Binder1

31.07.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

THURSday

No. 2,232

NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER

N150

Leadership Newspapers

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Oando Completes $1.5bn ConocoPhillips Acquisition

By WENESO OROGUN, Abuja

Oando Energy Resources Inc. (OER), a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, has announced the completion

of its acquisition of the Nigerian upstream oil and gas business of ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) for a total cash

consideration of $1.5 billion after customary adjustments plus a deferred consideration of $33 million (the transaction).

The transaction entails the acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian oil and gas businesses consisting of both onshore and

2015: TAN Plans Mega Rallies For Jonathan > Page 4

Chibok Diary DAY 108

offshore business activities.

A press release by OER said Phillips Oil Company Nigeria Limited (POCNL) holds a 20 per cent non-operating interest ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

N100m Presidential Largesse: Chibok Community Denies Receiving Any Money > Page 2

as md abubakar bows out today

Presidency In Dilemma Over IGP’s Successor 5

Abba, Arase, Doma, Zuokumor, others on the cards

A police detective inspecting the site of the suicide bomb blast outside the central administration building of the Kano State Polytechnic, yesterday. PHOTO BY AFP

Another Teen Female Bomber Strikes Kano Poly, Kills 6 5

2

chibok diary 108

Thursday, July 31, 2014

DAY

CHIBOK TWEETS @MzQuadrey I'm beginning to think these female suicide bombers are the kidnapped girls o! #BringBackOurGirls" @scolzmuller I think the #BringBackOurGirls matter is now a #StoryForThegodsVideo. @iPUBLICIZEnaija Thank you Blessing Okagbare for making us proud. You never know what your daughter can do #BringBackOurGirls @IamAyomiDotun For naija wey truth don die, justice sef don die... make we no allow hope die too #BringBackOurGirls @Gidi_Traffic “@survivor17: So the Cameroonians have rescued their First Lady from BH while our girls remain unfound!!!!!

This life. #BringBackOurGirls” @Bukkyshonibare We gathered for the #ChibokGirls, we'd remain for d #ChibokGirls, regardless.

Any issue outside our singularity of purpose is a DISTRACTION. @obyezeks Regardless of our disappointment, we must STAND RESOLUTE in DEMANDING ACTION for successful rescue of our #ChibokGirls. That's our FOCUS! @obyezeks AbujaFamily of #BringBackOurGirls is on with 90th DAILY Sit Out now @ the Unity Fountain. Be a VOICE for our #ChibokGirls!

YOU cannot STOP. @obyezeks Kano again and again.

Female suicide bombers again and again - becoming trend.

Our #ChibokGirls still in the enemy den.

Are we THINKING? @Bar_Baric Government dey try make am look like say Borno na continent on 'im own. #BringBack OurGirls jor!

N100m Presidential Largesse: Chibok Community Denies Receiving Any Money How Presidency Shared Money To Chibok Girls, Parents – KADA

BY CHIKA MEFOR, Abuja The Chibok community in Abuja yesterday made a stunning revelation of how the senior special assistant on special duties to President Goodluck Jonathan shared money unequally among the 51 escaped Chibok girls and the parents, which sparked off the furore trailing the presidential gift after their visit last week.

The association was reacting to the report on the BBC Hausa Service on the purported N100million presidential gift, where some of the parents alleged that the Abuja-based community leaders had shortchanged them, saying that, no amount of money was given to the Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA).

Recall that the national publicity secretary of KADA (which organised Chibok community for the visit to the president), Dr Manasseh Allen, had explained that the association was never given N100 million before, during or after the visit, but added that when they were preparing to leave their hotel, a presidential aide had visited them and was seen by some people giving N100,000 each to some of the escaped girls.

“When we saw the president, we told him about our demands and he jotted it down. We left for the hotel. It was later we started hearing news about money being shared by the senior special assistant to the president on special duties.

“We don’t know how the N100m came about. We didn’t collect any money and we are not part of the sharing of any money. Some of our members said they saw the presidential aide giving out N100m to some of the girls. We promise to investigate the matter thoroughly to find out how much was actually given, to whom it was given and how it was being shared,” he said.

The community, operating under the auspices of KADA, described as completely false, malicious and unfounded the claim that its members also benefited from the presidential largesse, saying that their primary and only goal was to ensure the safe return of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls that are still in Boko Haram captivity, and that it was sad that they “are losing sight of this to the allegation of sharing of money.”

At a press conference in Abuja, spokesperson of KADA, Mr Dauda Ilya regretted that the approach adopted by the presidency in disbursing the money had brought reproach and dishonour to the Chibok community. Revealing how the controversial presidential largesse was shared among the girls and their parents, Ilya said that on the night of July 22 at about midnight, “the senior special assistant to

EBOLA Vs BUSINESSES THE CURRENT TREND OF THE EPIDEMIC AND THE POTENTIAL RISK OF CROSS-BORDER AND INTERNATIONAL SPREAD CONSTITUTED A PUBLIC HEALTH MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN. - WHO regional director for Africa, Luis Sambo

EBOLA

BUSINESSES

APPREHENSION ACROSS EBOLA-AFFECTED COUNTRIES AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES IS THREATENING TO DAMPEN THE BUSINESS CLIMATE

25

Arik Air, a prominent airline in Nigeria, suspended operations into Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) effective, July 28, 2014 until further notice

DAYS

An Ebola patient will start manifesting the symptoms no more than 25 days after contracting the virus

NIGERIA

GUINEA

Guinea depends on its mining exports, the impact of shutting down operations of foreign mining firms in April 2014 has been so devastating on its economy Ivory Coast recently announced it was shutting its own border with Guinea

IVORY COAST London Mining in June 2014 announced its evacuation of its staff from Sierra Leone and imposed travel restrictions LODON due to the outbreak of EVD

Some members of #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) Group, during their meeting at the Fountain Square in Abuja, yesterday.

Accusing the presidency of bringing disrepute to the Chibok community, KADA said, “While we acknowledge that any well-intended support for our suffering population, which has lost means of livelihood since the events of April 14 and subsequent attacks could be welcome, however, the approach that the Presidency adopted has brought reproach and dishonour to our community in the eyes of the public that has supported us since the abduction of our daughters.

“We hereby state categorically that no amount of money whatsoever was given to KADA leadership to share among the parents and escaped girls, or for whatever reason and therefore the allegation is completely baseless, false and malicious, to say the least.”

Stating that it was with deep sadness that it was making its position known, KADA said that it took the moral high road as a community association that represents the Chibok people in Abuja, to facilitate the recent visit of parents of the abducted girls and 51 of the 57 that escaped.

the president on special duties, who had been co-ordinating the visit on the side of the Presidency, visited the hotel and told the 51 escaped girls who came that the Presidency sent them a token of N100,000.00 each.” He said the presidential aide gave them the said amount without any prior discussion with the officials of KADA or any other person in the community.

According to the Chibok community, he equally gave the sum of N200,000.00 each to 61 of the 122 parents that came on the visit and that “51 parents were given N100,000.00 each, on the basis that the money given to him was not enough to go round at N200,000.00,” adding that “the remaining 10 parents were not given any amount of money.”

On the money shared among some of the girls’ parents back home in Chibok, Ilya said, “It was the sum of N1m given to them by the Hon Member of the House of Representatives representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, which is the source of the alleged N7,000.00 given to parents in Chibok that were not part of the visit.”

Liberia has ban the sale of ‘bush meat’. The country has strong attraction for consumption of ‘bush meat’ and its sale was a LIBERIA huge business for many

MAJOR EBOLA OUTBREAKS Confirmed cases and years

Sudan, S/Sudan (2004, 1979, 1976)

Guinea (2014)

Liberia (2014)

Cote d’Ivoire (2014) Gabon (2001, 1996, 1994)

Congo (2005, 2003, 2001) Democratic Republic of Congo

(1976, 1977, 1995, 2007, 2008, 2012) INFOGRAPHICS BY Matthew Akhabue

Uganda (2012, 2011, 2007, 2000)

Total infections Total deaths

3

our stand Thursday, July 31, 2014

Not Just About Oil

W

hen the National Conference passed a resolution requesting President Goodluck Jonathan to set up a technical committee to look into the controversial derivation principle and the proposed intervention fund for the states hit by terrorist attacks, many thought the confab had chickened out of the major essence of its being. The volatility of the twin issues of derivation formula and resource control could not be ignored, however. It is surprising that the delegates did not fairly, courageously and sincerely deal with them.

But derivation should be couched within the matrix of true federalism. The greatest test of the political will of the constitution review process should have been to effect the desired restructuring of the Nigerian federation such that no part feels marginalised, bled or cheated about the resources buried in the bowels of its soil.

We are aware that an earlier report released by the Conference’s consensus bridge-building group contained some agreement on the derivation principle which was reviewed upward to 18 per cent from the

current 13 per cent. There was also a proposal for five percent of the revenue accruable to the federation to be dedicated to a special fund for the development of solid minerals. But the consensus bridge-builders failed to agree on another 5 per cent intervention fund for the stabilisation of the north-east geopolitical zone and other areas affected by terrorists’ attacks.

We feel this is a disturbing disservice to a germane national question.

We would have thought the confab should have drawn inspiration from the reports of the 11 revenue commissions constituted between1946 and 2000.

Since these “sages” could not resolve the logjam, we hope the technical committee will be cou-

Editor Sadiq Abdullateef Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

rageous enough, if empanelled, to properly situate the revenuesharing formula or fiscal federalism within the larger matrix of federalism as it is practised in all decent societies across the world. For instance, the idea of a distribution system of 50 per cent for the federal government and 50 per cent for the regions where resources are based, as was the case in the First Republic ought to have been adopted. The principles of derivation, even development and population can be justifiably addressed as the Pius Okigbo panel of the 1990s recommended, such that a special fund can be distributed to address solid mineral development, derivation, ecological problems associated with exploration and exploitation, and revenue equalisation.

Much as the politics of oil revenue has made Nigeria a polarised state, we suggest that state governments become creative by thinking beyond oil as was the case before hydrocarbons were discovered. Federalism presupposes that the constituent units should grow at their own pace and pay royalty and remit same to the central government, as opposed to cap-inhand monthly allocation from the federation account.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser Abdulhaleem Amin Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Ademola Oladosu Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!

4 news extra

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo FG To Raise $500m For Boko Haram Victims In 12 Months As the federal government gets set to officially launch the Boko Haram Victims Support fund today, President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed hope that about $500 million would have been raised through the fund within a period of 12 months to further alleviate the sufferings and deprivations unleashed on Nigerians living in areas most affected by the insurgents.

Accordingly, he urged members of Nigerian private sector and friends of the country in the international community to provide more relief and succour for all those who have been adversely affected by terrorism and insurgency in the country.

Speaking at two separate audiences with the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, and the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, the president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to doing all within its powers to help victims of insurgency and terrorism rebuild their lives and communities, and said the fund would be managed by a non-governmental organization.

He added that the fund would also be deployed in support of the rebuilding of destroyed schools and the creation of a safer environment for education in affected states.

Welcoming the pledges of support from the Commonwealth and UNFPA, made by Mr. Sharma and Prof. Osotimehin, Jonathan said his administration appreciated the solidarity of the international community as it grapples with the challenging task of overcoming the twin scourges of terrorism and insurgency.

“We continue to work very hard to deal with the problem. It is a major challenge and we welcome all the assistance we can get,” the president added.

He also assured Mr. Sharma that Nigeria remains fully committed to the goals of the Commonwealth and will continue to support all efforts to reform and strengthen the organization for the benefit of member-countries and their people.

Earlier, Sharma told Jonathan that he was in Abuja to express the Commonwealth’s full solidarity with Nigeria as it contends with insurgency and terrorism, and to also explore ways in which the Commonwealth could assist Nigeria in that regard.

On his part, Osotimehin hinted that UNFPA was already working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its civil society partners in Nigeria to provide a measure of support to families and girls in some affected states.

L-R: Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and the Leader of Sam4Nigeria and presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah during a condolence visit to the cleric in Zaria.

Nda-Isaiah Pays Condolence Visit To El-Zakzaky Over Sons’ Killing Says, Nigeria must be salvage from impunity

By Midat Joseph, and Aliyu Yusuf Kaduna

The leader of Sam4Nigeria and presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, yesterday paid a condolence to the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky over the killing of 33 members of the movement, including three of his sons.

Nda-Isaiah, who was at the Gyellesu residence of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in Zaria, said Nigerians must come together to save the country from poor leadership and impunity which are threatening to bring it to its knees.

Nda-Isaiah said, “We now heard that 33 people have been killed. Even if you kill 33 chickens illegally, that could have been quite serious. So, I believe that the only thing that can solve our

problem now in this country in leadership. We currently don’t have it. It is time that we start to run ourselves properly.

“I think they (Shiite) should go to court and fight till the end. It is commendable that their leader has called for restraint. I don’t know how many of us would lose three children and still maintain our calm. That is very commendable. All those that are guilty must face the law fully. It is time that we start to punish all crimes in this country.”

“The government must see this as a challenge; therefore, it’s dangerous to keep mute seeing things happening like this,” he added.

Nda-Isaiah specifically commended the exemplary leadership attribute displayed by Sheikh Zakzaky in the face of the tragedy.

“We commend your leadership attribute and the dignity you exemplified. We wonder how many leaders could contain this (loss) and remain calm even when they

lost three of their children this way. We are very proud of this attribute. If leaders were like you, the world would be a better place to live,” he said.

He pointed out that Nigerians should never keep quiet in the face of this atrocity, saying that it is dangerous to remain silent in this situation.

FG Silent Over The Killings – El-Zakzaky Receiving his guest, Sheikh Zakzaky expressed surprise by the silence of the Nigerian government over the killing of his three sons and followers.

According to him, the government’s silence has confirmed the sect’s position that there was conspiracy in the killing.

He said it was unfortunate that some soldiers would decide to kill innocent people that were carrying out a peaceful procession.

“We have confirmed that one Lt Colonel Okuh personally killed some of the victims, including my sons. I am surprised that 33

people were killed and nobody from the government is saying anything.

“My sons and some of the victims were tortured to death. They were taken alive to their Basawa Barracks and tortured to death because there were signs of electric shocks on some of the corpses, according to doctors.

“It would surprise you to know that there was even a roadside beggar among those that were killed. There was even one Mr. Anyanwu, about 68-year-old, who was also killed because he simply cautioned them on how they were killing innocent people. Because of that they shot him to death. So, it is not about Shiites-soldiers clash but the killing armless and defenceless people by soldiers,” said Zakzaky.

Nda-Isaiah recently visited the general overseer of the Living Faith World-wide, Bishop David Oyedepo at Cananland in Lagos where they discussed behind closed doors for close to one hour.

2015: TAN Plans Mega Rallies For Jonathan

By George Agba, Abuja

A political group fronting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term in office, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) said yesterday that it had concluded plans to organise rallies to push for the president’s re-election in 2015.

The group’s director of Public Communications and Strategy, Udenta O. Udenta, who gave the hint at a national stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, noted that as a major voice behind current positive propagation of the numerous achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan, TAN was becoming worried that over what she described as “the almost near absence of coverage of President Jonathan’s

By George Agba, Abuja very many achievements nation-

wide”.

Noting that the negative antics of the few traducers of the administration were visibly unconscionably allowed to dominate the public pace, Udenta urged Nigerians to carefully take a dispassionate look at the very many unique achievements of President Jonathan.

Listing out the achievements sector by sector, which included Oil/Gas, Roads, Agriculture, Power, sports, Railway, Women/ Youth empowerment, Housing, Port reforms, Electoral reforms, Aviation,Port Reforms, Automobile Industry and the National Conference, he said, to speed up things and ensure effectiveness in some sectors, a transparent Public Private Partnership(PPP) scheme was brought in.

Noting that the port reforms saw to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 22 airports, he said five new airport terminals were constructe d at the Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja airports, as well as six cargo terminals which were also approved and constructed.

“The port reforms were conceived with the ultimate goal of a 48-hour goods clearing policy in all the nation’s sea ports. This vision is now realizable while the 35% affirmative action set as a springboard for greater women empowerment as set out by the 1995 Beijing Conference was first actualized under Jonathan”, Udenta noted.

He said TAN had vowed to take the message of hope, peace, national cohesion and development

which President Jonathan represents to the people to see for themselves and be convinced that it has to be consolidated, encouraged and accepted by all.

Udenta further explained that the meeting in Awka was to finetune the proposed national rallies which would be held in the six geo-political zones of the country, beginning with the South East at Awka on August 16,2014.

Describing TAN as a non-governmental, non-partisan organization which is simply spreading the message of peace and the promotion of good governance in the country, he noted that the group simply supports any duty bearer that identifies with the aspirations of the masses, like President Jonathan.

NEWS 5

Thursday, July 31, 2014

LIVING LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100

One health tip daily You Snooze, You Loose

Staying active and exercising regularly are the foundations for living a long and healthy life. It’s no surprise that caged animals have more health problems and a shorter life span than freerange animals. Research

with humans confirms that as a rule, the more active you are, the longer you will live. In one study, the group that burned more than 3,500 calories a week lived the longest. Being lazy can actually shorten your life!

Oando Completes $1.5bn ConocoPhillips Acquisition FROM COVER

in Oil Mining Leases (“OMLs”) 60, 61, 62, and 63 as well as related infrastructure and facilities in the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) joint venture (NAOC JV). The other co-venture partners are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with a 60 per cent interest and NAOC (20 per cent and operator).

Also included in the transaction are Conoco Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (CEPNL) that holds a 95 per cent operating interest in OML 131 located 70 km offshore in water depths of 500m to 1,200m and Phillips Deepwater Exploration Nigeria Limited (PDENL) that holds a 20 per cent non-operating interest in Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 214 located 110 km offshore in water depths of 800m to 1,800m. The other co-venture partners are ExxonMobil (20 percent and operator), Chevron (20 per cent), Svenska (20 per cent), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (15 per

cent) and Sasol (5 per cent). In June 2014, Nigeria’s petroleum resources minister approved the conversion of OPL 214 to OML 145 for an initial period of 20 years.

Through this transaction, OER will indirectly own all of the issued share capital of POCNL, CEPNL and PDENL. The effective date of the transaction is January 1, 2012. In connection with this transaction, OER retained the Petroleum and Renewable Energy Company Limited (Petrenel) as Independent Reserves Evaluator to report on the reserves and resources of the newly acquired assets, OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 (together, the “Onshore).

Commenting on the transaction, an elated OER’s CEO, Pade Durotoye, said: “This transaction represents a transformational leap forward for our company and is in keeping with our overall strategy to grow our portfolio of Nigerian-based ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Presidency In Dilemma Over IGP’s Successor

By CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, Abuja

The atmosphere appears cloudy at the Police Force Headquarters over the likely successor of inspector-general of police Mohammed Abubakar who is expected to bow out of office today.

LEADERSHIP investigations reveal that the names of supposedly prospective successors have been shortlisted, putting the Presidency and the Police Council in a difficult position. Sources within the Presidency said the Police Council responsible for recommending the candidate to the National Executive Council has been besieged lobbyists.

A Presidency source disclosed that pressure had mounted from various quarters and regions of the country over the preferred candidate to succeed the outgoing IGP, putting the Presidency in a dilemma over the right successor.

Some senior police officers being mooted for the top position include AIG Solomon Arase, Force Intelligence Bureau; AIG Suleiman Abba, AIG for Zone 7; Dan Azumi Doma, force secretary; and DIG Michael Zuokumor.

Force secretary Doma is top on the list of contenders. He is said to have occupied sensitive positions in the force which some police watchers said have put him in a vantage position to understand the workings of the force.

Arase’s name is also on the list of top contenders because he has worked closely with several IGPs in the Force Headquarters and has a track record of loyalty to constituted authority.

Abba in charge of Zone 7 is also a top contender. It has been mooted that, if the outgoing IGP would nominate anyone, it would be Abba.

There is allegation that some interest groups from the north are pressuring the president to consider AIG Abba for the top job.

According to sources, the Jigawa-born officer has held positions in the presidency in the

Abubakar

past and may just get the blessing of some powerful influences in the Presidency.

DIG Zoukomour’s name came on the list, for what some call his powerful connection in the presidency. He was recently promoted to DIG. Sources said he is not likely to be retired along with the IGP, a tradition in the force. The reasoning is that, being a fresh DIG, he stands the chance of getting President Jonathan’s nod.

The Presidency sources said he is one of the president’s men.

Until his elevation to the rank of DIG on January 15, 2014, by the Police Service Commission, Zuokumor was the AIG in charge of Zone 4, Makurdi. He presently heads the operations of the force.

Meanwhile, some women groups have made a case for the president to appoint a female police officer as the first female IGP. According to the groups, the president would be leaving a lasting legacy if he considered a female for the top position.

The women drew allusion to Nigerian females who are currently heading highly sensitive positions and performing excellently. According to them, successive IGPs, all males, have not been able to address the teething problems in the force and the fight against crimes and criminality.

What may count against a woman IGP presently is that, apart from specialist departments like the medicals, there are no women AIGs in the force operations and intelligence.

Another Teen Female Bomber Strikes Kano Poly, Kills 6

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano; George Agba, Patience Ivie Ihejirika, Abuja; Muazu Elazeh, Katsina; and Mohammed Ismail, Yola

A female suicide bomber of less than 20 years yesterday blew up herself and six other people, while 18 students received various degrees of injuries.

The blast occurred at the Kano Polytechnic Central

Administration where graduating students were checking the preliminary list for the National Youth Service Corps.

Eyewitnesses told our reporter that a young woman disguised as one of the students to gain access to the point where she finally detonated the bomb.

The chief medical officer of the state-owned Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Dr Nagoda, confirmed that one

person was dead along with the female suicide bomber.

Dr Nagoda also confirmed that 18 people were among the injured who were brought to the hospital and were receiving medical care.

The CMO said that three among the injured were critically injured as they were losing too much blood.

Our reporter who was at the hospital saw relatives of the

injured trooping in to see the conditions of their brothers and sisters.

10-year-old female bomber nabbed in Katsina The national coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, yesterday in Abuja revealed that three suspected bombers were arrested by security forces on Tuesday in ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6 NEWS

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Another Teen Female Bomber Strikes Kano Poly, Kills 6 FROM PAGE 5

Katsina State.

According to Omeri, the three suspects believed to be members of Boko Haram included a male, IIiya Dahiri, and two females, Zainab Musa,18, and Hadiza Musa, 10.

Omeri, who stated this while briefing journalists on the federal government’s effort to rescue the abducted Chibok girls, said the suspects were arrested in a Honda CRV car.

He said: “When they were directed to disembark for security checks, 10-year-old Hadiza was discovered to have been strapped with an explosive belt and, immediately, IIiya and Zainab made attempt to escape with the car but were later blocked by other concerned Nigerians and subsequently arrested. The police successfully unstrapped the explosive.”

He said that the trend of using young females clearly shows that there is something wrong with the male wing of the Boko Haram sect, adding that because citizens are now more security-conscious the sect might have decided to devise a new means.

Omeri appealed to parents to consciously observe and watch their children’s activities to prevent them from participating in unwholesome activities, particularly acts of terrorism.

Police spokesman ACP Frank Mba said, globally, the use of female suicide bombers is actually not new, though still new in the country.

He said women generally raise less suspicion and Boko Haram terrorists have taken advantage of that and are now recruiting female bombers.

Mba said that the force was going to deploy more female officers to checkpoints since their practice does not allow men to check females.

Jonathan

Kwankwaso

He also appealed to parents to support security forces in taking children hawkers off the streets.

countering the violent insurgency by Boko Haram.”

Omeri further stated that the Nigerian military’s top priority remains securing the nation and conducting all operations to defeat Boko Haram and counter the spread of terrorism in Nigeria and in West Africa.

Omeri condemns Kano State Polytechnic attack The National Information Centre yesterday condemned the female suicide bombing at the Kano State Polytechnic while assuring citizens that the government was working hard to track and capture all terrorists and their sponsors in the country.

The coordinator of the centre, Mr Mike Omeri, who stated this while briefing journalists, said that the government was closely liaising with domestic and international intelligence agencies within the newly established Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU) to bring all terrorists and their sponsors in the country to book.

According to him, “the government is sending an unequivocal message that terrorists will find no safe haven in any corner of the country.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the government is putting all efforts and resources into successfully and definitively

Thousands of residents flee Garkida for fear of further insurgent attacks The fear of another imminent attack by gunmen has made thousands of residents of Garkida in Gombi local government area of Adamawa State flee their homes; they said that was the only option left for them to escape insurgent threats alive.

Unknown gunmen launched attacks on Sallah Day leading to the killing of five soldiers and an undisclosed number of civilians, just as property items including houses and cars worth billions of naira were destroyed by the insurgents.

The fleeing residents said the only option for them in the wake of another threat by the Boko Haram insurgents was to flee the town in view of the fact that

even soldiers deployed to secure the area were being killed with impunity by the gunmen.

One of the fleeing residents, Mrs Helen Bako, said since the last Sunday’s attack, they had been living in perpetual fear as the insurgents promised to launch another attack very soon.

“As you know, the insurgents have killed soldiers providing security for us. They also burnt down their unit, police station and valuable properties. With the situation we felt no more secured,” Bako said.

Another fleeing resident, Michael Timothy, also said since the first attack, they had been forced to retreat to the mountains as they no more felt secure living in their homes for fear of another attack, adding that most of them were exposed to the vagaries of weather which have made their children fall sick on a daily basis.

He added that, for almost three days, he and his family members had been staying with hunger as food and water had remained very scarce. The people, he said, were with no option except to leave the town to avoid being killed by hunger, disease or caught up by the rampaging insurgents.

With the development, Garkida which is one of the economic hubs of Gombi LGA, has now become a ghost of its former self as the town has been completely deserted.

Motorcyclists popularly known as “Achaba” increased their fares following high demand for their services by the fleeing residents.

Kano, Potiskum Attacks: Jonathan Orders Security Beef Up In Schools Miffed by bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies by the Boko Haram sect, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday directed the

Oando Completes $1.5bn ConocoPhillips Acquisition FROM PAGE 5

assets by focusing on those opportunities that deliver highquality growth in reserves and production. He added: “Our management team is familiar with these assets and possesses the managerial experience and technical expertise necessary to unlock their value for our shareholders.”

Also commenting, chairman of OER Mr Wale Tinubu said “we believe in the significant potential that the Nigerian oil and gas industry holds and are privileged to play a pivotal role in its consolidation, growth and development. We will continue to seek strategic opportunities that provide a platform for enhanced growth and value creation for our stakeholders”.

The independent reserves report has an effective date of December 31, 2013, and has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 standards and the guidelines set out in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook while all figures quoted are gross to OER (i.e. before deduction of royalty and tax) unless otherwise stated.

OER believes that the transaction represents a significant opportunity for OER to create scale and significant value for its shareholders, adding: • The total reserves and resources associated with this Transaction are: Proved plus Probable Reserves of 211.6 million barrels oil

equivalent (“MMboe”); Best Estimate Contingent Resources of 498.6 MMboe; Unrisked Best Prospective Resources of 656.9 MMboe.

• A 20 per cent working interest in the NAOC JV, which includes 40 discovered oil and gas fields, of which 24 are currently producing approximately 40 identified prospects and leads, 12 production stations, approximately 1,490 km of pipelines, three gas processing plants, the Brass River Oil Terminal, the Kwale-Okpai 480 MW combined cycle gasfired power plant (“KwaleOkpai IPP”), and associated infrastructure.

• OER’s sales production from the onshore assets

averaged 36,494 barrels of oil equivalent per day (“boe/d”) in 2013 and 39,266 boe/d in H1 2014.

The Onshore Assets contain 211.6 MMboe of Proved plus Probable Reserves, 217.0 MMboe of Best Estimate Contingent Resources and 333.6 MMboe of Unrisked Best Prospective Resources, gross to OER. • The Offshore Assets include a significant share of six separate discovered fields and eight separate prospects and contain a total of 281.6 MMboe of Best Estimate Contingent Resources and 323.3 MMboe of Unrisked Best Prospective Resources, gross to OER. • Upon completion of the Transaction, OER will be

Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force to beef up security around schools in states that are vulnerable to the insurgents.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president condemned the bombing in Kano and the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State on Tuesday, even as he described the members of the Boko Haram sect as nothing but depraved and bloodthirsty adherents of a warped and retrogressive ideology.

“President Jonathan has therefore directed the Armed Forces, Police and other national security agencies to further enhance security around educational facilities in states prone to terrorist attacks”, Abati stated.

He further said Jonathan vowed that “No amount of intimidation and violence would stampede the government into abandoning its goal of giving education a new lease of life and opening up access to all young Nigerians who wish to improve themselves”.

The statement made available to LEADERSHIP last night further noted: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan deplores the continuing terrorist assault on Kano and the heinous bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies today. He similarly deplores the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State yesterday.

“President Jonathan condemns the repeated targeting of worshippers, and innocent students who are the nation’s future by depraved terrorists.

He believes that the callous attacks on soft targets fully affirm that the terrorists’ are nothing but bloodthirsty adherents of a warped and retrogressive ideology”.

positioned as one of the leading E&P players in the Nigerian oil & gas sector, as measured by end-2013 Proved plus Probable Reserves of 230.6 MMboe, Best Estimate Contingent Resources of 536.8 MMboe, Unrisked Best Prospective Resources of 2,051.8 MMboe and H1, 2014 production of 44,512 boe/d, all gross to OER. The transaction was financed with an approximate 50/50 debt-equity ratio. Half of the deferred consideration of US$33 million is due six months after closing with the balance due 12 months after closing. It is immediately cashgenerative and will contribute significantly to the cash flows of the company.

news extra 7

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Jonathan Launches 64Page E– passport President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday launched the newly designed 64-page electronic e-passport, saying the security measures involving the use of the passport were such that would prevent criminals from faking it.

Speaking when he launched the passport at the presidential villa, Abuja, the president observed that usefulness of the epassport does not lie in fact that it contains 64 pages, but the security measures that comes with it.

Noting that there would be security challenges if the nation’s passport could be easily faked by criminals, Jonathan expressed sympathy for the frequent travellers who changed passports almost on a monthly basis to avoid being impersonated.

He added that it had become incumbent for Nigeria to have a robust relationship with key countries to enable those who travel frequently do so with ease.

Jonathan said, “One thing one must know today is that it is not the issue of 64-page passport that is key to Nigerians but the security. If our passport could be easily faked by criminals, then we will have problems. One thing again is how Nigerians can be able to get passport easily especially those living outside this country.

By George Agba, Abuja

FG Urges Parents To Disengage Their Children From Islamic Teachers The federal government yesterday in Abuja urged parents to disengage their children from Islamic teachers, saying that those who want their children to be taught Quranic education should go to the formal schools established for the purpose.

It said that it will be better and safer for parents to send their children to formal schools than subjecting them to the hands of strangers whose stories or histories they don’t know about.

The coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr Mike Omeri, stated this while briefing journalists yesterday on federal government’s efforts to rescue to the abducted Chibok girls.

By Patience Ivie Ihejirika, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan going through the New 64 Pages of the Nigeria international Passport during the launching Ceremony held at the Presidential villa Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Nasarawa Lawmakers Under Pressure To Impeach Al-Makura

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

sembly but National Assembly.” He further alleged that members of Plot to impeach Nasarawa State the assembly have stopped using governor, Tanko Al-Makura yester- the president’s name but are now day took a fresh dimension as the dropping the names of the senate lawmakers purportedly sat outside president and other members of the state capital with a view to ac- the National Assembly from north tualising their plan. central zone.

The lawmakers met to further press on the state chief judge to Lai Mohammed, Nasarawa disband the seven-man probe pan- Speaker react el to investigate the alleged wrong Also reacting to the latest develdoings against the governor which opment in the Nasarawa State govthey had alleged was tilted in fa- ernor’s impeachment saga, the navour of the embattled governor. tional publicity secretary of APC, A source who was privy to the Alhaji Lai Muhammed said, “We sitting but pleaded anonymity dis- are not surprised at what is going closed that the lawmakers’ latest on. It is part of the impunity being move is driven by pressure mount- perpetrated by the PDP but we are ed on them by the faceless persons not in any way worried because the allegedly pushing for the impeach- indictment of the governor cannot ment. be justified nor sustained under According to the source, Presi- any circumstance. dent Goodluck Jonathan advised “Our stand is that any sitting of the lawmakers against the im- the House of Assembly conductpeachment when they met with ed outside Lafia is an illegality and Jonathan last week but main- will have no effect. We are aware tained that some influential PDP that the impeachment plot was stalwarts who are behind the im- being instigated by the PDP with peachment plot are bent on going the aim of decapitating opposition ahead with the process. parties ahead of the 2015.”

