Nigerian observer 23 07 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • V ol. 39 NO.040 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 , 20 14 . N100.00 OPINION Page 15

Imo Intensifying campaign against operators of ‘Baby Factories’

Oshiomhole swears-in 20 new Perm Secs Thursday

BENIN CITY- Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will swear in the newly a p p o i n t e d P e r m a n e n t Secretaries in the

state Civil Service on Thursday, July 24 at 1.pm.

A statement signed by the Chief Press

Secretary to Edo State Governor, Peter Okhiria said the swearing-in ceremony will take place at the

Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City.

Guests, the statement said, are to be seated by 12:30 pm.

Stop playing politics with security

- Oshiomhole tells Politicians

VIEW POINT Page 18

Unresolve murders Can Nigeria ever get it right?

BENIN CITY- Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has urged politicians to resist the temptation of playing politics with security matters in the interest of the nation.

Speaking at the Security Management Workshop organised by the Department of State Security Services in Benin City, yesterday, he said playing politics with sensitive security matters will only encourage the perpetrators to do more.

He said: “Nothing else matters when we are not safe. I also want to advice those of us holding political office who sometimes make public statement that we must resist the temptation of politicizing security issues. All politicians

government, people look at us that we should be able to educate those we come across on basic security issues. These people who are into violent crimes and

terrorism do not live in the moon; they live with us.

Sometimes they interact with us without knowing what their intentions are.

“As we all get more and more security conscious,

we know what to watch out for whenever we find ourselves in public places.”

He thanked the SSS for the initiative and expressed the hope that

at the end of the exercise, the participants would have comprehended basic tips on security.

Earlier, the Director of the State Command of Continues on page 2

whether of the ruling or opposition party must not join in the madness of politicizing security issues.

“If we do this, we will be encouraging kidnappers and other evil-minded people. We must resist the temptation and trust that the security agencies know what to do. Even where we have information, it is better we share it in private with the security agencies so that all of us can be on the same page”, he said.

Oshiomhole said: “Each and every one of us, being senior officials of

Chibok: Jonathan meets

with escaped girls, parents ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with some parents of the secondary school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno, on April 14.

Some of the schoolgirls, who escaped from the terrorists were also at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Also in attendance were Governors Kashim

Shettima and Isa Yuguda of Borno and Bauchi states respectively, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

It will be recalled that Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl-child education campaigner, had visited Jonathan on July 14 and urged him to meet with the girls’ parents.

The president had

TIT BIT “It is not just about failed personal ambition, sadly, some persons by their actions have cast a spell on the honourable duty of serving humanity... that it now seems an impossible mission - the loving act of governance.”

- Kinglsey Ogbeide-Ihama

acceded to her request and the meeting was scheduled for 4 p.m. the next day, but it was cancelled after the parents failed to turn up.

However, Jonathan, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Mr Doyin

MEETING: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele (right), addressing participants at the Monetary Policy Committee Meeting in Abuja yesterday. With him is Deputy Governor, Finance System Stability, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu (middle) and Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.

Auto Policy: 30 Vehicles

Manufacturing Plants take off soon

Continues on page 2

ABUJA - The National Automotive Council yesterday said 30 vehicle manufacturing plants would soon commence operation in the country..

The Director, Policy and Planning, Mr Lukman Mahmud, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He said the Federal Government was working toward facilitating the production of vehicle components at

competitive prices through the Nigerian automotive industry and to create employment opportunities.

Mahmud explained that prior to the pronouncement of the National Automotive Industry Development

Plan in 2013, Nigeria had 14 existing plants across the nation.

“The protection and incentives provided to

the industry under the new policy persuaded 16 companies to establish assembly plants,” he said.

Continues on page 2

Project Implementation In LGAs ABUJA The M i l l e n n i u m Development Goals (MDGs) says the Federal Government has approved N25 billion in 250 Local

FG approves N25bn

Government Areas (LGAs) for implementation of projects.

Dr Precious Gbeneol, the Special Assistant to the President on MDGs told journalists

yesterday in Abuja.

She said that the N25 billion would be matched Continues on page 2

News

30 vehicles manufacturing plants take off soon Continued from page 1

Mahmud added that the motor assembling companies would come in with complete and semi-knock-down vehicles.

He said Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Leyland, Fiat, Volkswagen and Mercedes were the complete Knock-down assembling plants that were forced to shut down due to the influx of imported cars or and second hand vehicles otherwise called “Tokunbo”.

Mahmud said the idea of Semi-Knock-Down and Complete Knock-Down import was to address the demand from the automobile market due to eventual hike on tariff and levy of imported fairly used cars.

The director said the policy made provision for high patronage from government and Credit Purchase Scheme.

He explained that under the credit purchase scheme, middle class Nigerians would buy cars at affordable prices and pay back within 36 to 46 months and at single digit interest.

He added that modalities were being worked out with all stakeholders in the sector to curtail smuggling of used cars.

Mahmud said that when stability was achieved and the demand from market met, the

FG approves N25bn Continued from page 1

by another N25 billion from the participating 250 local governments in the implementation of projects in various LGAs. She said that the local governments had been able to execute the 2013 funds appropriated, adding that it would give them access to the 2014 funds.

“We‘ve been able to do very well in the 2013 local government projects. We took 201 local governments in 2013; we are taking 250 local governments in 2014.

“In 2011, 113 local governments were funded to the tune of N11.3 billion by the Federal Government; the states and LGAs also made their N11.3 billion counterpart contributions.

“In 2012, the funding was spread to cover 148 LGAs. N14.8 billion was given by the Federal Government, which was also counterpart funded.

“In 2013, a total of 210 LGAs benefited from N42 billion projects with the Federal Government and LGAs both contributing N21 billion each.

“The president has equally approved the disbursement of N25 billion, which will be matched by another N25billion from the participating 250 local governments.

“That is, for a period of a year, we are looking at N50 billion spread among 250 local governments at 100million from the Federal Government and N100 million from the state governments.

“So, with N200 million, each local government will be able to tackle projects which the people need in the drive to achieve the MDGs between now and in 2015,’’ she said.

Gbeneol added that the LGAs had been able to completely execute the 2013 funds, saying “if the projects are not completed, they will not be able to access 2014 funds.’’

She said that the MDGs had made remarkable improvement in the health, water, sanitation and education sectors.

She said that in 2013 alone, more than 12,342 water

projects were constructed while 2,734 ventilated pit toilets were improved.

She said that the MDGs renovated 5,026 health facilities, trained 4,710 village health workers and provided vehicles and ambulances to health centre’s across LGAs in the country.

“About 3,136 blocks of class rooms were constructed, 2,087 exercise books and 81,063 benches and chairs were distributed through the LGAs, in various primary schools,’’ she said.

Edo Assembly

Group hails Judiciary BENIN CITY- A group, the C oalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa yesterday said the continual disobedience to Court Orders and rulings by the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party legislators should not be overlooked or wished away.

The Coalition said, “the action of these contemnors is both criminal and intolerable and should be treated accordingly”, a statement signed by John Mayaki said.

Mayaki said, “The judiciary have actually carried out their constitutional role by ensuring

Beef Up Security in Ovia N’East, Omagbon appeals to govt, security agencies

By KEHINDE OSAGIEDE

BENIN CITY- The Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government Council, Barr. Mrs. Lucy Omagbon has appealed to the Edo State Government and all relevant security agencies in the state to urgently beef up security in the council area, especially along the Benin-Lagos Express Way. The council boss made the call yesterday when two Edo indigenes in the Nigeria Army who just passed out of the Military College paid her a courtesy visit saying that the high rate of kidnapping and armed robbery incidence on the highway in Ovia North East area has become very worrisome.

She said that about six cases of kidnapping were reported to have taken place along that same road on Monday alone which she said was too much for the people of that area, adding that going through that road to the office on a regular basis has now become a nightmate for council workers and other

Stop playing politics with security

Continued from page 1 Directorate of State Security, Mr. Bello Bakori said the workshop was to sensitize the people on the need to be security conscious.

manufactures would buy the component parts locally.

“Plans are in top gear to revive the auto glass company in Ibadan, car seat company at Kaduna, Nocaco Auto Wires, exhaust pipes and many more parts and consumable producers in the country,” he said.

The director told newsmen

He said most of the criminals in the society live with the people and security agencies carry out their assignments based on information.

that the council had established material testing laboratory in Zaria, Kaduna State; components testing laboratory in Enugu and emission testing laboratory in Lagos.

“All these are to ensure that the components to be produced are of international standard,” he said.

Mahmud said that a critical element of the policy was under legislation at the National Assembly to avoid policy somersault and protection of the investors in the sector.

innocent people.

She, however, called on government and security agencies to find a lasting solution to the issue of insecurity in the country especially the high level of kidnapping in Edo State.

Receiving the two young military visitors, Lefternant Omorodion E. Esosa (Engineering Corp) and Idemudia Osagie (Medical) who said they have come home after rigorous military training exercises to identify with the government of their home land and tell their success stories, the council boss expressed delight that the two young officers were successful in the military training. She advised them to remain good ambassadors of the council area in the military.

She assured them of her administration’s support at any time of need, adding that their name would be written in the history book of the council.

Jonathan meets with escaped girls, parents Continued from page 1 Okupe, directed that a letter of invitation be sent to the parents for yesterday’s meeting.

that all injustices are corrected, especially at the level of the Appeal Court. The judiciary has shown that the Courts are one and forbids injustice, no matter who is involved.

“I am confident, just like the people of Edo state that the statutory jurisdiction of the Court is to ensure justice, equity and or correct imbalances wherever there is injustice. With this judgment, the issue of ruling and counter-ruling, order and counter-order have come to a halt and this is the beauty of democracy. The judiciary is the linch-pin of democracy and it’s judgments based on merit and issues raised by litigants and judgments are weighed using the scale of justice”.

It would be recalled that the Appeal Court had dismissed an application for a stay of execution brought before it by the four suspended PDP legislators. The Court said the appeal by the lawmakers was “undue haste and jumping the gun”.

The lawmakers sought a stay of execution on an order of a Benin High Court, which restrained them and the police from entering the Assembly and the legislative quarters.

Justice H.M Ogunwumuji, held that the applicants were hasty in filing the appeal, instead of allowing the motion on notice to be heard by the lower court.

It held that it was a court that decides the nullity and validity of its decision and not the parties involved. The court said the appeal was premature. Taking a swipe at Festus Ebea, Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Friday Ogieriakhi, Justice Ogunwunmiju ruled that a party, who was in contempt of a court order, cannot be allowed to seek or obtain any relief from the court while the contempt persists.

But, the Coalition described as legislative rascality and lawlessness, the action of the PDP legislators to continue sitting saying, “it is distasteful and disquieting acts of impunity of a political party called the PDP. “We have seen them holding kangaroo plenaries and making needless resolutions that are anti people. The other day, they threatened that the Assembly Account be frozen and on Monday, they asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Attorney General of the Federal, the Accountant General of the Federation and the Director General of the Revenue Allocation, Mobilization and fiscal Commission to withhold revenue allocation to the 18 local government areas of the state.

“In all of these, if they must be taken seriously, they present a picture of a political party that shows scant regard for the rule of law, human rights and freedom of speech and of the press. If the PDP expect peace in Edo state, which I doubt, it cannot be outside truth and justice.”

Resuscitation Of Coy

Edo Line Mgt, staff hail Oshiomhole

BENIN CITY- The Management and Staff of Edo Transport Service Limited, Operators of Edo Line have lauded the initiative of the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for resuscitating the erstwhile moribund company.

This was disclosed yesterday when the staff of the company led by the Admin Manager, Pastor (Mrs.) I. O. Mazimia visited Governor Oshiomhole in Government House, Benin City.

Addressing the Governor, Mrs. Mazimia said, “The management and staff of Edo Transport Service Limited are here to officially express our deep and profound gratitude to the comrade governor for the re-opening of the company.

She added, “We equally wish to pledge our unalloyed loyalty and support for your exemplary style of leadership since the inception of your administration in the state.

Your footprint is visibly speaking all over the state in terms of infrastructural development.

The management and staff of Edo Transport Service Limited expressed thanks to Governor Oshiomhole for the choice of Chief Osamede Adun as Sole Administrator of Edo Line.

Mrs. Mazimia however called on the governor to come to the aid of the company to enable it assume leadership role as a pioneering outfit in the transportation industry.

The Admin Manager stated some challenges

facing the company to include; eight months arrears made up of five months before closure and three months after the reopening in May 2014, inclusion of the staff into the State Government Pay Roll, lack of new vehicles amongst others.

Responding, Governor Adams Oshiomhole represented by the Chief of Staff (COS) Rt. Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon thanked the management and staff for their implicit confidence and their continuous support for the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

He said, “We equally thank you for recognising that the appointment of a sole administrator for the company was not misplaced.

“We are happy to hear from you that the Sole Administrator, Chief Osamede Adun has already begin to clean the organ table which is a reaffirmation that Comrade Oshiomhole is on the side of the people when he made that appointment”.

He assured the management and staff of Edo Transport Company Limited that their requests will be forwarded to the governor for prompt attention.

The Edo Transport Company Limited which was reopened on 1st May, 2014 was closed down by the present administration in April 2010 due to high level indebtedness arising from mismanagement of the company by previous Government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

BAUCH I- USAID has spent 4 million US dollars (N640 million) in the past three years in its effort at ensuring availability of potable water in Bauchi State.

Team Leader, USAID Contractors in Nigeria, Mr Hossana Dajan, told journalists in Bauchi yesterday that the amount was spent on the reform of the water sector in the state.

He refuted speculations from some quarters that USAID, under its Sustainable Water and Sanitation for Africa (SUWANSA) programme, had concluded plans to acquire through lease, Bauchi State Water Corporation.

Dajan explained that USAID was in the state to assist the Corporation build its capacity, both in terms of infrastructure and operations.

He further explained that in 2007, the administration was careful in taking decisions on options given to it bordering on the Corporation.

According to him, the options are either to

privatize the Corporation or build the capacity of its current operators to provide optimal service.

He said that government opted for the later that involved minor institutional, policy and regulatory reforms, as well as provisions of infrastructure.

“Privatization means bringing in new people from somewhere to do the business but reforming the system means to build the capacity of the current staff for optimal service delivery,” he said.

Commenting on alleged increase in water tariff, he said that ‘services’ provided should be matched with ‘costs’.

“When you are providing services, you have to match your service to your cost.

Significantly, what we are promoting is that there has to be sufficiency in the service and reduction in water wastages.

“The major concern now is not tariff; eventually, we will find an appropriate tariff that is friendly, that is affordable, and that can create efficiency into the system,” the team leader stated.

USAID spends $4m on water sector reform

News Abuja Parks, Gardens Lament Low Patronage ABUJA - Managers at the different Parks and Gardens in the Federal Capital Territory have expressed sadness over low patronage by fun seekers ascribing it to the Ramadan period.

Journalists who visited some of the parks and gardens in the FCT reported that most of the gardens were deserted by fun seekers in the course of the fasting period.

Mr Abdulateef Olaosebikan, Head, Programme and Events Department, FCTA, said that the number of people visiting parks and gardens in the city had dropped drastically because of the Ramadan fasting period being observed by Muslims.

Olaosebikan who is also a manager at the Jabi lake garden spoke of the need for Nigerians to visit parks to relax more frequently with members of their families regardless of fasting.

He, however, said that as a result of insecurity the Jabi park now experienced little influx of

Rivers Restates Commitment To Complete On-Going Project PORT HARCOURT - The Rivers State Government said it would ensure that all ongoing projects in the state were completed before the end of the present administration.

This is contained in statement

by Mrs. Ibim Seminetari, Commissioner for Information and Communication, in Port Harcourt.

Semenitari said Governor Chibuike Amaechi, would go round the 23 local government areas of the state to ensure that all ongoing projects were completed.

“As we have entered the last lap of our administration, it is imperative that we go round to see what gaps are remaining in our quest to guarantee the lives of the present and future generations.’’

Semenitari also quoted Amaechi as saying the tour would be “non-partisan, nonpolitical’’ and would be generally for Rivers people to ensure good governance.

She called on the people of the state to cooperate with the government and ensure that the projects were completed within the last lap of the administration.

“We will want all Rivers people to come out in this tour to enable us make our final push to complete our mandate and deliver on our promises to them,’’ she said.

people at the weekend, and that the bomb blast in the FCT had also contributed to the dwindling fortune of the parks. “ From all indications, the patronage has reduced drastically as a result of the ongoing fasting.

“It is only at the weekend that we experience a large turnout of people into the park but this has also reduced. “ We are hoping that patronage will improve after the fasting. “ Another cause is the current insurgency we are going through in the country. Most Nigerians are scared of coming out to relax because we do not know the next target,’’ he said.

According to him, the park receives about 1,000 people on daily basis but this has changed since the fasting started. “ We now receive about 500 people in the park but we hope that it will improve.’’

Mr Emmanuel Yaro, supervisor, Millennium Park said that relaxation of the minds and body should not be hindered by anything. “ Nigeria has come of age and Nigerians should begin to learn how to appreciate the country’s cultural heritage by visiting the tourist sites.

Yaro, however, called for support from the Federal Government in promoting the country’s cultural heritage.

Mrs. Halima Mohammed, a parent also expressed sadness over the low patronage of parks and gardens in the nation’s capital, attributing it to the holy month of Ramadan. “ This period is the holy

attentions of worshipers God, but it is believed that after the fasting more people will come out to relax,’’ she said.

However, when asked about coming out to relax after breaking the fasting, Mohammed said that the weak and tired body system needed

Strike: Nigerians Urge Govt To Dialogue ABUJA - Barely six days since the FCT chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) joined the nationwide strike, Nigerians have started to feel its negative impact.

A visit by newsmen to Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ and High Court has revealed that many

With JUSUN

Nigerians were adversely affected by the strike.

Most of those who spoke with journalists called on government to dialogue with the union.

Mrs. Funke Omojola, a Nurse, who was preparing to travel to Switzerland, told journalists that she was in court to swear to an affidavit to facilitate her

Involve More Stakeholders, ECOWAS Urged

newsmen.

Newsmen recalled that the ECOWAS Ministerial Conference on Biotechnology had initiated the development of ECOWAS biosafety regulation in 2009 while Nigeria held its National Consultative meeting on the common sub-regional regulation in 2011.

serious rest after a long day of fasting.

“This explains why people are not relaxing. “ You break the fast with little food and the body is always weak which prevent people from going out to relax’’.

L-R: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, Deputy Governor, Delta State and Mr. Uday Pilani, Managing Director, Presco Plc at the commissioning of Presco Plc’s Biogas Plant in Benin City on Monday.

Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government Council, Barr. (Mrs) Lucy Omagbon (middle) with two young Military Officers, Lt. Omorodion E. Esosa and Lt. Idemudia Osagie who just graduated from the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA). They are both indigenes of Ovia North East Local Governemnt Area.

Biosafety Regulation:

ABUJA -The Federal Ministry of Environment has urged ECOWAS to involve more stakeholders in the development of the sub-regional biosafety regulation.

Mr Rufus Ebegba, the Head of the National Bio-safety Secretariat, made the call in Abuja in an interview with

month and we are supposed to be pure in heart by being in the worship place communing with God. “Visiting parks distracts the

Ebegba, who is also a deputy director in the ministry, said that a well structured and harmonised regulatory system would confer benefits such as cost efficiency and adequate shared technical capacity, to ensure a high level of safety.

He said that a common subregional regulation would

benefit those countries that lacked the capacity to carry out risk assessments on the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

He defined risk assessment as the identification of potential environmental adverse effects or hazards, and determining when a hazard is identified and the probability of it recurrence.

He said that a framework by ECOWAS would leave nations to regulate issues bordering on biosafety confined field trials. “ To access the benefits of modern biotechnology, many countries that are unable to justify the costs of extensive national bio-safety systems will need to have access to harmonised regional regulatory systems.

travelling.

“The situation I am seeing here is not acceptable; I came here to swear to an affidavit to attach to my travelling document before my trip next week Tuesday.

“This strike might delay my journey to Switzerland because I have to do the affidavit to attach to my document before travelling,’’ she stressed.

Mr. Ayodeji Akande, a litigant, said he was in court for the ruling of his matter involving two young Nigerians who robbed him of his properties in his office.

According to him, the court is supposed to be the hope of the poor masses, stressing that the hope was being dashed because of the strike.

He called on the concerned parties to take a second look at the situation and find a lasting solution to the strike.

Mr Uchenna Aghadiuno, a lawyer, called on government to dialogue with the union in order not to prolong cases pending in the courts.

He told newsmen that judgment was supposed to be delivered on his matter which was no longer possible because of the strike.

Another lawyer, Mr. Bako Gregory, who also spoke to newsmen said that the strike was devastating for lawyers and their clients.

Gregory said that the striking union could not be set aside as its reason for the strike was genuine.

“Those that are embarking on the strike have a genuine reason.

I don’t think it is too late for their demands to be considered by the appropriate authority,’’ he said.

Mrs. Blessing Michael, an applicant, said that she was in the court to obtain an affidavit, one of the documents required by the employment agency.

News Delta Commissioner Advises Students On Diligence

NCWS Holds Night Vigil For Chibok Schoolgirls

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM ASABA – The Delta State Commissioner For Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha has advised students across the state to be diligent and focused in their academic pursuits.

He gave the advice in his office at Asaba, during a visit by the Student Union Government (SUG) executive of Delta State University in Affiliation with College of Education, Agbor.

Eghagha lauded the efforts of the students for the visit, adding that what they were doing was a preparation for leadership role in the future.

He charged them to be humble and always fair to all concerned before taking action on any issue.

The SUG president, Comrade Fabulous Motto Eguolo, who spoke on be half of his executive, commended the Commissioner for the role he played in resolving the strike embarked upon by lecturers.

He also lauded the commissioner’s efforts in the just concluded Convocation Ceremony of College of Education, Agbor, adding that the Commissioner has positively improved the educational system in the state, since his assumption of office Eguolo prayed that God would keep and promote the commissioner to the highest level.

Meanwhile, the students have organised an award ceremony the commissioner on Monday July 28, 2014

Members of Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Education during a visit to the State owned College of Education, Ekiadolor near Benin as part of their oversight function (2nd left is the Provost of the College Professor Amen Uhunmwongho.

