a crossroad because various construction firms are owed over N600 billion for projects already executed. According to him, this development has already led to massive lay-off of workers because the construction companies have stopped work.

Also, president, National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, NUCECFWW, Mr. Amechi Asugwuni, said the level of job losses in the industry is worrisome. Asugwuni said since July 2015, close to 70,000 workers have been laid off by construction companies, and there is nothing to give hope for any reprief in 2016. In his contribution, director-general, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, said more workers could be laid off within the year, if government agencies continue to impose high taxes and fines on entrepreneurs. Oshinowo said entrepreneurs are forced to sack workers because they

operate in a difficult environment and are striving to keep their businesses going. He said other impediments like the cost of borrowing, poor infrastructure, absence of reliable power and multiple taxation are a huge burden for employers. However, president, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Mr. Bobboi Kagaima, who doubles as the president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, urged the Federal Government not to use its “proposed staff audit” as a strategy to sack workers. He warned that labour would resist any scheme that leads to massive job losses in the public sector.

Company income tax can ease tenacity to borrow –LCCI boss

irector-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said company income tax could reduce governments’ reliance on borrowing for budget successes. Yusuf told the News Agency, NAN, in Lagos yesterday that poor tax returns from the informal sector accounts for why the country had to always borrow for its development.

He said the incorporation of more firms into the nation’s tax net would reduce budget deficits that had become a recurring decimal in the last decade. Yusuf said the 2016 budget allocation for debt servicing, which is N1.36 trillion, would not have arisen if the country had perfected its tax collection system. “The Federal Government needs to collect tax from every company oper-

ating in the country and ensure that they pay what is due from them. “It is a fact that debt servicing is not pleasant for any economy and will slow the pace of infrastructure development as well as the debtor nation’s independence. “And there should be a conscious effort to retrieve expected proceeds from projects built with international loans,’’ he said.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Nigeria has no reason to seek IMF loan –Lagarde ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

anaging Director of International Monetary Fund, IMF, Christine Lagarde, yesterday said with the determination and resilience by President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria did not have to seek for IMF programme. Speaking at a press conference after a closed door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Lagarde also said she was not in the country to negotiate a loan with conditionalities or any programme negotiations. She said: “Let me make it clear that I am not here nor is my team in this country to negotiate a loan with conditionalities. We are not into programme negotiations and frankly at this point in time, given the determination, resilience displayed by the President and his team, I don’t see why an IMF programme will be needed.” The IMF boss, however, stressed that fiscal discipline and proper implementation of policies would be needed to ensure sustainability and realise the objectives and the ambitions which would serve the country well. She also cautioned Nigeria against rigidity of monetary policies, considering the fall in oil price. Lagarde stated that with the primary ambition to support the poor people of Nigeria, there could be flexibility in the monetary policy particularly if price of oil was likely to be possibly low for longer. She also said Nigeria should not deplete its reserves simply because of rules that would be exceedingly rigid. “On the current account upfront, we believe that with very clear primary ambition to support the poor people of Nigeria, there could be added flexibility in the monetary policy, particularly if as we think, the price of oil is likely to be possibly low for longer, because clearly the authorities should not deplete the reserves of the country, simply because of rules that will be exceedingly rigid. “I am not suggesting that the rigidity be totally removed but some degree of flexibility will be enough,” Lagarde said.

…cautions against policy rigidity, calls for flexibility •We’re looking inwards to overcome economic challenges –Buhari She maintained that her team believed in the IMF ambition to support the poor people of Nigeria. Lagarde said her team had excellent discussions with Buhari about the challenges ahead stemming from oil price reduction. She stressed the necessity to apply fiscal discipline and the need to also respond to the population needs while addressing the medium term specificities of improving the competitiveness of Nigeria. The IMF boss pointed out the need to focus on the short term fiscal situation which requires that revenue sources be identified in order to compensate the shortfall resulting from oil price decline. According to her, oil is not the major contributor to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product, GDP, as it was only about 40 per cent though a big source of revenue for the government. “We discussed with the President, Vice President and the Minister of Finance and Minister of Budget how more efficiency, more transparency, better accountability, enlarging the base of revenue could actually contribute to sound budget going forward. “It is not for me here and now to actually approve or comment on the budget because we have procedures in the IMF under which a team of Economists is going to come next week to do what we call the Article 4, which is to review the situation and have good discussion with partners; IMF on one hand, the country’s authorities on the other hand,” she added. According to her, the team is to access whether financing is in place, whether the debt is sustainable, whether the borrowing cost is sensible and what strategy should be put in place to address challenges going forward. Lagarde lauded the administration’s fight against corruption as well as its efforts to ensure transparency. “What I certainly mentioned to Mr. President was that his fight and his determination to fight corruption and his determination to bring about transparency and accountability at all lev-

els of the economy are very important agenda item and very ambitious goal that needed to be deliberated upon which he, himself is definitely committed to as he indicated this morning and as he inspires his team members,” Lagarde said. While explaining why she is visiting the country, Lagarde said it was precisely to have good discussion about new objectives, reforms and agenda that had been identified and supported by the President. She explained that it was also to appreciate the impact that the reforms would have on neighbouring countries, stressing that anything a country as large as Nigeria decided would have consequences in the country and its neighbours.

“Our technical discussions will continue and to those of you who wonder why the IMF Director is visiting Nigeria, it is precisely to have good discussion about these new objectives, these reforms, agenda that have been identified and supported by the President and also to appreciate the impact that it will have on neighbouring countries. “This is because with a country as large as Nigeria, anything that it decides, any hardship that it faces will have consequences around it and that is what our research and analytical work is demonstrating. “Nigeria is one of those that have impact not just on itself and its people but around it and its neighbours,” she said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration would look inward, enforce regulations to stop financial leakages and adopt global best practices in generating more revenue to mitigate the effect of dwindling oil prices on the economy. A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari spoke while receiving Lagarde at the Presidential Villa. Buhari said his administration would also enforce greater discipline, probity and accountability in all revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government. “We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into

consideration the many needs of the country, and the downturn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts. “We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn. “We have also told all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers,” Buhari told Lagarde. The President said the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs and had directed all the MDAs to cut down on their overhead costs.

L-R: Celebrant, Prof. Biodun Jeyifo; Prof. Wole Soyinka; Prof. J.P. Clark and Prof. Dan Izevbaye at the 70th birthday lecture of Prof. Jeyifo at the University of Ibadan, yesterday.

EFCC grills, detains PDP spokesperson, Metuh CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

who was also a former Minister of Defence, and his son, along with their firm, Bam Project and Properties Limited. Earlier, Bello’s lawyer, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, had urged the court to admit his clients to bail on ‘selfrecognisance’. He said that they are entitled to bail under Sections 162 and 165 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Sections 35 and 36 (5) (6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the court’s inherent jurisdiction. Ibrahim drew the court’s attention to Bello’s precari-

ous health condition, who he said, was wheeled into the courtroom in company of two nurses from the Abuja Clinics. Abdulazeez further submitted that his client, who is over 70 years of age would not jump bail, going by his antecedents as former defence minister and chairman of PDP. He prayed the court to grant the ex-PDP helmsman bail on liberal terms. However, in opposing the defendants’ bail applicants, prosecution counsel, Aliyu M. Usuf, urged the court to decline the requests. Usuf told the court that he had filed a counter-affi-

davit to the bail application dated and filed Tuesday, January 5, 2016. He submitted that though the court had the discretion to either refuse or grant the application, it would be lawful for the court to exercise its discretion “judiciously and judicially”. The prosecution further argued that the defendants “have not placed sufficient materials before the court” to warrant their bail. In countering Bello’s alleged deteriorating health condition, Usuf cited the case of Abiola and the Federal Government and said “the applicant has to con-

vince the court that the ailment in which he is suffering from cannot be treated while in prison custody. The prosecution urged the court to reject the bail application in view of the severity of the charges hanging over the applicant’s neck, adding that if convicted the accused person could be jailed for 14 years. He cited Section 19 (2b), of the EFCC Act, 2004 and prayed the court to give accelerated hearing to the matter. Subsequently, Justice Mohammed adjourned ruling on the bail application till Thursday, January 7.

News

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Senate Ethics, Privileges C’ttee receives 65 petitions

enator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo North) said yesterday that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges has received 65 petitions since inception of the 8th Senate. Anyanwu, who is chairman of the committee, told newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday at an interactive forum that 35 of the petitions had been attended to. He said 11 had been approved as presented by the committee, while others were under investigation, adding that the committee received a joint petition from the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress against Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo on non-payment of workers’ salaries. Anyanwu said the committee received another petition from workers of Imo State House of Assembly also bordering on non-payment of salaries by the state government. He said the committee employed wisdom in amicably handling most of the petitions that ordinarily would have snow-

balled into disagreements in the Senate. He said the committee did not succumb to pressures and directives from outside while handling the petitions. Anyanwu said the successes recorded by the committee had proven contrary those who thought his choice as its chairman was wrong. He said he also used his position as the committee chairman to correct some wrong impressions about the Igbo. Anyanwu appealed to Okorocha to reconsider his recent policies and directives against civil servants in the state which was causing some ripples. He urged people of the state to pay their taxes to enable the government to provide the needed dividends of democracy. Responding, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Imo council, Mr Innocent Igwe, commended the senator for the good work he was doing and urged him not to relent.

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Tarmac infiltration: Turkish Airlines compensates passengers …threatens to sanction erring passengers

Olusegun KOiKi

igerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, says troubled Turkish Airlines has compensated aggrieved passengers whose luggages were left behind in its flight TK 624 scheduled service from Istanbul to Abuja. The regulatory agency stated that the airline paid full monetary compensation as contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, Nig.CARs. The agency also said Close Circuit Television, CCTV camera footage would be deployed to identify the unruly passengers for prosecution in order to dissuade others from carrying out similar act in future. Statement issued by General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said the airline under the supervision of its Consumer Protection Officers, CPO, ensured that all passengers were fully compen-

sated. Also, he said a cargo flight and an Airbus aircraft were arranged to freight to the country all contentious backlog of baggage that were earlier left behind by the airline, stressing that all concerned passengers had collected same as at the time of this report. He said these were contained in a report of the investigation carried out by NCAA over the recent tarmac intrusion by the airline’s passengers submitted to Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman. The statement added, “There were several observations and recommendations in the report. These include provision of signages informing passengers of possible penalties of unlawful acts at the airport. Furthermore, clear cut penalties arising from unlawful acts should be displayed to serve as deterrent to would-be violators. “Close Circuit Television footage will be de-

ployed and the Turkish Airlines should assist in identifying the unruly passengers for prosecution to dissuade others from carrying out similar acts subsequently.” Adurogboye stated that in the final phase of the investigation, salient questions would be asked concerning airport management, noting that if established, sanctions would be applied for violating access control requirements in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme, NCASP, chapters 4.5 (a),6.1.4.6.2.1 and 6.3.2. Also, the requirements of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations Part 17 section 17.37.1-3. “NCAA has also directed the appropriate agencies to put up appropriate control mechanism strong enough to prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas of the airports forthwith. These recommendations and others would be implemented to the letter to foreclose and mitigate future occurrence.”

It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, recently ordered the immediate suspension of the Airport Manager of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja and Head of Aviation Security, AVSEC, and terminal manager over the invasion of tarmac by passengers of Turkish Airlines. Sirika also ordered the Consumer Protection Directorate of NCAA to investigate the event and act appropriately. Sirika had called to question the management of Turkish Airlines on why they airlifted their passengers without their without their luggage. The suspended officials were immediately told to hand over to their next in rank pending the conclusion of the investigation, even as the minister stressed that explanations offered by officials of the airport that security personnel on duty were overpowered was unacceptable to the government.

Oshiomhole urges FG to establish employment centres

do State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to establish labour unemployment centres across the federation. Oshiomhole made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he paid courtesy call on Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. He said the call was necessary to enable the ministry have comprehensive database of qualified but unemployed Nigerian youths. The governor noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had said its primary purpose was to improve the welfare of the people. He said the only way to achieve this objective was through job creation. Oshiomhole said he benefited from the ser-

vices provided by labour unemployment centres when he was in his early twenties. “The re-introduction of labour unemployment centres for the unemployed will create opportunity for employers of labour to contact and recruit people who registered. “It will also provide opportunity for those who registered to acquire training and also enroll in one form of apprenticeship or the other. “The centres will also give employers the opportunity to carry out regular trade test, do proper grading of skilled and semi-skilled test among others. “This is one area we have neglected over the years and given the present circumstance, we need to re-establish these centres,’’ he said.

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Deputy Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun and Special Adviser on Civic Engagement to the Governor, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, during the signing of Employment Trust Fund (ETF) Bill and Lagos State University (LASU) Bill into Law, at the Conference Room, Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

Extend anti-graft probe to LG joint account –NULGE

igeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the anti-graft probe to management of local government joint accounts in 36 states of the federation.

The call was contained in a statement issued by President of the union, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, in Kano on Tuesday. The statement quoted Khaleel as saying “the anticorruption war cannot be complete without a searchlight on the management

of the local government joint account system in the country. “In the area of corruption, a lot of breakthroughs are being recorded as some culprits are being brought to book. “I therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari

to extend the fight on antigraft to the management of states and local government joint accounts across the 36 states of the federation.’’ The union boss also commended the Federal Government ``for concerted efforts to tame insurgency in the country.’’

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Ubong Ukpong AbujA

leading private news distribution portal, PR Nigeria, yesterday said it helped the Federal Government to successfully suppress the publicity of Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, giving the Nigerian security forces an edge over the insurgents in the ongoing war. Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Yushau Shuaib, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, said his organisation was recruited by

B’Haram: We helped govt suppress Shekau’s publicity –PR Nigeria the past administration to help mobilise publicity against Shekau, who had employed social media platforms to sustain Boko Haram’s activities, making the Nigerian military look like a weakling force. Shuaib, who further said that his organisation dished out over 1,000 press releases that degraded Shekau and Boko Haram’s efforts and im-

Gaya wants 30% spending cuts by all arms of govt olUbUnmi omoogUn

enate Works Committee Chairman, Kabir Gaya, on Tuesday suggested that all arms of government should cut down on their running costs by 30 per cent, describing it as a policy across board. “If they cut 30 per cent, we will cut 30 per cent and that will mean it’s across board.” For people who see National Assembly as a privileged arm of government in terms of funding and expenditure, they should have a rethink, as a lot of units are connected and depended on the National Assembly such as Nation-

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

al Institute of Legislative Studies. Gaya said people look at National Assembly differently. People should consider that National Assembly caters for over 6,000 staff, other units and institutes such as National Institute for Legislative Studies.” When confronted with the issue of purchase of new vehicles, Gaya said, “We can’t use the vehicles for 4 years and pass them on to the next senators coming for another 4 years.” The President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a live media chat on TV expressed displeasure at the amount of money budgeted for the purchase of new vehicles for the National Assembly.

age, said it also produced several documentaries and jingles that worked against the sect and aided the military’s successes. While assuring on making available more news materials to media houses to help the country win the war, Shuaib, however, said that PR Nigeria was now diversifying its operations in its integrated marketing communication to cover other segments of the economy. He said the decision to add other sectors to the military and security agencies was taken following the highly successful media campaign the company held against in-

surgency and insecurity, especially between second quarter of 2013 and late 2015. Shuaib recalled that before PR Nigeria was brought in by the government to help counter the widespread negative campaign of Boko Haram terrorists, only very few people were aware that Nigerian troops were doing anything to counter insurgency. He said the agency also had the responsibility of consulting for the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies, FOSSRA, which has membership from critical public institutions including

the military, security, intelligence and response agencies including creating other portals for providing accurate and timely information to the public. Shuaib who was for about two decades in the federal civil service promoting the images of various ministries and agencies including Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, National Emergency Management Agency among others has announced that PRNigeria would venture into other important spheres of na-

tional life. He said that members of his team were determined to bring their skills to bear on the Nigerian economy and use the experienced garnered in the war against terrorism to also turn around the negative narration about the economy and political stability generally. He however, advised the Buhari administration to be cautious of actions that may have unintended consequences on the economy, but should rather pursue programes and policies that would create job opportunities and stability in the country.

Mother, child die of Lassa Fever in Rivers Dennis nakU

Port HArcourt

nursing mother and her two weeks old baby have been reportedly killed by Lassa fever disease in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Theophilus Odagme, confirmed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt Tuesday evening. He stated: “First incident happened between December 30, 2015, and January 1, 2016, to a mother and later to her two weeks old child. “Yesterday, at about 10pm, I received a call that a mother and her child have died in a hospital following a similar and serious fever, which killed them and suspected to be Lassa fever. “After series of test con-

ducted on them, it was confirmed that they died of the disease,” he said. Odagme stated that the state government had started work with the World Health Organisation, WHO, to prevent outbreak of the disease in the state. He said contact tracing had begun and sensitisation of healthcare providers was ongoing to address the issue. The health commissioner further appealed to residents with symptoms of the disease to visit any nearest government hospital around them for diagnosis. He also urged residents to maintain high sense of hygiene, identifying some of the symptoms of the ailment as high fever, vomiting, bleeding from the nose, mouth and anus.

L-R: Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung; Permanent Secretary, Mr Christian Ohaa; Director-General of NYSC, Brig.Gen.Johnson Olawunmi, and State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Cyril Akanemen, during his visit to NYSC premises in Lagos, yesterday.

Aregbesola bags Omoluabi of Yorubaland title bolaDale bamigbola osogbo.

laafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, yesterday gave Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, the title of “Omoluabi of Yoruband” just as he urged Osun people to pay their taxes. The monarch, who was at the Government House, Osogbo, to present the award, stated that the Osun State governor had always been at the forefront of projecting the “Omoluabi ethos”, which the Yoruba race had always preached. He explained that he

had always monitored the administrative and leadership style of the governor since inception of his administration, saying Ogbeni Aregbesola had always led along the line of a true “Omoluabi”. The monarch said: “The Yorubas are a tribe that always instill in their children and the youths all the characters of a responsible and well brought up individual, I have studied the leadership style of Aregbesola among all the governors in the country and have discovered that he is the only one who has through his leadership style projected the

“Omoluabi ethos” of the Youruba race.” “Aregbesola is man that breathes responsibility at all times, we have always been hearing of an Omoluabi for a long time and am so happy that we now have a governor who is leading by example” As measure of the importance of his honour to Aregbesola, he presented to him a photo compendium and signed framed portrait congratulating the governor on his new chieftaincy title of “Omoluabi of Yorubaland”. “It is a good thing to now have a person in the calibre of a governor

who is portraying the “Omoluabi virtues” to the Nigerian youths,” the traditional ruler said. The royal father also used the opportunity to call on the people of Osun State to support the government by paying their taxes regularly, stressing that taxation is the most efficient and sure way to give the people good government. Responding, Governor Aregbesola noted that the reign of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has been very peaceful and fruitful, while praying that God should make the royal father’s resign more peaceful and eventful.

South West

Wale IgbIntade

ive family members of victims of the ill-fated truck that killed three people at Ojuelegba, Lagos, sometime last year, have filed a N10bn suit against the Federal and Lagos State governments. The family in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed before a Federal

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Ojuelegba tragedy: Family demands N10bn from FG, Lagos State, others High Court in Lagos, also joined as defendants the Attorney General of Lagos State, Lagos State Public Works Corporation and Motor Vehicle Administration Agency. Others are the Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Ministry

of Works, Federal Road Safety Commission and driver and owner of the truck alleged to have caused the fatal accident, Wasiu Adeleke and Kilani Ojo Adeyanju. In an affidavit in support of the suit sworn to by a Lagos businessman,

Mr. Umar Abdul Wahab, and filed by their lawyers, Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN, and Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, respectively, the deponent urged the court to declare that the death of the deceased persons was tantamount to heinous infractions on

Sympathisers at the scene of a burnt shopping complex in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.

Ekiti APC faults Adesina’s appointment into JSC stitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no person can be appointed to a State Civil Service Commission, JSC or State Independent Electoral Commission twice. “Barrister Adesina (SAN) was appointed by Fayemi to serve in Ekiti JSC, now Fayose has reappointed him to the same office. “This is illegal and unconstitutional. This provision of the law is an offshoot of Sections 197,198 and 199 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Olatunbosun wondered why Adesina, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, could not reject an appointment made in clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution. Olatunbosun, who urged the governor “to stop desecrating the Constitution, which he has sworn to uphold, to preserve the integrity of the nation’s supreme law,” cited instances where the governor had allegedly violated the Constitution as passing the 2015 budget by a seven-member House of Assembly out of 26 members.

ll Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has described the appointment of former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA scribe, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), into the state’s Judicial Service Commission, JSC, as illegal. APC state publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the action was yet another constitutional breach by the governor “in his series of illegal acts in the last one year.”

Olatunbosun said in a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday that Adesina’s appointment was a violation of the country’s Constitution, which states that “no person can be appointed into the JSC twice. “Adesina was first appointed as a member of the Judicial Service Commission by Governor Kayode Fayemi in 2012, and against the law, he was again appointed by Governor Ayodele Fayose as chairman of the commission in 2015,” Olatunbosun said. “By the provision of Section 200(3) of the Con-

FrancIs suberu

Lagos shut Owonifari market

abIodun nejo Ado Ekiti

agos State government has shut Owonifari market, Oshodi, and relocated affected traders and shop owners to the new Isopakodowo market at Bolade area of Oshodi. Government has also commenced fencing of the set-back on Agege motor road that stretches from Ilupeju end of Oshodi to the PWD/Ikeja GRA area. In a statement signed by

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...begins transformation of Oshodi markets, bus stops Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the move was geared towards the need to sanitise and beautify the entire Oshodi area and bring transformation in particular, to the Owonifari loop as well as the entire bus stop terminals, which have somewhat constituted a menace and an eyesore within the locality. According to the statement, the Owonifari loop

would be transformed into an ultra-modern bus terminus with new bus shelters befitting a structured park in a mega city. It added that the fencing of the long stretch of the set-back is being undertaken to assist the Federal Government and Nigerian Railway Corporation in particular with a view to beautifying it and safeguarding lives along the railway corridor by

discouraging street trading and indiscriminate use of the space. Ayorinde said the ongoing fencing-off and beautification of the road setback from Ilupeju bypass to PWD/Ikeja GRA would constitute the first phase of the transformation of Oshodi area. The second phase, he added, would begin from PWD/Ikeja GRA and stretch all the way to Agege/Pen cinema axis.

right to life, personal and human dignity and family harmony guaranteed by sections 33 and 34 of the Constitution, as well as articles 4,5,16 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right. The deponent averred that on September 2, 2015, he received a call from a Yaba Mainland Hospital official, informing him of the accident and that he should come to Yaba Mainland mortuary to identity the corpses of Abubaker Sule, Umaru Sulaiman and Kamilu Umaru. He stated that he went to the hospital with other four applicants in the suit, namely: Usman Sulaiman, Ismaila Maikankan, lbrahim Ibrahim and Umaru Sulaiman Umaru. He further averred that he was in deep shock and pain when he saw the mangled and shattered bodies of the deceased persons, which were crushed beyond recognition by the trailer that fell on their vehicle. He stated that he was

informed by an eyewitness that at about noon, a diesel truck with registration number, Lagos: Epe 46 XK, driven by one Kilani Ojo Adeyanju, fell off the Ojuelegba Bridge onto two vehicles, one of which was the car in which the deceased persons were travelling. Driver of the trailer was alleged to have been driving without valid driver’s licence, MOT certificate, a road worthiness certificate or a vehicle licence. Owner of the trailer, Kilani Adeyanju, is currently facing criminal charges before a Lagos State magistrate’s court for permitting Adeleke to drive the truck without a valid driver’s licence and other valid particulars. Also, Adeleke is facing criminal charges before the magistrate’s court for gross negligence and reckless driving, causing the deceased persons’ deaths. As at the time of the accident the truck was carrying a 20-foot container loaded with cement and iron rod.

DPR seals two filling stations in Ondo ojo o yeWamIde AkurE

epartment of Petroleum Resources, DPR, in charge of Ondo and Ekiti states yesterday commenced enforcement of the new pump price of premium motor spirit, popularly known as petrol in the two states. Federal Government had pegged the price of a litre of petrol at N86.50k, but petroleum marketers in Ondo State insist on selling the product at N120. Most filling stations were on Monday shut in Akure and some other towns and villages in the state in protest against the new price. The argument of marketers is that they could not afford to sell petrol at N86.50k since they did not buy the product at the regulated price. Following the refusal of marketers to comply with the new price regime, two filing stations were yester-

day sealed in Akure by the DPR for hoarding petrol. The affected stations are Koleman Petroleum at Oke Ijebu, Akure, and Olusile filling station at ObaIle in Akure North Local Government Area. The enforcement followed the decision of independent marketers and even some Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, stations to sell at between N120 and N140. The DPR team, led by acting controller for Ondo and Ekiti states, Godwin Obasuyi, ensured that marketers sold the products at the new price of N86.50. Obasuyi ordered closure of the two filling stations, wondering why the marketers failed to comply with the Federal Government’s directive. He said the marketers should not have bought the product instead of attributing the hike in sales to the high price they got it from the depot.

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South West

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Lagos changes LASU to residential institution ...approves 70-year retirement age for professors Francis s uberu

L Officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arresting a dispatch rider on BRT lane at Ikorodu road, as enforcement intensified on Lagos roads, yesterday.

Unemployment: Ambode signs N25bn ETF bill into law Francis suberu

agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday signed the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund, ETF, Bill into law. This is at tackling the high rate of unemployment in the state. While signing the bill alongside the Lagos State University, LASU, 2015 Amendment Bill into law at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode said signing of the bill was an indication that his administration was determined

to tackle unemployment problem through granting of soft loans to individuals. It would be recalled that Ambode had prior to his election promised to establish an ETF scheme to address the challenges of unemployment in the state. According to the governor, each year, the state government would inject N6.25 billion into the fund for a period of four years, making N25 billion cumulatively. He added that a board of trustees would be announced in due course to manage the fund, saying that members of the board

shall be outside the purview of government. Ambode had in November 2015 sent the ETF bill to the House of Assembly for approval. The ETF will be administered as soft loans at one per cent interest rate to bona fide residents of the state, who desired facilities ranging from N100,000 to N1,000,000 or more. It is modeled after the state’s Security Trust Fund, which means it would be funded through joint contributions from the Lagos State government and the private sector. The fund will be administered through an

Independent Trust backed by an efficient structure that would disburse the funds. The Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, which was created immediately after Governor Ambode was sworn in, will oversee affairs of the scheme, while the funds would be channeled through the state’s microfinance institutions. Beneficiaries would be selected from five divisions in the state: Lagos Island, Ikeja, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu to allow citizens in every part of the state enjoy the novel scheme.

agos State government yesterday changed the 33 years old status of the state-owned university, LASU, from non-residential to residential Governor Akinwunmi Ambode signed the LASU (Amendment) Bill 2015 into law, paving the way for the institution to become residential. Ambode also approved 70 years as retirement age for professors in the institution; just as he approved a five-year single term for vice chancellor. The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had engaged in a running battle with former Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor John Obafunwa, as they wanted the school to approve 70 years as retirement age for professors, single term of five years for vice chancellor, among others. Signing the bill into law at the State House, Ikeja, on Tuesday, Ambode said the amendment was aimed at raising the standard of the school to an enviable po-

Debt recovery: Lebanese bizman sues First Bank for N1bn Wale igbintade

Lagos-based Lebanese businessman, Ali Halawi, and his brother, Ahmad Halawi, have filed a N1billion suit against First Bank of Nigeria Plc for allegedly using police to recover debt from them. The applicants along with their two companies, Entourage Lounge Limited, and Rhapsody’s Master Franchise, are asking a Federal High Court in Lagos for a declaration that police cannot be used as a debt collector agent. Co-respondents in the suit are the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, La-

gos, and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, respectively. In an affidavit sworn to by Ali Halawi through his lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), he alleged that Nerra Distribution Limited obtained a credit facility from First Bank. The applicant also alleged that First Bank in a desperate move to recover its loan from Nerra Distribution Company Limited embarked on an illegal loan recovery exercise with the aid of Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, through the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. He further alleged that the respondents invaded their business premises at 19, Saka Ti-

nubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, without any warrant of arrest and arrested him on the flimsy ground that he shares the same surname with one of the directors of Nerra Distribution Company. According to him, he was later granted bail and the bank allegedly indicated that it was going to go after his business in a bid to recover loan allegedly due to the bank from Nerra Distribution Company. He further alleged that on November 3, 2015, police invaded his two companies on the ground that he was related by birth to one of the directors of Nerra Distribution Company and that they were both liable for payment of the sums owed by the

company. He contended that the current directors of Nerra Distribution Company Limited are Fidaa Halawi and Mohammed Khalye, stressing that they are not the same directors in the companies of the applicants. The applicants added that since they did not guarantee the said loan, they were not liable. The applicants operate restaurants and nightclub in Victoria Island, Lagos State, and Ikeja, Lagos State, and are planning to open branches in other parts of the state. They added that the current stock of perishable goods in their cold rooms are worth more than N20 million, add-

ing that unless the court restrains the respondents from carrying out their threat of crippling their business activities, the applicants will suffer irreparable financial loss. While urging the court to order the award of N1billion against the respondents, the applicants also sought a declaration that they are not in any way indebted to First Bank. The applicants are also seeking an order of the court restraining the respondents and their agents from threatening or attempting to recover from them any debt due to them from Nerra Distribution Company Limited. Meanwhile, First Bank is yet to file any defence.

sition and a school that people could be proud of. The governor said it was the desire of the state government to build a LASU that would produce better students, saying that in the next few days, changes would begin to happen in the school. Shedding light on the provisions of the bill, Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu EshinlokunSanni, said the institution establishment law was amended to address acrimonies that arose during the tenure of Professor Obafunwa as vice chancellor of the school. He said the major reform of the law was approving five-year single term for the vice chancellor of the school in order to prevent the crisis often encountered when the vice chancellor’s position runs for two terms. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, had in November 2015 said the LASU (Amendment) Bill 2015 was meant to serve as an improvement over the two previous amendments in 1990 and 1992 with the aim of finding lasting solution to the challenges that plagued the state-owned institution in recent years. “The bill is proposing to amend certain sections of the law to meet current realities in line with best practices. It seeks to review the exercise of general supervision over discipline in the university imposed on the vice-chancellor and to propose a single term of five years for the institution’s vicechancellor,” he said.