The source said, “The idea beWhen contacted, the press sechind yesterday’s sitting is to cre- retary to the speaker, Nasarawa ate an impression that the state State House of Assembly, Mr. Ibraassembly ordered the chief judge him Tanko, said, “The lawmakers to disband the panel and recall the discovered that most of the panel report on expiry of the constitu- members set up by the chief judge tional period allowed for the pan- of the state are card carrying memel and go ahead with the impeach- bers of APC and they have directed ment”. When contacted senior the chief judge to disband the panspecial assistant, public affairs to el and set up another one”.

Governor Al-Makura, Mr. AbdulMeanwhile, members of the Narameed Kwara, said, sarawa State House of Assembly’s “I want to tell you that these peo- allegation that security concern ple are desperate to remove the was the reason for moving their governor. The mace that was used plenary to Karu local government today is not that of the state as- may not be true afterall.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke to LEADERSHIP anonimously said the Police Command could not guarantee their safety hence their decision to move their sitting to Karu which is within close proximity to the federal capital.

However, when our reporter visited the Shendam road Assembly Complex at about 9am over 20 armed mobile police officers were seen securing the complex with no sign of protesters in sight.

Nasarawa lawmaker, assembly clerk escape assassination attempt In a related development the member representing NasarawaEggon East constituency in the Nasarswa State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Muluku Aga, yesterday narrowly escaped assassination attempt by sheer luck as assailants trailed his car only to discover it was used by his brother.

Narrating what ensued, the lawmaker’s younger brother, Sani Aga, said the suspected killers laid ambush for his brother by VIP Lodge, along Shendam road in Lafia.

He said the assailants blocked the road with their vehicle thereby forcing them to stop before forcefully gaining access into the lawmaker’s CRV jeep. Sani, who was rushed to Makwa in NasarawaEggon local government area for treatment after sustaining several matchet cuts from the attackers said they were armed and demanded to know the whereabouts of the lawmaker.

“When they forced their way into our car they started threatening us to tell them the whereabouts of our

brother and other lawmakers or they will kill us” Nasarawa Assembly seats in Karu LG, calls for disbandment of probe panel Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday reportedly held plenary in Karu local government area over what is believed to be security concerns of carrying their legislative duties in Lafia, the state capital.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke to LEADERSHIP anonimously said the decision to move to Karu was because police could not guarantee their security.

When our reporter visited the Shendam road Assembly complex at about9am however over 20 armed mobile police officers were seen securing the complex with no sign of protesters in sight.

Issues considered by the members for which resolutions were passed said to have included a call on the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to disband the earlier inaugurated probe panel which the lawmakers view as being fraught through with constitutional anomalies.

The lawmakers observed that one of the members, Mohammed Sabo Keana, is a card carrying member of the PDP while Dr. Joel Galadima is the current chairman of Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The members were also said to have called for the freezing of state government account on the grounds that the ongoing impeachment move may spur the state government to into siphoning public funds.

Potiskum Twin Blasts: Hospital Official Says 13 Killed, 35 Injured

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Following Tuesday night’s twin bomb blast that rocked the town of Potiskum in Yobe State, officials said that at least 13 people have been killed while 35 others sustained serious injuries.

Eyewitnesses at the Potiskum General Hospital had confirmed

to LEADERSHIP that most of the victims who survived were rushed into the accident and emergency wards bleeding from various degrees of injuries sustained at the scenes of the blasts.

A hospital source, who craved anonymity, told LEADERSHIP said, “I participated in receiving the victims; and we have 13 dead

ones and 35 injured persons that were brought in here at night on Tuesday; some of the injured persons with critical cases like third degree burnt have since been referred to Azare Federal Medical Centre for proper care”.

Azare is about 80 kilometres away from Potiskum and about 180km away from Damaturu the

state capital.

LEADERSHIP had yesterday reported that the first blast occurred at Alkali Kalli Mosque near the palace of Emir of Fika at about 7.30pm on Tuesday while the second one came about five minute later at Sakafa Muslim Brother Mosque. The attacks on the mosques came as a

rude shock to residents of Potiskum, even though the Boko Haram leader had in a recent video vowed to detonate bombs in various parts of northern Nigeria especially on neighbourhoods where moderate Islamic clerics had condemned and described their activities as unIslamic.

8 News north-central

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Abdullahi Declares For APC Says only APC can salvage Nigeria

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The former minister of sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has publicly declared his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying only the party holds the key to a credible political future for Nigeria.

He, therefore, asked Nigerians to carefully weigh the options before them in deciding which political party to support in 2015.

Abdullahi spoke in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State. He used the forum to announce to the world that he is now a card-carrying member of the APC and fully engaged in politicking.

He urged Nigerian professionals eager for a change in the affairs of the nation to become active in the political sphere as most decisions that affect the destiny of the people are taken at the political level.

The former minister said he was thrilled to discover while in office both as a commissioner in Kwara State and a minister at the federal level that professionals, especially journalists with commitment can make change happen in whatev-

er capacity they are called upon to serve in the country.

On the state of the nation, Abdullahi said, “The question you should ask yourself is whether you are better off today than you were six years ago, whether the education your children receive today is better than what they received six years ago and whether the health services available to you are better than what was obtainable six years ago; and if you conclude that they are better, then there is no need for you to change but if like many of us you face the reality that they are not, then you will understand why we say that we need a change.

“I have served both at the state and national levels and I am convinced now that I should be more involved in contributing to solving problems, not just writing about them again and that is why I am now a full member of the APC. “Yes, I used to see myself as a technocrat and it was strategic because I needed to have an environment to perform the job I was given without necessarily becoming political or promoting myself because whether as a commissioner or minister, I was only there by the recommendation of my bosses.”

Chibok Girls: Group Wants FG To Negotiate With Boko Haram

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has urged the federal government to enter into negotiation with the Boko Haram insurgents to secure the release of the abducted scchoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.

The group reasoned that the problems of insecurity in the country could only be surmounted through negotiation and intensive prayers.

The MMWG in a Sallah message by its coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi called on the

security agencies in the country to use advanced intelligencegathering mechanism to locate the sponsors and perpetrators of insurgency in the country “so that over 200 schoolgirls in captivity could be urgently freed and peace returned to the nation”.

It further said, “The release of the Chibok girls is taking too long. As tension, anxiety and uncertainty pervade the nation, the ruling class should know that their utterances, actions and general conduct are responsible for the current state of the nation.

Osun Guber: CDHR Opposes Jonathan’s Visit To Osun

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed three-day campaign visit to Osun State, saying that the event will be an assault on the people of the state.

National vice president of the group, Comrade Otitolaye Taiwo said the visit will cost the nation not less than N2.5 billion, adding that it will cost the economy of the host state much more because it will limit economic activities in favour of presidential security.

The CDHR statement, entitled

“President Jonathan: End This State of Impunity” and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday reads: “The CDHR is worried that President Goodluck Jonathan is fast drifting away from the sensitivity and responsibility demanded by the office he occupied by his handling of state affairs, ranging from security, economic and political urgency bedeviling our country. He is unperturbed even with the increasing loss of lives and property.”

It accused the president of junketting about and attending to trivialities in the face of serious national security issues.

L-R: Trade adviser (Diaspora Investment/Nigerian Diaspora Expert Programme) to the minister of industry, trade and investment, Lola Visser-Mabogunje, Prof Emeritus of Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA, Prof Augustine Esugbue and chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigeria in Diaspora Alumni Network (NIDAN), Austin Esugbue, during the NIDAN get-together meeting/dinner held in Abuja. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

Benue NLC, TUC Threaten Strike Over Salary Slash

By Solomon Ayado, Makurdi

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Benue State chapter have said that they will embark on an indefinite strike action if the state government does not reverse the workers’ salary slash.

In a communique signed by NLC chairman, Comrade Simon Anchaver and his TUC counterpart, Ordue Tartenger, after the joint meeting of the organised labour yesterday in Makurdi, the two unions resolved that government should also address other issues affecting members before

the close of work yesterday, failing which they would embark on an indefinite strike action commencing today.

They expressed worry over the decision of government to unilaterally deduct salaries of workers despite the position of the organised labour that it would resist any attempt to tamper with salaries.

“The joint session observed with dismay the non-payment of minimum wage to pensioners and the non-implementation of 15 per cent and two and a half per cent increment to pensioners. Government should pay

forthwith.”

“We also observed that primary school teachers are yet to enjoy the full implementation of the minimum wage; they should also be paid along with other workers,” the organised labour insisted.

The unions called on the state government to refund excess tax deductions from members since 2011 and all deductions made in respect of the National Housing Fund, adding, “The three years Leave/Transport Grant arrears owed our members by the state government must also be paid forthwith.”

Kwara Promotes 1, 647 Teachers

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The Kwara State government has promoted 1,647 teachers.

This development followed the interview conducted for the teachers by the state Teaching Service Commission.

The permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Education, Alhaji Lamidi Alabi made this known during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

He disclosed that no fewer than 108 non-teaching staff were also promoted, adding that the state

government has approved the release of their letters of promotion.

Alabi restated the government’s commitment towards transforming the education sector with the welfare of teachers given priority.

This, he said, necessitated the recent approval of vehicle loans for teachers.

He said, “Government has approved the release of letters of promotion to the teachers who were earlier interviewed and they have started collecting those letters at the state Civil Service

Commission.

“This was done to encourage the teachers to work harder and fit into the education reform agenda of the state government in an attempt to improve basic and secondary education in the state”.

He disclosed plans to address the shortage of teachers in rural schools, through the recruitment of teachers who will reside in those communities.

He said such teachers must live and teach in their locality for at least three years before they can put in a transfer request.

Niger East By-election: PDP Backs Down On Consensus Candidate

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Niger State, has backed down on the endorsement of the state former deputy governor, Dr Shem Nuhu Zagbayi as its consensus candidate for the Niger East Senatorial District by-election.

The acting chairman of the party in the state, Barrister Tanko Beji gave this indication yesterday when another candidate, Hon Abdullahi Musa visited the party secretariat to submit a letter of intent to contest the Niger East Senatorial District by-election.

He stated that with the en-

trance of Hon Musa, the party has no option than to open the window for a primary election and ensure that the candidate of the party emerges through democratic process that will be acceptable to all.

He said, “The party will do all that is right for the most sellable candidate to emerge; through this, the public will see us as a true democratic party.”

“The party primary must be conducted for both of them; this is because it is mandatory for us to do that; surely due process must be followed in the conduct of the primary,” he assured.

While saying that the party is faced by time constraint and may conduct the primary election for the party’s flag bearer this week, he stated that it will not be a bogus primary since it is just for nine local government areas consisting of 99 wards whose delegates are already on ground.

Earlier, Hon Musa, a former member of the House of Representatives, had submitted his letter of intent to contest the byelection and called on the party to accord him the fairness to contest despite the earlier endorsement of the former deputy governor as consensus candidate.

news NATIONAL 9

Thursday, July 31, 2014

N80bn Allegation: Nyako’s Rebuttal, A Subterfuge – Adamawa Ag. Gov

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola

Acting governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has described the rebuttal of the allegations of massive theft of the state’s resources against Governor Murtala Nyako by his media aide as an attempt to use subterfuge to confuse the people of the state so that the former governor can get unwarranted public sympathy.

A press release signed by the media aide to the acting governor, Babayola Muhammadu Toungo, said the allegations of massive theft against the immediate administration led by ex-governor Nyako followed due diligence and careful

study of the underhand dealings perpetrated by the regime.

“The state broadcast by his Excellency, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, which elicited Sajoh’s umbrage, was based on facts and figures and not figment of anybody’s imagination. The figures released by his Excellency to the public were arrived at after series of meetings with Nyako’s bankers from whence he picked his financial adviser, who himself is now a frequent guest of the EFCC. “The condition of the state today may not be unconnected with the quality of advice given to Nyako, if the response from Sajoh is to be a yardstick.”

He noted that Nyako

may have been a fantastic navigator in the Navy but that he had proved to be a woeful navigator of statecraft, who foisted an implacable kleptocracy on the state.

“Adamawa state was administered in a monarchical manner akin to the Arab monarchies, with no difference between the purse of the state and that of the royals. We may as yet discover who deserve the sympathy of the people when the can of worms is finally opened,” he said.

According to him, if he were Nyako’s adviser, he would definitely advise him to lie low and wait for the Judicial Panel Inquiry to be empanelled, to come and clear his name.

Patience Jonathan Disowns Drowned Nephew In Agura Hotel

By George Agba, Abuja

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday denied having any kind of relationship with one Christopher Awai, purported to be his nephew, who allegedly drowned at Agura Hotel recently.

She said the alleged incident was an unfounded rumour which she knew nothing about “and we will like the public and well meaning Nigerians to note this, for the purpose of accurate record and common good”.

In a statement by her

media aide, Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, Mrs Jonathan also disowned one Madam Esther Ebiere Gbonkumor who was named in the news reports as her immediate younger sister and who petitioned the Inspector General of Police on the incident, saying she was not related to her in any way.

Partt of the terse statement by Adewuyi, which was made available to LEADERSHIP, noted: “This is to clearly state that the said Christopher Awai has no link whatsoever with the First Lady

and as such, he is not a nephew of the First Lady.

“We also wish to state without any iota of equivocation that Madam Esther Ebiere Gbonkumor who was mentioned in the news reports as the immediate “younger sister” of the First Lady is not in any way related to Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan.

“Madam Gbonkumor was said to have petitioned the Inspector General of Police on behalf of the family “demanding a full corona inquest into Awai’s death”.

Gbadamosi Chairs Unveiling Of Nollywood Book By laolu oladipo, Lagos

Respected economist, playwright, art patron and former minister of national planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, will today chair the unveiling and public presentation of ‘Auteuring Nollywood: Critical Perspectives on the Figurine’.

The event holds at 10am at the Agip Hall of MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The scholarly book which examines the highpoints of Kunle Afolayan’s award-winning film, The Figurine, is edited by Dr Adeshina Afolayan of the Department of Philosophy, University of Ibadan.

The book, a collection of scholarly essays, is the

first of its kind devoted to the work of a single Nigerian film director. It examines the thematic focus and cinematic style employed in The Figurine, while also using that singular work to engage the trends in the new Nigerian cinema popularly referred to as Nollywood.

According to a release

by Relentless Media, the organisers of the event, contributors to the book include Dr Sola Osofisan, Dr Dele Layiwola, Dr Chukwuma Okoye, Jane Thorburn, Matthew H. Brown, Gideon Tanimonure, A.G.A Bello, Foluke Ogunleye and Prof Hyginus Ekwuazi.

“To do justice to the in-

tellectual content of the book, Mr Emeka Mba, the director general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Dr Ikechukwu Obianya, the director of Nollywood Study Centre, Pan–Atlantic University, Lagos have been enlisted to review the book at the public presentation”, the release said.

KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY Tafawa Balewa Way, P.MB 2339, Kaduna (Office of the Registrar)

POST UTME SCREENING EXERCISE FOR 2014/ 2015 ACADEMIC SESSION This is to invite all candidates who chose Kaduna State University, Kaduna in the 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to a screening exercise that will be conducted through Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.

NOTE: Only candidates who scored 180 and above are eligible to attend the screenin exercise.

METHOD OF APPLCATION Step 1: Applicants are to obtain PIN Number on the payment of N2,200.00 (N2,000 being cost of screening and N200 being Bank and Administrative charges) at the following sales points / outlets: i.

Unity Bank, Bakori House, Kaduna ii.

Unity Bank, Zaria iii.

Unity Bank, Kafanchan iv.

KASUCONSULT, Main Campus, Kaduna Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4: Step 5:

Applicants should Log in at the homepage of the Kaduna State University website, www.kasu.edu.ng Click 2014 POST-UTME REGISTRATION Log in using your PIN Number, then upload you passport size photograph.

Note that the photograph uploaded will be the only valid ID for all candidates Fill-in the Applicant’s Particulars Form.

Preview and confirm your information before printing your Examination Card.

Note: No Applicant will be screened for the Post-UTME without valid examination card and original UTME JAMB result slip.

APPLICATION DEADLINE Online PUTME Registration will start immediately and end

by Tuesday,12th August, 2014.

POST UTME SCREENING The screening exercise will take place from Thursday, 7th to Thursday,14h August, 2014 NB: • Applicants should report at the Science Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Science, Main Campus, Kaduna State University, Tafawa Balewa Way, Kaduna at least one hour before the scheduled time as indicated on the candidate’s slip.

• GSM Phones are not allowed during the Post-UTME screening exercise • The Portal for registration and printing of Exam Card will be closed by mid-night on 12th August, 2014.

ANY CANDIDATE WHO FAILS TO REGISTER FOR THE SCREENING EXERCISE AND /OR FAILS TO APPEAR FOR THE SCREENING ON THE STIPULATED DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION. Note: This advert supersedes the earlier one published on Tuesday, 22nd July, 2014.

Signed:

Chief Gbadamosi

Registrar

10

stories of the Thursday, July 31, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

BIZMAN’S ARREST: Group Petitions CJN In Ibadan

Auto crash: 7 Die On Ayingba-Lokoja Highway

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Seven persons have lost their lives in a multiple auto crash which occurred along Ayinba-Abeji-Lokoja express way in Kogi State.

Eyewitness told our reporter that a Sienna bus was avoiding a motorbike on its route and ran into two oncoming cars, killing the drivers and the passengers in the cars.

A relation of some of the victims, who lost his wife and daughter, said that his family travelled to Abuja for a wedding but perished in the crash on their way back.

Another eyewitness told our reporter in Ayingba that one Mahammed, who was killed in the fatal accident same day, lost his wife, who had gone to a bank in Lokoja to make some transactions.

When contacted, the police public relations officer, Mr Mike Emeh, confirmed the incident stating that the accident was as result of dangerous overtaking at a bend.

arson: Fire Guts Ex-Gov Kaita’s Residence

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

An evening fire incident has gutted part of the residence of former Governor of defunct Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita.

It was gathered that the inferno gutted four bedrooms and two sitting rooms in the former governor’s house adjacent opposite NYSC transit camp in cosy GRA at Katsina municipal.

The fire was said to have started when an unattended burning candle had exhausted itself in one of the rooms.

Sources said the fire spread and consumed the rug, curtains and other equipment in the affected room before spreading to other rooms.

Unconfirmed source said one of the former governor’s daughters was trapped in one of the affected rooms when the incident occurred but was later rescued.

No life was however lost but items worth millions of naira were consumed by the inferno.

It took the combined effort of security, aides and some members of the house to break part of the wall where she was trapped to set her free.

Several sympathisers and political office holders have been visiting the former governor to sympathise with him over the incidence.

Among early sympathisers was Governor Ibrahim Shema, who expressed government’s sympathy after being taken round to see extent of damage on the house.

He reportedly ordered for the renovation of the gutted part of the house among other renovation works within the house’s premises.

Commercial activities resume at Balogun Market after Eid-el-Fitr holidays in Lagos, yesterday. Photo BY NAN

Death: Snake Kills Magician In Delta

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba Tragedy struck in Alifikede near Agbor, Delta State, when a snake charmer was reportedly attacked by his snake.

The snake attacked the magician after he used life snakes to showcase his prepared charms against snake bites before a crowd of people.

Reports said that the magician, a 46- yearold tailor, who abandoned his profession, identified as Samson Ogbebor, has been using his magic wand to woo unsuspecting customers to purchase the prepared charms against snake bites.

While performing his magic, he usually displayed various sizes of snakes around his body.

Eye witness said that the snake attacked its owner after it was released by the magician, moments after performing his magic.

Expectedly, after the bite, the magician fell to the ground and was rushed by members of the public, who were at the scene, to a nearby hospital.

But he died before they got to the hospital.

Speaking to our correspondent, an elder in the community, who did not want his name in print, said what surprised people most was the way and manner the snake struck the magician after which he started vomiting before he was rushed to the hospital.

The old man said all the snakes disappeared after the bite adding that the situation has created fear of the unknown in the area.

A group, Friends of the Judiciary, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, over the arrest and detention of an Ibadanbased businessman, Mr. Dapo Davies.

In the petition signed by its President, Abdul Ramah Ayodeji Amire, dated July 30, 2014 and titled, “Petition Against Hon. Justice A.A. Aderemi of the Oyo State High Court for Abuse of Judicial Power and Oath of Office”, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday, the group asked for the intervention of the CJN in the matter.

The petitioner lamented that since Justice Aderemi got the response of the CJN to the petition dated June 23, 2014, written against her(the Judge) to Mukhtar

by Davies, who is the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Pelly Foam Industry, the judge had resolved to commit the businessman to jail and prevent him from obtaining justice.

According to the petition, the judge issued bench warrants against Mr. Davies, and that on Saturday, July 12, 2014, she personally drove herself to the State Criminal Investigation Department to serve the warrant on the police and compelled them to arrest the businessman.

The group lamented further that the Pelly Foam boss was consequently arrested and kept in the police custody from that day till July 22, 2014 when he was bailed, noting that “in essence, Justice Aderemi has imprisoned a person who filed an action in her court seeking redress before her court.”

The petitioner informed the CJN that it learnt on good authority that the judge had resolved that “she would jail the man called Dapo Davies and prevent him from appearing before any panel that might be set up by the National Judicial Council.”

The group noted that despite the fact that the law makes it mandatory for matters to be heard in open court, the judge chose to demand that people should leave her court whenever she wanted to take up Mr. Davies’ case.

Impersonation: Ogun Police Arrest Fake Cop

By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

Men of the Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command, attached to Otta Division, have arrested a fake policeman with police uniform and some police paraphernalia who was parading himself as a police officer to con people of the area.

According to the Command’s PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, the suspect Mr Taiwo Agboola, 35, of Iyana Ago, Idiroko, Ogun State, has been parading himself as a police man over time and has been placed under sur-

veillance by the police detectives in Otta for arrest, saying, “He has been ‘arresting’ people and settling their cases amicably.”

The suspect who hails from Ile Ife, Osun State, confirmed that he had been in love with the police job right from his childhood but was discouraged by his late mother hence his interest in getting police materials to create his private force.

Items recovered from the suspects, included a police T shirt, identity card bearing his name with a corporal rank, hand cuff and tear gas.

The Commisssioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State for thorough investigation.

This, according to the police boss, would assist in detecting some facts that will help the police to curb such nefarious act.

Adejobi said the commissioner was interested in the case and had assured the people of the state, of the command’s readiness to fight crime.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

day

STORIES OF THE DAY 11 Eid-el-Fitr celebration

COMMUNAL CLASH: 3 Die In Delta Communities By kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A protracted youth restiveness has claimed the lives of three persons in Ughelli Communities, leaving the community in confusion.

It was gathered that there have been several cult clashes between members of rival cult groups and a popular cult group, called Eiye confraternity.

They were said to have displayed guns and other dangerous weapons during the clashes.

Apart from the problem of youth restiveness, indications are that the community has been faced with multi-faceted prob-

lems, ranging from child prostitution, cultism, drunkenness, and idleness.

It was gathered that at weekends, drinking parlors and other joints are filled to the brim, including fast food joints and hotels, especially around Patani road popularly called Dumez road, where there are semi half naked drunk teenage girls committing all manner of atrocities.

But the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Celestina Kalu, said that some persons have been arrested in connection with the nefarious activities in the community, adding that on completion of investigations , they would be charged to court.

L-R: Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, deputy governor, Ondo State, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, president, Galilee International Management Institute, Israel, Joseph Shovel, during Shovel’s visit to the governor in Akure, yesterday.

FREE READERS: Trouble Brews As Newspaper Vendors Charge N10 By kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

What looks like a mild drama is currently unfolding at various newspapers stands in Asaba, Delta state, as those who cannot afford to buy copies of newspapers or magazines, popularly ,called, free readers have been subjected to payment of N10 to read newspapers.

While the newspaper stands in the early hours on daily basis are filled with members of the free readers association, trouble is said to be brewing between them and the newspapers vendors, especially owners of the newspapers stands.

At a popular newspaper stand by Ibusa junction, the owner of the newsstand, who did not want his name in the print,

described the situation as pathetic, especially with what the recklessness which the free readers hijack his papers to read He said that he could no longer tolerate their free reading culture because he was not making huge sales unlike before, and that henceforth, he would now charge N10 from members of the FRA. Speaking to our correspondent, the vice chairman of the newspapers distributors in the state, Mr. Michael Okafor, said, “It is a pity that apart from the damage online has done to the sales of newspapers, there are also problems of free reading that has also created poor sales of newspapers and magazines because after reading free newspapers, they will no longer buy the papers”.

L-R: Director General, Jonathan Youth Vanguard, George Turnah and the Youth Amayanabo/King of Niger Delta Youth, Chief Jude Tabai, during the Niger Delta Youth for Jonathan press briefing held in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE

KIDNAP: Gunmen Abduct Sen Emmanuel Paulker’s 90-year-old Mother

By OSA Okhomina, Yenagoa

Armed men yesterday abducted the 90 year- old- mother of Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial district, Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

The attack, which caused panic around her Opolo residence in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state at about 3am,led to the killing of an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA).

The corpse of the deceased officer of the NDLEA has been deposited at the Okolobiri morgue of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.

One of her children, popularly known as Driver, who was with her during the attack, was reportedly shot in the arm by the armed men.

Family sources recalled that the mother of the Senator was also kidnapped four years ago and spent almost two weeks in the den of kidnappers.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the latest attack and abduction occurred in the early hours of Wednesday with the gunmen shooting sporadically into the air before snatching their victim The kidnappers were said to have gained

access to their victim’s residence after cutting the protector to the building and escaped with her in their get- away vehicle.

Opolo is a densely populated suburb while the scene of crime was not far from the community town hall.

One of the residents of the Opollo area of the state and State Coordinator of the Environmental Right Action (ERA), Comrade Morris Alagoa, told LEADERSHIP that, “we were woken up at about 3am by heavy gun shots. Later, in the morning, we were told that the old woman has been abducted.”

Confirming the report, the spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr.Alex Akhigbe, said a team of police operatives were alerted and they responded by pursuing the kidnappers up to the entrance of the state capital, “the police chased them till Tombia where they disappeared. We have set up surveillance around the area and our men are presently combing the area to see that we free her.”

Meanwhile, the former Bayelsa State Governor,Chief Timipre Sylva, whose 86 years old uncle was abducted last week, has expressed concern over the treatment meted out to him, considering his state of health.

L-R: Mother of the day, Theresa Ekwere, visioner, VirginsPride Network, Nkechi Odebiyi, her husband, Mr Tunji Odebiyi, guest, Mrs Ihuoma Onyeruga and club member, VirginsPride Network, Miss Demehin Oluwafunmilayo, during the second celebration of purity by VirginsPride Network in Lagos. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI

Participants at the Eastern Delta Women’s convention in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO by nan

12

Thursday, July 31, 2014

business news

GTBank Partners Forte Oil To Increase Grass Root Outlets

By GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Forte Oil Plc, Nigeria’s foremost petroleum products retailer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to site GTExpress, a comprehensive agent banking service at its locations nationwide.

Speaking on the partnership in Lagos, the group chief executive

officer, Forte Oil Plc, Akin Akinfemiwa, said it is an initiative to reach out to those he called the under-banked and un-banked segments of the society in a cost efficient manner through the use of non-banking retail channels.

He said, “We are pleased with the GTBank partnership as it reinforces our vision of being a onestop shop whilst affirming the wide

reach of our retail network. With this alliance our customers, who patronise GTB Plc, will be able to reduce commuting time and cost in attending to their various needs.”

According to the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc; Segun Agbaje “The unbanked sector of the economy presents a significant growth area for banks in emerging markets.

Market Capitalisation Up By N27bn

By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened the week in an upward trend following the public holiday declared by the federal government.

The NSE market capitalisation at the end of the day’s trading gained by N27 billion or 0.20 per cent from N13.963 trillion recorded on Friday to N13.990 trillion.

The All-Share Index which opened at 42,285.82 points, grew by 83.17 points to close at 42,368.99 points.

Oando gained N2.47 to lead the gainers’ chart and closed at N25.47 per share.

Dangote Cement appreciated

by N1.94 to close at N233.94, while Stanbic IBTC grew by N1.45 to close at N30.54.Nigerian Breweries and Wapco appreciated

by N1.05 each to close at N179.05 and N120 per share, respectively.

On the losers’ chart, Seplat’s shares were down by N5.04 to close at N670 per share. Forte Oil lost N5 to close at N211, Total depreciated by N4.45 to close at N172 per share, while GSK dipped by N2.89 to close at N66.10 per share.

Stallion Expands Nissan Network With Abuja Sales, Spares Facility

By Samson Echenim, Lagos

Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria Limited, authorised Nissan sales company in Nigeria has opened new sales, spares and service facility in Abuja, an expansion the company said was meant to cater to the brand’s growing customers.

The company also planned to expand Nissan service network through the appointment of more dealers to enhance customer satisfaction by matching quality with cost efficiency.

Stallion Nissan Motors, which was inducted in April 2013 as the Nissan sales company, described the new Abuja facility as one of its core strategies for delivering world-class consumer experience, as the growing consumer base becomes increasingly motorised with Nissan at the forefront of initiatives to capture the Nigerian automobile market.

The company’s managing director, Mr Parvir Singh, in a keynote address at the facility’s unveiling ceremony said Nissan’s three-year objective conveys the responsibility of repositioning and enhancing the brand’s influence in the Nigerian market.

He said: “We have consistently intensified efforts to make Nissan Nigeria’s preferred brand and that was why we rolled out in April the first set of made-in-Nigeria Nissan vehicles including Nissan Almera, Sunny, NP300 pickup and high end SUV Patrol at our plant in Lagos.

“We also told President Goodluck Jonathan at the presentation of these vehicles in Abuja recently that we aimed to reaffirm our commitment to the new national automotive policy initiated by the government of Nigeria.”

NAC policy seeks to encourage vehicle assembly against importation of fully built vehicles, thereby giving better value to customers’ and saving valuable foreign exchange for the country while generating local skills and employment opportunities.

Stallion NMN has expanded the Nissan line-up with the addition of iconic models like GT-R and 370Z with some recently introduced exciting B, C, D, SUV and LCV segment (Almera/ Sunny, Sentra, Teana/Altima, Pathfinder and Urvan) vehicles.

Singh said Stallion NMN was already reaping the dividend of Nissan’s global mid-term plan Power 88, which he described as proactive.

“Even though we were inaugurated only last year, we took off on a high note with favourable growth indices that are significant to our achievement. Our sales volumes are consistently growing due to the favourable patronage that we have received from our valued customers.

“We are committed to upholding the reputation of Nissan by making the brand one of Nigeria’s most sought after vehicle,” the Stallion Nissan boss said.

L-R : Managing Director FBNBank UK Michael Barrett, Executive Director Public Sector South First Bank U.K .Eke , Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Chairman ,FBNBank UK Oye Odukale during a courtesy visit by FBNBank UK Board to the CBN Governor in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI

BOI Plans Boosting Agric Processing

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Bank of Industry (BOI) has concluded plans to act as a propelling catalyst towards the realisation of the federal government’s Industrial Revolution Plan(IRP) by leveraging on providing handy financial assistance to businesses and firms especially in the areas of agro-processing.

The managing director/chief executive officer of BOI, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, stated this during the visit of the members

of the Senate Committee on Investment to the bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, recently.

He said that the institution intended to move Nigerians from farming to small- scale enterprises, food processing and industrialised agro-industries.

According to Olaoluwa, what the bank has been trying to do was to key into the government’s Industrial Revolution Plan(IRP) as well as the National Enterprises Development Programme (NEDEP) of the present

administration.

He pointed out that his mandate was to promote the nation’s industrial sector particularly by giving the necessary facilities to small -scale enterprises (SMEs).

According to him, the major challenge facing the institution now was how to create millions of jobs for the teeming number of unemployed graduates in the country.

“The bank wants to create job opportunities in the agriculture sector as well as other sectors like solid minerals,” he said.

‘Improved Regulation Has Impacted On Stock Prices’

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The chief executive officer (CEO) of Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema, has said improved regulatory environment and performance of quoted companies from 2012 till date has positively impacted on stock market prices and overall market indices.

He stated this at the investors’ clinic for journalists, yesterday, in Lagos, saying, “We have seen strong and improved participation from foreign investors and local institutional investors, but local

retail investors are not as active as they used to be.

“In line with one of our core strategic pillars for enhanced market performance and growth, that is instituting a strong investor protection framework, we have reconstituted the Board of Trustees for the Investor Protection Fund (IPF),” Onyema said.

He pointed out that earlier in the year, the Exchange received the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of IPF rules which would enable the board of trustees of the IPF to

carry out the duties for which it was established.

According to him, it was no longer news that we have adopted a zero-tolerance stance on dealing member firms and listed companies violations.

He added that the Exchange has done a lot in educating investors and various shareholder groups saying, “We have now shifted gears to a very important constituency, the Journalists’ associations in learning how to properly manage your investment portfolios in addition to influencing your readers.”

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

Thursday, July 31, 2014

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Head Office: 3rd Floor, Murjanatu House, 1, Zambezi Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama - Abuja.

