Leadership news

30.12.14

TUESDAY

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 2,318

NIGERIA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPER

Chibok Diary DAY 260

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Leadership Newspapers

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BBOG Group Laments Celebration Of New Year Without Chibok Girls > Page 2

experts speak on economic challenges in 2015

Entertainment, Agriculture, Tourism May Rescue Nigeria ‘Technology will have more influence on work, lifestyle’

Adesina

The massive growth in licensed seed companies in Nigeria is a pointer that the Agricultural sector holds great promise for the Nigerian economy

Abe

More focus will be on agriculture and the new contributors to the GDP; entertainment and other core domestic activities

Khan

Passage of the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill will unlock new investments in Nigeria’s oil sector

Adediran

Nigerian film industry is not only an entertainment industry; it is also a moneymaker if well harnessed in 2015

5

Duke

The federal government has identified 100 monuments around the country for private sector investment

INEC Redeploys 37 RECs, Says Jonathan, Buhari Can’t Be Substituted

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari can no longer be replaced as flag bearers of Peoples Democratic

Party and All Progressives Congress (APC) respectively for the 2015 presidential election.

Their fate as presidential candidates appears to have been sealed as today serves as the

last day for presidential candidates to withdraw from the contest and for their parties to field

Inciting Comments: DSS Issues Last Warning To Politicians > Page 4

a new candidate, according to the electoral guideline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 4

Why I Did Not Submit My Certificates To INEC - Buhari > Page 5

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chibok diary 260

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

DAY

Chibok TweeTs @AshakaSaleh When your child dies, you bury him in your heart. He only dies the day you die. #BringBackOurGirls

@naijama @daily_trust Graça Machel on the #ChibokGirls : “I decided to break the restrictions of my mourning because silence is not an option.”

@aresunabi the people have pulled together the politics of it has hurt our country we need a brand new govt #BringBackOurGirls #Nigeria

@AlixWiltonRegan One thing: #BringBackOurGirls

@AishaYesufu 259 days and we are still counting unless #ChibokGirls are rescued Now, 2014 would be a YEAR OF SHAME FOR THE WHOLE WORLD #BringBackOurGirls

@Mukhtarishaq2 I feel painful when ever i remember that the #chibokgirls whereabout is still unknown. Pls #BringBackOurGirls it’s #259days!

@FREEdomChicks @Reuvencarlyle FYI #BringBackOurGirls ws created in US / a another tip ovr 100 girls r exploited each nt in GA whn r we bringing them home

@Bint_Moshood #BringBackOurGirls 259 days in captivity, Day 244 of sitouts.....

Compiled by Ugochukwu Iroka

Members of #BringBackourGirls (BBoG) group advocating the release of the abducted Chibok girls during a protest in abuja. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

BBOG Group Laments Celebration Of New Year Without Chibok Girls

By Chika Mefor, Abuja

As the year gradually comes to an end, the #BringBackOurGirls(BBOG) group has lamented over the fact that the Chibok School girls who were abducted by the Boko Haram sect for over eight months will not be around to celebrate the New Year with their families.

The group which had started an advocacy for the safe return of the abducted girls expressed sadness that even after 259 days of the girls being in the hands of their abduc-

tors and 244 days of the group’s advocacy, there was nothing tangible from the government to show that there is a rescue mission going on.

Speaking during its sit-out yesterday, one of the leaders of the group, Dr Oby Ezekwesili stated that the group will continue in its advocacy for the rescue of the abducted girls adding that as the New Year arrives, it will mark a completely new chapter for the group and its advocacy.

She added that the group will as part of its efforts to keep the res-

cue of the missing 219 Chibok girls on the front burner of national agenda, will organise a special session to herald the New Year.

Recall that the group on Christmas Day, organised a protest march to the Villa Entrance, close to the Federal Secretariat.

Speaking during the march, Ezekwesili had stated that the march was organised in order to remind the leaders of the country that the 219 abducted girls were still in captivity even as the world celebrated Christmas.

Ezekwesili had also reminded

Nigerians even as they celebrated, to remember that the abducted girls were still in the hands of the Boko Haram sects adding that the group will continue to stand until the abducted girls have been rescued and returned back to their families.

“We come here so that the girls will not be forgotten. Our Chibok girls demand to be remembered.

We will continue until the girls are back. We want the president to know that our daughters are still missing. We cannot celebrate Christmas without them.

Members of #BringBackourGirls (BBoG) group in another protest advocating the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in abuja.

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

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our stand Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Chad, Friend Or Foe?

W

hen Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh announced a ceasefire with the Boko Haram insurgents on October 17, many Nigerians were pleasantly surprised. He also disclosed that Chad and its former colonial masters, France, were brokering a peace deal that would not only end the violence in the Northeastern states, but also facilitate the unconditional release of the Chibok schoolgirls, kidnapped over eight months ago. Soon after, Boko Haram disowned the negotiators and alluded to the gullibility of the Nigerian government for believing President Idris Derby.

That N’Djamena isn’t interested in peace in the troubled part of Nigeria should have been gleaned from the attitude of that country towards the delegation sent by President Goodluck Jonathan on October 21. The delegation was told that Dérby was ill and that the meeting should be rescheduled for October 23.

However, on that date, the delegation was told that the Chadian leader was still ill, after they had waited for six hours! President Jonathan, himself, has had over five meetings with Derby, with the result being more ambushes, killing and sarcastic repudiation

by both the insurgents and his hosts.

As the insurgency has intensified, the federal and state governments have displayed unbelievable eagerness to jump at fake offers of peace deals, which have only led to gains by Boko Haram, Chad and probably a few individuals in government circles. We feel sad that the security and intelligence agencies have allowed Nigeria to be exposed to too many avoidable hoaxes. Cameroon’s intelligence community has rightly viewed the Chadian government’s offers of help with suspicion. We should do the same. In many instances, after raids by the insurgents, the nation’s military hardware and property are traced to Chad. Worse still is the evidence

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

of close links between Chad, local Nigerian politicians, Chadian politicians and the Boko Haram insurgents. It brings more tellingly the suspicion that Chadian territory is a safe haven for recruitment and supplies for the sect and for launching attacks on Nigeria.

Chad has not said a word to Nigeria since the failed ceasefire agreement; it has not communicated with the government.

Amazingly, in our view, the Nigerian government has not asked the necessary question – are we dealing with a friend or foe? We, therefore, urge the security and diplomatic functionaries to beam the searchlight on the plausibility of Chadian interest prolonging the conflict, because of the huge deposit of crude oil in the Lake Chad region that both countries share. Chad is already benefiting from the inability of Nigeria to commence commercial exploration of oil in the region due to the ongoing insurgency. Under the Rule of Capture, Nigeria’s neighbours can legally draw oil from reserves located in the region, provided they do the drilling exclusively in their own territory.

The situation, in our opinion, calls for more decisive action on the part of the Nigerian government. The big brother role is obviously becoming a burden.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah

Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Abdulmumin Balogun 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

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

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Inciting Comments: DSS Issues Last Warning To Politicians The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned politicians to desist from making inflammatory statements or face the full wrath of the law.

The deputy director of public relations, Marilyn Ogar, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, noted particularly the statement of a serving governor calling on men of the armed forces to rise up in protest against constituted authority, with the intent to undermine the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ogar, who pointed out that similar unguarded provocative statements by politicians in the past had encouraged violence that resulted in loss of innocent lives and properties, affirmed that nobody is above the laws of the land.

She said, “Political office holders must not hide under the privileges of their offices to perpetrate and encourage the commission of acts inimical to the general interest of this nation, as this will henceforth not be tolerated. This statement, therefore, serves as the last warning to all those seeking to truncate the nation’s democracy by their careless and obviously mischievous utterances and actions to desist immediately”.

By Chika Otuchikere, Abuja

FG, EU Sign MoU For 2015 Elections As part of efforts to ensure that the 2015 election is conducted in line with global best practices, the European Union (EU) and Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the monitoring of the general elections in 2015.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, yesterday, Mr Alan Munday, the head, Political, Governance and Democracy, EU Delegation to Nigeria on election monitoring said that the EU delegates are set to arrive Nigeria so as to monitor the forthcoming presidential election in the country.

Munday said that the union is committed to improving democratic processes in Nigeria and that the objective of any observer mission is not to criticise but to deliver independent report to improve future electoral processes.

He said, “The observer mission would look at the whole process of the election from the campaigns to the post-election period; our team of about 20 to 30 persons would be in Nigeria in the next few weeks. We welcome interested civil societies to join us. Also we implore all stakeholders to respect and play by the rules to ensure a level playing field, free and fair process for all those involved in the democratic process.’’

By Oguntola Tunde, Abuja

Vice President Namadi Sambo (left), collecting his permanent voter card at the Kaduna North Secretariat in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE

INEC Redeploys 37 RECs, Says Jonathan, Buhari Can’t Be Substituted FROM FRONT PAGE

The same also applies to candidates in the National Assembly elections across the country.

However, the governorship and State Assembly aspirants have up till January 13, 2015 to withdraw and have their parties file in their replacements.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are billed to hold on February 14, 2015, while that of the governorship and State Assembly holds February 28.

According to the electoral guidelines by INEC, December 30, 2014 marks the last day “for withdrawal of candidates and replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties.”

This provision is in accordance with Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which provides for candidates to make up their minds on their candidature not later than 45 days before the election.

Besides Jonathan and Buhari, some other presidential candidates include Action Alliance,

S/N0. NAME STATE OF ORIGIN NEW POSTING 1.

Prof O. E. Onukaogu Abia Enugu 2.

Prof Tukur Sa’ad

Adamawa Bauchi 3.

Ahmed Makama

Bauchi Taraba 4. Mike Igini Delta Edo 5. Selina Omagha Oko Ebonyi Abia 6. Edwin Offor Nwatarali Enugu Anambra Sadiq Abubakar Musa Kaduna Sokoto 7.

Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa Kano Kebbi 8.

Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta Katsina Kaduna 9.

Zamfara 10. Abubakar Umar Garba Wara Kebbi 11. Emmanuel Onucheyo Kogi Kwara Lagos Oyo 12. Rufus O. Akeju Nasarawa 13. Abdullahi Umar Danyaya Niger Osun Ogun 14. Timothy A. Ibitoye 15. A. L. Ogunmola Oyo Osun 16. Barito Lenusikpugi Kphagih Rivers Bayelsa Sokoto Jigawa 17. Haliru A. Tambuwal 18. Kassim Gana Geidam Yobe Gombe Katsina 19. Ibrahim Bagobiri Marafa Zamfara

Tunde Anifowose-Kelani; Kowa Party, Prof Oluremi Sonaiya; United Progressives Party, Chief Chekwas Okorie; and National Conscience Party, Chief Martin Onovo.

Others are African Democratic Congress, Dr Ibrahim Nani; United Democratic Party, Godson Okoye; Alliance for Democracy, Rafiu Salau; Peoples Party of Nigeria, Kelvin Alagoa.

Allied Congress Party of Nigeria is fielding Alhaji Ganiyu Oseni; African Peoples Alliance, Alhaji Adebayo Ayeni; and Hope Dem-

ocratic Party, Ambrose Owuru.

This comes as INEC deployed its resident electoral commissioners (RECs) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the 2015 general polls.

In a letter dated 24th December, 2014 and signed by the secretary to the commission, Mrs Augusta C. Ogakwu, the RECs were directed to conclude all handing and taking over formalities

by Wednesday, 31st December, 2014.

The redeployment is as follows:

S/N0. NAME STATE OF ORIGIN NEW POSTING 20. Aniedi Ikoiwak Akwa-Ibom Delta 21. Habu Zarma Gombe Yobe 22. Akin Orebiyi Ogun Lagos 23. Hussaini Halilu Pai FCT Kogi 24. Kwanga Godwin Mbatsavbee Benue Plateau 25. Sylvester Okey Ezeani Anambra Cross River 26. Minkaila Abdullahi Jigawa Kano Imo Ebonyi 27. Lawrence Azubuike 28. Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun Ondo Ekiti 29. Istifanus Ishaku Dafwang Plateau Benue Bayelsa River 30. Gesila Khan 31. Samuel Madaki Taraba Borno 32. Gabriel Ada Cross River Imo 33. Jacob Shekwonudu Jatau Nasarawa FCT Borno Adamawa 34. Baba Abba Yusuf 35. Segun Agbaje Ekiti Ondo 36. Nasir Ayilara Kwara Niger Edo Akwa-Ibom 37. Austine Okojie

NEWS 5

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Entertainment, Agriculture, Tourism May Rescue Nigeria

By Bukola Idowu, Olushola Bello, Chima Akwaja, Lagos and Chika Okeke, Abuja

Despite the forecast that Nigeria will be confronted with economic challenges in 2015, experts have said that agriculture, entertainment, tourism and fashion will cushion the impact of falling oil prices.

The experts argue that the listed sectors represent alternative sources of revenue for the Nigerian economy. However, they emphasise that repositioning tourism as a viable alternative to oil would require the enactment of requisite legislation and appointment of professionals to key positions.

Also, there is consensus of opinion among technology experts that technology will have more impact on the lifestyle of Nigerians in 2015.

According to them, the convergence of mobile phones and computer implies that mobile gadgets are combining several functionalities that one would never have thought possible 20 years ago.

Wale Abe, chief executive officer, Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria, says Nigeria’s vulnerability to global events will become more evident as economic challenges prevail worldwide, noting that dwindling oil price will be a major challenge for the economy.

Putting into consideration the lower capital expenditure in the 2015, Abe said a higher recurrent spending would not see any real developmental spending, with implications for private companies whose products and services are dependent on government spending.

He stressed that more focus would be on agriculture and the new contributors to the GDP- entertainment and fashion and core domestic activities.

Agric’ll have positive impact on the economy- Adesina The minister of Agriculture and rural development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has stated that the innovation being put in place in agriculture sector will have positive impact on the economy in 2015 Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Adeleke Oyeleye, Adesina stated the Agricultural Transformation Agenda has impacted every facet of the Agricultural sector in the country.

The minister also told LEADERSHIP yesterday that there has been massive growth in seed companies in the country, which ensures quality control.

“The massive growth in licensed seed companies in Nigeria is a pointer to the fact that the Agricultural sector holds great promise for the Nigerian economy.

This has also seen bank lending to seed companies rise from about N1.895billion in 2012, N4.2billion in 2013 to more than N6billion in 2014,”said Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

For her part, head of research at Standard

Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, forecasts that Nigeria’s economic growth will slow in 2015 and that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) year-on-year growth is expected to drop to 4.7 percent.

In her outlook on Nigeria for 2015, Khan said lower oil prices, the challenge of managing a more volatile currency, and an increasingly violent insurgency in the country’s north will weaken Nigeria’s growth in 2015.

“Elections in Nigeria are typically accompanied by some economic pumppriming, but with elections due in midFebruary, it is unlikely that spending ahead of the polls will be able to lift growth substantially. Oil price volatility will reduce the resources available for spending,” said Khan.

“Oil contributes only 14.4 per cent to the rebased GDP. But it contributes 96 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and 70 per cent of consolidated government revenue.

Longer term, there is much on which to pin hopes of more robust growth.”

Khan further noted that increased shale production had contributed to Nigeria’s structural challenges.

She said: “In 2008, the US was still Nigeria’s largest export market, buying 45 per cent of Nigerian oil. In 2015, Nigeria is unlikely to sell any oil to the United States which used to be the country’s largest customer, and will instead seek other markets, where it is unlikely to obtain a premium on the light, sweet crude long preferred by east coast refiners.”

Khan added that economic adjustment was inevitable in the medium term, and that lower oil prices should accelerate the pace of reform.

“Passage of the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill is hoped for post-election in order to unlock new investment in Nigeria’s oil sector. However, this will require a political consensus that may be difficult to obtain,” she said.

Nigerian capital market will recover in 2015 The Nigerian stock market is likely to end the year on a negative note. The stock market, which has been in recovery mode since 2012, had a reverse of the trend in 2014.

The NSE has so far, in 2014, lost 27.92 per cent to sell down by foreign and institutional investors. From a high of about 41,329.19 points in December 31, 2013, the NSE ASI dropped to 29,789.59 points by December 16, 2014. Also, the market capitalisation dropped

by N3.39 trillion - from N13.226 to N9.835 during the period.

This resulted from factors affecting market growth, starting with the stoppage of the QE by the US Federal Reserve which had resulted in funds outflow from emerging markets due to improvement in US economic indicators, the liquidity tightening by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the unceremonious removal of the CBN governor, resulting in uncertainty and withdrawal of funds by foreign portfolio investors.

LIVING LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100

One health tip daily You Snooze, You Loose

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

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

Why I Did Not Submit My Certificates To INEC - Buhari

By George Agba, Abuja

A former head of state and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 general elections, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has explained why he did not submit his certificates and credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that the documents are with the military.

This came to light yesterday during a visit by journalists to the headquarters of INEC in Abuja where it was revealed that Buhari’s academic qualifications were not on display, unlike those of other presidential candidates including that of his main rival, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Explaining the development in an affidavit he deposed to before an Abuja High Court, Buhari said that all his certificates were with the Secretary, Military Board. The affidavit was dated Lately, the market downtrend has been attributed to the 2015 election, fall in the price of crude oil and the devaluation of the naira.

Capital market stakeholders are of the view that the market in 2015 will be on a positive side, considering that the macro-economic factors affecting the market in 2014 would have been allayed.

According to a stockbroker with Calyex Securities Ltd, Mr. Tunde Oyediran, the stock market direction tends to be positive with current fears alloyed.

“There is empirical evidence that supports the thesis that the year following the devaluation of a country’s currency, it would experience an upswing in its capital market.

The banking sector, which has been battered, will lead the recovery. They often give over 8 per cent dividend yield hence they will attract more patronage in the first quarter,” Oyediran

November 24, 2014 and was stamp e d a n d re ce i v e d

by INEC o n December 18, 2014.

Buhari had said in the affidavit, “I am the Buhari abovenamed person and deponent to this affidavit therein. All my academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President APC/001/2015, are currently with the Secretary, Military Board, as of the time of presenting this affidavit. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purposes.” said.