ABUJA (FCT) - The National Council of Women Society (NCWS) has began a three-day night vigil to pray for the release of Chibok schoolgirls abducted 100 days ago.

The vigil is holding at the Unity Fountain, near Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The NCWS Chairperson, Mrs. Nkechi Mba, told newsmen that yesterday, would marked the 100th day that the schoolgirls were abducted.

“We are here with our Muslim sisters to support the effort of the Federal Government through prayers.

Housing: Minister Inaugurates Ministerial C’ttees On Mortgage Reformation

ABUJA - The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, has inaugurated three ministerial committees for the successful commencement of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

They were “Verification and Auditing of Federal Government Lands and Landed Property in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, the Presidential Initiative on the Delivery of 10,000 Housing Units Under the NMRC and the National Housing Survey”.

Eyakenyi said the committees would enhance home accessibility and ownership in the country, through new products and services provided by the NMRC. She said the committee would ensure that the NMRC that

was launched on January. 16 increased mortgage penetration in the country.

The minister further said the committees would ensure proper utilisation of Federal Government’s lands and landed property with a view to getting maximum value from prime property.

According to her, the committees will also ensure that under-utilised lands are made available for new housing projects.

She urged members of the Presidential Initiative on the Delivery of 10,000 housing units under the NMRC to evolve a plan for the timely delivery of the housing units.

She said the committee should also propose sound eligibility criteria for the

which candidate wins,’’ Entwistle said.

He urged the public affairs officers to help sharpen public knowledge and perceptions about elections, the debate process and provide crucial information on voters’ rights as well as voter registration process.

The workshop’s theme is “The Role of INEC Press Officers: Enhancing Good Governance through Media and Grassroots Outreach.”

Entwistle said the training, which was organised by the U.S. Embassy, was part of the U.S. support to INEC and Nigeria for all upcoming elections, including the national ones in 2015.

He urged the media and Nigerians to embark on a public programmes against election violence.

“Make it clear that if a candidate wants your vote, he or she must take the pledge that they will not advocate, forment or condone violence before, during, or after the elections.

“So, please consider spreading the word about this non-violence pledge, because

we must demand better behaviour from those seeking our approval to govern,’’ the envoy said.

Entwistle, who congratulated INEC and other electoral stakeholders on the success of the Ekiti elections, urged them to replicate that in Osun and in next year’s general elections.

In his address, the Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Attahiru Jega said the commission had put in place measures to improve on the capacity of its members of staff.

He said this was done as parts of its effort towards delivering credible elections by 2015.

“These efforts at building the capacity of members of staff are informed by the fact that well trained members of staff are most likely to exude confidence and to perform their tasks competently,’’ Jega said.

He said the conference’s theme would resonate with the commission’s leaders as they think on needs to reach out to a majority of Nigerians who live in the rural areas.

participation of developers and builders in the construction of the housing units.

The minister said the committee should among others create synergy between the ministry and the office of the Coordinating Minister of Finance to ensure effective implementation of the presidential initiative.

Eyakenyi tasked the committee on verification and auditing of Federal Government lands and landed property in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to propose a framework for the creation of a land bank.

She said the committee

should undertake a comprehensive inventory and auditing of Federal Government lands and landed property in all the states and the FCT. The minister said the committee on national housing survey should ascertain the characteristics of the various housing estates developed by the ministry, Federal Housing Authority and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

She said the committees should also ascertain the characteristics of houses developed by the Real Estate Development Association over the last four years.

“It is going to be a threeday activities beginning from this night (Monday) to Wednesday.

“We also want to thank the Federal Government and Nigerians for all their efforts in this challenging period,” she said.

The NCWS Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Hanatu Lohor, also told newsmen that the three-day prayers would involve youths, market women association and other civil society organisations.

The leader of the Muslim women, Hajiya Aisha Ringo, who is also the President of FCT Widows, told newsmen that they were all here to seek the face of God on the abducted Chibok girls.

“We are here to pray for the release of our Chibok schoolgirls.

“We want God to touch the heart of those that abducted the Chibok schoolgirls to release them without further delay.

“We want peace in Nigeria; God has a very good intention for binding Christians and Muslim in Nigeria,” she said.

The prayer Coordinator, Pastor Praise Elrol, said that only God could do something about the abducted schoolgirls.

US ’ll Support Election Process Which Protects Rights - Ambassador

ABUJA - The U.S. Government said it will support an election process which protects the rights of Nigerians to use the ballot box to reflect their views and concerns of their communities.

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, stated this at the opening of a four-day workshop for INEC Public Affairs Officers in Abuja.

“You’re well aware that the U.S. supports a free, credible, inclusive, and peaceful electoral process in which democratic principles are adhered to by all parties, candidates and institutions.

“This process encompasses all stages in the run-up to elections, including preparation of voter rolls, running campaigns, conducting the actual election, and handling any problems immediately afterwards.

“We support an election process that protects the rights of Nigerians to use the ballot box to reflect the views and concerns of their communities — a process that helps to produce a stable, democratic government, regardless of

Chairman, Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Foly Ogedemgbe (left) and the Provost, College of Education, Ekiadolor, near Benin, Professor Amen Uhunmwangho during the Committee’s visit to the College as part of their oversight function

EDHA C’ttee Visits COLBEN

EKIADOLOR- Members of Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Education have visited the College of Education, Ekiadolor near Benin as part of their oversight function.

They were received on arrival by the Provost of the College, Professor Amen Uhnmwangho and other principal officers of the college.

The visit, according to the chairman of the committee,

Hon. Foly Ogendengbe was to have a first hand knowledge of development in the college since a bill which upgraded its status to a College of Education was passed into law.

At the end of the inspection, Hon. Ogedengbe expressed satisfaction over what were on ground, and remarked that the college has qualified personnel to effect the desired transition.

The Provost on his part

appreciated the committee members for the visit.

He lauded them for their support and initiative in upgrading the college to the status of a university.

Expressing the need for more infrastructure in order for the institution to co-op with the new status, Prof.

Uhunmwangho assured the committee members that the college has the requisite human resources to sustain the new status.

News

Jonathan Mourns Rilwanu ABUJA - President Exporting Countries Goodluck Jonathan has Lukman (OPEC).’’ described the late former and gas industry.

Vice President Namadi Sambo (4th left) breaking fast at the Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina during the Lesser Hajj recently.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, as a brilliant technocrat and administrator who spent almost his entire life serving the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Reuben Abati, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in Abuja.

Jonathan said the country would remain grateful to the late Lukman for his significant contributions to the development of the oil

L-R: First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan; President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, First Lady of Niger, Dr. Malika Mahamadou and Namibian First Lady, Mrs. Penehupifo Pohamba, cutting the tape to inaugurate an exhibition centre during the Cancer Conference in Windhoek, Namibia recently.

He said that the deceased would also be remembered “for serving with acclaimed distinction as the nation’s representative at the helm of OPEC affairs over many years’’.

The statement said; “Jonathan has received with much sadness and a feeling of great national loss, news of the passing away of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman.

“The president commiserates with the former minister’s family, the government and people of his home state, Kaduna as well as his friends, associates and all those he mentored in the domestic and global oil industry.

“He shares their sorrow as they mourn the brilliant engineer, technocrat and administrator who spent almost all of his working life serving his country.

“Lukman also dedicated himself to the service of the global community in various capacities, including Minister, Special Adviser, Secretary-General and President of the Organisation of Petroleum

NMA Strike Paralyses Healthcare, Commercial Activities

ABUJA - As strike by doctors in government-owned hospitals enters its third week medical and commercial activities are paralysed in hospitals within and around government hospitals in the FCT. It will be recalled that the NMA embarked on an indefinite strike on July 1, following government’s failure to meet its demands.

A NAN correspondent who visited the National Hospital Abuja, Wuse General Hospital and Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, observed that the nurses, pharmacists and lab scientists were at their duty posts doing nothing as there were no patients to attend to.

Also commercial activities around the hospitals such as food vendors and recharge cards sellers complained of low patronage.

At the Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi, a lab attendant, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “If you come to the lab on a normal day there is usually a crowd here, but as you can see the place is empty.”

At the National Hospital, Abuja,

a Pharmacist, Kilani Jelili, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association, said that number of patients had reduced as a result of the strike.

“Though there are few patients in the wards, we really do not have outpatients as you can see patient traffic is very low.

“Other health workers are all at their duty posts but there is little they can do, the hospital cannot function optimally.’’

Commenting on the strike, Jelili said that doctors had a right to press home their demands but

not at the detriment of other health workers and the patients.

“Every association has a right to demand for certain things but doctors should fight for what is theirs only and not concern themselves with what they think other health workers should or should not get, ‘’ Jelili said.

Some food vendors who spoke to NAN said that the strike had affected their businesses as they recorded low patronage.

A corn seller outside the Wuse

General Hospital, Ladi Solomon said, “we do not have customers because people are not coming to the hospital as before. Since morning I have sold only N300.’’

Emeka, a recharge card vendor at the National Hospital, said business had been slow for him, adding that the bulk of his customers were people who usually came to the hospital.

An Abuja resident, Ms Foluke Ipaye, also spoke on how the strike had affected her.

“I was hit by malaria fever. I had to go to the neighborhood

Oyo LG Doles Out Car Loans To ISEYIN (Oyo State) (NULGE), Mr. Sunday Staff the Caretaker Chairman of Oguntola, commended the Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State, Alhaji Yusuff Saheed, distributed car loan to 55 staff of the council.

The loan, ranging from N100,000 to N500,000, is given to the beneficiaries selected from various

departments of the council.

Presenting the cheques to beneficiaries in Iseyin, Saheed said the interestfree loan, payable within five years, would encourage hard work.

The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees

initiatives of the council.

“This is a welcome development; it means the government did not forget us.

“On our parts, we are going to reciprocate with greater dedication and commitment to our duties,” he said.

pharmacy to get drugs because I cannot afford to go to a private hospital. “ The poor people are really suffering, the government and the doctors should call off this strike, it is not fair at all, people are dying.’’

NAN reports that the NMA demands include a 24-point request for the appointment of four deputy chairmen, Medical Advisory Committee for Teaching Hospitals and establishment of three Federal Medical Centres in the country.

Others are the appointment of only medical doctors as Chief Medical Directors, relativity in the health sector, skipping of Grade Level 12 for medical and dental practitioners and reintegration of its members into the IPPIS platform.

It also demanded for increase in hazard and specialist allowances, budget for residency training, speedy passage of the health bill, appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation and universal health coverage, among others.

The president thanked God “for bestowing Lukman on the nation and for the great intelligence, integrity, competence and humility with which he distinguished himself in all his national and i n t e r n a t i o n a l assignments’’.

“Jonathan firmly believes that Nigeria will always owe a huge debt of gratitude to the late minister for his very significant contributions to the development of the country’s oil and gas industry.

“He prayed that the Almighty God will receive Lukman’s gentle soul and grant him eternal rest in paradise,’’ the statement said.

Born on Aug. 26, 1938, Lukman died on Monday in a hospital in Vienna, Austra.

2 Die As Military Plane Crashes In Bama ABUJA - A co-pilot and technician on board a Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 helicopter died after a crash in south of Bama, Borno, defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said .

An updated statement issued by the Defence spokesman said one of the pilots of the three- member flight crew had been recovered alive.

It said rescue efforts were still ongoing at the site of the crash.

Earlier in a statement, Olukolade said the crash was not “as a result of any enemy action’’.

‘A Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 Helicopter on a training mission this afternoon, crashed due to technical fault at a location South of Bama.

“Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident,’’ an earlier statement from the defence spokesman stated.

South West Residents Decry Illegal Citing Of Filling Stations Reports state that one of the residents, Mr. Seye Alesinloye accused government officials of connivance in the illegal citing of the filling stations.

Alesinloye blamed the

ADO-EKITI - The indiscriminate citing of filling stations in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital has become an issue of concern and threat to the residents.

construction of filling stations in illegal areas on some government officials, who were responsible for approving sites for businesses.

“There are some

departments responsible for giving approval for the construction of such buildings, but for one reason or the other, we just realised that filling stations continue to spring up everywhere.

“It has continued like that with no one controlling the sites, you can imagine a filling station between a school and residential building, it is dangerous and there is no one to control them.

“We are therefore appealing to the department or ministry responsible to ensure

that structures are erected in line with the Town Planning regulation.

“How will approval be given to owners of petrol stations without considering the environmental risk it poses?

According to him, “the town planning regulatory guidelines stipulates that a minimum distance of 50 metres should be maintained between petrol stations and residential buildings.’’

He said that 100 meters should be maintained for

vulnerable facilities such as hospital, industry and schools.

“Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr Adeleke Ajani said the agency had received series of complaint as regard citing of petrol station in odd places.

Ajani said that the complaints were being looked into for necessary action.

Sports Management: Psychologist Recommends

Appointment Of Competent Hands

LAGOS - A sports psychologist at the University of Lagos, Dr. Festus Adeyeye, has recommended the appointment of competent individuals to run sports in Nigeria.

Adeyeye told newsmen that dearth of the right

Test run of Rivers Monorail in Port Harcourt recently.

calibre of sports administrators had made the challenges in the sector almost insurmountable.

“If sports are administered scientifically, if the appropriate people are appointed to administer sports in Nigeria, the sky is not even the limit for us.

“Because God has endowed this country with all we need to excel in international competition.

“To excel in any competition is not just your physical prowess alone, there are so many factors; we talk about the

personality of the athletes.

“We talk about the stress level of the athletes, how to manage it; we talk about motivation of the athletes, what is motivating an athlete to take part in competition.

“So, these are some of the factors, the physical fitness level, all these we have to be considered before an individual can perform.

“That is the problem of Nigeria, the real people that are suppose to administer sports are not there.’’

IBADAN - Prof. Adenike Emike , the Director, Institute of Education, University of Ibadan(UI), has identified inadequate funding as a major challenge confronting its affiliated centres.

She told newsmen in Ibadan that the affiliated programmes conformed to the standard of the institute in terms of quality and reliability.

“The process of affiliation with the University of Ibadan is one that takes quite some time because the process has to be go through rigorous scrutiny. “ And various committees will look at the intent to affiliate by the college and then the university senate would have to approve after ensuring that all things are in place in terms facilities, in terms of lecturers, in terms of fund.’’

Emike said the four centres approved for the institute included the University of Education in Port Harcourt, the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, University College of

Education, Ilesha, and St. Augustine College of Education in Lagos.

She said that the host institutions of the programmes had the required equipment and manpower to man the centres in conformity with the standard of the university. “ It is an exercise that the UI takes seriously and with all this in place, you cannot but have a quality education at the centres,’’ she said.

Emike said that the university staff also traveled to ensure effective monitoring of activities at the centres, adding that such travels posed some risks.

She said that the university had standard agreement with the affiliated centres contrary to claims in some quarters.

Emike, however, said that the university had no control over strikes by the staff of the affiliated centres, but explained that no amount of strike would compromise the standard required for the students to graduate.

Varsity Affiliated Centre Decries Inadequate Funding

Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha (left) welcoming Comrade Fabulous Motto Eguolo, SUG, President, Delta State University, in Affiliation with College of Education, Agbor during a visit to the Commissioner.

New Councils: EKSIEC Submits

Result Of Referendum

ADO-EKITI - The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) has submitted the result of Saturday’s referendum it conducted to the State Assembly.

Reports state that the commission conducted the referendum as part of conditions to meet in the creation of the proposed 18 new Local Government Development Areas.

The commission’s Chairman, Mrs. Bosede Adelusi, who submitted the

result to the Assembly, said there was nothing wrong with the initiative, contrary to claims by the opposition.

She said having submitted the result to the State Assembly, “the bill was now in the custody of the House to debate and take further action.’’

Receiving the result, the Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, said the Assembly would accord it accelerated debate

and passage.

Omirin, who commended the commission for doing a good job, said the Kayode Fayemi administration meant well for the people in its resolve to ensure good governance.

He referred the document to the Ad hoc Committee on Local Government Creation of the House for action.

The Ad hoc Committee Chairman, who is also the

Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Taiwo Orisalade, promised to study the result of the referendum promptly.

He said that the position of the lawmakers would be referred to the whole House for debate before taking a final decision.

Reports state that Adelusi had earlier at a news conference on Sunday announced the detailed result of the referendum.

Lagos Pay Outstanding Teachers Allowance, NUT Urges LASG LAGOS - The Lagos State wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), pleaded with the Lagos State Government to pay the outstanding 11 per cent of the teachers allowance.

The NUT State chairman, Mr Segun Raheem, said in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, that teachers were agitating for the long-expected allowance.

Raheem said that members were still hopeful following government’s repeated promises to pay the outstanding 11 per cent of the Teacher’s Specific Allowance (TSA).

The chairman said that though teachers were happy and anxious about the promise, they are pleading with state

government to fast-track the payment.

“When government says that they will pay very soon, I believe that their very soon is now,” he said.

Raheem said that after some agitation and petitions written to the government, a Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) comprising of some government and Labour officials was set up to handle the issue.

“The JNC is established by law and is comprised of labour and government officials, to look into the review of the welfare of workers.

“It was at the meeting of the JNC that a committee was set up to look into the financial implication of our agitation.

“They said the outcome of the committee would determine how it would be embedded into this year’s budget.

“We want to believe that it was based on this that the government has promised to pay the remaining TSA scheme, very soon.

“The NUT is a professional organisation by calling; we want to hold His Excellency to his word because according to him, his word is his bond.

“We hope that this bond would come to a reality and also hope that his promise to pay very soon is now,” he said.

Reports state that the TSA was a fallout of a series of negotiations between the NUT and the Governors’ Forum.

The Lagos State government had earlier agreed to pay 9.5 per cent of the total allowance of the 27.5 percent proposed.

Reports state that the last 60 per cent was paid in 2012, with a promise to pay the outstanding, very soon.

According to Raheem, the TSA is the only thing that differentiates teachers as professionals from the non professionals.

“It is important to recognise that teachers have over the years

been dedicated to their jobs and produced results.

“Teachers have made government proud through their contributions to the growth of the education sector and I believe now is the best time to appreciate them,” Raheem added.

Intake Of Herbal Medicines Impedes TB Treatment - Expert LAGOS -Prof. Innocent Ujah, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, has said that treatment of Tuberculosis(TB) could be difficult with the intake of herbal medicine.

Ujah told newsmen in Lagos that the eradication of Tuberculosis in the country was also a major challenge owing to late presentation of cases.

“We have many compounding factors in Nigeria. First of all, when people know they have TB, instead of going to the hospital, they will go to herbal homes first, when they do not get any response, they will go to the prayer houses. “ It is at the last resort, therefore, they do not avail themselves early enough and they may have taken all sorts of concoctions and medicines and obviously that will prove resistant.

“And they may be taking combinations of drugs that are totally unrelated that will make further treatment difficult.

“And that is actually one of the

challenges we have, people not accessing health facilities on time.’’

Ujah urged infected persons to put away the stigma and utilise the free diagnoses and treatment being offered at the institution.

“Tuberculosis is curable, it’s preventable and it is at no cost.

The Federal Government has made diagnosis and treatment free for every person who is affected with TB. “However, at the Nigerian Institute of Medical research, we have our facilities to diagnose what we call Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) TB and people should come in to have themselves diagnosed and be treated.

“We have the second line drug for the treatment of Tuberculosis. So, it’s as easy as am saying so.

“Because, if you avoid going to herbal homes, if you avoid going to prayer houses where they will pray for you and you come in only very late, then obviously you will have challenges of effective treatment .

“So, there should be no shame or stigma any more, you go and then have it treated and then you are okay“.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said over two billion people in the world are infected with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

With over 190,000 people infected, Nigeria has the highest burden of tuberculosis in Africa and is the 10th most infected country in the world with over 84,263 new infections yearly and over 27,000 mortality rate.

L-R: Chairman, FRSC Governing Board, Chief Felix Chukwu, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi; FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr. Osita Chidoka and Commandant FRSC Academy, Mr. Charles Abochi at the inauguration of FRSC Academy at Udi in Enugu State on Monday.

Sickle Cell Patients Require Adequate LAGOS - A haematologist, Dr Fatai Bello, has said that Healthcare - Haematologist children with sickle cell anaemia required sustained and adequate healthcare to live healthily and prevent complications associated with the disease.

Bello, who works at the

Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

“Sickle cell anaemia has a lot of complications if the child is not well managed, the child will fall ill often, and the growth might be stunted, may not grow as fast as colleagues of his age, recurrent infection, recurrent malaria attack.

“Also there are some complications that come as the child is growing up, but

all these complications will be less if the child has adequate medical attention from the youngest possible age.

“If a child that has the HbSS like we call “sickler” in our local parlance, and the child has fewer crises, less exposure to malaria from mosquito bite, and is not dehydrated, but wellhydrated, often such child will have a fewer number of illnesses and fewer crises; the child will likely grow better

than if he or she doesn’t have those preventive measures.

“The child will have a healthier life, the organs will be protected, because of the absence of frequent crisis; therefore, the child has a better life span and a better outcome at the end of the day.”

Bello said that improper management of sickle cell anaemia could cause complications such as stunted growth, acute chest syndrome, organ damage, and stroke.

Don Advocates Review Of NRC LAGOS - A don, Prof. sustain the education and Laws Iyiola Oni, has urged the enlightenment of importers

Work in progress at the 1008 housing estate by Lagos State Government at Ijora-Badiya in Lagos recently.

Federal Government to review the current Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) enabling laws to allow for efficiency.

Oni, who is the Head, Dept. of Geography, University of Lagos, made the suggestion in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

Oni said that the review would enable effective private participation in the rail transportation system in the country.

Besides, he urged the government to invest more on infrastructure development in the transport sector to ensure a seamless connection of all transport

modes.

Oni said that the infrastructure development included roads, rail lines and waterways.

He said that the seamless connection would enhance speedy movement of cargo from the ports.

He appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service to fast-track the cargo clearance process at the ports.

“There must be clarity and objectivity in the interpretation of government circulars by regulatory and enforcement agencies on port operations.

‘The customs should

and their agents to develop the culture of honesty and integrity in their cargo declaration,” Oni said.

He said that transparency in the declaration of cargo would further increase the nation’s cargo throughput.

