1st Feburary 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,426

MONDAY, 1 FEBRUARY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

Over 85 killed as Boko Haram attacks Borno —P2 village

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

N150

N1trn failed contract: Reps summon Amaechi, ex-PDP boss, NRC MD, others —P4

How military assisted Fayose to win Ekiti guber —Ex-PDP secretary •Says Jonathan supported him with $37m •He should report himself to police first —Fayose

—P5 Obat oil denies diversion of N1.2bn subsidy, closure of tank

by EFCC —P41

Anxiety as Kogi Assembly elects new Speaker tomorrow —P37

Dalori village in Borno State, on Sunday, after it was attacked by members of Boko Haram sect. PHOTO: BBC AFRICA

APC kicks as Catholic Diocese transfers Mbaka —P12

Buhari cuts N40bn from NASS constituency projects —P4

•Allocations to constituencies of Saraki, Dogara affected

2 news

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Boko Haram: Over 85 killed in Dalori —Villagers Gen Umaru visits village after attack James Bwala - Maiduguri

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OCALS from Dalori Village who came to claim their corpses at the State Specialists Hospital in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, revealed how their village was attacked by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram on Saturday evening, killing 76 people in Dalori and about 130 in three other villages in the state.

According to them, the insurgents arrived at the area at exactly 6.10 p.m, when they started shooting sporadically and coming towards the village.

Umar Kachallah, a relation of one of the victims told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that the insurgents killed some soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) at the roadblock close to their village before they started attacking the villagers.

“We all ran into our hous-

es, they came and started burning the houses. If you come out, they would shoot you, but the fire would also burn you if you stay inside.

So, most of us ran out. We escaped, but many of us were killed in the process.

There was no security or military that came to our rescue until the Boko Haram sect left,” he said.

Pointing to the corpses at the State Specialists Hospital, Umar said “this is my brother, Mallum Goni, this is his wife, Hussaina. They killed them. Come, see, this is my wife and our child. We did not do anything to these people, but they came and burnt my family,” he said, sobbing.

Ma’aji Bukar, one of the relations of victims of the attack, told Nigerian Tribune that the insurgents came with six Hilux vehicles and 15 motorcycles.

According to him, the attack on Saturday was on Wanori, Ngomari Karikari, Kofa and Dalori villages.

...Buhari calls for more vigilance in North-East Leon Usigbe - Abuja FOLLOWING Boko Haram’s renewed attacks in Borno and Adamawa states, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on all Nigerians, especially those resident in areas previously ravaged by terrorists to be more vigilant and ready to work with security operatives in ending the war against insurgency.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, on Sunday, Buhari reacted specifically to the spate of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State, saying the insurgents had suffered immensely from the sustained bombardments of their camps and hideouts by the Nigerian military and had resorted to using desperate measures to gain cheap media attention.

Boko Haram insurgents struck Dalori, about 12 kilometres from Maiduguri, late Saturday, killing scores of people, burning down the village and sending residents fleeing into the bush.

“I urge all citizens wherever they live to own the war against terror and be part of the fight, because it is the only way we can fin-

ish the remaining work that needs to be done to make our country safe again,” the statement quoted the president as saying.

Buhari said the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings and ravaging of their camps and hideouts by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of the Dalori IDP. “Having lost the war, they are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society. They are not returning to contribute, but to cause more havoc.

They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets,” he added.

The president noted that the materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were locally sourced by the insurgents, urging Nigerians to be more circumspect and report suspicious purchases and movements of unusual components in any part of the country, especially the North-East.

President Buhari extended his condolences to all the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dolari, who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God would comfort them and grant injured persons quick recovery.

“About 30 people were killed in a Mosque at Ngomari Karikari, over 50 killed at Kofa and over 50 also at Wanori village.

Some of the attackers were suicide bombers, while that of Dalori was mostly by gunshots, as well as those killed by burning. Our people at Kofa village told us that it was the soldiers that prevented them from running away during the attack,” he said.

An eyewitness who preferred anonymity, said the insurgents came in two Golf cars and motorcycles, start-

ed opening fire and burning houses; their motive was to cause rancour and penetrate the crowd with suicide bombers.

“Similarly, while people were running for their lives to Gomari Kerkeri village, three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd, but were intercepted and subsequently got blown up.

“During the incident, lives were lost, while some people sustained injuries. The insurgents also attempted to penetrate Dalori internally displaced persons’ (IDPs)

camp, but the attempt was resisted by the troop, which resulted into detonation of IEDs by the suicide bombers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’, Major-General Hassan Umaru, has visited Dalori Village, 5 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to inspect damages from last night’s attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

While condoling the District Head of the Village, Alhaji Lawal Bashir over the unfortunate incident, General

Umaru reassured the people of the commitment of the military to apprehend and deal with the perpetrators.

The military commander commended the villagers for their resilience and urged them to be strong and to always reports strange movement and objects to relevant security agencies as soon as possible.

He also commended emergency rescuers, humanitarian and health workers for their tireless and timely response. continues pg38

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

4 news

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Budget: Buhari cuts N40bn from NASS constituency projects

•Allocations to constituencies of Saraki, Dogara affected •469 constituencies now to get N60bn Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

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S details of the 2016 budget continues to unfold, it has emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari has slashed the N100 billion constituency funds meant for the 469

senatorial districts and the federal constituencies to N60 billion.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the president ordered the reduction, a situation which had placed the constituencies of the Principal Officers in the Senate and the House of Represen-

tatives in jeopardy.

The National Assembly had since 2008, struck an agreement with the Federal Government, whereby some projects were set aside for execution in the 109 senatorial districts and 360 House of Representatives seats through differ-

ent ministries and parastatals.

The projects were designated as constituency projects, though some Nigerians went away with the impression that the funds were allocated to the lawmakers.

The amount meant for

execution of the projects had remained constant, at N100 billion in past years, with each geopolitical zone getting N10 billion, while the balance of N40 billion is spread among the senatorial districts and federal constituencies of the principal and presiding officers

N1trn failed rail contracts: Reps summon Amaechi, former PDP boss, NRC MD, others Amaechi must account for Rivers N70bn —Group From Jacob Segun Olatunji, Kolawole Daniel and Dapo Falade THE House of Representatives ad hoc committee on failed rail contracts, running to over N1 trillion, has summoned the Minister of Transport, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Seyi Sjuwade, a one-time acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru and a former Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar, over the rail contracts scam.

Nigerian Tribune learnt in Abuja, on Sunday, that the fresh invitations being extended to the af-

fected persons by the ad hoc committee, chaired

by Honourable Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, were based on emerging facts uncovered by the committee in the rail contracts.

It was gathered that those involved were expected to appear before the ad hoc committee tomorrow in Abuja, to give a vivid account of their roles in the awards and execution of the contracts over the years.

The committee had, last December, summoned the trio of Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Dr Bello Haliru, former national chairmen of the PDP and Senator Ladan Shuni, who were all former chairmen of the NRC governing board and all denied that

during their tenures, no contract was awarded by the boards.

In their separate presentations, they told the ad hoc committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC board from participating in the award of railway contracts.

When contacted, chairman of the ad hoc committee, Agbonayinma, confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that all the stakeholders had been duly informed and they were expected to show up unfailingly on Tuesday, as stipulated in their letters of invitation.

Speaking on why the Minister of Transport was being invited, despite the fact that he was barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma

said “the Minister of Transport, Honourable Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office, but you know government is a continuum.”

According to him, “this eighth House is 100 per cent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption.

“We are not out to witchhunt anybody, but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed.

As you are aware, not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty, you can’t say they are guilty.”

Meanwhile, the Integrity Group, a Port Harcourtbased pressure group, has

Corruption: Building strong judiciary, my priority —Buhari Orders review of Jonathan’s railway projects Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that instituting far-reaching reforms of the judiciary remains a key priority of the present administration.

Speaking at a townhall meeting with Nigerians living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, he said the ongoing fight against corruption in Nigeria could be effectively tackled with the strong support of the judiciary.

He stated: “On the fight against corruption vis-àvis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache for now.

“If you reflect on what I went through for 12 years when I wanted to be the president, I attempted three times and on the fourth attempt, through God and the use of technology, it was possible for Nigerians to elect an APC candidate as president.

“In my first attempt in 2003, I ended up at the Supreme Court and for 13 months, I was in court.

The second attempt was in 2007, I was in court close to 20 months and in 2011, my third attempt, I was also in court for nine months.

“All these cases went up to the Supreme Court until the fourth time, in 2015, when God agreed that I will be president of Nigeria.’’

The president assured members of the Nigerian community that with the support of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, he would continue to do his best to improve the nation’s judicial administration system.

On urban development and infrastructure, Buhari announced that the Federal Government had ordered a review of several railway transport projects signed by the previous administration with the Chinese government.

He said: “The Chinese

government was very generous to Nigeria on the projects signed with the previous government, because they agreed to pay 85 per cent of the project.

“But the Nigerian government was unable to meet up with its counterpart funding of 15 per cent.

So, the Chinese government was unable to make any impact on the project.”

He said he had directed the Ministers of Transportation, Finance, Power, Works and Housing, to revisit the agreements and explore ways of reapproaching the Chinese government for assistance.

Buhari added that the Chinese government had indicated interest to assist Nigeria on project financing through its Export-Import Bank.

Commenting on the proposed N6.077 trillion 2016 budget submitted to the National Assembly, the president said for the first time in Nigeria, the budget

would be largely financed from non-oil revenue.

He identified the collapse of the international oil market and oil theft in the Niger Delta as main reasons for projecting more revenues to fund the budget from the non-oil sector.

According to him, “the theft of the oil market by some Nigerians who happen to live there, who feel that the oil belongs to them and not the country, is an irritating thing for those of us who participated in the Civil War for 30 months, in which at least 2 million Nigerians were killed.”

The president also said that the proposed budget would focus on increasing efficiency and transparency in government operations and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating agencies, adding that the recovered assets of the country would also be used to reduce the budget deficit.

renewed its call for the probe of former governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State for alleged misappropriation of over N70 billion belonging to the state during his administration.

The group had, in August 2015, petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the former governor over the alleged missing money.

This was consequent upon his indictment by the Justice George Omerejiled Judicial Commission of Inquiry, asking him to account for about N98 billion, being the proceeds from the sales of some valued assets of the state, allegedly by the Amaechi-led administration.