Tel: 09-8761892-3, 09-8122820, 8122822, 8122824

Lagos Office: 8th Floor, Mulliner Tower 39, Alfred Rewane Road (Old Kingsway Road) Ikoyi, Lagos.

Tel: 01-2773100-299

AMCON’S RESPONSE TO VANGUARD PUBLICATION ON 28TH JULY, 2014 ON DIVESTMENT PROCESS IN ENTERPRISE BANK AMCON’s attention has been drawn to a publication in the Vanguard Newspaper on July 28th 2014, in which the ongoing divestment of AMCON’s shareholding in Enterprise Bank was claimed to have been halted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and AMCON ordered to “conduct fresh final bids for the sale of Enterprise Bank”.

AMCON wishes to unequivocally state that the report is unfounded, misguided and created to derail the ongoing divestment process. Against the reasons cited by Vanguard’s Mr. Babajide Komolafe, the quality of the divestment process in terms of transparency and integrity is indeed of a very high repute, such that can compare favourably with the best Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) anywhere in the world.

It should be recalled that AMCON, through a world class selection process, had appointed a consortium of the best Financial and Legal Advisers (Citi Bank & Vetiva and G Elias LP) of international repute to work with.

It is important to state clearly that final bids for the Enterprise Bank sale are yet to be received by AMCON; it is therefore premature for the Vanguard report to state that AMCON interfered with the process. As a result, AMCON’s Board has not yet officially sought the regulatory approval of the CBN. The process is still on-going.

In addition, AMCON wishes to state strongly that the process is not under influence from any quarters. With the integrity of the adviser’s and stakeholders at stake, it would be difficult to ‘shift the goal post’ in manipulation of the process criteria or concede to alleged pressures from alleged quarters as claimed in the publication.

AMCON has benefitted immensely from the support of CBN right from the commencement of the process and is assured of a continual support to the end of the divestment from the reputable bank.

Lastly, AMCON repudiates entirely the story in the Vanguard, both in substance and inference as completely unfounded and untrue.

Signed:

Kayode Lambo

Head, Corporate Communications, Strategy & Research Board of Directors: Alhaji Aliyu Kola Belgore OFR (Chairman), Mustafa Chike-Obi (Managing Director) Executive Directors: Mofoluke B. Dosumu, Hewett A.O. Benson, Abbas M. Jega.

Non-Executive Directors: Arunma Oteh OON, Danladi I. Kifasi OON, mni, Kingsley Moghalu, Eniye Ukpeh., Umaru Ibrahim mni

Thursday, July 31, 2014

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16 NEWS/BUSINESS Lagos Targets Zero Deficit Budget In 2015 GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Lagos State Government has said it would strive to achieve a zero deficit budget in the implementation of its year 2015 budget.

The State commissioner for economic planning and budget, Mr Ben Akabueze, who said this yesterday during the 6th budget consultative forum held at Adeyemi Bero Hall Alausa, said the budget would maintain the previous year’s budget size level.

He explained that the projected budget was tailored to achieve sustainable government expenditure through the adoption of realistic growth targets in internally generated revenues such as taxes and non- tax revenue.

Akabueze listed other key strategy of the budget to include; tilting capital investment funds towards government key priority areas of power, agriculture, transportation and housing,

fast-tracking job creation and poverty eradication as well as maintaining capital to recurrent ratio within acceptable range of 60-50 of 40-50.

According to him, the year 2015 budget outlook for the state projected annual growth rate of 10 per cent estimated to put the state’s GDP at over N19.992trillion by year 2016.

He said economic affairs have the highest projected budget estimate of 30 per cent against 32.40 per cent in year 2014 because of the infrastructural development component, while social protection has the lowest estimate of 0.40 per cent against 0.50 per cent in year 2014 budget.

Akabueze said the percentage allocated to function groups reflects government priority areas, while general public service group was trending down due to deliberate efforts to reduce the cost of running government.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

CBO Capital Arranges $55m For OwelLinkson Gas Plant Acquisition OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

CBO Capital Partners has arranged $55 million to support Owel- Linkso Group in its gas train acquisition bid.

Owel-Linkso has completed the acquisition of the Egbaoma Gas Processing Plant located in OML 38, from Platform Petroleum/Newcross Joint Venture.

The equity investment supporting the acquisition was provided by Africa Capital Alliance, a Lagos- based private equity fund, while CBO Capital Partners are sole financial advisors to the project sponsors,

Owel-Linkso Group.

According to a director of CBO Capital Partners, Chuka Mordi, “We are pleased to support a project of this magnitude; it is in line with our investment philosophy of providing capital for the funding and growth of African businesses. We truly believe that infrastructural development, especially in the energy sector is extremely crucial to the economic growth of the country.”

Commenting on the acquisition, chairman of Owel Linkso Group, Charles Osezua, said, “Having pioneered gas and power sector development

with Gas Link, our organisation is committed to continuous development and expansion of infrastructure in the sector through the gas train project, we intend to become leaders in the sector.”

CBO Capital is a leading investment and project development firm. It was established with the aim of servicing and supporting business growth in Africa. Its asset management subsidiary, CBO Investment Management is currently raising a $200 million private equity fund for investment across the West African region.

GE supports transport sector refurbishment in Nigeria by kingsley alu, Abuja

General Electric (GE) Nigeria has re-stated its commitment to improve and emphasize the quality of the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian transport sector in a bid to improve sustainable quality of service.

GE President and CEO, Dr. Lazarus Angbazo made this known at an interactive session with the media in Lagos.

According to Angbazo, GE’s active and timely investments in the Nigerian transport sector are tailored to complement the Federal Government’s move to overhaul the transport system in the country and ensure that a more efficient and quality means of transportation are made available to the populace.

Highlighting specific steps taken to positively impact on the quality of service within this sector, Angbazo spoke about the plans of the Federal Government to increase the fleet of running locomotives while expanding the routes of rail lines enabling them connect different regions of the country.

He further stated that GE had already delivered 25 locomotives to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), following the Country-toCompany agreement that the company signed with the Federal Government of Nigeria five years ago. This development, he said, had brought the corporation back to life. Angbazo further disclosed that the collaboration between

the Federal Government and GE in Nigeria had seen 10 NRC engineers receiving international training in Brazil, with over 100 maintenance and service engineers being trained simultaneously in Lagos.

“The Federal Government was happy to work hand-inhand with GE, to train the NRC workforce. This was based on the realization that these workers needed to increase in versatility and experience.

There was also the realization of the overall importance of the transport sector in lubricating other sectors of the entire economy”, said Angbazo.

Speaking on GE’s planned $1 billion investment in Calabar, Nigeria, Dr Angbazo disclosed that $250 million dollars has been earmarked for the construction of a multimodal manufacturing and assembly plant. Nearly $800 million will be earmarked for operating expense including supplier development, human resource, research, training and other such expenditure over a 5-year period. The GE Chief executive disclosed that this is GE’s biggest investment in sub-Saharan Africa till date, and only the second of its kind in the world. So far, about $8 million has been spent on the project which is expected to be completed in 2016. The investment is aimed at strengthening GE’s local presence in Nigeria with the potential of creating over 2,300 direct and indirect jobs.

L-R: Brand Manager, Startimes, Somoye Tunde Habeeb, brand strategist, Ayokunle Idowu, public relation manager, Anetor Irete and account manager, Cutler Communications, Ihuoma Omenazu, at the launch of Startimes Star Sport 2 Channel in Lagos. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI

Nigeria’s LNG Global Market Supply Plunges Due To Lack Of Investment

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

Indications have emerged that Nigeria is gradually but significantly losing grip of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the international market.

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) located in the Bonny Island of Rivers State was established as a result of reforms by government to harness the country’s huge gas resources primarily to earn significant revenue and reduce the country’s huge gas flare.

The NLNG is owned by four shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) holding 49 per cent, Shell Gas BV, SGBV, with 25.6 per cent, Total LNG Nigeria Limited,15 per cent, and ENI International 10.4 per cent.

With the project coming on

stream , Nigeria assumed the 10th largest supplier of LNG in the global market but it is now gradually losing the market to international competitors who have continued to expand their businesses.

Giving an overview of the company’s performance while receiving the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) , Mr Andrew Yakubu, who visited the plant, the general manager, production, NLNG, Mr Chima Isilebo, warned on the consequences of inaction by government in the area of investment.

Isilebo said the company was challenged and was facing tough competition in the global LNG market and therefore said that it has become imperative that NLNG increases its production in order not to lose more market

share.

According to him, In line with the federal government’s vision of generating as much revenue from gas as from oil, NLNG starting out with a Base Project of only two trains with a capacity for about six metric tones of LNG per annum now produces 22million metric tones of LNG with progressive plans for a seventh train, expected to raise production to about 30million tonnes.

He said NLNG has successfully pioneered gas monetisation and was currently the 8th largest supplier of LNG in the world, making it a large-scale LNG plant by world standards.

Responding, the GMD of NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, expressed satisfaction at the significant contributions of NLNG to Nigeria’s economy and global reputation as a reliable energy supplier.

BUSINESS/MINES & STEEL 17

Thursday, July 31, 2014

2015: Coal To Power Project A Mirage?

The ambition of the federal government to generate 30 per cent of the nation’s power needs through coal by 2015 has been seen as a tall ambition. RUTH TENE NATSA in this piece examines the feasibility of this project.

One challenge that has constantly beaten the minds of experts in Nigeria is the resolution of power problems in the nation.

Low and unreliable power supply are seen as the bane of the nation’s Industrialisation and the root cause of unemployment.

With the privatisation of the nation’s power management sector, stakeholders were hopeful

that Nigerians would begin to experience the availability of power as never before, but that also seems to be wishful thinking as the nation’s problem seemed to have escalated following the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP, Mrs Ahiaru who lives in Dutse, a suburb in the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT) said ,” Since federal government privatised PHCN, the light has become a problem, now we go for days at a time without light and even when it comes the current is so low, it blurs like a covered candle.If government were to create a substitute to power supply it would do the nation good. Sometime ago, solar energy was such a big deal, but it seems to have been forgotten again,

maybe it didn’t work for us.”

For Mr Reuben, a Jerusalem Pilgrim, “I do not understand why the power situation in Nigeria is such a big deal. While on pilgrimage to Israel in 2013, we noticed that the country of Israel was mostly powered by solar and they enjoyed very good power supply, because for the 10 days we were there, there was never an issue of power outage, but it is a different story in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the promise of creating power through coal, Mr Reuben is pessimistic about achieving it by 2015.

“I do not see that happening anytime soon, because our mining sector seems to be comatose, if they cannot bring Ajaokuta to life, I do not see them creating power through coal by 2015, but all the same it will be a good thing.”

The promise by government to compliment hydro power using coal has given the nation hope that aside hydro, electric and solar power, Nigeria through its rich coal reserves can harness and improve power generation to compliment electricity supply to the nation.

As part of efforts

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towards achieving this, the minister of mines and steel development, Musa Mohammed Sada, had constituted a ministerial committee headed by the director-general of mining cadastre office, Mohammed Amate to collate and evaluate reports on coal to power initiatives with a view to establishing the status of the project.

The committee was also to identify assets of Nigerian Coal Corporation(NCC) other than coal that had been privatised and identify uses of Nigerian coal in addition to power generation.

‘Nigeria Produced 153.9m Tonnes Of Minerals In 5 yrs’

BY RUTH TENE NATSA, With Agency Reports

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The acting director of mines inspectorate in the federal ministry of mines and steel development, Mr Dauda Awojobi, has said Nigeria produced 153.90 million tonnes of all manner of minerals across the country from 2009 to 2013.

According to Awojobi, who gave a breakdown of the figure, in 2009 Nigeria produced 18.62 million tonnes, 25.08 million tonnes in 2010 and 23.55 million tonnes in 2011.He said the country produced 36.53 million tonnes and 50.12 million tonnes in 2012 and in 2013, respectively.

While stating that over 40 different minerals were extracted within the period under review, Awojobi disclosed that some were metallic, non-metallic, gemstones and carbonaceous minerals.

He listed the minerals mined to include gold, coal, iron ore, clay, limestone, lead/zinc, kaolin, gypsum, baryte, columbite, copper, garnet, manganese, phosphate, talc and tantalite among others stating that Nigeria achieved this feat due to the ministry’s drive to move forward in this direction.

The director said the ministry’s plan in 2014 was to improve on the control of mining operations, mineral production, safety operations and to boost the country’s revenue base.

18 BUSINESS/AGRICULTURE

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Harnessing the Untapped Potential of Agriculture for Inclusive Growth

A silent revolution When I was appointed Minister of Agriculture in 2011, the first thing I did was to take stock of Nigeria’s immense agricultural potential. Nigeria is one of the most blessed nations on the face of the earth. With over 84 million ha of arable land, abundant water and cheap labour, Nigeria should be a global powerhouse in food, a net exporter of food. Nigeria has no business being a net food importing country. To ensure this, President Jonathan three years ago launched the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) to unlock the potential of agriculture. The role of the government would be to enable the private sector, but the engine of growth of the agriculture sector would now be the private sector. From the farm to the table, we decided to improve the efficiency of the entire agricultural value chains.

No agricultural sector can develop unless it gets its farm input supply system working.

For decades in Nigeria the government monopolised the seeds and fertiliser sectors.

The government controlled system of direct procurement and distribution of seeds and fertilisers was very corrupt, as less than 11 percent of farmers ever got the farm inputs. The system also displaced the private sector. But that was the past. Within 90 days of my appointment as Minister, we ended the corruption of forty years in the fertiliser and seed sectors. Nigeria launched the Growth Enhancement Scheme, under which farmers across the country now receive their subsidized fertilizers and seeds via electronic coupons (e-wallets) on their mobile phones.

Impact The impact has been massive.

Within three years the e-wallet system reached over 10 million genuine farmers. We restored dignity to farmers. As high quality fertilizers and improved seeds reached millions of farmers, food production rose dramatically, while improving the food security of 40 million persons in rural households.

Nigeria is the first country in Africa, and in the world, to develop the electronic wallet system for reaching farmers with subsidized farm inputs on mobile phones. The impact is reaching well beyond Nigeria.

Several African countries, India, Brazil and China have expressed interest in adopting the electronic wallet system in their own countries.

We also decided to unlock our enormous potential in gas supply to manufacture fertilizers. Nigeria flares its natural gas and this has been going on for decades. It has been estimated that Nigeria’s flared natural gas supply is equivalent to 30 million metric tons urea equivalent per year. Our reforms of the fertilizer sector and the gas industrialization policy have now combined to open up the sector to new investors. Today, $5 billion of new investments in fertilizer manufacturing are on-going by Dangote, Indorama, Notore and others.

Nigeria expects to become a net exporter of fertilizers within three years.

agric focus

By Akinwumi Adesina

Integrated rice farms Against all odds, we are succeeding. Within three years, our national paddy rice production rose by an extra 7 million MT. The number of integrated modern rice mills in the country rose from just one in 2011, to 18 by 2014, all processing the local paddy into high quality finished rice. Adesina President Jonathan recently commissioned a 210,000 MT us capacity rice mill by OLAM, the over N125 billion in foreign largest in Africa. High-quality exchange on wheat imports and and well-packaged Nigerian rice instead put this in the pockets of is now in the market, including Quarra Rice here in Kwara State, our farmers and local processors.

Work is on-going to establish Umza rice, Ebony super rice, large-scale high quality cassava Eko rice, Mikap rice, Ashi rice, processing plants to boost the Queen of the Niger and Mama’s production, reliability of supply Pride from Olam. Nigerians eat and lower cost of high quality our high quality local rice, but cassava flour. do not know. We have totally changed the quality. You may Doing more with citrus, wish to know that Stallion palm oil and cocoa “Shinkafa rice” and “Stallion Nigeria is the second largest super” are all locally milled rice producer of citrus in the from Nigeria, not imported. Our world, the largest producer expanded local rice production of pineapples, mangoes and has added N750 billion to the economy, with over N407 billion tomatoes in Africa. But we import orange juice and as net incomes to farmers and concentrates from South Africa rice processors, and boosted and tomato paste from Latin rural economy by 360,000 jobs.

America and China. That is now Soon, Nigeria will be a netrapidly changing. A number of exporter of rice. private investors now invest in horticulture. Teragro, a local Cassava revolution private firm, has established We are turning our comparative a $10 million plant to process advantage as the world’s oranges into concentrate. Dansa largest producer of cassava Foods, another local private into absolute competitive firm, is investing $35 million in advantage. Our goal is to soon the establishment of a tomato become the largest processor processing plant in Kano. The of cassava in the world, with company is also investing $45 the use of cassava for flour million to set up a 6,000-hectare to partially substitute for pineapple plantation and imported wheat flour in bread processing plant in Cross River and confectioneries, starch, State. sweeteners, chips and ethanol.

The Federal Government is Thirty bakeries, including restoring Nigeria’s lost glory the largest international in palm oil production. This supermarket chains, Shoprite involves recapitalizing our and Park and Shop, now plantations by providing 9 regularly sell cassava-wheat million high yielding improved flour bread. This alone will save

seedlings of oil palm to smallholder farmers and plantation estates in the country – free of charge.

Private sector investments are expanding with new palm oil processing plants. Today, palm oil processing companies, Okomu and Presco are two of the best performing company stocks on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

We are revamping our cocoa plantations, replacing old trees with high yielding cocoa hybrids that give farmers five times the yields they currently obtain.

Over the past two years, we have distributed 1.1 million pods or 39 million seedlings, free of charge to farmers, enough to plant 40,000 ha of new cocoa fields. Foreign exchange earnings from our cocoa exports has grown from $900 million in 2012 to $1.2 billion in 2013 and we expect to reach $1.5 billion in 2014. The cocoa revolution in Nigeria is receiving global attention, as Hershey, one of the largest chocolate companies in the world, has invested $20 million to procure cocoa from over 20,000 certified cocoa farmers in Nigeria. Nigeria has also launched into local manufacturing of Nigerian chocolates through a strategic partnership with a US-based company, a first in the history of Nigeria.

Agricultural mechanisation

We are working hard to drastically mechanize our agriculture from reliance on hoes and cutlasses. Hoes and cutlasses are for museums, not for modern agriculture. To allow farmers to acquire and or lease modern mechanized machinery, we have launched 600 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises, run by the private sector, to provide full complements of tractors and pre- and post-harvest machinery to farmers. Farmers will be provided subsidized mechanized services via electronic vouchers on their mobile phones, for mechanization support, to allow them to hire agricultural machinery from private sector operators. These centres will create employment for agricultural engineers, as operators, managers or owners of agricultural mechanization centres.

Rising bank lending to agriculture We are getting banks to lend more to agriculture, as we deployed risk-sharing instruments that lower the risk of lending to the agriculture sector. The financial sector is seeing the profitability and viability of the agricultural sector and is lending more than ever before. Agricultural lending as a share of total bank lending rose from 0.7 per cent to 5 percent within the past two years. Bank lending to seed companies and small agricultural input retailers rose from zero in 2011 to $10 million in 2012, and to $53 million by 2013. Bank lending to fertilizer companies rose from $ 100 million in 2012 to $500 million by 2013. It is remarkable that the default rate has been zero percent over the past two years.

Conclusion Over the past three years, we have attracted $4billion in private sector investments in our agricultural sector. In the last two years, we have increased national food production by 17 million MT, well ahead of the 20 million MT target we set for 2015. Nigeria’s’ food import bill has been significantly reduced from One trillion, one hundred billion Naira (N1.1tr) in 2009 ($6.9 billion) to Six hundred and eighty four billion, seven million Naira (N684.7 billion) ($$4.35 billion dollars) as of December 2013. Surely, agriculture is reviving the economy. ­—Excerpts from Land Mark University Convocation Lecture by the Agric. Minister on July 25, 2014.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

energy news IPMAN Seeks Nebo’s Support On Refinery Projects

By Juliet Alohan, Abuja

In order to ensure the full realisation of the potential from the two proposed refinery and petrochemical projects, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has appealed to the minister of power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, to support the body in the areas of access to power and transmission facilities.

“The two projects to be located in Itobe, Kogi State, and Agge in Balyesa State are scheduled to be delivered in two years,” according to the chairman of NIPCO Plc, a subsidiary of IPMAN, Dr Bestman Anekwe.

Responding to the request, Nebo commended the IPMAN’s foresight in looking beyond the myopic scope of the average businessman, who, according to him, is only interested in importation and profit.

Lagos Puts Energy Need At 10,000MW The Lagos State government has sought for a law empowering state governments to generate and distribute their own power since supply from national grid is not dependable.

The government said it was also ready to collaborate with potential investors to harness its renewable energy resources.

To accelerate the drive, the government is working on a framework to encourage and guide the development of renewable energy projects by all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.

The state governor, Babatunde Fashola, who provided this insight at a Community Enterprise Development Conference in Lagos said the state was

ready to take every necessary step to provide adequate energy support for its industrial activities.

Fashola, who was represented by the permanent secretary, ministry of energy and mineral resources, Mrs Regina Obasa, said that Lagos being the commercial and economic capital of Nigeria required a lot of energy to thrive.

Germany Seeks Collaboration To Promote Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Policy stories By Chika Izuora, Lagos

German government is seeking effective collaboration that would help in delivering other sources of energy in Nigeria.

Under the consideration, the country intends to provide technical back-up to Nigeria in the area of renewable energy.

Head of energy and environment desk of the delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria , Baerbel Freyer, who gave this indication said the country was concerned about Nigeria’s lingering energy crises.

The delegation is therefore planning series of events that would deal on potential of renewable energies and environment in Nigeria .

Freyer said Nigeria should pay particular attention on renewable energy as alternative to its over-reliance on oil to generate power across the country.

She said the German government would be willing to transfer technical know-how to key players in Nigeria’s power sector, as they were eager to collaborate with Nigeria on the various alternative sources of power generation.

She stressed the need to discuss on

energy issues especially with regards to renewable energy because it has the potential to solve Nigeria’s power problems.

She observed a level of information and knowledge among stakeholders in the area but added that people were beginning to realise that in the long run, the power shortage could only be overcome using renewable energies option.

She lauded the federal government for the privatisation of the power sector, but advised on regulation to deal with pricing and enforcement.

NIPCO Boosts LPG Market At Community Level

L-R: Minister of trade and investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga; executive secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Ernest Nwapa and minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke during the ministers’ visit to the NCDMB Headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, recently.

IPMAN Partners Kogi On Proposed Petrochemical Refinery Project A new partnership is being worked out by the Kogi State government and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to facilitate the later’s intention to establish a petroleum refining project in the state.

Both parties are considering a partnership option that would add value to the project and reduce dependence on bridging of products in the region.

Kogi State deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi, while receiving a delegation of

IPMAN, who visited the state to discuss the proposal to build the petroleum and petrochemical refinery assured the team of the government’s readiness to provide the necessary support.

He said the state would work out necessary security arrangement and also provide needed technical and logistics support as well as waivers to land titles as may be expected from the state government in making the project a reality.

Awoniyi said the state was a lucrative destination choice to do business in

Nigeria in view of its rich soil, friendly environment and strategic location.

He described the decision to site the $3billion investment in the state as a noble business decision and commended IPMAN for keying into the transformation agenda going on in the petroleum sector.

He noted that Kogi was a natural location for the siting of the refinery, stating that the state, aside from being safe, was strategically located to feed nine adjoining states including the nation’s capital.

As part of the effort to deepen the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) otherwise known as cooking gas in the country, NIPCO Plc has boosted its “switch to gas” campaign with the empowerment of large number of women in the ancient town of Auchi in South –South geopolitical zone of the country through the distribution of free gas accessories.

The free donation of gas cylinder took place in the compound of the town traditional ruler, the Otaru of Auchi, HRM Haliru Momoh which was organised in conjunction with an NGO, Gas to Health Initiative [GTHI] to strengthen the paradigm shift of the energy market towards LP Gas in the country.

The managing director, Pipelines & Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Prince Haruna Momoh, in his good will message at the event assured the community that government would continue to support initiatives aimed at promoting the safe and healthy use of liquefied petroleum gas which the nation is richly endowed with for the overall interest of Nigerians . Momoh, who was represented by Engr Betty Ugona, manager, LPG PPMC, said the rural dwellers and the semi–urban communities were the main priorities of government in view of the large cooking they do with a view to encouraging them to use gas.

The PPMC MD, who is also the chairman of the board of trustees of the GTI commended NIPCO for supporting the initiative stressing that the cylinders donated would help boost efforts of the NGO and ultimately deepen gas usage among beneficiaries.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

GOMBE STATE UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION CEREMONY The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Mahadi, CON on behalf of the Council and the Senate cordially invites the general public to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th combined Convocation Ceremonies of Gombe State University on Saturday, 9th August, 2014.

Venue: Time:

Convocation Square 9:00AM

At this Convocation Ceremony, Honorary Doctorate Degrees will be conferred on the following prominent and distinguished Nigerians: 1. Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa (Former Governor, Kaduna State) 2. Dr. Musa Babayo (Tolban Katagum) Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 3. Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok, an internationally acclaimed scientist and Professor of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The Convocation Ceremony will be preceded by a Convocation Lecture entitled “Education and National Development: Towards a Knowledge Driven Society� on Friday, 8th August, 2014 to be delivered by Professor Olu Obafemi, Director of Research, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru.

The Chairman of the Occasion is Professor Suleiman A. Abdulkareem, ViceChancellor, Al-Hikmah University Ilorin, Kwara State.

Time: Venue:

4:00PM Multi-Purpose Hall, Gombe State University

Signed: Professor AbduLLAhi MAhAdi, CoN Vice-Chancellor

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22 commerce/BUSINESS

Thursday, July 31, 2014

commerce REPORTS

LCCI Laments Multiple Taxation Olushola Bello, Lagos

L-R: Airtel Rising Stars technical adviser, Peter Rufai; Regional Operations Director, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja, Airtel Rising Stars Technical Adviser, Chioma Ajunwa-Opara; Brand Director, Airtel Nigeria, Obinna Aniche; and National Secretary, Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, Patrick Opavuerhe, during the match fixtures draw for Airtel Rising Stars 4 national finals held in Lagos. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA

‘Nigeria Has Received N311.6 bn In Infrastructure Development’ Stories By Kingsley Alu, Abuja

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has invested 1.9 billion dollars (N311.6 billion) in infrastructure development in Nigeria in the last 42 years, according to the Country Director, Dr Ousmane Dore.

Speaking this week in Abuja, Dore disclosed that the bank had committed a cumulative of 6.4 billion dollars (about N1.05 trillion) to different sectors of the country’s economy as at December 2013.

While revealing that the current public sector portfolio of the bank stood at 921.2 million dollars (about N151 billion) of which 701.5 million (about N115 billion) was allocated to infrastructure projects, Dore informed that the bank had been supporting infrastructure development since it commenced lending operations in Nigeria in 1972.

According to him, over 70 per cent of the bank’s operations were directed at infrastructure development adding that some

of the bank’s early support to infrastructure development included the reconstruction of Enugu and Calabar Airports, launched in 1972 and 1974 respectively.

He also said the bank’s operations had expanded to include several other projects in water and sanitation, road and energy.

“Some of the flagship projects include rural water and sanitation project in Akwa Ibom and Taraba States, while in the transport sector we have the Cross River Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) and the Enugu-Bamenda Highway.

“This is the hard core infrastructure but on the private sector side, we have many; like our investment in Lekki Toll Road and some other private sector operations.”

He said stated that the bank had also been involved in “soft infrastructure” in the form of improving knowledge on the state of infrastructure in the country.

Dore said the bank undertook

a detailed assessment of infrastructure needs in Nigeria that culminated in the Nigerian Infrastructure Action Plan (NIAP) and explained that the study recommended 350 billion dollars in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) investment for the next 10 years, to bridge the existing infrastructure gap in the country.

He further that the establishment of ‘Africa50 Fund’ aimed at accelerating infrastructure delivery in Africa, would work with Nigeria to reduce the country’s infrastructure finance gap.

According to him, `Africa50 `Fund’ will act as one-stop shop, combining early stage project development work with long-term debt financing, to ensure smooth and efficient path from project inception to realisation.

Dore said that some of the prospective projects that the fund was supporting in Nigeria included the 49.5 km Lekki toll road, the Lekki Port project and the 12 km Lagos Cable Transit project, among others.

The establishment of ‘Africa50 Fund’ aimed at accelerating infrastructure delivery in Africa, would work with Nigeria to reduce the country’s infrastructure finance gap

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has lamented perceived multiple tax charges demanded by all levels of government from the private sector, saying the tax burden and levies were killing business operations, especially when situated within the context of the high operating cost of businesses.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, the director- general of LCCI, Muda Yusuf, asked for fairer tax system that would all manufacturers equally and a tax regime that is flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances and the prevailing economic conditions.

According to him, the private sector was currently faced with an avalanche of taxes, value added tax, import duty, excise duty withholding tax, education tax, consumption tax, port levies, land use charge, advertisement tax, environmental tax, rice levy, sugar levy, automotive levy, copious levies by local government councils and other fees charged by regulatory agencies across the sectors at the state and federal levels.

RMRDC Boss Invites Investors For R&D Products The new director-general of the Raw Materials Research and Development Agency (RMRDC), Mr Ibrahim Hussaini, has invited private sector investors to collaborate with the agency in commercialising research products, saying there are a lot of opportunities in the sector.

Hussaini,who revealed this during an interview said for the agency to achieve its mandate, the workers have to be hardworking and focused.

He said: “We have done a lot in the area of basic and applied researches. We have done well in the area of promoting local fabrication of machines and processing equipment and, to a large extent, we have done a lot in the area of establishing resourcebased factories. We have also done pretty well in sensitising Nigerian investors, academics and students on the available raw materials resources in the country, their locations and the intermediate and end products that are got from processing these raw materials. We have been able to divest from some of our catalytic factories. Very soon, our cluster programme shall start bearing some fruit.

Installations of the processing equipment under this programme in states like Bayelsa, Kano, and Sokoto, etc, will soon begin and we hope that very shortly we shall get them commissioned. There is no doubt that this is a good programme, but due to paucity of funds, we shall streamline it to reflect the limited resources at our disposal.”

Capital, Output Growth Dependent On Entrepreneurial Development – Abaribe The senator representing Abia South, and gubernatorial aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said that capital and output growth in an economy depends significantly on the entrepreneur.To this end, he has assured that if elected, his government in collaboration with the organised private sector would increase support for entrepreneurial/vocational training.

The senator , who was speaking

in Abuja yesterday during a media briefing also informed that his human development and empowerment programmes in his constituency which had gulped hundreds of millions of naira would gain a wider scope as his administration would strategically establish technical/artisan / craftsman training schools in certain areas of the state in collaboration with stakeholder companies and NGOs.Of importance he noted, would be the establishment of an oil and gas training centre in

Ukwa to equip the people with the necessary skills needed in the industry.

While assuring of the implementation of a wideranging public financial management reforms to improve the quality and efficiency of spending, maximise, protect and diversify government revenues; and instil greater fiscal prudence in the management of the state’s financial resources, he said that economic maladministration in the state would also give way to a focused, and accountable

nation-building governance.

Abaribe regretted that agriculture has not been given the attention it deserved in the state attributing the constraints to lack of finance and poor management.

According to him, as a policy thrust, his administration would re-establish farm settlements with modern amenities that would encourage teeming indigenes of the state to engage in the business of fisheries, animal husbandry including the growth and export of farm

products.He said the state would also invest areas where it has comparative advantge such as cash crops like palm trees, rubber, cocoa, cashew among others.He also mentioned the revitalisation of the plantations in Ohambele,Nkporo, Arochukwu among others adding that his government would enter into strategic partnership with the private sector to build processing plants for high yield crops. The senator also promised to scaleup anti-corruption campaign

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job search Thursday, July 31, 2014

INTERVIEWS NETWORKING PERSONAL BRANDING JOB SEEKER PROFILES

How To Make Friends With Ambitious People

This habit will make sure you don’t lose touch with your existing friends, and follow up with the new people you meet, soon enough.

The third habit is to decide what you’re going to do over the weekend, ahead of time. When it’s time to reach out to people, plan ahead and decide on what you want to do; suggest that plan to those you want to see. This is why it’s important that you contact people early enough in the week, when they haven’t already decided what to do on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

If you’re trying to take yourself and your life to the next level, it makes a lot of sense to aim higher when it comes to making friends.

The right friends will support you emotional and provide practical help along the way.

If you have exiting friends that aren’t as ambitious as you are, chances are that they’re unconsciously holding you back.

You don’t have to stop seeing them right away; your best bet is to focus on building friendships with new people.

These steps will help you go to the next level in your social life, meet many ambitious and interesting people, and have them stick around for a long time.

Step 1 – Take Control of Your Social Life, Don’t Leave It to Chance People seem to leave their friendship life to chance, more often than not. While that probably worked well when you

were a kid, it most certainly won’t work for you, as an adult. With no college or school to facilitate new friendships, you need to be proactive about it.

This means that you get conscious and curious about friendship and how it works; consciously make time, every week, for meeting new people, staying in touch, and hanging out with them.