Oni added that there should be reduction in the number of the existing government agencies in charge of clearance of goods and ultimately a reduction of the high cost of cargo clearance.

He said that there should be strong political will on the part of the government to compel the relevant agencies to co-operate among themselves.

Across The Nation Be Patriotic, Maitama Sule Charges Nigerians

Chairlady, Adamawa APC, Mrs. Binta Garba (middle), briefing newsmen on the recent impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako in Yola recently. With her are: State Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Phineas Padio (right) and Alhaji Shuaibu Yamusa.

KANO - Alhaji Maitama Sule, a former Nigeria Permanent Representative at the United Nations, has called on Nigerians to put the nation’s interest above their personal interests.

Sule made the call when the Arewa Youth Development Foundation paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Kano.

“That was what our founding fathers like Zik, Obafemi Awolowo, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sardauna, Aminu Kano and Tarka did.

“These leaders belonged to different political parties, tribes and religion, but they lived and worked together because the unity of the country was their main interest.

“About two weeks ago, I wrote to the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum

and his colleagues. I also wrote to Mr. President about the situation in the country.

“I did point it out that if we do not put a stop to personal interests, we will have disastrous consequences in this country. I have written the letter and I will follow it up.

“We have never had it so bad but what I believe is that we have to get together and tell one another the truth, let us agree to accommodate our differences, be patient and put Nigeria above our own interest,’’ he said.

Sule, who is the Danmasani of Kano, however, urged youths to desist from acts capable of causing chaos in the country as they had no other country like Nigeria.

Earlier, the Leader of the group, Mr. Ashiru Sharif, said they were in his residence to express their concern over what was happening in the country.

Malammadori LG Establishes Grazing Land Protection was set up to ensure the desist from acts capable of enhance understanding as well According to him, the communities on the need to stop MALAMMADORI destroying theCommittee forest resources. as peaceful co-existence committee has so far conducted encroachment on the grazing protection of the (JIGAWA) - Alhaji Lawal lands to enhance sustainable

Abdu, the Sole Administrator, Malammadori Local Government Area of Jigawa state, has said his council had set up an 11-member grazing land protection committee.

Abdu told newsmen in Malammadori that the committee was set up to ensure the protection of the three grazing lands rehabilitated by the state government.

He listed the grazing lands to include Kashin-Dila, Agayau and Sakuwa forest, adding the that the forests were provided with improved pasture, water points and animal health posts.

Abdu said that the committee

grazing lands and cattle routes as well as educate the communities on the need to

“The committee is also mandated to encourage dialogue in dispute resolution and

ABUJA -The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has called on the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to suspend its two-week-old strike.

Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDPDelta) the chairman, House committee on Health, who delivered the speaker ’s message, made the call at the resumed meeting of the committee with stakeholders.

He said Tambuwal was

discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan on how to end the lingering strike and urged the doctors to suspend the strike to save Nigerians who were in dire need of their services.

“Please suspend the strike, give the house the benefit of doubt,’’ he said.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that N13 billion required to settle the 12 months arrears of allowance of the doctors was

between herdsmen.”

farmers

and

various sensitisation exercises to educate the farming

development production.

in

livestock

Suspend Strike, Reps, FG Appeal To NMA

not captured in the 2014 budget.

Represented by Dr Bright Okogu, Director-General, Budget Office, Okonjo-Iweala said that government could paid only two out of the 12 months and would pay the balance in 2015.

“We will do our best if we can get up to two months, reflecting the balance in the 2015 is the best thing to do,’’ she said.

She said the first installment of the allowance would be paid in August, and expressed regrets that the amount paid on wages was too high and eating into capital budget.

He said that the wage bill had risen from N857 billion in 2009 to N1.8 trillion in 2013, adding that the demand for wage increase by the trade unions was sustainable.

On possibility of privitisating the health sector, she said that government presence was needed, adding that it was an issue he would not want to delve into.

“I am not an advocate of outright privitisation of the health sector,’’ she said.

The Minister of state for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, said the minister had amended the contentious circular in line with the demands of doctors.

Alhassan said since that had been resolved, doctors should suspend their strike in the interest of the country.

“I appeal to NMA to suspend the strike in the spirit of the Nigerian people,’’ Alhassan said.

The Minister of Labour, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State (standing left) serving meal to physically Employment and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, also urged challenged persons during the breaking of Ramadan fast in Dutse recently. the NMA to suspend their

strike.

“Consider the plight of Nigerians in the hospital who either discharged themselves or were discharged by the hospital management,’’ Wogu said.

The President of NMA, Dr Kayode Obembe, said that the association would only suspend the strike if government paid six out of the 12 months arrears of allowances owed them.

Represented by Dr Titus Ibekwe, NMA’s first VicePresident, Obembe said the association was expecting a circular from the Salaries and Wages commission on the

issue of entry steps for house officers.

Obembe explained that it was agreed at a meeting with government for the setting up of a body for collective bargaining.

He said the issue of relativity and skipping had not been addressed, and that he would discuss with members of the association on the position of government.

JUSUN Strike Leaves Litigants, Lawyers ISEYIN (Oyo State) - government and the union to Stranded Litigants and lawyers were give peace a chance. stranded at the premises of some courts located at Oja Area of Iseyin Local Government Council of Oyo State.

It will be recalled that the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had on July 11 embarked on an industrial action to press home their demands.

The demands, according to the union, include financial autonomy for the judiciary in states as well as improved welfare for judicial workers.

Some litigants and lawyers sighted at the premises of the Chief Magistrates’ Court and Customary Courts at Iseyin newsmen in separate interviews said that they were told the strike had been suspended.

“I don’t even know what is going in this country now that everybody now resorts to go on strike; I want to appeal to

“I just need to file an application that has to do with life and death and here I am, still waiting for the strike to be suspended, “said a lawyer, who craved anonymity.

Amope Olorunosebi, a 45year-old woman seeking dissolution of her marriage, said the court had heard her case and she was to get judgment on July 14, adding that the strike prevented it.

“I was even told to come here today that they have suspended the strike only for me and my friends to get here and discover that they are not working.

“I just hope this strike matter is resolved as early as possible in the interest of the masses, “she said.

Abuja Insecurity Transporter Urges Ban Of Illegal ABUJA- The Manager of Peace Motor Transport Company, Mr David Okoroafor, has appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to ban the operation of illegal motor parks within the territory in view of the security challenges.

Okoroafor made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He, however, advised commuters to desist from patronising illegal motor parks and roadside commercial vehicles. ‘’ In a city such as Abuja, for us to allow illegal motor parks to operate is quite unfortunate. ‘’We, as a company, have tried on our own to stop them and you can notice at the entrance of our gate, some illegal loading activities going on there. ‘’We have written to all the government agencies involved, we have written to Utako Police Station, Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) and the Federal Road Safety. ‘’We have done this to partner with all these agencies to stop all the illegal loading, but to no avail.’’

He said that measures had been put in place to regulate the activities of the illegal motor parks in order to protect lives and property of passengers. ‘’These things are measures which we put in place to see how

Jonathan Seeks Inclusion Of Cancer Screening In

L-R: Managing Director, Flow Frids Nigeria Limited, Mr. Alek Musa; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, Mr. Ernest Nwapa and Managing Director, Energia Limited, Mr. Felix Amieyeofori at the 2014

Fraud: Ogbulafor, 2 Others Know Fate Tomorrow ABUJA- Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and two others standing trial on a 17 count-charge will know their fate on July 24.

The Independent Corrupt Practice, Commission (ICPC) on May 10, 2010 arraigned Ogbulafor, Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro, before an FCT High Court presided by Justice Ishaq Bello.

They were charged with offences bothering on abuse of office and defrauding the

NGO Wants Speedy ABUJAA NonGovernmental Organisation, Health Advocacy Promotion and Partnership by Youths in Nigeria, has called for the speedy resolution of industrial disputes in the country’s health sector.

A statement issued by Dr Femi Akinwumi, Executive Director of the organisation, in Abuja has decried the incessant strikes by workers in the sector.

According to the statement, Nigerians are worried over the reoccurring industrial action by professional unions in the health sector.

It expressed regrets that the action had worsened the situation in the public health sector as many patients had lost their lives as a result of lack of medical attention.

“For the umpteenth time, the ailing public health system in the country has again been paralysed due to the ongoing nationwide strike by the doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

“The effects of the ongoing nationwide strike by the doctors are monumental and devastating, many sick children

WINDHOEK- The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has advocated for the inclusion of cancer screening into regular family planning and maternal health services.

Making the call at the ongoing 8th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa conference in Windhoek, Jonathan added that the screening must also be done at an early age.

The conference with the theme “Moving Forward To End Cervical Cancer by 2030: Universal Access to Cervical Cancer Prevention’’, is the initiative of the African First Ladies.

She also advocated for health education for adolescents and young adults on factors associated with cervical cancer The first lady further called for improved access to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines by girls between the ages of nine and 15 years.

and pregnant women who require urgent attention by the doctors are being denied.

“All over the country, thousands of surgical cases that require surgical operation have been put on hold with dire consequences; this ugly situation we believe must have led to loss of numerous innocent and precious lives.’’

It appealed to relevant government agencies to intervene with a view to finding lasting solution to the impasse.

The statement urged NMA to sheathe their sword in the overall interest of their patients and the downtrodden.

According to the statement, government at all levels need to be proactive in addressing industrial disharmony in heath and allied sectors in order to avert these incessant strikes in the sector.

It stressed the need to convene a “National Health Stakeholders’ conference’’ to discuss and come up with workable solutions to the lingering inter-professional conflicts and poor funding facing the health system.

It would be recalled that NMA had embarked on an indefinite strike on July 1 following the inability of the Federal

Federal Government of N107 million in 2005 by using their position in the National Economic Intelligence Committee.

The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Besides, the ICPC had alleged that Ogbulafor collected “kickbacks’’ amounting to two million naira and N28 million from Ebilah, and one Chris Nwoke, respectively to facilitate the release of the funds.

During Ebilah’s cross examination in September 25, 2013, he told the court that the ICPC compelled him to refund N4.39 million to the Federal Government.

Ebilah told the court that his statement to the ICPC was made

under duress.

“I was humiliated and dehumanised with a gun placed on my head when the ICPC took my statement.

“I was humiliated, downgraded and put in a room without airconditioner and was also asked by one Basil Mohmodu and Prince Hassan, to write what they want me to write for them, my passport was collected,’’ Ebilah said.

Ebilah also told the court that he had never met Mohmodu, a staff of the ICPC before April 2006.

“My first statement to the ICPC was made in March, 13, 2006 and before it was taken I have never met with any of ICPC personnel.

“My lord, I do not have any confidential relationship with the first accused and I also do not know if Mr Mohmodu knew how the first accused saved my life.

“I also do not knew if PW1 know my relationship with Henrico before my statement at the ICPC,’’ Ebilah said.

He said that he was not aware if Ogbulafor knew about the N28 million, adding that he never gave any money to the former PDP National Chairman.

He also denied knowing one Chris Nwoke.

The Prosecution Counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), closed his case on November 5, 2013 and Ogbulafor entered a no case submission.

But the court held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against

L-R: Vice Chairman, Emerald Energy Resources Limited, Dr. Jude Ameafule; Chairman, Gladson Petrogas Limited, Dr. Godwin Omene and former Presidential Adviser on Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah, at the 2014 Abuja

She also stressed the need for increased awareness of, and improved access to family planning as well as pre-and post-screening counselling to prepare women for the outcome of cancer screening.

She expressed concern that many women die from the disease due to late appearance of sufferers at hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

“Many of our women are not adequately informed about this disease and others are too poor to access care on time.

“This results in the tragedy of preventable deaths and devastation to the family.’’

She underscored the need to urgently address the issue of universal access to cervical cancer prevention and treatment in Africa.

Mrs. Jonathan, while sharing the Nigerian example, said that the Federal Government had procured and distributed diagnostic and treatment equipment to 12 federal hospitals in its effort to end the scourge.

“For the first time in Africa, Nigeria has also introduced residency training in clinical Medical Physics in 2012 for cancer care enhancement.

“This arose from the technical cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency for the conduct of the activity.

“Nigeria is also in Technical Partnership with the agency to procure Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine equipment for 10 of our hospitals.’’

The objective of this, she said, was to ensure improved access to early cancer diagnosis and treatment.

She explained that currently, two hospitals, including the National Hospital, Abuja, and University College Hospital, Ibadan, offer Nuclear Medicine diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

The first lady added that efforts were ongoing to ensure that by 2016, the number of hospitals providing Nuclear Medicine services would have increased to 10 while those providing radiation therapy would rise to 11.

She said further that her office, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, maintain a dedicated National Cancer Control Programme.

“Our advocacy campaigns through my NGO, the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation, have enabled us to achieve some significant milestones in the areas of increased awareness.

“As a Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control and Prevention in Nigeria, I have not relented in empowering and educating our women on the need to have regular cancer screening.

“We have also helped to promote the strategic and legal framework for implementing the National Cervical Cancer Control Policy.

“It outlines the roadmap for Nigeria to control the challenge of cancer in the next few years.’’

According to her, the policy provides that girls between ages

Business+Economy Entrepreneurs Blame SMEs Woes On High Interest Rate ABUJA -Some Entrepreneurs has blamed the difficulty in running small businesses no high interest rates.

The entrepreneurs made the remark in separate interviews with newsmen in Abuja.

According to them, efforts must be geared toward liberalising the process of financing business ventures in the country.

Mr Femi Adetola, a Business Feasibility Consultant, said the survival of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

was critical to the operations of banks.

He said the aggregation of the sector had provided the foundation for the growth of the entire economy.

“The banks and the agencies of government in-charge of

financing business should ensure that funds are provided to strengthen the business environment.

“I have developed wonderful business plans for many people but their inability to fund such plans has left such plans on the shelves.

“Nigerians have wonderful business plans, they want to own businesses but they are cash trapped,’’ he said.

Another expert, Mr Romeo Kolawole, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must rise up to the occasion to slash interest

rate to a single digit.

Kolawole said the prevailing circumstance where the rate was pegged at 25 per cent was working against the plan to industrialise the country.

“The country cannot become industrialised one night. It is the aggregate of clusters of business activities that can position the country for industrialisation.

“All factors ranging from low interest rate and the right infrastructure must be put in place,’’ he said.

Chief Chris Okafor, a Fund

Manager, said private funds outfits were beginning to provide intervention by providing funds for short term businesses.

“The banks cannot be compromised to shift grounds in the call for the reduction of lending rate because of the need for quick turnovers and drive for profits,’’ Okafor said.

On his part, Mr Gbenga Adefila, Managing Director of S&B Finance Consult, said high interest rate had forced many businesses out of operation, adding that the business environment must be nurtured.

Achieving 2014 Financial Projections

Transcorp Re-Assures Stakeholders

L-R: Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State; Speaker, Lawali Zaiyana and Galadima Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Altahiru at a farewell to students of Sokoto indigenes going for studies at University of Uganda, in Sokoto recently.

LAGOS -Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc has announced that its profit before tax appreciated by 122 per cent to N8.02 billion in the first six months of the year compared with N3.61 billion recorded in 2013.

The Transcorp earnings was contained in a statement sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos.

The holding company’s gross revenue also grew by 177 per cent to N21.21 billion compared with N7.67 billion in the corresponding period of 2013.

The total assets for the period under review grew by six per cent to N158.18 billion as against N149.64bn in 2013.

Underfunding May Affect SURE-P’s Programme ABUJA - The Chairman, Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Lt.-Gen. Martin Luther-Agwai (rtd), says inadequate funding may affect SURE-P’s implementation on the Maternal and Child Health Programme (MCHP).

Agwai made the disclosure when representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) visited him in Abuja.

“Based on the resources available, we have now mapped out the priority areas. But we wish we have enough to share with our partners.

“We may not be able to meet up with all the deadlines and all the resources the partners will require and that may be our

drawback.

“However, I can assure you that all the areas of priorities will be covered.

“Definitely, the underfunding have some effects. But we are working with the MCHP subcommittee and the project implementation unit to meet the priorities,’’ Agwai said.

He listed the areas of priorities to include building, equipment needed for safe delivery of the women, training of the village health workers and potable water.

Agwai explained that the provision of the necessary drugs and other items to the women for safe delivery would continue but the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) may not be

continued.

He, however, pledged SUREP’s commitment to collaborating partner agencies in areas of capacity-building.

The SURE-P convener, MCHP, Mrs Halima Alfa, said SURE-P has scaled up in the area of CCT and it intends to continue to do so.

“In the areas of our priority at the CCT level, we have scaled up and will continue but the chairman is yet to note this.

“It is one of our critical areas which had motivated women to come out, more especially the indigent pregnant women and we have scaled up to about 17 states,’’ Alfa said.

She said there was about 1,200 rehabilitation centres across the country which the

SURE-P supplied medical commodities and training to nurses in the facilities.

“We have zero tolerance to post-natal death and the death of children from one to five years.

“In the areas of advocacy, we interact with the Ministry of Women Affairs, we assemble women and sensitise them, and we are geared up. But, we will like the collaboration,’’ Alfa said.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp, Mr Obinna Ufudo, attributed the growth to the company’s consolidation of activities in the first quarter of 2014.

Ufudo said that the company was on course in attaining the 2014 financial year targets.

“We are very pleased with the continued growth in capacity

and output at our Ughelli Power plant.

The plant’s available capacity and output peaked at 453 MW during the period, up from the 160MW when we took over on November 1, 2013,’’ he said.

Ufudo said that the company was on course to reach 715 megawatts capacity target by end of 2014.

FG To Adopt India Model Power Sector:

ABUJA - The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said the Federal Government had concluded plans to explore ways of implementing the Indian power sector model in Nigeria to transform the sector.

Nebo made this known when he received a delegation on power from India in Abujan.

He said the ministry would soon summon a stakeholders’ forum of all Generating Companies (GENCOs), Distribution Companies (DISCOs), and the regulatory bodies to take a closer look at the Indian model.

The minister said that the Nigerian power sector which was still in a transitional stage

after the privatisation still had a lot to learn from the Indian experience.

According to him, this is because of the peculiarity between both nations’ power sector.

He said when the idea comes to fruition, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company plc., which was conceived as a stop-gap agency might be transformed into a permanent arrangement.

He said it would be under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Nebo also invited the Indian delegation to the first National Council on Power conference slated for August 2014 in order to have a robust discussion.

Agric: Centre Extends Input ABUJA - The International has registered 110,000 farmers Centre for Soil and Agricultural Programme of which and 80,000 had Development (IFDC) has extended by two weeks the period for the redemption of farm inputs (fertilisers and seeds) by farmers.

Miss Patience Adamade, the Zonal Supervisor for Bwari and Abuja Municipal Area Council, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Adamade said that the extension was to enable more farmers to benefit from the programme which started on May 19, 2014.

“We were meant to run the

programme for eight weeks in total, but the turnout of farmers coming to redeem their farm inputs was on the low side, so we decided to extend the period.

“Due to one issue or the other, some farmers could not come to redeem their inputs; so we decided to run it for 10 weeks; we added two more weeks to the give the farmers time to get their farm inputs.

“The programme is currently ongoing and we would close at the end of this week’’, she said.

It would be recalled that IFDC

redeemed their farm inputs.

According to her, the objective of the programme is to break the chain of seed adulteration.

She expressed regret over the high percentage of farmers who engaged in the consumption of seedlings meant for planting, stressing that such seeds were dangerous to health as were treated with chemicals.

According to her, a sensitisation programme on the dangers of consuming seeds is ongoing to create awareness on the risk in consuming these seeds.

Prof. Samuel Abogunrin (left), receiving a life patron award from Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibiyoye (right), at the 27th Annual Conference of Nigerian Association of Biblical Studies in Ibadan recently. With them is President of the Association, Mr. Je’Adayibe Gwamna (middle).