Governor Nyesom Wike subsequently issued a White Paper, accepting all the recommendations of the commission and advised Amaechi to either refund the money or face prosecution.

But Amaechi and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had dismissed the White Paper issued on the Omereji Panel Report as a non-issue, saying the former governor would rather face court prosecution.

However, Executive Director of the Integrity Group, Livingstone Wechie, said it was reminding the two anti-graft bodies to commence the prosecution of the former governor over the allegation.

Wechie, in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Sunday, said his group had documents to prove its call for the probe of the Minister of Transportation, as contained in the first petition to President Buhari, EFCC and ICPC.

of the two chambers.

It was gathered, however, that while the present government had agreed to continue to fund the constituency projects, the amount would be slashed to N60 billion.

It was gathered that the senators and members of the House of Representatives had been requested to submit details of the projects to be executed in their constituencies to the Committees on Appropriation in the two chambers.

Sources affirmed that the cut would affect the N40 billion meant for execution of projects in the constituencies of Principal Officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as according to a source, all the constituencies were only to now benefit from the N60 billion allocation.

“The six geopolitical zones are normally allowed to benefit from the N10 billion per zone allocation, where the remainder of N40 billion is spread to the constituencies of the Principal Officers and presiding officers, but we are made to understand that as a fallout of the leadership tussle that engulfed the National Assembly last June, whereby leaders not supported by the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged in the Senate and the House of Representatives, the usual largesse due to NASS leaders was withdrawn.

“It is like saying you can keep your positions, but you can’t keep the largesse,” a source said.

The source added that “what has been happening is that each fiscal year, the six geopolitical zones are allocated the sum of N60 billion as development projects. Each of the projects are chosen by the senators and the House of Representatives members.

The projects are, however, located in different ministries and parastatals, which are given funds to execute the projects. But the joy of a lawmaker is that he would claim credit for being the facilitator of the projects.

“Now that the sum of N40 billion is being removed from the constituencies of the Senate President, the Speaker, Deputy and the other Principal Officers, a huge distortion might occur in the manner the allocations are made,” another lawmaker in the know, said.

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

How military assisted Fayose to win Ekiti guber poll —Ex-PDP secretary •Says Jonathan supported with $37m Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

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ORMER secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti State chapter, Dr Temitope Aluko, revealed at the weekend, in Abuja, how former President Goodluck Jonathan assisted the governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose with $2 million to prosecute the primaries and $35 million for the June 21, 2015 election.

Aluko, who played a prominent role in the process, admitted that the military equally assisted during the election and made victory possible, adding that “we went into the election with 1,040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognised ones brought in from Enugu.”

The embattled PDP secretary, who has now fallen out with Governor Fayose, was the chairman of security and intelligence committee of the Fayose Campaign Organisation.

Giving reasons he fell out with erstwhile compatriot, he insisted that Fayose had derailed from the Ekiti Agenda which “we sat and put together by himself, Fayose and Femi Bamisile.”

According to him, Bamisile and himself were the two people who persuaded Fayose to come and contest the governorship seat, saying “as we believed that he is the only one in view of the prevailing circumstances then that can win the state for the party. We shared the governmental positions among ourselves, thus: Fayose (governor), Bamisile (deputy governor)

and myself (Chief of Staff).

Though he changed my own to Secretary to the Government, but in spite of that, we continued the struggle to rescue Ekiti from the government of Fayemi.”

Aluko, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, at the weekend, was the Chief Returning Officer for Fayose, who signed all the results sheets during the last governorship election, admitted that he was fully involved in the plot with Fayose from the very beginning.

Aluko, who now said he had been dumped by Fayose, insisted that he was forced to divulge this information because Fayose betrayed him and jettisioned “the original plan they had for the development of the state after winning the election. Before the election, Fayose, Bamishile and I jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after we must have won the election.”

“But the moment he got into office, Fayose forgot completely the agreement and dumped me. More

worrisome is the fact that Fayose has derailed from the original Ekiti project we envisaged. I apologise to Ekiti people over my activities for bringing back Fayose.”

He disclosed that before the primaries, the former president gave his team the sum of $2 million in March 2014 for the primaries and that the cash was collected in Abuja and we later “took the money to Fayose’s private house, located at Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja, from where it was moved to Ekiti.

“Immediately after the primaries, we collected additional $35 million from the president again.

The money was brought to us by a former minister and we all assembled at the front office of Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, owned

by Fayose. Thereafter, the cash was taken to a Bureau De Change in Onitsha, where it was converted to around N4.7 billion.”

He added that later, Fayose collected another N3 billion cash from one politician from Ogun State,

for the purpose of bringing back to life, the almost dead PDP structure in Ekiti State.

On how the military and other security agencies assisted during the election as it was then believed that the only way the PDP could win the election was to use the military, he said: “We went into the election with 1,040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognised soldiers brought from Enugu, as the former president summoned a security meeting at the Presidential Villa for the purpose of the election.

“At that meeting, the former president made it clear that Fayose would stand for him (as Commander-In-Chief) in terms of providing security for the election.”

Aluko informed that “44 special strike teams were brought from Abuja and Onitsha. We made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team and black hand bands for each of them.

“Each strike team was

made up of 10 members, headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS operatives and Civil Defence corps officers. They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments.”

Detention camps were set up mostly in primary schools “where most of the opposition chieftains were detained. Others were detained in police stations, where the officers in charge were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over.

“We set up anchorage, mainly residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members collected their welfare and other allowances.

“To encourage the strike team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of opposition chieftains they raided.

“A day to the election, we used the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented

Aluko not worthy of response from sane minds —Fayose’s aide SPECIAL Assistant to the Ekiti State governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has described the expelled former state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Aluko as a new distraction from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, saying he does not deserve response from sane minds.

Olayinka said Aluko was already beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Governor Fayose because of the governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he (Aluko) was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.

The governor’s aide, who said it was shameful that the APC have refused to accept a scandalous electoral

defeat it suffered 19 months ago, asked whether it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections that the party lost woefully in Ekiti.

He said: “For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first have to report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since

what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.

“If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the election was free, fair and credible, and that security agents, including soldiers, performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more

FG arrests 6 Britons over alleged breach of immigration laws Clement Idoko - Abuja NIGERIA Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested six Britons, following a tip-off on alleged breach of extant laws regulating expatriate quota as stipulated by the Immigration Act, 2015.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the breach committed at the behest of a Nigerian company named GMT Energy Resources Limited, a marine logistic and procurement support service provider in the oil & gas industry with office in Lagos.

A source in the Immigration Service said the alleged action of the company was an attempt to make nonsense of the Nigerian immi-

opposition movement and we ensured that no opposition was in sight during election. We provided polling agents for the opposition in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units.”

Aluko added that 64 party stalwarts were picked from each of the 16 council areas of the state, saying that these “64 party stalwarts were carefully picked because they knew the terrain in their respective council areas very well.

“They gave detailed information regarding names and locations of opposition members in all the local governments, the various routes, areas of strength and weaknesses of the PDP in the 16 local governments.

“Presently, he said that most of these 64 hatchet men are members of the Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, special advisers, among others.”

gration laws.

It was further gathered that the six expatriates happened to be on the employment of Tilone Subsea Limited, a marine contracting and subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) company, with head office in Port Harcourt.

Tilone Subsea had obtained resident working papers for these expatriates from the Immigration Service, who embarked on the Christmas/New Year holidays and were expected to return to work early January, 2016.

It was, however, gathered, to the surprise of the management of the company, when information got to them that the six Britons

had arrived Nigeria with visas obtained on their behalf by the Tilone Subsea and proceeded to work for GMT Energy Resources Limited on-board Maersk Normad vessel at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) Onne.

GMT Energy Resources are contractors to a United States International Oil Company (IOC) in Nigeria, with headquarters in Houston, Texas, and at the time of the arrest of the six expatriates had engaged the men in working in a project for this IOC. Further investigations revealed that the IOC is EXXONMOBIL. The Tilone Subsea Limited, the company which sourced for these expatiates at a huge cost through

one of their UK technical partners, had made formal complaints to immigration authorities in Rivers\Bayelsa states and Onne Command.

The NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Epedeme Kings, who confirmed the incident, said they were arrested and brought to Abuja for further investigation.

He said: “The Britons are with us in Abuja and we are going to carry out further investigation into the matter. This situation must be on their residency.”

An officer at the Onne Command of the Immigration Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, informed Nigerian Tri-

bune that the six expatriates had been apprehended and undergoing interrogation, with a view to transferring their case to Abuja for necessary action.

Another officer, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, was of the view that some companies engage in what was commonly referred to as “poaching,” which is an act of stealing expatriates brought in at great cost, by another company. This case is a classic example of poaching by the company in questioned (i.e. GMT Energy Resource Limited). All attempts to reach the management of the company to verify its level of complicity were futile.

than one year after is an admittance by Aluko himself, that he is not of a stable character.

“It is also a demonstration of the fact that giving the right offer tomorrow, same Aluko can also address the press tomorrow to deny all he said today.

He can even deny his own existence, since he can deny what he said under oath just because he was not made Chief of Staff.

“Therefore, we won’t bother ourselves, responding to what a political parasite chooses to say because he would not have said what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he called today and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song. continues pg38

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

Use recovered loots to build new refineries, NLC tells Buhari •Set to mobilise and engage govt over anti-labour practices Soji-Eze Fagbemi-Abuja

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rose from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, at the weekend, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that all moneys recovered from treasury looters should be invested in building new refineries and revamping the existing ones.

In a communique issued after the NEC meeting, the congress officially rejected the attempt to remove fuel subsidy through the back doors ''in form of price modulation," and vowed to fully engage the government in partnership with other stakeholders, particularly its Civil Society allies.

"All moneys recovered from looters of our national treasury should be invested in building new refineries and revamping the existing ones. Our re-

Amosun rescues accident victims in Abeokuta OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, on Sunday afternoon, rescued victims of an accident that occured on the KopabeSiun-Sagamu Expressway.