Gov Ambode

South East

Enugu to pay workers with IGR

nugu State government will no longer depend on allocations from the Federation Account to pay workers’ salaries, Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, has said. Speaking on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Enugu, Udeuhele said henceforth salaries would be paid from internally-generated revenue. He said efforts were being made to improve on the state’s revenue to achieve the goal. “Due to the economic situation in the country, we are going to face a situation where there will be structural development and other things that pertain to governance. “The state will henceforth depend on IGR as a prerequisite for payment of salaries,” he said. The commissioner said the government would in-

troduce the treasury single account to check leakages in the system. He said the administration had zero tolerance for corruption, noting that revenues accruable to it would henceforth be kept in a single account. “The era of siphoning money and extreme sycophancy by a few, is over. We have to ensure prudent management of our funds,” he said. Udeuhele appealed to residents of the state to be alive to their civic responsibilities and ensure payment of taxes and rates to move the state forward. “This is a government where everybody should be involved and we are urging our people to understand the realities of what is on ground. “Enugu is going to witness a change in infrastructure and in terms of checking corruption,” Udeuhele said.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Biafra agitation: Ohanaeze moves to negotiate with FG

EmmAnuEl EzEh ENUGU

pex Igbo youth organisation, Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, has offered to broker a negotiation between Federal Government and pro-Biafra agitators. Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, have been pro-

testing over the detention of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. However, in a press briefing yesterday in Enugu, the OYC said it had taken over Igboland and would partner Igbo elders to move the area forward. Secretary General of the body, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, addressed the press conference. They warned those who take Ndigbo for granted to think twice as the group

would soon sanction all such persons. They also advised Igbo political office holders to live up to expectations of their people or resign in their own interest. The OYC further warned the Nigerian Army “not to harass or kill innocent Igbo youths in Onitsha or any part of the South East and South South,” while also calling on MASSOB and IPOB to be peaceful as they have

always been in their activities. They advised against any form of hate broadcast, noting that such led to the Rwanda genocide in 1994. The OYC advocated a United Nations supervised referendum as a last resort to the Biafra agitation. The group said it was in touch with the leaderships of MASSOB and IPOB, as well as some Federal Government officials.

…LG chairmen hand-over as tenure expires

eventeen local government chairmen in Enugu State on Tuesday handed over to their various Heads of Personnel Departments, HPMs, after expiration of their two-year tenure. The ceremony took place in a closed-door meeting with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at Government House, Enugu. According to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the governor is expected to announce the list of caretaker committees to run affairs of the councils pending the conduct of local government elections in the state. The governor had met with stakeholders in the state during the public holidays to constitute the committees. He had announced at an expanded meeting of stakeholders last month that local government caretaker committees would be constituted in order to avoid a vacuum. The governor gave two reasons why the local council polls would not hold before expiration of their tenure. According to him, the first reason is the ongoing local government staff audit

and other reforms. He explained that the state government wanted to fish out ghost workers said to be prevalent in the system. He therefore, directed that all activities towards the local government elections be put on hold to enable the committee handling the exercise conclude its assignment. “It indeed appears to be a widely shared view among our people that it will be unwise and imprudent to conduct elections for new councils when this very important exercise has not been concluded.” Ugwuanyi said the second reason for the postponement of the council elections was inadequate funding for the exercise as it was not properly provided for in the 2015 budget. “We therefore, expect to address this deficiency in the 2016 budget,” he said. The decision to constitute caretaker committees was approved by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, and former Information Minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who led the people from their respective senatorial districts.

Abia State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Udeh Okochukwu addressing members of Movement for Abia State Reunion during a protest against the Governorship Appeal Court Judgment in Umuahia, yesterday.

Ebonyi suffers 152 fire incidents AliunA Godwin ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Fire Service yesterday said it recorded over 152 fire incidents that destroyed property worth millions of naira. Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, Director of fire service, Mr Herbert Nwokoha, lamented that many

houses were razed in the state capital due to the degree of fire, especially during the dry season. He commended Governor David Umahi for assisting the commission to repair some of their firefighting tanker vehicles, but urged him to also provide other facilities for better response and control of the rising fire outbreaks in

the state. “We recorded 152 fire incidents within last year and this year. At times, we respond to multiple fire distress calls, but our vehicles are not sufficient to cater for much per time,” he lamented. Nwokoha further called on the state government to assist the commission recruit more staff to enable

them beef up services of responding to the increasing fire outbreaks ravaging the state. He charged residents of Abakaliki to be careful of how they use electrical appliances in their homes to avert further fire in the state, as such, according to him, are affecting development of the state’s economy.

Umahi settles Ezeship tussle in Okposi community

AliunA Godwin ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor David Umahi yesterday finally settled the lingering Ezeship tussle ravaging Okposi community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state. Umahi disclosed this while

addressing stakeholders of Okposi-Okwu and MgbomOkposi autonomous communities, who visited him at his country home in Uburu, Ohaozara local council. The governor regretted that the seed of disunity caused by some disgruntled politicians had robbed the area of meaningful progress

and development. He informed stakeholders that the streetlight project of the state government would be extended to Okposi, while the Okposi-UgwulangwuUkawu road would be constructed soon. The governor also announced that all issues relating to “Ezeship” of Okposi-

Okwu has been put on hold pending the burial of a former Minister of Education, Dr. Igwe Aja Nwachukwu. He warned youths against involvement in cultism, stating that his administration would not fail to prosecute anyone who engages in activities impeding the peace of the area.

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South South

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Ayade locks out commissioners for lateness RichaRd Ndoma Calabar

ross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday locked out three commissioners for not being at their duty posts by 8am. The governor carried out the disciplinary measure when he paid an unscheduled visit to

some ministries, where he ordered three commissioners to be locked out of their offices for failure to be at their duty posts by 8am. The ministries visited by the governor included agriculture, water resources, women affairs and sustainable development. At the Ministry of Agri-

Benin leaders advise Oshiomhole against godfatherism SebaStiNe ebhuomhaN benin

enin leaders of thought yesterday advised against the re-introduction of political godfatherism in the state, which they said Governor Adams Oshiomhole fought hard against in the past. The group’s warning followed alleged imposition of a governorship aspirant by Oshiomhole for the 2016 gubernatorial election in the state. Sections of the state residents have been voicing their displeasure over rumour that the governor has reportedly ordered his aides to ‘go and market’ Chairman of the State Economic Team, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, popularly referred to as ‘Dangote boy’ to the people of the state. According to chairman of the group and Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, the group is yet to believe the rumour of Oshiomhole’s alleged imposition of an aspirant even as the issue has excited the imagination of observers of Edo politics in recent times. Quoting Governor Oshiomhole in the Vanguard of Thursday, November 12, 2009, as saying that “What makes governance difficult is that some leaders are imposed on the people. That situation creates absence of support. And people will become cynical about you,” the Benin Leaders of Thought said‎ it was against that background that they were taken aback by the rumour that the governor had anointed his successor for this year’s forthcoming

gubernatorial election. While praising Oshiomhole for his achievements, the group said the governor, like any other citizen, has the inalienable right to support any aspirant of his choice, but that the right should be exercised in a manner that respects the right of other‎ people to freely choose who governs them. The group therefore added, “Godfatherism is not acceptable to BLT and the good people of Edo State; godfatherism in Edo politics was detrimental to the social, economic and political development of the state. “It should not be reintroduced under any guise.”

culture, where Ayade first visited, neither the commissioner, Prof. Egrinya Eneji, nor any of his directors were available to receive him. No explanation was, however, offered for the commissioner’s unavailability. Arriving the Ministry of Water Resources at Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar, the governor was visibly enraged that the commissioner, Gabe Odu Orji, was not on duty as at the time of

his unscheduled visit, prompting his directive that he be locked out. Of the four ministries visited, only the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Stella Odey, was on hand to receive the governor. Ayade, who expressed disappointment at the seeming lack of dedication to duty by the various heads of the ministries, particularly commended Odey for what he described as her

devotion to duty. Voicing his displeasure at the lukewarm attitude shown by heads of the affected ministries visited, Ayade said: “I am saddened by what I have seen this morning. It is shocking that it is already gone past 8am, yet commissioners cannot be found on their seats. I will not take kindly to this culture of lateness to work and I am going to do something about it. I must, however,

commend you for your exceptional conduct. Please, keep it up.” Also at Ministry of Sustainable Development, it was the same swansong where the governor was equally disappointed that the commissioner, Oliver Orok, had yet to report for work. He subsequently directed the defaulting commissioners to be summarily locked out of their offices.

L-R: Coordinator, Rivers National Neighborhood Watch Project Group (NNWPG), Mr Goodluck Agomuo; Secretary, Mr David Agba and National Coordinator, Mr Charles Inko-Taih, at a news conference calling for support for Anti-Corruption Campaign and Wind of Change of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Delta workers demand improved welfare

ivil servants in Delta have called on the state government to improve on the welfare of workers in order to ensure better service delivery. The workers made the call on Tuesday in Asaba in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, as part of their 2016

expectations from the government. Some of them, who spoke with NAN, noted that improved welfare package for workers would spur them to redouble efforts towards assisting the government to actualise its policies and programmes.

Mr Vincent Odiase, a civil servant, said: “In the last few years, welfare of workers, to an extent, has been neglected and this is affecting their output. ``I will appeal to this present administration to try and improve on the welfare of workers. ``This will help to raise

their commitment to their jobs and also assist the government in actualising its dreams in terms of policies and programmes.’’ Another civil servant, Mrs Agnes Odun, commended the Federal Government for regular payment of workers’ salaries.

Edo guber: Don’t impose candidate, Edebiri urges PDP

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant for the Edo State July governorship election, Solomon Edebiri, has advised the party to conduct free and fair primaries. Edebiri told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in an interview yesterday in Benin that only a credible candidate would dislodge the All Progressives Congress, APC, government in the state. Edebiri said imposition

of candidate would be counter-productive for PDP in the governorship election in Edo. ``Remember it was Adams Oshiomhole’s name that won him the election in 2007, not the party. Action Congress sold the party using Oshiomhole’s name, and it rode to victory, though it was PDP government at the centre. ``PDP in like manner should shop for a credible and trusted name with the

zeal to serve the people to field in the forthcoming governorship election in the state and resist the temptation to impose any candidate. ``I can assure PDP that if it can trust me with its mandate, Edo people will be grateful to the party by voting it to power this 2016,’’ he said. He added, “With all sense of modesty, I enjoy lots of public support and I am very confident that if PDP can trust me with its mandate,

Edo people certainly will trust me with their larger mandate to govern the state. “And with my antecedents, the people now believe in that name and I am relying on that trust since APC has served out its eightyear term. ``Edo people should be the better judge, not any man or group of individuals who should decide who they can trust with their mandate to move the state forward.’’

However, she said apart from payment of salaries, the government needs to seriously look into the issue of workers welfare, especially in the areas of housing and car loans. ``With the salaries we are being paid today, how does government expect us to build our houses or even buy a car when we are battling with the upkeep of the home, our children school fees from the same meagre salaries? ``The government should consciously look into the welfare of workers by providing them with housing and car loans to enable them live comfortably,’’ she said. Another civil servant, Mr Peter Umukoro, said: “One major challenge facing civil servants in the state in the last three years is lack of training.

North

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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We executed terrorists, not ordinary criminals, says Saudi govt

oyal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed displeasure with the barrage of criticisms following the recent execution of 47 persons in its country, including a famous Shiite cleric, Nimr Baqeer Ameen Al Nimr, saying it executed terrorists and not ordinary criminals. In a statement signed

by Saudi Press Agency, obtained through the Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Fahad Abdullah Alsefayan, which was issued yesterday in Abuja, the Saudi authority said the 47 people were executed for terrorist activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and not for their membership of any religious sect as is being

speculated. The statement asked the international community and other commentators to desist from ill-informed supposition that Saudi Arabia killed innocent people because of their differences of beliefs, rather because of their recent attacks on Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mershad.

The statement said: “The government of Saudi Arabia is strongly opposed to the condemnation and protestations on the attacks it is enduring from people who are least abreast with the Islamic jurisprudence practiced in our kingdom, which says, Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran that the recompense of those who

Out-going G.O.C., 7 DIV., Maj.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, inspecting a Guard of Honor shortly after taking over from his successor, Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, in Maiduguri, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

Kogi workers vow to continue strike Wale IbrahIm Lokoja

orried by inability of Kogi State government to pay three months of workers’ salaries, organised labour in the state, comprising Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, have vowed to continue the ongoing industrial action indefinitely. Chairman of NLC, Onuh John Edoka, who gave this directive yesterday, while addressing journalists in Lokoja, stated that despite the unions effort to ensure that government pays workers salaries before Christmas and New Year, the salaries were not paid. Edoka explained that labour leaders in the state had met the Governor Idris Wada on two different occasions, but the meetings proved abortive.

He added that they met Governor Wada on December 23 last year when he promised that he would pay as the allocation arrived and at least he would pay a month’s salary before Christmas, noting that at the end of the day he did not fulfill the pledge. Also on December 31, labour said they met with the governor and he told them the bank hijacked the allocation to settle outstanding facilities earlier granted to the state. The NLC boss noted that all hopes of paying October 2015 salary before end of December as earlier promised by the governor were finally dashed, adding that there was no hope of any payment of salaries until the next administration takes over governance. The labour leader also alleged that despite the inability to pay salary, the governor was still spend-

ing N78 million as traveling allowance in three days, asking “where is the Value Added Tax, VAT, for the month of October to December and what happened to non-oil differential allocation for October to December 2015. He lamented that if Governor Wada had won election again workers in Kogi

State would have suffered a lot, noting that from the failed promises of the governor, it becomes crystal clear that the propaganda of the state government that labour insisted on payment of two months salaries at once was an attempt to cover up government’s unwillingness to pay.

wage war against Allah and His messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world and a great torment is theirs in the hereafter. “The perpetrators were involved in a score of terrorist attacks, which resulted in the death of innocent lives and destruction of private, public and military properties, including Al-Hamra Housing Complex in Riyadh, storming the complex of APICORP, the Arabian Company of Petroleum Investment or Saudi’s equivalent of NNPC, poisoning and sabotaging public water supply, kidnapping members of the public with the intention of mutilating their bodies or killing them, manufacturing and smuggling explosives into the kingdom and planning to damage the national economy as well as endangering the lives of the nation’s security personnel, foreign embassies, Saudi ARAMCO and several petroleum facilities of the kingdom,” the statement added. It said the criminals also initiated several robbery activities on banks and shops and committed a number of frauds, which resulted in the loss of colossal amounts of money, which was laundered and diverted into the financing of terrorist activities against not only the kingdom, but its al-

3,500 IDPs get relief materials James a braham jos

non-gover nmental organisation, NGO, Centre for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiatives, CCEPI, yesterday donated relief materials to 3,500 Internally Displace Persons, IDPs, in the North East zone of the country and Plateau State. Presenting the materials worth N3.5 million

at the Church of the Brethren, Jos, Plateau State, Executive Director of CCEPI, Dr. Rebecca Samuel Dali, said the donation, which is done on monthly basis, was in partnership with International Rescue Committee, IRC and Church of the Brethren in America. Dali noted that the IDPs were made up of displaced widows and children from the North East as a result of insur-

gency and displaced victims of Fulani herdsmen attacks in Riyom and Barkin-Ladi local government areas of Plateau State. She lamented that most of the victims had lost their husbands and children during attacks and have been displaced from their homes and communities, and called on public-spirited Nigerians to assist the helpless widows and children.

lies and other innocent members of the human community. The Saudi Arabian government said that no nation would simply sit by and watch people who create chaos, provoke acts of violence, incite disorder and anarchy and spread terrorists’ propaganda in their domain. It said Saudi authorities strongly believe that terrorism was a heinous crime against humanity, a major source of instability and a great threat to national and international peace and security, adding that its government is not likely to leave any stone unturned in its efforts to bring terrorists to justice. It warned all those who may be involved in such crimes that they would be held accountable by the long arm of the kingdom’s laws, should they ever try anything of that nature. For clarity, the statement explained that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reserves the right to adjudicate according to the basis of its law of governance as stated in the Holy Quran and the Prophet’s Sunnah and that Shariah Law is its sole authority over the judiciary, including those affecting all human beings and properties in its kingdom. He said those executed were convicted by properly constituted courts, which found them guilty of crimes against innocent people, properties and security forces after they stood in fair trials with full respect to due process under Islamic Criminal Law.

Leader of the delegation from Church of the Brethren in America, Pastor Pam Reist, said they were sympathetic to the plights of victims and people in the North East and pledged to support vulnerable persons in the society. She noted that the gesture will continue on monthly basis to enable the victims make a living that would contribute meaningfully to the society.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

2015: Year of old bumps, fresh hope in Plateau 14

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Politics

2015: Non-payment of salaries shook Osun State 15

2015: Senate in shaky start The struggle for leadership positions and lack of sense of direction impacted negatively on the ability of the senate to deliver on its core legislative mandates in the first half of the first year of the 8th senate, writes GEORGE OJI

hen the All Progressive Congress, APC took over the dominance of the senate after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP rule, Nigerians had expected serious positive change in the way the business of the parliament would be conducted in line with the change mantra of the APC as a party. However, six months into the four year lifespan of the present 8th senate, there are indications that the expectations by many Nigerians on the legislators may have been grossly misplaced, especially going by the activities of the parliamentarians from June 9, 2015 when they were proclaimed into existence by President Muhammadu Buhari. The first shocker from the senate was the inability of the ruling APC to manage the first task before it, which was the election of the presiding officers and the leadership of the red chamber. The situation was not made any better by the initial indifferent posture of President Buhari that he would not interfere with the process that would throw up the principal officers of the senate. This scenario was promptly seized by a more politically smarter former Governor of Kwara State governor, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as he rallied both returning senators and new ones to his side. Before the APC could say Jack Robinson, Saraki had entered into a political accord with the opposition PDP senators, which culminated in his emergence as the Senate President, with Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy. Apparently irked by the actions of Saraki, the leadership of APC who felt thoroughly betrayed by the moves of Saraki, who incidentally was not also the favoured candidate of the party for the office of the Senate President, the party engineered series of plots to have Saraki removed to make way for Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume, who were the party’s choices for the position of the senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively. Unfortunately for the party, none of those moves could lead to the unseating of Saraki, who drew his greatest strength and support from the PDP senators and the fresh APC senators. The result was that the senate expended the greater part of the first six months of their first legislative year seeking stability while their actual legislative responsibilities suffered. A recent report by a parliament-based Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Friends in the Gap Advocacy Initiative, FGAI for instance showed that the lawmakers are already on their way to violating a key provision of the constitutional requirement. For instance, section 63 of the constitution requires the legislators to sit for a minimum of 181 legislative days in every legislative year. But the report by FGAI shows that in the first six months of the year, the senators were able to sit for just 47 days. With this, it is yet to be seen how the lawmakers can make up for

Saraki

Ekweremadu

the lost days. What was even more worrisome was that in terms of actual law-making and oversight activities of the executive, which are the main reasons for the existence of the parliament, the senators were also found wanting. It was revealed that for the entire six months, the senators were only able to conclusively pass one bill. What could have counted for the senators as their second bill, which is the amendment of the 2015 appropriation act to enable the executive extend the period for the execution of the capital component of the act beyond December 31, 2015 to March 31, 2016 was done in such a ridiculous manner. The amendment was commenced and completed in less than 30 minutes. Rather, what the senators preoccupied themselves doing was raising multiplicity of motions on both floors of the congress. The unfortunate thing about those motions were that, some of them were not well thought out, but rather very frivolous, to say the least. Besides, almost all the motions without any exceptions, were not thoroughly, painstaking, seriously or conscientiously debated before arriving at resolutions on them. The implication of that is that those resolutions, like the ones in the previous assembly, will not command the authority of the executive or President for implementation. Also, the legislators have not demonstrated through the in-coming bills that they are prepared to support the President in his avowed fight against corruption. What we have witnessed, rather ridiculously, in the senate, was a motion by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) on what he described as the, “need for legislative support to government’s anti-corruption drive.” Aside from fresh bills in that direction, there are so far, no attempts at repealing and re-enacting the existing anti corruption laws by the lawmakers in aid of the President’s stance in the war against corruption. During the ministerial screening, it was clear to

all and sundry that the senate less than properly acquitted itself in the exercise. The senate was seen to be in clear violation of its own rules as the All Progressive Congress, APC-dominated parliament surprisingly set its rules aside in order to ensure that all the candidates scaled the confirmation hurdles. Were the senate to live up to its own rules in the screening, at least five of the ministerial nominees would not have been able to make it. So far, in both chambers of the National Assembly, it has been difficult to single out star legislators to look up to, to distinguish themselves in the current 8th assembly as was the case in the previous 7th assembly. It was however, not all gloom in the first half of the year in the National Assembly. There were some highpoints. In the senate for instance, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki led a strong delegation of the senate to visit the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the insurgency-infested Borno State. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu undertook a similar mission in Adamawa State. Also, through the pro-active action of the senate, the lawmakers were able to unearth and halt the sum of N25 billion, being the one per cent commission on the N2.5 trillion collected from the Treasury Single Account, TSA which would have been wrongly credited to Remita, an e-collection firm. In the House of Representatives, as well as the senate, there has been series of on-going probes being conducted by the lawmakers as part of their oversighting of the executive. Even though most of the probes are still largely inconclusive, there are expectations that they would lead to strengthening of the activities of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government for effective operation. All said, Nigerians look forward to a better performance and input from the National Assembly members as they resume for the remaining half of the year on January 12, 2016.

Politics

JAMES ABRAHAM says 2016 might hold the prospects of hope for Plateau State and its people but there is no doubts that the year 2015 retained most of the events that made the people’s hearts quake the previous year.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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2015: Year of old bumps, fresh hope in Plateau

iven the huge loss of lives and destruction of property that occurred in the state in the preceding year as a result of attacks by gunmen, one would think that the year 2015 would be different. However, just less than 24 hours into the year 2015,no fewer than ten people were killed and over twenty houses burnt down in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State as a result of hostility between the Fulani herdsmen and the natives, thus re-enacting the state’s ugly past.Between January and June, the number of those killed in Riyom and Barki Ladi Local Government Areas alone rose to 276 while those injured during the period stood at 350 according to recent statistics released by Hon. Istifanus Gyang, a media aide to former Governor Jonah Jang who addressed journalists over the matter.As it is, the situation has not changed with the killing of no fewer than 20 people in two separate attacks in Riyom and Jos South villages’ penultimate week.But the continued killings stirred up several protest in the state including the Dr Menshak Daniel’s- led coalition of youths who in May blocked major roads linking Jos, the state capital, and calling on the authorities to halt the trend and arrest those involved in the killings.The youths also threatened to petition the International Criminal Court, alleging crimes against humanity by the Federal Government and the Nigerian military for killing unarmed civilians, if both the Federal Government and the military refused to take action.

While the bloodbath continued, the state government seems helpless. Although the new APC administration in the state led by Governor Simon Lalong in its efforts to curb the violence appears to be following the steps of the previous government by setting up peace committees with similar strategy by the state House of Assembly. The federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to take fresh action on the matter beyond the measures already put in place by his predecessor, former president, Mr Goodluck Jonathan who not only deployed federal troops but also allowed the establishment of state security outfit known as Operation Rainbow. Right now, stakeholders are demanding a more drastic action by Government in handling the issues like the way it is handling Boko Haram insurgents in the northeastern part of the country as a way of ending the anguish of the people who have continued to experience occasional attacks by gunmen in different part of the state leading to loss of lives and destruction of property.

A year of blasts Since the 2010 Christmas eve bomb blast in Jos, no year has passed without some incident of bomb blasts in the state. In 2015,no fewer than five bomb blasts were recorded in the state besides those which were successfully foiled by the eagle eye of security agents. First was the January incident in Seriki Mangu area of Jos North local government area of the state, close to the house of prominent Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir where a bomb was diffused in the early hour of that Friday by men of the anti-bomb squad of Plateau State Police command. If the Islamic Scholar and his followers who were about to celebrate the Eid-el-Maulud and suspected to be the target of those who planted the bomb escaped the evil agenda, then several others were not that lucky in July when 44 people were killed and several others seriously injured in a twin bomb explosions which rocked Jos, the state capital on Sunday.

Lalong

Jang

Since the 2010

chriStmaS eve bomb blaSt in JoS, no year haS paSSed without Some incident of bomb blaStS in the State

According to the then Commissioner of Police, Nasir Oki, 20 people died in the first explosion at a restaurant while 22 others died in the second at a mosque. Although no other bomb has occurred after the July inccident, security agents in the state has continued to warn residents to be vigilant especially at any public gatherings and report any suspicious movements for necessary action.

Dariye’s father kidnapped A new wave of insecurity which was not popular in the state was added in February 2015 when the octogenarian father of the former Governor Joshua Dariye was kidnapped at gun point in his country home of Mushere, Bokkos Local Government Area. For more than one week, he was nowhere to be found. Although, it was not clear whether a ransom was paid before Pa Dariye was released by his abductors somewhere in Quan pan LGA of the state, the arrest of some of his captors by security operatives perhaps ensured that no such incident occurred in any part of the state since then .

Lalong alters the power game For sixteen years since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP

held sway at the Rayfield Government House in Jos. But when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC conducted the April 11 Governorship election, the outcome of the poll shocked many bookmakers as the incumbent Governor, Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress, APC defeated the PDP candidate, Senator Gyang Pwajok. According to INEC’s Returning Officer for the governorship election, Prof.Emmanuel Kucha, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Mr. Lalong won in 11 out of the 17 council areas of the state with 564, 913 votes while Pwajok polled 520,627 votes from six LGAs.. Since the loss of the election, the PDP in the state is yet to recover from the shock as the party has remained largely silent to the disappointment of many stakeholders who expected the party to live up to its promise of a vibrant opposition party that will not only strengthen democracy but keep the ruling APC on its toes.

Gale of deaths Some of the great personalities in the state who fell to the cold hands of death include, Danmaraya of Jos, Ngo Hannatu Chollom and Senator Gyang Pwajok among others. Pwajok represented the Plateau North Senatorial zone in the 7th Assembly and was succeeded by the incumbent, Senator Jonah Jang. Before then, he had served the state in various capacities including as Chief of Staff and Director of Research and Planning, Government House Jos. During the 2015 general elections, he contested for the governorship position on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP but lost to the incumbent Governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Pwajok who died of a liver related disease in October at an Indian Hospital at the age of 49 would be remembered for his extraodinary intelligence, generosity, love CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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Boladale BamigBola, osogBo

Politics

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

part from issues relating to 2015 general elections that dominated public and private discussions in Osun state especially at the beginning of last year, the issue of unpaid salaries of government workers and pensions has made the out gone year an unforgettable one. The face- off occasioned by the payment of salaries and gratuities to workers and retirees, which pitched leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, against the administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, not only shook the state violently, it also ensured social services were in comatose over period of time. This was sequel to the industrial action embarked upon by the workers to press home their demands for the payment of arrears of salaries and pensions, while government engaged workers in all manners of negotiations based on the reality of the earnings accruing to the state at the time. Earlier in the outgone year, the campaign for general elections overshadowed every other issues, as the All Progressive Congress, APC, Regional Presidential Campaign office for South West was stationed in Osogbo, Osun state capital. This made the state to host many strategic meetings where major decisions concerning how APC, plotted the fall of the then ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were taken . In his capacity as the South West campaign leader of the APC, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was fully involved in organising campaigns for candidates of the party for national and state assembly positions during the period. Even though the results of the poll suggested an easy ride for the ruling party in the state, with the APC winning 24 out of available 26 seats in the State Assembly and 7 out of 9 seats allotted to the state in the House of Representatives, however the tension generated by the activities leading up to the poll was unmatched in the history of the state. Shortly after the completion of the general elections, the major event that got attention of all stakeholders in Osun state and even beyond were series of controversies relating to unpaid salaries and pensions. The disagreement between the state leaderships of Trade Union Congress, TUC, and Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, on strategy to be adopted in getting the government to accede to the demands of workers in state, also set the stage for series of controversies that highlighted the year in that regard. In mid- May, 2015, members of ASCSN, in disregard to the strike notice issued by the TUC, reported for work at the state secretariat, the development that made a team led by the then chairman of TUC, Mr. Francis Adetunji, to launch an attack on them and some pressmen around the premises. Although the state chapter of the NLC, led by Comrade Jacob Adekomi, later took over negotiations with government on issues relating to payment of salaries, but the crises within the labour movement eventually led to the removal of leaderships of both TUC and ASCSN. For many months in 2015, workers in Osun state were off their duty posts, following crises created by the backlog of unpaid salaries and allowances to workers. Schools, hospitals and many government institutions were under locks and keys for months as workers refused to return to work, just as representatives of both government and workers engaged in all forms of negotiations to end the crises. Private individuals, corporate organisations and religious bodies from all parts of the country, to cushion the effects of the non-payment of salaries and pensions, during the period, donated food items to civil servants in the state. Negotiations by government and Labour Movement later culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the form the payment of out-

2015: Non-payment of salaries shook Osun State NegotiatioNs by goverNmeNt aNd Labour movemeNt Later cuLmiNated iN the sigNiNg

memoraNdum of uNderstaNdiNg, mou, of a

oN the form the paymeNt of outstaNdiNg saLaries wouLd take standing salaries would take. Just as the MoU was being finalised, hope for the permanent solution to the inability of government to pay workers emerged with the acceptance of the proposal for bail out for states with difficulty in paying workers’ salaries, by the federal government. This was said to have been initiated by a team of financial experts from Osun state. Although since civil servants return to work in July after few months of strike, there have not been another industrial action that would be spearheaded by the NLC, but there have been, however series of complaints over payment of half salaries to workers. At the peak of the crises, the opposition party in Osun, the People Democratic Party, PDP, and a human rights’ group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRIS J, launched a fierce verbal attacks on the government, demanding payment of salaries and pension or the state would face grave implications. Apart from the controversies generated by the issue of unpaid salaries and pensions, incessant disagreements between the ruling party and government over Osun’s debt profile also shaped the out gone year in the state. The opposition party’s spokesperson in the state, Prince Diran Odeyemi in many press statements de-

Aregbesola

manded details of its financial status, especially after the declaration by Governor Aregbesola in a chat in Abuja that he was helpless on the issue of unpaid salaries. In what could be described as a response to the call, the federal lawmakers from the state organised an economic summit where the state’s debt profile was put at N87 billion. The death of immediate past Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, and the installation of Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi as his successor, making Governor Aregbesola, the first helmsman in the history of Osun to present staff of office to an Ooni and matters surrounding ongoing restructuring of tertiary institutions in the state were also major issues that shaped public life and discourse in 2015 across Osun state.