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (22/07/2014) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NAHCO

5

4.89

-0.11

0

1,084,764

5,337,669.94

7UP

100.03

100.03

0

0

49,841

5,234,800.23

NASCON

10.7

10.7

0

0

4,155,104

44,720,953.56

177.09

178

0.91

0

793,888

141,004,994.40

ABCTRANS

0.89

0.89

0

0

572,001

508,970.87

NB

ACADEMY

1.71

1.71

0

0

14,000

23,934.00

NCR

14.44

14.44

0

0

12,162

182,493.50

1.18

1.23

0.05

0

1,232,975

1,463,651.70

ACCESS

9.8

9.9

0.1

0

32,094,667

315,937,736.20

NEIMETH

AFRINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,000

500

NEM

0.83

0.85

0.02

0

8,860,383

7,465,875.00

1125

1125

0

0

35,248

39,362,514.74

AFRIPRUD

3.31

3.26

-0.05

0

566,238

1,847,349.55

NESTLE

AGLEVENT

1.39

1.45

0.06

0

430,948

619,511.80

NEWGOLD

2067

2050

-17

0

13

26,650.00

0.5

0.5

0

0

564,173

282,086.50

AIICO

0.8

0.81

0.01

0

2,667,937

2,183,181.48

NIGERINS

AIRSERVICE

2.23

2.12

-0.11

0

127,900

280,564.00

NNFM

20.5

20.5

0

0

40,522

789,838.36

1.1

1.06

-0.04

0

1,125,677

1,222,509.10

ASHAKACEM

33

31.46

-1.54

0

1,421,304

46,048,307.18

NPFMCRFBK

ASOSAVINGS

0.5

0.5

0

0

500

250

NSE30

1944.33

1941.2

-3.13

0

239,914,438

3,058,947,248.00

2103.99

2100.62

-3.37

0

282,831,649

3,269,447,959.00

AVONCROWN

1.69

1.69

0

0

5,078

8,581.82

NSE50

BERGER

9

8.57

-0.43

0

403,545

3,464,066.86

NSEASEM

949.05

949.05

0

0

14,500

18,850.00

42784.33

42664.98

-119.35

0

430,121,815

4,019,150,123.00

BETAGLAS

16.3

16.3

0

0

400

6,844.00

NSEASI

BOCGAS

5.76

5.76

0

0

1,719

9,798.30

NSEBNK

436.56

437.87

1.31

0

91,661,092

891,215,056.70

1060.41

1059.67

-0.74

0

12,049,880

386,596,093.00

CADBURY

74.25

74.25

0

0

163,178

11,672,807.18

NSECNSMRGDS

CAP

40.1

40.1

0

0

87,764

3,431,708.56

NSEINDUSTR

2770.47

2756.85

-13.62

0

5,458,809

179,635,880.30

148.35

148.66

0.31

0

32,307,961

30,346,438.00

CAVERTON

6.55

6.69

0.14

0

100,418,000

652,672,393.30

NSEINS

CCNN

12.04

12.64

0.6

0

2,262,164

28,293,951.22

NSELOTUSISLM

2848.7

2837.66

-11.04

0

11,489,245

390,352,128.00

470.24

474.16

3.92

0

17,407,990

581,717,108.30

CHAMPION

10.17

10.17

0

0

200

1,934.00

NSEOILGAS

CHAMS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,000

500

OANDO

26.01

26

-0.01

0

15,666,969

411,162,202.70

33.01

33.01

0

0

166,429

5,503,982.54

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

0

198,000

99,000.00

OKOMUOIL

CONOIL

62.32

62.32

0

0

157,916

9,621,544.63

PAINTCOM

1.47

1.4

-0.07

0

80,000

112,000.00

5.16

5

-0.16

0

215,340

1,087,784.61

CONTINSURE

1.16

1.11

-0.05

0

1,998,450

2,234,297.36

PORTPAINT

COSTAIN

1.2

1.22

0.02

0

544,032

674,547.80

PRESCO

38.01

38

-0.01

0

359,564

13,662,031.00

0.54

0.54

0

0

8,166

4,246.32

COURTVILLE

0.56

0.56

0

0

14,000

7,660.00

PRESTIGE

CUSTODYINS

3.96

3.92

-0.04

0

1,768,373

7,041,541.74

PZ

39

39

0

0

1,013,161

39,499,354.77

5.19

4.94

-0.25

0

1,546,282

7,862,745.06

CUTIX

1.89

1.9

0.01

0

339,000

626,420.00

REDSTAREX

CWG

5

5

0

0

20

96

ROADS

8.46

8.46

0

0

4,133

36,589.32

0.51

0.53

0.02

0

841,118

445,002.77

DANGCEM

240.5

238

-2.5

0

159,583

38,252,037.83

ROYALEX

DANGFLOUR

8.08

8.13

0.05

0

981,422

8,034,733.60

RTBRISCOE

1.05

1.05

0

0

236,983

246,577.56

675.05

675.05

0

0

20,173

13,622,799.96

DANGSUGAR

9.25

9.2

-0.05

0

2,571,397

23,581,759.89

SEPLAT

DIAMONDBNK

6.4

6.6

0.2

0

11,461,952

75,433,652.28

SKYEBANK

3.28

3.25

-0.03

0

4,240,517

13,820,824.30

100

100

0

0

1,000

95,000.00

DNMEYER

1.2

1.2

0

0

28,861

36,059.86

SKYESHELT

DUNLOP

0.5

0.5

0

0

50,000

25,000.00

STANBIC

27.13

27.13

0

0

143,342

3,916,434.40

0.5

0.5

0

0

300

150

ETERNA

4.2

4.01

-0.19

0

833,717

3,343,860.14

STDINSURE

ETI

16.62

16.8

0.18

0

1,357,057

23,025,039.20

STERLNBANK

2.37

2.36

-0.01

0

2,559,454

6,095,010.02

186.2

195.5

9.3

0

53,201

10,367,302.57

ETRANZACT

2.21

2.21

0

0

50

110.5

TOTAL

EVANSMED

2.3

2.22

-0.08

0

120,479

268,561.32

TRANSCORP

5.56

5.47

-0.09

0

85,167,981

483,839,894.50

1.96

1.96

0

0

2,250

4,275.00

FBNH

15.62

15.7

0.08

0

42,336,758

664,812,216.80

TRANSEXPR

FCMB

4.33

4.2

-0.13

0

2,997,841

12,605,555.31

UAC-PROP

17.56

17.56

0

0

174,650

3,071,688.88

62

62

0

0

140,920

8,770,432.42

FIDELITYBK

1.99

1.96

-0.03

0

13,475,636

26,638,327.81

UACN

FIDSON

3.06

3.06

0

0

915,905

2,831,969.25

UBA

8.01

8

-0.01

0

15,028,851

120,182,623.40

2.2

2.15

-0.05

0

7,398,636

16,091,239.23

FLOURMILL

77.87

77.87

0

0

113,975

8,517,200.65

UBCAP

FO

215.68

226.46

10.78

0

519,999

115,787,216.10

UBN

9.23

8.99

-0.24

0

449,303

4,141,827.58

0.5

0.5

0

0

62,500

31,250.00

FORTISMFB

5.96

5.96

0

0

10,000

60,000.00

UNHOMES

GLAXOSMITH

68.99

68.99

0

0

14,036

922,452.18

UNILEVER

50.14

49

-1.14

0

883,535

43,126,948.72

0.5

0.5

0

0

316,850

158,425.00

GUARANTY

30.01

30.13

0.12

0

6,163,540

185,228,294.60

UNITYBNK

GUINNESS

197.5

197.5

0

0

63,746

12,655,487.48

UPDCREIT

9.95

9.95

0

0

1,000

9,940.00

4.3

4.29

-0.01

0

1,305,545

5,363,109.99

HMARKINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

200,000

100,000.00

UPL

HONYFLOUR

4.3

4.3

0

0

920,138

3,937,558.79

VETGRIF30

19.44

19.32

-0.12

0

252,125

4,903,565.65

4.35

4.35

0

0

139,047

586,784.93

IKEJAHOTEL

0.76

0.79

0.03

0

110,000

84,500.00

VITAFOAM

INFINITY

1.6

1.6

0

0

22,500

34,600.00

VONO

1.44

1.44

0

0

33,000

45,210.00

119

120

1

0

489,709

58,312,760.04

INTBREW

29.5

28.05

-1.45

0

166,000

4,658,260.00

WAPCO

INTENEGINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,409,348

705,945.76

WAPIC

0.89

0.9

0.01

0

15,046,255

13,540,133.26

1.21

1.15

-0.06

0

6,037,854

6,945,354.24

25.2

25

-0.2

0

4,830,115

120,711,721.30

JAPAULOIL

0.55

0.54

-0.01

0

6,312,708

3,354,473.47

WEMABANK

JBERGER

63

63

0

0

137,546

8,771,886.09

ZENITHBANK

LEARNAFRCA

1.57

1.51

-0.06

0

118,810

182,909.10

LINKASSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

49,250

24,625.00

LIVESTOCK

3.08

3.09

0.01

0

3,610,999

11,158,202.02

MANSARD

2.55

2.55

0

0

1,458,278

3,717,189.35

MAYBAKER

1.75

1.74

-0.01

0

653,707

1,137,889.72

MBENEFIT

0.54

0.54

0

0

1,712,185

923,525.05

MCNICHOLS

1.35

1.35

0

0

14,500

18,850.00

MOBIL

170.33

178.84

8.51

0

175,918

31,419,079.04

MRS

61.99

61.99

0

0

270

15,903.00

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock FO TOTAL MOBIL NSEOILGAS NSEBNK WAPCO NB CCNN NSEINS DIAMONDBNK

Close 226.46 195.5 178.84 474.16 437.87 120 178 12.64 148.66 6.6

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

Stock

Close

Loss

10.78 9.3 8.51 3.92 1.31 1 0.91 0.6 0.31 0.2

NSEASI 119.35 NEWGOLD NSEINDUSTR 13.62 NSELOTUSISLM 11.04 NSE50 NSE30 DANGCEM ASHAKACEM INTBREW UNILEVER

42664.98

-

2050 2756.85

-17 -

2837.66

-

2100.62 1941.2 238 31.46 28.05 49

-3.37 -3.13 -2.5 -1.54 -1.45 -1.14

THE United Nations Office in Nigeria recently put the figures of those directly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency at six million people in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the north East of Nigeria.

ON the strength of this number, the House of Representatives last week in a motion raised by Hon. Abdulrahman Terab from Borno state asked the Federal Government to establish rehabilitation camps for the estimated six million internally displaced persons.

WE are worried that the federal government’s approach to dealing with the issue of insurgency since it broke out five years ago has been most uninspiring. It is shockingly sad to note that it took the United Nations for Nigerians to be informed that over six million citizens have been displaced by the insurgents. Sadly too, in terms of reality, there is little effort at rehabilitating those affected.

ALL Nigerians, particularly in the Northern part and the Federal Capital Territory where innocent and hapless citizens are being bombed in worship houses and other public places, several towns and villages had long been deserted, leaving the victims to roam about with no one to help them.

ASIDE being the location of a large-scale Boko Haram abduction in April, Chibok and its neighbouring villages have recently been the target of the deadliest attacks. Only recently, gunmen murdered at least 44 people in Kwada and Kautikari Villages, some 15km away from Chibok. The attacks have led to a mass exodus of villagers, who are citing constant threats to their lives. Leaders of the community revealed that the village is not only unsafe, it has been hit by famine.

MORE worrisome is the obvious fact that the internally-displaced persons include

THE NIGERIAN

Rehabilitation For Six Million Displaced Nigerians women, children and the vulnerable who are lacking in basic healthcare, sanitation, clothing, food and shelter.

IT is shameful that despite the vulnerability of people around these three states, there is no official camp to settle them, compelling them to squat in horrible and untold environments. This situation from various reports has made the victims vulnerable to various hazards such as snake bites, weather extremes and diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, among others, more especially among women and children.

FROM the foregoing, there is clear failure of relevant government agencies to perform their duties. The National Refugees Commission, National Emergency Management Agency and all such care giving institutions of government have abdicated their responsibilities to the victims even at a time when such services were most needed.

THIS is why we align with the push of the House of Representatives for the urgent rehabilitation of all victims of insurgency, not only in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe but also in Kaduna, Taraba, Benue and even the Federal Capital Territory.

WE call on the Federal Government to make adequate provision for the upkeep of the victims and placing them in transitional settlements.

WE call on the National Border Commission

and the National Refugee Commission to swing into action immediately to build the camps for the displaced six million Nigerians.

HOWEVER, the Federal Government should redouble its efforts to stem tide of insurgency and senseless bloodletting in the country.

Nigeria has never witnessed the scale of near daily attacks, killing thousands of innocent citizens who know nothing about the reasons for the insurgents’ action. The heartless, cruel and inhuman slaughtering and butchery currently being unleashed in the north must be arrested.

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah has continued to assure that government would put an end to terrorism in Nigeria and has been sounding like a broken record lately. However, we urge the COAS and his counterparts in other armed forces and police to take urgent steps to route the insurgents out of the country and its borders. Mere lip service is not required at this time, but concerted effort. The fifth columnists within the armed forces in the war against terror should be identified, fished out and dealt with as well. The security agencies owe Nigerians a duty to free all kidnapped citizens, particularly, students of Government Secondary School Chibok from the hands of the mindless terrorist to free their parents and loved ones from the agony of heartaches.

WE also, call on the country’s international friends helping to deal with terrorism to increase their assistance to the nation for quick results as Nigerians are daily looking out with high hopes for major breakthroughs in the war against terror.

THE judiciary on its part, should accelerate the trial of all terror suspects and ensure that all those found wanting are adequately punished for their actions. We believe that dealing with the insurgents head-on remains a permanent solution to the displacement of hapless citizens and time to do that is now.

Issues

Need To Care For The Elderly In Nigeria SOCIOLOGIST always underscore the need for all members of the society to make pragmatic efforts to cater for the needs of elderly or aged persons.

Gerontologists, experts in the field of medical science that deals with diseases and problems of old people, particularly emphasise that this category of people needs special care.

They insist that the government and other stakeholders ought to initiate concrete plans on how to care for the elderly and make them useful in the society.

The Nigeria Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (NSGG) , therefore, underscores the need to have a national ageing policy to address the perceptible challenges facing old citizens of the country.

Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi, the Chairman of the NSGG, said that the policy was somewhat imperative in view of the claim of the United Nations (UN) that Nigeria had about 8.1 million old people, with a growing ageing population.

He noted that if the UN figure was anything to go by, concrete efforts should be made to initiate a credible national policy for the elderly to look after the interests of old persons.

Ogunniyi said that the NSGG was established to complement government’s efforts to protect the interests of the elderly and facilitate their access to good health care services.

Reinforcing the professor’s views, Mr Adeola Adeniji, an 82-yearold resident of Abuja, argued that Nigeria did not have adequate plans for the elderly.

He said that he had never received any form of assistance from the government, adding that old age had somewhat become a source of worry for most Nigerians because of the plight of old people in the society.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs. Elisabeth

conduct of enlightenment campaigns to change the negative attitude of most people toward the elderly.

He, however, argued that the adoption of an evidencebased approach to policy programmes and strategies would also improve the

discussed at the ongoing national conference.

All the same, Hajiya Zainab Mama, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said that efforts were underway to domesticate regional and international instruments to address issues relating to ageing.

‘The minister, who gave the assurance at a recent stakeholders’ consultative and policy summit organised

migration of younger persons in search of more favourable living conditions had also affected care for the elderly. However, Dr Isabella Aboderin, a member of

quality of life of the aged.

Nevertheless, Ajomole advised the government to incorporate ageing education into the curriculum of educational institutions at all levels and the programmes of the sectors so as to ensure better living standards for old persons.

He also suggested that the rights of the elderly to better living conditions ought to be

by SGG in Abuja, conveyed the government’s concern about the increasing apathy of citizens toward caring for the elderly. She, however, conceded that care for the elderly had declined considerably because of prevailing economic challenges.

Mama noted that the breakdown of extended family support system for older persons and rural

NSSG’s Board of Trustees, said that it was important for all stakeholders to brainstorm on ways of improving the wellbeing of the elderly.

She underscored the need for Nigeria to formulate a national policy for the ‘—aged, adding, however, that the input of all the stakeholders in the proposed policy was essential.

Aboderin said that the

By FEMI OGUNSHOLA Moro, 75, said that life after her retirement from public service had been somewhat harrowing and difficult.

She said that due to the fact that she was unable to build a house while in service, she had since been facing untold embarrassment by her landlord whenever it was time to pay rent.

Supporting such claims Mr Yinka Ajomole, the Executive Director of NSGG, observed that there was no concrete policy formulation and implementation process for the aged in Nigeria.

He said that the dearth of research data on ageing in the country also constituted a major setback to efforts to ascertain the current status of elderly Nigerians.

He, nonetheless, assured the public that the NSGG was committed to enhancing the “capacity of the elderly to remain productive members of the society.

Ajomole said that the society was complementing the efforts of nongovernmental organisations, community-based organisations and the government at all levels to increase public awareness on the challenges facing the elderly.

He, however, recommended the development of a shared vision and common standpoint with passionate people on ageing in efforts to foster the evolution of strategic relationships within the society.

He said that the society would also encourage the

“He said that the dearth of research data on ageing in the country also constituted a major setback to efforts to ascertain the current status of elderly Nigerians.”

“Mama noted that the breakdown of extended family support system for older persons and rural migration of younger persons in search of more favourable living conditions had also affected care for the elderly. However, Dr Isabella Aboderin, a member of NSSG’s Board of Trustees, said that it was important for all stakeholders to brainstorm on ways of improving the wellbeing of the elderly.”

policy should also look into how to cope with the growing ‘ of older people in the country and the implications.

Ms Roseline Kihumba,

Partner Relations Adviser, Help Age International, a rights- based international non—governmental organisation, said that old persons should have access to age-friendly and affordable health care services.

“An age-friendly physical environment that promotes the development and use of innovative technologies that encourage active ageing is very important.

“More should be done to expose, investigate and prevent discrimination, abuse and violence against older persons,’’ she said.

All in all, analysts stress the need to make pragmatic efforts to promote the wellbeing of old persons because the youth of today will definitely become the elderly of tomorrow.

(NAN)

Wildlife AS peace and stability returns to Jos and other parts of Plateau, tourism sites are being upgraded to enable the state to maximise the gains from the expected influx of local and international tourists.

One the tourism sites under focus is the popular Jos Wildlife Park, located in the hilly Rantya area of the city.

Established 30 years ago, the park is famed as the biggest manmade zoological garden in the country, according to records from the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Like similar tourism facilities in Jos, the park has suffered much neglect over the years, with the downturn reaching a crescendo during the protracted crises and massive violence that rocked Jos and its environs for more than 10 years.

Naturally, international tourists avoided Plateau State like a plague during the period, while the residents were also too scared to visit tourism sites.

Mr Abraham Yiljap, Plateau State’s Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, recalls that at some point during the crisis period, it was very difficult to feed the animals, as the fearstricken workers were too scared to venture out of their houses.

However, Jos Wildlife Park is fast regaining its status as a choice destination for local and international tourists, as the park recorded a boom in patronage during the last Christmas and New Year festivities.

Yiljap says that the state government is spending N2 billion to re-stock the park and transform it into a modern tourist centre.

“What we are doing is a sharp reaction to the huge decline in the fortunes and patronage of the park, following years of

neglect.

“We want to upgrade the facility to enable it to realise its full potential; the multiplier effects are massive but we specifically target a situation where every family will want to visit Jos Wildlife Park and have a good time,’’ he says.

Yiljap describes the park as “very rich’’, adding that it is home to different species of rare animals like elephants, lions, hyenas, birds, chimpanzees, baboons and monkeys.

As part of efforts to make Jos Wildlife Park lively and attractive to all kinds of tourists, the Plateau Tourism D e v e l o p m e n t

Repositioning Jos Wildlife Park Corporation, the park’s managers, insists on retaining the hunting instincts in the wild animals, particularly the lions, by feeding them with live animals.

“We do not feed the lions with bones or food leftovers since they multiply consistently; they live in their natural habitat and when animals are thrown to them, they react as they would have reacted if they were in the forest.

“Our hyenas are also fed with foods that contain calcium, while our pythons eat rabbits. The monkeys are kept as naturally wild as possible and that is why some monkeys even stray into the neighbourhoods,’’ Yiljap says.

Investigations, however, reveal that some animals

By EPHRAIMS SHEYIN such as buffaloes, rhinos and giraffes are no longer alive but officials say that a special place had been established where the bones, skins and other features of the animals are conserved for interested visitors.

To keep the animals healthy, Yiljap says that the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, has attached some wildlife officers to the park to constantly look after the animals’ health.

“There is also an annual medical screening of the workers that come in contact with the animals, especially during feeding, so as to

ensure that they do not transmit any diseases to the animals,’’ he adds.

As government intensifies efforts to upgrade Jos Wildlife Park, officials say that more animals are being acquired from various locations to increase the stock.

They say that over the years, the zoo has received animals via exchange programmes with other zoological gardens like the Audu Bako Zoo in Kano, Karami Zoo in Maiduguri, while some animals are purchased directly from vendors and hunters.

The officials add that some animals are donated to the park by

some individuals and via diplomatic channels, citing a recent instance where Namibia offered to donate some animals to the park, following requests by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau.

Yiljap acknowledges that Jos Wildlife Park has lost a lot of revenue as a result of a decrease in tourists’ visits over the years, insisting, however, that the benefits of a functional wildlife park cannot be measured just in monetary terms.

“Sometimes, students visit the zoo and the gains from such visits are usually massive; the young students learn to be animal-friendly and they also get to know how dangerous some animals could be.

“Again, the tourists usually stay in our hotels

“Sometimes, students visit the zoo and the gains from such visits are usually massive; the young students learn to be animal-friendly and they also get to know how dangerous some animals could be”.

and make all manners of purchases; all of these add to the economic growth of Plateau,’’ he says.

Mr George Ajim, a teacher at Anglican Junior Seminary, Kafanchan, who has always led students on excursions to the park, agrees with Yiljap as to the usefulness of such outings.

“There is usually a lot of excitement among the students whenever we visit the park; it gives the students an opportunity to see in real life, the animals they read about in books and see in pictures,’’ he says.

Ajim says that some of the most exciting sights are when students see the monkeys, chimpanzees and baboons jumping from one tree branch to another in their very natural habitat.

“The students also get to see dangerous reptiles and learn to stay off from places they could come in contact with them,’’ he adds.

Observers, however, underscore the need to fence the park, arguing that Continues on Pg 15

Wildlife Continued from Pg 14

some monkeys sometimes stray into the neighbourhoods.

One of them, Jehu Yenlong, a worker in a federal agency, says that

... Jos Wildlife Park

the animals ought to be constantly secured so as to protect them from the menace of poachers.

“Monkeys stray into

neighbourhoods and that is dangerous because they could be killed by people who have a taste for bush meat (meat of wild

animals),’’ he says.

Analysts say that the park’s fencing is also imperative in order to guarantee the safety of

“They also want regular electricity and water supply to the park, insisting that the government should give this priority attention while expending the N2 billion voted for the park’s renovation.”

residents of nearby communities and visitors, as the wild animals could sneak out from the park anytime.

They also want regular electricity and water supply to the park, insisting that the government should give this priority attention while expending the N2 billion voted for the park’s renovation.

All the same, Yiljap says that the ministries of tourism and agriculture are discussing ways of boosting agric tourism in the state by opening up

Opinion

more tourism centres at the Butura Cattle Ranch and the Panyam Fish Pond.

“We have also revived the Jos Polo Club to enable us to organise more polo tournaments after years of inactivity because of the insecurity in Plateau,’’ he adds.

All in all, analysts emphasise that the government and other stakeholders should make concerted efforts to fully develop the tourism industry in Plateau and boost its revenue-earning potential.

(NAN)

factory operators in Imo: Intensifying Campaign Against Operators baby Imo.

STAKEHOLDERS and security operatives are worried about the illegal activities of operators of baby factories’ in Imo. They are particularly worried that those licenced to operate motherless babies homes are turning the babies they ought to cater for into articles of trade.

The former Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr. Mohammed Katsina who conducted several raids, decried the posture of the operators, who had remained adamant.

The police had a running battle with one Dr James Ezuma, proprietor of Ezuma Women and Children Right Initiative.

The police raided the home in December 2013, after a girl reported that she delivered a baby girl at the home, and the baby was sold to an unknown person. When police stormed the home, 16 other teenage girls, at various stages of pregnancy were rescued, while Ezuma said the home was a shelter for stranded women and children.

