Nigerian observer 09122014

The Nigerian

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l . 39 • NO. 138 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 20 14 • N100.00 NUTRITIONAL HEALTH AND DIETETICS Page 14

The use of plants

APC Senatorial Primaries

Inegbeneki, Osagie emerge winners in Edo Central, South . Result awaited in Edo North

BENIN CITY – The All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries for the House of Senate held yesterday in the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State with Chief Francis Inegbeneki polling a

total of 852 votes to emerge winner in Edo Central Senatorial District.

His closest rival, Joe Okojie polled 335 votes, while Theo Okoh and Engineer Osadolor Odia

polled a total of 271 and 5 votes respectively. Six votes were voided.

As at press time the results for the primaries in and Edo North Senatorial District were still being expected.

In Edo South, Hon. Samson Osagie, clinched APC Senatorial ticket with 1,120 votres, to beat Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon who polled 894 votes, Barr. Jim Adun (162 votes) and Mr. Continues on page 2

Austerity Measures

ISSUES Page 27

Population census in Nigeria

NLC to demand wage increase for workers

LAGOS - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said that the union had started preparations for a new minimum wage for workers following the inflation, devaluation and depreciation of Naira.

“We have discussed but we took a position NLC’s General Secretary Peter Ozo- this formally even before that we should wait Eson made the the austerity measures, before making formal disclosure at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

Ozo-Eson said that the implication of some of the government austerity measures, occasioned by the global fall in crude oil price, had started impacting negatively on workers.

“Giving when the last minimum wage was implemented, we should actually be preparing for a new regime.

demand for a review.

“We want to settle the issue of economic indices that determine what

the minimum wage should be.

“Before we make a minimum wage demand, we do a thorough study on the basis of cost of living, inflation and what is happening to

Insurgency

Jonathan pays tribute to Armed Forces

Invest in Cocoa production, US envoy advises Nigeria LAGOS - The U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr Jeffery Hawkins, yesterday said that Nigeria needed to invest more in cocoa production because of the country’s diminishing production of the crop.

Hawkins gave the advice in Lagos at a oneday “Nigeria Cocoa Investment’’ Summit, organised by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, Afrexim Bank and Olam.

The consul-general said it was imperative for Nigeria to urgently reposition itself toward the development of the agricultural sector.

“Nigeria should know that agriculture is going to play a key role in her overall development.

“Nigeria should know that the global demand for cocoa is rising and presents huge opportunities for Nigerian farmers.’’

Hawkins said there was a recent prediction Continues on page 2

TIT BIT

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

- Nelson Mandela

minimum wages in other countries,’’ he said.

Reports state that President Goodluck Jonathan signed the N18, 000 minimum wage act in 2010 which was yet to be implemented in some states.

It is expected to undergo a review every five years.

According to him, the Continues on page 2

MEMORIAL MASS: L-R: Chief Tom Uloko, Mr. Wellington Okoh, Comrade Peter Esele and Governor Adams Oshiomhole at a Memorial Mass held on Sunday, at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Iyamho, in honour of the Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole, wife of Governor Oshiomhole who died on December 7, 2010.

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday paid glowing tribute to the nation’s Armed Forces for their courage and sacrifices in the war against insurgency in parts of the country.

The President was speaking at the inauguration of the emblem and appeal fund for the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Jonathan restated the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans and

Continues on page 2

What I miss most about my late wife - Oshiomhole

By ADAMS OYIBOKE BENIN CITY - On the fourth anniversary of the passage of his wife, Clara, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo

State said he misses her spiritual guidance and intercessions which were key in building the family

and making him a m o r e compassionate

person.

Speaking at a Memorial Mass held, on Sunday, at St

Joseph’s Catholic Church, Iyamoh, Uzairue, Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

News

NLC to demand wage increase for workers

Continued from page 1

prices of goods and services are already winding up and workers are already being impacted negatively by the present situation.

He urged the government to avoid every attempt to pass the burden of the current fall in oil revenue to the workers.

“We are opposed and we will resist every attempt to pass the burden of this

present situation to workers.

“The union will oppose any form of retrenchment that government may contemplate as part of the austerity measures,’’ he said.

Ozo-Eson said that union would prepare for the new regime of minimum wage once the contentions of whether to remove wage laws from exclusive list to concurrent was put to rest.

He said that the present

economic situation would be factored into the demand that would be made to the government.

Ozo-Eson added that the pump price of petroleum products should come down as the price of crude oil had fallen in the international oil market.

The labour leader said that the organised labour had written a formal letter to

Jonathan on the socio-political and economic crises in the nation in order to save the country.

Newsmen further reports that the government had increased the exchange rate for a dollar from N55 to N68.

It has also increased the lending rate from 12 per cent to 13 per cent as part of the austerity measures to stabilise the economy.

Invest in Cocoa production, US envoy advises Nigeria

Continued from page 1 as that there would be shortage of cocoa globally by 2020.

The envoy urged various levels of government to provide cocoa farmers with modern input and incentives that would boost cocoa production for local and international consumption.

“This sector is not always seen as a viable way for people to earn a living as well

create employment opportunities for young Nigerians,’’ he said.

Dr Peter Aikpokpodion,the Team Leader of Cocoa Value Chain Development of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Nigeria was aware of opportunities in cocoa development.

According to him, global demand for cocoa is estimated to reach more than

five million tonnes by 2020.

“In the U.S., chocolate consumption has been growing at an average rate of 1.4 per cent annually from 2009 to 2014 and it is expected to grow in the next five years.

“It is predicted that the greatest growth areas for agricultural exports in the coming years will be in cocoa, cashew and sesame,’’ he said.

Aikpokpodion said the Federal Government had recently launched a threeprong strategy that would “ramp up” cocoa production in the country.

He said that the strategy was to maximise cocoa yield per unit land area on the current 650,000 hectares of active plantation, to rehabilitate 200,000 hectares and to expand planting of cocoa.

What I miss most about my late wife

Continued from page 1

Etsako West Local Government Area when he led his children and other members of his family to mark the 4th year anniversary of the call to glory of his wife who died on December 7, 2010, Oshiomhole said his late wife was humble to a fault.

He said: “My late wife was my spiritual guardian. When I met her and proposed to her, she said, I know you are a Christian, but are you baptized?

“I listened to the Bishop talking about the most important title as being the baptism name, I realize even the more what she helped me to accomplish by insisting that I must formally get baptized.

She encouraged me to study catechism which I needed to be baptized and I was baptized with the name Eric.”

He continued: “Coming to this particular church is more than symbolic because Clara’s interest in this church was something I may not be able to describe.

“While she was alive, she was constantly reminding me on the need to support the community to build a church and even as a labor activist, she would always remind me to be certain that we had provision for the church “I believe in all we have done, what would excite Clara most is the effort that we have all made to build this church to this level and I imagine how she would have felt to begin to worship in this church”.

Governor Oshiomhole stressed that the family agreed to celebrate the anniversary on a low key with thanksgiving and prayer at the church as this is the first time the anniversary would fall on a Sunday.

“We are not arranging any big ceremony, we are not inviting the whole world, we are not setting up big canopies to do celebration, to dance nor are we crying because if Clara were with you and you ask her how she would want to be remembered, I know she would say, let’s go to church and pray”.

In a homily, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Auchi,

Rev. Dr. Dunia extolled the life and times of late Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole and admonished all Christians to live a holy and righteous life.

Bishop Dunia said, “Clara Oshiomhole during her life time focused on heavenly things. She lived a fulfilled Christian life and that is what

Continued from page 1

veterans and also assure those in service that their fatherland will never forsake them and will continue to remember them.

“Last year, I instructed that all should identify with our armed forces, and this year is no exception.

“I, personally, will put on the emblem from today till Jan. 15, and in the State House it is a tradition from tomorrow that for you to come in, you must wear the emblem,“ Jonathan stated.

The President said that as part of efforts to improve the welfare of ex-service men, the government recently implemented an increment in the military.

He noted with delight that the Military Pension Scheme was now running efficiently.

Jonathan said that the Minister of Defence had been directed to initiate programmes that would improve the living standard of veterans in the country.

He commended the Nigeria Legion for introducing the Nigerian Legion Humanitarian Day as part of activities marking the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

He said the legion was using the event to reach out to the society through social works, humanitarian activities as well as empowering women and dependants of the nation’s fallen heroes.

He also lauded the efforts of state governors who are patrons of the Legion in their various states and urged them to continue to lend their support to the veterans.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the Nigerian

Christianity entails”.

Prayers were later offered at the graveside for the repose of the late Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole while the Governor placed a wreath at her grave side.

Jonathan pays tribute to Armed Forces

families of the nation’s fallen heroes.

“We salute and appreciate the courage and sacrifices of men and women of our armed forces in grappling with the wave of terrorism in some parts of our dear country.

“They have displayed unalloyed loyalty and commitment to Nigeria. In their demanding task to keep Nigeria one and united, some of our gallant officers and men have lost their lives.

“To these officers and men we pay tribute and pray fervently for the repose of their souls,“ he said.

Reports state that the 2015 edition has as its theme, “Appreciating the Nigerian Armed Forces“.

The President called on all Nigerians to identify with the Armed Forces by procuring and wearing the emblem with pride as well as donating generously to the appeal fund.

He took responsibility for the yet-to-be-redeemed financial pledges made by individuals and corporate bodies to the fund during the 2014 celebration.

Jonathan said that his office was to blame for not contacting those who made the pledges and directed his Chief of Staff to compile their names with a view to reaching out to them.

“After this emblem launch, I encourage all Nigerians to procure and wear the emblems with pride throughout the remembrance period - that is from today till Jan. 15 next year.

“This will symbolise our appreciation for the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and

Legion, Col. Micah Gayya (rtd), said that out of the N105 million pledged last year, only N30 million had been redeemed.

He said the pledges were made in public, leaving the legion with no avenue to tell the world that they had not been redeemed.

While calling on all those concerned to redeem their pledges, Gayya urged Nigerians to pledge amounts they could redeem.

On his part, the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), attributed the continued unity and corporate existence of the country to the patriotism and sacrifices of the Armed Forces.

Gusau also lauded the commitment of the military to the fight against insurgency in the north eastern part of the country and urged Nigerians to continue to support their efforts.

Newsmen reports that Jonathan and former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, were decorated with the emblems.

Also decorated were the Inspector -General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, the three Service Chiefs and other top government functionaries.

Inegbeneki, Osagie emerge winners Continued from page 1 Erabor Emokpae (28 votes) out of a total of 2,212 votes cast. A total of 8 votes were, however voided.

Open varsity establishes 400 new centres LAGOS - The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), yesterday, said it had established not less than 400 centres in the outgoing year for students undergoing different courses across the country.

Its Head of Media and Information, Dr Ronke Ogunmakin, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

Ogunmakin said the establishment of the centres was to fulfill the institution’s mandate of providing Open and Distance Learning (ODL) centres across the country.

She added that the centres were part of the institution’s responsibility of making higher education more accessible, flexible and qualitative to the growing Nigerian populace.

She noted that eight of the 400 centres were specialised ones that were basically tailored toward improving skills among the work force.

According to her, the newly inaugurated Dei-Dei Study Centre in Abuja is one of the centres and is to prepare and impact modern standard of practice for the police force in the country.

“We equally have a centre for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), also in Abuja.

“We do all these because we want to ensure capacity building for our work force and give them a platform to contribute meaningfully to national

development.’’

The NOUN official said the university had also established several community centres across the country to ensure that those in the villages and the hinterlands were carried along.

Ogunmakin said that the university was looking forward to admitting more students from across the country in 2015 as more students were becoming aware of the benefits provided by the ODL mode of education.

She added that “our target is to reduce the level of illiteracy in the country to the barest minimum and build a country where every citizen will be able to contribute to national development.

“However, we are being careful so that we do not compromise on quality.

“We also know that funding will be a key factor for NOUN to be able to provide education to many Nigerians who yearn for knowledge.

“There is also the need for the Federal Government to assist it in this regard to be able to deliver well.

“As we yearn for expansion, we must strive to also match it with infrastructure, technological and manpower development,” she appealed.

Ogunmakin, however, urged public-spirited individuals, corporate bodies and other stakeholders to assist the institution.

Edo High Court begins Xmas recess Dec 24

BENIN CITY – The High Court of Edo State shall proceed on Christmas/New Year Recess from Wednesday December 24, 2014 and end Friday January 9, 2015.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa gave the directive, in compliance with the provision of Order 43, Rule 4(1) (c) of the State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012.

During the period of the recess, the courts shall not

sit, according to a statement by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Hilary Enemaku (Esq).

However, normal court sessions throughout the state shall resume on Monday, January 12, 2015.

The statement quoted the Chief Judge as wishing all members of the Bar, the Bench and the general public a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year in advance.

74 million Nigerians use internet on GSM

LAGOS - Internet users on the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) networks stood at 74 million in the third quarter of 2014, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

The NCC made the disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscriber Data made available yesterday in Lagos.

The data showed that an additional 1,459,522 subscribers surfed the Internet in the month of September and climbed to 73,869,523 as against 72,410,001 internet users recorded in the month of August.

The NCC data also showed that MTN led the usage list with 38,637,447 of its subscribers browsing the World Wide Web (WWW) in the third quarter of 2014.

Internet users on the MTN network rose by 1,674,636 in the month of September from 36,962,810 users in August to 38,637,447, it noted.

It stated that Globacom was in second position, with 15,843,258 telecoms consumers using the Internet and rose to 322,765 internet users on its network in September and to 15,520,493 users recorded in the month of August.

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

News

Workshop For Postal Mgrs Opens

Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Dr. Gabriel Dunia, Bishop of Auchi Catholic Diocese at a Memorial Mass held, on Sunday at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Iyamho, in honour of Mrs Clara Oshiomhole, wife of Governor Oshiomhole who died on December 7, 2010.

BENIN CITY – A two day Counter Automation and Integrated Postal Management System (IPSAS) workshop for Area Postal Managers and Venture Managers aimed at sharpening their Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Skills; encourage job compliance and quick identification of problem areas and provision of solution was yesterday declared open by the Post Master General at the Nigerian Postal Institute, Egor in Edo State.

The Postal Master General (PMG) Mallam Ibrahim MoriBaba while declaring the workshop open, encouraged participants and unit heads from the Postal Zones to strive to be ICT compliant in order to speed up efficiency, service delivery,

connectivity and the availability of information on a one touch pedestal.

Thanking the “SW Global,” its ICT partner which has made internet connectivity possible in post offices, he encouraged it to make all participants internet savvy since every participant was encouraged to come to the workshop with Laptops as a pre-requisite for attendance.

Mallam Mori-Baba encouraged participants to have valid internet domains which end with com/.Org in carrying out official communications saying it was safer to use.

He urged the verification unit to be up and doing in service

FG Releases Another Batch Of 11 Hybrid Crop Varieties

LAGOS - The Federal Government yesterday approved the release another batch of 11 crop varieties for Nigerian farmers bringing to 22 the number released in 2014.

This is contained in a press statement made available to newsmen in Lagos by the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.

The statement, which was signed by its registrar, Dr Sunday Aladele, stated that the new varieties were released at the centre in addition to the earlier 11 varieties released in June.

The varieties were developed by research institutes, universities, crop scientists and private seeds companies.

The statement stated that the latest varieties were formally released at the 21st meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries by committee Chairman, Chief

Oladosu Awoyemi.

During the meeting at NACGRAB, which is the committee’s secretariat, the Chairman, National Technical Sub-Committee on Crops, Prof. Olusoji Olufajo, revealed that 22 varieties were initially submitted for approval.

The statement quoted Olufajo as saying that, “the 11 approved varieties were, one rice variety (Faro 63), three sorghum hybrids (PRADHAN, MLSH 296 Gold and MLSH 151) and one potato variety (Marabel).

“Two wheat varieties (LACRI WHIT - 5 and LACRI WHIT - 6), two maize hybrids (SAMMAZ 41 and SAMMAZ 42) and two soybean varieties (NCRISOY 1 and NCRISOY 2),’’ Olufajo said.

The statement stated that the rice variety, Faro 63, developed by National Cereals Research Institute

(NCRI), Badeggi, Niger, was recommended for release based on its early maturity and high yield.

On the sorghum varieties, it stated that “PRADHAN hybrid was recommended for release based on its white and bold grains and high grain yields.

“MLSH 296 Gold-based on high grain yield and MLSH 151 based on its bold round grains with cream colour and high grain yield,’’ the statement stated.

It also announced that the sorghum varieties were developed by the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) Zaria and Syngenta Nigeria Limited.

The potato variety (Marabel) developed by National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike and Syngenta Nigeria Limited, was recommended based on extra early maturity, high

yield, high number of marketable tubers and high dry matter content.

Meanwhile the two wheat varieties, “LACRI WHIT - 5 is recommended for release due to its high yield and good baking quality.

“And variety LACRI WHIT - 6 was recommended for release based on early maturity, high yield and baking quality,’’ the statement stated.

It stated that the wheat varieties were developed by the Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri.

On the maize, the statement stated that the two varieties, SAMMAZ 41 and SAMMAZ 42 were recommended for released based on early maturity, high grain yield, long ear and low soil nitrogen tolerance.

It stated that they were developed by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and IAR.

The statement stated that the two varieties of soybean were recommended for released because of their extra early maturity, high yield, and promiscuous nodulation, resistance to rust, cercospora leaf spot and suitability for mechanisation.

It stated that the soybeans were developed by IITA and NCRI. Aladele, in the statement, appreciated the efforts of West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), AfricaRice, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

Participants at the meeting included ARCN representatives, Prof.

Mohammed Magaji; representative of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama; Dr Nnenna Okoronkwo and Prof. Akin Hassan, President, Genetics Society of Nigeria.

discharge, while mandating managers to effectively man-up their territories, collating and updating reports through ICT use to block loopholes.

He revealed the take off plans for the creation of a national address system which content would beam on local governments.

The Director of Nipost Postal Institute, Egor, Mr. Ishaya Musa Diwa appreciated the support of the PMG in positioning the school as one of the best training schools in Nigeria.

He commended the fact that two sets of participants who are Area and Venture Managers were in the school for ICT training to enable them carry out effective online transactions as well as enable them control and supervise their subordinates in their zones.

Diwa further stated that the counter officers and accounting officers had earlier been trained hence the need for supervisor training for effective supervision of subordinates on counter automation which is a practical process.

According to him, the verification team is in charge of financial transactions and activities according to best practices.

The workshop, he said would be used to straighten grey areas in balancing accounts.

The Edo State Postal Area Manager, Mrs. Abimbola Ayeni called on verifiers to leave the ropes of unraveling corporate fraud during verification.

A participant, Peter Abdul Hassan, the Area Postal Manager, Kano State thanked the organizers of the workshop promising to put to good use knowledge gained from the training.

Another participant, Mrs. Towoju Rachael was of the opinion that the knowledge gained in the workshop will help her in informing management of any leakages in finances for effective plugging as well as prevent fraud in transactions.

Explosions: Police Want Maiduguri

Residents To Be Security Conscious MAIDUGURI - The Police Command in Borno State has advised residents of Maiduguri to be extra-vigilant and more security conscious.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jibrin, gave the advice in a statement made available to newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday.

Jibrin said that the vigilance of the people made the police to avert deadly bomb explosions at Tashan Kano Motor Park, in Maiduguri on Friday.

He explained that the people discovered the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) concealed at the park.

He praised the people for promptly calling the attention of the police and the Civilian JTF to it for immediate action.

“Attention of State Intelligence Bureau Operation of the Command and the Civilian JTF men on duty at the motor park was drawn to a bunch of suspected IED’s concealed in a receptacle and planted near the exit gate of the Jumat mosque at the motor park.

“This information was passed to the Police High Command at the state headquarters, which swiftly reacted to the bomb scare.

“The bomb disposal unit was promptly drafted to the scene where they found the IED’s ostensibly targeted at unsuspecting worshippers who were already in prayers.

“The bombs were promptly neutralised by the technicians who rendered the environment safe and recovered the exhibits to the

state headquarters.

“There was neither loss of life nor injury nor loss of property in the entire process.

“In view of the current security challenges and recent female suicide bomb incidences in Kano, Niger and Bauchi States, and most recently in Maiduguri, the command appeals to the general public to continue to be extra vigilant and security conscious,’’ he said.

Jibrin also enjoined the public to promptly alert the police and the security agencies on suspected persons, vehicles, objects for prompt proactive security steps.

He said that this would assist the police to prevent avoidable loss of lives and property.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole with wreath and Dr. Gabriel Dunia, Bishop of Auchi Catholic Diocese at a Memorial held, on Sunday at Iyamho, in Honour of Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole, wife of Governor Oshiomhole who died on December 7, 2010.

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

South-South 2 Movie Producers Win N2m For Home Video ABUJA - Two Movie Producers, Emem Isong and Tunde Kelani won one million naira each for producing films that promote integrity and family values.

The award, organised Abuja by the Nigeria Integrity Film Awards (Homevida) and The Centenary Project Launch, aims to promote positive values through film production.

Presenting the cash, Mr. Coleman Uba, Director Admin, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) said the money was to encourage film makers to produce films that would change people’s perception of Nigerian films.

Uba added that the award was to encourage the production of more films to curb the erosion of family values.

“The board’s mission is to contribute to the positive transformation of the Nigerian society through the censorship and classification of films and videos.

“It is also to balance the need to preserve freedom of expression within the law and limit social harm caused by films’’, he said.

The winning film titled “Knocking on Heaven’s Door’, jointly produced by Emen Isong and Ini Edo, was voted for by the public.

The prize for the second category on Human Development Film was presented to Tunde Kelani for the film ‘Dazzling Mirage’, by Mrs Lizzy Iwuamadi.

Iwuamadi, Deputy Director, Entertainment, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, pledged the ministry continuous support for the industry.

“The event is well package and I am happy and proud of the work they are doing.

“They have been able to encourage young film makers to produce films with moral values which are what we are looking for in our homes’’, she said.

The Short Script Competition was won by Orimogunje Damilola in Human Development category endowed by the United Nations Millennium Campaign while Miss Brenda Ogbuka won the Investor Protection category.

Mr Chibuzo Ekwekwuo, Founder of Homevida, said the award was a platform for driving creative messages of integrity and value change through film to Nigerian and African audiences.

He said the platform provides incentives for talented Nigeria Film makers to mainstream integrity values in their film production.

“HOMEVIDA hopes to expand to capture film makers across Africa. It is designed as a partnership between non-profit, public and private organisations.

“It also aims to promote core national and corporate values that are the foundation for nation building’’, he said.

Ekwekwuo said the platform was giving awards in two categories: the Short Script Writing Competition and the Feature Film category.

He said the idea behind the award was the realisation that films are wonderful channel for promoting values to help people define their vision and build their culture.

According to him, culture is who we are, the way we live, do business and through film we can continuously define and set new standard for people to achieve their dreams.

Ms Arumah Oteh, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, pledged the commission’s continued support and partnership with homevida.

She said Homevida had produced two short films for the commission namely: Easy Money and Mutual Benefit, which convey valuable lessons about financial prudence and planning.

Oteh said this year winning short script for the Investors Protection Film Prize was to educate Nigerians and investors on the importance of the capital market.

Assistance: The Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Louis Odion represented by the permenent secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador Femi Okuo (left), presenting a cheque of N1.5m as assistance from the State Government to Master Oghenekhogie Okhifo Iyogun, son of the Later Mrs. Macelina Iyogun, circulation staff of the BNCL, who was killed by the Bomb Blast in Nyanya, Abuja in Apirl 2014. With them is Mr. Cephas Stone Iyogun, husband of the Late Macelina. Photo: IMHANZETO BRIGHT

Monarch Tasks Nigerians On Peaceful Co-Existence OBUAMA (RIVERS)-Chief Omubo Odibo, the traditional ruler of Obuama community in Degema council of Rivers, has called on Nigerians to imbibe peaceful coexistence in order to attain greatness.