Speaking on market direction in 2015, the chief operating officer, Investdata Ltd, Mr. Ambrose Omodion, said it looked very dicey as factors militating against the market now was likely remain in the new year with the matter of the oil price slide.

He noted that, with the lack of positive economic numbers in the heat of political uncertainty - as the general elections draw nearer and the celebrations are around the corner, “the market has continued to give in to sells pressure as many players exit the market to hold cash even at the wrong time.”

According to him, “The recent austerity is just a sign of what should be expected in 2015 as the nation’s major export product has lost value in price, which is likely to keep ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

6 news extra Why Buhari May Not Probe Past Corrupt Leaders If Elected – APC

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie Oyegun, yesterday disclosed that its presidential candidate in 2015 election, General Muhammadu Buhari if elected will rather concentrate in nation building aimed at heeling the wounds of the past as against campaign of calumny by politicians that his presidency will send past corrupt leaders into jail while some may proceed on self exile.

Besides, the first civilian governor of Edo State also accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of profanity saying that Nigerian people will punish them with their votes in the Febuary , 2015 elections, especially following comments from the presidency describing President Goodluck Jonathan Civil servants resuming from Christmas holidays at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN. as Jesus Christ.

Oyegun who spoke to newsmen in Benin City yesterday, asserted that the insinuation that a Buhari presidency will send many Nigerians to jail is a blackmail being masterminded by the of pleasantries later left the his advice.”

As Lamido says ‘we made PDP leadership, stressing that He also stated that he had Niger State government offiJonathan’ only those who may not want cials led by Niger State depu- come to greet IBB over his to change from their corrupt ty governor at one of the liv- health but in the process they practices will have the retired

By Abu Nmodu, Minna ing rooms before proceeding to talked about national issues General to contend with. the inner living room with IBB and some concerns in the counFormer Military President where they held a closed-door try.

He said, “ The only people I General Ibrahim Badamasi meeting for over an hour. can think of who will fear the On his expectations for 2015 Babangida and governor of JiBuhari Presidency are those Lamido, who left the resi- election, he said, “We are lookgawa State, Alhaji Sule Lami- dence of IBB at about 2:32pm ing forward for Nigeria to be who do not want change. do yesterday held closed-door while speaking to LEADER- safe during the election beThose who want to continue meeting in Minna even as La- SHIP exclusively stated that, cause security of the country with business as usual. Those mido said President Goodluck he was in Minna to greet the is very important. This counwho want to continue to profit Jonathan is a product of their former Nigerian leader over his try must be united, it must from the level of corruption in own work and cannot be intim- recent medical trip abroad and be a country for all Nigerians, the society. We will have no idated by him. apologies for people like that. also to benefit from his wise north and south, Christians The governor arrived at the counsel in politics.

But it is clear that from the and Muslims, there must be Hill top resident of BabangiBuhari perspective and that Asked what was his mis- avenue for Hausas, Igbos, Yorda at about12.30pm accom- sion to IBB’s residence he said ubas and so on. So it is about of the APC, the future of the panied by Niger State deputy the former Nigerian leader “is national concerns and I was edpeople of this country is too governor, Hon. Ahmed Musa also my leader and my profes- ucated and I was highly elated important for us to spend Ibeto and secretary to the Ni- sor in politics who also has by his wisdom.” valuable time trying to dig into ger State government, Hon. Id- been mentoring me till today. the past.

Asked why he dropped his ris Ndako Kpaki.

“The first moments of a My meeting with him was very presidential ambition he reThe governor after exchange long and I got wisdom from torted “How do I answer it, beBuhari Presidency the outlook is on the future. The message will be clear, whatever you engage in before that is detrimental to the people of this country, please stop it, change has come. It is time 2015. for change and anybody who Collects permanent voter card na State.

Speaking at a unity and fam“It is only PDP today in Nigedecides that he does not want ily meeting of the Kaduna State ria that has its presence in the to be part of change and want By George Agba, Abuja chapter of the PDP held at the states, local governments, wards business as usual that is his Hassan Usman Katsina House, and polling units levels. This repchoice.

Vice President Namadi Sam- Kawo, Kaduna, Sambo also said resentation is full and strong all “ And we are going to go into bo has said that with the overa situation post May 2015 whelming support the PDP en- he was expecting 100 per cent over the federation”.

The VP added that President where the law will normally joys in Kaduna State, he was victory for the party’s candidates Jonathan was grateful to Kaduin other elective positions includtake its course. expecting over two million votes ing that of the governor. na PDP for their support during Anybody who believes that for President Goodluck Jonathan the recently conducted national He said, “Kaduna State PDP is the future of this country in the 2015 presidential election. the same and one strong family, convention, adding that the presis greater than his personal He also collected his Perma- and I am happy for the promise ident was also delighted with the proclivities will have nothing to nent Voter Card (PVC) yesterday fear. There will be a line drawn at the INEC Distribution Cen- they have kept and for the prom- rancour free primary held in the on the sand, on one part is the tre located at the Kaduna North ise they have made to us, that In- state for all elective posts.

Pacifying those who felt agpast the other side is the future. Local Government Secretariat, sha Allah, PDP is Kaduna State and Kaduna State is PDP, and grieved from the party primary,

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City Magajin Gari, Kaduna, Kadu- PDP will win the elections come he said, “We believe that there

IBB, Lamido Hold Closed-door Meeting In Minna cause it was their own imagination?” He said that he never told anyone that he is going to contest for president but added that even if he did he is qualified to be president of Nigeria.

Reminded that his body language indicated that he wanted to be president he said “ You saw my body language? I never said I want to become one, people said I should run, people who think I can do it, they said so, and I felt flattered. ” Asked whether he was intimidated out of the race by the fact that the incumbent president finally declared his intention to go for second term Lamido declared “Intimidation? how ? He is my own brother, we made him in 2011, we voted for him. We worked for him, he is our material, our own brother, so why do I fear him?”

2015: I’m Targeting 2m Votes For Jonathan In Kaduna– Sambo are no losers, no winners and no vanquished and everybody will be carried along.

“Everyone of our party members that participated in our primary agrees that it is only one person that can be a winner and they have agreed to cooperate and work together.”

Sambo urged all members of the PDP in Kaduna State to join hands and work relentlessly for the victory of the party in the 2015 polls, even as he said, “This meeting has confirmed to me clearly and truly that we are the same strong indivisible family.”

News north-central 7

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Maku’s Defection Will Not Affect PDP’s Chances In 2015 – Chieftain

BY Donatus Nadi, Lafia

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, Mr. James Akwe, has called the bluff of the former minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, over his threat to leave the party in the event that he is not offered the party’s ticket after losing the just concluded party primaries.

Mr. Akwe, who was reacting in Lafia to the reported twoweek ultimatum given by Maku before moving to another party to realise his ambition, said the PDP in the state at the moment is beyond being held captive by a single individual.

He said the party in the state has learnt bitter lessons on how it allowed internal wranglings to cause it to lose 2011 general elections and will not allow the ambition of an individual

short news

‘N5trn Needed For Uncompleted Projects’ Former director of National Planning Commission and lecturer at the University of Abuja, Nazifi Abdullahi Darma has said that about N5 trillion would be needed to complete no fewer than 8000 projects of federal government abandoned across the states of the federation.

Darma made this disclosure over the weekend at a workshop on entrepreneurship in tertiary education curriculum organised by the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, LAPAI in Minna, the Niger State capital.

Abu Nmodu Minna,

to destroy its collective interest again.

Akwe, who is the deputy chairman of the party in Keana local government said it would amount to selfishness if after serving for about six years as minister on the strength of the PDP he insists on his candidature for governorship when many other qualified people abound.

A party source who craved anonymity urged Mr. Maku to remain a faithful member of the party as he stands to achieve his goal in future.

The source who also said Maku is widely viewed as an ethnic champion noted that he needs sometime to prove what a stateman he is and win over public confidence before venturing into the race next time.

Maku was called upon to learn from the maturity exhibited by Sen. Solomon Ewuga.

Kwara Committee On Creation Of LCDAs Receives 96 Memoranda The committee set up by the Kwara State government on the creation of Local Government Council Development Authorities(LGCDAs) has so far received 96 memoranda from various communities and groups in the state.

The chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje disclosed this in Ilorin yesterday Baraje said the memoranda and suggestions were received from all the various communities in the 16 local government areas of the state.

He disclosed that the committee’s members had visited some states that had carried out similar exercise in the past.

He said he personally led the team to Lagos where they were briefed by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on how Lagos was able to manage the creation of the additional councils.

He said the committee had followed carefully the constitutional procedure of creating additional local government development councils which he described as cumbersome.

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

short news Aliyu Appoints Outgoing VC Special Adviser The governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has appointed the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo as special adviser on education.

The appointment followed the expiration of the tenure of Prof Kolo as the Vice Chancellor of the state owned university on December 31, 2014.

The letter of appointment, signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Saidu Ndako Kpaki, and dated December 16, 2014 stated that the appointment takes effect from Jan. 15, 2015.

AbuNmodu Minna,

A horse rider during the procession of the 2014 Benue youth cultural carnival in Makurdi, yesterday. PHOTO BY SOLOMON AYADO.

I Didn’t Endorse Any Guber Aspirant – Sulu Gambari

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, has condemned in its entirety, a story credited to him by an online medium, that he endorsed the Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) gubernatorial flag bearer, Senator Simeon Ajibola.

The emir’s spokesman and Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Salihu Woru Mohammed described the story as grossly irresponsible, concocted, inciting and an attempt to drag the emir into partisan politics.

Woru while reacting to the story in Ilorin, said the emir as

a father of all political parties in the state could not slam his door against any political party, saying that reception of any political party in the palace did not mean endorsement.

The Magaji Nda who said the story was unethical, therefore advised journalists to follow the ethics of their profession to the letter and do away with inciting stories capable of causing confusion as the 2015 general elections get nearer.

He added that the action of Magajis Forum in the Emirate which identified with the present administration in the state, was borne out of the govern-

ment’s monumental achievements, stressing that not even the emir or anybody compelled them to do so.

He therefore, appealed to the people of the emirate to disregard the story, saying that the emir had neither endorsed any candidate nor approved any political party. It would be recalled that the PDP governorship flag bearer, Sen Simeon Ajibola visited the emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari during the weekend in his palace where the emir reportedly described the emergence of Ajibola as a sign of good things to come to the state.

2015: Monarch Calls For Prayers

BY Donatus Nadi, Lafia

The emir of Karshi, Alhaji Mohammad Bako II, has called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the emergence of credible, prudent, honest and God-fearing leaders come 2015 general elections.

The monarch who made the call in an interview with journalists yesterday in his palace at Karshi, Karu local government area of

Nasarawa State explained that Nigeria needs prayers now more than ever before. He added that prayer is the only weapon that would put the country on the right path.

“Ceaseless prayer from all and sundry would give us good, credible, trusted and God fearing leaders during the forthcoming 2015 general elections”, the royal father said.

He stated further that, “Prayers by both Muslims and Christians have now become imperative as the alleged 2015 general elections is threatening the nation’s polity”.

The traditional ruler, however, added that with sustained prayers by the adherents of the two major religions in the country, Nigeria will surely remain a single and indivisible.

NDE Trains 50 On Community-based Skills

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Niger State has graduated 50 youths under the community-based skills and training scheme.

The director general, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed made this known through the Niger State NDE coordinator, Abdullahi B. Mohammed, at the graduation

ceremony of the youths under the community based skills training scheme of the NDE and disbursement of items to 50 trained youths held in Batati in Lavun local government area of Niger State.

Abubakar stated that the training was conducted free-of- charge by the NDE for the duration of three months which started in September and ended in December, 2014 in 5 different skills of

Tailoring, Hand-Set repair, Soap and Cream making, Catering and Shoe making, and that the skills acquired will make them self reliant.

He said that the resettlement scheme of NDE would serve as a launch pad for building entrepreneurs and will enable them to practice the skills they learnt, prevent them from falling into unemployment market.

8 NEWS

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Entertainment, Agriculture, Tourism May Rescue Nigeria FROM PAGE 5

our reserve down even after the election, but all hope is not lost as foreign investors are sitting on the fence now, waiting for the outcome of the election to jump back into the market as devaluation (of the naira) has made our market more attractive to them because with small dollar they will continue to control the market transactions.”

He advised investors to invest in companies that depend less on imported material, and those that had done backward integration.

For sectors to watch out for in 2015, he said that investors should look at the financial sector, targeting companies with less off-shore borrowing, hospitality industry, building industry, construction, healthcare and consumers goods.

He noted that Seven Up, Mobil, CCNN, Transcorp, Forte Oil, Stanbic IBTC, ETI, Zenith, GTBank, Fidson, Nigerian Breweries, and Dangote Sugar would post strong earnings in 2015, going by their earnings.

On his part, the general secretary of Shareholders’ Association of Nigeria, Mr. Adeleke Adebayo, said that the stock market would stabilise in the second quarter 2015.

“There are three issues affecting the market: the election, which at the end of first quarter 2015 would have been resolved; another is the falling price of the crude oil in the international market which, by March 2015, would have stabilised with the budget of 2015 which will be presented based on the bench mark price of oil. Lastly, with the expectation of end year results of companies, if turned positive, would boost market performance in 2015.”

He stated that these three factors would bring stability to the market in 2015.

On the business sector, the director-general of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf said, “We should face up to the reality of a weak currency and begin appropriate adjustments in both public and private sectors. This is the time to be more focused on substituting imports with local alternatives in production or service value chains across sectors. This would enhance competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises. This should happen in production, services and consumption.”

He, however, warned that 2015 was not a time “for government or its agencies to impose new burdens on the private sector in the form of taxes, fees and charges.”

Technology will have more impact on lifestyle of Nigerians in 2015 There is consensus of opinion among technology experts that technology will influence the work and lifestyle of many Nigerians in 2015.

According to experts, the

convergence of mobile phones and computer implies that mobile gadgets are combining several functionalities that you would never have thought would be a reality 20 years ago. Almost, all the smartphones and tablet computers being manufactured, besides having voice telephony, are data, emails and Internet-enabled.

Today’s smartphones, tablets and Phablets do much more than what the desktop does for you in the office.

In fact, the high-end smartphones, tablets and wearable devices contain so many lifestyle functionalities like reading the heartbeat, checking how many kilometres you have walked or run, monitoring pregnancy and the like.

LEADERSHIP spoke to some key players in the Nigerian information and communications technology (ICT) industry on the types of IT gadgets they use, and how and it has made life easy for them.

Sikiru Shehu, registrar/ chief executive, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) I am currently using a Samsung S5 tablet phone, an Android mobile operating system. I gave my wife my Samsung S4 when I bought the S5. The S5 is like a mobile office to me. This particular phone is very useful because I use it to do so many things.

The other phone I use is the Blackberry mobile device. It makes life easy for me. I check my emails, send emails, book air flights and it allows me to reply important emails, which makes life easy for me. Whenever I go for conferences, seminars and workshops and I need to prepare reports, I use my laptop and iPad. Whether I am in the car, in the office or in the gathering of like minds, I use my iPad or laptop.

I currently use the latest HP laptop which somebody gave top me as a gift. Before I got it, I had been using made-in-Nigeria laptop brands from Zinox and Omatek which are very useful and durable.

As a believer in local content, I will always go for the latest models of laptops once the Nigerian computer makers bring into them into the market.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) I have a liking for all mobile phones. My experience shows that they are all the same. If you check all the latest mobile devices in the market, you can see that they have basically the same functionalities; the difference is that they come in different packaging and operating systems.

I have the touch screens, be it iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

Depending on where I am, I use any of them. I don’t have a special preference for anyone because I am inquisitive to know what makes the phones special in terms of functionalities, battery life and

quality of service, so I purchase them. I use a tablet when I am on the road. As for the laptop, I use an Apple Mac for my work in the office.

Umar Abdulhamid, director, Corporate Communications, NIMC I use HTC MI8. I chose it because of its functionalities.

It gives me better graphics. As a communicator, I do a lot of photography and writing. I have to communicate with my superiors and colleagues whether they in or out of office. The phone’s voice quality is superb. The usability is very friendly. The only shortfall is that the battery life is very low which I assume may be due to many apps that are connected online on the phone.

Apart from this, HTC MI8 functionalities are second to none. I use it to check emails and do browsing. I also like Apple iPad because of its large screen and quality.

Shina Badaru, Founder, Technology Times I will refer to myself as a conservative when it comes to gadget usage. Though I grew up in the days of the desktop, I witnessed the digital revolution in Nigeria.

I am more into Apple MacBook Pro. I like it because it is flexible, fantastic with graphics and has longer processing power. It is less vulnerable to malwares and viruses compared to other competing operating systems (OS) in the market.

For mobile phones, I use Windows Lumia 630. I use mobile phones just like everybody to check my emails on-the-go. I also use Maxtel, a made-in-Nigerian mobile phone which I value very highly. I have been using it for over six months now. The Maxtel phone is very rugged and reliable and has fantastic battery power.

Technology gadgets today are now intertwined with humankind.

They have become lifestyle tools that you see people attach a lot of importance to them. Just like your car, technology gadgets have become utility tools, instead of status symbols it was many ago.

Today, we rely on them for virtually everything, ranging from checking time, weather reports, news, emails, voice telephony, etc.

Tourism: Duke, Usman, Adediran Urge Repositioning as Alternative Source of Revenue The impact of falling oil prices has led experts point in the direction of the tourism sector as an alternative source of revenue generation. Some experts who spoke to LEADERSHIP said repositioning tourism as a viable alternative to oil would require the enactment of requisite legislation and appointment of professionals to key positions.

Some of the experts that bared their minds on the state

of the tourism sector include the minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke; directorgeneral, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Abdallah Yusuf Usman; president, International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM), Mr Nath Mayo Adediran; president, Hospitality & Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), Mallam Aliyu Badaki Ajayi; organiser, Abuja Bantaba and Akwaaba African Travel Market, Mr Ikechi Uko and National President of Institute for Tourism Professionals (ITP), Chief Abiodun Odunsanwo.