The governor and his entourage were heading for inspection of a Model School, at Itoku-Elewe, one of the projects to be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, for the 40th anniversary celebration of the creation of Ogun State, when the inicent happened.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that a Toyota Camry, with registration LAGOS MUS 38 DM, travelling into Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, skidded of its lane and rammed into a Nissan Sunny LAGOS GGE 268 DD. According to a victim, who does not want her name in print, herself and some other passengers boarded the Nissan Sunny car at Grammar School park heading to Mowe area of the state, before the unfortunate incident happened.

The lady, who was still in shock, said the driver of the Toyota Camry might have probably lost control of the vehicle, as the car somersaulted severally.

fineries must be made to work to optimal capacity in order to meet local need;" the communique, signed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and the General Secretary, Comrade Peter Ozo-Eson, said.

Besides, the congress said Nigerians should not be made to suffer for the sins of those who mismanaged the economy by way of imposing higher prices through subsidy withdrawal and other anti-people

policies.

The congress regretted that in spite of government's promise to Nigerians that it would not remove subsidy on petroleum products, government is attempting to remove subsidy through the back doors in the form of price modulation.

The communique read: "Congress rejects attempts to remove subsidy on petroleum product, noting that it is illegal and unjustifiable, as due process is

not being followed.

"Congress said subsidy removal will not add any value to the economy.

Rather, it will create more hardship for Nigerians, especially the poor and the weak."

It said the congress had resolved to embark on an immediate programme of sensitisation and mobilisation of Nigerians across the country for a better Nigeria; work with and engage in struggle in partnership with all the stakeholders,

particularly the Civil Society allies.

The congress also resolved to commence the process of strategic sensitisation and advocacy through the publication of the papers presented at its stakeholders meeting, which was earlier held before the NEC meeting on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

It also said it would engage government based on the information availed to it on this subject matter.

Group commends senate president on empowerment programmes Biola Azeez-Ilorin

A socio-political group in Kwara State, the Kwara Elite Group, has hailed measures deployed by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to empower youths and the underprivileged in the state through activities of his senatorial office.

Speaking with the president general of the group, Mr. Tajudeen Olesin, in Ilorin, at the weekend, Olesin said the empowerment activities were laudable, particularly now when many state governments were either struggling to pay workers' salaries or indebted to them.

The group, which commended the recent unscheduled visit of Senate President to the Oja tuntun, Baboko market, to commiserate with the victims of fire disaster and his cash donations towards the reconstruction of the shops that got burnt, said the gesture was capable of reducingtheagony of the affected people.

Ajimobi's wife eulogises late President Muhammadu Buhari exchanging pleasantries with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, at the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the weekend.

Guns must go silent in Africa —Buhari Leon Usigbe-Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need for the African Union’s (AU) vision to silence the guns and reduce preventable conflict-related deaths in the continent by 2020 to be achieved "now."

He made the declaration, while speaking at the 26th AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.

Buhari decried the use of scarce resources in Africa

on armed conflicts rather than economic and social development of the continent.

He challenged fellow African leaders to engage decisively with the people and government of South Sudan and Burundi to bring the conflicts they faced to a speedy end.

The president added that African leaders must also forge a united front to rid the continent of the scourge of terrorism and face together with deter-

mination the noble goals of Agenda 2063, as espoused by the AU. He said: "We have all shed blood for Africa to be free, but the irony is that, today, we are now killing each other.

"Rather than facing the developmental challenges confronting us, we are spending our scarce resources killing our children and inflicting unspeakable horrors and unimaginable hardship on our brothers and sisters.

NLC to shut down Imo over anti-labour policies Soji-Eze Fagbei-Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) has finally resolved to mobilise to Imo State to shut it down as a response to what it termed Governor Rochas Okorocha's anti-labour policies, workers' retrenchment.

Besides, the congress has decided to report Governor Okorocha to the Inpector General Police (IGP) for raising armed private militia against workers and inflicting injuries on them, while also

warning that there would be serious consequences if he continued.

These decisions were taken after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC, held in Lagos, at the weekend. The congress leadership visited Imo State recently where they held a rally with the workers and also met with Governor Okorocha who promised them and denied any anti-labour practices.

But barely few days after the departure of the NLC leadership, the governor

sacked about 3,000 workers in some government parastatals in the state.

Rising from the NEC meeting, the NLC said: "In line with the congress' philosophy of an injury to one is an injury to all, Congress also resolved to mobilise to Imo State to shut it down as a response to Governor Okorocha's anti-labour policies and retrenchment of workers, in spite of his promises to the leadership of the congress that he would not take such decisions."

"That is truly a tragedy and it must stop. Enough is Enough!

"Within the framework of the African Union, we have to, as a matter of urgency, reach a consensus on how to silence the guns. Not by 2020 but now. Why must we wait? We must say 'no' to wars and conflicts on our continent."

Buhari emphasised Nigeria’s determination to wholly defeat terrorism and bring the war against Boko Haram to an end, saying Nigeria would continue to partner with other member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, and Republic of Benin, through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

He reaffirmed that Nigeria would soon fully redeem its pledge of $100 million to enhance the operations of the Task Force, having released the sum of $21 million to the task force in June last year.

The President also used the occasion of his address to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to the unity, peace and prosperity of the continent.

Olubadan

By Wale Akinselure

Eulogies continue for the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, with the wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, describing the late traditional ruler as a good leader whose life was worth emulating.

Ajimobi especially lauded the late Olubadan's commitment to peace of Ibadan which made the city an abode for both indigenes and non indigenes alike.

Ajimobi, who paid a condolence visit to the Monatan residence of the late traditional ruler, applauded the selflessness of Oba Odulana epitomised by his life of contentment.

She prayed that God should grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss and comfort them in their grief.

In his welcome remarks, a son of the late Olubadan, Professor Femi Lana, said his father impacted the lives of many people, and died a peaceful death.

He commended the relationship between the late Oba and Governor Abiola Ajimobi, describing it as a relationship built on trust and affection.

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

Lagosmetro

Community with 58-year-old transformer gets a reprieve Bola Badmus

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esidents of Palmgroove Estate in Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA)

on Saturday became a beneficiary of a new 500KVA transformer from Lagos State government, replacing the community’s 58-year-old transformer.

Two other communities

in Alapere and Ijegun, respectively, also received new set of transformers to boost electricity supply in their localities as part of the state government’s ongoing ‘Light Up Lagos’ initiative.

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented at the handing over ceremony by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Wale Oluwo, while donating

Waste bins of companies filled to the brim, needing attention of Lagos State Waste Management. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

100 shops, buildings, burnt in multiple fire incidents Olalekan Olabulo

It was a busy weekend for fire fighters in many parts of Lagos State as operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service attended to over 20 fire distress calls.

Over 100 shops, transformer manufacturing company and residential building were destroyed in the fire incidents.

The director of the state fire agency, Rasak Fadipe, who confirmed the outbreak of the multiple fire incidents to Lagos Metro, reiterated his caution to residents of the state and urged them to be more fire conscious.

According to him, men of the state fire service attended to fire incidents in Abule Egba, Ikorodu,

Alausa , Amuwo Odofin , Ajegunle and FESTAC Town.

50 bolt-up shops were between Saturday night and early Sunday destroyed along Bony Street in Ajegunle Apapa area of the state.

The fire was said to have started from one of the affected shops and had spread to majority of the burnt shops, before firemen arrived at the scene.

In another related development, about six shops were also destroyed as fire ravaged Afem Shopping Complex in Amuwo Odofin.

A bungalow building was on Saturday night destroyed on Agbe Street in Abule Egba area of the state with millions of naira worth of goods destroyed.

The arrival of firemen

saved neighbouring buildings from being consumed in the Abule Egba fire incident, which lasted for over one hour.

Fadipe, while confirming

the fire incidents to Lagos Metro added that a power transformer company in Ibereko area of Badagry was also destroyed by fire on Saturday.

the transformer to the Palmgroove community, said he made the donation, having read the plight of the affected residents via a newspaper publication.

The commissioner, therefore, encouraged residents to continue to engage government via the official and other channels such as the social media, print media and electronic media, assuring that the Ambode’s administration, being a people-oriented government, would always intervene as fast as possible.

President of Palmgroove Estate Residents Association, Captain Jide George, in his response, said the prompt manner with which Governor Ambode responded to their plight was worthy of emulation by other leaders, saying it was an eloquent testimony of leadership by example.

“This is very much unprecedented. I never believed that such a thing could happen where you will just put something in the papers and the governor will respond to it expeditiously. We are ready to support the efforts of the governor. All of us are behind him and we want to say thank you to the governor,” George said.

Two other senior residents of the Estate, Dr Ladi Awosika and Mr Akintunde Adeyinka said the remarkable way with which the Governor responded to their plight was a confirmation of the fact that Lagos State was in safe hands.

NURTW chairman remanded 30 days for murder Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

The chairman of Meiran branch of National Union of Road Transport Worker, (NURTW), Mr Wasiu Onibudo, 62, has been remanded in prison over allegations of conspiracy and murder.

Onibudu was accused of conspiring with others, now at large, to kill one Taiwo Ogunlaja, by stabbing him severally.

According to the police, the incident happened during a NURTW’s meeting held on December 3, 2015, at the union’s headquarters situated at 365, Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-Egba.

In urging an Ebute Metta Magistrate Court to remand the accused, Mr Godwin O. Osuyi and Daniel Ighodalo, of the Legal department of Lagos State Police Command, Panti-Yaba informed the court that the remand application was supported with a 10-paragraph-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Bartholomew Ali of IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja, and attached with a charge sheet; a petition written to the police by Plenary Solicitors; the deceased photograph; medical certificate of cause of the death and a statement of a witness, named Ahmed Balogun.

He therefore urged the court to remand the accused pending when the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) will issue an advice on the matter.

Driver disappears with employer’s SUV two weeks after employment Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A driver, Ongro Stephen Ishade, 26, has been accused of stealing his employer’s Toyota Sienna SUV two weeks after he was employed.

Ishade allegedly drove the SUV valued at N5 million to Kwara State to look for a buyer.

The incident occured at Probyn Road, Friends’ Colony, Aguigi, Lekki, when

the suspect was sent on an errand by his employer, Sholape Akinola.

The driver instead allegedly drove his employer’s vehicle straight to Kwara State to look for a buyer for it.

Luck however ran out for him when he was arrested by the police in Kwara State while driving the vehicle around, in search for a buyer.

According to the police, Ishade allegedly confessed to the crime adding that he stole the vehicle from his employer in Lagos to go and sell and use the proceeds to build a house for his parents in the village who have no accommodation.