Odibo said made the remark in Harrytown, also known as Obuama, during a news conference to mark the 100 years of the death of the community founder, the late Chief Odibo Harry.

He said that development, increase, greatness, reward of hard

work could only be achieved and sustained through enduring unity, peace and love for one another.

Odibo said that the attributes of peace and love had been tested in their community through the late Harry, who they would be celebrating as from December 24.

He said that the late Harry, who was 27 years old when his father died in 1886, ensured that his siblings were brought up in a peaceful and united way.

“At the age of 27, when he was still very young, his father decided to make him a war canoe chief at the old shipping (ElemKalabari) because he was very proud of him.”

“Our patriarch’s greatness was crowned as the paramount ruler of Chief Omubo Harry group of houses, his father’s house in Buguma, two years after his

Christmas: Calabar

Residents Jostle For Second Hand Clothes

R-L: Vice President Namadi Sambo, Chairman, Governing Board of Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Prof. Michael Essien, representative of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Ferdinand Agu and Prof. Laz Ekwueme at the opening of the 7th Annual Forum of Laureates of NNOM in Abuja recently.

Poor Logistics, Dump Sites Hamper Waste Disposal -LG Official

WARRI (DELTA)-Mr Ghana Akpodiete, Head of Department (Environment), Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, has said poor logistics and lack of dump sites were hampering wastes disposal in the area.

Akpodiete said this in an interview with newsmen in Warri.

He said that most of the trucks used in evacuating

father’s dead.”

Odibo said the peace and development seen in the community epitomized the love and unity he instilled in his siblings.

He said that the late Harry symbolized greatness and his legacy should be emulated by every Nigerian.

Odibo said that due to the great foundation which made Obuama great, the community had planned to mark the 100the year of his demise.

“The youths would take over the community on December 24, in a free for all possession of goats, fowls and plantation to celebrate their forefather,” he

said.

Odibo said other activities outlined were free medical treatment for natives and residents of the community on December 26, and candle rally in the evening.

He said there would be a book lunch in honour of their great father on December 27 with the Amayanabo of Kalabari, King Theophilus Princewill, as royal father of the day.

“The grand finale would be a thanksgiving at St. Alban’s Anglican Church, the first Church in the community that was founded by him,” he said.

Harry was one of the founders of many communities in Kalabari, but later settled in Harrytown (Obuama).

refuse were in bad shape and needed repairs or replacement to enhance the operation of the department.

He also said that lack of dump sites in Warri had compelled the operatives to move wastes generated in the city to a spot along Sapele road. ‘’Sometimes the truck gets spoilt on the way, thereby

affecting our performance,’’ the head of department said.

Akpodiete appealed to the state government to provide equipment and dump sites within Warri.

He, however, said that in spite of the challenges, sanitation had improved in Warri following the involvement of the private

sector through the World Bank-assisted State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) project.

He said that under SEFFOR every household was expected to register with the private sector participants and pay between N200 and N500 monthly for evacuation of wastes.

CALABAR- Many residents of Calabar Cross River State now patronise imported second hand clothes to use for the forthcoming Christmas celebrations.

Investigation showed that the inhabitants visit the popular Beach Market located on the bank of Calabar River where they access the used wears.

Our Correspondent found that women also troupe to the market to buy wears for themselves and their children, usually at affordable prices.

A second hand cloth dealer at the market, Miss Ann Umoh, told journalists that she was experiencing increased patronage, saying this was common with Christmas season.

“Though people complain of lack of money they are still able to buy clothes for themselves and their loved ones.

“I have just opened a new bale

of materials and you can see how people are rushing to make selection. So, it is all in the spirit of the season, ‘’ Umoh said.

Another dealer, Miss Ebele Chukwu, said that she used to shuttle between Calabar and Aba to sell her wares and that the rush was normal during Christmas seasons.

A resident, Mrs Esther Agbiji, said that she had been buying second hand closes for all occasions, including Christmas.

Agbiji said that the use of imported second hand clothes was no longer for ordinary Nigerians alone.

A student, Miss Mary Akpan, said that the market was the most suitable place for students to make purchases.

“Apart from Christmas period, I and my friends always come here to buy clothes. One only needs to ‘bend down very well’ and select the good ones,” Akpan said.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

News Police To Clamp Down O N I T S H A been renewed (ANAMBRA) - The On Shops collaboration by police FireWorks:

police in Anambra State have said it was set to clamp down on shops and outlets that sell fireworks, popularly known as “knock-out’’ in the state.

The state’s command Public Relations Officer, Mr Uche Eze, told newsmen in Onitsha that the spate of the usage of fireworks during yuletide was becoming a threat to security in Anambra.

He said “it is relatively difficult to get the people using the fireworks so we are going to arrest the owners of shops that sell knock out and shut the shops.

“Just yesterday, we thought there were gunshots somewhere in the G.R.A section of Awka but when our team went there, it found out that it was firework display by some individuals, who fled when they saw police approaching.

“We have to stop this madness before it gets out of hand.’’

The police spokesperson urged the public to be security conscious as the yuletide approached and advised that people should always endeavour to board buses at designated auto parks and not on roadsides.

He said “everyone should make effort to know who is living around him or her, know the objects in your vicinity, ask questions or report any irregularities to the police, sister security agencies or neighbourhood leaders.’’

On the spate of prisons breaks, Eze said there had

and prisons’ armed squad to guard the four prisons in Anambra – Aguata, Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha.

“Our recent collaboration in conjunction with the prison’s armed squad by stationing more mobile police officers at the prisons was to ensure that we have a proactive measure on ground.

“The police commissioner has mandated mobile patrol team to keep surveillance on the prisons, especially armed personnel guarding it, while ensuring that they are alive and stationed always.’’

Commandant, Nigerian Army Peace-Keeping Centre, Maj.General Sanusi Mu’Azu (right) decorating the best student, SGT. Monday Philip with Chief of Army Staff Award Medal, at the Graduation of Warrant Officers’ Academy Course 24/2014 in Jaji, Kaduna State during the weekend.

Man Arraigned For Fraud

Traffic Gridlock On AbujaLokoja Highway LOKOJA - Several motorists plying the AbujaLokoja highway were held up for hours due to heavy traffic on Murtala Mohammed bridge on River Niger.

Our correspondent who visited the area, reports that vehicular movement was restricted on both lanes on the busy dual carriageway.

The gridlock was caused by ongoing rehabilitation of bad spots on the road being undertaken by FERMA. Mr Godwin Omiko FRSC sector commander in Kogi, told newsmen that the organisation drew the attention of FERMA to the bad spots on the highway which had been responsible for several accidents.

He added that the FRSC had deployed more men to the area to assist to restore normalcy on the road.

Omiko urged motorists to show understanding and bear with FERMA to enable it fix the bad spots.

He explained that rehabilitation of the bad spots would help to reduce accidents on the highway during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Chairman of the occasion and Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu (2nd left) presenting items to Change Women Association Bauchi grandaunt (CHAWA), Hajia Hadiza (right) during the launching/graduation of the trainees in Bauchi recently.

With them is CHAWA President, Mrs. Dinatu Stephen.

Don Decries Open Defecation PORT HARCOURTDr Omodu Samuel, Senior Lecturer, Rivers State College of Health Sciences, has decried poor sanitary habits among some residents of Nigerian cities.

Samuel, who made the observation in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Sunday, cited open defecation as one of such habits.

The don said the habit was also common among fishermen and farmers.

He said such behaviours posed serious health hazards to the inhabitants.

He said that open defecation usually caused water pollution and exposed residents to other water-borne diseases such as cholera and

dysentery.

“Excreta is very dangerous because it contains hookworm, tapeworm and other worms; it also contains some protozoa and other pathogenic bacteria.

“The pathogens found in faeces when washed by the rain into domestic water or found in consumable animals like cow, goats and birds are responsible for spread of diseases.

“Cholera, dysentery and other viral diseases such as polio and hepatitis could easily be contracted through contaminated water and food,’’ he said.

He urged government to establish more public conveniences, and called on owners of public

utilities such hotels, restaurants, and shopping centres to also provide toilet facilities in such places.

ABEOKUTA - A 73year-old man, Mubasiru Abiola, has appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud for selling one acre of land to two persons.

The accused is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp.

Augustine Ozimini, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 17, 2013 at ObadaOko, a suburb of Abeokuta.

He said that the accused defrauded one Pastor John Joseph under the pretence of selling one acre of land valued at N1.5 million to him.

Ozimini said that the accused sold the land to the pastor knowing that he had already sold the same land

to someone else.

“The pastor was accosted on the land by the other person who had earlier paid for the said land.

“When the pastor confronted the accused and demanded for a refund, Abiola refused to refund the said N1.5 million,’’ the prosecution said.

The prosecutor submitted that the offences contravened Sections 419 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Adekunte, admitted the accused into bail of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He then adjourned the case to January 20, 2015 for further hearing.

Shema Directs LG Chairmen To Compile Complains

Distribution Of PVCs: KATSINA - Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has in Katsina directed Chairmen of 34 local government areas to compile complaints on the distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in their areas.

Shema gave the directive at a news conference on the challenges of the distribution of PVCs in the state.

He said that the decision had become necessary due to problems being encountered by people in the exercise across the state.

Shema said that his administration would do everything possible to ensure that every eligible voter was

given a right to elect candidates of his/her choice during the 2015 general elections.

He, therefore, urged INEC to extend the distribution of PVCs and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by a week each, to enable the people to obtain their cards or register for the election.

It would be recalled that the exercise, which started on Saturday, faced some hiccups in almost all the local government areas of the state.

Newsmen who monitored the exercise in Musawa, Kafur, Funtua, Dutsin-ma and Kankia local government Areas, reported that the

exercise, scheduled to begin on Saturday, took off on Sunday due to late arrival of PVCs. In some areas where the exercise started on Saturday as scheduled, there was mix up in the PVCs, while many people did not find their cards in another centre.

There was large turn out of people at the polling centres to obtain their cards.

Some of the people who spoke to newsmen urged INEC to extend the days for both the collection and registration, to enable them to obtain the cards for the 2015 general elections.

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Lagos Cleric Tasks Parents On Child Up Bringing

R-L: Director-General, Malam Nasir El-Rufai Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Ashiru Haruna, Kaduna State APC Gubernatiorial candidate, El-Rufai and member, representing Igabi constituency at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mr. Yusuf Zalani at a news conference in Kaduna during the weekend.

LAGOS- An official of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Mr Tajudeen Babalola has advised parents to teach their children moral values to make them useful to the society.

Babalola, the Treasurer of the Surulere Branch of the group, gave the advice at the 2014 Annual Children Harvest of the group at Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammer School, Surulere.

“Parents should monitor their movements as well as ensure good upbringing and adequate education,’’ he

Union Opposes Land Concession To National Theatre

LAGOS-The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employers (AUPCTRE) has urged the Federal Government to shelve plans to concession the fallow land in National Arts Theatre, Lagos.

The Secretary of the AUPCTRE, Federal Organ, Mr Isidore Okpara, told newsmen that the area could be made attractive if the management had been prudent.

“We are strongly opposed to this concession of the fallow land around the National Theatre because the step was not driven by efficiency or effectiveness.

“We can transform the environment and make it attractive to the world if there is transparency, prudence and accountability in the affairs.

“There are cases of reported frauds in the past, running into not less than N500 million of tax payers money which could be used to transform the national heritage.

“The fallow land the government wants to sell can be turned into parks and be made attractive to Nigerians and investors.

“The National Theatre is a spirit, souls and symbol of Nigerian culture and arts which should be preserved

along with its environs,’’ the scribe said.

He said the internally generated revenue could have been used to turn the national heritage around if they had been well managed.

He said that there had been attempts in the past to concession out the national heritage which were resisted by the public.

Okpara said that union had a stronger stake in the fortunes of the complex as stakeholder responsible for organising employees of National Theatre.

He called on the management to use its expertise to harness and deploy the abundant human and material resources at its disposal to good use instead of selling the heritage.

Okpara urged the government to turn around the edifice and bring anyone that had defrauded the outfit to book.

He said that since the opening of the theatre in 1977, it had not undergone the required structural maintenance.

The labour leader appealed to the government to strengthen the board of National Theatre so that it can exercise its statutory

functions.

He said that the union needed to be carried along as a stakeholder in the entire processes of concession.

Okpara said the union was determined to defend the interests of its members in

addition to protecting the national heritage.

The Federal Government has announced a plan to concession the expansive land surrounding the National Arts Theatre, Lagos for 30 years.

said.

The official noted that parents had critical roles to play in educating their children by providing them with basic needs.

He added that parents played crucial roles in the education of their children, and constituted an important influence on their learning process and achievements.

Also, Mrs Fatima Mohammed, of Bab-Salam Motherless Babies Home, Ikeja, urged parents to play their roles well so that their children would develop into responsible adults.

She urged parents not to relent in providing quality education for their children.

She said that parents were the first teachers and custodians of morals and core societal values which should be exhibited through words and character.

“Parents should strive to teach their children to be God-fearing to help them to

fit properly into the society and realise their potential,’’ she said.

The Matron of the Alihadab School, Mrs Omolara Oresanya, blamed moral decadence and increase in crime rate among youths on failure of parents to mold their children properly. “‘Our children are the world’s most valuable assets and the best hope for the future.

“Therefore, they need to be given extra attention in order not to be swept away by the glamour of modern civilisation,’’ she said.

An SS1 student of the Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Isolo, Miss Airat Olafimihan, said that there was the need for parents to monitor their children closely to prevent them from going astray.

“Parents need to keep an eye on their children so that they can be proud of them when they grow up,’’ she said.

Chairman, Nigeria-American Chamber of Commerce, Kaduna State Chapter, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, Special Adviser to the Goveror of Kaduna on Trade and Investment, Alhaji Muhammed Lere and guests of Honour, Alhaji Abidu Yazid at the Nigerian - American Chamber of Commerce Annual Award in Kaduna during the weekend.

Stakeholders Want Building Programme Extended

Micro Finance: IKORODU (LAGOS STATE)-Some Stakeholders in the Micro Finance Sub-sector have called for the extension of duration of Rural Finance Institution Building (RUFIN) programme by two years.

They made the call in separate interviews with newsmen on the sidelines of the 9th supervision mission of the programme holding in Lagos.

They said the extension would enable the rural poor to benefit more from it.

RUFIN is being implemented

in 12 states across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with two states from each zone.

The states include: Lagos, Anambra, Edo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa and Katsina.

The programme enjoys financial assistance from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency.

It is being implemented over a seven-year period and specifically targets marginalised groups such as women, young people and those with physical disabilities.

The objective of the programme is to strengthen micro finance institutions and establish linkages between them and formal financial institutions.

It lays the foundation for the long-term development of a sustainable rural financial system

that would eventually operate throughout the country.

By reaching out to the rural poor, the programme ensures that they gain access to financial services and can invest in improving productivity in agriculture and small businesses.

Mr Godbless Afor, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Non-Bank Micro Finance Institutions of Nigeria (AMFIN), said RUFIN had

provided training and capacity building programmes, logistics and technical support to the association.

He said though RUFIN programme would be completed in 2016, there was need to extend it to consolidate structures it had put in place.

“RUFIN has done so well, but I think it is not time for RUFIN to go; if the impact is to be fully felt, two years should be added

to the project duration.

“They will be able to handhold AMFIN and take it to a level that it would deliver improved quality to the Micro Finance sector,” Afor said.

Also speaking, Mr Matthew Olayinka, Coordinator, Marketing and Credit department, Bowen Micro Finance Bank (MFB), Ikorodu, said they were working with seven groups mentored by RUFIN. He said RUFIN was doing a great job.I don’t want RUFIN to go because of the mutual benefit of the work they are doing.

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Across The Nation Fraudsters Hijack INEC Recruitment

FRSC To Deploy More Logistics

Yuletide:

ABUJA - Corps Commander Stella Uchegbu, Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC), said the agency would deploy more logistic support to ensure safety on the nation’s roads during the yuletide.

Uchegbu said this during an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

She said the logistic support would be used to complement efforts of the FRSC personnel during the period.

“We will raise the bar on deployment with acquisition of additional heavy duty tow trucks from the World Bank and other logistic support such as radar guns and alcholysers.

“This is to regulate the speed at which motorists move and test the status of drivers who ply the roads during the yuletide. “ We have already identified these critical corridors and this will determine the status of our deployment of personnel and logistics to ensure easy passage for all road users,” she said.

Uchegbu also said that the agency would continue with its air surveillance of key corridors of the nation during the yuletide, and it would also work with sister agencies to achieve road safety.

It would be recalled that the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, had recently said that the agency would work with the Nigeria Customs Service in order to clear traffic gridlock in Apapa, Lagos.

He also said that the two agencies had been working together through data sharing on vehicles in Nigeria which had yielded results in the area of recovering stolen vehicles.

Managing Director, Gidan Haki Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Aminu Tafida, signing an MoU with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Alhaji Garba Salda for the concession of Gidan Haki Nigeria Limited in Sokoto recently.

GUSAU - Fraudsters posing as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recruitment officers are now collecting money from unsuspecting individuals in Zamfara with the promise to give them employment.

Investigations by newsmen in the state revealed that many unemployed youths had already fallen victims to the fraudsters.

Some had given money to fraudsters with the hope that they would serve as the adhoc workers in the 2015 general elections.

Some of the victims who

COE Graduates 2,200 Students

NSUGBE (ANAMBRA) No fewer than 2, 200 graduates of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, in Anambra have been awarded the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).

The certificates were awarded to those who graduated between 2010 and 2013 academic sessions.

Addressing the graduands at the 16th convocation ceremony of the institution at Nsugbe, Governor Willie Obiano promised to improve the educational infrastructure as well as the welfare of lecturers and students in the state.

“The government of Anambra will tackle education in three major areas; infrastructure development,

teachers’ and students’ welfare.

“That is why we are rebuilding hundreds of blocks of classrooms across the three senatorial zones and equipping them with computers and other teaching aids.

“We are finalizing plans to ensure that teachers in the state gain access to capacity building opportunities that will help them upgrade their knowledge base, starting soon with capacity training for technical teachers in Singapore.

“We have also commenced the payment of special salaries to teachers teaching in remote areas as well as those teaching core subjects.

“In the area of students’ welfare, we have made education free for all the physically challenged persons

and also considering paying a certain amount as bursary and scholarship programme to alleviate the plights of students in the state,” he said.

In her remark, the Provost of the College, Dr Ego Uzoezie, said that the College had initiated a number of revenue generating projects like Radio Programme, farming, ICT and petrol filling station ventures to improve the institution’s revenue.

Uzoezie however appealed to the state government to look into the possibility of

improving salary structure of lecturers, upgrading the College to a University as well as to reconsider the retirement age of staff.

She advised the graduates to be good ambassadors of the College and create employment for themselves where they could not get jobs.

The Provost also solicited the assistance of government, corporate organisations and private individuals to enable the institution to provide favourable environment for fruitful academic work.

spoke with journalists conditions of anonymity said the fake INEC officers made contacts with them through phone calls. he victims were directed to where they met the fake officials and given forms to fill and were also made to pay money ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 to guarantee the arrangement.

When contacted on the development, however, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity in INEC, Mr Garba Galadima, said he had heard about the fraudsters.

Galadima, who said no formal complaint was reported to the commission, also implored members of the public to be wary of anyone who tried to deceive them on the recruitment of ad-hoc workers.

He said the recruitment was free and could only be processed online through the commission’s website iasd.inecnigeria.org.

He said the online recruitment had already commenced and would end on December 11, adding that all relevant details were obtainable from the website.

Kogi Women Urged To Participate In Politics IDAH (KOGI) - The First Lady of Kogi State, Hajia Halima Wada, has charged Kogi women to take advantage of their numerical strength to venture into the nation’s political arena.

Halima, represented by the Deputy Governor’s Wife, Tokunbo Awoniyi, gave the charge at the inauguration of executive committee of Idah Market Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) in Idah.

The governor’s wife said she was confident that women could make a difference in the nation’s politics.

She lauded the MWAN members for organising themselves into an association and cooperatives, saying it would have a positive multiplier effect on the economy of their personal homes.

She advised that the spirit of one Nigeria be upheld in the association and consideration given to diversity and religion.

“Abhor ethnic chauvinism in line with the spirit of one Nigeria.

“I congratulate the national body on this occasion for making the body relevant and a rallying point for most of our public officers.

“The President’s Wife, Dame Patience Jonathan has demonstrated with zeal the spirit of one Nigeria and this is worth emulating,’’ Halima said.

The Kogi first lady urged the association’s members to use the forum to promote peace, love and harmonious coexistence so as to sustain the legacy of their founding members.

Responding, the new

Chairperson of the Idah MWAN, Hajia Mariam Angulu, commended Halima for her love for the people of the area through her empowerment programmes.

Angulu pledged to use her position to touch the lives of the people positively.

Graduating students of warrant officers’ Academy Course 24/2014 in Jaji, Kaduna State recently.

We’ve Measures To Check Recurrence Of Ebola - LASUTH

LAGOS - The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) said it had put measures in place to guard against a recurrence of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.

Prof. Wale Oke, the Chief Medical Director, told newsmen in Lagos that the danger had not been fully averted.

He said that there was still risk of cross-border transmission from

the high risk countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“Not only did we completely eradicate the disease in Nigeria, we actually were able to save a lot more people that would have died.

“Consequent upon this fact, the hospital, through its emergency committee, has put modalities in place as a form of

proactive response to unprecedented epidemic of the Ebola Virus Disease, popularly known as EVD. “We have eradicated it, but the chances of another Sawyer coming in should not be over looked.

“So, LASUTH has put up structures in place to combat any possible epidemic and this also cuts across the State-owned

hospitals.

“And what the commissioner told us was: we must make sure that we have our antenna, our alarm button up so that we can safely manage if another one comes in.”

World Health Organisation (WHO) on October 20 made a declaration that Nigeria had contained the virus and was Ebola-free.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Across The Nation Conflict Resolution

I’ll Abolish Joint Account If Elected KATSINA- Alhaji Aminu Masari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Katsina State, has said that he will abolish the State/ Governments Joint Account law if elected as governor in 2015.

Masari disclosed this in Katsina while exchanging views with newsmen.

He said that he would solicit the support of the state House of Assembly to abolish the law that compelled the 34 local governments to operate a joint account with the state government. ‘’The joint account is conduit pipe that is being used to divert the local government funds into the state treasury. ‘’It is an account mechanical system that is used to drain the Federal Grants of local governments by the state governments,’’ he said.

The candidate said that his administration would release the federal allocation to all the 34 local governments in its entity so as to liberate the local governments from the apron of the state government.

He disclosed that the government after releasing the funds to the local governments; would monitor their activities so as to avoid financial recklessness and scandal.

Jang Tasks Police

-Masari

‘’We are going to establish a mechanism that will monitor all the expenditures of the local governments and anybody caught diverting the funds will face the full wrath of the law,’’ he said. ‘’I will not allow my son or wife to become a contractor and if my wife visit local government on working tour, she will surely not collect gratification,’’ he said.

Masari called on the electorates to shine their eyes and vote APC so as to be liberated from the grieve of shylocks.

R-L: Director, Rehabilitation Department, Ministery of Women Affairs and Social Develop,emt, Mrs. Victoria Akintaro, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Exekiel Oyemomi and Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma at the 2014 International Day of Persons with disabilities in Abuja recently.

Obiano Urges Christians To Show Exemplary Leadership

AWKA- Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has urged Christians in positions of authority to show exemplary leadership in the course of their service either in or outside the Church.

Obiano, represented by Mr Anaselm Okafor, his Senior Special Adviser on Religion, made the call at the inauguration of the officers of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in

Awka , the state capital.

Obiano said that Christians, who occupied positions of leadership were expected to lead by example and lay solid foundation of truth, fairness and transparency.

