Leadership

23.06.14

MoNday

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 2,209

N150

NIGERIa’S MoST INFLUENTIaL NEWSPaPER

Chibok Diary

Banks Lose N159bn To Cyber Crime

By ChimA AkwAJA, Lagos

Nigerian banks lost a total of N159 billion to electronic fraud between 2000 and the first quarter of 2013, Nigerian InterBank Settlements Systems

(NIBSS Plc) has said. The organisation, however, added that the successful switch from magnetic stripe for automated

teller machine (ATM) cards in 2009 to a more secure chip and PIN cards led to a drastic reduction in e-fraud to the tune

DAY 70

of N21.72 billion with a further decline to N14.96 billion in 2010. ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Claimants Reject Shell’s $51m Offer Over Nigeria Oil Spills > Page 14

Escapee Chibok Schoolgirls: We Miss Our Friends > Page 2

AS iNEC dEClARES fAyOSE wiNNER

Half Of Ekiti Voters Not Accredited To Vote 5

Concern lingers over 364,509 voter cards Full results on page 8 Fayemi accepts defeat

The new Emir of Gummi, Justice Lawal Aliyu Gummi, welcoming former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to the official installation of the new emir at Gummi in Zamfara State, yesterday.

World Cup: We Must Work Harder against argentina – Keshi > Page 54

2

chibok diary 70

Monday, June 23, 2014

DAY

CHIBOK TWEETs @obyezeks People dare question why anybody would raise a voice concerning the daughters of peasants! @ChildadvocacyNG 1m GEJ should use the energy and time he used in getting Fayose to win election in Ekiti State to rescue the Chibok Girls. #BringBackourGirls @RepBarbaraLee a threat to girls’ education anywhere is a threat to progress everywhere. #LetGirlsLearn @BBoG_america No girl deserves to be left without an education,girls are the future and leaders #BringBackourGirls @pos_theatre Let's get it right on #womensrights @rescueourgirls #BringBackourGirls @bringbackourhumanity @obyezeks you who are well meaning toward our #ChibokGirls don't weary! you may not realize, but each tweet #BringBackourGirls RESoUNdS! @cherrynicely The current political, social &civil society power and influence of women is not united @MegandeP Let's put women in positions of power and things would change overnight.

Escapee Chibok schoolgirls; We're Missing Our Friends

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri

Two of the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok, who managed to escape the captivity of the Boko Haram when Government Secondary school, Chibok was attacked on the 14th of April, 2014, said they missed some of their friends who are still in captivity.

Sarah Lawan and Martha said one of the abducted girls who was shown answering question in the video clip of

the Boko Haram was her sitmate in class.

“We are seriously missing them and we wish they were with us here today.” said Sarah. “We don’t know what they may have been passing through now, but we know they are not happy there. We have heard some of them being married to the Boko Haram, but I believe my friend, Hauwa who is a Christian and a devoted one cannot agree to marry a man without the

consent of her parents.

Martha, who declined mentioning her surname because her parents forbade her speaking to the press, said she “three of my close friends are there in the bush, and I don’t know what they may be going through. Every day we pray for them, and we even fasted for three days to them when our pastor in the church asked us to.”

The girls said their fears scared every day when the

gunmen attacked villages around Chibok town, almost every day. “If they can be killing our people in other villages, how are we sure our colleagues now in the bush are safe?”.

The girls who spoke to LEADERSHIP by phone said they were calling on the federal government to help them rescue their colleagues as soon as possible so that “nothing bad should happen to them.”

Japan's Donation To Chibok: Group Tasks Politicians On Proper Utilisation

By CHiKa meFor and ejiKe ejiKe, Abuja

The #Bring Back Our Girls group has warned Borno State politicians to stay away from the $855,000 (N136.8 million) donated to the families of the over 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls by the Japan authority.

The group, which was expressing fear over the proper channelling of the funds to the appropriate affected families, called on the state government to ensure that the Japenese funds were properly used to rehabilitate the abducted girls when rescued and not pocketed by a few individuals for their selfish reasons.

Recall that the Japanese authorities is donating the sum of $855,000 to the families of the over 200 abducted Chibok secondary school girls through the Japanese emergency support grant aid.

The fund is to be implemented by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other organisations.

The summary of the support is the protection of women from sexual and gender violence, psychosocial support for the abducted school girls and their families.

CHIBOK TRENDING

@BringGirlsBack 1- This whole tragedy has so many facets.

I wish it were as simple as 1) #BringBackourGirls 2) go back to our normal lives.

The Government of Japan, had by so doing, renewed its determination to continue to cooperate with the people and Government of Nigeria,

and the international community to eliminate acts of terrorism and to contribute to the peace and security of the region.

World Energy Supply Burning fossil fuel such as coal, gas and oil have dramatically increased the amount of carbon-dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising. As the world’s need for energy keep growing, the dependency on non-renewable energy sources must decline.

1975 1979 SOURCES

COAL/PEAT

THE PAST 1983 1987

GAS

1991

OIL

Clean Energy (Any energy source that causes little or no harm to the environment) need to be the main source of energy for the future. If policies that are still under consideration take effect, we can begin to increase the supply of clean energy by 2030

1995 1999 SOURCES

THE FUTURE 2003 2008 2030

UPCOMING EvENTs Today Teach-in I Washington dC, USa COMPILED BY UGOCHUKWU IROKA

NUCLEAR Fans holding a banner against Boko Haram at the ongoing FiFa World Cup in Brazil

HYDRO

OTHERS

3

our stand Monday, June 23, 2014

Verdict On Postgraduate Degrees

T

he book publication initiative set up by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to address the problem of paucity of books in Nigeria’s tertiary education system has returned a grim verdict on the nature of theses for which postgraduate degrees are awarded in the country. After examining over 200 theses for which Nigerian universities awarded PhDs, only 11 were found worthy of conversion into books. The rest – over 94 per cent – were adjudged sub-standard, of poor quality and uninspiring. This is a damning report on the quality of the highest qualifications churned out excitedly in hundreds by the nation’s ivory towers every year during their convocation ceremonies. If the nation is producing PhD theses and professors look at them and find faults with them, then, the nation should be ashamed of the kind of trouble she is foisting on posterity.

The outcome of this exercise should depress a serious government and most university administrators. We need to not only revisit the issue of postgraduate training in Nigerian universities but also overhaul the entire gamut of the school system as well as the curriculum with a view to strengthening standards at all

levels. It is sad that the National Universities Commission (NUC) keeps issuing licences for private universities with scant regard for quality control. Corruption and profiteering, which we believe are the bane of our education, are responsible for this dismal output in the quality of our degrees. With this, it is therefore no surprise that Nigeria, Africa’s “giant”, has only 10 of her 132 universities in the top 100 universities’ list in the continent as released in the latest Webometrics ranking. None made the global 100 list. It is unfortunate that a thesis that was accepted by a university was, years later, faulted by a panel set up to look at it. Such certificates should be publicly withdrawn and the candidate asked to pay for the

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

socio-economic advantages the “fake” PhD conferred on him or her.

The country must return to the drawing board and urgently revisit the criteria for training and awarding postgraduate degrees in our universities. If the nation’s tertiary education sector has degenerated to a point that most postgraduate students cannot write good theses and the authorities shirk their mandate by accepting and awarding PhDs to incompetent scholars, then, we should know that our expectations of a healthy, peaceful and prosperous nation are mere pipedreams.

It is the NUC’s duty to ensure that postgraduate training is strengthened and the process of examination of PhD theses corrected. We urge it to commence a peer review process and collaborations with reputable universities across the world to restore the dignity of scholarship, research and creativity to our schools. It is the height of infamy that our highest degrees end at the realm of self-indictment by stakeholders alone. Those who have been found to acquire these degrees illegally with poor quality theses should indeed have them withdrawn, until they update them to meet the required high standard.

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 Julianne Omofuma Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Salisu Alhassan Bichi Iyobosa Uwugiaren Ademola Oladosu General Managers Joy Adekanye Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko

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

Monday, June 23, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Guinea Bissau’s Judge Emerges ECOWAS Court President Guinea Bissau’s Justice, Maria Silva, has been elected the new president of the Community Court of Justice of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. Nigeria’s Justice Friday Nwoke and Justice Jerome Traore of Burkina Faso were elected as vice president and dean of the court, respectively.

A statement issued by ECOWAS spokesman, Sunny Ugoh, yesterday in Abuja, stated that the three judges would serve the court for two years.

The other new judges are Justices Yaya Boiro, Guinea; Micah Wright, Liberia; Hameye Mahalmadane, Mali; and Alioune Sall, Senegal.

The statement made available to online medium Premium Times said the judges succeed Justices Awa Daboya, Togo; former President, Benfeito Ramos, Cape Verde; Hansine Donli, Nigeria; Anthony Benin, Ghana; Clotilde Medegan, Benin, and Eliam Potey, Cote d’Ivoire, while the seventh judge, Sidibe Soumana, of the Republic of Niger died in 2011.

By Abdullahi Umar, with agency report

Sambo Leads FG’s Delegation To Condole With Late Arisekola’s Family Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday led a top level federal government delegation to condole with the family of late religious leader and business mogul, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao.

The vice president, who was in Ibadan yesterday on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, extoled the virtues of the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, saying his death was a great loss not only to his family but to the government, people of Oyo State and the country as a whole.

According to Sambo, the late Arisekola was a devoted Muslim who dedicated his God-given endowment to the service of humanity.

Praying Almighty Allah to grant him Aljannah Firdaus and grant the family that he left behind the fortitude to bear the great loss, Sambo urged Nigerians particularly the younger generation to emulate the exemplary life the deceased had led.

“He was a very good man; we have lost somebody that has served Islam, somebody that has done good deeds all his life and we pray Almighty Allah to continue to reward him with Aljannah Firdausi,” Sambo said.

By George Agba, Abuja and Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Retired hospital consultant Mark Walker (R) greets women who danced to welcome him to Ugbineh, near Benin City, Nigeria, where British soldiers were killed during the invasion of the city in 1897. photo by AFP

5 Million Nigerians Displaced By Insurgency – Rep

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

As a result of the security insurgency in some parts of Nigeria, about five million Nigerians have been displaced.

The chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon John Owan-Enoh, disclosed this while delivering the 2014 Annual World Refugee Day lecture organized by the Centre for peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan at the weekend.

He remarked that Nigerians now live in a state of na-

ture where life is short, nasty, solitary and brutish due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to him, apart from the Boko Haram insurgency which has ripped apart the fabric of the Nigerian society, violent and ethnic conflicts have increased the number of internally displaced Nigerians.

He said that since the emergence of Boko Haram in Nigeria, life is no longer normal for the people, noting that people have been denied their freedom of movement and are constantly living in fear because of var-

ious shades and dimensions of Boko Haram attacks.

He called on the National Assembly and government at all levels to reach out to families torn apart by conflict, irrespective of religious/political affiliation, race or tribe, adding that every life in each family counts.

He lamented that owing to Boko Haram and other internal crisis, the number of internally displaced persons in Nigeria has increased to over five million people.

“The Nigerian legislature should be at the forefront of

bringing solution to the problem of insurgency in the country by providing solutions and not contribute to the problems,” he said.

Hon Owan-Enoh, who noted that the legislature had been accused of supporting, perpetrating, fanning embers of conflict by providing logistics to rival groups, added that Nigerian legislature should identify potential sources of conflict and work with the people as well as traditional institutions to nip them in the bud before the conflict escalates.

Plot To Impeach Amaechi Still On – APC

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has alleged that the plot by six members of the State House of Assembly loyal to the supervising minister of education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is still going on.

The leader of the six lawmakers

and member representing Ogu/ Bolo Constituency in House, Hon. Evans Bipi, had last weekend denied media reports that they were plotting to impeach the governor.

But, the APC, in a press release issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, alleged the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha as the Administrative Judge of the State by the National Judicial Council (NJC) was part of the plot.

The party said it had it on good

authority that the six lawmakers met at a private residence of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, and would meet again on June 26, 2014, at Krisdera Hotels, Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state, where they will pass a motion impeaching the governor.

The release, which was signed

by Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, media aide to the state chairman of APC,

described the plot to impeach the governor as not just ‘ridiculous, and the highest form of impunity, but an invitation to anarchy and a booby trap which could truncate our nascent democracy.”

The release reads in part: “That six rebel troublemakers in a House of 32 lawmakers should talk of impeaching a sitting Governor is not only absurd, undemocratic but illegal,” describing the move as AN evil scheme against the people of Rivers State.

2015: Don’t Undermine Credible Election – Jonathan

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerians to shun any action that would undermine the credibility of the 2015 general elections.

Jonathan made the call Saturday at the 2nd convocation ceremony of the Nigeria Turkish Nile University, Abuja, in which Yobe State governor Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State and the director-general, State

Security Service, Ekpeyong Ita were awarded honorary doctorate degrees.

The president cautioned Nigerians against scuttling the 2015 general election through acts of violence and use of thugs, and called on youths, in particular, to shun negative vices from politicians and to only vote for credible candidates with proven mettle for leadership.

“I would like to point out, especially to our youths, that the

general elections are fast approaching. This calls for responsible engagement and participation. While encouraging you to vote for credible candidates of your choice, I urge you to shun all invitations to political thuggery or acts that can undermine free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

Jonathan, who was represented by the executive secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Suleiman Bago-

ro, said the federal government was determined to win the war against terrorism, adding that the insurgency in Nigeria was calculated to undermine the nation’s cohesiveness.

He said, “Lives are being wasted by some people who have chosen to undermine our cohesiveness as a people. They will not succeed; we are determined to win this war and win back peace which is prerequisite for our development.”

NEWS 5

Monday, June 23, 2014

LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100 LIVING

One health tip daily Go Fish for the Omega

If you’re not a vegetarian, you’ll want to make intelligent choices about the meat you eat. Of all animal products, fish is the healthiest, due to its high protein and low fat content. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, along with other nutrients, protect blood vessels from plaque, reduce

inflammation, prevent high blood pressure, and help you maintain good respiratory health.

Populations with a diet consisting mainly of fish, fresh fruits, and local vegetables experience virtually no cardiovascular disease and have a high percentage of healthy seniors.

Banks Lose N159bn To Cyber Crime FROM COVER

Emefiele

A fortnight ago, the deputy governor, financial systems stability, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, said 2.4 per cent of banking revenue was lost to fraud cases. While quoting from the 2013 Global Fraud Report, he revealed that Africa retained its position as the region with the largest fraud cases, while sub-Saharan Africa maintained the unenviable position of the region with the most prevalent fraud problems (77 per cent) among the regions surveyed.

Admonishing banks and telecom operators at a workshop organised by WiniGroup Limited, a Nigerian IT security solutions provider in Lagos, Nigerian InterBank Settlements Systems (NIBSS Plc), Mr Shahar Alon, business development manager from Checkmarx, Israel’s leading Static Application Security Testing (SAST) developer, said Nigerian banks and telecom operators must collaborate to protect the economy from cybersecurity threats.

He said collaboration should be part of the lifecycle of any professional in charge of security, noting that it will be a natural response of industry to understand that, in order to survive, chief information officers (CIOs) would have to collaborate.

“If a bank in Nigeria falls, it is going to affect all other banks,” Alon said, adding that it is not a specific problem of one bank and that once the community understands they are in this together, they need to make sure that all banks, all businesses, all e-payment companies are secured.

He said it is the responsibility of all to collaborate, noting that, as the years come, the challenges will grow while those who refuse will be left behind with no collaboration to function in a

group in the cyber battlefield.

“We recognize Nigeria as the giant of Africa; we recognise the economic development of Nigeria in recent years and we know the future will bring a lot of opportunities to the Nigerian market. One thing Nigeria must deal with is make sure it preserves a reputation of secure environment for businesses to operate in.

“And while doing that, cyber is a critical aspect of this reputation because if banks and businesses are not able to operate securely it will affect the whole economy. He said making sure they are secure from a cyber point of view is an essential stage Nigeria will face in the years to come. “We feel that there is a big realization among businesses in Nigeria of the need to have secure development and make sure any application and software is secure from any vulnerability.

On his part, the vice chairman, WiniGroup, Tim Akano, said the challenges of cyber frauds and cyber terrorism are growing and organisations and nations are not taking the battlefield lightly.

He said nations have deployed cyber soldiers to protect their cyberspace and economy from being crumbled with distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks and malware that can cripple their networks.

Akano said Nigerian banks, telecommunications companies and governments must as well deploy trained cyber soldiers to protect critical national infrastructures from going down through cyber attacks. He said WiniGroup exists to bridge the technology divides between the West and Africa, leveraging on cutting-edge software and hardware solutions to drive cost southward, eliminating wastes and growing revenue for its clients in Africa.

Half Of Ekiti Voters Not Accredited To Vote

By Abu Nmodu, Minna, George Agba, Chibuzo Ukaibe, Weneso Orogun, Uchenna Awom, Abuja, Kazeem Akintunde, Alo Abiola, Ado Ekiti, Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan and Joshua Dada, Osogbo

With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring the former governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, winner of last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, concerns have emerged over the nonaccreditation of over 50 percent of voters for the election.

According to a breakdown of the results by the electoral commission, of the 733,766 registered voters in Ekiti State, 364,509 of them did not turn up for accreditation for the governorship election.

Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had scored 203,090 votes to defeat the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 120,433 votes, while Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 18,135 votes.

However, INEC’s summary of the results obtained by LEADERSHIP revealed that while the total number of registered voters was 733,766, the number of voters accredited for Saturday’s poll was just 369,257. The total number of votes cast was 360,455, with 350,366 of them valid and 10,089 invalid.

But the huge difference in the number of non-accredited voters and the whereabouts of such cards have sparked fresh concerns as, ahead of the election, there were agitations for the use of card readers to curtail such occurrences.

However, the chief press secretary to INEC national chairman, Kayode Idowu, when contacted, explained that of the 732,166 registered voters, 476,870 - representing, 64.98 percent - collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).

He said the non-accredited cards had since been returned to INEC headquarters, adding that about 80 percent of those who collected their cards voted.

LEADERSHIP recalls that while INEC ruled out the use of card readers in the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, it stated that they would be used in the 2015 general elections.

Governors Fayemi and his Osun State counterpart Rauf Aregbesola had, in the run up to last Saturday’s election, called on INEC to rescind its decision on the use of electronic card readers for the governorship elections.

But INEC chairman Prof.

Attahiru Jega had insisted that

Fayose

the commission would not use card readers for the elections, maintaining that “it will not be wise to use a pilot scheme in an election that will be keenly contested.”

The APC had, however, maintained that “contrary to what INEC has said, the e-card reader is very adaptable, and its application is not subject to any environmental peculiarity once the basics of operations are met.

It is therefore surprising to read INEC’s claim that the sensitivity of the elections in Ekiti and Osun will not recommend the use of the card reader.”

The party had contended that “impersonation, multiple voting and endless altercations and associated tension will be eliminated at the voting centres with the use of e-card reader and not by any other means.

“Also, the e-card reader will ensure the automatic recording of all accredited voters with verified permanent voter cards in such a way that does not lend itself to manipulation, thus preventing the falsification of results at the collation centres.”

However, a source at the electoral commission told LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity that the cards of the non-accredited voters were immediately returned to the commission in Abuja, dispelling fears that the cards were used for other purposes.

Responding to questions over the whereabouts of the nonaccredited cards, the source noted that “immediately the election closed, all the voter cards that were not accredited were returned to the national headquarters in Abuja.”

However, reactions have continued to trail the outcome of the election.

The executive director, Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Abuja, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said the outcome of the Ekiti gubernatorial election highlighted a high degree of voter apathy.

He decried a situation whereby nearly 50 percent of registered voters neglected to pick up their permanent voter ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Fayemi

6

Monday, June 23, 2014

conference By joe dudun, amina alhassan and Bode GBadeBo

Ex-Governors Now Richer Than Their States Should Be Executed – Isiwele High Chief (Alhaji) Musa Shehu Isiwele is the national president of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Federal Government delegate to the ongoing National Conference where he served in the Standing Committee on Transportation.

In this interview with LEADERSHIP team, he bares his mind on a united Nigeria, corruption and the way out, among others.

You caught the attention of other delegates when you commented on the inaugural speech of the president…

Yes. The president said the country must remain one which, I myself subscribes to. For over 30 years now I have been in Kano. I am more popular in Kano than where I come from which is Uromi in Edo State. Because a lot of people in Uromi don’t know me, they see me as a stranger whenever I go there. It is a place you go once in a year for may be festivals. So, the issue of dividing Nigeria, I say no because we have inter-married one another. You can’t ask me to leave Kano because I have my personal building there. You cannot ask Dangote to leave Lagos, it is impossible. So, we must remain together. Then I talked about thieves in Nigeria. No governor in this country today who has ruled his state for eight years and he is not richer than the state he ruled.

A lot of them are richer than the states they governed because they buy jets and fly them over our heads and somebody steal a goat, police will charge him to court and he will be sentenced to seven years imprisonment. But those who steal trillions will be negotiating, these are my concerns. No governor ever allowed local governments to exist freely even with the face of illegal caretaker committees. The governors now change names of these contraptions; some called their own IMC, meaning interim management committee. Then you will see that what they are giving to these local governments from monthly allocations is paltry, they now put the rest in their pockets.

So, I said we have two options, either the local government is autonomous or we proscribe it because if you proscribe it any governor who want to create 100 or more local governments is free to do so. It is because of the federal allocations, that is why they emasculate the local governments.

Now, these former governors are here now. They own the fivestar hotels in Abuja, if you go to Malaysia, Dubai and UK, they have all these five-star hotels. But

in their states where they were governors, we have somebody taking N5,000 as a salary a month.

No water, no light, so what are we talking about? I said they should be executed. That was my take and everybody was laughing.

There are issues, which Nigerians are passionate about like fiscal federalism, state police and others but these are the same issues causing ripples among delegates. Why will some delegates refused to do what the people want?

To me as a human being and a Nigerian, I support the state police because I remembered there was a time when we had Isiwele the NA police, local police and the Nigerian Police. Because if of belonging. I heard other people the local police is prosecuting you also saying they should scrap the and you are not interested, you Niger Delta ministry and stop the can appeal to the Federal Police amnesty programme or take it to to take over the matter. So, if you the Boko Haram insurgents too, create state police, it will create this is not right. job opportunities. Now, every As a transporter, what would state already has a similar thing your constituency take away at like that. If you go to Lagos you the end of this conference? have LASTMA and KAI, if you go We are going to take a lot to Kano you have Hisbah, and so of things because I submitted on, so what are we hiding? Just a memorandum calling for a give them the name state police since all these organisations also Transport Bank. When we have arrest offenders for one thing or a Transport Bank, the genuine the other. Another advantage is transporters can go there and that natives will be able to police have loan with one or one and their state effectively since there the half per cent interest rate. won’t be a stranger among them, Nobody can go and take a long everybody will serve in his or her with 30% interest rate, before the vehicle arrives and getting state. the plate number, the loan might So, why will some delegates be have finished. So, that is why against things that will benefit we are calling for this Transport Bank because government has no Nigerians?

You know we are many and not business in transportation sector, it can’t favour them. Go to along everybody has Nigeria at heart.

Kubwa expressway now, you see Another controversial issue is a lot of “El-Rufai” buses which the clamour for resource control are no longer working and parked by the South-South, what is your there. But look at the Ekene Dili Chukwu, the 911 trucks they were take sir?

If we want to live together, we using from Onitsha to Kano at N3 should do things that will give fare are still there. I can give you a everybody peace of mind. Because good example of myself, I bought if today as I am from Edo State and a vehicle in 1980 at N48,000 and it South-South and we have oil today, is still working till today, how many we don’t know if the oil will dry years now the “El-Rufai” buses have tomorrow. So, let everybody shift served? So, the government must ground and give ourselves sense hands off the transport sector.

How many years now the “El-Rufai” buses have served? So, the government must hands off the transport sector

Ex-Minister Berates Youths Over Marginalisation Accusation The pioneer minister of the ministry of youth development and delegate at the ongoing National Conference, Mrs Salome AuduJankada, has berated Nigerian youths over their often allegation of marginalisation against their elders in positions of authority.

She described the approach as lazy as it was improper for the youths to blackmail their elders or parents out of office with accusation of marginalisation.

The former minister was reacting to the issue of age debate at the plenary of the National Conference when she spoke with journalists at the weekend in Abuja.

Jankada said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has done them a favour, as a result of their agitations, by creating a whole ministry for them, adding that despite the fact that older people have been overseeing the ministry, the youths ought to have been making their contributions to the policies of the ministry as it affects them instead of complaining all the time.

“With all due respect to the very responsible youths out there, many of them are the ones managing the local governments today and we know what we are having,” Jankada said.

Jankada went on memory lane, saying prior to the inception of the ministry the government went out of its way by consulting the youths over what they wanted and when it was discovered their needs were genuine, the ministry was created with her as the pioneer minister in charge.

“What else could the youths ask for? You were asking for the ministry of youth development and you were given and I stood up here to put the issues straight when matter of age came up on the floor of this conference,” she said.

She added that the formulation of the policies of the ministry was done in consultation with the youths and they suggested what they wanted and they were incorporated.

“So, if the youths today come out to say they are not being carried along, I think they are not being fair to the government and the older generation,” Jankada said.

News north-central 7

Monday, June 23, 2014

IBB To Chair Special Nupe Day Celebration

BY ABU NMODU, Minna

Former head of state General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) is expected to chair the special Nupe Day celebration that would now witness only interfaith special prayers for Nigeria.

A release by the chairman, Publicity Committee of this year’s Nupe Day celebration, Mohammad Kudu Abubakar said all is now set for the celebrations of special inter-faith prayers for the nations at the Wadata Palace of the Etsu Nupe.

According to him, the Speaker, House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is expected as the special guest of

short news Why Our LGs Road Projects Failed – Niger Govt The commissioner for local government, community development and chieftaincy affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Kantigi, has stated that contractors have not justified the over N7 billion collected from the N13 billion contracts for the road projects in local government councils.

Kantigi who admitted failure on the parts of the contractor, while speaking in an interview after the tour of the projects, maintained that the blame for the failures of the contractors to deliver must be shared with all those involved in the project.

The commissioner said all of those responsible for the failure of the works would be brought to book.

“We will first of all look into why the contractors failed because from what we have seen is not monetary factor,” he said.

By Nbu Nmodu Minna

honour and the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar would be the royal father of the day at the event that would take place on Thursday the 26th June 2014.

Abubakar stated that the Royal Host is the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and the governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, would be the chief host of the interfaith prayer session for the country in view of the security challenges.

He said in the statement that Sheik Ahmed Lemu and Cardinal John Onaiyekan would both speak on the theme, “Moral Decadences, Youth Restiveness and National Security at the Prayer Session.”

Chibok Girls: Grant Boko Haram’s Request, Baraje Urges FG A chieftain of the All Progresives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has said that no sacrifice will be too much to make by the Nigeria government to secure the release of 217 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State.

Baraje argued that if the United States of America swapped five prisoners to secure the life of an America soldier, it will not be too much for the federal government to negotiate and meet the sect’s condition for the release of the abducted girls The sect had demanded the release of it members held in various detention facilities across the country in exchange for the abducted girls.

He spoke in Ilorin during the graduation of 136 students of Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin on Saturday, a school he founded.

“Whatever kind of appeasement that will appease the people that are holding these girls should be done, whether negotiation, whether transition, we saw America do it.

Just for one person America released about five insurgents.

“Here we have about 217 adolescent girls, so if we we have to we are to release everybody - if that’s what they want - to free the girls. It is now left for the government to ensure that security is no longer breached”, he said

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

short news Indigenous Firm Offers Jobs To FUT Minna Graduates The Group Chairman of cavertan off shore support Group Plc Aderemi Makanjuola has promised to collaborate with the Federal University of Technology Minna and offer automatic employment for to graduates of the University He said that the step was informed by the desire to help uplift the institution to one of the Nigeria Leading Universities of international reckoning.

Makanjuola who was speaking while inaugurating a 520 seatters capacity lecture theatre built by Cavertan and donated to the University over the weekend as parts of activities to mark the combined convocation of the university said the contribution was because cavertan identified with the Vision of FUT Minna.

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

A Block of 3 Classrooms Constructed by the MDGS in Benue State Covered by Grass due to the on-going Strike by the teachers of the Primary Schools in the State. PHOTO BY PATRICK EBI AMANAMA.

Ilorin Emirate, Religious Leaders Endorse Saraki As Kwara Political Leader

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Religious leaders in Ilorin Emirate have endorsed the chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the political leader of Kwara state.

This followed the open declaration of support for the junior Saraki’s political leadership of the state by the Chief Imam of Ilorin and its environs, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Salihu.

Traditional rulers in the Emirate, under the aegis of the Magaji and Alanguas forum, had recently endorsed Saraki as the new politi-

cal leader of the state following the death of his father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, in November, 2012.

Salihu, while leading a special prayer session in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, to mark the third year in office of Saraki as senator representing Kwara central district at the National Assembly, described the former governor of the state as God’s chosen leader for the people of the state.

The chief imam, who acknowledged Saraki’s giant strides at developing the state during his eight -year tenure as the governor of the state, urged all peace loving peo-

ple of the state to accept him as the God’s chosen political leader of the state in the interest of development of the state.

He prayed Allah to continue to bestow the federal lawmaker the wisdom and sound health required to move the state to greater heights.

In his lecture, an Ilorin-based Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Adugba, admonished political office holders not to sell out their people for selfish interests when taking political decisions, warning that there is now high level of awareness amongst the electorate.

Ilorin Fracas: Court Remands 6

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

An Ilorin Chief Magistrate’s court has remanded six suspects arrested during the crisis that broke out in some parts of Ilorin at the federal prison, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

The suspects were brought before the court on a six-count charge of criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace, mischief, causing grievous hurt, culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms.

The suspects are AbdulRasheed

Isiaka, Lukman Adesegiri, AbdulAzeez Yahaya, Abdul-Ganiyu AbdulAzeez, Abdul-Azeez Opeyemi and Babatunde Iyanda, all of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Men of the state police command arrested the suspects following a tip-off at ‘C’ division police station, Ilorin, that there was a serious clash between groups of thugs from Alore/Omoda/Alausa areas, Ilorin, along Omoda area, Ilorin.

The accused were said to have criminally conspired and armed themselves with dangerous weap-

ons such as cutlass, guns and charms and engaged themselves in free-for-all.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), when the security operatives arrived at the scene, the accused callously and viciously attacked and wounded an Air Force officer and two vigilante men.

The FIR added that during the exchange of fire, two of the miscreants were gunned down, adding that the accused damaged over 20 cars and other properties whose value is unknown at the moment.

‘Why APC Won’t Zone Niger Guber’

By DONATUS NADI, Lafia

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Niger State and gubernatorial aspirant for 2015, Mohammed Salihu Alooma, has stated that it would be unwise for the party to zone its governorship seat to any senatorial zone in the state.

Salihu who unveiled his master plan for stakeholders of the party yesterday at Haske Hotel, Minna, said that though the party had not reached such

agreement, it would not be a good development for the party to copy the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their zoning arrangement.

He stated that any political party that believed in democracy must learn how to allow free choice of people from every part of the state because what was paramount was a leader that would bring development to the people.

“There is no zoning in our party. APC does not zone its guber-

natorial slot;t will be unwise for APC to zone it governorship seat to any zone. My reason is this; PDP has a zoning arrangement that is already in zone C, so we in APC believe in bipolar election - pole to pole” The APC chieftain maintained that the fact that PDP zoned its own candidate to Niger north does not necessarily mean that the APC should do same because the two parties had different political arrangements.

8 NEWS

Monday, June 23, 2014

Half Of Ekiti Voters Not Accredited To Vote FROM PAGE 5

cards and, therefore, could not be accredited to vote. He blamed this apathy on inadequate mobilisation by INEC, the political parties and civil society organisations.

“The election outcome also reminds us that Nigerian voters do not pay enough attention to the performance of elected officials because they are more concerned about stomach infrastructure instead of physical infrastructure and development,” Igbuzor said.

The former ActionAid country director also noted that the intimidation of APC leaders in the days leading to the election, as well as the decision of teachers to vote against Fayemi for introducing a competence test for them, may have worked against the incumbent.

Also, a PDP chieftain in Delta State, Chief Andrew Desi, said people were hungry and indifferent.

“Who would like to queue up for hours to collect a permanent voter card when he is hungry?” he queried.

According to him, the Ekiti electorate voted against the overbearing influence of former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, whose claim to leadership of the Yoruba race remains controversial and questionable.

On his part, a political scientist at the Bayero University, Kano, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, said “the

outcome of the Ekiti election was almost predictable, not because of the performance of the APC government, but because of the events leading up to the elections.”

He cited the activities of the federal government, which amounted to intimidation of APC leaders at the party’s final rally and on the day of the election, and lamented the absence of a level playing field.

Fayose Accepts Defeat...

Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi has conceded defeat and congratulated Fayose, declaring that he had no option than to accept the result of the election if indeed it was the will of the Ekiti people.

Fayemi, who disclosed during a broadcast, said that he has spoken with Fayose. He, however, noted that under his (Fayemi) administration, the bar of governance was raised.

“Yesterday, (Saturday) Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, INEC has officially returned the candidate of the PDP as the winner of the election.

“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.

“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours

from now, I would be meeting the governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.”

He noted that it had been a hard-fought election and that a lot of unsavoury issues had cropped up in the course of the campaigns, but that the citizens must stay united to make progress.

“Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother.

Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together.

Fayemi had words for his supporters: “To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course.

The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.

Tambuwal hails Fayose, applauds Fayemi for conceding

defeat Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal , has congratulated Fayose on his governorship election victory.

In the same vein, Tambuwal equally congratulated Fayemi for conceding defeat, saying the governor’s action (to congratulate his opponent) was a clear proof that our politics is imbibing standard global practices associated with electioneering process.

Fayose’s Victory, a sign of what awaits opposition in 2015 – Gov Aliyu Niger State governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has stated that the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ekiti State governorship election is a signal of the way the ruling party will cruise to victory in the 2015 general elections.

Aliyu, in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr Israel Ayegba Ebije, congratulated the PDP governor-elect Ayo Fayose on his victory over the incumbent, Kayode Fayose of All Progressives Peoples Party (APC).

He said the victory was well deserved, adding that the election was free and fair and mirrored the true desire of the people to welcome back PDP rule in Ekiti.

He added that the Ekiti example would serve as an example of what the opposition party will face in the next general election.

“Let me congratulate Ayo Fayose for his well-deserved victory. From what observers said

about the election, it was indeed free and fair and a reflection of the people’s interest in the PDP as a party that can deliver properly on dividends of democracy.

“Let me also appeal for calm especially for those who have lost out in the contest. They must see the wish of the people as the will of God. They must therefore, in the interest of the people and desire to move the state forward, work with the Fayose. I am, indeed, glad a contestant in the spirit of true democratic practice has congratulated the winner already,” Aliyu said.

Jonathan, Mark, Fayemi others congratulate Fayose Congratulations have continued to pour in for Mr. Ayodele Peter Fayose, winner of Saturady’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

Leading the pack of dignitaries who sent congratulatory message to the newly elected governor was President Goodluck Jonathan who described Fayose’s victory as overwhelming. He urged Fayose to utilise the second chance provided for him to build an administration that would ensure that all Ekiti people were carried along, their political affiliations or loyalties notwithstanding.

In a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies and the people of Ekiti State for the successful conduct of the election.

Boko Haram: Suicide Bomber Kills 3 Soldiers At Checkpoint with agency report

A suicide bomber on Sunday rammed his car into a military checkpoint in Borno state near the border with Cameroon killing three soldiers in an attack blamed on Boko Haram, residents said.

AFP reported that three other soldiers were also injured in the early morning attack in Gwoza

town, a resident, Dahiru Yunusa, told AFP. “It was a suicide attack by a man believed to be a Boko Haram (member) who drove his car into the checkpoint and killed three soldiers,” Yunusa said. “The huge blast which was heard throughout the town.”

The attack in Gwoza, 100 kilometres (60 miles) from state capital Maiduguri, happened

when the bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into the checkpoint outside a secondary school in the town that has come under repeated attack by the insurgents, leaving dozens dead.

It occurred around 7:00 am (0600 GMT) but the news of the incident took several hours to emerge due to the area’s poor telephone network following the destruction of telecom masts in

previous Boko Haram attacks.

Musa Buzu, another resident who gave a similar account, said the military cordoned off the scene of the blast until 4:00 pm.

Residents thronged the scene to look at the mangled remains of the car used by the suicide bomber, Buzu said.

“The town was still asleep when the suicide bomber attacked the checkpoint with a

deafening explosion that awoke the whole town,” he said.

Military spokesmen were not available to comment on the attack.

Last month, the traditional monarch of Gwoza, Idrissa Timta, was killed when Boko Haram gunmen ambushed the convoy of three emirs on their way to the funeral of another influential emir.

news north-East, north-west 9

Monday, June 23, 2014

Mohammed Abacha May Be PDP Guber Candidate In 2015 Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

Mohammed, the son of the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, who was discharged and acquitted by the federal government in the case of stolen funds, may eventually become the joker for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2015 governorship poll against the ruling All Pro-

gressives Congress (APC), LEADERSHIP has reliably gathered.

The federal government, through the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN), had on Wednesday withdrawn the theft case, asking the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to strike out the charges of N446.3billion theft against Mohammed Aba-

cha.

Kano used to be a PDP controlled state until of recent when Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and four other governors under the aegis of the party defected to APC in the wake of the internal squabbles that rocked the party.

Political pundits believe that the odds favour APC on who becomes the next governor espe-

cially with the emergence of former controversial CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new emir of Kano.

An informed source close to the ruling PDP disclosed that Mohammed and his ally and former chief security officer to the late Gen. Abacha, Al-Mustapha, will play prominent roles in the coming election in favour of the party.

Former chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, now chairman of Ja’iz Bank, Alhaji Umaru AbdulMutallab, congratulating the emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II on his appointment when he visited the palace, yesterday.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

short news Sokoto PDP LG Congress, A Huge Success – Party Scribe

The recently conducted local government congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State was a huge success, Alhaji Abubakar Kantoma has said.

Kantoma who is the state organising secretary of the party gave the hint in Sokoto, insisting that the party used consensus in getting over 80 to 90 per cent of its representatives across the 23 local governments of the state.

The congress which was monitored by LEADERSHIP had an appreciable turn out in a peaceful atmosphere even as it was said to be a sign to mark the party’s unity.

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

Jonathan’s Campaign Office Attacked In Taraba As Coordinator Escapes Death

By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

The office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Youth Vanguard (NYV), Taraba State branch has been attacked by people suspected to be part of the PDP family.

The youths reportedly numbering about 20 allegedly stormed the office at about 12:42am and vandalised the billboard with the portrait of President Goodluck Jonathan at the entrance of the office in Jalingo, the state capital.

The state coordinator of the NYV, Stephen Ibraqhim Agya who disclosed this to journal-

ists yesterday in Jalingo, said that on June 19, one Adamu Mohammed, SA political to the acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, called him and scheduled a meeting with him which was later held at the acting governor’s residence.

He said that the acting governor’s aide warned him to stop parading himself as the state coordinator of the NYV in the state, saying it was the acting governor alone that had the responsibility of appointing the state coordinator.

Agya told newsmen that the governor’s aide even threatened that he would be dealt with if he

did not heed the instruction and leave the office.

Following the threat by the aide to the acting governor, Agya said youths numbering about 20 armed with dangerous weapons invaded the office and vandalised the whole structure. “They broke the doors and entered the rooms where they believed they would get me but fortunately, I did not sleep there on that day as I used to do”, Agya stressed.

He said the attackers destroyed the giant billboard produced by the NYV which had on it the picture of President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the patron of the NYV in the state, Dairus Ishaka.

NEPU-PRP Scribe Launches SAWABA Foundation

By Abubakar Bello Salihi, Kano

The legend of the then Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) which metamorphosed to People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Mallam Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, has announced the launching of SAWABA Foundation to continue the struggle for the emancipation of the common man.

Briefing newsmen at Mambayya House, Kano (Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training (AKCDRT), the former governor of old Kaduna State in the Sec-

ond Republic under the platform of the defunct PRP said the foundation will champion the ideals and goals which NEPU and PRP stood for.

The former Kaduna governor added that the foundation will continue the struggle, essentially for the betterment of the lives of the weaker sections of the society and for a higher quality of governance in the polity of the nation.

According to him, the foundation will seek to harness the wisdom of the elderly and the energy of the young, the loving care of mothers

and sisters and global best practices of organised groups across the country.

In his words: “The foundation is a non-governmental organisation being purely funded by its members and will not dance to the tune of anybody in power or serve the interest of the highest donor.

Mallam Abdulkadir noted that SAWABA Foundation will be devoted to providing political education and leadership training based on the core values of service and sacrifice for the common good of Nigeria and Nigerians.

short news Polio: Gov Yero Tasks Parents On Immunisation Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has called on parents to always allow their children to be immunised against poliomyelitis.

Yero made the call at the weekend during the official flagging off of the Sub-National Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) for the month of June 2014 at Richifa village in Soba LGA of the state.

He said parents must allow their children of between 0 and 5 years to be immunised to make them healthier and become useful to themselves and the society in future.

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

Nyako’s Impeachment: Group Hails Adamawa Assembly The United Nigerians Forum, a civil rights group, has described the impeachment notice served the Adamawa State governor by the State Assembly as a brave move which showed the independence of the House.

Speaking in Abuja, the convener of the forum, Comrade Umar Farouk said for democracy to thrive, every arm of government must be alive to its constitutional duties bestowed on them as their basic role of serving as checks and balances to each other.

He urged workers, market women, artisans, youth movements and democratic organisations to give undiluted support to the House as a way of saving democracy in Adamawa State.

He further said, “At this crucial time in the political evolution of Adamawa State, we call on the lawmakers to resist any attempt by any individual, groups or political party to dissuade them from performing their constitutional duty through any form of inducement or bribery.”

By Paul Uwadima, Abuja

Katsina Procures N3bn Fertilisers For 2014 Season Katsina State government has procured N3billion worth of fertiliser for distribution to farmers for this year’s farming season.

Speaking yesterday during the formal launch of the fertiliser distribution in Baure council area, Governor Ibrahim Shema said about 23,000 tonnes of fertiliser were bought and would be distributed to farmers across the state to help boost farming.

Shema also said that the sum of N750million was expended on bulls, oxen and carts which would be distributed to farmers in the state.

He, however, warned against diversion of the fertiliser even as he called on security agencies to apprehend anyone or vehicle found to be diverting the product to another state.

He said the same quantity of fertiliser would be purchased through the Local Government Joint Account Funds and distributed in the state’s 34 council areas to community farmers.

He said the commodity would be distributed at designated polling units, even as he reiterated the commitment of his administration to improve agriculture in the state.

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

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stories of the Monday, June 23, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

Robbery: Robbers Attack Traders On BeninAsaba Expressway

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Dare devil hoodlums who operate along the Benin- Asaba expressway yesterday waylaid traders going to Onitsha in an 18 seater bus with registration number AA 325 XX and dispossessed them of their belongings and cash estimated at N700, 000.

Eyewitness, who didn’t want his name in print, said that the robbers who were armed with AK 47 riffles overtook the bus between Edo and Delta boundary and started shooting sporadically into the air, forcing the bus to come to a halt.

It was gathered that while the robbery lasted, there was no traffic around the axis as other motorists either turn back or abandoned their vehicles and flee for their lives.

It was gathered that the police arrived about an hour after the robbery operation.

Police public relations officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu confirmed the robbery, saying that the police were on the trail of the robbers, even as she assured that the robbers will be brought to book.

She said that the police have also arrested six robbery syndicates who have been operating along the expressway in the last two weeks, adding that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

Exam Malpractice: NSCDC Arrests Students, Principals

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) at the weekend arrested two secondary school principals and 10 students over examination malpractice in Akwa Ibom.

Speaking during a press conference in his office, the state commander of the corps, Mr. Pedro Ideba, said the offenders were arrested following a tip-off from members of the public during the NECO examination.

He explained that the principals and students were caught cheating and distributing already worked out answer sheets in English language during the ongoing NECO examination.

Ideba said the culprits confessed to the crime during interrogation, adding that they will soon be charged to court.

The commandant advised school teachers and those who intend to engage in examination malpractice to desist from such acts or face sever sanctions, even as he reiterated the commands resolve to discourage examination malpractice in the state.

Masquerades displaying during the alata annual festival in Omu-Aran, Irepodun local government area, Kwara State, yesterday.

Photo BY Nan

Death: 2 Scavengers Found Dead At Refuse Dump

KIDNAP: Police Rescue Kidnapped Mother-inlaw Of Bayelsa Speaker

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba Motorists and pedestrians along Benin Asaba expressway were dumb founded when two unidentified scavengers were found dead at an illegal refuse dump near the International Airport, yesterday.

Reports said that the cause of the death of the two scavengers, who were between the ages of 20 and 21 years respectively, have not been ascertained.

Unconfirmed sources said that the deceased persons may have been choked by the offen-

sive odour emitting from the refuse dump as no signs of injuries were found on their bodies.

Farmers who farm within the area have expressed concern over the mysterious death of the boys. They called on the police to investigate the cause of their death which they described as very strange.

In her reaction, the police public relations officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, said that the police were already investigating the mystery of the unidentified boys, adding that their corpses have been deposited at the FMC mortuary for an autopsy.

Brawl: Unemployed Graduate Beats Father To Coma

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A middle aged unemployed graduate, identified as Chuks Chukwuma, in Asaba, Delta State has allegedly beat his father into coma and inflicted several injuries on him following irreconcilable differences that ensued at the weekend.

It was gathered that the suspect currently in the police net was drunk on the fateful day before allegedly pouncing on his father and beat him into a pulp over irreconcilable differences.

LEADERSHIP learnt that the suspect was drunk on the fateful Friday and banged the father’s door severally.

It was gathered that he pounced on the old man as soon as he opened the door, pushed him and hit his head on the wall and stabbed him several times with broken bottle.

LEADERSHIP reliably gathered that the wife of the suspect has been admitted in the hospital over injuries she sustained from him on more than two occasions.

Reacting to the incident, the police public relations officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the report, saying that the suspect was in the habit of beating the wife almost on daily basis, adding the suspect reminded his father of his failure to pay his school fees while in secondary after drinking and almost choked the man to death before he was rescued by neighbors.

Kalu said the suspect was arrested with broken bottles around West end Nnebisi Quarters, Asaba. She said he confessed to the crime upon interrogation, saying he deliberately attacked his father for what he suffered in the hands while he was in the secondary school.

The Bayelsa State police command yesterday announced that the abducted 90year- old mother-in-law of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Benson, was abandoned along the Ahoada community in Rivers State by her abductors after much security pressure.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP, the police commissioner, Mr. Hillary Okpara, said the rescue was made possible by the combined security network of the police and other security agencies, who led and sustained pressure on the kidnappers to abandon the abducted Octogenarian, adding that the police are on the trail of the kidnappers.

A statement by the Speaker’s special assistant on media, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, said the 90-year-old Ogboro Orumo was rescued at the weekend.

Orumo was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on May 30 at her Seibiri compound in Korokorosei in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state. Kiyaramo said she was reportedly abandoned at Abua waterside in Rivers State by her captors.

He claimed that the old woman was freed unconditionally by her assailants.

The speaker’s aide also claimed that she was identified and picked up at 6:30am on Friday by security operatives who had been on the trail of the kidnappers.

He said she was taken to Yenagoa at about 9 am and handed over to the speaker who rejoined her with her family.

The kidnappers, who had earlier demanded the resignation of the commissioner from the state executive council were said to have back down Wednesday and demanded N10m to set her free.

STORIES OF THE DAY 11

Monday, June 23, 2014

day

photo news

Accident: 4 Killed, 6 Injured In Auto Crash

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

No fewer than four persons have lost their lives, while six others have sustained various degree of injuries when a Hilux van lost control and ran into a crowd at Alate, a community on Lokoja-Ajaokuta road, yesterday.

Eyewitness who spoke to LEADERSHIP said that a woman, roasting corn near the road around her compound in the community, was crushed beyond

recognition.

The eyewitness who alleged that the van belongs to one of the aides of a government official, said unidentified persons hurriedly removed the number plate ostensibly to keep the identity away from public view before the police could arrive.

When contacted on phone the police spokesperson in the state, ASP Emeka Emeh, confirmed the accident, he however said that the casualty could not be ascertained as at press time.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo and the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu toasting over the party’s victory at the Ekiti State election at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO REMI AKUNLEYAN

Gang Clash: Court Jails 6 Over Fracas

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

An Ilorin chief magistrate court has remanded six suspects arrested during crisis in some parts of Ilorin at the federal prison, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The suspects were brought before the court on a six-count charge of criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace, mischief, causing grievous hurt, culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearm.

The suspects are AbdulRasheed Isiaka; Lukman Adesegiri; AbdulAzeez Yahaya; AbdulGaniyu AbdulAzeez; AbdulAzeez Opeyemi and Babatunde Iyanda all of Ilorin, Kwara state.

The suspected were arrested by the police following a tip-off by concerned citizens on a serious clash between groups of thugs from Alore/Omoda/Alausa areas, Ilorin, along Omoda area, Ilorin.

The accused were said to have criminally conspired and armed them-

selves with dangerous weapons such as cutlass, guns and charms and engaged in a street brawl.

According to the police First Information Report (FIR), “when the security operatives arrived at the scene, the accused persons callously and viciously attacked and wounded an Air Force officer and two vigilante men.”

It further said that two of the miscreants were gunned down during a shootout with the police, adding that the accused persons damaged over 20 cars and other valuable properties during the clash.

According to the FIR, Babatunde Iyanda (sixth accused) was alleged to have been habouring and preparing charms for the other accused persons.

The police said that investigation revealed that the accused are all political thugs terrorizing the innocent members of the public within Alore, Oloje, Ode-Alausa, Omoda and its environs.

People of Ado-Ekiti celebrating the victory of the PDP governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose in Ekiti, yesterday. Photo by Nan

L-R President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr Emiola Nihinlola in a handshake with Pastor Adebayo Oladeji during the graduation ceremony of the theologians in Ogbomoso.

Fraud:Businessman Drags Firm To Court Over Breach Of Contract

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A business man, Chief Samuel Uweanyasi, has dragged Sona Moni (Nig) Ltd. and the managing director of the company, Mr. Solomon Onaimoni to the Agbor high court over alleged breach of contract.

The prosecutor, Mr. O. Ehianuka, told the court that the applicant entered into an agreement for the sale of a piece of land; an office accommodation and a petrol station situated along the Benin/ Asaba express way for N20, 450,000 with the firm in December 2008.

He said the defendants agreed to pay Ascon oil company the sum of N8,831,760 as stipulated in the agreement, adding that N11,618,240 was to be paid to the applicant, Okwunwa.

He said the firm failed to pay the said N8, 831,760 to the company, the original owner of the petrol station, who the land was formerly leased to.

The prosecutor prayed to court to order the defendants to return the original title deed of the property to the claimant and asked for N15million damages for the breach of contract.

President Goodluck Jonathan (5th from left back row); First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (middle) and members of the Boys Brigade, Nigeria, after the investiture of the president as the grand patron of the brigade at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja, yesterday. Photo byRemi Akunleyan

12 news NATIONAL NIM President Seeks Improved Welfare For Civil Servants The President of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Dr Nelson Uwaga, has advised governments at all levels to accord priority to the welfare of workers to boost morale in the civil service.

Field questions at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja, Uwaga said that welfare was an important factor that could dampen workers’ morale, if not taken seriously.

He advised governments to consider an upward review of the country’s minimum wage and to organise regular training as a step towards improving the welfare of civil servants. ``Welfare is very important in Nigeria and it plays a big role in demoralising workers, particularly in the civil service,” he said. ``But then, we continue to believe that as you subject workers to further training, they are able to manage their unhappiness and their stress a lot better. ``Two years ago, we made this offer to government without charging them any money to train all heads of human resources in all the federal establishments.

By NAN

9th Muslim Media Ramadan Lecture Holds June 29 The Annual Ramadan Lecture organised by the Muslim Media Practitioners (MMPN) will be held on June 29 at the National Mosque, Abuja.

This is contained in a statement signed by the national chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Ibadan.

The statement said that the lecture, which would hold by 11am, would be chaired by Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu.

It said that the minister of state, Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, would be the father of the day while former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, would serve as guests of honour.

The statement said the lecture entitled: ``Peace and Leadership: The Missing Link,’’ would be delivered by the duo of Prof. Musa AbdurRaheem of University of Ado-Ekiti and Malam Nurudeen Lemu.

Other guests expected at the lecture were the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed as Chief Host, while Prof .Ishaq Oloyede, Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), would be the spiritual fathers of the day, it said.

The statement said that the choice of the topic was to proffer solution to the current security challenges in the country as it affects Muslims and nonMuslims alike.

By NAN

Monday, June 23, 2014

Muslim Youths Want Compensation For 486 Northerners Arrested In Abia

By ISAIAH BENJAMIN , Kaduna

National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) has frownedat the recent arrest of 486 northerners in Abia State bysoldiers on allegations that they are members of the Boko Haram sect.

The body has, therefore, demanded their immediate release and payment of full compensation to them by the authorities concerned for violating their fundamental human rights.

NACOMYO, in a statement signed by its national secretarygeneral Malam Binyamin A. Yusuf, which was made available to newsmen in Kaduna, alleged that it was not the first time Muslims and Nigerians of northern extraction would be subjected to unnecessary harassment in other parts of the country.

The group gave example of students of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, who went for a convention of their association and were round-

ed up intheir hotel and labelled “Boko Haram” in the same state few months back.

“The soldiers perpetrating these atrocities should be posted to Borno State where they could be very useful to detect real Boko Haram instead of subjecting innocent Nigerians to unwarranted sufferings and incarceration.

“NACOMYO calls for immediate release of these innocent Nigerians andfull compensation are paid to them for violating their funda-

mental human right.

The group charged soldiers to exercise greater caution in order “not to create bad precedence that will hinder free movement of Nigerians within the country and retaliation elsewhere.

The group urged Nigerian politicians to play according to the rules of the game, just as it warned politicians to stop encouraging Nigerian youths to take to drugs for the purpose of using them as political thugs.

short news FG to Spend N268.37 Bn SURE-P Fund On Infrastructure The federal government will spend N268.37 billion on infrastructure in the country in 2014 under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

SURE-P Chairman, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), said this when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja. ``The president L-R: President, Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijani Umar; executive director, Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, and minister of state (Defence), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, at the closing ceremony of the 10th Zenith Bank National Female Basketball promised the League at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, at the weekend Nigerian people that the money from the partial removal of subsidy would be set aside and judiciously

By Ugochukwu iroka,ABUJA gerian Turkish Nile University will create further opportuniused to be managed Abuja, noted that no stone will ties for young Nigerians to acby a group of credPresident Goodluck Jona- be left unturned to return Ni- quire education. ible Nigerians.” than has assured Nigerians that geria to the path of peace While a lot has been done in According to his administration is prepared President Jonathan who was the last three years to expand Agwai, the federal not only to win the war against represented at the occasion by existing infrastructure and congovernment takes those with intent to divide the Professor Suleiman Bogoro, struct new ones in our tertia41 per cent of the country but ensure peace for Executive Secretary, Tertia- ry education system, it is obvisubsidy money with the progress and development ry Education Trust Fund TET- ous, he said, that more need to 51 per cent going of the nation, adding that the FUND, stated that the federal be done, especially to accomto states and local unity of the country cannot be government would continue modate the huge number of governments while compromised no matter the cir- to encourage private sector those seeking admissions into 5 per cent is left for cumstances. participation in the provision the nation’s higher institutions, ecological matters.

The president, who spoke of quality tertiary education, hence the need to support priBy NAN over the weekend at 2nd con- adding that the partnership vate sector participation. vocation ceremony of the Ni-

President Jonathan Assures Nigerians Of Unity

Subscribers’ Union Demands Improvement In CDMA Networks

By NAN

The president of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, yesterday urged the providers of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to improve their services.

Ogunbanjo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the troubled CDMA sector had failed its subscribers.

He said that in recent years,

the sector had been struggling to survive the competition in the GSM-dominated market.

CDMA providers include Multilinks, Intercelullar, Visafone, MTS and Starcomms.

The NATCOMS chief blamed the failure of the CDMA primarily on the business model rather than the technology.

Ogunbanjo said the Nigerian Communications Commission should assist the CDMA opera-

tors to enable them to provide better services. ``For some years now, CDMA operators have been at a disadvantage in competing with other telecommunication companies due to low capitalisation. ``Poor promotion of CDMA technology, subscribers’ preference for GSM telephones and corporate governance issues have also seen the fortunes of the operators falling,” he said.

Ogunbanjo urged the operators to concentrate more on providing data service rather than both the data and voice services. ``The CDMA is more or less mobile data services and the operators should improve on it rather than combining both the data and voice services,” he said.

Ogunbanjo said the big operators in the industry should be made to concentrate on the voice segment.

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Glo Website Wins 2 Web Jurist Awards

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

Globacom last week won the Best Customer Experience and Best Technical Aspects categories awards at this year’s Web Jurist awards organised

by Phillips Consulting Limited.

Glo website emerged best ahead of websites of other telecommunication companies at the prestigious ceremony held in Lagos.

Chief executive officer of Phillips Consulting, Mr. Folusho Phillips while presenting the award said Glo was selected after a careful study of technical content, functionality and userfriendliness of the websites of telecommunication operators in the country. Web Jurist ratings were conceived by e-business experts at Phillips Consulting in May, 2001, with the primary objective of critically and

objectively evaluating the effectiveness of websites in Nigeria.

The focus, he explained, was initially on the financial services industry but that the rating was later extended to cover other major sectors of the economy.

“In selecting the award, we take into consideration what the customer wants and what is obtainable in more developed economies,” Phillips said.

NAHCO Increases Operational Performance

BY EZRA IJIOMA, Lagos

The Nigerian Aviation Handing Company (NAHCO Aviance Plc) has grown in its huge operational performance as it handled 27,226 passenger and 3,600 cargo flights in 2013.

NAHCO handles about 70 per cent of domestic and foreign airlines operating in Nigeria. Put together the company recorded 31,122 flights in 2013 which was an improvement on the 30, 134 flights recorded in 2012, a statement from the company and made available to LEADERSHIP said.

Breaking down the passenger flights by states, the statement said NAHCO handled 16,526 passenger flights in both local

and international wings of the Murtala Airport in Lagos.

Also, NAHCO recorded 4,412 in Abuja, 817 in Kano, 3,389 in Port Harcourt, 479 in Kaduna, 1,525 in Uyo, 78 and Enugu. In total, NAHCO handled 3,600 cargo flights, with Lagos topping the pack with 2,943, while Abuja recorded 225, Port Harcourt 389 and Kano 43 last year.

The statement also said the company’s total asset has grown by 25 per cent from N11.162billion in 2012 to N13.994billion in 2013.

As, it holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday in Abuja, the company will review its five-year strategic plan that will define its future trajectory of growth and expansion.

L–R: Head, Corporate Services Division, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Bola Adeeko; chief executive officer, NSE, Oscar Onyema; high commissioner of India, A.R. Ghanashyam; executive director, Business Development, Haruna Jalo – Waziri and first secretary & head of High Commission’s Office, Lagos, Mrs. Rani Malick at bell ringing ceremony at NSE recently. Photo By Bendict Uwalaka

Vandalism: BPE Seeks Security Agents’ Protection Of Power Assets

Claimants Reject Shell’s $51m Offer To Settle Nigeria Oil Spills

BY NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

BY JULIET ALOHAN, Abuja with agency report

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikki has urged owners of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Successor Companies (SCs) to liaise with security agencies in the country to check the reported cases of vandalism, harassment and assault on personnel of the power companies over unpaid electricity bills.

The DG was represented by the Director, Post Privatization Monitoring Department of BPE, Mallam Ibrahim Kashim, when the post privatization monitoring team from the Bureau visited the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) last week.

He noted that it was no longer business as usual in the power sector as Nigerians, irrespective of their status must be prepared to pay for the services rendered by the power companies.

Dikki in an apparent reaction to complaints by the Managing Director of 4Power Company, the core investor of the PHEDC, Mr. Mathew Edevbie that workers of the utility company were constantly molested and beaten up by military and paramilitary officers over unpaid electricity bills, said that if Nigerians expected efficient and reliable power supply from the core investors “they must be prepared to pay their bills as it was no longer a government asset”.

He expressed delight that PHEDC was managed by professionals who were determined to make a difference in the power sector in the country and urged the management to always collaborate with the Bureau to tackle the challenges facing the company.

The Director General said the purpose of the post privatization monitoring was to assess the performances of the companies since handover to ensure compliance with all the tenets covenanted with the government on take over.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of 4Power Company, Mr. Mathew Edevbie informed the monitoring team that the company had evolved a robust master plan to give efficient and quality service to its customers.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

Oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell is ready to pay up to $51 million in compensation for two oil spills in Bodo, Nigeria in 2008, but the lawyer representing the claimants have rejected Shell’s offer.

Around 15,000 residents of the Bodo community in the Niger Delta represented by law firm, Leigh Day, appealed in 2011 to a London court for more than 300 million pounds in compensation.

The lawyers have said Shell may face a far bigger pay out after a London court ruled it could be liable for damage.

According to the claimants, the two spills resulted in the leakage of 500,000 barrels of oil but Shell estimated the volume at around

4,000 barrels.

In a preliminary hearing ahead of a trial which will take place in May 2015, the London high court ruled that Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary could be liable if it were proven that it did not take reasonable steps to protect and maintain the pipeline from thefts which have plagued oil infrastructure in Nigeria, Reuters report.

“Short of a policing or military or paramilitary defense of the pipeline, it is my judgement that the protection requirement involves a general shielding and caring obligation,” the judge said in a ruling.

Leigh Day argued that under the Nigerian Oil Pipelines Act, anyone who suffered from an oil spill can claim compensation if they

can show a company was guilty of neglect in failing to “protect, maintain or repair” its pipeline.

“Shell has consistently sought to underestimate the damage whilst paying only lip service to an apology. These spills, which are some of the largest oil spills in history, have devastated a community of many thousands of people and ravaged the environment,” Martyn Day said in a statement.

“The offer of 30 million pounds has been offered before and has been flatly refused by our clients who found it insulting and derisory, nothing has changed this view,” Day added.

Shell is urging the claimants to reach a settlement before the May trial that is expected to last three months.

‘Dangote Academy To Become University’

BY EZRA IJIOMA, Abuja

The Dangote Academy will metamorphose into a university, the Director of the Academy, Mr. Paramjit Pabby, has said.

Speaking on the sideline of the inauguration of the 22 new trainees into the Dangote Academy at Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State, Pabby said the vision of the Academy is to help bridge the skill gap needed for industrial take off in the country.

“We are creating talent pipelines for Dangote companies and for others in Nigeria,” he said.

The inaugurated young engineers, who passed through rigorous selection process were graduates of Electrical, Mechanical and chemical engineering from Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

He said the inaugurated Graduate Engineers will have the opportunity of learning practical and relevant skills in 12 months after which they

will be absorbed into the Group.

The Dangote Academy runs Graduate Engineer Trainees Scheme (GET), Junior Technicians Scheme (JTS), Management Skills and Leadership training among others.

Speaking, Head of Management Development of the Academy, Mr. Hassan Salisu, said the philosophy behind starting the Academy was to support the Nigeria’s educational system by emphasizing practical application of knowledge and skills.

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Monday, June 23, 2014

Miners Seek Inclusion in FG’s Transformation Agenda

Regional Tech Exhibition Shifted Due To Security Concerns

BY Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

BY EZRA IJIOMA, Abuja

In the struggle for economic relevance, President Nigerian Miners Association, Alhaji Sani Shehu, has called on the federal government to capture mining operators in its transformation agenda.

This, he said, “is because any sector captured under the federal government transformation agenda is seriously promoted and enjoys speedy development, such as those enjoyed by the entertainment industry and the agricultural sector.”

Alhaji Shehu made the

call in Kaduna over the weekend at a one-day workshop tagged ‘NGSA Laboratories, Kaduna, Services, Certification and Relevance to Mining and Trade’ organised by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).

Shehu swaid, “The National Geoscience Research Laboratories (NGRL)was a solution to the challenges faced by miners in determining the quality of mined minerals and precious stones and will provide operators with the opportunity to know the capacity of the lab to help stop sending samples

abroad.

“We usually send our metals and industrial minerals to the Mining Corporation Lab/ National Metallurgical Centre in Jos, while precious metals such as gold are taken to London and Ghana respectively.”

The Miners’ President called on the government and management of the agency to ensure the proper maintenance of the laboratory as well as ensuring that the lab acquires all the necessary international accreditation towards ensuring that locally certified products get commercial value.

Vice Chairman of the Association, Abuja branch, Abdulmumuni Popoola thanked the agency and the Cargo Defence Fund for the workshop.

He said, “We miners are now relieved from the bottleneck confronting the solid minerals exporters to offshore as certification of solid minerals by the NGSA laboratory will surely boost the reputation of miners both locally and internationally.”

Alhaji Popoola assured that Nigerian miners will be major raw materials feeders to the laboratory. rates in May.”

The 1st West African Industrial Technology Convention & Exhibition (WAITC&E) scheduled to hold in Abuja has been postponed because of security concerns.