Ishade was arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court Lagos on a two-count charge of felony and stealing.

He however denied

the police allegations in the open court when the charges were read to him, and the Magistrate Mr. P. A. Adekomaiya admitted him to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adekomaiya adjourned the case till February 15, for mention while the Ishade was taken to Ikoyi Prison Lagos pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Lanre Adewole

08037863902 | olanreade@yahoo.com

How we trick, rob motorists in traffic — Suspect Olalekan Olabulo A member of a two-man armed robbery gang has exposed the tricks they employ in traffic robbery in several parts of Lagos State. suspect, Biodun The Omoyeni revealed that members of his gang and other gangs used to raise false alarm to distract motorists, before looting their vehicles.

The suspect was over the weekend arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who were acting on complaints by motorists in Lekki and neighbouring communities on the activities of traffic robbers.

Also arrested by the police was one of the receivers of the gang’s stolen items, who confessed to have bought items from members of the gang.

Omoyeni told the police that a member of his gang would stay on one side of the vehicle and raise a false alarm, while another member would loot from the targeted vehicle.

The 22-year- old suspect explained that through this method, his gang had stolen more than 19 phones and 3 laptops in four robbery operations in Lekki – Ajah traffic.

Omoyeni claimed that his partner and gang leader, Rasaq, who is still at large, trained him and four other boys on how to steal mobile phones and valuables in traffic and on motorbikes in Mushin.

“We always operate in Ajah. Rasaq and I meet in Mushin and Ojuelegba whenever we want to operate before heading to Lekki and Ajah for our operations.

We conduct for commercial buses and we use that to monitor traffic till 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. when it would have built up, before we start operating,” the suspect added.

He continued that “Once there is traffic, we strategise and we start operating. One of us from the driver side tells the motorist that the tyre is punctured while the

other person through the window takes the phones, money, wallets, pad and other valuables from the other side of the driver.”

The suspect, with several scars and stitches on his face said, “the wounds on my face are as a result of street fighting. I was rejected in four hospitals two years ago before I was admitted in UCH, Ibadan, where the wounds were stitched.

“I am not an armed robber. It was Rasaq that introduced me to all these. I was a tyre seller in Ibadan before I decided to follow a friend to Lagos for greener pasture.”

One of the robbery victims, Paul Eugene, whose phones were found with Omoyeni, and returned to him, thanked the RRS for recovering his phones in less than 3 hours after being robbed in traffic.

Eugene stated that one of the suspects distracted him

from focusing on his driving that his rear tyre was flat but on checking it, he noticed nothing, but he observed other motorists rolling up their glasses in traffic.

‘I didn’t know Omoyeni from the other side of my car has taken my phones and some money. I was still in the car when a fellow motorist told me that they have stolen my phones,” the victim stated.

Meanwhile, the operatives of the RRS have arrested one Oladeinde Oresegun for buying stolen phones from Biodun Omoyeni.

Oresegun said he sells fairly-used materials in Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos. He added that he had only bought four phones from Omoyeni, stressing that he didn’t know that he was a traffic robber.

The suspect along with the buyer has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the State Police Command.

419 suspect in collapse drama in court Olalekan Olabulo

The suspect, Omoyeni

Govt decries attack of firemen while on official duty Olatunde Dodondawa The Lagos State government has kicked against the frequent attacks against firemen warning the general public to desist from the act.

Five firemen have reportedly been attacked with broken bottles and other dangerous weapons while trying to put out inferno in some parts of Lagos State.

The spokesperson of Lagos Fire Service, Bola Ajao, told Lagos Metro that the Lagos State Government had warned the general public to desist from the act of attack-

ing the officials of the Lagos State Fire Service or face the full wrath of the law.

She said recently, about five firemen were attacked from various locations within the State, adding that, “The State observed with dismay the frequent attacks of its officials and obstruction of same from carrying out their official duties by unidentified hoodlums.”

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe while lamenting the extent of the injuries inflicted on the officers confirmed in a statement by Bola Ajao that

Water seller sleeping on duty. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

over five officers were injured at Idewu Street, Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle and Odunsi Street Itire-Suru Lere Areas of the State.

He described the officers as dedicated and hardworking whose motive was to save lives and properties.

According to him “the gallant officers responded to distress calls and were about to carry out their statutory duties when the hoodlums, who wanted to avail themselves of the opportunity to loot and steal from the fire victims saw them as obstacle and started attacking, stabbing and chas-

ing them from the scene of fire outbreak.”

Fadipe explained further that a senior officer’s ear was stabbed with a broken bottle while others were manhandled.

“In order to prevent confrontation and breakdown of law and order, the officials retreated and ran for their lives.

The mayhem was reported at Tolu and Itire Police stations respectively,” he said.

He commended the Divisional Police Officer at Itire for intervening and rescuing the officers from further assault.

An accused Lagos hotelier, in an alleged fraud trial, Augunos Okoro, on Wednesday slumped in court, during his trail.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja angered by the development, consequently warned Okoro, who is standing trial for duping a German businessman the sum of $330,000, against acts and devices aimed at stalling his trial.

Okoro, whose trial ought to resume on Wednesday after several years of adjournments and re-arraignments, slumped in court immediately his application for adjournment of proceedings was dismissed by Justice Ipaye.

Okoro’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo had earlier made two prayers, first was for his appearance in the matter and the other for the court to grant him a short adjournment to enable him study the case, since he was coming newly in the matter, but Justice Ipaye dismissed the application and asked the prosecution to go on with the trial.

Prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, called his witness: Rapheal Onwuzurigbo, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Forensic Analysis Unit.

After the witness had finished his introduction and was about to go into the matter, Okoro abruptly slumped and thereby compelled the court to adjourn the matter to 24 and 25 February, 2016. While adjourning the matter, Justice Ipaye warned that this kind of stunt will no longer be tolerated anymore in her court.

Okoro, who is the proprietor of Lagos York Hotels, was initially arraigned on May 30, 2003 before Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case was re-assigned to Justice Joseph Oyewole sometime in 2004.

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Nigerian Tribune

NLC, TUC kick as new electricity tarrif begins today •Tarrif order will boost invesments, fast track stead y power From Dapo Falade And Olatunde Dodondawa

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abour unions under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have called for the suspension of the new tariff implementation by threatening to picket all distribution companies if implemented.

The implementation of Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2.2, which should have been effective in January 2016, takes effect today, February 1, 2016.

The NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, said labour would mobilise workers and civil society groups to protest and picket all the electricity distribution companies should the federal government implement the tariff as scheduled.

“We reject the tariff increase, based on the fact that due process was not followed according to the law.

“Organised labour and civil society groups were not consulted. There has also not been a significant improvement in the power supply situation since it was privatised,” he said.

He said the distribution companies promised to provide pre-paid meters for its consumers within 18 months, but had not met the expectations of the people.

Wabba said the increase in electricity tariff was not right because there was already a court injunction before Muhammed Idris, a Justice of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

On his part, the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, urged NERC not to implement the new tariff until there is a substantive improvement in the electricity supply situation.

“If by February 1, the Federal Government implements the policy, we will shut down all DISCOs. There should be an increase indicated in service delivery, before the proposed new tariff,” he said.

Meanwhile, Oduntan blamed inability of the Discos to meter all customers on non-approval of adequate capital expenditure for the Discos.

“One of the shortcomings of the MYTO 2015 is that it says all customers must be metered in one year, yet,

the same law states that a discos must not meter more than 100,000 customers in a year. It also specified how much a particular Disco can spend as capital expenditure. Investors are willing to take the risk and invest in the power sector, but regulation of the capital expenditure makes this impossible,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Friday, in Abuja, explained that the new multi year tariff order was aimed at correcting the whole system in the entire value chain of the power sector and remained the most viable means to achieve steady power supply in the country.

Fashola, who spoke in an interview with journalists at the site of the 2 X 60 MVA 132/33 KV Sub-Station Kukwaba Power Project, during a continuation of the nationwide inspection, verification and fact finding tour of projects under his ministry, said the ready acceptance of the new tariff order would also galvanize the sector and boost Power Sector investments which would in turn usher in more development in the country.

The minister said investors would only come into the sector if the pricing was right, adding that the power sector would receive the necessary boost if the new tariff was accepted.

“If we allow the tariff regime as now reviewed to

stay, instead of two, two year tariff changes we now have a ten year tariff. Inside that same order that reviewed the tariff upward, that same order says take out the fixed charge and the same order also made provision now for willing buyer and willing seller to say if you reach an agreement to buy power at a price higher than the market tariff go and do your power,” he said.

Following the directives by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to all distribution companies (Discos) to remove fixed charges from their billing systems, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors

(ANED), Sunday Oduntan, said that the review in electricity tariff had become imperative following the implementation of MYTO as stated in the EPSR Act 2005 to promote cost-reflective tariff.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, Oduntan said: “I know that Nigerians are angry because there is little improvement in power supply, but since the power sector has been privatised, the business model has since changed. Although, it is the distribution companies that Nigerians interact with, but they do not know that we are mere collectors along the value chain. We retain just 25 per cent of whatever we collect as bills and pay 60

From left: Olumide Dare, Heritage Bank’s Corporate Banking Division; Ola Olabinjo, Heritage Bank’s Executive Director, and His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ife, when the bank officials visited his palace, recently.

‘Banks still lend to oil & gas sector, despite declining prices’ Chima Nwokoji-lagos

Notwithstanding the impact of global economic uncertainty on Nigeria’s financial system and its exposure to oil and gas, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) still make new loans to the sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revealed.

Currently, sectoral credit allocation shows that oil and gas sector lead other sectors at 49.7 per cent of total banking sector credit, while services and industry are equally strong beneficiaries at 44.0 percent and 34.6 percent respectively data from the bank showed.

CBN’s Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr Joseph Nnanna, while delivering a keynote address at a round table session on Economic Outlook

for 2016 and its implication for Business in Nigeria, organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)in Lagos, saidwhile the increased credit to industry and services are welcome developments, the persistent decline in oil prices coupled with high banking industry exposure to that sector portends a strong downside risk to the financial system if the trend continues.

“Although, it is important to note that notwithstanding the developments in the oil and gas sector, new banking loans to the sector still grew by 9.65 percent as at end- December 2015.”