Studies have shown that the influence other people have on you is strong; your destiny literally depends on the people you hang out with. This is why it’s important to have a clear idea of the kind people you want to have in your life.

All you have to do is a make a general list of qualities, attributes, or activities that you want in your future friends. It doesn’t have to be definitive; it’s just a guide for your mind. You can start by listing qualities like “healthy, ambitious, honest, productive, fun, interesting, etc.”

Step 2 – Adopt These Winning Social Habits Success in your friendship life means that you don’t only use the tips once in a while; it means that you adopt the easy new habits that will work on a consistent basis.

The first habit is to go meet new people every month. The way to do that is to join a local community that meets up once or twice every month. Try a few that you can find on meetup.com and decide on the one that has the kind of people you like. In general, go where meeting people is easy; focus on places like trade shows, cultural or charitable events, seminars and talks, and so on.

The second habit is to dedicate at least one hour every week to reaching out to people. You can put it in your calendar; it can be something like every Wednesday, 7pm. Early in the week is better.

Here, you contact all the important people, by phone, text, or email.

Step 3 – Build A Social Circle Making friends can be timeconsuming if you don’t optimise your efforts. If you’re always the one calling and making plans, then you’re not going to be doing it for very long. The best way to tackle this is to focus on forming groups of friends, instead of having a bunch of friends that don’t know each other.

It is recommended that you always introduce the people that you know to each other; especially if they’re of the ambitious kind.

After they meet once or twice, a new group emerges, and you now have a circle of friends.

When that happens, they start to call and make plans as well, which means you’ll have more time to contact and make plans with people that you don’t know that well. As you meet new people, introduce them to the existing group, and make it bigger.

If you prefer to meet in small groups, then it’s a great thing as well; you can still meet two or three people at the same time, even if your social circle has dozens of people in it.

How to Make Friends with Ambitious People

1. Take Control of Your Social Life Consciously make time, every week, for meeting new people, staying in touch, and hanging out with them.

2. Adopt These Winning Social Habits Success in your friendship life means that you don’t only use the tips once in a while.

3.Build A Social Circle Focus on forming groups of friends, instead of having a bunch of friends that don’t know each other. want to learn more about them.

INTERVIEWS 5 Strategies For Overcoming Interview Nerves all get nervous for job interviews, as nobody likes being in the hot seat, being assessed on what they say, and how they react to different questions.

Your stomach begins to churn, your palms sweat profusely, your mouth goes dry, and your voice begin to shake… and that’s when you’re just thinking about your forthcoming job interview. We

1 Be prepared Make the interview work for you by carrying out the necessary research and preparation. Being well-prepared for the questions the interviewer is likely to ask means you can walk into the interview room with your head held high rather than nervously looking at your feet wishing the ground would swallow you up.

2 Be fresh and focused

It might be easier said than done, but getting a good night’s sleep the night before the interview will ensure you are fresh and ready for the ‘big day.’ Refraining from drinking alcohol the night before, having a bath, and going to bed early with a good book will help banish nerves and ensure your mind and body are fresh and focused for the interview.

3 Leave plenty of time to reach the interview destination Being in a mile tailback of traffic, five miles from your destination and ten minutes until the interview is due to start will not do your pre-interview nerves any favours

whatsoever. On the contrary, any nerves you have now about the job interview will be intensified by the prospect of being late.

4 Take deep, long breaths Before the job interview, work on controlling your breathing.

Place one hand on your stomach and take a deep breath in. Hold your breath for several seconds before breathing out. When you feel nerves creeping over you, practice this deep breathing routine in intervals of ten.

5 Think positively Instead of grimacing in uncomfortableness every time you

think of the interview, imagine a positive scenario in which you are completely in control. Picture yourself answering the questions confidently and impressing the interviewer with your calm and positive persona. Imagine shaking the interviewer’s hand, knowing you will hear from the company shortly with positive news.

And lastly, smile. Smile on the day of the interview and keep smiling until you leave the interview room. Smiling releases endorphins which help convince your brain you are happy, content, and ready to tackle anything the interview might throw at you.

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

24 JOB SEARCH

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Workplace A Guide For The Overworked And Underappreciated

Top 50 FRANCHISE IN 2014 (4)

16. McDonald’s McDonald’s is an internationally-recognised symbol of quick-service hamburgers, fries, chicken, breakfast items, salads and milkshakes.

You’ve been working your fingers to the bone – extra hours, extra work, extra everything.

Except for extra recognition and appreciation. It seems like no one notices the hard work you’re putting in. However you ended up in this situation, there are things you can do to get it under control.

One thing to remember, as Roxanne Peplow of Computer Systems Institute point out, is that “you cannot seek praise from others—it has to come from within.” Rather than waiting to be praised, be proud of your own accomplishments. Shed light onto your achievements and give credit where it’s due.

Here’s what you can do instead 1 Speak Up If you’re overworked, speak up.

“Many employees and workers mistakenly believe their job is at stake if they say they can’t handle *one more* project. More projects equals less focus, less quality,” says Steve Duffy, president of ListHere. com.

So, if you’re swamped – reexamine your workload. See if there are smart ways to prioritize and minimize work. Or if you’re stuck doing the workload of two people, don’t be a hero, and tell your manager. He wants to know.

2 Do Something You Love – Even if it’s After Hours Balance in other areas of life can make or break your workplace happiness. Fast Co. Create recently did a piece on why you should have a passion project on the side.

Creative Director Adam Rubin at Firstborn and children’s book author told Fast Co. Create that having a side project is not only personally gratifying but also

translates positively back to his work.

3 Stop Taking on Extra Work from Slackers If you’re overworked because your colleague isn’t picking up his slack, enough is enough. Don’t wait until you’ve reached a boiling point.

4 Get Enough Sleep When you’re overworked, sleep is probably the first thing to go.

Work can keep us up at night by worrying about what is next or by staying up because work still needs to be accomplished. Realise that the more sleep you lose, the closer you are to burnout.

5 If All of the Above Fails, Start Your Job Search If your boss is simply not budging, you have no time to balance your life and all your colleagues are slackers, it may be time to jump ship.

Just make sure you’re not job searching on company time.

Her advice: “Networking -online and in person -- and studying industries, companies and business leaders will help you become more proactive in your career,” she says.

Chalk it up to a lesson learned – and in future interviews, make sure you ask questions that will help you determine whether or not that company will treat you the same way. Ask: 1. How would you describe your management style?

2. How did this position become available?

3. What kind of recognition system is at play here?

4. Can you tell me about the growth opportunities available to the employees here?

Send your profiles to olusola.olujide@leadership.ng and all profiles should not exceed 200 words

17. Aaron’s Aaron’s offers furnishings such as big screen televisions, couches and refrigerators for rental or purchase at its stores across North America.

18. Kumon Math & Reading Centers Realising that a strong foundation in the basics--addition, subtraction, multiplication and division-was essential for higher-level math, Kumon created a series of math worksheets for his son was struggling with second-grade arithmetic to work on after school.

19. Cruise PlannersAmerican Express Travel Since 1994, agents for Coral Springs, Florida-based Cruise Planners/ American Express Travel Service have been connecting business and leisure travellers with the ideal cruise. Franchisees work from their homes, selling cruises full or part time.

20. Taco Bell Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., which also franchises A&W Restaurants, KFC, Long John Silver’s and Pizza Hut. There are Taco Bell locations throughout the United States and the world.

3 Resume Mistakes You Are Making And How To Correct Them Now Although job seekers tend to make many different kinds of them, there are the resume mistakes often seen that tend to tarnish that five-second review you get from hiring managers.

1 Disorganised or Unattractive Resume Format You can preach all day about the keywords and content of a resume, but I stand by this as the most important principle in resume writing—you MUST have an attractive resume format if you want to be seriously considered. Messy, disorganised, unpolished resume formats say exactly that about the type of candidate you are—not to mention they are difficult to read.

If you’re making it hard for the hiring manager to find the information he or she needs to consider you for employment, you just lost your shot at the job. Someone else will have taken the time to construct a strategically laid out resume that is polished, easy-to-read, and attractive to the eye. Think about print advertising. If it’s hard to read or looks messy you’re not going to waste your time reading the ad.

But, if it’s eye-catching and professional looking you just might invest the time.

2 Call Out the Critical Yes—keywords are extremely important.

But that being said, just haphazardly throwing them into the resume is pretty much pointless. Sure, you may get past the computer scan, but when that entrylevel HR rep or hiring manager prints out the resume or pulls it up on the screen to review it—if he or she can’t immediately see your qualifications you can forget about him or her investing anymore time reading it. He or she will probably just skip to the next person.

Create a bulleted section that is NOT too text-dense but is eye-catching and calls out the most important keywords relevant to the job. Put this in the top one-third of the resume to catch the employer’s attention.

Again, it’s all about making the information they’re looking for easy to find.

3 Watch Your Text Density Try to keep your paragraphs to a maximum of 3-5 sentences long— especially your opening career summary and personal branding section. You’ll lose the reader’s attention before you ever catch it! If it looks too text dense, she’s not going to waste (or invest) the time in reading it.

Most hiring managers will just quickly scan your resume—just like you scan articles like this one or stories on the web.

Hiring managers scan your resume briefly to see if it’s worth a more in-depth read. If it’s too text-dense and you’re not calling out important keywords or accomplishments, they’ll skip right over all the high-impact text you’ve put your blood, sweat, and tears into.

So let’s recap the critical points here 1. Create an attractively formatted resume. Hint: using colour can definitely be a plus—if you use the right colour.

2. Call out the important stuff. Bold, underline, and create targeted sections with white space that draws the eye.

3. Keep it between 3-5 sentences—no longer. Remember, you’re writing to catch their attention during the initial scan but also to provide compelling content for the hiring manager who will invest more time once you’ve caught his or her eye.

Of course, there are many other factors to consider when writing your resume, but these three areas are critical to that initial first impression and quick scan the hiring manager will give your resume. The pertinent information the hiring manager is looking for needs to be easy to find and eye-catching while professionally packaged in an attractive format.

Incorporate these tips into your resume and you’ll be more likely to make it past the initial scan and have the hiring manager invest more time in reading the content and calling you for the interview.

Compiled by Olujide Olusola

JOB SEARCH 25

Thursday, July 31, 2014

J0BS NEWS

FCT Okays Sack Of 18 Workers For Certificate Forgery, Age Falsification

TOP 10 EXCITING START-UPS(2)

UPWORTHY ➊ This news site makes

going viral look easy. Upworthy, launched in March 2012, eschews cat videos and celebrity gossip in favour of videos related to important issues like income inequality and domestic violence.

PEBBLE ➋ First, Pebble smashed

records on the crowd funding website Kickstarter, earning more than $10 million in donations in just 37 days in 2012. This year came a much harder task for the company: actually delivering the first mass-market smartwatch to thousands of people.

BEYOND ➌ MEAT A company that

develops a fauxchicken product by mixing soy and pea proteins.

The chicken-like food has tricked food writers in taste tests and is now being carried at Whole Foods around the country.

PATREON ➍ A company that aims to let

users everywhere become patrons of the arts. Artists who make music or release YouTube videos can receive regular payments from their patrons every time they release a new piece of content.

DUOLINGO ➎ This is a welcome addition for those trying to learn a foreign language. The site offers lessons in six languages and has 5 million monthly active users.

FCT Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has approved the compulsory retirement of 18 workers for involvement in age falsification and certificate forgery.

According to www. informationng.com, the affected workers were found out during the biometric screening carried out by the FCT Administration on staff data irregularities.

The minister in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammad Sule, in Abuja on Sunday, said the interim report of the Implementation Committee submitted by the firm that handled the exercise established and confirmed 18 cases of age falsification and certificate forgery.

The statement said the minister ordered that further clarifications and assessments be carried out on 11 officers with pending remarks and on 59 officers, who were yet to respond to the queries issued them through their respective secretariats, departments and agencies.

The statement added that the minister had further directed that the Implementation Committee should carry out a thorough certificate verification of all staff employed from 2006 to date, including all certificates acquired from 2006 by serving officers to date.

The FCT minister further instructed that the salaries of 156 officers that were verified and cleared be restored with immediate effect from the date their salaries were stopped.

8 Tips For Dealing With Job Rejection Out of work? Out of luck! That is probably how you feel as you sit poised in front of your computer, hour after hour, day after day, submitting one application after another. Maybe you even look forward to getting job rejection emails (or the occasional mailed ones) because it is some response at least. Even if you are still working, but engaging in a job search to beat a layoff, you may feel a strong sense of rejection when not selected for an interview or offered a job after an interview – especially if it has been a few months or you have had a few interviews without an offer.

Here are a few tips for dealing with job rejection: 1 Set Realistic Short- And Long-Term Goals Long-term goals give you something to focus on, to look forward to. Short-term goals ensure you are moving in the right direction and moving toward your long term goals.

Daily goals will get you out of bed in the morning.

2 Do Your Best Do you approach your job search by sitting in front of your laptop, hour after hour, searching for openings and submitting countless applications? Maybe you have completely given up and are just going through the motions, not even convinced you are a good candidate? Take the time to try to match your resume or application details to what the employer is looking for. That way, you will be one of the few selected for an interview

(and hired!). The extra effort and time has value, and they can help you will feel like you are really doing something meaningful.

3 Change Things Up Don’t do the same thing every day. Search for jobs one day, follow up another, identify companies to cold call once a week, network one day, and visit companies in person periodically. Don’t forget to eat, sleep, get dressed, exercise and go outside every day. Make your own schedule and stick to it!

4 Make Sure You Have the Skills You Need How hard can job search be? Believe me – you don’t know it all; no one does. Read blogs, articles, and/or books about career planning and job searching. Explore your field or potential occupations to determine if you need more skills to be competitive. Read articles related to your desired job or about job searching and interviewing every day.

5 Garner Support You may already feel bad if you are not contributing financially to your household. This makes it hard to ask for help. But you can’t do it alone. Ask for help outside of the family if need be. Reach out friends, ex-co-workers, and church or community members.

You need someone to listen to your ideas and give you feedback.

6 Network Chances are you probably know how to network, but maybe you are too dispirited

or you don’t see the value in it.

Nonetheless, it is a necessity and can result in your next job if you make the time and effort to contact and maintain connection with others. Join a civic group or one at your local career placement office, or volunteer.

It is most important to start and continue to get out there and meet people – maintain your connections!

7 Get Creative If you are just going through the motions or are focused on replacing the job you lost you might be missing opportunities.

If you feel that you MUST have a specific position or salary before considering a job you may be missing out on some great prospects! Purchase a real newspaper (or look at every job board posting within a 20 mile area or less) and look at every job. If you do this intermittently, you will have a better indication of what jobs are offered and you may discover a new direction that is perfect for you!

8 Be Realistic You may own a home. You may be comfortable in your current location and may have loved ones near. But if there are fewer opportunities, you may also want to think about moving to where there are jobs. Think about places in that you would like to live or parts of the country where people you know currently live.

Search for jobs in those areas periodically to see if it makes sense to start a job search in another area in addition to your current one.

Maybe you have completely given up and are just going through the motions, not even convinced you are a good candidate

Jumoke Compiled by Olujide Olusola

26

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Human Resource Manager In Sharubutu Ltd, Kano Degree/HND: 1 - 3 years Email: 330bd@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/359085 Sharubutu Bottling Company, a leading player in the FMCG industry requires the skills of a Human Resource Manager.

Responsibilities: • The candidate will suggest expenses (if any) and additions into payroll.

• The candidate will manage issues related to staff well-being and the company.

• Monitor resignation, employment and termination of staff.

• Ensures company’s properties in staff possession are well maintained by such • Identifying and meeting the training needs of staff.

• Ensures that the company’s goals are achieved by staff.

• Raise awareness of current workplace legislation (e.g labour law, union laws etc).

Requirements: • Candidate must possess a Bachelors’ degree or HND. • Membership of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Nigeria (CIPMN) will be an added advantage.

• Computer and Internet proficiency is key.

• Excellent interpersonal and people skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Business Development Executive In Abuja Degree: 3 - 5 years Email: 33507@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360183 Our Client is a members-only, exclusive golf club located in the heart of Abuja, specifically in the Central Business District. The world-class facilities boast 2 restaurants (a continental and an asian-fusion) and 3 themed lounges (which includes a moroccan lounge that would have a moroccan-inspired menu). This club is the premier one-stop hub for the exclusive luxury dining, gourmet cuisines, golfing, health and spa treatments, high-profile networking and business activities in Nigeria. Our members and guests are wealthy, well-traveled individuals who expect the very best service.

On that note, we need a very talented Business Development Executive.

Job Description • Professionally and effectively employs sales skills to achieve targeted sales.

• Increase the level of sales and business mix from individual clients • Increase share of each market sector • Research and Database • Maintain an accurate and current database • Identify and develop sources of potential clients • Effectively communicate with clients to gain commitment to purchase • Maintain regular contact with Key Clients • Effectively communicate with clients via telephone, face-to-face and written communication • Develop and maintain relationships which benefit both client • Overcome client resistance/objections to products • Advise Managing Director and Sales and

• •

• • • •

Marketing Director of client’s feedback/ comments relating to product content and pricing as well as company performance Provide a weekly schedule of planned activities Achieve sales activities within specified time scales as directed by Managing Director and Group Sales and Marketing Director Targeted tele-sales campaigns to achieve sales Be able to match appropriate products to clients’ requirements.

Be able to demonstrate a full knowledge of all products, relevant selling points and benefits Maintain a current and accurate knowledge of competitor products, be able to highlight their disadvantages and promote relevant benefits

Professional Requirements • Ability to interact with and influence multiple sales channels • Ability to manage and track lead generation and a sales pipeline through CRM system Personal Requirements • Tenacious & creative sales approach • Driven and motivated by results • Passionate about performance marketing • Strong presenter and negotiator • Excellent written skills • Organised with good attention to detail • A self-starter who can spot new opportunities • Able to work as part of wide and varied team

Food & Beverage Cost Controller In Abuja OND: 1 - 3 years Email: 33514@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360196 Our Client is a members-only, exclusive golf club located in the heart of Abuja, specifically in the Central Business District. The world-class facilities boast 2 restaurants (a continental and an asian-fusion) and 3 themed lounges (which includes a moroccan lounge that would have a moroccan-inspired menu). This club is the premier one-stop hub for the exclusive luxury dining, gourmet cuisines, golfing, health and spa treatments, high-profile networking and business activities in Nigeria. Our members and guests are wealthy, well-traveled individuals who expect the very best service.

On that note, we need a very talented Food and Beverage cost controller Responsibilities • Formulate accounting and reporting policy related to the F & B Operations, coordinate systems and procedures and prepare operating data and special reports as required comparing performance with operating plans and standards.

• Report and interpret the results of operations to all levels of management and ownership (where applicable) to ensure timely information is provided in order to maximise profits.

• Resolve problems and ensure maintenance of the F & B accounting systems and equipment to ensure smooth operations.

• Assist in the compilation and preparation of the annual budget, forecasts, taxes and other financial reports to provide support thus ensuring accurate, timely information

is available for management and owners.

• Inform the Financial Controller and the F & B Director of any discrepancies/variances indicated by verification procedures or otherwise and instigate the necessary action with Management in order to correct and ensure no re-occurrence of procedure errors • Control the Food and Beverage outlets in terms of wastage, pilferage and efficiency.

• Maintain a presence in the establishment, ensuring procedures are being adhered to • Maintain all paperwork and archiving both accurately and efficiently.

• Maintain the security of the information held within the department.

Qualifications and Requirements: • A minimum of OND in a relevant field • 1-3 years’ experience

Sales Ambassador In Rosk and Chene Consultants Limited, Adamawa BSc/HND: Entry Level Email: 33a80@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361584 Our client is a leading electronics outfit in Nigeria providing innovative and conducive work-environment to its workforce and customers. They are seeking to recruit best-fit and qualified candidate to fill the position highlighted above Job Summary: • Engage in regular, day-to-day interface with clients in store, other floor sales personnel, show room attendants etc with the objective of ensuring that company products are on display and adequately sold and promoted • Provide sales generation strategies, counsels and guidance to retail prospective clients • Adequate product knowledge training and efficient customer relations management practice • Establish a functional administrative system of regular reporting and proactive competitive intelligence system • Ultimately, increase company’s share in the electronics market Specialization: He/she will be responsible for managing the deployed store sales for the ultimate productivity of the organization Qualifications and Requirements: • BSc / HND in Marketing or any other related discipline • Supervisory leadership skills with the ability to also work as a member of a team • Ability to pay attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills • Compulsory computer skills • Good knowledge of market research, product survey and product expansion strategies • Good and adequate knowledge of local market environment and of state or cities / towns to which application is made • Applicants must be expressive, bold, friendly, willing to travel, knack for knowledge and must have good personality • Potential companies’ employer needs hire from: Any company in the FMCG sector.

Salary Range: Dependent on the wealth of experience and location

Sales Executive/Independent Marketer In Anelpat Company Limited, Bauchi HND/B.Sc: 1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/361157 Anelpat & Co Limited is an indigenous company where quality is our passion. It establishment is based on the contemporary medical challenges, upon which it is saddle with the responsibility of meeting up this challenges, by delivering high quality and competitive priced medical devices, to make everyone around the world enjoy better accessible and more affordable healthcare.

The company is align with a sole aim of sales, supplies and distribution of all best quality and reliable medical equipment, machines and consumables to reputable medical institutions, Hospitals, Clinics, Laboratories and Scientific research centres within and outside Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Job Description Dynamic and result oriented individuals are needed to fill up the vacant position, and they are responsible for marketing and sales of medical equipment and consumables to both new and existing customers.

Requirements: • HND/B.Sc from a reputable tertiary institution • Minimum of 2 years’ experience in marketing • Candidates must possess sound communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills Method of Application • Like our Facebook page: Anelpat-Medical Company Limited, and follow us on twitter @Anelpat Medical Company • Qualified and interested candidates should send CVs on or before 30th July, 2014.

• Job title and location of interest (state) should be specified on the application.

Marketing Executive In JOBECO Nigeria Limited, Borno Degree: Entry Level Email: 336c0@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360624 At JOBECO Nigeria Limited, We have trained engineers, trained by the manufacturers of our products.

We also source for equipment and spare parts of any medical equipment or device needed by our clients.

Job Summary: The services of a Marketing Executive is needed to market our goods (medical equipment and devices) to various health facilities.

Qualifications and Requirements: • A minimum of first degree in a relevant field • Must be able to use the internet and basic computer applications.

To Apply: Interested applicants should send their application letters and CV

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Promoter In Total Data Limited, Gombe OND/HND/BSc: Entry Level Email: 33ad8@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361672 Our client, a leading mobile Telecommunication Company in Nigeria requires the services of qualified, competent, articulate and resourceful personnel for this position Responsibilities: • Promote sales and services to customers.

• Develop and implement sales and service tools.

• Respond to customer needs and requirements.

• Promote products to sell in big chain stores.

• Deliver customer services in a courteous manner.

• Plan and schedule visits to point of sales to promote products and services.

Qualification: • OND, HND or BSc in any discipline from a reputable Polytechnic/University.

• Marketing experience in the Telecommunications industry will be an advantage • Must be between 22 – 30 years of age • Be a team- player

Sales Executive In Simba Group, Jigawa HND/B.Sc: 3 - 5 years Email: 339fa@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361450 Simba Group requires the services of a qualified candidate for this position Job Description • To meet its ambitious growth and diversification plans, the Simba Group requires sales/marketing professionals for the following products lines: • Commercial Vehicles (Trucks, Buses, Vans, Pickups, Three-wheelers) • Passengers Three-Wheelers • Commercial Three-Wheelers • Two Wheelers • So if you are looking for a challenging and reward career and your skills and experience match the requirements below, we will like to hear from you.

Requirements • Applicant needs to have 3-5 years’ relevant experience in selling similar products.

• Must have an HND/B.Sc in any discipline from a reputed university.

• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal & written) • Needs to be self-motivated and a team player.

• Must be highly flexible.

Remuneration The compensation package offered will commensurate with educational qualification, work experience and industry standards.

Warehouse Officer In Orange Group, Kaduna HND: 3 - 5 years Email: 3371c@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360716 Orange Group seeks qualified candidates to fill this position: Responsibilities:

• Assist in receiving containers into the main warehouse • Supervise stacking of goods in the warehouse • Update the stock card and prepare reconciliation monthly with the physical stock • Process requisition notes and submit ti to the manager for authorization • Issue products to other depots on authorization from the manager on FIFO basis • Issue delivery notes to sales depots • Ensure that the warehouse is always tidy • Perform any other duty as assigned by the manager

Conditions • Applicants must be residing in the very place they are applying for • Applicants must understand the dialect of the place they are applying for • Applicants must possess 3-7 years of reasonable working experience • Knowledge of FMCG sales is an added advantage • Minimum of lower diploma certificate

Qualifications and Requirements: • Minimum of HND in a related discipline • 3-5 years’ experience

Motivation After the review of applicant’s CV, successful candidates will be invited for interview in our factory premises, Lagos. Cost of transportation TO & FRO will be catered for.

Business Development Officer In Azmu Pharmaceuticals Limited, Kano HND: 1 - 3 years Email: 335ff@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360431 Azmu Pharmaceuticals Limited seeks qualified candidates to fill this position: Responsibilities • Detailing of our range products, promoting product awareness, working strategically to increase product awareness, answering queries, • Providing advice and introducing our new products and the use of our company’s pharmaceutical products and also closing sales by agreeing to the terms and conditions while ensuring that the marketing & sales team supply raised sales orders from prospective customers.

Qualifications and Requirements: • Minimum of HND in life sciences, pharmacy, medicine, nursing or dentistry.

• 1-3 years’ experience

Regional Sales Representative In Dogan’s Sugar Limited, Katsina Diploma: 3-5 years Email: 339d8@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361416 Dogan’s Sugar Limited requires the services of qualified candidate for this position Job Description • Obtains orders, and establishes new accounts by planning and organizing daily work schedule to call on existing or potential sales outlets and other trade factors.

• Focuses sales efforts by studying existing and potential volume of dealers.

• Keeps management informed by submitting activity and results reports, such as daily call reports, weekly work plans, and monthly and annual territory analyses.

• Monitors competition by gathering current marketplace information on pricing, products, new products, delivery schedules, merchandising techniques, etc.

• Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.

• Resolves customer complaints by investigating problems; developing solutions; preparing reports; making recommendations to management.

Special Skills & Qualifications: Customer Service, Meeting Sales target, Territory Management, Negotiation, Energetic, Presentation Skills, Client Relationships, Motivation for Sales.

What you need to do Interested candidates should forward a copy of their CV + Cover letter

Lecturer II, Department of Medical Laboratory Science In Kwara State University, Kwara Degree: 3 - 5 years Email: 3397d@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361325 Kwara State University - Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following vacant positions in Kwara State University. Candidates will also be considered for Contract or Adjunct appointment for the posts of Senior Lecturer and above. Candidates applying for contract must submit letters of disengagement from their previous employers along with their applications.

Responsibilities: • To teach at undergraduate and graduate level in areas allocated by the Head of Department and reviewed from time to time by the Head of Department.

• To carry out research and produce publications, or other research outputs, in line with personal objectives agreed in the Staff review process.

• To obtain research funding support.

• To engage with the broader scholarly and professional communities.

• To supervise or assist with supervision of undergraduate, taught graduate (Masters) or research graduate (MPhil/PhD) students.

• To contribute to the development, planning and implementation of a high quality curriculum.

• To assist in the development of learning materials, preparing schemes of work and maintaining records to monitor student progress, achievement and attendance.

• To participate in departmental and faculty seminars aimed at sharing research outcomes and building interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside the department.

• To participate in the development, administration and marking of exams and other assessments.

Qualifications and Requirements: • Candidates must possess a good University degree with at least 2nd Class Honours, Upper Division.

• Candidates with Ph.D. must have spent a minimum of three (3) years on previous grade.

• Candidates without Ph.D. must have spent a minimum of five (5) years on previous grade plus a minimum of six (6) evidence of

continuing research and publications. Ph.D. is, however, required.

Method of Application Interested candidates should forward 15 copies each of their applications, photocopies of their credentials and current Curriculum Vitae which should contain the following: Full names (Surname Last in Block Letters) Post Applied for Marital Status Number of Children and their ages Place of Birth Nationality and State of Origin (if Nigerian) Local Government Area Contact address Permanent Home address GSM Numbers and e-mail address Institution(s) attended with dates Academic and Professional qualifications with dates Work Experience with dates Number of Publications Present Employment status, salary and employer Extra Curricula activities Names and Addresses of three (3) referees (two of whom must be professionals or authorities in relevant fields) who must be requested by the applicants to forward Confidential Reports on them directly to the Registrar, indicating the post applied for.

All applications should be addressed to: The Registrar, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B 1530, Ilorin.

Kwara State Note: The post applied for should be indicated in the left hand corner of the sealed envelope containing the application. Only the applications of shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Hospital Admin Manager In Crest Health Pharmacy, Niger Degree: 1 - 3 years Email: 337ab@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360859 Crest Health Pharmacy seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Job Summary: Will be charged with the responsibility of running the administrative arm of the hospital to make sure that there is a hitch free running of the hospital.

Qualifications and Requirements: • Minimum of a Degree • The person must have at least two years cognate experience in the running of a private hospital.

Sales Executive In MarketBridge Ltd, Niger HND/BSc: 3 - 5 years Email: 33672@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360546 We are a professional Marketing and Sales firm with vast experience and strength in FMCG especially the Flour Milling industry.

MarketBridge is also a leading consultancy service provider and trading company.

Responsibilities • The Sales Executive position is one of the primary revenue generators for our company and so, will be doing the following.

28 • Develop and manage the functional sales activity within assigned territory according to the functional strategy.

• Assess customer requirements in the market and advice on the preferred products, trade terms and services in order to meet customer and end-user needs.

• Develop and maintain close contact with all leading stakeholders in the assigned market by regular visits and contacts.

• Visit and develop relationships with current and potential customers.

• Maintain updated database on all important functional projects in the territory.

• Monitor all competitive sales and marketing activities to current, potential and key customers across the assigned territory.

Qualifications and Requirements: • A minimum of HND (or BSc) in Marketing or other Social Sciences • Reasonable experience (3+ years) prospecting, qualifying and selling FMCG. • I.T proficiency • Strong analytical thinking skills • Good planning and organisation skills • Determination and enthusiasm to excel • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills • Proven track record meeting and exceeding targets • Ability to build and maintain relationships and make sales • Ability to carry out market research and develop sales/marketing plans • Enthusiasm for teamwork.

HR Manager In Vasco Worldwide, Abuja Degree: 7 - 10 years Email: 33b03@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361715 Vasco, a subsidiary of VFS Global is an avantgarde travel service enterprise providing an extensive platform that brings together a wide array of products and services, with the purpose of making a traveler’s experience comfortable, safe, affordable and unique.

Vasco’s offerings range from basic travel products to high-end services like lounge, meet and greet services. Vasco covers wide spectrum of products and services in areas including Hotel and Logistics, Finance and Insurance, Travel Healthcare, Telecom, Retail and more.

Job Description: • Manage and control the HR policies and procedures.

• Ensure the policies are in compliance with the local legal requirements as well as corporate direction • Implement and enforce HR operation policies and procedures • Implement the performance management process and develop/implement a system to support it • Work with the central L&D team to ensuring ongoing development of employees • Ensure the payroll and HR reports are completed on time • Ensure the HR records are maintained and updated • Report and publish HR dashboard reports – headcount, leave/attendance, exit, etc.

• Manage employee relations and the disciplinary and grievance process • Point of contact to all employees for issues and concerns related to Medical Insurance Benefits

Thursday, July 31, 2014

• Work with the central Recruitment team to ensure the right people in place at the right time • Work with the central Comp and Ben’s structure to ensure compliance to salary and grading structures and other compensation and benefits requirements • Assist in the coordination of annual talent review process.

• Advice department heads on HR issues and local laws.

• Arrange training and monitor training data, provide feedback.

• In close collaboration with the HR Head, the HR Manager designs a talent strategy which will accommodate the successful attracting, hiring, developing and retaining of Vasco worldwide talents.

• Will make sure that this talent strategy is in line with Vasco Worldwide’s business strategy and will manage the execution in the local markets.

• Will lead specific talent initiatives which may include talent reviews, employee value proposition, on-boarding, executive coaching and assessment, diversity, High Potential program etc.

• Will plan, develop and design a strong sourcing plan for our operations across West Africa.

• Mobilization and induction of new employees. Would act as the SPOC for all on boarding activities.

Experience & Qualification required: • Bachelor or above degree, major in Human Resources Management or related discipline.

• Minimum 7-10 years working experience in Human Resources function.

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Willing to work for Part time - 3 days a week.

Outlet Manager In Montaigne Place, Abuja HND/Degree: 3 - 5 years Email: 33a99@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361609 Montaigne place, a cosmetic company requires a suitable candidate for this position.