In a press conference held in Abuja, the president and founder of Centre for Knowledge and Technology Development (CKTD), Ajibade Biodun, who is organising the conference said that the centre the terrorist acts of Boko Haram and the abduction of 219 girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno

State impressed it upon the organiser to postpone the event to the last quarter of next year.

He said that the centre cannot move the exhibition to another West African country because it would be a loss to Nigeria given the huge investments the nation has made to the centre.

On the achievements of the centre so far, Ajibade said that it has promoted indigenous technologies as panacea to Africa’s development as it developed a hydrokinetic power plant that generate 10, 000 MW of electricity and a electric generator that runs on battery and not fossil fuel.

Union Petitions FG On Acting DG For NCAA .

By NKEM OSUAGWU, Lagos

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has expressed concern over the non-confirmation of a substantive director general for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) almost five months after the announcement of a new boss for the authority, even as the association has given the federal government a 21-day notice to remedy the situation or face a strike action.

In a petition to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, signed by deputy national secretary of ATSSSAN, Captain Tar Tanongo, the association said the appointment of a substantive director general was taking too long following the inability of the government to transmit to the Senate the name of Captain Murktar Usman for approval, adding that if government fails to do the needful the association would ground aviation activities in the country.

The Union warned that the Civil Aviation Act does not recognize the office of an in acting director general and stressed the need for the government to make haste in to place an executive DG in NCAA. ATSSSAN said it has waited patiently, hoping the issue would be corrected while stressing the fact that Aviation is not an industry to be toyed with as any negative decision can mortgage safety of operations.

16 PHOTO news

Monday, June 23, 2014

Chairman of the occasion, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, Guest Speaker, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Vice Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Rahaman A. Bello at a national discourse, “Corruption and the Challenge of Good Governance,” at UNILAG, Akoka, Lagos. Photo: Benedict Uwalaka.

Bags of grains displayed for sale at Soro Market in Ganjuwa local government area of Bauchi State. PHOTO: NAN

Senator Victor Lar, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima and Senator Danjuma Goje after plenary at the National Assembly Abuja.

Flood along Herbert Macaulay street, following a heavy downpour, yesterday.

Photo.

Benedick Uwalaka

As The US Stops Importing Nigeria’s Oil…

currently get from oil. is gradually coming to an end. income. But is Jonathan capa- we will be grouped with the The era of oil as a major in- We must now cross over to the ble of taking us there? Or are world’s poorest countries like several, of course. And, most come earner for the country new era of multiple streams of we just waiting for the time Haiti and Burundi? importantly, Nigeria must start competing with Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in agriculture. We must know that the serious nations of the world are in perof armed security men moving around. INEC head office, only 369,257 were ispetual competition. Again, FROM BACK PAGE Chris Uba was allowed into the state sued in Ekiti. This is equivalent to 50.3 just like the case of minerals, but governors were not? Is this what per cent of the total voter cards issued. all intents and purposes is an impeachwe should start by declaring at least one strategic crop per able offence for which President Jona- Jonathan wants to reduce Nigeria to? The logical question to ask is, what hapMany of what Jonathan did in Ekiti pened to the balance of 364,509 voter state. We have all it takes. The than must be charged by the Nationto prevent a level playing field are what cards? If they claim they returned the al Assembly, Fayose’s PDP associates next government after Jonathan must look into tourism were escorted by armed men into Eki- the PDP has been doing since 2003, the cards to Abuja, when did they?

There’s not much to say anymore. Nias a major revenue earner. I ti on election eve. The minister of po- first election they conducted. Obasanjo did it in the elections of 2003 and gerians themselves will have to decide lice affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, was in Ekiti say “after Jonathan” because there can be no tourism in a armed to the teeth and moving around 2007 and Jonathan did it in 2011, es- whether this is the kind of democracountry with the kind of ter- the state suspiciously. The minister of pecially in the northern states during cy they are prepared to live with. I canrorism and so much disorder state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, the governorship elections. And he has not imagine anything remotely close to as we currently have, and we was also moving suspiciously around now done it again, even more brazenly, this happening in the elections of Ghaknow Jonathan is totally in- the state with truckloads of soldiers. in Ekiti State. Meanwhile, not a single na, South Africa or Senegal. But anyone who thinks that Nigeria will contincapable of addressing the cur- He had, a day earlier, held some dubi- PDP chieftain was arrested.

Another very curious thing: Acue this way for four more years beyond ous meetings in Akure, the Ondo State rent security situation. Tourcording to INEC’s official records, out 2015 must be a joker. We will rescue capital.

And, quite disturbingly, Chris ism done very well will give us more revenue than what we Uba was in the state with truckloads of 733,766 voter cards dispatched by ourselves.

FROM BACK PAGE

The Ekiti Election

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Money market REPORTS

Sterling Bank Restates Commitment To Agric Financing Sterling Bank Plc has restated its commitment to the strategic growth of the agricultural sector by providing adequate funding in alignment with the on-going reforms in the sector aimed at repositioning it as an attractive business proposition and an input provider for the manufacturing sector and a key foreign exchange earner.

The bank’s group head, Agriculture Finance, Mrs Bukola Awosanya who stated this while receiving the leadership of the National Groundnut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria at the Sterling Bank’s office in Lagos, assured that the bank will continue to provide the much needed financial support to all stakeholders in the value chain to ensure the revival of the sector in the country.

Awosanya noted that the bank had devoted five per cent of its loan portfolio to the sector for the current financial year adding that this will be increased to seven percent by year end. “At the moment, we had utilized 3.5 percent out of the five percent budgeted for the sector this year.

“We also have plans to increase this to about seven percent by year end. We leverage on the various Central Bank of Nigeria schemes and our Bank’s funds for lending to the sector,” she said.

L-R: Chief of Staff to the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (Faan), Mr Kabir Mohammed; Mrs Vivian Menyanga of the Training Department and Mr Emmanuel Chidera, Airport Operations Department, who were presented Certificates by the Managing Director, Faan, Mr Saleh Dunoma (2nd-R), having graduated in Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme Certifying them as Airport Managers. Photo by Nan

Green Policies To Improve Global Output By $1.8tr Annually- World Bank

Capital, Infrastructure Bane of Mobile Payment In Nigeria- Fatokun

The World Bank has said government policies that improve energy efficiency, waste management and public transport could increase global economic output by more than $1.8 trillion per year, and also save lives, reduce crop losses and tackle climate change.

According to new analysis just released from the World Bank and the Climate Works Foundation, government policies stimulating a shift to clean transport and improved energy efficiency in factories, buildings and appliances could increase global GDP growth by an estimated $1.8 trillion to $2.6 trillion a year by 2030.

The “Adding up the Benefits” report, released in advance of the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September, shows the potential economic, health and other gains from scaling up climate-smart policies as well as projects already in place in developing countries like Brazil, India and Mexico. The report strengthens the case for taking urgent action on climate change.

President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, said “the report’s findings show clearly that the right policy choices can deliver significant benefits to lives, jobs, crops, energy, and GDP – as well as emissions reductions to combat climate change.

The September Climate Summit provides a critical opportunity for world leaders to be on the right side of history, to champion ambitious action that not only cuts carbon pollution, but also delivers jobs and economic opportunity.”

Stories by Bukola Idowu, Lagos

Inadequate capital and the poor infrastructure facility have been identified as some of the challenges of mobile money operators in the country. This was made known by the director Banking and Payments System Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dipo Fatokun.

Fatokun while speaking on “Issues and Challenges of Implementing Mobile Payment Services in Nigeria” at a round table discussion organized by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), noted that many of the mobile money operators have now discovered that they need more funding than they initially forecasted.

According to him, the mobile money operators have inadequate capital having spent more on agent network, marketing amongst others than they budgeted for at the beginning, adding that this had led to inadequate agent network in the country.

Noting that currently the country has about 65,000 agents, he said “there is a difficulty in reaching the unbanked especially in remote areas as agents are not available. Apart from being concentrated at the urban areas at the moment, the agents are grossly inadequate.”

Fatokun also added that aside the low number and lack of wide spread of agent networks in the country, mobile money operators also face the challenge of “poor quality of agents as mobile money operators had to build networks from the scratch with little or no previous experience.”

He also listed infrastructural challenges such as the poor power situation in the country as well as telecommunications network, just as he stressed the lack of awareness, customer education as well as lack of trust in mobile money as a valid payment tool.

He said findings from a study carried out in March this year by EFInA on “Maximizing the Uptake of Digital Financial Services through Consumer Perspectives”, indicated that the overall awareness of mobile money remains relatively low. According to him, the top three

reasons for not using mobile money were lack of trust, lack of know-how and unreliable GSM networks.

“In the same vein, Nigeria’s leading opinion polling and research organization NOI Polls Limited noted in its poll released in August 2013 in Abuja that 59 per cent of Nigerians are not aware of the mobile money services and that only 13 per cent of the 41 per cent who are aware of it, are using it.”

Stating that the CBN will continue to play its part in striving to build more confidence in the system through its various policies as well as its oversight function in the industry, Fatokun said “the general perception of users of mobile money service as indicated by the majority is that it is easy to use, it is secure, service providers are easily accessible, it saves cost and it saves time. It is hoped that with the growing rate of awareness and education, penetration rate will be on the increase.

Also speaking at the roundtable discussion on mobile payment services, the managing director and chief executive of the NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, said the corporation is working to address the challenge of security of funds on the mobile payment platform.

He noted that the NDIC is considering extending the deposit insurance coverage to mobile banking subscribers, “with each subscriber guaranteed up to the sum of N200,000 or N500,000 as applicable to microfinance, mortgage and deposit money banks in the event of a bank failure.

Alternatively, if a bank fails, then the insured mobile money account can be transferred to another sound bank. This is to further engender public confidence in the system thereby promoting financial stability.

He however raise some issues in mobile financial services and the use of agents to enhance financial inclusion some of which he listed as “role of agents, their liability and the optimal funds to hold service customers; the operation or relationship between banks and telecommunications companies.”

Afrinvest Reiterates Commitment To Goals-based Planning Investment management firm, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, has restated its commitment to goals-based wealth management, which includes better client-adviser interactions, simpler language, and investment personality assessments.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, Managing Director of Afrinvest, Ike Chioke, said, “The financial crisis of 2008 led to a new environment that includes changes in investor needs and market opportunities, and goals-based wealth management offers an adequate response to these changes.”

“Each investor has not only a variety of goals but different risk profiles to accompany each goal, and investment advisers must develop clear strategies to match their clients’ different goals and risk profiles. Unfortunately, this role becomes obscured in today’s world of sophisticated portfolio management and performance analysis.”

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FCT AGENCY FOR THE CONTROL OF AIDS (FACA) FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION, ABUJA Plot 796 Akoko Close Garki II, Abuja.

E-mail: fctsaca2012@gmail.com

PUBLICATION FOR CONTRACT (GRANTS) AWARDED BY QCBS TO SELECTED CSOs IMPLEMENTING HIV/AIDS FUNDS (HAF 2) IN FCT UNDER WORLD BANK ASSISTED HIV/AIDS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT II (HPDP 2) Project IDA Credit No.: 45960 Contract Description: HIV/AIDS FUND II (HAF 2) Scope of Contract: Prevention (Key Population), PMTCT and Care & Support Duration: 24 MONTHS Contract Signature Date: 19/05/2014 Disclosure Report for Contract (Grants) Awarded by QCBS (Modified) Name & Address of CSO

Technical Financial Thematic score score Area

Target Population

Coverage Area/ Location

*AFRICAN HEALTH PROJECT

64.8

FSW, MSM, IDU and Pregnant Women

BWARI (Bwari central, Kubwa, and Dutse Alhaji)

12

* Plot No. 62, Neighbourhood Centre, 211 Crescent, 21 Road, off Cardinal Arinze street, off Wole Soyinka Avenue, 2nd Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja. – AMAC *AL-MUHIBBAH FOUNDATION

60.2

15

* No. 2 Dioben Close, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja – AMAC *CATHOLIC ACTION COMMITTEE ON AIDS (CACA)

62.8

10.5

* Prevention * PMTCT

*CENTRE FOR HEALTH, EDUCA- 68 TION, ECONOMIC, REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL SECURITY (CHEERS)

15

OVC and Preg- BWARI (Mpape) nant Women *AMAC (Kabusa, Garki,Lugbe) *GWAGWALADA (central, zuba, ibwa,gwako)*ABAJI(Rimba, Yaba)

* Suite 32, Silla Zeka Plaza, 29 Adebayo Adedeji Crescent, Utako, Abuja. – AMAC

OVC

*LIFT UP CARE FOUNDATION (LUCAF)

BWARI (Bwari Central)

67.6

20

17

*Care & Support *PMTCT

*PMTCT

Pregnant Women, OVC and PLHIV

Pregnant Women

ABAJI (Abaji central, Pandagi) *AMAC (Gwarinpa, Kabusa & GuyiGwarinpa) *GWAGWALADA (Zuba/Ikwa) BWARI (Kubwa and Byazhin)

58

09

*Prevention *Care & Support

FSW, OVC, and *BWARI (Kubwa) PLHIV *AMAC (Orozo)

64.8

12

*Care and Support

OVC

KWALI (Daka) KUJE (Kuje town)

55.8

13

*Care and Support

OVC

*AMAC (Nyanay), *BWARI (Dutse

* Plot C 170, Sultan Dasuki Way, 2/2, Kubwa. – BWARI *EDUCATION AS VACCINE (EVA)

* SUITE FF15 CITY CENTRE PLAZA OPP NOBLE HIGHT ACADEMY KARU SITE. – AMAC

*BWARI (Dutse): Bwari central) *GWAGWALADA (Ikwa/zuba)

56.4

15

*Prevention *PMTCT

FSW, MSM, IDU, PATRONS and Pregnant Women

GWAGWALADA (Gwagwalada central- *Kutunku & tungamaje)

66.8

17

*PMTCT

Pregnant Women

AMAC (Karshi, Orozo, & Nyanya)

*HIKMAH FOUNDATION

*BWARI (Ushafa) *GWAGWALADA (Dobi & PaIko) and *KWALI (central) 54

11

*Care & Support

OVC and PLHIV

AMAC (Kabusa, Garki, Kadokuchi & Kugbo)

58.2

20

*Care & Support

OVC and PLHIV

BWARI (kuduru, Mpape)

52.8

15

*Prevention

MSM, FSW, IDU, and PATRONS

BWARI (Mpape, Byazhin) GWAGWALADA (Gwagwalada central)

*RURAL WOMEN FOUNDATION 62.8

18

*Prevention *Care & Support *PMTCT

FSW, PATRONS, Pregnant Women, OVC, PLHIV

*BWARI (Bwari central) (shere) *AMAC (Mabuchi & Nyanya) *GWAGWALADA (Tungamaje, Quarters &Dobi)

12

*Prevention *PMTCT

FSW, PATRONS, and Pregnant Women

BWARI (Mpape and Dutse Makaranta)

12

*Care and Support

OVC and PLHIV

*AMAC (karshi, Nyanya *BWARI(Dei Dei)

* Chief Palace, Lagos Street, Garki 2, Abuja.- AMAC

* PLOT 1236 SAPELE STREET GARKI 2, ABUJA - AMAC

* Suite 104 B, BPM Plaza, Plot 402 Cadastral Zone, A02 Nouakchott Street, Old Neighbourhood Centre, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja. – AMAC

* No. 4 Eket Close, Area 8, Garki, Abuja. – AMAC *UMMAH SUPPORT INITIATIVE 54

*4th Floor, Standard Plaza, No. 2 Kutsi Close, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

– AMAC *FOUNDATION FOR THE VULNERABLES

FSW, MSM and Patrons

*SOCIETY FOR WOMEN DEVEL- 54.4 OPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF NIGERIA (SWODEN)

*42, Mambolo Street, Wuse, Zone 2, Abuja – AMAC *ELOHIM FOUNDATION

*Prevention

* Suite DSF 02, K-City Plaza, Plot 528, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja. – AMAC

*6 Gindiri Street, off Ubiaja Crescent by Tantalizers, Garki 2, Abuja. – AMAC

*SOLACE HEALTH RESPONSE FOUNDATION

*HEALTH INITIATIVES FOR SAFETY AND STABILITY IN AFRICA (HIFASS)

*NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS 63.6

09

* Suite 16, Odudu Shopping Complex Demonstration Road, Gwagwalada. – GWAGWALADA

*Care and Support

* Block 15, Flat 6, Cross River Street, Area 3, Garki, Abuja.

– AMAC *COMMUNITY LIFE ADVANCEMENT PROJECT.

*GWAGWALADA CONCERNED YOUTH FORUM

OVC and PLHIV

*Care and Support

58.8

* Suite 328 – 329 Lozumba Commercial Complex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja. – AMAC

*Care and Support

* Block B, Flat 1, Rivers Court, Gaduwa Estate, Durumi 3, Abuja. – AMAC

AMAC(Jiwa and Mabuchi), GWAGWALADA (Kutunku, Tungamaje and Paiko)

*GLOBAL AGENDA FOR TOTAL EMANCIPATION (GATE)

* National Mosque Office complex, Central Business District Area, Abuja. – AMAC

* For further clarification/inquiries please contact in written form using the address below: THE PROJECT MANAGER, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR DE-BRIEFING NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA TEL: +234 7030433735 E-mail: harunasalim@yahoo.com

24 CAPITAL MARKET/BUSINESS

Monday, June 23, 2014

CAPITAL MARKET REPORTS NSE Trades 1.53bn Shares Worth N20.08bn

Illiquidity: Major Challenge Of Mortgage Banks On NSE Stories By Olushola Bello, Lagos

Companies listed under the Mortgage Carriers, Brokers & Services on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are still under the heavy weight of illiquidity which has seriously impeded growth in the nation’s mortgage industry.

The Primary Mortgage Institute (PMI) is ought to extend credit for affordable home ownership, especially among the middle-level managers in the country are today plagued by dearth of funds to enable them perform their roles.

There are five companies listed under the sector, namely, Abbey Building, Aso Saving, Infinity, Resort Savings & Loans and Union. As at June 20, 2014 the Mortgage Carriers, Brokers & Services market capitalisation stood at N29.33 billion, representing 0.16 per cent of the total market capitalization.

The price performance review of the Mortgage sub-sector stocks in the year so far revealed that the sector’s performance has not been very rewarding with Abbey Building and Infinite as the two companies trading above their per value at N1.35 and N1.61 respectively while the others Aso Saving, Resort and Union Homes are trading at 50 kobo.

Aso Savings recently acquired Union Homes, a subsidiary of Union Bank Nigeria, to expand the scope of its operations across the nooks and crannies of the country.

It would be recalled that the primary mortgage banks are to be fully recapitalised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) giving December 2013 that categorised Mortgage Banks into National and State Authorisation Licences but has been extended.

The National PMBs must have paid-up capital/ shareholders’ funds of N5 billion and can operate in all the 36 states of the federation, while the state PMBs are required to have a minimum of N2.5 billion and can operate in only one state.

The recapitalisation would address some of the issues that have plagued the sector such as; dearth of long-term funds, short tenure, high

cost of funds, lack of standardisation and more.

It would also boost the Nigerian citizens’ confidence in the sector and its players, as well as provide a good basis for the pursuit and attainment of affordable housing for Nigerians by Year 2020.

Capital market analysts are of the view that the sector is seen as one with low patronage and having illiquidity challenge. However, they noted that despite the present challenges, the Nigerian mortgage market has huge opportunities and bright growth outlook.

According to the managing director of Dependable Securities Limited, Mr. Chinenyem Anyanwu, one major problem facing the sector is liquidity strain, adding that the only solution is for the Federal Government to create an intervention fund as a pool from which mortgage banks can draw to meet the housing needs of Nigerians.

“An intervention fund is the key to the development of this sector. Though, the Federal Government and CBN are currently planning a mortgage refinancing company, what will make this work is a concerted effort on the part of government to make cheap funds constantly available”, he said.

The managing director of Lambeth Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri said “I don’t think they have long term funds to finance mortgage credits granted by them. There is mismatch of funding in the sector compounded by high default rate”.

He pointed out that the companies are yet to recover from the losses they sustained in the equities market during the meltdown. Corporate governance failure has also crippled most of them.

A senior broker and market analyst from Golden Securities Limited, Mr. Tunde Oyediran added that Mortgage business, all over the world, is marked with strong capital that can be tied down for long-time.

“The problem with the sector in Nigeria is that the mortgage is not even popular here. People believe in buying land and building it”, he said.

Oyediran added that in accessibility to longterm capital, high default rate, high cost of doing business and illiquidity account for poor performance of companies in this sub-sector.

Investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for last week staked N20.08 billion on 1.53 billion shares in 26,364.00 deals.

The turnover decreased by 44 per cent, compared to a total of 2.73 billion shares valued at N22.18 billion traded in 25,603 deals in the previous week.

The financial services sector continued its position as the most active sector this week. The sector maintained its dominance in terms of volume of transaction accounting for 63.72 per cent of total volumes.

The NSE All-Share Index for last week depreciated by 387.82 points or 0.93 percent to close at 41,129.29 as against the 41,517.82 achieved the previous week. Similarly, the market capitalisation shed by N128 billion to close at N13.580 trillion from the N13.708 trillion posted the previous week.

Champion Breweries led the losers’ chart for the week by 14.11 per cent or N1.85 kobo to close at N11.26 per share. R.T. Bricoe lost 9.82 per cent or 11 kobo to close at N1.01, while Computer Warehouse dropped by 9.67 per cent or 53 kobo to close at N4.95 per share.

Conversely, Oando recorded the highest price gain for the week by 51.85 per cent or N10.37 to close at N30.37 per share. It was trailed by MRS, which gained 33.33 per cent or N16 to close at N64, while Caverton appreciated by 26.31 per cent or 1.31 to close at N6.29 per share.

Japaul Oil Returns To Profitability, Posts N239m PAT Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc has returned to profitability in 2013, posting a profit after tax of N239.7 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2013, from a loss after tax of N6.7 billion recorded in the same period of 2012.

The company recorded a gross profit of N5.9 billion in 2013 from N4.99 billion recorded in 2012, an increase of 20.4 per cent. The turnover also increased to N13.02 billion in the review period, up by 6.03 per cent from N12.28 billion recorded in 2012.

The company’s unaudited management accounts for the first quarter of 2014, which was made public the same day with the full-year audited accounts showed that the company was also profitable in the quarter.

The results showed that in the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, the group realised a turnover of N3.219 billion, a gross profit of N1.779 billion and a profit after tax of N223.4m.

The Managing Director, Japaul, Mr. Jegede Paul has made it known during the company’s Annual General Meeting last year, its investment in the acquisition of vessels, oil and gas equipment and other machinery would help it return to profitability during the year.

Paul explained that the company had tenders for business in excess of N31.4 billion, said, “Our continued acquisition of new assets in terms of vessels, oil and gas equipment and dredgers were geared towards our company positioning for the future and healthy competition in the oil and gas and maritime industries.”

Shareholders Approve Union Bank’s $750m Capital Raising Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has been authorised by its shareholders to raise $750 million (N120 billion) to overhaul its operations.

The company is expected to raise the funds on terms determined by the board of directors through the issuance of debt instrument(s), tenured bond(s) and Tier II Securities or a combination of the financing options.

The shareholders gave this approval at the bank’s 45th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos in a bid to ensure the successful implementation of the bank’s transformation strategy.

Subject to regulatory approval, the Board was authorised to set aside up to 570.69 million ordinary shares from the company’s unissued ordinary shares, a portion representing three per cent of the company’s authorised share capital of over 19 billion shares to fund an employee share incentive scheme.

Among other things, Pursuant to Sections 106 and 107 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004, the board was also authorised to take steps to reduce the balance of the company’s share premium account by N286.982bn.

The amount will be used to erase the bank’s negative retained earnings of N272.064bn and to “facilitate the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria’s clawback of the excess capital of N14.918bn, arising from the injection of financial accommodation amount of N305.7bn.”

Monday, June 23, 2014

25

26 BUSINESS/insurance

Monday, June 23, 2014

E-business REPORTS Premium Pension Explains Medical Checks On Retirees Management of Premium Pension Limited,a Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) has explained that medical check on retirees whose pension is managed by the company is to ensure they are properly tutored on health tips to enjoy their pension.

The medical evaluation is carried out during Retirees’ Interactive Forums organised by the company across the country.

“We are interested in the health status of retirees whose pension is under our management” said Mr. Wilson Ideva, the Managing Director of Premium Pension Limited. “We want to have healthy retirees that would continue to enjoy their pension for a long time and in good health.”

Ideva pointed out that the programme has served to further concretize the cordial relationship existing between the company and the retirees, majority of whom are on monthly programmed withdrawal.

“Many retirees now look forward to this medical test organized by our company during Retirees’ Interactive Forums” added Ideva.

L-R: General secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers’ Union (PENGASAN), Bayo Olowoshile; former secretary Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos state, representing Comrade Isa Aremu, Ismail Bello, and Vice Chairman NLC, Okuneye Wasiu at a workshop on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at the Conference Hall, Business Club, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos last Thursday

Poor Performance: Insurance Operators Identify Challenges Stories By Chika Izuora, Lagos

Nigerian insurance operators have clearly identified lack of innovation, creativity and gap in human capital and resourcefulness among themselves as some of the key problems afflicting the industry.

The operators, who converged in Lagos to share views on challenges of the industry during the 2014 International Education Conference hosted by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), agreed that a paradigm shift in current way of doing business has become imperative.

The Conference Theme: ‘Redimensioning the Insurance Industry Contributions to the National Economy’ according the president of the Institute and Chairman of Council, Mr. Fatai Kayode Lawal, was a clarion call for practitioners to re-tool their skills, knowledge, and expertise to engender greater relevance in the new scheme of things.

Lawal also noted that the choice of the conference theme was also borne out of the Institute’s commitment in providing ample opportunities for continuous professional education and the need to continuously engage insurance

managers in the constructive revaluation of the contributions to the nation’s economy in the ever-dynamic business environment.

He told participants that the contributions of the industry to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must remain a collective concern.

He said, “It is clearly illogical for our sector to remain an insignificant contributor to an economy that is now tagged the largest in Africa following the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Therefore the on-going process of transformation in the agricultural, power, transport and financial services sectors, represent the most critical phase of nationhood and beckons on all segments of the economy including the insurance industry to be more responsive.”

He stated that as an Institute, the council strived in the last one-year to reinforce the platforms for the promotion of an all-inclusive insurance education which involves widening the horizon of members through appropriate learning experiences and the development of competences in the critical areas of risk manage-

It is clearly illogical for our sector to remain an insignificant contributor to an economy that is now tagged the largest in Africa following the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

ment, financial inclusion and good corporate governance which are essential for the growth of the industry.

In achieving that, the president said the CIIN received the support and encouragement from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) particularly in the promotion of the strong benefits of financial inclusive products such as micro insurance and Takaful Insurance for the benefit of our nation’s critical mass.

“Similarly, our focus on the promotion of insurance education was extended to the secondary and tertiary institutions of learning, as a vital step in entrenching insurance in the consciousness of the emerging population as a worthwhile course of study and career path” he said.

He also explained that the foregoing informed the choice of the Conference sub-theme: Paradigm shifts in Insurance Education for greater relevance”.

He stated that education remained the bedrock for all human endeavours and remains critical for the sector against the background of palpable public education gap and the less than optimal financial literacy index of the nation.

Old Mutual Unveils Strategy To Top Industry Index In 2020 Old Mutual, a global household name in insurance and financial management, has set a new agenda for itself in the drive to lead the industry in Nigeria and West Africa.

The company with huge investment plan to become the top choice in Nigeria by 2020 said it deploy latest information technology platform and embark on massive education to create the desired awareness for a wide rage of products in its kitty.

Speaking with Leadership in Lagos at a breakfast meeting of the Nigerian-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, the company’s sales and distribution director, Mr. Bayo Adeyeye, said Old Mutual is irrevocably committed to ensuring growing its business and entrenching competition among industry players.

Adeyeye said the recent acquisition of some businesses especially Oceanic life was s step toward boosting its distribution channel and making significant impact in the sector.

According to him, Nigeria’s market potential is largely untapped and the huge population remains an advantage to the industry.

e-Wallet Platform Will Guarantee Compensation For Grassroots Farmers-NAIC The Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Mr. Bode Opadokun said the corporation would soon be in a better position to provide risk protection services to small scale farmers across the country.

Speaking in Kigali, Rwanda recently, he said the company would do this when governments starts implementing the “e-Wallet”, a platform on which the Federal Government hopes to provide professional risks mitigation services to small, medium and large scale farmers in the country.

Opadokun recalled that only medium and large scale farmers were able to get insurance compensation for losses suffered as a result of flood two years ago.

He said going forward; his organisation hopes to provide adequate insurance covers for small scale farmers across the country, adding that the Federal Government plans to make this possible under the e-Wallet platform.

Monday, June 23, 2014

27

28

Monday, June 23, 2014

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30 THE NATION’S CAPITAL

Monday, June 23, 2014

Jiba Urges Residents To Cultivate Healthy Lifestyle

By Igho Oyoyo

The chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba, has called on residents to cultivate a clean and healthy life style, in order to eradicate malaria and other deadly diseases.

Jiba represented by the council’s supervisory councillor for Special Duties, Hon. Ojo Olumayowa, made this call during a press briefing at the council’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said that the council has launched series of sensitization campaign in rural communities with the aim of re-orientating rural dwellers on the challenges of unhealthy living.

According to Jiba, “the roll-back malaria campaign organised at Angwan-Lambu Piwoyi community was to channel the attitude of residents towards healthy living culture by linking the resurgence of malaria to the deteriorating environment, adding that clean environment is the condition for a malaria free community.”

Speaking at the roll-back campaign at Piwoyi, Jiba charged residents to embrace health facilities in their domain for better and healthy living especially during pregnancy and post-natal care, saying that a healthy family is a wealthy community.

He said, “every family has to join the campaign to boost maternal health care delivery in the council.

Also, the goal for a malaria free community depends largely on the host communities. So, the government would do whatever it takes to continue to support the health sector of the council to make for a healthy living standard.”

‘Interpersonal Skills, Vital For Effective Disaster Management’

By Nkechi Isaac

The director- general of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alh. Abbas Idriss, has said that the importance of interpersonal relationship with members of the public cannot be over emphasized for enhanced security and disaster management.

Idriss disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit on the Commander of the Army Garrison, Maj. Gen. B. T. Ndiomu in his office.

The FEMA boss thanked the Army for being proactive in their response to emergency situations, even as he expressed the agency’s willingness to partner with the Army to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In his response, Ndiomu said the visit was timely at the period the nation was being confronted with security challenges. He, however, urged the agency to review its response time to emergencies, adding that time was of the essence in emergencies.

He said, “FEMA should critically review its action plan, especially in the area of rapid evacuation of the injured and recovery of the dead.

He further called for adequate equipments to be made available for emergency management agencies like FEMA for effective and efficient service delivery, while calling for proper sensitization and mobilization of traditional institutions to assist in disaster management.

In a related development, the management of FEMA also visited the director of the Department of State Security Services Mr John Okojie.

The FEMA management led by its director general said the agency deemed it exigent to visit the DSS in order to synergies, saying it was imperative for all the relevant agencies to come together if the war against disasters was to be won.

A broom seller attending to a customer at Gosa Market along Airport Road. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH

Abuja Indigenes Raise The Alarm Over Breach Of Resettlement Agreement

By Igho Oyoyo

Indigenes of Garki, Akpanjeya and Apo communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised alarm over the breach of agreement by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) resettlement and compensation committee.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Magajin Garki, Mr Joel Jezebe, expressed the displeasure of indigenes over the slow implementation of the resettlement and compensation agreement by the committee set up by

the FCT minister of state, Oloye Akinjide, stressing that the recent threat by the minister to forcefully move the community in two months was unrealistic.

According to Jezebe, “the statement that Garki indigenes will be moving in two months is incorrect and unrealistic because we have not seen any arrangement to warrant the movement. As far as we are concerned the administration has not kept its part of the agreement.

“We are not chickens or animals that you can move any how you like, even at

that, if you want to move animal from anywhere, there must be a process. In fact, we have lost total confidence in the FCT administration, because, we have not heard from them.

“The administration has nothing serious to offer our people and if the government do not stop the developers in our communities, we will mobilise our youths to stop any further work on the commercial plot at Garki resettlement area.”

He emphasised that the government should provide alternatives for their

upcoming children, since they have stopped them from building or expanding the community.

“We have finished our work with the committee set up by the FCT minister of state and nothing has been done about the resettlement issue since then. We have been entirely cut off from the exercise and some strange people are busy developing the commercial plots allocated to our communities to build Churches, Mosques, parks, markets, hospitals and malls,” he said.

Digital Transport Service To Berth In Abuja

By Catherine Agbo

A Lagos based transport firm, Easy Taxi, an electronic based taxi-call-system, says it has concluded plans to introduce its digital transport service to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as one of the ways of ensuring an efficient and safer transportation system in the nation’s capital.