Already, available records observed from newspaper publications of bad debtors in the third quarter of

2015 showed that a total of N47.572 billion loans to the oil and gas sector were classified as bad loans.

CBN therefore called on banks to re-discover the ag-

ricultural sector, as lending to this sector will free the economy from the strangle hold which the oil and gas sector has long had on the economy.

per cent to generation companies, 11 per cent to transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) and four per cent to the regulators.

“In 2015, the country generated an average of 2867 MW from gas while only 543MW was generated from hydro power plants. What it means is that generation companies buy gas from gas companies to generate power. It is what they generate they sell to distribution companies and because we cannot store or hoard electricity, we will always distribute whatever we get from the generation companies to the consumers.

“We are interested in in core generation because the more they can generate and transmit to us, the more money we can realise by selling the energy to the consumers.”

In a related development, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has assured that customers in Rivers State may not pay more than they are paying before.

The company also disclosed that customers would eventually be the ones to determine their final bills, based on their actual consumption.

PHED Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jay McCoskey, made this known while speaking at a quarterly press conference, held in Port-Harcourt, at the weekend.

He said although new tariffs have been introduced, customers might actually not pay more, assuring that PHED would also introduce energyefficient solutions, such as special light bulbs, into the market to help users manage their consumption.

Flat rates, as expected N192.2bn T. Bills roll over Chima Nwokoji-lagos

Money Market rates are expected to remain at last week’s low levels as Treasury Bills maturity worth N192.2billion is expected to hit the system this week, while a roll-over of the same amount is also expected to douse the effect of this liquidity influx.

“In light of this, we expect rates to remain contained at current levels,” a trader said.

Traders said the central

bank injected around N331 billion ($1.66 billion) in matured open market operation (OMO) treasury bills into the banking system on Thursday, while additional naira from the budget and refunds from deposits for foreign exchange purchases hit the system by close of business on Friday. These kept rates at low levels in the money market.

Commercial lenders’ credit balance with the central bank opened at N461

billion on Friday and is expected to rise to about one trillion naira this week, when more cash is injected into the system by the central bank, traders said.

Nigeria, distributes revenues from oil exports and taxes among its three tiers of government -federal, state and local- on a monthly basis, with the portion for state and local government passing through the banking system and providing liquidity.

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Corruption may cost up to 37% of GDP by 2030 —Report

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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nless concrete steps are taken to immediately scale down the spread of corruption in the country, it could cost up to 37 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) by 2030.

This is the result of a study titled Impact of Corruption on Nigeria’s Economy conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The report was presented last Friday to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The PwC team was led by MUyi Akpata, Country and Regional Senior Partner West Market Area. He said that the report centered on the ways in which corruption had impacted the Nigerian economy over time adding that PwC believes that the work provides robust evidence and impetus for reducing corruption in Nigeria.

Akpata stated that “the

results of the study show that corruption in Nigeria could cost up to 37 per cent of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) by 2030 if it’s not dealt with immediately. This cost is equated to around $1,000 per person in 2014 and nearly $2,000 per person by 2030. The boost in average income that we estimate, given the current per capita income, can significantly improve the lives of many in Nigeria”.

Five steps were used in the report to estimate Ni-

geria’s cost of corruption.

The first step was to examine over 30 studies to understand the way that corruption affects GDP in Nigeria. The study was obtained from International organisations including the OECD, IMF, DFID and Transparency International, Nigerian academics affiliated with Nigerian universities, publications by other academics across mediums such as journals, articles and PhD publications, among others as well as in-house studies

assessing the health of the Nigerian economy such as the World in 2050 publication. The IMF study was selected to estimate impact of corruption on economic growth.

The second step was to identify the impact of corruption on economic growth using the IMF study. The study estimates that the impact of 1 point change in the corruption index results in a 1.2 percentage point change in economic growth per annum. The study’s method-

ology - calculating impact on growth when a country moves from its own rank to another country’s rank on the corruption index was also used.

Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) was also used as a proxy for corruption; this dataset defines corruption as the ‘abuse of public office for private gain’ and the index was categorized into three parts; Grand corruption, Petty corruption and Political corruption.

4 Nigerian banks listed among top 500 world banking brands Chima Nwokoji-lagos

Four Nigerian Banks have been listed among top global banking brands in 2016.

The banks are: First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank Plc,United Bank for Africa and Access Bank Nigeria Plc. According to the 2016 Top 500 banking brands ranking published in the February edition of The Banker magazine, First Bank moved up the scale in 16 places. The bank moves from 336 position in 2015 to 320 this year.

By the latest ranking, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has retained its number one banking brand ranking position in Nigeria for the fifth consecutive year in the 2016.

The Banker magazine is a publication of Financial Times Group in conjunction with Brand Finance, London United Kingdom.

A press release from the Country Representative of the magazine in Nigeria, Kunle Ogedengbe, added that Guaranty Trust Bank moved to 389 in the world from 417 in 2015, Zenith Bank dropped from 388 in 2015 to 392 in 2016, and United Bank for Africa returned to the ranking in 447, while Access Bank that made the ranking at 496 in 2015 dropped in the 2016 ranking.

From left: Director General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Lagos, Dr Gloria Elemo; Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Bayo Ojulari; SNEPCo Portfolio Manager, John Eweje; and SNEPCo Communications Manager, Sola Abulu, at the Opening Session of the 2016 Offshore West Africa Conference in Lagos, on Tuesday. SNEPCo was conferred with the only award of the conference, the Loyalty Award.

Foreign exchange officers of banks, others to meet •As naira goes for N306 to dollar Chima Nwokoji-lagos

Worried by the continued decline of the Naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fixed a meeting of foreign exchange (forex) officers of banks and other authorised dealers.

This is just as the Naira on Friday continued to maintain an average value of N306 to the dollar at the paralel market, few days after the apex bank supported by the presidency, insisted that the local currency will not be devalued.

A circular to all authorized dealers obtained from CBN’s website and signed by the Director Trade & Exchange Department CBN, Olakanmi Gbadamosi noted that the meeting shall afford participants the opportunity “to discuss developments in the forex market in the last quarter of 2015 and offer contributions in charting the direction for 2016.”

To attend the meeting also

are: the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The meeting is scheduled to hold in Lagos on Thurs-

day, February 4,2016.

Meanwhile, the Naira lost a point from the N305 to a dollar it had previously exchanged, a depreciation of 0.3 per cent.

It, however, closed at N197 to the dollar at the official Central Bank of Ni-

geria rate.

Traders at the market cited shortage of the greenback and anxiety over calls for the devaluation of the nation’s currency.

They argued that the devaluation wind was still affecting sales at the market.

Elumelu urges US congress to pass the Eletrify Africa Act Chairman, Heirs Holdings and Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, has called on the United States Congress to pass the ‘Electrify Africa Act’ stating that the passage in to law would make a world of difference in Africa.

“When you leave this place call your Representatives and the leadership of the House and ask them to pass the bill,” Elumelu the congress.

The bill, which would preserve and expand President Barack Obama’s Power Africa Initiative by codify-

ing access to electricity as a U.S. foreign policy priority for Africa, has already been passed by the U.S. Senate and is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives next week.

Speaking at the Mariott Hotel in Washington D.C; venue of the “Power Africa Summit” on Thursday, January 28, 2016, Elumelu commended President Obama for working through the Power Africa Initiative to mobilise the private sector to invest $43 billion in the African power sector.

According to him, Africa

must win the energy challenge if it seeks to become an industrial power in the 21st century, noting that “power outages on the continent must spark power outrages, the kind of outrage that ignites the activist in us.

“Power cuts across and has impact on healthcare delivery, job creation, education, food security communications and all other sectors of the economy.”

“It is unacceptable that 600 million Africans lack access to energy in the 21st century.”

FCMB grows revenue to N109.3bn in nine months FCMB Group Plc (FCMB) has reported increased revenue of N109.3 billion for the nine-months ended September 2015, an increase of 2 per cent from N106.7 billion for the same period in 2014.

The financial institution also recorded a profit before tax (PBT) of N2.6 billion for the period, as against N16.8 billion for the nine-months of 2014. FCMB Group Plc, the financial holding company, comprises of First City Monument Bank Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, CSL Stockbrokers Limited and CSL Trustees Limited.

Going by the unaudited International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) - compliant Group results, which include the bank’s audited results for the same period, FCMB’s net interest income for the period ended September 2014 stood at N48.7 billion, as against N49.1 billion for the same period prior year.

Operating expenses went up 3 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) to N50.5 billion, for the nine-months ended September 2015, compared to N48.9 billion forthe same period the previous year- a slower growth rate than inflation rate, underscoring FCMB’s successful cost saving initiatives.

Total asset was up 12 per cent YoY to N1.17 trillion as of September 2015 compared to N1.04 trillionas at September 2014, but flat Year-to-Date.

The bank also increased loans and advances to customers to N568.0 billion as at September 2015, as against N565.0 billion the previous year.

Peter Obaseki, Managing Director of FCMB Group Plc, had this to say about the results: “The Group’s nine months’ profit before tax, dropped YoY to N2.6 billion, with the significant earnings drop largely coming from our commercial banking activities.

“This was caused by a specific impairment of N5.4 billion on a contracted receivable with a reputable and creditworthy going concern, that we are hopeful of recovering and additional impairments of N6 billion on our loan book.

“Revenue also came under significant pressure due to various regulatory and macroeconomic headwinds, with the lull in the capital markets also adversely affecting equity capital transactions and other businesses under our investment banking arm.”

news APC kicks as Catholic Diocese transfers Mbaka 12

Monday, 1 February, 2016

I’m going to suffer, says priest Jude Ossai - Enugu

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HE South-East zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the transfer of the Enugu Catholic priest and Director of the Adoration Ministry, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, saying there is more to the transfer.

Spokesman of the APC

South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu, said “Our people need more liberation clergy, especially one endowed with healing powers like Father Ejike Mbaka.

The liberation clergy were instrumental in returning Latin American countries back to democracy in the 70s and 80s. They pulled down Pinochet in Chile and toppled dictators across the

globe. We should harvest and culture them instead of hounding them.”

Reacting to Mbaka’s farewell speech where he said he was ‘going to suffer’ as a result of the transfer, the party said it was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God. Okechukwu noted, “Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a

routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfer as the Mbaka’s case suggests. Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak the truth will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.

“Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flock who are

mostly the downtrodden, who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing. We frown at anything which will put Father Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing.

“As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack assault and unpleasant comments hurled against Father Mbaka since he providentially

Dankwabo’s 2019 presidential ambition threatens PDP convention

He’s yet to express interest —Spokesman Leon Usigbe - Abuja

AS leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-East meet in Gombe State on Tuesday to endorse a new national chairmanship candidate, it has emerged that governor of the state, Dr Ibrahim Dankwabo, is kicking against the idea of a northerner becoming the party boss because of its possible consequences on his 2019 presidential ambition.

The former ruling party has officially zoned the presidency to the north, but the North-East zone is pressing for an opportunity to serve out the tenure of former Gombe governor, Dr Adamu Muazu, who resigned as the national chairman last year following the stunning loss of the party at the general election.

The party is planning to hold its national convention in March where new members of its National Working Committee (NWC) would be elected bringing an end to the NWC originally led by Muazu.

However, the Nigerian Tribune learnt authoritatively that Dankwabo is pushing for the Deputy National Chairman and acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to retain the party chairmanship seat following what sources said was Secondus’ assurance to the governor to work for his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate in 2019.

Dankwabo, in his second term as governor, is more senior between the only two state governors belonging to the PDP in the North-East, the other being Darius Ishaku of Taraba State.

The Gombe State governor is said to be expressing doubts about a northern chairman agreeing to step down to clear the way for a northerner to emerge as

the presidential candidate since having a party boss and its presidential candidate from the same region would go against the zoning policy of the PDP. “He is not sure whether if a northerner is chosen as the chairman, be it temporary or not, will agree to step down. He does not want that to scuttle his ambition,” our source said.

The source revealed that Secondus was not insisting on remaining in office as acting National Chairman but was being kept on by Dankwabo because he was more comfortable with the Rivers State-born politician.

“He is going to resist any attempt to bring any northerner, even if he is going to come from the North-East, because he has his eye on 2019. With a northern chairman, he will not get it,” the source said.

The source further revealed the intrigue behind Secondus’ stay in office saying; “Why Secondus continued to stay in office all this time, not because Secondus didn’t want to go, it is because he promised Dankwabo that he is going to give him the ticket and so, the governor is interested in Secondus.”

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that since the North-East was advised to nominate a candidate for the national chairman about three months ago, Governor Dankwabo avoided all meetings called for the purpose at caucus and Board of Trustees (BoT) levels to make sure no decision was reached on the matter.

“He wants status quo to be maintained so that the NWC can finish their term and possibly get re-elected,” the source said.

It was learnt that the Tuesday’s Gombe meeting, which outcome is expected to determine the fate of the party organs’ meetings including the

national caucus, BoT and National Executive Committee (NEC), may end up being a platform for Dankwabo to begin mobilisation for his ambition.

But in his reaction, spokesman of the governor, Junaidu Usman, told the Nigerian Tribune on phone from Gombe, on Sunday, that Dankwabo is yet to express interest in the 2019 race but was more concerned about rebuilding a viable PDP. He said even though the governor has the credentials to be president, given his outstanding performance which earned him a re-election, he has not told anybody that he would run for the post in 2019.

He said: “All I know is that Governor Dankwambo is among the leading figures who want the best for PDP. “But as for his ambition to aspire for the highest seat, we did not talk about that with him yet and for now, Talban Gombe is only talking about restructuring the party.

“Talban Gombe is there to mend all fences and reconcile all the factions in PDP.” The national leadership of the PDP has been thrown into crisis since former Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr Ahmed Gulak, declared himself the national chairman, rely-

ing on an FCT High Court order barring Secondus from continuing as the acting chairman while reserving the post for a candidate from the North-East.

Governors elected under the PDP had subsequently advised Secondus to step aside while the National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo, was asked to take over.

But the NWC of the party has kicked against the order, insisting that Secondus remains the acting National Chairman.

Consequently, it has slated meetings of the NWC, national caucus, BoT and NEC for this week to attempt to resolve the leadership crisis.

I’ve learnt a lot from Fayose —Abia gov ABIA State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, said he has learnt some political lessons from the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, which are helping him in his political life and administration of his state.

Ikpeazu listed some of the virtues to include courage, identifying with the people, how to handle intricate political issues among others.

The Abia governor spoke at the weekend during the burial ceremony of his mother which Fayose attended, In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Ikpeazu noted that he had visited Fayose twice in the last seven months and gained some insight as far as leadership and occupying political position are concerned.

“Governor Ayodele Fayose is a courageous man, a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the weak and defenceless, a brother, a leader, a friend and a leader of the people. A consistent man, known for speaking

the truth all the time. He told me few things that worked for me perfectly in the state. He is a man I love and respect so much and I salute his courage.

“He has been governor twice and he is far experienced. He has encouraged me in deed, character and in words. I pray that God will give me the opportunity one day to be able to show my appreciation to him and how I feel about him. He is a man I love and respect so much and I salute his courage,” Okpeazu said.

In his remarks, Fayose described the Igbo people as not only industrious,

but dogged.

He said he named one of his sons Chukwuemeka many years ago to show how much he appreciated the Igbo people.

On the political situation in the country, he said nobody could silence him.

“The nation should resist dictatorship otherwise this democracy is doomed.

Those that are applauding dictatorship now will soon end in the belly of the dictator,” he opined.

Fayose said he was certain of Ikpeazu winning at the Supreme Court and that he would return to Abia soon to celebrate with Ikpeazu.

Nigerian Tribune

prophesied that President Muhammadu Buhari would win the 2015 elections. Even the church did not spare him; he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true.

We are happy that Father Mbaka was vindicated,” Okechukwu said.

According to him, “It must be pointed out that accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements like Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari; even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubts still persists. We are still at a loss why a senior priest will be degraded to an assistant parish priest.

“We repeat that we are in solidarity with Father Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Mbaka and the suffering of his flock, mostly the poor, who need his healing powers. We had thought that His Lordship Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by his flock,” he added.

It will be recalled that Father Mbaka had in a valedictory speech at the weekend said “I know I am going to suffer... And let nobody come and brag about it, after all that they are the Ohanaeze group, or the parishioners who know how to get the bishop. Because, if I hear that type of story again, some people may cry and it should not be considered that the church can be politicised to the level of people deciding who to be sent out and who to bring in; and when to do it even without caring where the person will be.

“The quantum of the assets of the adoration ministry is the only thing I have burden for now; where am I going to keep the assets of the ministry? And I am going to stay in one small room; that has only one small bed, and one small table and little toilet and bathroom. Where am I going to keep all the adoration assets?” the cleric asked.

2016 Easter pilgrimage: NCPC releases cost THE Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara, has announced the package price for 2016 Easter pilgrimage exercise to Israel.

He disclosed in his office, in Abuja, that the package cost for each intending pilgrim was N461,440.

According to the NCPC boss, this year’s Easter pilgrimage will be flagged off March 22, at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. It will run from March to April.

He advised all intending pilgrims and church leaders to access the commis-

sion’s website for the pilgrims form or contact the operations or sensitisation and enlightenment department at the corporate head office in Abuja or the six zonal offices of the commission at Yola, Kaduna, Gwagwalada, Lagos, Enugu and Bayelsa for further inquiries.

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INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 1 February, 2016

pixmart

From left: Victoria Kimani, Artiste, Chocolate City Music; Audu Maikori, President, Chocolate City Group; Jude Abaga (M.I), CEO, Chocolate City Music; Mo Abudu, Founder and Executive Chairman, EbonyLife Television (ELTV) and Lanre Olusola, Executive Director, ELTV at the press conference announcing the “Chocolate City Unsigned” music reality show held at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

President, PRCAN, John Ehiguese; Principal Consultant, Necci Consulting, Nkechi Ali-Balogun; CEO, CMC Connect Ltd, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; CEO, BHM Group, Ayeni Adekunle; COO, Publicis Consultants Soulcomm, Mojisola Saka, Chief Commercial Officer, Livespot Group, Darey Art Alade, at the launch of Nigeria’s first-Ever annual PR Industry Report on Friday, at Protea Hotel, Ikeja.

From left: Chief Operating Officer, Automedics, Mr. Gbola Oba; Head Lubes, Oando Marketing Plc, Lillian Ikokwu; overall graduating student, Abdulkareem Ahmed; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Olaposi Williams; Chairman, Lagos State Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), Alhaji Moruf Arowolo and Chairman Lagos State, Nigeria Automobile Technician Association (NATA), Asiwaju Jacob Fayeun, during the graduation ceremony of Oleum Academy Automechatronics 2015 class in Lagos, recently.

ALABA IGBAROOLA: 08155975474

SYLVESTER OKORUWA: 08115708541

From left: Trustee, God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT); Kola Oyeneyin, GCGT Sponsor; Akinla Alexander Forbe; Head Teacher, Riverbank School, Regina Jemide, and GCGT Judge, Uti Nwachukwu, at the official launch of the Season 6 of God’s Children Great Talent held on Tuesday, in Lagos.

From left: Mr Sidney Ogodo, Registrar, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, (NIMN); Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, President, NIMN, David Okeme, Advan President; Tony Agenmonmen, first vice president, NIMN; Ediri Ose-Ediale, Executive Secretary, Advan; Ibraheem Awelenje and Owubanmwen Osemede, ex-officios, Advan and Oluwayomi Ifaturoti, Member of NIMN Council, during a courtesy visit to Advan exco, recently.

From left: Managing Director, Friesland Campina Wamco, Rahul Colaco; SA to Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, Kehinde Joseph; representative of the state governor and Attorney General, Lagos State, Kazeem Adeniji; Director, Supply Chain Business Group, Friesland Campina Wamco, David Chatard and Corporate Affairs Director, Friesland Campina Wamco, Ore Famurewa, at the official inauguration of Ultra-modern Friesland Foods Warehouse.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 1 February, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Economy: A case for agriculture

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HE dwindling price of oil will definitely be with us for a very long time, and we should be ready to look at other alternatives. First, more countries than ever are discovering oil, and this is reducing the number of buyers for the black gold.

In the past, it was only Nigeria, Angola, Sudan and Algeria that were oil producers in Africa, but today, we have Ghana, Uganda, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon, and many other countries.