He said that corrupt practices should not be traced to Christians, who made themselves available in the vineyard of God for service to God and humanity.

Obiano called on spiritual leaders to use their good offices to educate followers on their civic duties, stressing that the Church should preach the gospel instead of materialism.

Bishop David Eberechukwu, President of the PFN, in his sermon titled, “Towards a legacy based-leadership’’, urged leaders to emulate God’s kind of leadership by serving others.

Some persons living with disabilities at the 2014 International dDay of Persons with disabilities in Abuja recently.

He said most ministers of God had fallen short of biblical standard of leadership, and prayed for the beginning of positive change among the new Pentecostal ministers.

The 14 state officers were charged with the responsibility of bringing back the glory of God through legacy based-leadership.

The ministers, include Emma Onyenyiri, Tochukwu Martins, Joe Ugwumba, Jerry Onugha, Dan Ejianya and Bethel Okoye, while the bishop was re-elected as it s Chairman.

Eberechukwu, who spoke on behalf of the officers, said that they would bring back respect and unity to the Church and the society.

A philanthropist and leader of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) in the state, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, lauded the group for offering themselves to the service of God. He said that the time had come when Christians should provide good leadership by discharging their duties as well as working as God directed them.

On the occasion, Chief Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), donated two million naira to the Church.

Many dignitaries, including Archbishop Ephraim Ndife of the Holy Ghost Ministries, politicians and members of the Church graced the occasion.

APC Set For Hitch-Free Convention

LAGOSAlhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that arrangements were in place to ensure a hitch-free national convention of the party scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday.

He told a news conference in Lagos that adequate arrangements had been made by the National Convention Committee (NCC), headed by former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi in that regard.

The various sub-committees are working round the clock to ensure that the convention

succeeds and becomes a reference point in the political history of the country.

“We are also collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure effective security, crowd control, traffic management, medical attention among others,” he said According to him, 8,000 delegates will participate in the convention and presidential primaries to elect the party’s flag bearer in the 2015 election. ohammed said that the delegates drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would elect one out of the five presidential aspirants at

the convention to be held in Lagos between December 10 and 11.

He said that the national convention would hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere , Lagos.

“As you are all aware, our dear country is in a dire need of change. The APC is determined to bring that change.

“The process of effecting that change has commenced with the effective mobilisation of Nigerians to demand the change in the 2015 general elections,” Mohammed said.

He said that the party’s

congresses and election of candidates for the various positions that commenced earlier in the month will climax in the election of the APC presidential flag bearer in the February 2015 presidential elections.

“The five aspirants of the party are eminent citizens with proven credentials.

“It is our belief that at the exercise one of them would emerge the presidential flag bearer of our dear party in the coming election,” he said.

Mohammed said that the aspirants included a former military Head of State, retired

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; a former Vice President , Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor of Kano State; Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He said others are Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Publisher of Leadership Newspaper Group, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Mohammed said that the five aspirants would address the delegates on their programmes before the commencement of voting, which would be by secret ballot.

JOS - Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has advised the Police to go beyond dialogue with feuding communities with a view to ending communal clashes in the state.

Jang said this in Jos when members of the Police Committee on Communal Clashes paid him a courtesy visit.

He said rather than call stakeholders in communities involved to dialogue the police should dig deeper with a view to finding the causes of clashes and taking necessary measures to stop a reoccurrence.

“Our problem basically is law enforcement.

Criminality is being committed by criminals but they get away with it even when they are identified.

“The idea of dancing round the circle will not help us because we have had series of stakeholders meeting after communal clashes but they keep reoccurring.

“Some culprits were even apprehended and taken to Abuja only to come back without any punishment and they continue from where they stopped,’’ he said.

The governor called for the establishment of a State Police that would be closer to the people, saying that the outfit would complement the federal one.

He, however, called for improvement in the salaries and allowances of police personnel to boost their morale.

The leader of the committee, AIG Christopher Dega, said that the committee was set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sulaiman Abba, to dialogue with communities that had experienced communal clashes.

“Our mission is for peace; to go to various communities that had communal clashes to meet with them; dialogue with them to contain, prevent and generally manage crises,” he said.

Dega said that the committee, which had members drawn from the six geopolitical zones, had earlier visited Benue.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

MINISTRY OF HEALTH P.M.B. 1113, BENIN CITY EDO STATE OF NIGERIA

INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION TENDER PRIME CONSULTANT FOR THE EDO STATE TEACHING HOSPITAL & SPECIALIST HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER Edo State Government in its effort to improve health care services and ensure access to quality health care delivery to the citizens intends to provide: A. Teaching Hospital in Edo State B. State-of-the-Art Medical Equipment for the Accident & Emergency and 200 Bed Ward Complex in Central Hospital, Benin City.

2. The Edo State Ministry of Health now invites sealed bids from category ‘A’ eligible bidders for Pre-qualification of: A. Competent Prime Consultant to manage the Edo State Teaching Hospital from conception to completion B. Specialist Hospital Equipment Supplier for the Accident & Emergency and 200 Bed Ward Complex in Central Hospital, Benin City.

3. QUALIFICATION/ELIGIBILITY Contractors that meet the following criteria are eligible to apply: 1.

Must have registered as a Category A Contractor with the Ministry of Works.

2.

Must have evidence of registration with Corporate Affairs Commission.

3.

Must have evidence of Annual Returns to Corporate Affairs Commission.

4.

Availability of Tax Clearance Certificates of at least two Directors of the Company for the immediate past 3years (i.e. 2011, 2012, 2013).

5.

Evidence of Company profile with staff list, resumes, professional qualifications, registration with relevant professional bodies and experiences.

6.

Evidence of job of similar nature done in the past 5years (include scope, sites of project, contract sum and evidence of successful completion e.g. completion certificate.

7.

Evidence of availability of relevant equipment, tools, plants and machine for work where applicable (to be verified) 8.

Evidence of VAT registration and remittances.

9.

Evidence of financial capability and banking support (bank references) and letter authorizing the Ministry to verify same from the relevant bank.

4. METHOD OF APPLICATION Eligible bidders are expected to: (i) State the full address of the company, branch offices, contact officer, GSM phone numbers, e-mail and website (where applicable). (ii) Submit Pre-qualification application documents in 1 hard copy and 1 soft copy (compact disc set or flash drive) enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “PRE-QUALIFICATION OF A PRIME CONSULTANT FOR THE EDO STATE TEACHING HOSPITAL” OR “PRE-QUALIFICATION OF A SPECIALIST HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER” and addressed to: The Due Process Office, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Health, King’s Square, Benin City.

5. DEADLINE Applications may be submitted between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm on Mondays to Fridays except on public holiday and the last day of submission shall be 10.30am of Tuesday, 23rd December, 2014.

6. NOTE This is not an invitation to tender; only successful pre-qualified contractors will be invited to tender for this project. All successfully pre-qualified contractors will be required to register with the Edo State Government. Already registered companies must show evidence of current registration.

SIGNED: DR. (MRS.) AIHANUWA EREGIE, Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Health.

THE NIGERIAN

11

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY(08/12/2014) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NEM

0.65

0.62

-0.03

0

335,492

208,304.88

7UP

152.7

152.7

0

0

25,466

3,853,108.31

NESTLE

800

800

0

0

316,152

252,935,787.80

ABCTRANS

0.63

0.63

0

0

5,893

3,535.80

NEWGOLD

2116

2128

12

0

80

170,240.00

ACADEMY

1.08

1.08

0

0

16,451

17,942.08

NIG-GERMAN

7

7

0

0

1,020

6,783.00

ACCESS

7.07

7.03

-0.04

0

10,549,892

74,008,154.98

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

9,200

4,600.00

AFRIPRUD

2.9

2.95

0.05

0

466,056

1,381,089.47

NNFM

19

19

0

0

8,607

163,533.00

AGLEVENT

1.31

1.31

0

0

16,840

22,060.40

NPFMCRFBK

0.88

0.84

-0.04

0

411,392

347,309.28

1516.67

1507.9

-8.77

0

178,585,895

3,717,264,019.00

AIICO

0.82

0.8

-0.02

0

882,420

713,030.53

NSE30

AIRSERVICE

1.65

1.65

0

0

8,500

14,705.00

NSE50

1658.29

1648.23

-10.06

0

300,560,570

4,030,928,290.00

ASHAKACEM

24.6

24.6

0

0

108,173

2,528,065.01

NSEASI

33228.29

33075.8

-152.49

0

314,108,440

4,374,065,103.00

AUSTINLAZ

2.09

2.09

0

0

900

1,962.00

NSEBNK

349.18

347.93

-1.25

0

223,807,422

2,238,077,887.00

876.83

869.88

-6.95

0

8,802,451

594,890,561.50

BERGER

9.2

9.2

0

0

49,926

436,353.24

NSECNSMRGDS

BETAGLAS

23.15

23.15

0

0

152,752

3,505,670.59

NSEINDUSTR

1960.18

1949.12

-11.06

0

2,731,046

293,785,856.40

CADBURY

45.23

45.23

0

0

101,536

4,594,218.64

NSEINS

156.3

152.6

-3.7

0

3,686,894

3,494,413.06

CAP

36.1

36.1

0

0

74,236

2,680,024.45

NSELOTUSISLM

2078.96

2070.45

-8.51

0

12,354,805

884,822,375.70

CAPHOTEL

4.28

4.28

0

0

100

407

NSEOILGAS

410.47

415.3

4.83

0

8,090,748

296,557,584.00

CAVERTON

3.5

3.33

-0.17

0

365,467

1,273,925.50

NSLTECH

0.5

0.5

0

0

920

460

CCNN

10.9

10.39

-0.51

0

211,452

2,201,452.82

OANDO

19.4

18.9

-0.5

0

7,219,107

137,127,112.10

28.1

28.1

0

0

90,435

2,437,165.50

CHAMPION

8.93

8.49

-0.44

0

804,000

6,825,960.00

OKOMUOIL

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

0

16,489

8,244.50

PAINTCOM

1.53

1.47

-0.06

0

65,000

95,550.00

CONOIL

49.23

49.23

0

0

862

40,315.74

PORTPAINT

5.04

4.79

-0.25

0

50,100

239,990.00

CONTINSURE

1

0.96

-0.04

0

76,715

73,651.00

PREMBREW

3.79

3.79

0

0

50

187.5

28.34

28.34

0

0

71,762

1,933,063.66

COSTAIN

0.96

0.96

0

0

30,000

27,600.00

PRESCO

COURTVILLE

0.51

0.51

0

0

20,500

10,250.00

PRESTIGE

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,500

750

CUSTODYINS

3.97

3.97

0

0

46,880

181,072.80

PZ

30.3

29.99

-0.31

0

2,151,186

62,507,537.42

CUTIX

1.41

1.36

-0.05

0

288,900

395,969.00

REDSTAREX

4

4

0

0

544,624

2,178,496.00

DANGCEM

170

170

0

0

1,626,203

273,700,276.90

ROYALEX

0.56

0.56

0

0

200

108

DANGFLOUR

5.35

5.09

-0.26

0

105,713

538,457.47

RTBRISCOE

0.85

0.82

-0.03

0

476,920

387,715.20

DANGSUGAR

6.3

6.3

0

0

1,905,781

12,149,993.55

SEPLAT

398.78

378.85

-19.93

0

820,876

311,016,273.70

2.5

2.5

0

0

8,108,081

20,286,974.32

DIAMONDBNK

5.6

5.59

-0.01

0

3,472,600

19,012,586.60

SKYEBANK

ETERNA

3.11

3.11

0

0

156,156

475,983.32

STACO

0.5

0.5

0

0

200

100

ETI

17.6

18

0.4

0

7,936,837

142,683,443.60

STANBIC

30

29

-1

0

141,783

4,102,830.57

ETRANZACT

2.21

2.32

0.11

0

165,100

374,282.00

STERLNBANK

2.4

2.4

0

0

108,311,284

260,323,546.30

FBNH

9

8.96

-0.04

0

33,171,878

298,426,080.20

THOMASWY

0.79

0.76

-0.03

0

104,710

79,579.60

FCMB

3.1

3.09

-0.01

0

862,823

2,629,362.62

TOTAL

162

157.5

-4.5

0

29,912

4,707,649.70

FIDELITYBK

1.54

1.54

0

0

2,286,520

3,531,759.75

TRANSCORP

3.99

3.8

-0.19

0

14,464,370

55,156,379.50

FIDSON

3.39

3.35

-0.04

0

654,700

2,202,817.00

TRANSEXPR

1.23

1.23

0

0

1,500

1,935.00

FIRSTALUM

0.5

0.5

0

0

100

50

UAC-PROP

10.6

10.55

-0.05

0

223,969

2,379,116.30

FLOURMILL

48.45

48.45

0

0

346,655

16,076,534.85

UACN

40

40

0

0

6,193,436

247,743,754.90

FO

223.99

235.18

11.19

0

644,807

147,592,425.90

UBA

4.98

4.74

-0.24

0

10,339,567

49,172,968.89

1.6

1.62

0.02

0

1,128,670

1,842,224.03

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

0

5,200

2,600.00

UBCAP

GLAXOSMITH

52

52

0

0

22,214

1,101,714.00

UBN

8.85

8.6

-0.25

0

1,264,214

11,277,086.70

GUARANTY

24

24

0

0

60,779,821

1,458,701,620.00

UNHOMES

0.5

0.5

0

0

100

50

GUINNESS

149.06

145

-4.06

0

360,037

53,538,240.27

UNILEVER

35.01

35.11

0.1

0

454,523

15,937,077.83

HMARKINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

10,000

5,000.00

UNIONDAC

0.5

0.5

0

0

390,000

195,000.00

HONYFLOUR

3.16

3.2

0.04

0

283,910

917,910.60

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.5

0

0

359,809

179,904.50

IKEJAHOTEL

3.99

3.92

-0.07

0

103,494

409,627.94

UNIVINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

100

50

INTBREW

26

26

0

0

31,486

798,151.88

UPL

4.13

4.13

0

0

11,100

43,623.00

INTENEGINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,000

500

VETGRIF30

15.14

15.05

-0.09

0

270

4,112.90

JAPAULOIL

0.5

0.5

0

0

228,700

114,350.00

VITAFOAM

3.89

4

0.11

0

169,777

665,178.67

JBERGER

60.66

60.66

0

0

12,218

704,141.84

VONO

0.95

0.91

-0.04

0

3,386,933

3,082,131.35

78

77

-1

0

104,304

8,002,504.36

LEARNAFRCA

1.47

1.47

0

0

33,866

48,677.61

WAPCO

LINKASSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

100

50

WAPIC

0.63

0.61

-0.02

0

2,027,256

1,220,833.95

LIVESTOCK

2.4

2.4

0

0

352,955

851,531.00

WEMABANK

0.95

0.95

0

0

744,455

714,142.17

ZENITHBANK

18.77

18.5

-0.27

0

10,758,606

199,079,745.90

LOTUSHAL15

10.3

10.29

-0.01

0

10

102.9

MANSARD

3.72

3.54

-0.18

0

355,511

1,273,842.70

MAYBAKER

1.62

1.62

0

0

32,680

51,634.40

MOBIL

165

167

2

0

39,472

6,591,114.78

MRS

56

56

0

0

432

22,982.40

NAHCO

4.66

4.66

0

0

696,434

3,345,039.40

NASCON

7.12

7.1

-0.02

0

816,975

5,815,590.60

NB

170.99

170

-0.99

0

929,254

157,736,813.60

NEIMETH

0.9

0.9

0

0

63,200

56,033.56

TOP 10 GAINERS

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS

Stock

Close

Gain

NEWGOLD FO NSEOILGAS MOBIL ETI ETRANZACT VITAFOAM UNILEVER AFRIPRUD HONYFLOUR

2128 235.18 415.3 167 18 2.32 4 35.11 2.95 3.2

12 11.19 4.83 2 0.4 0.11 0.11 0.1 0.05 0.04

Stock NSEASI 152.49 SEPLAT 19.93 NSEINDUSTR 11.06 NSE50 10.06 NSE30 NSELOTUSISLM NSECNSMRGDS TOTAL GUINNESS NSEINS

Close 33075.8 378.85 1949.12 1648.23 1507.9 2070.45 869.88 157.5 145 152.6

Loss -8.77 -8.51 -6.95 -4.5 -4.06 -3.7

THE NIGERIAN

12 AS we approach the February 2015 general elections, enthronement of democratic principles and standard is sine qua non. it is an acceptable truism that one of the political realities of our contemporary global system is democracy.

IT is a political process which focuses on the necessity and imperative of governments to rule only by the Consent of the majority. The popular belief Is that properly understood and practised, democracy can remove the layers of national socio-economic and political darkness. Countries that have attained the Status of mature democracy Continue to insist that It will be absolutely difficult to get things done in pluralistic society with poor records of democratic values and practices.

WITH the way things are going politically in contemporary Nigeria, it is very doubtful, whether Nigerians will ever realise the dreams of allowing democratic tenets to influence the Country’s political life.

IN this connection, democratic reality implies that all Nigerians must be willing to take difficult democratic decisions, and must see the benefits in supporting their Country’s democratic Institutions by exercising their franchise as voters, known collectively as the electorate. With the current state of democracy in the country, many Nigerians have openly wondered whether the struggle. For political independence was a worthwhile exercise.

Clearly, all is not well with democracy in Nigeria. Still, democracy remains the only viable and sustainable weapon for tackling national backwardness and for securing recognition and respect from the international community. No one will ever doubt the political fact that a strong democratic foundation will provide Nigerians with the opportunity to. choose their own future.

THERE is need for all Nigerians to work together democratically, and openly express, indeed, demonstrate their commitments to the development of democracy. One of the disturbing features of the Nigerian democracy

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 THE NIGERIAN

2015 And Democratic Players is that the Nigerian elite have not demonstrated enough support for the country’s democratic process, especially in times of increasing political uncertainties. The bulk of the Nigerian elite have virtually abandoned political involvement in government and governance.

They have left the process of democratic development in the hands of the ‘politicians,” which may well explain the low level of adherence to democratic procedures and values in the country * ONE of the reasons why most of the highly development States are experiencing stable democracy is the undiluted commitments of their elite to ensuring right political governance. It must be repeatedly stressed that Nigeria will find it hard to rise to the much desired political status of becoming one of the most stable and progressive democracy, if the Nigerian elite choose to remain on the political fence, or exist as mere political spectators. Undoubtedly, the Nigeria elite can, just as their overseas counterparts have demonstrated, contribute to the growth Of the Nigerian democracy. Greater elite participation in the country’s democratic process must become the defining characteristics of Nigeria’s political System.

Despite marking 54 years as a nation, the political attitude of the majority of the Nigerian elite has been predominantly negative. It thus appears that Nigeria’s efforts to advance democratically will require a new shift in favour of greater elite involvement in the nation’s

politics.

THERE is no doubt that the degree of support for democracy is largely influenced by economic fortunes. This means that the 71 percent of Nigerians living below the poverty line, by international estimates or the 54 percent poor Nigerians, by a 2005 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report, are not economically motivated to demonstrate sufficient and effective support for Nigerias democracy. All the same, the less privileged classes In Nigeria can offer considerable support for achieving sustainable democracy in Nigeria, if they can be overtly organized into pro-democratic groups. The current economic and political reform efforts may well push less economically empowered Nigerians from their economic adversities right up to the middle class bracket. Economically and socially disadvantaged Nigerians may well discover in the long-run how support for democracy can widen opportunities for political influence and business.

SINCE independence in Nigeria in 1960, it is reasonable to infer that the country has failed to enthrone a durable and sustainable democracy in our democratic efforts in the last 15 years. The appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as INEC Chairman, was an attempt to ensure flawless election but recent outcry against him on the issue of polling units is a litmus test BY all standards, the path to democratic development in the country will require joint political efforts between the ruling party, political parties and most importantly, the Nigerian electorate. Clearly, in a pluralistic society like Nigeria, democratic enthronement is possible, only If there is organizational unity at all levels of governance. The Nigerian elite, the electronic and the Print Media, have significant roles in the race to reach democratic maturity, by helping the people to understand the democratic process, guide them to appreciate what Nigerians want from the country’s democracy as well as outline the structure of democratic opportunities the Nigerian political system can support.

THE NIGERIAN

13

Mercantilist Christianity T

HE yuletide is upon us again. It is that time of the year when both true and copycat Christians traditionally assemble to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, the author and the finisher of our fate; one whose life and works changed the course of human history. Like previous seasons, it is my seminal season; that time of the year when I usually wax lyrical.

I have always spoken out, no holds barred, against some of the ungodly atrocities being perpetrated in the house of Jehovah, the God of creation, in contemporary times, by the devil incarnates in our midst masquerading as angels of light; ceaselessly slammed the indecent and sacrilegious manner some self-styled “shepherds of the flock of Christ” have transformed Christianity into a huge Joke; continuously carpeted the taboos of the false apostles of moral correctness in our midst. Of all the outrageous practices that have received the fiery brunt of my sword of truth, the inroads capitalism has made into the establishment and administration of most contemporary churches has been the most prominent. This piece continues in the same stead.

That money-changers have taken over the running of most contemporary churches is no longer breaking news. Some of our worship centers, which have been blasphemously christened the “Houses of God”, are actually dens of thieves; abodes for some of the most reprehensible characters that can be imagined; havens for wolves in sheep’s clothing. The fact is that most modern churches are no longer places of refuge for the spiritually infirm, but huge business centers where some of the most mouthwatering financial transactions take place; bustling commercial hubs where trunk loads of cash constantly changes hands. Most of today’s churches operate strictly as commercial consortiums that are meant to bolster the exchequer of their proprietors - the General Overseers; business concerns that are driven by the “Mercantilist Philosophy”; the Philosophy that defined and drove the colonial enterprise – a commercial enterprise that is based on the notion that an individual or group can increase their status and power by obtaining as much wealth as possible, and by instituting a favourable balance of trade, in which they receive more than they give out. The ultimate goal of this system of commerce

is economic self-sufficiency (emphasis added).

That contemporary churches have borrowed from the Mercantilist system of commerce is a fact that cannot be overemphasized. The establishment of churches with their large network of branches is meant to shore up the wealth of the parent church by exploiting the labours and resources of their congregations and securing the future of their children and children’s children.

It is on the basis of these strictly commercial considerations that the unholy prophets in our midst go to extreme lengths to establish churches of their personal contriving; houses of debauchery that are devoid of divine authority; whore houses where the most reprehensible characters regularly assemble; centers of deceit where hypocrites rendezvous to playact.

The “moneycentric” dispositions of some contemporary churches are legion; schemes that are designed to enrich the potentates at the expense of the unsuspecting, ignorant and largely brainwashed members of their congregations. When a church spends the proceeds from the tithes and offerings of its members to invest in capital intensive projects – like filling stations, financial houses, publishing houses, commercial airlines, private educational institutions et al - that are expected to yield huge profits that will not be redistributed to cater to the needs of the largely impoverished members of the congregation, it deviates from its core duties– catering to both the spiritual and physical needs of its members – as depicted by Christ throughout His earthly ministry. Our Lord Jesus Christ recognized the significance of balancing both the spiritual and physical needs of his flock. On several occasions, he took out time from His very tight schedules to also minister to the physical needs of the multitude that thronged the venues of His crusades to hear His message of salvation for their souls (See feeding of the multitude, Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:3044 ; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

But majority of the chief shepherds of some of today’s churches don’t’ give a hoot about the welfare of their flock. All they are pre-occupied with is devising newer and more satanic methods of worsening the already pitiable conditions of

their sheep. What a pity!

In some of our churches, today, we are continually inundated on the need to “sow” or “plant” seeds – of the need to invest in ministries through offerings, tithes and other contrived, compulsory contributions: “partnering in the ministry”, they call it. But unknown to the bewildered herds - the ever submissive sheep who daily flock to these centers of shame - who are ever submissive to the manipulations of the men/women on the pulpit, sowing, planting seeds or partnering with the ministry actually has nothing to do with investment or entrepreneurship, which has become the chief focus of the self-styled shepherds of the flock.