The teenager said she was directed to the place after she got pregnant, with the promise that she would be catered for since she didn’t want to terminate the pregnancy.

“I was told that they will take care of my baby after delivery, but was never told the baby will be taken away from me,” she explained.

A woman who gave her

Of ‘Baby Factories’

name as Celine Eze from Umuezeala-Ogwara in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo, was also recently arrested by security operatives for her alleged involvement in running a baby factory and child trafficking. Eze, a nurse, runs a home in the village, where the pregnant teenager girls were kept.

The villagers said that people looking for the fruits of the womb’’ regularly come to home run by Celine Eze, who is now in police net.

Imo State Government, aware that some NonGovernmental Orgainsations are now using motherless babies homes to promote baby factories’ and child trafficking, recently .launched a revalidation exercise for all operators of orphanages, motherless babies homes, maternity homes and shelters for homeless.

The Imo Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Love Onyechére, regretted that the humane concept of motherless babies’ homes had been seriously abused.

Onyechere, who is also in charge of the campaign against baby factories and human trafficking in the state, described the business as a crime against God and humanity.

“Operation of baby

By UGONRE INYAMA factories is a crime against God and humanity. Criminals masquerading as proprietors of motherless babies homes have infiltrated the

movement; what started out as a humane endeavour is now a cold business venture. “It negates all known religious, social and

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha

cultural values associated with the sanctity of life, motherhood and child bearing,” she said.

The commissioner explained that the revalidation became necessary as many of the homes were actually baby factories,’ trading babies for money, while disguising as motherless babies homes.

Mr Uzor Uzor, the Chairman, Campaign for Democracy, South-East zone, attributed the thriving of baby factories’ in the zone and other parts of the country to poverty and illiteracy.

He urged government at all levels to create employment opportunities, adding that the rate of unemployment in the country was alarming.

The chairman said that about 1,800 pregnant teenagers and babies were rescued from ‘baby factories’ in the last 12 months with the number still rising. The Imo State House of Assembly has also joined the campaign to the check the activities of

The assembly recently set up a 5-man committee to look into a bill for a law to prohibit baby racketeering, through baby factory operations.

Mrs Adaku Ihuoma, Majority Leader, Imo State House of Assembly, who sponsored the bill, frowned at the alarming rate of baby factories in the state. She said that trafficking innocent babies is a crime against humanity, stressing that perpetrators must be adequately punished.

Mr Celestine Ngobiwu, representing Obowo state constituency who shared similar sentiments, suggested life imprisonment for operators of baby factories.

Perceptive analysts had continued to express concern why people should patronise baby factories for adoption of babies, instead of following legitimate path.

They however urged the Imo State Government and Imo State House of Assembly not to relent in their campaigns to stamp out baby factories in the state.

(NAN)

“Imo State Government, aware that some Non-Governmental Orgainsations are now using motherless babies homes to promote baby factories’ and child trafficking, recently .launched a revalidation exercise for all operators of orphanages, motherless babies homes, maternity homes and shelters for homeless.”

Midweek Magazine THE first African Health Ministers meeting, organised by African Union Commission and World Health Organisation (WHO) in Luanda, Angola, reviewed health care services in Africa and expressed concern about the disease burden on the continent.

At the conference held in April, the ministers noted that heavy burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases in Africa necessitated the need to facilitate the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across African countries.

Citing a report of WHO, the ministers said that Africa had 69 per cent of the world’s HIV cases, 26 per cent of global tuberculosis cases and 80 per cent of the world’s malaria cases.

According to them, the report indicates that the figures account for 47 per cent of global under-five mortality and 65 per cent of global maternal mortality.

The ministers, however, expressed worry that most African countries had yet to be on track in efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDG5) on heath.

Stakeholders observe that this development is because most of the populations are not covered by effective healthcare interventions, while accessibility and coverage of essential health services are still low.

Making reference to a report of the health experts’ technical session at the meeting, they note that 43 per cent of pregnant women had access to antenatal care, while 49 per cent of births were handled by skilled attendants.

In the report, the experts stressed that the percentage was low, compared with the global average of 55 per cent

for access to antenatal care and 70 per cent for skilled personnel managing childbirths.

At the end of the technical session, the experts proposed the adoption of TJHC as a tool for addressing factors relating to inadequate health care delivers’ in most African nations.

The experts noted that who attested to the viability of UHC as a programme that could ensure the evolution of required health services without suffering financial hardship.

With this development, Nigeria’s Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, therefore, proposed 2020 as the deadline for African countries to implement UHC. “You cannot just work without a target; it is like playing football without a goalpost. Setting the deadline is to encourage countries to implement the UHC. This is required especially in countries that have not started anything about the UHC; if the year 2020 is set as the time limit, many countries will work hard to implement it - The aim of the UHC is to ensure equal access to health care, breaking financial barriers and ensuring quality care,’’ he said.

Chukwu assured the participants at the meeting that Nigeria would meet the deadline, stressing that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) had set pragmatic targets to implement UHC. He also said that the Nigeria’s Presidential Summit on UMC organised in March was, indeed, a platform for the implementation of UHC in the country. Nevertheless, Dr Oluwafemi Thomas, the Executive Secretary of

Disease Burden In Af

By ANNA ANGBAZONEW AGENCY OF NIGERIA

NHIS, said that although Nigeria would be able to meet the deadline, other African countries might not beat the 2020 deadline. In Nigeria, we have

are beginning to trust NHIS programmes because we have seen renewed interest in the programmes via increased enrolment.

In the last quarter, we have

deadline, insisting that many African countries had their peculiar challenges.

They stressed that 2020 was too close for many African countries in efforts

implementation of UHC, an agreement ought to be reached on a deadline.

He urged African countries to strengthen their health care systems, while improving on efforts to have skilled human resources so as to ensure quality health care delivery.

The ministers, therefore,

agre sho mem TJH coun to ta Th cha Afri to im poli

The Me

By CHIJIOKE OKORONKW

started; we have got all the political commitments and the restructuring, which we need, is also concluded.

The UHC Fund has been established; I think the strategy is right and the procurement process is on.

Therefore, as soon as we procure all the equipment that we need, we will deploy them.

“Even at that, from the little efforts we are making, it is getting clear that people

been able to enroll more persons than what we did in the last three years; so we are really on course.

“From 2011 to November 2013, the NHIS was able to enroll 600,000 enrollees but in the last four months or thereabouts, we have been able to enroll more than 700,000 persons,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, delegates of Ghana and Rwanda at the meeting opposed - the 2020

to attain effective implementation of UHC Nevertheless, the representatives from Namibia, Senegal and Republic of Congo concurred with the proposed deadline.

Dr Luis Santo, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said that although the interest exhibited at having a deadline demonstrated the commitment of the health ministers to the full

“Citing a report of WHO, the ministers said that Africa had 69 per cent of the world’s HIV cases, 26 per cent of global tuberculosis cases and 80 per cent of the world’s malaria cases.”

UNARGUABLY, the framing of news in political reporting goes a long way to influence the electorate as the media provides a link between the contestants and the public.

Experts say that factual, objective and balanced stories will create an informed and objective electorate, while unfounded and biased reporting can cause misunderstanding and violence.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, concerned organisations are not leaving any stone unturned in preparing journalists for effective political reporting.

Just before the June 21 Ekiti governorship election, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), in collaboration with Diamond Publications Limited organised a training in Akure, Ondo State for journalists on political reporting.

Acting Executive Secretary of NPC, Mr Nnamdi Njemanze, who addressed the participants, advised media professionals to always find out the true nature of events before filing their reports.

Njemanze stressed the need for journalists not to allow their personal judgment to influence their reportage.

He said the training would go a long way in assisting the participants to prepare themselves ahead of 2015 general elections.

“The essence of the training is to sensitise participants to the challenges of political reporting and to remind them of the place of ethics in the profession,’’ he said.

Njemanze urged journalists to make “ accuracy, fairness and

bala M the advi alwa saw told G jour time the j “I ethn poli affil goo “If thes star jour He role corr sens effe econ Ac the gau peo gov and gov H pub abo indi scie tho know peop He mea poll obs anal An Mr jour part proc even He of p x-ra prom whi

Midweek Magazine

frica:

eed that a 2025 deadline uld be set for AU mber states to implement HC so as to allow the ntries to have more time ake action. hey noted that the allenges facing most ican countries in efforts mplement UHC included itical instability and

Matters Arising

incoherent health financing policies.

The ministers, therefore, pledged to develop comprehensive policies and strategies for health systems, in collaboration with other sectors, in their respective countries in order to achieve effective implementation of the health programme.

All in all, analysts agree that the implementation of UHC will be feasible in Africa within the specified time-frame, if all countries exhibit appreciable commitment to providing unrestricted health care services for their citizens before the deadline.

(NAN).

“All in all, analysts agree that the implementation of UHC will be feasible in Africa within the specified time-frame, if all countries exhibit appreciable commitment to providing unrestricted health care services for their citizens before the deadline.”

dia And Professionalism In Political Reporting

WO/YAHAYA ISAH

ance their watch word.’’

Mr Muda Ganiyu, one of resource persons, ised the participants to ays insist on what “they w and not what they were d.’’ aniyu said that rnalists should at all es observe the ethics of journalism profession.

I want you to forget nicity, religion and socioitical and economic liations if you want to be d journalists. f we can forget about all se, the sky will be our rting point in rnalism’’, he said. e said journalists had a e to play in tackling ruption headlong by sitising the public on the ect of corruption on the nomy. ccording to Ganiyu, it is duty of journalists to uge the mood of the ople and report the vernment to the people d the people to the ernment. e said that gauging blic opinion was not out interviewing an ividual, but about entific means of helping se in government to w the true feelings of the ple. e listed the some of the ans as vox pop, opinion ls, survey, forecast, ervation, content lysis, among others. nother resource person, Maxim Uzoatu, urged rnalists to avoid being tisan and report the entire cess instead of depicting nts. e said that manifestoes political parties must be ayed in relation to the mises of the candidates ile the transition of an

aspirant to a candidate must be examined in tune with adherence to internal democracy of the political party.

“The umpire, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), should be given round-the-clock scrutiny.

“Any attempt at bias must be exposed by the vigilant press; from the umpire down to the actual contestants who have thrown their political hats into the ring, there should be total coverage in regard to playing to the rules of the game.

“In the coverage of elections, reporters must have complete mastery of the electoral act and the country’s constitution,’’ Uzoatu stressed.

In a communiqué issued at the end of workshop and signed by Njemanze, journalists were urged to set agenda for the political class by scientifically identifying issues of public interest.

It decried a situation where politicians now set agenda for the media.

It urged journalists to always ask relevant and probing questions from politicians and compare their electoral promises with their performance in office.

“In fulfillment of their role as educators, journalists should study and understand the electoral law and explain it to the people.”

The communiqué called on the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) to come up with guidelines that could serve as parameters for election reporting in the country.

It said such guidelines

would stop media owners and controllers from using their platforms for pecuniary interests.

“Reporters have great power and they must be encouraged to wield it in an ethical and professional manner; conscious that

inaccurate election reportage can trigger avoidable violence.

“The media and journalists should gauge the mood of the electorate to

ensure that the voices of the people are actually heard during elections through opinion polls and observations.

“Political reporters and columnists should be careful with their use of language

and pursue decorum, decency and professionalism.”

The communiqué also reminded journalists of the danger involved in using

violent language in reporting political activities.

It warned public-owned broadcasting stations to conduct their activities with utmost professionalism and give equal access to the various candidates and their parties.

“Media owners and managers should exercise

utmost restraint in their conduct and avoid using the media to pursue preconceived pecuniary political gains at the expense of national interest.

“Media professionals should be paid regularly and promptly and not subjected to undignified treatment that could encourage corruption,’’ the communiqué further stated.

Stakeholders want the Nigerian Press Council to sustain training workshops for journalists on political

reporting ahead of the 2015 general election.

Sustenance of training they say, will help to adequately equip journalists to effectively cover the 2015 general elections.

(NAN)

“The media and journalists should gauge the mood of the electorate to ensure that the voices of the people are actually heard during elections through opinion polls and observations. “Political reporters and columnists should be careful with their use of language and pursue decorum, decency and professionalism.”

Issues View Point

Can Nigeria Ever Get It Right?

Unresolved Murders:

IT is pathetic that even in the 21st century, Nigeria cannot still get anything right including resolving politically minded assassinations across the country. In a country where there’s abundance yet the masses cannot afford basic amenities of life.

Can Nigeria ever get anything right?

A country where the people have no choice but to live in permanent darkness because the government and the relevant bodies in charge of electricity cannot fix the problem facing that Sector of the economy. The people are denied so many things that makes live worth living and yet they keep smiling in their numerous problem. What we hear daily is probe upon probe and it has led the nation to nowhere as we either remain stagnant or we keep retrogressing.

Out of these countless problems that have brought the nation to her knees the series of unresolved murders cases is the most worrisome. When the sitting Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, late Chief Bola Ige was murdered on the 23rd of December 2001, the thought of the people then was that those who perpetrated this evil act would be caught and dealt with decisively because of the calibal of the person involved.

But we were all wrong because those behind the murder were powerful people that cannot be touched. As we read this article today, his killers still walk the streets free enjoying the proceeds from the dastardly act.

Nigeria is a country of wonders, the more you look the less you see. How can you explain the scenario of an accused in the murder case of Bola Ige winning a senatorial election from the prison under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

Surprised? Don’t be, this happens in Nigeria. We were all witnessed to the case on how one of the suspect allegedly identified Alani Omisore as one of the evil gangs that murdered the minister of justice.

We heard how a judge raised an alarm that some powerful people were threatening him to compromise and bend justice in favour of the accused.

By PRINCE TOBl IDAOMI

The said judge was removed from the case and transferred to a remote area in Ogbomosho, simply because he refused to bend justice in favour of the shameless but powerful people in the government then. The opposition cried out, Nigerians cried out and Chief Bola Ige family cried out, which even led to the death of his wife of blessed memory, the late Atinuke Ige. We should not forget so soon the gruesome murder of the founder of Newswatch magazine by a parcel bomb in 1986 during the regime of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The late incorruptible, defender of the masses and senior advocate of the masses Chief Gani Fawehinmi fought hard to prove that the government of the day murdered Dele Giwa by proxy of both Akilu and Togun. But the late SAN was frustrated throughout by the power that be.

Just recently Sahara reporters interviewed one Dr Taiyemiwo Ogunade who confirmed what some if not most of us already knew about the murder of Dele Giwa. The Doctor shed more light on how Giwa was murder and he stated that it was because of the Mamman Vatsa coup interview and Gloria Okon case that led to the gruesome murder of the American trained journalist. He stated that: Gloria Okon is actually Chinyere, who was married to the late Charles “Jeff” Chandler, the fellow who killed Nzeogwu and was killed a day later. Charles Chandler, who was Tiv, married Chinyere also known as Gloria Okon who’s from Imo State, who was later caught with drugs.

He also stated that Mamman

Vatsa was the person who put Chinyere on the next available flight from Kano to London in order to escape the same justice that was melted on the three convicted fellow during

it must be from “Mr. President” referring to the discussions he had with IBB days earlier. The bomb exploded and severed his lower abdomen; he died a few hours later.

Another case worth mentioning was that of the

so called suspects that were arrested for the murder of Alfred Rewane?

Harry Marshall was another victim whose blood is still crying for justice years after he was murdered in cold blood. As you read this article, the government is yet to unravel the misery behind his death while the killers still walk the face of the Earth as freemen. Whilst it was

Mohammed Abubakar, IG of Police Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

The government claimed she was dead by parading a dead woman picked out of the mortuary. Dele Giwa later found out that she was in London having delivered a baby by another man. He sent a French photographer to the place and they saw Maryam Babangida at the event.

Kayode Soyinka brought back the photographs.

Dele was sitting across the table from Kayode examining the photos taken of “Gloria Okon” (Chinyere, Richard Chandler’s wife) at the naming ceremony in London. Maryam Babangida was there. And then a letter parcel was delivered to him and he said excitedly that

assassination of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola the wife of Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) the acclaimed winner of June 12th 1993 Presidential election. It is no longer secret that she was murdered by the agent of government and turned around to be arresting her close aide including her step son. Some of those arrested include: Kola Abiola, Abraham Adesanya of blessed memory, chief Lanihun and Ayo Opadokun.

There is no gain saying to say that if General Abacha was to be alive today, perhaps, Al-Mustafa and co wouldn’t have been taken to court in the first place. Otherwise what happened to the

believed that Harry was murdered by the power that be, simply because of his popularity in the south south zone and the popularity of his party then (defunct ANPP).

Who killed Chief Igwe in Onitsha? A question yet to be answered. Igwe was the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Onitsha branch. A governor then Chief Chimaroke Nnamani was accused of masterminding the murder but because of the immunity he enjoyed nothing could be done. Even after leaving office years after, things remain the way it was. The blood of Chief Igwe sill cry for justice while the culprits are yet to be brought to book.

“When the sitting Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, late Chief Bola Ige was murdered on the 23rd of December 2001, the thought of the people then was that those who perpetrated this evil act would be caught and dealt with decisively because of the calibal of the person involved. But we were all wrong because those behind the murder were powerful people that cannot be touched.”

Funso Williams is another unlucky victim who was killed by yet to be identified killer. His case is one in a million of yet unresolved cases of assassinations in Nigeria. It would not be wrong to say this is another state sponsored murder?

The personal secretary of Governor Adams Oshiohmole comrade Olaitan Oyerinde was also a victim of the assassin’s bullet. Despite the cry by the comrade governor and that of the labour movement, justice appears to be far away.

The police and the State Security Service,(SSS) is the two security agencies investigating the murder of late Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Secretary to the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole. These security agents according to media report held two different sets of suspects, a development that has set off speculations that investigations into the murder would most likely be bungled.

While the Edo Police Command arrested some suspects, the SSS was holding an entirely different set of suspects at its Abuja headquarters.

This development was shameful.

The development appears to vindicate claims by critics that Nigerian security agencies were too uncoordinated to be effective or could we say that the person behind the murder of Olaitan is a powerful person or should we believe the accusation of the comrade governor is true? Why was the spokesperson for the SSS in a rush to give a press conference without liaising or clarify the position of Edo Police command in connection with those arrested for the same case?

I want everyone to think deeply and ask these questions: how come those murder cases mentioned above were investigated without positive result? Why are all these murder cases yet to be resolved? Looking at all these unresolved murders will it be wrong to say government has a hand in it? Or it is better to put the blame on the ineffectiveness of our security system? Would Nigeria ever get it right when it comes to investigating murder or assassination cases?

Prince Tobi Idaomi, writes from London.

Natural Medicine

With Dr Mao 0803071734

potent remedy for managing urinary tract infections safety. You don’t have to rely on toxic pharmaceutical anti-biotics which pre-dispose you to destuct pro-biotic friendly bacteria in the colon. In the case of a woman, her secret place is exposed to yeast infection frequently.

One lesson we learnt from the different phasal uses of corn silk is that no one should assume that you can use herbs the way you like.

There are definitive uses for each herb you see around as well as specific benefits attached to each use.

Malaria Mosquitoes like unclean, dirty surroundings. That is true: But hear. They are in love, too, with sweat,

Some Titbits On Health I have always emphasized that unless we lead natural lifestyles, we will expose ourselves to ill-health. For example, take our modern, artificial habit of using iron-based grinding machines in our markets for processing our tomatoes, pepper, onions, egusi or ogbolo. Whether you mechanically do it with your hands or employ electricity driven irongrinding machines, you end up introducing some iron into your food through the process.

Iron Grinding Machine Impliedly, you expose yourself to a high risk of consuming too much iron which pre-disposes you to liver or other organ damage. Then, of course, studies have shown that electricity-driven iron grinders destroy the molecular structure of tomatoes, pepper and onion, as the case may be, thus rendering them less nutritive.

Unpeeled Roast Groundnut One day, I was at Oba

Market to personally seek out naturally-ripe fruits and vegetables myself since about 99% of them are harvested for sale in a scramble for profit. While there, I saw a man collecting the peels of roast groundnuts from a seller.

He had a standing arrangement with the seller to keep the peels for him rather than throw them away as all groundnut sellers in Nigeria do.

I noticed that after the man left joyfully with his groundnut peels, people in the vicinity began to make jest of him. I smiled in mockery of these people because I knew they were doing so out of ignorance most Nigerians love. See, roast groundnut peels has lots of unrefined essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, mineral and other life-sustaining nutrients.

That is why wise rats don’t throw away roast groundnut peels.

Ogbonlo Remedy What happened at Oba Market played out in Benin at a major pharmacy outlet

earlier this year. While there, a man walked in to ask for Ogbonlo from one of the sales girls.

“We don’t have it here,” the girl said with a frown on her face.

After the man left in frustration, the whole pharmacy erupted in laughter. The people considered him a lunatic with psycho-neurosis for walking into a supermarket/pharmacy store “to ask for Ogbonlo instead of going to a market.”

Another example of dramatized mass ignorance of people. The man did not request for Ogbonlo: He asked for Ogbonlo – one of the best natural remedies

for boosting low sperm count in men.

Corn silk/Calamus Roof Are you a smoker trying to break your addiction to cigarettes? Then, you don’t need to look further. Grab calamus root. When you use the root along with psychotherapy, life modification and a will power to stop smoking, you will achieve your goal.

Corn silk is the “beard” of maize/corn. It is a herb with different strokes. If you use the herb wet and fresh, from the farm, it is beneficial for softening your stool as well as enhancing your laxative function. However, when you use the dry corn silk as a herbal tea, you have a

studies have demonstrated.

Researches show that sweat attracts mosquitoes just as honey invites bees and flowers beckon on bees. Therefore, to minimize mosquito bites always have a refreshing bath before you go to bed, if you don’t already do so.

Atleast, this will reduce mosquito attacks on you. In life, it is difficult to achieve 100% in any endeavour.

Then, of course, taking fluid extracts of fresh lemon grass which FIRRO and PRODA about 23 years ago discovered can prevent as well as cure malaria.

Late British – born Hilda Ogbe, living at Delta Crescent, Benin and an expert in sickle-cell

management discussed the potentialities of this herb for malaria management with me during her life time. The herb really works as indicated for malaria.