They submitted that there was the need to revisit the Tourism Master Plan which was inaugurated six years ago, noting that 54 years after Nigeria attained independence in 1960, the classification of hotels and tourist sites had remained undone.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, the minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, argued that the classification of hotels and tourist sites was the mutual responsibility of Nigerians since the assets were located within the states.

“Classification of hotels and tourist sites requires a collective responsibility of each and every one of us. Very many of these assets are located within the State and it’s important for us to collaborate with the State in certifying these Resorts as well as in identifying the quality standard,” said Duke.

He was optimistic that professionals at the Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders’ Forum, organised by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), would reach a consensus on the classification which is likely to commence in 2015 as a major part of their mandate.

Disclosing the intent of the federal government on listing national monuments, Duke added, “The federal government has identified 100 monuments around the country and we are already trying to engage with the private sector to see how we can invest in their restoration because if we don’t have these monuments, definitely, a lot of our history will go away in years to come.”

The minister gave the assurance that transformation was underway in the sector in terms of human capital development, infrastructural development and the restoration of national heritage, and insisted that they would be form a major initiative in the transformation agenda.

For his part, the director-general, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Abdallah Yusuf Usman, noted that the federal government, through NCMM, had identified more tourist sites, historical sites and monuments for protection.

He stressed that a number of museums had been opened while

exhibitions were carried out abroad, which helped in laundering the image of the country.

“The way forward for the industry in 2015 is to sustain the game by coming up with imaginative programmes that will capture the attention of policy makers, political leaders and the general public, intensify action and improve on capacity building as well as strengthening the institutions, the administrative and legal frameworks and getting quality staff who can push the initiatives forward,” said Usman.

He enumerated poor perception of the importance of museums and monuments by the public and low budgetary allocation as major setbacks to the sector.

On the repatriation of Nigerian artefacts taken away by colonial masters, he added, “As I keep saying, the issue of repatriation is both legal and political. We are exploring these two avenues and we are engaging the countries that kept the artefacts in their museums and through the process, we have succeeded in repatriating quite a large number this year. We have in our custody over 100 of such artefacts that have come in from Europe and United States within the last three to four years.”

He said that the NCMM had contributed in growing the economy by providing, developing and managing tourist destinations such as museums, heritage sites and monuments, adding that the reason for developing the sites was to attract more investments and help in growing the economy.

Bomb Blast Kills 1 At Football Field In Yobe

By Hussaini Jirgi, Damaturi

A bomb blast on Sunday night killed a sugarcane vendor at a football field in Potiskum town in Yobe State.

A witness who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter told LEADERSHIP that the explosive devices went off at about 6:30pm on Sunday night.

Residents of Potiskum also claimed that the blast was targeted at footballers using the Arikime Primary School playing ground, saying that the suspected bombers were targeting footballers and soccer loving enthusiasts who normally gather at the playing ground every morning.

He said, “The sugarcane seller had just closed from sales and was heading home when the incident occurred.

“The victim ran into the embedded explosion leading to his death. The death toll this morning would have been much if not for the early trigger which claimed the life of the sugarcane seller.”

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

news north-East, north-west 9

Masari To Sen Bello: You’re A Bad Loser

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

Following the allegation of certificate forgery against former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari by Senator Kanti Bello, the accused (Masari) has described him as a bad loser.

It would be recalled that Senator Bello contested the Katsina State APC governorship primaries under the APC and came second

behind Masari who emerged the candidate.

A statement issued by Masari’s special adviser on media Abdu Labaran, he said, “the allegation against Rt. Hon. Amino Bello Masari is nothing but the ranting of a bad loser. He (Sen. Bello) is someone who must emerge a winner, otherwise everybody loses. This has been his stock-in-trade; whenever he does not have his way, he makes sure no one else does.

“In 2003, after losing the ANPP gubernatorial ticket to Eng. Nura

Khalil, he became the candidate’s returning agent only to sell out to PDP. It is the same story now. He has been compromised by PDP again.

“Kanti, it was that when he was about to decamp from ANPP to PDP he called Gen. Buhari all manner of uncomplimentary names, saying that the General was a security threat to Nigeria.

But now here he is in ACP holding the General’s coat tail wanting to be led to Katsina State Government House.

“We are therefore not surprised by his latest antics. In any case, there is nothing original in the Senator’s ranting.

“The allegation had been made when Masari was Speaker of The House of Representatives. After it was thoroughly investigated and found to be false, the House passed a vote of confidence on him,” he stressed.

He therefore called on well meaning Nigerians to disregard such allegation, saying it does not hold any substance.

Minister of transport, Idris Umar (second left); directorgeneral, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sidi (third right) and chief medical director, Gombe Specialist Hospital, Dr Reuben Maifantaya (second right), during the minister’s visit to the hospital to sympathise with victims of bomb explosion in Gombe. PHOTO NAN.

Mark Wants Nigerians To Unite Against Boko Haram

By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja

Senate President Senator David Mark has again urged Nigerians to unite against the Boko Haram and terrorists as the enemy of the people.

Senator Mark in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh ,noted that the activities of Boko Haram clearly show that

they do not represent anything good or religious inclination but purely extremists who are pursuing anti-people agenda.

Addressing the congregation at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Otada near Otukpo, Benue State to mark the last Sunday of 2014, Senator Mark pleaded with the perpetrators of violence and killings to give peace a chance.

He said what Nigerians earnestly desire now is peace, love and unity to heal the wounds inflicted on them by insurgents and Boko Haram adherents.

The senate president also implored all Nigerians to resort to prayers against forces of evil, stressing “we must not allow the devil doers to succeed .

With prayers God will put them to shame.”

Senator Mark noted that the issue of security is not a matter for politics but an issue that demands our cooperation and action to tackle.

In his sermon, the Parish, Rev.Fr. Kenneth Ode, urged all Nigerians irrespective of faith to resort to prayer as the potential weapon to end insurgency and terrorism raging the land.

‘Buhari Did Not Reject APC Female Candidate’

By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

The Gen. Buhari’s campaign organisation in Taraba State, has denied a publication in national newspaper of 25th December, 2014 caption “Gen. Muhammadu Bahari kicks against female candidate.”

In a press statement issued yesterday in Jalingo and made available to LEADERSHIP, quoted Buhari’s campaign coordinator said: “The statement made wasn’t on behalf of Gen. Buhari, it was a total misconception.”

The release stated that Gen. Buhari had never made any statement rejecting any female candi-

date in APC. The release stressed that the above statement wasn’t the true release made by the coordinator of Buhari’s campaign group in Taraba State.

The release noted that the Buhari’s campaign group only emphasis on the internal crisis that has been rocking the party in the state, adding the crisis was already there before the nomination of Gen. Buhari as presidential candidate.

According to the release, what Gen. Muhammadu Buhari campaign organisation was saying is that there was no proper gubernitorial primaries in the state and

therefore dissociated itself from the purported primaries conducted.

Traditional ruler urge politicians to avoid politics of bitterness Meanwhile, as Nigerians account months to 2015 general elections, the Aku Uka of Wukari and Chairman Taraba State Council of Chiefs, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Massa Ibi has tasked politicians to avoid politics of bitterness.

He gave the advice yesterday in Wukari when a delegation of Tiv people of Taraba State paid him a Christmas homage at his palace.

The Aku Uka enjoined the peo-

ple of the state to embrace peace for the state to move forward, saying anybody in state who did not see need to live in peace with one another should not be seen as a living being.

He called on politicians seeking different political offices to avoid acts capable of inciting violence.

“Don’t insult people or incite your supporters to violence during your campaigns,” he said.

The traditional ruler frowns at the altitude of some politicians who jump from one political party to the other just to satisfy their selfish personal interest, thereby causing problem in the society with their actions and utterances.

PDP Chieftain Dumps Party For APC A founding member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former interim Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, Alhaji Usman Ibrahim, has withdrawn his membership of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) citing developments in the party as his reason.

Alhaji Ibrahim, a founding member of the party said the party has derailed from some of its legacies put in place by the founding fathers of the party, saying the time has come for him to part ways with the party.

He told newsmen in Kaduna yesterday that, “I want to first and foremost thank the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) for all the opportunities the party has given me in my career as a politician, the education that I have gotten from the sojourn and the gains and loses that I might have incurred depending from which perspective you are looking at it.”

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

El-Rufai Faults Kaduna Over N600bn Federal Allocation Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kaduna State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El Rufai, has claimed that Kaduna State government has not justified the receipt of N600billion from the federation account in the last seven years, saying that it is regrettable that the state receives the second highest monthly statutory allocation and has nothing to show for it.

El Rufai, who made this allegation as guest of Freedom Radio Hausa programme, ‘’Barka da warhaka’’ yesterday, also said that Kaduna State is the second most indebted state in Nigeria after Lagos state.

He said, ‘’Although Lagos State is more indebted than Kaduna State, but it has the capacity to pay. Governor Babatunde Fashola generates N20 billion monthly internally but Kaduna State does not get N1 billion from Internally Generated Revenue,’’ he pointed out.

But when contacted over the allegations by El-Rufai, the Spokesman of the state governor, Ahmed Maiyaki could not comment on the allegation. However return the text message sent to his two GSM lines as at the time of fielding this report.

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

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stories of the Tuesday, December 30, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

ROBBERY: Police Nab 2-man Gang In Ekiti

by ALO ABIOLA, ADO-EKITI

A two-man armed robbery gang which terrorized a section of Ado Ekiti on the eve of Christmas has been arrested by men of the Ekiti State Police Command.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, who made this known while addressing newsmen yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, said the arrest was as a result of the tight security network put in place by the command to ensure a crime-free yuletide season.

Lakanu, who spoke through the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Babayemi, said the suspects, Popoola Busuyi, 19, and Segun Adewale , 20, had besieged Olaoluwa , GRA area of the town and broke into houses, where they stole valuable materials .

The command, according to the commissioner, was alerted by a resident of the area at about 10:10 pm and men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were immediately drafted to the scene to put the situation under control .

He said the suspects, who are now in the police custody, attacked and injured the victims with cutlasses , bottles and other dangerous weapons and fled into nearby bush where they were rounded up by the police.

The commissioner said a motorbike, with registration number Ekiti ADK 046 QD , four wraps of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp , a Techno and Nokia phone and other electronic gadgets, were recovered from them.

CHILD BIRTH: 16-year-old Delivered Of Triplets In Delta

BY Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

A 16-year-old girl, Helen Ezeh, in Owhelogbo community, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, has been delivered of a set of triplets in the state-owned hospital in the area.

The triplets were said to have been given birth to prematurely after seven months of pregnancy at the hospital, but due to the non-availability of incubator, the triplets were, however, referred to the state university teaching hospital, Oghara, for incubation to ensure their survival.

Parents of the young girl and the father of the triplets, Ezeh Tovrehe and John Eyavoro, thanked God for a successful delivery of the triplet; adding that God perfected His miracle in the life of their daughter.

They, however, lamented lack of finance to cater for the childern and to foot the hospital bills, as the father of the triplets, John Eyavoro, is still an apprentice.

A pregnant woman carrying a table at Ipaja, Lagos. photo by benedict uwalaka

POLICE BRUTALITY: 2 Policemen Arrested For Killing Herdsmen

By MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

Two policemen are now cooling their heels at the state headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Yola office, over their alleged murder of two Fulani youths in Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Eyewitness account from Toungo where the incident took place said the two policemen shot the herdsmen during an altercation that ensued when the herdsmen refused to give the policemen the N50 they demanded from them.

The incident, which took place near the local government secretariat, according to eyewitnesses, nearly degenerated into a violent conflict as youths allegedly mobilized to attack the Divisional Police Station of the area in reprisal to the killing of the two herdsmen.

National liaison officer of Miyetti Allah, Mallam Sanusi Bara, told reporters in Yola that he and other elders of the area intervened and calmed the situation and eased the tension .

Bara gave the names of the slain herdsmen as Jibo and Maikudi and said the corpses of the two murdered herdsmen bore five and

three bullets wounds respectively.

A similar incident had taken place some weeks back where about 25 Fulani herdsmen were said to have been killed in Bali village of Demsa Local Government Area.

When contacted, the state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Othman Abubakar confirmed the incident, saying the patrol team involved had been arrested.

Abubakar who did not give the number of policemen involved in the Incident said the matter was being investigated by the state CID unit.

CULTISM: Police Arrest 7 Teenage Suspects

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Police detectives operating in Asaba, Delta State, have arrested seven suspected members of a cult group known as ‘cage bird’ and ‘dance sailor’ at the weekend, following a tip-off.

Police public relations Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on a report at Sapele Police Division by one Victor Lucky and Abraham Ubah.

DSP Kalu said that in a follow-up action, one Ufuoma, 15-year-old boy, was arrested who, upon his arrest, led the police detectives to the arrest of one Jeffery Lion, 16, Reuben Joel, 17, Lugard Warri, 17, Theophilus Agofure, 17, Mese Adeshina, 19, and two others.

Kalu explained that after thorough investigation, it was found out that some of the suspects were initiated into the cult groups while in secondary school through their peer groups.

She said that Jeffry Lion is not a cult member but aided the escape of

Adeshina Mese who is the son of his landlord; adding that Reuben Joel is a member of the dance sailor cult group, who had previously fought with a cage bird member; adding that the fight between the two rival group was a revenge mission.

DSP Kalu further disclosed that investigations had been concluded, and that the suspects would be charged to juvenile court.

He warned youths to shun cultism and other vices that would jeopardize their future.

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STORIES OF THE DAY 11

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

HOODLUMS CLASH: 2 Feared Dead In Lagos

BY MATTHEW DIKE, Lagos

Two people were said to have been killed in a fight in Ijora area of Lagos State, yesterday.

LEADERSHIP investigation revealed that the fight have been on between rival gangs in the area.

A man who identified himself as Soji said, “the people were just fighting foolish fight of supremacy. They have no job. They have killed two people.

They injured so many people. They robbed and made life unbearable for residents. Many hoodlums have guns in this area. Politicians are one of the problems. They usually use money to cause problem”.

Continuing, he said: “In most

cases, you don’t know what cause the problem or a very minor thing will be the cause”.

When LEADERSHIP visited the Ijora police station, teams of policemen from other divisions under Area ‘B’ Apapa command were present to safe guard the station.

A man, Kayode, said the policemen at the station are too few to handle the situation in Ijora. He said the station lacks manpower.

He said, “I cannot tell you what caused the fight because many people don’t even know. In Ijora, a serious fight can just happen over small cash or even girlfriend. I heard two of the people who were rushed to a hospital are dead.”

RITUALISTS: Police Arrest 12 Suspects In Delta

BY Kola Eke-ogiugo, Asaba

A police patrol team in Akwukwu Igbo near Asaba, Delta State, has arrested 12 suspected ritualists in the area, following a tip-off of their illicit activities in recent times.

DSP Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on a tip- off, following their illicit activities inside the thick forest in the community especially as some corpses were alleged to have been exhumed in the last few weeks by

unknown persons.

Sources said there has been hue and cry over the alleged exhumed corpses by unknown persons; a situation that was attributed to the handiwork of the suspects.

But DSP Celestina Kalu disclosed that the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigation, adding that they were still helping the police at the state CID. She said that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, saying that they used dead bodies to prepare native bathing soap for their patrons, especially

Photo News

L-R: Coordinator, Adopt-A-Camp Initiative, Miss Bukky Shonibare; permanent secretary, Adamawa Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajia Maisaratu Bello, and the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (Fomwan), North-East zonal coordinator, Fati Abubakar, during presentation of relief materials to women in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps by the Initiative in Yola. photo by Nan

L-R: Executive secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Haruna Furo; assistant registrar, Federal University of Technology, Mubi, Mr Abdul Saleh, and Nema camp leader, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, at the presentation of relief materials to the university’s staff affected by insurgency in Yola. Photo By Nan

L-R: Tinsel actor, Bimbo Manuel; CEO, Bufferzone Ltd, Akin Fadeyi; co-presenter, Health Access, Gbenga Adeyinka, and scheduler, MNET West Africa, Muyiwa Ojo, during a strategy session for health access, a National Health Insurance Scheme’s (NHIS) talk show in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY GBENGA OLAJOBI

CULTISM: 5 Suspects Nabbed In Benue

BY SOLOMON AYADO, Makurdi

The Benue State Police Command has arrested five cultists during the Yuletide, just as it said criminal activities have reduced to the barest minimum.

This is even as the command yesterday denied rumours that it was selling cadet forms for recruitment into the Nigerian Police Force.

There have been speculations in Makurdi and other towns of the agrarian state that the force command in Benue is selling recruitment forms

to unemployed youths.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP John Bako, told newsmen yesterday in Makurdi that the allegation is false and stated that the command was yet to receive any information on the cadet recruitment exercise.

According to Bako, the suspected cultists were arrested with three locally made pistols and cartridges during a fight among some cult groups. He added that no casualty was recorded but that the suspects only sustained varied injuries.

L-R:South East coordinator, Loyal Order to Government of Nigeria (LOGON), Mr. Chike Ezeani; global coordinator, LOGON, Mr Ihentuge Ekeh; Santa Claus; organising secretary, LOGON, Mrs Ijeoma Nwokeji, with children during a Christmas rally on the endorsement of Goodluck/Sambo 2015 by Santa Claus in Abuja

PHOTO NEWS

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Marketers displaying their goods at Iyana-Ipaja Market, Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: BENEDICT UWALAKA.

Children having fun on the merry-go-round at Monoliza Amusement Park in Abuja, on Sunday. PHOTO BY DELE DAMISA

Children playing on the bouncing castle at Monoliza Amusement Park in Abuja on Sunday.

Children having fun on the carousel at Monoliza Amusement Park in Abuja on Sunday.

PHOTO BY DELE DAMISA

PHOTO BY DELE DAMISA

AEDC ABUJA ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY No. 1, Ziquinchor Street, Off IBB Way, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – SECURITY SERVICES 1.

Introduction Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) established in 1997 is a company registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria based on the privatization of the power distribution in Nigeria.

AEDC is required to maintain power quality in line with prevailing Nigeria regulations as set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its Customer Service Standards of Performance, together with internationally accepted standards (IEC 60050).

AEDC is seeking proposals from qualied security service rms to provide uniform security services at its various ofces in Kogi State, Abuja FCT, Niger State and Nasarawa State.