The word partnership has been corrupted to serve the greeddriven ploys of the men and women in cassock. When you browse through most church websites, watch television programs or read handbills, you are more likely to come across bank account details that members are supposed to fund in order to “partner with God” and qualify to enjoy his goodness.

What a laugh!

Unlike the practices in the past when we had Christian missions that were performing largely voluntary humanitarian functions - collaborative efforts by churches that helped in supplementing the efforts of government in mitigating the conditions of the masses such as the establishment of orphanages, schools, relief centers, hospitals, maternity centers, home for the homeless to the granting of scholarship schemes - most cotemporary churches have operated more like selfaggrandizing, profit oriented enterprises – money changing concerns that prefer plowing funds into enterprises that will not benefit those who contributed their operating capital; services they view as strictly government business. On the rare occasions when some of these churches manage to give things freely to the society, it’s simply to sell their brand to the impressionable public and possibly win more potential contributors to their already swelling purses; a form of advertising that is targeted at an audience with itchy ears. More annoying is the branding of these churches with the pictures of the pastors and their wives (This will be the subject of another discourse on this page).

The hypocrisies in today’s churches are mind-bending; manmade contradictions that are as

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Cutting Edge With Obuseh Jude GSM: 08033510173 nauseating as they are damning.

Is it not hypocritical for a church to set up schools that majority of its members – individuals who contributed their hard earned tithes and offerings, that are supposedly to being invested for them in heaven by their pastors, towards constructing these projects – cannot afford to attend because of the astronomical costs

log in our own eyes before attempting to remove specks from the eyes of others.

Churches are supposed to be non-governmental and non-profit organizations established to cater to both the spiritual and physical needs of the multitude; not centers of commerce where mammon is venerated. Most of the common challenges people

have are impostors who have turned the house of God into a house of thieves; a brood of vipers whose goofs are legendary.

Christians must be wary of the evil designs of these dark lords; these incarnates of Satan.

True Christianity is not a commercial enterprise – it never was and never will be. Jesus Christ, the avatar of the Christian

required for entrance into these centers of learning? Is it not more hypocritical that the student populations of these same schools are largely constituted by the children of the so-called “unbelievers” - non-Christians who can afford to pay the exorbitant fees required to gain admission into these schools? Is it not hypocritical that the same churches that criticize political leaders for failing to provide the basic necessities of life for the enjoyment of the citizenry are the same ones avoiding providing these same responsibilities in the little ways they can? Is it not hypocritical for churches to accuse their members of not paying their dues - as and when due - into the exchequer of the church, when they refrain from plowing back the profits made from their various investment portfolios into making life better for some of their members? What we have is the case of pots calling a kettle black. The bible admonishes us to first remove the

have had to grapple with over the years - especially in developing countries - would have been effectively ameliorated if religious institutions had been contributing their own quota by collaborating with the authorities to tackle some of these challenges. Considering all the billions that are being contributed to the coffers of most churches, succor from the ravaging effects of poverty, disease and other social insecurities should not be far from the deplorably poor members of these congregations.

The craze by the heads of most contemporary churches to acquire wealth is ridiculous.

From the acquisition of private jets, state of the art cruise ships, posh mansions in choice locations around the world, customized bulletproof cars to other luxury items money can buy, the vanities being exhibited by our church leaders are as shameful as they are embarrassing. Most Pastors buy jets with church money and register it to their names, obviously with the intention of willing it to their siblings. All these they do at the expense of the stupefied members of their flock who are at the mercy of these charlatans. The greedy, mingy merchants of death acting as caregivers in some of our churches today are not the true shepherds Christ spoke about in his biblical parable. What we

religion laid its basic pillars, none of which is centered on the acquisition of worldly wealth.

Accepted that the children of God are supposed to live blissful lives on earth, as well as in the afterlife, it should not be at the detriment of their souls (Matthew 16: 21; Mark 8:36). Christ’s teachings on true wealth was of a spiritual mien (Matthew 6:19-21), not the mainly physical definition it is being coloured with in the present dispensation. Rather than being cocoons of caterpillars where greed and avarice runs roughshod uncensored, contemporary churches must endeavour to take a cue from Christ Himself and shed the false skins of perfidy that have defined its evolution since post-apostolic times.

Rather than being centers of falsehood where some of the most marvelous scams are devised and perpetrated by some of the most despicable scammers the world has ever laid eyes on, contemporary churches must do a detour and revert to the true teachings and practices of the early apostolic church of Christone that was based on the key principles of loving, sharing and giving. God bless us all!

MR OBUSEH JUDE, A PEACE RESEARCHER AND PRACTITIONER, WRITES FROM BENIN CITY. TEL O8033510173.E-MAIL: syncado2006@yahoo.com.

“The hypocrisies in today’s churches are mind-bending; man-made contradictions that are as nauseating as they are damning”.

THE NIGERIAN

14

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Nutritional Health And Dietetics

The Use Of Plants

HERBS have enormous magical power, as they hold the earth’s energy within them.

Each herb has unique properties that can enhance one’s magical goals. Herbs also, may have medicinal properties. The magical practitioner can draw upon either aspect when performing spells.

Harvest herbs in the morning after the sun has dried the dew but before the heat of the day sets in. Use a sharp magical knife (a bolline) to cut herbs, the knife should be consecrated specifically, for this purpose.

what they should smell like and you will be less likely to be fooled.

The origin of root and herbs sorcery is unknown, but the ancient Romans, Greeks, Celts, Druiels, Arabs, Eqyptians Chinese, Africans, Indians and others, knew of the magical powers of roots, barks herbs, plants, woods and berries.

Research shows that many herbs are mentioned in the Bible. Man has carried roots and herbs as anulets and talismans for protection against evil and many believe they can

Herbs have been used from the beginning of time. Animals instinctively learned to use different plants for their own healing and strengthening. Man has also, used herbs to treat his illneses for thousands of years and the usage of herbs by humans has been documented in all major ancient civilization.

Many people throughout the world, still continue to use herbs to benefit their lives.

Herbalists believe that herbs put the body in tune with nature and scientific studies are being done into the folklore of herbal

plant has a pattern which resembles a body, organ or physiological function and that these patterns act as a signal or sign as to the benefit the plant provides. For example tomatoes have four chambers and are red. The heart is red and has four chambers, therefore, tomatoes are indicated for the heart and blood problems.

Kidney beans look exactly like the human kidney, therefore, they are used to heal and help maintain kidney function. Ginseng root resembles the shape of a human

Thank the plant for its gift and offer it something in return, perhaps some water, organic fertilizer or much harvest only the amount of herbs needed except when pruning the plants, to ensure healthy growth for the following season.

The most prevalent ingredients of magic spells are processed botanicals, especially dried plants, herbs and oils.

Drying plants preserves them for extended use, allowing you to work with plants out of season and with those that cannot be grown in your region.

Dried botanicals frequently are sold already chopped, cut or powdered. As these actions usually need to be done before spell casting, purchasing botanicals that are ready to be used can save time and effort.

Leaves even chopped often retain their characteristics such as aroma and so are easily distinquishable.

Familarise yourself with herbs and other botanicals, know what they should look like and

heal, bring good fortune, arouse a lover, bring back a wandering husband or wife and make wishes come true.

Remember, there are many different spells for most herbs and each root or herb can be used for various purposes, all of which cannot even begin to be mentioned here.

Research shows that many things have been placed on the earth for our use. One of the tools given to us are the plant medicines. Certain plants give up their lives so that we can use their smoke for prayers and cleansing and the aroma produced by these plants help us place ourselves in a different state of mind thus, bringing us into a deeper part of ourselves.

Then as we concentrate on what is happening, the scent may inspired memories, awaken the soul and give a sense of direction. Many cultures and religion use sacred smoke made from the plant medicines. This is called smudging in native America.

uses to help develop new therapeutic medicines. It was the belief of the ancients that all things were connected with nature and universe and comprised of the four elements: fire, earth, air and water and the dual energies. Mascyline and Femine. It was also believed that all things were influenced by a particular planet and influenced by its respective qualities. The human body was seen as a miniature replica of solar system.

The doctrine of signatures is one aspect of herbal medicines.

It is the traditional herbalist work that contend that every

body, therefore, it is believed gingseng is able to restore harmony to the entire body.

Research shows that the earliest herbal medicines were discovered by trial and error.

Today, many traditionally used herbs have been put to the scientific test and many have proven to possess remarkable curative powers.

Herbs normally refer to simple plants that have seeds, leaves and flowers. Most of them are used to flavour food. They are also used as medicines and perfumes. Apart from all these use the herbs can be used for mental and spiritual healing as

With

O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 well.

Medicinal plants – The bark of willow trees contains large amounts of salicylic acid, which is the active metabolite of aspirin. Willow bark have been used for millennia as an effective pain reliever and fever reducer. Many of the pharmaceuticals currently available to physicians have a long history of use as herbal remedies including aspirin digitalis, quinine and opium.

The use of herbs to treat disease is almost universal among non industrialized societies and is often more affordable than purchasing expensive modern pharmaceuticals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the population of some Asian and African countries presently, use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care.

As our lifestyle is getting technological we are moving away from nature while we cannot escape from nature because we are part of nature.

What nature has stored for us we have not yet fully explored.

This fact can be disturbing points with humans. Certain European and oriented countries have been exploring the use of herbs and have been in practice, since the centuries, great work has been done which eluded the common man’s reach and knowledge with life on tech-route for every individual in the 21st century, human sufferings are coming out with different names. The basic herbs have the answer, the overall key has no side effects and effective remedy.

The remedies are in signature with nature which is the biggest plus point where no other medicine can claim these facts.

The golden fact is the use of herbal treatment for any age groups.

Living foods are foods that are not changed by fire, artifical chemicals or by man.These include foods that retain their natural substances such as nuts, seeds, tubers, fruits, vegetable juices and all foods that are not

denatured. When we take food into our bodies we generally take in fire, earth, air and mental elements which are enveloped in the food substances.

Air and water derangement are responsible for many of the sicknesses we are experiencing today. Medical science has done much to investigate the mechanisms behind disease, but it has only recently begun to study the reasons for people to stay healthy based on the food they eat.

Research shows that thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians had the unique perspective that human beings are more than flesh and blood, protein, fats and nucleic acids. They believed that the life force is part of the spirit that animates all living creatures.

The radiance or frozen light that circulates in the body is a unique form of vibrational energy. This light energy is an aspect of human nature that is not taught.

The ancient Egyptians maintain that we are beings of energy and light. If this is true, then, it follows that our bodies can be affected by energy and light waves. With this, one can begin to comprehend the ways of choosing foods and medicines to maintain balanced health, instead of conventional approaches to nutrition such as counting vitamins, minerals, proteins, facts, calories etc, our African ancestors treated people with radiant food nutrition, also, called photobiogenics. Remember the molecular arrangement of the physical body is actually a complex network of interwoven energy fields of light.

The basic principles of natural healing, herbal healing in particular, is that man is a part of nature and can if given the right encouragement and support, heal himself. He can do this both emotionally using the principles of right living and the use of mild herbs and raw foods.

Peace and joy.

“Research shows that the earliest herbal medicines were discovered by trial and error. Today, many traditionally used herbs have been put to the scientific test and many have proven to possess remarkable curative powers.”

THE NIGERIAN

15

TO be an elder, the aged or the elderly, is a topic of popular attention for discussion because of the obvious attractions and challenges posed by this phenomenon of human existence and growth. Permit me therefore to congratulate the leadership of the Good Women Fellowship in Region 13 of Edo/Delta provinces of the R.C.C.G, for the boldness taken to choose this topic for discussion.

Some people, Choose to trivialize “this age of life”.

Such will soon discover that like DEATH, it is a “ROAD” they must pass through to ETERNITY. It is therefore wisdom to keep it in view, plan for it, and cultivate a disciplined, obedient, holy life style approach that can only guarantee the overflowing blessings that will go with the

fulfilled elder into perpetuity.

DEFINITION OF TOPIC, OVERFLOWING ELDER a. What is an overflow?

This is, an activity effort to fill up a container/or a vessel to be full to the brim until it begins to run over. Ps. 23;5, says “Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over”. b. Who is An Elder? An elder was a newborn child that has grown from childhood in physical, mental, and spiritual endowments and strength until the attainment of a certain age level. For the R.C.C.G and some organizations, the elderly age bracket begins to run from between 45 and 50 years upwards.

Naturally at age 50, the elder is at his/her best in virtues and strengths. ‘At age 60, and above there is gradual decline in human activities, and physical weaknesses in

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

View point Attributes, Strength Of The Elder

By LAZ O. ONEBAMOI

strengths begin to grow until one is unable to help himself/ herself any further.

From these two definitions above, the topic: “The Overflowing Elder implies that this Elder has no limitations, at all. He/she is constantly and continually being loaded, filled up to the brim, full and running over, ceaselessly in strengths, endowments, grace and virtues.

It presupposes an elder filled with the Holy Spirits endowments and strength, beyond human capacity, appointed and chosen to flow and run over every known limitation, powered by grace and anointing from above.

These deposits in the disciple/ or elder will make him/her to be like JESUS, Provided he/she

honest. (I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6).

This elder must respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in all his/her natural responsibilities to the children and youths of society. (Jn. 14:1&17; Acts 1:8). * A man/woman of prayers, sound doctrines, ready to teach, preach and defend the faith, serving as loving and humble Pastors and Spiritual leaders to the flock of Christ. (Titus 1:6,1 Peter5:2; Titus 3:3). * The overflowing elder obeys and follows strictly God’s instructions while labouring with diligence and zeal for the Word of God. (Deut. 28:1-2)

who overflows in grace, anointing, experience and strengths has the following responsibilities to the other natural groupings of society viz (1) Children (2) Youths and (3) ‘Elders” (Creatures) to: Teach and preach to them from the word of God. (2 Tin 3: 14-17; 2 Thess. 3:1, Act 28:31) * Guide them to follow Jesus in disciplined leadership and truth * Solve their problems; (physical and spiritual, and other wise by directing and proffering positive solutions, and advice).

Produce results that will glorify God.

remains and abides in Him to the end. (Jn. 15:4-5).

3. QUALIFICATIONS OF AN OVERFLOWING ELDER * This elder must be able to seek, to find and love the Lord God, Almighty with all his/her heart, soul and strength. (Deut.

4:29). * Genuinely, must be born again and remain saved.

(JN3:16).

This elder must be blameless, not double tongued and having children who are not rebellions; (Titus 1:6-7).

Living a Holy life style (Heb. 12:14). * He/she must surrender his/ her all to Jesus. (Ps. 24:3-4).

A faith and trust in God that guarantee total victories in Christ for all true disciples.

(Phil. 4:13; I Tim. 3:9). * This elder must be a husband/wife married to one spouse, sober and vigilant. One that rules his/her family well, high in integrity, faithful and

4. ATTRIBUTES AND STRENGTH OF THE ELDER: An outstanding elder, full and overflowing with grace to shine for Christ, and hence impact his/her generation must possess the following attributes; * Divine wisdom and understanding (James3:17; Job 12:12). * Fruitfulness and Productivity (Gen. 1:26-28;Jn. 15:16).

Integrity, skillfulness and diligence (Ps. 78:72) * Honesty and a sincere Heart to care (Ps. 78:72). * Strength and Honour: able to settles and put matters in order in times of crisis. (Pro. 31:23-26). * Willingness, Obedience, Righteousness and Grace (Isaiah 1:19; 3:10).

5. RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OVERFLOWING ELDER: Characteristically, an elder

* Evangelize, and preach Christ Jesus, with a passion and commitment that can turn a nation of idolaters to Christ and His God, as it was in the case of Elijah. (I King 18:37-41; 2 Cor. 4:5; Act 28:31) *Praise/pray always and even while in captivity: Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God to bring down His glory that set them free from captivity (Acts 16:24-26:33). *Produce light as leaders for the people to see and hence excel as shining stars. (2 Cor. 4:6) Examples can be seen in the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as outstanding elders whose lights outshone their environment and generations that have impacted on our lives today.

(Daniel 1:17-20).

Worship God in Spirit and Truth (Jn. 4:23-24). *Carry the Holy Spirit as a sweet partner, who overflows and equip the elder to do signs and wonders, healing all the

oppressed and performing miracles. (Acts 1:8, 10:38). *Present a strong, healthy, holy living sacrifices that can touch the heart of God to do the unexpected. Solomon offered such sacrifices in the Old Testament and Apostles Paul and John, among many others in the New Testament, stood out as clear examples in these areas (Romans 12:1-3; Acts 28:20; Rev. 1:9; Heb.11:17, 24).

6.CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE OVERFLOWING ELDER: Since challenges in every sphere of human activities are inevitable, the elder that would impact his/her generations would consciously take up such challenges and plan for them.

Such challenges are mentioned below: Loneliness: This becomes a limitation. No willingness to go out, as there is no more attractions to offer. *Falling Health: This limitation comes up due to wear and tear of his/her biological and physiological properties in the body chemistry (Ps.71:8). *Declining Strength: This comes with age as we grow older Strength begins to fail and sluggish behaviour creeps in. In this stage, the elderly are avoided, as they are seen as liabilities (Ps. 71:9).

Physical Limitation/ Mental Slumber (I King 1:1, 15, Gen 48:10): There is gradual loss of memory.

Remembrance becomes slow and sluggish and at times it goes into mental stupor. There is total dependence on others.

Loss of hearing and sight may occur in extreme cases.

Income decline can cause undue hardship at old age, if no effective retirements plans are done. *Service to God is no more with the usual zeal. To pray and fast now becomes painful, as the night has come; when no man can work.

7 . S U G G E S T E D SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES: Plans for old age retirements, should starts early enough while still active and strong (I Kings 12:6-12). *The church should absorb the responsibility of providing leadership assistance; in the areas of regular home visits and quality fellowships activities in the House Fellowships Centres (Joshua 24:2, 14, 15 and 29). *Sharing the word, prayers and intercessions, love feasts and the breaking of bread in central Homes for Old People’s Homes can solve some of these problems as appropriate.

(Malachi 3:16; I Kings 1:15). * Failing health and strength. family care and old age exercise like simple walking around can help.

* Nursing and Old People’s Home should be set up where persons are trained as personnel to help minister to elders need. Divine healing through faith prayers, clean environmental living conditions, clothing and provisions of other basic necessities of life would go a long way to get the aged to live a longer life span.

8. BENEFITS THE OVERFLOWING ELDER ENJOYS: * He/she receives the support of Jesus as the blessings of God are released (Phil. 4:19). * There is supernatural joy, happiness and peace of God that flows from Jesus Christ to the elder (I Thess. 5:16). * He/she will behold and see the Lord Jesus Christ in His splendor, power, glory and honour at His second coming (Rev. 1:1-6). * The victorious elder shall sit on the throne of judgment with the Righteous Judge, the Lord Jesus. * The overflowing elder will have as a reward the crown of righteousness. * The Lord has promised an all round financial, material, physical and spiritual blessings to the seven churches in Asia.

Including the present day church especially to those members who have read, heard, and kept (obeyed) the words of His prophesy in accordance with Revelation 1:3-8. * The overflowing elder will rule and reign with Jesus Christ during the millennium reign.

9 CONCLUSION: The overflowing elder has come a long way in anointing, and grace to do the will of God in his/her lifetime. This has been made possible by the constant infilling to the brim of the Holy Spirit “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come up you” (Acts 1:8). This power is to help us influence our generations for greater works (John 14:12) for the Lord God, Almighty.

In all these areas of endowments; strengths, gifts and virtues, our responsibilities to the church, and larger society cannot be overemphasized. A meaningful fellowship is needful and this can come from the body of Christ.

It is therefore necessary that while we are strong and overflowing with God’s grace in our lives, wisdom demands of us elders to plan early and sow as individuals, and as a church into the lives of our children, and youths, so much so that when we get there, others will likewise sow into our lives as elders.

May the Holy Spirit give us the overflowing grace and anointing to remain relevant in service to the master to the end.

THE NIGERIAN

16

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Perspective Introduction AFTER the implementation of the liberalisation of the financial sector which was part of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced in 1986, the banking industry in Nigeria witnessed a tremendous growth. This was manifested in the number of banks and bank branches, their total deposits, total loans and advances, total assets and total capital and reserves during that period.

The number of banks in Nigeria increased from 15 in 1970 to 115 as at the end of 1996. The 1996 figure was made up of 64 commercial banks and 51 merchant banks.

The number of bank branches in Nigeria stood at 2,377 in 1995 and of this figure, 2,234 were commercial banks branches while 143 were merchant banks branches. The total deposit liabilities of insured banks rose from N43.9 billion in 1990 to N210.9 billion in 1995. Total loans and advances increased from N4.1 billion in 1987 to N191.2 billion in 1996. The total capital and reserves of commercial banks rose from N1.5 billion in 1987 to N10.1 billion in 1996, while total assets of banks rose from N49.8 billion in 1987toN591.2 billion in 1996.

These monumental growth witnessed in the banking industry, brought, with them some sharp practices on the part of the operators. These sharp practices later metamorphosed into malpractices that led to the collapse of many banking institutions. By malpractice, we mean broadly an unpermissible practice or improper treatment of an issue. In other words it refers to that practice that is against the rules and regulations or is forbidden by law.

There is the fear that if the increasing wave of malpractices is not checked, it will pose additional threat to the stability and survival of individual banks and the performance of the industry as a whole. This is because malpractices lead to huge financial losses to banks and their customers, the depletion of shareholders’ funds and banks’ capital base, as well as loss of confidence in the banking system it also leads to the closure of some affected banks as witnessed in Nigeria and other parts of the world in recent time.

The issue of malpractices is of special concern not only to the shareholders and

depositors of banks but also the regulatory and supervisory authorities whose responsibility it is to ensure the safety and soundness of individual banks and the banking system as a whole.

Accordingly, sections 39 and 40 of the NDIC Decree No. 22 of 1988 mandates insured banks in Nigeria to render to the Corporation, returns on frauds and forgeries or outright theft occurring in their organisations and reports on any staff dismissed, terminated or advised to retire on the grounds of frauds. The question of course, is how many banks appreciate the importance of this statutory requirement both for themselves and the industry as a whole? How encouraging arc banks’ response in this regard? How many banks appreciate the extent to which malpractices affect the safety of, and confidence reposed in their institutions? Records have shown that only very few banks render returns on frauds and forgeries even when such cases exist at the time of rendering their statutory returns to the regulatory authorities.

It is therefore intended in this paper to make a brief discussion on the nature, types, causes and the extent of malpractices in the Nigerian banking industry so that banks will be put more on the alert, with a view to stimulating them to consider ways and means of making their internal control measures more effective.

This paper is divided into five parts. The second part highlights the nature and types of bank malpractices while part three looks at the causes and extent of malpractices in the Nigerian banking industry. In part four, the paper examines some measures of detecting and preventing malpractices in banks and finally, the paper gives a summary and conclusion in part five.

Nature and Types of Malpractices in Banks Broadly speaking, malpractices are categorised into those committed by bank staff, those committed by bank customers, and those committed through the collusion of bank staff and customers. Common types of malpractices committed by bank staff include the following: Self-dealing This refers to a situation where insiders (bank staff/ directors) put their own selfinterest above those of the bank. These may manifest in

Malpractices In The Banking Industry: any of the following ways: (i) where an insider uses his or her authority to grant loans to oneself: or a related business, at preferential terms or using lower credit standards, with the interest of making profit in that business; (ii) where directors and principal shareholders become dependent on fees and income from providing outside dealings with the bank to such an extent that their interest comes ahead of the bank’s; (iii) putting friends and relatives on the bank’s payroll; (iv) directing the bank’s business to friends and relatives; (v) unwarranted fringe benefits to insiders, payment for personal trips overseas; and interest waivers on his/her loans and related loans.