2015: Year of old bumps, fresh hope in Plateau CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 for mankind and unfulfilled dream of his “greater together” political philosophy. Ngo Hannatu Chollom was popular as a veteran politician , grass-root mobilizer and philantropist The Jos -South born politician was also known to be fearless in expressing her opinion on any issue of state and national importance irrespective of whose ox is gored. For instance she was one of those who challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s ill -fated third term bid. Her political vibrancy dated back to the Second Republic in 1979 where she served the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP as a women Leader. She was also one of the founding members of the PDP as well as played active roles in the activities of Arewa Elders Forum. When the country was returned to democracy in 1999,she contested for Plateau North Senatorial election but lost to Davou Zang She died in September at the Jos University Teaching Hospital after a protracted illness Danmaraya Jos was one of the Nigeria’s most respected Hausa musicians, poet and philosopher from the North. He was said to be always busy all year round in his musical performance because of his unique display of lyrical dexterity using local instruments and songs which endeared him to many people.

The late musician died in June at the age of 74.

Lalong sacked council executives Barely one month after assuming office, Governor Simon Lalong sacked the 17 council executives in the state. He had earlier promised on several occasions that he would not dissolve them in line with his promise to administer the state based on the rule of law. But his perceived failure to stick to his promise threatened the peace equilibrium in the state as the embattled council chairmen who were mostly members of the opposition PDP resisted their sack. For nearly one week, the state was in tension. Although the Governor had defended his action citing the power conferred on him by the constitution, the council executives had dismissed such as unacceptable describing it as an abuse of executive powers. It was a relief when the council executives heeded the Governor’s advice to seek judicial redress .Both parties are currently battling the matter in court to determine the legality or otherwise of the Governor’s action The events that made Plateau thick in 2015 were mostly ones that require paradigm shift in 2016. Popular thinking and expectation is that Governor Simon Laong offers a hope of remarkable departure in the months ahead from Plateau’s ugly past. whether his emergence portends a good omen for the people in 2016 remains to be seen.

Politics

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Lagos lawmaker mobilises support for Ambode EbErE Ndukwu

Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed (right) with the Chairman, Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Share/ Tsaragi Communal Clash, Hon. Justice Suleiman Akanbi, during the Inauguration of the Commission at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

Bayelsa Poll: PDP, APC bicker over rigging allegations ObiOra ifOh, abuja

head of Saturday’s Bayelsa state governorship run-off election in Southern Ijaw, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has again rallied its formation in the state and particularly Southern Ijaw Local Government, to use all means necessary in a democracy to resist any move by the APC to rig the election. The party said it has since been made aware of plots by the APC to use compromised security operatives and INEC officials to attempt to produce fictitious votes and declare itself winner, but vowed that any such bid would be greeted with vehement resistance and dire consequences. This is as APC said it is aware of the PDP’s ploy to intimidate eligible voters, INEC officials and security operatives on the election day. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Tuesday, reiterated that Southern Ijaw is a well-known PDP stronghold and that it would never accept any results that do not reflect the will of the people. “We issue this statement as direct notice to the APC

and their compromised INEC, military and other security operatives who have been stationed to ostensibly assist to produce fictitious votes with which the APC intends to declare itself winner. “Let it be known to all that the PDP is fully mobilized for Saturday’s supplementary election. Our members across Southern Ijaw have been stationed in every polling unit, every collation center and every exit and entry point in the area, and have been directed to use all mean available in a democracy to stop the APC in their trail. “Southern Ijaw Local Government is a wellknown stronghold of the PDP and we will not in any way accept anything short of free, fair and credible elections, abundantly reflecting the will of the people. Anything to the contrary will attract terrible consequences. We restate our resolve that never again would the PDP allow itself to be manipulated out in any election at any level, no matter the intimidation by the APC-led administration. “Consequent upon our loss of confidence in INEC and security agencies, we hereby make public our instruction to our mem-

bers and supporters not to leave the polling area after casting their votes but to remain alert within the distance provided by the law and go ahead to use all means necessary to defend and protect their votes, should there be any attempt by anybody to rig the process.” ‎Meanwhile, the APC said it is worried by the latest and familiar antics of the PDP which has been beating war drums ahead of Saturday’s Bayelsa state governorship supplementary election in Southern Ijaw Local Government. According to the APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the party is aware of the PDP’s ploy to intimidate eligible voters, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security operatives deployed to ensure peaceful, free and credible supplementary elections in Bayelsa state on Saturday. Mai Mala Buni: “While the APC prays for a peaceful, free and credible supplementary election come Saturday, security agencies must be on high alert over the dangerous threats by the PDP to cause a breakdown of law and order in Bayelsa state on Saturday. “Already, the PDP leadership through its National

Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh has issued instructions to PDP members and supporters to “go ahead to use all means necessary” in Saturday’s supplementary election in the Southern Ijaw come Saturday. “This is among other dangerous threats by the PDP warning of ‘terrible consequences’ to INEC officials and security operatives. “As the saying goes, history may not repeat itself but it rhymes. It is clear that the PDP is still hung over its old ways of doing things. The days of ‘do or die’ politics is over. Never again will the country return to the PDP ways of election fraud and violence. Change has come. We call on the PDP to embrace the new Nigeria where elections are peaceful and votes of the people count. “The APC is confident in INEC and security agencies ability to deliver peaceful, free and credible supplementary election come Saturday. “On election day, we urge Bayelsans and all eligible voters in the state to go about their legitimate activities. We also call on INEC and security operatives to be mindful of the dangerous threats by the PDP while also focusing on its legitimate election duties.

member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Emeka Idimogu has appealed to Lagosians to support the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode’s agenda for the year 2016, noting that the year will be a better year for Lagosians and Nigerians . He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari on this year’s Budget, saying it will create more employment, empowerment and provide more infrastructures across the nation. “I want to say to Lagosians and Nigerians that irrespective of the difficulties we have passed through in year 2015, this year 2016 will be better in all ramifications. This year will produce a better economy and a better country for all of us. With the budget presentation both at the state and national level, there will be better economy, wealth creation, empowerments and more jobs opportunities for all of us in the country. 2016 will surely be better for all of us and that is my

belief ”, Idimogu said. According to him, Lagos budget this year which is about N662.58 billion is an increase from the previous years, “we have over 50 per cent for capital projects, so, what has been our problems in the previous years was that less budgets are apportioned for capital projects why more are for recurrent which didn’t help us but with this government, we believe that the expenditure and performance at the end of the day will create more amenities and other infrastructures that are lacking in the state. “I must commend my present governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, he is doing very well, you can even testify to that in my constituency here, work has begun in all the roads, the one at Ago-palace way will soon be commissioned on or before March according to the governor and soonest, street lights will start from Ikotun to IyanaIsolo. And in Lagos here, we so much believed in our Internally Generated Revenue, our belief is that Lagosians should do their normal obligations by paying their taxes on time so that the government can provide all it promises”, he said.

APC chieftain calls for changes in nation’s laws kEmi OlaitaN Ibadan

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede, yesterday called for the overhauling of the nation’s laws to reflect the current reality in the country. The APC leader, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was reacting to the current judicial pronouncement in which the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who is currently standing trial over allegation of diversion of $2.1bn arms fund was granted bail by the court, but was rearrested by the security agents. It will be recalled that the issue had led to controversies with some people accusing

President Muhammadu Buhari of being abusive of the rule of law, while some felt nothing was wrong in what happened considering the degree of the alleged offence committed by the former NSA. Ogunkeyede however maintained that the judiciary should not be blamed but the existing laws which are not firm enough in dealing with corruption, saying, “It is not the fault of the judiciary, there has to be a change in the nation’s laws.” “A system that allows a person that steals a billion Naira for instance to get bail in court because he has enough money to hire a good lawyer, but, which sends a person that steals an ordinary goat to seven-year imprisonment because of his lack of money for a good counsel cannot be said to be alright.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Nigeria under unending social seizures MARK DEBO TAIWO

o many funny things are happening in Nigeria look so bizarre and appalling that the call for concern from those with sane reasonability and patriotic zeal, who are expecting the real change the country deserves, should be heeded. The change mantra, now sounding shameful, could be adduced as reason for some of these sordid developments in the polity. It was ironical and comical that Mr. Ibrahim Larmonde, erstwhile EFCC chairman, could end up being investigated on account of looting recovered loots. Was it not a shameful conduct for the chairman of the nation’s anti graft agency to be allegedly involved in looting N1 trillion recovered loots? What can we say of some of our governors accused of recklessly wasting the funds for their states, and became handicapped to pay the salary of workers in the process? They needed a bailout from the centre to overcome the challenge. Unfortunately, some of them could still not pay the salaries. With this wicked disposition of these leaders, who are now turning around to clamour for salary cuts or retrench sizeable number of workers in their states, it is obvious Nigeria is in trouble. The governors are not bothered by how the workers cope with even the N18, 000 minimum wage in this present parlous state of our national economy and high rate of inflation, yet some of them are pushing for cut in their workers’ salary. Fuel scarcity is one other ugly inci-

dent never expected to resurface on our national life again now that we have a President as the petroleum minister. But till the time of penning this piece people are passing through harrowing hardship in getting fuel at petrol stations. There have been sordid reports of deaths at the filling stations, even as fuel is being sold for over N200 in some parts of the country in filling stations! Nigeria, a major oil producer in the world, relies on imported petroleum products for which dubious oil subsidy is attached. The Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections have convoluted the polity. Snatching of voting materials, kidnapping, election-associated violence, including killing, have blighted our democratic march. Has real change come, or do we have a farcical change? Why would Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, the Deputy Senate Leader, promote the drive to muzzle both social media commentaries and conventional media by initiating anti-social media bill? This is plain political cluelessness on the part of the senators. Thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for distancing himself from this inglorious step. Of equally disgusting is the conduct of Colonel Sambo Dasuki [rtd], the National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan. His arrest and planned trial over the $2.1billions arms procurement saga is a sour taste in the mouth. The details of the gory story dampen the morale and confidence of many Nigerians in the ability of our leaders to successfully root out Boko Haram insurgents from our land

IS HEARTLESS

TO HEAR ABOUT THE SHARING OF THE MONEY MEANT TO TIGHTEN THE DEFENCE OF OUR COUNTRY BEING SHARED this December. It is unfortunate the caliber of people associated with the scam. It is heartless to hear about the sharing of the money meant to tighten the defence of our country being shared by these elements. Blessed be Shuaibu Salisu, former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, who spilled the bean on the callousness of some highly placed Nigerians. Many soldiers were wasted on the war front because of lack of modern and sophisticated weapons to confront Boko Haram. Many military officers and some rank and file were courtmartialed, some jailed while others were dismissed from for daring to contest the bandied story of availability of weapons for the military. Recall many of our gallant officers had to fall like unprotected dogs and others run away from the battle fields, all because of the banal rapacity of few privileged people unconcerned about bringing the nation to disrepute by their actions and inaction. Where are the fighter and Alpha jet fighters promised? What happen to the

$1billion loan sourced by the Jonathan administration from World Bank to fight Boko Haram? Chief Dokpesi’s confirming that he collected N2.1 billion from Dasuki is chilling, considering that his workers in AIT and Raypower Radio are still being owed salaries. What level of wickedness and indifference to the plights of fellow human beings? My stance on this sordid incident is to align with the position of Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, that anybody found guilty of corruption should face firing squad. Yes, anyone found wanting in this case should be cocooned from among the living. What happened to the 105 soldiers ambushed and kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents? Does anybody have information on where they were buried like chickens with national honours? The case of the agitation for Biafra nation is becoming dolorous and the tempo of agitation reaching high octave, causing a lot of confusion in the land. The Police have notoriously staged a comeback on our roads, extorting money from motorists without shame. IGP Solomon Arase should move fast to curtail the excesses of his men. Indeed, this is perilous time for Nigerians, the change mantra and image of this present administration, who has boasted of its zero tolerance for corruption. Pastor Taiwo wrote from Ogbomoso, Oyo State via markdebotaiwo@ gmail.com

Men in animal clothing LOLADE AKINMURELE

s I read through an article, which sought to establish the differences between men and animals, my eye caught a salient distinction between the two; and this was that only men are able to have an influence beyond the grave. Men who lived thousands of years ago still influence us today, but animals can’t be portrayed in this light. In all honesty, this difference between men and animals is fast fading away because not all men will die to be remembered, since not all men live to be remembered. Where then shall we locate man’s distinction from animals in this regard? A quick look at the men and women who have been able to have an influence beyond their grave will leave us staring keenly at the fact that they were leaders in their respective fields, and their lives were characterized by one simple, yet very defining factor: service to humanity. These personages turned their docile and private lives into vibrant and public ones to serve humanity. They were game changers and whenever the opportunity to carry the burden of a people presented itself, they were forerunners. When it comes to influence, not much can be said of an animal that is guided by instincts and driven by self preservation

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IS HOW BEST TO DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANIMALS IN THE

JUNGLE, BUT ISN’T IT STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO WHAT DEFINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEN TODAY?

rather than self application; hence it is unable to live for the service of any other but itself and unable to outlive its grave. But this ought not to be the case with man, who John Whitcomb describes as “sufficiently free from the bondage of instinct to exercise real choices and to have significant purposes and goals in life.” The stark reality nonetheless is: We are surrounded by men who are guided by their instincts and driven by self preservation rather than self application. Survival of the fittest is how best to describe the relationship between animals in the jungle, but isn’t it strikingly similar to what defines the relationship between men today? How

then shall we differentiate animal from human especially when a similar principle governs their communal living? If a man whose greedy wealth accumulation proves so detrimental to his neighbor that it costs the latter his life is considered human then why shouldn’t an animal that feeds on a neighboring animal to survive be considered human? “..Poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings”, says the late South African president, Nelson Mandela. If people die every day due to starvation and treatable diseases it’s up to humans to change that; but this unfortunate situation persists! Why does it persist? Are we lacking in humans? In careful study, one is sure to find that there are growing similarities between owners of capital and predators; and the proletariat and prey. After all, the owner of capital and the predator feed on the proletariat and prey respectively in order to grow. Although for the owner of capital, it’s financial growth while it’s physical growth for the predator. Stemming from this, the answer to my self-imposed question, “Where then shall we find man’s distinction from animals in this regard?”, finds rhythm. One seeks financial growth, while the other seeks physical growth. In confession, having to grapple with

the task of identifying the distinction between a man and an animal, both of no influence beyond their graves, has taught me to be patient with the camel grappling with the task of passing through the eye of a needle. How shall we console the African man who only lived for himself before now but has come to terms with his animalistic nature by virtue of this exposition? No other way but to encourage him to start living. Insight awaits him in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. which say, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Are you living for the present day or for the future? Do you relish self preservation or are you on the path of self application? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing or a man in animal clothing? The answer lies in your heart. Living to be remembered is ceasing to be self-centred. Akinmurele, a social entrepreneur, can be reached on 08139410685

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

Editorial

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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

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

Imprisonment of Lagos court registrar

few days to the last Christmas, Justice Lateef LawalAkapo of Ikeja High Court, sentenced a court registrar, Mrs. Oluronke Rosolu, to 10 years imprisonment for defrauding a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) of $330,000. Rosolu stood trial for aiding Mr. Fred Ajudua to perpetrate the fraud at Kirikiri Maximum Prisons between November 2004 and June 2005 at a time Bamaiyi and Ajudua were remanded at the said prison for their alleged involvement in various offences. During the trial, the EFCC and Bamaiyi testified that Rosolu visited the prison to help Ajudua take delivery of the funds; and that Ajudua made a false representation to Bamaiyi that the $330,000 was the professional fee for the law firm of Afe Babalola and Co to facilitate Bamaiyi’s release from prison, a claim which the firm flatly denied long time ago. The convict’s counsel, Mr. Bamidele Ogundele, while pleading for leniency on her behalf, revealed that she had been on suspension from the judiciary for over a year and would be retiring this year after 34 years of active service in the public service, an indication that the convict was not a novitiate court registrar. In other words, she most probably understood the implications of the high risk

PERSISTENT REFERENCES BEING MADE TO THE

ROT IN THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY HAS DONE UNTOLD DAMAGE TO ITS IMAGE, LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY she took, obviously for pecuniary considerations, as well as its legal implications when caught, but was undeterred in taking the plunge. For her, however, the chicken has come home to roost. It is a setback for the nation’s criminal justice system that the likes of Rosolu, who a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Kastina-Alu, once described as operators of the engine room of the judiciary and whose absence could jeopardise proper justice delivery, are desecrating the temple of justice by colluding with criminals to infract the law. Sadly, too, she is not the only traveller on that ignoble path. From the hierarchy of the judiciary are allegations that some court registrars and related staff engage in leaking judgements before they are delivered; demanding bribes before doing any paper work for persons in need of their services, and acting as go-between for dishonest liti-

gants and corrupt judicial officers, among others. Indeed, the immediate past CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, shortly before she left office, stated as follows at a public function: “Now more than ever, the public has become more critical of the conduct of the judicial staff, perhaps buoyed by public outcry against unwholesome conduct of the judicial staff, like leakage of judgements before delivery, demanding bribes before the preparation of records of appeal, acting as go-between for some overzealous litigants and some corrupt judicial officers, ostentatious lifestyles beyond legitimate earnings, and a host of other activities.” In August last year, for example, this newspaper broke the news of the Chief Registrar of Kebbi State High Court, one Abubakar Siddiq Bello, who allegedly forged the judgement of a superior court to facilitate a N29 million fraud. Latest reports say the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had waded into the matter, and that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bukkachuwa, had in addition, formally written to the incumbent CJN, who also heads the National Judicial Council (NJC) as chairman, Justice Mahmud Mohammed;

ON THIS DAY

and the Chief Judge of Kebbi State High Court, Justice Ibrahim Bala Mairiga, on the allegation against Abubakar. On May 19, 2015, according to reports, the Sokoto Appeal Court set aside the judgement of the Kebbi High Court on the payment of all check-off dues of secondary school teachers in Kebbi State and awarded N30, 000 cost in favour of COSST (Conference of Secondary School Teachers). But the Chief Registrar allegedly went behind and forged a judgement that was not the product of that Court of Appeal; and through it reversed the original appellate court’s ruling with the intention of illegally cornering N29 million. With this type of court registrars in the system, the much touted reform of the nation’s judiciary, and ridding it of bad eggs are doomed already, because corruption in the judiciary is not just limited to judges or magistrates that sit in judgement. Therefore, curtailing the endemic nature of unethical behaviour and misconduct among judges and other judicial officers, calls for an all-embracing radical surgery in the entire gamut of the nation’s judiciary. Persistent references being made to the rot in the Nigerian judiciary has done untold damage to its image, locally and internationally.

January 6, 1941

January 6, 1947

January 6, 2009

United States’ President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, delivered his ‘Four Freedoms’ speech in his State of the Union address. Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that people ‘everywhere in the world’ ought to enjoy, namely: Freedom of speech; worship; from want; and from fear. In the second half of the speech, he listed the benefits of democracy, which included economic opportunity, employment, etc.

Pan American Airlines became the first commercial airline to schedule a flight around the world. Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991. It is a scheduled air mail and passenger service operating between Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, credited with many innovations.

In response to continual bombardment of civilian population centers by Palestinian militants, Israel conducted an assault on Gaza codenamed ‘Operation Cast Lead’. The Gaza War, also known as Operation Cast Lead was a three-week armed conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian militants that began on December 27, 2008 and ended on January 18, 2009 in a unilateral ceasefire.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing Doctors need encouragement – Abuja ARD President 22 FRANKA OSAKWE

ope for a dramatic improvement in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system this year appears to have been deemed by the 2016 budgetary allocation to the sector as presented recently to the national assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari. Analysis of the budget by experts, conducted by National Mirror, shows that the government would require far more than the N221.7bn allocated to the sector, which is far less than the N262bn and N264.5bn allocated to health in 2014 and 2015 respectively, to adequately tackle the huge problems in the sector, unless a huge chunk of the-N1.8 trillion allocated for 2016 capital expenditure, is channeled to healthcare. “That is the only way that the tall dreams of “Change” agenda can be actualized in the sector. For now, it is unclear how the capital budget will be spent and what amount would be allocated to health. But there should be more focus on the Primary Health Centre (PHC)’s especially on issues of mother and child”, said Dr. Ben Anyene, former Commisioner for Health, Anambra State, and Chairman of trustee, Health Reform Organization of Nigeria (HERFON). With the gradual withdrawal of funding by international donor agencies’ in vital areas such as HIV/AIDS, experts believe the government ought to have injected more funds to the sector to be able to improve the sector. For instance, Mr. Aminu Garba, Cordinator of African Health Budget Network (AHBN) told National Mirror that there is need for the country to secure domestic funding for the PHC’s and for vaccination so that progress made in averting deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio, will not be reversed. Presently, the sector is beset with poor access to public health care, high out-ofpocket spending on health, and lack of health facilities while diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS are still major issues. Analysis by United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) showed that Nigeria still contributes a quarter of the global number of deaths of children under-five, about 260,000 annual deaths. Similarly, an estimated 36,000 women continue to die in pregnancy or at child birth each year, the report said. Although many of these deaths are preventable, UNICEF said the coverage and quality of health care services in Nigeria continue to fail women and children. The report further states that less than 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants. Prior to the release of the budget, the new administration made a lot of promises regarding the health sector. Last October, for instance, President Buhari pledged

WHO presents 17 sustainable goals to end poverty, hunger 21

2016 Budget: Shattered hope for healthcare

President Muhammadu Buhari, presenting the 2016 Budget to the National Assembly, recently.

his commitment to the implementation of the National Health Act (NHA). The Act requires one per cent of the nation’s consolidated revenue fund to be allocated for basic health care necessities. However, the modalities for the implementation of this Act and the release of the fund are yet to be released. Following the de-listing of Nigeria from the group of polio-endemic countries last year, President Buhari, while receiving the certificate, also promised that the country would maintain this zero-level status. But this, according to experts, will not come cheap, as it will entail stepping up the nation’s national immunization programme, a viable step that will ensure reduction of under-five deaths from preventable diseases. Already, the cost of vaccines for immunization and its services this year has been pegged at $1.4 billion (about N275.8 billion at N197 per dollar), according to International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) Consultant, Dr. Shola Molemodile. National Mirror can tell that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has only secured about $148 million (about N39.4bn) of the money from Gavi – the Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative, which helps procure and move vaccines around the world. Getting an additional $66 million (about N19.6 bil-

lion) approved by the federal government for vaccination however seems an uphill task, if the pattern of budgetary funds release in previous budgets is anything to go by. “Releasing the allocated budget is what matters most right now. If you look at last five years, only N2.6 billion has been allocated for vaccine in the country, and at the end of the day, the money will not be released”, Mr. Garba, disclosed at a workshop on budget implementation organized recently by AHBN in Lagos. According to Garba, the health budget alone cannot be enough to finance immunization. “We need to look at innovative ways of raising money. Every government, at state and local government level needs to allocate money for immunization”, he added. Last December, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, announced that the federal government had concluded arrangements to build 10,000 primary health facilities in the 774 local government areas across the country. He also announced that plans were ongoing to ensure that targeted 60 million poor Nigerians would enjoy unfettered medical care under Buhari’s government within the next two years. But Dr. Anyene believes the nation should also be told the concrete measures being taken to ensure that the declaration

would not be mere talks. “We need to know how much money has been budgeted for it. Under President IBB’s administration, N50 million was budgeted for one PHC. If you use this as measurement, N50 multiplied by 10,000 should be N500, 000 million. We need to know if they have that kind of money on ground’, he said. According to Anyene, only few PHC’s are working in the country so, resources ought to be channeled to their maintenance and improvement of manpower. Although the health budget is still below the 15 per cent agreed at the Abuja Declaration, The National President, Guild of Medical Directors (GMD), Dr. Tony Philips believes that the budgetary allocation may not even be the main issue but rather, the management of the meager resource at hand. “We are happy that there is concentration on the PHCs and the grassroots, but there is need for manpower. The nurses are short of rural staff. During the midwives scheme years back, government was owing so much that the nurses posted to rural areas ran away from the PHC’s. If they want to see result, they should create an enabling environment for private sectors to come on board and participate in all the committee”, he said.

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Intermittent fasting: effective weight loss strategy

of time usually to about 8 hours a day. One can consume the first meal around 12pm or 1pm and then continue eating until final meal at 8pm after which you discontinue eating or drinking three hours before bedtime. Only water should be consumed until the next day and then you resume meal at 12noon. This breaks out to about 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating each day. Preferably, one may want to limit eating to a window of about 6-8 hours, say from noon until 6 or 8 pm each day, which means fasting daily for 1618 hours(or less) time frame. This is enough to get your body to shift into fat-burning mode for people who want to lose weight. According to Dr. Micheal Mosley, a British journalist, medical doctor, producer and TV presenter, “the best way to lose weight is to eat normally for five days a week and fast for two days. On fasting days, he recommends cutting your food down to ¼ of your normal daily calories, or about 600 calories for men and 500 calories for women, along with plenty of water and tea”. Whichever method of fasting is best for

Chizoba Benson chizobanwobu@yahoo.com 08120807588 (sms only)

enerally speaking, fasting is an internal drive that entails physical and mental discipline to achieve results. A successful fast will give you clarity of mind, soundness of body, greater quality of life by putting the body into a repair mode and restoring normal hormonal function in obese or overweight individuals. One of the most powerful intervention while struggling with your weight and related health issues is to starve yourself a little bit each day, or a couple of days a week, (depending on what you have decided to embark on). The sole reason being that, this would help shift your body from burning glucose (the body’s fuel source which is gotten when we consume sugar and refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta, and sports drinks) to burning fat as its primary fuel. Intermittent fasting (IF) therefore is scheduled eating or a lifestyle that limits one’s food consumption to a narrow window

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you depends on the choice you have made. The vital thing here is to consume a balanced diet like healthy proteins - turkey, chicken, lean meats, soya beans, skimmed milk, etc. Minimize carbohydrates like pasta, white bread, white rice and potatoes and exchange them for healthful fats like butter, eggs, avocado, coconut oil, olive oil and nuts as well as taking lots of water. To engage in physical exercise during fasting state increases the body’s fat-burning potential and this makes fasting even more effective. However, a growing body of evidence shows that, “certain forms of fasting are good but it may not appeal to, or be appropriate for everyone. Hypoglyce-

mics and/or diabetics should address their diet to normalize blood sugar and insulin levels before embarking on day-long fasts”. Studies have shown that, “growth hormone, which has serious muscle-building properties, surges during fasts. The spike of this muscle-molding hormone proves that fasting is not simply about calories in and calories out. IF helps in normalizing adrenalin levels, also known as “the hunger hormone”, promoting human growth hormone (HGH) production, which plays an important part in health, fitness and slows down the aging process; it helps in lowering triglyceride levels (leftover calories that are turned into a kind of fat which is stored in the fat cells for later use in the body). IF helps in normalizing the body’s insulin sensitivity which is a primary contributory factor to nearly all chronic diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and even cancers; some researchers are speculating, based on substantial evidence, that fasting before and

during cancer treatment should result in reduced morbidity, better tolerance of chemotherapies, and higher cure rates. IF reduces stress and inflammation in cells and triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health. According to Mattson who is a researcher on neural health, “IF has been shown to protect memory and learning functionality and slows disease processes in the brain”. IF also affects brain function by boosting production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This protein also protects your brain cells from changes associated with the incidence and progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Studies have also shown that intermittent fasting even helped cocaine addicts stick to their treatment and rehab program. Once the body has made this shift, the individual would discover that craving for sweets and food in general, rapidly normalizes. It is vital to note that exercising on an empty stomach has been shown to have a number of health and fitness benefits. Skipping meals therefore can actually be an effective weight loss strategy.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults My name is Nneka. I am 36 years old and married with two children. Please I have been experiencing dryness during love making and that has made sex not enjoyable anymore. Is there anything that I can do or use to relieve me of that? I am tired of using Ky Gel. Is there anything I can take or do to make sex pleasurable and interesting? I also need something to make me experience orgasm. Thank you. I am awaiting your response – Nneka Nneka there are various causes of vaginal dryness and for younger women like you, it can be as a result of a drug you may be taking which contains antihistamines. But more commonly, the lack of adequate foreplay before intercourse is the major cause of inadequate or total lack of lubrication. But having read your mail, I suspect your experience also has to do with not enjoying the intercourse you are having especially as you indicated the need to have an orgasmic sexual experience. Ordinarily, it takes two to have great sex soif you are not enjoying it, your husband certainly has some explaining to do but let us not get too critical of him because that doesn’t always work out well. Calmly discuss this matter with him. I always advice women to decide on the kind of lovemaking they desire and then communicate that to their husbands or lovers. Lack of communication is one of the reasons such problems don’t get solved. It is not a big issue but women generally assume that a man should know what he needs to do in bed. Believe it or not, many men want to do the right things but they also need to be told what feels right because different women desire different

things. Lovemaking is not a one size fits all type of activity. During foreplay for instance, some women like and want to be touched all over and some enjoy oral stimulation as well. But for some women it is different and they will go as far as telling you bluntly, ‘Don’t touch me here, don’t touch me there and don’t use your tongue’. So what I am trying to say is that if you know exactly what you like and what feels good to you, then you need to communicate this to your husband. However, not all men are approachable when it comes to matters like this and if he is not the type of man that can take instruction or a little suggestion, then you will have to take matters into your own hands. This is where adult novelties like erotic films, novels, magazines, arousal supplements and sex toys can be very useful. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need these things and our partners will be the ones fulfilling our every need. But life is never ideal and everybody needs a little help here and there. So to solve your dryness and orgasmic problems yourself, a good vibrator and an arousal supplement can help you. I can also recommend an arousal gel but you sound like lubricants annoy you so let’s leave that off for now. Get the G Female Arousal Supplement for women and a very good rabbit vibrator like the Ovo K5, Ovo K2 or even the Thrusting Rabbit vibrator. And then get a good movie. Feature films like Teacher’s Pet and Au pair come highly recommended. All of these combined will get you wet and climaxing in no time. But don’t forget to have that chatabout what you want with your husband because clearly, you are

disappointed with the sex you are having and it shouldn’t be. One of the benefits of being married is not having to depend on sex toys like single girls do – Uche I need a product that will assist me in having stronger erections and going more than a round of sex. Please note that I have high bp – Clement That’s alright Clement. What you will need is a mild erection enhancer like Sex Voltz or Man Up Now. But they work gradually for your own good so you need to be patient too – Uche My problem is premature ejaculation. A friend of mine that you helped says I should ask for a spray like that – David That would be the LS Delay Spray. Yes you can go for it. Users have had very nice things to say about it – Uche Happy New Year to you all. Zee Virtual

Media has reopened for business and adults in need of these treatments/novelties can now call us on 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com to place their orders. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com-Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

WHO presents 17 sustainable goals to end poverty, hunger FRANKA OSAKWE

s 2016 begins, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries to begin efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs over the next

15 years, (2030). In a release to usher in the SDG, the WHO said the 17 SDG’s are aimed at ending poverty, hunger and assuring gender equally while building a life of dignity for all over the next 15 years.