This Request for Proposal (“RFP”) is intended to solicit information and proposals from qualied Security Service rms capable of meeting AEDC and/or its afliates' needs at various facilities. The service provider will have signicant expertise in the areas necessary to meet the needs and requirements set forth in this RFP, including, without limitation to, the ability to provide innovative solutions and introduce AEDC to opportunities. AEDC desires to enhance service efciency and minimize costs and risks, while at the same time providing the service provider with the incentive to successfully perform based on pricing, and the operational parameters set forth in the scope of service.

2.

3.

RFP Administration Any questions and/or communications pertaining to this RFP and your proposal must be directed only through email to aedcprocurement@gmail.com with subject: RFP Security Services. The questions will be addressed and all questions and answers will be submitted to all suppliers who have indicated interest in this RFP via email. Service providers should not contact any other AEDC employee or representative to discuss this RFP or any information relating thereto. Such contact may subject your company to disqualication from this RFP process. Service providers will be informed of the status of their written proposals upon the completion of AEDC evaluation and selection process.

Selection Process AEDC will evaluate and analyze Suppliers' responses to this RFP utilizing multiple criteria including, without limit to: · Demonstrated successful experience in implementing services similar to those requested in the scope of service.  Ability to meet the contractual requirements set forth in the scope of service. Interested service providers to email aedcprocurement@gmail.com for a copy of the approved scope of service. Subject of the email must read: REQUEST FOR APPROVED SECURITY SCOPE OF SERVICE. Emails

received after 9 January 2014 will not be responded to.

Provisions of other value added services Process improvement/cost saving ideas presented by security service providers Membership of industry related professional organizations Safety record Employee Training The proposal's completeness, thoroughness, accuracy, compliance with instructions, timeliness, and the conciseness of the text materials th

     

In addition to the requirements and qualications identied above, the evaluation process will include a review of the Suppliers' breadth of knowledge of the Security Service industry, as well as their stability and organizational structure, which should be demonstrated through their response to this RFP. Any Proposal that fails to meet all the following minimum criteria shall be noted as “non-responsive” and will not be evaluated/scored and the following information which is mandatory must be provided:  Company history and Philosophy  Company Statutory documents  Documents relating to the legal registration of the company;  Conrmation of the nancial capacity of the company (3 years Audited Statement of Accounts representing year 2013, 2012 and 2011)  Current Tax Clearance Certicate and for the year 2013 and 2012  Evidence of VAT registration  Evidence of compliance with the provisions of Pension Reforms Act 2004  Licensing with appropriate regulatory body  At least 2 Veriable References with respect to awards handled  Evidence of relevant contracts handled in the past for provision of security services  Unique company and management strengths  Organizational chart  Personnel qualications  Cost for Provision of the required service All proposals submitted in response to this RFP will become the sole property of AEDC and shall not be returned to the Security Service Company. All supporting materials and other documentation submitted with any proposal will also become the property of AEDC, unless otherwise requested by the Supplier in writing at the time of proposal submission. All information not already known to AEDC, or not considered to be in the public domain, will be considered condential.

The selection of the successful service provider will be made based on AEDC evaluation and determination of the relative ability of each Bidder to deliver quality service in a cost-effective manner.

AEDC is not obligated to accept the lowest bid and reserves the right to reject any and all bids or amend the scope of service. Interested bidders must be duly licensed with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) or otherwise have the ability to perform work in accordance with all governing local authorities and to the satisfaction of those authorities.

General Instructions for Vendors 1. Interested service providers must bear all the costs associated with the preparation and submission of their proposals. AEDC shall not bear any cost with relation to the requirements of this advert.

2.

All proposals are to be sealed and addressed to : The Principal Manager, Procurement Procurement Department Abuja Electricity Distribution Company No. 1 Ziquinchor Street, Off IBB Way, Zone 4, Wuse – Abuja.

LATE SUMIBSSIONS WILL BE REJECTED.

AEDC schedule for this Request for Proposal is as follows: Issue Date: 29th December, 2014 th Cut- off Date for Questions: January 8 2015 Submission of Proposals: January 12th 2015 Proposals Evaluations: January 13th 2015 Award of Contract: January 26th 2015s AEDC reserves the right to delay or modify scheduled dates and will notify only qualied proposers of all changes in scheduled dates.

3.

For further clarication on any aspect of this request for proposal, please send an e-mail to aedcprocurement@gmail.com quoting “RFP –Security Services'' on the subject of the e-mail.

4.

As part of the prequalication process, AEDC may visit the locations of the vendors to assess their capacity as stated in their proposals.

We thank you for your interest.

Signed Management Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

13

14

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

NEWS/BUSINESS 15

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

business

N78bn The market capitalisation of listed equities on the exchange appreciated by N78 billion

Market Capitalisation Gains N78bn As Equities Rally Deepens

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos , Lagos

The stock market opened the week on a positive note as equities rally deepens, extending it to six consecutive trading days.

The market capitalisation of listed equities on the exchange appreciated by N78 billion from N11.402 trillion to N11.480 trillion.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 235.10 basis points or 0.68 per cent to close

at 34,663.92 basis points from 34,428.82 on Wednesday.

With the development, its yearto-date return now stands at 24.09 per cent negative. Nestle led the gainers’ chart by N64.78 to close at N995 per share. Seplat gained N33.01 to close at N355.12 while Forte Oil grew by N13.25 to close at N227.25 per share. Guinness appreciated by N7.58 to close at N159.45 while Unilever went up

by N1.60 to close at N34.10 per share.

On the other hand, Conoil

recorded the highest price loss of N4.33 to close at N40.11 per share. Dangote Cement trailed with a loss of N2.86 to close at N193.79 while MRS dipped by N2.80 to close at N53.20 per share. Oando lost 97 kobo to close at N19 while Flourmill depreciated by 61 kobo to close at N39.40 per share.

Royal Exchange emerged as the investors’ delight, accounting for 231.79 million shares worth N118.21 million. UTC exchanged 75.55 million shares valued at

N37.77 million, while Zenith Bank sold 52.82 million shares worth N1.1 billion. FBN Holdings traded 37.57 million valued at N343.25 million and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) sold 33.11 million worth N92.79 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded increased by 6.57 per cent as investors exchanged a total of 620.152 million shares worth N4.68 billion in 4,606 deals as against the 581.903 million shares valued at N3.21 billion traded in 3,448 deals on Wednesday.

BUSINESS QUOTE Ten minutes are not just one-sixth of your hourly pay.

Ten minutes are a piece of yourself.

Divide your life into ten-minute units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity. Ingvar Kampard, founder of IKEA (1926-)

Yuletide: E-payment Operators Warn Bank Customers Against Fraudsters

BY Chima Akwaja, Lagos

L-R: Group head, Public Sector, South (Calabar), First Bank, John Iyoha; executive governor, Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; Senator Ladan Shuni and business development manager, Cross River, First Bank, Otu Effiwatt at the 2014 Calabar Carnival at the weekend.

Banks Investment In Govt Treasury Securities Rise In Q3

BY Bukola Idowu, lagos

Despite moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to encourage banks to lend more to the real sector, the volume of funds going to federal government treasury securities from the banking sector has continued to rise.

According to the third quarter economic report of the CBN, the banking sector net credit to the federal government rose in the third quarter (Q3) by 22.2 per cent to N1.39 trillion.

This is in contrast to the decline of 24.8 per cent and 25.5 per cent at

the end of the previous quarter and the corresponding period of 2013 respectively.

“The development relative to the level at the end of the preceding quarter was attributed to the increase in the banking system’s holding of the federal government treasury securities, particularly the treasury bills,” the CBN report stated.

At N16.26 trillion, aggregate banking system’s net credit to the domestic economy grew by 7.2 per cent at the end of Q3 of 2014, in contrast to the decline of 1.1 per cent and 0.5 per cent at the

end of the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2013 respectively. The development relative to the level at the end of the second quarter of 2014 reflected the growth of 22.2 and 4.1 per cent in net claims on federal government and private sector, respectively. By the end of the Q3 2014, banking system’s credit to the private sector rose by 4.1 per cent to N17.65 trillion, compared with the 1.1 per cent and 3.7 per cent increase in the preceding quarter and the corresponding quarter of 2013 respectively. The development relative to the preceding quarter reflected the

growth of 7.7 per cent in claims on the core private sector.

At N7.60 trillion, foreign net assets of the banking system fell by 1.1 per cent at the end of Q3 of 2014, in contrast to the growth of 1.1 per cent at the end of the preceding quarter. The development relative to the preceding quarter was attributed, largely, to the 11.9 per cent fall in CBN holdings of foreign assets. Other net assets of the banking system fell by 5.3 per cent to negative N7.30 trillion at the end of the review quarter, compared with the decline of 13.8 per cent at the end of the corresponding quarter of 2013.

The E-payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN) has warned bank customers to be security conscious, especially at this festive season as a lot of transactions take place with the use of various payment instruments like point of sale (PoS) terminals, automated teller machine (ATM), online transactions, mobile banking/payment, among others.

The executive secretary/chief executive officer (CEO), EPPAN,Onajite Regha, said fraudsters are using this festive season to launch their nefarious activities on unsuspecting bank customers.

The onus, therefore, is first on the individual, to consider safety in all transactions, and these will take some extra and conscious effort by the individual.

“We always tell consumers that it is very safe to use any of the payment instruments but they should minimise the chances of becoming victims of electronic fraud. So we advice consumers to adhere to the following safety tips: look after your cards and card details at all times; try not to let your card out of your sight when making a transaction; and don’t leave your cards unattended to in public places.

“We emphasize that you should never share your personal identification number (PIN) with anyone; and ensure that you are the only person that knows your PIN. Your bank will never ask you to disclose it; anyone who does ask you for your PIN is a fraudster.

Keep it secret, keep it safe – protect your PIN. For those who will use the ATM at any point, we always advice that they never use an ATM at any isolated location, especially at night and weekends,” she stated.

Regha noted that ATMs are generally very safe, however, they do sometimes attract criminal attention.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

16 NEWS/BUSINESS

Nigerian-German Business Association Elects New President

BY Chima Akwaja, Lagos

The board of directors of Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA) has elected Mr Folabi Esan, as the president of the association. Esan takes over from Mr Peter Sengpiel, who served the association for two years before stepping down at the annual general meeting (AGM) which held in Lagos at the weekend.

Esan became a partner at Adlevo Capital, an expansion stage private equity firm investing in African businesses that provide technologydriven services in 2008.

Before then, he served as the chief executive officer at Catalyst TDC a venture incubator and prior to that, he was the regional manager for SAP West Africa (ERP software and solution

provider) and Heureka Consulting (technology marketing services).

He has more than 20 years of professional experience establishing new businesses in Nigeria and has worked in a wide variety of industries and for a number of global companies.

The Nigerian-German Business Association was founded by representatives of the German business community in Nigeria, representatives of the Nigerian business community, delegation of German Industry and Commerce (AHK) Nigeria and the German embassy.

Germany and Nigeria signed a bilateral cultural agreement in 1999, placing cultural relations between the two countries on a sound footing in international law.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

ECOWAS Biometric ID Card Ready Soon

BY Kingsley Alu, Abuja

The ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card will be ready in 2016, the Community said that this represents another milestone in the march to regional integration, through unfettered movement of Community citizens.

According to a communiqué issued at the end of a three-day 73rd Ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers which ended in Abuja, the document would replace the Travel Certificate currently in use.

“The new Biometric Identity Card is to circulate alongside the National Identity Card in each Member State for a period of time until the institutionalisation of the new document within a specified timeframe.”

The ministers after due consideration of the report of the regional Heads of Immigration Services on the use of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card endorsed the new document for the approval of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

The Council also considered the 2014 Annual Report of the ECOWAS Commission’s president, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, which provided positive growth forecasts with economic activity put at 5.3 per cent in 2014 compared to 4.8 per cent in 2013.

“The ECOWAS region continues to be Africa’s most dynamic regional Economic Community with expected growth rate of 6.3 per cent in 2014,” the president said, with Côte d’Ivoire expected to record the highest growth rate of 9.1 per cent in the region.

On the proposed Customs Union, the ECOWAS president intimated the council that necessary activities had been completed for the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) in all Member States from January 1 , 2015, in addition to the finalisation of the text on Community Customs Code and the adoption of the Steering and Monitoring Mechanism for ECOWAS’ Fiscal Transition programme.

The Council further considered, among others, the Interim Report of the Financial Controller, with some recommendations and decisions, including the need for improved implementation of the Protocol on the Community Levy, to enable the organisation discharge its financial functions more effectively.

Water Facility Council Seeks End To Challenges In Africa

BY Kingsley Alu, Abuja

The chairperson of the Governing Council, African Water Facility (AWF) who is also minister of Water Resources, Nigeria, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, has said that the African Water Facility has prepared bankable water and sanitation project capable of addressing various challenges facing the water sector in Africa.

Ochekpe made this declaration while declaring open the 14th session of African Water Facility Governing Council meeting in Tunis, Tunisia.

African Water Facility is an initiative created by Africa Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) to mobilise resources to finance water resources development activities in Africa. It is hosted and managed by African Development Bank (AFDB).

The Governing Council is made up of 13 members appointed by AMCOW, donors to the fund, the African Development Bank, the African Union and UN- Water/ Africa.

It focuses more on project preparation, Water Governance providing grant and

assistance to ensure that projects are bankable viable and future-proofed with clear opportunity for effective implementation.

At the 14 session of the Governing Council, in Tunis, Ochekpe said African Water Facility had prepared projects that have mobilised committed financing totaling 791 million Euros for implementation and follow- up.

She said that available information showed that over 3.2 million people were expected to benefit from improved access to sanitation facilities and over 2.8 million people would benefit from access to improved drinking water sources as a result of the completed AWF preparation and small scale investment.

The chairperson further announced that Nordic Development Fund(NDF) has joined the group of donors and had already committed 6 million Euros in the AWF fund.

She said Austria, had also contributed one million Euro.

Ochekpe also appreciated the African Development Bank for continued strong financial support of the AWF in administrative expenses and operational support.

Bauchi State workers using the ATM, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

‘Manufacturing, SMEs Most Troubled Sectors In 2014’

By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has identified small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the manufacturing sector as the most troubled segments of the Nigerian economy in 2014.

The chamber in its end of year review stressed that the economy was hampered by productivity challenges like high cost of credit, insecurity and infrastructure deficiencies.

“SMEs and the manufacturing sector remained the most troubled sectors as evidenced by the negative investment sentiments expressed by the operators throughout the year,” LCCI stated.

The chamber noted that, “feedback from business operators, especially the medium to small sized firms across all the sectors confirmed that access to credit and high cost of fund were some of the most challenging issues in

2014. Over the last few years, the monetary authorities have pursued a tight monetary policy resulting in interest rate going as high as 2530 per cent. High interest rate has adverse implication on production, employment and growth.”

It stated that there was an evident deterioration of public power supply in 2014 as electricity supply dropped by an average of 30 per cent in most industrial parts and households in the last six months of 2014.

The group pointed out that, in 2014, most firms especially the SMEs expressed concern over increases in their electricity bill.

Most SMEs spend as much as 10 per cent of their monthly turnover on payment for public power supply alone. Often, these firms never got the power supply they were compelled to pay for.

LCCI said there was the need for National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to urgently address the growing concerns over

the outrageous bills to consumers, much of which were not consistent with the earlier advertised billing template.

LCCI also noted that the security situation in the country assumed a very disturbing dimension in 2014, which led to decline in sales by many enterprises, especially the large ones with national sales outlets.

It explained that the economy in 2014 kept pace with projections on some fundamental indicators like inflation and growth.

Inflation was at 7.8 per cent and 8 per cent threshold throughout the year, while Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate was around the projected threshold of 6.5 per cent.

According to LCCI, in the last quarter of 2014, the economy experienced shocks arising from developments in the global economy which presented downside outcomes in respect of key macroeconomic indicators. External reserves opened the year at $43.5billion and closed at less than $35billion.

E-Business/BUSINESS 17

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2014: Year Of Half Promises, Rise Of Third Platform stories by Chima Akwaja, Lagos

The outgoing year 2014 began with a lot of promises that ushered in full broadband service that saw Nigerians access affordable internet services irrespective of their locations in the country.

The telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had towards the end of 2013 promised the auctions of telecom licences in the 2.3GHz spectrum, 2.6GHz spectrum and seven Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) that would deliver wholesale ubiquitous broadband in the six geo-political zones of the country.

Also, the minister of communications technology and chairman of the Broadband Council, Dr Omobola Johnson, promised in February that a broadband campaign that would showcase the usage and benefits of broadband to the generality of Nigerians would commence but this promise failed to materialise.

Apart from the auction by the NCC in February to Bitflux Communications for the 30MHz band of 2.3GHz for $23,251,000, other licence auctions planned by the NCC failed to hold. On the Information Technology (IT) sector, there were good omens for the country as a new director-general for the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was appointed in April by President Goodluck Jonathan in the person of Mr Peter Jack. Nigeria’s IT sector witnessed an increase in the adoption of cloud computing, mobile, social media and Big Data technologies known as the Third Platform. Also, new software developers from Nigeria were thrust on the global stage.

It education, software development boom This year, IT became a permanent feature in the education of students in higher institutions with the deployment of video conferencing solution in the 27 universities across

the country, through the collaboration of the NITDA, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Ministry of Communications Technology, through an initiative known as the Nigerian Research and Education Network.

In June 2014, the regulator of computing, the Computer Professionals’ Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), introduced a standard manual for IT education for use in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the country. The manual was unveiled at the IT Professionals Assembly in June in Abuja. The president of the CPN, Mrs Sekinat Yusuf, said the IT educational manual would correct all the shortcomings in the teaching of IT and would be used by the Boards and Commission in charge of primary, secondary and tertiary education in preparing IT-related and Computer Science studies curricular.

Meanwhile, Nigeria was placed on the global stage at the DEMO Africa Forum in Lagos where global firms came face to face with 40 IT start-ups who competed for seed capital that will move them from incubation to product development. Top investors, IT buyers, IT consumers, government officials and enthusiasts from across Africa, Europe, America and Asia spent four days in Lagos with the 40 start-up companies from Africa. Nigeria had 14 startups in the competition.