Managing Director of Easy Taxi, Mr. Bankole Cardoso, who disclosed this, said about 100 taxis are already in its fleet to service the city with prompt

response to passenger call for taxi service within the city, noting that the new digital transport system would go a long way to complement the FCT administration’s efforts for safer intra-city transportation.

He explained that all the taxis in the fleet are fitted with a smart phone and syntax application installed, adding that the same application would be installed by all prospective passengers who will use the application to request for a taxi from any location in the territory.

“Such request will alert all

taxis within a radius and those available would reply giving estimated time of arrival while details of the driver are flagged for the passenger to assess for easy recognition,” Cardoso explained.

He further stated that taxis in its fleet are owned by the drivers whose details are collected and stored in the Easy Taxi data bank and each driver in its fleet is connected to three other drivers who operate from their respective parks.

On fears that the system which appears elitist may increase the

cost of intra-city transportation, Cardoso assured that existing fares would be maintained, depending on the distance covered.

“It is important that we make it clear that we are not a premium service. We do not charge more than the regular taxis you get on the road; we are just linking passengers and the taxis that you get on the road in a quick, safer and convenient manner.

So, the price that you pay on Easy Taxi is the same price you will pay on your regular taxi. We get 10 per cent of the rate he charges,” he emphasised.

health

31

Monday, June 23, 2014

100%

The WHO has set goal for year 2020 that 100 per cent of all blood for transfusion should be from voluntary blood donors

480,000

Around 480,000 people in the United States (US) die every year due to illnesses related to tobacco use- more than alcohol, car accidents, AIDS, suicide, homicide and illegal drugs combined

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

Top7 Childhood Killer Diseases

➊

Pneumonia:

caused viruses, bacteria which inflates the lungs.

➋

Diarrhea:

caused by food intolerance or allergies, infections.

Lagos General Hospitals, Their Staff And Patients Despite the state-of-the-art equipments among other facilities, that the general hospitals in Lagos can boast of, patients complain of the inconvenient delay in being attended to, as well as the unfriendly attitude of the hospital staff. ARONKE OLAYIWOLA writes on this.

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tinuke Oyebamiji (not real name) was among the over one hundred women that were waiting to be attended to at the Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital. Having arrived as early as 7am to ensure she gets attended to at the maternity centre of the hospital on time to enable her get back to work, she could not understand why she remained unattended to at noon with no one feeling perturbed. Oyebamiji particularly detested the attitude of the hospital staff and the lethargy with which they attended to the patients.

For Seun Ajayi, it was an unforgettable experience when she had her first child

at the hospital two years ago. She has since vowed never to return to the same hospital for whatever reason. She said what she went through in the hands of the staff of the hospital was better forgotten, adding that she never wanted to be reminded of that.

According to her, during her first delivery, she was delayed and left unattended to while she was in labour. She also complained of the doctors’ unwillingness to give their full attention to their patients during ante-natal clinics, saying the doctors were fond of complaining that there were too many patients to attend to and therefore they could not waste much time on any one

patient.

Ajayi said she made up her mind not to go through the same hassles again, pointing out that the earlier something was done about the way people are being treated in the hospital the better for everybody and the state government.

During her second pregnancy, she said she chose a private hospital for her antenatal so she would not have to contend with so many people to see the doctor.

Even during delivery, she said she opted for home delivery and had a retired midwife and a doctor from the same Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital attend to her. She delivered a baby girl within a few minutes of labour, she

added.

On her own part, Alirat Adegoke narrated how she went into labour on Friday, 30th May and was rushed to another general hospital in Lagos in the evening. She got to the hospital 2cm dilated but did not progress any further until Saturday morning when she asked to be operated upon. After her husband consented to her undergoing the caesarean section, Adegoke was wheeled into the theatre and was out shortly after with no explanations from the doctors and the caesarean section still undone.

She was left unattended to despite the excruciating labour pain with the anticipation that her dila-

Hepatitis ➌ B: caused by a virus and transmitted by body fluid or mother to child.

➍

Measles:

➎

Whooping Cough:

➏

Poliomyelitis:

➐

Tetanus:

caused by a virus and passed on through coughs, breathes, sneezes.

caused by a bacteria that attack the nose and throat.

caused by a virus and spreads through contacts, food, water.

32

caused by a bacteria found in animal manure, contaminated soil.

32 HEALTH/NEWS

Monday, June 23, 2014

Lagos General Hospitals, Their Staff And Patients 31

tion would progress. By Sunday morning, Adegoke and her baby were getting weak. It took some telephone calls by her husband to the highest authorities of the hospital and the intervention of the medical director of the hospital and some consultants before she got the needed attention.

The baby who was already weak by the time he was delivered and only barely managed to breathe for a few days before giving up the struggle for life. Adegoke’s story was no doubt that of negligence on the part of the hospital and its staff.

According to a medical doctor at the Ifako Ijaye General Hospital who preferred anonymity, the problem is not that of the government. “We have all the equipments which are state-ofthe-art and we have consultants at the hospital who know what they are doing, unfortunately we are burdened by the sheer size of patients who desert other state

owned maternity centres to attend our own clinic. We have so many patients waiting to see just a few doctors and there is no way a doctor can be productive under such working condition,” he stated.

The attitude of some doctors to their work too is a major challenge. Many of them have the mentality of civil servants and they go late to work most times and they leave early when there are still patients to be attended to.

It is no doubt that negligence, non-challant attitude, dearth of bed spaces and acute staff shortage in the face of overwhelming patient traffic militate against the efforts of the Lagos State government to deliver quality health care to the people.

Mrs. Olufunmilola Olabuyide was at the hospital last year too.

It was on a fateful Sunday morning after church service.

She became weak, uneasy and

The laikadaisical attitude of its hospital needs to be looked into to save people from the nasty experiences they go through in the hands of these people

was shivering.

She was rushed to the clinic in the church and was advised to go to a nearby hospital for proper treatment. She said she was short of words to describe what what she went through, pointing out that a doctor at the hospital shocked her terribly with what he told her.

“The doctor examined me and quickly told me I can’t be admitted because there are no bed spaces and it would be in my good to always come from home for treatment. The doctor also said the environment at the hospital would worsen my situation because of mosquito bites,” she narrated.

Mrs. Chinyere Kanu too shared her experience, saying she had to take her little daughter to the hospital when she noticed some rashes on her body.

“The rashes weren’t the issue but she became feverish and definitely, I knew she needed medical attention though, this is my

first baby.

“I rushed to the hospital with fear and when I was finally attended to, the doctor looked at her from her seat, gave the prescription and told me to go.

“I was surprised, she didn’t even touch her, she just told me what to use for her. Even when I tried explaining why she had to give more time to look into her condition, she only smiled and said she had a lot of people to attend to and truly, she had heaps of files on her table,” she said.

Truly, the Lagos State government is doing all it can to put its hospitals and maternal and child care centres in good state and make improve on the health care delivery. But the laikadaisical attitude of its hospital needs to be looked into to save people from the nasty experiences they go through in the hands of these people, most of whom are outrightly unruly in the discharge of their duties. A stitch in time no doubt saves nine.

Watermelon Seed Helps Improve Male Fertility Watermelon is a rich and crisp fruit that is usually found in all seasons. For those who have fondness for watermelon because, there is one aspect the fruit that you may be ignoring- the watermelon seed. In this piece, VICTOR OKEKE writes on this protein and mineral-rich seed.

W

atermelon is a very popular fruit. While we all enjoy eating this sweet refreshing fruit, we usually discard the tiny seeds scattered in it without realizing or rather knowing of their health benefits. These seeds are loaded with nutrients including fatty acids, essential proteins and lots of minerals.

Watermelon seeds are used in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Roasted watermelon seeds are served as a snack or used to garnish salads. In Nigeria they are used in certain soups. Watermelon seed oil is extracted from these seeds which is beneficial for your hair and skin. To say the least, watermelon seeds are edible and can be a healthy option.

Experts say watermelon seeds are a rich source of nutrients and minerals and therefore, should not be discarded. These seeds have a hard outer covering so they should be chewed before swallowing to get their nutritional content.

Dr. Saba Naaz, in Style Craze, our body requires amino acids but there are some essential amino acids such as arginine and lysine which the body cannot produce

on its own and these have to be provided from food sources. Watermelon seeds contain some of these essential amino acids such as tryptophan and glutamic acids. Lysine helps in calcium absorption to facilitate formation of collagen (a form of protein) and connective tissues in the body whereas arginine improves the body’s metabolism, cardiovascular system and sexual health.

Watermelon seeds are good sources of magnesium with 100 grams of seeds providing 139 percent of the recommended daily requirement. Magnesium is vital for normal heart functioning, maintenance of normal blood pressure, supporting metabolic process and protein synthesis. It is also beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension besides controlling blood pressure and diabetes.

Watermelon seeds contain lycopene and arginine which is good for the face and also helps in improving male fertility. A 2013 study suggests that arginine promotes the production of nitric oxide in the body which helps in treating acute arteriogenic erectile dysfunction while increasing sperm production.

Watermelon

These seeds can be used for treating diabetes. Boil a handful of watermelon seeds in 1 liter water for 45 minutes, keeping the pot covered. This concoction should be taken every day like tea. Watermelon seeds are effective in recovering health after illness and sharpening your memory.

Almost half of the watermelon seed contains oil which comprises of 20 percent saturated fat and the rest monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat including omega-6 fatty acids. One cup of dried watermelon seeds contains around 50 grams of fat which constitutes about 80 percent of the daily recommended value. Thus, watermelon seeds

are an important source of calories and energy.

Protein deficiency is quite common, leading to diseases like marasmus and kwashiorkor in poor settlements. Being high in protein, watermelon seeds can be extremely beneficial in combating protein deficiencies. One cup of dried seeds provides about 30 grams of protein. Protein and its amino acids are vital for growth and repair of muscles, skin and connective tissues as well as for making enzymes.

The wide array of nutrients contained in watermelon seeds protects your skin from certain types of skin cancers and infections as well. It also helps to keep the hair healthy and strong too.

NEWS /HEALTH 33

Monday, June 23, 2014

Minister of State, Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan at the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee Review Meeting on Primary Health Care Delivery in Sokoto State, flanked on his right by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Sa’ad Abubakar and on his left by the executive director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Ado Mohammed.

‘Gum Disease, Largest Cause of Tooth Loss In Adults’

By Aronke Olayiwola, Lagos

A UK-based Dentist, Dr. Uchenna Okoye has said gum disease is one of the largest causes of tooth loss in adults in the country. She made the disclosure at the 2014 Nigerian Dental Association’s (NDA) annual conference held recently in Lagos during the launch of Oral-B’s Premium Gum protection line.

Speaking at the NDA conference, she identified various causes of bad oral hygiene to be, among other things, low quality toothpastes. “Over the years in my practice as a Dentist, I have come to realize that gum disease is one of the largest causes of tooth loss in adults as 1 in every 2 adults have suffered from one form of gum disease or the other. They can develop when plaque

bacteria accumulate and release toxic substances leading to bad breath; leading to increased sensitivity and even increasing the likelihood of getting cavities. And if you consume toothpastes without Stannous Complex, which fundamentally should help fight against gum disease, you are exposing yourself to great oral discomfort,” Dr. Okoye stressed.

She, nonetheless, referenced

the new Oral-B Pro-Expert toothpaste – an extension of the OralB toothpaste - as having 70% increase in Stannous Complex content. The new Oral-B Pro-Expert consists of two brands: Oral B Pro-Expert Gum Protection, available in 750ml and Oral B Pro-Flex Toothbrush. When used together, she emphasized, they inhibit bacteria in the mouth, leaving you with fresh breath,

UNICEF Steps Up Lifesaving Interventions In North East

By Victor Okeke, Abuja

UNICEF is scaling up its support to conflict-affected communities in north-eastern Nigeria to improve health, nutrition, and water and sanitation services.

UNICEF has sent more than 1,000 basic health care kits to Borno and Yobe states, enough to treat more than 400,000 people during a campaign this month. The kits were funded by the Bill & Melissa Gates Foundation.

At the same time, UNICEF is working to increase from 43 to 65 the number of primary health care centers it supports in the two states. The proj-

ect integrates health services, nutrition and water and hygiene, with a focus on the most vulnerable mothers and children.

Attacks on health facilities, water points and farms have severely affected local communities, and particularly children, in Borno and Yobe.

UNICEF will procure essential medicines, medical supplies and equipment for the health centres, and help ensure the facilities operate six days a week to provide routine immunization, maternal health services and outpatient curative services.

The project also aims to treat 11,300 severely malnourished children in the

two conflict-affected states, in addition to existing efforts to treat 200,000 children in a wider area of northern Nigeria this year.

UNICEF will further facilitate procurement for the construction of water and sanitation facilities around health care centres and in the communities.

“The humanitarian needs are huge and there are only few humanitarian actors on the ground,” said Jean Gough, who heads the UNICEF Nigeria office. “Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the violence, often after losing their homes and their livelihoods. Access to food, health services and water is a major issue,” she added.

UNFPA, ECEWS Integrate Family Planning, PMTCT To Curb HIV Spread

By Winifred Ogbebo, Abuja

In order to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) are integrating Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services and Family Planning (FP) in Benue state.

The UNFPA, programme Analyst for Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, Zubaida Abubakar,said that integrating services would save cost and guarantee better services to the

community.

Speaking to journalist during a workshop for health workers from Benue state, she said, “when you miss an opportunity to give services you tend to see recurrent cases, of women coming back again pregnant and the pregnancy may not be wanted, so if you actually integrate the services, it means that if a pregnant woman comes into the FP unit she is also counseled by an HIV/AIDS expert, and if she is positive she can then be referred to the HIV/AIDS unit for services and she can delay her pregnancy until she is stronger and on ART

and can finally do that, and this actually benefit the health of the woman, the child and the family.

Also in his remarks, the executive director of ECEWS, Andi Eyo, said that the they have been working with PERFER for some time now and cover services in Enugu, Imo and Ebony states in over 200 health facilities with all them providing PMTCT services. .

He saidthat the focus states were Benue, Kaduna, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, in term of really looking at achieving the total Nigeria programme which is basically looking at scaling response.

3m

Private Sector Health Alliance (PHA), Nigeria’s largest mobile health intervention targets 3 million women, children

4

Four people have been comfirmed dead and 11 hospitalized as Lassa fever epidemic hits

4

000

Nicotine is one of the over 4000 chemicals that can be found in tobacco and 19 of these other chemicals in tobacco are known to be carcinogenic

Beer Goggles Can Reduce Risk Of Developing Future Eyesight Problems We know what blind drunk is but a wee dram is actually good for your eyesight, scientists say.

Along with physical activity, the odd drink has been linked to a decrease in vision impairment.

Visual impairment is sight loss often caused by eye disease, trauma, or a congenital or degenerative condition that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Due to an ageing population, visual impairment has risen by 70 per cent in America since 2000.

To help determine ways to decrease the growing burden of visual impairment, researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health examined the relationships between the incidence of visual impairment and three modifiable lifestyle behaviours, smoking, drinking alcohol and staying physically active.

The research, published in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, was conducted as part of the Beaver Dam Eye Study, a longterm population-based cohort study from 1988 to 2013 of nearly 5,000 adults aged 43 to 84 years.

—Dailymail London

Screening Reduces Deaths From Breast Cancer Breast cancer screening reduces the number of women dying from the disease by 28 per cent, new research suggests.

However, some experts claim that the programme’s benefits are ‘modest at best’.

And, the Norwegian study revealed that improvements in treatment will probably mean a reduction in the overall benefits of screening over time.

Lars Vatten, Professor of Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said: ‘In our study, the estimated benefit for breast cancer mortality - 28 per cent - associated with invitation to mammography screening indicates a substantial effect.’

However, he added that there is a danger of over-diagnosis and that this can cause distress and unnecessary treatment.

—Dailymail London

34 HEALTH

Monday, June 23, 2014

What People Don’t Know About IVF -Ajayi In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure in which a woman’s eggs (ova) are removed and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory and then returned to the woman’s uterus. It is one of several assisted reproductive techniques (ART) used to help infertile couples to conceive a child. All over the world, IVF has proven to be a highly successful treatment for infertility. In Nigeria, many patients believe IVF provides their only chance of having children.

This should not be the case. In this interview with WINIFRED OGBEBO, a fertility expert and obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, discusses the technology of IVF and what women should do to fulfill their desire of having their own babies. The excerpts.

Why is IVF success rate minimal?

short BIO OF Dr. Abayomi Ajayi

Dr Ajayi, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist is also a fertility expert.

He is the medical director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos with branches in Abuja and Asaba.

That is one of the things I am trying to correct in Nigeria that all over the world, nobody can promise you that once you do one cycle of IVF, you will have a baby. The recommendation of the World Health Organisation is that if you’re under 35, be ready for two cycles, if you’re above 35, be ready for three cycles in order for you to have a realistic chance of having a baby.

We understand that money spent on IVF in Nigeria is out of pocket but that does not make the technology to be able to deliver what it cannot deliver. The technology has limitations. If you are under 35, the best you can get will be probably 40, 50 percent. But if you are over 35, using your eggs, then you should be prepared for three cycles. So we are talking about 30 percent, 35 percent. That is the reality. But because we don’t , we are not aware of that or we don’t want to be aware because of the money involved in doing IVF in Nigeria, we get heartbroken when it fails.

But it’s like you buy a car that is like ordinary car and you take it to the beach; it’s a brand new car, it will sink in the sand of the beach.

But if I have a tokunbo car that is 4 by 4, I will drive it there because that is the technology. So we need to understand the technology before we start asking the technology what it cannot do. But that is also different from the laboratory and whether it’s functioning well or not. They are two different things.

The technology has its own limitations and the centre can have its own limitations. So the centre may

Surgeon’s Turf Dr Biodun Ogungbo MBBS, FRCS, FRCSEd, MSc. Consultant Neurosurgeon

08122221616 (SMS only)

Age Is Not A Barrier To Spine Surgery Mama Catherine suffers from back and leg pains.

She was finding it increasingly difficult to walk and so was becoming dependent on family members for help. A previously active and independent woman, she has become incapacitated and reduced to enforced bed rest. Her MRI scan showed she had a narrowing in her spine and could benefit from surgery. However, mama is almost 90 years old! What should we do?

Chief Nkwocha was disabled by back pains. He walks slowly using a cane and can only take a few steps before the pains arrive. He then has to bend forward or sit down or else his legs might give way.

The pain as described was severe, unrelenting and associated with numbness in the legs. His MRI scan showed multiple levels of narrowing in his spine due to arthritis. He would benefit from surgery.

However, he is 80 years old, suffers from hypertension and diabetes. What should we do?

Ajayi

be 10 percent. That is why you also need to choose the centre you are going to in order for you to have a realistic chance of having a baby.

Can we ever have the cost of IVF reduced in this country so that more women can explore the option?

Sometimes people just want to be popular and say stuff. We have not invented IVF in this country and therefore, it is what is done all over the world that we are doing. Unless the price of IVF all over the world goes down, it can’t go down in Nigeria alone. The things that we are using, we bring them from abroad.

People are talking about low price IVF or whatever, you also need to look at the success rate because if you are embarking on a project which success rate is 10 percent and it’s costing half of the one which success rate is about 30 percent, ask yourself which one should you be embarking on.

So people should get the full picture of everything before they embrace it. But if we want to talk about price, price alone, you‘re shooting yourself in the foot.

What I employ Nigerians to do is to take time to understand the technology, take time to understand each laboratory and then they can make reasonable choices.

What are we doing today?

What we are doing today is that we’ve noticed that all over the world, people over 40 who have not raised their family when they are over 40, especially women, for example, for the first time in 2012, since record keeping started

in the UK , the number of moms to be who are over 40 was more than the number of teenage pregnancies. That is not due to any other thing but technology. People are embracing technology more and that is what we want Nigerians to also understand that at 40, if you have not raised a family, you’re not alone. There are so many people like you and there are options that are available to you; options available to people over 40 whether you have a partner or you don’t have a partner.

There are options and you should be able to take them.

The good thing about people over 40 is that majority of them already have careers, they are ‘comfortable’ and therefore should be able to look at the options.

Most of the decisions we make when it comes to reproductive health in Nigeria are not made with informed knowledge. People are not informed before making choices. We want to let people over 40 know what their options are so that they can take good decisions.

Do women prone to miscarriages have fertility issues?

Infertility is when you cannot have a baby and a subset of it is when you are even losing pregnancies. There is a particular part of reproductive health that deals with recurrent miscarriages. When you have recurrent miscarriages, the good news is that you have a good chance of having pregnancy that will become a baby if you try hard enough.

Arthritis in the elderly The causes of back pain are nearly as numerous as terms used to describe the symptoms. Back pain is a primary reason people seek medical attention.

Considering that almost 80% of the adult population will encounter some form of back pain, it could be said that back pain is a universal epidemic. Back pain recognizes no age, economic, or ethnic barriers. Everyone will likely suffer from back pain at some time in their life. More and more elderly will suffer from back pains, neck pains due to the degeneration caused by arthritis. Arthritis is one of God’s apps: a computer program embedded in our genes!

Arthritis causes wearing out of the bones and pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. This destruction of the bone causes instability which may require operation to reinforce the bones. The pressure on the nerves may require operation to free the nerves and release the pressure.

Age and spine surgery There is real fear of spine surgery especially in the elderly. The poor results of the past are still clouding the present and jeopardising the future.

The fear is of paralysis and death. Of becoming disabled due to weakness of an arm or leg. Because of this, many patients are not offered surgery and instead are taken to the village or to church. Many are left at home in pain until death eventually come calling. Before death though, someone has to look after mama or papa, and someone may have to leave employment to stay home with them.

More importantly, what is happening in the present? How many days will mama or papa suffer in pain, helpless and hopeless? How much pain can they tolerate? How can you cope with the misery and the cries in the middle of the night?

The important issue is a firm diagnosis, clear evaluation of the status of the patient, assessment of fitness for surgery, clear surgical plan, balance of the benefits and risks of surgery and effective post operative care. Surgery on the spine is safe if performed by experienced surgeons and with support from nurses and physiotherapists.

What to do?

We evaluated Mama Catherine and offered her surgery. Papa Nkwocha also had an operation after stabilisation of his blood pressure and sugar.

Both had successful operations and were discharged home in good condition.

issues 35

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Nigerian Equation And The Categorical Imperative Of National Ideology

By Yusufu Ameh Obaje

Introduction The success of our democratic institution depends largely on our understanding and re-evaluation of the Nigerian Equation as well as the development of a clearly defined National ideology.

In 1946, the three regions that emerged were known as Northern, Eastern and Western regions accordingly. The leaders of these regions were driven by the spirit of freedom, integrity, credibility, accountability and competitiveness, in order to ensure that the entity called Nigeria remains united, indivisible, prosperous and truly great among the comity of Nations. But soon after, the colonial policy of ‘’divide and rule’’, the growing political intrigues, suspicion among regional champions, the fear of regional domination and the struggle to control the pendulum of power of the Nigerian entity, gave birth to regional philosophy of survival of the fittest. The North identified ‘’political power’’ as the instrument of survival of the North and the means of achieving personal, regional and national greatness. The East came up with the idea of ‘’monetary wealth’’ as the means of realizing personal, regional and national greatness.

The West saw ‘’education’’ as the fundamental tool for achieving personal, regional and national greatness. Thus the stage was set for an endless battle of survival of the fittest, with each region holding on tenaciously to its concept of the National equation of ‘’political power’’ for the North, ‘’wealth’’ for the East and ‘’education’’ for the West, as the means of having a fair share of the perceived National cake Armed with these regional ideologies, the leadership of the regions mobilized their people to invest in all kinds of agricultural, educational, economic and sociopolitical interests, in order to consolidate their grip on regional autonomy and authority, as well as having substantial control over National leadership and resources.

This struggle has endured to our generation and there are no visible signs that it will end very soon as long as we remain unprepared or unwilling to do justice to the missing link, the development and enthronement of a definitive National ideology Therefore, the main objective of this discourse is to call attention to some of the challenges posed by the Nigerian Equation and to suggest the fact that only a profoundly

with the emergence of an elite class which provided leadership in virtually all areas of life. There was enormous pride in being educated and those who rose to the pinnacle of the ladder of western education were recognized, honoured and celebrated as role models. Families were eager to spend their life earnings to train their sons and daughters in tertiary institutions in order to acquire an elite status in the society. The elite group became the voice of the people, particularly in matters of politics, economics and religion. Thus, education remained a top priority of the western region.

viable National Ideology can serve as an ideological peg or foundation for any other sectarian ideology.

Indeed, it is from there that all other ideologies, whether personal, regional or institutional can hang the ideological net, without being tossed here and there, or torn into pieces by the stormy wind of politics of survival of the fittest.

It is on this note, therefore, that one must proceed to examine more critically the subject matter of this presentation, namely, the Nigerian Equation and the categorical imperative of National ideology.

Having said this, we can now move on with the development of the subject before us:

i. The challenge of the Nigerian equation The challenge of sustainability: Although, people were eager to identify themselves with their regional ideologies of power Obaje for the North, wealth for the East and education for the West, belong to in this world. We are the sustenance of the Nigerian all his creatures and he demands equation has not been easy. For the that we fear him, worship him and North in particular, even though live as brothers and sisters, as we it enjoyed many years of political render selfless service in his name power, it could not make full use of to one another, our Country and the opportunity to transform the to the world at large. The denial North or the Country as a whole. of this understanding of religion This was largely due to two main became a major contribution to factors, namely, ethnic bigotry the situation where the one time and religious fanaticism. The united North became a divided feeling and enforcement of ethnic North of all kinds of self-asserting superiority complex in a multi- ethnic kingdoms, with resultant ethnic society erodes confidence broken pillars of Northern Unity and loyalty to a given course. While and the weakening of the strength the early leaders of the North of whatever remains of the political tried to balance the relationship power ideology of the North. It of minor ethnic groups and the is one thing to have an ideology major ones, subsequent leadership and it is another thing to sustain betrayed the trust in favour of the ideology. In this case, it is the the dominant tribes and thereby North that has failed in her control weakened Northern solidarity of political power in Nigeria and and the spirit of arewaism. Thus, we must not blame others but the Northern grip on political ourselves. power began to fade away like the In another dimension, the brightness of the light from the sustainability of political power for sunset. a given region within a country is In addition, religious extremism equally subject to the direction of based on half-baked understanding the wind of democracy. It blows of the meaning of religion and its in favour of the majority and the value for human life and society political will of the custodians divided the North further along of political power in a given religious sentiments. In most democratic climate. Therefore, cases, we have allowed religious what the North needs today is not indiscretion and fanaticism a threat to do anything unduly, if to dictate appointment into political power is not returned to various leadership positions and the North, but to recreate more responsibility assignments. We conducive religio-economic and often forget the fact that what socio-political environment for matters most to God, is not our a new alliance with the Nigerian religious affiliation or identity as masses, drawn from all parts of either Christians or Muslims, but the country. This is fundamental the extent to which we reverence because modern democracy is him as one and only God, as well a game of numbers and not an as the love we have for him and our inheritance of any individual or fellow human beings, regardless group. of which religious tradition we It is interesting to note that the East faced the challenge of sustainability in the Nigerian In addition, religious extremism based on Equation by sheer hard work, undying survival spirit at all costs, half-baked understanding of the meaning of passion to excel by all religion and its value for human life and society undiluted means and effective mixture of divided the North the pepper of republican spirit

and the salt of mentorism. It is a philosophy of you are on your own and yet an attitude of you are not your own in the business of moneymaking or wealth generation. The successful businessman or woman has the responsibility of mentoring others. The older generation in the business of creating wealth saw the inevitable need to pass on the knowledge and the technique to the younger generation. They were so successful that others in the Nigerian Equation admired them and nicknamed them as the lovers of money. Whatever may be the undeserved title or well-deserved categorization, the East has reasonably maintained their own share of the Nigerian Equation.

From another angle of viewing the challenge of sustainability in the Nigerian Equation, the free education policy of the Western region helped to sustain Western leadership in the education sector of Nigeria. Western education was seen as an imperative for holistic development in all areas of life.

Therefore education became a priority for regional attention and commitment. Families took exceptional pride in ensuring quality education for their sons and daughters. Those who could afford to travel abroad for western education opened their hands generously to encourage and welcome others to join them at the slightest opportunity.

Every Yoruba man or woman in a particular country was always identified as an ambassador for other Yoruba sons and daughters interested in the pursuit of western education. Undoubtedly, the unquenchable appetite for western education was massive and this helped to sustain the spirit of education in the Nigerian Equation.

Also, in the Western region, the interest in education grew

ii. The challenge of national unity, peace and progress The issue of National unity, peace and progress poses a serious challenge for the Nigerian equation. This is partly due to the fact that the three regions can never truly realize their regional dreams in the absence of national unity, peace and progress.

Undoubtedly, the real test for the relevance of regional ideologies is the realization of unity, peace and progress for Nigeria as a whole. In other words, Political power must be channelled to create unity, peace and progress. Material wealth must be used as a vital instrument of guaranteeing national unity, peace and progress. Likewise, education must remain a crucial means of ensuring Nigeria’s unity, peace and progress.

However, and in spite of the efforts made by the three regions to realize unity, peace and progress in Nigeria, we are still confronted with the reality of sectarian violence, insecurity and underdevelopment.

One can understand why this has remained so, in spite of the numerous efforts by successive governments of our time. It is obvious that the regions lacked national ideological foundation for the people to work patriotically, in order to realize the overall collective dreams of Nigerians in the main areas of sustainable unity, peace and progress. The regions were busy creating regional enclaves, mostly inward looking and giving more priority attention to their regional interests to the detriment of the collective critical needs of all Nigerians.

Of course, it could be argued that the achievement of unity, peace and progress at the regional level could have assisted in the ultimate goal of realized unity, peace and progress of Nigeria as one entity or country.

But this has not been the case as the absence of national ideology left no foundational ideological peg for regional ideologies. The dilemma remains and the struggle to rebuild Nigeria of our collective dream is still on and a challenge to all.

TO continue TOMORROW

36 OPINION

Monday, June 23, 2014

Re: 40,000 Reasons Why SriLanka Is No Model For Nigeria BY chRiS OLUkOLADE

The knack by some foreign writers, especially the ones now hiding under the banner of human rights watch to willfully twist facts and deliberately impute ulterior motives all with a view to discrediting Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operation is becoming legendary. For instance, a certain Andrew Stroehlein has written an article in this spirit captioned “40,000 Reasons Why Sri Lanka is No Model for Nigeria”, published in the Human Rights Watch news publication of 16 June 2014 which was widely syndicated to many dailies in Nigeria and abroad. The author tried so desperately to distort the import of interactions between Nigerian military and visiting Sri-Lanka military delegation at the Defence Headquarters and the statement that emanated from the event on 12 June 2014.

The statement which conveyed the outcome of the visit and the meeting that Mr Stroehlein chose to misinterpret and use as launch pad to disparage the Nigerian military, was explicit enough in stating that Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff assured the visitors that “Nigerian military is seriously considering the counter insurgency experience of Sri Lankan military with a view to identifying those areas that could be operationally beneficial to Nigeria in its battle to defeat terrorism”.

Mr Stroehlein’s sensational article must have been prompted by the misleading reports of some of his like-minded journalists who chose to twist the story of the Sri Lankan visit right from the onset. Obviously, it is only typical

Major General Olukolade

for people with Mr Stroehlein’s mindset to trumpet the falsehood as reported especially in some foreign news channels claiming that Nigeria has decided to adopt the Sri Lankan model in the fight against terror.

How else will Mr Andrew Stroehlein and his co-travelers who often shield their bias with the claim of defence of human rights justify their desperation to denigrate and undermine the integrity and sovereignty of other nations? Which other way will their obsession with the illusion of their supremacist positions be made presentable? They simply could not fathom why Nigeria or her military should give a thought to listening to Sri Lanka’s experience in fighting terrorism.

To them, Nigeria does not have any reason to look elsewhere in solving her problems other than the prescription from their perspective hence, she must be blackmailed with taunts of unsubstantiated human rights

The Nigerian military does not have the knack neither has it been duly indicted of human rights abuses as mischievously narrated by Mr Stroehlein in his article

abuse by its military.

The question to ask Mr Stroehlein and his human rights crusaders therefore is; who is actually violating human rights between the Nigerian military which is tirelessly working to protect lives and property, and the terrorists who abduct, kill, maim, loot, rape and commit arson on massive scale against Nigerians? In the interest of those genuinely concerned about Nigeria’s war against terror, the Nigerian military does not have the knack neither has it been duly indicted of human rights abuses as mischievously narrated by Mr Stroehlein in his article.

People with this kind of mindset must be told clearly that Nigeria, in her drive to ensure the best security for the country, have no problem with Nigerian Armed Forces which is duly disposed to partnering with every well-meaning country especially those who demonstrate genuine goodwill and respect towards Nigeria in her effort to secure her territory and people.