Responsibilities: • Promote and increase sales through the outlets • Improve customer loyalty and satisfaction • Intervene and provide solutions for the dissatisfied customer • Seek and continuously develop knowledge and information about competitor activity, pricing and tactics, and communicate this to Head of department.

• Drive periodic promotion program (sales, discounts, special offers and schemes) at outlet level • Manage stock levels and make key decisions about stock control • Manage costs and overheads, and all factors affecting the profitable performance of the shop.

• Manage security, and emergency systems staff and customer awareness, according to company policy and relevant laws.

• Manage cash and payment systems in accordance with company procedures and policies, at all times with staff and customer safety as the uppermost priority.

• Deposit sales cash and cheques in the bank.

• Prepare stock-level reports.

• Analyse sales figures and forecast future sales volumes to maximise profits.

• Analyse and interprete trends to facilitate planning.

• Respond to customer complaints and comments.

• Ensure that delivered products conforms to order specifications.

Requirements: • Minimum of HND/Bachelor’s degree in any numerate discipline.

• IT skills.

• Communication skills.

• Execution skills.

• Interpersonal skills.

• Negotiation skills.

• 3 years’ cognate experience.

• Good knowledge of Customer management • Good knowledge of Inventory management • Good knowledge of Market segments

Account Receivable Officer In Abuja HND/B.Sc: 5 - 7 years Email: 33953@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361283 A Logistics firm requires the services of a qualified candidate for this position.

No: 2014-0051 Ref: ORC / LOS Department: Finance and Accounts Work Hours: 8am - 5pm Applicability: Internal & External Candidates Job Summary The Account Receivable Officer is responsible for Debt Collection, Invoice Distribution, Withholding Tax Recovery, Customer Account Reconciliation & Generating reports for Management Job Purpose: • Processing invoices for monthly payment • Reconciliation of Accounts Receivables • Supervision of the Credit Control Team • Resolution of billing errors for immediate invoicing • Updating financial records • Generating reports for Management • Resolution of circumstances of nonpayment • Negotiating with customers to resolve conflicts Minimum Requirements: Note: All applicants MUST address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information or the application will not be considered.

Educational Qualification: • HND / B.Sc. in Accounting related field.

Experience: • Minimum of 5 years working experience preferably in a service industry.

Job Specific Competencies • Accounting knowledge • Supervisory skills • Knowledge of Financial Software and Microsoft Office • Confidentiality • Thoroughness • General Math Skill Job Skills and Proficiencies: • Goal oriented and performance driven • Good analytical and data presentation skills • Team management and supervisory experience • Must possess the ability to deliver under pressure • Effective communication skills and

computer literacy • Customer focus and must possess “can-do” attributes Selection Process: • It is essential that the candidate address the required qualifications above in the application.

Additional Selection Criterion: • Only successful applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be notified.

Account Officer In Business Synergy, Abuja Degree: 5 - 7 years Email: 33a7a@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/361578 Business Synergy, a consulting firm in Abuja/ Lagos seeks competent individuals to fill this role.

Responsibilities: • Keeping proper accounting books and records of all transactions • Weekly and Monthly preparations of accounts • Generating all accounts reports as required • Bank statement reconciliations • Preparations of annual final accounts.

Qualifications and Requirements: • Minimum of a relevant degree • 5-7 years’ experience • Good communication and interpersonal skills • Good numerate skills

Training Coordinator In International Institute for Local Development, Abuja Email: 33747@jbng.me Or Visit: http://jbng.me/360759 We are an NGO seeking the services of a qualified individual to fill this position Responsibilities: • Grow and manage the organization’s data base • Bear sole responsibility for corresponding with training delegates as well as partners and vendors • Ensure that market surveys are regularly carried out and that all procurement are tracked and recorded • Coordinate and direct the management and tracking of all training material and equipment • Maintain accurate filing systems, with documented and supported records of action for audit purposes, and prepare weekly and monthly logistics reports • Conduct research • Undertake travel to set up and coordinate training workshops • Coordinate marketing activities for the organization’s training workshops • Undertake regular updates of the training website • Work with accountants to prepare budgets and other financial management activities for training workshops • Be prepared to tackle other tasks at short notice Qualification and Requirements: • Exceptional written communication skills • Good interpersonal skills • Excellent organizational skills

education

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Lucky winners to emerged in the P & G competition

F E AT U R E S N E W S R E P O R T S I N T E R V I E W

What Does Graduating From Primary To Secondary School Mean To Pupils?

By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja

For many pupils, graduating from primary to secondary school produces different feelings and therefore reactions.

It is, as they say, different strokes for different folks. The possible explanation for this is that while many of them are old enough to think and decipher things, some are very young and can barely talk about their feelings and life pursuits.

LEADERSHIP was at the graduation of pupils of Covenant Baptist Nursery and

Esther Alawode I feel very happy that I’m graduating from primary to secondary school and I have learnt to be obedient and hard-working and they are legacies I’m leaving behind Miracle Ugbanede I have made up my mind that I will be a pilot and I’m not afraid of plane crashes even though that seems to be the rave of the moment. I will also love to travel to different countries of the world. Mrs. Ochime is my favourite teacher because she has mastered the secrets in the power of using the rod when we err. She plays with us and flogs us when we do wrong. CRK is my favourite subject because it teaches me about my creator.

My new school is Kiddies Academy at Aso-Pada.

Primary School, Mararaba, where it spoke to some of the graduands and their responses were quite revealing.

Happily, most of them see the completion of their primary school education as a step towards the realisation of their ultimate life ambition of becoming medical doctors, lawyers, pilots, teachers and all that.

Excitedly, they also talked about their favourite teachers, subjects, legacies and other sundry issues. Below are some of their thoughts.

B e n j a m i n Oluwalanke I feel excited today because I’m leaving primary for secondary school with the hope that in some years from now, I will be a lawyer.

I love the profession because I will have the opportunity to correct societal ills and to preside over cases. It will also help me to enlighten people about their fundamental human rights. I love basic science and my favourite teacher is Mrs. Martins because she is very accommodating.

Whenever I’m in need of anything and I go to her, she will ensure that my request is granted. I have learnt that goodness and hard work are virtues.

Eunice Bitrus I’m happy that I’m starting another phase of life and so far, I have learnt that with hard work, I can achieve great things in life. I’m grateful to all my teachers for the knowledge they have imparted in me and my best subject is mathematics.

and hope to take to my new school. I will want to be a medical doctor because I will like to treat people and give them hope in life.

Shepherd Aniedi My favourite subject is English Language because it helps my communication skills. With this, I will love to be a teacher because I love to impart knowledge. So far, obedience and hard work are virtues I have learnt in my primary school and I will take these to Government Secondary School, Nyanya, which is my new school. My favourite teacher is

Bolatife Oluwalanke I would love to be a medical doctor because I will want to help people recover from illnesses. My best subject is English while my favourite teacher is Mrs. Ochume. I have learnt never to steal but to work hard in order to get all that I need. My new school is Cornerstone Academy, AsoPada.

Rita Lazarus I feel very happy today because I’m advancing in life. Nursing is my favourite profession and I will like to practice it because I will want to save lives and impact knowledge about hygiene, basic nutrition and general wellbeing. My best teacher is Aunt Victoria who takes time to correct me in love. My advice to girls of my age who are not in school is for them to get enrolled in order to be educated and enlightened.

With education, they will be able to aspire for professions of their choice just like me.

30 FEATURE/EDUCATION

Thursday, July 31, 2014

SCHOOLS REPORTS

P&G Moves To Boost Girlchild Education

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Procter and Gamble Nigeria has unveiled a new consumer contest called ‘Always Moving Forward’ to help boost girl-child education in Nigeria.

Speaking on the new campaign, the brand operation and integration manager of the organisation, Tolu Pogoson said the contest would produce fifty lucky winners each of whom would be presented with educational grants worth N100,000.

“The contest, apart from the rich financial rewards it promises to the winners, is designed to inspire the young girls by providing them with an opportunity to think positively and work assiduously to achieve a bright future for themselves and the society.

“The competition is in line with the brand promise of Always sanitary pad, which is to improve the lives of females, especially the teenagers, inspiring and empowering them to achieve a bright future,” said Pogoson.

Pupils of Covenant Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Aso-Pada, during their end of session speech and prizegiving day. phot by kuni tyessi

Covenant Baptist School Graduates Second Set Of Students

By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja

It was fun galore and merriment all the way as pupils, teachers, parents and well-wishers of Covenent Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Aso Pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State were entertained by the pupils of the school at its second graduation ceremony.

The pupils who were excited that they had been promoted to new classes and their parents and guardians and friends were present on the occasion put in their best as they engaged in different traditional dance steps to the admiration of all.

It was glaring that the pupils were happy that they were going on a long vacation and for those who were leaving for secondary school after completing their primary school education, their joy too knew no bounds as they showed their happiness by embracing their teachers and

friends.

In the days of yore, it was such songs like ‘Holiday is coming, no more ringing bells, no more teachers’ whip, good bye teachers, good bye friends, I am going home’ that was needed to get the pupils explode in ecstasy.

The under shepherd and proprietor of the school, Rev. Jim Gotom, in his opening speech, charged the pupils to remain law abiding and obedient even during the holidays and the graduands to remain good ambassadors of the school.

Gotom who was represented

by Mr. Bitrus Danbaba, also encouraged parents to show good examples to their children and wards as charity begins at home.

He said “parents must not forget their God-given roles in the lives of their children. No matter how busy and enmeshed you are in the hurdles of life, you must create time for your

children as they remain the hope of every nation.”

The chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Mr. Samuel Giadom, in his own remarks, said education should not be the sole responsibility of the government as the government, at whatever level, could not do it all alone. He said parents must cultivate the habit of looking at the school work of their children and assisting them in areas that seemed difficult.

For the enrolment of the girlchild which is generally low, especially in the northern part of the country, Giadom explained that “gone are the days when boys were seen to be the hope of every community. It is no longer so today and parents must know this. The education of girls is known to have broken down many barriers. And it is true that when you train a man, you train an individual and when you train a woman, you train a nation.”

Union Rejects Outsourcing In Tertiary Health Institutions

By Charles Igbinidu, Abuja

The Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI) has appealed to the Federal Government to reject outsourcing of services in tertiary health institutions.

The appeal was contained in a communique made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin at the end of a two-day meeting of the union.

The communique, which was signed by Mr Olawale Ogundipe, Teaching/Specialist Sector Chairman of SSAUTHRAI, said the union `` frowns and disagrees with the position of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) advocating outsourcing.’’

“Outsourcing of services is under the guise of Public Private Partnership (PPP) as now being done by some of our tertiary institutions is illegal and should be stopped,’’ the communique said.

The communique said outsourcing and commercialisation were different in concept and practice from PPP. It said that if this was not checked, it would take the already expensive health care services out of the reach of common man while quality assurance would be highly compromised.

According to the communique, it will also heighten the already existing disharmony amongst health professionals in the health sector.

Group Commends Shekarau’s Role In Resolving Poly, COE Crisis

By Kuni Tyessi, Abuja

Parents To Blame For Poor Reading Culture - NUT

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

The chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Adesegun Raheem has attributed the extinction of reading culture to the neglect of parents’ responsibilities on their children.

He disclosed this in an interview with LEADERSHIP while speaking on the low rate of reading among students in our society.

According to him, parents have

indulged their responsibilities to the extend that most of them don’t know how their children are performing in school. They have left the duty for the teachers alone.

The NUT boss stressed that the relationship between teachers and parents should be cordial and inter twinned, saying it would assist the students and also promote their reading habit.

“My advise is for the parents to go back to the olden days culture and they should stop buying gadget

that will hinder their children from reading”, he added.

Meanwhile, he promised to bring back the nobility of teaching profession and also ensured that all teachers in the state are computer literate.

“We have put in place some things that would benefit the teachers like sharing their views on social networking, seminal and workshop which will prepare them for promotional examination”, he added.

As academic and other activities have commenced in all polytechnics and colleges of education across the country, a non-governmental organisation, Global Network for Peace in Nigeria (GNPN) has commended the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau for his ability to prevail on the various unions to suspend their nationwide strike.

GNPN said, in a statement, that Shekarau, an academic with unquestionable pedigree, was a man needed to resolve the precipitous problems bedeviling the education sector of the economy.

The statement signed by the national coordinator, Ambassador Odion C. Okpebholo, it also advised the minister to reciprocate the unions’ gesture of suspending the strike by doing everything possible to avert further industrial action which could lead to another strike.

EDUCATION/NEWS 31

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Edo Tertiary Institutions Beg Oshiomhole Over Unpaid Arrears

short news FG Promises Improved Security For Learning

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

The Coalition of Unions of Stateowned Tertiary Institutions of Edo State has appealed to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to wade into the non-payment of 16 months’ salary arrears owed its members from July 2009 to October 2010 which it said accumulated from the difference between the old and new salary structures to avert industrial actions in the institutions.

In a communiqué issued at the end of a joint meeting of the unions and signed by its chairman, Comrade Fred Omonuwa and representatives of the College of Education Ekiadolor, Institute of Technology, Usen, College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, the coalition also sought the resolution of the 35 percent and 65 percent wage bill/salary sharing formula allegedly imposed on the management of the institutions.

11-year-old Wins Spelling Bee Competition In Osun

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

The maiden edition of the Spelling Bee competition in Osun state, has been won by 11 year-old Olawale Zainab of Government Unity School, Osogbo.

The organizers of the programme began with 120 students between the ages of 8 and 14 from public schools in the state and also trained 40 teachers who retrained the students in the art of spelling, vocabulary and proper pronunciation.

The final was filled with a lot of excitement after the first round of spellings which saw 45 spellers moving to the 2nd round while 13 made it to the 3rd before the number was further prunned to 3 students (two girls and a boy) who succeeded in making the fourth round.

The two girls showed their prowess when the boy dropped off at round 4 making him the 2nd runner up and from there the girls took the competition to round 19 before Zainab Olawale spelled the championship word “MARATHON” and became the maiden champion of Osun State.

The Spelling Bee in the state indeed came to a stimulating end on the 30th of April with the emergence of the winner who will make it to the 87th Scripps Spelling Bee competition in Washington DC, USA.

By nan

Pupils performing during a graduation ceremony

ECOBA Honours 11 Outstanding Students Of Edo College

By Charles Igbinidu, Abuja

Students of Edo College, Benin City, last week Friday wore smiles on their faces as the school’s prize giving day was reinstituted by the Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), Lagos branch.

Students of the school in SS3 and JS2 who distinguished themselves in different subjects were recognised and honoured with plaques and cash prizes.

Audu Donald, an SS3 student emerged the best student in English Language, Physics and Biology while the head boy, Eribo Richmond emerged overall best student in Mathematics.

Osazuwa Eghosa, the son of a mathematician, clinched the prize for SS3 Mathematics while the overall best prize in Fine Arts and English Language went to Olu Osei Victor (SS3) and Ogieva Osahenrumwea (JS3) respectively.

Speaking at the event, a representative of ECOBA, and the chairman of the Education Fund of the chapter, Prof. E.S. Akpata, said the prize and awards event was part of the efforts of ECOBA, Lagos, to encourage the students of the school to work hard and excel academically.

Akpata who left Edo College 55 years ago urged the students

to imbibe the culture of reading, which will enhance their development later in life.

He emphasised the need for the students to also engage in extracurricular activities and sustain them after leaving school as these would help in their character development.

In his remark, the principal of the school, Deacon Godwin Idahosa Osawomwan commended the old boys association of the school for its laudable programmes which he said had helped in the students’ development and had repositioned the school for academic excellence.

AUN, US College Collaborate On Peace Journalism

by Kuni Tyessi, Abuja

Students of the American University of Nigeria and Earlham College, YIndiana, in the United States, are participating in a joint course on Peace Journalism for the spring semester of 2014.

The course which is a project of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance (GLAA) is dedicated to strengthening liberal arts and science education through the exchange of experience and the development of mutually beneficial programs.

AUN’ s writing for the Mass Media students are working collaboratively with

Peace Journalism students at Earlham College and the collaboration is the first of its kind for AUN and is expected to pioneer several other joint projects between universities globally under the umbrella of the GLAA. The final written projects, which the students will jointly produce, will ser ve as their examinations for the semester and will be published online. The stories, which are focused principally on youth disenfranchisement and insurgency , as well as on minority rights, will reflect elements of Peace Journalism from the Earlham end and

news storytelling from the AUN students .

The collaboration draws on the tools of social media to expand the classroom and enable international collaboration between students across borders. The professor of the Peace Journalism class at Earlham, Dr. Judi Hetrick, said, “The goal of the project is to create international reporting groups to work on stories about LGBT rights or violence by young people. ” Dr. Hetrick expressed her excitement about the collaboration and noted that via Facebook students can meet and share interests from their homes.

The Federal Government on Tuesday promised improved security to guarantee safe learning environment.

The government also expressed optimism that the country would rise above her current security challenges and return to an era of safe atmosphere for learning.

Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, said this in Abuja at a two-day national workshop on security awareness for public and private schools in the FCT. Duke, who was represented by the Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the ministry, Mr Stephen Ikata, described the unprecedented attacks on schools by insurgents as a heinous crime. ``It is my conviction that with concerted efforts and energy on reorienting the Nigeria public; very soon we will collectively make our schools safer for learning,’’ he said.

He urged teachers, parents and children to increase their level of vigilance to beef up the security in their various domains.

32

Thursday, July 31, 2014

BUSINESS/mines & steel 33

Thursday, July 31, 2014

NIGERIA: OIL THEFT AT ITS PEAK

ENERGY REPORT

IN RECENT TIMES, THE MENACE OF OIL THEFT, ILLEGAL REFINERIES AND PIPELINE VANDALISM HAS AFFECTED THE NATION’S REVENUE ADVERSELY. STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NIGERIAN PETROLEUM INDUSTRY HAVE CONTINUOUSLY DECRIED THE HIGH RATE OF CRUDE OIL THEFT AND PIPELINE VANDALISM IN THE COUNTRY.

N960bn The amount oil theft and

pipeline vandalism costs the nation

5%

Percentage of Nigeria’s total output lost to theft from its onshore and swamp operations alone in Q1 2013

200,000b/d The barrels per day the

country loses to oil theft on daily bases

Most of what is stolen is exported

INFOGRAPHICS BY Matthew Akhabue

Power Sector: Rumples Over New Regulatory Bill STORIES By juliet alohan, Abuja

Any instrument, which is inconsistent with the extant provisions of the ESPR Act, is to the extent of such inconsistency null, void and of no effect whatsoever as it negates the principles behind the power sector reform as articulated in the ESPR Act

Controversy is presently trailing a bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Electricity Management Authority (NEMSA) which is presently known as the Electricity Management Services Ltd (EMSL).

The bill which has passed first and second reading at both the House of Representatives and the Senate is sponsored by the chairman, House Committee on Power, Patrick Ikhariale.

The EMSL which came into being following the enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform (ESPR) Act 2005 was primarily established to take over the operations, assets and activities of the PHCN such as engineering laboratory, training institutions, meter testing stations and central storage system.

However, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has strongly posited that the new roles assigned to the agency overlaps and conflicts with the its roles as clearly specified in the ESPR Act 2005. Making his presentation at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Power and chaired by Patrick Ikhariale at the National Assembly, the chairman of the NERC, Mr Sam Amadi, argued that the bill is null and void because it negates the principle of the ESPR Act. He said, “It is our considered view that any instrument, no matter how so called, which is

inconsistent with the extant provisions of the ESPR Act, is to the extent of such inconsistency null, void and of no effect whatsoever as it negates the principles behind the power sector reform as articulated in the ESPR Act.” He stated that the EMSL objectives are streamlined in the ESPR Act to suit its purpose, bearing in mind the existence of a regulator in the sector. Amadi said the challenge in situating the EMSL which is designed as a service provider to act as inspector, is that at some point, the EMSL will encounter a situation where it may have to inspect its own facilities like meter testing stations.

He said that while the NERC recognises the statutory roles of the EMSL in the nascent electricity industry and have been interfacing with it on the issue of meter testing in the industry, empowering the agency with provisions in the new bill will create regulatory uncertainty, cause confusion and send wrong signals to investors about the electricity market. The NERC chairman strongly maintained that the bill, if it becomes law, could retard progress so far being recorded in the sector and this will not be in public interest.

In his presentation, the minister of power, represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Ambassador Godknows Igali, pointed out that section 8 of the ESPR Act provided for the creation of other bodies to take care of new

areas of need in the sector which led to the creation of the EMSL among others. He explained that in 2013, the ministry excised the part of its responsibility on inspection to the EMSL to enable the ministry focus on policy making. He stated that the NERC has made its position known to the ministry on the overlapping functions, adding that the ministry is consulting within the sector to create clear demarcation and avoid conflict of roles.

While insisting on the need to build strong institutions, Igali said, “I want to assure that the ministry, as the sector leader, will do our best to ensure that this process is resolved. I will like to say that this body was not established by the present leadership of the ministry. My job as a permanent secretary is to put things in order for the body to function.”

In his own presentation, the managing director of the EMSL, Mr Peter Ewesor, argued that the NEMSA bill was imperative to create an independent entity saddled with the task of closing the technical gap observed in the industry at present. He said countries like Ghana, India and the United Kingdom (UK) have separated commercial regulation from technical regulation.

Ewesor said while the NERC oversees commercial regulation, it was imperative to enact the NEMSA Act to give it power to carry out technical regulation and enforce standards in the industry.

Over $200m To Be Invested In Polaku Pipe Mill The pilot pipe mill being developed at Polaku, Bayelsa State, will attract over $200 million investment, the minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, has said.

The project is part of key initiatives of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) which, she said, would benefit Nigerians and Bayelsa indigenes directly.

The minister stated this while addressing journalists after visiting the headquarters of the NCDMB in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

She also underscored the adoption of the Nigerian Content philosophy by other sectors of the economy like the Ministry of Communications Technology and Ministry of Power as further proof that that the implementation of the Act has been effective.

She expressed confidence that the Nigerian Content implementation will “lend itself in a critical way to the growth of the nation’s economy and development of the citizenry in terms of knowledge, capacity building and employment generation.”

Vandalism: NNPC To Protect Pipelines With New Technology The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that plans are underway to deploy the horizontal directional drilling technology in all its pipelines to reduce the incessant attacks on the infrastructure.

The group managing director (GMD) of the NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu, explained that this was part of a long term solution to the problem of pipeline vandalism which has become a challenge for the supply of crude to the refineries.

Yakubu, who was speaking in a town hall meeting at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), said the incessant attacks on the pipelines have become a huge drag on the operations of the corporation as well as a drain on the national economy.

He added that for the NNPC to live up to its full potential, it must adopt a radical change in its operational attitude, adding that his management was willing to support any SBU that comes up with innovative ideas on how to operate more efficiently and grow profit.

The GMD explained that the corporation’s transformation initiative is aimed at repositioning it to be commercially focused and profit-oriented in preparation for the postPetroleum Industry Bill (PIB) era.

Yakubu, who addressed the town hall meeting after a facility tour of the corporation’s Research & Development Center, the Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), and the Port Harcourt Refinery, stated that more subsidiaries of the corporation are beginning to make profit in their day-to-day operations as a result of some initiatives introduced by his management.

He informed that the three refineries are gradually becoming profit centres as a result of the introduction of a scheme to supply crude oil to them by marine vessels given the impossibility of cruse supply by pipelines due to vandalism and theft.

34 ISSUES

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Re: Emeka Offor Versus His Oraifite People

By Jude C. Agu

It was by chance that I came across the above article written by someone who goes by the name, Mike Ofiaeli and who also claimed that he was an indigene of Oraifite, the same town with the subject of his vituperations, Sir Emeka Offor. What really beat my imagination about the write up and made me to waste my precious time and energy to write a rejoinder to this, was not the love I have for Sir Emeka Offor, whom I only know by reputation, because I have never seen him in flesh except his photographs. Secondly, it was not to defend his “perfidies and atrocities” (if I may paraphrase Ofiaeli’s gutter and uncouth language) against the people of Oraifite and our beloved Nigeria. What a ‘patriotic spirit!’

No, it was neither of the above; but while I was going through whatever anybody chooses to call that write up, which to my mind should be garbage, I kept on asking myself what actually was the motive of the author? What does he really set out to accomplish other than to ridicule, embarrass, vilify, denigrate, and diminish the status or the esteem of Sir Emeka Offor. In the same vein, I asked myself as a member of Anya-Igbo Organisation, (sentiment apart); would a son of Kano State put down such obscenity against Dangote and publish it in the web, or a Yoruba man do the same to Adenuga? “Igbo Enwe Eze” syndrome! Is Ofiaeli telling the whole world that the Igbos and

particularly the people of Oraifite have become the Nazarenes of Nigeria in this 21st Century world?

I hope Mike Ofiaeli is educated enough to know what I mean by being the Nazarenes of Nigeria.

Issues raised by Ofialeli The first sin, according to Ofiaeli, Sir Emeka Offor committed against humanity and the people of Oraifite (if it was true) was that he changed his name from “Wilson Orakwue Offor” to Sir Emeka Offor. If one may ask, since when has it become a crime for anybody to change his name assuming Sir Emeka Offor did that? Before I proceed further, let me educate Mr. Ofiaeli on what is a name and what is in a name. A name is a word, term, phrase by which somebody is known, identified with and distinguished from other people or things. Our names are our passport to eternity; it is what will be remembered or what will outlive us when this flesh finally returned to dust. Change of name has always been as old as humanity.

There is no crime in one choosing a name he/she wants to be known and addressed with, whether millions of people had answered it before or still answering it now, is of little consequence. In the Bible, Abraham’s name was changed from Abram; Jacob was change to Israel just to mention but a few. Back home in Nigeria, Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo had to drop their foreign names from

Offor

their identities. It was no crime.

Murtala Mohammed changed his name from Muritala Mohammed when he became the head of state.

Beyond our shores, the initial S. appearing in Harry Truman’s name has no meaning beyond the letter

five years of experience, I have never heard that any court in Nigeria or the police had declared Sir Emeka Offor or the mythical Wilson Orakwue Offor wanted in connection with any crime so far.

It is the inalienable right of Sir Emeka Offor to change his name and make it public in accordance with the law. Even now Sir Emeka Offor still has a right to change his name even to Ofiaeli, if he so desires. What about the hundreds of people who on a daily basis publish in virtually all the dailies their change of names?

The absurdity in Mr. Ofiaeli’s claim on the change of name which gave him out as simply dishing out brazen white lies and which exposes its utter illogicality can be found in the allegation that a man who is running away from the long arm of the law turned round to adopt his brother’s name - with the same surname! Of course he could

would a son of Kano State put down such obscenity against Dangote and publish it in the web, or a Yoruba man do the same to Adenuga?

S. It was not an abbreviation.

Pray, Mr. Ofiaeli, did all these great men commit a crime with their former names since you want the world to believe that once a person changed his name to another, he must have committed crime with the former? At least, as of today, as a journalist of more than twenty

not run far, because all the police needed to do was pick his brother and his race would have been aborted long ago. But is Sir Emeka Offor, with his reputed business savvy, unintelligent to engage in such name adoption.

It is quite a pity that Mr. Ofiaeli and his sponsors are quite ignorant

about the paradox of life. Let me correct their jaundiced minds about life. The winners of the life game are not those who never tasted failure, but those who have tasted failure again and again, but never gave up.

A man who has never failed never ventured. Sir Emeka Offor, perhaps, belongs to this second category like most great achievers. They have tasted failure again and the again but refused to quit.

That Sir Emeka Offor was once a driver with Julius Berger Construction Firm (assuming it was correct), so what? That he never shared the last position in class with anybody - yes what about it?: that he did not pass his school certificate, so what? So because of these alleged instances Ofiaeli feels that he should remain in the valley and never to aspire to ascend the peak of the mountain.

Who does not know that Thomas Edison’s formal education lasted for only three months, after he started schooling? His teacher wrote to his parents that he should be sent to school of mentally retarded children because he couldn’t cope in the class.

Yet Thomas Eva Edison grew up against many odds to become one of the greatest inventors the world had ever known. Mr. Ofiaeli, do you also know that Steve Job dropped out of college (University)? His highest qualification was high school - Nigeria’s equivalent to Senior Secondary School Certificate.

Jude C. Agu, wrote from Enugu

Jimmy Johnson Every Thursday Mobile: 08072001812

email: jimyjayjohnson@yahoo.com

Too Many Cooks Spoil The Broth

we have critics of all sorts, including professors who are in the third chance of running a family, having broken two previous families

Since our independence in October 1960 we cannot say for sure that we have had any government that ruled the country to the satisfaction of all – agreed no government can please everybody.

Before the military terminated the First Republic, we cannot say we were quite satisfied with the leadership. Each time the military terminated a democracy we hailed it, which meant that we had grudges against the government kicked out by the military. But somewhere along the line we found that the military we hailed did not give us the desired satisfaction in the end.

One very big problem I see with us is that Nigeria has too many egg-heads, too many brilliant people, too many wise people and every wise person must show that he is wiser than the rest, wants to be heard and his views accepted. In the game of football, every Nigerian, including those who never stepped into a football pitch is a coach and thinks he can do better than the coach on whose shoulders the responsibility to take decisions lie. In politics, a politician who cannot win election in his ward, and the one who emerges from nowhere

or from a Church, sees himself as the only one who knows Nigeria’s problems and can rule the country effectively and most successfully. In the art of criticism against government, we have critics of all sorts, including professors who are in the third chance of running a family, having broken two previous families. They see themselves as having the monopoly of wisdom and must be obeyed as every other person has but, sawdust in his head. And the country begins from the homes, the families where they have twice woefully failed to show leadership, tolerance and care.

All these “wise people” abound, they give the rest of us problems one way or the other with their “wise” pronouncements.

They are our problems while they claim to have solutions to our problems. They know too, too much but lack common morals.

In all we have too many wise people.

An adage in Yoruba says “Ti ogbon ba poju, o’pa olo’gbon lara,” which means – “if one has too much of over-flowing wisdom, it becomes detrimental to him.”

That is the problem of Nigeria. We have far too many wise people. None believes

that another man’s opinion is superior to his. This has been made unbearable by freedom of expression. Yes everybody has a right to express his opinion but, must we distort and heat up the polity with obnoxious expressions that come from people who seem to be mentally unbalanced. Some mentally deranged people are in employment, they go to work, earn wages and have families, some are in politics. It is only when they make outrageously negative pronouncements and decisions that one can suspect their mental imbalance. We must isolate these people whose ambition it is to create confusion, trouble, instability, tension and hate in the polity and not give prominence to their expressions.

A citizen who brazenly accuses the president of murder has gone beyond the borders of freedom of expression, likewise those who overtly say the country would be made ungovernable if they lose elections. It is only appropriate to blacklist them.

We are suffering from too much of freedom of expression and we lack the wherewithal to contain the adverse effects of this destructive freedom of

expression. A cleric sometime ago on television, described democracy as a system in which everybody was free to do whatever he likes. It did not matter to him if his kind of freedom was rather negative.

Ask the average Nigerian a question, he will most likely than not, reply with another question not giving an answer to the question he was asked. To put it succinctly in a most common language, we “too know.” It is the cause of friction, misunderstanding, negligence, intolerance, distrust, defiance and social retrogression which in fact gives birth to our refusal to obey common laws.

Regretfully it is at all levels and politically, has made us allergic to elections. There seems to be hope in the distant future – and a great man of honour, Fayemi the outgoing governor of Ekiti State has brought that distant future closer by doing what one of our founding fathers of politics, Zik of Africa said, “Show the light and the people shall find the way.”

Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State has shown the light towards an amazingly descent political tolerance in character and pronouncement.

DEFENCE FOCUS 35

Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Emergence Of Female Suicide Bombers

D

uring the Sallah celebrations, three young girls were involved in some of the explosions that rocked Kaduna and Kano and not fewer people were shocked with the emergence of the female suicide bombers. But those who are familiar with the on-going security war against terror are not surprised because of the happening in the recent past.

Recently, the troops arrested and unmasked three women who were allegedly working for the Boko Haram terrorists. The Defence Headquarters had announced the arrest of three suspected female terrorists who have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The arrest followed a failed suicide bombing attempt on a military facility by a female terrorist in Gombe recently. The female suicide bomber refused to follow others on the queue and when a soldier walked toward her to stop her from going, she jumped at him and detonated the Improvised Explosive Devise on her and she and the innocent soldier died in the explosion that followed while some soldiers sustained serious injuries.

The suspects, Hafsat Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar, were intercepted while travelling to Madagali in Adamawa State from where they were would move to the forest to reunite with their cohorts.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects, led by Hafsat, have the mission to recruit members into the female wing of the terrorist group as well as conduct es-

pionage for the group. Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had been a subject of investigation since 2012 when security agents on a man-hunt for one Usman Bako, her husband, who was identified as a terrorist, stormed their residence in Jimeta,” DHQ disclosed.