Also, Iran, which until recently, could not sell its oil to international buyers because of sanctions, is now flooding the market with about three million barrels per day after the sanctions were lifted a couple of weeks ago.

The United States, that used to be the largest buyer of foreign oil, has now developed its shale oil,

thereby relying less on other countries for its energy needs.

The future is also not looking brighter as China and India, the remaining top oil consumers, are now looking at producing theirs. China is hoping to find oil in commercial quantity in the disputed South China sea, which it is fighting for with five other South Asian countries. India is also looking at developing technology that will make it possible to extract oil from sea plants.

As a result of this, it is high time we focused on other sectors of the economy, which will bring in the needed foreign exchange.

Agriculture is one sector which can make us selfsufficient in food production. Food importation is one area that drains the country of its forex reserve, while also providing jobs for foreign farmers.

Buhari, mandate governors to conduct LG elections WE are in a democracy, and elected public officials must represent the people at all levels of government. While we have been able to cement democracy at the Federal and state levels, we have not been able to do so at the local government level because of the governors, who just appoint council chairmen.

Many governors in the country have deliberately stopped conducting local government elections in their states, and this is encouraging corruption in the system, as the governors manipulate the funds meant for the council areas through their stooges who are appointed as chairmen.

When the local government election is not conducted in a state, there will be no development because the chairman is not given the mandate by the people to serve them.

Here, the mandate is given by the governor, and the chairman must do his bidding. It has been revealed on several occasions that governors mis-

manage funds meant for the local government administration, and this will continue if the people do not have a say in who rules over them at the council level.

This is part of the poor leadership system we are always talking about in this country, and it is the bane of our political development.

I am happy that the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has said he would soon conduct the local government election.

The Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, had also made the same promise, and I hope the other governors will soon be mandated to conduct council elections.

I, therefore, want to charge President Muhammadu Buhari to order the state governors to conduct elections into their local government areas so that the people can truly have a say in who administers their affairs at that level.

•Jimoh Mumin, Akobo, Ibadan.

Also, making agriculture the mainstay of our economy will provide employment for our unemployed youths. Many people have been shouting that the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder because of the high rate of youth unemployment, but we can capitalise on this by mak-

ing more youths go into farming.

The government only needs to support these people financially to start their farming operations after they might have worked as apprentices at more established farms for a period of six months.

The particular areas we

can go into in farming include cocoa farming, poultry, cassava, piggery, honey bee, oil palm, rice, among others.

We must give ourselves target; that is, after meeting local demands for our produce, then we can start exporting. This means that we will be able to save for-

eign exchange by reducing our imports of agricultural produce, as well as making money by exporting.

•Dr Julius Eneh, Rayfields, Jos, Plateau State.

Giving children the necessary attention I recently went for a burial in my hometown in Akure, Ondo State.

The deceased was a very wealthy man, and while we were growing up, I was always envious of his children because they had everything. The family house was a two storey building and it was the best at that time.

I always wondered what my father did differently. My father, though not wealthy, was able to send us to good schools

with the little he had. We were four and he struggled for us. In the end, we all turned out well.

So I was in Nigeria during the festive period, and that was when the burial of our wealthy family friend was held. The first thing I noticed when I got to the deceased’s residence was how dilapidated the building was. The deceased was a really nice man while he was alive, but I think he devoted more time to his businesses than his children. Today,

his children had ruined all his businesses and he died a sad man.

I wouldn’t want to say my father was a perfect man, but with the little he had, he spent on us. He was always monitoring our moves, and even when I was at the Obafemi Awolowo University, he would visit unannounced.

Throughout my stay in Nigeria, I was just ruminating on how some people would neglect their family just because of being busy

with work.

The trip to Nigeria made me realise that taking care of one’s children should be one’s priority in life.

If everybody could make this a priority, then there will be a reduction in the crime rate in the country.

Our children are also our future and we should give them the necessary attention now.

•Dr Biyi Olawale, Maryland, USA. mailwesco@gmail.com

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editorial

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Pre-empting the Zika virus in Nigeria

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AST week, the Federal Ministry of Health responded to the outbreak of the mosquitotransmitted Zika virus which, according to the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), is “spreading explosively” in Central and South America and the Caribbean. In a statement released in prompt response to the outbreak, the Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, alerted the Nigerian public to the disease and specifically advised pregnant Nigerian women to avoid travelling to Latin America. In addition, the minister directed the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to incorporate testing for the Zika virus in its existing campaign to manage the Lassa fever outbreak which has reportedly spread across 12 states, killing 40 people.

With its prompt, commendable response, the Health Ministry is continuing the excellent work undertaken back in 2014 when a potentially disastrous Ebola epidemic was contained through a combination of information sharing, collaboration with civil society and stakeholders in the health industry, and general public mobilization. Although there is currently no known case of the Zika virus in the country, we believe that the Ministry of Health has acted responsibly in alerting the general public, and as events unfold globally, it must continue to revise its strategy whilst being careful not to create unnecessary alarm.

Indeed, nothing will, in our view, reassure the general public more than official information in which facts about the Zika virus are separated from myths. For instance, while mosquitoes are the vectors of the virus, not every species of mosquito is a carrier. Second, although the virus is widely associated with the increasing number of cases of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are

born with unusually small heads, neurological deficiencies and other genetic abnormalities, there is as yet no scientific proof that Zika actually causes microcephaly. Third, while the danger of the virus cannot be overestimated, it does not seem to be as lethal as Ebola. Fourth, there is as yet no vaccine against the Zika virus. Finally, while there are emerging reports suggesting that the virus could be spread through sex, officials of the World Health Organization and the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention agree that the possibility is quite slim.

What all this means is that there are many questions about the virus that the scientific community itself is still trying to find answers to.

In such a situation, caution is advised, and the Ministry of Health’s travel advice for pregnant women is right on the money. That said, the fact that the virus is transmitted through mosquitoes should cause government at all levels to pause for a moment. It is widely acknowledged that most urban centres across the country are dens of mosquitoes, particularly anopheles mosquitoes, which makes the prospect of the disease spreading to Nigeria scary indeed. A health emergency like the outbreak of the Zika virus is a reminder, yet again, of the poor living conditions in most of Nigeria’s major cities (Lagos, for example) and the precarious state of the country’s public health infrastructure.

It may be impossible, in the age of globalization and international travel, to completely prevent the spread of fatal viruses. However, having a robust health infrastructure definitely means that there is a better chance of coping with medical emergencies.

That is why, for the Ministry of Health, the issuance of a travel warning has to be just the first step.

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opinion

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju

I

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

had thought “eat alone, die alone” was a cast-iron, street-grown, fixed collocation but I knew better some years ago at a function of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). It was there I heard: “Eat alone, go away!”

I am not sure I joined others to laugh at that bullet declaration. I saw a lot of take-home in it and I look out for victims at every gathering of hawks. Even among the Yoruba where age is revered, once an elder is adjudged greedy and selfish, he carries his load home, on his own, alone!

Last year, May 10, after the presidential election, I wrote about the fall of the PDP and I decreed, like a prophet (or a pastor) that the party was over for that party. I said it was dead, never to rise again. Some diehard loyalists of the party (in my backyard) did not like it. That was your opinion, they said. I wrote about money being the poison that ate the heart, liver, kidneys, intestines (big and small) of the PDP. But some thought it could still be rescued. They thought the dead could be brought back to life even without removing it from the morgue. A lot has started happening. Imagine power struggle in a cemetery. That is what I see in the power show between the Gulak group, the governors and the undertakers (the (NWC). They are all killing this dodo, this Raphus cucullatus, bird of a flightless present. They are simply fighting over carrion which can only be food for the abnormal. Although there was a faint stutter in Rivers State after the Supreme Court judgement of last Wednesday, it will not change anything. The dead is dead. Undertakers are just chalking up the expenses, cutting off some, adding some new items. Rivers is just added as one of the burial parties. I swear.

Back to my last position. I feel like repeating myself, once again, if you don’t mind, especially in the light of all the offensive “gates” we are daily assailed with. I feel the gates of Dasuki or whoever, shouldn’t be strong enough to shut us out of accepting that we need to keep our eyes open so that the carcass of the dead horse won’t be served as suya in satisfaction of our salivating palate.

This is the position I took May last year. You may agree; you may not: If you were a government worker that has been denied salary for six months and you heard the Peoples Democratic Party’s Olisa Metuh last week reeling out how billions of naira were moved out, shared and spent for the party to continue managing your affairs, how would you have reacted?

And then, the raging fight over the spent billions in the PDP showed seriously how the mighty has fallen.

In all previous elections, PDP fought with everything, spent billions, won elections and there was no noise about any mon-

PDP: How to kill a corpse

ey badly spent or criminally unspent. We saw nothing. We heard nothing. But all that has changed. All sorts of crooked knives normally prove their sharpness the day an elephant falls. The elephant is down. I have a very strong feeling that the PDP is dead. If you are in doubt, check out its lot in all the states it had lost from 2003 till date. It died quickly everywhere it was not in power.

And the PDP was not a party of all warts. It had sterling achievements to its credit. At the federal and state levels - anywhere across the country - its most ardent critics would be unfair to deny it its due accolades in its areas of accomplishments. They are there. But the party allowed itself to be demonised. It was generally perceived as the demon in our forest and so it must die. Today, it is down.

The party is not like the wise that falls and struggles to rise again.

No. It is too full of a salad of greed and conceit to appreciate the strength in rising after any fall. In all the states where that party had had the misfortune of falling from power, self-pity, backstabbing, treachery and blatant self-destructive shenanigans have combined to slaughter it. Has anyone found out why and how the party lost the 2003, 2007, 2011 (and 2015) governorship elections in all states where it failed?

And why is it still out in those places?

In all the six zones, the stories oozing out of the PDP are too offensive to be suffered by any person of reasonable sensibility. I have heard stories of embezzlement of not just campaign funds but also of bags of rice. “Eating” of campaign funds is a recurring nausea the party can’t be healed of. And the culprits are not ordinary party members, they are persons it would call leaders.

When a party looks up to greedy, pilfering characters as leaders, it is good fortune for the society to be rid of it.

I told a friend the PDP was dead. He asked to be shown the grave and I said it had none; it was cremated. He looked at me with a wry smile. I told him a party that won’t play opposition cannot live a minute outside power. It is too enamoured with power and money to ever imagine itself out of it.