Lest I forget, be reminded that lemon grass oil prevents mosquito bites.

All you need to do is to rub the oil on your body. The oil deploys aromatherapy to keep mosquitoes away.

Lime Lime is a potent remedy for vitamin C deficiency or scurvy. Impliedly, if you want to prevent or cure lime helps. Also, lime promotes the growth and integrity of collagen tissue basic for a healthy skin care. So, don’t deceive yourself thinking that rubbing gallons of creams on your skin will give it a true glow. All you achieve is a deceptive, artificial skin beauty.

That is why if you see most ladies at home in the morning before they put all the “make-make” on their faces, you will be disappointed with their looks. All or most of the elastin and collagen tissues on their faces are gone!!

You are disoriented with a Gorgon facial appearance!!!

Therefore ladies, madam and men go for vitamin C either from naturally ripe lime or from a nature shop.

Note: lime also helps constipation, stomach ulcer, digestion, arthritis, fatigue, high fever, heart disease, pile, gout, diabetes, colon cancer and prostate enlargement.

Much more, lime can be used as an appetizer.

“Therefore ladies, madam and men go for vitamin C either from naturally ripe lime or from a nature shop. Note: lime also helps constipation, stomach ulcer, digestion, arthritis, fatigue, high fever, heart disease, pile, gout, diabetes, colon cancer and prostate enlargement. Much more, lime can be used as an appetizer.”

New Horizon

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

More Than A Religion (2) ACTUALLY religion is meant to guide man from the introductory to intermediary and to advanced stage of God realization within the three worlds. But man in his propensity to become Lord in everything that he surveys began to think negative whereby he ruined himself and all those around him.

That is the second nature in man.

When man ruined himself, he also ruined the principles of religion. What do we see todayirreligion is preached as religion and this is also practiced all along. If irreligion is not practiced nor preached, why do we have religious conflicts resulting to death and loss of properties. Note that irreligion does not refer to what Religious preachers preach. A leader in the public and private or individual sector who does not know nor want to know about the Laws of nature nor the Laws prescribed in the Holy Books, is just on his own and does his own thing. That means jungle justice or survival of the fittest.

With leaders of Temples, Churches, Mosques, Idol Houses or Government who are not guided by highly qualified spiritual leaders who are devoid of material attachment, continuous success would be topsy-turvy. When a spiritual leader, religious leader, private sector or public sector leader is so carried away by the sight of women, carried away by the sight of money, carried away by the sight of merriment, such a leader has lost his composure to lead.

Leadership seem to be there, but the people will continue to live in abject poverty with tensional strive for survival. For leaders to have a successive success, they must be detached from these attractions, which leads to doom individually or Governmentally.

Without spiritual and Higher spiritual focus for Religions and governmental leaders, success will continue to move downward and not upwards. Just as the Holy Bible said — ‘Seek ye the Kingdom of God first and everything else will be added unto”. The reverse is the case with our religious and Governmental leaders, even in Churches, material consciousness leads the table, every activity is centered around material achievement and so the spiritual aspect is highly weighed down.

Some religions say, “ Just join us and be happy and perfect”. But one can judge a thing by its result — materially and spiritually.

Many religions points out the path back to God, but they can also be examined as to how they can lead one to the Supreme Lord destination. By chanting Hare Krishna, one can feel his material

propensities decreasing day by day, and thus Hare Krishna devotees are easily able to follow the strict religious principles of no eating meat, fish nor eggs, no gambling, no form of intoxication, no illicit sex (sex outside marriage) which most religionist find it impossible to follow. Yet only by avoiding these pillars of sinful life and

VEGETARIANISM AND RELIGION Avoidance of meat has been a part of religious practice in nearly all faiths. Some Egyptians priests were vegetarians, avoiding meat in order to help them maintain vows of celibacy. They also avoided eggs, which they called “liquid flesh.” Although the Old Testament, the foundation of

have given every green herb for meat, and it was so.” Genesis (9:4) also directly forbids meateating. “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; in later books of the Bible, major prophets also condemn meat- eating. Isaiah

hear, say and practice from the Holy Books are very important to our spiritual progress. In the Bible we also find the story of Daniel, who while imprisoned in Babylon refused to eat meat offered by his jailers, preferring instead simple vegetarian food.

Major stumbling blocks of many Christians are the belief that Jesus Christ ate meat and the

concentrating on activities that please the Supreme Lord can we ever hope to see God in truth, serve Him in truth and rejoin Him in truth there in His abode. As Krishna say in Bagavad — Gita “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto me. I shall protect you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.”

Therefore Krishna consciousness is more than just a religion. It is the topmost science of God consciousness ever revealed to man, and anyone is welcome to sample it and see what stuff its made of through the chanting of the Holy name of Krishna, the Huge volumes of Vedic literatures, there glorifying Vedic music and dancing and the direct and indirect preaching network all around the world.

Krishna (God) realization is possible only if you find yourself in the right school and not” A SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE SYNDROME). YOU CANNOT BE PART OF THAT ABODE IN THE NEAR FUTURE - TRY AND FIND THE RIGHT PLACE TO’PRACTICE AND THE DOOR IS NOW OPEN.”

Judaism, contains some prescriptions for meat eating. It is clear that the ideal situation for making rapid “ spiritual progress is vegetarianism. In Genesis (1:29) we find God proclaiming: “Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in that which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you, it shall be for meat! In the beginning of creation, as described in the Bible, it seems that not even the animals eat flesh.

In Genesis (1:30), God says, And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I

(1:5) states, “Saith the Lord: I am full of burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of hegoats.

When you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear, for your hands are full of blood.”

And according to Isaiah (66:3), the killing and strangulation of cows is particular abhorrent. “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man.” Hear this spiritual equation of killing a cow that is rampant even in churches that preach the Holy Bible. What we

many references to meat in the New Testament. But close study of the original Greek manuscripts shows that the vast majority of the words translated as “Meat” are trophe, brome, and other words that simply mean “food” or “eating” in the broadest sense.

For example, in the Gospel of St. Luke (8:55) we read that Jesus Christ raised a woman from the dead and commanded to give her meat.” The original Greek Word translated as “meat” is phago, which means only “to eat.” So what Jesus Christ actually said was, “let her eat.” The Greek Word for meat is Kreas (Flesh), and it is here used in connection with Jesus. No where in the New Testament is there any direct

reference to Jesus eating meat.

This is in line with Isaiah’s famous prophecy about Jesus appearance.” Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name lmmanuel, Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.”

Clement of Alerandria, an early Church father, recommended a fleshless diet, ting the example of apostle Matthew, who partook of seeds, and nuts and vegetables, without flesh.’

Jerome, another leader .of the early Christian church, who gave the authorized Latin version of the Bible still in use today, wrote, “The preparation of vegetables, fruits and pulses is easy, and does not require expensive cooks.” He felt such a diet was the best for a life devoted to the pursuit of spiritual wisdom. St. John Chrysostom considered meat eating to be a cruel and unusual habit for Christians. “We imitate but the ways of wolves, but the ways of leopards, or rather we are even worse than these. For them, nature has assigned that they should thus feed, but as God hath honoured us with speech and a sense of equity, and yet we have become worse than wild beasts” St. Benedict who founded the Benedictine order in A.D 529, stipulated vegetable foods as the staple for his monks.

The Trappist order Uniformly prohibited meat and eggs, and other flesh foods from its founding in the seventeeth century. The regulations were relaxed by the Vatican council of the 1960s, but most of the Trappists will follow the original teachings. Remarkably enough, however most Trappists monasteries raise cattle for slaughter just to support them selves financially.

Finally, the largest concentration of vegetarians in the world is found in India, the home land of Buddhism and Hinduism. Buddism began as a reaction to widespread incessant animal slaughter that was being carried out through perversion or religious rituals. Lord Buddha advented to put an end to these practices by propounding his doctrine of “AHIMSA” or “NON-VIOLENCE”. Now, is the world ready to come to this level of “AHIMSA” of Lord Buddha that can single handedly cleanse the contaminated Heart of man from violence to non violent ways of living, next to nature?

“When a spiritual leader, religious leader, private sector or public sector leader is so carried away by the sight of women, carried away by the sight of money, carried away by the sight of merriment, such a leader has lost his composure to lead. Leadership seem to be there, but the people will continue to live in abject poverty with tensional strive for survival.”

Place Of Prayer

With Pastor Samuel O. Osaghae

WILL you still be able to pay your tithe when the big moneys come? It is in the wilderness you are tested by God to see if you can be promoted to the next level of wealth. You have not paid your house rent and God says pay your tithe. Will you obey God and suffer the embarrassments of the Landlord or will you pay your rent and avoid embarrassment?

Your life is tight yet you are asked

honoured above all those that had chosen the easy way out of the wilderness. See Daniel 3:30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

As a true child of God, you must be ready to die in obedience than to compromise your salvation. The three youths came out of slavery and became rulers

infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Some Christian sisters get so

devil to be a part of that marriage.

If you get infected with HIV after giving your life to Christ, you may not get divine healing. This is because you deliberately got involved in fornication even though you knew the pattern of the Kingdom. The HIV becomes the consequence of your deliberate action.

Some ladies get impregnated and because it is not a pregnancy

to pay your tithe. This is how to serve God in the wilderness; the situation is not convenient, yet you choose obedience over your own comfort. Obeying God in your inconvenience is the only escape route you have when you are in the wilderness. All other routes lead to destruction.

How about telling a ‘white” lie to get yourself out of an ugly situation? You have a case in court and your lawyer advises you to deny your guilt even though you did it. Or maybe a loved one is in a fix and you are required to tell a lie to get him or her out of the fix. What will be your pattern of coming out of that wilderness? Will you trail the path of truth or trail the path of falsehood? As a Christian, the bible condemns telling Lies (Leviticus 9:11. Revelations 21:15,27). As a child of God, when you come to such a crossroad, you must realize that it is truth that makes free (John 8:32). The respite that a lie brings is for a season. The best way out of the wilderness is to obey God even in the midst of danger. As you stick to the truth, God will work out your deliverance from that wilderness.

You must become dogged in your resolve to keep the pattern of God at all times. I rather die obeying God than to be alive in disobedience. Abraham lied about his wife Sarah to Abimelech and she was taken from him. If not that God helped him, he would have lost his wife out of cowardice (Genesis 20:1.2).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were arrested for their refusal to bow down to idols in a strange land. They were threatened with gruesome death in a furnace of fire. Some of their brethren must have even advised them to compromise and break the pattern in order to save their lives, but they preferred to risk their lives and keep the pattern rather than break the pattern in a bid to save their lives. See their response to the threatening of the king in Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, 0 Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast setup.

For sticking to the pattern of God, and not choosing the easy way out of the wilderness which would have meant breaking the pattern of the Lord, God worked out their deliverance. They were not only delivered from gruesome death, they were also rewarded by the king and

in a strange land. May your obedience to God promote you out of the wilderness in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

When it comes to marriage, especially when you are turning into an old spinster, will you still keep the pattern or will you use

desperate about getting married that they sacrifice their holiness on the altar of fornication just to get married. Young men take advantage of their vulnerability and tell them that they have to prove their love by going to bed with them. In some cases, the

that was planned for, they choose the easy way out of the wilderness which is abortion.

Abortion is not the pattern of the Kingdom. A murderer is a murderer, whether the victim was an adult, an infant or a fetus. All murderers shall suffer the wrath

whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on

the devils alternative? You are not married at 42 years of age and then an unbeliever comes to seek your hand in marriage. Will you prefer to remain unmarried or will you say it does not matter?

Some sisters get into such unhealthy unions with the notion that they will be able to convert their spouse to Christianity. But is this the pattern of God? The bible says in 2Corinthians6:1417: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an

young man would insist that the sister must become pregnant as proof of her fertility. This is not the pattern of God. The pattern of God as regards marriage is well spelt out in Hebrews 13:4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

If fornication is the proof of love, then adultery will have to be the proof of sustenance of that love. Are you soup that must be tasted? Many men have tasted you and you are now finished.

Nothing is left for your husband to enjoy. If you commit fornication before marriage, adultery is inevitable in that marriage. Fornication before marriage opens the door for the

of God. How about students who have written the same exam over and over again and yet have not been able to pass the examination? You see colleagues who are not as hardworking or as intelligent as you passing the same examination by malpractice and some of them may even begin to make mockery of your commitment to decency and sincerity. Is examination malpractice the way out of the wilderness? Dishonesty is not the pattern of the Kingdom. Bribing the lecturer so you can pass is not the correct pattern in the Kingdom. Honesty in all that we do is what the Lord requires of us, His children.

See Philippians4:8- Finally, brethren,

these things.

A university undergraduate cried to me several years ago. Her lecturer kept failing her because she refused to sleep with him, She eventually slept with him because she wanted to pass. After the act, the lecturer made a ridicule of her Christianity. It was at this point she came to see me. She felt so bad about her compromise and felt like committing suicide.

What if you are asked to swear to an idol as a quick way of coming out of wilderness? A Christian woman lost her husband and she is asked to swear by the family of the man. Refusal to swear would mean that her children would not inherit the properties of the late husband.

Maybe the husband even has a

SMS Only 08030809339

Coming Out Of Wilderness (4)

“Take your eyes from the inheritance. It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich and adds no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). Whatever the Lord will not give you, you do not need it. Many are succeeding without inheritance. Whatever God has not given you will not last.

What will survive the devil’s attack is that which was given to you by the Lord.”

building in a choice part of town.

The quick way to gaining that property would be to swear as required by the family. In such wilderness, which way would you choose? To swear so your children can inherit the properties of at their late father or to stick to God’s pattern and allow the children of the illegitimate wife inherit the property. At such points, you begin to consider what you will lose if you refuse to swear. My dear, the bible tells us in James 5:12- But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Take your eyes from the inheritance. It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich and adds no sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).

Whatever the Lord will not give you, you do not need it. Many are succeeding without inheritance.

Whatever God has not given you will not last. What will survive the devil’s attack is that which was given to you by the Lord.

The Lord is concerned about the peace, unity and continuity of families. And so He has set forth a divine pattern for family bliss.

If husbands, wives and children follow the prescribed pattern of God, they will escape the wilderness of broken homes, divorce, untimely death, struggles and so on.

The bible admonishes husbands to love their Wives (Ephesians 5:25). Can you imagine loving your wife when she is a terrible woman? But, that is God’s instruction: there is no excuse for disobeying it. Even when she is messing you up, you are instructed to love her. When she insults your parents and your family members, you are instructed to love her. Even if she is cantankerous, you must still deal with love. What if she serves you food without respect because you are not able to provide? You must still love her. Correction in marriage must be done in love because the wife is not different entity but is a part of you. Your wife is you. If you will not beat yourself up when you make mistakes, then you must not beat up your wife when she makes mistakes. This is the pattern of God. It is a bitter pill but it is the best way to come out of the wilderness of crises in the home.

The bible admonishes wives to submit themselves to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22).

Submission is commanded irrespective of the character of the husband. A wise woman stoops to conquer. If you try to Lord it over your husband, you will lose him. The best way to keep your marriage is to stick to God’s prescribed pattern: submit yourself to your husband as unto Lord.

International Taiwan Student Facing Firing Squad Over Subway Massacre

TAIPEI Taiwanese prosecutors have said they were seeking the death penalty for a man accused of killing four people and wounding nearly two dozen others in a stabbing spree on the Taipei subway that shocked the island.

Cheng Chieh, a 21-year-old college student, was charged with four accounts of murder and 22 accounts of attempted murder for the fatal attack on May 21, the first of its kind on the city’s subway system since it began operating in 1996.

“The accused’s actions fit the definition of mass murders, his means were ruthless and

inhuman, and caused irreparable harm to the victims and their families. We demand the court sentence him to death,” prosecutors said in a statement.

The incident shocked Taiwan, otherwise proud of its low levels of violent crime, and resulted in several minor injuries as edgy commuters fled trains over false alarms in the following week.

Cheng’s parents had asked for him to be sentenced to death to help ease the pain inflicted on the victims and their families, calling their son’s actions “unforgivable”.

Executions are carried out in Taiwan by a single shot to the heart from the back — or, if the

prisoner agrees to donate his organs, a bullet to the back of the head.

Prosecutors said psychological evaluations have shown that Cheng was not in a state of mental disorder when he

committed the crime, and that he is fit to stand trial.

They described him as “anti-

Ex-Teacher Convicted Of Pushing Wife Off Cliff ROCKLAND, USA — A former Maine man was found guilty Monday of six felonies for bashing his wife on the head with a rock and pushing her off a cliff because of a dispute over an affair and a $4 million inheritance.

The couple, Charles Black and Lisa Zahn, retired teachers from Kansas, had moved to the coastal Maine community of Camden. But they argued over an affair Black had with an Arizona woman and how he spent money from the inheritance, which was from her father.

Prosecutors said the dispute culminated when Black, 71, hit his wife on the head with a rock before pushing her off 800-foot Maiden Cliff in April 2011.

Both Zahn and Black tumbled down the mountainside, and both were hospitalized for more than a week. Zahn said she believed he was pursuing her down the mountain, while Black told investigators that he had no memory of hitting her or pushing her off the cliff. He told police that he’d collected two rocks while they were on the mountaintop with the thinking that they’d toss them over the cliff, symbolizing getting rid of baggage and hoping for a fresh start.

They divorced in 2013 after nine years of marriage.

Zahn, 55, embraced prosecutor Geoff Rushlau on Monday after the jury convicted Black of one count of attempted murder, two counts of elevated aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated assault.

Rushlau said Black’s punishment “could represent a life sentence” for the defendant, who now lives in Salt Lake City.

“It’s an absolute miracle that she’s alive,” Rushlau said, adding that Black “was trying to kill his wife — he failed in that effort.”

Black showed little emotion as the jury read its verdict. His attorney, Walter McKee, said he believed he had established a reasonable doubt, in part because there was none of Zahn’s blood on Black’s pants after the fall. But Rushlau argued in his closing statement that Zahn’s blood was found on Black’s shoes and jacket.

Black did not testify during the trial.

During the trial, Zahn testified that Black had an affair and spent inheritance money

without seeking her permission.

She said she recalled being hit three times on the head before being pulled to the cliff’s edge.

She landed on a ledge and made her way to the bottom to get help.

During the trial, Black was barred from staying in Camden, where his former wife continues to live, because he was deemed to be a threat. He was held without bail pending sentencing, which has not been set.

USA:

W/Bank

Israeli Shoots Palestinian Dead Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogen addresses deputies of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the parliament in Ankara recently.

Police Probe Death Of 4-YrOld

TAMPA, USA - A Florida boy found in the middle of a street in Tampa died after being run over by a car, and authorities are investigating

whether the child was pushed or fell from the vehicle, city police said on Monday.

Four-year-old Marterrance

Albury rolled out of the back passenger door of a green sports utility vehicle on Sunday evening, a witness told authorities in an emergency call.

Israeli riot police keep watch during clashes that followed a protest against Israel’s military offensive on the Gaza Strip, in the Northern City of Nazareth recently.

After landing on his head, the child was run over by the vehicle’s back wheels, said Laura McElroy, a Tampa Police spokeswoman.

The child was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died.

The 4-year-old had been left in the care of his 17-year-old brother, who shortly after the incident approached a police officer at the scene saying he couldn’t find the child. The incident took place just outside an apartment complex where they lived.

“We still have a lot of unanswered questions,” McElroy said, adding that it doesn’t appear the brother was driving the green Ford Expedition that police said they believe was involved in the incident.

She said police are trying to determine how the child ended up in the car, which fled the scene.

The child’s mother, Joantea Williams, 36, became hysterical and threatened to take her own life after learning what happened when she got home early Monday morning, police said.

Authorities had her admitted to a hospital against her will for emergency evaluation.

No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.

‘I No Longer Talk To Obama’ - Erdogan ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he has stopped talking to US President Barack Obama on the phone, amid growing strains between Ankara and Washington over Syria and the Gaza conflict.

Turkey, a fierce opponent of Syrian President Bashar alAssad and an open supporter of armed rebel fighters, felt

society, narcissistic, immature and pessimistic”.

In elementary school, he vowed to “kill people in revenge” after having trouble with classmates, they said.

Local media said he had been obsessed with online killing games and had written horror stories since high school.

Cheng’s parents spoke to reporters on May 27 at the subway station outside Taipei where the killings took place.

“Although he is our child, the crime he committed is unforgivable,” Cheng’s sobbing father said.

“I think he should be sentenced to death... he should face it himself. Only by so doing may the pains inflicted on the victims and the wounded and their families be slightly eased.”

betrayed when the United States backed away from military action against Damascus in September.

“In the past, I was calling him (Obama) directly. Because I can’t get the expected results on Syria, our foreign ministers are now talking to each other,” Erdogan said in a live interview on pro-government ATV channel

late Monday.

“And I have talked to (US Vice President Joe) Biden. He calls me and I call him.

“I expect justice in this process. I couldn’t imagine something like this from those who are championing justice,” Erdogan added without elaborating, in an apparent jibe at Washington.

The last phone conversation

between the two leaders took place on February 20 after which the White House released a statement accusing Erdogan of misrepresenting the content of the conversation.

A staunch advocate of the Palestinian cause, Erdogan has recently been at loggerheads with Washington over Israel’s offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip that has killed more than 580 Palestinians in two weeks.

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) - An Israeli shot dead a Palestinian who had been throwing stones at his car north of Jerusalem in the West Bank, a Palestinian security source told journalists late on Monday.

The security source named the fatality as Mahmud Shawamreh, 21. He said the incident took place between Ar-Ram and the Hizma checkpoint, and the body was taken to Israel.

Asked for comment, a spokeswoman for the Israeli army said: “The incident in which the Palestinian was killed during a violent riot near Ramallah is being investigated by the military police.”

In a number of east Jerusalem neighbourhoods, Palestinians were throwing stones and firebombs at police, who attempted to disperse them, a spokeswoman said.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, an Israeli was seriously wounded after a Palestinian opened fire at him from a travelling car, the army said.

The army was searching the area of Rehelim junction, south of Nablus, for the perpetrator, it said in a statement.