It disclosed that the manhunt resulted in the discovery of an AK- 47 rifle and two loaded magazines Mr. Bako later died in an encounter with troops in Sokoto, where the terrorist had relocated to continue his activities. He said that Hafsat continued with the terror group, specialising in surreptitious recruitment of members into their fold.

“The three female suspects were luring ladies, especially widows and young girls, by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage. Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group. The trio have been operating together as members of the intelligence team of the group and their arrest has yielded information still being verified by security agencies,” the Director of Defence Information said.

In the assassination attempt against the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader and former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, security operatives arrested a man, who disguised as woman in the attack.

With the new development, security watchers are of the opinion that parents must keep watch over their children especially girls who might have been recruited

defence focus

By BAYO OLADEJI

Jonathan

Badeh

into the terror group unknowingly to them.

Some people are even arguing that some of the abducted Chibok girls might have been indoctrinated could be the carriers of the IEDs to continue the terror attacks on the populace.

President Goodluck Jonathan, while condemning the situation on Monday, said the “deployment of young women as suicide bombers represents a new low in the inhuman campaign by the terrorists and an expression of utter disregard for the dignity of the female gender, as well as a wicked exploitation of the girl-child.”

Former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, on her Twitter handle, “this new trend and serial pattern of fe-

male suicide bombers surely should particularly worry us.

It worries me stiff because of our Chibok girls.

“Kano again and again. Female suicide bombers again and again - becoming trend.

Our Chibok girls still in the enemy den. Are we thinking?”

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) wanted the Federal Government to seek the relevant technical and scientific assistance from friendly nations, who had volunteered to join it to achieve counter-insurgency strategies, so as to unravel the identities of the female bombers.

In a statement, signed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the national media affairs director, Zainab Yusuf, it said it was imperative that experts were in-

volved in the investigation of the origin of female bombers.

The organisation said “now that the armed insurgents are incessantly using alleged female bombers to unleash devastating violence on soft targets, the Nigerian government must probe the origin of these female suicide bombers, even as the Federal Ministry of Information and respective ministries of information in the North must immediately begin sensitisation campaign, to dissuade innocent girls from being lured and hypnotised into embarking on the satanic errands of detonating high calibre explosives.

“In the event that these female suicide bombers are identified to have been the same kidnapped girls, then the government should immediately deploy all resources and strategies to bring to an end, once and for all, this shameful scenario, since the military have repeatedly stated that they are aware of the whereabouts of the kidnaped Chibok girls,” the organisation said.

But a serving general has a contrary opinion, according to him, some of these girls may have been among those that were set free as recommended by Brigadier General Gumi panel recently.

Remember, few months ago, we released some women and children who are relations to those terrorists as recommended by the Brigadier General Gumi’s panel. Some of them have went back to join them and they are the ones being used to perpetrate all these atrocities. I am not dismissing those suggesting that the Chibok girls could be used as well, but I am convinced that some of those women and children that were released have joined them and they are now working together,” he said.

PROFILE: MOHAMMED DAHIRU ABUBAKAR IG Police, MD Abubakar

Adedeji

Born on May 5, 1958, MD Abubakar hails from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State. He enlisted into the Force as a Cadet Inspector on August 1, 1979. He holds Diploma in Administration and Criminology, has meritoriously served the Nigeria Police in many capacities. Important positions he held in the force include, Assistant Commissioner of Police, State CID, Sokoto Police Command; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Lagos; and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Airport Police

Command (MMIA), Lagos.

He was in charge of many Police Commands across the Federation.

Some of these are: Plateau, Abia, Kwara, Kano, Airport and Lagos State Police Commands.

He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and he subsequently became the AIG in charge of Zone 2. He was also the AIG Zone 5, He was later posted to Zone 6, comprising Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Ebonyi States. His last post was as the AIG in charge of Zone 12, Bauchi.

Top 3 DEFENCE STORIES ➊ I Was Target Of Kaduna BlastBuhari ➋ Blast A Ploy To Divide Nigeria ➌ Stop linking FG with bomb attack on Buhari -Col Umar

The Escort jeep of Gen Mohammed Buhari that was attacked

by Boko Haram in Kaduna.

36 feature

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Population Census: How Feasible Is 2016?

Less than two years to the proposed population census, the National Population Commission (NPC) is yet to receive a proclamation from President Goodluck Jonathan to enable the commission commence its activities for the 2016 census. Patience Ivie Ihejirika analyses some of the issues

The last National Population and Housing Census were conducted by the national population commission in 2006. The exercise raised national and international expectations and it was thought that the conduct of regular intervals would be maintained in Nigeria.

However, while 2016 is just around the corner, it is still uncertain whether the next census would actually hold, giving the fact that the commission is still waiting for a proclamation from the president.

Request for proclamation The leadership of the National Population Commission recently had a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Villa in relation to the commission’s anticipated presidential proclamation concerning the proposed population census in 2016.

The NPC chairman, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, while briefing statehouse correspondents after the meeting revealed that the team could not se-

cure the proclamation at the meeting.

According to him, although there ought to be a general census in 2016 since the last one was conducted in 2006; however, preparations for the exercise have not started since there is no presidential proclamation on the matter.

“The last census was in 2006. So in 2016, there ought to be another exercise. We have come to tell Mr President about that because we cannot commence until he says go ahead and the go-ahead is by way of proclamation,” Chief Duruiheoma said.

Blaming the country ‘s problem on poor data management, Duruiheoma said, “If you look at the problems confronting us as a nation today, all of them were derived from a simple fact that we lack data and because we lack data, we don’t plan.

So that is what I think we should be looking at.”

The need for population census in 2016

NPC chairman has maintained that periodicity is one of the basic attribute of a good census.

According to him, censuses are conducted over a period of five or 10 years. The periodicity of the census makes the data comparable over a period of time, adding that the demographic profile of any nation is not static, rather expected to change considerably over a period.

“Conducting census at regular intervals makes it possible for the government and planners to have a larger picture of development process and plan accordingly. Comparability of census data are better done when the census are conducted at regular intervals of either five or ten years rather than at regular period of government convenience,” he explained.

Duruiheoma noted that accurate and reliable demography data is an indispensable requirement for people centered development, while indicating that the nation has conducted several censuses and other demographic survey in the past for its development planning.

He revealed that upon inauguration of the present commission, the president directed it to achieve 100 per cent completeness of the vital registration project by 2015, adding that in pursuit of the directive, the commission has embarked upon an accelerated registration of births

and deaths in every part of the country through the support of a wide range of stakeholders and development partner.

“More registration centres have been planned while more registrars are being recruited in order to ensure that all births and deaths are registered.

“The vision of the commission is a vital registration system that will automatically update the population data within the inter-census period through regular and continuous capture of the changes in the population profile through births and deaths,” he said.

According to him, in African, not less than 34 countries have participated uninterruptedly in the last three rounds of global censuses from 1990 to 2014. He enlisted the countries as Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo, Egypt and Equatorial Guinea.

Other countries include Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome’and Principle, Senegal, and Zimbabwe among others.

Noting another imperative why it is necessary for the country to hold its next census in 2016, Duruiheoma said after the result of the 2006 population and housing census was released, some state government and local government councils disputed the result as it affected them on various ground.

Reacting to the current security challenges in country which is perceived as the reason why the president is delaying in giving a go ahead to commence activities for the exercise, Chief Duruiheoma revealed that some of the countries that have conducted census regularly have also experienced internal crisis like it is currently experienced in Nigeria.

He said virtually all the countries have lesser population and are less endowed with resources like Nigeria.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be working towards the general election in 2015 amidst the security challenges. So security should not be a yardstick for not conducting census in 2016.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan had stressed the need for Nigeria to know its population figures in order to plan well while swearing-in Chief Eze Duruiheoma as the chairman of NPC in February, 2014.

President Jonathan described the NPC as a very crucial agency, saying, “When we have a country that which population is growing than the way the economy is growing, then we must know our population figures so that government at federal, state and local levels will be able to plan. ‘’You cannot plan based on what you don’t know but if you know, you can plan for it.’’

It is worthy of note that despite the delay, Nigerians are anxiously waiting to get accurate population census figures by 2016.

If you look at the problems confronting us as a nation today, all of them were derived from a simple fact that we lack data and because we lack data, we don’t plan

politics today Thursday, July 31, 2014

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REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

Aso Rock, APC And Political Terrorism In this report, George Agba examines the controversy trailing the alleged assassination attempt on the life of former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) by a suicide bomber within the back drop of suspected plans by the Boko Haram sect to influence the country’s electoral process with a new kind of politics.

Jonathan

T The leadership of the sect must be grinning mischievously and laughing now as they watch comic political actors haul funny and unfounded accusations at each other

he political dust raised by last week’s attack on the convoy of former Head of State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) by a suicide bomber in Kaduna is instructive of the role the Boko Haram sect intends to play in the country’s politics ahead of the next general elections.

Judging by the manner in which politicians are already dancing to the unscrupulous rhythm and manipulative tactics of the terrorists group, there is no doubt that the insurgents would be a defining factor in the 2015 polls.

Apparently blinded by their own desperation, key actors are already bracing up to what pundits have described as ‘political terrorism’, a term for a new kind of politics introduced in the country’s political lexicon by the insurgents.

The coordinated attacks that saw two bombs exploding within the interval of two hours in Kaduna was quintessential Boko Haram

Buhari

onslaught. While Buhari and the renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi who are the alleged targets of the attacks escaped death only by a whisker, the twin explosions killed over 80 persons and injured scores of people.

In the aftermath of the gory incident last Wednesday, it turned out that Aso Rock is the worse hit following the unfolding skirmishes the political terrorism is brewing.

Coming barely 48 hours after Buhari alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan has declared war on Nigeria, there is no doubt that the purported assassination attempt on the APC leader and Sheik Bauchi was a calculated attempt by the insurgents to cause pandemonium in the country’s already overheated polity. The leadership of the sect must be grinning mischievously and laughing now as they watch comic political actors haul funny and unfounded accusations at each other.

The pace was set for this political terrorism to thrive when,

penultimate Monday, Buhari lashed at President Jonathan over the impeachment storm that has been sweeping governors of the APC from office. The former Head of State had alleged that the presidency’s orchestrated impeachment of governors of opposition states, just to decapitate the opposition, will not augur well for the survival of a fragile nation like Nigeria or its tenderfoot democracy. According to him, it is indicative of the fact that the president has declared war on his own country.

Specifically, the statesman noted with dismay that Jonathan had been deploying federal might and the country’s resources in a bid to fuel partisanship, subvert the system and punish the opposition in the name of politics.

In a statement issued in Kaduna, Buhari alleged that the recent induced impeachment or threats of opposition governors, was a ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 38 Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor

Villa Flakes

Al-Makura’s Fate And Nasarawa Lawmakers’ Visit To Jonathan Coming a day after the lawmakers asked the state’s chief judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of “gross misconduct” levelled against Governor Al-Makura, the visit by the speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Musa Ahmed and five of its members to Aso Rock on Thursday is still continues to arouse curiosity as to what transpired at the meeting.

While some pundits believe that at the private meeting held with the lawmakers, President Jonathan may have asked them to soft pedal on the impeachment of Governor Tanko Almakura, others argue that nothing of that sort happened. The thinking is that for the chief judge of Nasawara to proceed and set up the panel, it implies that the impeachment axe is still dangling loosely over the governor’s head.

The lawmakers who were led to the president’s office by national deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus had come out of the meeting which lasted for about two hours, insisting that it was a private meeting.

Asked about the nature and outcome of the meeting with the president, the speaker simply said, “It is was private visit”.

When journalists pressed further to know what the private visit was all about and why it came at a time when the lawmakers were bent on impeaching the state governor, the speaker said, “I don’t have the mandate of the House to speak to press”, adding that the chairman of the assembly’s committee on information was the appropriate person to speak on the impeachment.

The deputy national chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus who came out of the president’s office some minutes after the lawmakers insisted, “We are Almakura consulting”.

38 POLITICS TODAY

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Aso Rock, APC And Political Terrorism ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

The processes for impeaching an elected governor are clearly stipulated in the national constitution which Nigeria has operated since 1999

ploy by the president to subvert the constitution in his desperation to impeach opposition governors.

This, he added, entails deploying the institutions of state, some of which are symbols of the country’s unity, just to kick an out-of- favour state governor in the stomach.

He maintained that the use of impeachment to settle political scores can only breed anarchy and lead the nation down the slippery slope to chaos.

Urging Jonathan to pull the brakes on his administration’s runaway train of impunity in the interest of Nigeria’s survival and the sustenance of the nation’s democracy, Buhari said, “Our country has gone through several rough patches, but never before have I seen a Nigerian president declare war on his own country as we are seeing now. Never before have I seen a Nigerian president deploy federal institutions in the service of partisanship as we are witnessing now.

“Never before have I seen a Nigerian President utilise the commonwealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition in the name of politics.

Our nation has suffered serious consequences in the past for egregious acts that are not even close to what we are seeing now.

It is time to pull the brakes”.

The president who had been maintaining an awkward silence on the impeachment saga did not find Buhari’s remarks funny.

For the presidency, the general’s statement was not the run-ofthe-mill media attacks that usually characterises the intermittent criticism of the opposition. Swiftly, Jonathan struck back, describing as most unfortunate, Buhari and his allies’ decision to resort to the blame game against him, instead of working hard to put their house in order.

On the night of the same day Buhari issued his own statement, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati quickly scribbled the president’s reaction. He noted that Jonathan received Buhari’s “wild and totally unsustainable allegations” against him with much surprise and regret.

Against the allegation that he was subverting the constitution in order to gag the opposition, Abati said the president was fully committed to “upholding the letters, principles and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution as he has sworn, and defending the rule of law and integrity of the democratic process with all his might.

“It may well be time to pull the brakes, as General Buhari says in his statement, but it is he

Tinubu

Muhammed

Metuh

and others who have resorted to idle scapegoating and blaming President Jonathan for their selfinflicted political troubles who need to stop their inexcusable partisanship and show greater regard for the truth, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, peace, security and the well-being of the nation”, Abati added.

Noting that Buhari was no more the elder statesman he once commended him to be, Jonathan said, “Although he tries very hard to deny it in the statement titled “Pull Nigeria Back From the Brink”, there can be no doubt that General Buhari has sadly moved away from the patriotic and statesmanlike position he recently adopted on national security, which President Jonathan publicly commended, and has now reverted to unbridled political partisanship.

“We therefore urge General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has the moral right to be so carelessly sanctimonious”, he added.

The presidential spokesman asked Nigerians to cross-check properly whether there can be any other explanation or justification “for the completely unwarranted and very uncharitable assault on the conduct and integrity of President Jonathan” which Buhari’s statement represents.

Abati continued: “The processes for impeaching an elected governor are clearly stipulated in the national constitution which Nigeria has operated since 1999.

The president of Nigeria is not assigned any role in that process and President Jonathan has certainly not played any role in the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa or in the impeachment drama currently being played out in Nasarawa State.

“Contrary to whatever General Buhari and his new friends may imagine, President Jonathan fully respects the rights, powers, authority and independence of elected representatives of the people, including the members of the state assemblies who have concluded or initiated impeachment proceedings against

their state governors on grounds which they consider justifiable”.

Ironically, the verbal war between the president and the opposition leader not long after Jonathan commended Buhari for his statesman-like views on terrorism. The former head of state had published an article condemning the activities of Boko Haram. In a statement issued by Abati, Jonathan who welcomed “Buhari’s call on all Nigerians to remain steadfast and work in unity to overcome terrorists and other merchants of death who currently threaten national security,” gladly said he shared Buhari’s view that a minority must never be allowed to “bring the nation to its knees through terror”.

Apparently sensing what was to follow next- the politicisation of the attack on Buhari’s convoythe presidency was rattled. The next day, Jonathan condemned the Kaduna bombing, describing it as a deliberate ploy to cause sectional division by inflaming passion and causing panic in the land. In a statement by Abati, the president who thanked God for sparing Buhari’s life ordered the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to do whatever they could to bring those behind the gory attacks to book.

Confirming that Aso Rock was yet to recover from the shock, the president raised the issue when a Muslim delegation led by Vice President Namadi Sambo paid him Sallah homage to mark the 2014 Eid-el-Firtri celebration at his residence in the presidential villa. He said the country would have been in turmoil if Buhari and Sheik Bauchi had died in the coordinated attacks.

“You can imagine if these two people had died in those attacks.

Sheik Bauchi is one of our top Islamic preachers; he has millions of followers. Buhari, former head of state, a leading political figure has massive supporters. On the same day people wanted to kill them. Those who planned the attacks are clearly sons of the devil because if they had killed these two people, we wouldn’t have been here today. This country would have been in turmoil; we couldn’t

have gathered here to celebrate.

We thank Allah for saving their lives and preventing a major calamity that would have befallen our country”, Jonathan noted.

Although some keen observers in both political divide have insisted that there is no logic in linking the presidency with the purported assassination attempt, the opposition party has called for an international probe into the matter. Seeking the assistance of the international community to conduct an investigation into what it termed as a “dastardly act that could have plunged the country into a deep turmoil, had it succeeded”, the APC said the call became more urgent because the agents of the federal government have started muddling the waters with “their sickening statements and actions on the attack”.

In a statement issued by its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC said it lacked confidence in the Nigerian security agencies to carry out an impartial investigation, adding that the security work for the government instead of the nation.

On its part, the government in power are accusing the opposition of stage managing the Kaduna attacks in order to engage in their campaign of calumny.

The discordant tunes that have greeted the incident since last week is a dummy of how Boko Haram plans to use political terrorism to shape the electoral process as the 2015 general elections approaches. The balance of terror at the moment is in favour of the insurgents, while Aso Rock and the opposition battle themselves over what logically should have nothing to do with them.

Political analysts have contended that creating distrust and disunity among Nigerians is a strategy that Boko Haram keeps pursuing since it began its campaign of terror. Their worry now is that, while the strategy had continued to fail in the past, the tendency of some unpatriotic politicians to knowingly or unknowingly play into the script of the terror group in the name of opposition politics may spell disaster in the general polls.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

2015: APGA To Support Goodluck Jonathan

By Matthias Nwogu, Umuahia

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is to support the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections.

The APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh who said this in Umuahia while briefing newsmen after the commissioning of the Abia State Secretariat of the party in Umuahia disclosed that the leadership of the party has initiated talks with the PDP with a view to fine-tuning the agreement.

He said that part of the pact would be for APGA to support the re-election bid of President Jona-

than in 2015 but that the president should not interfere in any other elective position that any APGA candidate is contesting.

According to him, some other areas that would be considered under the pact would be on appointment of APGA members by the PDP federal government. He described the cordial relationship between the APGA and PDP as a good development which would further engender the political development of the country, adding that the relationship does not mean that APGA would support any policy of the ruling party that is against the interest of Nigeria.

Chief Umeh said that APGA would win more states during the

next elections as rigging is no longer easy in the country, pointing out that people are now more conscious of their rights and are more prepared to monitor their votes.

He used the forum to challenge women and youths to come out and participate in the forthcoming general election through seeking elective positions under APGA. Earlier while commissioning the secretariat, he said the party would take over Abia State in 2015, as according him APGA would retrieve it from PDP. According to Chief Umeh, “APGA is the custodian of the electoral goodwill of Ndigbo” and its government is always out to fight and protect the interest of Ndigbo.

news NATIONAL 41 Osun Farmers Get Debit Cards For Farming Inputs

By JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo

Osun State government yesterday issued debit cards to farmers in the state for direct and easy access to farming inputs, which include improved seedlings, pesticides and fertilisers.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola commenced the debit cards’ distribution yesterday at the official launch of the Farmers’ Input and Credit Support Programme, at the Distribution Centre, AISU, Ede. Distributing the cards to no fewer than 9,000 beneficiaries, Aregbesola said the task of eradicating the

scourge of hunger and poverty and ushering in an era of agriculture-based prosperity for the people will continue to form the priority of his administration.

The governor noted that government has brought to bear technology-based methods for the enhancement of modern agriculture, including the Geographical Information System (GIS) and enumeration of farmers across the state.

Aregbesola said his government will vigorously explore more ways of expanding and improving agricultural production as well as the development of agroallied industries in his second term in office.

In his earlier remarks, the coordinator of Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP), Dr Charles Akinola, noted that the farmers’ input and credit support programme is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

He said the various assistance of Aregbesola’s administration to the farmers, which included provision of farming input, land clearing and tractorisation, are aimed at assisting farmers without stress.

He said: “The delivery of farming inputs by the government to farmers will in no small measure help in massive food production in the state.”

Nollywood Actor, Jim Iyke Flees Liberia Over Fear Of Ebola Virus Nollywood actor, Jim Ikechukwu Iyke has aborted his business trip to Monrovia, Liberia as fears increase in the West African nation over the deadly Ebola virus.

Liberia had recorded cases of people who died due to the outbreak of Ebola virus, a situation that prompted the country to close its borders.

Also, many countries have suspended international flights to the country.

According to a United Kingdom-based newspaper, Daily Mail, Jim, known for courting controversy, posted a photograph of himself leaving the West African country due to the fear of contracting Ebola.

He had gone to Liberia on account of his reality show, Jim Iyke Unscripted, and has been making cameo appearances there as a movie star.

By Samuel Abulude, Lagos with agency reports

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

news north-East, north-west 43 Lamido Allegations Of N80bn Theft Against Nyako A Charade – Nyako’s Aide Sallah: Doles Out Plots,

BY MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola Governor Nyako. And like profile? How much alarm was Ahmed Sajoh and made available Cash To Nonto newsmen, the former governor coupists, the perpetrators of the ever raised by the House of AsThe former governor of Adama- said the recent treatment mat- act have adopted the same modal- sembly through oversight funcIndigenes wa State, Murtala Nyako has de- ed to him is a testimony to the ities of reeling out false and bo- tions and budgetary process all Thursday, July 31, 2014

bunked allegation of stealing over N80billion leveled against him by the acting governor of the state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri saying the development has shown the desperation of the new government to come up with phantom allegations as a last resort to nail him at all cost.

In a statement signed by the director of press and public affairs to the former governor, Mallam

fact that those who masterminded his illegal impeachment were not tired as they are hell bent to punish him for exposing their fallacies.

“The framers of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic did not foresee that the provisions of the document will be abused in the manner of a coup d’ tat as was done in the illegal impeachment of

gus figures, forceful removal of bonafide office holders and intimidating those who refuse to succumb to their strong arm tactics.

“To say Murtala Nyako left a liability of N82billion is to say the least ridiculous. How much did the state get as income over the period? It is not even half of the amount quoted. What role did the State House of Assembly play in accumulating such a huge debt

these years?

“The 2012 Budget of Adamawa State was presented to the House of Assembly by the speaker as acting governor and nowhere was such an alarm raised as to the absence of projects or a litany of liabilities,” he said.

Sajoh added that the whole drama was to justify the illegalities involved in the impeachment process.

Burnt vehicle used by three suspected bombers (two girls and a man) that tried to detonate a bomb in Funtua town on Tuesday.

short news Adamawa Acting Governor Swears In New ADSUBEB Chair The acting governor of Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has sworn in Mrs. Kaletapwa Farauta as the new executive chairman of Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) at the chambers of Government House, Yola yesterday.

Farauta who is the third woman to be appointed as the chairman of the board since its creation followed the removal of the former chairman of the board, Dr. Halilu Hamma by the acting governor about a week ago.

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola

Kaduna: Road Projects Abandoned By Yakowa’s Kinsmen Not Yero– LENIP ByBY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna

Contrary to insinuations that Governor Mukhtar Ramallan Yero has abandoned road projects in the state which was awarded by his predecessor late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, chairman of League of Northern Independent Publishers (LENIP), Mordecai Sunday Ibrahim who took a personal tour of the 31 road projects in the state has said that some of the projects were actually abandoned by late Yakowa’s kinsmen.

Addressing select journalists to correct what he termed a wrong impression about the Yero led administration viz-aviz projects initiated by his late boss, Mr.

Ibrahim said, from his investigations, some of the roads were abandoned by contractors who after collecting and exhausting the 25 per cent mobilisation fee abandoned the job, adding that the same situation applies to some of Yakowa’s kinsmen who were awarded the contract.

“One of the abandoned roads I mentioned, the contractor is closely related to late Yakowa. That was why I said if Yakowa were alive to see this, he would not be happy. Yakowa would not have tolerated abandoning of contract by anybody.

“If he were alive to see that the road he awarded for construction and his kinsmen are not doing them, he would

be sad and even angry with them. It is no secret that some of the road construction works were awarded to Yakowa’s kinsmen and you should get it very clear; there is nothing wrong with Yakowa’s kinsmen getting the contract. But there is everything wrong when they get the contracts and they abandon site after collecting mobilisation fee,” he said.

“Anybody who is accusing Governor Muhktar Ramalan Yero of abandoning road projects is not fair to him, because he has not abandoned any project. He has even awarded additional six roads which are also ongoing. Some are even completed, both at the northern senatorial zone and southern senatorial zone.”

Cholera Kills 3 Damboa IDPs, Affects 100 Others

By Kareem haruna, Maiduguri

About three internally displaced persons(IDPs) sacked by Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa town early this month, have died of cholera related ailment at an IDP camp in Biu local government area of Borno State, even as over 100 others are said to have been affected, official said.

Borno State Ministry of Health which also confirmed this development however said it is on top of the situation as relevant personnel and medications have been deployed to the camps where over 5000 persons that fled Boko Haram attack in Damboa are now being accommodated.

It could be recalled that since after the repeated attacks on Damboa town, the displaced residents have been camped in Biu town, about 100km away, while about 2000 others found their way to Gomber a distance of about 250km away from their homes.

Those in Biu who were being camped in Government Girls Secondary School, Biu premises, were however not very lucky to have arrived the town at a time the local health officials in the state were busy battling the outbreak of cholera epidemic.

An official at the camp told journalists that at least 100 persons in the camp have been infected with chloral even as three

had been killed by the filth-related ailment According to the official who craved anonymity “two men and one woman died as a result of the cholera out break at the Government Girls Secondary School Biu camp where over 100 people were infected by the disease, the camp officials are doing their best to treat them, while those with serious cases are being referred to Biu General Hospital for treatment” Speaking with LEADERSHIP on phone, the Borno state Commissioner for Health, Dr Salma Anas Kolo, confirmed the incident, but quickly pointed out that the cholera was not because of the condition in the camp.

In a bid to promote peace and unity among Nigerians, Governor Sule Lamdido of Jigawa State has allocated plots of lands to non indigenous groups as Sallah gifts.

The governor also donated cash to the beneficiaries to enable them start developing the land without any further delay.

Lamido presented the gift when various non indigineous groups based in the state paid him a Sallah homage at Government House, Dutse.

During the visit led by the emir of Dutse, Dr Nuhu Sunusi, Governor Lamido expressed his happiness on the peace,unity, love and tolerance existing between the non indigenes and the host communities.

He said the gift was part of his government policy to accommodate and make any law abiding Nigerian and non-Nigerian living in the state comfortable and feel at home.

“You chose to live in Jigawa and you have an absolute right to do so as enshrined in Nigerian constitution, therefore we leaders it is our duty to protect you and make the state habitable and happy society for all”.

The governor expressed dismay over states in the country discriminating against non indigenes despite their equal rights as Nigerians, describing the act as an abuse of the constitution and threat to unity.

By Muh’d Zangina Kura ,Dutse

GEDA Spends N3m On Scholarship For Gwandu Emirate’s Varsity Students The Gwandu Emirate Development Association,(GEDA) is to give the education sector greater priority in its development agenda of the area as the association has also paid N3 million for 150 students of Gwandu Emirate studying at Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, this year.

The director general of Gwandu Emirate Development Association, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan made this known while payingSallah homage with members of GEDA to the emir of Gwandu, Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Iliyasu Bashar(rtd) at his palace in Birnin Kebbi .

The DG explained that members of the association were in the palace to pay traditional Sallah homage to the emir who is the grand patron of GEDA and also use the occasion to brief members on the achievements recorded by the association especially with regards to appeal fund set up to generate funds for GEDA.He mentioned that education will receive greater priority because it is the bedrock of development of any society.

By Yahya Sarki, Kebbi

44 news Lagos

Group Backs Strike By Judiciary Workers Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has supported the ongoing industrial action of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) with the demand on the state governments to obey the judgment delivered by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered the states to comply with the financial independence of the state judiciary.

This was contained in a statement signed by the publicity secretary of the group, Chinedu Bosah yesterday.

The statement read, “We call on all State governments to comply as the demand of the union is part of the working class struggle to deepen democracy.”

The group also commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for showing solidarity with the union.

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Hand Over Patients With Ebola Virus FG, LASG Tell Churches, Healers

BY GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

As Ebola disease continues to rampage West African countries killing even the healthcare workers, the federal and Lagos State government have warned churches and miracle healing homes to hand over patients suspected to have the disease to avert its spread.

They said such warning became necessary because some churches and traditional healers may be trying to heal suspected patients suffering from the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as that could lead to the spread of the disease.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Professor Abdulsalami

Nasidi of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said some of the affected people with EVD in neighbouring countries might want to come to Lagos, Nigeria, where there were many healing houses that claim to have cure for diseases.

According to him, such healing houses and churches should be warned as they could be used to spread the deadly virus all in the name of trying to heal victims of the disease.

Nasidi appealed to healing houses or miracle centres that have patients with symptoms of EVD to quickly report such to the government for immediate action to curtail any possibility of spreading the disease.

He explained that in regions where EVD had killed many people, some of the victims had flocked to healing houses for cure, but ended up spreading the virus, with the supposed healers contracting the deadly virus.

The medical expert warned that there is no cure or treatment for EVD for now and that all persons must be safety conscious.

In the same vein , Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, also appealed to healing houses not to take risk in trying to cure people with suspected cases of EVD, as such would amount to further spreading the disease.

Also speaking, the president, Nigeria Academy of Science Professor Oyawale Tomori, said: “We have to alert people that there is absolutely no need to panic. If that is the case, you will not find me here because I was in Quebec for three weeks in 1995, dealing with Ebola cases and I am still alive.

“If you follow the basic rules of washing your hands and prevention control, you should have nothing to worry about. In places where the epidemic has spread, it is because people have abandoned the basic rule and tenets of prevention control and where people have introduced that, the epidemic has been stopped in its track.”

ILO, WHO Partner To Improve Conditions In Health Sector The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have collaborated to improve a health services programme that combines action and learning.

This was made known by the ILO’s health services sector specialist, Christiane Wiskow.

She said, “Unsafe working conditions are still common in many workplaces in the health sector and may often even affect the quality of health services provided.

“Thus it is essential to ensure that decent working conditions are provided to health workers. This includes taking into account their health and well-being.

“Unsafe working conditions are still common in many workplaces in the health sector and may often even affect the quality of health services provided”, he said.

Also, Susan Wilburn, WHO expert on occupational and environmental health explained that health workers are exposed to risks due to the nature of their work.

“Lifting or moving of patients, for example, contributes to the high rates of back injuries commonly found among health professionals.

Worldwide, an estimated three million incidents of sharps injuries happen every year, causing more than onethird of Hepatitis B and C infections among health workers. Health workers may worry about their exposure to health hazards, including HIV and TB, at their workplace, if proper protection is not provided,” she added.

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Commercial activities resume at Balogun market after Eid-el-Fitr holiday in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO BY NAN

Fashola Commiserate With El– Rufai Over Death Of Son

By George Okojie, Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola has commiserated with former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai over the death of his son, Hamza who died in a road accident in Abuja.

The governor in a condolence message to the former Minister who is also a chieftain

of the All Progressives Congress (APC), , expressed deep shock at the incident.

He said the death of Hamza is a painful one especially when viewed against the background that he was a young man with a promising future.

Fashola added that the death of Hamza at a time when he was poised to contribute his quota to the development of his fatherland after concluding his education was, to say

the least, very saddening and regrettable.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the departed, the Governor urged Mallam El-Rufai to take solace in the words of the Holy Book that Allah is the one who gives and takes away.

Fashola also prayed that the Almighty Allah would grant Mallam El-Rufai and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Agbaje’s Entry Jolts Lagos PDP As Other Aspirants Begin Guber Bid

By Olaolu Oladipo, Lagos

The entry of a popular pharmacist, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, in the Lagos governorship is currently generating ripples within the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as aspirants have commenced moves to prevent him frompicking the ticket.

The Ikorodu-born politician who recently met with some leaders of the PDP in the state, including the state executive council members of the PDP, is said to have commenced tours to local

government chapters of the party.

A move that has prompted some other aspirants to rejig their platform in readiness for a showdown with Agbaje whom many of them consider formidable owing to his vast contacts and acceptability across board.

Though the national headquarters has not issued any guidelines on the modalities for picking the party’s candidate, findings conducted by LEADERSHIP indicate that political activities had been revved up.