Nevertheless, the military remains very conscious of Nigeria’s international commitment especially in the observance of human rights obligations while defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a responsible and professional force, the Nigerian military will continue to defend the Nigerian people with all the resources at her disposal and will never adopt any approach or model that might compromise that obligation.

– Major-Gen Olukolade is Director of Defence Information

Zoning: Revisiting The Abacha Constitution

BY SALAWUDEEN ADEGBENRO

The PDP zoning controversy of 2010, following the death of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was the beginning of the current political acrimony and bitter rivalries between the north and south. In fact, the fallout of that acrimony got so bad that the PDP became like a house divided against itself.

The opposition APC took advantage of the PDP internal crisis to poach five governors from the ruling party. A once largest political party, the PDP today found itself grappling with bitterness and division.

In fact, the PDP will never be the same again. Zoning suffered a fatal blow with the death of Yar’adua.

When President Umaru Yar’Adua died in May 2010, zoning faced its greatest challenge ever. Its opponents said it should not be rigidly enforced in the light of new realities brought on

by Yar’Adua’s death. The argument against zoning was that it sacrifices merit, although this argument was opportunistic because its opponents were beneficiaries of the same power-sharing arrangement. It is too idealistic for anybody to say that religion, ethnicity and regionalism don’t count in the country’s power equation.

There is no section of Nigeria without men and women of merit. Therefore, the argument that zoning sacrifices merit does not hold water. Given the peculiarities

of Nigeria and the posture of the majority ethnic groups to dominate power on the sheer strength of numbers, Nigeria needs zoning to enable the minorities have access to political power at the highest level – the presidency.

Minorities are contributing to the development of Nigeria. And for that reason, I see no reason why any group should be denied access to power because they are small.

I am not persuaded that democracy is rigidly a game of numbers. If a fair power sharing system is in place, it may go a long way to reduce tension in the country. I detest the idea of dismissing any people as “insignificant” because they are small. This cannot be an attractive feature of any democratic

system. Despite being a minority Tutsi politician, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has restored stability to his country – a country once torn by genocide in 1994. A leader’s capacity to do justice to all is more important than his minority status.

Insistence on the idea that democracy is a game of numbers cannot produce a fair and just system in a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria. I am an ardent advocate of power rotation as the basis for reducing the fear of domination by one group over another. It may not be ideal, but it is necessary for our peculiar political realities.

– Adegbenro wrote from Zone 2, Wuse, Abuja

Every Monday With Ibraheem a. WazIrI iawaziri@yahoo.com, 08035167963 (SMS only)

Sarkin Kano HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II (2)

S

anusi, to my understanding, felt that the concept of state has evolved not only in muslim Northern Nigeria but the whole of the muslim world partly due to colonialism.

It then became only necessary, he seemed to have thought, that the muslims here and elsewhere should embark on general revision of their body of literature to come up with a set of rulings or understanding or interpretation that will go with the spirit of these times, our times.

He believed that these must be done following the social chain and values that pragmatically and progressively provide a logical link from past, to present and to future. The dictum, as I understood Sanusi saw it is, adjust to change but do not compromise time tested values. Thus he got convinced that there was no contradiction between his often termed progressive stance and his traditional mental outlook or inherited values.

It is not to my reckoning, if there’s any individual who made a similar attempt within the structures put by the 18th century Jihad here and for the last 200 years, until him. It is then why I feel, relative as his success may have been – an assessment that should actually be left to future historians – he deserves some positive comparison with the 18th century Jihadists in terms of focus, goals and vision.

The springboard of this pattern of thought is in the fact that the prophet of Islam knew that he could not solve the problem of his time and those of the generation coming after him. Thus, he avoided choosing and endorsing a leader for the then young Muslim community after his demise.

So Sanusi learnt from that and felt responsible for the challenge of our times and rose to them.

While doing that he invoked the aid of all excellent scholarship within his reach from the East and the Western Worlds since history. He married them with what he came to know and perceived to be an Islamic truth in its pristine form. Even then he once, humbly, admitted to me in an email exchange in the year 2002, how handicapped he was to assume the task of shaping out a contemporary jurisprudence for the Northern Nigerian Muslims. He pointed at Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, a Ph.D in Hadith from the Islamic University of Medina and later CBN’s consultant on Islamic Banking, as among the kind of people who are capable and equal to such tasks.

One other achievement that can be attributed to him, of course in my opinion, is the fact that since colonialism, he has been the only public intellectual who successfully married, at highly and deeply philosophical levels, his Nigerian identity with his Muslim identity. Prior to his interventions, northern Muslim intellectual establishment was of two segments, the liberals, symbolised most prominently by the person of late Prof. Yusuf Bala Usman. They epitomised the ideal patriotic Nigerians often downplaying their northern Muslim identity.

The second segment is formed of conservatives.

They are characterised by the persons of late Dr. Ibrahim Tahir or even Dr. Mahmud Tukur. They placed their northern Muslim identity as most prominent, thereby giving the idea of Nigerian patriotism a different outlook. Sanusi, it was, who cerebrally argued and displayed that one can be a proud Muslim northerner and at the same time a passionate Nigerian patriot and with equal strength at each level. The themes recurring through his essays were about Muslims in multi religious environment, and their issues in identity, ethics and values in social and political settings. Probably, he was the first, in this part of the world who made constant these themes – with extraordinary flow of logic and substance – anchoring and running through all his public interventions.

politics today Monday, June 23, 2014

37

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

Mark

Ekweremadu

Egba

As Senate Resumes For Its Fourth Session The Senate will tomorrow resume for its fourth and final lap. JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, in this report, takes a look at the bills that will top the agenda of the Upper House this session.

T There are allegations that the Senate is playing politics with the PIB and are using it as a bargaining tool with the executive

he Nigerian Senate has always been viewed with suspicion by the average Nigerian who believes most lawmakers are underworked and overpaid. However, as the Senate has concluded its third session and resumes for their fourth and final lap, some reasonable success have been recorded. Though not fully devoid of partisan politics, the Senate had in some cases risen above partisan politics to take decisions on national issues, thanks to the Senate president David Mark who regularly drummed it into their ears to always view issues from a national prism rather than ethnic or regional lines.

As the nation moves towards the all-important 2015 elections, they are fears that legislative work will be sacrificed on the altar of politicking this fourth session. Also, they are fears that the level of implementation of the budget this year will be the worst as capital expenditure will suffer with the executive having eye on the 2015 elections, hence governance will suffer. It is imperative that the Senate will rise up to its responsibilities of oversighting the executive to ensure that the budget is implemented

to the letter.

In the review of the third session, the chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Senator Ita Enang, revealed that the Upper House passed 12 out of the 187 bills brought before it in the last one year.

Speaking to Senate correspondents, Senator Enang stated that by the close of legislative business in plenary, a total of 187 bills were introduced from June 2013. These include Bills either passed, withdrawn, negated, read a second time, committed to either standing committees or committee of the whole , consolidated, published but still to be read, and all the bills howsoever published in the journals of the Senate.

He also said there are some draft bills which were yet to be numbered or published in the journal, being now re-drafted or scrutinized to determine if they are existing laws, pending bills or matters which should not be attended by a bill for an act, or other matters howsoever pending He further explained that out of the 187 Bills, 9 are executive bills while the remaining 178 bills are members’ bills and 12 have been in finality passed by the Senate.

Pending Bills • National Centre for Management (Repeal and Re-eneactment) Bill 2014 • Petroleum Industry Bill • Nigeria Export processing Zone Act (ammendments) bill • Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund • Legal education bill • Nigeria Bank of Industry bill • National Climate Change Commission bill • Equipment Leasing Bill 2013 • Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre bill • Cyber Crime bill • Nigerian Metallurgical Industry bill • Proceeds of Crime Bill • National Tobacco Control Bill • Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill All eyes are on the Seventh Senate to pass the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill before the expiration of this Senate. The Bill has been passed for second reading since last year and has been in limbo since then. There are allegations that the Senate is playing politics with the PIB and are using it as a bargaining tool with the executive, an allegation the Senate Leader Victor NdomaEgba vehemently denied According to him, no individual, group or agency of the government was allegedly using the legislature to deliberately slow down

its passage before the end of the current legislative era.

He said, “I am hopeful that the PIB will be passed before the end of the current senate, I am very hopeful. It is a technical bill that comes with a number of aspects.

“We have the legal aspect of the bill, the physical aspect, the environmental aspect of the bill, the petroleum aspect, and the gas aspect.

“Because of these various components, we necessarily need to get several committees to work together. It is not very easy; if we have just two committees, it is easy but by the time you begin to have three, four, five committees, it becomes a bit problematic.

“But I am very hopeful that the bill will be passed before the end of the current ASenate. So I don’t think the PIB is jinxed.”

The defection drama seems to have died down in the Senate pending the ruling of the courts and it remains to be seen how the Senate President will handle the matter when the court rules on it, as most of the defectors can be seen participating actively in rallies and campaigns of the All Progressive Congress. Also, the Senate, before the expiration of its tenure, has on board the constitution ammendment bill and the amendments of the electoral law which, if passed early, will lead to a better, free and fair elections in 2015.

Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor

38 POLITICS TODAY

Monday, June 23, 2014

2015: As Politics Gets Tougher For Women………

Many Nigerian female politicians are intimidated by the chauvinistic do-or-die political style of their male counterparts. As a result, they are afraid to come out and run for any political office. The forthcoming 2015 general elections thus looks like an all male affair. Ruth Tene Natsa writes on the fears of the female politicians.

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On the rating of women as card carrying members of political parties, she said “We are doing well; women participate, but they don’t really go out to get membership cards

uring the 2011 elections, there were no doubts that more women than in previous elections jostled for various positions incluing presidential, gubernatorial and others across party lines. However, the discouraging results recorded which saw most of them losing to their male counterparts seemed to have dampened the spirits of the women as only few have dared to declare for the 2015 elections.

But some women who refused to be discouraged by the development are coming out to encourage others, insisting that there is room for Nigerian women to favourably compete with their male counterparts as the Nigerian woman has what it takes not only to run for a leadership position but also to hold such efficiently. This is even as they agree that the political climate is getting tougher for women.

In the words of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women leader and delegate to the National Conference, Mrs Iyom Josephine Anenih, “2011 elections were discouraging considering the momentum with which female politicians came out. The momentum was so huge that it was unprecedented but the result was so dismal and discouraging and I do not think women have recovered from that shock, which is why we are not seeing many women coming out; there are few women wanting to come out and contest but they are afraid.”

Recently at the screening of the movie “A New Dawn”, depicting the challenges of Nigerian women in politics who seek to make a change in their communities, women under different platforms spoke on the challenges of female politicians and how to address them in future elections.

Mrs Anenih said, “As the 2015 elections are coming, we are not hearing anything from the women; they are just too quiet and by now, we should be hearing NGOs, political parties and other groups campaigning and mobilising women to get into their fold; we should be hearing of numerous training workshops for women and others, party conferences etc, but we are not hearing anything; everything is too quiet politically; so, I do not know how 2015 will be like”.

Speaking on the challeng-

Maina

es of women in politics, she said, “The challenges of female politicians have not changed, but we shouldn’t be looking at challenges; we should begin to proffer solutions; women need to be encouraged to conquer fear because that is a huge challenge; women must conquer fear to be able to stand for elections; they are afraid of failing or what they are going to see; that is why we need the political parties and NGOs to come out, encourage and train them and show them the way.”

Mrs Anenih further said, “Women who are in elective positions now are also being challenged because the men want to take over their positions and the only way to retain those positions is through funding; then the environment; their security; they need to be assured of their security when they come out to campaign.

We need to address the many challenges: how women will get funding, how NGOs and CSOs will come in and train them on how to raise campaign funds and mobilise voters as well as how to craft captivating campaign messages that people will buy into.”

Also speaking, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Member, House of Representatives, Ikorodu Federal Constituency and chairperson, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, said, “I think it is getting tougher for women; but they should not be discouraged; they should come together, support one another,

lobby, but most importantly, present themselves in such a way that whatever they do adds value.

“We need a lot of support, because it is getting worse for women. It is time for women to come together and show that they have all it takes to be in leadership positions, but they must come out first, have the courage to do what they have to do, dare to struggle, dare to win.” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa stated that “Nigeria will not be where we are today if more women had been in leadership positions.” She was optimistic that more women would come out if they could get better support.

“I wish I could help myself too with finance, but there is the issue of each one help one; we have the Women Trust Fund; if women come together with just N1,000 and say we are supporting one person, I am sure that person will get there. When women groups, special groups get together and decide to support one or two credible women, I believe that will be encouraging to more women to get involved”, she said.

Meanwhile, chief executive officer, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (WTF), Ayisha Osori, said the fund offers the opportunity to send messages about changing the narratives of women in leadership and politics.

“We need more women to run; not enough women are running,” she noted. She stressed the need to begin portraying the Nigeri-

an woman in a positive light, saying “We want people to start seeing Nigerian women in a different and strong light, as the media and Nollywood particularly portray women as victims or people who are evil; we want them to begin to portray women in a different narrative as women who are strong and caring”.

Speaking on the support to female politicians, she said, “In the last elections, we spent over N60million funding over 150 women across 25 parties but this year, it is not yet clear, because we do not know where the funds are going to come from, but when we get the funds, we will definitely fund women again.”

National women leader, Labour Party, and chairperson, Women in Politics Forum, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, said the forum had been reaching out to women and encouraging them to get into political parties of their choices, while giving them support through capacity building to make them understand why they need to participate in politics.

“But it is so difficult getting responses from them; we cannot go to their homes to bring them out; they have to come out first and the support will be there for them, which is what we have been doing and we are getting good responses; we are hoping that before the end of the year, we should be able to say we have this number of women ready to participate,” she said.

On the rating of women as card carrying members of political parties, she said “We are doing well; women participate, but they don’t really go out to get membership cards; what they do usually is that they are mobilised to dance and clap for men as cheer leaders, but we have told them they need to be card carrying members before they can be properly represented or have the opportunity to participate; so, we have changed that now and across party lines we have more women coming out to pick party membership cards.

“For 2015, I am looking at an opportunity for us to produce one or two female governors, but like I said, we are asking for more women to come out, because when they do, they go to a place where they are not really supported; but we are asking them to spread out; if a woman is credible, no matter the political party she is in, she could win; it is not about party but about individual; so, the women should not be afraid to join any political party, not only those that have made names because they will be swallowed there and will not have the opportunity.”

Features 39

Monday, June 23, 2014

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja

The role of transport in any economy cannot be over-emphasised, as it is the sole connector of other sectors. An efficient transportation is very critical for economic development, both locally and globally. Poor transport system in any country could act as a major barrier to the overall development of the economy, as it affects the development of the economy as a consumer of metal, energy, timber, rubber and other products.

Transportation is important for proper networking of goods and services, improves productivity, creates access to more markets (both locally and internationally), as well as improve time performance and losses that could occur from poor transport systems, just to mention a few.

Also, if properly harnessed, the transport sector has the potential of becoming the highest employer of labour.

While road transport is quite limited in its movement of heavy goods, the rail transport system is more ideal for the same purpose. Railway transport, on the other hand, is quite cheaper and comes in handy for transporting huge volume of goods or more people than land and water combined. Also, the cost of moving bulky goods via rail transport is quite low, while passenger fare is equally inexpensive.

Maritime, on the other hand, is an effective way of facilitating trade internationally. This transport carries about 80 per cent of heavy-duty imported goods. It is also, arguably, the cheapest mode of transport because the exploitation of maritime requires greater network costs, in relation to other forms of transport. Modern ships can carry cargoes of any size and weight. Most cargoes transported via water are petroleum by-products and liquid-based goods. Drycargo vessels have a smaller share.

Despite the huge benefits associated with the transport sector, Nigeria has not fully keyed into its highly rewarding potentials. Decaying transport infrastructure has become one of the hallmarks of the Nigerian transport sector. Inadequate funding has done a lot of damage, as well.

However, the overriding goal of the transport sector under the transformation agenda is to develop an adequate, safe, environmentally sound, efficient and affordable integrated transport system within the framework of a competitive national and international economy.

In a bid to revamp the rail sector, the federal government has articulated a 25-year strategic vision for the rail sector which encompass the completion of the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge, the construction of new standard gauge rail lines, extension of the rail network to link all state capitals, commercial centres, solid mineral and mining sites, petroleum product depots and ma-

Train

Harnessing Full Potential Of The Transport Sector jor agricultural zones, as well as fertiliser distribution depots.

Also, the rehabilitation of the 1,124km-rail-line stretching from Lagos to Kano, is completed and functional, while work on the 1,657km Eastern line, stretching from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, is progressing steadily in accord with the Port Harcourt to Jos Station. The branch-line from Kafanchan to Kaduna is expected to be completed sometime in July.

Also, the completion of the construction and the rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge-rail line is about 77 per cent and is expected to be completed sometime before the end of the year. Also, the completion rate of the construction of the Abuja (Idu) to Kaduna standard gauge rail line is 78 per cent. It is also expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

Feasibility studies to create additional corridors for the standard gauge rail system have been completed and their reports will be made available, come July 2014, to potential investors for the development of the lines under public private partnership initiative, also a frame-work agreement was signed on May 5, 2014, between the ministry and Messrs. CCECC for the construction of a coastal railway line, connecting 10 states through the routes; Lagos – Shagamu – Ore – Benin – Sapele – Warri – Yenagoa – Port Harcourt – Aba – Uyo – Calabar – Akampa – Ikom – Obudu Cattle Ranch, a total distance of 1,385km LEADERSHIP has learnt. While efforts are being made to restore the suspended Mass Transit Services in Jos and Maiduguri occasioned by security challenges, companies such as Lafarage Cement Company, Dangote Group Flour Mill of Nigeria,

Oando and Total Oil Ltd. have all taken advantage of rail transport.

Receiving a 13-man Belgian delegation in his office, the minister of transport senator Idris Umar disclosed that the country’s railway sub-sector was moribund for 20 years before its current resurgence under the current administration for the benefit of Nigerians.

However, in a bid to make sure goods can be transported locally through the rivers the federal government the federal government is making arrangement to go into partnership for the utilization of the dredged Lower River Niger to ensure all-year navigability and the sustainability of the channel. Also Onitsha River Port has been reconstructed and commissioned with modern cargo handling equipment.

Delivering the ministry’s midterm report, the minister of transport Sen. Idris Umar disclosed that a transaction adviser has been commissioned to drive the process for the concessioning of the Onitsha River Port. Jetties in Buruku, Idah, Agenebode, Pategi, Igbokoda, Degema and Yenogoa are at various stages of completion, there are plans for the construction of the Makurdi River Port, inland water ways have improved. The volume of cargo throughput using inland waterways increased from 4.03 million metric tonnes in 2012 to 5.5 million metric tonnes in 2013. Also, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has been given the nod to operate as the interim economic regulator for the ports.

“An inter-ministerial steering committee and project delivery team have been constituted to put the Onitsha River Port into economic use before the completion

of the concession programme.

Baro and Oguta river ports are to be completed by the end of 2014 while the Lokoja River port is expected to be completed in 2015.

Upon completion, the river ports will be concessioned to private operators.”

“The development of a new deep seaport at Lekki has been approved, while the Ibaka, Agge, Olokola, Badagry and Ogidigbe/ Escravos deep seaports are being processed. The continuous dredging of the harbours in Lagos and Bonny to accommodate large ocean liners such as the West African Maximum (WAFMAX) jumbo cargo vessels which carry 4,500 TEUs (instead of conventional vessels of 2,500 TEUs) is providing opportunities for trans-shipment to other ports in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. Significant progress was also made to provide standard facilities, including the RORO facilities in Bonny.”

Also the introduction and adoption of an e-payment system has improved bill payment process from three to five days to a confirmation circle in a matter of minutes, reducing operational cost of shipping companies and contributing to improvement in vessel turn-around.

On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to the minister of Transport Mr. Innocent Ebirim noted that the minister had made sure that transport policies, programme and projects are in line with the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Critically speaking, there is the overlying need to do more, in order to ensure that the potentials in the sector are fully harnessed and Nigeria can begin to reap the economic advantages associated with a viable transport sector.

In a bid to revamp the rail sector, the federal government has articulated a 25-year strategic vision for the rail sector

40

Monday, June 23, 2014

Orji Uzor Kalu My Leadership Series okalu77@yahoo.co m

‘I

Peeping At My Crystal Ball

f an animal runs dangerously, the hunter shoots dangerously at it as well’ is a common proverb in Igboland. It is used to underscore the precariousness of a situation, especially that which has defied any rational solution. You will agree with me that the problems besetting our nation seem to have defied all known panaceas, including the use of even the military. That is why I have resorted to weeks of spiritual communing - to catch a glimpse of what might have been responsible for this near-hopeless situation. I did it in 1998 and what I saw marveled me. I tried it again in 2010, the result was amazing. I have attempted it yet the umpteenth time and what I saw is what I have shared with you below.

Going back to history, Nigeria has always had a rough political voyage each time an election year approaches. In the 60’s it was almost total chaos – everywhere was in turmoil as the west boiled. Politicians fought over one another to secure victory at the polls. It was UPGA up in arms against NCNC and NPC. All the alliances and bridge-building efforts went caput. As the politicians squabbled, the God of the masses was at work. In the end, reason prevailed and the volatility was brought under control. Then the 1979 elections came. It was the first election since the coup of 1966, which marked the foray of the military into governance. Though the military were in control there were still flashes of violence here and there.

In the end the elections managed to hold against all negative speculations of the insincerity of the military to hand over power to civilians. The hullabaloo caused by the irresolvable mathematical puzzle of two-thirds of 19 states placed a question mark on the whole exercise. The alliance between NPP and NPN did not last because of the frostiness that characterized it. It was a cat-and-mouse game between the two, resulting in NPN choosing to go it alone after it had seemingly stabilized its hold on power.

By the time the 1983 elections came it had become clearer that the Second Republic was in grave danger as politicians threw caution to the dogs and conducted themselves in a most intolerant and uncivilized manner. Rigging and brigandage were the order of the day. It got to a point that lawlessness seemed to have been entrenched. Almost every part of Nigeria was affected by the unruly situation. Oyo State was on fire as Bola Ige (the incumbent governor then) fought to maintain the mandate his people had given him. Meanwhile, NPN had perfected

a devious agenda to take over power at all costs in almost all the LOOBO (Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun and Bendel) states. It was a plot I found detestable and puerile.

How could they have thought that wrestling power from any state controlled by Awolowo’s party would be that easy? Dead or alive the image of Awolowo still looms colossally in the South West of Nigeria. Though Bola Ige is dead, Victor Olunloyo (his rival in NPN) is still alive to tell the story. As Oyo was boiling, Ondo State was conflagrating. The incumbent governor, Michael Ajasin, had just been ‘dethroned’ by FEDECO, umpired by Justice Ovie Whiskey (now late). FEDECO had announced Akin Omoboriowo as the winner in place of the actual winner, Ajasin, and hell was let loose. It was the reversal of the earlier announcement that saved the state from being swept away by the people’s anger.

Nonetheless, it was a different ballgame in Imo State where Dee Sam Mbakwe was in charge as governor. To drive home how bad the situation was Mbakwe had to relocate his office temporarily to FEDECO’s office in Owerri. Mbakwe told Mrs. Gomwalk (the state electoral commissioner at the time) pointblank that he was not ready to vacate her office until the right winner was announced. Sensing danger she had to announce Mbakwe (who truly won) as the winner. While Mbakwe battled to save his job his counterpart in Anambra State, Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, also of NPP, was not that lucky as he was swept away by the gale of vote-manipulation that hit the state. It was rumoured before the polls that NPN was ready to do anything to secure the state so that the then Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, would have a home base.

As the situation in Imo and Anambra States played out Kano State (under Aminu Kano’s PRP) was going through a political tsunami. Sabo Bakin Zuwo, the governorship candidate of PRP, had dusted Abubakar Rimi who had earlier resigned from PRP to fly the NPP flag in the 1983 elections. Zuwo was later tried by the Special Military Tribunal and sentenced to 300 years in jail. He died in 1989.

It was in this unfortunate atmosphere that the military led by General Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier General Tunde Idiagbon struck and toppled the government of Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983.

Many saw the coup as a huge relief to the mountainous malfeasance going on at the time in the name of democracy. But to me, there can never be any justification for military intervention. How can democracy

take root if we did not make mistakes and correct them? It is a learning process, which gathers momentum as we make progress.

Then enter the June 12, 1983 presidential elections, which remain a watershed in the annals of Nigeria. It was the freest and fairest elections ever conducted in Nigeria. The umpire was Prof. Humphrey Nwosu and his credibility has never been in doubt. He did his best to rewrite the chequered history of elections in Nigeria, but was stopped by powerful forces from accomplishing his mission. The elections, believed to have been won by Moshood Abiola, marked the beginning of the end of military interventions in Nigeria’s political life. The uprising that trailed the annulment of the election result by the Babangida Government was so intense that it was clear that something dramatic would happen. And so when Babangida was pulled out of the Army it was not long before Abacha sacked the Interim National Government headed by Ernest Shonekan.

Abacha was in office for just four years. And so, his death on June 8, 1998 and the subsequent willingness of the administration of General A.A. Abubakar to hand over the reins of power to civilians accentuated the tempo of politicking in the country. Optimism among politicians was very high. The 1999 general elections were fairly credible, but events that followed were not as fair. The 8 years the administration of Obasanjo superintended over the affairs of Nigeria was marked by bad blood and horse-trading. His third term ambition nearly scuttled the democratic journey but for providence. Thank God he was able to handover to another person.

The 2007 elections were fairly okay. This does not mean there was no rigging. There was rigging but not on such a scale as to affect substantially the outcome of the election. The death of Musa Yar’Adua greatly affected the political equation and set the nation on the edge.

The prompt intervention of the National Assembly at one point was what saved the 5th Republic from stillbirth.

By 2011, political tension in the country had risen to an uncontrollable level with the north showing signs of dissension. Some of them had thought that power would have reverted to the north after the shortlived tenure of Musa Yar’Adua. In his place Goodluck Jonathan emerged to steer the ship of state. Perhaps, the aggravation of hostility in the northern region could be blamed on this stance.

Now, we have a new dimension to

political intriguing with the activities of the Islamist Sect, Boko Haram, in the north. For close to five years now, over 10,000 persons had been killed and properties worth billions of Nigeria destroyed.

What I have done so far is to put the incidents that occurred prior to this time in proper perspectives in order to make the reader take an unbiased position on the goings in the country. How will all this affect the 2015 elections? Judging by the incidents that had taken place between 1966 and now what do you think will happen in 2015? Do you fear we may have a repeat of the sad chapters of our national life?

If we take what has been said and written in the media thus far it can easily be deduced that there is trouble ahead. Even some prominent global figures have expressed the same trepidation over the direction the country is going, especially when viewed in the context of the heightening insurgencies across the country. The political class has not helped matters at all. Some of them had gone as far as stating categorically that elections would not hold in 2015. Whose spokesmen are they?

What gave them such sureness that elections would not hold next year?

I suspect they have their reasons for being cocksure. What is government waiting for before seeking their cooperation and solidarity? Such utterances have their security implications. Therefore, sweeping them under the carpet is not the proper thing to do in the face of mounting threat to national security.

Nobody should pretend that Boko Haram poses a serious threat to the 2015 elections. I was taken aback by the news last week of the discovery of some Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) hidden near a church in Owerri. Though the real intention of those that planted the devices was not yet known before going to press, I suspect foul play. It could be the devices were planted to instill fear in the minds of people and create a semblance of insecurity in the Southeast Zone, which has never experienced any Boko Haramkind of bombing. The truth is that those that planted the devices did not mean well for our dear country.

The Southeast has not done anything to deserve such a dastardly treatment.

We have remained a generallypeace-loving people, working hard to recover from the psychological traumas inflicted upon us by the war. So, we are not ready for another internecine war. Moreover, since the consequences of war are not usually palatable. I am pained that the killings in the north have

not abated five years down the line.

When will the north witness peace again? Of particular mention are the 230 Chibok school girls abducted over 60 days ago. Why have they not been released? Such innocent and harmless girls! I wonder what our nation is gradually turning into. I have never in my over 54 years on the earth planet seen such callousness. Venting anger on innocent school girls is want I am yet to comprehend.

We were told almost a month ago that the U.S. and other interested partners would intervene to get the girls freed. It is now over 40 days since the promise was made and we are yet to see any reasonable change in the status quo. Nevertheless, I have not lost confidence in the ability of our allies to justify their promise. All I am worried about is the welfare of the girls and the ensuing restiveness in Northern Nigeria.

I find it offensive that all that many of our politicians are interested in is 2015. Only a few of them are genuinely interested in working for the peaceful resolution of whatever caused the crisis in the first pace.

Shamefully, there are some of them that dine and wine with the President in the daytime, pretending they love him, only to turn into wolves at night to hound him.

Nobody needs a soothsayer to tell him the enemies of Nigeria are at work. They are the same people sowing seeds of hate across the country for their selfish aggrandizement. What they hope to gain ultimately is best known to them alone.

For me, I know no sin shall go unpunished. Those who waste human lives in whatever guise should know that any time God calls them in their last breath they must account for their iniquities. They may wield all the sophisticated weapons they can muster and flaunt their wealth now. It will not long before all these things come to naught.

It is not proper for politicians to make inflammatory and unpatriotic statements about their country, no matter the compelling emotionalist need to do so. It is more honourable to be on the right side of life at all times instead of the ignominious double-dealing that many of our politicians are known for.

It does not matter from which part of Nigeria anybody comes from or the religion he practices. What is important is to love Nigeria. Patriotism demands all of us to show love to Nigeria and to one another.

If patriotism is allowed to permeate our individual lives, then nobody will have the boldness to inflict any bodily harm on a fellow citizen.

news Lagos 41

Monday, June 23, 2014

Lagos Reads Riot Act To Transporters The Lagos State government has threatened to prosecute transporters who fail to comply with rules and regulations of its new Strategic Master Plan for Transportation in the state.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, who said this in Lagos at the weekend, revealed that enforcement of the new policy will soon commence in the state.

Opeifa emphasized that when they begin enforcement, only registered drivers and conductors would be permitted to operate as commercial passenger vehicles in the state.

The commissioner also warned that all other vehicles who fail to comply would be apprehended if found on Lagos roads.

According to him, “To ensure a corporate outlook for transport operators and easy identification, the state government and various transport unions in the state have agreed and approved the designed uniform. “ It should be noted that the take-off of this component of the policy as well as that of the development of a data base for Lagos public transport system has been affected due to the low level of compliance”.

Ramadan: Security Beef-up At Lagos Airport Hotel

by GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Barely 10 days to the commencement of the 2014 Ramadan, the greatest religious observance in Islam, management of Lagos Airport the Hotel located in Ikeja area of Lagos has beefed up security around the ever busy hotel.

Managing Director of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Mr. Kayode Adenigba, told LEADERSHIP in Lagos that the move was to avert being caught in the web of disasters caused by the bombing and other terror attack during the annual month of fasting.

He said, “The issue of security is taken very seriously during this month of Ramadan in view of what is going on in the country nowadays, especially for us that run hotel business. We have security meetings from time to time and we always ensure the lives and property of our guests are safe.”

He added that the management was working hard to ensure that people are comfortable and secure in and around the hotel during the holy month of Ramadan.

Our correspondent observed that visitors to the hotel are

now being subjected to rigorous security checks, even as bomb detectors have been deployed to check cars thoroughly before they are allowed into the hotel.

The new security measures now make it compulsory for customers to empty their bags before they are allowed entrance into the hotel.

Harping on other services, he said the hotel has rolled out Ramadan booster promo offering 20 percent discount on accommodation to all guests.

“We have free sahur (sari) to all Muslim lodgers at the hotel restaurants, free fruits for

lodgers to break their fast. We have continental cuisine because people from other parts of the world , some of them might have to be here during this period and what they will take is different from what our people may want to take.

“I can assure you that we have all these series of menu that we will put on the table for them; in addition to the normal menu or cuisine we will provide cuisine the different will want.”

Adenigba added that the prices will be the same, assuring that it will not be jacked up during the Ramadan period.

short news Group Faults FG, Others Over Handling Of Taraba Crisis

By George Okojie, Lagos

PENGASSAN To Resist Exploitative Employment Model The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has disclosed that any employment model or policy that is found to be deceptively exploitative and dehumanizing will be resisted.

The PENGASSAN President, Comrade Babatunde Ogun disclosed this in a press conference held in Lagos over the weekend.

While giving an account of his stewardship in the last three years, Ogun lamented that casualization and contract employment for jobs that should be permanent and pensionable in nature continued unabated in oil and gas sector.

He said, “Our position as labour is that any employment model or policy that is found to be deceptively exploitative and dehumanizing will be resisted.”

Ogun therefore advocated for decent working conditions, fair and adequate compensation and benefits for all categories of members with unrestricted legitimate right for workers to union activities, collective bargaining and other lawful engagements in resolving issues with social partners.