Big data, cloud, mobile analytics For Nigerian companies, it was a good year as the adoption of the Third Platform services went up. Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Delta states governments joined leading mobile telecommunications operators and blue chip companies in Nigeria to deploy modern cloud technology and big data services to innovate, and improve, operational efficiencies and acquire new business opportunities.

The country director, Oracle West Africa, Mr Adebayo Sanni, disclosed that they are working with the three

state governments and organisations to enhance their business decisions, improve revenues and profitability and make accurate decisions about the future. The Third Platform is helping Nigerian telcos improve data mining, predict consumer behaviour, choices, buying habits and the trends of subscribers who use their networks to connect to the internet.

The Big Data market is already valued at over $200 billion for the African telecom space. It is simplifying and improving the most common to complex tasks and facilitates better search, discovery, monitoring and control of most household needs, from repairs to energy usage. It enables less aggravation from traffic and disintegrates queues of all kinds, including those at call centres, transport hubs and retail centres.

MTN Nigeria, Globacom, and Airtel Nigeria are already deploying Next Generation Networks (NGN) and Business Intelligence (BI) softwares to analyse consumer behaviour. Globacom is spending $1.25 billion to build an Internet Protocol (IP) network while MTN is spending $3 billion over the next three years. Airtel and Etisalat are not left behind. Both operators are spending over $3 billion collectively to retool their networks to tap into the Big Data opportunities.

According to experts, as data volume expands three-fold, telecom operators should mine the huge information available among consumers to reduce cost of doing business and increase revenue.

Inactive telecom operators A total of 14 licenced telecoms operators were declared inactive by the NCC. The companies include the Nigerian Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s (NITEL) and its mobile arm M-Tel; Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network operator, Starcomms; Reliance Telecoms (operating as Zoom); Intercellular

Nigeria; MTS First Communications; Disc Communications, WiTel; O’Net (Odua Telecom); Rainbownet; Monarch Communications; XS Broadband; Webcom and IPNX. In the fixed/fixedwireless market, the NCC said that only five out of 18 operators were now classed as active.

The executive vice chairman of the NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, blamed strings of bad loans from Nigerian banks for the collapse of several CDMA network operators in the country.

“The CDMA operators are dying because they borrowed heavily from banks and could not pay back.”

Ebola and suspension of telecom auctions It was a year of mixed blessings for the NCC. Apart from its success in

the sale of the 2.3GHz spectrum to Bitflux Communications, the NCC could not realise its targets of auctioning the 2.6GHz spectrum and seven InfraCos for broadband.

It blamed administrative lapses for the suspension of the auction that would have taken place from December 2-5, 2014, in Abuja that would have raked in a minimum of N34.8 billion ($224 billion) to the purse of the federal government.

The impact of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was also felt in the telecom sector as it stalled the NCC from going ahead with the auction of InfraCos licences. Juwah said a foreign consulting firm which the regulator contracted to evaluate the bids failed to show up for fear of EVD and the NCC had planned to conduct a pilot auction for Lagos and the North Central zone for

the InfraCos. Ltes and smart states initiative It was not all bad news from the sector as two data operators, Smile Communications Nigeria and Spectranet Ltd, expanded their fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) networks. Smile rolled out its network in Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt while Spectranet extended its services from Lagos to Abuja.

It was also a good year for the Smart State Initiative of the Broadband Council as it persuaded Gombe, Katsina, Bayelsa, Ondo, Anambra, Cross River and Lagos states to eliminate multiple taxes on telecom companies to fast-track the deployment of fibre optic cables, base transceiver stations and other telecom equipment.

18 aviation/BUSINESS

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

aviation REPORTS

Lagos Airport Cargo Terminal Decongestion Reaches 60%

Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos

Airport Security: Taking The Bull By The Horns

stories by Samson Echenim, Lagos

The recent fracas between some clearing agents and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which culminated in twoweek long closure of the airport cargo terminals at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has perhaps trended into a good ending.

Even though it also led to the suspension of cargo flights to the airport, actions taken by relevant government agencies have left some assurance that security issues at the airport will soon be attended to.

It was gathered that some agents, assisted by touts, took the law into their hands and variously embarrassed the command’s customs area comptroller, pelting him with stones.

The comptroller’s offence was that he discovered that some activities unbecoming of licenced customs agents were taking place around the bulk breaking section of the cargo terminal and he had the guts not only to challenge them but also to decide that it must stop.

Before ordering the immediate reopening of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc and Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) sheds, the comptroller-general of the customs (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko, had directed that the area be covered with Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) after reading the riot act to the clearing agents operating at

the airport never to “touch my people again,” or risk going to jail.

Also, the minister of aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, had at a meeting with journalists in Lagos, recently, said he was in full sup port of the customs decision to close the cargo terminal following the imbroglio that caused security scare at the cargo wing of the MMIA, stressing that no association or group of Nigerians should be allowed to be unruly or hold the country’s national life to ransom.

A visibly angry minister further stated, “We are going to come out with even stiffer rules for registering associations operating in the airport.”

Noting that blackmail against government would not work, the minister stressed that “we must work in respect of the rules of engagement.”

A competent airport source, who preferred anonymity, however, cleared licenced customs agents of this accusation, hinting that “those who fomented the trouble were not licenced agents. Most of them were there illegally. There is no sane person who values his licence that would go there and behave like that.”

The source shifted the blame on regulatory agencies “who saw things going bad but turned the other eyes and simply collect their settlement. If they want to do their job the way it should be done, there would not be room for such crisis.

“A system that encourages operators not to have any office, but mill around in a customs-

A system that encourages operators not to have any office, but mill around in a customscontrolled area has also legalised occasional mob behaviour

controlled area has also legalised occasional mob behaviour,” the source observed.

While the cargo terminal remained shut, some importers rerouted their cargoes to Ghana, and other shippers failed to meet their supply schedules.

As these importers and the nation count their losses in the fracas that led to the closure of the terminal for 12 days, how the touts and agents came to grow into such an intimidating force at an international airport remains an enigma.

The CGC’s direction to have the NAHCO shed operational offices, and all other relevant areas covered with the CCTV monitors linked to the customs area comptroller’s office, the Federal Operation Unit and the CGC’s office in Abuja, may have been belated. But, according to popular parlance, “It is better late than never.”

Specifically, the tarmac, break bulk area, warehouse, examination bay and loading section would soon be covered by cameras that can be monitored from the command and the headquarters. In other words, the unlicenced agents, have unwittingly ignited a revolution, a new regime, where future touting may also be recorded so that miscreants, broaching perpetrators, cargoflyers can be documented, apprehended and possibly prosecuted.

Perhaps, touts have, through this action of theirs, helped relevant agencies to put on their thinking and creative caps to find new ways of sending touting into extinction at the

About 60 per cent of the backlog goods at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has been cleared, indicating that cargo flights to the airport will soon resume.

The acting managing director and chief executive officer of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO Aviance), Mr Norbert Bielderman, who gave the assurance on the eve of Christmas, said all hands had been on deck to ensure that the backlog was cleared before the end of first week of January.

“Currently, we have cleared approximately 60 per cent. We are hopeful that the situation will be back to normal by the end of the first week of 2015.

We are currently doing 24 hours decongestion on the tarmac which has yielded positive result,” Bielderman added.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), last week, suspended cargo flights to the MMIA as a result of congestion at the NAHCOmanaged cargo terminal following a faceoff between customs officers and some clearing agents operating at the terminal. Bielderman said the company was also working seven days in the week and this had gone a long way in reducing the volume of cargo on the tarmac.

“By joint agreement between terminal operators, clearing agents and the customs, it was decided that work be put off for the public holidays (December 25 and 26, 2014). Full operations will resume on December 27 till the end of 2014. This will enable all concerned to have a little rest and re-energise.

This position was agreed between all stakeholders in cargo clearing business,” he said.

He commended the working relationship with stakeholders, especially the customs service and the leadership of clearing agents associations, adding that everyone was doing great to ensure the situation was contained. He, however, appealed to importers to be understanding during this period, and promised that the NAHCO was doing everything possible to ensure that their shipments were delivered safely without further delay.

‘Missing AirAsia Pilot Asked To Change Course’ The pilot of AirAsia had asked to change course to avoid bad weather during a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore before the aircraft went missing, Reuters reported yesterday.

Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501, an Airbus 320200, lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 6:17am (6.17pm EST/2317 GMT).

“The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to en route weather before communication with the aircraft was lost,” the airline said in a statement.

No distress signal had been sent, said the air transportation director at Indonesia’s transport ministry, Joko Muryo Atmodjo. Indonesia AirAsia said there were 155 passengers and seven crew on board. It said 156 were Indonesian, three from South Korea and one each from Singapore, Malaysia and France. Singapore, Malaysia and Australia had offered to help in the search.

Indonesia AirAsia is 49 per cent owned by the Malaysia-based budget carrier, AirAsia, with local investors holding the rest. The AirAsia group, including affiliates in Thailand, the Philippines and India, has not had a crash since its Malaysian budget operations began in 2002.

Flight QZ8501 was between the Indonesian port of Tanjung Pandan and the town of Pontianak, in West Kalimantan province on Borneo island, when it went missing, Atmodjo told a news conference in Jakarta. The aircraft had been flying at 32,000 feet and had asked to fly at 38,000 feet to avoid clouds, he added.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

BUSINESS/CUSTOMS 19

Assessing Landmark Achievements That Shaped The NCS In 2014 (2) Nigeria trade hub gains WCO recognition In 2014, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) blazed the trail when it developed an information technology web-based trade portal, the Nigeria Trade Hub (www. nigeriatradehub.gov.ng).

Due to the efficiency of this unique application in easing trade processes, the World Customs Organisation (WCO)’s attention was drawn to it and, consequently, the WCO included it in its revised Single Window Compendium which its about 180-member countries can benefit from.

The WCO Single Window Compendium is a pool of useful knowledge for member administrations embarking on the Single Window development journeys. The organisation said, following increased demand from member customs administrations for resources in the area of Single Window implementation, particularly in view of the conclusion of the WTO agreement on trade facilitation, that the need arose for it to update the compendium.

The update was intended to provide members with richer content, particularly through the inclusion of national best practices. One such national best practices, which the organisation deemed worthy of inclusion in the compendium, was the Nigeria Trade Hub due to its uniqueness and efficiency.

In a letter addressed to the comptroller-general of customs (CGC), Abdullahi Dikko, from the WCO’s Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, dated June 18, 2014, and signed by the director, Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, the organisation stated that “the secretariat is grateful for the support and assistance received from the NCS in preparing for this feature which will serve as an inspiration for like-minded countries looking to enhance transparency and trade facilitation through the use of information technology.”

In the letter, the WCO secretariat stressed the important need to update the compendium, particularly in view of the recent conclusion of the WTO agreement on trade facilitation, where the use of the internet to publish information relating to trade procedures, and the Single Window, is specifically mentioned.

The letter further reads, “The application of information and

customs focus

communication technologies by the customs administrations will also have far ranging impact on the implementation of related provisions in the

By JULIET ALOHAN agreement. Consequently, the WCO had embarked on the update of the Single Window Compendium to provide members with richer content, particularly through the inclusion of national best practices. One such best practice that will be included in the revised Single Window Compendium is the Nigeria Trade Hub.” The portal, a web based application, simplifies trade processes by providing information and guidance for international trade business processors in the areas of import, export and transit trade.

The achievement was part of the NCS’ continuous efforts to consolidate its modernisation process ahead of its take-over from the service providers.

It is a non-restrictive online medium, an intuitive and interactive platform for classifying goods. Through this portal, trade processors are enabled to find the exact Harmonised System Codes (HS Codes) required for related tariffs and duties and to avail themselves with the required information on tariff and prohibited items.

Dikko The portal further allows traders to convert The currencies to exchange rates directorsapplication, which eliminates set by the Central Bank of general of customs direct human contact in Nigeria (CBN) on a monthly administrations of the various the entire import/export basis, make payments, simulate countries in Abuja at the chain, leaves no room for tax and access the Consumer instance of the NCS. engagement in corrupt Protection Council (CPC) Code.

The meeting also had in practices. Stakeholders have The application can be accessed attendance Nigeria’s national said the simplification of from the comfort of one’s security adviser, Col. Sambo trade processes through the home, office or even whilst on Dasuki, and the comptrollerdevelopment of the portal the move via smart phones, general of the Nigeria has resulted in improved personal computers (PCs) and Immigration Service (NIS), compliance and revenue tablets.

David Paradang, among other collection for the country.

Information entered on security personnel. It was in the portal by traders can be pursuance to the mandate Joint cross border patrol simultaneously accessed by given by the 19th Conference of Given that border security is other regulatory agencies such Directors-General of Customs as the National Agency for Food also a major function of the of West and Central Africa customs, the five proximate and Drug Administration and of the WCO held in Yaoundé, countries of Benin, Cameroon, Control (NAFDAC), National Cameroon.

Chad, Niger and Nigeria, Environmental Standards The CGC of the NCS, while in 2014, agreed to have a and Regulations Enforcement speaking at the opening of joint cross border patrol Agency (NESREA), Standards the meeting, disclosed that as part of efforts to check Organisation of Nigeria (SON), top on the agenda was the insecurity in the region, and Nigeria Agricultural consideration for adoption to especially with regards to Quarantine Services (NAQS), establish joint patrol teams terrorism and insurgency as the platform is shared by all along the common borders to in Nigeria.

The agreement relevant regulatory agencies. promote security and trade was also aimed at boosting Within hours import/export facilitation. trade facilitation within the documentation processes, Also, the meeting resolved region as well as to check the which before the development to share timely intelligence smuggling and proliferation of the application took amongst the sister of arms, ammunition and traders days or even weeks to administrations in all matters other dangerous weapons. complete, can be completed on of cross-border crimes while The decision was reached at the portal. resolving to also implement an emergency meeting of the

the Protocol on Transit Trade between the common borders.

The agreement was the first of its kind in the region.

Award winning ICT deployments 2014 saw the agency rake in awards in recognition of its ICT deployments, thus justifying the acknowledgement of the success of its modernisation programme. One of such awards was the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)Nihilent e-Governance Awards in which the agency’s Trade Hub Portal won the Best Web Portal Category.

The service was also the runner-up in the Best MDA Category for other initiatives which include the blueprint and roadmap for a single window environment, the streamlining of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) system which it has deployed to facilitate trade.

The NITDA-Nihilent e-Governance Awards is a collaboration between the NITDA and Nihilent to recognise and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance and ICT initiatives. The Nigeria Trade Hub, which won in the Best Web Portal Category, has been described by experts as a trader’s introduction to international trade in Nigeria.

It was commissioned by the coordinating minister of the economy and minister of finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, and industry analysts have said it will enhance compliance by traders since it avails them, at the tap of a button, the required information on tariff, prohibited items as well as taxes and levies due for payment upon importation.

Speaking after receiving the awards on behalf of the NCS, the public relations officer of the service, Wale Adeniyi, said the NCS was “extremely proud to have won these two honours.

The honours, once again, vindicate our modernisation and capacity building efforts, and recognise our long-term vision and hard work.”

Wale, who also recognised the agency’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) partner, Techno Brain West Blue Nigeria Limited, added, “In all of these revolutionary changes and achievements till date, we recognise the contribution, support and motivation received so far from our ICT partner.

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

21

22 INTERVIEW /BUSINESS What is NATFORCE? We are an association of importers, our duty is to stop illegal imports into the country.

If you are not an importer you can’t bring anything from outside the country into this country.

The National Taskforce to Combat the Illegal Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons (NATFORCE) was set up by the federal government on July 16, 2010 The organisation is a public- private partnership initiative between the Government and the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) in collaboration with security agencies in the fight against illegal importation of small arms and light weapons among other such illegal businesses.

What is your relationship with security agencies in the country?

I won’t say it has been cordial.

Some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS) are not happy with us because they are corrupt and they see us as a threat to them.

It was even on this basis that they wrote a unilateral letter to the ministry of finance demanding the disbandment of the NATFORCE following which the current minister of finance on January 5, 2011 wrote a letter copied to the Inspector General of Police that the body should be disbanded.

We decided the challenge the matter in court and so we gathered all our documents because the organisation didn’t just happen; it followed due process.It took our lawyer, Chief Chris Uche took weeks to study them and at the end of the day, he was convinced we had a good case. So he filed the case and after two years and two months, starting from February 2011 to April 30, 2013, judgment was delivered in our favour by a Federal Court in Abuja which ruled that the body was legally set up and should be allowed to continue its operations.

After the court ruling, nobody has gone for an appeal because they know they will fail. They don’t have any case.

Following this development, I, as the chairman of NATFORCE wrote to all security agencies intimating them of the ruling. I also wrote a letter requesting to see the NSA in order to brief him as well as seek for better ways of working with his office.

The request was granted with a date given to me to see him without knowing that the NSA had set a trap for me.

On getting to his office on the appointed date, I was arrested by the commissioner of police, Operations from the Force headquarters. He said there was a petition against me and I demanded to know the nature of the petition and who wrote it, but there was no response.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

interview

Seaports In North Not Under Govt Control – Okereke Chief Ositadimma Emmanuel Okereke is the director- general, National Taskforce (NATFORCE) against illegal importations, smuggling of goods, small arms, ammunition and light weapons. He is also the president, Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN).In this interview with KINGSLEY ALU, he bares his mind on several national issues that border on national security and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

Okereke

Instead, I was detained for 16 days, but we are in court now because I sued him and everybody is awaiting the outcome.

My problem with both the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the former Inspector – General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, originated from a conflict of interest by some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service who are not happy with the exposures NATFORCE was making concerning the proliferation of arms and other illegal products in the country.

Are there noticeable lapses in the patrol of the country’s borders by the authorities concerned?

Most Nigerians don’t know that we have no less than 6,000 borders. Do you know there are some seaports that have no security in Nigeria today? We have just discovered that.

We discovered some seaports in the south-south, south-east and even in the north. When these illegal importers come in, they give the security men there some money and they allow them go.Too many weapons all pass through one border or the other and there are supposed to be Custom officers manning

those borders.