(Vi) kickbacks from customers in return for granting loans or low interest rate on loans; (vii) conversion of bank’s money into personal use. ‘this may take the form of using bank’s money to register a company and the profit therefrom going to the private accounts of directors or officers concerned; (viii) granting of unjustifiable interest waivers on non-performing facilities in cases where insiders are interested.

Granting of Unauthorised Overdrafts and Loans Cases abound in some banks where facilities arc granted by officers other than those who have the authority either to grant such facilities or to grant so much. This form of malpractice ranges from accommodating cheques running into millions, when it is known that there are insufficient funds, to unauthorised credits granted by branches without the knowledge of the Head Office or approved by individual(s) not capable of authorising such facilities by virtue of their nature and or magnitude.

In such circumstances, it has been discovered that there were collaboration between directors and or top management to hide the accounts, restructure the overdrafts to loans, waive more than 50 per cent of the accumulated interest on such facilities, etc. The situation is usually as bad as not passing charges due to such accounts on the pretext that such debtcustomers could not be located at given addresses

Nat

even in instances where the likely to report the losses to officers or employees of the credit; the police or to other (ii) under-quoting of the bank personally know the authorities. Advance fee fraud volume of deposit to evade customer and in some cases, can be very dangerous, insurance premium; live close to each other. Such especially those that are (iii) carrying on another accounts are, as the case may international in nature. Bank be, recommended for write- business apart from the can suffer significant losses business of banking, e.g off and find recovery and legal Fraudulent Transfers and trading; and redress to be quite difficult. (iv) granting loans without Withdrawals Cheque kiting collateral security or with This occurs when an As defined by the US account is opened with defective security or with Comptroller of the Currency’s fictitious names, usually with inadequate security or failure Policy Guidelines for the collaboration of a bank to perfect the security.

National Bank Directors, The types of malpractice staff. Money is then kiting is “a method whereby committed by bank customers transferred to and drawn from a depositor utilises the time include the following: such accounts. Withdrawals required for cheque to clear to Advanced Fee Fraud may also be made from obtain an unauthorised loan (“419”) dormant accounts. without any interest charge.”

Alteration, Diversion and Suppression of Cash Vouchers and or Cheques This form of malpractice takes many forms ranging from delay in sending cheques for clearing when it is known that there is insufficient funds in the accounts while credit is given to outright defalcation of cheques. Whichever form it takes, the aim is to fraudulently grant unauthorised credit to the customer or owner of the cheque. In these instances, the cash vouchers or cheques are usually kept away and delayed beyond the clearing days until, presuming that the cheque has cleared, credit is given.

Malpractices in Foreign Exchange Operations These have been noticed to be a fertile ground for sharp practices. Such practices have been observed to take the following forms (i) banks may sell forex at a premium which is usually more than the percentage mark-up stipulated by the Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor.

CBN, (ii) illegal transfer of forex Advanced Fee Fraud is a Cheque kiting involves the by banks which is personally situation where an agent, authorised use by depositors utilised by the members of the approaching a bank, an of uncollected funds in their board and or the management individual or a company with accounts. Uncollected funds team; very favourable terms, offer are cheque lodgements (iii) management who are access to large funds at below accepted by a bank for which purportedly lot of unsecured, market interest rate often for it cannot fully guarantee indirect credit to have naira long term period. The collectibility until the cover for their bids; purported source of such institution on which each (iv) bank’s funds from FEM funds is not specifically cheque is drawn has are usually used by some identified as the only way to determined that h are bank’s directors for private have access to it is through the available to cover the item. purposes that are not allowed agent who must receive a fee The goal of the cheque kiter officially; or commission “in advance.” may be to use these (v) use of forex meant for As soon as the agent collects uncollected funds, interesteligible in ineligible the fee, he disappears into thin free, for a short time to transactions; air and the loan never comes overcome a temporary cash (vi) sale of repatriated forex through. Any bank desperate shortage or to withdraw the in the black market; for funds, especially the funds permanently for (vii) non-repatriation of distressed banks and banks personal use. Competition interest needing huge funds to bid for among banks in the era of (viii) diversion of export foreign exchange, can easily deregulation encourages them proceeds; etc. fall victim of this type of to make funds available Other Forms of Sharp fraud. When the deal fails and before actual collection in Practices the fees paid in advance are order to attract customers, (i) posting of fictitious lost, these victims are not especially business accounts.

Acco Malpra This and su fraudul starts known open a such as accoun identifi the ban the acco deposit Genera the pe number cash i cashing

outrigh cash a availab maybe on oth bank ac or nev counte otherwi existen deposit Credit 1etter arise ou and stimula boarde vehicle paymen institu some ar has h problem Middle Most le perpetra

THE NIGERIAN

17

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Perspective

ture, Types, Causes And Remedies

ount Opening actice involves the deposit ubsequent cashing of lent cheques. It usually when a person not n to the bank asks to a transaction account s current and savings nt with false ication but unknown to nk. The person opens ount with a small initial t of cash or cheque. ally, within a few days, rson will deposit a r of cheques and obtain in return either by g the fraudulent items

the credits using forged or fraudulent documents. In these cases, forged or fraudulent documents are presented to the confirming or issuing bank and payment is demanded against the credit. Whether or not the bank pays the beneficiary will depend upon whether the presented documents appear on their face to comply with the terms of the credit. In most cases, if a credit transaction turns out to be fraudulent, it is the applicant who suffers the loss.

In addition to fraudulent transactions, the letter of credit itself may be fraudulent. For

ht or by withdrawing s soon as funds are ble. The bad cheques large overdraft drawn her banks; drawn on ccounts that are closed ver existed; stolen, erfeit, forged or ise fraudulent, or nonnt empty envelope ted in ATM Letters of Malpractice rs of credit generally ut of international trade commerce. They ate trade across national ers by providing a e for ensuring prompt nt by financially sound tions. However, in reas of the world, fraud istorically been a m-Nigeria, Iran and the e East are examples. etters of credit fraud are ated by beneficiaries to

example, an account officer or an employee of the documentary unit could create a phoney letter of credit application or enter a nonexistent credit into the system using the name and credit capacity of an existing bank customer. However, to effect payment against a fraudulent letter of credit, the named beneficiary would probably have to be an accomplice in the fraudulent scheme.

Counterfeit Securities Counterfeiting of commercial financial instruments is one of the oldest forms of crime in the banking industry.

Modern photographic and printing equipment have greatly aided criminals in reproducing good quality forged instruments.

The documents may be total counterfeits or may be genuine

documents that are copies, forged or altered as to amount, payout date, payee or terms of payment. A common method is to present the counterfeit notes such as treasury notes, cashier’s cheques, bankers acceptances, or certificates of deposit in counterfeit or altered form and presented to a bank for redemption. The presenter would draw out the proceeds and disappear before the financing instruments are found to be counterfeit.

Cheque Malpractice The use of cheques as a means of paying financial obligations is an essential feature of moderm economy.

Cheques fraud is now very common and involves millions of naira annually.

Common types of cheques are personal, business, government, travellers, certified, draft and counter cheques, with each having its own characteristics and vulnerabilities for fraudulent use. The most common cheque frauds involve cheques that are stolen, forged, counterfeited or altered.

Computer Malpractice Computer fraud can remain undetected for a long time.

Computer frauds can take the form of corruption of the programme of application packages and even breaking into the system via a remote sensor. Diskettes can also be tampered with to gain access to unauthorised areas or even give credit to an account for which the funds were not originally intended.

Causes and Extent of Malpractices in the Banking Industry The causes of malpractices in banks are grouped into two major classes, namely, institutional factors and environmental/societal factors. The institutional factors are those traceable to the internal environment of the bank. The environmental or societal factors refer to those which result from the influence of the environment or society on the banking industry.

Institutional Causes of Malpractice The common institutional causes of malpractice as identified by different authors are summerised as follows: (a) Poor Internal Control Inadequate internal control and ineffective and/or inefficient application of internal control measures create loopholes for inclined staff, customers and non-

customers to commit malpractice. Ineffective audit, poor supervision and failure to duly control cash security documents, keys and other bank assets aid malpractice. (b) Inadequate Staff Training and Re-training Lack of adequate training and re-training on both the technical and theoretical aspects of the job leads to poor performance which breeds malpractice. Failure by both management and staff to undergo on-the-job training and even relevant outside courses also lead to unsatisfactory performance which eventually creates room for malpractices (c) Banking Experience of Staff All things being equal, malpractice in banks occur with higher frequency among staff with little experience and knowledge in banking practice. The more the experience and knowledge of a staff, the less the likelihood that malpractice would pass such staff undetected unless with his active connivance.

Where professionally qualified bankers are involved in malpractice, they are more likely to swindle large sums of money than the less qualified staff. (d) Staff Negligence In certain cases, staff negligence could give room for malpractice in banks.

Negligence itself is a product of several factors, including poor supervision, lack of technical knowledge, apathy, pressure, etc. (e) Poor Security Arrangement for Documents Fraudsters always have their way without detection in banks where security arrangements for valuable documents are weak, poor and vulnerable. (j) Use of Sophisticated Accounting Machines Where sophisticated accounting machines arc in use and are manned by inadequately trained staff errors could arise and thus lead to the production of unreliable records. In the hands of dishonest staff, sophisticated accounting machines could be employed to deliberately omit entries, substitute improper calculation and posting, manipulate documents, substitute fictitious documents and alter genuine ones. All of these are different ways of committing malpractices.

(g) Negligence of Customers Traditionally it is the negligence on the part of customers that provide ample opportunities for bank staff to commit malpractice.

Negligence of customers takes various forms, including errors that might have been genuine but which are open to abuse, distortions and defalcations by unscrupulous staff within and outside the bank in the employment of customers. (h) Frustration Management practices, when negative to the aspiration and development needs of staff, could result in the generality of staff being frustrated. Frustration in turn. breeds malpractice in banks.

Environmental/Societal Causes The environmental/societal factors have been identified as follows: (a) Personality Profile of Fraudsters Most over-ambitious bank staff are prone to committing malpractice. Such staff are bent on making money by hook or by crook. Also, such staff dismiss morality as an unnecessary prerequisite for virtuous life. To them, the end justifies the means; they are usually unscrupulous and opportunist. (b) Societal Values The value system in any society is the set of rules that prescribes what is right or wrong within that society.

Where the possession of wealth determines the reputation ascribed to a person, that society is bound to witness unnecessary competition for the acquisition of wealth. This, no doubt, will lead to some people using dubious means to get rich overnight. It can be argued that the main cause of frauds in banks in Nigeria is traceable to the general dishonesty in the society where morality is thrown to the dogs. Misplacement of societal values, the unquestioning attitude of the society towards the sources of wealth, the rising societal expectations from bank staff and the subsequent desire by such staff to live up to such expectations, are also contributory factors to malpractice in banks in Nigeria. Š Fear of Negative Publicity Many banks fail to report cases of malpractice to the

appropriate authorities as they believe that doing so will give unnecessary negative publicity to the banks. This attitude encourages individuals with ordinate ambition to defraud the banks.

Extent of Malpractices in Banks The magnitude of the loss arising from bank malpractices is on the increase worldwide. It is appropriate to have a feel of the extent of losses to enable us appreciate the havoc this cankerworm has been wrecking on our economy.

We will use the returns on frauds and forgeries by banks to the NDIC to measure the extent of bank malpractice in the Nigerian banking industry.

The actual amount involved in bank fraud should be multiples of the reported figure as many banks had failed to render the required returns on fraud.

From Table 11.1, it can be seen that the sum of N82 billion was involved in bank frauds within six years (19911996). Of this total, N7.2 billion was involved in commercial banks while the remaining N0.9 billion was involved in merchant banks With regards to the actually expected losses, a total sum of NI .9 billion was lost to fraudsters, out of which commercial banks accounted for NI .8 billion, while merchant banks accounted for NO.8 billion judging from the above statistics, it is clear that the bulk of bank frauds is being committed in our commercial banks, presumably because of their large branch network as well as the low quality of staff when compared with the merchant banks.

As shown in Table 11.2, a total of 737 bank staff were involved in frauds in just the banks that rendered returns on frauds and forgeries to NDIC in 1994. This was higher than the 1991 figure of 514 staff.

Although the number of staff decreased in 1996 to 552 as shown in Table 11.2, the figure is still on the high side.

Also, the table shows that the category of bank staff prone to committing frauds are supervisors and managers, followed by clerks and cashiers. It is pertinent to note that staff caught in malpractices usually have their appointments terminated, or are dismissed or promptly retired.

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Point-Blank Issues EVERY conscience, whether right or wrong, whether it concerns things evil in themselves or things morally wrong, whether it concerns things evil in themselves or things morally indifferent, obliges us to act in such a way that he who acts against his conscience sins.”

-St. Thomas Aquinas, Quadlibetun 3,27 St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the foremost Christian philosophers who lived. According to him human beings have a natural instinct to grasp the principles of morality which he opines are self evident.

He wrote from his conviction that the innate ability of human beings to distinguish between good and evil is given. What cannot be taken for granted though is the ability to apply these principles which is a function of the conscience. This for him is where the issue of sin comes in. For refusal to do that which is good and beneficial especially to other human beings is evil. As another philosopher says, “he who can live without other people is either a god or a beast,” The challenge then becomes living with other humans in a way that is mutually beneficial and not exploiting the weaknesses of others or abusing positions of trust and authority.

Little Drops Of Water

This has indeed proved to be a very serious challenge.

All over the world poverty is on the increase. Interestingly, studies have shown that the poorest nations on earth are also those with the highest rate of corruption, where the few who make up the ruling class exploit the resources of the whole for their own selfish ends, leaving the vast majority with little or no means of

people.” In Bangladesh poverty walked tall on the streets aided by the perennial floods. His conscience called and he responded by dropping his’ chalk and working among the people on the streets, providing token amounts of money for poor people to rebuild their lives. That bold step did not just give food to

Franon also demonstrates these “wretched” were and are daily being assisted to wretchedness by policies, persons and circumstances beyond their control.

Here lies the beauty of Professor Yunus. The fact that though his background, education and opportunities

livelihood.

It is said of Professor Muhamad Yunus: “He could not reconcile the differences between the elegant economic theories he taught at the university with the economic situation of majority of his country

the hungry, it built self confidence and esteem in people who were seen as outcasts without ability; giving back humanity to the bastardized and dehumanized, those Franz Franon describe as the “wretched of the earth”. Of course as

predisposed him to comfort, (he was not poor though there was poverty in his land), he chose not to sin. He chose not to be indifferent. He chose to act in a way that will better the lots of other people.

By SABINA IDOWU-OSEHOBO

“As has become widely accepted, some are born great, some achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them. Irrespective of how greatness comes, retaining it is what counts as there is a thin line between greatness and smallness.”

That decision led to what is today known as micro-finance; lending to the otherwise excluded and marginalized so poverty can be reversed.

All over the world, micro- finance is acknowledged as a veritable tool for leveraging out of poverty. What ever the arguments for or against micro finance, the fact

inequitable distribution of resources, to increasing violence, hunger and disease. An attempt at poverty reduction therefore is a contribution to world peace.

As has become widely accepted, some are born great, some achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them. Irrespective of how greatness comes,

remains that it is a bulwark against hunger, deprivation, low self esteem and lack of access to life transforming opportunities like education which in most of the poorest nations of the world only money can buy.

While a lot of people expected the Nobel to be in Economics, it is not surprising that it is in Peace considering his contribution to poverty alleviation, which in our world is basically caused by unjust/

retaining it is what counts as there is a thin line between greatness and smallness. The side of the divide on which persons are remembered depends on the acts in which they are consistent. For over two decades now Professor Yunus has been consistent in the fight against poverty, pioneering a model which is acknowledged all over the world. We at LAPO salute this man who truly is an epitome of greatness.

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Drumbeat

Who Is A Wealthy Man

WILLIAM Henry “Bill” Gates 111 (born October 28, 1955) is an American Business Magnate investor, programmer, inventor and philanthropist. Gates is the former chief executive and current chairman of Microsoft, the world’s largest personal—computer software company, which he cofounded with Paul Allen.

He is consistently ranked in the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people, and was the wealthiest overall from 1995 to 2009 excluding 2008, when he was ranked third; in 2011 he was the wealthiest American and the world’s second wealthiest person.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires List, Gates is the world’s richest person in 2013, a position that he last held on the list in 2007.

During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of CEO and Chief software architect, and remains the largest individual shareholder, with 6.4 percent of the common stock. He has also authored and co-authored several books Gates is one of the bestknown entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution.

Gates has been criticized for his business tactics, which have been considered anticompetitive, an opinion which has in some cases been upheld by the courts. In the later stages of his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavours, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.

Gates stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January 2000. He remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect. In June 2006, Gates announced that he would be transiting from full-time work at Microsoft to part-time work, and full –time work at

The Bill Gates Story (1)

the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He gradually transferred his duties to Ray Ozzie, chief software architect, and .Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer. Gates’s last full- time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008. He remains at Microsoft as non-executive chairman.

Early life Gates was born in Seattle, Washington, to William H. Gates Sr and Mary Maxwell Gates. His ancestry includes English, German, and ScotsIrish. His father was a prominent lawyer, and his mother served on the board of directors for First Interstate BancSystem and the United Way. Gates’s maternal grandfather was JW Maxwell, a national bank president.

Gates has one elder sister, Kristi (Kristianne), and one younger sister, Libby. He was the fourth of his name in his family, but was known as William Gates l11 or “Trey” because his father had the “11” suffix. Early on in his life, Gates’s parents had a law career in mind for him. When Gates was young, his family regularly attended a Congregational church.

At 13 he enrolled in the Lakeside School, an exclusive preparatory school.

When he was in the eighth grade, the Mothers Club at the school used proceeds from Lakeside School’s rummage sale to buy a Teletype Model 33 ASR terminal and a block of computer time on a General Electric (GE) computer for the school’s students. Gates took an interest in programming the GE system in BASIC and was excused from math classes to pursue his interest. He wrote his first computer program on this machine: an implementation of tic-tac-toe that allowed users, to play

games against the computer.

Gates was fascinated by the machine and how it would always execute software code perfectly. When he reflected back on that moment, he said, “There was just something neat about the machine.” After the Mothers Club donation was exhausted, he and other students sought time on systems including DEC PDP minicomputers. One of these Systems was a PDP-10 belonging to Computer Center

With Apostle Dr. Raphael O. Ayemere 08035459593

offices and studied source code for various programs

“Gates was fascinated by the machine and how it would always execute software code perfectly. When he reflected back on that moment, he said, “There was just something neat about the machine.”

William Henry Gates

Corporation (CCC), which banned four Lakeside students Gates, Paul Allen, Ric Weiland and Kent Evans for the summer after it caught them exploiting bugs in the operating system to obtain free computer time.

At the end of the ban, the four students offered to find bugs CCC’s software in exchange for computer time.

Rather than use the system via Teletype Gates went to CCC’s

that rail on the 5 including programs in Fortran, Lisp and machine language. The arrangement with CCC continued until 1970, when the company went out of business. The following year, information Sciences Inc. hired the four Lakeside students to write a payroll program in Cobol, providing them computer tune and royalties.

After his administrators became aware

“Gates stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January 2000. He remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect.”

of his programming abilities, Gates wrote the school’s computer program to schedule students in classes.

He modified the code so that he was placed in classes with mostly female students. He later stated that “it was hard to tear myself away from a machine at which I could so unambiguously demonstrate success.” At age 17, Gates formed a venture with Allen, called Traf-O-Data, to make traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor. In early 1973, Bill Gates served as a congressional page in the US House of Representatives.

Gates graduated from Lakeside School in 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT and enrolled at Harvard College in the autumn of 1973. While at Harvard, he met Steve Ballmer, who later succeeded Gates as CEO of

Microsoft.

The Poker Room in Currier House at Harvard University where Gates and Allen formed Microsoft In his sophomore year, Gates devised an algorithm for pancake sorting as a solution to one of a series of unsolved problems presented in a combinatorics class by Harry Lewis, one of his professors. Gates’s solution held the record as the fastest version for over thirty years; its successor is faster by only one percent. His solution was later formalized in a published paper in collaboration with Harvard computer scientist Christos Papadimitriou.

Gates did not have a definite study plan while a student at Harvard and spent a lot of time using the school’s computers. Gates remained in To Be Continued next week

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Education NIGERIA as a nation is richly blessed by God. That is if you begin to mention the nations that are most blessed

by God, I see Nigeria as number one. God so much love the nation that He adorned it with so many beautiful things. One of the most beautiful things, God used to bless our nation is “education.” God blessed our nation with people who are intelligent enough to take the country to next level.

Unfortunately, rather than developing the brain that God gave to us. Higerious have opted for a quicker way to get certificates and left the brain to develop mucor.

Lest I forget, the intention of this discourse in malpractices in baccalaureate examinations. It must be made clear that baccalaureate examinations including primary school leaving certificate, Junior WAEC, Senior WAEC, NABTEB, JAMB, Post UME etc. It’s no longer newsworthy to mention the cases of malpractices in our nation.

Examination malpractices have eaten deep into the livewire of our nation and as such has become a tradition and a normal thing. Nigerians have accepted malpractices to be culture and as such no drastic, clear, positive measures are being taken to curb the chronic diseases that landed the coast of our Nation long ago.

It must be mentioned that the increasing rate of malpractices and the extent to which people have taken malpractices is something that calls, for immediate and adequate attention so as to curb and cure the disease.

Gone are those days in which you go to school, study and write your exams yourself. Gone are those days in which you go into examination hall on examination day before you “GET QUESTION PAPERS” Long gone are those days where examination officials don’t give room for malpractices. Gone are those days where examination officials don’t give room for malpractices. Gone are those days where parents sit in their homes and wait for their children to bring their results.

Gone are those days that only students that study hard and pass examination.

Malpractices us graduating from one stage to another daily. In those days, Lazy and full students used to secretly indulge in the abominable act.

Today, malpractices has become an accepted culture in our Nation. What a mess!

Wait! Who are those to blame for this devilish act?

This piece (1) blame the examination officials and parents for this ungodly act.

You may want to ask why I shouldered the blame on parents and officials. Calm down, let me tell you why and how.

The fact that examination malpractices is traceable to parents is not in doubt. It is no more news to hear of parents paying for mercenaries to write examinations on behalf of their children. Some go to bribe teachers or buy live examination papers for their children This of course has contributed in no small way to the menace of this terrible monster. It is good and proper for parents to desire good success for their children/ wards, but wrong and condemnable if they would find no way of helping them succeed other than aiding them one way or the other in examination. The question I want to ask is “if you pay others to write an examination for your child, or buy live question paper for the child, are you encouraging that child to study”? How do you expect your child to study when he knows that you will pay other(s) to get the job done for him? Tenaciously, any child (student) that knows that the parent will provide alternative (manner) I mean getting someone to write exams for him/her will “never read” I mean, why should I study when I’m not the one to write the exam? Truth be told, reading is one of the most difficult things to do and students whose parents pay mercenaries to write exam for will never read and will always be left with no option than seeking practices. How can Nigeria get better when many parents have chosen to write examinations for their children.

Ultimately, examination officials are the brain behind the life-threatening chronic disease of malpractices. How can students get examination questions before examination day. Isn’t it appalling and abominable that students get WAEC, NECO, JAMB, NABTEB etc questions before examination day?

What is our nation turning to?

Who are those selling questions to students before time if not the “official.” The same people who condemned malpractice are the same

Blame Parents, Officials

Falling Education Standard: people selling question to students.

How can teachers, invigilators, supervisor and examination officials in general be paving way for malpractices? How can students read when they know that the officials (that God will soon punish) will collect money from them to pave way for malpractices?