Meanwhile, PENGASSAN also noted that two years ago Federal Government dissolved the Board of the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and have up till now not reconstituted the board.

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle), Vice President Namadi Sambo (left), and national chairman PDP, Adamu Muazu, celebrating PDP’s victory at Ekiti governorship election, at the State House, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Union Petitions FG Over Substantive DG For NCAA

By Nkem Osuagwu, Lagos

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has expressed concern over the nonconfirmation of a substantive director general for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) almost five months after the announcement of a new boss for the authority.

The association has given the federal government a 21-day notice to

remedy the situation or face an industrial action.

In a petition to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, dated 18 June 2014, and signed

by Captain Tar Tanongo, deputy national secretary of ATSSSAN, the association said the appointment of a substantive director general was taking too long following the inability of the government to transmit to the Senate the name of

Captain Murktar Usman for approval, adding that if government fails to do the needful, the association would ground aviation activities in the country.

The union warned that the Civil Aviation Act did not recognise the office of an acting directorgeneral and stressed the need for the government to make haste in to install an executive DG in NCAA. According to it, several legal and vital doc-

uments and activities were being performed that might become issues of contention and litigation in future.

It said that the aviation industry had suffered and is still suffering from several decisions taken by the government that cost the agencies billions of naira to remedy as was the case under the six months acting DG of NCAA prior to the confirmation of Captain Fola Akinkuotu, former DG in 2013.

The Jukun Development Association (JDA) has faulted the federal government and other levels of government over the manner they are handling the lingering crisis rocking Taraba State, saying the crisis is worsening unrest in northern Nigeria.

The national president, Jukun Development Association Mr. Benjamin Bako Danborno, who made the observation while speaking with journalists in Lagos, said the federal government had continued to demonstrate inability to respond to national emergencies.

By George Okojie, Lagos

State Pardon To Convicted Public Office-holders Encourages Corruption – El-Rufai

By NAN

A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday expressed his concern over the act of granting state pardon to convicted political office-holders.

El-Rufai, while delivering a lecture on the topic ``Corruption, and the Challenge of Good Governance’’ at the University of La-

gos (UNILAG), said such act of pardon would encourage corruption.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by ``The Companion’’, an association of Muslim men in business.

El-Rufai said giving state pardon to convicted political officeholders would encourage many corrupt Nigerians.

He said it would also particularly give the youths the impression that corruption was something good and which people should get involved in. ``Pardoning convicted corrupt persons in Nigeria is sending a wrong message to the young ones,’’ the former FCT Minister said.

El-Rufai said the nation was undergoing an interesting time,

particularly with the insecurity situation in the northern part of the country.

He however said every concerned citizen should push for a society that is good for all.

The former Minister pointed out that the insecurity situation in Nigeria was as a result of the failure of intelligence agencies which were also affected by corruption.

42 news south-South south-East Court Threatens IG, Bayelsa Police Commissioner With Contempt Over Militant’s Corpse The Federal High Court sitting in Bayelsa State, over the weekend threatened to hold the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar and the state commissioner of police, Hillary Okpara in contempt over their refusal to obey the June 2012 ruling on the release of the corpse of a militant leader, Keniwenimo Nweigha, popularly known as Daddy Ken, who was shot dead by the police five years ago.

The duo of the inspector-general of police and the Bayelsa police commissioner, according to the court, have failed to obey the 2012 ruling by Justice R. M. Aikawa, which upheld two out of the six prayers sought by the family of the deceased that the parade of the deceased militant leader before media men is null and void and that the police should release the deceased’s corpse to his family for a befitting burial.

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

Monday, June 23, 2014

Elechi Nullifies Traditional Title Conferred On Senate C’ttee Chair On Police Affairs

By Obinna Ogbonnaya, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State governor, Chief Martin Elechi yesterday declared as null and void the recent coronation of the senator representing Ebonyi Central senatorial zone and chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Chief Paulinus Igwe-Nwagu.

Also affected was the former deputy speaker of Ebonyi State

House of Assembly, Barrister Val Okike.

The duo were conferred with traditional titles by the traditional ruler of Ishinkwo Autonomous Community, Eze Josephat Ikegwu, outside his jurisdiction in the community.

The state governor, Chief Martin Elechi, disclosed this while stating the resolutions reached at the end of the peace talk held behind

closed doors with stakeholders of Onicha local government area.

Chief Elechi said that the act of coronation would not be recognised on the grounds that the monarch went beyond the bounds of his domain to officiate in a different community.

The governor also declared that there is no traditional ruler for Ukawu Autonomous Community and warned that nobody should

parade himself or herself as the traditional ruler of the community until a new one is installed.

The vacancy was created as a result of the death of the traditional ruler of Ukawu and would be filled within a month.

According to him, no local government chairman or Development Centre coordinator has any right to dissolve or constitute development unions in the state.

short news Imoke Advocates IPPIS Platform To Curb Excessive Leakages

Akwu’s Death, A Rude Shock To Us – SouthSouth NUJ The South-South Zone of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said that the news of the untimely demise of the former national president of the union, Mr Ndagene Ndamele Akwu, came as a rude shock to journalists in the zone.

Akwu, who was president of NUJ from 2004 to 2008, died last Friday morning, after slumping the previous day on arrival from Abuja, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, near Port Harcourt.

The secretary of the union in the zone, Mr Edward Ogwude, spoke at the weekend when he led the executives of the NUJ in Rivers State on a condolence visit to the Akwu family in Port Harcourt.

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

NASS Urged To Expedite Action On Constitution Amendment Process The Conference of Speakers of Legislatures of Nigeria has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

This was part of a seven-paragraph communique issued at the end of its three-day retreat held yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The communique which was signed by Hon Eugene Odo, speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, called on the state lawmakers to ensure stability in the polity and entrenchment of democracy by avoiding frequent and unconstitutional changes of leadership of the state Assemblies.

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

An old woman washing her legs from the solar-powered borehole constructed at the PHC, Ikot Obio Ema, Etimekpo in Akwa Ibom. PHOTO BY PATRICK AMANAMA.

Assembly Crisis: Edo Lawmakers Must Obey Court Orders – Oshiomhole Begs PDP to give its guber ticket to Ize-Iyamu ByPatrick Ochoga,Benin City

The crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly may have deepened following indications that the two warring factions of the APC and PDP lawmakers failed to reach a truce after adjourning wplenary to today, just as the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole insisted that the court orders on the four lawmakers must be obeyed.

Oshiomhole also asked the PDP to give its governorship

ticket to Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu to put his self-acclaimed popularity to test in the 2016 governorship election in the state, having ascribed Oshiomhole’s emergence as governor to his sole effort.

The lawmakers, penultimate week, had obtained a court injunction restraining the four suspended lawmakers from attending sitting pending the determination of the case in court, a development that has grounded legislative activities in Edo State.

The suspended lawmakers were Hon Festus Ebea, Hon Friday Ogieriakhi, Hon Jude-Ide

Isehen and Hon Patrick Osayinmen.

Speaking on a television interview monitored by LEADERSHIP in Benin, Oshiomhole stated: “Like I said before, the institutions of state are still weak.

The House of Assembly got a court injunction from a Federal High Court restraining them from suspending or declaring the seats of four members vacant. The court also ruled that the power of the House to suspend their members was based on the rules of the House; the court will not freeze those powers; therefore, the court vacated that aspect of the order.

The federal government has been called upon to work out a platform that would ensure the workability of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to curb excessive revenue leakages and create more resources for development.

A statement signed by Mohammed Manga, assistant director of media relations for the head of the civil service of the federation, said the governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, made the call yesterday in Calabar at the official opening ceremony of a 7-day retreat on development of the IPPIS – HR Processes “TO BE”.

By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

Delta Discovers 63 Illegal Schools, Arrests 4 Exam Cheat Sponsors

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

The Delta State government’s fight against examination malpractices yesterday paid off when it recorded no fewer than 63 illegal schools operating across the state and arrested four exam cheat sponsors.

The state commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof Patrick Muoboghare, who disclosed the success recorded so far in the fight against exam malprac-

tice to LEADERSHIP, said the fight will not end until all the vestiges of cankerworm are wiped out of the school system.

Prof Muoboghare said that appreciable progress had been made so far in the fight, stressing that much will be achieved if all stakeholders in the education industry key into it.

While saying that the committee on illegal schools uncovered the 63 illegal schools in dif-

ferent communities in the state, the education commissioner said that four suspected examination cheat sponsors were handed over to the police for further investigation, adding that in spite of the heavy sanctions being meted out to offenders, some unscrupulous persons including private school owners and their cohorts are still involved in the unwholesome act.

He appealed to such school owners to have a change of heart and

join the ministry in the crusade to wipe out illegal activities, adding that the ministry will not hesitate to close down such schools and withdraw their operating licenses.

Prof Muoboghare said that reports reaching him from independent examination monitors and staff of the ministry in the field, indicated that the conduct of the ongoing NECO examination had been peaceful and devoid of hitches.

news NATIONAL 43

Monday, June 23, 2014

FG Gives 48months Ultimatum For Completion Of N36.12bn 2nd River- Benue Bridge

The federal government has given 48 months ultimatum for the completion of the second bridge over the River Benue, the LokoOweto Bridge which would cost N36.12 billion, by November, 2015.

A statement signed by the deputy director of Information, Federal Ministry of Works, Theodore Ogaziechi , noted that the Minster of Works, Arch. Mike Onolememen, gave the disclosure while conducting the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and his Good Governance Team on inspection tour of the project at Loko and Oweto towns in Nassarawa and Benue states respectively.

By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja

Earned Allowance: SSANU Warns FG Against Fresh Crisis In Varsities

By Michael Oche, Abuja

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has warned that the delay by the federal government to review the 2009 agreement it signed with the university- based non-teaching staff union may lead to another round of crisis in the university system.

The union warned that urgent steps must be taken by the federal government for the review of the agreement without further delay before it leads to industrial actions and destroy the on-going smooth academic calendar.

In a communiqué issued at the

end of its 24th regular Executive Council Meeting held at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu State at the weekend, SSANU said the agreement has since been due for review with effect from August, 2012.

The communiqué which was signed by SSANU National President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade NAD Aboribo, frowned at the attitude of the federal government in reaching and signing tripartite agreement with unions without commitment to implement it.

The communiqué reads in part,

“NEC-in-session notes that, going by the terms of the 2009 FGN/ SSANU agreement, the agreement is due for review with effect from August, 2012. Council frowns at the culture of the government signing agreement with unions, with little or no commitment to full implementation of the terms of the agreement which is one of the causes of frequent industrial crises in the country, particularly in the Nigerian public university system.

“SSANU NEC therefore, calls on the federal government, to, as a matter of urgency, put machineries in motion for the review of the agreement without further delay

before it degenerates into another round of crisis.”

Specifically, SSANU condemned the non-implementation of the Earned Allowances component of the 2009 Agreement to its members on monthly basis and called for its regular payment, “to avoid situations that may aggravate another industrial crisis in the universities.

SSANU also called on the federal government to expedite action on the payment of the arrears to their members in research institute affiliated to universities, regretting that this category of workers are yet to be paid any arrears of the Earned Allowances.

short news

Movie: Half Of A Yellow Sun Not Banned – Agency The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has cleared the air, setting the records straight on the status of the movie, Half of a Yellow Sun and the attendant interest it has generated in certain quarters.

In a press statement signed by the agency’s acting head, Corporate Affairs, Caesar Kagho, the NFVCB restated its position that the movie is not banned as speculated and that the board has dutifully exercised due diligence consonant with section 36 (1) (b) of NFVCB Enabling Law ACT 1993, CAP N40 LFN 2004 which stipulates that “a decision on a film shall ensure that such a film is not likely to undermine national security”.

By Halima Tiffi and Millie Ibe, Abuja

Conference Of Speakers Seeks Financial Autonomy For State Assemblies The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, at the end of its 2014 retreat, sought for financial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly in the country.

This is contained in a communique issued in Uyo on Sunday and signed by Mr Eugene Odo, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly and Chairman, Committee on communique.

According to the communique, the autonomy will enable assemblies to be effective and efficient in the discharge of their legislative duties. ``The importance of financial autonomy for the state houses of assembly for the effective and efficient discharge of their legislative duties was brought to the fore. ``And the state lawmakers reiterated their commitments towards ensuring the passage of the clauses as related to the autonomy of state legislature in the ongoing constitution amendment,’’ it stated.

By NAN

Obiano Gives Ministry N500m To Fight Environmental Challenge

L-R: Representatives of the President, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Prof Suleiman Bogoro, Emir of Fika, Alhaji Mohammed Ibn Idris and the Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Prof Huseyin Sert, during the 2nd Convocation 2014 of Nigerian Turkish Nile University, in Abuja. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI.

Insurgency: Transporters Want IGP To Bring Back Road Blocks

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

The president of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, High Chief Musa Shehu, has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, to bring back the police roadblocks.

Shehu made the call yesterday while briefing journalists on the effort of his association to participate with security agencies

to avert the threat by the insurgents.

The president who disclosed that the leadership of his association had summoned an emergency meeting of all her members to sensitise and update them on the activities of the association to ensure that their ranks were not infiltrated, said they were leaving no stone unturned, to avert any disaster.

“In the first place, God exposed them by making it

known to security agencies so it is not going to happen. What the Inspector General of Police should do is to bring back the road blocks. If there were roadblocks I don’t think that they would have allowed those 35 vehicles to travel all the way from the north before being arrested in Abia. “ We are holding an emergency meeting to tell all our drivers to be on the alert. That is why road block is necessary,” he said.

Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano last weekend disclosed that his state has given N500 million as counterpart funding to the Ministry of Environment targeted at solving environmental problems.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the minster of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam, he also disclosed that the state was also putting up some laws that would stop some of the habit that is contributing to environmental degradation.

Listing such activities to include bush burning, blocking of drainage, felling of trees, and cutting of roads to lay pipes or cables, he noted that the law would give more power for enforcement.

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja

TIP Report Places Nigeria On Tier 2 Ranking

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

The 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has placed Nigeria on tier 2 ranking, meaning that the country should increase its efforts in all areas including but not limited to justice for victims, prosecution for traffickers, and increasing prevention efforts via awareness creation.

The report also called on Nigerian legislators to urgently amend the draft anti- trafficking bill to increase penalties to traffickers and ensure that the activities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) receives adequate funding as a national priority.

The report followed the award of

the NAPTIP Boss Mrs Beatrice JedyAgba as the 2014, TIP Hero by the United States government, which was conferred on her by the US Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State department on Friday “in recognition of her tireless efforts to fight human trafficking and her passionate”

A statement made to LEADERSHIP yesterday revealed that the award was announced in a letter to the Executive Secretary by the US government, describing Mrs. JedyAgba as one of the 10 notable individuals around the globe who despite resistance, opposition and even threats to their lives protect victims and punish offenders.

44

Monday, June 23, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY

Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, Illegal / Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747.

Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

KANO STATE GOVERNMENT

154th KANO STATE EXECuTiVE COuNCiL MEETiNG PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

ENGR. RAbi’u MuSA KwANKwASO, FNSE Executive Governor, Kano State

Today Wednesday 18th June, 2014 (20th Sha’aban, 1435 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and fifty fourth (154th) sitting under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. This was a day to the fifth (5th) Retreat conducted for the Kano State Top Government Functionaries scheduled for Kaduna (19th – 22nd June, 2014) which is the first (1st) of the two (2) earmarked for the year 2014.

Notwithstanding, forty eight (48) memoranda were submitted for deliberation

by Council from twelve (12) MDAs of which twenty eight (28) were approved for execution with an expenditure of One Billion, Fifty Nine Million, Five Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty One Naira, Twenty Three Kobo (N1,059,545,131.23) covering twenty three (23) projects while the remaining five (5) were on policy issues.

However, as usual Council reviewed the deliberations and approvals of the previous meeting, the 153rd before tabling the 48 memoranda submitted for the 154th meeting. At the 153rd sitting, ten (10) MDAs submitted thirty-four (34) memoranda for deliberations by Council of which seventeen (17) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Three Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Two Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Two Naira Only (N365,209,182.00) covering thirteen (13) projects. The remaining four (4) memoranda were either informative or on policy issues. With this review over, Council faced the business of the day, viz; 1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT This Office submitted twenty three (23) memoranda for deliberations of which Council approved fourteen (14) for execution. Thus: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Fifty Six (56) Essential Items Required for the Training of Batch Four (4) in Respect of 600 New Intakes of Security trainees at Karaye NYSC Camp Annexed to the State Corporate Security Institute:The cited request was submitted from the State Corporate Security Institute but was endorsed and presented to Council for consideration by the Secretary to the State Government.

Essentially, Council was reminded of its approval granted for the immediate enrollment of 600 Security Guards for training at Karaye NYSC Camp. The State Corporate Security Institute complied with the directive issued and presented details of the fifty six (56) items required such as uniforms, boots and socks, belts, track suits, stationery, instruction manuals, etc. for the endeavor at the aggregate sum of N21,451,540.00, which was requested for release.

Council considered the request/project to be in agreement with the empowerment policy of the present administration and approved the request to enable the State Corporate Security Institute undertake the training of Security Guards at Karaye NYSC Camp. b) Request for Funds from Zakkah and Hubsi Commission to Enable the Conduct of Empowerment Training Progammes to 500 Women Refugees from the Central Africa Republic:The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the cited request for consideration

by Council on behalf of the State Zakkah and Hubsi Commission.

Current pitiable situation of the 500 affected/displaced women was emphasized as Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N5,400,000.00 to enable the State Zakkah and Hubsi Commission conduct empowerment training progammes for their benefit.

Details of the requirements were trimmed down to three items as follows: i. Procurement of training materials = N200,000.00. ii. Training allowances = N200,000.00. iii. Empowerment assistance = N10,000.00 x 500 = N5,000,000.00.

Total = N5,400,000.00.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the recommended sum of N5,400,000.00 from the funds available in the revenue collected by the Zakkah and

Hubsi Commission. d) Presentation of Progress Report from the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools in Kano State (June, 2013 to April, 2014):The cited Progress Report was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for information on behalf of the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools in the State. The Taskforce was established to sanitize, monitor and organize the operation of private and voluntary schools in the State and at the same time collect dues on behalf of the State Government. Since its establishment the Taskforce has improved revenue generation and systematized the operation of the private and voluntary schools in the State.

The Report submitted can be summarized into nine (9) precise items, which culminated to the following six (6) notations forwarded to Council for consideration: i. That a Stakeholders meeting was held with a view to sensitizing the operators of voluntary and private schools in Kano State. ii. That the Taskforce Committee intervened to ensure the successful conduct of 2014 WAEC Examinations in the State. iii. That the crisis within the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) was resolved by the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools. iv. That the Taskforce Committee mediated on thorny issues between parents of some students and their respective schools. v. That the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools registered about 2000 Private/Voluntary Schools that operate in Kano State (June, 2013 – April, 2014). vi. That the Taskforce Committee on Private/Voluntary Schools in Kano State realized a revenue of N120,536,619.00 within the period under review (June, 2013 to April, 2014).

Council acknowledged the presentation and commended the performance of the Taskforce Committee on Private and Voluntary Schools. e) Re – Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Undertaking of a Trip to Georgia Mason University, Virginia, USA by the Vice Chancellor and Two (2) other Northwest University, Kano Council Members:The cited request was earlier submitted to Council for consideration. The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the contents here and presented to Council for consideration as a follow up.

Essentially, emphasis put on the need for the trip was to discuss areas of academic collaboration between the two (2) Universities. The sum of N9,165,045.00 was requested for release to enable the Vice Chancellor and two Council Members of the University to undertake the trip. The request was considered as relevant and Council approved the release of the sum of N9,165,045.00 to the Northwest University, Kano for the stated purpose. f) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Allowances in Respect of the Interim Race Course Management Committee:The contents of this memorandum respectfully reminded Council that, an Interim Committee was enacted to implement the White Paper on operations at the Kano Race Course. The Secretary to the State Government endorsed the following financial commitments for the month of May, 2014 in respect of allowances to the Committee to the tune of N1,154,000.00 which was requested for release by Council to settle sitting allowance for May, 2014 (N170,000.00), DTA for meeting in Abuja (N524,000.00) and operational funds (N460,000.00). Council noted, considered and approved as requested. g) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Authentication Process in Respect of Certificates of Fifty Two (52) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Studies at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST):The cited case involve a segment of the Kano State indigenous students sponsored for Post Graduate Studies at Institutions abroad under the 501 Post Graduate Scheme.

The students documents were submitted for authentication at the Embassy of Nigeria in Amman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jordan and the Ministry of Education, Jordan after the authentication exercise at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The documents of the 52 students were authenticated at the sum of $6,240.00 (at the rate of $120 each). Congruence of the request with the empowerment policy of the present administration prompted Council to approve the release of the sum for the stated purpose. h) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Financial Assistance to Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya to Proceed to Russia in Order to Replace the Original Copy of his Misplaced First Degree Certificate:The Secretary to the State Government presented the cited request on behalf of Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya introduced as a student under the 501 Scheme currently studying at SRM University, India for a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Reportedly, Ahmad attended and successfully graduated with excellent results in Chemical Engineering from Kazan State University of Chemical Technology Russia.

Nevertheless, the original copy of his first degree certificate got misplaced during the processing/verification of visa for his vocation. Proofs were presented to Council for consideration as endorsed by the Kano State Scholarship Board and the Ministry of Higher Education.

Meanwhile, Council was notified that, the SRM University India issued an ultimatum to Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya to present the original version of his first degree certificate

latest by August, 2014 or else face withdrawal from his second degree programme under the 501 Scheme.

As such, Council was requested to approve the release of the sum of N2,150,000.00 as financial assistance to enable Ahmad Ibrahim Kunya to travel to Russia for replacement of the original copy of his first degree certification for presentation at SRM University India so as to continue with his second degree programme under the 501 Scheme. Details on the eight (8) items to be covered in the expenditure were presented to Council for consideration totaled to the tune of N2,150,000.00. Council noted, considered and approved as requested. i) Presentation of Request for Funds to Support the Bereaved Family of Late Bello Abubakar Wudil:The contents of this memorandum concertedly notified Council of the death of Elder Statesman Bello Abubakar Wudil after a protracted illness. The Secretary to the State Government forwarded the following two (2) prayers to Council for consideration. i. Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N1,000,000.00 as the Kano State Government support to the bereaved family of late Bello Abubakar Wudil. ii. Grant permission to forward the names of children sired by the deceased for sponsorship of their education by the Kano State Scholarship Board.

Council commiserates with the bereaved family of late Bello Abubakar Wudil and approved the execution of the two (2) prayers forwarded in this memorandum. j) Presentation of Report from the Committee on the Prevention of Vandalization of Government Owned Electrical and Water Installations in Kano State:The cited report was submitted on behalf of the stated Committee by the Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties, which was endorsed and presented to Council for consideration by the Secretary to the State Government.

In a nutshell, the Committee visited six (6) locations/companies inspected and confiscated suspiciously displayed water equipment for sale. Details on the six (6) locations/companies/items/quantities visited and confiscated on the 27th March, 2014 and 10th April, 2014 respectively were presented to Council for consideration and directive for action to be taken.

Further, Council was requested to direct the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to provide a truck to the Committee to enable the conveyance of the confiscated items for safe keeping pending prosecution of the cases. Council acknowledged the presentation and directed as requested. k) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Upward Review of Monthly Allowance from $500.00 to $750.00 for the Kano State indigenous students Sponsored for Commercial Pilot Studies at Mid – East Aviation Academy Jordan:Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE visited the Aviation students in Amman, Jordan in November, 2013. He personally ascertained the inflationary trend in that Country and directed for an upward review of the monthly allowances given to the students.

In positive response, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Jordan recommended the upward review from $500.00 to $750.00 to cover for accommodation, transportation and feeding.

Council acknowledged the presentation and favorably approved the upward review of the monthly allowances of the piloting students in Jordan from $500.00 to $750.00 with effect from June, 2014 monthly. l) Request for Funds to Enable the Reimbursement of Expenditure Incurred in Transporting Outstanding Fertilizer Allocated to Kano State from Kaduna for the year 2011:The Committee on the Distribution of Fertilizer travelled to Kaduna as directed in order to collect and convey the 2011 outstanding quantity of assorted fertilizer allocated to Kano State. The assignment was carried out successfully as a result of which the Senior Special Assistant on Food Security (SSAFS) submitted the cited request, which was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

The expenditure already incurred covered six (6) items to the tune of N1,130,000.00 which was requested for release by Council as reimbursement. Council approved the release of the sum of N1,130,000.00 to the Committee on Distribution of Fertilizer as reimbursement for the stated incurred expenditure. m) Request for Funds to Enable the Reimbursement of Expenditure Incurred by the Office of the Head of Civil Service in Participating at the 2014 Joint Annual Performance Workshop:The Secretary to the State Government intimated Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, the DFID – SPARC recommended the implementation of a reform programme. Essentially, the workshop was designed to evaluate the reform act. This covered four (4) implementation work streams so as to take stock of accomplishments, challenges and determination of the way forward towards the successful implementation of the reform programme.

The Ministry of Planning and Budget represented Kano State at the Workshop as endorsed and recommended by the Office of the State Head of Civil Service. Details of the financial commitments to the tune of N579,000.00 which was expended were presented to Council for consideration. Council approved as requested based on the significance of the workshop.

45

Monday, June 23, 2014 2. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT The three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport were approved for execution. Thus: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of Jaba to Rimin Kebe Road:The cited request was presented to Council for consideration based on a directive from Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE in response to many complaints/ pleadings from the teeming population in the Rimin Kebe area of Nassarawa Local Government Council Area for the construction of the road.

In fact, the Hon. Commissioners for Science and Technology, Works, Housing and Transport and the Hon. Member Kano State House of Assembly representing Ungogo Constituency visited the site as directed to identify the problem and proffer appropriate solution(s).

Professionals/Engineers from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport assessed the problem at the site along with the scope of works required to solve it estimated to cost the sum of N380,860,730.00, which was requested for release.

The details presented to Council for consideration were accepted as appropriate. The project will be funded under the State/Local Governments Joint Project Account on 40%:60% ratio basis. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Erosion Control at Jaba – Gayawa Road:The cited request was submitted to Council for consideration on the identified site covering a distance of 4.4 Kilometers that cut across Nassarawa and Ungogo Local Government Council Areas. Serious environmental degradation in the area was caused by the incidence of serious gully erosion resulting from storm water run – off disturbance due to lack of effective drainage facility .

Details on the problem were presented to Council for consideration along with the scope of works required estimated to the tune of N235,534,801.88 which was requested for release by Council to enable the provision of solution to the erosion problem at the site. Council noted, considered and approved the execution of the project on 40%:60% ratio basis between the State Government and the two (2) (Nassarawa and Ungogo) Local Government Council Areas under State/Local Governments Joint Project Account. c) Presentation of Request for Funds to Enable the Procurement and Installation of Five (5) Solar – Powered Streetlights and Six (6) Freezers at Yan – Kifi, Kwanar Bagauda:The Hon. Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport reminded Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, his Ministry was directed to look into the cited issue and present findings. The site was visited by the Mechanical/Electrical Department of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, which analyzed the situation and submitted an in – house estimate for the project at Contractual arrangement to the tune of N5,775,000.00 which was requested for release. The request was considered as appropriate and Council approved the request.

4. MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION Two (2) of the four (4) memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from the Ministry of Higher Education were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of 2013/2014 Registration Fees for 388 Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Various Degree Programmes at the Katsina State University, Katsina:The cited request was submitted from the Katsina State University, Katsina but was endorsed by the Hon. Commissioner for Higher Education and presented to Council for consideration. The memorandum requested the release of the aggregate sum of N46,792,000.00 as School Fees in respect of the 388 Students admitted to study at the Katsina State University. In the same vein, the contents of the memorandum requested the release of the aggregate sum of N23,280,000.00 as students allowances for six (6) months through the Scholarship Board at the rate of N10,000.00 x 388 x 6 = N23,280,000.00 and the provision of 388 Computers at the sum of N46,560,000.00. Council noted, considered and approved the requests.

3. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR/HON. COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Two (2) of the three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from this Office were approved for execution as follows: a) Presentation of Report from the Committee on Rationalization of Courses Offered by Tertiary Institutions Owned by the Kano State Government:The Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments tacitly reminded Council, through the contents of this memorandum that, a Committee was enacted to rationalize the courses offered by Tertiary Institutions of Learning owned by the Kano State Government. This was to address the problem of the proliferation of unemployable courses.

The Committee did its job judiciously and insists that, there is the need for the State owned Tertiary Institutions to shift emphasis from programmes not tailored to provide impetus to the developmental needs of the State. Attention should be centered on the current realities of the employment market and youth empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education in Agriculture, Health, Hand Craft, etc.

The Committee forwarded the following four (4) recommendations to Council for consideration. Viz: i. That the new Colleges of Arts and Sciences to be established need to emphasize the offering of Science related programmes. ii. That all Kano owned Tertiary Institutions should introduce/offer Entrepreneurial studies so as to prepare students for self reliance. iii. That Guidance and Counseling Units at all levels of education be rejuvenated/ re – introduced so as to guide students for marketable programmes and rational decision making generally. iv. That the policy of providing education at all levels undertaken by the present administration in Kano State be developed along the lines of developing productive education excluding non marketable/self reliance programmes.

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation and approved as follows: • All Kano State Government owned Tertiary Institutions to promote quality in the delivery of the services they offer/performance of their students.

• Admission into the Kano State owned Tertiary Institutions should be based on quota system across the 44 Local Government Council Areas of Kano State.

6. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Both memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from the Ministry of Water Resources were approved for execution as follows: a) Request for Funds to Enable the Provision of Erosion Control at the Third (3rd) Water Works, Challawa Complex:The Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources tacitly reminded Council of its deliberation on the cited issue on 10th June, 2014. The Ministry of Water Resources was directed to re – submit the memorandum for consideration along with the name of an identified reputable contractor for the project.

Cognizant of the competence of WRECA on such construction works, the Agency was presented to Council as the identified reputable contractor for the project at the estimated cost of N33,085,550.00 which was requested for release. Council approved the request. b) Request for Funds to Enable the Procurement and Installation of Two (2) Perkins Model 650KVA Electricity Generators at Gezawa – Joda Regional Water Scheme Station:The resolve of the present administration in Kano State to provide potable water to the citizenry instigated the submission of the cited request for consideration by Council. Council was informed, through the contents of this memorandum that, bigger pumps and additional tube – wells were provided at the Gezawa – Joda Regional Water Scheme Station. This improved the production of larger volumes of potable water for supply to catchment areas of demand from the station.

However, the electric power/energy required for the station to function more effectively instigated submission of the cited request. A reputable contractor was identified for the supply and installation of the two (2) Perkins Model 650 KVA electricity generators at the Gezawa – Joda Regional Water Scheme Station. The contractor agreed to execute the project at the sum of N48,780,360.00 which was requested for release. Council considered the request as appropriate and granted its approval.

b) Request for Funds to Enable the Payment of Transport Allowance to 330 (2013 Batch “B” ) NYSC Members:The State Coordinator NYSC submitted the cited request which was endorsed by the Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments and presented to Council for consideration.

Council was alerted that, the 2013 Batch “B” NYSC Members successfully completed eleven (11) months National Youths Service designated for the year 2013 and are due to vacate their Stations in the month of June, 2014.

As such, Council was requested to approve the release of the aggregate sum of N10,890,000.00 for disbursement as transport allowance to the 330 NYSC Members that served for eleven (11) months of their Primary Assignment under the Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board and are due to vacate their respective Stations for home. Each NYSC Member was entitled to N3,000.00 in each of the eleven (11) months they served totaling: • N3,000.00 x 11 months x 330 (NYSC Members) = N10,890,000.00.

Congruence of the request with the empowerment policy of the present administration prompted Council to approve as requested.

b) Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of a 30 – Rooms Students’ Hostel Complex at the Katsina State University, Katsina:The Hon. Commissioner for Higher Education reminded Council of its directive to prepare a comprehensive memorandum on the issue cited and present for consideration. The assignment was carried out and due process was followed in the selection of a reputable Contractor for the execution of the project at the in – house estimate of the sum of N30,722,927.00 which was requested for release by Council for stated purpose. Council approved as requested based on the details presented as the project is congruent with the resolve of the present administration to support education in all ramifications.

5. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Only one (1) of the two (2) memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from this Ministry was approved for execution. Thus: Request for Funds (On Loan) to Enable Kano Rural Agricultural Development Authority (KNARDA) Procure 487 Units of Lifan CG 125 Motorcycles for use by Field Extension Personnel:The contents of this memorandum adequately substantiated to Council that flexibility and ease of movement through rugged terrain characterize the services delivered by the Agricultural Field Extension Personnel at KNARDA. This prompted the submission of the cited request from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Specifically, the aggregate sum of N44,804,000.00 was requested to be released on loan to KNARDA to enable the purchase of 487 Units of Lifan CG 125 motorcycles to be distributed to 487 of its field extension personnel at the rate of N92,000.00 each payable in twenty four (24) monthly installments of N3,834.00.