Tensions in the West Bank had been running high since the abduction and murder of three Israeli youths there last month, which prompted a major crackdown on Islamist movement Hamas, blamed by Israel for the deed.

Hamas responded with a surge of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Israel responded by launching a major offensive on July 8, resulting so far in the deaths of over 570 Palestinians and 27 Israelis.

On July 2, Mohammed Abu Khder, 16, was kidnapped from east Jerusalem and burned to death by three Jewish extremists currently standing trial, in a suspected revenge attack for the abduction and killing of the three Israeli teenagers.

Abu Khder ’s gruesome murder triggered riots in east Jerusalem, which spread to Arab Israeli towns and cities in northern Israel.

Spiritual Platform

Dealing With Evil Covenants And Curses

WE are still dealing with the Issues of evil foundation which can cripple a persons life. What we shall examine now are evil covenants and curses.

Evil Covenants: Before we look at evil covenants, let me say that the holy scriptures are full of references to covenants between God and man. *Gen. 15:9-11, 17-18 “So he said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a threeyear-old female goat. a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Then he brought all these to him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.”

And it came to pass when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…

Jer. 34: 18 “And I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in two and passes between the parts of it.”

Covenants recorded in the Holy Scriptures are for a variety of purposes.

Purpose References Friendship 1 Sam. 18:3 War assistance 1 Kings 15:18-19 Mutual protection Gen. 26:28-29 Protection of commerce 1 Kings 5:6-11 Selling of land Gen. 23:14-16 covenant is an agreement, a contract or pact, with certain features such as - agreements are usually entered into by two or more parties: - there are terms and conditions; - there is an effective date of commencement; - there are usually penalty clauses.

Agreement can be written or oral, conscious or unconscious.

Another important thing we should note is that covenants can be physical or spiritual. A spiritual agreement is perhaps much more dangerous than physical agreement.

Sources of Evil Covenants Just as you have good covenants, so there are evil covenants.

Evil Covenants are covenants, which give the devil the legal ground to attack people. They have negative influences on people. What are the Sources of evil covenants?

Parents: Most of our forefathers have worshipped all sorts of things: rivers trees, animals, heavenly bodies, ancestral spirits contrary to Word of God. We all know that God puts an automatic curse on idolatry of any sort, Deut. 28: 15-68.The worship of these things involved covenants, conscious or unconscious and very often are brought down from one generation to another. In other words, people inherit evil covenants from their parents or great grand parents. Uninformed people, including so called Christians, argue that once you are born again, this evil foundation is wiped off. This is not correct unless you have undergone deliverance. This type of evil foundation must be dealt with in your life.

Evil Covenants by Choice. People enter evil covenants for a variety of reasons including security, promotion or advancement, revenge, success in the court, marriage or power to deal with opponents. People open their eyes and join evil associations which make them to enter evil covenants. People join secret societies or even witchcraft! There are many instances of people Joining cults or associations with disastrous consequences on their lives.

Evil Covenants Entered Into Unwillingly or Unconsciously.

There are many evil associations people enter into by inheritance. They enter from their mothers’ wombs. People are Initiated into evil association unconsciously. The following are some evil association people enter into through inheritance.

- Jezebel spirit - Marine (Ogbanje) spirit - Water spirit - Queen of the coast - Mermaid spirit - Familiar spirit - Witchcraft spirit - Spirit of the dead - Serpentine spirit - Cults.

- False religions/church Demons are behind these associations. Membership in them involves evil covenant relationship with these demons. This attracts two terrible consequences: Condemnation and curses from God almighty .What you are saying to God is that your loyalty is to demonic entity. The Bible is quite clear on this, Exodus 20:2-5 “ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved imageany likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that Is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I the Lord your God, am jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me.”

Membership is gross disobedience to God and consequently the curses outlined In Deut. 28: 15-68 come into play. This is

terrible.

One becomes a slave of Satan. You become a tool in his hand and he can destroy you at any time.

Many people do not understand how to detect the operation of hidden evil covenants in their lives. There are certain traits or happenings, which indicate the presence of evil covenants in your - hatred for the bible - worrisomeness - fear / phobia - hearing strange voices - occasional insanity - dream harassment - sleeplessness - addictions to tobacco, drugs, food, gambling - worldliness - proneness to accidents - emotional instability - harshness - uncontrollable anger -insubordination - constant financial failure - chain failures - haughtiness

“People enter evil covenants for a variety of reasons including security, promotion or advancement, revenge, success in the court, marriage or power to deal with opponents. People open their eyes and join evil associations which make them to enter evil covenants.”

- proneness to crying.

There are many more. Counseling reveals more. Many people suffer from these traits without knowing that evil covenants are at work.

DEFINITION AND SOURCES OF CURSES Curses are attached to covenants. What are curses? Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary gives several definition for ‘curse’ but the one adopted in this book is a “magical or phrase spoken the aim of punishing. Injuring or destroying somebody or something”. A curse is designed cause mischief, injury someone.

To curse is to bind a person with a spell or express wish against a person.

There are several sources of curses. It is important to understand these sources for the purpose of breaking them. We shall look these sources and the method or procedure for breaking them (1)God. There is an automatic curse from God for disobedience Deut. 15-68 define these curses. There are 112 curses outlined in this passage. Idolatry, cults and occultism are included. Idolatry by our foreparents is the root cause of the curses many people are suffering from today. To deal with these curses you need to ask God himself. No man can break or revoke a curse placed by God. You must talk to God himself Methodology -Acknowledge your own sins and those of your forefathers.

- Confess to God and repent, asking for forgiveness and cleansing.

- Separate yourself from sin and those things, which displease God. - Ask God to remove the curse he has placed on your life.

- Command any demons that came into your life through the sins to leave you at once in Jesus name. You need to understand that because of the sins you have unwittingly allowed demons to occupy your life. You must pray to drive to away these demons. (ii) Satan: Another source of curse is Satan. Sins give legal ground for Satan to impose curses on people or things. There are other Satanic agents that can impose curses on people or things; • Satanic ministers • Satanic prophets • Herbalists.

• Diviners, • Sorcerers and • Soothsayers.

There are people with authority who can also curse people.

These are;• priests, • parents, Unless these curses are recognised and dealt with, people will continue to have problems. The unfortunate thing is that most people do not understand that there could be hidden curses

With Rt Rev (Dr.) C. I. Umane GSM: 0803579951 operating in their lives. Curses arise from • Broken marriage vows.

• .Unfair treatment of others, • Sexual immorality, especially with prostitutes • Stealing from accident victims, • Seizing widows inheritance, • Selling expired drugs, • Shedding innocent blood, • Purchasing items on which curses have been put, • Self-imposed curses, • Satanic agents for revenge, jealousy and wickedness, • Harboring unclean things especially cultural artifacts • Membership of cults or false churches.

These loopholes provide legal ground for Satan to attack. These curses must be dealt with to remove the rug from under the feet of Satan. The following steps should be followed; - Confess and acknowledge the sins that gave Satan or his agents the right to place the curse on you. Repent and ask God for forgiveness and cleansing.

- Speaking out loud, take authority over the curse in the name of Jesus Christ.

- Command all demonic spirits associated with the curse to leave you immediately in the name of Jesus Christ.

Some comments are necessary on inherited curses. This is an area where many born again Christians run into problem. They claim, erroneously, that being born again their evil foundation is automatically wiped out. This is false. How do you explain why born again children still have intractable problems?

DEALING WITH EVIL COVENANTS AND CURSES IN OUR LIVES We have recommended what should be done to break yourself away from evil covenants and the resultant curses. You should renounce these evil things from your life. Galatians 3: 13 tells us that Christ had redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; (for it is written. “Cursed is everyone who hangeth on a tree’), Generally the relief steps are; • repent from whatever sins you have committed, conscious or unconsciously against God. Let me remind you that the fact that you do not know anything about the sins of your forefathers against God is not a defense. Ignorance of the law, physical or spiritual, is never a defense. Therefore a part of the curative process is that you must also learn now to confess the sins of your foreparents against God. This will wipe out your evil foundation.

• renounce and revoke all evil covenants you have ever entered into personally and those of your forefathers, known and unknown. Cancel them so that the basis of Satanic attacks against you will be removed. As you have seen in this chapter, Satan acts when there is a legal loophole in your life.

• bind the spirits behind the evil covenants and curses.

The principle being taught in this book is violent or fire prayers.

Fire prayer goes to the root of problems. This is the reason why I am adding a new nomenclature, this Is root and rout prayers.

(RRP). Prayers must go to the root causes of problems before you can receive answers.

Spend quality time In the following root and rout prayers. You can pray these prayers at any time of the day but preferably between the hours of 12 midnight and 3 am when demonic traffic Is highest.

• I destroy the ground given to Satan by my ancestors in Jesus name.

• I renounce every unholy covenant Involving my life in Jesus name.

• You evil spirit enforcing any evil covenants against me release me now in Jesus name.

• Let every evil hidden covenant operating In my life break by fire in Jesus name • Father Lord, reveal to me any hidden covenant that the devil might have arranged against me in Jesus name.

• I take authority over all curses issued against my life in Jesus name • I release myself from the curse of x in the mighty name of Jesus (a put any of the following) - sickness - failure at the edge of success - family break-up - witchcraft - poverty - retrogression and backwardness - madness and insanity • Every curse put on my family be lifted by fire in Jesus name.

• I cancel the power of all curses upon my head in Jesus name.

• I release myself from every covenant-curse In Jesus name.

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Arsenal In Legal Bid Over Concerts

Steven Gerrard

Gerrard Still Key To Liverpool’s Success

AFTER 14 years and 114 caps, England captain Steven Gerrard has announced his international retirement at the age of 34. His time as an England player ended in disappointment, as they crashed out during the group stages in this summer’s World Cup, but he has been one of their better performers throughout his international career.

David Beckham is the only return of 13 assists - the best in outfield player to have worn the the league - justifies them. Only Three Lions on his chest on more Yaya Toure played more passes occasions than Gerrard (115), and in total than Gerrard last year, Liverpool will be thankful their and he’s generally very smart captain is not looking to overtake with his use of the ball, spreading play to stretch him.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were opposition defences and create excellent last season and space for the likes of Sterling outperformed virtually all and Daniel Sturridge.

Liverpool have a huge task on expectations to finish second, just two points behind Manchester their hands just to match last City. One of the main factors in season’s second-place finish, let their success was Steven alone improve on it. Their title rivals are busy improving their Gerrard’s new deep-lying role.

His unswerving commitment, squads, and while Liverpool crunching tackles, and fearsome have already spent heavily, they long shot made him arguably been have also lost their top the best box-to-box midfielder in goalscorer Luis Suarez to the world during his younger Barcelona. The Reds will also years, but he can no longer make have to cope with the additional those lung-bursting runs over 90 demands of Champions League football next year. minutes.

With those additional He is not able to singlehandedly drag Liverpool to European fixtures, the constant victory these days, and he now cycle of games can be wearing leads the team in a more for even the fittest players, and controlled fashion. Rodgers’ has Rodgers will be relieved redeployed Gerrard as a holding Gerrard has stood down from player, with Jordan Henderson England duty.

There have already been usually providing the energy alongside him. In some games reports that Rodgers will be Liverpool also set up in a diamond more sparing with his use of formation, with Henderson and Gerrard next season, and Philippe Coutinho either side of international breaks will now Gerrard, and Raheem Sterling at provide the captain with some valuable time to rest. Instead of the tip.

Gerrard still has an outstanding trekking all over Europe for the range of passing, and Rodgers’ Euro 2016 qualifiers and system allows him to control meaningless international games from deep. You would friendlies, he can ensure he is often see him drop back alongside fully prepared for Liverpool.

Despite Gerrard’s age, he can the centre-backs last season, picking up the ball near his own still influence the big matches. penalty area to allow the full- Just look at Andrea Pirlo - and this isn’t to say that Gerrard will backs to bomb forward.

He can occasionally attempt too replicate the Italian maestro many “Hollywood passes”, but the 35-year-old has played though he would argue that his a key role in Juventus’ three

consecutive Serie A titles, and he was imperious in Italy’s 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup. The game is faster than ever, but Pirlo proves that those the wrong side of 30 can still dictate play from midfield. Gerrard still has the ability to spray passes all over the pitch, and he has demonstrated his intelligence in his new position. Many thought he didn’t have the discipline to carry out such a role, and Rafa Benitez even went as far as playing him on the right-wing at

one point so his runs wouldn’t disrupt the team’s shape, but Gerrard has proved them wrong.

The issue for England was that his lack of mobility wasn’t adequately covered, and teams were able to bypass a two-man midfield relatively easily. Rodgers’ tactics compensate for that, and other than one humbling encounter with Aston Villa, Gerrard was rarely as exposed at club level as he was in Brazil.

Liverpool look to win the ball back quickly high up the pitch, which allows the captain to ensure he is in the correct position.

FORMER Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean remains on course to win his first trophy as a manager after his Brunei DPMM side edged past Geylang International on penalties to

reach Friday’s Singapore League Cup final.

The Scot, chased out of the English club after some vitriolic abuse from unhappy fans in 2012, could win a rare treble in his first season in

ARSENAL have launched a High Court battle over a curb on the number of concerts that can be held at the Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League club argue there was a “clear error” in the decisionmaking process.

Arsenal have applied to double the number of concerts from three to six at their north London stadium.

Opponents have voiced concerns over noise and rowdy music fans.

Concerts featuring Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and Muse have generated hundreds of thousands of pounds extra revenue for the club.

Islington Council rejected Arsenal’s application and a planning inspector dismissed the club’s appeal in January this year.

The inspector said that if Arsenal could afford to buy a player like midfielder Mesut Ozil for £43million from Real Madrid in the summer, they could not plead poverty.

But on Tuesday Dan Kolinsky. representing the club, told Mr Justice Cranston at the High Court in London the inspector’s decision was legally flawed and should not be allowed to stand.

Applying for judicial review, Mr Kolinksy submitted the inspector had failed to apply the law correctly when he decided the proposal to double the number of concerts “did

Steve Kean On Course For Treble

Steve Keane

Southeast Asia, with Brunei three points clear at the top of the 12-team table and also in the semi-finals of the Singapore Cup. Kean’s side will face Tanjong Pagar United in Friday’s League Cup final after they downed Geylang 3-0 in the shootout after 120 goalless minutes.

Under Kean Brunei have jumped to the top after finishing in eighth last term and Kean’s stock is so high he was been linked with other job in the region - especially with wealthy clubs in China.

Kean’s two-year reign at the former English champions Blackburn was marred by routine fan protests against him and regular pot shots by the media before he was sacked in 2012 following relegation from the Premier League

not accord with the development plan” for the stadium.

He told the judge: “We say there is a clear error on the face of the decision letter.”

Lawyers for the inspector and Islington are arguing the inspector followed the correct approach and there is no substance in the club’s challenge.

During the public inquiry run by the inspector, Arsenal chief executive director Ken Friar said the club needed the money from the gigs to perform in the extremely competitive world of football, citing Manchester United’s profits at £100m compared to Arsenal’s £20m.

New Signings Impress Newcastle NEWCASTLE United paid tribute to the two fans lost in the Malaysian Airlines tragedy with a comfortable 4-0 win over Sydney FC in Dunedin, New Zealand.

A debut goal from Emmanuel Riviere and an Mapou YangaMbiwa deflected effort followed Siem de Jong’s opener and substitute Adam Armstrong added a fourth eight minutes from time.

Wreaths were laid and a minute’s silence held before kickoff in memory of Newcastle fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney, who were lost when flight MA17 came down in Ukraine.

And when the match did get underway, Newcastle were gifted their opener. A horror miscue from Sydney keeper Ivan Necevski fell straight to Riviere and he passed to fellow new signing De Jong to slide into an empty net.

RIviere then turned from provider to scorer from Gouffran’s pass and Yanga-Mbiwa added a deflected third before Armstrong rounded things off late in the game.

Newcastle conclude their tour of New Zealand against Wellington Phoenix at the Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

KEY MOMENTS PRE-MATCH: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is accompanied by skipper Fabricio Coloccini to lay wreaths in the seats of Newcastle fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney, both lost in the Malaysian Airlines tragedy. A minute’s silence is then observed before kick-off.

18’ – GOAL NEWCASTLE: It’s a horror moment for Sydney keeper Ivan Necevski who miscues straight to Emmanuel Riviere. He passes to the waiting Siem de Jong who sidefoots into an unguarded net.

25’ – GOAL NEWCASTLE: Riviere turns from provider to scorer, netting his first for his new club from Yoan Gouffran’s neat cross.

33’ – GOAL NEWCASTLE: It’s Yanga-Mbiwa’s turn to net his first for the club, although he’s assisted by a huge deflection off Sasa Ognenovski’s boot.

82’ – GOAL NEWCASTLE: Adam Armstrong completes the scoring, latching onto Adam Campbell’s pass to finish well past Necevski.

Madrid The Biggest Challenge TONI Kroos has said representing Real Madrid is the biggest challenge in football that any player can face.

Kroos recently completed his move to Los Blancos from Bayern Munich, the transfer confirmed shortly after Germany won the World Cup. AS reports Kroos telling the official website of the German federation that he is excited at the prospect of representing Madrid and lining up with his new teammates.

Robert Lewandowski

- Kroos

“Real Madrid is the biggest challenge. The club is known throughout the world. I’ve received many compliments for the transfer,” he said.

“I’m happy to play with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos or my national team colleague Sami Khedira.

“With Bayern I achieved the double after winning the treble. As a player you are never satisfied and you want to

Lewandowski Scores On Bayern Debut

ROBERT Lewandowski marked his Bayern Munich debut with a goal, although it was not enough to prevent a disappointing 1-1 draw with Duisburg in Monday night’s preseason friendly.

The Poland international, who arrived on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund this summer, needed agreed after making his second just over an hour to open his appearance after an almost twoaccount for Pep Guardiola’s side. year injury absence. “It’s an Fabian Schellhardt levelled amazing feeling and I’m enjoying soon after and the second- every minute,” he said. “Games division club held on for a draw like this really bring me on. We’re in front of almost 25,000 still lacking a bit, but this is only spectators, most of whom had preseason.” come to see last season’s International Champions Cup: Bundesliga top marksman in Real Madrid, Manchester United, action.

Manchester City, Liverpool, AC Although he was able to find Milan, Inter Milan, Olympiacos the net in his first outing for Die and Roma — July 24 to Aug. 4 Roten, the 25-year-old said his Emirates Cup: Arsenal, Benfica, best is yet to come for him and Monaco and Valencia at Emirates his new club.

Stadium — Aug. 2 and 3 “We’ve only been training for FA Community Shield: two weeks so things have still Manchester City vs. Arsenal — got to improve,” he told Sport1 Aug. 10 television.

German Super Cup: Borussia Defender Holger Badstuber

Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich — Aug. 13 Spanish Super Cup: Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid — Aug. 20 and 24 Bayern are not lacking in the personnel department, though, according to their director of sport Matthias Sammer. Despite selling Toni Kroos to Real Madrid for 30 million euros, Sammer says they are not about to invest that money in new players — especially not

in Fiorentina’s coveted Juan Cuadrado.

“That’s absolute rubbish,” he told Sport1. “If all of the speculation were to be true, we’d have a 57-man squad right now.”

Meanwhile, leading figures at a number of Bundesliga clubs have dismissed Bayern chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge’s claims that they are seeking to cause problems for the champions by refusing their request to delay the start of the 2014-15 season.

Toni Kroos

Falcao Stays At Monaco

RADAMEL Falcao has made it clear that he is not thinking about leaving Monaco this summer, amid interest from Real Madrid.

The Colombia international was linked with the Santiago Bernabeu side during his time at Atletico Madrid, but he ultimately joined Monaco in

Radamel

the summer of 2013.

Madrid remain keen to lure Falcao back to La Liga, but the 28-year-old insists he is focused on a return to the Champions League with his current club in the 2014-15 campaign.

“I believe in Monaco’s project. I want to stay here and play Champions League football with Monaco,” the striker said at a press conference.

Falcao also believes Monaco will further strengthen the squad this summer in order to compete with Europe’s elite once again.

“We will strengthen the team in order to be ready for the Champions League,” he added.

Monaco last featured in the Champions League in 2005-06, when they were eliminated by Betis in the third qualification round.

Alvaro Morata being unveiled at Juventus

Klopp Dismisses Hummel’s Rumoured BORUSSIA Dortmund coach just before the tournament.

Move To Utd injured Jurgen Klopp has laughed off The Transfer Window: rumours that Mats Hummels or Marco Reus will leave the club in the summer.

The two German superstars have been linked with moves to England with a report in Spain, picked up by the likes of the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail, suggesting Hummels was on the brink of a +20m (£16m) move to Manchester United.

Reus meanwhile, had been tipped for a move to Barcelona before they signed Luis Suarez, and there was even some talk of a speculative bid from Liverpool

for the attacking star, but Klopp says all such rumours should be ignored.

“Both will stay here this season.

There is no indication they’d want to be elsewhere,” he told the German press.

“Did they also say +20m (£16m) (for Hummels)? When papers mention such numbers you know it is garbage.”

Hummels was one of the stars of Germany’s World Cup winning team, while Reus would have been a key member of the squad but was

Manchester United A new series looking at the Premier League’s transfer dealings so far, club-by-club.

Rating the signings, reviewing the rumours & assessing what the clubs need.

OUR VIEW Premier League fans are crying out for their clubs to sign Reus and Hummels and understandably so as they are both fantastic players.

However, they seem to forget that they already play for a massive club that has been challenging for the Champions League trophy for a number of seasons.

win every trophy.”

Kroos added that he was thinking of staying with Bayern but when agreeing a new contract proved difficult, he felt it was time to move on.

“Bayern was always my first choice so I discarded contact with other teams. But when we didn’t reach an agreement and some of the best clubs in the world approached, I decided to try something new,” he said.

Morata Out Of Action For 50 Days

ALVARO Morata has made an inauspicious start to his Juventus career after picking up a knee injury on his first day of training that will keep him out of action for 50 days.

The young Spanish forward sealed his +20 million move from Real Madrid to the Serie A champions on Saturday, only to suffer the setback on Monday.

The 21-year-old limped from the training pitch complaining of pain in his knee and a series of tests have confirmed that he will be out of action for a while.