Last year witnessed the end of the 15-year cycle of the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “The seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are our shared vision of human-

ity and a social contract between the world’s leaders and the people,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted unanimously by 193 Heads of State

Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi (left) with other management staff at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital on Friday to celebrate the first baby of the year.

ultinational pharmaceutical companies, Merck, Pfizer and Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have entered into a collaboration agreement to evaluate avelumab, an investigational fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in combination with Syndax’s entinostat, an investigational oral small molecule that targets immune regulatory cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T-cells), in patients with heavily pretreated, recurrent ovarian cancer. Avelumab is currently

Merck, Pfizer, Syndax Collaborate to evaluate ovarian cancer combination drug under clinical investigation across a broad range of tumor types by the Merck-Pfizer Alliance. This is an exclusive agreement between the alliance and Syndax to study the combination of these two investigational agents in ovarian cancer. Syndax will be responsible for conducting the Phase 1b/II clinical trial in ovarian cancer. “This collaboration with Syndax adds a new dimension to our quest to pursue

combination immunooncology regimens based on compelling preclinical rationale and the potential to generate clinical results superior to those achieved with either agent alone,” said Dr. Mace Rothenberg, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for Pfizer Oncology. “Combination therapy is the next frontier in immuno-oncology and a key

strategy for the alliance,” said Dr. Luciano Rossetti, Head of Global Research & Development of the biopharma business of Merck. “Avelumab as a monotherapy has already shown promising early activity in ovarian cancer in a Phase Ib trial, and through our ongoing research and this collaboration with Syndax, we will hopefully be able to make a real difference to women fighting this complex cancer.”

Ambode’s wife calls for prompt birth registration FRANKA OSAKWE

ife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode has called for prompt registration of birth to aid data collation and policy formulation on health. Ambode made the appeal during her goodwill visit to public hospitals to welcome the First Baby of the Year 2016, organised by the state government. Speaking as she received the first baby of the year, Ambode urged the nursing mothers to observe the mandatory exclusive breastfeeding period of six months to make their babies healthy

and good looking. ‘’Mothers should embrace exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life because babies are more vulnerable in the first six months of life and required adequate care for proper growth and development. ‘’This will not only make the baby healthy and strong, it will also help reduce unnecessary spending on health issues, ‘’ she said. Ambode also congratulated the health family for the re-appointment of Dr Jide Idris as the Commissioner for Health and Dr Femi Onanuga as Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare, saying the duo were crusaders of change in the health sector.

She expressed optimism that their wealth of experience had been brought to bear in the delivery of qualitative healthcare and upgrade of facilities in the general hospitals and healthcare centres in the state. She also commended corporate organisations and individuals who had continued to support the health family over the years as part of their corporate social responsibility. ‘’I urged others organisations, NGOs to emulate the good gesture to boost the healthcare delivery system in the state, ‘’ Ambode said. Also speaking, Dr Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health noted that there had been tremendous improve-

ments in the health services of the state through the adoption of solid strategies and interventions. Idris urge mothers to make use of the available hospital services by attending ante-natal and post-natal care, immunisation, and imbibe good diet and hygiene. He also called on mothers to access family planning services at the primary health centres for adequate child spacing and survival, to reduce infant mortality. A baby girl was delivered, weighing 3.25kg at 12:01a.m. to the Bright family, through normal delivery at the the Epe General Hospital, Baby Bright emerged as Baby of the Year 2016.

and other top leaders at a summit at UN Headquarters in New York in September. “The 17 goals and 169 targets are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success, to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years”, he added. The goals address the needs of people in both developed and developing countries, emphasising that no one should be left behind. Broad and ambitious in scope, the agenda addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development --social, economic and environmental, as well as important aspects related to peace, justice and effective institutions. The mobilisation of means of implementation, including financial resources, technology development and transfer and capacity-building, as

well as the role of partnerships, are also acknowledged as critical. The 17 SDGs build on the eight MDGs, which specifically sought by 2015 -- to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development. While the MDGs have accomplished a lot, progress has been uneven across regions and countries, leaving millions of people behind, especially the poorest and those disadvantaged due to sex, age, disability, ethnicity or geographic location. The SDGs are expected to plug the holes left by the MDGs and accomplish more.

Vitafoam celebrates first baby of the year SEKINAH L AWAL

he Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi recently joined other management staff at the Lagos Island Maternity to celebrate the 2016 First Baby of the Year. He congratulated the mother of the first baby of the year in the hospital, Mrs. Oluwakemi Okunnowo, who was delivered of a baby boy at 12:01am, weighing 3.2kg. According to him, things cannot be left to government alone, adding that “this is part of the company’s little way of giving back to the society through its corporate social responsibilities.” The wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, who also visited three general hospitals in the state, commended Vitafoam Nigeria Plc and others for their continual support every year towards encouraging the baby of the year programme. For Vitafoam management, in the early morning of the New Year, all roads led to the foremost baby making factory, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, to celebrate and welcome the first baby of the year. The lucky baby

boy, who was delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Omobolanle and Oluwakemi Okunnowo was warmly welcomed by the team from the company led by the Group Managing Director, Mr. Taiwo Ayodele Adeniyi. Products ranging from baby cot, baby mattress, pillows, baby changing mat, etc were presented to the first baby while hospital mattresses, pillows, baby solid chairs, trendy mats and the rest were donated to the hospital. The company also extended donations to the second and third babies delivered at the hospital as it did to Principal Officers and staff who had shown outstanding qualities in the last one year. While presenting the gifts to the Medical Director, Dr. Donald Imosemi, Mr. Adeniyi emphasized the uniqueness of the company’s association with Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. He said while the hospital continues to ‘manufacture’ babies, Vitafoam would continue to produce products that would add value to the babies’ lives. He stated that the company, because of its value for life, deemed it fit as part of its corporate social responsibility to welcome the baby and give assurances that life is a good place to come.

Health & Wellbeing

Dr Isaac Olubanjo Akerele, is the President of Abuja Resident Doctors (ARD) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In this interview with Abuja Health Correspondent, ADEOLA TUKURU, he speaks on the challenges of Nigerian doctors, the recent national budget on Health and other issues. Excerpts: How will you rate the health sector in the country? Rating the Health sector has many parts, contrary to opinions of many. The WHO attested to the fact that Nigerian doctors are considered among the best in the world. Everywhere we find Nigerian doctors around the world, they ensure they give their best. In terms of capacity, presently in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and the rest, they are on the increase and the recruitment of more Nigerian doctors is ongoing. However this has not translated to equivalent service within Nigeria and these are the issues that should be of great concern to the Federal government. We have said it again and again about the investment in the health sector, in terms of structures. Why we are where we are today is because there has not been any systematic review of the Health sector in Nigeria, vis-a-vis the services, the requirement, materials and infrastructure. Quality personnel and buildings are mainly in the cities whereas the local government and the rural areas are not equipped. We also realise that the major issue is remuneration. The salary structures which attracts Nigerian doctors abroad should also be looked into. But beyond that, even the infrastructure thing which is the primary health care needs should be the real focus for the people to be able to access. Health care has been forgotten and destroyed by corruption, mismanagement and lack of attention by the Nigerian government. What we are saying as an association, as a body, is that attention must be paid to the primary health care centre. More of these must be in line and we are happy when we saw the recent budget. We are optimistic that this is the first time that government did a budget placing health in the front burner. That shows that the Nigerian government is concerned and that the health sector must be focused on but beyond budgeting, there must be a total review of the entire system. Primary health care must be given a great attention in this budget and also the secondary health care. For instance, we in the general hospitals are treating patients with Malaria, typhoid and diarrhoea which ought not to be so. They should be treated by community health care centres or primary health care around. They should be equipped and expanded to be able to cater for the people. Also, FCT Administration needs to open more centres and Secondary Health centres so as to avoid overcrowding in hospitals. Environmental Health is no longer in existence. People openly defecate all around, people don’t look at the blocked drainages and they are yet to understand that the impact on our environment is huge on our health. So these are the areas that government should look into. We have the capacity and manpower. Nigerian doctors are qualified to manage hospitals; there is no need for the Nigerian government at any level to recruit foreigners to manage our hospitals. This must be stopped. Nigerian doctors must be given their rightful place. How do you think Nigerian doctors can be trained to meet up with the standard of International doctors around the world? In terms of training doctors, it starts from the medical school and we have one of the best in the country but beyond that, there must be a review of the curriculum. What are the capacities or needs of the nation? We can’t be adopting the same system, there must be a mandate and blueprint that can be adopted but beyond that, after a doctor is employed, after the first or second degree is given, how much of capability building is given? For instance in the FCT, we wrote a letter to Mr President demanding the establishment of a well motivated critical mass group for trauDr. Akerele matic injuries through training. For example, when there are cases of bomb blast, how well prepared are we? How

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Doctors need encouragement – Abuja ARD President many doctors or medical personnel can be able to respond to this? We need capacity in this area, especially in advance and basic life support and the ability to have quick responders. We are also making a strong appeal to the Federal government, especially the Minister of FCT, that our proposal on capacity building, on disaster management should be taken with seriousness. We want to have at least no fewer than 100 doctors that can be able to respond anywhere, especially when we have crisis, looking at the security challenges in the country. Nigeria deserves the best and we are prepared to do more. We need the encouragement, we need the support and finances, we need the infrastructure to be in place, we need the motivation to be there and be re-branded. The training in the FCT is not adequate enough and needs to be strengthened; the teachers involved in training need to be encouraged to go for update courses and must be paid for by the Federal government. The services will be brought back to the system and the system will get better. We are encouraged by President Mohammadu Buhari who said that he want to discourage top officials from travelling abroad for medical treatment but we want health sector and infrastructure to be improved so that these top officials will have the courage to get treatment here, otherwise they will be sneaking outside the country. It must have a commensurate measure that will discourage people from travelling abroad. What are the major challenges of ARD as an association? The major challenge in FCT is that we have fewer doctors than expected. The population of people is growing everyday and the capacity is not in place. There are a lot of patients filled up and few doctors to attend to them. The same doctors who want to do surgery are the same doctors who want to have a review, so, we are saying the Federal Government should employ more doctors. Again, another challenge is lack of infrastructures. More centres need to be opened. We are also appealing to the government for affordable land. Other professionals have had the privilege to achieve that. We need to have land to accommodate us at a cheaper rate. Some of the doctors we have don’t stay too long in the FCT due to high cost of living. Beyond that, insecurity is growing and attacks on our members have become constant. We are saying enough is enough. Our members need to be protected at work. Recently, some of our members in Nyanya General Hospital were attacked. We are also Nigerians and there must be existing laws that should protect everybody. How about arrears that are being owed, have you been fully paid? They are yet to fully pay what is expected and we are asking for advancement of skipping. Skipping must be implemented in the FCT. These are things that can motivate doctors. Skipping has to

be effected to encourage our members. We are aware that the present Minister of FCT and his team are the perfect match for FCT and they have been doing well so far and we want to encourage them but the welfare of doctors in the FCT must be looked into thoroughly. We didn’t go on strike because we believe in the commitment of management and we want to see that it is being sustained, we are appealing that skipping of doctors must be approved and payment of arrears must be approved. Has the association been able to tackle quacks among doctors? It is expected that Nigerians should be concerned that we have quacks within the practice. We, as a body, have tightened our belt to prevent it. There are doctors practising in the FCDA, we want to know their background, their school and where they finished from. We are collecting their data and this is ongoing. We have prepared ourselves to be whistle blowers and we have gone round to inform our members to quickly alert us so that doctors suspected to be fake going around hospitals can be reported to the appropriate authorities. Our orientation is online and efforts are being made to be more stringent with issuance of license. We are also appealing to Nigerians to report suspected cases to us and we will immediately take actions. What is your take on the closure of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri? The closure of FMC, Owerri has a huge impact on the community. We have demonstrated and we are appealing to the government to resolve issues concerning Owerri as fast as possible before its snowballs into a bigger crisis. I know that with the position of Mr President so far, there is an intention to improve quality health in Nigeria and this should not be truncated. What led to that should be properly investigated. Public property should be well managed and to ensure that people have access to adequate health care, we have aligned ourselves as affiliate of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and as individuals. We are opposed to what will exploit the Nigerian Health system. How does ARD intend to improve Health care delivery to Abuja residents in 2016? We are showing more commitments and we intend to do more. We are planning to improve ourselves academically and we have the knowledge to give because without knowledge, anything is near to quackery. We are ready to give our best and to support them.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Arts Lounge In music, I see no limitations –Zeal Morice

Reality: Movies on Nigeria girls child

Towards a vibrant culture sector in 2016

With a new Minister and N39.2b to be spent under an enlarged Ministry that will likely see the culture sector playing a second fiddle, what does this portend? Ngozi EmEdolibE

ith over 250 ethnic groups, the arena makes room for a vibrant cultural sector. But since 1960, the goals of the sector have largely remained unrealisable. Before now, the blame was being heaped on incessant change in the government of the country owing to domination of the polity by the military. While culture can be a platform to re-engineer Nigeria’s image as well as adding to the economy, only a fraction of the potential seem feasible. It would be difficult to realise all these goals in 2016, but a healthy pathway towards attaining these goals can be charted depending on the steps the major stakeholders decide to take. As the year unfolds, there is generally a great need for the country to have a welldefined cultural policy. National cultural policy in this case, must be seen as an instrument of promotion of national identity and Nigerian unity, as well as of communication and cooperation among different Nigerian cultures, while the states’ cultural policies stand for the affirmation and development of particular (ethnic) cultures located within the states. This may have elicited the calls by the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, for a well-defined cultural policy for the nation. According to him, “There is need to review of our National Policy on Arts and Culture and its implementation with a view to achieving greater relevance and sustainability; such that our art and culture will become key development resources.” The purpose would be to entrench and popularise arts and culture in our educational institutions as well as build relevant institutions and facilities such as museums, galleries, theatres, etc, that will bring our arts and culture to the level of the common man. No doubt a move in this direction would obviously be in the interest of not only the sector but also the country in general. But far from this, the government should also look at ways to strengthen some of the agencies charged directly or indiscreetly with the role of promoting this aspect of the Nigerian life. Agencies like National Orientation Agency, NOA, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, and the Nigerian Copyright Commission must be well-equipped to discharge its duties well. Of paramount need is the area of fund-

A Nigerian dance troupe, Nkpokiti. Lai Mohammed, inset

ing. While it is true that incomes are currently down as shown by the 2016 budget, governments at both the Federal and local tiers must begin to set aside substantial funds for the promotion of cultural. In looking towards this, it would not be a bad idea if the governments at all levels embark on a project to construct befitting arts and cultural centres at the headquarters to take the promotion of culture back to the people. A centre like this would naturally take care of film exhibitions, stage performances and visual arts exhibitions at the local level. This would not only boost local economies but also stimulate employments, boosting tax revenues at the local level. Like film director, Lancelot OduwaImasuen, rightly pointed out, government stands to gain a lot by initiating a project that would put cinema theatres at every nook and cranny of the nation. “I am looking at a situation where all the local government councils in Nigeria will have cinema theatres. That means if I make a film, and decide to take it to only half of the local government councils, I will easily recoup my money. And out of this the government can ask for a good tax.” Taking this promotion of arts and culture to all corners of the world through the embassies will also be a good way out in the New Year, according to chief executive officer of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment, Isaac Izoya. Izoya, whose company is based

in Frankfurt, Germany. “My company Ehizoya has done a great deal in promoting the culture of the country in Europe in particular, but I will like the government to bring up a policy to have the embassies in Europe and other places take up such promotions. We need to give our embassies the mandate to make sure that at least they are doing one cultural programme to promote Nigeria every quarter.” The culture sector will also make do with lots of trainings in 2016. While some activities have been done in the past in this direction by agencies such as the Nigerian Film Corporation, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation and the Nigerian Copyright Commission, who trained many stakeholders on burning issues in the sector, the efforts would have to be stepped up now more than ever. While the National Orientation Agency has a commitment with communicating government policies, it should begin to drive the need to imbibe national pride in not only the Nigerian nation but also in the art as well. This could be done by way of campaigns to make Nigerians think of Nigerian locations for holidays before any other locations outside. Fashion designer and culture enthusiast, Latefat Momodu, thinks Nigerians should embrace their own in the New Year if they want the outside world to pay them any attention. “Yes, we are always clamouring to be recognised abroard, but the truth

PerhaPs, what many industry stakeholders will see as a great challenge in the new year is the Place of the arts and culture sector in this new enlarged ministry of information and culture

is that we need to appreciate our own first of all before getting the white people to appreciate our culture.” Another government agency whose activities would be important in the operations of the industry in 2016 will be the Nigerian Export Import Bank, NEXIM Bank. A few years ago, it announced the Nigerian Creative Arts and Entertainment Facility Loan, which the government intends to use to stimulate growth in the creative sector. While a few practitioners are reported to have benefitted, the general impression is that the conditions for accessing the loans are still hectic, which is why many people in the creative sector have not been able to access it. This trend has always left the industry divided because such conditions will always leave the younger creative artistes who do not have sufficient collateral to back up the fund requirements out of the scheme. Perhaps, what many industry stakeholders will see as a great challenge in the New Year is the place of the arts and culture sector in this new enlarged Ministry of Information and Culture. Before now, the culture sector was placed under a statutory Ministry of Culture. Today, following the mergers, it has been placed under a Minister, Lai Mohammed, who has apparent bias for information. Will this affect his attention to the culture sector? He has acknowledged the need for diversification of the economy from the standpoint of culture. Diversification of our economy is not just limited to agriculture or solid minerals or even the real sector. I think one area where we need capital investment is in the area of culture because this abounds everywhere. But our biggest challenge so far is how do we harness this abundant cultural heritage and create an economy out of it?”

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

The National Theatre for sale OlatunbOsun taOfeek

time comes like this in our country when transformation becomes a chameleon. We pray that similar metamorphosis will not take place in the National Arts Theatre. I am using this medium as well-meaning Nigerian who wants progress of this country to call the attention of the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Aminu Diko not to stage an endless war between the sword and the pen. The former, at least for the instant, may be forceful the later is idealistically destructive as it remains in the palace of the public as long as existence remains. With due respect to the progressives, we want change because that is the only constant commodity in the market of life. However, a fly that perches on one’s scrotum calls for caution. The recent development of the sale of our collective heritage, the National Arts Theatre, has gotten to us again and we are demanding of you to make public all your dealings and carry the theatre stakeholders along (Association of Nigerian Authors, National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners and others) for the sake of smooth transition in order to avoid dragging us into futuristic combat with politicians. Honestly, we are not confident in your dealings, thus we demand to know those fulcrums playing out in the sales of this monument. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo started this globetrotting by 2010 in an attempt to sell off the theatre to a Dubaibased conglomerate for the sum of $40 million with the intention of converting it to a shopping mall which was under the emblem of privatisation. And because of the monumental scandal that do go with such econometrics in Nigeria, we demand you go the proper way of dealing with an asset of this kind by carrying stakeholders along and make public all your dealings. Mr. Diko, if your move will come to fruition we beg to ask you these salient questions: How did you come about Top-

Taofeek with Akachi Ezeigbo

wide/Apeas as the eventual winner of the bidding? We want to know when you put up bidding? Those that made the bid? Why the winner? And how arts related/friendly is Topwide/Apeas as a company to be given such slot? Please,

remember that this is not a political edifice, football stadium or central market but a national monument belonging to creative and intellectual minds. At such, we cannot take shrewdness for commercialisation.

In your last publIc comment, you spoke on people goIng to DubaI anD how they shoulD get reaDy to come anD Do theIr buy anD sellIng at the theatre. are we mIgratIng from an Intellectual enterprIse to grocery stores?

Memorable Reads What is your favourite book? I will give it to Europe: A Mission Misunderstood, which was written by a Nigerian author, based in Berlin Germany. What is the name of the author? His name is Eddy Duru. Everything a black man needs to know in Europe is captured there. What do you like most about the book? I like the fact that it is in line with some of the themes I have treated as a film maker. I have always tried to tell Africans in my films that Europe has its ups and downs. Europe: A Mission Misunderstood captures that. The book is about the experiences of Africans who always come for greener pastures only to realise that what they are hoping for does not exist. Do you like fiction? Yes, I do. But I like reading more of se-

Isaac Izoya

Producer/Actor

rious issues. Fiction comes handy when I do not have anything doing, which is rare. Who are your favourite fiction writers? I have favourites amongst Africans and Europeans. I once read one story by a German author, I won’t be able to remember her name now, but it was just a classic. In Nigeria I like the old brigade who opened the doors like Soyinka, Achebe, and the others. Why do Nigerian filmmakers not rely on Nigerian novelists for stories? It is something that could be explored but to be honest, I have not looked in that direction. What is your budget for books annually? I do not have. Whenever I can, I buy.

Mr. Diko in as much as we believe in international tourism, there should be specifics. We cannot be taken to the butcher for dress making and yet someone keeps telling us we are going for sewing. The National Theatre is made for arts and let every moves remain within that confined and not yield to the temptation of Jack and his many trades. Is the National Theatre to be converted to a shopping mall as proposed by previous government or the hotel business as proposed by you is the hallmark of this engagement? In your last public comment, you spoke on people going to Dubai and how they should get ready to come and do their buy and selling at the theatre. Are we migrating from an intellectual enterprise to grocery stores? Really, we want to know. We don’t know if your target is a Broadway business or a Jankara market where “Dubai women” will rush to buy the latest gold in town? If this is your target you are not only heading to deface our monument you are taking it to the butchers for slaughter. Then your effort will be the last stroke that breaks the camel’s back by erasing the edifice socially, psychologically and historically from our tangential footage. Mr. Chairman, it behoves me to tell you that the arts world in Nigeria is not in support of your engagement with any preferred bidder. For those who don’t know the National Arts Theatre, it is a monument located at Orele Igunmu in Lagos. The edifice was designed and constructed in 1976 by Bulgarian construction company which now worth billions of dollars. It has a shape of the military hat with 5000-seater main Hall with two 8675309 cinema halls on a vast land of 65 hectares. This is one out of the only collective heritages left for us in Nigeria. I will like to remind us that the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny— Wole Soyinka. *Olatunbosun Taofeek is a writer and the Public Relations Officer, South, Association of Nigerian Authors.

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Arts Lounge

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

ARTISTE UNCENSORED

In music, I see no limitations –Zeal Morice He is a singer, live band performer, meaning to dazzle the world with his Afro-Reggae/ Dancehall genre of music. Meet Ugwuanya Chijioke Maurice aka Zeal Morice. IsIguzo DestIny

eal Morice hails from OwerriNorth L.G.A of Imo State and he’s based in Aba, Abia State where he has become a household name in the entertainment industry. He is one of the youngest most sought after musicians and is seen performing at renowned hotels and events with the ladies reeling after him at one of the performances this reporter attended. Morice is not just singing at events, big hotels and bars, he has assembled all his pieces in an album to show how serious and determined he is to break into the music hall of fame where the likes of 2Face Idibia, the Koko master D’banj and the soaring talent Olamide reigns. Looking into his eyes, one can see a burning passion and a determination borne out of his love for music and not just music, a vision to send powerful messages to this ailing world through lyrical therapy packaged in songs which he has started to do with an album titled Cliff. He may not be at his best in this album, but surely with guidance and quality production crew, he can up his game. Speaking on his album, the dude said “my album was written and produced by me and it has 14(fourteen) tracks in it. My style of music is Afro-Reggae/ Dancehall which is evident in the tracks. The album was produced with a very meagre finance and didn’t come easy. In a very competitive music industry, you just need to do things in an extraordinary way and sometimes you must not wait to be located, you push yourself out”. Others may want to sound like PSquare, Yemi Alade and other notable artists, but for Morace, being himself is

the key to his game. He tries to learn from others to improve his game, but never want to imitate anybody even though he is impressed with what so many Nigerian artists are doing in the industry. “What differentiates me from other artistes is just that I try to be myself and be real in my music-no imitations”. As an upcoming artiste, he has not yet had a career contract with any of the popular artiste but he has a hope that burns within his heart that one day, he will make his father proud. “I haven’t collaborated with any of the big artists but I’m looking forward to working with Patoranking, Cynthia Morgan and Phyno. Most of these artistes’ parents show initial resistance to a career in the arts but with time and recorded success they change their minds which is one of the reasons this sensational performer is looking forward to impressing his family and friends by churning out quality music. Reacting to the question on his family’s support, Maurice has this to say: “No they are not in support so much, but meanwhile they have started finding interest in it because there is progress”. Speaking on talent hunt shows, Maurice has not participated in any but said he will try out his luck in the coming talent hunts. “I have not done any musical talent hunt. But this year, I have resolved to do anything right and possible to ensure I come to limelight. I will follow up the talent hunt shows and I am positive I will go far. People come to lime light through these shows. A lot of artistes like Chidimma etc started from there and today, they are forces in the entertainment industry. Who knows whether my luck will shine from there? I will give

Morice’s role Models are 2face idibia, TiMaya and Wizkid. He believes THese arTisTes are very excepTional in THeir brands of Music

MIDWEEK JUMP

AMAB Flash Fiction contest unveils winners

J Benson’s ‘An Abundance of Yellow Paper’ and ‘New Openings’ by Awwal Abdul have emerged winners of the AMAB Flash Fiction contest

them a try.” Morice’s role models are 2face Idibia, Timaya and Wizkid. He believes these artistes are very exceptional in their brands of music. They are equally talent-

for 2015. The literary award, which is a first of its kind in the country was first made public in early July 2015. Out of the 72 entries received, 15 made the long list which was announced in October and a shortlist of 5 in November, 2015. Of the five shortlisted entries, the literary prize, to be awarded in books worth N100,000.00 will be distributed to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners in the amount of N50,000.00, N30,000.00 and N20,000.00 worth of books (Winners’ choice), respectively.

ed in both rendition and performance and have set a high pace that any upcoming artist that strives to be like them must achieve and believe me, these standards are high”. Like most of the upcoming artists, he’s greatest challenge is finance but that is not going to pull him down. It’s only a challenge but not a limitation because very soon, “I see myself to be the best young artiste in Nigeria”, he confidently said.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Award opens

ubmissions are still open for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Awards. The Awards are dedicated to “empowering young writers from across the globe, championing the adventure writing genre and the promotion of literacy”. The Prize has three categories: • The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize – for a published novel – The winner will receive £10,000 (15,120 US$). • The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize – for an unpublished novel – The winner will be offered the opportunity to complete a creative writing residency at

a prestigious university and career guidance from Wilbur’s literary agents at Tibor Jones & Associates. • The Author of Tomorrow Prize – for Short Stories – Open to those aged between twelve and twenty-one. The winner will receive £1,000 (1,512US$) and a framed certificate. The Awards are open to writers around the world, but submissions should be written in English. The deadline is 25 January.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FAR AND NEAR

‘Reality’: Movie on Nigerian girl-child UgOchUkwU mayOr

ollywood film producer, Dozie Eboh has finally drawn the curtains open for the premiere of his new movie on the plight of Nigerian girlchild, Reality in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State. It held Thursday, 31st December, 2015, at the prestigious Greatwood Hotel, Port Harcourt road in Owerri, Imo state. Reality, produced by Dozie Eboh, and shot in locations across Lagos and Imo States, is the story of a young girl called Chioma who left her village in South East Nigeria to the city to stay with an aunt who has been very helpful to the family after the death of their father. With a heart full of joy and gratitude, Chioma saw this as an opportunity to make her family back in the village proud and to have a feel of the contemporary society, which she has heard so much about. At the back of her mind was an innate desire to

be a model character to the society, which she hopes to achieve by through the medical profession, as she intends to become a doctor. However, this dream was truncated as the city turned out to be her worst nightmare. She saw her dreams shatter right before her, as the dark side of life tore through her, leaving her with unforgettable scares. According to the producer, Dozie Eboh, “It’s a movie to watch. It will leave your eyes so wet and heart falling out for the child abuse syndrome happening in the society, especially for the girl child,” he said.

Goethe Lagos hosts ‘Changing City-Shifting Spaces’

rt is one of the most beautiful things in life, which is why young and interested artiste have been called to come and learn and also showcase their talents in the “Changing City – Shifting Spaces” art workshop, which will come up on January 13-23 2016, 9 am – 6 pm daily. At Goethe-Institute Nigeria German Cultural Center Lagos City Hall Catholic Mission Str., opp. Holy Cross Cathedral Lagos Island Lagos. The topic of the workshop is “Changing City – Shifting Spaces” – it is about the politics of public space in Lagos. How does our urban environment affect our (cultural) identity, movements, behaviors and interactions? Media Art is relatively young and unexplored in Nigeria. This makes it an ideal moment to expose art students and emerging artists to this art form. The workshop, led by the internationally acclaimed Anglo-Ethiopian video artist Theo Eshetu in collaboration with the

artist/curator Jude Anogwih (VAN Lagos), will provide the participants with discursive and applied tools for making eloquent connections between seemingly disparate art forms (sculpture, designs, painting, design and drawing) with video art. The workshop will further strengthen media art in Nigeria by supporting local up-and-coming talents in establishing international contacts. During the workshop participants will be creating a new body of work. A selection of realised works from the workshop will be presented to the public as a part of the forthcoming exhibition VIDEONALE IN LAGOS at the Centre for Contemporary Art Lagos and Freedom Park, Lagos. Participants will be drawn from the art academies, local artist association and the public. Artists working in any media - painting, sculpture, textile, ceramics, photography, video and media and performance art are encouraged to apply.