Are you working in synergy with the present day police?

Yes, when we were inaugurated, it was Ogbonnaya Onovo, who was the IGP, it didn’t take him two days to issue us signals and issue signal to the whole command in Nigeria. That was when we monitored a trailerload of arms from Ghana to Nigeria with Ghana registered number. They were arrested at Onitsha GRA. That vehicle is still there at the police command at Awka.

So then, Customs became jittery trying to figure out how we got our information. We have the information; I can tell you how many ships are coming into Nigeria today from Onne, both the ones going to Lagos, Apapa Wharf and so on.Do you know there are seaports in the north?

In those places, Customs are just on the main road, no checking at all.

What part of the north?

It’s between Sokoto and Kebbi, Yauri. Yes! There’s a seaport in Yauri. Those ones come in the midnight without security check, but I believe the moment we conclude with the police,

you will hear news and by God’s grace; you will come here every other week to get information.

The world bank analysis for 2012 and 2013 , said that illegal goods that enter into this country was worth $887billion and the money is not in the hands of the government, it’s in the hands of Customs and their accomplice hoodlums.

I wasn’t the person that said so; it was the World Bank analysis. So, I think the Customs believe we are their problem, sometimes they use tribal sentiments but we are on course.

The Nigerian Customs is becoming a constant feature in your talks?

At NATFORCE we know the Customs have been sponsoring most of the cases against us because they believe we are exposing them. Is it not their duty to checkmate what is brought into Nigeria? If the goods are genuine, you pay your duties, but I can tell you there are some containers that don’t pay duties today in Nigeria, they call it “fly”.

When these containers enter the ports, they fly them by 2am, very early hours of the morning.

They pay serious money to Customs in millions and they fly it off.

NATFORCE cannot compromise; we have arrested so many consignments that are supposed to pay Custom duties and what we normally do is to send them back to Customs to go and pay their duties and most times, they don’t pay.

We have done that a lot of times. Do you know that 92 per cent of the goods that enter Nigeria today don’t pay duties, and the question is, how much is the country generating from the porters when Customs can open borders by 12 midnight and about 500 containers will come in. That’s where all these things come in, so the Custom is the bone of contention. The comptroller general of Customs today is not supposed to be there because he has ruined Nigeria.

At the moment, NATFORCE is not an autonomous agency what efforts are being made to give it a permanent status?

Our bill before the National Assembly has passed the first reading and it is awaiting the second reading. By the grace of God, NATFORCE will soon become a commission. We are pushing for it. I am optimistic it will soon get a permanent status.

How are you funded?

The setting and operational activities of the task force has gulped billions of naira and the Importers Association of Nigeria has been funding its activities with several documents attached to buttress my claims.

The world bank analysis for 2012 and 2013 , said that illegal goods that enter into this country was worth $887billion and the money is not in the hands of the government

23

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE 15 SOKODE CRESCENT, WUSE ZONE 5, P.M.B 33, GARKI, ABUJA, NIGERIA www.firs.gov.ng

PUBLIC NOTICE TO COMPANIES ON THE REQUIREMENT FOR NOTIFICATION OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS TO THE FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE (FIRS)

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) hereby informs all corporate entities to notify the FIRS of all their merger and / or acquisition transactions, in compliance with the provisions of Section 29 (12) of the Companies Income Tax Act Cap. C21 LFN 2004 (as revised).

For the avoidance of doubt, the provision requires that ‘’no merger, take-over, transfer or restructuring of the trade or business……shall take place without having obtained the Board’s direction under subsection (9) of this Section and clearance with respect to any tax that may be due and payable under the Capital Gains Tax Act’’.

The information provided will be used by the FIRS to determine the tax implications of the proposed and actual transactions reported and to appropriately advise both the transaction parties and relevant regulatory authorities.

All corporate entities and relevant regulatory agencies are requested to take note of this publication and ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the law as cited above.

SIGNED: ANULI UMEIKE (MRS) BOARD SECRETARY For: Ag. Executive Chairman

24

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

zonal watch

25

ANAMBRA IMO ABIA EBONYI ENUGU

Obi Advocates Cut In Cost Of Governance

BY OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka

The immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has advocated the cutting down of cost of governance, saying that the country would have fared better both in terms of infrastructural development and improvement of the welfare of its citizens but for the wasteful lifestyle of some public office holders.

Governor Obi who made this call during an award presentation to

him and the member representing Ogbaru federal constituency in the House of Representatives and deputy chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law ( Intersociety), and a coalition of civil society organisations, stated that the only magic behind the monumental achievements recorded by his administration in Anambra State during his eight-

year rule, was “simply because of the culture of frugality” adopted in running the government.

He said it was wrong for a governor to embark on official trips with a retinue of aides who might not have any contribution to make for the success of such trips, except to be in the governor’s entourage, saying that it is also wrong for a governor to charter an aircraft while embarking on official trip.

Governor Obi stated that there

Heads

L-R: Chairman Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers in Umuahia, HRH Eze Ifeanyi Nwokenna; First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan; wife of Abia State governor, Mercy Orji and Governor Theodore Orji when the first lady was honoured with title of Nkalaria Ohuhu, (golden daughter of Ohuhu)

FROM tHe ZONe

➔the deputy speaker, House of Representatives, and governorship candidate of the Peoples democratic Party (PdP) in Imo state, Hon. emeka Ihedioha, has assured that he would revive schools’ sports in the state if elected governor in 2015.

He regretted that sporting activities in schools in the state have gone into extinction following what he described as unnecessary construction of buildings on spaces meant for sporting activities.

➔ Governor theodore Orji of abia state, last week signed an order for the discharge of 14 persons serving various prison terms in Umuahia and aba prisons in commemoration of this year’s Christmas and New Year. the action of the governor was based on the recommendations of the state advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

were sufficient funds to develop this country if only the leaders could imbibe the culture of frugality, insisting that even the local government areas could have witnessed higher infrastructural development if not for the wasteful lifestyles of the administrators.

In a lecture he delivered on the occasion held at Knights of St. Mulumba Hall, Onitsha, organised to mark the 66th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, the chairman, Board of

NOa advocates Issuesbased Campaigns

BY STANLEY UZOARU, Owerri

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the director of Special Duties, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba, has urged politicians to engage in issuesbased campaigns, rather than involve themselves in character assassination.

Mrs. Ekeoba made the call during a two-day voter sensitisation programme organised for the people

of Duruihe community in Ezeoke- Nsu in Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State.

The event which centred on community dialogue, peace and violent-free elections witnessed large turn-out of people.

Addressing members of the community, Mrs. Ekeoba noted that some public office seekers prefer making uncomplimentary remarks against their opponents to

presenting their manifestoes to the electorate, adding that such actions often heat up the polity thereby giving room to electoral violence.

She appealed to youths not to make themselves available to desperate politicians, who would want to use them as thugs during the forthcoming elections.

“We at the NOA are telling the youths not to sell their conscience; to maintain their integrity.

Ebonyi 2015: Governorship Candidates Embark On House-to-house Campaigns

BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki

Ahead of next year’s general elections, governorship and other candidates of the four major political parties in Ebonyi State have perfected strategies to take over the leadership of the state. They have embarked on house-to-house campaigns

as part of their strategies to convince the electorate to vote for them.

The governorship candidates and their political parties are Senator Julius Ucha of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Anthony Agbo, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Edward Nkwegu

of Labour Party (LP), and the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The outcome of the parties’ primary elections according to analysts, have altered the political calculations in Ebonyi State.

Trustees of Intersociety, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections next year in the insurgency ravaged North East zone of the contrary, contrary to calls from some quarters on the commission not to do so.

He urged the federal government to provide adequate security to guarantee every eligible voter proper security to exercise his or her voting right.

Foundation Offers Free Medical Service

BY PAUL UWADIMA, Abuja

The Dr Patrick Okonji Foundation which had been providing free medical services in the South-South and South East of the country says it wants to spread its services to the rest of the country. The foundation has embarked on provision of free medical services to the less privileged across the country, even as it uses the opportunity to spread messages of support for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP in Abuja the founder of the foundation, Dr Patrick Okonji said that the foundation was committed to providing free medical services for Nigerians. He said that Nigerians from across the country should watch out for the days in which the foundation would visit their states to provide medical services in partnership with its foreign partners who also provide medical personnel and drugs for the beneficiaries.

“We have been doing it before, taking free medical services to the people. Even during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo, we have been taking free medical services to the rural areas. We have provided medical services alongside our foreign partners and with the support of our medical director. We offer to them free drugs while some of them are provided with eye lenses”, he added.

He also revealed that the foundation has not received any funding from government since its inception. “We are not getting any support from government or the presidency at the moment. We are doing it on our own because we believe in the transformation agenda, we have some partners in Nigeria and we also source our funds by ourselves.”

He further said that the foundation is supporting Jonathan because of his transformation agenda which he said has impacted positively on the people.

“If you look at the transformation agenda it has succeeded in addressing major issues facing the country. Before there was fuel scarcity he has addressed that, there is fuel everywhere. We have seen improvement in agriculture, health sector and all the other sectors. He has done a lot. We want continuity that is why I am putting all efforts to make sure that he succeeds in his re-election bid.”

Speaking on how the foundation intends to combine its medical services with canvassing support for Jonathan, he said, “We want to let them know that Jonathan has feeling for the masses. He has been there, he knows the pains and the agony they are passing through. Apart from campaigning for Jonathan’s second term we are also telling the people that we are not just doing it for election sake, this is what we will continue to do”.

26 zonal watch (South-East)

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

news behind the news

Much Ado About Ownership Of Ebonyi’s Nigercem

BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki

Following the dispute between the state government and Ibeto Group on the ownership of NIGERCEM, Ebonyi State government exercised its legal right of land ownership by revoking the Certificate of Occupancy

The lingering dispute between Ebonyi State government and Ibeto Group over the ownership of Nigeria Cement Company (NIGERCEM) Nkalagu in Ishielu local government area of the state, took a frightening dimension few days ago following the invasion of the company by over 50 armed men suspected to be soldiers. The invaders were said to have taken over the company and its environs at the instance of the management of Ibeto Group, core investors in the cement factory established in the 1960s.

According to the chairman, caretaker committee, lshielu local government council, Stanley Odanwu, “a truck load of military personnel numbering over 50 stormed the community hosting the cement factory, and when I made an effort to find out the motive behind the invasion, I was warned not to come close as the soldiers were given directive to shoot at sight”.

The incident was not unexpected.

The chief press secretary to Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, informed LEADERSHIP that during the meeting of the board of directors of NIGERCEM, held in a hotel on plot 108 Azuogunike Crescent, Independence Layout Enugu, in February 2013, Chief Cletus Ibeto, owner of Ibeto Group, “vowed to use every possible means to vacate the order by the Ebonyi State government revoking the factory’s Certificate of Occupancy (CoO).

In a statement issued by Eni shortly after the invasion of the company by men in army uniform, Eni described the incident as “illegal and a gross act of provocation against the state government in view of the fact that the dispute over ownership of the factory is still in court.”

The statement reads in part, “We recall that following the dispute between the state government and Ibeto Group on the ownership of NIGERCEM, Ebonyi State government exercised its legal right of land ownership by revoking the Certificate of Occupancy of all the land upon which NIGERCEM is situated.

“By illegally going into the premises of NIGERCEM without the permission of the state government, the Ibeto Group has demonstrated an alarming desperation to acquire the Godgiven mineral wealth of Ebonyi people for its selfish interest.

“We therefore condemn the

Elechi

meddlesome of Ibeto Group in the affairs of NIGERCEM and warn them from taking any further steps that will threaten the peace of the host community of NIGERCEM and Ebonyi State in general.

“As we warn the Ibeto Group and its internal collaborators against their continued efforts to compromise and misinform innocent villagers on the true state of affairs in NIGERCEM, we assure the people of Ebonyi State that under his watch, Governor Martin Elechi, will never enter into any arrangement or make any deal with any individual or group which will mortgage the present or future economic interest of Ebonyi people”.

NIGERCEM was established by the defunct government of former Eastern Region in conjunction with the then federal government to create jobs for the unemployed as well as raise the internally generated revenue (IGR) of both levels of government.

Other companies and facilities established by the government of the former Eastern Region include the Nigersteel and Nigergas both located in Emene, in the present day Enugu State. Others are the Golden Guinea Breweries and Modern Ceramics Industry, and Ulonna Farm Settlement all located in Umuahia, now capital of present day Abia State.

But today, all those companies have gone under – reducing the present day South-East – home to Ndigbo as a wasteland – a development which has forced majority of the skilled manpower from the zone to trudge the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Kaduna scouting for unavailable jobs.

During the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the

then federal government came up with a policy to gradually phaseout cement importation as well as revitalise, rehabilitate and refurbish ailing cement companies in the country.

It was against this backdrop that moribund cement plants including NIGERCEM were privatised. The ailing company was bought by Eastern Bulkcem. According to the Ebonyi State government, instead of revamping NIGERCEM, Eastern Bulkcem, ended up cannibalising the company.

Secretary to Ebonyi State government, Chief Fidelis Mbam, told LEADERSHIP that Eastern BULKCEM lacked the capacity and resources to revitalise NIGERCEM. He accused the company of cannibalising and carting away valuable equipment in NIGERCEM. He said that following several petitions to the federal government on the failure of BULKCEM to revitalise NIGERCEM, the former sold the company to Ibeto Group without the consent of Ebonyi State government – the host state.

Even then, Mbam said Ibeto Group lacked the financial resources and capacity to resuscitate NIGERCEM, adding that the group has a proclivity for cement importation rather than manufacturing.

Mr. Friday Ugwu, a geologist supports Mbam’s position. He said that while the Ebonyi State government was interested in reviving NIGERCEM, the Ibeto Group was bent on using the factory to re-bag imported cement.

It was against this background that the state government asked a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu to stop Ibeto Group from gaining access into the company.

And conversely, Ibeto Group went

to court to ask for a legal backing to possess its possession.

Interestingly, the court asked both parties to go home and settle their differences. But that was not done – prompting the Ibeto Group few days ago to enter the company by the use of force.

Instructively, the invasion of NIGERCEM by suspected soldiers is coming at a period when Governor Elechi, seem to have lost the headship of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The insinuation here is that the Ibeto Group is using some influential Abuja-based politicians from Ebonyi State to undermine the policy of Elechi’s administration regarding NIGERCEM. Governor Elechi himself seems helpless. He told a delegation from Ishielu local government area at the weekend that it was up to the present generation to put up a struggle to recover NIGERCEM from rapacious investors.

“With regard to NIGERCEM, this is where I think the people of Ishielu in general and Igbosa should know my stand. I have been maligned on the pages of newspapers. I have been forced to depose some traditional rulers in the area because what they were doing ran counter to what government stood for.

“The fact before us now is clear to everybody. We decided to take over NIGERCEM, not because we have nothing else to do, but it is because those who purchased shares there, were not ready to revive it.

“They were interested in using the acquisition of the shares as basis to enable them get import license which they were getting on annual basis, and that is more profitable than revamping the company, but those staff who are suffering are our own and they became a liability to us, and we said no! We will take it over and revamp it.

“Just when we are about doing that, somebody went behind us and bought over the company.

We have expatriate partners who will do justice to the company; who will manage it without dabbling into local politics, but somebody with money, with connections went behind us and bought over NIGERCEM, and took us to court.

The matter is still in court, and the court asked us to settle out of court, but we have not been able to settle out of court.

“Ibeto’s decision to revamp NIGERCEM is not supreme to our own decision.

science Tuesday, December 30, 2014

140m

27

With over 140 million people all together, females constituting about 49 per cent and one-third of Nigeria’s population below 25-year-old, our human capital is our greatest asset – NITDA DG

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

L-R: President of Nigerian internet Registration association, Mrs Mary Uduma ; board member, National information Technology Development agency (NiTDa), Mr harami Balami; chairman of consultancy support services Limited, Mr hakeem ajijola; NiTDa DG, Mr Peter Jack; president of computer Professional council of Nigeria, Mrs sekinat yusuf and wife of the Lead consultant, hajia Jumai ajijola during the public presentation of the framework on women and youth in icT development in abuja.

NITDA Presents Framework For Women, Youths ICT Development

By Nkechi isaac, Abuja

Women and youths constitute a large percentage of the country’s population

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Peter Jack, has presented a framework aimed at building a knowledge-based nation through Information Technology (IT) with Focus on Women and Youths.

Speaking during the public presentation in Abuja, Jack said that women and youths constitute a large percentage of the country’s population, noting the need to come up with a strategic framework which aims at building a nation where they could realise their full potentials.

He said, “The effective use of information and knowledge is becoming the most critical factor for rapid economic growth and wealth creation, and for improving socio-economic well-being, and for Nigeria to be globally competitive in the 21st century, a critical factor would be our ability to harness our knowledge potential using ICT.” According to him, “With over 140 million people all together,

females’ constituting about 49 per cent and one-third of Nigeria’s population below 25-year-old, our human capital is our greatest asset.

To best utilize this bourgeoning potential Nigeria is shifting to knowledge oriented paradigm using IT across various critical national development sectors.

“This lead to the development of an all-inclusive comprehensive framework for building a knowledge-based nation through IT with focus on women and youths to enable Nigeria meet the challenges of the future especially as espoused and encapsulated in the Transformation Agenda.”

The NITDA helmsman said it is imperative that women and youths, who make up majority of the population, are not only carried along but are major players in shaping the direction of evolving a digital nation with sustainable peace, equity and improved quality of life.

He noted that four key areas highlighted in the framework include e-Government, e-Economy,

e-Education and e-Society, adding that the agency would provide the necessary leadership in ensuring the implementation of the framework by adopting multistakeholders approach.

“We are going to engage other governmental institutions that have the primary mandate to execute the framework. Ministries of Youth development, Women Development and Education will be contacted to take ownership of the project. NITDA will support its drive through the use of ICT,” he added.

The NITDA boss restated the agency’s effort in using ICT tool to engage the youths thereby creating 1.2 million jobs in two years with the proposed 200,000 community digital access centre’s across the country with a triangular business model to cater for corner shop, internet access centre and business centre.