Examination officials are those ultimately blame for malpractice because they have the power/key in their hands, if they don’t give the go ahead by collecting bribe,

But that is not all, law enforcement agents are not free from bribery, teachers in schools and even school administrators are not exempted from one corrupt act or the other, politicians deceive the electorates with promises they cannot fulfill until they die, and surprisingly, many religious leaders who have graduated

knowledge and as such students go for the certificate rather than the knowledge using all means. Malpractice has given those hand. How can our nation get better.

The effects of malpractices are so devastating to both individuals and the nation at large. Thye include the following among others.

Makes one unable to defend

there will be no room for such.”

The truth is, if examination officials can determine in their conducts not to accept bribe to pave way for malpractice, students will be left with no option than to study hard for their exams.

In a nutshell, to say that corruption has been institutionalized in this country is but to say the least.

Examination malpractice is just one of the corrupt practices. It is no more a shame to be caught cheating in examination, because corruption has become a way of life for many and almost a daily routine of the vast majority. Now, office holders cheat and embezzle public funds, men and women do same in their offices, housewives cheat on the husbands and would steal too, if given, the opportunity.

from the university of sin do worse using the name of God without fear. Tell me then how and why students should not cheat. Poor state of infrastructure in schools, long closure of schools following strike actions, poor funding for education loss of the true sense of value or faulty value system, all point to one thing, corrupt system of national life.

Little wonder did P.O.C. Umen in his poem titled “ambassador of poverty” said in the last stanza that we all are ambassadors of poverty “because we refused to do what we are supposed to do.”

For how long will Nigeria be incarnated in the belly of corruption? For how long will Nigeria continue to shun out graduates who cannot defend their certificates. So appalling that more emphasized is now on the certificate than the

his/her certificate, facilitates the enthronement of a mediocre, half-baked, incompetent and corrupt workforce, discredits academic institutions and academes affects national growth and productivity, impedes intellectual progress of the nation, reduces the value of certificates, rubbishes the skindard and quality of educational standard in any country, lead to high educational wastage as those who cheat to pass examination at a lower level achieve very poor at a higher level.

Nigeria need to be healed from the chronic disease of malpractices and the deliverance process starts with examination officials.

This is because the key to open the door of malpractices is in their hands. Parents must also stop the devilish act of

By STANLEY UGAGBE

paying mercenaries to write for their children.

Malpractice is only a disease and can be cured. It depends on how serious the government are about it. I believe that if the drastic, immediate and adequate attention that was given to the dreaded Ebola Virus is given to the chronic disease of malpractice, in a long but short while, it can be curtailed.

Ebola Virus and malpractice

virus which is more deadly?

If the Ebola Virus can be curtailed in a very short while, malpractice can also be curtailed? As a mater of fact, malpractice is more deadly than the Ebola Virus.

If at all the Minister of Education and the government can see the need to eradicate malpractice as a “door die affair” it can be curtailed.

However, we all must put effort to cure the chronic diseases of malpractice. All hands must be on deck.

Examination malpractice is abominable before God. Students, read your books, Examination officials, stop collecting bribes and parents stop paying others to write exams for your children.

All those who involve themselves in examination malpractices will go to hell.

Beware and be warned.

THE NIGERIAN

21

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Issues Society

SUCCESS is an encouragement and a fruit yielded from a work well done. Success is also a positive outcome of what has been done, this could be a job, business, in academic work or activities, it can be a political ambition.

According to J. Kroft, a successful businessman and an economist, he portrayed and projected that, success is a matter of positivity and prosperity in the midst of a huge and tasky work. He gave us the meaning of success in his own way, view; perspective and he therefore explain success as in what we see as positive outcome of a very strenuous and a huge task.

Success in general is not easy and it does not fairly come by. There are several things and sacrifices that need to be made in order to be successful. When we say sacrifice we are not referring to human killings or that of the animals but giving what is very dear to us. These things might be our time, resources, ideas, energy and most of all comfortability.

There are groups or several people who do not really know what it takes to be successful in a very hard and challenging society, especially in Nigeria where goodies are hard to come by.

Most of us likes the easy way in life but very few know and are ready to do things in the hard and unpleasant way.

In the world today, we have different success men and women, they are often eulogized on their successfulness but among those that cheers and praise them, none are still ready to take on that road that those successful ones had taken.

Like the common thing in Nigeria society, the lazy ones always say that if life does not give them what they need, then, they will go for what they want by ritual purposes.

There are different brains behind success, and these are therefore very important and relevant to the development and improvement of a person, group or a society. In this Nigeria that we are, there are several brains that encourage and egg an individual in life to carry on the work and task until it yield a positive result.

Commitment is number two things after God , because He is the Author and the maker of our lives. He decides on your success; whether it will favour the society or rather destroy the society. Commitment is very paramount and called for in any task or work we engage ourselves with. Just as every human’s needs food and drinks, that’s how every work or task needs commitment and dedication.

A man who needs to be successful should be committed to his work or business. Most of us handle work with levity because we are not committed to it.

We have our very own billionaire, Alinco Dangote, CEO Dangote Group of company, who was very committed to his business from the inception till date.

He has been committed and serious and that is why he is excelling in all ramifications. Introducing more products is as a result of commitment.

Persistency is another ingredient that help a man to be successful in life. Every successful person is always a persistent fellow, and that is, continuing something has started without stopping even if he fails or fall. The tendency for him to get up and move on made or added to what helped him through until he became a well known success person he had dreamt about. Failure is never a fall until a man agrees and give up. Failure is always there to strengthen and keep you strong for what

Nuggets Of Success

By LAWRENCE OMORODION

is coming ahead. Great things do not come over night but it does come to a man who kept on doing his work and fight every obstacles that he is been faced with.

Consistency is another vital factor and effort employed by those who look forward to be grinded a successful fellow. Staying focus and stable always

and fighting what you have started make you who you are. Bill Gate was not born as the richest man but it was through his consistent effort that he applied in the work he does that made him who he is today. There was a conference he hosted in 2008 in the United States of America, where he noted that consistency should be looked and seen as an incentive to life.

comes to the mind of those who are determined in excelling and succeeding in their day to day work and activities. Distractions will always come but the mind and power to overcome and stay put on what you take as necessary and important.

Distractions come in different formats. If could be from your home, your place of work, from the society or it could be from your friends but you taking the bold steps

Hard work is very or probably the most prominent among all because it is always referred to anytime and anywhere. A banker should be seen in the bank chering the week days working not at the bar drink.

He or she should get down with their work in the office not gossiping or gisfing with a fellow worker that is supposed to be engaged with work. A lawyer who refuses to read and make researches

“There are groups or several people who do not really know what it takes to be successful in a very hard and challenging society, especially in Nigeria where goodies are hard to come by.”

will always be a doomed lawyer because he will definitely lack legal prowess and proverbs that are used by legal practitioners. If he or she take time to read and carryout researches, he will definitely be good at what he or she does.

There are several politicians in Nigerian society today who tends to handle their work as if they were forced and cajoled to take the office which they had never wanted. There are

There are group of youths who want to do business but they lack the patient to wait for the seed to grow. Most of them prefer to take anything they want by force and the easy way. Life does not go that way but it favours those that are ready to be committed and the patient ones.

Even if we have applied all ourskills and factices to make a dream come through but there is a great need for everyone including a

different late comers to work and offices. Most of the government workers we have in our society do take their work less serious and some of them sleep at work.

Patient as they say is golden, because it takes a healthy, a focus, and a determined person to be patient. Patient is as a result of what is expected to happen but it is not coming or happening when we most expect it. Success do comes to those who wait for the lord to manifest what he or she has put forth. Carlos smith the richest man in the world was not known twenty years back as the richest person but he had been patient with his work and God. Hoping and working to attain the position he is today.

businessman a worker to be prayerful Seeking the consent of God makes a man who he is, but those who by passed the ways of God usually meet their end very easy and quick.

Like the saying that every successful man was supported or made by a woman but that is not all true because every woman always pray for a successful man instead of making a success man.

Humans should learn the ways to apply every strength, time, resources and sacrifice their present comfort for future benefit because the latter is always and often greater than the beginning. The little beginning always amount to a greater future if everything is taken into cognizance.

THE NIGERIAN

22

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Healthy Living

Living And Organic Food

By GEORGE MALKMUS

AS we move into this section about living and organic food, there are some important facts you need to remember. First and foremost, it is not in the best interest of the government or the health care industry for you to read this!

I know you’re familiar with the old USDA-approved food pyramid. We all had it hammered into our heads from the time we were kids in grade school. Here is what their pyramid looked like as recently as 1996’: Forget what you learned from the USDA. They wanted you to eat six to eleven servings of bread, cereal, rice, and pasta every day. They didn’t bother to tell you that unless it’s whole grain, brown rice, or whole wheat pasta, it’s useless food with a miniscule amount of nutritional value! Also, that shouldn’t be your primary source of food each day. After that, they recommended fruits and vegetables, but they didn’t specify dead or living food. Wouldn’t it have been a responsible move to let the public know that raw fruits and vegetables are the most nutritious? Then they recommended meat and dairy which are completely dead foods.

And they topped their pyramid off with fats, oils, and sweets; although they instructed you to eat these things “sparingly,” they actually listed these items on the pyramid as if they were marginally acceptable to partake of them!

The small tip of the Pyramid shows fats, oils, and sweets.

These are foods such as salad dressings and oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies, and sweet desserts.

But they forgot one thing—the noose to quickly hang your-self so you don’t die a slow and agonizing death. In essence, they handed us a fork and told us to dig our own graves with it.

Why on God’s green earth would anyone recommend such a pyramid? Why would they teach this to our children in school? I’ll tell you why: hard-hitting governmental lobbying groups, pharmaceutical companies, the medical community at large, and insurance companies. In the past, the Food and Nutrition Board (which receives funding from the FDA, USDA, NIH, and CDC) has looked like a Who’s Who list of folks in the medical, pharmaceutical, and food production industries. We clearly see where their interests lie, and according to statistics just a few years ago, it is clear they weren’t the least bit concerned about the state of emergency regarding health in the United States. Just look at these year 2000 statistics (Table 11.1) from the World Health Organization.

Could the dead food we eat be the cause of these terrible statistics? We share this beautiful planet with over 700,000 species of animals, and yet we’re the only species that suffers the debilitating diet-related diseases that cause pain, disfigurement, and ultimately, premature death.

Number and Rate of Registered Deaths in 2000 Cause of Death

determination to change the direction of a big ship, but it can be done if we remain on course.

Friends, everything you’ve read in this book about dead food has been a crash course on why knowing the truth is so important. We talked about it earlier, but before we discuss living and organic food, it’s important that you have this information in the fore front of your mind.

It will help you to grasp the magnitude of why dead food is so detrimental to your health. So let’s recap: Dead Food...

• is food that has had most of the enzymes destroyed and many of the nutrients processed, cooked, and packaged out of it.

• contains refined flour and added sugar, which may actually suck stored vitamins from your body as your system tries to metabolize them.

• comes from dead animals. (Any food that is absent of the enzymes your body needs to help you properly digest and metabolize food, is dead food.)

The Results of Cooking Food Above 107°F • Most enzymes are destroyed.

• Proteins are denatured.

• Fried oils generate trans fatty acids, thus becoming carcinogenic.

Number of Death

Cancer and tumors (cancerous and non-cancerous)

969.395

Systemic (general circulatory) diseases Coronary (heart) diseases Cerebrovascular (blood vessels in the brain) diseases Pulmonary (lungs) diseases

941,524 684,175

Diabetes

69,301 Table 11.1

121,033

And could it be that others are finally sitting up and taking notice of what is happening to people because of these devastating health issues? What a relief to see the USDA’s new food pyramid released in the spring of 2005. It’s called “My Pyramid” This chart is an astounding improvement over the previous one, wouldn’t you agree? It’s as if the siren call of death and physical decay finally reached the ears of the unhearing masses.

The USDA is now clearly claiming that physical activity, moderation, gradual improvement, and a one-size-does-not-fit-all approach is better for us.. .but they still have a long way to go.

This should give hope to our goal of changing America’s awareness about diet, lifestyle, and health. I believe that with so many of us spreading the news about God’s natural way of sustaining life through living foods, one day everyone will value The Hallelujah Diet and Lifestyle, and the pyramid will continue to be revised and taught to our grandchildren! It takes

“And could it be that others are finally sitting up and taking notice of what is happening to people because of these devastating health issues? What a relief to see the USDA’s new food pyramid released in the spring of 2005.

It’s called “My Pyramid”

• Carbohydrates (sugars) are caramelized.

• Vitamins and minerals are less available.

• Water is reduced.

The Ultimate Results of Eating Dead Food • Slower metabolic function.

• Digestion problems.

• Constipation.

• Formation of diseases.

• Low vitality • Loss of quality of life.

• Loss of spiritual and mental clarity • Early death.

Dead Foods You Should Avoid • All animal flesh foods.

• Dairy products.

• Refined table salt.

• Sugar.

• White flour.

• Alcohol.

• Nicotine.

• Caffeine.

The bottom line here is simple: Everything you put into your body is either cell-building material or cell-destroying material. If you put live material into it, it will sustain life—and by now I already know what happens otherwise.

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

ADVERTISEMENT NO. 13 OF 2014 EDO STATE OF NIGERIA LAND USE DECREE OF 1978 The underlisted applications have been received under the Land Use Decree of 1978 for grant of Statutory Right of Occupancy.

2.

Any member of the public who may wish to object to any of the application(s) below should do so within 21 days (Twenty-one days) of this publication.

3.

Notice of objection should be accompanied with the copies of Sworn Affidavit, Evidence of Title of ownership and a non-refundable fee of N5,000 (Five thousand Naira) for each objection and addressed to the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Housing, P.M.B. 1072, Secretariat Building, Sapele Road, Benin City.

Any notice which does not conform with the above stated procedure will be ignored.

4.

Signed: Enabulele O. Henry Secretary Land Use and Allocation Committee Edo State

OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA NAMES /FILE NUMBER

PARTICULARS OF PLOT

OVIA NORTH -EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA NAMES /FILE NUMBER

Mrs. Amaka Uchendu LUC 8271

Parcel of Land at Ebo Village Area, Benin City, Edo State transferred by Mr. Chika Uchendu shown on survey plan No. GMS/009S/2014, Area: 870.594 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL714OZY to SC/EDL7143ZY Residential -Undeveloped

Mr. Ogeh Emmanuel LUC 8274

Mr. Godwin .O. Omoruyi LUC 8275

Parcel Of Land at Ward 2, Egbirhe Village Area, Benin City, Transferred By The Plot Allotment Committee Member of Egbirhe Community Egbirhe Benin City Shown On Survey Plan No GE0177212013, Area: 5929.197 square metres and Beacons Nos SC/ED1342ZG to SC/EDK8641 Residential — Undeveloped

Mr. Lucky Ogunleye LUC 8277

Angela Amukpe Esebamen LUC 8253

Mrs. Amaka Uchendu LUC 8270

Mr. Ehiogioduwa Quincy Egharevba LUC 8283

Parcel of and at Ward 36A, Ugbor Village Area, Benin City transferred by Mr. Ewemade Victor shown on Survey plan No. GE01138912014 Area: 459.154 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDM1 114ZG, SC/EDK8730Z0, SC/ EDM1 12ZG, SC/EDM1 11 3ZG Residential —Undeveloped Parcel of land at Ebo Village Area, Benin City, Edo State transferred by Mr. Chika Uchendu shown on survey plan No. GMS/009A/2014 Area: 932.222 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL7142ZY to SC/EDL71452ZY Residential —Undeveloped Parcel of land at Etete Village Area, Benin City, transferred

by Wendy Preye Egbuson shown on survey plan No. SEA/ ED/108/2014, Area: 1061.957 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL7758K, SC/EDL7759K, SC/EDF341 57G, SC/ EDL8322K Residential — Undeveloped Parcel of land at Ward 36/A, Ugiokhuen Village Area, Benin City transferred by Mr. lgbinosa Abel Herock shown on survey plan No. TDN/ED/031/2010, Area: 518.286 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDH893ZL to SC/ EDH896ZL Residential—Undeveloped

Mr. Emeka Iloh LUC 8203

Maher Grizi LUC 8286

Parcel of land at Ward 36/A, Amagba Village Area, Benin City, transferred by Pastor Charles Erhabor shown on survey plan No. GEO/2624/2013, Area: 1849.994 square metres and Beacons Nos: SC/EDL2430ZG to SC/ EDL2433ZG Residential — Undeveloped

EGOR Jackson Aghadiaye Obaseki LUC 8288

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Parcel of Land at Upper Ekehuan Road, Ugbighoko Quarters Benni City, Edo State transferred by Hon. Ojeagbase .A. Alegbe shown on survey Plan No. GEO/ 1159/2014, Area: 1705.298 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDM2016ZG to SC/EDM2019 Residential — Undeveloped

IKPOBA –OKHA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Mr. Ogiku Austen lyobor LUC 8174

Parcel of Land at Uroho Village Area, Benin City transferred

by The Enogie and Elders of Uroho Community shown on Survey Plan No. GEO/1531/2014, Area 1.301 Hectares and Beacons Nos. SC/EDM0686ZG to SC/EDM0685ZG Farming

OVIA NORTH -EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Prince Adeleke Adediran Ajagbe LUC 8273

Mr. Ehiogioduwa Quincy Egharevba LUC 8282 Mrs. Mabel Aghayere LUC 8276

Parcel of Land at Ward 17Q, Egbaen Quaters, Benin City transferred by Mr. Sunday Okhomaruyi shown on Survey Plan No. GMS/1951/2014, Area 896.858 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL8058ZY to SC/EDL8061ZY Residential — Undeveloped Parcel of Land at Ward 11/K, lgue-lheya Village Area, Benin City transferred by Mrs. Gloria Ogbebor (Nee. Iyamu) shown on Survey Plan No. SEA/ED/832/2013, Area 1344.540 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL210iK to SC/EDL2104K Residential — Undeveloped Parcel of Land at Uholor Village Area, Benin City, transferred by Mr. Osayande Lucky shown on survey Plan No. NSK/ED/389/2014, Area: 923.261 square metres arid Beacons Nos. SC/EDM156ZC to SC/EDM1568ZC Residential —Undeveloped

PARTICULARS OF PLOT

Parcel of Land at ldunmwonwina Quarters, Benin City, transferred by Mr. Olaye Samuel shown on survey Plan No. GEO/.121012014, Area: 1176.593 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDM1618ZG to SC/EDM1621ZG Residential —Undeveloped

OWAN EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Parcel of Land at lkhinVillage Area, Edo State transferred

by Okpede Oje I of lkhin Clan and Mr. Ayo lrivbuse, Mr. C. F. Okhamafe and Mr. P. A. Omokhagbon (As Principal Members and Accredited Representative of lkhon Community in Owan East L.G.A shown on Survey Plan No. NSK/ED/362/2014, Area 1423.158 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL794ZC to SC/EDL797ZC Residential – Developed

OWAN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Zhong Yang Industry Nig. Ltd LUC 8285

Parcel of Land Along Sabo-Ifon New Road, Avbiosi Edo State transferred by Avbiosi Community shown on Survey Plan No.OGT/ED14/232 Area: 4.807 Hectares and Beacons Nos.SC/EDM1096ZU to SC/EDM1104ZU - Commercial

ETSAKO CENTRAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Parcel of Land Off Eddy Osibeme Street, Airship Road, Fugar State transferred by Alhaji Aminu Amhasor shown Anchorage Holdings Ltd on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED20 Area: 26.456 Hectares and LUC 8255 Beacons Nos. SC/EDL1355F to SC/EDL2396F - Farming

Anchorage Holdings Ltd. LUC 8257 Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8258

Parcel of Land Along Fugar-Ekperl Road Fugar Edo State transferred” by Mr. Godwin Otseakemeh shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2013/03 Area: 9.587 Hectares and Beacons Nos SCIEDL1343F to SC/EDL1364F - Agriculture Parcel of Land Along Otsumah Obomhighie Street, Fugar, Edo State transferred by Mr. Bright Asekomhe shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2013/30 Area: 2.182 Hectares and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL833ZL to SC/EDL839ZL - Agriculture

Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8259

Parcel of Land Off Arua Circular Road, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Lucky lkpemhinoghena lsah shown on Survey Plan No. MSC Area: 3.402 Hectares and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL1369F to SC/EDL1687F -Farming

Ibatuemho Investment Ltd LUC 8097

Parcel of Land Along Ekpen-Bode Road Azukhala-Ekperi Edo State transferred by Usman Ibrahim Usman shown on Survey Plan No. TDN/ED/40/2013 Area: 996.621 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDK9941ZL to SC/ EDK9944ZL -Commercial

Clairgold Oil & Gas Engineering Ltd LUC 8098

Parcel of Land Along Auchi Agenebode Road, lraokhor Edo State transferred by AIhaji Sule Oyarekhua shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2008/06 Area: 3626.601 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDA6290F, EDA9720, EDA8957, SC/EDA6289F - Commercial

Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8262 Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8260 Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8261

Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8265

Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8266

Parcel of Land Along Fugar-Obe Old Road, OghodoghoFugar EUo State transferred by Mr. John Kadiri shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2013/08 Area: (A) 6.034 Hectares (B) 1.073 Hectares and Beacons Nos. SC/EDK8B32ZL to SC/EDL1691F - Farming Parcel of Land Along Fugar-Elcperi Road, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Jerome Alemoh shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2013/013 Area: 2.473 Hectares and Beacons No’ SC/EDL1692F to SC/EDL1699F - Farming Parcel of Land Off Fugar-Epkeri Road, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Robert Umoru shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2013/19 Area: 10.204 Hectares and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL2397F to SGIEDL2404F - Farming Parcel of Land Off Otsumah Obomhigie Street, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Ebuetse Iwenekhai shown on Survey Plan No. MSC/ED2013/06 Area: 2.794 Hectares and Beacons Nos, SG/EDL1365F, SC/EDL1366F, SG/ EDL1677F, SC/EDL1678F, SG/EDL1679F, SG/EDL1367F, SG/E0L1368F - Farming Parcel of Land Along Fugar-Ekperi Road, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Patrick Audu Akhigbe Alemoh shown on SurveyPlan No. MSC/ED2013/03B Area: 2.958 Hectares and Beacons Nos SG/EDL1365F to SG/EDL1368F Continues on page 24 Agriculture

THE NIGERIAN

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

ADVERTISEMENT NO. 13 OF 2014 EDO STATE OF NIGERIA LAND USE DECREE OF 1978 NAMES /FILE NUMBER Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8263

Anchorage Holdings Ltd LUC 8264

PARTICULARS OF PLOT Parcel of Land Off Fugar-Ekperi Road, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Aigwobasimhi Alemoh shown on Survey Plan No MSG/ED2013/18 Area: 7.671 Hectares and Beacons Nos SG/EDL2370F to SG/EDL2381F -Farming Parcel of Land Off Fugar-Ekperi Road, Fugar Edo State transferred by Mr. Johnson Ebikhumhi shown on Survey Plan No. M5G/ED2013/16 Area: 10.682 Hectares and Beacons Nos SG/EDL167OF to SC/EDL1696F - Farming

ETSAKO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Mr. Donatus Obetta LUC 8269

Parcel of Land along Benin-Okene High Way Aviele transferred by Mr. lkpea Samuel Onaburehan &.

Mr. Benedict lyawe shown on Survey Plan No. GEO/1 909/2014, Area: 3347.326 square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDL9127ZG to SG/EDL9130ZG Residential — Undeveloped

ESAN NORTH - EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Parcel of Land at Idumu Odafen Quarters, Uromiugboha New Rosa, Ukoniuromi, Edo State transferred by Madam Alex Ehiagwina Omijeh shown on survey Plan No. JAAIEDI88/2014, Area: 892.138 square metres and Beacons Nos. SG/ EDM13796C to SC/EDM1379C Residential - Undeveloped ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Parcel of Land at Ivioghumah Quarters, Up-land Agenebode, Edo State transferred by Josephine Mr. Francis Imoudu Ugbodaga Oghena shown on Survey plan No: AME/ED/45/2014 LUC 8287 Area: 2199.094 Square metres and Beacons Nos: SC/EDL8157ZH to SC/EDL8170Z Residential – Undeveloped.