Ice Prince and Jay Z’s Tidal record

he music video for Ice Prince Zamani’s new single, Boss, has become the first ever African video to premiere on Jay Z’s music streaming service, Tidal. In April Jay Z began expanding his frontiers and he sent Briant ‘Bee-High’ Biggs to Nigeria to scout for new talents. Bee-High came in company of Roc Nation act Jay Electronics on a mission to scout for new talents for Jay’z Tidal. One of Nigeria’s top musician from Chocolate City Record, Ice Prince Zamani appears on Jay Z’s music streaming service. Being the first African musi-

‘Murna’: National Troupe entertains IDPs Olaseni DamilOla

he National Troupe of Nigeria took a break off its annual end of year season of theatrical stage performance, which it normally stages at the National Theatre for a performance at the Internal Displaced People (IDP) settlement in Bauchi. The performance, a dance play titled Murna was performed in solidarity with those displaced by the insurgency, which the Nigerian military has successfully tamed. Written by Mike Anyanwu and directed by Josephine Igberease with Artistic Direction provided by the Director General of the National Troupe Akin Adejuwon, Murna which in Hausa means Joy throws the spot light on different communities that found themselves together because they were forced out of their homes with no hope for the future. But the Chief of Defence Staff and other high ranking gov-

Drama as lunatics participate in Carnival Calabar

Carnival Calabar

richarD nDOma

T Ice Prince

cian to appear on the musical streaming service, it does Nigeria and its citizens proud to know that our music is promoting our image.

ernment officials including the Minister of Information paid them and the troops a surprise visit which made them realise that they have not been forgotten by the government. During the visit, the IDPs were assured as a government of change they will be catered for and that in no time they will be re-settled. The play ends with heavy singing and dancing as all those in the IDP camp spread the message of hope. The performance by the troupe took a different dimension when some displaced persons joined in the singing and dancing. It was as though the drumming and singing reminded them of how they used to do it before they were displaced. Speaking after the performance and shortly after he made some donation of gift items to the IDP’s, the artistic director recalled that on assumption of office as the new Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, he had given a hint as to what the directive principle of his tenure as Chief Executive would look like.

here was drama Tuesday evening at the Calabar Carnival tagged Africa’s biggest street party, as a male lunatic who could not hold himself after seeing people from various ethnic backgrounds, colours and races gyrating to the rhythm and lyrics of the various carnival bands; the lunatic who could no longer hold himself jumped into the dance train to catch the fun of the fiesta. The middle-aged man who is mentally deranged is always seen moving within the metropolis, but had relocated from

his usual position where he was standing into midst of dancers shortly after he got attracted to the dance steps and rhythm of music from one of the bands. Our correspondent gathered that in spite of security efforts to prevent fun seekers from trespassing into the dance train, the lunatic had to beat security operatives stationed on both sides of the road and went straight to join one of the bands. Effort made by security operatives who were at the spot to halt the lunatic failed woefully. The fiesta was attended by over ten countries of the world including France, Brazil, Holland and Canada among others.

Business

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Stakeholders task FG on power sector regulation, 33 performance

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Our ICT, MSME Learning Centre ‘ll create skills for non-oil sector growth –Ajayi 28

Global Airlines’ passenger traffic hits 3.5bn in 2015 –ICAO

olusegun koiki

he International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, has said that preliminary figures compiled by its team and released recently showed the total number of passengers carried on scheduled services rose to 3.5 billion in 2015, a 6.4 per cent increase over last year. The number of departures reached approximately 34 million globally, and world passenger traffic, expressed in terms of total scheduled revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs), posted an increase of 6.8 per cent with approximately 6,562 billion RPKs being performed. It stated that the aviation industry, composed of some 1,400 commercial airlines, 4,130 airports and 173 Air Navigation Services Providers, ANSPs, continued to play a critical role over 2015 in fostering the growth of tourism and trade. According to ICAO, over half of the world’s 1.1 billion tourists are transported by air today, while aircraft carry 35 per cent of world trade by value. International scheduled passenger traffic expressed in terms of RPKs grew by 6.7 per cent in 2015, up from the 6.0 per cent recorded in 2014. According to the report, European traffic increased by 5.5 per cent and accounted for the largest share of international RPKs at 37 per cent. The Asia/Pacific, meanwhile, had the second largest share with

28 per cent and grew by 8.2 per cent. The Middle East region moved 14 per cent of world RPKs and recorded growth of 12.1 per cent compared to 2014, while North America, also with a 14 per cent RPK share, recorded 3.3 per cent growth. Carriers in Latin America and the Caribbean managed 4 per cent of world RPK traffic and recorded 7.9 per cent growth, and Africa, with a 3 per cent share, grew at a rate of 0.6 per cent. In terms of domestic scheduled air services, overall markets grew by 6.9 per cent in 2015. North America, the world’s largest domestic market with 43 per cent share of the world domestic scheduled traffic, experi-

enced around 4.7 per cent growth in 2015. The Asia/Pacific region, which accounted for 39 per cent of world domestic scheduled traffic, grew strongly by 10.3 per cent in 2015 – mainly due to strong double digit growth in India and China. ICAO further stated that Lowcost carriers, LCCs, carried more than 950 million passengers in 2015, approximately 28 per cent of total scheduled passengers. LCCs in Asia/Pacific represented 31 per cent of total LCC passengers carried, followed by Europe with 30 per cent and North America with 26 per cent.

Customs blames importers on cargo clearance delays 30

The increasing presence of LCCs in emerging economies is considered to have been an important contributing factor to overall growth in passenger traffic. “Despite sluggish economic growth in advanced economies and most emerging markets, global passenger traffic (RPK) growth in 2015 still increased by around one percentage point compared to the previous year. A nearly 40 per cent decline in the average 2015 jet fuel price gave air carriers some flexibility to lower air fares and help stimulate this increase”, the report said.

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. Abuja-Yola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00. Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50. Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00. Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air

L-R: Mr. Babajide Komolafe, President Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN); Mr Ifie Sekibo, Managing Director, Heritage Bank Limited; Mrs. Mary Akpobome, Executive Director of the Bank; and Mrs. Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe,Vice President FICAN during the presentation of FICAN Gold Award to the Bank in Lagos recently.

Cadbury, UACN, others exit big cap stocks’ index Johnson okanlawon

adbury Nigeria, UACN and First Monument Bank have been removed from the basket of highly capitalized stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A statement from the Exchange explained that the composition of the new indices would be effective from January 1, 2016, saying that some major companies, Fidelity Bank, Total , GSK, would replace the exiting firms. The Exchange in the statement stated that the index rebalancing exercise cuts across all the eight NSE indices which include the NSE 30 Index, the NSE Lotus Islamic Index, the NSE Banking Index, the NSE Consumer Goods In-

dex and the NSE Oil & Gas index. Others are the NSE Pension Index, the NSE Industrial Goods Index and the NSE Insurance Index. “The composition of these indices will be effective on January 1, 2016 after the completion of the year-end review and index rebalancing exercise which will see the entry of some major companies and the exit of others from the various indices,” the statement added. The Nigerian bourse began publishing the NSE 30 Index in February 2009 with index values available from January 1, 2007. On July 1, 2008, the NSE developed four sectorial indices with a base value of 1,000 points, designed to provide investable benchmarks to

capture the performance of specific sectors. The sectoral indices comprise the top fifteen most capitalized and liquid companies in the Insurance and Consumer Goods sectors, top ten most capitalized and liquid companies in the Banking and Industrial Goods sector and the top seven most capitalized and liquid companies in the Oil & Gas sector. In July 2012, the Nigerian bourse launched The NSE Lotus Islamic index, which consist of companies whose business practices are in conformity with Shari’ah investment principles, with the aim of increasing the breadth of the market and creating an important benchmark for investments as the alternative non-interest investment space widened.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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

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

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Our ICT, MSME Learning Centre ‘ll create Mr. Godfrey Ajayi, the Managing Director of GConsulting International Services, is a financial expert and grassroots development proponent. He recently established the Agribusiness, ICT and MSME Learning Centre to support current efforts by governments to diversify the nation’s economic base. In this interview with Tola Akinmutimi, he speaks on the Training Centre initiative and how it is intended to serve as a major hub for skills capacity building among youths and women agro and micro entrepreneurs at the grassroots. Excerpts:

s a finance expert, what is your assessment of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N220bn Intervention Fund for MSMEs in terms of its disbursements and results so far? The CBN N220bn intervention fund for MSMEs is one of the several moves by the CBN to ensure that bottom of the pyramid gets the desired attention to ensuring that the economy is continuously re- inflated, but as usual the fund has its good and bad sides. One of the good sides includes the fact that funds are made available for MSMEs. The flip side is the fact that as an MSME, you need to raise 50 per cent of your applied loan to get the 100 per cent from CBN. Some MSME’s are saying that the 50 per cent is not even available in the first place, and if available at all that they will prefer to utilize for their business considering the time required to process the 100 per cent which ordinarily is enough to turn around the 50 per cent to make 100 per cent or more.

Ajayi

Today, the Microfinance Banks, MFBs, are facing serious challenges that border on disenabling environment for grassroots fund mobilization and credit to deal with men, microfinance should operatives, microfinance and agriculto micro entrepreneurs. What, in deal with women who have the record ture. Globally, renowned economists your opinion, are responsible for of better payment that men. Commer- and policy makers agree that these cial Banks want to disburse big money, three concepts if properly harnessed these? The challenges faced by the microfi- microfinance banks should disburse would help to reduce poverty drastinance banks are expected. Having been small amount of money to the bottom cally in Africa. The cooperatives will in the industry for a long time, start- of the pyramid. Comparatively, we help to group people to access microing my career with the People’s Bank; will need to rework the fundamentals finance for agricultural activities and Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and of our policy and programmes. when implemented will propel the Rural Development bank, the Bank agricultural value chain from producThe consensus of most analysts tion, processing to the market. of Agriculture, and being part of the pioneers of the microfinance banking is that agricultural and solid minThe second one that you mentioned sub-sector for fifteen years before exit- erals sectors offer the best options is solid minerals which are found in ing voluntarily to now consulting for to diversify the country’s economic abundance in our soil and currently the same industry provides me with base. How do you react to this? being tapped indiscriminately. I am There is relationship between cosome degree of insight on the problems. The phrase microfinance bank ommerCial banks want to set up in is a new lexicon in the world dictionary, if you goggle microfinance bank, the City miCrofinanCe should set up you will see that the lexicon has never in the rural areas ommerCial banks been used, until the Central Bank of Nigeria brought into existence. So wants to deal with men miCrofinanCe from inception of the concept in Nigeria which coincidentally gained moshould deal with women who have the mentum during the and after the bank reCord of better payment that men consolidation exercise, microfinance bank was set up to look like commerommerCial anks want to disburse cial banks. Professor Yunus who is the father of modern microfinance said he big money miCrofinanCe banks should tried to make microfinance look like disburse small amount of money to the an opposite of commercial bank. Commercial banks want to set up in the bottom of the pyramid city, microfinance should set up in the rural areas, Commercial banks wants

one of those few people that believe that every state in Nigeria is unique and viable, considering that every state has a deposit of solid minerals. So what we require is enabling environment and proper regulation to turnaround the gloom and doom being speculated about the Nigeria’s economy. Having spent years in the banking sector, you appear now to be looking at the agric sector for investment. Why agric? Agriculture is basic and critical to the development of every rural economy like Nigeria. One, it will help to quickly employ the critical mass of our unemployed youth. Two, it will provide the raw materials for our industries that are currently not in existence. There are seven pillars/secrets of agriculture. According to UNIDO, they include, enhancing agricultural productivity; upgrading value chains; exploiting local, regional and international demand; strengthening technological effort and innovation capabilities; promoting effective and innovative sources of financing; stimulating private sector participation; and improving infrastructure and energy access. It is on this premise that

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Executive Discourse

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

skills for non-oil sector growth –Ajayi I will like to urge the new minister to critically look at the seven secrets of agriculture if he wants to succeed towards helping us in this country. In specific terms, tell us what your company is doing in the agribusiness terrain and why the choice of that sub-sector. Having read Agricultural Economics as my first degree, it enlightened my orientation and it made me to think that we were making a big mistake by not investing in Agriculture from the proceeds of the oil boom. Take a cursory look at countries with huge population comparable to Nigeria’s population. China for example will never export its food to anybody in the world because it has its population that it must feed. India had to work on technology of processing to develop the agricultural value chains; Brazil is providing food to China. The question for us is what are we doing with our large, fertile land mass and huge population? The Raw Material Research Institute of Nigeria has identified more than 250 enterprises that can be raised from Agriculture, that means more that 250 opportunities that is available for our youth and women to be engaged in. For us at G-Consulting, we have a divine mandate to take this good news of employment opportunity to our youths and our women. It is our candid believe that with these enormous potentials when fully harnessed by our youths and women will put Nigeria back to her lost positions. This is our commitment to national and human development Do you have arrangements to partner with other investors, including states that also share the same vision in your efforts to contribute to the growth of the economy? Partnership is very important in everything that we do in G-Consulting International services. The irony in Nigeria is that the state governments own the land, they issue the C of O, but any time a natural resource is discovered, it becomes the property of the Federal Government. What this means is that for an organization to effectively translate its vision of leveraging agriculture to impact the people, partnership with the states is a necessity. More so, partnership with other investors locally and globally is also important to harvesting the globalization advantages to the fullest. In a nut shell, we are currently partnering with some state governments and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as well as some international investors towards realizing our potential as an Agribusiness and learning centre. Now, the general concern about the future of the country is the teeming unemployed youth population. You have several thousand

Government needs to help with enablinG environment to make the farmers and the manufacturers see the opportunities in the Global market.

however, the way forward is creativity and innovations. these two pills can never be too much being churned out yearly by the tertiary institutions. How could agribusiness investors like you assist in tackling the menace of unemployment through agribusiness? I have always done a simple analogy; an average state population in Nigeria is about 3 million people, so if a state governor that is serious engages about 500,000 youth in Agriculture, and its value chain activities and the 500,000 support 3 other persons, you will see that we would solve that state’s unemployment problem. The problem is the technical details or work breakdown structure required to which we are ready to offer to these states for a token but the challenge is that Nigeria is still trying to learn how to run on ideas. Currently, I can tell you that Nigeria is still running on ‘who you know’ and not the ideas you can offer. But, it is for a short time. As a business, agribusiness requires some basic skills and investment knowledge. Is your company thinking along the line of capacity building for your employees or youths in the country? G-Consulting owns Agribusiness and International learning Centre on ICT and MSME in Abuja; we just completed a nationwide training on rural business plan, agricultural value chain finance and employability and entrepreneurship training for our unemployed fresh graduates across the country. In the next five years we want to train about 50,000 youth or 10,000 youth per year on various areas of enterprises. We understand the rural urban migration trend and that is why we are setting up in Abuja to train the migrating youths in the urban centers and send them back to the rural areas. Our latest discovery is that the monies that the youths are looking for are in the rural areas so we want to open their eyes and send them back to the right place. How would you rate the interest regime on credit in the agricultural sector? Are there some ways government could get development institutions like the Bank of Agriculture, BoA, and Bank of Industry, BoI, to do more in financing the sector? Research has shown that interest

rate is not the problem but access to finance; government must therefore work with development banks like the bank of industry and bank of agriculture towards making finance available. The development banks must put down innovative products. They are currently too rigid in the way that they are set up right now. More development banks should be created. Government should also work with development partners. Commercial banks have rigid laws that compel them to take collateral before they can lend, they don’t finance start up. So the solution is residing with government working deliberately with development banks to make access to funds accessible. One challenge farmers and manufacturers in the country face today is poor quality of their produce and products that fail to meet glob-

Ajayi

al market minimum requirements. How do you think government can address this problem? Our farmers and manufacturers are thinking local, rather than global. Global products are accepted locally but local products are not accepted globally. Government needs to help with enabling environment to make the farmers and the manufacturers see the opportunities in the global market. However, the way forward is creativity and innovations. These two pills can never be too much. Attracting investors into the nation’s economy, especially to sectors with long term tenor of returns on investments, has been a major issue of concern to investment analysts and government. Now that Nigeria is going through fiscal strains occasioned by global oil market turmoil over the past 18 months, how can government navigate the challenges and make Nigeria an investment haven? The answer is not in globetrotting. At a point in time China had to close its economy, there is a saying that if someone visit your house and he gets a good meal, you don’t have to invite him for a second time for him to come back. In fact, if you serve him with a good meal, he would now be the one to invite other people to say if you go to that house you will get fed. Let us sanitize our country and the so called foreign investors will come.

Business News

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Customs blames importers on cargo clearance delays FranCis EZEM

he Nigeria Customs Service at the weekend took a swipe at some importers and their clearing agents over delays associated with the examination and release of imported cargo at the nation’s seaports and land borders. This is against the backdrop of recent complaints by some agents, freight forwarders and even the importers over the alleged delays in the examination and release of their imported consignments both at the Lagos Ports Complex and Tin Can Island Ports, Apapa both in Lagos. The acting Zonal Controller of the Zone A, Lagos of Customs, which controls all the commands in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and the Seme Borders, Assistant Comptroller General ACG, Charles Edike, who spoke in an exclusive interview, said that officers and men of the service are on strict instruction not to delay any consignment. According to him, the only reason why a particular consignment may be delayed is that if the officers suspect that the importer of the consignment in question is not honest in the declaration of the cargo, which is common among many agents and importers. According to him, the current regime of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report PAAR, thrives on honesty and integrity, and therefore requires genuine and transparent declarations by the importers and their agents. He also insisted that any importer or agent, who honestly and transparently declares the true value and volume of his consignments would take delivery of them within six hours of their arrival since the documentations ought

to have been done even before the arrival of the consignment. “The major problem we have with some importers and agents under this PAAR regime is that many of them are not honest and transparent in their declarations and there is no way the system will not detect and question such consignments and the issuance of Demand Notes DN would arise, which takes longer time to handle”, he said. Edike, who also challenged the importers and their agents said: “When you import your consignments, make honest and transparent declarations and one officer tries to delay you, why not report such officer because he absolutely has no reason to delay you”. He insisted that in any case where an importer or his agent has made honest and transparent declarations and an officer is trying to delay him or her, such officer should be reported to the Area Controller in charge of the command and if nothing is done within a reasonable time, such a matter should be reported to him instead of complaining to the media. The Nigerian Shippers Council NSC, the nation’s economic regulator for the seaports had said recently that more than 80 per cent of goods imported into the country are associated with different forms of import-related fraud, designed to evade import duty payment. Executive Secretary/ CEO of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello, who spoke with newsmen, listed some of these import –related fraud to include: under-declaration, concealment, under-invoicing, over-invoicing and wrong classifi-

cation, among others designed to cheat the government by evading duty payment. But stakeholders have challenged the management of the service to invoke relevant sections of the Customs and Excise Management Act CEMA, especially sec-

new survey by the World Federation of Advertisers, WFA, has highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing marketers in China who want to use mobile to drive business performance. Conducted in partnership with CollabCentral Consulting, the research revealed that 82 per cent of marketers in China are currently focused on using mobile as a brand awareness channel, rather than for sales, e-commerce or driving sales in the offline worlds. Based on responses from 20 major marketers in China, representing brands spending nearly $30bn globally on marketing – the survey revealed that tactics and strategy for the medium is due to change dramatically in the next 12 months. With e-commerce and m-com-

merce enjoying steeper growth curves in China than anywhere else in the world, driving consumers to purchase, either online or offline, has become a rising priority for mobile. Just 26% of respondents said they expect mobile to continue being used solely for marketing and awareness in a year’s time, with almost half of them, 48 per cent, saying that mobile is poised to become a cross-purpose marketing and sales channel. “Clear vision leads to action and this shift in recent months amongst the marketing community of China to leverage mobile as a business driver, beyond marketing and communication is a great signal to start acting upon”, said Nishtha Mehta, Founder and Chief Instigator at CollabCentral Consulting. The study also revealed that the number of organizations and mar-

feiture of the consignments to the government in addition to prosecuting the importers and agents, most of them would desist from such unwholesome as against the current practice whereby importers are issued with the DN and allowed to clear the consignments.

Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi presenting gift items to the Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Donald Imosemi during the celebration of Baby of the Year on Friday.

Red Hot Promo winners applauds Airtel isaiah ErhiawariEn

inners of the on-going Airtel RedHot promo who just returned from Dubai, have commended the telecommunications services provider for fulfilling their promises and making the holidays unforgettable for them. According to the winners, the trip gave them opportunity to visit exciting places in Dubai such as Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in Dubai, Dubai Mall, Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi and

2016: Chinese marketers target mobile devices to drive business DaviD auDu

tions 147 and 154 of the Act, which empowers the service to impound consignments associated with such fraud. These stakeholders have argued that if the service truly invokes these relevant sections of the CEMA, which also prescribe for-

keters using China’s popular mobile messaging app like WeChat has risen 305 per cent since the WFA conducted similar research in 2014. In 2015, 85 per cent of marketers said they have used mobile messaging as their key marketing communication platform in the past 12 months, up from just 21 per cent in 2014. The most effective techniques for leveraging online to offline, O2O, sales reported by the respondents were mobile loyalty and gift in-store redemptions and trial coupon redemptions. However many recognize that they still needed to develop their expertise. Most respondents described themselves as ‘low’, 32 per cent, or ‘mid’, 52 per cent, level in terms of O2O technical sophistication and commitment, highlighting the work left to do to raise capabilities both internally and externally.

the Safari Desert. Mrs. Victoria Obi, a business woman in Lagos who emerged winner in the promo, went with her three kids, Mariam, Michael and Raphael on the Dubai trip, while Mr. Nnamdi Oji, a web developer/entrepreneur, chose his friends Henry White, Joy Njoku and Cynthia Edokwe. Eight of them admitted that the all-expense paid trip to Dubai was their first trip ever to the UAE. Victoria commended Airtel Nigeria for giving her and the children the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas holiday in a special way saying that “the Airtel Red Hot Promo 3 came at the right time; my children are so excited to go on the wonderful trip to Dubai. “It was not an easy decision

for me to pick just three family members for the trip, but my husband willingly suggested that our three children should go. We really appreciate the Dubai trip courtesy of Airtel. We thank the network for rewarding their customers with this programme.” Oji said: “I am really excited with this amazing trip to Dubai. I experienced the sight and sound of the much talked about city. I went with my friends and workmates. I say a big thank you to Airtel Nigeria for offering me this wonderful opportunity.” The company said apart from the Dubai trip, which is for a total of 240 people, other prizes await Airtel customers, noting that as the promo runs from 4th of December to 1st of February this year, one smart phone is given out every 24 hour.

Global share market settles after stormy start

orld stocks inched up from 2-1/2-month lows on Tuesday as China pumped in an estimated $20 billion to stabilize its equity and currency markets, which recorded the worst opening day’s trade in years in the previous session. Despite the huge cash injections, Chinese shares listed in Shanghai and Shenzen ended no better than little changed and the yuan fell to a new 4-1/2-year low in offshore trade. “China’s actions are certain-

ly positive at the margin ... but overall the risk is that it is interpreted as a signal of weakness that these ongoing struggles to stabilize the market by the authorities aren’t really bearing fruit,” Commerzbank strategist, Michael Leister, said. Panic selling on Monday, mostly by China’s army of small retail investors, sent shares diving 7 percent, setting off a worldwide reaction and pushing MSCI’s global index 2 percent lower.

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Business News

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

ITU sets new Big Data standard for members IsaIah ErhIawarIEn

he International Telecommunications Union, ITU, the global ICT regulatory body of the United Nations, has released approved Big Data standard for members, which include Nigeria. The international standard details the requirements, capabilities and use cases of cloudbased Big Data as well a highlevel ‘system context’ view and its relationships with other entities. The Big Data paradigm provides an effective, scalable solution to deal with growing volumes of data and uncover patterns or other information capable of making data manageable and profitable. Advances in information and communication technology (ICT) are enabling masses of data to be generated, transmitted and stored, and this explosive growth is increasing in

pace. The ITU said in press statement that datasets have become so large and complex, and are generated so fast, that traditional approaches to data processing are proving inadequate adding achieving efficient analysis of data within required timeframes is a significant challenge that industry will address using technologies in the field of Big Data. The new standard, Recommendation ITU-T Y.3600 “Big data – cloud computing based requirements and capabilities”, was developed by ITU-T’s expert group responsible for future networks, cloud computing and network aspects of mobile communications, ITU-T Study Group 13. ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, said, “New frontiers in ICT innovation are coming within reach thanks to advances in data collection and analysis,” saying, “The ICT industry

Lumia 950, 950 XL debut in Nigeria IsaIah ErhIawarIEn

icrosoft Corporation has announced retail availability of Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL throughout Nigeria saying that they are the newest flagship devices to join the Lumia portfolio and the first to be ship with Windows 10. The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL deliver a familiar and consistent experience that extends across your Windows devices, including innovative features like Windows Hello beta for Lumia and Continuum for phones. Combined with stunning HD displays, new PureView cameras with 20 megapixel sensors and triple LED natural flash that shoot 4K video, as well as the latest in processing power, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL represents the best innovation from Microsoft. According to Microsoft, customers in Nigeria can now buy the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL starting at authorised Microsoft devices partner retailers. General Manager, Joseph Umunakwe said that Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services designed Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL for people who want the most productive smartphones running the most productive operating system. He said: “People like mobile professionals who want a premium phone that can work like a PC now have the perfect

partner for their Windows 10 devices in Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. With full Windows 10 and features like Continuum for phone, it’s easy to do more than ever from your phone whether you’re in the office, at home or on the road.” He noted both device are the first Lumia phones to come preloaded with Windows 10 delivering on Microsoft promise of one familiar and consistent experience that transitions seamlessly across Windows devices from key apps like Office built-in to access to all your stuff via OneDrive and the cloud. Both feature Continuum for phones, enhanced by the optional Microsoft Display Dock accessory, he noted saying that this Windows 10 feature allows people to use their phone like a PC by connecting it to a monitor and transforming it for largerscreen entertainment, or adding a keyboard and mouse to work like a PC with Windows 10 apps like Microsoft Office, while simultaneously taking calls or performing other tasks. The device, he said has a QuadHD AMOLED display featuring up to 564ppi, which means photos, videos and even simple reading show up well, even in sunlight adding that Microsoft’s PureView technology is built into both Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL cameras, boasting a 20MP sensor and triple LED natural flash.

will welcome these advances and ensure that their benefits can be achieved on a global scale.” Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, Chaesub Lee, explained that “this new ITU standard provides internationally agreed fundamentals of cloud-based Big Data,” noting “it will build

cohesion in the terminology used to describe cloud-based Big Data and offer a common basis for the development of Big Data services and supporting technical standards.” ITU-T Y.3600 describes the meaning of Big Data and the characteristics of the Big Data ecosystem from a standardisa-

tion perspective. The standard outlines how cloud computing systems can be leveraged to provide Big Data services, assisting industry in the management of large datasets incapable of being transferred and analysed using traditional data-management technologies.

L-R: Company Secretary, Pera-Beam Limited, Dr. Michael Ayeni; Chairman, Major General Sansadeen Awosanya (rtd.) and Managing Director, Engr. Abayomi Akindele, at the company’s Annual General in Lagos, recently.

Tourism key to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda –Analyst OlusEgun KOIKI

he Federal Government has been advised to develop the tourism potential in the country, especially at a time the price of crude oil was collapsing in the world.

A tourism analyst, Mr. Paul Uduk told journalists in Lagos that in order to ensure that the tourism sites in Nigeria received boost from tourists all over the world like its counterparts, the government needed to focus its attention on building the industry by providing all the facilities that would make it grow. Uduk noted that with oil revenue, which accounts for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s earnings in steep decline, rapidly depleting foreign reserves, and burgeoning external debt, Nigeria needed to urgently diversify away from oil, insisting that tourism was absolutely Nigeria’s shortest cut to stupendous wealth. He hinted that the global hotels and tourism industry generates more revenue than telecoms, and oil and gas industries combined, maintaining that Nigeria with its huge population and historical sites, the sector could sustain the country in the

absence of crude oil. He added, “According to United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, international tourist arrivals in 2014 was 1.135 billion, and generated $1.5 trillion in export earnings, with forecast growth in 2015 estimated at between 3 per cent and 4 per cent. Europe, the fastest tourism growing region, has already surpassed UNWTO forecast with growth hitting 4.7 per

cent in the third quarter of 2015. “The industry accounted for 34 per cent of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Products, GDP, 46 per cent of South Africa’s, and 55 per cent of income in OECD countries in 2013. While South Africa received over 9.51 million visitors in 2013, Nigeria received less than 3 million. In all, the industry accounts for less than 2.25 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.”