“I can confidently tell you that a

lot has changed since the time Agbaje met with us. Since he came, many of the aspirants who were hitherto laid back in their bid to have the upper hand in the forthcoming contest for the primaries to pick our candidate have raised their game,” said a source who is a member of the state executive council of the party.

Apart from Agbaje, another contender for the ticket is the current Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who is rumoured to have met with some stakesholders of the party recent-

ly at an undisclosed location.

“The meeting was not a declarative one per se, but it was just to feel the pulse of members on the direction the party should go,” said a source close to the minister who did not want to be mentioned.

Other aspirants, Babatunde Gbadamosi, a nephew to former Minister for National Planning, Rasheed Gbadamosi, and the governorship candidate of the PDP in last election, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, are said to be touring the 20 local governments.

NEWS 45

Thursday, July 31, 2014

2014 Guber Poll:

OsunDECIDES Allow Me To Complete Ongoing Projects, Aregbesola Urges Electorate

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has expressed his commitment to completing ongoing projects and further embarking on projects that would transform Osun State if elected into office for the second term.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the August 9 governorship election said the unprecedented transformation experienced in Osun State in his first term will be a tip of the iceberg compared to what will happen when elected to serve the state for another term.

Speaking through his special adviser on environment and sanitation, Hon Bola Ilori, Aregbesola advised the people of Osun not to give in to the deceit and lies of the opposition Peoples Demo-

cratic Party (PDP).

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, Ilori posited that Aregbesola is a hardworking leader that gave all it took to make life abundant for the people of the state, adding that allowing PDP to rule the state again will bring retrogression to the state.

He posited that the urban renewal programme has transformed Osogbo, the state capital to a city to behold, adding that the nine towns that are benefitting from the urban renewal programme of Aregbesola’s administration will be transformed to an enviable status soon.

Ilori also stated that PDP and its candidate lacked capacity to rule the state, stressing that the party is bereft of ideas needed to rule the state

Aregbesola

having ruled for seven years with nothing concrete to show for it.

On the allegation by the PDP that Governor Aregbesola has not been paying salaries regularly in the state, Ilori said this was another figment of the imagination of the party as the Osun governor has even paid the July salary even though the month has not ended.

Saturday, August 9

PDP Govt Will Operate Open Door Policy In Osun – Omisore The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore has promised to operate an open door policy if elected governor of the state.

He said that this will enable him to attend to all and sundry in the scheme of things, adding that he would only embark on people-oriented programmes and projects.

The governorship candidate who made the pledge while addressing a mammoth crowd and party supporters at Okinni in Egbedore local government area of the state gave assurance that his administration would do all it could to see that their welfare is taken care of.

Omisore stated that salaries of civil servants and

allowances of retirees would be paid as at when due while other sectors in the state would not be left unattended to.

The governorship candidate, however, charged people of the state to work hand in hand with the PDP to oust the present administration if they want to fully enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Omisore who was a deputy governor of the state also appealed to the people to come out en masse Omisore and cast their votes for PDP on August 9.

He warned them against violence and untoward acts that could disturb electoral process, and advised them to be law abiding during the electioneer-

Stories by Joshua Dada, Osogbo

SOUTH-WEST Petition: PDP, Others Granted Relief To Inspect Election Materials The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the Ekiti State June 21 governorship election, Mr Ayodele Fayose have been granted relief by the Election Petition Tribunal to inspect all materials used for the conduct of the election.

The three-member panel sitting in Ado-Ekiti and headed by Justice Mohammad Sirajo, had last week ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the petitioner, All Progressives Congress (APC) access to the same materials.

In a petition deposed to by its state chairman, Chief Jide Awe, APC is challenging the declaration of Mr Fayose as the winner of the governorship poll, alleging that the election was rigged via technological programming it termed photochromic and thermochromic electronic device.

The PDP sought the relief of the tribunal for the inspection of all materials used for the poll in its exparte motion dated 25th July, 2014, deposed to by its counsel, Barr. Kolapo Kolade, and brought pursuant to Section 151 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

Fayemi Signs New 19 LGCAs Bill Into Law

BY ALO ABIOLA, Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has announced the immediate take-off of the newly created 19 local government council areas in the state.

Governor Fayemi made the announcement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while signing into law the LGCAs Bill passed and presented by the State House of Assembly to consolidate the policy.

Speaking at the ceremony, the governor said, “It was a promise fulfilled, following the yearning of the people which predated October 16, 2010 when the administration came on board”.

He disclosed that take-off grants will be made available to the councils and transitional political leadership will soon be inaugurated to run their affairs.

The governor promised that his government would bridge all noticeable gaps in the policy for its expeditious and smooth take-off before the expiration of his tenure on October 15, 2014.

The Assets’ Distribution and Sharing Committee of the House, according to him, had visited the affected local governments and their reports would be implemented to the letter.

He said, “Our expectation was that they would come into im-

mediate effect in all the affected areas.

“Soon, we will appoint transitional political functionaries that would begin the process of the existence of these councils for rapid development at the grassroots where the bulk of our people live”.

“With this policy, we are not just making history but we are also part of history. We have written our names in the book of history for taking this bold step. And I will do everything within the confines of the constitution for effective functioning of these councils before this administration effectively comes to an end”.

Stop Shedding Crocodile Tears, Oyo APC Tells Akala, Ladoja

BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter yesterday urged former governors of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala and Rashidi Ladoja, to stop shedding “crocodile tears” over the recent rumoured impeachment plot by members of the State House of Assembly against the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The APC recalled that the two

governors were products of chaotic governments and cannot now pretend that theirs were governments of peace.

The party’s chairman, Chief Akin Oke, in reaction to statements credited to the former governors over the weekend, said that the two former governors did not have the moral right to postulate or advise any government on peace since they headed governments that were renowned

for brigandage, thuggery, bloodshed where peace was elusive to the people of the state. “Isn’t it an irony that Akala and Ladoja would tell us how peaceful our state would be with a House of Assembly that is devoid of rancour? Both of them ran governments whose Houses of Assembly were like Israel and Palestine and the Governor’s Office like Gaza, even when members were of the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, he said.

SHORT NEWS Security Challenges: Oyo Postpones TakeOff Of Technical Varsity Oyo State government yesterday announced the postponement of the formal take-off of its Technical University, Ibadan, attributing it to the security situation in the country.

The secretary to the state government (SSG), Mr Ismail Olalekan Alli and the chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Prof Oladapo Afolabi announced this at a joint press conference held at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan.

The SSG said that the institution would not be able to commence academic activities in September 2014 as earlier scheduled due to the recent spread of insurgency.

By Adebayo Waheed,Ibadan

46 news south-South south-East Oil Spill: Bayelsa Govt Wants FG To Relocate NOSDRA From Abuja To South-South

The Bayelsa State government has sent a protest letter to the federal government over the wrong location of the office of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in Abuja, saying the office should be located in any South-South state where oil spill occurs.

The protest letter, written from the office of the state commissioner of environment, Mr Inuoro Wills, stated that the NOSDRA office should not be in Abuja as no oil spill and pollution takes place there.

Speaking in Yenagoa at a stakeholders’ review and validation of draft community-based disaster risk reduction plan on the danger of oil pipeline vandalism and environmental pollution, Inuoro Wills stated that the wrong location of the office in Abuja is further complicated with the absence of any branch of NOSDRA office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

By OSA Okhomina, Yenagoa

CLO, NUJ Express Concern Over Sea Piracy, Kidnapping In Bayelsa The leaderships of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bayelsa State yesterday expressed concern over the rising attacks by suspected sea pirates and kidnappers in the state, saying the situation has created shortage of sea foods and led to the killing of innocent people in the state.

The CLO and the NUJ, led by Chief Nengi James and Comrade Tariyon Akono respectively, called on the state governor, Hon Seriake Dickson to give priority attention to security and development of agriculture in rural communities.

They both spoke when Chief James called on Comrade Akono yesterday at the NUJ Secretariat in Yenagoa.

By OSA Okhomina, Yenagoa

15 Cooperative Societies Get N7.5m MDG Grant In A/ Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State government has approved N7.5million grant to 15 agriculture-based cooperative societies under the Millennium Development Goals initiative.

Addressing the benefiting societies drawn from five local government areas of the state in Uyo, the state commissioner for economic development and chairman, Implementation Committee on MDGs, Mr Ante Okwong said that the empowerment was aimed at providing enabling environment to improve the living standard of farmers, generate income and increase food production for sustainable development of the people of the state.

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Ebonyi Impeachments: Elechi Pledges To Continue To Mediate Between Warring Groups

By Obinna Ogbonnaya, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State governor, Chief Martin Elechi has accused the sponsors of an advertorial in one of the national dailies (not Leadership) entitled “Our stand on Ebonyi State House of Assembly crisis and the hidden threat to impeach Governor Martin Elechi” of attempting to put him on collision course with the state law-

makers and his inlaws of Izzi clan.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the Government House, Abakaliki on his position and efforts being made to resolve the impeachment crisis rocking the Ebonyi State House of Assembly in the last one week, Governor Elechi said he had earlier invited the two warring groups to hear from both sides, adding that he would continue to mediate to find a last-

ing solution to the crisis.

The speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Chukwuma Nwazunku was on 21st July, 2014 impeached by 18 out of the 24 lawmakers while Hon Helen Nwobashi was elected as the new speaker.

Since the impeachment crisis, there have been series of attempted murders, kidnappings, maimings and other violent attacks on individuals suspected to be sup-

porting one group or the other.

Governor Elechi said, “I appeal to everybody within Ebonyi and beyond to disregard that publication. The intention is evil and the imagination is condemnable.

So far, I will continue to mediate between the honourable members to ensure that what we have is a respectable House of Assembly and not a House of Impeachment.”

short news Minister Assures On Completion Of East-West Road In 2014 The Niger Delta Affairs minister, Dr Steve Oru has disclosed that the ministry will complete the multi-billion naira East-West road before the end of this year.

Oru who disclosed this in Uyo, at the Induction of Dr Val Attah as the 31st President of Uyo Rotary Club, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, arriving at Onne waterfronts in Port Harcourt for anti-oil theft operations, regretted that the rains have affected yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN the pace of work, but assured that as the flagship project of the ministry, attention tomorrow launch the ‘stop kidnap- ping as criminal, evil and anti-soLaunches ‘stop kidnapping’ will be accorded it ping’ campaign, aimed at creating cial, and advised residents of Port to ensure prompt campaign tomorrow awareness on the dangers of kid- Harcourt to check the background completion.

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harnapping and other violent crimes of youths they engage as house He said that court in the state. helps as well as the type of friends the ministry will Ogunsakin, who spoke yesterday they keep. ensure completion Rivers State commissioner of police, during an interactive session with He said; “We are launching the of the project Mr Tunde Johnson Ogunsakin, has journalists in Port Harcourt, how- ‘stop kidnapping’ campaign bethrough timely said that with about 14,000 police ever said there was the need to in- cause we believe that kidnapping is provision of funds officers and men, the state remains crease the number of policemen in too bad; we don’t want a situation for contractors one of the most policed states in Ni- the country to meet the United Na- where people will continue to be working on the geria, besides Lagos State. tions’ standard of one policeman to kidnapped. That is why we are tryproject.

This is as he announced that the 500 citizens. ing our best to stop it by launching Rivers State Police Command will

By Bernard Tolani The police chief described kidnap- the campaign”.

Dada, Uyo

Rivers, 1 Of Most Policed States In Nigeria – Ogunsakin

24,000 Unemployed Youths Seek SEEFOR Project Jobs In Delta

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

No fewer than 24,000 unemployed youths in Delta State are currently seeking jobs at the World Bank, European Union and the state sponsored employment and expenditure for results (SEEFOR) project in the state.

This figure is contained in the SEEFOR data board coming from the six pilot centres of the project which include Warri, Udu, Uvwie, Sapele, Ughelli and Asaba, with Asaba recording the highest

number of applicants.

Speaking to our correspondent, the state coordinator of the project, Mr Johnson Ojoko said that the project has a long-term plan of engaging over 30,000 unemployed youths in the state.

He stated that beyond the engagement of the unemployed youths on a contractual term of 12 months with N20,000 monthly stipends, the project has partnered agencies which have gone some steps ahead in making the beneficiaries become lifetime en-

trepreneurs by enrolling them into skills acquisition centres with plans to equip them with starter packs at the end of their six months training.

The coordinator disclosed that the skills acquisition would commence at the termination of their 12 months engagement with the SEEFOR project, adding that “the intention of the partnering agencies is not to continue to make them lifetime beneficiaries but to ensure that they are entrepreneurs who will soon become re-

nowned employers of labour”.

While noting that the selection of beneficiaries were done on the basis of their special needs which among others, included their household size, dependants on the beneficiaries, the state SEEFOR coordinator explained that the youths would be engaged in labour intensive public works components of the project such as road maintenance, sweeping, cleaning of roads, painting of cabs, cleaning of drains, planting of trees/flowers among others.

news NATIONAL 47

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Amaechi’s Due Process Saves Billions Of Naira For Rivers –Nlerum The director-general of Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement (BOPP), Mr. Franklyn Nlerum, has said that the administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has saved billions of naira for the state by ensuring that the people of the state get value for any kobo spent on projects and provision of infrastructure.

He stated that the huge savings were made following the insistence of BOPP that projects pass through a rigorous test and due process before contractors could get the bureau’s ‘certificate of no objection’ to commence any project.

Nlerum, who spoke yesterday during a media chat in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said the Amaechi-led administration has saved billions of naira from projected costs for various projects across the state.

20m Nigerians Suffer From Hepatitis–NMA

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo,Asaba

As the world recently marked, World Hepatitis Day, a consultant physician and chairman, Nigeria Medical Association(NMA), Delta State, Dr. Uyi Osarenkhoe has said that about 2million Nigerians are currently suffering from Hepatitis B and C adding that unless urgent steps are taken to reduce the number of affected persons, the situation might portend bad omen for Nigerians especially those living with the disease.

Dr. Uyi Osarenkhoe at a lecture delivered in Asaba titled “Problems of hepatitis”, explained that the figure represents 12 per cent of the nation’s total population noting that the disease is worse than HIV/AIDS, and has affected more than 500million people globally.

He said that more than 359million people have been infected globally with hepatitis B while more than 150million people were infected with hepatitis C, adding, “In Nigeria up to 8 per cent of our population are infected with hepatitis

B and up to 4 per cent are infected with hepatitis C, hence the need to create awareness on the causative organism of the disease and let people know about it and how to prevent it”.

Dr. Osarenkoe said that the theme of the 2014 World Hepatitis Day would create a platform for Nigerians to reflect again about the millions of people who have lost their lives to the disease. He stressed the need for the public to be informed about the killer disease.

According to him, “hepatitis is a liver disease, result from an infection with any of at least five distinct viruses with the most common identified as hepatitis A (HAV), Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) adding that the disease could be spread through transfusion of infected blood, unsterilized equipment, sexual intercourse and from mother to infant during pregnancy and at childbirth saying that complications could include serious liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer and even death.

short news VC Donates Confab Allowance To Indigent Students

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

Al-Mustapha Tasks Nigerian Youths On Unity Founder of the Al-Mustapha Peace Unity and Development Initiative (APUDI), Major Hamza Al-Mustapha has urged Nigerian youths to eschew hatred and embrace the spirit of understanding and mutual cooperation.

In a release by his spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman in Abuja yesterday, Al-Mustapha said he is deeply worried by the widening depth of distrust among Nigerian youths.

According to Al-Mustapha, no meaningful development could ever be achieved in an atmosphere of distrust and mutual suspicion.

He said the youth everywhere in the world form the essential corner stone for development and urged Nigerian youth to foster greater unity.

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

Medical Doctors Urged To Join Partisan Politics Former chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) in Kaduna State, Professor Micheal Ogirinma has called on medical practitioners in the country to participate in active politics in order to contribute their quota to the development of our nascent democracy.

Prof. Ogirinma stated this in Lokoja during the Delegate Conference of Kogi State, NMA on Tuesday.

Ogrinma lamented the decay in Nigerian polity occasioned by bad leadership adding that until the elites decide to join politics and participate fully in the electoral process, true leadership will not emerge.

Earlier, the new chairman of Kogi branch of NMA, Dr. Austin Ojotule assured the members that he will never deviate from the path charted by the past executives.

By Sam Egwu, Lokoja

The vice chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko(AAUA),Prof.

Femi Mimiko, has donated part of his allowance from the National Conference in Abuja to the university’s scholarship scheme for indigent students.

Mimiko announced this yesterday at a reception held in President Goodluck Jonathan launching the New e-passport during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja yesterday. his honour for his PHOTO BY NAN. roles at the fourmonth National Conference at Abuja.

He said that it AAdebayo Waheed, Ibadan had gone to visit some politi- attack was politically motivated, was a demonstracal leaders, when the attackers revealed that it took the intervenThe lawmaker representing Lage- crossed his convoy and asked him tion of some policemen before his tion of his avowed lu constituency in the Oyo State to come down from the vehicle. belief that educalife was spared.

House of Assembly, Hon. Temition should be for He said that the suspected The politician, who had detope Olatoye (a.k.a Sugar) was on hired killers, who were armed clared his ambition to contest the all, irrespective of Monday evening attacked by sus- with guns, cutlasses, and oth- Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituone’s background. pected hire killers at the Iwo-Road er dangerous weapons, started ency seat in 2015, said the attack“There is a area of Ibadan, the state capital. shooting at his vehicle. particular proers were actually after his life.

This would be the third time in gramme that is so It would be recalled that there Although, Olatoye escaped unthe last two years that the All hurt, he said about 15 of his sup- was a similar assassination atdear to my heart Progressives Congress(APC) law- porters were injured by the at- tempt on the Oyo lawmaker in and I know that maker would be attacked by sus- tackers, adding that eight of those May last year in Lagelu local govthere are so many pected hired assassins. indigent students injured by the attackers were re- ernment area of the state when Speaking with newsmen in ceiving medical treatment in an some hoodlums numbering about on our campus.

Ibadan yesterday, he said he was undisclosed hospital in Ibadan.

50 attacked him.

By Tope coming from Egbeda, where he Olatoye, who insisted that the Fayehun,Akure

Oyo Lawmaker Escapes Assassination Attempt

FUTO Vows To Support Fight Against Gender Inequality

By Stanley Uzoaru,, Owerri

The vice chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Professor Cyril Asiabaka has vowed to support every institution including the Centre for Women Gender Development(CWGD) of the institution to fight against gender inequality in the country.

He noted that women have globally become a formidable

force to reckon with in nation building but regretted that they have continued to encounter serious gender problems.

Asiabaka stated this while declaring open the 3rd international conference organised by the Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies (CWGDS) of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) which had the theme

“Gender Development and Environment.”

Represented by the deputy vice chancellor (Academics), Professor Bernard N. Onwuagba, Professor Asiabaka extolled the guest lecturer, Mr. John Gregg, vice president, African Health & Agricultural Foundation, U.S.A, for accepting to present the keynote paper, noting that the conference,

its theme and sub themes had the capacity to brighten prospects for the actualisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).In her address, the acting director of the centre, CWGDS, and wife of the vice chancellor, Dr (Mrs) Ihuoma Asiabaka noted that women in developing countries are responsible for 60-80 per cent of food production.

48 THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Insurgency: LEA Boss Wants Schools To Be Fenced

By Chika Mefor

Sequel to the security insurgency in the nation, the executive secretary of the Local Education Authority (LEA) in Bwari area council, Mr Solomon Ayuba, has called on area councils of the FCT to ensure the safety of students by fencing the schools.

Ayuba who was speaking on the security challenges in the country added that fencing the schools will help check mate the movement of people in and out of the school premises.

He said, “fencing the premises of schools within the FCT should be seen as a matter of urgency. We need fences in our schools in order to safeguard lives and property. We also need gates with security guards. Visitors should be frisked thoroughly before they are allowed to enter the school premises; this would be one amongst the other security measures to safeguard the students. With the fences, our children will be a little bit guarded. Vehicles and persons will be checked before they will be allowed in.’’

He also urged the government to pay more attention to financing the educational sector, adding that the LEA needs more vehicles that will aid in supervising schools to ensure efficiency. ‘’We need finances. Government should pay more attention on financing the education secto, we need more vehicles for supervision, motor bike and vans.

The van could be used for inspections and motorcycles would be used by individual school inspectors,’’ he stated.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

FCTA Indigenes To Confer Traditional Title On Jonathan

By Igho Oyoyo

Abuja natives under the auspices of the FCT Indigenes Coalition Groups 4 Jonathan has concluded plans to confer the highest traditional title of the original inhabitants on President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group said that besides the forthcoming cultural fiesta to be staged in solidarity for President Jonathan, the traditional title would further boost the confidence of Abuja natives to massively support the president in the 2015 presidential elections.

Speaking to journalists, the coordinator of the group, Engr. Bussa Danjuma, said the group has been in constant touch with

traditional rulers in the territory with a view to perfecting arrangements for the epoch making occasion.

Danjuma further stressed that both the cultural fiesta and the conferment of the traditional title on Jonathan are aimed at appreciating the laudable achievements of the transformation agenda in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He affirmed that the indigenes of the territory will commence massive campaign as soon as the president declares his intention to contest in the 2015 election, assuring that President Jonathan will win by a land slide in the nation’s capital.

He said, “we have no gold and silver to appreciate Mr. President for the laud-

able things he has done through the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed. The only way to say thank you is to confer the highest traditional title in the land on him.

To us this title will be more indelible than any material gift.

“Besides the traditional title, we will stop at nothing to throw our support behind him as soon as he declares his intention to contest the 2015 elections. We have no doubt in our mind that President Jonathan will win the 2015 election anytime, any day.”

The coordinator tasked Nigerians to support the continuity of the policy thrust of the present administration, noting that it has improved the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Abuja Niger Delta Youth Rally, A Security Risk - ACF

BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described as security risk the planned rally by Niger Delta youth rally scheduled to take place in Abuja today.

In a statement issued by the national publicity secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim and made available to journalists yesterday in Kaduna, the forum further described as ill- timed, ill-advised and a disgrace to the feelings of other Nigerians affected by the security challenges.

The statement read in part, “the mass movement of Nigerians from other parts of the country into Abuja at the time of the rally might likely cause security breaches and possibly be hijacked by hoodlums to cause havoc, including likely destruction of lives and property.

“Furthermore, such mass demonstration by some youth from certain sections of the country may portray them as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians that have been under siege by the various insurgency attacks and bomb blasts.

“In as much as ACF is not against any peaceful rally or solidarity march by any group of persons in support of Mr. President or any cause, however, considering the insecurity in the country and in particular the Northern region, where there have been spate of bomb blasts and attacks on innocent Nigerians, the forum considers it as ill timed, ill-advised and a disregard to the feelings of other Nigerians affected by the insecurity challenges.

“In view of this, ACF wishes to advise the authorities concerned to ensure that such solidarity demonstrations are properly guided to avoid any likely security breaches.”

According to the statement, ACF equally appealled to the demonstrators to exercise caution and restrain in their utterances and actions in order not to insult the sensibilities of other Nigerians.

“ACF calls upon supporters of Mr. President wherever they are to express such love and solidarity to Mr. President to do so in their various domains rather than mass movement to Abuja, the Federal Capital,” it added.

Director of the FCTA Department of Science and Technology, Mrs. Rosemary Umana, presenting an award to one of the graduating students of the Government Girls’ Science Secondary School (GGSSS) Kuje.

GSTC Garki Graduates 197 Students

By Nkechi Isaac

The Government Science & Technical College (GSTC), Area 3, Garki, one of the schools under the purview of FCTA Department of Science and Technology has graduated 197 final year students.

Speaking at the send forth ceremony, the director of the dept, Mrs. Rosemary Umana, urged the grandaunts to be solution providers by utilising the skills they acquired in school for the technological development and transformation of the nation.

She stressed that diversification in the field of learning was the ultimate, noting that technology was the priority in the development of any country.

Earlier in his remarks, the principal of GSTC, Mal. Mohammed Idris Ondekus, said the students were endowed and edified with saleable skills to face the wider world of technology.

He urged the students to strive for greater height and leave their footprints on the floor of Industrial and technological development.

Among the technical subjects which the grandaunts majored in includes electrical installation works; computer craft studies; fabrication and welding; Ladies garment making; refrigeration/air conditioning and science.

On a similar development, 259 students also graduated from Government Girls’ Science Secondary School (GGSSS) Kuje.

In her remarks during the graduation ceremony, the principal of the school, Mrs. Stella Ekpunobi, expressed satisfaction at the students’ performance and urged them to continue on the good foundation that was laid for them.

The graduation also featured the hand-over of the school hall recently renovated by International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Association of the United State of America Embassy as part of its volunteering outreach project.

A statement by the public relations officer of the science and technology department, Ms Ngozi Dike, said the occasion also featured award presentation to outstanding students and the unveiling of the school magazine, The Fountain.

49

Thursday, July 31, 2014

world

news Erupt After Fuel Price Doubled

Protests have erupted in Yemen’s capaital Sanaa after the government announced a sharp rise in fuel prices, part of a bid to ease the burden of energy subsidies on the impoverished country’s state finances and curb its budget deficit.

Witnesses and a medical source said a female protester was killed as the army fired into the air in an attempt to break up a demonstration near the presidential palace. Yemeni officials were not immediately available for verification of the death.

➏ Gaza Conflict: ‘Israeli Market Strike Kills 15’

At least 15 people have been killed and 160 wounded in an Israeli strike that hit a market near Gaza City, Palestinian officials say.

The explosion hit a busy fruit and vegetable market in Shejaiya,

east of Gaza City, where hundreds of Palestinians were shopping, a spokesman for the Gaza health ministry said.

The attack came during a four-hour truce called by the Israeli military.

At least 17 people are confirmed dead after a landslide buried some 40 houses and trapped about 150 people in a village in west India, officials say.

Teams of emergency workers have so far rescued six people in Malin village, near the city of Pune in Maharashtra

state, where the disaster happened.

Rescuers trying to reach survivors caught under the debris are being hampered by bad weather.

The landslide hit the village early in the morning while people were sleeping.

➎ Yemen Protests

➌

➎ ➍ ➋ ➏ ➐ ➊

➊ Ebola Epidemic

➋ At Least 33

Global medical charity Doctors Without Borders has given warning that the Ebola crisis in West Africa is “unprecedented, absolutely out of control”, as states across the world took steps to prevent its spread.

Bart Janssens, the charity’s director of operations, warned there was no overarching vision of how to tackle the outbreak, in an interview with Belgium’s La Libre Belgique newspaper.

A stampede at a rap concert on a beach has killed at least 33 people, including 11 children, in the Guinean capital Conakry, hospital officials said.

The government declared a week of national mourning after what it called a “tragic drama” on Tuesday in the capital’s northern Ratoma suburb where popular Guinean rap group Instinct Killers was playing among other artists.

‘Out Of Control’ Says Dead In Guinea Concert Stampede Charity

JUST 5 COUNTRIES LODGES 64% OF THE WORLD’S EXTREMELY POOR Extreme poverty is defined as living on less than $1.25 a day; data as of 2010. SOURCE : World Bank % of extremely poor

33%

India

18% 13%

China Nigeria Bangladesh Dem. Rep Congo

% of world population

2% 2%

19%

Global poverty is on the decline

% of world population living in extreme poverty

7% 6% 5%

1%

36%

18%

1990

2010 INFOGRAPHICS BY Matthew Akhabue

➌ Ukraine Army Closes ➍ Former Khmer Rouge In On Donetsk

Ukraine’s army has said it has retaken a town on the outskirts of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk, and intercepted another convoy of vehicles crossing over from Russia.

Government forces said in a statement on Wednesday that they had seized control of Avdiyivka, a town of about 40,000 about a dozen kilometres north of Donetsk, as Ukraine tightened its grip around the key rebel bastion.

Leaders Begin Genocide Trial

The last two surviving leaders of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime are to begin their second trial in Phnom Penh.

Khieu Samphan, the former head of state, and Nuon Chea, Pol Pot’s deputy, are already on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The second trial includes a charge of genocide related to killings of Vietnamese and Cham Muslim minorities.

➐ Landslide Traps Dozens In Indian village

50 WORLD NEWS

Thursday, July 31, 2014

US Economy Grows By 4% After Harsh Winter Weather The US economy grew at an annual rate of 4% during the April-to-June period, latest figures released by the US Department of Commerce have shown.

Consumer spending - which makes up over two-thirds of US economy activity - grew by a robust 2.5%.

Business spending increased by 14% in the world’s largest economy, as businesses restocked inventories.

The growth during the second quarter reverses the contraction seen earlier in the year.

Measured on a quarter-onquarter basis, GDP grew by 1%.

In the previous quarter, from January to March, the US

economy shrank a revised 2.1% on an annualised basis, as a result of harsh winter weather.

However, even with the rebound, the winter is likely to mean overall growth this year will be only 1.6% - less than in 2013.

That could cause the Federal Reserve - which ends a twoday meeting on Wednesday - to continue to keep interest rates low for an extended period into 2015.

Overall, however, the report was strong enough to ensure that the US central bank will continue to trim its monthly bond-buying purchases.

The US central bank is expected to announce that it will

cut its bond-buying to $25bn (£15bn) a month from $35bn later on Wednesday.

It has been buying bonds in an effort to keep long-term interest rates low and thus encourage Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Aminu wali, presenting a gift to spending, rather than saving, Commonwealth Sec Gen , Mr. Kamalesh Sharma at the Ministry in Abuja, by businesses and consumers.

Yesterday.

However, some have worried that keeping rates so low could spur inflation.

The Commerce Department figures showed that inflation, as measured by a component of the here to see where it is that we can overall GDP report, increased By Ugochukwu Iroka, Abuja strengthen the already existing by 1.9% - which is within the The Honourable Minister, mechanism” Fed’s target, but an increase Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, The Secretary General also from the 1.4% annualised Ambassador Aminu Wali commended the Nigerian figure reported during the yesterday received in audience Government and the electoral January-to-March period. the Commonwealth Secretary body for a job well done in the past – BBC General, His Excellency Kamalesh general election where volunteers Sharma, who led a delegation on a were employed to strengthen the solidarity visit to Nigeria on behalf workforce. of the Commonwealth family Minister of Foreign Affairs, During a chat with journalists, Ambassador Aminu Wali, in his could start to reverse their monetary accommodation.

Sharma promised that the remark thanked the delegation Commonwealth family will help for making the trip despite the “The 4 percent number was startlingly good, and it has instrengthen the existing projects obvious challenges facing the creased anxieties that the Fed may change its policies,” said on ground.

Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montnation at the time.

He said, “Each organization gomery Scott in Philadelphia.

“First of all let me welcome brings its own strength, and the Honourable Guest to Tafawa “The report may not be enough to change today’s stateour strength is much more in Balewa House once again. ment, but it comes after several datapoints suggesting things the direction of socio harmony, Earlier we had a session with the are firming, which could mean the Fed can’t be as passive as resolving grievances within Secretary General in my office was proposed in recent meetings.” the society, particularly as where we discussed matters Separately, the ADP National Employment Report showed recommended by our own of interest to Nigeria and the companies hired 218,000 workers in July, below analysts’ proreport in the area of women, of Commonwealth Organization. I jections and less than June’s total. youth, of media and education. would like to say we appreciate The Dow Jones industrial average fell 66.69 points or 0.39 The important aspect of our the role that Commonwealth has percent, to 16,845.42, the S&P 500 lost 2.5 points or 0.13 engagement is that it is in been playing and will continue percent, to 1,967.45 and the Nasdaq Composite added 11.98 harmony with the policy of our to play in the development of points or 0.27 percent, to 4,454.68. members’ states that is why I am Commonwealth.”

Biotechnology stocks boosted The Nasdaq for a second straight day. The Nasdaq biotech index was up 1.8 percent after Amgen Inc (AMGN.O) posted better-than-expected earnings and raised its outlook, sending shares up 6 percent to $130.67.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN.O), jumped 9.8 perBy Ugochukwu Iroka, Abuja the statement, Obi-Nnadozie had cent to $334.46 after reporting positive results from a Phase no contact with the deceased.

III trial.

The Federal Ministry of Foreign “The Ministry wishes to catInsurance stocks fell after Humana Inc (HUM.N), WellPoint Affairs in Abuja have contradict- egorically state that AmbassaInc (WLP.N) and Aflac Inc (AFL.N) all reported lower earnings, ed media reports that the Am- dor Obi-Nnadozie did not at any though WellPoint’s profit was above expectations. bassador of Nigeria to Monrovia, time have any contact with Mr

– Reuters Ambassador Chigozie Obi-Nna- Sawyer either by way of being in dozie was among the 59 people the same building or vehicle or a who had had contact with the 40- given location. The ambassador year old Liberian national, Pat- has, in the recent past, been and rick Sawyer who had died from is still at her duty post in Monrothe Ebola virus in Lagos, last Fri- via,” the statement read.

Despite the defiant tone of the government, many day.