Mr. Ignatius Egbochie LUC 8281

IKPOBA-OKHA LOCAL GOVERNMMENT AREA Mr. Stanley Osaigbovo Aziegbemhin LUC 8284

Parcel of Land at Etin-Osa Community Oghobaghase, Benin City transferred by MR. MARTINS OBASUYI OSADOLOR shown on survey plan No: GEO/2372/2-14 Area: 924.106 Square metres and Beacons Nos: SC/EDL7624ZG to SC/ EDL7627ZG Residential – Undeveloped.

Mr. Chibuniwe C. Kingsley LUC 8208

Parcel of Land at Ward 8 Egun Village Area transferred by Mr. Osunbor Augustine shown on Survey plan No. DSA/ED/139/2014. Area; 1907.277 Square metres and Beacons Nos: SC/EDL9906ZT to SC/EDL99092ZT Commercial – Undeveloped.

ORHIONMWON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Mr. Ikechukwu Kenneth Ogboi LUC 8290

Parcel of Land along Benin-Agbor Express Way, Ogan, Edo State transferred by HON. PETER UGIAGBE shown on Survey plan No: SK/ED/426/ 2008. Area; 928.960 Square metres and Beacons Nos. SC/EDF6225ZC to SC/EDF6278ZC. Commercial – Undeveloped.

UHUNMWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Mr. Ediale Odijie Kennedy LUC 8254

Parcel of Land at Ute Community, Off Benin ByePass, Benin City transferred by 1. Mr. Sunday Omoregie — Community Chairman 2. Mr. Steven lkponmwen — Plot Allotment Secretary 3. Mr. Almufua Uwagboe — Odionwere 4. Chief Reuben Obasuyi — Ohen — Evbu —N’Ute 5. Mr. Daniel Erinmwiohae 6. Mr. Obazee Isokpuwu shown on Survey Plan No. YED/ED2014/028, Area 12.886 Hectares and Beacons Nos. MM2363, SC/ EDL1556A SC/EDL1557AA, SC/EDL1558AA, Jm1326 Agriculture

International China Sentences 8 To Death BEIJING— A Chinese court yesterday sentenced eight people to death for involvement in two attacks that left 46 people dead in the far western region of Xinjiang, state broadcaster China Central Television said.

The Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court in the capital of Xinjiang also handed out suspended death sentences to five others, CCTV said.

On April 30, as Chinese President Xi Jinping was

wrapping up a tour to the ethnic region, an explosion shook the Urumqi train station, killing three people, including two attackers.

About three weeks later, on May 22, four men drove two SUVs through a crowded market in central Urumqi and tossed explosives out of car windows, killing themselves and 39 others.

Following the attacks, authorities launched a one-year crackdown on violence in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim,

Turkic-speaking Uighur minority.

Beijing has blamed the violence on radical separatists. Critics and human rights advocates say Uighurs have chafed under the repressive rule of the Han Chinese-dominated government.

Uighurs also complain of economic disenfranchisement with the inflow of Han Chinese to their homeland, although Beijing says it is pumping investments into the region to help it grow.

said that mounting evidence and initial DNA tests confirmed that 43 trainee teachers abducted by corrupt police 10 weeks ago were incinerated at a garbage dump by drug gang members, although forensic experts sounded a note of caution.

Attorney General Jesus Murillo confirmed that one of the students had been identified by experts in Austria from a bone fragment in a bag of ash and bits of burned tire found in a river where drug gang members said they tossed the students’ remains.

“This scientific proof confirms that the remains found at the scene coincide with the evidence of the investigation,” Murillo said. “We will continue with the probe until all the guilty have been arrested.”

However, Argentine forensic experts helping to identify the remains stressed there was still insufficient physical or scientific evidence linking the remains found dumped in a river to the site of the suspected massacre, a garbage dump in Cocula.

“The evidence linking both sites is so far essentially based on witness testimony,” the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF) said in a statement, stressing it was not present when the identified remains were found.

“The search for the missing

should continue.”

President Enrique Pena Nieto is facing his deepest crisis over his government’s handling of the probe. The case laid bare Mexico’s deep problem of impunity and corruption and it has overshadowed his efforts to focus attention on economic reforms.

Speaking at a conference in Veracruz on Sunday, Pena Nieto sent his condolences to the parents of Alexander Mora, the student whose remains have been identified.

A month ago, Murillo said drug

gang members had confessed to murdering the students and burning their bodies in a pyre of tires at an isolated dump.

During the search for the students in the state of Guerrero, dozens more bodies were discovered in mass graves. More than 100,000 people have been killed in Mexico in gang-related violence since 2007.

“There is a lot of rage, but it is not just this case,” said political science student Jimena Rodriguez at the Saturday night march.

“There are so many missing, and they do not have the least interest in really investigating.”

Evidence Proves Missing Students Were MEXICO CITY - Mexico Incinerated -Mexico

CHANGE OF NAME ORAVBIERE – I, formerly called Miss Oravbiere Abieyuwa Sandra is now known and called Mrs Alohan Abieyuwa Sandra. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OMOREGIE – I, formerly Miss Prudence Iyobo Omoregie now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Prudence Iyobo Iyoha.

All former documents remain valid Zico Petroleum & Marketing Company. All concerned authorities and the general public please take note.

Police Fire Gas At BERKELEY, USA Protesters in northern California hurled objects at police, who responded by firing gas for a second consecutive night, as demonstrations continued over the death of a black man after he was put in a chokehold by a police officer in New York.

A crowd of about 750 demonstrators swarmed freeway overpasses at two locations in Berkeley, near San Francisco, prompting police to move in to clear the roadways and arrest several people.

The California Highway Patrol’s Golden Gate division said on its Twitter feed that gas was fired after some demonstrators began hurling objects it described as unspecified “explosives,” and arrests had been made, but exact numbers were not available.

Some demonstrators said on Twitter that police had fired rubber bullets, but this could not be confirmed.

West Coast cities had braced for trouble after clashes in nearby Berkeley and Seattle, Washington on Saturday. Protesters in New York and other cities have staged demonstrations every day since a grand jury’s decision on Wednesday not to bring criminal charges against the white police officer whose chokehold contributed to the man’s death in New York in July.

Saturday’s looting and rockthrowing on the West Coast contrasted with the mostly peaceful demonstrations that have taken place elsewhere. New York was quieter over the weekend.

The killings of Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen, in Ferguson, Missouri, have highlighted the strained relations between police and African-Americans and rekindled a national debate over U.S. race relations.

The decision by a grand jury not to return an indictment in Brown’s killing ignited two nights of arson and rioting in the St. Louis suburbs.

Protesters

Earlier on Sunday evening hundreds of protesters began marching down a main thoroughfare in Berkeley after massing on the campus of the University of California.

Officer Jenn Coats of the Berkeley Police Department said the crowd, estimated at 500 to 600, was peaceful.

On Saturday evening, what had begun as a peaceful march ended in an extended confrontation between demonstrators and police, resulting in six arrests, damage to local businesses and a minor injury to a police officer.

“There were definitely a group of people that were intent on violence,” Coats said.

In downtown Seattle, about 200 people gathered on Sunday evening, a day after a demonstration drew more than 1,000 protesters, with some throwing rocks and attacking police in clashes that resulted in seven arrests. Their numbers had dwindled to about 60 by 10 p.m. with only one arrest.

New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said on Sunday the department’s internal investigation into Garner’s death could last four months. He said he would review the results to decide if officers involved in Garner’s arrest had violated department policy. The Justice Department is doing its own investigation.

In Chicago, church-affiliated protesters marched through the city, carrying signs and chanting, “I can’t breathe” and “Hands up, don’t shoot,” television news footage showed.

Protesters in Miami blocked a portion of Interstate 195 on Sunday afternoon, clogging traffic to the Art Basel show in Miami Beach, CBSTV Miami reported.

The outcry over the recent killings surfaced in NFL stadiums as well. Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush was among several players donning pre-game practice jerseys reading “I can’t breathe,” Garner’s dying words.

THE NIGERIAN

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THE NIGERIAN

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Issues

POPULATION census, defined as a total process of collecting, compiling and publishing demographic, economic and social data pertaining at a specified time to all persons in a country or delineated territory, predates the goe-political entity of Nigeria. Available records show that censuses were taken in Nigeria in 1866, 1868, 1871, 1891 and 1901. During these periods, census area comprised Lagos Island and small parts of the mainland.

ERA OF POPULATION ESTIMATION From 1911 to 1931 the census area was extended with a view to covering the whole country. However, because of logistic, economic and other problems, the census exercises were based on guesstimation.

In 1911, estimates of the population of the provinces making up Nigeria were obtained by sampling except in the main parts where house enumeration took place. From the estimates, the census returns gave the total population of the geographical area, later to be known as Nigeria, as 16.06 million made up of 8.12 million for the Northern province and 7.94 million for the southern provinces.

In the 1921 exercise, the level of guesstimation was reduced by extending the scope of enumeration. At first, a township census was taken.

Later the exercise was conducted in the provinces.

The result of the two stage head-count put the popu1ation of Nigeria at 18.63 million.

This figure was later revised upwards to 18.72 million made of 10 million for the Northern provinces and 8.16 million for the Southern provinces.

The design for the 1931 head - count was aimed at the total coverage of the country.

However, following some civil disturbances in the Onitsha, Owerri and Calabar Provinces of Eastern Nigeria, by women who reckoned that the purpose of the exercise was to tax them and increase the taxes on men, an act which had tremendous disruptive effect on the arrangements, the Governor ordered a modification of the census scheme to exclude Southern Provinces.

Actual enumeration was then conducted in Lagos, and in five townships, and also in 201 villages in No Nigeria. For the majority of the population estimates of the figures were obtained from existing records.

The result of the exercise showed that Nigeria had a total of 19,928, 171 persons made up of 8,493,247 for the Southern Provinces including the colony and 11,434,924, for the Northern provinces.

The era between 1911 and 1931 is regarded as population estimation era because population figures were arrived at by sampling or inferential deductions from existing records.

1941 AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR In 1941, the Second World War was raging and consequently no census was taken. This was the first time that decennial (census taken every ten years) exercise was disrupted since 1871.

THE 1950-1953 CENSUSES The first attempt at enumerating the entire country was made in time period 1950 - 1953. In 1950 enumeration took place in Lagos and 272,000 persons were counted.

In May, June and July, 1952, enumeration took place in Northern Nigeria with a figure of 10,840,000 persons. In December 1952 and January 1953, enumeration took place in western Nigeria and produced a figure of 6,087,000 persons. Enumeration in Eastern Nigeria followed in May, June and August 1953 with the returns of 7,218,000 persons. Thus the recorded total population of Nigeria from these censuses was 30.42 million.

THE 1962 CENSUS From 13th to 27th May, 1962, population census was conducted and although the organization for it showed some marked improvement over the previous exercises, the results were cancelled after a prolonged and heated dispute concerning inflation of figures.

THE 1963 CENSUS Following the cancellation of the 1962 census result, another head - count was ordered in 1963. It took place in November 1963, in a tense political atmosphere occasioned by increased awareness that political representation control and revenue allocation were determined mainly by population. The census recorded a total population of 55.6 million. Although the handling of the census was challenged in court, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that it had no jurisdiction over the administrative function of the Federal Government.

THE 1973 CENSUS With determination, the Federal Military Government conducted another population census from 25th November to 1st December 1973 (extended for one or two days to 3rd December 1973 in many areas) under the control of a National Census Board and assisted by State census Offices which themselves were advised by State Census Committees. The result of that exercise was

Population Census cancelled.

THE 1991 CENSUS Despite the fact that census taking dates back to the middle of the 20th century, the critical and strategic question “How many Nigerians? Remained hardly satisfactorily sealed until the conduct of 1991 population census. The political and socio economic imperative of moving the country forward and planning for national prosperity require comprehensive data on the country’s human resources potentials.

With the foregoing in mind and taking a cue from the practice in all modern societies, the Federal Military Government in 1988 decreed

In Nigeria however necessary with respect to other growth rates that have been estimated for the country and which have been canvassed by some agencies. These growth rates, which range between 3.2 and 3.1, were derived using the Nigeria fertility survey, 1981/ 82 and the demographic and Health survey, 1989 respectively. There are periodic estimates from survey data.

The growth rate of 2.83% per

problem and the problem of the whole country will grow more and more difficult with expanding population .Fifty one million extra people in fifteen years (19912006)relates to 9309 births per diem. Should the trend persist, it is feared government might be forced to introduce a-onechild system.(Antinatalist policy). Though modern equipments and methods were used in the conduct of the 2006 census the results were still greeted with criticism from many quarters. Since 1963 census results have been subject of controversy. It is therefore high time, a lasting solution is found to it. It is on record that Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the

annum was used to project the population in 1996, giving, a mid-year population figure of 102.5 million in 1996 THE 2006 CENSUS The headcount which was slated for 2005 was logistically shifted to 21st to 25th March 2006. After the exercise, which was five years overdue, the National Population Commission (NPC) put the total population of Nigeria at 140,003,542 made up of 68,293,683 females and 71,769,859 males. Nigeria’s population has passed from 88,992,220 to 140,003,542 in fifteen years ,it will doubtless be up to a quarter of a billion by some time in the foreseeable future, if famine, pestilence and war do not decimate us. Fifty one million extra people precisely (51,011,222) have extra

world and also the world’s tenth most populous country.

The Thomas Maltus factor: Numbers of people double every 25 years (unless checked) thus population grows at a geometric rate (1,2,4,8,16,32 etc) while food production increases at just an arithmetic rate (1,2,3,4,5,6 etc). It is therefore obvious that population will always outstrip food supply unless fertility is controlled (by late marriage or celebacy) famine, vice, disease and war must serve as natural population restrictions. For obvious reasons world population is hardly exact.

Population and Poverty: Population pressure is treated as (law of nature) which makes poverty natural and inevitable.

The root cause of pauperism is the excessive procreation of the lower classes.

By FOSTER A. OSAGIEDE OGBORO

only 66,996 more men than females. The census further revealed that for every 10,000 females, there are 10,015 males.

At the national level sex distribution appears fairly balanced, but this can not be said of the component states.

At the state level three cases are apparent and these are states with low, balanced and high sex ratios respectively.

The case of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), is

President Goodluck Jonathan the conduct of a population census of Nigeria to facilitate the provision of requisite data for national and sectorial planning for now and the future.

The population census of Nigeria was successfully conducted from 27th to 30th November 1991.

The provisional figures from the census were accepted and released by the federal government in March 1992, following which detailed processing commenced, The total population of Nigeria as recorded in the 1991 population census Was 88,992,220 of this figure 44,529,608 are males while 44,462,62 are females.

The census showed a remarkably balanced distribution of males and females in Nigeria. There are

clearly unique in terms of masculinity. In the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) there are at least 123 males to every 100 females.

The 1952/53 census, conducted about 45 years ago has been commended as about the best conducted in Nigeria before the 1991 census. The general criticism against the 1963 census is that the figures were grossly inflated. The National Population commission subscribes to this view and accordingly has serious reservation concerning using the 1963 census figures as base for estimation of inter - censal annual growth rate.

Using the 1952/53 census as base the growth rate between 1952/53 and 1991 was estimated at 2.83 percent per annum.

A point of clarification is

THE NIGERIAN

28

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Joining Bayern Was The Right Decision

Bastian Schweinsteiger

I’m Still Greedy For Titles

WINNING the World Cup has only made the Bayern Munich man’s appetite for success all the more insatiable.

Bayern Munich star collection of titles, seven Bastian Schweinsteiger including says is desperate for Bundesliga crowns and even more success, a Champions League despite winning the title with the German World Cup with champions.

And the 30-year-old Germany during the has said there is still no summer.

The midfielder has relent in his hunger for spent much of this silverware.

“With the world title, campaign on the sidelines due to injury I’ve become even but boasts a formidable greedier,” he admitted

-Schweinsteiger

to Focus. “I won’t be bored of winning for a long time.

“I now know how to win big titles and what it feels like to lift a trophy in the air. I want to have many more of these moments.

“I would even say that winning titles is addictive.”

Schweinsteiger

Ronaldo Deserves The Ballon “fantastic” year.

THE Real Madrid d’Or The Portuguese star forward is confident his “fantastic” team-mate will beat Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer to the award.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale says Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the 2014 Fifa Ballon d’Or after having a

inspired his side to the the Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Copa del Rey last season, and has carried his incredible form into the current campaign, hitting 29 goals in 21 games in all competitions.

Ronaldo has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or alongside Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who won the World Cup with Germany this year, but Bale believes his team-mate who should take the prize for a second consecutive year.

“Ronaldo was fantastic this year,” the Welshman told TeleFoot. “He deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.”

confessed that previous heartbreak made the 1-0 World Cup final win over Argentina in Rio in July all the sweeter.

“In 2012, we were brutally punished in the Champions League final against Chelsea. I lay on the field with the national coach crying after we beat Argentina because I felt justice.

And I want that feeling more. Much more.”

‘Schweini’ also admitted that he has tried to talk club-mate Philipp Lahm out of international retirement, but to no avail.

“Every day I tell him he should play for Germany again, but so far I’ve had no success.”

Now back to full fitness after knee issues, the new national team captain is on line for his eighth Bundesliga title as Bayern currently lead the division by a healthy seven-point margin.

-Rode

THE former Germany Under-21 international is happy with life at the Bundesliga champions so far following his summer move Sebastian Rode has stressed that he does not have any regrets over his decision to leave Eintracht Franfurt for Bayern Munich.

Question marks where raised over whether the 24year-old would get much playing time at the Allianz Arena given the competition for places from the likes of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xabi Alonso.

However, Rode has already made 14 appearances in all competitions for Bayern and he is happy with the way things have gone for him so

far.

“I know I did everything right by joining Bayern and I’ve already learned a huge amount from my teammates and the coach,” Rode joined the official Bayern website.

“But I want more. I hope I’ll play more in the future and become a regular at some point.

“I arrived with plenty of respect but I soon settled in.

Bayern are certainly a big step up compared to Eintracht. It’s been very positive.

“The coach has made it clear he values me from the very first day and the best evidence of that is the increasing amount of playing time I’m getting.”

GHANA star Andre Ayew scored in Marseille’s 3-1 win over Metz in France’s Ligue 1, but coach Marcelo Bielsa is not entirely happy.

Bielsa was frustrated by his team’s failure to regularly maintain possession in midfield, while he never felt confident of securing the three points after Marseille went 2-1 ahead, as Metz spent long periods camped

in the home side’s half.

While Dimitri Payet scored a match-clinching goal for Marseille in second-half stoppage time, Bielsa claimed there was little to like about his side’s performance.

“It’s a game where we struggled to play well,” the Argentine coach said.

“Winning, that was necessary; [it] provides satisfaction - more to the result than the manner.”

Ayew Nets, But Marseille Coach Not Happy

Give Mancini Time THE Croatia international has called for patience in the wake of his side’s poor run of form in recent weeks Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic has stressed that Roberto Mancini deserves time to turn things around following his unconvincing start to his second spell as the club’s head coach.

Mancini replaced Walter Mazzarri as the man in charge ahead of the derby against AC Milan, but he has yet to guide them to victory in Serie A. Inter held Milan to a 1-1 draw in their first match under Mancini, before they were beaten 4-2 by Roma, only to lose again on Sunday as Udinese proved to be too strong in a 2-1 triumph.

“We’re not having a good spell at the moment, but let’s give Mancini time,” Kovacic told reporters.

“A coach can’t change everything in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, we’re in one of those periods and we just need

- Kovacic

to look forward. We’ve got a good team but we’re making too many errors.

“We must listen to the coach and work harder. Serie A is a very tough league, and every match is hard. We need to try and do better.”

Inter have dropped to 12th place in the league table following their poor string of results.

Roberto Mancini

THE NIGERIAN

29

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Greek Champions Can Still Reach The Last 16

VICTORY on Tuesday could send them through should Juventus lose to Atletico Madrid, while the visitors can yet snatch a Europa League spot Olympiakos still have a slim chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase on Tuesday.

Destiny is out of Olympiakos’ hands, with the Greek champions sitting third in Group A heading into their final matchday fixture against Malmo.

Olympiakos (six points, -5) are six points adrift of group leaders Atletico Madrid (12 points, +11) and three behind Juventus (nine points, +3) after last month’s 4-0 drubbing in Madrid.

However, there is still hope for the Greek giants.

If Manchester City Want Me Out, I’ll Pack My Bags!

THE Frenchman admits that he - Nasri will walk away from the club if he

A win against Swedish outfit Malmo at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium and a Juve loss to Atletico would see Olympiakos through to the last 16 due to their superior head-tohead record.

Olympiakos beat Juve 1-0 in Athens in October, while the Italians were 3-2 victors in November.

The 41-time Greek Super League champions form leading into the deciding fixture has left plenty to be desired.

Olympiakos are four points off top spot after losing 2-1 to leaders PAOK midweek and surrendering a lead in the 88th minute to draw 2-2 at home to PAS Giannina on Saturday.

class quality that the team needs and I thought he was brilliant when he came on [against Sunderland].

“It can’t be up to him every single game to be the catalyst but it’s very hard to replace that quality.

“He’s still got that talent, he’s got world-class ability and, at this stage of his career, it’s about me managing that, along with him, in order to play in the big games.”

v v v v v v v v

A win by two clear goals will see the Serie A champions leapfrog Diego Simeone’s side in the group standings, though just a point will guarantee their place in the next round Juventus host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday aiming to join the Group A leaders in the knockout rounds

of the Champions League.

Spanish champions Atletico booked their spot in the last 16 on matchday five after dismantling Olympiakos 4-0 at the Vicente Calderon.

Juve - who boast a three-point advantage over Olympiakos are three points behind in second place and can seal their passage into the round of 16 with a draw at Juventus Stadium on the final matchday.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men are unbeaten in nine home matches in Uefa competition but they will be hoping for an improvement, having played out a less than impressive goalless draw at Fiorentina in a match that saw the Serie A champions and league leaders revert back to a 3-5-2 formation on Friday.

“We certainly made a step backwards in terms of chances, as we had created so much in previous games and were a little less precise in the final ball,” Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

“I am happy in any system and try to put myself to the service of the team. Obviously with three I can read the situations better, but I have shown over the years I can do well with four too.”

Men Can Still Secure Top Spot

Arsene Wenger

Wenger’s Men Still Fighting For Top Place

THE Gunners travel to Turkey without the rested Alexis Sanchez as the Londoners search for a first-placed finish in Group D, should Borussia Dortmund fail to beat Anderlecht a three-match winning run, all Arsenal take on Galatasaray in the Champions League on of which included clean Tuesday knowing top spot in sheets, but that sequence ended at the Britannia Group D remains up for grabs.

Arsene Wenger’s men sealed Stadium on Saturday.

Arsenal found themselves their progression to the last-16 with a 2-0 win over leaders 3-0 down by half-time against Borussia Dortmund last time out Stoke City, with Wenger labelling his defence as “soft” at the Emirates Stadium.

That victory ensured Arsenal after they were eventually would join the Bundesliga side beaten 3-2.

Wenger will rest the in-form in the knockout stage, but there is plenty to play for in Istanbul Alexis Sanchez for the clash as Wenger’s side look to avoid a with a Gala side buoyed by the arrival of Hamza Hamzaoglu potentially awkward last-16 tie.

Arsenal will top the group with as coach.

The former Barcelona man a win if Dortmund lose to Anderlecht but if the Bundesliga side draw, then Wenger’s men will need to win by a big enough margin to overtake Jurgen THE coach has hailed Klopp’s men on goal difference. the Champions League The London club’s victory against Dortmund was the first in holders’ stance against

has adapted seamlessly to life in English football but Wenger insists it is vital that the Chile forward is given a break.