German unemployment rate drops

erman joblessness fell more than economists anticipated in December in a sign that economic momentum will continue to be underpinned by household spending. The number of people out of work declined by a seasonally adjusted 14,000 to 2.757 million, the Federal Labor Agency in Nuremberg said on Tuesday. Economists in a Bloomberg survey predicted a drop of 8,000. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.3 percent, the lowest level since German reunification. German growth has been driven by domestic demand in three of the past four quarters, and the Bundesbank predicts that private consumption will continue to be

supported by significant increases in employment and income. Manufacturers are set to step up hiring in coming months after a strong increase in new business started to stretch capacities at some plants, according to Markit Economics. “The favorable development on the labor market continued at the end of the year,” Frank-Juergen Weise, president of the labor agency, said in a statement. “Demand for labor and employment subject to social-security contributions continued to be positive.” A Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to the highest level in four months in December, with export orders rising at the fastest rate in nearly two years.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Commerce & Industry

Experts proffer solutions to Nigeria’s economic underperformance in 2016 As Nigeria continues to grapple with lingering fiscal and economic challenges, there are predictions by analysts that the nation’s economic crisis may linger through this year if quick actions are not taken by the government to tackle headlong the mitigating factors hampering national socio-economic growth. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO reports.

any industrialists and economic development experts believe despite efforts by government to make the Nigerian business environment more investmentfriendly, the business environment has not changed for good due to what they described as inclement environment, characterized by decaying infrastructure, unsupportive fiscal policies and high cost of business. Alhough the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode tried to assuage the fears of Lagosians on the state’s economy by assuring them that despite economic challenges across the country, the state’s economy would boom and improve. The governor said he was very optimistic that there would be employment boom in the state this year while artisans and skill vocations would thrive in the state. Even with the government’s assurance, experts believe that the nation’s economy requires a holistic approach to fix, especially in the face of dwindling revenues from oil exports. For instance, the World Bank advised Nigerian governments on reformation of its tax system in the country to address its economic crisis. A Lead Economist in the Bank, Mr. John Litwack, said the country should build a tax system that is not oil dependent. He said the approach should not be

Garri processing machine

Minister of Industry Okechukwu Enelemah

MAN President, Frank Jacobs

EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT PRIORITIZATION OF THE SUB-SECTOR IN 2016 IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT’S POLICY MEASURES WILL SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ECONOMY, BY REVERSING ITS DEPRESSIVE TRENDS based on simply increasing the tax rate but rather, empowering more people, bringing them under tax net and using incentives to get them more people pay taxes. The National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Bassey Edem, also said that the federal government as well as the

state governments should try to broaden their tax bases as a way of generating more revenue. The NACCIMA boss, who canvassed against increasing tax rate, said that any attempt to increase the tax rate would affect the organised private sector thereby, worsening the economy situation of the country. He advised that it would be better if the governments could improve on the welfare of the people so that the number of the tax payers would be increased. Edem added that developmental attention to the artisanship and the skilled vocations would play a major role in controlling economic woes especially among the youths in 2016. He advised the youths especially the graduates to learn a vocation that can fetch them income during the impending economic woes. Mrs, Oyilade Jinad, a graduate of accounting from Lagos State University turned hairdresser, said that she made enough money to take care of her family on daily basis from her shop. She told National Mirror that she decided to train and become a hairdresser after she graduated out of passion to be her own boss and as a way not to be caught in the unemployment trap. She declared that she bought her own car after two years she started her vocation, saying she could afford many

things most office workers could not. However, Jinad said that despite its potential to contribute to the economic development, government has been insensitive to this informal sector, adding that it has not realized the economic development role of the artisans, who were invariably seen as constituting the low class and as such suffer from certain socio-economic factors, which center on roads, water, electricity, transport and communication, etc. Experts say the role of artisans in the economy of the nation cannot be disclaimed when rating their contributions to the development of the nation’s economy. In fact, they constitute a part of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs. But the artisans in Nigeria, especially those at the grassroots level, do not benefit from various government intervention supports. Since MSMEs have been adjudged the best avenue for job creation as well as the key sub-sector through which economy of a nation could be enhanced; experts believe that prioritization of the sub-sector in 2016 in terms of government’s policy measures will serve the best interest of the economy, by reversing its depressive trends. They called on the government to look inwards into agricultural sector to full utilize its potential and develop small entrepreneurs along its various value-chains. Already, with the reformation of agricultural sector, more investments have been put into it as many investors both local and foreign now eye the potentiality of the sector especially along its various value chains. Despite the number of MSMEs in the country, analysts believed that the country is still in dire need of more MSMEs to rescue its falling economy and to create more jobs for its teeming unemployed youths. For this feat to be achieved in 2016, the Chief Executive Officer, Aquatech, Dr. George Sheghona, said the government should increase financial support for the farmers and break the protocols that restrict SMEs from getting those funds. He further advised the government to come up with SMEs-friendly policies, while advocating that youths should be attracted into agriculture by making training in management, land and farm tools available for them.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, January 6, 2016

FG resolve 141mw Aba captive power dispute 36

Experts proffer solutions to Nigeria’s economic underperformance in 2016 32

Oil exploration drops in US, 35 Canada

Stakeholders task FG on power sector regulation, performance Despite efforts by the Federal Government in the past five years to enhance the performance of the power sector, the sector is still haunted by many problems. With imminent reconstitution of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, team by government, CHIDI UGWU in this analysis captures experts view on the need to have technocrats as Chairman and Commissioners in the highly technical regulatory agency in order to move the sector forward.

ith effective regulation over the past few years, many stakeholders had expected that the numerous challenges which confronting the nation’s power sector would be eliminated or drastically reduced as the reform measures impact on the sector’s operations, albeit gradually. This expectation is hinged basically on the managerial, technical and other competencies of the outgoing Board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, led by Dr Sam Amadi. Arguably, the technocrats worked with others to accomplish some feats. One of them is the new electricity tariff regime approved by NERC which has removed fixed charges for all classes of electricity consumers. The Commission maintained that henceforth, from the next billing period, distribution companies will no longer charge their customers monthly fixed charges. Fixed charge is that component of the tariff that commits electricity consumers to paying an approved amount of money not minding whether electricity is consumed during the billing period. It indicated that under the new tariff regime, electricity consumers will now only pay for what they consume from month to month. The Commission maintained that although, the new tariff regime comes with an increase in energy charges, all electricity consumers (residential as well as commercial) will no longer pay fixed

charges. It indicated that their total bills will depend on the electricity they actually consume and may be reduced when they conserve electricity. The Commission maintained that consumers will no longer be spending money every month to pay for fixed charges even when they do not receive electricity in their homes and business. For instance, residential customer classification (R2) in Abuja Electricity Distribution Company will no longer pay N702.00 fixed charge every month. Their energy charge will increase by N9.60kwh. Also, residential customers (R2 customers) in Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution areas will no longer pay N750. 00 fixed charges. They will be getting N10kwh and N8kwh increase respectively in their energy charges. Similarly, the burden of N800.00 and N750.00 fixed charges would be lifted off the shoulders of Kaduna and Benin electricity consumers.

It disclosed that these consumers will see an increase of N11.05kwh and N9.26kwh respectively in their energy charges. The Commission maintained that the new tariff is also good news for commercial consumers. It explained that, commercial customers’ classification C2 in Ibadan and Enugu will no longer pay fixed charges of N17, 010. 00 and N22, 141. 00. The commission maintained that their energy charge will increase by N12.08kwh and N13.35kwh respectively. Besides, the Commission issued licences to eight companies to enable them establish new power plants with a combined capacity to generate 1,648.25 Megawatts electricity and a distribution company. The licences were a mixture of on-grid, off-grid, embedded generation and distribution of electricity. One of the licensees, Ossiomo Offistes and Utilities/ Ossiomo Power &Infra-

The Commission has noT yeT been able To find lasTing soluTions To many

Challenges. meTers.

one of These is inadequaTe

This has CulminaTed in oTher

issues, espeCially Crazy billing and

exTorTion of Consumers naTionwide

structure, based in Edo state will engage in electricity distribution and in embedded generation of 55 Megawatts gas power electricity. Anambra state Independent Power Generation Company Limited, located in Onitsha, an on-grid gas-fired plant has the capacity for 528mw capacity. There is Cummins Power Generation, Nigeria Limited (NBC) Ikeja with a capacity for a 3.5mw capacity, off- grid. The company also has licence for a 1.7mw to serve A&P Foods, in Agege, Lagos. NERC licence to Sinosun Investment Limited, based in Jibiya, Kastina state is for an on-grid, solar power generation of 100mw capacity. In the same vein, LR-Aaron Power Limited, located in Gwagalada has licence for 100mw solar powered electricity generation. Also licensed was Lafarge Africa Plc for an ongrid, gas-fired 260 MW in Ewekoro, Ogun state. For Azikel Power Limited, the on– grid license is for 500MW power plant, located in Obunagha in Bayelsa state. While Middle Band Solar One Limited from Kogi State, was granted an on-grid licence for 100mw. More than that, it made efforts to stimulate investments in 2,000megawatts of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. The law, Feed-in Tariff Regulations for Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity in Nigeria was approved at the last CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Energy Week

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders task FG on power sector regulation, performance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 regulatory meeting of the Commission. It envisaged that the country would generate at least 1,000megawatts from renewable energy sources by 2018. It stated: “With this regulation, we have been able to unlock further investment potentials in the country’s power sector. Its major objective is to diversify our sources of electricity and take advantage of our options. “The provisions of these regulations shall apply to all qualifying renewable energy sourced electricity of capacity above 1megawatts and smaller than 30mw at a site that is connected to the transmission grid or the distribution networks. For large renewable (30mw above) integrated resource planning will be carried out before the NERC will initiate a competitive bid process. The buyer will after this solicit bids and purchase at the most cost effective based on the optimal technology available at the location. “The law allots maximum amount of renewable sourced electricity an electricity distribution can have on its network based optimal potential available in their franchised areas. This provision of the law is to achieve right mix of energy for the DISCO as well as protect electricity consumers from spike in tariff,” it added. Despite these and other accomplishments, the Commission has not yet been able to find lasting solutions to many challenges. One of these is inadequate meters. This has culminated in other issues, especially crazy billing and extortion of consumers nationwide. Recently, the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC was fined One Hundred and Thirty One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N131, 400, 000.00) by the Commission because of “flagrant breaches” of the Credited Advance Payment on Metering Initiative, CAPMI, Order, enabling act of the Commission and terms and conditions of its licence. The fine contained in Order NERC/141 was issued on September 29, 2015 as a follow up action to an earlier Notice of Commencement of Enforcement Action on the electricity distribution company alongside 10 others over “manifest and flagrant breaches observed by the Commission” in the implementation of the metering initiative. According to the Order, “The seven (7) days granted to show cause why enforcement action should not be commenced expired on August 24, 2015 and IKEDC has failed, refused and or neglected to respond to the manifest and flagrant breaches observed by the Commission, or provide a satisfactory response.” “It is hereby ordered that IKEDC shall with immediate effect from the date of this Order; comply with the CAPMI Order and forward evidence of full compliance to the Commission within two weeks. IKEDC shall pay an administrative fine of N250.00 per minute of every hour of the day for a period of one year from Sep-

Buhari

Amadi

tember 29, 2014 to September 28, 2015 for non- compliance with CAPMI Order, with a moratorium from May 14, 2013, being the date of the CAPMI Order, to September 28, 2014.” The electricity distribution company was further ordered to “pay an administrative fine of N500.00 per minute of every hour of the day where it continues in default of compliance from October 12, 2015 until compliance.” IKEDC action, according to the Order violated Section 63 (1) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, Section 2(1) of Terms and Conditions of its licence as well as the “Commission’s Order on Credited Advance Payment on Metering Initiative CAPMI.” It is against this backdrop that some stakeholders have tasked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to ensure technocrats are appointed continue where the last team has stopped. Investigations showed that the Presidency has not announced the successors more than one week after the tenure of the past seven Commissioners ended. But a source in the Commission, who did not want to be named, disclosed that the most senior

official, Dr. Tony Akah Mni, is now holding forth at NERC to ensure there is no administrative gap following the expiration of the tenure of the Commissioners late December. Among the power experts who spoke on the possible successor of the NERC Chairman is a veteran transmission engineer who pleaded anonymity. He said, “This time the government should nominate as NERC Commissioners, people who are really power-oriented in the sector. People who can move this nation forward and not just people who would go and lobby for such positions.” The official who has spent over 30 years in the sector detested the scenarios that occurred during the past administration especially on their poor technical knowhow. He said: “It should not be those who would come and learn from the low rank and would spend about one year to learn about the electricity market. When these commissioners came, some of them started learning, reading news articles and later claimed to be champions.” According to some consumer groups in the sector, the appointment of the NERC

The Presidency did noT PresenT any lisT of successors To The naTional assembly lasT Tuesday as They lefT for The holiday imPlying ThaT The elecTric Power secTor reform acT (ePsr) 2005, esPecially secTion 35 which sTaTes ThaT new aPPoinTmenTs or re-aPPoinTmenTs should be made before The exPiraTion of The exisTing Tenure was noT adhered To

Chairman is one that requires utmost transparency. National Mirror reports that the commissioners including the Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi and his Vice, Muhammad Lawal Bello ended, December 22, 2015 after spending five years, being the second set of commissioners. The Presidency did not present any list of successors to the National Assembly last Tuesday as they left for the holiday implying that the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSR) 2005, especially section 35 which states that new appointments or re-appointments should be made before the expiration of the existing tenure was not adhered to. Our source said while the Presidency is yet to present a formal list, a senior official and General Manager, Government & Consumer Affairs, Mr. Akah is heading the Commission till Mr. President makes fresh appointments. It was learnt that under the new headship in acting capacity, officials of NERC convened a management meeting recently to discuss how to move the commission forward in a way the gap created would not affect its regulatory affairs. It is the second time, an administrator would oversee NERC’s activities before a Board is reconstituted. In 2009 when the pioneer commissioners were removed over alleged corruption, an administrator was appointed and he led the commission for 22 months even when there was no provision for that in the Act. From all indications, it may last till mid January, this year before the new team would be put in place. But stakeholders believe that the appointment is worth the delay provided the list is dominated with technocrats with adequate experience to add tremendous value through effective regulation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Oil exploration drops in US, Canada UDEME AKPAN

here are indications that oil exploration has dropped in the United States and Canada because of decline in investments, thus raising hope for the dominance of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC. Baker Hughes latest weekly rig count indicated that oil rigs deployed for exploration “dropped to 698 rigs, two less than the previous week and confirming one of the worst years in a generation for the US rig market.” According to Energy Voice, “Rigs targeting crude in the US fell by 2 to 536. Natural gas rigs were unchanged at 162, bringing the total of working rigs to 698. Drillers searching for oil this year idled the largest proportion of their rig fleet since at least 1988.” It indicated that “Drillers in the Permian Basin of west Texas and New Mexico added five rigs in the last week to boost the total to 217, according to the report. In the Haynesville shale, a source of gas in east Texas and Louisiana, one additional rig was put to work.” “About 70per cent of the vertical rigs in the US have been dismantled this year, compared with 59per cent of horizontal drilling units, according to the report,” it added. It maintained that two-thirds of oil rigs in the U.S. have been parked since drilling peaked in October 2014. The report indicated that in Canada, rig count is down by 43 to 83 rigs, with oil rigs down 32 to 12, and gas rigs down 11 to 71.

Oil rig

It maintained that Canadian rig count is down 125 rigs from last year at 208, with oil rigs down 40, and gas rigs down 85. The Secretary General of OPEC, Dr. Abdalla Salem El-Badri maintained that there is no doubt that the world will need more energy in the decades to come – as the global population expands to 9 billion by 2040, economies grow, and countries seek to provide the energy poor with access to modern energy services. He said it should be noted that many billions of people still rely on biomass for their basic needs and more than a billion still have no access to electricity. El-Badri remarked that global energy demand is expected to expand by around 50 per cent by 2040. In this re-

gard, all forms of energy will be needed – wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, coal, and of course, oil and gas. “Combined, oil and gas are still expected to supply around 53 per cent of the world’s energy by 2040. It underlines the need for major developments and significant investment. In terms of oil, demand is projected to grow to around 110 million barrels a day by 2040, with oil-related investment requirements estimated to be around $10 trillion between now and then.” There is no doubt that the world has enough oil and natural gas resources to meet the expected future needs. The most recent analysis for the remaining ultimately recoverable oil resources puts the figure at 2.8 trillion barrels. And for natural gas, it is over 420 trillion standard cubic metres,” he added.

Aviation fuel: NCAA lifts sanction on Acorn Petroleum

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has lifted the sanction it imposed on Acorn Petroleum Limited from supplying aviation fuel to domestic and foreign airlines at airports in Nigeria with immediate effect. This was contained in a letter by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the Managing Director of Acorn Petroleum Limited. The letter which was signed signed by the Director of Air-worthiness Standards Engr. Benedict Adeyileka on behalf of the Director General of NCAA said the suspension was lifted as a result of certification of Acorn’s aviation fuel supply facilities by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)

and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This certification was preceded by verification visits by top officials of the two regulatory agencies. These visits were found satisfactory. The DG however advised Acorn to remain in compliance with all NCAA regulations. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had directed Acorn and four other oil marketing companies recently to stop supplying aviation fuel to local and foreign airlines operating in the country. In a notice to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the NCAA explained that the suspension became necessary

due to lack of depot facilities by the oil firms and the inability to verify their integrity and competencies. Our reporter who spoke with an official of Acorn Petroleum said the reversal of the directive is a good thing for this administration as listening to genuine complaints. However, he said the company had lost millions of Naira during the period of suspension. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said efforts have been intensified to eliminate fuel scarcity in the nation. Kachikwu has shed more light on the issue of price modulation and subsidy removal, assuring Nigerians that the

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

36.81

-0.23

-0.62%

11:05:49

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

37.47

+0.19

+0.51%

11:05:39

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

28,120.00

-730.00

-2.53%

11:05:18

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.33

-0.01

-0.26%

11:05:54

Source: Bloomberg as at December 21, 2015

Federal Government will place more emphasis on products availability, refineries’ efficiency noting that the price of petrol will not be fluctuating but based on an average price mechanism. The Minister said:”The president is very emphatic on this, he says for now; he expects that products should be about N87. He has also given approval for us to be able to look at market trends and make adjustments as need be.” “My commitment and I think that is what the president’s commitment is, is to provide products at all the time so that there is efficiency, and provide it at the least possible price possible and let it have some relationship with what the trends are. We are not going to be fluctuating prices day to day, we are going to take like an average and I think that today when you look at prices, we have no subsidy but prices remain low and that is what we need to do. It is the honesty in being able to sell products to Nigerians at affordable prices that make sense, “Kachikwu added.

Energy Week

Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ leader rues fuel scarcity syndrome

he National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, Branch of NUPENG, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, has expressed concern over the lingering fuel scarcity across the country, just as he commended Federal Government on efforts at addressing the problem. The National Chairman, in his Christmas and New Year message expressed the readiness of the PTD to support Government in tackling the problem of fuel scarcity. He said more tanker drivers would be deployed to work round the clock, without weekends and holidays, lifting and discharging products around the country, until the queues are off the filling stations. Oladiti used the occasion of the yuletide season to commend the Minister of State for Petroleum Ibe Kachukwu for efforts made to end the scarcity. He assured that the PTD would do its best to support the President Mohammadu Buhari - led government to address the problem. Oladiti called for caution amongst tanker drivers particularly during the season, saying, much as more is expected from members at this season, they should be safety conscious, given high vehicular traffics on the Nation high way. He advised all road users to obey traffic rules and made road safety their watchword. The National Chairman enjoined all stakeholders in road transportation sector of the economy as well as oil marketers and allied industries to wage war against fuel scarcity in all parts of the nation. Meanwhile, many stakeholders and groups are set to tackle the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA on the N76.5 per liter new price of fuel this week. Investigations showed that the decision is based on the inability of the agency to provide adequate information to the general public on the subject. The executive director of Spaces for Change, Mrs. Victoria Victoria Ohaeri indicated in a telephone interview that: “The members of the public already know that crude oil price currently hovers at over $30 per barrel. But the oil price constitutes only one factor. They need to know other details, including the landing cost since a bulk of the product is imported from the global market.” “The members of the public also need to know other factors such as the landing cost, marketers’ margins and ex-depot price in order to ascertain the accuracy or inaccuracy of the new price. Without these and other factors, it would be impossible to embrace the new price. It is necessary for PPPRA and other agencies to be open, transparent and accountable to the people,” she added.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG to resolve 141mw Aba captive power dispute CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he 141megawatts Aba power plant will soon kick off following Federal Government’s decision to wade into the lingering issues which had delayed its commissioning. Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said the move was fast-track the operations of the power plant with a view to putting the plant to use for the benefits of the industrial hub of Aba area. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) already, the federal government has initiated move aimed at resolving the prolonged issues between operators of the power plant and other parties to enable it take off soon. The station, built in Abia state, was the first independent power plant (IPP) in Nigeria, the operators, Geometric Power Ltd said. The gas-fired plant, which has a 27km gas pipeline and a distribution utility within a ring-fenced distribution network, is meant to provide embedded power towards reviving industries in the Aba hub. The government granted a 20-year lease (concession) to Geometric Power Aba Limited to generate, trans-

mit and distribute electricity in the Aba and Ariaria business districts of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (Disco) network. The plant, which was completed in 2014, had been enmeshed in disputes and a law suit resulting in its nontakeoff. Former president, Goodluck Jonathan who had visited the plant in March after he commissioned the 504mw Alaoji National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) near Aba assured of resolving the issue, which did not happen till he left. The former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, said before he left office recently: “We had a meeting with the Office of the Vice President in which both parties were present, that is Enugu Disco and Aba Power. I was directed to draw a settlement framework for the issue. That was the period (September). We did that and have completed it.” Amadi noted that the plan, which has been submitted to the government, is to ensure a fair resolution of hanging issues. “I think it is for them to schedule another time for the parties to meet. The framework will be reviewed and approved as an out-ofcourt settlement. It provides

Power plant

a sure deal that allows a winwin for Aba power to operate and enable more power supply to eastern Nigeria, while it guarantees Enugu Disco’s network investment,” he said. The Permanent Secretary (Power), Engr. Louis Edozien, had said government was working on ensuring that there is a fair resolution between the parties so that there could be more efficient power supply for residents and industries in Aba. Geometric Power said it will build a 1,080 megawatt power plant jointly with General Electric , with the first phase of the project generating 500 MW expected to be completed in 2019 at a cost of $800 million. Geometric Power CEO, Bart Nnaji said the firm had

also appointed London-based Standard Chartered Bank as financial advisers for the first phase of the plant. “We have a 1,080 megawatt project ... (in partnership) with General Electric. The power goes to the national grid. What we are doing is to build up power projects in this way,” Nnaji, a former Nigerian minister of power, told journalists. Nnaji said the firm was in discussions with some Chinese, European and U.S. investors and expected financial close by year-end. Construction would start early next year. Nigeria, with a population of around 170 million, has installed power capacity that fluctuates between around 6,000 to just over 7,000 MW, but experiences severe electricity shortages that are crippling its growth.

Shell records first gas flows from Ireland’s Corrib gas field

atural gas has started to flow from Ireland’s Corrib gas field, marking an important milestone for the country and Shell’s upstream operations. The company maintained that the field is located 83 kilometres off Ireland’s northwest coast in water depths of almost 350 metres. It indicated that that the Cor-

Gas flaring station

rib gas field lies approximately 3,000 metres below the seabed. The company maintained that at peak annual production, the Corrib gas field is expected to produce around 260 MMscf/d of gas, which is 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. “Today’s announcement is a positive step for our gas portfolio,” said Andy Brown, Shell’s Upstream International Director.

“It is also good news for Ireland as the provision of Corrib gas improves security of supply for the Irish energy market. Delivering gas from Corrib will bring many long term benefits to the Irish economy and consumers.” Six wells have been drilled at the Corrib field with gas transported to the Bellanaboy Bridge Gas Terminal in north-west Mayo through a 20 inch pipeline. The gas is processed at Bellanaboy before it is transferred into the Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) network, which delivers it to Irish gas consumers. Shell E&P Ireland Limited Managing Director, Ronan Deasy, said: “We are pleased to have completed the development of this unique project and to bring the Corrib field on stream. I would like to pay tribute to all those who contributed to delivering this critical energy project, which will continue to bring benefits to the region and the country for years

to come.” The Corrib project is a joint venture between Shell E&P Ireland Limited (45%), Statoil Exploration Ireland Limited (36.5%) and Vermilion Energy Ireland Limited (18.5%). Shell E&P Ireland Limited is the project’s operator. It was learnt that at peak production, Corrib has the potential to meet up to 60% of Ireland’s gas needs. The company maintained that more than 6,000 people have worked on the development of the Corrib Gas field. It indicated that in Ireland, over 1.1 euro billion has been spent with 300+ world-class contractors, sub-contractors and consultancies. The company also maintained that the Corrib gas field will sustain 175 high quality long term jobs for the next 15-20 years.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

From The Civil Service NUT warns FG against recruitment of quacks as teachers Chidi UgwU, AbujA

he Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, has called on the federal government to ensure that only well-trained teachers are considered for its planned recruitment of 500,000 teachers, as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari while presenting this year budget to the National Assembly. NUT said in a statement signed by its SecretaryGeneral, Obong Obong, and made available to National Mirror that recruiting competent teachers would improve the nation’s basic and secondary education, while doing otherwise would further worsen the quality of, and state of the schools. The union promised to support the federal government in the actualisation of the policy, but cautioned against using the programme as a means of compensation for political patronage “as it was the practice in the past.” Part of the statement reads: “This intention of the Federal Government

RiChaRd Ndoma, CAlAbAr

L-R: State Correspondent, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osun, Mr. Tola Okinbaloye; former NAN Executive Director, Chief Jide Adebayo, and retired Gen. Olayemi Abidoye, at the finals of the 2nd Akeweje Inter-Compound Football Tournament, in Omu-Aran, Kwara, on Sunday.

is laudable and consistent with the demand of the Nigeria Union of Teachers for the employment of more professional teachers to address the long identified problem of shortage of manpower in the nation’s basic education and secondary school system. “It would be recalled that the National Execu-

tive Council of the Union at its meeting of 16th December, 2015 insisted that this planned policy of the Federal Government should only accommodate professional teachers - graduate teachers and NCE holders - and not quacks and personnel who have not been duly trained as teachers no matter their qualifications.

“The Federal government must equally be ready to take the bull by the horn by driving this process to a conclusive level without being torpedoed by the usual slogan of “zero allocation to local government councils” which was most often used to prevent recruitment of teachers to the basic schools. This

is the time the federal government must stop playing the ostrich but act as the ombudsman and rescue the dwindling image of the status of Nigeria education system now or never. Education being in the concurrent list is no licence for federal government to stay aloof and watch our education system collapse.”

Be diligent to achieve set goals in 2016, HOS urges Lagos workers

he Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, has advised public servants in the state public service to work diligently and assiduously with the fear of God to achieve set targets regularly and consistently in the New Year. The Head of Service gave the charge today at the 2016 First Working Day Inter- religious Prayers Session organised by the Office of Head of Service held at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Mrs. Ademola said that

C’River: NSCDC arrests 15 suspects, destroys 5 illegal refineries

in the New Year, public servants should reciprocate the kind gesture of the present administration’s fulfillment of its promise to create a conducive atmosphere for workers in the state by redoubling their efforts in discharging their duties and responsibilities in their respective MDAs. In the realisation of such promises, the Head of Service said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had increased the amount of fund made available as housing loans to civil servants in the state from 50 million before now to 100

FG cancels tender process for oil, gas shipment

P.38

million in the year 2016 budget, thus making provision for more public servants in the state to benefit and access the loan. According to her, public servants must report at their duty post punctually, daily and also urged them to achieve set goals bearing in mind that it is the totality of individual achievements that would effectively translate into the attainment of ministerial mandates which in turn represents the attainment of government’s policy objectives. Speaking further, the Head of Service urged the

workers to be security conscious and always display their identification cards at all times to avoid embarrassment by security agents in the state. In her words: “Notwithstanding the present economic realities, the state government has identified programmes and specific projects that would further improve the quality of life of the citizenry as well as consolidate on the achievements of the past year.” Speaking at the programme, the Presiding Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Venera-

Nigeria needs 6,000mw to reduce outages –NERC

P.38

ble ‘Femi Taiwo enjoined public servants to have hearts of commitment and service to God and the people of the state. Whilst charging all to be committed, he said it was through such commitment that individuals would be rewarded and recognised by God. In his own message, Imam Rafiu Kazeem of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, gave similar advice urging public servants to be punctual at work, dedicated and hardworking in the discharge of their duties.

ross River State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has, in the last seven months, destroyed about five illegal refineries in the state. The Cross River State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adesuyi Dayo Clement, made the remark while fielding questions from journalists in an interactive session in Calabar on Tuesday stressing that personnel of the Command destroyed the illegal refineries along the creeks of Bakassi Peninsula in Cross River State while on operation. “In our determination to stamp out illegal bunkering in the state we have destroyed about five illegal refineries in the last one year. We have exhibits on ground including petroleum products that we have seized from suspects operating these illegal refineries,” Adesuyi stated. The NSCDC boss maintained that 15 suspects were also arrested in connection with illegal bunkering, stressing that seven of them had been charged to court while three had been convicted and sent to cool their feet in prison. Adewusi averred that 20 drums of diesel were also seized from the suspects adding that Commandant said civil defense personnel had been deployed to other parts of the state to checkmate the diversion of petroleum products, which he said, is prevalent in the state.

Ayade locks out three commissioners from office

P.39

Civil Service

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG cancels tender process for oil, gas shipment Chidi UgwU, AbujA

he Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has announced that the federal government has cancelled the tendering process for the engage-

ment of pre-shipment inspection and monitoring agents for the oil and gas sector. Adeosun stated that the cancellation of the exercise was necessitated by a series of complaints as well as petitions alleging that

NNPC publishes PMS receiving petrol stations Chidi UgwU, AbujA

he Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has started publishing trucks and the petrol stations receiving fuel in a bid to ensure effective monitoring. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, Managing Director, PPMC, made this known, adding that “We will follow up those petrol stations receiving products.” She said further that: “One of the things we are going to do is, I believe, publish every truck leaving the depots, the station they are headed for. We are going to publish the phone numbers of the truck drivers and the stations so that we all monitor those trucks together. “Each truck is important because of what has happened in the past months or so should never be repeated and we are putting structures in place to ensure that it never happens again.” Noting that the pipelines are the most efficient way of moving products, she said, “For the first time in a very long time, we are pushing products all the way to Ibadan. We intend to move to Ilorin because what that does is that the bridging from Lagos is reduced; people can go and pick up their prod-

ucts in Ibadan and Ilorin. Then we will also open up Ore. This is being replicated in other areas. “However, we acknowledge the fact that this (pipeline vandalism) is a challenge and we have to systematically handle it. It is something that has been a menace for the past 10 to 15 years”. According to her, no product has been pumped to places like Makurdi, Yola, in the last 10 years. “And that means that in that region, you have to truck from Calabar, Enugu, or Aba all the way to Yola. The roads are a problem,” she said. Stating that there would be strategic storage in the country, Nnamdi-Ogbue said that “We have major depots; we hope with our pipelines coming back, we are going to push products to those strategic storages so that in the event that there is a need for intervention, we can have tankers going to the nearest depots and loading.” The PPMC boss explained that with trackers, government would be able to monitor the movement of trucks to their destinations. Ogbue lamented that fuel diversion was a serious problem with undesirable consequences on the economy. The federal government operates 22 depots nationwide, including Atlas Cove, which is located in Lagos.

the process had been marred by irregularities. President Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2015, mandated the Federal Ministry of Finance to commence the process of engaging pre-shipment inspection and monitoring agents. Following the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement, a selective tendering process was initiated under which 65 companies were selected and invited to bid. However, the statement explained that

since the inception of the process, numerous complaints had been sent to the ministry suggesting that the method by which the 65 companies were selected was faulty and lacked transparency. The statement reads in part: “The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has ordered the immediate cancellation of the tendering process for the engagement of pre-shipment inspection and monitoring agents for oil and gas. The receipt of numerous complaints

and a petition regarding alleged irregularities in the process necessitated the decision.” It added that, “a formal petition was received by the Bureau of Public Procurement, making specific allegations about the process. Under public procurement rules, the receipt of a formal petition requires a suspension of the tendering process in order to allow for an investigation. However, in this instance, the minister has taken the decision to cancel.”

The statement also quoted the minister to have said, “The sheer volume of complaints and the wide range of sources they emanated from had raised a sufficient level of concern around the process to warrant a full cancellation rather than a suspension. This administration stands for transparency and accountability, and it is, therefore, important that all procurement and tendering exercises must be undertaken in accordance with best practices.”

L-R: Acting Provost, Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Alhaji Aliyu Abdurauf; School’s Librarian, Mr. Akogun; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Alhaji Jubril Haruna, and Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mrs. Aminat Ahmed, during the commissioner’s visit to the college, in Offa, yesterday.

Nigeria needs 6,000mw to reduce outages –NERC Chidi UgwU, AbujA

am Amadi, the outgoing chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed that the country needs 6,000 megawatts (mw) of electricity before power outages can be significantly reduced. Amadi who made the revelation during a public hearing on the activities of NERC and Distribution Companies (DISCOs), also said that 55 per cent of consumers remain un-metered.