The statement then advised people seem resigned. Argentina has defaulted before This was claim was made the health authorities, who were and it will do it again. through a press statement re- credited with the previous inforI met Carina Etchegaray, the mother of two children leased by the press office of the mation, to verify the claim for a aged 14 and 16. ministry yesterday. According to more accurate information.

When Argentina last defaulted at the end of 2001, she lost huge amounts of savings.

She had wanted to buy a house for her young family.

But at the end of 2001, the government introduced what was known as the “corralito”. It literally means The French government says it its website.

Libya has been gripped by ina small enclosure in Spanish, but refers to when the has evacuated French and Britstability since the 2011 uprising. ish nationals from Libya, as batgovernment partially froze bank accounts and people tles rage between government The French government spokeswere stopped from taking money out. forces and militias. man in Paris, Stephane Le Foll, “When we finally had the money, because of announced that French and BritA French diplomatic source said devaluation, we could only buy a car for the same 40 French nationals, including the ish nationals had been evacuated, quantity of money we had for a house,” she says. ambassador, had been evacuated without giving numbers.

“We live with this shadow of crisis. You have to An unnamed diplomatic source continue with your life because you have children and by ship along with seven British nationals. gave the numbers to France’s AFP have to work.

France’s embassy in Tripoli news agency, saying the expats “You have to adapt - in this country, it’s the way has been closed temporarily, the had been evacuated by the French of life.”

French foreign ministry said on army.

– Reuters

Commonwealth, Nigeria To Strengthen Co-operation In Key Sectors

Wall Street Gives up Gains As GDP Raises Fed Concerns

US stocks were flat on Wednesday, paring earlier gains as a strong read on second-quarter economic growth sparked concerns the Federal Reserve may adjust its stimulus earlier than expected.

Major indexes opened higher but lost their gains throughout morning trading. While the Nasdaq remained in positive territory, helped by biotech shares, the Dow was pressured by a drop in insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH.N).

Gross domestic product grew at a 4 percent annual rate in the second quarter, above the 3 percent rate that had been expected and a sharp reversal from the weather-impacted first quarter, when the economy contracted a revised 2.1 percent.

The data comes ahead of a statement from the Federal Open Market Committee this afternoon, as the Fed concludes its latest policy meeting. The central bank is widely expected to trim monthly asset purchases to $25 billion from $35 billion, and investors are looking for any hint on when officials

Monrovia Ambassador Had No Contact With Ebola Victim – MFA

Argentina In Crunch Debt Talks To Avert Default Argentina’s economy minister Axel Kicillof has returned to the negotiating table in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the country defaulting on its bonds.

Mr Kicillof’s talks with “hold-out” investors ended late on Tuesday night in New York without agreement.

They are demanding a full pay-out of $1.3bn (£766m) on the bonds they hold.

A US judge has ruled that the “hold-outs” must be paid by Wednesday night if no deal is agreed.

But thousands of miles away in Buenos Aires, many are sceptical that there can be any agreement.

The “hold-outs” are US hedge funds that bought debt on the cheap during Argentina’s darkest hours and never agreed to restructuring.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner calls them vultures, accusing them of taking advantage of Argentina’s debt problems to make a big profit.

When we finally had the money, because of devaluation, we could only buy a car for the same quantity of money we had for a house”

France Evacuates French, British Nationals From Libya

Analysis 51

Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Struggle For Kenya’s Marginalised Youth that this kind of indoctrination has been common in the Pumwani area.

“They identify you first; they look for some characteristics in you... Because of your situation and lack of opportunities you’ll find it difficult to refuse.”

Kenyan youths

M

arginalised and jobless, desperate young men in Nairobi slums provide fertile

While many youth are drawn to al-Shabab for economic reasons, others are targeted by recruiters through a slower method of indoctrination

ground Speaking in Swahili, with a backdrop of lush forest in southcentral Somalia, a Kenyan alShabab commander encourages young Muslim men to fight in the conflict in Somalia.

“My dear brothers, you must march forward for the sake of Allah,” he said. “Some people say they want to go to Afghanistan. If Allah enables you to get there then that is jihad ... and if Allah enables you to get to Somalia, then that is even closer to you.”

In the recruitment video released by al-Shabab in February, young men in uniforms compete in running races, a tug of war match and listen to a message from the Quran. Accompanied by English subtitles but narrated mostly in Swahili, a language common to Tanzania and Kenya, the video is designed to attract new fighters to Somalia from neighbouring countries and abroad. It is part of a long recruitment campaign waged by the al-Qaeda linked group to maintain a ready flow of foot soldiers into its ranks, often from outside Somalia.

Although the number of alShabab’s foreign recruits reportedly has dwindled in recent years, about 20 percent of the 500 foreign fighters hail from Kenya.

These Kenyan fighters, called the “Kenya Mujahideen” by al-Shabab, are young men recruited through complex networks from the coastal town of Mombasa and in Nairobi’s slums.

As long as economic opportunities are scarce - at least 59 percent of the young working class is unemployed - and security policies like “Operation Usalama Watch” create resentment in the community, Kenya’s marginalised youth are at risk of turning to alShabab for a new identity and the promise of a steady income.

A recruiting ground for alShabab Juma Omondi and his friends are typical of the youth targeted by al-Shabab in their slick recruitment campaigns. For 2,000 Kenyan shillings (around $23) per month he and four friends rent a small room together in Pumwani, a Nairobi slum and a well known recruiting ground for al-Shabab.

They rely on casual jobs in neighbouring Eastleigh to pay rent, and buy food and clothing.

“I do garbage collection and cleaning drains,” he said. “We are in a group, so if you’ve got this 500 shillings (around $5.60) a week in garbage we divide it between us.”

Youth like Omondi are prime targets for al-Shabab recruiters in Nairobi’s slums. It’s well known that they offer extraordinary amounts of money compared with what Omondi could earn in a normal month. “You sit here each and every day, you are getting harassed by the police, and then you’re suffering and you don’t have anything to eat,” he said. “So if you get any opportunity to go somewhere to get money you take it.”

Omondi, a Kenyan Muslim who has lived his entire life in Pumwani, is not against the idea of joining the militant group. “Yes, I’d go very quickly because of the salary. For me it’s OK to go to Somalia to provide for my family, for my brothers,” he said. David Odhambo, a local youth leader in Eastleigh, says he has concerns that a lack of opportunities makes the decision for young people in his community to join al-Shabab much more appealing. “These young people can easily be lured to these illegal groups like alShabab. Because the system, itself, is not conducive for them. It’s like they’re condemned, it’s like they are nothing in the society,” he said.

Odhambo says that even if they have qualifications, many youth can’t get jobs because the system in its current form is crippled with

corruption. Young people can’t afford the exorbitant fees required to secure full time employment, leaving them disenfranchised and disconnected from society.

‘Some of his friends were disappearing’ While many youth are drawn to al-Shabab for economic reasons, others are targeted by recruiters through a slower method of indoctrination.

Collins Mwangi is another youth living in the Majengo area of Pumwani. In 2011, his younger brother converted to Islam and started attending the local mosque just 20 metres from their house.

Within a year though, Mwangi noticed that some of his brother’s friends from the mosque had left for Somalia.

“Some of his friends were disappearing, so we started questioning him,” he said. “But it came at August that same year that he disappeared.”

Mwangi’s 17-year-old brother had travelled with three friends to Mombasa. From there they were taken by al-Shabab operatives to a remote region between Kenya and Somalia to travel across the border and into al-Shabab territory.

However, Mwangi’s family took a picture of their brother to police, who circulated it widely through Kenyan security networks. Once al-Shabab saw that his brother had been identified by the authorities they sent him back to Nairobi while the others crossed over into Somalia.

“For me, I understand him because he was still young, he had depression and was confused, like being forced you know?” Mwangi said.

“And many of the children who go there, the moment you hit Somalia they turn you into a child soldier,” he said. “Here they’re teaching them religion, but when it’s there, it’s war.”

Julias Muhia, a human rights advocate from the Kamukunji Human Rights Defenders, says

‘People are pushed to the wall’ Sami Gathii from the Youth Arts Development Entrepreneurship Network (YADEN) runs a peace programme for youth in Eastleigh.

He says that al-Shabab recruiters use different tactics for each young person they target.

“There’s a lot of vulnerabilities ... so anything that can be introduced to you that gives you a sense of belonging, a sense of worthiness, a sense of hope ... you will be glued to it,” he said.

In their programmes, YADEN engages young people and the community in discussions on violent extremism. However, Gathii says that recently they have found the community retreating from discussing the issues as openly as they once did.

Following the Westgate attack in 2013 and a series of bombings in Nairobi early 2014, Kenyan authorities launched “Uslama Watch”, an operation targeting undocumented ethnic Somalis and refugees living and working in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.

The result was an exodus of business and people from Eastleigh, and allegations of extortion and harassment by police targeted at the largely ethnic Somali community.

Gathii says heavy-handed security operations like these are creating conditions conducive to the spread of violent extremism rather than reducing the threat of terrorism in Kenya.

“The police go to Eastleigh, knock down the house, collect money.

They will stop you on the street and bring you to the police station.”

Julias Muhia from the Kamukunji Human Rights Defenders has also seen the effects of these anti-terror operations on the local economy and increased risks for youth like Juma Omondi.

“The economy has gone down for these young people. And these young people are at a higher risk.

This time around it will not be like before. [Al-Shabab] will target a huge number of youths,” he said.

“Why? Because people are pushed to the wall to the extent that they will do anything.”

As long as young Kenyans struggle in poverty and feel excluded by their own government and society, recruitment drives like the recent film from al-Shabab will always find an audience - and recruits.

– Al Jazeera

52

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Golden Moment For Team Nigeria As Wrestling Accounts For 2 Gold

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja Odunayo Adekuoreye and Aminat Adeniyi gave Nigeria the perfect pick-up as they claimed two gold in wrestling- and then celebrated their achievement by singing round the venue with the green white green flag flut-

tering.

It was a glorious day for Nigeria in Glasgow as the national anthem held everybody spellbound with rapturous celebrations coming from other athletes and officials.

Odunayo Adekuoreye started the Gold rush when she rushed

India’s Lalita Lalita to submission winning 5-0.

While the ovation and celebration was still on, Aminat Adeniyi did not give her Indonesian opponent, Shakishi any chance as she piled up points after points romping into a 6-0 lead.

US Based Falconet Star Optimistic About U-20 W/Cup

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja Falconets fringe player Courtney Dike, is confident the team will put up a good performance at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup; Canada 2014. The forward from Oklahoma State University USA disclosed this during the team’s training tour in Canada and noted that with the caliber of players in the camp Nigeria will excel at the Mundial. “The team’s training is excellent, there is team work and everyone is working towards a good outing for the team at the

World Cup.” Dike said.

The 19- year old accounting student further stated that she is looking forward to playing for Nigeria and expects the experience to be fruitful hoping that the Falconets wins the tournament in her first outing for Nigeria. She commended her team mates for making her feel at home.

“My teammates have showed me love since my arrival. Training had been hard from the beginning, but as it progresses it’s a bit easier. I have played with other teams and I must confess that

wearing my country’s colours is amazing. I promised to use my experience from abroad and combine it with what am getting here to contribute positively to the success of the team in the world stage.

I want us to win and with the calibre of players here I am sure we will make it.”

Courtney Dike started playing football in her fifth grade ten years ago. Since then she has played in schools tournaments and presently plies her trade for OKC Football Club in USA. Dike

We Can’t Pay Keshi N10m – NFF

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

As an advisory body, we have advised the board to negotiate with Keshi on what is obtainable to them and acceptable to Keshi

Mr Paul Bassey, Spokesman, Technical committee NFF

The technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has described the purported N10million salary hike per month demanded by Stephen Keshi as condition for the renewal of his contract as unacceptable. Instead, they have advised the NFF board to negotiate with the coach on what they afford that will acceptable to the coach.

The spokesman of the committee, Mr Paul Bassey who brief newsmen shortly after their meeting in Abuja, said the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are willing to continue work with

Keshi for the sake continuity but not without looking at what transpired in the past or led to Super Eagles disastrous outing in Brazil.

He said though Keshi and his technical crew are to submit their World Cup report, the committee has taken proactive measure to review what transpired before and at the world Cup with a view to move forward.

According to him, Keshi is yet to table his demands officially before the NFF board.

“There is nothing wrong about renewing Keshi contract, at least for the sake of continuity. But some of us still believe that if we must

Commonwealth Games Medal Standing Country

Gold

Silver

move forward, we need to look back. For instance, we have to seat down and look at the Brazil 2014 World Cup and see where we went wrong because we can just pretend as if nothing happened.

We have look at what happened and how can we do better because most of us believed that we should have did better than 16 round finished.

“The board said that we want to continue work with Keshi and Keshi has also said he interested in coming back if his terms are meet.

“As an advisory body, we have advised the board to negotiate with Keshi on what is obtainable to them and acceptable to Keshi.”

Keshi

N20m Allegation: Supporters Club Denies Police Invitation

Bronze

Total

1 England

34

34

29

97

2 Australia

34

31

36

101

3 Canada

18

5

20

43

4 Scotland

13

12

14

39

5 New Zealand

11

9

12

32

6 India

10

18

11

39

7 South Africa

9

7

11

27

8 Nigeria

6

5

7

18

9 Jamaica

5

3

4

12

10 Wales

4

10

13

27

11 Kenya

4

4

1

9

12 Singapore

4

1

1

6

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

bles as the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the club, all Nigeria Football Supporters Club laid down procedures where adhas refuted allegations in some hered to before any money was social media network that its withdrawn for the club’s trip to President General, Rafiu Ladipo Brazil and that they are in the and Secretary General, Samuel process of preparing an account Ikpea were invited by Zone 2 Po- of how money was spent in Brazil. lice headquarters over allegation “I want to tell Nigerians that no that they withdrew N20 million money is missing from the coffers belonging to the club without the of the club neither was the Presiapproval of members. dent General nor the scribe invitDeputy President General of ed by the Police. the club, Yusuf Aderele told newsThose peddling the rumours are men that those peddling the ru- propagandists who are bent on mours are propagandists insisting destroying the club. They already that the duo where never invited have a case with the Police before by the Police nor any money miss- we travelled to Brazil which the ing from the coffers of the club. security agencies mandated the According to Yusuf who dou- President General to settle.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

sports 53 Elegbeleye leads Team Nigeria cheer party

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye has shown his other side of supportership at the Commonwealth Games that many are not missing the absence of the Dr Rafiu Ladipo and his gang of Nigerian supporters.

The DG has watched virtually all the events that Nigerians are engaged and has been very vocal with his one-man shouting and clapping for Team Nigerian athletes.

Besides the support, the DG moves on his seat depending on the sport he is watching.

Usman Wins Weightlifting Gold Onoalapo

‘Upset I Created Against World’s No 44 Gave Me Confidence’ Stories By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

After causing the biggest upset to earn Nigeria the golden bronze in the men’s team event of table tennis at the ongoing Glasgow Commonwealth Games, former junior sensation, Ojo Onaolapo believes the victory over India’s Sharath Achanta boosted his

confidence in the Games.

Onaolapo became the toast of fans at the venue of the third place match after the young Nigerian stunned the Indian star rated 44th in the world 3-1 to earn Nigeria its first medal in the last eight years of the games. An elated Ondo State-born player said: ““I’m excited, I’m happy to win; in table

tennis if you are dominant you can beat anybody. We wanted to win a medal, nobody expected us to; we played them in the bronze medal match four years ago in New Delhi and lost.”

Also, the inspirational captain of Team Nigeria, Segun Toriola was a happy man that he had a medal to show for his last outing at the games. “I’m so

happy because it’s my last Commonwealth Games before I retire”, said 39 year-old Toriola who expressed disappointment over his inability to beat Indian star in his first match. “I felt so sad and worried after I lost my match; it would have been a great start if I’d have won and been more relaxed; in the doubles I just tried to

Superwoman Maryam Usman capped a remarkable performance yesterday lifting Nigeria to a Gold medal in a gritty test of power between her and Samoa’s Ele Opeloge.

The two greats started their snatch lifts at 115kg.

It was the Nigerian who lifted 120 and 125kg respectively while the Samoan could not lift the 125kg thereby allowing Usman to enter the Clean and Jerk with an edge.

The two who stayed back while the little lifters tried their hands on smaller weights, they bounced back to finish their rivalry starting with 145kg. It was Maryam

who led the way with 150 and 155kgs respectively.

Aware that the Nigerian had gone further, the Samoan opted to lift 151kg and heightened the blood pressure of Nigerians when she lifted it. In her last lift, she called for 161kg to leap-frog the Nigerian but could not cross the rubicon after suceeding in the clean but failed woefully in the jerk.

As her babel hit the ground, sporadic applause erupted from the Nigerian camp as Maryam slumped on her knee giving Allah all the glory.

Delta State ‘ll Reward Athletes Who Bring Honour To Us –Gov Uduaghan Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan once again showed while Delta State has remained as the undisputed number one sports State in Nigeria. His presence at the on-going Commonwealth Games in Scotland confirmed his undying love for sports in Nigeria.

Governor Uduaghan who has set the pace with

world class facilities in his state the latest being the World Class Gym he built for Weightlifting reaped the fruits of the gym when almost all the Weightlifting athletes who lifted Nigeria with gold medals happen to come from Delta. ‘’The important thing is that they are serving Nigeria. And I’m happy that they are from my

state and all efforts in building these facilities are not in vain’’, the amiable Governor said at the Clyde Auditorium where he came to felicitate with Delta Athletes.

The athletes leapt for joy on citing the unassuming Governor who interacted with them and promised to reward them at the end of the Commonwealth

Games. ‘’In Delta, we appreciate and reward all our athletes who bring honour to the state. You can see the marvelous job they are doing for Nigeria and Delta. It is in our character to welcome them home as heroes and heroines’’, the Governor said as the athletes burst into loud celebration.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, DG NSC

We’ll Wrestle More Medals For Team Nigeria – Ohaike

Gov Seriake Dickson with Team Nigeria wrestlers in Glasgow

Team Nigeria’s chances of adding more medals to her kitty gets brighter with the beginning of events in Wrestling at the on-going XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The venue for Wrestling is at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and Technical Director of Nigerian Wrestling Federation, Damian Ohaike has predicted more medals swoop for Team Nigeria. ‘’We’ve never disappointed when it comes to Wrestling.

We’re going to do well and I am sure that more medals will be won by my matsmen and women’’, Ohaike said.

Nigerian wrestlers have made their marks in the mats and are equally known by their opponents as tough nuts. ‘’We know ourselves by virtue of the fact that we meet at events. But we hold the ace.

But they will be surprised by the skill and technicality of the female wrestlers. They are so good that they will rule the mats’’, Ohaike said noting that the males, too, would win medals for Nigeria.

At the Commonwealth Games, the Wrestlers would only wrestle in the Freestyle events as the Greco-Roman was not approved. ‘’We’re taking part in the Freestyles. We’re good to go,’’ Ohaike assured.

54 sports

Thursday, July 31, 2014

NFF Elections Date Unchanged, Electoral Committee Retained

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Emmanuel Amuneke

Golden Eaglets Settle Down In Abeokuta

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja After two sessions at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola Stadium, the Golden Eaglets have settled down in Abeokuta ahead of their Under-17 African Championship qualifier against Congo DR this weekend.

The NFF had picked Abeokuta for the game due to the on-

going renovation work at the U. J Esuene Stadium in Calabar and the team was whisked to the rock city in a seamless transition from Lagos upontheir arrival from Kinshasa on Monday.

Now staying at the Intercontinental Suites, they had a brief session Monday evening to shake off jet lag after about 12-hour flight from Kinshasa via Nairobi to Lagos and re-

sumed their routine training only on Tuesday. “We have no problem playing here in Abeokuta in spite of the fact that our fans in Calabar would miss us,” said Prince Udofia, the team coordinator.

“In fact, we are gratefully to the Ogun State Football Association led by Alhaji Ganiu Majekodunmi who has ensured that all is well since our arrival here.”

NFF Postpones Emergence Congress

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

The emergency congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) congress scheduled to hold today in Abuja to ratify the impeachment of Alhaji Aminu

Maigari from the executive committee of the NFF has been postponed.

Though no concrete reason was has given for the sudden postponement barely less than 24hours to the congress,

but LEADERSHIP Sports gathered that it was for the fear of unknown as they rumours that some aggrieved FA chairmen loyal to the impeached president, Aminu Maigari planned to storm the congress with thugs.

The executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is retaining the Electoral Committee headed

by Mr. Amoni Biambo with the exclusion of Dr. Akpo Mudiaga-Odje and Mr. Pascal Patrick, while the Electoral Appeals Committee is also retained with the exclusion of Barr. Eddy Ibrahim Mark, who is a Chairman of one of NFF’s judicial bodies.

This was contained in a communiqué made available to LEADERSHIP Sports, signed by chairman, communique drafting committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama, after a meeting held at the NFF secretariat in Abuja yesterday.

According to the communiqué, the Elective Congress of the NFF will still hold on Tuesday, 26th August, 2014 in Abuja while the General Assembly will now hold on Wednesday, 18th November, 2014 at a venue to be determined later.

“The Committee constituted a five-man committee to review the issue of bans on persons within the Nigeria football family and report back to the body within three days. The Committee, which was immediately inau-

gurated by the Acting President, Chief Mike Umeh, is headed by Chief Effiong Johnson and has Hon. Shehu Adamu, Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma and Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande as Members, while Dr. Christian Emeruwa will serve as Secretary.

“As a result of unforeseen circumstances, the emergency Congress of NFF earlier proposed for Thursday, 31st July, 2014 but not convoked, will now be convened at a later date. Board apologizes for any inconveniences caused members of the NFF Congress by the postponement,” it added.

On the renewing of contact of Stephen Keshi, for the Super Eagles’ Head Coach job, the Executive Committee approved that the Acting President convene a meeting of the NFF Emergency Committee to approve/finalize details of Keshi’s possible re–engagement within the shortest possible time.

Also at the meeting, the executive committee unanimously appointed Hon. Shehu Adamu as acting 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, while reaffirming Barrister Musa Amadu as General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation.

FIFA Does Not Belong To Maigari – Agary

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Former chairman of the FCT FA Ben Agary has described purported plans by the erstwhile president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari get FIFA to suspend Nigeria over his impeachment by the executive committee of the NFF as rubbish.

Speaking in Abuja, he said Maigari should allow the nation’s football move forward, saying his impeachment followed every due process in line with the NFF’s status as approved by the world body, FIFA. According to him, FIFA is one body that does not go contrary to the statute of any federation for the inter- Maigari est of any person or persons. he had enjoyed with them He called on the former while in office as the presiNFF president not to rub- dent of the Nigeria Football bish the good relationship Federation.

“We have gathered that Maigari said that he is going to use his connection with FIFA to get them to ban Nigeria be-

cause of his impeachment.

“The question is, is FIFA Maigari’s personal property?

Is FIFA made to represent

Maigari’s interest alone or the interest of federation?

“More so, it is not FIFA that elected Maigari. It was the congress of the NFF and they have the right to decide to also remove him from office. The fact that it was Maigari that called the meeting where he was removed and he was personally present in the meeting and could not do anything about it. So, why trying to involve FIFA?” he stated.

He added, “the other thing that bothers me with all these things is that Maigari was involved in the sacking of the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdulahi through the same process, and now he is crying foul. I will advise him that he should go and relax and allow Nigeria football move forward.”

sports 55

Thursday, July 31, 2014

West Ham Leading Chase For Ferreyra

Enyeama

Agu Praises Enyeama’s Dedication To Work Nasarawa United’s goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agu has expressed his delight at the recognition of Nigeria number one, Vincent Enyeama in the Goal 50best footballers in the world stating that the player’s dedication to the game is worth emulation by others.

Enyeama had a good outing at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup and he finished in 27th spot after outstanding performances with French club, Lille in the last season.

He was at the centre of everything positive for the reigning African champions and assisted Nigeria to the second round of the World Cup, keeping two clean sheets. He also went 1062 minutes consecutively for Lille without conceding a goal in the 2013/14 Ligue 1 season.

“I am glad to hear that Enyeama was named in the Goal 50. He is the only Nigerian in the list and he deserved

West Ham are leading the chase for unsettled Shakhtar Donetsk striker Facundo Ferreyra.

Sam Allardyce has already bolstered his attacking options by recruiting Ecuador international frontman Enner Valencia and former Lazio star Mauro Zarate this summer.

But with Andy Carroll sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Hammers are scouring the world for further potential striking reinforcements and Ferreyra has emerged as a possible signing.

Ferreyra is one of a host of South Americans at Shakhtar but, along with many others, has grown increasingly concerned at the ongoing violent unrest in eastern Ukraine.

The 23-year-old Argentine arrived from Velez Sarsfield last summer, where he starred alongside Zarate’s broth-

er, Roli, and it is thought his former club-mate has recommended him to West Ham. The Hammers, though, are not the only side keen on Ferreyra as Newcastle, Sunderland and QPR are keeping tabs on his situation.

Shakhtar are reportedly considering the possibility of allowing Ferreyra to leave on loan with a view to a permanent deal, and a move to the Premier League is a natural attraction.

In a poll conducted by over 600 Goal journalists around the world to a global audience of over 64 million users Real Madrid winger, Cristiano Ronaldo emerged victorious while Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller both of Bayern Munich came second, third, fourth and fifth in that order.

it based on his work-rate for his club and country. He should continue to do his best if he wants to assume greater heights better than the one he got presently,” said Agu, a former goalkeeper for the Super Eagles.

“I am also admonishing other Nigerians to keep working hard because hard work pays.

Enyeama is reaping the reward of his labour if others strive to attain same goal it may be their turn to,” Agu told Goal.

Lukaku For Everton Move Everton are close to signing Belgian World Cup striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea on a permanent deal.

Lukaku, 21, scored 16 goals on loan at Everton last season as the club finished fifth and qualified for Europe for the first time in five years. The frontman, who joined Chelsea from Anderlecht for £18m in August 2011, tweeted: “Time to write a new chapter.”

Lukaku spent the 2012-13 season on loan at West Brom and played only 15 times in all competitions for Chelsea. He scored 17 goals in 38 games for the Baggies, as the West Midlands club recorded their highest ever Premier League finish of eighth. Then last season, his performances for Everton earned Lukaku a place in Marc Wilmots’s Belgium squad for the 2014 World Cup. He made four appearances in Brazil, scoring one goal, as Belgium exited in the quarter-finals following a 1-0 loss to Argentina. Chelsea have

Grondona Lukaku

signed two strikers, and let two go, this summer before Lukaku’s move. Diego Costa, 25, moved for £32m from Atletico Madrid and club legend Didier Drogba, 36, rejoined on a free transfer. Samuel Eto’o was released and Demba Ba was sold to Besiktas for £4.7m.

Yaya Toure Commits Future To Man City Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has said he wants to stay at the club for “as long as possible.”

Reports this summer suggested that the 31-year-old Ivory Coast international was unhappy at Etihad Stadium. The player’s agent, Dimitry Seluk, had claimed Toure felt “disrespected” by the Premier

League champions’ owners. But Toure told City’s website: “It was not a case of leaving the club. It was difficult because my situation was quite difficult.”

Seluk claimed the player’s birthday was ignored by the club’s owners when the squad arrived in the United Arab Emirates to

celebrate their Premier League title triumph in May. Toure appeared to support that claim on his Twitter account, before later suggesting he did not know which club he would be playing for in the coming season.

Seluk then told BBC Sport his client wanted a “job for life”.

FIFA Vice-President Grondona Passes Away FIFA vice-president and head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) Julio Humberto Grondona has passed away aged 82.

After being admitted to hospital with a heart problem on Wednesday morning, Grondona’s condition deteriorated rapidly in the following hours and he was ultimately unable to overcome his fight with ill-health.

He had been in charge of

the Argentine FA for 35 years and was responsible for the construction of the Ezeiza training complex, where the national side are now based.

Grondona also combined those responsibilities with his position as vice-president of Fifa and was the founder and chairman of Arsenal de Sarandi, who play their football in Argentina’s Primera Division.

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The Thursday Column

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The Coming USAfrica Summit 08052407030 (SMS only) abba@leadership.ng

Abba Mahmood n the coming week, America’s president Barrack Obama will be hosting African heads of state and leaders in Washington, DC. Obama is the first African-American to be elected president of the United States.

This is his second and final term in office and he has been able to visit only about four countries in Africa since becoming president.

Thus, the US-Africa Summit this week will afford him the opportunity to interact with as many African leaders from as many countries as possible. In this regard, America is copying Japan, China, India and other emerging powers who have since institutionalized their engagements with Africa as a whole periodically.

Africa has played key roles throughout history. African resources helped to build most European countries through the outright theft of these resources during colonialism. African slaves helped to build the new world, the Americas. Today, Africa is the last frontier where all established and emerging powers are running to for development. Over 60 per cent of the total arable land in the world is in Africa. African mineral resources are helping to keep the industries of the world moving.

But Africa, the richest continent, is paradoxically also the poorest.

For Africa, this US Summit is coming against the background of mass poverty, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, ethnic and religious hostilities as well as leadership crisis in the three major African countries – Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt – among others. For the US, the summit is coming against the background of US failure to stabilize Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, among others, which has discredited American leadership, has shattered the concept of an expanding Europe as a major global player, and has reignited Russian geopolitical aspirations in especially central Europe.

Complicating official perceptions and tempering public expectations at the end of the Cold War was the fact that the world

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America inherited as its ward on the eve of the 21st century was neither historically at ease nor truly at peace. Since then, experiences have taught us that even the world’s paramount superpower can go badly astray and endanger its own primacy if its strategy is misguided and its understanding of the world is faulty, as discerned by many careful analysts.

In reality, historical speculation cannot be the basis for specific policy recommendations given changed circumstances, unexpected events and novel challenges.

And the Bush II administration, just before Obama, had chosen to propagate an atmosphere of national and even global fear in the face of an inherently unclear and unpredictable threat. America embarked upon what it called war against terrorism even though terrorism is not an enemy but a technique of warfare – political intimidation through the killing of unarmed non-combatants.

The a-historical character of America’s misadventure in Iraq further highlighted the limitations of a strategy primarily dependent on force. Compounding the dilemmas of a war waged by an administration lacking historical perspective is the psychological and even visual identification of American conduct with Israeli practices. The American actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and around the world have so far divided its allies, united its enemies and created opportunities for its rivals and ill- wishers as many discerning analysts have concluded.

Moreover, America has turned democracy into a subversive tool for destabilizing the status quo.

It has subscribed to the wrong notion that electoral democracy could be imposed from outside.

The American policymakers have failed to understand that American political tutelage is not only unwelcome to most but bitterly resented by many. Greater coherence in national policy calls for correcting this widespread bad impression. America must remem-

ber that loss of soft power reduces “hard power”. As a result of this misunderstanding and misreading of many global events by the US, America is losing friends and losing credibility all over the world.

The foundation of the US power is the dollar. That was why former American president Richard Nixon said “The dollar is our currency and your problem”, because of the primacy of the dollar in international trade. Consequently, the developing countries in general and Africa in particular are exporting capital to the developed countries. Thus, if Africa is to develop, the Lucas paradox -- “capital flow from South to North” -has to be arrested and discouraged.

In the other words, capital flight has to stop and all African resources should remain in Africa to help develop the continent with its own resources and not grants and aid.

The IMF and World Bank have pushed for deregulation, for free market economies, for free movement of capital or what is collectively called the Washington consensus. We now know that these are the reasons for the global financial crisis and for it affecting the world economy. The impact has been enormous and has contributed to the de-industrialization of Africa. In any case, the Washington consensus is not applied in Washington. And, in a global economy, there is need for institutions to help manage the process of globalization because, after all, markets do not regulate themselves.

The financial, environmental, food and energy crisis require new institutional mechanism or framework to manage. This is a crisis we cannot get out of by leaving it to market forces. Intervention by governments is necessary because there is need for political decisions. Nowadays, there is a consensus that government has to play a more strategic role in economic management, because markets are not only imperfect but require regulation to function well regardless of how powerful the invisible hands of the market may be.

We, as Africans, must not shy

away from arriving at the obvious conclusion that, regardless of his African roots, Obama has an American mandate. Thus, we must not expect much from the US because of Obama, if we are to be realistic. And if the US under Obama is to really help, the best way is to help Africa recover its resources looted over the years by corrupt leaders and their external collaborators and repatriate these to Africa for development. If these resources were repatriated to this continent, Africa would not need any help from outside.

In fact, most of the aid from the developed world to Africa is targeted at the social sector, not production. Similarly, growth is not mentioned in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); only social issues. Thus, the MDG is not a comprehensive development agenda as there is no mention of technology transfer, employment generation, investments and value addition. These are what will spur growth and development which are the issues the ordinary people of Africa want addressed during the Africa-US Summit in Washington next week if Obama is serious about African peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

History is on the side of the oppressed.

GHANA MUST GO Nigeria will be global player in food production — Minister

With cassava bread?

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