Council considered the request as relevant and approved the release of the sum of N44,804,000.00 for the stated purpose.

7. MINISTRY OF STATE AFFAIRS Two (2) of the three (3) memoranda submitted for deliberations by Council from the Ministry of State Affairs were approved for execution. Thus: • Both memoranda approved for execution were on compensation for structures affected by the execution of one developmental project or the other.

As such, the Honorable Commissioner for State Affairs submitted the two (2) memoranda on request for the release of funds to enable the payment of compensation in his capacity as the Chairman, Kano State Compensation Committee. a) Funds Requested to Enable the Payment of Compensation for Six (6) Structures Considered too Close to the Karkasara Darmanawa Dual Carriage Way/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital:Kano Urban Planning Development Authority (KNUPDA) presented a submission on the cited issue via a letter referenced No. KNUPDA/BP/207/15 dated 6th December, 2013. The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning assessed the value of the six (6) structures, which were verified by the State Committee on Compensation to the aggregate sum of N13,609,120.00 which was requested for release by Council to enable the payment for the stated compensation.

Council considered and approved as requested. b) Funds Requested to Enable Payment of Compensation for Eleven (11) Omitted Structures Affected by the Construction of Yan’ Tsaki to Darmanawa to Na’ibawa to Yan’ Katako Road:-

Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) presented a submission on the cited issue via a letter referenced No. KNUPDA/ENG/586/27 dated 19th August, 2010. The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning assessed the compensation value of the eleven (11) structures which were verified by the State Committee on Compensation to the aggregate sum of N7,802,030.00 which was requested for release by Council to enable payment for the stated compensation. Council considered and approved as requested.

8. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, COOPERATIVES AND TOURISM The only memorandum submitted for deliberation by Council from this Ministry was approved for execution. Thus: Presentation of Situation Report on Challawa Abattoir (Nigeria Meat and Associated Products Limited (NIMAP)):The Hon. Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism submitted the cited presentation in response to an Executive Instruction to him. Council was reminded that NIMAP is a modern meat processing company established with the capacity to slaughter and process 960 sheep/goats, 800 cows and 40 camels per day. It was equipped with facilities to process animal byproducts such as blood, bones, condemned meat, hooves and horns in commercial quantities. Its sewage system was designed to convert animal waste into manure for farmers. It has spacious cold rooms capable of storing 2,000 carcasses at a time.

However, since the establishment of the company in the 80s, the company was not able to function at 100% capacity due to lack of competent and experienced management coupled with the lack of cooperation from the butchers and some religious leaders for the use of modern technology in the slaughtering process.

The contents of the memorandum informed Council that the Company requires serious attention from the State Government so as to save the huge investment made to provide a modern slaughter facility suitable to process meat hygienically and provide employment opportunities. The Company needs reactivation along with the empowerment lines earmarked upon by the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Council acknowledged the presentation and decided to attract serious investor(s) interested in the running of the Company since the present company on site seems to be incapable.

9. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Council deliberated upon and approved the execution of the contents of the only memorandum submitted from the Ministry of Education. Thus: Request for Funds to Enable the Conversion of Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) Training School, Rurum into a Boys’ Boarding Secondary School:This request was presented to Council for consideration in line with the policy of the present administration in Kano State to convert all unused/under used public owned buildings/facilities to viable Schools.

The stated KASCO Training School was identified by experts from the Ministry of Education and recommended for the conversion into a viable Agricultural Studies based boys boarding secondary school. The transformation was estimated at the sum of N71,977,457.23 which was requested for release by Council. Council approved the request.

UPDATE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 154TH EXCO SITTING 1. ALL PEOPLES’ CONGRESS (APC) NATIONAL CONVENTION Council acknowledged the successful conduct of APC National Convention and equally appreciated the election of Alhaji Bala Muhammad Gwagwarwa (former Commissioner for Science and Technology of the State) as the National Treasurer of the Party.

2. PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE Council acknowledged the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate Degree Award to Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE by Shadar University, India on his commendable performance towards the development of Education in the State.

3. REPORT OF DISCOVERY OF ILLEGAL DRUG – WAREHOUSE In its effort to dislodge the activities of fake, expired, unwholesome and substandard items in the State, Government discovered an illegal drugs warehouse along Maganda Road. Similarly, within the same premises a Small Scale Manufacturer of baking powder was found and the condition under which the company was operating violates the hygienic requirements which necessitated the closure of the company. In a nutshell, Kano State Consumer Protection Council was set up in order to bring sanity in the production of goods and services and ensure that consumer rights are protected in the State.

4. INTERACTIVE SESSION AMONG CONTRACTORS, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE On Tuesday 17th June, 2014 Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE met with all major contractors/stakeholders handling different projects in the State. The meeting reviewed the progress so far made and challenges being faced and proposed ways forward. The Governor admonished all the contractors to work hard and ensure timely completion of the projects, and also warned that Kano State Government will not tolerate any delay in the completion of the Projects.

5. ENTRY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS MALAM MUHAMMAD SUNUSI II THE NEW EMIR OF KANO TO HIS PALACE Council acknowledged the entry of His Royal Highness Malam Muhammad Sunusi II the new Emir to his Palace. He was cheered and received by mammoth crowd of supporters as the fourteenth (14th) Fulani Emir in the State.

Signed:

Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture

www.kn.gov.ng/new

46 news south-west Arisekola Can’t Be Replaced – Tukur As sympathisers continue to mourn the former deputy president general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has described him as a rare gem who would be missed by all.

Tukur said this during a condolence visit to the Oluwo Kekere House of the deceased in Ibadan yesterday morning.

“Arisekola’s death was not only a great loss to the people of Ibadan and Oyo State, but also to Nigeria in general.

“He was somebody who was generous and always thought of others. He was a rare gem that cannot be replaced,” Tukur said.

Arisekola died in a London hospital on Wednesday and has since been buried in Ibadan.

In the condolence register signed in the deceased’s house, the former chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) stated: “Aare Musulumi, a man of humanity and generosity. May Allah grant him Aljanna Firdaus, Amin.”

The former PDP boss, who refused to comment on the party’s victory in the Ekiti gubernatorial election, said “I am here to mourn Arisekola and not for politics.”

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

Fayose’s Victory Signals Rejection Of APC In South West – Wole Oke The victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the Ekiti governorship election, Mr Ayo Fayose on Saturday has signalled the rejection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the South West geopolitical zone.

The former chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence and gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the PDP, Hon Wole Oke said this in a statement signed by his media aide, Barrister Yemi Giwa.

Oke, who congratulated the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose and the entire people of Ekiti for their love and support for the PDP, insisted that the vote of the people is a clear indication of the rejection of APC programmes and projects.

He said, “The hypocrisy of the APC and their anti-people programmes has been exposed and that is why they were flushed out of Ekiti State”.

Oke likened the scenario in Ekiti to a proverbial woman, who had tasted two husbands and now prefers one, saying that “the people of the South West now see the PDP as the better and preferred alternative”.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

Monday, June 23, 2014

Ijesa North, Aregbesola Re-election Campaign Team Launch Campaign With Free Medical Service

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

The Aregbesola re-election campaign committee in Ijesa North Federal Constituency has launched its door-to-door campaign with free medical test and supply of free drugs to the electorate in the constituency.

Addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters at Owena, Ikeji Arakeji and Ipetu Ijesa, all in Oriade local government of Osun State, the chairman of the campaign commit-

tee who is also the commissioner for finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Wale Bolorunduro enjoined the electorate to vote for Governor Rauf Aregbesola to enable him continue his good works.

He noted that Aregbesola’s administration has transformed the state tremendously within the period of three and a half years, assuring that if given the opportunity to continue, he will do more.

Bolorunduro contended that the state has not had it so good since its creation, adding that

Aregbesola’s government has rescued the state from the shackles of bondage which the previous administration had put it in, through infrastructural developments which cut across the state.

He implored the people not to be deceived by the opposition going about with different lies and deceits, but rather jettison their falsehood and hold on to the man whom God has sent to re-modify the state.

Also speaking, the House of Representatives member repre-

senting Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Hon Nathaniel Agunbiade stressed that Osun people can only appreciate the good works of Mr Rauf Aregbesola by voting him in for the second term so that development can continue in the state.

The federal lawmaker noted that voting Aregbesola in for the second term will boost the economy of every individual, adding that already, Aregbesola has touched the lives of the people positively.

short news Ekiti Election Has Vindicated INEC – Adeyeye The minister designate and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a hitch-free election in the state.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Adeyeye said that the electoral body has shown that it could be relied on to handle electoral L-R: Returning officer for Ekiti governorship election, Prof Isaac Asuzu, resident electoral commissioner for Ekiti, Alhaji issues on behalf of Halilu Pai and national commissioner of INEC, Dr Chris Iyimoga, during the release of final results for Ekiti governorship the people. election in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN. Adeyeye said the conduct of the election has also vindicated INEC as an “unbiased

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan Hosea Agboola to desist from creat- chairmen of the party in the 33 lo- umpire”. ing disunity among members of the cal governments of the state on the The former State Fresh crisis has hit the Oyo State party in the state.

17th of this month at a secret ven- Universal Basic Educhapter of the Peoples Democratic He said the minority leader in the ue in Sango area of Ibadan which is cation Board chairParty (PDP) over the selection of the Senate had called a secret meeting not a party office. man in the state, party’s flag bearer in the 2015 gover- of the party chairmen in the 33 lo“This was done without the con- however, urged norship election in the state. cal government areas, intimating sent of the state chairman, Mr Yinka INEC to continue A chieftain of the party in the that Abuja had picked former Sen- Taiwo. What right does he have to be in that manner by state, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adebi- ate leader, Senator Teslim Folarin as informing the party council bosses making next year’s si Olopoenia while speaking with the Oyo PDP governorship candidate that Abuja has picked Senator Tes- general election newsmen in Ibadan yesterday, and they must also support him. lim Folarin as the Oyo PDP gover- more credible. warned the lawmaker representing He said, “It is very wrong for Sen- norship candidate and they must By Alo Abiola, Oyo North Senatorial Zone, Senator ator Agboola to call a meeting of all also support him?”

Ado-Ekiti

2015: Fresh Crisis Hits Oyo PDP

Shun Politics Of Violence, LP Chairman Tells Nigerians

By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

Chairman of Labour Party in Ogun State, Comrade Niyi Osoba has called on Nigerians to do away with politics of violence to preserve democracy.

He made this appeal yesterday at the Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency meeting held at the Empire Ground, Ilaro.

The party chieftain urged citizens of Ogun State to join LP, promising that the party would transform the state’s economy if voted into office in the 2015 election.

“Democracy is about people.

If a party has welfare agenda, there is no reason to engage in violence. It is about telling the people what you want to do in of-

fice and people have the choice to choose from many alternatives.”

He appreciated the former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for his untiring efforts at moving LP forward, saying Daniel’s government remains the only government in Nigeria that constructed a 37km road with street lights.

“Otunba Daniel remains a ref-

erence point as far as development is concerned. The Abeokuta - Sagamu Expressway constructed by Otunba Daniel remains the only road linking two cities that has street lights.”

At the event, different items, ranging from deep freezers to sewing machines were distributed to lucky party members through a lottery system.

Monday, June 23, 2014

zonal watch

EDO DELTA BAYELSA RIVERS AKWA IBOM CROSS RIVER My Subjects Are Impersonating Me Before Oil Firms – Monarch

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

Heads FROM tHe ZONe

The traditional ruler of Opuoma community in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State, Eze Friday Eso Ikenyiri, has alleged that some indigenes of the community are impersonating him before multinational oil companies operating in the community.

Ikenyiri, in a statement issued

in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said such persons were making clandestine moves with forged letters of mandate to receive payments/benefits from the oil firms on behalf of the community.

He warned companies operating in the community, including Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited,

and others, to be wary of such persons, adding that dealings with such elements are capable of incriminating unsuspecting staff of such companies.

The traditional ruler, in the statement signed on his behalf

by Prince Kingsley Ikenyiri, said; “We are warning Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited,

Group Educates Bayelsans On State Budget, Good Governance

➔ Mrs Onene Osila ObeleOshoko Obele-Oshoko, the chairman of Rivers state Board of Internal Revenue, has since assumption of office, ensured the rise of the state IGR from N2billion to N8billion.

➔ Chief Felix Obuah Obuah, the chairman of Peoples democratic Party (PdP) in Rivers state, last weekend announced the sponsorship of about 50 members of the party to Brazil to support the super eagles of Nigeria in the ongoing World Cup.

➔ Mr tunde Johnson Ogunsakin Ogunsakin, the commissioner of police in Rivers state, during the week got leaders of political parties in the state to sign an agreement against violence or breach of security in the state.

and other companies operating in Opuoma Autonomous Community, to be wary of some disgruntled elements within the community, who are making clandestine moves with fictitious letters of mandate to receive payments/ benefits, etc, on behalf of Opuoma Autonomous Community, capable of incriminating unsuspecting staff of such companies.

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

Paramount ruler of Egi Kingdom in Rivers State, Eze Kingdom Elenwa (left), his wife, Dame Victoria Elenwa, and the general manager, Sustainable Development of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (TEPNG), Mr Cyprian Ojum, during the free distribution of Shika Brown Layer Birds to poultry farmers in Egi land.

Bayelsa Communities Cry Out Over Ocean surge

BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa

Traditional rulers and elders from Koluama Clan in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State have cried out over the rising surge of the ocean against communities in the state, declaring that the communities are on the verge of extinction as a result of the development.

The concerned traditional

rulers and elders said that though the affected communities have notified relevant authorities about the ocean threats without responses, the ugly development has eaten deep into the communities and sacked hundreds of women and children from their homes.

The Ibenanaowei of Koluama clan, King Solomon Edi-Mangi, the

Kolu XI, flanked by other prominent indigenes of the troubled area including the Amananaowei of Koluama I community, HRH, J. T. C. Leghemo and the Amananaowei of Koluama II community, HRH, Newton Ogboinbiri-Mienye, said the ocean threat was caused by a combination of factors including the gas explosion from Chevron facilities in the area.

Skills Acquisition, Panacea For Youth Restiveness –Oshiomhole’s Aide

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

The executive director on youths to the governor of Edo State, Mr Emmanuel Yakubu, has identified skills acquisition as the easiest and fastest way to curb the challenges of youth restiveness and unemployment in the country.

He urged the federal government to empower the agencies responsible for creating em-

ployment opportunities to do so and speed up efforts at taking the youths off the streets, adding that enabling platform must be put in place to engage restive youths.

Yakubu, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, noted that it is practically impossible for any government to employ all the youths, adding however, that through skills acquisition, the needed employment opportuni-

ties would be created.

He said; “I have constantly argued that there is no singular way to solving this problem of obvious youth unemployment that has become an issue in this country. This explains the high level of insecurity in the country today.

“When the different government agencies that are responsible for creating employment opportunities are empowered to do so, results will be achieved”.

A group, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has met with community leaders, youth groups, and civil society groups in Bayelsa State over contending issues of wide participation in the processes that lead to annual budget proposals by the state government to the State House of Assembly and good governance.

ANEEJ, in conjunction with Bayelsa State Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF), convened a town hall meeting at the Niger Delta Wetland Centre, Yenagoa, to review the participation of the people in the governance process of the state.

The town hall meeting, which was held with 49 participants drawn from NGOs, artisans, women and youth groups, selected community representatives and the media, focused on ‘Public Hearing as a Tool for Promoting Citizens’ Participation in the Budget and Governance Process in Bayelsa State.’

In a communiqué issued at the end of the town hall meeting, which was signed by the leader of Ogbia Women Assembly (OWA), Mrs Freeman President, the chairman of BANGOF, Torki Dauseye, and the policy officer of ANEEJ, Mr Innocent Edemhanria, participants reviewed the commitment of Bayelsa State government on issues of transparency and accountability and noted that the government has made efforts to give account to the people through the monthly transparency briefing and other related channels.

The participants, however, said, “But majority of the people are excluded from participating in the briefing and some who attend do not also have the opportunity to ask questions.”

47

48 zonal watch (South-South)

Monday, June 23, 2014

news behind the news

Ogunsakin

Mbu

Wike

Rivers: Between Police Intervention, APC And PDP War Of Words

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

Few days ago, the commissioner of police in Rivers State, Mr Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin held a meeting with leaders of the existing political parties in the state. The meeting, which was held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, was the second since Ogunsakin resumed duty following the redeployment of the former commissioner of police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu. The meeting, attended by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the Accord Party (AP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), came barely one week after members of the APC and the PDP held protests simultaneously against and in favour of the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha as administrative judge of the state by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The two protests were held despite an existing ban placed on unauthorised gathering and political activities by the state Police Command. The commissioner of police, had in a statement issued and signed by himself few hours after the PDP concluded its protest, said the ban was as a result of the security and political situations in the state.

Supporters of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, believed to be members of the APC, had on Wednesday, June 11, staged a protest against the directive, while the following day, supporters of the supervising minister of education, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, believed to be members of the PDP, staged what they called pro-Daisy Okocha protest, supporting the NJC directive.

He said; “On the assessment of security situation in the state, it has become necessary to re-enforce the ban on political rallies. As the chief law enforcement officer in Rivers State, I have a responsibility to ensure that all gatherings for whatever reason, whether politically-motivated or otherwise, are carried out within the ambits of the law and in a way that there will

not be any breakdown of law and order in the state.

“It is also imperative to reiterate for the umpteenth time, that political rallies remain banned in all parts of the country, in compliance with Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act which states as follows: “For the purpose of this Electoral Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

Ogunsakin advised persons, political associations or groups intending to hold any gathering to give the police five days’ notice to enable the force provide adequate security and protection, saying; “It is important to emphasise that the duty to provide adequate security is imposed on me by Section 94 (1) of the Electoral Act which states as follows: “For the purpose of the proper and peaceful conduct of political rallies and processions, the commissioner of police in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, shall provide adequate security for processions at political rallies in the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

Speaking during the meeting with leaders of political parties, the police chief advised the parties to refrain from remarks and statements that could fuel acrimony and cause social destabilisation during the build-up to the campaigns and the elections proper.

He urged them to adhere strictly to the directive by the state Police Command to obtain police clearance for any gathering of more than 20 people, stating that it is in the interest of the political parties, their members and the society in general for them to get police clearance and protection before any rally, meeting or demonstrations.

Ogunsakin ensured that the leaders of the political parties entered an undertaking with the state Police Command, to abide by the decisions reached at the meeting, which was attended

by APC state deputy chairman, and state secretary, Chief Peter Odike, and Mr Emeka Bekee; PDP

state deputy chairman and state secretary, Chief Mowan Etete, and Chief Walter Ibiba, AP chairman in the state, Mr Dimkpa Dike, his NNPP counterpart, Mr Dickson Princewill Enyi as well as the APGA chairman in the state, Mr Terry Godfrey.

The six-point undertaking reads in part; “We the undersigned leaders of various political parties as indicated hereunder, undertake to abide by the decisions taken by all at the meeting between us and the commissioner of police, Rivers State, CP Tunde Ogunsakin, on June 17, 2014.

“We agreed to abide and comply fully with the relevant sections of the Electoral Laws banning political rallies outside the 90 days pre-election period, ensure party members and followers are made to abide with relevant rules and regulations guiding the maintenance and sustenance of law and order, peace and security.

“We recognise and accept the neutrality of the police and are willing to work with the force to ensure the sustenance of peace.

We accept to prevail on party members and followers to avoid making inflammatory statements or displaying antagonistic conducts that could undermine peace in the state.

“We express willingness to pass the message down the ladder for all to abide by the principle of playing politics in an environment devoid of rancour. We make this solemn undertaking with the belief that we will collectively offer good leadership and guidance to our followers.”

However, despite the efforts of the police chief to get the political parties to guard their members and supporters against engaging in activities that would threaten the peace and security of the state, the APC and PDP seem not to adhere to that.

The latest war of words between the two leading political parties in the state began when the PDP, through Jerry Needam, the special adviser on media to its chairman, accused Amaechi of being responsible for the influx of suspected members of Boko Haram to the state.

Amaechi

News Behind The News

Rivers: TOTAL Distributes Free Layer Birds To Rural Farmers

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

However, despite the efforts of the police chief to get the political parties to guard their members and supporters against engaging in activities that would threaten the peace and security of the state, the APC and PDP seem not to adhere to that

Multinational oil giant, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) has freely distributed over 7,000 Shika brown layer birds to poultry farmers in communities in Egi Kingdom of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of Rivers State, under its Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES).

Speaking at the event, held at the Seed Multiplication Centre (SMC), Oboburu-Egi, deputy managing director, Port Harcourt District of TEPNG, Mr Nicolas Brunet said the free distribution of the layer birds was part of efforts of the firm towards the diversification of the economy of Egi Kingdom.

He said; “This occasion is very important as it marks yet another bold step in our efforts towards the diversification of the Egi economy.

Prior to this time, it had been a cause of concern that the greater part of the economic life within and around Egi land, had been focused on the oil and gas sector.

“On our part, we have worked over the years to encourage this diversification through the establishment of various institutions in the communities geared towards empowering the local people in the areas of business and entrepreneurship.”

Brunet, who was represented by the general manager, Sustainable Development, Mr Cyprain Ojum, stated that the GES is one of the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, focused on preserving existing jobs and creating new ones in the communities by empowering local farmers.

In a welcome address, the deputy manager, Enterprise Development, Mr Philippe Desriac, said by the gesture, TEPNG has reaffirmed its leadership position in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives towards empowering its host communities through capacity building, economic development, and access to innovation and technology for enterprise development and wealth creation.

Desriac disclosed that with the initiative, TEPNG sees the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Rivers State Partners for Sustainable Development (RSPSD) and the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHACCIMA), as those involved in supporting local farmers in various ways.

ISSUES 49

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Art And Our Loses by jimmy johnson

Nigeria is a country that is endowed with everything in abundance – black gold, minerals of all sorts and to crown it the human resources to manage the gift of nature for the benefit of the teaming population.

Regrettably, some of those who should contribute to the welfare of the people are only busy blaming government for everything while they do nothing to help the people and country despite all the opportunities open to them.

In the Art, which is the topic of this text, I must say Nigeria has lost a great deal of grounds and reason for this loss is not farfetched. Those who have the wherewithal to put this country on top of the world in the Art have inexplicably neglected a responsibility and failed to do it right. As a result of the gross neglect this generation of those in the Art labour without the desired recognition. They earn a pittance in spite of their highly creative endowment. Their counterparts in civilised countries are highly recognised and earn mouthwatering income for their work.

In the early 60s, foreigners had foreseen Nigeria’s very rich cultural heritage and in the Art. Their foresight led to the establishment of The African Writers’ and Artist Club – MBARI and also The American Society for African Culture – AMSAC. The former was located in Ibadan while the later in Lagos. I worked with MBARI and therefore can discuss its functions to the fullest. It was established by a German, Ulli Beier and his wife Susan Wenger – both late – and was sponsored by an American and French Foundations. Ulli and his wife lived in Oshogbo where his wife made immeasurable contribution to the success story

Soyinka

teaching?

Why did Soyinka choose to “save” lives on the highway with his Federal Road Safety business and “kill” by neglect, the living artists whose profession he fundamentally belongs and has spent all his life

of Osun Festival. She was known as ‘Iya Olorisa.’ She achieved what an indigene could not achieve.

MBARI was a beehive of activities in the promotion of artists not only in Nigeria but in Africa. The first generation of artists in Nigeria went through MBARI. It was a membership club. There I met Wole Soyinka, a member of the club, then a struggling lecturer at the

University of Ibadan. I look back with a deep sense of nostalgia and remember a man who totally loved the Art. He had established the first contemporary Theatre of English Expression, The 1960 Mask, which later became ‘Orisun Theatre’ – Hubert Ogunde and Baba Sala’s acting companies had been in existence. There in ‘Orisun Theatre’ my acting career began working with Soyinka

and in fact his closest assistant he called a ‘general factotum’ – a man of all works. In the group were Tunji Oyelana; Jimi Solanke; Sola Odunfa; Yomi Obileye; Betty Okotie (late); Wale Ogunyemi (late); others were, Yewande Akibo, Rasaki; Femi Fatoba (late); Sehinde Arigbede (medical school); including Dapo Adelugba who was teaching at Ibadan Grammar School; Bayo Oduneye; Francesca Emmanuel (Perm Sec.); Femi Johnson (late); an Insurance guru and brother of the former Lagos State military governor – a formidable group it was in which any task could be accomplished.

The performance of this group was not limited within the country, as many a times members of the group went abroad – London, U.S. and France to present Soyinka’s Plays. He portrayed a very hard working leader whose interest in promoting the Art cannot burn out. He got the best of what he wanted from everybody and indeed, the totality of his literary work well presented equally on stage in the various theatres in the Western world gave him the Nobel Prize.

To some of us who went through that experience with him, it is a great surprise that Soyinka jettisoned all theatre activities that took him to the top and as well walked out on all those who rallied round him in his days of struggle.

It is also most incredible that his leading theatre group fizzled into thin air with the caliber of highly talented men and women he had trained and put together.

My high expectation which I made known to him was to take over the National Theatre which should have been named after him – Wole Soyinka National Theatre – if he made it functional like the

theatres he took us to work abroad.

The National Theatre would have been well utilised for the exclusive use by artists for whose sake it was built. Theatre Art departments in the universities would hold annual drama competitions presenting various plays written by Soyinka.

International poetry reading, exhibitions by fine artists and sculptures who took subvention from the theatre to work, sell their works and return borrowed money without tears – all these could be done. MBARI did it. Soyinka does not need a dime from the Nigerian government to accomplish all these. He would find grants from any part of the world to run our National Theatre as an authentic African cultural centre and this generation of artists would benefit from his achievements. Nollywood would have been well streamlined for quality productions from the start.

Why did Soyinka choose to “save” lives on the highway with his Federal Road Safety business and “kill” by neglect, the living artists whose profession he fundamentally belongs and has spent all his life teaching?

Why did Soyinka walk out on the performing Art? He called us “a wasted generation. Does he exclude himself from this generation which he describes as “wasted?”

Let us learn to speak out and tell the truth. That we do not say the truth and hate to hear the truth is the corruption. A man who speaks the truth and accepts the truth cannot be corrupt. It is he who dwells in falsehood, never accepts the truth and never tells the truth that is corrupt.

– Johnson, a veteran actor, producer and directorwrote in from Abuja

Dele Fatokun

Reasoning Together reasoningtogether2013@yahoo.com 08158594386 (SMS only)

Guilt, Guilty Conscience And Condemnation Guilt is defined as a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, failure, mistake, crime or wrong, whether real or imagined. It is associated with negative feelings such as shame, remorse, anguish, torment, self-condemnation, selfunforgiveness, self-judgment and in extreme cases, severe depression.

According to James A. Fowler in his article on guilt, the following manifestations are associated with feelings of guilt: nervousness, depression, defensiveness, suspicion, sleeplessness (insomnia), fear, panic-attacks, escapism, insecurity, addictions, selfdestructive behavior and selfcondemnation etc. There are two

types of guilt: genuine guilt and false/imaginary guilt. Genuine guilt is a product of real violation of one’s moral beliefs, a violation of God’s laws and spiritual principles.

A story was told of a lady writer on how she felt when she recognised the state of her life. Hear what she likes to say: “I had felt guilty for not being a good mom for my son. If any of you have read my story in the book I wrote called, “A Matter of the Mind” you will see what I’m talking about. My son is now an adult, yet I carried that guilt still, and because of that guilt, all my life I tried to “repay” him for how I was. I could never PAY for anything! All I was doing was staying in my guilt - which is

sin (Satan imparted nature).

Guilt is the initial onset that comes when we think we missed the mark, we didn’t keep the law or we didn’t do everything right, disobeying the commandments of our Creator. The weight of guilt brings a deep feeling of the need to pay for it - which is the condemnation. Frustration also comes by trying to please God and our neighbours in a bid to mend fences of broken relationships. Guilt comes when we have not received forgiveness for whatever it is we think we did. We think we have to pay for whatever we did, so we stay in that state of guilt.

It has become a part of life. It is obvious that a person who has not

received forgiveness always walks around guilty about everything. In conversations, he would continually say things like, “I feel guilty about…; I feel sad” “I feel so awful today and don’t know why” “I just feel bad.”

These are guilt indicators which need to be eradicated. Friend, there is only one way this can be removed,

Many things can potentially harm the conscience; chief among them is the love of money, power and position.

counselling and relief. You need to know that SIN is the original source of guilt and the repercussion of sin brings condemnation. There is the universal guilt of all men as the Holy Scripture says “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. A deep thought about one’s actions and reactions to colleagues, acquaintances and relations may uncover cases of guilt hanging on his/her personality.

The good news is that Jesus Christ bore all our guilt away and opened the life gate of freedom from guilt and condemnation in general, and your ability to forgive yourself and learn to travel free without guilt and condemnation.

50

Monday, June 23, 2014

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES SHINE FORTH GLORY MINISTRY

PAN AFRICA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC REFLECTION, PLANNING AND ALTERNATIVE ACTION

REDEEMER’S COVENANT CHURCH OF GOD INT’L

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 Of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CENTER has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 Of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 Of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Oluwayemisi Emmanuel Okesola 2. Lady Evangelist Alice Oluwatoyin Okesola 3. Mr. Funsho Peter Oladimeji 4. Mr. Adekunle Jaiyesimi

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ajayeoba Ayodeji (Jaye Gaskia) 2. Ajayeoba Lydia Isiuwa 3. Osamwonyi Charity Osaghae

- Chairman - Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. Silas Abbey - Chairman 2. Pst. Mrs. Rose Abbey 3. Mr. Princewill Silas Abbey 4. Elder Faculty Mpiawa - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the word of God to the whole world.

2. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

3. to organize outreaches, crusades, seminars, workshops and revival services for the works of the gospel.

4. To win souls for the kingdom of God.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the word of God.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Governance, political/conflict analysis and response planning.

2. Gender equity and youth empowerment initiative.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: BARR. N.N OSAkwE

RYARYIP PEACE FOUNDATION

USMAN BIN AFFAN FOUNDATION

ESSIEN UDIM COMMUNITY HEALTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is here by notify that, the above name has applied to corporate affairs commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of companies and allied matters act No.1 of 1990

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part ‘‘C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1 Kut Kut Fon - president 2. Wan Dat Mbang - secretary 3. Vincent Deme Dongs 4. John Markus Pam 5. Pyam Mbok 6. John Daniel Hwok 7. Don Hwok Tson

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Haruna M Usman 2. Muhammad Bin Shuaib 3. Muhammad Dawaki Hamza 4. Usman Abdullahi Bayi 5. Muhammad Bashir Hussaini 6. Muhammed Sani Anku

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide humanitarian services.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

OBJECTIVES:1. To established Islamic Nursery, Primary, and Secondary School 2. To propagate Islamic Education 3. To give charity to the needy and less privilege peoples Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the corporate affair commission plot 420 Tigris crescent,off Aguyi Ironsi street, PMB 198 Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ANIEDI AKPABIO 2. IMO-OWO OKPOKPO 3. NESTOR UDOH 4.OLIVER EBONG 5. ETEKAMBA UMOREN 6. EMMANUEL EKONG 7. UDO ISOBARA 8. NSE NTUEN 9. NSUDOH NSUDOH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To donate money for Health Care services in Essien Udim.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Singed: CHAIRMAN

UkANA wEST 2 COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH INITIATIVE

OBIO ETOI YOUTH ASSOCIATION

ASSOCIATION OF URUE OFFONG/ORUkO GRASSROOT wOMEN OF AkwA IBOM STATE

This is to inform the general public that the above named INITIATIVE has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Maters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria CAC for registration under part ‘‘C’’ of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. NSIMA IME INIM 2. AKANINYENE EKPENYONG EDO 3. NSIKAK EYO EKPO 4. SUNDAY PETER EDEM 5. EKONG ENEFIOK EFFIONG

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. LADY HILDA EDET AMANA 2. ENO VALANTINE OBOHO 3. ARIT OKON TOM 4. NNENE OKON BASSEY 5. AKON EFFIONG ATTI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To unit Obio Etoi youths for peace and development

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To bring unity and development among the women of Urue Offong/ Oruko of Akwa Ibom State.

THE TRUSTEES 1. MICHAEL AKPABIO 2. MATTHEW UMOH 3. FRANCIS ROBERT 4. SYLVIA EKPO 5. ETOK IDIONG 6. ITORO EKPO 7. MARTHA EFFIONG 8. EMMA UDO 9. IBORO UDOH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide day-to-day health services that is beneficial to the people.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication.