He attributed this to legacy issues that have resulted in consumers being charged through estimated billing. He disclosed that cloning and bypassing of meters remain a major challenge, particularly in some parts of the country and this results in loss of revenue for DISCOs. Responding to reports that the regulatory body is soft on DISCOs for infractions and inefficiencies particularly in metering, Amadi agreed, but noted that the agency was not quick to wield the big

stick in order to build investor confidence in the sector. He also attributed it to the fact that the DISCOs were still experiencing several challenges. He said, “It is in the interest of consumers that we help DISCOs and generating companies to survive, but from the beginning of this year, we have been penalising. Recently, we asked Abuja DISCO to pay N18 million to the family of a child who was electrocuted, and they did that.” Amadi added that the Abuja DISCO was also

mandated to compensate 32,000 consumers with about N50 million due to over-billing. He explained further that the DISCOs are experiencing several challenges. “You talk about tariff, but what about gas? The telecommunications industry has the advantage of technological innovations. Electricity is a conservative technology, we cannot do without gas, even if we build solar everywhere,” he said. He added that DISCOs had to deal with weak infrastructure.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Service 39

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Ayade locks out three commissioners from office RichaRd Ndoma, CAlAbAr

rof. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State, yesterday locked out three commissioners out of office for not being at their duty posts before 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The governor carried out the disciplinary measure when he paid an unscheduled visit to some ministries, where he ordered three commissioners to be locked out for failure to be at their duty posts as early as 8.am. The ministries visited by the governor included Agriculture, Water Resources, Women Affairs and Sustainable Development. At the Ministry of Agriculture, where Governor Ayade made

his first visit, neither the commissioner, Prof. Egrinya Eneji, nor any of his directors was available to receive him. No explanation was, however, offered for the commissioner’s unavailability. A similar visit to the Ministry of Water Resources, along Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar, Governor Ayade was visibly enraged that the commissioner, Gabe Odu Orji, was not on duty as at the time of his unscheduled visit, prompting his directive that he be locked out. Of the four ministries visited, only the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Stella Odey, was on hand to receive Governor Ayade. The governor who

expressed his disappointment at the seeming lack of dedication to duty by the various heads of the ministries, particularly commended Odey for what he described as her devotion to duty. Voicing his displeasure at the lukewarm

attitude shown by the heads of the affected ministries visited, Ayade said: “I am saddened by what I have seen this morning. It is shocking that it is already gone past 8.am, yet commissioners cannot be found on their seats. I will

not take kindly to this culture of lateness to work and I am going to do something about it. I must, however, commend you for your exceptional conduct. Please do keep it up.” Also, at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, it was the

same swansong where the governor was equally disappointed that the commissioner, Oliver Orok, had yet to report for work. He subsequently directed the defaulting commissioners to be summarily locked out of their offices.

FEDPOFFA’s SUG fete students with soccer contest chidi UgwU, AbujA

n what appears to be a New Year gift to their fellow students, members of the Students Union Government of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, recently organised a soccer fiesta to fete students of the institution for a successful year in the polytechnic. A release made available to National Mirror by Public Relations Officer of the SUG, Olorunisola Shodiq, after the match said the students were delighted to have witnessed various stages of the event, which was eventually won by Computer Science Department of the institution. “The game started with preliminary stages, where the depart-

ments were grouped. The teams which qualified from the group stage were fixed against each other in the knock out stage, leaving Computer Science and Insurance Department to qualify for final stage. “After the 45minutes, the match ended one-zero, in favour of Computer Science. In the second half of the match, penalty was awarded to Computer Science. The match later ended 2-1 in favour of Computer science,” part of the release said. Director for Sport of the SUG, Com. Sanjotayo was quoted as saying the match was very interesting, and that it would help the institution to select the team that would represent it at the forthcoming Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA).

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG (4th-left), Mr. Jaiyeola Laoye; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministy of Science and Technology, Dr. Lawal Habiba (6th-left); Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (middle); the Chairman, Board of Directors of NESG, Mr. Kyari Bukar and others, during the courtesy visit of NESG’s delegation to the Minister of Science and Technology in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Workers’ welfare is our priority –Lai Muhammed Joel aJayi AbujA

he Minister of Infor mation and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that he will continue to place emphasis on the welfare of the ministry’s staff in order to boost their morale and enhance their productivity. The minister said this in Abuja on Tuesday while handing over the keys of two newly-acquired buses to the Joint Staff Union of the ministry. Alhaji Mohammed, who was accompanied by the Permanent Sec-

retary, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, and other top officials, said the ministry had commenced the process of phasing out old staff buses and replacing them with new ones for the convenience of staff. He said: “A couple of weeks ago, we decided in our meeting that the vehicles in the pool are getting very old and we said that we would be gradually replacing those vehicles as the funds are available. ‘’We believe that it’s morally wrong of us to expect workers to come early to work when they are using staff buses that are 20

years old. These vehicles will break down on the way to work and many of our people also live quite far away from the office, so we decided with the management to look at the best way to relieve the hardship of workers,” he said. The minister assured that the presentation of the vehicles marked the beginning of the numerous welfare packages that would be unveiled for the workers in due course. “I want to assure you that this is the beginning of our gesture to make the welfare of workers in the Minis-

try of Information and Culture a priority, because without their cooperation the ministry cannot achieve what we want to achieve,” he said. Alhaji Mohammed, however, cautioned the operators of the staff buses to handle them with care in order to ensure their durability as well as the safety of the staffers. In his response, the Chairman, Joint Staff Union in the ministry, Comrade Adam Agwola, expressed appreciation for the gesture and promised that workers would reciprocate by rededicating themselves to duty.

National Mirror National Mirror Wednesday, January 6, 2016 47 Tuesday, February 4, 2014 www.nationalmirroronline.net www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Any agitation or movement for secession is not what Ebonyi State or the South-East zone is prepared to support because it is not a modern agenda for Nigeria and the South-East. –GovErNor of EboNyI, DAvID UMAhI

dAre AkoguN

he Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has disclosed that its operatives apprehended 150 suspected oil thieves, and transferred about 175,145 litres of petroleum products recoverred from themmto appropriate authorities 2015. According to the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Gabriel Abafi the command recorded an appreciable success in its fight against oil theft and other illegalities during the outgoing year. Speaking with newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja, Abafi said the command between January to December 2015 arrested the vandals in different locations within the state which includes Badagry, Isawo-Ikorodu, Amuwo-Odofin/Festac, Ijora water front, Igando and Apapa. “The pathetic experience we had in January 2015 at Isawo where we were confronted with vandals in a shoot out, where three of our men got missing and have not been found till date. “ All the suspected vandals arrested in the outgone year upon which their investigation had been concluded by the Intelligence Unit of the Corps have been arraigned in different court s withing Lagos jurisdiction by the Legal Unit which amounted to 39 cases. “The Command also ensured that all the private guards companies within Lagos metropolis complied with the rules and regulations guiding them, the illegally-operating ones were sealed and their contracts with their clients void. “The personnel belonging to those illegally tolerating private guards companies were equally arrested, the total number of illegally operating companies amounted to 50,” he added. Abafi further pointed that the corps emergency’s response team assisted in emergency situations by positioning its ambulances in different locations of the state to ensure rapid response from victims of collapsed build-

‘Lagos NSCDC arrested 150 suspected vandals in 2015’

NGO donates gifts to women in Lagos Nick uweru

People warming themselves near a fire during harmattan at Gwagwalada, in Abuja, recently.

ings, fire outbreaks and auto crash. “ The command has mapped out strategies on how to ensure that critical assets

of the government in Lagos State are protected. This year, the command will focus especially on the Lagos water ways. Statistic has shown that

majority of crime committed within the state are through the waterways, we are mindful of this and we will do our best to curtail it, “ he assured.

harmattan: House member cautions constituent on fire ebere Ndukwu

agos State House of Assembly member representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 2, Sir Jude Emeka Idimogu has cautioned members of his constituency and Lagosians to be more careful in their use of anything that could cause fire outbreak especially during this dry and harmattan season. The House member, who stated this at the weekend when he visited a fire incident scene near Iyana Ejigbo market, thanked Lagos State fire service men for their prompt response which stopped the fire from reaching the market and causing more havoc on lives and properties. Witnesses at the scene said that the fire which started at a sawdust dump near a Sawmill and Ejigbo market would have reached the market and homes around the area if not for the prompt response of fire service men. They expressed gratitude

for Lagos State government of Akinwunmi Ambode and its quick response to emergencies. Assuring the people that Lagos State government is doing their best to curtail the incessant fire outbreak in the state, Idimogu said: “The governor is working on how to adequately equip the state fire service, employ more hands, build more fire service centres round the state as well as make provisions for

where they can easily refill their water when they are on duty in any area of the state.” Giving reason for the fire outbreak, Jimoh Oweyemi, the Sawmill chairman said the sawdust dump where the fire stated from came about due to flooding in the area. “We had a dumping site but because of erosion caused by flooding in the area we started using sawdust to fill the affected area.

t was a bazaar of sort for the indegent population of Agege area of Lagos when officials of Annmom Foundation for Mothers’ Welfare, AFMW, stormed the neighbourhood with gift items for the very poor over the weekend ushering in the New Year in a grand style. The foundation through its Director of Media Publicity & Strategy, Mr Sunday Onyewonsa, told our correspondent that the gesture became necessary because of the need to be one’s “brother’s keeper” He noted that the Yuletide season was a period when men of goodwill show love to fellow man and sharing with the people around especially the ‘have nots’ in the society adding that one of the cardinal objectives of the group was to care for poor mothers and children across the globe. Onyewonsa stressed that the NGO chose Agege area because of the large number of the poor population living together adding that earlier before the Christmas, the Foundation was at Idi-Araba area of Mushin to share food items, clothing, shoes and branded umbrella to the residents of that community. According the group’s image maker, the Foundation intends taking its campaign along the West African sub-region in the course of the year saying the group has the entire globe as it’s targets while he called on governments in African continent to rise up to the challenge posed by hunger and starvation in the lives of her citizens.

Market reconstruction: Ijora traders seek govt’s intervention AbolAji AdebAyo

raders at Ijora Seven up area of Lagos have protested against the developer saddled with the responsibility of reconstructing the market, alleging that the developer had questionable character and that they did not have trust in him. The traders, who expressed their displeasure during a protest at the market yesterday, said that they were not against the redevelopment of the market,

which was awarded to a contractor, Mr. Apostle Adeniyi, the CEO of Yinbif Ventures; rather, they rejected the developer himself based on his alleged questionable character. They said that the developer would leave the project uncompleted as shown by some such projects he had handled thereby subjecting they to more plights in their place of work as well as disrupting the commercial activities of the market for a longer period of time. They therefore called for the intervention of Lagos State Gov-

ernor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, the Lagos State Market Board and Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to stop the proposed demolition and reconstruction of the market. The protesting market women said they wanted the Iyaloja Gemeral to select the contractor to handle the redevelopment of the market rather than giving it to a developer who has controversial record in the business of construction.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Equities shed 0.95% as bears sustain hold Johnson okanlawon

rading in equities slid for the second day in a row, despite the increase in market activity the bears maintain grip. The All Share Index depreciated 0.95 per cent to close at 28,102.14 points, while year-to-date depreciation stood at 1.89 per cent. Market capitalisation shed N93 billion to close at N9.664 trillion, compared to the decline of N93 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N9.757 trillion. Large market cap stocks from the consumer goods

sector largely contributed to the market negatively. Market activity measured by value and volume traded increased by 170.1 per cent and 98.0 per cent to settle at N1.8billion and 196.0million units respectively. Investment analysts at DLM Securities noted that there was an increasing selling pressure across board in the market, noting that it indicates worries over the flimsy economy that weighed on the market last year are not likely to subside anytime soon. ETI Plc led the gainers’

table with 84 kobo or five per cent to close at N17.64 per share, followed by Fidelity Bank Plc with seven kobo or 4.83 per cent to close at N1.52 per share. Livestock Plc gained six kobo or 4.51 per cent to close at N1.39 per share, while African Prudence Insurance Plc appreciated eight kobo or 3.17 per cent to close at N2.60 per share. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc rose 30 kobo or 3.11 per cent to close at N9.96 per share. Conversely, Stanbic IBTC Plc depreciated N1.53 or 9.26 per cent to

close at N15.00 per share, while Unity Bank Plc lost 10 kobo or 8.93 per cent to close at N1.02 per share. Nigerian Breweries Plc shed N6.46 or five per cent to close at N122.74 per share, while Mobil Plc dropped N8.00 or five per cent to close at N152.00 per share. PZ Cussons Plc was down N1.28 or 4.98 per cent to close at N24.42 per share. A total of 195.8 million shares valued at N1.89 billion were exchanged in 2,975 deals.

SEC, NSE commence direct settlement enforcement Johnson okanlawon

s part of the ongoing initiatives to protect investors and eliminate fraudulent activities in the Nigerian capital market, payment on sales of shares will now be paid directly into the seller’s account. This follows an agreement by stakeholders in the market under the leadership of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC and the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE with

effect from January 4, 2016. The Direct Cash Settlement, DCS, initiative is the direct payment of proceed of sale of securities into an investor’s nominated bank account. A statement by the SEC explained that direct cash settlement is a process where cash proceeds from trades executed by Brokers on the Exchange settles directly into an investor’s bank account. “It starts when a client gives his Broker the mandate to sell his or her

shares. Once those shares are sold, payment is made directly into the client’s account. This is in contrast to the former practice where proceeds from the sale of securities is paid directly into the stockbroker’s account and stockbrokers then deduct transaction fees and remit the balance to the client’s account. “ DCS is aimed at improving transparency, entrenching investor confidence, reducing market infractions and improving

Global stocks slide as China worries mount

lobal equity markets traded slightly lower yesterday after their worst first-day performance in years as concerns about the global economy weighed on sentiment and pushed traders to seek the relative safety of the low-risk yen. Crude prices also fell on concerns about the pace of growth in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer. News that Chinese rail freight volumes logged their biggest-ever annual decline in 2015 added to economic growth worries. A rally in mining and telecom stocks helped European shares to edge slightly higher in volatile trade, but shares on Wall Street fell after a brief attempt to stay positive. MSCI’s all-country world stock index fell 0.15 percent and its emerging markets index fell 0.04 per cent. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 52.12 points, or

0.3 per cent, to 17,096.82. The S&P 500 slid 0.99 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 2,011.67 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 2.45 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 4,900.64. “The main reason for the uncertainty is China, given that company numbers and the macroeconomic picture in Europe and the US have not changed,” said Alessandro Allegri, chief executive of Italian asset manager Ambrosetti Asset Management. In Europe, the pan-regional FTSEurofirst 300 index closed up 0.44 percent to a preliminary 1,407.32. But the heavyweight German index DAX closed slightly lower. The yen climbed to its strongest level since April against the euro and hovered at its highest since October versus the dollar. The Japanese currency is traditionally sought at times of risk aversion. The yen jumped more

than one per cent against the euro, rising to 127.75. Against the dollar, the yen was up 0.3 per cent on the day at 119.06. yen, according to EBS data. The euro fell 0.92 per cent to $1.0729. The oil market largely shrugged off rising political tensions in the Middle East. On Tuesday, Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Iran after attacks on Saudi missions by Iranian protesters, state news agency KUNA reported. Global benchmark Brent crude prices were down 74 cents at $36.48 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 48 cents to $36.28. Long-dated US Treasury yields rose as worries eased a bit over global growth, leading traders to sell some safehaven US government debt. US 30-year Treasuries were last down 5/32 in price to yield 2.9967 percent. Benchmark 10-year US Treasury

trading velocity,” the commission said. To update your account, investors are expected to complete bankaccount update form at any bank or your registrar/stockbroker. Upon confirmation that the investor’s Bank Verification Number, BVN and other details are valid, it will be transmitted electronically to the Central Securities and Clearing System, CSCS for onward validation.

notes were last down 1/32 in price to yield 2.2410 per cent. Gold rose after a wave of risk aversion due to growth worries in China and rising tensions in the Middle East triggered demand for the metal. US futures for February delivery rose 0.35 per scent to $1,078.70.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 28,102.14 points Market capitalisation 9.66trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

ETI

16.80

17.64

0.84

5.00

FIDELITYBK

1.45

1.52

0.07

4.83

LIVESTOCK

1.33

1.39

0.06

4.51

AFRIPRUD

2.52

2.60

0.08

3.17

CCNN

9.66

9.96

0.30

3.11

TRANSCORP

1.48

1.52

0.04

2.70

CHAMPION

3.22

3.30

0.08

2.48

ACCESS

4.85

4.95

0.10

2.06

NEM

0.67

0.68

0.01

1.49

UCAP

1.35

1.37

0.02

1.48

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

STANBIC

16.53

15.00

-1.53

-9.26

UNITYBNK

1.12

1.02

-0.10

-8.93

129.20

122.74

-6.46

-5.00

MOBIL

160.00

152.00

-8.00

-5.00

25.70

24.42

-1.28

-4.98

CADBURY

17.15

16.30

-0.85

-4.96

HONYFLOUR

2.05

1.95

-0.10

-4.88

CAVERTON

2.47

2.35

-0.12

-4.86

AGLEVENT

0.62

0.59

-0.03

-4.84

FBNH

4.88

4.65

-0.23

-4.71

FGN Bonds

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

270

USD

196.96

EURO

214

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

SWISS FRANC

202

POUNDS STERLING

293

SDR

273

Offer

Bid Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.31

107.36

8.98

108.36

8.20

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.48

116.10

10.37

117.10

10.05

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.11

114.99

10.90

115.99

10.62

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.06

122.85

11.10

123.85

10.90

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.19

116.58

11.06

117.58

10.89

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.55 91.69

11.17

92.69

11.02

Rate (%) Inflation

CLOSING

Closing Market Prices of January 5, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

07-Apr-16

4.13

4.17

30-Jun-16

6.47

6.66

15-Dec-16

7.92

8.45

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

1.1250

8.0538

9.6604

11.1723 CBN Clearing Rates of December 18, 2015

North

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adamawa to fund part of N120bn budget with recovered loot –Commissione Livinus Menedi Yola

damawa State government said it would rely on taxes and remittances from looted funds retrieved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from corrupt public officials in the state to balance its N44.08 billion budget deficit. This follows the state government’s plan to commence implementation of the Treasury Single Account by end of the first quarter of the new year to block leakages. Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Mahmud Sali Yunusa, who made the disclosure at Government House on Monday evening, while presenting breakdown of the proposed N120.1 billion

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Temitope Iyabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Makinde Temitope Iyabo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

budget estimates for 2016, said it would deflate the N44.08 billion deficit in the budget by going tough on the implementation of new tax regimes, which strict compliance it would monitor. Yunusa, who was reacting to a question on how the government hopes to fund the huge deficit in view of dwindling allocations to the state, said government had initially planned to approach the EFCC for looted funds, which the anti-graft agency seized from its corrupt officials to be repatriated to the state’s coffers. He also maintained that in the same vein, all assets - moveable and immovable - confiscated by the EFCC would be required to be released to the state government,

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as John Caroline Ijego, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Martha caroline Ndukwu.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

which may also liquidate them. A breakdown of the budget showed that government expects to generate N8,183,300,675 as internally generated revenue, IGR, while statutory transfers as its own share from the Federation Account is put at N42,149,514,154, and N15,988,709,400 is expected from Value Added Tax from federal revenues. Furthermore, it expects N6,223,420,200 as inflow for state of emergency and additional N2.5 billion for ecological funds, still from the central government. The sub-total taken together with the N1 billion estimates for exchange rate differential, gives a total of N67,861,643,755 as the total revenue pro-

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Dauda-Idris Bukola suliyat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olawale-Tajudeen Bukola Suliyat. All former documents remain valid.Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Ado Ekiti and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

file for the N120.1 billion proposed by the Adamawa State government for the 2016 fiscal year. This gives a deficit of N44,081,913,000. The highest ministerial allocation of N20.2 billion

went to works, followed by Government House which got N8.4 billion; while the office of the Secretary to the State Government, got the third largest chunk of the budget, N7.7 billion. According to the state

3 die of Lassa fever in Taraba Justin tyopuusu Jalingo

t least, three persons are said to have died following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Taraba State, medical director, Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Dr. CHANGE OF NAME

OLADUNJOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as FLORENCE TEMILOLA OLADUNJOYE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as FLORENCE OLOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Wiza Inusa, has confir med. Wiza said the outbreak, which was first reported on December 25, has so far claimed the lives of three persons, while two others are currently receiving treatment in hospital. CHANGE OF NAME

OYEWALE: I, formerly known and addressed as OYEWALE TIRIMISIYU SHITTU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as POPOOLA OYEWALE TIRIMISIYU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as QUEEN LAWRENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as URANTA QUEEN NWANNE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Otitoola Olamide Oriyomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinwumi Olamide Oriyomi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Muhammed Usman Ale, now wish to be known and addressed as Abubakar Sadik Muhammed. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Junaid Taibat Abeni, now wish to be known and addressed as Smith Taibat Abeni. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, YAYA MOSHOOD ADEWALE is the same person as MOSHOOD WALE ADE. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as YAYA MOSHOOD ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Nwaneti Emmanuel Destiny, now wish to be known and addressed as Ezeukwu Emmanuel Destiny. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Dauda Zainab, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyelakin Olaide Jelilat. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Bolanle Abosede Olayori, now wish to be known and addressed as Bolanle Abosede Maku. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olanrewaju Titilayo Magaret, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwafemi Titilayo Magaret. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ogundele Banji, now wish to be known and addressed as Adebanji Omopariola Paul. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME HUNKUYI: Formerly known and addressed as AMINU ABUBAKAR now wish to be known and addressed as AMINU ABUBAKAR HUNKUYI. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

ODUBOTE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ODUBOTE BASIRAT, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. SALAMI FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKUNG: Formerly known and addressed as AKUNG JULIUS now wish to be known and addressed as TALLE HAMIDU. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME OLA: Formerly known and addressed as OLA EMILOJU OGUNDELE now wish to be known and addressed as OLALEKAN EMILOJU OGUNDELE. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME LUCY: Formerly known and addressed as LUCY MAGANI DANLADI now wish to be known and addressed as LAUU HAMAS DANLADI. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

ISIMAIL: I formerly known and addressed as MRS. AISHA HASSAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AISHA SALIHU ISIMAIL.All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ABDULWASIU : Formerly known and addressed as ABDULWASIU MEDINAT FATAI now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULAZEEZ .I. ABDULFATAI. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

ADEM: Formerly known and addressed as IBRAHIM ADEM now wish to be known and addressed as AMINU IBRAHIM ADAMU. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME ODOH: Formerly known and addressed as CHINEDU ODOH now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL CHINEDU DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

OYETUNJI : Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUWABUKOLA OYETUNJI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUWABUKOLA AYOBAMI AKINDOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKAH: I, formerly known and addressed as IWEKA SANDRAL OKAH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SANDRA ABEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ASUZU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JULIET UGONDU ASUZU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. JULIET UGONDU AKWARANDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojerinde Kehinde Mary now to be addressed as Mrs. Daramola Kehinde Mary. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKWUCHUKWU : Formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL OKWUCHUKWU OGBONNA now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL OGBONNA. All former documents remain valid. FIRST BANK PLC, ECOBANK PLC and General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME

YINUSA: I, formerly known and addressed as YINUSA RISIKAT OMOLARA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TIAMIYU RISIKAT OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MRS. SUNDAY ABOSEDE RITA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SUNDAY ABOSEDE RITHA. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public to take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME NGAOKA: Formerly known and addressed as MISS NGAOKA NKECHI CELESTINA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMBROS NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note. CHANGE OF NAME

AL-ANSAR: Formerly known and addressed as AL-ANSAR .A. MUSA MUHAMMAD now wish to be known and addressed as ADAM MUSA MUHAMMAD. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME

YINUSA: I, formerly known and addressed as YINUSA MUKAILA BABATUNDE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TIAMIYU MUKAILA BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

DJAN: I, formerly known and addressed as AGNES NAAOYOO DJAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AGNES NAAOYOO AKPOKODJE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Jimoh kafayat omowunmi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Jimoh Kafayat Remilekun. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME THAT MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN ON MY FIDELITY BANK ACCOUNT AS EROBE PETER, AND ON MY FIRST BANK ACCOUNT AS ROGBE PETER, WHILE ON MY STERLING BANK ACCOUNT IT WAS WRITTEN AS REGBE PETER. MY CORRECT NAME THAT I WISH TO BE KNOWN, CALLED AND ADDRESSED HENCEFORTH IS ROGBEN PETER. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME ADIGUN: I, formerly known and addressed as ADIGUN WASIU LIASU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADESANYA WASIU KOLAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUTUKASI: Formerly known and addressed as OLUTUKASI OLUSEGUN OLUROPO now wish to be known and addressed as FATUKASI OLUSEGUN OLUROPO. . All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as NURUDEEN AJISAFE ABUDURAHIM, now wish to be known, called and addressed we will AJISHAFE NURUDEEN ABOLAJI. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

DAVID: I, formerly known and addressed as DAVID AKANYA ESIP, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AKANYA HENRY OBAJE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as IJEOMA ESTHER AGHADINUNO and IJEOMA ESTHER OKOYE now wish to be known and addressed as IJEOMA ESTHER ADINO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

commissioner of finance, the deficits would be funded through bonds which he said the government plans to take later, foreign aids and through looted funds retrieved from the EFCC. CHANGE OF NAME SAKA: I, formerly known and addressed as SAKA MICHEAL OLUWADEMILADE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OSSAI MICHEAL OLUWADEMILADE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OKATU: I, formerly known and addressed as OKATU UCHE PETER, now wish to be known, called and addressed as UKATU UCHE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OYEKOLA: I, formerly known and addressed as KEHINDE OYEKOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OYEKOLA ARUNA AYINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as NKEIRUKA-OBIAKU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NKEIRUKA OLIVIA OLUCHUCHUKWU AKUNNE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Olatunde Omobolanle Kayinsola, now wish to be known and addressed as salau wasilat Oyeladun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

DUROJAYE: Formerly known and addressed as DUROJAYE REBECCA IDOWU now wish to be known and addressed as AJUWON REBECCA IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to notify the general public that my name was wrongly written as PHILIPS MOTUNRAYO REBECCA instead of MOTUNRAYO ABIDEMI AKINYELE. All former documents bearing the above names are mine and valid. General public and concerned authorities please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME KAYODE: Formerly known and addressed as AINA OGUNLEYE now wish to be known and addressed as AINA KAYODE OGUNLEYE. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MONSURAT BANKE AYINDE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLANREWAJU MONSURAT BANKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

FRANCIS: I, formerly known and addressed as FRANCIS PATIENCE SEEMBER, now wish to be known, called and addressed as FRANCIS BLESSING MIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EZEANA: I, formerly known and addressed as EZEANA IFEANYI AUSTIN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EZEANA UCHE AUSTIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

I,FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS BLESSING CHIOMA OKOLI.NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS BLESSING CHIOMA EJIKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. PLEASE, GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADAMA RACHEAL ABIDEMI,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADISA RACHEAL OLATUNDUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

QUADRI: Formerly known and addressed as QUADRI SHERIFAT now wish to be known and addressed as ALATISE SHUKURAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

USENIDEH: Formerly known and addressed as USENIDEH ESE SUZZY DAMOLA now wish to be known and addressed as USENIDEH ESE LIZY All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly know and addressed as Miss BABALOLA OLANREWAJU CATHERINE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs OLAIYA OLANREWAJU CATHERINE. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME NDUKWU: Formerly known and addressed as MISS UGOCHI JANEGRACE NDUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGOCHI JANEGRACE NDUKUBA. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

ERUMENA: Formerly known and addressed as ERUMENA OKEZI OGUN now wish to be known and addressed as ERUMENA OKEZI ITEIRE.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss OMOYA ABIMBOLA STELLA now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ARAILE ABIMBOLA STELLA. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

TAIWO: Formerly known and addressed as TAIWO ADELEGAN now wish to be known and addressed as TAIYE ADELEGAN. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUROTIMI: .Formerly known and addressed as OLUROTIMI OLURANTI BUSOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MAKINDE OLURANTI OLUBUSOLA All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss SULAIMON BASIRAT AJOKE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs OGUNMUYIWA BASIRAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MONDAY: Formerly known and addressed as MISS MAGARET MONDAY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MAGARET ANDREW. All former documents remain valid. STANBIC/IBTC PENSION, FIRST BANK PLC, UNITED BANK OF AFRICA and General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

WILLSON : Formerly known and addressed as WILLSON WISDOM CLEMENT now wish to be known and addressed as WILLSON ETEOBONG CLEMENT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OWOLABI AKEEM now wish to be known and addressed as OWOLABI ABDULHAKEEM TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Samuel sunday Lawrence now to be known and addressed as Samuel James Kelvin former documents remain valid general public note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Monisola Saheed now to be known and addressed as Ahmed Faidat Monisola former documents remain valid general public take note

I formerly known and addressed as Ukwuije Confidence Chidinma now to be known and addressed as Donnatus Chidinma Destiny former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Enuesoke Chinedu Moses now to be known and addressed as Okonkwo Moses Onyeka former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Akewusola Muibi now to be known and addressed as Muyibi Ishola Adefowope all former documents remain valid general public take note

UZOR: I, formerly known and addressed as UZOR CHIDIEBERE SOLOMON, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEMAECHI CHIDIEBERE SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OGUAMA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUAMA ONYINYE PERPETUA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGBODO ONYINYE PERPETUA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

ANIAGOLU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANIAGOLU LUCY ONYINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NZEKWE LUCY ONYINYE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formely. Known and addressed as Miss. Hammed. Kehinde. Fatima. Now. Wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jejeloye. Kehinde. Fatima. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Gbadamosi Muinat Opeyemi now Mrs Bello Muinat Opeyemi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as KINGSLEY ONYEKWERE and now wishes to be known and addressed as IFEANYI ONYEKWERE. All former documents remain valid .General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MUSA AUDU, now wish to be known and addressed as MUSA ABDULLAHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as DANIEL OROK, now wish to be known and addressed as EFFIOM OROK EFFIOM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

Formerly Miss Nneka Yetunde Okoye now to be known as Mrs Nneka Chibuogwu. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Bolanle Deborah Adeleke now to be known as Mrs Bolanle Deborah Bakare-Williams. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM am the same person as EXODUS MUSA. All former documents remain valid.FCMB Bank plc,Diamond Bank plc and general public take note.