“At the moment he looks like at some stage I have to give him a breather,” Wenger said in midweek.

“I did it with many players before who were... playing every game. I did it with [Thierry] Henry, with [Robin] van Persie and it always helped them to get through without being injured.

“You have to know when to rest him and when not but I

think at the moment he plays at his peak on the edge. He will not go to Turkey.”

Gala have made a fine start to life under Hamzaoglu and will feature in Europe for the first time under his leadership at the Turk Telekom Arena.

Hamzaoglu replaced Cesare Prandelli following defeat to Anderlecht and has since masterminded three wins from as many games.

The former Turkey assistant coach will hope to avenge his side’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and maintains there are early signs of progress.

Enrique Welcomes Potential Ban On Real Madrid Fans

Today’s Matches Monaco Galatasaray Real Madrid Benfica Borussia Dortmund Juventus Liverpool Olympiakos

BeIn Sports: “I do not know if I will leave the club. If they come to me and they tell me to pack my bags, I will leave.”

The club were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona in the Round of 16 last season and Nasri knows that it will be the players’ responsibility to produce a result, not just the manager.

“If we play our game, we will win against Roma. The greatest risk is to play with pressure and to have this apprehension. If we dont ask questions, and we play our game, then we will do it. We have more qualities.

Allegri’s

Rodgers Relying On Gerrard THE Reds face a must-win Magic encounter with the Swiss champions if they are to progress to the knockout rounds of the Champions League and the 34year-old has been backed to impress Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has backed Steven Gerrard to inspire his side through their must-win Champions League clash with Basel.

The five-time European champions go into Tuesday’s Group B game at Anfield knowing that only a victory will be good enough for them to progress.

And, having won just five of their 12 home matches in all competitions this season after being held to a goalless draw by Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday, the pressure is on the Reds to perform.

Liverpool have also picked up just one point in four Champions League fixtures since opening with a narrow defeat of Ludogorets on Merseyside, a run which saw them lose 1-0 in Switzerland in October.

Gerrard was again only used as a substitute over the weekend but Rodgers has confirmed that he will play his skipper - the hero of so many European nights at Anfield - from the outset as his side seek those vital three points.

“He was excellent when he came on and, of course, he plays on Tuesday night,” the manager told reporters. “Stevie coming onto the field gives us the world-

is no longer needed but believes Manuel Pellegrini’s men have the potential to progress in Champions League Samir Nasri has admitted that he could leave Manchester City if he is deemed surplus to requirements.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side travel to Roma on Tuesday for City’s mustwin Champions League fixture against the Serie A outfit, which could lead to the Chilean’s dismissal if the Citizens fail to progress to the knockout stages.

The 27-year-old has backed his team-mates to progress at the Stadio Olimpico, but has stated that he will leave the Etihad Stadium if he is no longer wanted. He told

Zenit St Petersburg Arsenal Ludogorets Bayer RSC Atlético de Madrid FC Basel Malmö FF

Tomorrow’s fixtures FC Bayern München v CSKA Moscow Athletic Club v BATE Borisov Ajax v APOEL Nicosia Chelsea v Sporting Lisbon Barcelona v Paris Saint Germain NK Maribor v FC Schalke 04 Roma v Manchester City FC Porto v Shakhtar Donetsk

the derogatory chants aimed at Barcelona and Lionel Messi Luis Enrique has praised Real Madrid’s decision to take action against the supporters who verbally insulted Barcelona and Lionel Messi.

A section of supporters were identified as being responsible for derogatory chants aimed at the Catalans during the Santiago Bernabeu side’s 3-0 win over Celta de Vigo at the weekend.

Madrid will propose to their disciplinary board that 17 fans have their season tickets revoked as a result, and Luis Enrique feels taking such action is a step in the right

direction.

“Only 17?” smiled the Barcelona boss when

Luis Enrique

questioned about Madrid’s measurements.

“I think it’s good, though. I

back any anti-violence measures. Even if putting an end to chants against rivals might be utopian. Everything against violence in football is welcome.”

Luis Enrique insists taking away supporter season tickets is not an excessive measure but accepts it is difficult to know when and when not to take action against supporter chanting.

“It’s not over the top to go after them but I don’t know where we draw the line.

There are insults at every stadium in Spain,” he said.

“We should try and control what we can like acts of violence, but we are all good people until our passion for our team comes out.

“If we throw out everyone who insults people during football we’ll be left on our own, even without players.”

THE NIGERIAN

30

Golf Champs Mohammed Wins MUDI Mohammed of Kano Golf Club has emerged the overall winner of the Eleventh Kaduna Refinery Petrol Chemical Company(KRPC) Annual Amateur Golf Championship in Kaduna.

Mohammed on Sunday came tops with a gross score of 76 in the category I handicap 0-9 to beat his closest rival Abu Ahmed who pulled a gross score of 77 in the category.

In category II handicap 10-20, Arabi Bello of Kaduna Golf Club finished with a net score of 65 to be the winner and he was followed

by Kunle Kolade of the same club who had a net score of 66.

In the ladies categories, Rakiya Mustapha of Kaduna Golf Club was the overall winner as she had a net score of 71, while Amina Anebi pulled a total score of 72 to be the runner-up.

Also, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Amb. Nuhu Bajoga won the Managing Director’s invitee category by pulling a net score of 77 and was closely followed by Adamu Hassan who had a net score of 78.

Mourinho Fumes At Newcastle Tactics

THE former Inter boss has slated Alan Pardew’s side after the Blues’ first defeat of the season but is confident his side remain the strongest in the league at present Jose Mourinho has lambasted Newcastle’s tactics as “parking a cow” after the Magpies inflicted upon Chelsea their first defeat of the season on Saturday.

Didier Drogba’s late strike could not spark a revival after Papiss Cisse’s double sealed a 21 win for Alan Pardew’s men at St. James’ Park, but the Portuguese boss took issue with the hosts’ style of play.

Mourinho slated the physicality of Newcastle’s players and the lackadaisical approach of the ball-boys when deep into six minutes of added time.

However, when asked whether he would employ a similar stance to ensure victory, the Blues boss said: “No. With anything? You may as well put a cow in the middle of the pitch. And then stop the game because there was a cow.

Jose Mourinho

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

Aguero Believes He’s Out Until 2015 MANCHESTER City striker Sergio Aguero believes he will not play again for a month, according to newspaper reports. out on Saturday, Aguero is The 26-year-old striker well-used to picking up had been in an injuries and presumably extraordinary patch of form, and was on course to become the first man in the history of English top flight football to reach 20 league goals before the end of the calendar year.

But an awkward fall just three minutes into Saturday night’s match against Everton saw City’s key man limp off injured, and in tears.

Manuel Pellegrini said after the game that Aguero had ligament damage, and would certainly miss this week’s crucial Champions League match against Roma.

But according to the Daily Mail Aguero himself has “told friends” that he is almost certain not to play again for a month - and as Pitchside Europe pointed Sergio Aguero

has a sense of how bad things are.

The Daily Mail’s story claims Aguero, “privately expressed his fears after

saying ‘he felt something strange happen inside’ the joint.”

An MRI scan cannot take place until Monday or

Confusion Reigns Over Wilshere Injury

Fitting Farewell For Departing Donovan

THE LA Galaxy icon is at peace with his decision to step away from the game after claiming a sixth league title For the past four months, the mortality of Landon Donovan’s career has become increasingly tangible. Yet the LA Galaxy icon has remained characteristically serene. He’s been contemplative — but not overly emotive.

It wasn’t until the final whistle on Sunday that Donovan truly let loose. As the final whistle blew, the 32year-old spread his arms, tilted his head back and looked to the heavens.

Seconds later, he disappeared into a swarm of Galaxy teammates mobbing him from the

bench.

Thus ended the last of Donovan’s 32,520 minutes played in Major League Soccer. With MLS Cup crown number six, his remarkable career came to a close.

“As much excitement as there is about the game, there is excitement that tomorrow I don’t have to train anymore,” said Donovan, sporting champagne-soaked hair during his post-game news

Tuesday, since the swelling in Aguero’s knee must first subside before an accurate assessment can be made.

And with Aguero’s understudy Edin Dzeko also struggling for fitness, City’s hopes - both in the Premier League and in Europe - will rest for now on the shoulders of Stevan Jovetic and 18-year-old Jose Angel Pozo.

conference. “Along with that, I won’t have experiences like today anymore either. So there is a lot of good, and there is going to be some bad. But it feels good to go out this way.”

Donovan’s legacy was entrenched well before the Galaxy’s 2-1 extra-time win over the New England Revolution. After 14 years, 379 matches, 169 goals and 150 assists, there is little

doubting his place as the greatest player in MLS history.

And one can’t illustrate the gaping hole his retirement will leave in the American soccer landscape without factoring in his 157 caps, 57 goals and 58 assists in a USA shirt as well.

“He’s done it the right way, all the way,” Revolution coach Jay Heaps said. “It’s tough that we were a part of his storybook ending, but he deserves everything that you guys write about him.”

ARSENAL have moved to dispel rumours that Jack Wilshere has suffered another injury setback.

It was reported on Monday morning that the England midfielder had suffered a setback in his recovery and could be out until at least March.

But it is understood the original prognosis still stands, with Wilshere set to return after a 12week absence following the injury suffered against Manchester United on November 22.

Wilshere underwent surgery on November 27 and an Arsenal statement at the time read: “Jack Wilshere has had successful surgery on his left ankle and will be out for approximately three months.

“An assessment with a specialist confirmed the need for an operation and the 22-year-old had successful surgery to his ankle in London on Thursday afternoon.”

Arsenal communications director Mark Gonnella took to Twitter to deny that Wilshere had suffered any sort of setback.

Wilshere has struggled with ankle problems throughout his career with this injury being eighth injury in that area.

Wilshere should also be available in plenty of time for his next international commitments, with England taking on Lithuania in their next Euro 2016 qualifier on March 27.

Costa Needs To Improve Fitness

CHELSEA’S manager Jose Mourinho has called on striker Diego Costa to improve his fitness as he seeks to end his scoreless run.

The Brazil-born Spain international hit the ground running after signing from Atletico Madrid in the summer, scoring seven goals in his first four Blues appearances.

But he has netted only twice in his last seven, having been hampered by hamstring problems, and has been overtaken as the Barclays Premier League’s leading scorer by Sergio Aguero of Manchester City.

Mourinho’s men suffered their first defeat of the season at Newcastle on Saturday, with Costa again failing to trouble

- Mourinho

the scorers.

[COULD DIEGO COSTA COST CHELSEA THIS SEASON?] But Mourinho told several national newspapers: “For me, the problem is not the goals - they will come as a consequence of his condition.

“He has to improve his condition. He was injured and had many doubts because he went a long time without training.

“Obviously that must have an effect on a player in the way he runs, the way he moves and in his coordination.

“I don’t think there is any problem but he has to recover.”

It remains to be seen whether Costa will be given the chance to build his match-

Diego Costa

sharpness in Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon, with Chelsea having already qualified for the knock-out stages.

THE NIGERIAN

31

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

ODSG Promises To Host Best FEPSGA THE Ondo State Government has said that it was prepared to host a befitting Federal Public Service Games (FEPSGA) in Akure between Dec. 10 and Dec. 20.

Mr Toyin Akinkuotu, the state Head of Service, told newsmen in Akure that the state was fully prepared for the games.

He said that the high standard associated with the state would be maintained during the period of the games.

Akinkuotu said that the state would do well at the 33rd edition of the games with effective planning and determination.

He assured that the state government would put up a show that would surpass all

Champs To Hold Annually -Coordinator

Tammy Danagogo, Sports Minister

Team Kaduna Wins

other games.

The LOC Chairman, Mr Dele Ologbese, said the FEPSGA was very important to the state government.

He said the sports development in the state had been very rewarding.

“Products of the initiatives have won laurels at the local level and have also recorded exceptional performances at national and international sports events,’’ he told newsmen.

On the security measures being put in place for the games, Ologbese assured that the government would ensure a hitch-free festival.

He said that the state had a structure that would make policing easy, adding that “Ondo State has the lowest crime rate in the country”.

Hockey: Niger Delta

COLLINS Iheanyi, Coordinator of the just concluded maiden Niger Delta Hockey Open Championship, on Monday said that the event would be organised annually to enhance the growth of hockey at the grassroots.

Iheanyi told newsmen on phone that about 20 talents were discovered at the just concluded event held from December 6 to December 7 in Rivers.

According to him, nine teams from Delta, Niger and the host, Rivers, took part in the competition held at the hockey Pitch of the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

“The two days competition was breathtaking and many of the players gave good account of themselves.

“The competition will be staged annually to enhance the growth of hockey at the grassroots.

“We were able to identify a lot of promising players and we listed close to 20 players that were exceptional at the competition,’ he said.

He said that the competition would be organised annually by the Rivers Hockey Association,

2014 Men’s Cricket Champs:

His Royal Majesty Omo ‘N Oba ‘N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa (CFR) Oba of Benin.

TEAM Kaduna on Sunday in Abuja emerged champions of the 2014 National Men’s Cricket Championship organised by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF).

Report state that Team Kaduna defeated Team Kwara by 121 runs to lift the Dr John Abebe’s trophy.

Kaduna batted first and secured 279 runs in 50 overs for the loss of eight wickets, while Kwara secured 158 runs all out in 39.3 overs.

To get to the final, Kaduna defeated Team Edo and Enugu respectively in a round robin challenge on Saturday.

Head Coach of Team Kaduna, Joe Onoja, told newsmen that his team was worthy champions having brushed aside every team that came its way.

Onoja said that the win would strengthen the team for the challenges ahead.

“I have a well disciplined team; you can see the way they

Second Benin Chess Tourney Starts Dec 16

adding that efforts would be made to improve on subsequent editions.

Iheanyi said that more states would be invited to participate in the competition.

“The aim of the championship is to develop hockey at the grassroots and we intend to organise it yearly and achieve what we set out to do,’’ he said.

The coordinator commended Strides Energy and Maritime as well as Oil Tech for sponsoring the championship.

Reports say that Niger Flickers defeated Delta Hockey team in a penalty shootout by 43, while Rivers Queen defeated Rivers Babes by 3-2.

CHESS players from different parts of the country are expected to converge in Benin December 16 to participate in the second edition of Benin Chess Tournament tagged Oba’s Cup. According to the co-ordinator “I really gathered experiences of the tournament, Omoyemwen from the first edition. That Afolabi the competition which experience informed early ends on December 19 will hold organisation and preparation for at the Indoor Sports Hall of the the tournament.

Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

She promised to continue to Omoyemwen Afolabi contribute her quota towards the explained that this year’s tourney development of chess sport in the which would also be sponsored state. by the 7up Bottling Company She said the prizes that will be will be better that of the first given to prospective players will outing. be determined in due course.

THE young sensation believes the Super Falcons have what it takes to make it out of the so-called group of death at the Canada 2015 Fifa Women World Cup Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala has said her side has the capacity to progress out of Group D in the preliminary stages of the 2015 Fifa Women World Cup in Canada.

Nigeria, who emerged champions of Africa for a record seventh time in Namibia in October, have been drawn alongside twotime winners USA, Sweden and Australia in the competition scheduled to hold between June 6 and July 5, 2015.

Oshoala, who was named the 2014 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup and African Women Championship Best

Player, said she had her mind ready to face any opposition at the World Cup and had no reason to nurse fears.

“I was expecting any [oppostition] because it’s called draws - anything can happen. The teams [USA, Sweden and Australia] are no threat to us all,” Oshoala told Goal.

“We have more than enough good players who will make Nigeria progress from the group stage. I believe we have the capacity to advance and nothing to fear.”

On the scare of facing Nigeria’s usual tormentor USA again, the Rivers Angels double-title winner said the present national side will shock the two-time champions as they are ‘no threat because they are living on their past glory’.

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

Falcons Will Progress From ‘Group Of Death’ -Oshoala

“I don’t think we would have any problem in that group, if we actually go on proper training and quality preparation before the competition,” Oshoala said.

The 20-year-old Super Falcons star said it will be dream come true if selected to play for Nigeria at the senior level at the finals in Canada where she won the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup Best Player and top scorer award in August.

“Well, I don’t know if I would be there, but I will be very glad and excited if I’m given the opportunity to represent my country in Canada again,” she said.

Nigeria will begin their 7th Fifa Women World Cup campaign against Sweden on June 8 at the Winnipeg Stadium in Canada.

“I thank our father, His Royal Majesty Omo’N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin for his magnanimity and giving me the op portunity to coordinate the tournament each year.

This is the second edition” Mrs Afolabi also expressed immense gratitude to the 7up Bottling Company for its support.

“7up Bottling Company has been very fantastic. I thank the Managing Director, Mr. Sawhney Sunil, the Edo State Sports Council and Ministry of Youths and Sports. They have continued to encourage and assist me, ensuring the set goal of organising the tournament is realized”.

The objective of this chess tournament is to popularise it as well as ensure that people show interest and participate in the game.

You know when young people are idle, they can take to criminal activities, that is why I want to use the chess to fill the gap, keep them busy and in the process have a career in the game in future.

Asisat Oshoala

played, you will have no option than to appreciate them.

“The secret of our victory is just discipline and dedication to the game. There is no way you can move forward without these two principles,’’ Onoja said.

Emeka Onyeama, President of NCF said the championship met all expectations.

“This game is gradually taking shape in Nigeria and the sponsor of this championship Dr John Abebe, wants this game to be played across the country.

“Edo state was here in this edition; the state has never featured in this tournament for so many years but today, the players came.

“Enugu was here and the state has never featured in this tournament for a long time but because of the way we recreated the game, it has given other teams opportunity to compete in finals.

“So, it’s a great thing that we have seen other talents from other different parts of Nigeria,’’ Onyeama said.

Reports say that some players of Team Kaduna who distinguished themselves went home with different awards.

They include Daniel Gim who won the bowler and cricketer of the series with a total of 10 wickets as well as Yusuf Gershon who won batsman of the series.

Other award winners are Godwin Onoja who won the fielder of the series and Prosper Mgbawa who emerged the wicket keeper of the series.

Isaac Okpe, won the man of the final match, while the second and third place shield went to Kwara and Edo respectively.

The highpoint of the three-day championship was the presentation of trophy to the winning team, Kaduna, by Mr Caleb Gidado, the representative of the Minister of Sports.

Reports say that five teams from the five geo-political zones of the country excluding the North-East participated in the championship.

The teams are Enugu for South-East zone; Oyo represented the South-West; Kwara played for the NorthCentral; Kaduna for North-West, while Edo represented SouthSouth.

North-East failed to participate because of insurgency in the area.

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

32

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

IN FOCUS Adopting Protective Measures MATTERSWITH Aginst The Effects Of Harmattan CLIMATOLOGISTS describe harmattan as a hot, dry and dusty wind that blows over West Africa.

They note that this northeasterly wind blows from the Sahara Desert into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March.

On its passage over the desert, the wind picks up fine dust and sand particles, while the air is particularly dry and desiccating when the wind blows over the region.

At morning, low temperatures can easily be as low as 15 °C (59 °F) or 20 °C (68 °F). At afternoon, high temperatures easily soar to more than 30 °C (86°F) and can reach as high as 40 °C (104 °F) sometimes, while the relative humidity drops under 10 per cent.

In a nutshell, harmattan induces desert-like weather conditions: it lowers the humidity, dissipates cloud cover, prevents rainfall formation and sometimes creates big clouds of dust or sand which can even result in violent duststorms or sandstorms.

However, when the haze effect is weak, this dry wind creates beautiful sunny days with plenty of clear skies Medical experts, nonetheless, insist that the dry weather conditions, which are associated with harmattan, have various health implications on humans, affecting their respiratory system, skin and eyes.

Dr Sopuru Chineke, a general physician at Mary’s Catholic Hospital, Gwagwalada, says that harmattan predisposes people to upper respiratory tract infections.

He adds that such infections could be contracted through dust inhaled during the harmattan season.

Besides, Chineke says

that people can also contract gastroenteritis or infectious diarrhoea during the season because of scarcity of water, saying that once there is inadequate water supply, environmental hygiene is usually poor.

“The harmattan season is

hands to prepare meals, such meals could be contaminated.

“These are some of the ways through which infections can spread during the harmattan season,’’ he adds.

The medical doctor,

treat the cause of such infections because bacteria are usually involved.

Antibiotics and other supportive therapy could be given to stop the vomiting and stooling if the infected person is an adult,’’ he says.

Chineke, however, says

President Goodluck Jonathan the dry season and during that period, a lot of things happen.

“The wind is usually dusty and a lot of infections also take place; some people end up contracting upper respiratory tract infections.

“During the season, people inhale dusty air. By the time the dust gets into the nasal tract, the respiratory defence system tries to treat the substances and remove the dust.

“Unfortunately, people inhaling dusty air can catch upper respiratory tract infections, which can be transmitted from one person to another,” he says.

Moreover, Chineke says that some people usually do not remember to wash their hands after using the toilet; adding that when such people use their tainted

however, says that upper respiratory tract infections can cause catarrh, nasal congestion (nasal discharge) and cough, adding that if there is a bacterial infection, fever may also occur.

“Furthermore, the symptoms of gastrointestinal infection include vomiting and frequent stooling as well as abdominal pain, while its treatment depends largely on the severity of the condition,’’ he says.

Chineke explains that in event of severe gastroenteritis infection, the infected person would be admitted in the hospital and given fluids, so as to restore the fluids which the body system have lost due to vomiting and stooling.

“There is also the need to

that antibiotics and antipyretics are usually used for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections.

He says that the drugs would help to control the fever, while efforts should be made to ensure that “the patient does not continue to take cold drinks or get exposed to cold’’.

By NAOMI SHARANG AND JACINTA NWACHUKWU (NAN)

He also says that consumption of fruits and foods that are rich in Vitamins C and A will help to boost the people’s immune system, thereby preventing infections.

Chineke, however, underscores the need to keep infected persons in isolated areas, so as to guard against the spread of the infection to others, particularly children.

Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Kennedy Ishaya, Gombe State’s Commissioner for Health, advises the public to adopt precautionary measures to prevent the occurrence of ailments associated with the harmattan season.

He lists conjunctivitis and skin problems as some of the infections that usually occur during the harmattan season.

Ishaya urges the people to wear protective eye glasses that can prevent dust from entering their eyes.

He, however, warns the people against bush burning in order to ensure the preservation of trees, which are wind breakers and protectors of the ecosystem.

Speaking on the effects of harmattan on the skin, Dr Olanrewaju Falodun, a Senior Consultant Dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, says that human skin can become dry during harmattan season as a result of the dry wind.

His words: “When the skin is dry, it becomes wrinkled; the skin can also have cracks which can degenerate into bruises and lesions.’’

Falodun says that people also have a tendency to

develop skin rashes during harmattan season, adding that the skin rashes can also induce itching.

“When the weather is dry, a lot of itching takes place and when people scratch the itchy skin, they may inadv ertently introduce infections to the skin,’’ he says.

He emphasises that harmattan can also predispose people to asthmatic attacks, sneezing and coughs.

Falodun, however, underscores the need for the people to be wellhydrated during the period, saying: “It is a period when people should drink a lot of water because water helps to hydrate the skin.’’

He also advises the people to use emollient creams which help in moisturising the skin.

“If one has bad cracks on the skin, there is the need to wear clothes that will cover the feet and other parts of the body prone to dryness,’’ he says.

All the same, Falodun urges the people to refrain from wearing clothes that can generate excessive heat during harmattan since the season is typified by the two weather extremes.

“The harmattan period is usually characterised by heat during the day while it gets very cold at night,” he adds.

Funny enough, the dermatologist calls on people to avoid excessive use of antiseptic soaps, insisting that the use of very strong antiseptics tends to make the skin to dry up.

“The wind is usually dusty and a lot of infections also take place; some people end up contracting upper respiratory tract infections.”

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