In his remarks, the chairman of the NITDA Governing Board, Dr. Tosin Ajayi, represented by a member of the board, Mr. Harami

Balami, said the framework was a milestone in the agency’s efforts in developing the ICT sector with focus on women and youths.

Emphasising the roles of IT to national development, the chairman said the vision of the new NITDA was to explore the imperative advantages of ICT to override the country earning from oil, adding that women and youth must play a crucial roles for its realisation.

He said the board would ensure that the effect of the framework implementation would trickle down to the rural areas by ensuring the localisation of languages on ICT devices in order to attract their participation.

In his goodwill message, chairman of Consultancy Support Services (CS2) Limited, Mr Hakeem Ajijola, who is he lead consultant of the framework development, and said the template for the implementation of the framework were properly done for easy adaptation and adoption by various stakeholders.

28 SCIENCE/interview

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Nigeria’s Quest In Attracting Global Telecoms Investors Via Open Access Model

L-R: Secretary-general of the International Telecommunications Union, Dr Hamadoun Toure; executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission, Dr Eugene Juwah; minister of communication technology, Dr Omobola Johnson and minister of ICT, State of Qatar,Dr Hessa Al Jaber, at the ITU Telecom World 2014 programme in Doha,Qatar

short BIO OF Mrs Omobola Johnson

Mrs. Omobola Johnson is the supervising Minister of the Science and Technology Ministry. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester and a Masters degree in Digital Electronics from King’s College, London.

by nkechi isaac, Abuja

The world is rapidly moving towards an economic system based on the continuous and ever present availability of information.

Recent advances in telecommunications technology have been an important vehicle for information exchange and knowledge to develop as valuable commodities. Countries and institutions equipped with the requisite telecommunications systems are rapidly moving into post-industrial and information-based expansion.

It is an established fact that the economic development of a nation can be accelerated by improvements in the country’s ICT (Information Communication Technologies) infrastructure, because ICT if well harnessed provides a proper platform for development across all sectors of the economy.

‘Growing Thirst For Payroll, HR Solutions Across Africa’ The payroll and human resources (HR) market across sub-Saharan Africa is booming as organisations of all sizes start to move away from manual management of their payrolls towards automated payroll solutions.

That’s according to Gerhard Hartman, Head of Department at Sage HR Africa.

–VENTURES AFRICA

Trending Science Stories ➊ Successful

Launch of NASA’s Orion Spacecraft

➋ Strange Galaxy

Perplexes Astronomers

➌ New Research

Paves the Way for Nano-Movies of Biomolecules

➍ New Technique

Offers Spray-on Solar Power

Science Daily

Addressing a large gathering of telecoms investors, friends of Nigeria and the global ICT community at the Nigerian sponsored leader’s lunch, at the ITU Telecom World 2014, in Doha, Qatar, the Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, told her audience that despite attaining active telephone line connectivity of over 134 million and a teledensity of 96 per cent, Nigeria still has a lot to do to achieve an all-inclusive penetration of telecommunications in every part of the country.

The minister said that the Federal Government of Nigeria has put key policies and initiatives in place to set the foundation for the widespread use of ICT by government, businesses, and citizens to further their progress, saying the impact of such efforts in the continued growth of the sector in Nigeria is already being felt, assuring investors that Nigeria remains a vi-

able destination for investment.

Earlier in his welcome address, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah, said he was particularly excited that the audience made out time to be at the leaders lunch which presents an opportunity for stakeholders to interact and share their experiences.

Juwah said the forum presents opportunities for key players in the Nigerian ICT sector and investors to ruminate on the nations ICT potentials and opportunities.

He said, “Nigeria being the most populous nation in Africa with over 170 million people and having made giant strides in ICT development, it is obvious that a lot must be happening in our industry.”

The NCC helmsman said that Nigeria’s desk today is broadband availability and usage, hence Nigerian’s theme in the conference, “Broadband Nigeria, Enabling Access, Transforming Communities”, is timely and reflects the heartbeat of the nation.

He said that Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, has graciously approved an inclusive national implementation plan for effective nationwide pervasive broadband deployment.

According to him, “from the regulatory perspective, NCC has entrenched the Open Access Model, which allows for inclusive, fair and transparent licensing processes as well as incentives for investors in the industry.”

He added that NCC has tested the open access model and it is workable in Nigeria.

“In February 2014, we successfully issued a wireless broadband license for the 2.3 Gigahertz frequency spectrum band. Regional fibre optics infrastructure deployment licence is currently being finalized for Lagos and the North Central region including Abuja,

the capital of Nigeria.

After that, the other five regions will follow, hereby creating huge investment opportunities for both current and new investors, and both small and big ones,” he added.

He said although over 75 millon people have access to the internet in Nigeria, they currently browse on the narrow band, adding that maturity on the voice segment and the data market remains untapped.

Juwah told his audience, including the outgoing Secretary General of the ITU, Dr.Hamadoun Toure, that a lot of potentials and opportunities exist in the financial sector.

“Banks are yearning for broadband services to maintain their indispensable data services requirements. The Education sector too has huge demand for broadband data applications and so do government agencies. The potentials are simply enormous,” Juwah noted.

Speaking earlier at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Board of Directors Ooredoo Group, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani, took the opportunity to highlight the need for partnership and collaboration between the world’s key players, saying, “Amongst us are many of the world’s largest technology companies.

“We are joined by many high ranking government representatives, policy shapers, from across the region and the world, as well as a new generation of entrepreneurs and app-developers. Feel our power, our combined experience and know how. Together we can make the future happen sooner.

In his address, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, said the nation was proud to host a great number of telco corporations as an important hub.

from the regulatory perspective, NCC has entrenched the Open Access Model, which allows for inclusive, fair and transparent licensing processes as well as incentives for investors in the industry

‘Nigeria’s Flagship Telco Back On Market For $252m’

Innoson Unveils First ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ Cars

A Nigerian investment consortium, NATCOM Telecommunication, has emerged the preferred bidder for the assets of the Nigerian Telecommunication PLC (NITEL) and Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication (MTEL). Both companies are set to be sold for a combined fee of $252 million.

“The privatisation of NITEL and MTEL is the final step in the reform of the telecoms sector,” Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said at the bidding event.

NATCOM had its initial $221 million bid rejected by the Nigerian government, before a reviewed offer of $252 million was accepted.

Nigeria decided to liquidate NITEL and MTEL in March this year after attempts to privatize the companies proved unsuccessful.

–VENTURES AFRICA

When Nigeria, on October 3, 2013, announced the introduction of a new automotive policy aimed at discouraging the importation of wholly assembled automobile and encourage local manufacturing, it seemed like a tall dream, but building on recent local assembly successes by Hyundai and Nissan was indigenous company Innoson’s unveiling of its new brand of cars last week.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited founded by Nigerian industrialist, Chief Innocent Chukwuma unveiled its new cars – IVM Umu and IVM Uzo manufactured at the company’s Nnewi plant in Anambra State, South East Nigeria.

–VENTURES AFRICA

Top THREE Local ICT Vendors In Nigeria

➊ $252,➋

The Warehouse Group

million Both companies are set to be sold for a combined fee of $252 million

bWaco Systems International Limited

➌

Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited

NEWS /SCIENCE 29

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

science

titbits

Compiled by Nkechi Isaac

➏ ➐

➋ ➌➊ ➎

➋

➍

➊ Electric Eels Exert Remote Control Over Prey Electric eels, those perilous predators of South America, can unleash a potent electrical jolt to wallop their hapless prey. But this zap is not used merely to stun other fish.

A new study shows that the eels use it to exert a form of remote control over their victims, causing fish that may be hiding to twitch, thus exposing their location, or inducing involuntary muscle contraction to incapacitate their prey.

“Apparently, eels invented the Taser long before humans,” said biologist Kenneth Catania of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, who conducted the research published on Thursday in the journal Science.

The study reveals precisely what an eel’s zap does to its victim.

–(Science Daily)

➋ New Research Paves Way For Nano-Movies Of Biomolecules

❹ 3-D Printing To The Rescue Of Gastronomy For Frail Seniors Researchers are now developing personalised food for elderly people with chewing or swallowing problems, by working on printable versions of meat and vegetables In Europe, the population is ageing. In 2010, about 17% of the population were 65 or older. This number is projected to increase to 30% of the population by 2060. New services are already available to meet their needs. These range from technologies enabling elderly people to live independently to medications, or even diets, adapted to this age group. As part of the EU-funded project PERFORMANCE, due to be completed in 2015.

–(Reuters)

Top 3 Headlines ➊ Electric Eels Exert Remote Control Over Prey

➋New Nasa Spaceship Nails Debut Test Flight ➌ Astronomers

Observe Galactic ‘Blow Out’

An international team, including scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Milwaukee-Madison (UMW), and Germany’s Deutsches ElektronenSynchrotron (DESY), have caught a light sensitive biomolecule at work using an X-ray laser. Their new study proves that high speed X-ray lasers can capture the fast dynamics of biomolecules in ultra slowmotion, revealing subtle processes

with unprecedented clarity.

“This work paves the way for movies from the nano-world with atomic resolution,” said Professor Marius Schmidt from UMW, corresponding author of the new paper, which appears in the Dec. 4 issue of the journal Science.

Study co-author Petra Fromme, professor in ASU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, echoes the importance of the new study: –(Science Daily)

➌ New Nasa Spaceship Nails

Debut Test Flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A U.S. spaceship designed to one day fly astronauts to Mars made a near-bullseye splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, wrapping up a flawless, unmanned debut test flight around Earth.

“It’s hard to have a better day than today,” NASA’s Orion capsule program manager Mark Geyer told reporters after landing.

The cone-shaped capsule blasted off aboard a Delta 4 Heavy rocket, the biggest in the U.S. fleet, just after dawn from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Three hours later, it reached peak altitude of 3,604 miles (5,800 km) above the planet, a prelude to the most challenging part of the flight, a 20,000mph (32,000 km/h) dive back to Earth.

–(Reuters)

➏ Astronomers Observe Galactic ‘Blow Out’ For the first time, an international team of astronomers, led by Dr James Geach from the University of Hertfordshire, has revealed the dramatic ‘blow out’ phase of galactic evolution.

The astronomers have discovered dense gas being blasted out of a compact galaxy (called SDSS J0905+57) at speeds of up to two million miles per hour. The gas is being driven to distances of tens of thousands of light years by the intense pressure exerted on it by the radiation of stars that are forming rapidly at the galaxy’s centre.

This is having a major impact on the evolution of the galaxy.

The team used the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM) Plateau de Bure Interferometer, a radio telescope based in the French Alps.

–(Science Daily) Dark Matter And Relic Neutrinos

➎ New Revelations On Dark Matter And Relic Neutrinos

The Planck collaboration, which notably includes the CNRS, CEA, CNES and several French universities, has disclosed, at a conference in Ferrara, Italy, the results of four years of observations from the ESA’s Planck satellite.

The satellite aims to study relic radiation (the most ancient light in the Universe). This light has been measured precisely across the entire sky for the

first time, in both intensity and polarisation1, thereby producing the oldest image of the Universe. This primordial light lets us “see” some of the most elusive particles in the Universe: dark matter and relic neutrinos.

Between 2009 and 2013, the Planck satellite observed relic radiation, sometimes called cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. Today, with

a full analysis of the data, the quality of the map is now such that the imprints left by dark matter and relic neutrinos are clearly visible.

Already in 2013, the map for variations in light intensity was released, showing where matter was in the sky 380,000 years after the Big Bang.

–(Science Daily)

30

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

fct watch

31

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

N10

billion

The FCTA has said that residents owe the administration over N10 billion of waste management charges

ABAJI AMAC BWARI GWAGWALADA KUJE KWALI

AbAji Garba Calls For Support In 2015 The Chairman of Abaji area council, Hon. Yahaya Garba has called on residents of the council to continue to support his administration even as 2014 comes to an end, in order for 2015 to be a more profitable and benefiting year for the people in the area.

By Igho Oyoyo

AmAc Residents Commend Jiba For Developmental Strides, Appeal For More Residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), who was represented by Mr. Femi Sanusi have commended the administration of the council Chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba for reaching out to people in the hinterland, appealing to the council chairman not to relent in his desire to improve the living standard of AMAC residents come 2015.

By Igho Oyoyo

bwAri Bwari Chair Assures Of

Galuwyi community of Bwari area council, abuja.

Development

photo by igho oyoyo

Abuja Communities: A Cry For Help

By Chika Mefor

As the year comes to an end, residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) continue to rate the performance of the Senator Bala Mohammed led-administration.

Although, there were mixed reactions on the administration’s performance, with majority stating that a lot need to be done, because, the year has ended with not much development in the territory.

Most residents have categorically declared that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA) has failed in the area of satellite development in 2014.

LEADERSHIP sampled the opinion of a cross section of the residents in Gwagwalada, Kwali, Zuba and Kuje, Kubwa, the residents make bold to say that the promises of the administration to bring development to the satellite towns and area councils, in order to decongest the city centre has not been fulfilled.

They wondered when these promises will ever be fulfilled, as every end of year, they come up with the same realization that there are still so much to be done.

One of the residents in Bwari area council, Rapheal Ugwu stated that good road network, potable stable water and electricity supply were still far-fetched in satellite towns, adding that most contracts

awarded in such areas have been abandoned and forgotten by the administration.

“Last year, I remembered I was talking about these problems and was hoping that 2014 will make up for 2013. But, as of now, I do not know which year was better or worse. Some contracts awarded in the area council for a very long time are still not completed like the KujeGwagwalada road, Gwagwalada Iziom- Dobi road, Yebu road in Kwali and many other roads.

“Many communities in the FCT still complain of lack of electricity.

So many are still left with lack of potable water. My advice to the government for the coming year is not to promise what they cannot do. When they promise, they should put things on ground, so that people will see and have trust in them,’’ he said.

Another resident in Gwagwalada, Yahaya Aliyu, who stated that so much have been spoken about the decongestion of the city centre, expressed worries that the idea of decongestion would continue to be a mirage if the administration do not put enough effort in the development of the satellite towns and area councils.

“The residents support the idea about the decongestion of the city centres, because it will benefit them a lot. This administration has always talked about decongesting

of the city centre. It is a good idea.

We are aware that projects have been awarded.

“We need those projects to be supervised the way the ones in town are supervised. If there are infrastructures in satellite towns, people will come down and live there and it will help bring about continuity in development,“he said.

For Isa Giri, the FCTA has performed well in terms of restoring the master plan of Abuja and in the area of opening of more districts in the territory. That most markets like the Kubwa Market, Dutse Market and Gwagwalada Market have received a face-lift, which he stated will bring great development to the area this coming year.

Giri, however decried the return of refuse in the territory, calling for a more proactive Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), to help clear out the city of refuse, as cleanliness is said to be next to Godliness.

He also decried the rate of abandoned projects in the area council, blaming it on the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who he said had hardly visited and supervised projects in the various area councils, thereby prayed for a change after the 2015 election.

It could be recalled that the minister of FCT, Senator Bala

As the year draws to an end, the chairman of Bwari Area Council, Hon Yohanna Ushafa has assured that despite the limited resources, his administration would continue to execute projects that will impact positively in the lives of the residents in the council.

By Chika Mefor

gwAgwAlAdA Council Boss Appeals For Support From Residents The chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Abubakar Jibrin Giri has appealed for support for his administration from the residents of the area, urging them to have faith in his administration as effort is being geared toward making life better for the people through the provision of basic amenities in the area.

By Chika Mefor

Kuje Tete Pledges More Devel-

opment In 2015

The Chairman of Kuje area council, Hon. Shaban Tete has promised residents of the council that his administration would do whatever its would take to provide developmental projects in 2015, saying that what the leadership of the council needs are the support and prayers of the people for them to succeed as leaders.

By Igho Oyoyo

KwAli Daniel Pledges Commit-

ment To Growth Of Council

32

The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Ibrahim Daniel had pledged his commitment to the growth of the council adding that by next year even with the economic challenges in the country, the council will reposition its internally generated revenue to bring about more fund for the development of the council.

By Chika Mefor

32 FCT watch/NEWS Cleric Attributes Moral Decadence To Lost Of Family Value

By Igho Oyoyo

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2015: Councillor Urges Politicians To Shun Violence

By Chika Mefor

The priest of Kogi Catholic Diocese, Emmanuel Attah had attributed moral decadence in the country to loss of family value which parents had failed to inculcate in their children.

Attah who was speaking during the celebration of the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at the St John Mary Vianney Quasi Parish, Kubwa III Extension yesterday, stated that many parents have neglected their duties as parents, which have made their children become wayward and a threat to the society. ‘’ We keep talking about insecurity in the country. I believe that people perpetrating these evil act are from homes where the parents have no time for their children. A home where the children have to fend for themselves. These problems in the families have spilled over to the society,’’ he said.

He expressed sadness over the constant pursuit of money by many parents who end up leaving their children in the hands of their nannies who could abuse the children, psychological, emotionally of sexually and called on them to have a rethink and make time for their children as it was the way these children were being trained, they will take to grow as adults.

Attah added that many people have entered into marriage thinking that it was always a bed of roses, adding that most families have become a broken home with many divorces which had affected the upbringing of the children who turned out to become burden to the society.

He therefore called on the parishioners to live a life of sacrifice, adding that when parents are not ready to sacrifice for their children, the children unwillingly to sacrifice for their parents, and parents not ready to sacrifice for one another, there will be problem in the family which in turn will spill over to the society.

He urged families to continue to pray for the growth of their families as that families that prays together always stay together, urging them to always find time to settle conflict that arises in their family and never allow it to escalate.

Erstwhile councilor who represented Garki ward in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Bala Iyah has called on politicians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to exhibit the virtue of patience and eshew violence as they go about their campaigns for the 2015 general elections.

Iyah, who gave this advice in a press briefing, which was tagged; Ensuring a Peaceful 2015 Election in FCT, said that violence does not bring

development to any society, that it has caused a lot of damages in various areas in the country.

He said that there is the need for politicians to preach peace to their followers during and after the 2015 general elections, saying that some negative actions by politicians have brought about chaos in the FCT in the past, calling on politicians to always be conscious of what they do and make sure their actions benefit the people.