This is to confirm that I, Onwu Evaristus Chibuzor is the same person as Onwudesmond Evaristus Chibuzor. All former documents bearing the above names are mine and valid. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME RAJI: Formerly known and addressed as RAJI ABDULAKEEM OLATUNJI now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI AKEEM. All former documents remain valid.Banks and General public take note

DAVID Formerly known and addressed as DAVID TAJUDEEN BALOGUN now wish to be known and addressed as MUYIDEEN ADEBANJO AJAO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as CHRISTIANA ABIOLA OGUNLEYE now wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTIANA ABIOLA AJUWAPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UDEH: I, formerly known and addressed as UDEH LUCY NKIRUKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYE LUCY NKIRUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME YASIR: Formerly known and addressed as YASIR ALIYU now wish to be known and addressed as ALIYU HASSAN. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

GANIYU: Formerly known and addressed as SHEU QUADRI OPE now wish to be known and addressed as GANIYU QUADRI OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

JAMAA: Formerly known and addressed as JAMAA.A. JARULE JAMAA.A now wish to be known and addressed as SAMAILA SURAJO. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take Note. SHAFI: Formerly known and addressed as MISS.SILIFAT.AJOKE.SHAFI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS.ELEMORO.SILIFAT.AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Nigerian Passport belonging to IDOWU MOJIRADE OLUBUNMI (AO5901744) has been lost. If found, pls call 08026961157 or return to this address Quarter 40 yaba GRA yabatech lagos or the nearest police station near you. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Abdul Nurudeen Ayomide now to be known and addressed as Abdullahi Nurudeen Ayomide all former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I. Formerly called and Addressed as BELLO SHEHU. Now wish to be Known and Addressed as ALIYU SHEHU. All Former Decuments remain valid. First Bank, Skye Bank and General Public should take note.

EMMANUEL: .Formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL HAPPINESS ANULIKA now wish to be known and addressed as .EMMANUEL HAPPINESS CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

TAIWO: Formerly known and addressed as TAIWO WALIAT MOTUNRAYO now wish to be known and addressed as OLOWONJOYIN WALIAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ASORONA:Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Asorona Muyibatu Oluwakemi,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JAMIU-CISSE MUIBAT OLUWAKEMI.All former documents remain valid.General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ACHIME: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ACHIME THERESA IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOH THERESA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ODEDELE: Formerly known and addressed as ODEDELE VICTORIA ABOSEDE now wish to be known and addressed as LANA VICTORIA ABOSEDE All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written as DAUDU AUSTIN KELSE instead of ODUDU JOHN AUSTIN KELSE on my BVN, henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as ODUDU JOHN AUSTIN KELSE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as EMMA C. OGU now wish to be known and addressed as MATTHEW O. ONWUEGBUCHULEM. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Elegbeleye Rawkeebat Adeola now to be known and addressed as Owodunmi Taiwo former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Babatunde-Moses Isaac now to be known and addressed as Ayorinde-Oluwaseyi former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Korie Isaac Chukwuzitere now to be known and addressed as Onukagha Isaac Social Chukwuzitere former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as ANI CHIDI GODWIN, now wish to be known and addressed as ANI CHIDIEBERE JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UDE: I, formerly known and addressed as UDE RAPHAEL OGBONNAYA, now wish to be known and addressed as UDE RAPHAEL OGBONNIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

EMENIKE: I, formerly known and addressed as EMENIKE DANIEL ANUNOBI, now wish to be known and addressed as JONATHAN EMENIKE ANUNOBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm that BIJESUTIFE MOBOLUWADURO RUTH and RUTH ABOSEDE BIJESUTIFE refers to one and same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as RUTH ABOSEDE BIJESUTIFE. All former document remain valid. FirstBank and the general public please take note.

SAMUEL: I, formerly known and addressed as SAMUEL PEACE CHINAZA, now wish to be known and addressed as OPARA PEACE CHINAZA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mustapha Serifat Aremu, now wish to be known and addressed as Aremu Serifat Amoke. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Formerly Mr Afolayan Toyese Tajudeen Now Mr Olatoye Toyese Daniel Former Documents Remain Valid Jabu, Nysc And General Public Should Take Note .

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Adeyemo Adebola Aderemi Now Mrs Olatoye Adebola Aderemi Former Documents Remain Valid University Of Ibadan, Nysc And General Public Should Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Akinpelu Cecilia Folasade Now Mrs Adebayo Cecilia Folasade Former Documents Remain Valid Bowen University Teaching Hospital And General Public Should Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Jerry Audu now wish to be known and addressed as Jerry Kato Luka. All former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss ADAMA RACHEAL ABIDEMI now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ADISA RACHEAL OLATUNDUN. All former documents remain valid, general public should take note

Formerly known and addressed as Ayobami Focus Adewale now which to be known and addressed as Nworie Goddey Echefuna all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Jayeola Toyin Fatimo now which to be known and addressed as Adeniyi Toyin Fatimo Adeoye all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. AYEGBUSI FOLASADE TEMILADE. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AFOLABI FOLASADE TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid. Teaching Service Commission, Ado-Ekiti and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Omotayo Abosede Omolara now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Olufade Abosede Omolara all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ILOCHI G. MMACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUDI ILOCHIDI GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Odunlami Oluwakemi Ayodele now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Bakare Oluwakemi Ayodele all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Lawalsaka Oluwaremilekun now which to be known and addressed as Miss Quadri Shukurat Olasubomi all former documents remain valid FCMB PLC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Palepata and sons now which to be known and addressed as Mr Okusanya Adegboyega Adetola Adekunle all former documents remain valid GT bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adah Rita Nneamaka now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Opoggen Rita Nneamaka all former documents remain valid NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Liadi Mujib Adedotun now which to be known and addressed as Liadi Mutiu Adesola all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Olatunji Titilope Opeoluwa now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Fadahunsi Olusola Titilope Opeoluwa all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

To confirm that I am one and same person bearing JIMOH OMOLADE ABOSEDE, EMMANUEL OMOLADE AYOLA and FAKOYA OMOLADE ABOSEDE as obtainable in some of my documents.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abolaji Abiodun Oreagba now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Abolaji Abiodun kehinde all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Oluyemi Olusola Afoluke now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Banjo Olusola Afoluke all former documents remain valid Teaching service commission and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as miss Fatoke Best Adeola now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Ilesanmi best Adeola all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OLUWO OLAJUMOKE ODIRI, now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN OLAJUMOKE ODIRI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

Formerly known and addressed as TOLULOPE OLUYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as TOLULOPE OLUYEMI-ALADE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

BABATUNDE : I formerly known and addressed as MISS. BABATUNDE GBEMISOLA WAZILAT ,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EGBEYEMI GBEMISOLA WAZILAT. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AWODELE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS APATA TAIWO ABOSEDE.Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AWODELE TAIWO ABOSEDE.All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note

TEMITOPE: formerly known and addressed as OMOSOLA TEMITOPE ANDREW.Nowwish to be known and addressed as OMOSOLA TEMITOPE.All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor Oluchi Peace now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Okoli Oluchi Peace. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akintayo Oluwaseyi Taiwo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Alaba Oluwaseyi Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Jinad Alimot Olajiire now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adetona Alimot Olajiire. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State College and Technology of Agriculture and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss 0LADOJA SARAH MODUPEOLA .NOW wish to be known as Mrs. OPOOLA SARAH MODUPEOLA. All former documents remain valid, Ministry of Education ogun state and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Oyewole Omolola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Dosunmu Nimota. All former documents remain valid. P. T. A. D. Sigma Pension and General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Odanlomen Gloria now wish to be known and addressed as Odanlumen Mercy Gloria. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwadare Victoria Abosede now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adenuga Bernice Abosede. All former documents remain valid. Ogun state Tescom and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Fomerly known and addressed as Kenneth Nnaemeka Azikiwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Kenneth Nnaemeka Asikaiwe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Sonibare Ibironke Faith now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Edwards Ibironke Faith. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Sule Barry Chinonso now wish to be known and addressed as Sule Barry Chinonso Mohammed. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as OKONKWO ANGELS. Now wish to be known as MALIZU CLARA. All former documents remain valid. F.C.M.B. and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly addressed and known as Oyelowo Taiwo now wish to be addressed and known as Omokanye Olusegun Adekunle. All former documents remain valid, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), GTBank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBEEGO: I formerly known and addressed as MISS OBEEGO MERCY AREROSUOGHENE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ERIKOWA MERCY AREROSUOGHENE. All former documents remain

PUBLIC NOTICE GREAT HOPE FOR THE KIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above-named has applied for Change of Trustees and Amendment of Constitution to Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004.

CHANGE OF NAME

President Member Secretary

President Member Member Member Secretary

NEW TRUSTEES APPOINTED: 1. Mr. Olubode Mojeed Raheem 2. Mr. Francis O. Akande 3. Mrs. Akinlosotu Adija 4. Mr. Adeniran Femi Owolabi 5. Mr. Akinlosotu Segun

Amendment of constitution to reflect the changes. Any objection to this change and amendment should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Arotile:I formerly Miss Arotile Bunmi Roseline now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs Adepoju Bunmi Roseline,all former document remain valid,the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Mudi Idakwoji Nalimi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mohammed Mudi Ibrahim . All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Willoughby Moses now wish to be known and addressed as Willoughby Harrison. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Ojo:I formerly Miss Ojo Abosede Olanike now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs Oderinde Abosede Olanike,all former document remain valid,the general public take note. I formerly known and addressed as Esther Sambo Ezekiel Gift, now wish to be known and addressed as Esther Macaulay Godwin . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Popoola Oluyemisi Omolola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adesipe Oluyemisi Omolola. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MRS OBASA OLUWATOYIN MAYOWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEGOKE OLUWATOYIN MAYOWA. All former documents remain valid; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), general public please take note.

This is to certified that Salako Sadiat Motunrayo Ajoke is the same one person as Salako Motunrayo Ajoke, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Salako Motunrayo Ajoke. All former documents remain valid, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Union Bank Of Nigeria Plc, Wema Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Micheal Titilayo Anu now wish to be known and addressed as Micheal Titilayo Anuoluwapo Oluwajomiloju. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Awofodu Titilope Oluwaseyi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adamson Titilope Oluwaseyi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Emmanuel Gomina Ameh now wish to be known and addressed as Denis Emmanuel Ameh. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as SHERIFF AJANI BABALOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as GARUBA BABALOLA SHERIFF. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UGOCHUKWU: I formerly MISS. UGOCHUKWU CLARA ANURIKA. Now MRS. MALIZU CLARA ANURIKA. All former documents remain valid, the general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AJAYI BAMIDELE BIDEMI and OLUROPO ABIDEMI BAMIDELE. Now wish to be known and addressed as AJAYI OLUROPO BAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly addressed and known as Miss Aderogba Temilade Esther now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Omifidipe Temilade Esther. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, YISA ISMAIL is one and same person as MUSA ISMAIL. Henceforth wish to be addressed as MUSA ISMAIL. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., ACCESS Bank Plc., ECO Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Victoria Olagunju now wish to be called and addressed as Miss Victoria Alonge. All former document remain valid, general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formally known and addressed as ADETAYO MARIAM now wish to be known and addressed as ALLI MARIAM FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Mikail Olanrewaju Arewa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mukaila Olanrewaju Arewa. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Adeneye Emiola Oluwatosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Oroko Emiola Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and called as Miss Adediji Moyoade Ikeoluwa now wish to be addressed and known as Mrs Ojo Moyoade Ikeoluwa. All former documents remain valid, Stanbic Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to certified that Oluwasegun Agbogungboro is the same one person as Okere Moses. that henceforth wish to be known and called as Okere Moses. All former documents remain valid, GTBank Plc and general public should please take note

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. ADEWALE ADENIKE. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ODEYEMI ADENIKE ADEREMI. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ANIEDI OKON UDO UMOFIA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. ANIEDI EYO WILLIAMS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as YUSUF JANET, now wish to be known and addressed as RABIU TITILAYO FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Confidence Obasi, now wish to be known and addressed as Confidence Okeke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that am the same person as Christopher Faith and Ossai Faith. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as FASAKIN ODUNAYO ALICE, now wish to be known and addressed as FAMOROTI ODUNAYO ALICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Owolabi Afolake Moninuola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gbadegesin Afolake Moninuola. All former documents remain valid . The general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Bodunrin Yinka Success, now wish to be known and addressed as Bodunrin Yinka Adebowale Success. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MARY ENUWA OJEMEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MARY ENUWA EGBE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Muyibat Ajoke Elegbede, now wish to be known and addressed as Muyibat Ajoke Shittabey. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKAFOR : Formerly known as Okafor Gladys now wish to be known and address as Okafor Agatha. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Bada:I formerly Miss Bada Rafiat Omoshalewa now wished to be known and addressed as mrs Mustapha Rafiat Omoshalewa,all former document remain valid,Nysc and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Onunka Chinyere Uchechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anefiok Chinyere Uchechi. All former documents remain valid. First bank, Union bank and general public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OLAMIREWAJU JAMES EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAMIREWAJU JOHN EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLD TRUSTEES: 1. Rev. Christopher Okon 2. Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim 3 Mr. Edward Smith

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekanbi Fatimat Olajumoke Olaseni now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladiji Olajumoke Olaseni. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly SUNMONU MUHAMMED. Now wish to be known as USMAN HAMMED BELLO. All former documents remain valid. FCMB and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

JAPHET: I formerly known and addressed as JAPHET EMMANUELLA TAMARAMIEBI, now wish to be known and addressed as SOROGHAYE EMMANUELLA TAMARAMIEBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm that , I MISS EJIOFOR ANNASTACIA CHINENYENWA is the same person known as MISS EJIOFOR MARY CHINONYE now wish to be known and addressed as MISS EJIOFOR MARY CHINONYE, All former documents remain valid, Access Bank plc and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and called as Kenny Abimbola Ifeoluwa now wish to be addressed and called as Ramson Abimbola Serah. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

Formerly addressed and known as Miss Terrigbade Balkees Bidemi now wish to be known and called as Mrs Oyawale Balkees Bidemi. All former documents remain valid, NYSC and general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known, called and addressed as Miss. OLUMOLA FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known, called, & addressed as Mrs. MUSARI FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid, general Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Gbolahan Ayodeji Elegbeleye now wished to be known and addressed as Adu Olawale Elegbeleye, all former document remain valid,First bank,Ecobank and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Known and addressed as Adekunle Isiaka now wish to be known and addressed as Soetan Semiu. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc and General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Yonda Adeola Alaiyemola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Yonda Adeola Agbeniga. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKADRI: I formerly MISS. AKADRI OLAKINTAN BUKOLA. Now wished to be addressed as MRS. ALADE OLAKINTAN BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid, the general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OLUKUNLE AKANJI OGUNSOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUKUNLE AKANJI OLUWASOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Rosita Nwotiti Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Isiavwe Wesley Christopher Rosita Onyinyechi . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS DUZE AISHAT MERCY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLAWOLE AISHAT O.. All former documents remain valid; FCMB Plc, general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS OBASA OLUWATOYIN MAYOWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEGOKE OLUWATOYIN MAYOWA. All former documents remain valid; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Adeyemi:I formerly Miss Adeyemi Oluwabunmi Jumoke now wished to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeniran Oluwabunmi Jumoke,all former document remain valid,the general public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as DANIEL OSAYOMORE ESEGBAN, now wish to be known and addressed as DANIEL OSAYOMORE EDWARD. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MUHAMMED MUNIRAT AMOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADARALOYE NURAT AMOKE . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Wednesday December 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Lots of people think the MLS is a walk in the park. Far from it. I have experienced the league to know the great quality

Heartland ace striker, Ogbuh, talks tough

-LA Galaxy midfielder, Steven Gerrard

CHAN

Eagles confront Palancas Negras

...bubble over first test-game win

igeria’s Super Eagles B Team will today, take on fel fellow Rwanda 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) -bound Palancas Negras of Angola in an international friendly in Pretoria. Yesterday, the Eagles lashed the University of Pretoria 3-0 in a test game at the school, with a brace from Sunshine Stars striker, Tunde Adeniji, and one from El Kanemi Warriors’ midfielder midfielder, Ifeanyi Mathew. Nigeria’s home-based senior boys, who arrived in Pretoria last Saturday and commenced training on Sunday, are using the encounter as a big test ahead of the 4th CHAN starting in Rwanda on January 16. According to a statement from the NFF, Coach Sunday Oliseh said yesterday that he was looking ahead to the clash with the skillful Angolans. Angola finished as runner-up at the 2nd CHAN in Sudan five years ago, while Nigeria finished in third place at the last edition in South Africa in 2014. Today’s game comes five days before another top duel – a friendly with Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the same Tuks University Stadium. The Nigeria delegation will fly into Rwanda on January 15, three days before the team trade tackles with neighboursto-the-north, Niger Republic, in their first match of the tournament, at the astro-turf Stade Regional Nyamirambo on the outskirts of Kigali. Meanwhile, Eagles midfielder, Julius Ubido, said yesterday’s emphatic win against the University of Pretoria is a sign of good things to come at the upcoming CHAN in Rwanda. Eagles defeated the PSL side 3-0 in one of the pre-CHAN warm-up matches ahead of the championship commencing on January 16. “That’s a good result, a sign of good things to come at the championship proper and I think they will certainly excel. “The result was not in any way a surprise one to me because each of the players is 100% fit and everybody is good to go to deliver the goods at any given time,” Ubido told supersport.com.

Tunde Adeniji scored a brace yesterday for Eagles

Siasia to open U-23 team’s camp in Feb C

Siasia

oach Samson Siasia has affirmed that no player is guaranteed a shirt in his squad for the men’s football tournament of this year’s Olympics, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The former Super Eagles’ manager has also disclosed that the African champions will commence preparations for the Rio Games in the first week of February. Speaking from his base in the United States of America, where he is presently on vacation, Siasia disclosed that himself and his assistants will use the February

camping in Abuja to see any new player that could add value to the team that won the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal last month. “Since we qualified for the football event of the Rio Olympics, a lot of players both at home and abroad have been calling me that they want to play for the country, so myself and my assistants intend to use the first week of camping to see these players who will bear the cost of their trip to the camp and accommodate themselves. “Any of them selected will now be

added to the players who made us proud in Senegal for a full camping. Mind you, no player is yet guaranteed a shirt in the team, as I have always said only the best legs will make it to Rio de Janeiro,” Siasia said. “For now, time is not on our hands and as such, we need to start work in a bid to present a team that will make Nigerians proud in Brazil. For me, after winning silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, my next target is to go all out for gold in Rio, and I strongly believe we have the players that can achieve this.”

Sports

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Zidane with his son, Enzo Fernandez

Zidane cheered at first Real training

ormer French captain, Zinedine Zidane, the new Real Madrid coach, kicked off the first day of his sensational new role with a high-profile training session attended by thousands of applauding fans yesterday. The three-time world player of the year faces a tough challenge to drag the Spanish club out of its current crisis and back to the heights of success, and prove his ability as a coach. Just hours after the announcement of his nomination, the 43-year-old oversaw his first training session with the club at the small Alfredo Di Stefano stadium in Madrid, walking out onto the pitch to the cheers of some 5 000 supporters. “Zizou, Zizou!” they shouted as he entered, wearing a grey tracksuit and fluorescent shoes. The Frenchman gathered players around him. Then he kicked the ball to start a training exercise, drawing shouts of “hurray”. Zidane replaces Rafael Benitez, who struggled to win over both Madrid’s fans and their superstars during his seven months at the helm.

Guinean players get $15,000 each for CHAN ticket

he 23 players who made this year’s CHAN final squad for Guinea as well as eight backroom staff have each been paid $15,000 for making it to the bi-ennial tournament in Rwanda for the first time. Guinea are drawn

in the same first round group with Nigeria, who are making their second appearance, and 2011 champions Tunisia. Niger are also in Group C and this will be their second appearance after they featured at the 2011 edition in Sudan.

Nigeria Super Eagles B Team players received a win bonus of$5,000 rather than half that amount when they held Burkina Faso to a goalless draw in Ouagadougou to qualify for the CHAN on a 2-0 aggregate.

ing of the sport would help in the discovery of new talents in the country. He made the call at the end of the finals of the annual Ajanah Basketball Competition in Okene, Kogi last Sunday. It was the fourth edition of the tournament being sponsored

by the Chief Judge of Kogi, Justice Nasir Ajanah. Umar said there was the need for the Federal Government to promote the game the same way it has done for football, in view of its potentials. The NBBF president said this was because the game could provide means of livelihood for unemployed youths. “If basketball is properly funded, it is capable of creating sources of livelihood for youths,” he said. Umar said members of the federation were in the state to witness the finals of the tournament as well as to appreciate the sponsor. “We in the NBBF leadership feel that we should come to show appreciation and to also take a look at the talents that have been built over the years.”

NBBF boss charges FG on adequate funding

resident of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijani Umar, has called on the Federal Government to commit more funds to the promotion of basketball in the country. According to NAN, Umar said adequate fund-

Umar

Guardiola reveals England move O

utgoing Bayern Munich coach, Pep Guardiola, has admitted he wants to manage in the English Premier League in his first press conference since announcing he will leave the Bundesliga giants at the end of the season. “I want to coach in England,” said the Spaniard yesterday, before adding that he “has no new club yet.” Guardiola’s departure at the end of his third season in Bavaria and his replacement by Italian Carlo Ancelotti were announced by the club on December 20. The former Barcelona coach has since been linked with Chelsea after Jose Mourinho was sacked, and also with Manchester City whose own manager, Manuel Pellegrini, is under contract until 2017. “I have this possibil-

ity to go to England. It’s the right time,” said the Spaniard, who turns 45 later this month. “I’m still young and I need new challenges. I haven’t had offers yet, I can’t say anything more for the moment.” “I hope that (KarlHeinz) Rummenigge (Bayern chairman) and the staff understand my decision, I’d be sorry if they were disappointed by my choice,” he continued, adding that he would discuss the subject “for the first time” with his players during their winter training camp in Qatar starting today.

Guardiola

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Ahead NPFL new season:

Heartland ace striker, Ogbuh, talks tough

eartland striker, Emeka Ogbugh says he is committed to the Naze Millionaires in the upcoming 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. The lanky player was unarguably one of the standout players for the Owerri-based outfit in the out gone league season. Ogbugh said he wanted to play a key role aimed at ensuring the 2009 CAF Champions League finalists return to the continent at the end of the upcoming league season. “Yes, I’m wholly committed to Heartland for the upcoming 2015/16 NPFL season. “Heartland truly underperformed given their reputation and standard in the out gone league season. “Finishing seventh on the league log on 56 points 14 points behind champions, Enyimba is not really a good one. “We should be in the

Ogbugh in action for Heartland

topmost three either winning the league shield or heading off to the continent. “I’m staying behind to ensure we win at least the league title,

continental ticket or the Federation Cup. “The task is achievable once the players and coaches are able to put their acts together,” he con-

cluded. Heartland resumed training yesterday ahead of commencement of the NPFL season this month.

Tornadoes’ pre-season tour excites Aliko

iger Tornadoes captain Mustapha Aliko, has said that the three weeks pre- season camping in llorin will adequately prepare the side for the expected daunting task in the 2016 Glo Premier League season. The promoted side arrived llorin, Kwara state on Monday to commence a three-week camping exercise that will see them engaging top sides in warm-up matches. Aliko, who is also the team’s goalkeeper said the management was in tune with international practices to have approved the closed camping for the side ahead the kickoff. “That’s the standard practice in Europe and I think the management

has done the needful to take us away from our immediate homes for a closed camping. “We have wholeheartedly embraced the sacrifice and will certainly go the extra-mile to justify every dime put into the exercise. “The exercise will put us on good stead for the expected tough life in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) later in the month. “Though we are waiting to get to the bridge but we have told ourselves that we won’t be pushovers in the top flight but compete favourably,” Aliko said. The Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4 winners are one of the promoted sides to the NPFL.

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

Table Teams

Enyimba

Wolves

Nassara

Wikki

Giwa

Sunshine

Heartland

Pillars

3SC

Abia

IfeanyiUbah

Rangers

Lobi

Akwa

El-Kanemi

Dolphins

Sharks

Kwara

Taraba

Bayelsa

Pillars woo Heartland ‘Keeper Obiazor

Obiazor

Efugh yet to sign for Enyimba

igerian champions, Enyimba, have not completed the signing of Chinedu Efugh from

Efugh

rivals, Heartland, it was learnt. Efugh has become one of the top players on the wish list of the People’s Elephant following the departure of Markson Ojobo from Aba. However, the deal to bring Efugh to Aba is still pending as Enyimba are still locked in discussion with their southeast rivals, Heartland. It was gathered that Efugh is keen to make the move to Owerri in order to play in the Champions League. “Nothing is done yet on signing him. Talks are still on,” said an official of Enyimba yesterday.

ano Pillars yesterday revealed that Heartland goalkeeper David Obiazor is close to a switch to them. Obiazor was Saturday dropped from the home-based Super Eagles squad that flew out of the country for a twoweek training camp in Pretoria, South Africa, ahead of the 2016 Championship for African Nations slated to start on January 16 in Kigali, Rwanda. It was gathered that Obiazor has had talks with the hierarchy of the Sai Masugida side during which discussions were held to necessitate his switch. It was also gathered that Pillars have also communicated Heartland, intimating the Naze Millionaires on their interest on the goalkeeper. “We’ve written to Heartland to convey our desire to sign Obiazor,” Idris Malikawa, spokesman of Kano Pillars, revealed yesterday in a chat. “That is the first appropriate step to take because we’re a professional side always guided by the tenets of due process.” However, Solomon Onu, image maker of the Naze Millionaires, said he had not been officially informed but quickly added that there could be a likelihood of interest coming from Pillars.

WORLD RECORD

Shortest useable pogo stick Vol. 05 No. 1278

N150

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The shor test usable po go stick measures 46.15 cm (18.16 in) in height and was created by Udar Robinson (Canada) and Homagni Baptista (Australia).

Change: From political slogan to educational reform

s Nigerians eagerly look forward to the actualization of the promises made by President Mohammad Buhari, particularly during his electioneering and on his budget presentation to the National Assembly recently, I feel obliged to draw his attention and that of the governments across the 36 states to the need to allow change move from being a political slogan to being a high content in the nation’s education transformation template. This is because the education sector in Nigeria today is sick and needs to be fixed if the country wants to truly deploy it as an instrument to drive national development and integration. A look at the nation’s education sector will reveal the sorry state of affairs occasioned by virtual collapse of infrastructural facili-

Guest Columnist

Olusegun Kolawole

ties, low morale of workers, poor funding, frequent strike actions, low supply of qualified and motivated teachers, ineffective curricula, gross indiscipline on the part of students, general insecurity in our schools, and general social malaise arising from disorientated value system in the larger society. Media reports show that out of school Nigerian children increased from eight million in 2009 to 10.5 million in 2014 in spite of the huge sums of money that had been expended in that sector. It is equally on record that primary school teachers in Benue State were on strike for close to seven months before the advent of the new administration, during which pupils were left to roam the streets. In many states, teachers are owed salaries and left them to do other things except teaching and keeping over the children in their attempt to live meaningfully. It took several months before the strike action embarked upon by polytechnic lectures in the country was called off. We easily remember the unfortunate problem of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls. Currently, members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities are on strike to protest what they termed “government’s insensitivity to the 2009 agreement it entered into with them on staff school”. Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are not happy with government, although it has not begun any strike action yet. Its silence is ominous because it could snowball into a major national crisis if the Federal Government does not quickly re-

THE CURRENT SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM THAT TRIES TO MAKE EMERGENCY ENTREPRENEURS OF OUR SCHOOL LEAVERS IS A DISSERVICE TO CURRICULUM

MODIFICATION… spond to failed promises made by the last administration. The current senior secondary school curriculum that tries to make emergency entrepreneurs of our school leavers is a disservice to curriculum modification because it has created more problem for the sector than it tried to solve. The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination being conducted by JAMB annually has compounded the problem of admission into tertiary institutions, a problem it was designed to solve when it was created years back. In spite of the huge sums of money being spent on providing infrastructure and adequate funding for colleges of education, most products of that sector are not able to transform teaching and learning at the basic school level and that problem has also compounded the problem of low quality of

pupils, who gain admission into secondary schools. The low quality of secondary school students is shown in the poor results that are recorded in the external examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council of Nigeria (NECO). These problems have also crept into our tertiary institutions, particularly the universities. This is why no Nigerian university ranks among the first 10 universities in Africa in spite of the fact that Nigeria has universities that should be able to hold their own if properly funded and adequately monitored. All these and many more problems have largely made it impossible for the education sector to engender social transformation. The scenario painted above has made it imperative for a rejig of the change mantra, a political slogan the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to gain a resounding victory both at the national and state levels over the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was ‘change’ that sold the APC to the electorate and made it possible for its candidates to gain victory over their rivals. Now that the APC has formed government at the federal level and in some states across the country, people are expecting the dividends of the change they voted for. It is from this background that the idea of this piece came up. I like to remember the contribution of Dr Kolawole, not a relation of mine, but somebody I had the privilege of discussing the idea of this piece with sometimes last July. It was our discussion, which focused on the decadence to which the education sector has sunk that led to the idea of writing a piece, which is aimed at drawing the attention of the governments to the sorry state of affairs in the education sector. Let me reiterate my earlier point that education in Nigeria needs an urgent dose of the change treatment to promote a turnaround in the sector. To be continued Prof Kolawole (fcepacs, mtrcn) wrote via kocycool57@yahoo.com/coo.kolawole@gmail.com

Sport Extra

Aussie Open: Murray to quit for pregnant wife

ritish number one, Andy Murray, says he would leave the Australian Open early if his wife, Kim, goes into early labour with their first child. The first Grand Slam of the 2016 season runs from

January 18-31 and the baby is due in mid-February. Asked if he would withdraw from the final in such a scenario, the 28-year-old Scot told BBC Sport, “I’m going to fly home. I’d be way more disappointed winning the Aus-

tralian Open and not being at the birth of the child.” According to BBC Sport, Murray, a double Grand Slam winner, said the current plan is to compete in the Australian Open and then take February off to spend

time with Kim and the baby. He was speaking while competing in the Hopman Cup event in Perth, where he partnered Heather Watson to a 2-1 win for Great Britain against France on Monday. Murray put Britain

ahead when he defeated Kenny de Schepper 6-2 6-2. Watson lost to Caroline Garcia 6-3 5-7 6-3 to level the tie. Murray and Watson then beat De Schepper and Garcia 6-2 5-7 10-6 in a mixed doubles match decided on a champions tie-break.

Murray

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