“Alvaro Morata Tuesday morning underwent an MRI scan after being forced to depart Monday afternoon’s training session early due to injury,” a statement on the Juventus website reads.

“The tests, carried out at Turin’s Clinica Fornaca di Sessant, revealed a second grade tear of the medial collateral ligament in the striker’s left knee.

“He is estimated to return to action in 50 days.”

Morata will be hoping to settle quickly at Juve and fight Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente for a regular starting spot under Massimiliano Allegri once he returns from injury.

FIFA’s World Cup Bid Report Delayed

Gregg Dyke

FIFA report into alleged corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has been delayed by several weeks as FA chairman Greg Dyke will give evidence to UK Government MPs regarding the awarding of the latter tournament in Qatar.

Russia and Qatar won FIFA said the ethics committee’s investigatory hosting rights in December chamber expects to submit its 2010 following votes among report, led by prosecutor FIFA’s executive committee.

Michael Garcia, “by the first FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that only his ruling week of September.”

In June, Garcia set a target board, and not Eckert, has of late July to deliver his power to overturn a vote and confidential report to ethics order a re-run.

Qatar will host the judge Joachim Eckert. The investigation file will be used prestigious tournament in

by Eckert to decide on eight years’ time but the possible sanctions against decision has been plagued by nine bidders which competed allegations of corruption and to host the next two bribery.

As well as Dyke, the UK tournaments.

Government’s Culture Media and Sport (CMS) select committee will also hear from Sunday Times journalists Heidi Blake and Jonathan Calvert.

The newspaper reported in had not generated as much interest as perhaps was expected. June that Qatari football It is doubtful if any of the official Mohamed Bin planned undercard fights will Hammam made payments now go ahead without the main totalling three million event.

Billy Joe Saunders was due to pounds in return for support fight Emanuele Blandamura for for the Qatar bid.

Qatar denies any the European welterweight title, while Terry Flanagan was due to wrongdoing and claims Bin contest the British lightweight Hammam always acted title against Martin Gethin. independently of the

International Boxing Chisora, Fury Fight Postponed

DERECK Chisora’s heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury on Saturday is off after Chisora fractured his hand in camp.

According to reports, Chisora’s hand had been feeling sore over the weekend, and an MRI scan today revealed he has a broken bone.

The two were due to meet in a rematch of their 2011 collision, won by still-unbeaten Fury, in Manchester on July 26.

However the injury to Chisora means the fight will now be set for a later date.

The turn of events is similar to what happened to Fury’s abandoned plans to clash with former world heavyweight champion David Haye last year Haye withdrew with a bad cut from training a week before they were due to fight.

Haye-Fury was then permanently canned when Haye suffered another injury ahead of their February 2014 reschedule.

“Don’t even think of pulling out of this fight b**ch. Don’t do a @mrdavidhaye & be a s**thouse c**t. You’ll be a laughing stock.”

Fury has been reprimanded for his foul language already during press conferences to hype the

now-postponed bout.

Eddie Hearn, promoter of rival firm Matchroom Boxing, tweeted in reaction to the collapse of Frank Warren’s big bout before hastily deleting.

Many believe the tweet was a dig related the rumours the bout was already under pressure due to poor ticket sales.

The build up to the fight, due to take place at the Phones 4 U Arena,

Boxing promotor Frank Warren sits between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora during a press conference recently in London, England.

campaign.

Dyke, who was appointed FA chairman in March 2013, has been highly critical of FIFA in the past and has given his backing for a re-vote should the corruption allegations be proven.

The CMS examined allegations of corruption in 2012 and called for a full, transparent investigation.

FIFA ethics investigator Michael Garcia is finalising a report into the bidding processes for the World Cup in 2018, won by Russia, and 2022.

Garcia is expected to submit his findings at the end of July with any decision regarding a re-vote to rest with FIFA’s

Qatar 2022 Will Not Be Held In Summer FA chairman Greg - Dyke Dyke told MPs he is “certain” the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be held in the summer, insisting it is “too dangerous” due to the high temperatures.

Dyke gave evidence to the Culture Media and Sport (CMS) select committee yesterday regarding the bidding process for the 2022 tournament, which has been plagued by allegations of corruption and bribery.

Concerns have been raised about the playing conditions in Qatar, where summer temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius.

Dyke said: “I am certain it won’t happen in the summer.

“There is no chance it will be held in the summer of 2022 - the discussion is when else it will be held.”

Dyke continued: “If you’ve been to Qatar in the summer you can hardly walk in the streets.

“The health and safety people say it wasn’t safe and

Exciting Way Schumacher Is ‘Communicating With His wheelchair that MICHAEL Schumacher is thank you all for the good Schumacher, who suffered Family’ ancanelectronic be controlled via the now communicating with his blood clots on his brain wishes and positive energies family by fluttering his eyelashes, according to reports.

Michael Schumacher

following a skiing accident in December, awoke from an induced coma in June and the latest developments has led to suggestions that he could be allowed home next month.

The seven-time Formula One champion is still in a critical condition in the Swiss clinic he moved to last month but the latest developments has increased hope that Schumacher could make a recovery.

In June it was reported by German newspaper Bild that he

could hear voices and was responding to touches but the fact he can now respond to questions from his wife Corinna and their children Gina-Maria, 17, and Mick, 15, marks another step on the road to recovery.

There is still quite a way to go, however.

Schumacher remains bedbound but, according to a report in the Daily Mirror, doctors at the Swiss clinic where he is being treated aim to get him sitting upright in

mouth.

The next stage of his rehabilitation could take place in the family mansion in Gauld which, it is has been reported, has been converted into a facility capable of assisting in his care.

Corinna wrote a tribute to fans at the German Grand Prix over the weekend in which she suggested that the hardest times were over.

“The German Grand Prix gives me the perfect opportunity to cordially

executive committee.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who was involved in England’s 2018 bid, admitted in June that he had misgivings about the campaign.

“My memories of that bidding process are not happy memories in terms of the way the whole thing was arranged and the role of FIFA,” Cameron said at the time.

“There is an inquiry under way, quite rightly, into what happened in terms of the World Cup bid for 2022.

“We should let that inquiry take place rather than prejudge it.”

Despite an unforgiving climate and a lack of suitable infrastructure, Qatar defeated bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States to win the 2022 vote.

you keep sending to Michael,” she said.

“I have to say your sympathies blew us all away.

“It is good to know that together we made it through the hardest time.

“Now we are facing a phase which will presumably take a long time.”

Formula One legend Niki Lauda wrote: “Michael, everyday I follow the news on your progress and every day I am close to you. I hope I will be able to talk to you very, very soon.”

it certainly wouldn’t be safe.

“Air-conditioned stadiums are one thing but fans moving around on the streets, in and out of stadiums - it will be too dangerous to have it there in the summer.”

Querrey Wins In Atlanta Opener

SAM Querrey put aside his partnership with doubles team mate Steve Johnson to start his Atlanta Open with a 7-6 7-5 win on Monday.

The two Americans will play doubles at the tournament and drew each other in singles for the first time in their careers.

The big-serving Querrey struck 20 aces but Johnson hung tough against his older, more accomplished opponent, pushing the opening set to a tiebreak before losing it 7-3.

Querrey broke Johnson in the second set to cruise to victory, the first step in a long run-up to the year’s final grand slam at Flushing Meadows starting Aug. 25.

The opening day was a light one but Israeli Dudi Sela avenged a loss to Donald Young in his previous Atlanta Open four years ago, thrashing the American 6-3 60.

Atlanta native Young struggled with serve and was broken five times to disappoint home fans.

Ideye And Anichebe Unite For Nigeria At West Bromwich Albion “WEST Bromwich Albion sign Nigeria striker Brown Ideye for club record fee,” was the headline on Friday evening. This electrifying news subsequently sent Super Eagles fans into a state of elation. However, it is understandable why this news came as a bit of a shock for many.

Firstly, the bulk of the process to take the 25-year-old to the Hawthorns had been done under the radar, managed rather quietly.

Also, having missed out on the dimension in Brazil, considering World Cup party, which is the lack of goals from the team, arguably the grandest soapbox especially from key forward, for football players, Ideye’s Emmanuel Emenike. Followers of quantum leap was largely the Nigeria team in recent years unexpected. know of the inherent potency in Interestingly, however, Brown the Emenike-Ideye partnership in Ideye’s move to join the Baggies the Super Eagles’ attack-line. They sees him link-up with another combined to great effect at the estranged Nigeria international, African Cup of Nations triumph in Victor Anichebe. The former South Africa 2013 where the Everton man also missed out on former won the Golden Boot the World Cup for reasons best award, but Keshi had other ideas known to Stephen Keshi. for the big one.

In this feature, we look at how Now, back to the issue at hand. the reunion, and possible strike Baggies boss, Alan Irvine, partnership, of Ideye and described Ideye as “a strong, Anichebe at WBA could help both their international careers—the fact that they’ve been united in the Black Country could benefit the Super Eagles on the fields of Morocco.

But let’s take a quick detour.

First off, in a double-edged viewpoint: was Ideye’s World Cup snub a blessing in disguise?

The squad rating after the Mundial isn’t particularly fantastic, with many a player grossly underwhelming with their dilettantish showing.

Except for one or two stand-outs who refused to be dragged into the murky waters of mediocrity, it wasn’t really a pleasant advertisement portal for many of the players. It is quite possible that the forward’s exclusion saved him from the ‘Grade A’ embarrassment which could have led to depreciation in value-see John Obi Mikel and Chelsea.

On the other hand, could Ideye have made even more progress and possibly attracted tabletopping suitors had he been part of Keshi’s team to Brazil?

It wouldn’t be totally wrong to say that Ideye could have given the Eagles an extra Ideye Brown

quick, powerful player who likes to get in behind defences.” Of course, there is no dispute over his capacity to shine as a point-man, a position he served astutely in for Dynamo Kiev. However, there is a sense that the Baggies boss could opt for a two-pronged attack consisting of strong, quick, powerful players in the coming season.

Alan Irvine might fancy his chances to pair the Nigerian duo up-front. The good news is that both players have the skill-set to play as either the main striker or drop off to the wings and serve as the ‘supplier’. They are also both good in the air and are quick on their feet.

Simultaneously, their reunion at the Black Country and, quite plausibly, their

Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard and Carl Lewis at Walnut in the U.S. on Apr. 17, 1994,’’ the statement said.

It also said the IAAF ratified the 7:13.11 world indoor record set by the U.S. All Star 4 x 800 m team of the U.S., set at Boston in the U.S. on Feb. 8, 2014.

“The team comprised Richard Jones, David Torrence, Duane Solomon and Erik Sowinski.

“The team erased the previous record of 7:13.94 set by the U.S. team of Joey Woody, Karl Paranya, Rich Kenah and David

precarious position ahead of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, and the tournament proper in Morocco.

The big question is: what would happen to Nigeria if the big man’s goal-well runs dry?

For this particular reason, Ideye’s transition to the English Premier League, which is an upgrade to the Ukrainian league—from the football shrewdness to the psychological position of the players in both countries—is a step in the right direction, one which would certainly come in handy in the quest to boost the Super Eagles’

attacking prowess.

Also, with an eye on Morocco 2015, if the current Super Eagles outcasts can use their time together at the Hawthorns to forge a deadly strike partnership—something close to what Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge had for Liverpool last season—it would go a long way to boost their chances of returning to the national team fold.

Ideye’s Albion move and his anticipated partnership with Anichebe would help Nigeria’s cause in the long run. Hopefully, both parties read the script and strike the chord for their own sakes.

Victor Anichebe

NSC Intervenes In NFF Leadership Crisis

IAAF Ratifies 3 New World in Boston Records Krummenacker on Feb. 6, 2000,’’ the

THE International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Monday in Monaco said it has recently ratified three world records set in the U.S. and Jamaica earlier this year.

In a statement by the IAAF Communications Department, the world athletics ruling body said the Jamaican team’s record of 1:18.63 in the 4 x 200 metres was ratified.

“The team of Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown and Yohan Blake set the record on May 24 at Nassau in Bahamas.

“It erased the previous record of 1:18.68 set by

envisaged partnership, could become a useful asset for Nigeria.

If they can hit the ground running early in the campaign with goals, assists and good form, they are likely to become the toast of the Baggies fans, as well as the Super Eagles fans. It could become quite profitable both WBA and Nigeria.

Undoubtedly, though, Emenike is unrivalled as Nigeria’s no.1 striker. His lack of goals in Brazil, however, which one can argue was due to epileptic supply, is a cause for concern. Also, not having a suitable cover or competition for the Fenerbahce forward leaves Nigeria in a

statement said.

The IAAF further said it has ratified the world junior women indoor record of 2:35.80 in the 1,000 m set by Mary Cain of the U.S. at Boston on Feb. 8, 2014.

“The record thus erases the 2:40.1 set by Diana Richburg of the U.S. at New London in the U.S. on Dec. 7, 1982,’’ it said.

The world athletics body however said an earlier performance by Cain set at another meet in Boston remains, pending ratification.

She had set a time of 2:39.25 on Jan. 16, 2014.

TIMOTHY Nsirim, the President, Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) said on Monday that peace had returned to the federation after the National Sports Commission (NSC) intervened in its leadership crisis.

Nsirim told newsmen in Abuja that the federation was now working toward hosting its National Open Judo Championship scheduled for Benin.

“Judo is moving on to Benin in no distant time; the secretariat will announce to all the states and they will be in Benin between Aug. 6 and Aug. 8.

“We have discussed very well with the commission; I think there is more peace.

Sometimes when there is no quarrel, there will be no peace but we have reunited, there is no problem in the federation.

“The federation remains one; we don’t have two federations; maybe you heard it before; the federation

remains one and I am the president of the federation,“ Nsirim said.

Musa Oshodi, the VicePresident of the federation, commended NSC for the efforts it had made toward resolving the leadership crisis in the federation.

He said that it was a thing of concern that professionalism had not been introduced in judo.

Oshodi said that judo’s dwindling fortunes in recent time could be traced to lack of professionalism in the federation.

“We have been having this problem because those that have been our presidents in the past are not Judokas and you cannot feel the pains where it matters most if you are not in the system.

“For example, we have missed three Olympic qualifiers; if care is not taken, by the end of this year we will have lost good chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

“But if you are a practitioner and you understand this, you will not allow that to happen,“ Oshodi said.

This paper recalls that some board members of NJF had removed Nsirim as President and replaced him with Oshodi at a meeting held in Lagos.

The members had accused him of ineptitude and financial recklessness, but NSC on July 18 recommended that the status quo be maintained, while it (NSC) worked to achieve genuine reconciliation.

Tammy Danagogo

CMYK

TO most analysts, President Goodluck Jonathan’s name will be written in gold for his administration’s pragmatic efforts at reviving the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) which has been comatose for nearly 30 years.

They note that the feat is even more evident with the president’s recent inauguration of two Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) train sets and six air-conditioned passengers’ coaches at the NRC terminus in Lagos.

The president, who was represented by VicePresident Namadi Sambo, said that the inauguration of the coaches had signaled the commencement of the 25year transport sector development plan for the country.

“This is part of the concerted efforts of our administration to steadily improve the railway rolling stock. It is the beginning.

Within the next few months, more rolling stocks will be delivered.

“My presence here today is to further show the full resolve of this administration to bring Nigeria at par with modern railway services available globally by constantly upgrading our rolling stock.

“The ongoing railway rehabilitation will continue, because of adequate funding from regular budget and SURE-P intervention.

“The step is aimed at resuscitating and revitalising Nigerian railway which had suffered neglect for decades,” Jonathan said.

He said that the strategic transformation project included the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge, the construction of new standard gauge rail line and maintenance. “ With the support of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport and the efforts of the NRC management, the goal will be realised,” he said.

Echoing the president’s optimism, the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, assured that most of the rail transport projects across the country would be completed by the end of the year.

“I wish to assure the President, the VicePresident and all Nigerians of our determination to ensure the completion of ongoing railway projects across the country, “ he said.

Besides, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Chairman, NRC Board of Directors, attributed the economic development of any nation

to the effective and functional operation of the rail system.

“The survival and indeed the extent of development of any economy depend very significantly on the extent of development and efficiency of its transportation system.

“Our intention is to improve on the infrastructure of the NRC to ensure it increases passengers and freight movements, “ he said.

would have cost by taxi, while it now costs about N180 only by train service from Lagos to Abeokuta.

The resuscitation of the train service has also reduced the cost of transportation from Lagos to Kano, which now costs less than N1,800 as against between N4,000 and N5,000 by car or bus.

Industry watchers also believe that the completion of

rail inspection vehicles.

Records further showed that the Iddo terminus station, Ebute Metta junction station, Ilorin station, Kaduna junction station, Kano station, Port Harcourt station, Enugu station, Jos station and Gombe station were also being remodeled.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, recently performed the official track laying of the Abuja-Kaduna fast train line, signifying the complete

MATTERS IN FOCUS With Sani Adamu Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, the project handlers for its efforts at ensuring timely completion of the project.

Throwing more light on the

Reviving Nigeria’s Railways

The Jonathan Approach

In the same vein, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, said new trains and coaches would improve the transport system in the state for the benefit of all residents.

Fashola, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the state needed rail infrastructure for its teeming population.

“It is a very welcome development to our nation, Nigeria and to the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State. No doubt, we require this infrastructure.

“We appreciate it and we will continue to give every moral support that the corporation requires as we now have complementary services in the transport system of Lagos State, “ the governor said.

Shedding more light on the progress so far achieved in the railway transformation agenda, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade, the Managing Director of NRC, also said that significant part of the Eastern Line rehabilitation would be completed by the third quarter of 2014.

“The corporation would continue to pursue its vision, mission, and core values to attain its mandate of carriage of passengers and goods in a manner that is safe, reliable and affordable,” he said.

The Jonathan’s administration also inaugurated the revitalised Lagos-Jebba rail lines, a project which cost the government over N12 billion.

To add value to the initiative, the NRC had also launched its Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) in Lagos.

Available records show that the corporation has deployed 11 trains, carrying close to 15,000 passengers daily within the Lagos metropolis.

Commuters say the introduction of the intra-city train service in Lagos has reduced the cost of transportation in the area.

For instance, a returned trip from Agege - Ebute Metta under the MTTS now costs less than N150, as against the more than N1,000 it

Lagos-Maiduguri standard modernisation of the railway gauge will make it cheaper system in the country. and faster to move goods and Sambo, who performed the services from Lagos to the ceremony at the Idu area of north-eastern part of the Abuja, said that the project

President Goodluck Jonathan country.

The Federal Government also signed a N67 billion contract for the rehabilitation of the 2,119 kilometres three Eastern rail lines.

This comprises the 463 km rail line from Port Harcourt to Makurdi; 1,016 km rail line from Makurdi to Kuru, including spur line to Jos and Kafanchan; and 640 km rail line from Kuru to Maiduguri.

Available records showed that appreciable progress had been made in the completion of the 1,657km Eastern line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

Besides, the administration says it has also procured 25 new locomotives from General Electric and refurbished 366 coaches and wagons, among others.

This is in addition to the 20 units of oil tank wagons, five railroad emergency vehicles, 60 tonnes overhead workshop cranes and three

was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s people oriented projects aimed at touching the lives of Nigerians.

According to him, the funding of the project was enhanced through the SUREP. He said that the project was also co-funded with the 500 million dollars concessionary loan from China Exim Bank.

“Therefore in our efforts to ensure adequate funding for the Transformation Agenda, government has created the enabling environment for the private sector to play significant roles. ‘’This administration is determined to concession the railway facilities upon completion. ‘’Similarly, opportunities abound for Foreign Direct Investments in this important sector,” he said.

Sambo commended Messrs China Civil Engineering & Construction

project, Umar said that the project was part of the strategic plan to rejuvenate, modernise and revitalise the rail transport system.

According to him, the Kaduna-Abuja rail project is the first segment of the Lagos to Kano standard gauge rail line, adding that when completed and operational it will enable people to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja.

He said that the project had reached 68 per cent completion, including earthworks, hydraulic structures, railway bridges; box bridges; precast T-beams for bridges; and over pass bridges.

Umar said that seven new standard gauge lines were also being proposed under the Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

He listed them as the 322km Lagos-Benin City line, 500km Benin-Abakiliki line, 673km Benin- Obudu Cattle Ranch line, 615km LagosAbuja high speed line, 520km Zaria-Birnin- Koni line, 533km Ega nyi-Otukpo and the Ega nyi-Abuja line.

Umar assured that the Abuja-Kaduna railway project would be completed by December 2014.

On challenges facing the project, the minister said that efforts were being made to ensure that the two major constraintswater interference at km 19, and certain estates built along the rail lines at Kubwa were addressed by the relevant authorities in the FCT. On his part, Mr Shi Hongbing, the Managing Director of CCECC, assured

that the project would be completed on schedule.

He also said that the project had employed over 4,000 Nigerians and would on completion, provide jobs for over 5,000 Nigerians who would be trained in various skills relating to the operations and maintenance of facilities.

To further complete the modernisation of the railways, the Federal Government had also earmarked more than N10 billion from its 2014 SUREP share to fast-track the completion of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project.

Appraising the progress of work so far, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, said that the project would cost the government more than 823 million dollars.

This, he said, would cover the cost of final design and construction of Lots 1 and 3, respectively, which is approximately 60.67 kilometres.

To ensure its early completion, the minister said that the Federal Government had obtained a concessional loan of 500 million dollars from the China Exim Bank.

According to him, an estimated 700,000 passengers are projected to ride the Abuja Light Rail (ALR) on daily basis, when the first phase of the project takes off in 2015.

Nonetheless, analysts have advised the government to allow more private sector participation in the railway modernisation programme in order to ensure sustainability.

They note that more pragmatic efforts should be intensified to link the FCT and neighbouring states with standard gauge lines, while the ongoing light rail project should be extended to the satellite towns, particularly Nyanya, Mararaba and Karu to reduce vehicular gridlock.

TOMORROW ON THIS PAGE “A quiet revolution is creeping into the administration of Lagos State where authorities have realized that in any organisation, the welfare of staff is paramount; hence they have come up with a new maternity and paternity leave regime for workers” - Hon. Josef Omorotionmwan

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