Signed: CHAIRMAN

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within –twenty eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: CHAIRMAN

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, within 28 days of the publication.

Signed: CHAIRMAN

HALIMATU SADIYA TRUST FUND

CHRELS AMOS MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

kINGDOM AGENDA GLOBAL MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named ORGANISATION has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Maters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters Act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.REV.HANSON CHRELS AMOS VICTORY 2.REV.JOY VENGEANCE GRACEFIELD CHRELS AMOS 2.MISS DIVINE THOUGHT HANSON CHRELS AMOS 4.MR TONYE ABBEY

THE TRUSTEES 1. Engr. Mohammed Bashiru Zekeri 2. Aisha Zakari3. Mariam Zakari 4. Muniretu Zekeri 5. Akhaizetu Nadine Zakari 6. Hajara Zakari

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR UYOATA UMOREN 2. PASTOR UKO ETIM WARREN 3. EVANGELIST AUGUSTINE PETER AKPAN

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To assist the youth to become self reliant.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 2.TO SERVE AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Signed: POPOOLA GRACE ESQ. O7030889391

SIGNED: P.I OMORUYI ESQ 08036568686

Signed: DOTUN ILORI, ESQ (Legal Counsel)

For booking or inquiry call

> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944

> AUGUstINE 08061602706

> GLORIA OKwUM 08038722368

> ABIGAIL sAMBO 08064382438

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519

> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851

> GRACE OJO 08035054444

51

Monday, June 23, 2014

LINUS OGAR FORUM FOR NIGERIAN GRADUATES

POTTAL HAALIPULAR INITIATIVE

INITIATIVE FOR EMPOWERMENT & DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FORUM has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE Trustees are: 1. Bah Mohamed - Chairman 2. Bah Mamadou Lamarana 3. Jalloh Mallal 4. Diallo Mouhamed Diasir

THE Trustees are: 1. Patrick Okpomu 2. Ahmad Umar 3. Bethel Okpomu 4. Mrs. Joyce Okpomu

Aims and objectives are: 1. Promote love, unity and peaceful co-existence among Fulani communities resident in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Aims and objectives are: 1. To equip youth with skill for self employment.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: ERIC OSEIGA DANIAN & CO 3RD FLOOR STANDARD PLAZA AMINU KANO WUSE 2 ABUJA F.C.T.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: SECRETARY

THE Trustees are: 1. Ogar Linus Ogbeche 2. Ochefu Ochoechi 3. Kulugh Moses Aims and objectives are: 1. Educating youths and graduates inthe society.

2. To refocus the interest of our leaders into the Nigerian educational institution.

3. To make our leaders look inward to Nigerian graduates for employment.

4. To create massive jobs for the teeming population.

GALLANT STAR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE Trustees are: 1. Mrs. Subuloye Ruth Nkemjika - Chairman 2. Mr. Subuloye Samuel Olaniyi - Vice Chairman 3. Mrs. Okorie Esther Chinwenmeri - Secretary 4. Elder Subuloye Stephen Oyekanmi 5. Pastor (Mrs) Paul-Ushie Folusho 6. Ukejeh Chisimdiri Kingsley 7. Mr. Faturoti Gbenga Oladiran 8. Mr. Subuloye Daniel Olamide 9. Mr. Orisamuyiwa Dickson 10. Mr. Duru Ewuru Damian

OPEN ARMS FOUNDATION

LEGAL NOTICE

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

THE Trustees are: 1. Adeniyi Makinde Bankole 2. Itoro Adesewa Bankole

Aims and objectives are: 1. Community and youth development services by helping families and youths to discover themselves and actualise their goal for the growth of our country..

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE

Aims and objectives are: 1. To support less privileged people and communities.

DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

MISS. EKAETTE ELIJAH UDOMA Mary Udoma National Hospital, Abuja House SSD Karamanjiji,

Airport Road Abuja WHO DIED ON THE 8th April 2014.

The Sister of the said

deceased

DATED AT ABUJA THIS 20th DAY OF JUNE, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: SECRETARY

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

GREEN EARTH IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CAC/IT/NO.64574

ASSOCIATION FOR THE ERADICATIONOF HEPATITIS, COMMUNICABLE AND NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN NIGERIA

SURE HOPE FOUNDATION NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for the appointment of a trustee under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990. old Trustees are: 1. Sa’ada Kabir - Retained 2. Odiase Esther - Retained 3. Samson Abayomi Babatunde - Retained 4. Agida Elizabeth - Retained 5. Adibeli Harris - Retained 6. Thomas Odiase - Retained

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE Trustees are: 1. Stepehn Bature 2. Oluwamayowa Joseph Joel 3. Ijeoma Ruthven 4. Falana Martin-Mary 5. Oprah Nnaji 6. Timi Owolabi 7. Chinweuba Onah 8. Ibrahim Umoru

THE Trustees are: 1. Enelamah Ebele Roseline 2. Enelamah Ugochukwu 3. Nkiru Eunice Asiegbu 4. John Chukwudi Asiegbu

Newly Elected Trustee: 1. Eric Ifere - Newly Appointed 2. James Ubaru Ifeanyi - Newly Appointed 3. Joe Igwe Odenigbo - Newly Appointed 4. Ogochukwu Rosechristian Ogbu - Newly Appointed THE Aims and objectives REMAINS THE SAME: Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

- Chairman - Vice Chairman - Secretary

Aims and objectives are: 1. Eradication of hepatitis, communicable and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

2. Training of social workers to help combat hepatitis, communicable and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

- Chairman - Secretary

Aims and objectives are: 1. To focus on the less privileged children who are between the ages 1 to 18 (dependents) whom due to circumstances of life could not afford basic education and to offer scholarship to the vry brilliant one to higher schools.

2. To provide hope where there is none.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: SECRETARY

WINDING UP

Halimatu Sadiya Trust Fund

NKA MFON ISO ASSOCIATION

the federal republic of Nigeria The companies and allied matters act, 2004 company limited by shares notice of final meeting of ls cable & system nigeria limited, rc: 997767 (in voluntary liquidation)

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ORGANISATION has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE Trustees are: 1. Engr. Mohammed Bashiru Zekeri 2. Aisha Zakari 3. Mariam Zakari 4. Muniretu Zekeri 5. Akhaizetu Nadine Zakari 6. Hajara Zakari

The Trustees are: 1. Asuquo Etim Ekpenhong 2. Barr. Imelda Efa Adebambo 3. Asuquo Okon Nkebre 4. Etim Bassey Ibok 5. Asuquo Okon Asako 6. Mrs Inyang Bernard Bassey 7. Eyo Nsa Essien

Aims and objectives are: 1. To assist the youth to become self reliant.

The Aims and objectives: 1. To bring Efik speaking people together, residing in Lagos and environs.

2. To organise welfare packages for members.

3. To establish self help projects.

Notice is hereby given that the final Meeting of the Members of LS Cable & System Nigeria Limited (In Voluntary Liquidation) will be held at N0. 2 Lomani Close, Maitama, Abuja on Monday, July 7, 2014 at 10am for the purpose of having the account laid before them, showing the manner in which the winding up of the company has been conducted and the assets of the Company disposed of.

Note: A member who is entitled to attend, speak and vote may appoint a proxy to attend, speak and vote instead of him. A prixy need not be a member of the Company but must attend the meeting in order to represent his appointer.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Dated 16th of June 2014 Signed: TEMI OLAYINKA, LIQUIDATOR

Signed: Popoola Grace Esq, O7030889391

SALAMATU

I formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAMATU UMAR ABDULLAI, now wish to be known and addressed as mrs SALAMATU GARBA. All former documents remain valid. Upper Niger River Basin Authority and the general public should take note.

ezenwa

I formerly known and addressed as miss ezenwafor obianuju jacinta, now wishes to be known and addressed as mrs ezenwa obianuju jacinta All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

VIDA

I formerly known and addressed as VIDA PUPU, now wish to be known and addressed as VIDA ODION. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Oluchi

I, formally known as Miss Osuji Oluchi Happiness , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluchi Happiness Lucky Omogo All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

EKEKE-FORTUNE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS NWACHUKWU IRENE CHIZOBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EKEKE-FORTUNE IRENE CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

VICTOR

I formerly known and addressed as OYASOTIE BLESSING OSEYUMO, now wish to be known and addressed as VICTOR IDAYE BLESSING DESTINY OSEYUMO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

- President - Vice President - Secretary - Trustee - Trustee -Trustee - Trustee

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Barr. Imelda Adebambo Vice President

LETITIA

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT LOSS loss OF DOCUMENT

BAYERO

This is to inform the general public of the loss of Original Certificated Allocation letter/Conveyance of provisional approval dated 07/12/2001 in respect of plot No. 724 in Dabi Bako A district measuring 642.70 M2 issued by Kwali Area Council, FCT Abuja belonging to Labaran Mohammed has been declared missing. All efforts to trace the document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LETITIA NGOZI OCHEI, now wish to be known and addressed as LETITIA NGOZI CHIZEA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AISHA ABDUL KHALIL, now wish to be known and addressed as BAYERO AISHA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

52

Monday, June 23, 2014

Super Eagles Victory Signs Of Greater Nation – Jonathan

By George Agba, Abuja President Goodluck Jonathan declared yesterday that Super Eagles 1:0 victory over their Bosnia Herzegovina team was a sign of an unfolding greater Nigeria.

The president who stated this after he was decorated with the National Grand Patron of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria title at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja said the Super eagles victory just like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victory in Ekiti State implied that Nigeria would soon take its rightful place among the comity of nations.

He said, “I am particularly happy today because of the two

events that happened on Saturday. Others have made reference to that . One was the election in Ekiti State. I am quite happy not necessarily that my party, the PDP won. Yes, as the leader of the party, I must be happy, but it is beyond that.

“I was told that there may be crisis in Ekiti, because the report I got before the election, the feeling is that yes, one party might win or lose, but there will be fire and brimstone. I have to commend the Nigerian Police and other security agencies. And today Ekiti is in a peaceful state. Elections are over and of course to cap it all, those of you who watched the late

night match the Eagles made us proud.

“I only see this as a sign of unfolding of a greater nation coming. Nigeria will surely take its rightful place in the comity of nations. All the challenges will surely pass away”.

Thanking Nigerians for their prayers which he said has sustained the country, Jonathan who noted the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram sect was one of the obstacles facing the country expressed believe that good will always overcome evil.

He said, “Let me use this unique opportunity to appreciate

all Nigerians within this period because those of us who are from the Eastern region knew what the civil war was. But since after that time, this country had not passed through this stress. I appreciate the feelings of Nigerians, the endurance, I also appreciate the support you are giving to the government.

“Let me specially appreciate those of you who are prayer warriors, who have been praying day and night for God to intervene. I always believe that any journey to where is good passes through some bumps. The Boko Haram is one of those obstacles but my conviction is that good will always

REMI yesufu foundation

PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named SOCIETY has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE Trustees are: 1. Pastor Remi Yesufu 2.Ose Mary Magdalene 3.Babajide Yesufu 4. Arc Oluremi Yesufu

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.KADIRI MEDINA OMO 2.OPUTE FREDERICK IDIEMINENAISIVBE 3.NWANKWO DIKE IKEGWU 4.PROF.EZRA ABALIS GAYA 5.DR.NWEZE NKECHINYERE ONYEKWERE 6.INDABAWA ISYAKU IBRAHIM

- Chairman - Secretary

Aims and objectives are: 1. To organizing lectures, seminars and workshop through physical contacts, print and electronic media on peace initiatives Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Barr Solomon AKHIGBE 08037257296

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR PROMOTION OF ALL ASPECTS OF PHYCOLOGICAL RESEARCH. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. NGOZI OKECHUKWU, 08037230581

overcome evil.

“In human history, no matter the challenges, good will always prevail. No matter how dark the night is, light will always come.

Continue to pray for this country, surely, the light will come.

First Lady, Dame Patience read the first lesson of the service from Exodus 3: 1-12, while the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives read the second lesson from Matthew 25:14-30.

The service was attended by the embattled Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari; members of the Federal Executive Council mad other top government officials.

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA Whereas the person / persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the parson(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of Administration of the personal property. Notice is hereby given that the said letters of Administration be granted to such person (s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT’’ the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME AND ADDRESS

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

BASHIR HAFAT -SHEHU Balarabe Shehu and Engr.

Ibrahim Shehu National Council for Arts and Culture, Abuja Federal Ministry of Works

Abuja WHO DIED ON THE 17th December 2013. The brothers of the said deceased

DATED AT ABUJA THIS 20th DAY OF JUNE, 2014 SIGNED BARR. HAFSAT SADIQ FOR: PROBATE REGISTRAR

ESUT GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL EDUCATION

THE CHILDREN AFFAIRS FOUNDATION

THE PROBITY AMBASSADORS ORGANIZATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named SCHOOL has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

This is to inform the General Public that the above named NonGovernmental Organization has applied for Registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 2004.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ORGANIZATION has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Miss. Uzuegbunam Adaora Jane 2. Sir. Anthony Chidi Uzuegbunam 3. Mr. Abraham Jamabo-Member

THE Trustees are: 1. Salawu Abubakar Olushola - President 2. Abdullahi Leadi Sonibare - Secretary

THE Trustees are: 1 Prof. Cyprain Onyeji 2. Barr. Chris Igbokwe 3. Prof. Agu Gab Agu 4. Dr. Eric Ifeanyi Okoye 5. Barr. Dioka Ejionueme 6. Chinedu Onu, Esq

- Vice Chancellor - Registrar - Director Of Studies

Aims and objectives are: 1. To provide and sustain a platform for the dynamic exchange of imputs and ideas that enriches education and research programmes on the one hand and professional, legal needs and practice on the other.

2. To conduct or render assis tance in researches, consultancy services, trainings, development of new projects and organization of workshops.

3. To render assistance in producing well trained human resources personnel to meet the future competent needs of the country.

4. To propagate, disseminate and otherwise popularize the need for professional and legal education.

5. To engage in organizing long or short courses for top level executive management in industries, business, ministries, government department and agencies.

6. To provide facilities and/or render assistance to Enugu State University of Science and Technology in mounting a programme of studies for the award of certificates and diplomas.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: AGU GAB AGU (DIRECTOR)

UDO ADIGO FRIENDS CLUB The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE Trustees are: 1 Ferdinand Golu 2 Sunday Okoro 3 Friday Nwafor 4 Samuel Udoh 5 Anthony Udentah

- Chairman - Secretary

Aims and objectives are: 1. To promote welfare of members.

2. To promote unity among members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

ABRAHAM

I formerly known and addressed as MISS EKPE EKPENYONGANWAN INYANG, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ABRAHAM-ANLAK EKPENYONGAWAN IYANG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

JOHN

I formerly known and addressed as EGHAIRE JOHN EFEMENA, now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN WEALTH EFEMENA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

-Founder -Co-Founder

Aims and objectives are: 1. To serve humanity.

2. To promote probity in all human endeavour.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To help the less privilege in our society.

Any objection to the registration of the above named Church should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: M. E. NWOSUEGBE, ESQ. 08036082373

Signed: IBRAHIM SALAWU, ESQ (08059461274)

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT LOSS loss of document This is to inform the general public of the loss of Certificate of Occupancy with N0. 1B44W-4287Z7083R-D6E2U-30 dated 8/3/2010 issued in the name of PAYRAMID COLOUR LAB. LTD of plot 689, Agadez Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja who later donated it to Serena Fine Faoods Ltd through a deed of assignment and power of attorney duly signed and executed by both parties is missing. All efforts made to trace the said certificate proved abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station.

UGWU

I formerly known as MISS ODOGWU THERESA OBIOMA now wish to be known as MRS UGWU THERESA OBIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

KOLADE

I formerly known and addressed as AKINWANDE OLABISI OYEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as KOLADE AGBOOLA OLABISI OYEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. FCT, UBEB, LEA Kuje, RCCG and the general public should please take note.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE LOSS loss of OF document DOCUMENT

(Abajah believers assembly)

The above named assembly wishes to announce to the general public that her former name Abajah Believers Association has been changed to Abajah Believers Assembly.

All documents bearing the former name remain valid.

Trustees: 1. Anosike Modestus Umunna 2. Obi Nick Chukwuemeka 3. Egwuogu Sabinus 4. Mrs. Paulina Duru 5. Okoronkwo Michael Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Elder Nick Obi. Secretary

MBAH

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT LOSS loss OF DOCUMENT

ENE

This is to inform the general public of the loss of Land Document in respect of Plot N0. 1014 with right of occupancy in Cadastral zone F01 of Kubwa with an area measuring 630.00SQ.M. with new file N0. KN-21777 dated 24th May, 2017 got missing.

All efforts made to trace the said certificate proved abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station or contact ALHAJI AHMED SAIDU WASAI on 08037863086

I formerly known as MISS NWANOLUE OGONNA OBIAMAKA now wish to be known as MRS MBAH OGONNA OBIAMAKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ENE REBECCA IBRAHIM, now wish to be known and addressed as ENE REBECCA IBRAHIM-OBIEKWE (JNR). All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

WORLD NEWS 53

Monday, June 23, 2014

world

news ➍

➌ ➐ ➏ ➊➎

➋

➊ Iran Top Leader Opposes US Action Iran’s top leader has said he is against US intervention in neighbouring Iraq, where Sunni fighters opposed to Tehran have seized a number of towns and cities.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Iraq’s government and its people, with help of top clerics, would be able to end the “sedition” there.

In Clash With Israeli Troops

Israeli forces have shot and killed two Palestinians from the occupied West Bank during a confrontation, as Israel steps up its operation to find three missing teenagers.

The latest death on Sunday brings to four the number of

confirmed fatalities since Israel started its operation to find the missing teens. Soldiers entered several Palestinian cities and villages in the occupied West Bank, rounding up six suspected armed men, the Israeli military said.

➏ US Unlocks Military Aid To Egypt

The US has revealed it has released $575m (£338m) in military aid to Egypt that had been frozen since the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi last year.

The news came as Secretary of State John Kerry visited Cairo just two weeks after former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in as president.

Some 350,000 people have been displaced since the start of an army offensive against militants in Pakistan’s North Waziristan a week ago, officials say.

Long lines of buses and lorries are reported waiting in intense

heat for security clearance to enter the nearest town of Bannu.

There are fears the refugees could spread polio, as many of the displaced children have not been vaccinated.

➎ Palestinians Die

➋ Sunni Rebels Seize

More Towns In Iraq

Sunni fighters led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have expanded their offensive in Iraq, capturing more territory from the government.

ISIL, an al-Qaeda breakaway group active in Syria and Iraq, has taken the towns of Qaim, Rawah and Anah in Anbar province.

Qaim, located on the border with Syria, hosts a key crossing between the two countries.

➌ Putin Urges

➍ Canadian Police

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly shown his support for Kiev’s peace plan, calling on both sides in eastern Ukraine to cease fighting and negotiate a compromise.

Putin said on Sunday that such a compromise should guarantee the rights of the Russian-speaking residents of eastern Ukraine, who should feel they were “an integral part” of their own country.

Canadian police have recaptured three prisoners who escaped by helicopter from a jail outside Quebec city earlier this month.

Police said they were detained at a home in Montreal in the early hours of Sunday and more arrests were likely.

The three, Yves Denis, 35, Denis Lefebvre, 53, and Serge Pomerleau, 49, face murder and drugs charges.

Compromise In Ukraine Recapture Helicopter Escapees Peace Plan

➐ Pakistan Offensive Displaces 350,000

DAY With

Monday, June 23, 2014

Ishaku Kigbu

12

Netherland Vs Chile:

Players To Watch

Keshi Reduced I, Amodu To Onlookers In Brazil – Peters STORIES By ISHAKU KIGBU, Brazil

Keshi

The idea behind setting up a technical department at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by the football house was to have a consortium of coaches to assist whoever was in charge as coach in the areas of advice and technical input. But this has not been the case with coach Stephen Keshi and the trio of technical directors, Shuaibu Amodu, James Peters and Fanny Amu. Reacting to whether Stephen Keshi has benefited from their collective advice or input as former coaches

before him in the area of technical advice, one of the coaches employed by the NFF on technical capacity to the national teams, James Peters said Keshi has simply ignored them and reduced them unfortunately to spectators and onlookers in Brazil.

“This is a major problem and it is not the fault of the federation. It is the fault of the coach. If he recognizes that we were one time his coaches and the same time his senior in this profession I think he should have asked the federation to release us to him and advise him on his capacity, stay with him in his hotel to assist.”

Robin Van Persie

Peters comments on Keshi Arjen Robben

This is a major problem and it is not the fault of the federation. It is the fault of the coach

Yesterday’s results • Russia 0-1 Belgium • Korea Republic 2- 4 Algeria

Memphis Depay

Today’s Matches • Netherland Vs Chile (Sao Paulo) 5pm • Australia Vs Spain (Curitiba) 5pm • Cameroon Vs Brazil (Brasilia) 8pm • Croatia Vs Mexico (Recife) 8pm

Tomorrow’s Matches • Italy Vs Uruguay 5pm (Natal) • Costa Rica Vs France England (Belo Horizonte) 5pm • Japan Vs Colombia 8pm (Cuiaba) • Greece Vs Cote d’Ivoire 9pm (Fortaleza)

About Sao Paulo • Population 11.2 million • Economy: Considered the “financial capital of Brazil”

Head-To-Head Chile Vs Netherland • FIFA Ranking: Chile 8, Netherland 23 • Played 0 matches, Goals for: Chile 0, Netherland 0 •

Islam Slimani of Algeria breaks through on his way to scoring his team’s first goal against Korea Republic yesterday

We Must Work Harder Against Argentina – Keshi Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has said the hard earned victory his team got against Bosnia on Saturday in Cuiaba has put hope and smiles on the faces of Nigerians even though the team must have to work harder against Argentina in their last group game in Porto Alegre.

On the same night, Ghana and fellow Africans put up a superb performance to grab a 2-2 draw and Keshi describes the night as good for

West African football. Nigeria now sits second on the Group F table trailing Argentina which has six points and already booked a place in the Round of 16.

With at least a draw against Argentina, Nigeria will qualify for the next round. “Everybody is happy in West Africa; Ghana got their result and we won. It’s good for the continent.

The fighting spirit we showed was good. I never thought that we wouldn’t

make the Round of 16. I have the players. But look at Iran, if it was not for Lionel Messi. We need to work hard for the game against Argentina.”

The former Togolese national team coach who was reacting to questions after Nigeria recorded her first World Cup win since France 1998 said the Super Eagles were a bit lucky since Edin Dzeko and the Bosnians were denied a goal and troubled the Nigerian defence missing several begging chances.

Goal Against Bosnia Means A Lot To Me – Odemwingie Super Eagles marksman and winner Budweiser Man of the Match award has revealed that scoring the goal that has helped Nigeria break the jinx of not winning a World Cup game since 1998 in France has given him a special feeling.

The Stoke of England player who was criticized by his coach, Stephen Keshi for coming in as a substitute and not playing according to instructions given him salvaged Nigeria against hard

fighting Bosnia-Herzegovinia to give Nigeria a win that has helped to move the Eagles closer to booking a Round of 16 place should they pick a draw against Argentina.

Speaking after the encounter in which he was voted as the best man on the field of play on the night, he said he will forever cherish the World Cup goal.

He also hailed his teammates and particularly attributed the win to team work, concentration and character of

Alexis-Sanchez

Arturo Vidal

the team.

“The goal means a lot to me. But the win was down to 90 minutes of concentration and effort from my team-mates. The most important thing today was the character. We even enjoyed defending together.”

He debunked insinuations that the players are not patriotic or trying to sabotage the efforts of authorities. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love this country.

Eduardo Vargas

sports 55

Monday, June 23, 2014

FOSLA Academy Win Loyola Jesuit Football Tourney By salifu usman, Abuja

Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero presenting the Dallatun Zazzau Trophy to Profile Team, represented

by Aminu Alhaji at the Kaduna Polo Club on Saturday. PHOTO BY GBENGA ABIOLA

Polo: Profile Beat Trapco, Lift Dallatun Zazzau Cup

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Profile polo team captained

by Mohammed Babangida beat Trapco 3½-1 to emerge champions of the maiden edition of Dallatun Zazzau trophy at the onday tournament played at the Kaduna Polo Club on Saturday.

Profile took the lead from the first chukka and maintained same to

the fifth in the high goal match watched by several dignitaries, including the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

In another match played, Sultana Farms beat Ummu Hani 3-2½ to lift the Bajoga Cup. Other trophies competed for are the First lady Cup where Deebee farms played Sparkling Saddles and the Beginners

Cup which featured three teams.

Speaking to newsmen after the presentation of trophies, Governor Yero commended the Kaduna Polo Club for organizing the tournament in his honour.

He said he has been a polo player, describing the game as one that gives people the opportunity to interact.

Members of the

winning Profile team are Mohammed Babangida, Bello Buba, Aminu Alhaji and Bashir Musa.

Trapco was represented

by Ibrahim Abba, Baba Kyari, Ibrahim Mohammed and Rabiu Mohammed.

The tournament was organized in honour of Governor Yero on his recent turbaning as the Dallatun Zazzau by the Emir of Zazzau.

Ekweremadu Hails Super Eagles

By Jonathan Nda-ISAIAH, Abuja

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their hard-won victory over the Dragons of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

An obviously thrilled Senator Ekweremadu noted that it was a night that the Nigerian side

found their rhythm to the delight of all football loving fans.

In a statement issued by his Special adviser Media Uche Anichukwu, He said: “This is a very important victory after 16 years of drought at the FIFA World Cup and after the hard start against the Iranians.

We saw a much more hard-fighting, confident, brilliant, mobile, blended, and entertaining Super

Eagles. I think it was a highly deserved victory and a say kudos to the young men for doing us proud”.

The Deputy President of the Senate who watched the Super Eagles first match in Brazil expressed hope that the victory would give the team the needed confidence and elixir to bring down the Argentines from their high horse.

“As far as I am concerned, the Argentines are beatable, their array of stars notwithstanding.

From USA 1994 FIFA World Cup to South Africa 2010, they have never won us convincingly. We were just a bit unlucky against them. But this time, with harder work and more determination, I have no doubt that the table just has to turn in our favour”, he added.

FOSLA Academy, Karshi Abuja have emerged champions of the 2014 Loyola Jesuit Secondary School Football Tournament. They defeated the hosts, Loyola Jesuit 3-1 to win 2014 edition of the tournament which is an annual event in the school’s calendar.

Eight selected public and private secondary Schools in FCT took in the tournament which saw the former NFF president, Sani Lulu Abdullahi’s boys beating all the participating schools to reach the final.

In keenly entertaining final match against host school, Lulu’s boys draw the first blood in the 25 minutes when Solomon Abraham out ran the opponent defenders to score a beautiful goal to delight of the audience including supporters and officials of their opponent.

The second goal came in 15 minutes when junior sensational, Emmanuel Peters outwit five of the opponent defenders to put ball the behind the keeper.

A mixed up in the FOSLA defence at resumption of the second half gave the host their only conciliatory goal. The highly entertaining match

which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd, saw the FOSLA boys scoring the third goal through Solomon Abraham at the 80th minute.

Speaking immediately after the match, the former President of the Nigeria Football Federation Alhaji Sanni Lulu Abdullahi who is the Proprietor of FOSLA Academy, expressed appreciation to the organizers of the tournament, saying that the project of FOSLA Academy is a “work in progress”, as the boys who are basically within 15 years and all in JSS 3 would be ripe to take part in future secondary schools competition by next academic session.

“This is the first major competition we are taking part in since the Academy was established in 2011.

Though, we have played over 40 friendly matches winning all. We now have over 50 boys in the school.

The concept is to provide an avenue for children who are naturally endowed to combine their education with football in a very conducive environment.

“We would soon provide our national team selectors a pool where they can pick players of verifiable ages for our national teams” he said.

Kids playing football at the grassroots

Glo Commends Super Eagles

By ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja

Ogenyi Onazi in action for Nigeria against Bosnia and Hezergovina

Globacom, has congratulated the Super Eagles for recording an important win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second Group F match of the on – going 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

In a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP Sports, Globacom hailed the Super Eagles for the victory which not only gave them three points but also brightened their chance of qualifying for the second round. It was Nigeria’s first victory in the World Cup in 16 years.

“The Super Eagles gave a good account of themselves against Bosnia and Herzegovina. We urge them

to sustain the momentum when they take on Argentina so as to seal their chance of qualifying for the next round which is now within reach,” Globacom said.

“The match was tough and the weather was harsh.

We commend the Super Eagles for their hard work and determination which earned them the victory,” the statement added.

Globacom observed that the victory had confirmed the company’s belief that the team would excel even when so many people seemed to have lost hope in the Super Eagles after they drew with Iran in the first match.

“We wish to advise the team to remain focused for the task ahead.”

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No. 2,209

Sam Nda-Isaiah

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A

few months ago, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) asked me to present a paper on the alternatives to crude oil for the north. My conclusion in the paper was that it was not just the north that needed to develop alternatives to oil; Nigeria as a country must conceive alternatives to oil as a major source of income very quickly. Crude oil as we know it today is technically finished. Not that our reserves or the world’s reserves have been depleted, but that almost every country in the world will soon be an oil producer. And the world is now moving to the era where oil producing nations will use their oil and gas resources to develop their own economies instead of exporting them.

That is exactly what Malaysia, Indonesia and even the United States currently do. Even though these are oil producers, they no longer export oil.

A few years ago, Africa had only five major oil producers: Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Angola and Egypt. Today, there are more than 20 countries producing oil. These include Kenya, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome & Principe, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Congo, Cameroun, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Niger Republic, Chad, Central African Republic, and Morocco. But that is even the least of our prob-

lems at the moment.

Nigeria’s major problem is that the biggest oil consumers now have their own oil. United States, which used to import 9 per cent of its oil needs from Nigeria, now virtually imports nothing. They pioneered the hydraulic fracking technology which now cost-effectively releases oil and gas from shales.

Their shale gas technology has made the United States one of the largest producers of oil in the world. President Barack Obama pronounced it clearly during his state visit to some African countries last year: “We do not need Nigeria’s oil anymore.” When Obama made that statement, Jonathan’s aides declared that there were other countries like China that would read-

N150

As The US Stops Importing Nigeria’s Oil… ily take up whatever the US would not be buying. Not long after that dumb statement, it was discovered that China had the largest recoverable shale gas reserves in the world, far larger than that of the United States.

Last week, the Nigerian government announced that India has become Nigeria’s largest crude oil buyer, followed by China and then Malaysia. But the same way that the United States has stopped the imports of Nigeria’s oil, China and India and other Asian buyers will stop whenever they start taking full advantage of their own shale resources; the technology is now available to everyone.

Besides, these Asian countries now import from Nige-

ria only because of the sanctions that used to be on Iran, from where they got their oil.

The sanctions have now largely been lifted by the West.

The sum total of this is that Nigeria must quickly get other major sources of income. The Customs and Excise department has been doing very well in the last few months. It now generates nearly a trillion naira annually. There are many other government agencies that are supposed to be major revenue earners that many countries of the world depend on but not Nigeria because of corruption. That is for countries that are well run. The cumulative income that all such government agencies generate in Nigeria would be far more than what we current-

The Ekiti Election Before the election on Saturday, Governor Kayode Fayemi’s campaign director-general was arrested on orders from above. His finance commissioner was also arrested.

Governors Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi were physically stopped from moving into Ekiti. Amaechi’s aircraft was impounded and Oshiomhole’s helicopter was disallowed take-off. Relatives of the Ekiti State deputy governor, Professor Modupe Adelabu, were arrested. In one small village alone, 22 APC workers were arrested.

Agents of Jonathan said Fayemi’s campaign director-general was arrested because he was stopped from sharing money. Is the DG of a campaign organisation not supposed to share logistics funds on campaign days?

Is that not what happens all over the world?

How are contestants supposed to pay party agents, pay for transportation, recharge cards and other services on election day?

Did Jonathan himself not confess publicly that he gave Governor Kwankwaso money to share for the 2011 presidential election in Kano on election day? And, if I remember well, Jonathan’s 2011 election money sharing that he confessed to was done all over the country in crisp dollar notes, even though I am not sure the Americans knew this.

While Fayemi’s APC associates, especially the governors, were being denied physical access to Ekiti for the election, which for all ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 16

ly get from oil if we were to run our country properly. Remember: the richest countries of the world are not the oil producers. The central banks of other countries are major revenue earners. So are others like the immigration department, ports authority, the tax agencies, maritime authorities, airports, and tollgates if we exclude corruption. We must also very urgently develop our solid mineral resources in every state of the federation. The mineral resources in every state must now be studiously developed and not the lip service that has been paid to its development and exploitation by successive governments. We must now do it as a matter of strategic national interest. We can start by declaring at least one strategic mineral in every state that must be developed. ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 16

GHANA MUST GO Nigeria goes cashless from July 1, says CBN — News

Nigeria has been cashless since pdp took over!

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