Iyah also called on the residents to continue to be

law abiding citizens, in order to ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections in the area, thereby appealed to residents of AMAC to always support the present administration of Hon. Micah Jiba, that he has a lot of projects on ground that would benefit the people.

“There are tension about 2015 general election, which has made people to continue to pray that God should help us to have a peaceful general election. But, I must say that we can have a peaceful and violence free

election, if our politicians truly desire to work for the people and not against the people, by continuing to preach peace to their followers.

“I am appealing to all politicians in the FCT to remember that they should always act peacefully and shun violence and corrupt acts. They should remember that the FCT is their home and should work towards making it a peaceful place to live in, for the benefit of everybody, including their children present and the ones yet to be born,” he said.

Members of All Christians Fellowship Mission, Maitama distributing food items to the victims of insurgency at the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI

Tete Congratulates Nigerians For Another New Year, Calls For Prayers

By Igho Oyoyo

The chairman of Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Hon. Shaban Tete has congratulated Nigerians on the conclusion of 2014, urging them to commit leadership of the country into the hands of God as they celebrate the New Year.

Tete, who also congratulated Christians for the peaceful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which he said

was premised on sacrifice and peaceful coexistence, urged residents of the council to pray for Nigeria to overcome the present security challenges facing the country.

The council boss while delivering his message to end the year 2014, urged residents to be security conscious and vigilant against any act of violence, saying that there is the need for everyone in Abuja irrespective of their religious differences to come

together as one during and after the yuletide period.

“There is the need for all of us to come together and pray for God’s continue guidance and protection, and for God to give President Goodluck Jonathan the wisdom to steer the affairs of Nigeria. I want to further advise Nigerians to ensure that they avoid been use as political thugs during the 2015 general election.

“All of us have stayed together as a people in Nigeria for a very

long time. So, there is no need to allow foreign agents of the devil to use any of us, as agents of destruction during and after the 2015 general election,” he stated.

Tete further advised that as the Christmas season was celebrated with love, unity and togetherness, that the New Year celebration should also be celebrated with love and unity, saying that God will not allow evil to happen in Nigeria during and after the festive period.

Abuja Communities: A Cry For Help 31

Mohammed has come out with another promise to assure residents that the year 2015 would be a prosperous year in the territory, as government was more than ever determined to move Abuja to the next level.

In his Christmas message to the people of the territory, Bala stated, “The FCT administration would continue to discharge its statutory responsibility to all residents of the

FCT, especially, in the protection of lives and property.’’

Also speaking, the chairman of Kwali area council, Ibrahim Daniel while giving his Christmas and New Year message to his people, has expressed hope that 2015 will be a better year for the council.

Daniel also assured that despite the limited resources, his administration would continue to execute projects that will impact

positively in the lives of the residents.

The council boss pledged his commitment to the growth of the council, adding that by next year even with the economic challenges in the country, the council will reposition its internally generated revenue, to bring about more funds for the development of the council.

“Dabi-Bako Road will be

completed by God’s grace within the first quota of the year. We will continue with rural electrification and we hope to generate revenue that will help us achieve our dreams,” he said.

Daniel also urged the residents to be law abiding especially with the security challenges the nation was facing, calling on them to shy away from all vices and negative tendencies in their lives.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

FCT watch/feature 33

2014: FCT Natives Assess Government’s Policies

Some local hunters in Abuja . photo by igho oyoyo

By Igho Oyoyo

The government should introduce policies that we will benefit from, not the ones that would be to our detriment and put fears in our heart

As 2014 comes to an end, natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feeling over the FCT administration’s performance in 2014, adding that there is the need for the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed to introduce better and people friendly policies that would improve on the living standard of the people.

Some residents who spoke with LEADERSHIP said that since the beginning of 2014, things in the FCT have become challenging for the residents because of policies introduced by the FCT minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, which included the transport policy and the landswap policy.

Samuel Jisalo said that the transport policy which would have been better if the government has made adequate provision for enough vehicles to convey residents to various destinations, when the green buses were banned.

According to Jisalo, the policy instead of becoming a blessing to the people, has became a curse, because it has made residents to suffer on daily basis due to none availability of enough buses plying the routes outside the city.

“Although, the minister may have good intention in introducing the policy, but, not much has been done to make sure that there are enough buses or vehicles to serve the commercial purposes which the green buses were serving, before they were banned.

“I will say that the FCT administration has not done enough in that regard, because, we the common people are still suffering transportation problem. Mostly during the rainy season when there are not enough buses, we are usually drenched in the rain.

“Most times we are at the mercy of owners of private vehicles, who decide the route base on their destinations and they charge the fare they like, without considering the pockets of the people. I will

not blame them. If the buses were enough to ply all the routes in the FCT, residents will not be subjected to such suffering,” he said.

Another resident, Mr. Simon Baba-Yerima, explained that where things did not go right in the FCT in 2014, was the issue of constant harassment of indigenes of the FCT by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authourity (FCDA), when they take demolition to the people without considering their plight and how to survive after the demolition.

“2014 has been a year of constant fear in the heart of most indigenes of the FCT with the way the administration carried out its demolition process, they did not care if the people were living in the territory before the existence of the FCT, they officials would enter communities without information.

“It is a year of great challenge and worries which the FCDA officials and Development Control created in the hearts of innocent residents of the FCT, mostly, the residents of

Kpaduma communy. Most times, we wake up in the morning to hear the sound of bulldozer in our community waiting to demolish houses.

“I must be grateful to God for life, because if not for the mercy of God, the torment coming from the FCDA and its agencies, would have been enough to cause untimely death of some people in our communities, but God kept us through the year of challenges and he is still keeping us. I will like to appeal to the FCT administration to work for the interest of the people in 2015 and not torment them again,” he said.

Baba-Yerima went further to say that the introduction of the landswap policy was seen by many people as a ploy to claim the land belonging to the original inhabitants of the FCT without proper compensation, saying that many indigenes of the FCT have been displaced without due compensation due to such policies.

“The landswap policy since its introduction has been a source of concern to most of us in the FCT, because, at the end we are the ones that would be affected negatively because our land would be taken from us without due compensation.

I will advise that in 2015, the government should introduce policies that we will benefit from, not the ones that would be to our detriment and put fears in our hearts,” he said.

Hajiya Halimatu Isah, a civil servant said that there is nothing tangible that the FCT authourity can boast of in 2014, saying that compare to other FCT administration, the present administration under Senator Bala Mohammed could be seen as the worst,addiing that there is the need for urgent improvement in the government.

“The FCT is just existing in its past glory, even before 2014 there was anything to write home about. There were no policies that have improve the standard of the territory, not to talk about improving the living standard of the people.

People Have Made Fortunes From Selling Bushmeat – Hassan

By Chika Mefor

Top 5 eatries in fct ➊ KFC ➋ Drum Sticks ➌ Mama Cass ➍ Tantalizer ➎ Mr Biggs

Babangida Hassan is a bush meat seller that sells along the KubwaDutse express road.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, Hassan said he has been in the bush meat business for over 10 years.

He explained that bush meat business was a lucrative business, saying that many people have made fortune from selling the bush meat delicacy to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Bush meat sellers

He said, “we get good patronage from people who come here to buy bush meat. We have not disappointed them; we bring meat that we know Islam and Christianity do not forbid. We thank God because so many of us have made fortune from this business.

According to him, “we sell grass cutter between N4, 500 to N5, 000 and we make at least N16,000 in a day when business is really good.”

He, however, lamented that the population explosion, which has increased demands for the delicacy

has depleted the availability of bush meat in bushes around the FCT forcing them to travel to nearby States in search of meat.

“The growth of population in the FCT has become a challenge to us.

This has forced us to travel to nearby states like Kogi and other places in search of this precious meat.

“Population growth and hunting have driven animals deep into the forest. For example, if we go into some bushes in Dutse, you only come out with one two meats.

Sometimes, you get nothing.

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healthful

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

. . . C O N D U C I V E TO G O O D H E A LT H O F B O D Y O R M I N D

10 Health Hazards Of Mobile Phones which revealed that the group of men who used mobile phones had a decreased sperm cell count in their semen, leading to infertility.

While most people think that mobile phones could cause cancer, this isn’t the only health hazard that has been reported. We all are probably so addicted to our phones that we are unknowingly destroying our health. Here are some health risks of mobile phones you should be aware of: Cancer As reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), mobile phones emit radiofrequency (RF) fields a 1000 times greater than what is emitted from base stations. It’s obvious that this increased emission is likely to have some adverse effect on health of users. Although there is no clear evidence suggesting that exposure to RF fields increases the risk of cancer, but the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified RF as a possible carcinogen in humans. However, a recent study

by Swedish researchers found no link between use of mobile phone and cancer and brain tumours. It suggests that development of brain tumour due to mobile use may take at least 20-25 years. And no one has really used a mobile phone for that long.

Sleep Disorders Somehow night-time has always been favourite among regular chatting and gossiping freaks. But do you know that’s the main reason why you are sleep deprived? Several studies have concluded this. One of them is a cohort study by Sara Thoméeet al[2] which found that high mobile phone use was asso-

ciated with sleep disorders. Major contributing factors to interrupted sleep pattern are getting awakened in the middle of the night due to mobile rings and vibration and increased use of mobiles post-evening until midnight.

Increased accident-risk Whether you are an iPhone, flip phone or a Blackberry user; the chances that you will check your phone aggressively while travelling are undoubtedly higher. Be it while driving or while crossing the road, mobile phone can be a potential distraction. According to the WHO, we now have a lot of research showing an increased risk of traffic accidents with mobile usage (3-4 times greater).

Health hazards of mobile phone #4: Heart problems: Radiation from cell phones is not only associated with cancer but also with chronic diseases like heart problems. A study published in European Journal of Oncology, radiations emitted by cordless phones, including mobiles, contribute to abnormalities in heart function. Results reported that radiation causes the red blood cells (RBCs) to seep hemoglobinand lead to heart complications.

Infertility: Beware men! Your phone can even make you infertile. As of now there is enough evidence to show that mobile phone radiation decreases sperm count in male rats. To identify whether the same holds true in humans, Wdowiak A and colleagues carried out a research

Hearing Impairment: Today, every alternate person on the street has earphones plugged in. But that’s not the only reason why hearing loss is increasing in youth and adults. Your mobile radiation is an additional factor that’s making you deaf. Studies report that long-term exposure to electromagnetic (EM) field from cell phones contributes to reducing hearing function. A study by Oktay MF and Dasdag S showed that people who attended phone calls for approximately 2 hours every day were at a higher risk of impaired hearing compared to those who moderate users (10-20 mins) [5].

Eye problems: A lot of people use their mobiles to read e-books; do web surfing, etc. apart from texting. When you do so, the glaring screen and small font size put a lot of strain on your eyes, especially if you’re reading in the dark. Mobile devices have smaller screens so you tend squint or open up your eyes wide open and blink lesser number of times. This can cause dry eyes, irritation and reddening.

Skin allergies: Most mobile phones have a typical metallic sheen to make them look more attractive. Such phones contain potential skin allergens like nickel, chromium and cobalt which cause cell phone dermatitis. A study

by Marcella Aquino and colleagues tested 72 cell phones for the presence of nickel and cobalt. According to the results, about 29.4 per cent of Blackberry models were tested positive for nickel, 90.5 per cent of flip phones were positive for nickel and about 52 per cent of flip phones had cobalt.

Infections: How many of you use your phones in the restroom? Here’s a good reason why you shouldn’t. Cell phones not only serve as a home for your valuable data but also carry millions of infectious organisms. A study found that mobile devices are highly contaminated with organisms from fecal origin.

Culled from HealthSite

Lowering Blood Sugar

6 Ways To Keep Your Baby Warm This Harmattan Top 7 RISK FACTORS IN DIABETES MELLITUS

➊

Obesity: It has led to a dramatic rise in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes among children and adolescent.

➋

Poor dietary habits: High intake of foods high in saturated fats and low in dietary fibre increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Aging: Insulin resistance increases with aging giving rise to incidence and prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among the elderly

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Physical Inactivity: increased physical inactivity can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

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Heredity: A strong family history of autoimmune disorder predisposes one to Type 1 diabetes.

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Race: Type 2 diabetes is more common in certain ethnic populations, such as Native Americans.

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Gestational Diabetes: Children born to mothers who have gestational diabetes tend to develop obesity which can cause diabetes.

Your baby needs special care from you, irrespective of the season and month. However, some parents tend to go overboard while protecting their babies during harmattan, fearing a bout of flu, cold or cough.

Here are some handy tips that can help you.

Dress your baby right: When it comes to clothing, don’t go overboard with woollens to keep your baby warm. Instead try to gauge your baby’s need. Your baby’s first layer of clothing should always be cotton. This is a safe bet as cotton doesn’t usually give rise to skin allergies in infants. If your baby has sensitive skin, opt for clothes made of organic cotton.

Take precautions while going outdoors: If you plan to take your baby outdoors in harmattan mornings, make sure that you dress your baby appropriately to keep warm. If you feel that woollens aren’t a necessity, then opt for jackets that could help beat the chills. Remember sun can be an excellent source of vitamin D for your baby. In the evenings, you might need woollens to keep your baby warm.

Care for your baby’s tender skin: Many mothers fear that harmattan could make baby’s skin become dry and fragile. However, your baby doesn’t need to follow any special skin care regimen for up to three years of age. If you are still worried over skin care during winter give your baby an oil massage before bath.

Keep the room warm: Infants might find it difficult to adapt to fluctuating temperatures inside the house. So try keeping the temperature constant in your house by using a heater if possible.

However, in the morning keep the doors and windows open to allow ventilation so it cleans the environment naturally.

Prepare for a good night’s sleep: Dress your baby in full-sleeve sleeping suits or one piece suits to keep her warm. Cover her head with a cotton cap, only if necessary.

Don’t put your baby to sleep wearing socks as this can hamper blood circulation. Instead keep her covered with a blanket for restful sleep.

Feed right during harmattan: There isn’t anything special that you need to do while offering food to your baby during winter. However, make sure that you breastfeed your infant enough to avoid infections and boost her immunity.

By Debjani Arora

35

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

5th

A doctor in Sierra Leone has died of Ebola, making him the fifth local doctor in West Africa to die of the disease.

20,000

Twenty thousand HIV positive persons are said to die monthly in Nigeria.

Co-sleeping With Toddler Might Increase His Risk Of Asthma Toddlers who share the bed with their parents might have an increased risk of asthma in the later stages of childhood, new research has found.

‘The current study shows there is an association between toddlers who share a bed with their parents at the age of two years and wheezing and asthma in later childhood,’ said Maartje Luijk from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. (Read: Could your child’s cough be a symptom of asthma?)

The study involved 6,000 mothers and their

How Mosquitoes Transmit Malaria A new study has revealed that mosquito species, Anopheles genus, the sole carriers of human malaria, transmit the disease in genes.

The study conducted by Simon Fraser University (SFU) examined mosquito’s chromosomal evolution over the past hundred million years and tried to reconstruct ancestral mosquito genomes through computational methods.

The researchers tried

to understand how chromosomes evolved and to unravel potential adaptation mechanisms that may be related to malaria transmission.

Cedric Chauve, mathematician in SFU said that the study suggests an underlying genetic/genomic plasticity that results in a variation of key traits determining transmission capacity within the genus.

Smartphone Is Giving Your Thumbs Superpowers When people spend time interacting with their smartphones via touchscreen, it actually changes the way their thumbs and brains work together, according to a new report.

More touchscreen use in the recent past translates directly into greater brain activity when the thumbs and other fingertips are touched, the study shows.

“I was really surprised by the scale of the changes introduced by the use of smartphones,” says Arko Ghosh of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich in Switzerland. “I was also struck by how much of the inter-individual variations in the fingertipassociated brain signals could be simply explained by evaluating the smartphone logs.”

While neuroscientists have long studied brain plasticity in expert groups--musicians or video gamers.

Culled from zeenew.com

Culled from ZeeNews

children in the Netherlands. The researchers collected information via a questionnaire on wheezing and asthma symptoms every year from the age of one to six years. They also assessed sleeping patterns using a parental questionnaire.

The authors found that children who had bedshared during infancy (at age two months) did not have a higher risk of wheezing during their first six years of life or of getting diagnosed with asthma.

Culled from HealthSite

Drinking Alcohol Several Times A Week Increases Risk Of Stroke Consuming alcohol more frequently than twice a week increases the risk of stroke mortality in men, according to a study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland.

The results show that the effects of alcohol are not limited to the amount consumed, but also the frequency of drinking matters.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is associated with a variety of different diseases. The relationship between alcohol consumption and ischaemic stroke shows a J curve pattern, which means that in people who are moderate consumers of alcohol, the risk of stroke is the lowest, while heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of stroke.

The risk of cerebral haemorrhage increases linearly as the consumption of alcohol increases: the higher the amount of alcohol consumed.

Culled from ScienceDaily

Can Instant Noodles Lead To Heart Disease, Diabetes And Stroke?

healthful Q &A

Significant consumption of instant noodles may increase a person’s risk for cardiometabolic syndrome, especially in women, research shows.

The findings could shed new light on the risks of a worldwide dietary habit.

“This research is significant since many people are consuming instant noodles without knowing possible health risks,” one researcher said.

“My hope is that this study can lay a foundation for future research about the health effects of instant noodle consumption.”

Dr. Shin, who led the study on behalf of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital (BHVH), found that eating instant noodles two or more times a week was associated with cardiometabolic syndrome, which raises a person’s likelihood of developing heart disease and other conditions, such as diabetes and stroke.

According to a popular medical book, I may have an under-active thyroid gland. My hair, skin, eyes, and mouth are very dry; I have puffiness under my eyes, and I’m very sensitive to cold on my back.

But a blood test indicates my thyroid is normal. Are there other ways I should be tested for an underactive thyroid?

Not if you’ve had the two appropriate blood tests. One measures thyroid hormone itself, and one measures thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH. Your symptoms could be caused by many other problems, including dry environment, medical conditions that dry out the eyes, and certain skin diseases.

Culled from ScienceDaily

Culled from Guide to Better Health