But it is out of it. And it may remain so.

Those who created the party in 1998 as a multi-purpose national platform (for whatever) killed it. They have proceeded to regale the APC with national acceptability.

Someone told me two years ago that by 2015, the PDP would be competing for regional space with APGA. That prophecy has come to pass. And this was a PDP that boasted it was going to rule Nigeria for 60 years. Even the mere fact that it set a life span for itself showed how enamoured with death it had always been. And the way it hated best practices at the height of its glory gave it up as a candidate for failure.

The misfortune of the PDP is the ill luck of the strongman whose strength intoxicates to the point of seeing himself as the ultimate champion in all contests. The party was so self-conscious that when its nemesis ( APC) was born and purpose-grown before its very eyes, it refused to see the end approaching.

That was last year. Now, with Dasukigate and all other gates you have seen and may still see, do you think anything has changed to make a shift in the above position necessary?

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, is the PDP’s last man standing. The only one having his vocal chord still working. But he was in Osogbo last week to meet his arch enemy, Rauf Aregbesola. They said the war was over! Which (what) war? Ask them. We do not have the details of the high wire trip...only speculations which are the tonic keeping politics alive...But I can decree again that with that meeting, the burial of the PDP is completed.

Beyond Fayose and everything around his trip to Osogbo, what has been the reaction of other members of the PDP to, especially, the Olisa Metuh case? Haven’t you heard elements whose grouse with Olisa wasn’t the (likely) criminality of the money he received but the fact that he did not share it with them? Aren’t they feeling (and saying) he ate alone and so, must go down?

Eating very conspicuously shamelessly is a cardinal sin in politics. Eating alone in politics is the ultimate sin. The penalty is “going away.” And “going away” could really mean anything. Never mind the fact of Wike’s victory last Wednesday. It won’t change anything. It was victory for Wike, and Wike alone. It wasn’t for the PDP. That is the culture; the truth...

Moral rearmament and the change mantra

By Ibikunle H. Tijani

THE ideology of change as a way forward in the “new” Nigeria is gaining ground, but with divergent perspective as it relates to its relevance, methodology, and effectiveness. The idea is not new in Nigeria if only we have a sense of history and apply it to our efforts as a nation to forge ahead. Change, though, is now synonymous with the current political party in power at the federal level and some states in the federation, it has always been a key position among the nationalists that championed the demise of the British Gullah. One of the prominent nationalists and later a statesman is late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who predicated the success of change on moral rearmament philosophy of what is right, rather than ‘I am right or holier than thou’! The change mantra during his time should not be predicated on hate, fear, and suspicion, rather, it should embrace faith and hope, and doing the right thing to move the nation forward.

The question then is what is right for Nigeria at this critical moment? Can Nigeria and Nigerians be redeemed from fear, hatred, political assassination, slandering, jobbery, and corruption? Yes, Nigeria and Nigerians can be free of these malice if a reorientation, re-education, change, and the sincerity to do what is right is predicated on moral rearmament philosophy of change from suspicion of one another, truths of absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness, and absolute love for the nation, not self. As the late Dr Azikiwe noted in November 14, 1949 at Caux, Switzerland, believing in

the ideology of moral rearmament would “flare out anew, and presage the dawn, not only of a new Nigeria, but of a new world in the making.”

To succeed in eradicating corruption in all its forms in Nigeria, we must realise the general discord, misery, corruption, and jobbery in all sections and sectors of the nation. From schools to the private sectors, from tertiary institutions to the the public sector, we have militant resistant to change, moral rearmament, and reorientation.

Despite the teaching of ethics in our primary schools, we still have pupils with the orientation of looking for money and being rich before completing their education by all means. The compulsory courses in Nigerian history and culture, and Entrepreneurship at the tertiary institutions that teaches a sense of applied history and skills development as tools to being self-sufficient seems to be futile as most undergraduates would rather pursue the wide road, but corrupt, to accomplishing their goal of a degree certificate. This crucial section of the nation is yet to be fully acclimatised by the change mantra or moral rearmament.

Students learn dirty politics among teachers and administrators rather than good virtue, love, and progress on most of our campuses.

Change or efforts at moral rearmament is still a facade because the individual has not changed. The individual must change in theory and practice for him/her to manifest change. We are still wolf to one another even when we are charged to combatting the nexus of corruption.

Accusations, criticisms, different viewpoints, etc should not be for self-glorification, rather, them must be for the

salvage of the nation and the right thing to do. This is the main goal of moral rearmament espoused almost a hundred years ago by Frank Buchman who made impressive heart winning among most of our founding fathers. If the principles of moral rearmament are infused into the change mantra, the change that the current government quest for will not be difficult, nor will it be in vain.

First, all Nigerians must embrace the idea that it is no use waiting for the other fellow to change; change must start with self. When you change, the other fellow will change and the multiplier effect will be outstanding. The general effect is infinite. However, initial multiplier effect and sustainability are based on sound ethical foundations. Whether we are Christians or Muslims, we must have courage to embrace change rooted in moral rearmament and reorientation of our psyche. Moral rearmament can augment the change we quest for if we embrace its doctrine of abnegation.

That is, being impersonal in whatever we intend to change to transform Nigeria. The ideology of change should infuse moral rearmament principle of what is right where absolute moral standards of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love of the nation pervades our everyday life.

•Professor Tijani, FHRS, is the deputy vice chancellor, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State. He can be reached via profoye@yahoo. com

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

tribune

business

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

We saw our economic growth plummet as spiraling inflation and unemployment worsened poverty in our land.

Notwithstanding the enormity of the challenges in those years, we successfully pulled through mainly, on account of the resilience.

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor

Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister

Nigerian economy

In search of solution to currency crisis, falling oil prices

By Chima Nwokoji - Lagos

T

HE Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held its first meeting for the year on January 25 and 26, 2016. Against consensus expectations that the committee would pronounce an adjustment to the naira exchange rate, the MPC left the rate unchanged at N197.00/US$1.00.

Two days after, this stance received full presidential backing as President Muhammadu Buhari last week Thursday, challenged proponents of devaluation to work much harder to convince him that “ordinary Nigerians will gain anything from it,” thereby rejecting devaluation.

Expectedly, a growing number of local and foreign financial analysts have thrown punches at this de-

cision based on certain economic principles, while a good number of economists and likely patriotic citizens have argued against devaluation of the Naira.

The question is, should a country’s currency be managed based on political considerations, peculiarities of the economy or classical and neoclassical economic principles?

Since last year, pressures in the forex market have persisted into the New Year as the spread between the official (N197.00/$1.00) and the parallel market rate (N304.00/$1.00) has further widened. The resolve of the CBN to maintain stability in the foreign exchange (FX) market by placing restrictions on imports, freezing liquidity in the interbank market and easing domestic condition to stimulate output growth have

been seen as a way of managing a currency (naira) in crisis.

Currency crisis Economists describe currency crisis as when, serious doubt exists as to whether a country’s central bank has sufficient foreign exchange reserves to maintain the country’s fixed exchange rate. The crisis is often accompanied by a speculative attack in the foreign exchange (forex) market.

A currency crisis according to a herd of economists results from chronic balance of payments deficits, and thus is also called a balance of payments crisis. Often such a crisis leads to a devaluation of the currency.

Analysts believe that based on the above description, Nigeria is already experiencing currency crisis. But, this is a fact certain au-

thorities do not want to admit.

CBN’s Director, Monetary Policy, Moses Tule, sharing his thoughts on the challenges being faced in the economy and why certain forex controls have been introduced, said “we are telling forex users that the forex we have now is restricted to key requirements of the economy. We are looking at financing of letters of credit. We are looking at the importation of raw materials. We are looking at the importation of petroleum products.

“We are looking at how to assist Nigerians pay the school fees of their children oversees.” Tule said these in television programme monitored by Nigerian Tribune.

He is concerned that despite reduction in foreign exchange earnings, Nigeria’s imports have been on the increase, stressing that as long as Nigeria is not producing and exporting to earn more foreign exchange the reserves which is already low, will get to a point where it will be exhausted.

This is why the apex bank stopped selling dollars to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, a decision that even widened the gap between official and paralel market rates.

Data from CBN showed that reserves have declined from $34.25 billion as at end-December, 2014 to $28.41 billion at end-December 2015 on account of oil price decline. “This explains why we

at the central bank embarked on demand management strategies to stabilise our forex markets because of the severe shock on our reserves accretion,” CBN’s Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr Joseph Nnanna, said last week.

Devaluation debate Falling prices of a certain commodity (most commodities are priced in the U.S. dollar) affect a nation’s currency if the commodity is one of its primary exports. Oil is Nigeria’s primary exports, little wonder naira is under pressure.

The U.S. dollar surged in 2015, strengthened by the long-expected interest rate hike by the federal reserve. At the same time, many central banks around the world weakened their own currencies, in part to stimulate export growth.

Talking about stimulating export, Nigeria has little or nothing to stimulate. So, if Nigeria devalues, import becomes costly.

This is where an Economist and principal partner at B. Adedipe Associates Limited, Dr. Biodun Adedipe stands.

At the Nigerian South African Chamber of Commerce (NSACC) monthly breakfast meeting held in Lagos, Adedipe said the ‘noise’ suggesting that the naira should be devalued is completely misplaced.

Adding that the problem lies essentially in the underlying goods and services being exchanged for the currencies, he said Nigeria produces almost nothing for export. He asks, “Where are the goods produced, and the accompanying jobs created?”

To him, the Nigerian economy is diversified by Gross Domestic Continues pg22

tribunebusiness ‘Nigeria will survive economic challenges’ 22

Monday, 1 February, 2016

ing through reforms and some level of belt tightening, adding that Nigeria cannot be an exception.

Agreeing that Nigeria has traveled this road before, Dr Joseph Nnanna recalls that when Nigeria experienced similar situation, the economy experienced twin deficits as budgets collapsed due to fiscal contraction and the balance of payments went into deficits as exports also declined.

“We saw our economic growth plummet as spiraling inflation and unemployment worsened poverty in our land. Notwithstanding the enormity of the challenges in those years, we successfully pulled through mainly, on account of the resilience of the Nigerian spirit and our resolve to learn the right lessons and chart a proactive course of action. Current challenges demands no less from us,” he advised.

Continues from pg21

Product (GDP) contribution. It however, is often said to be non-diversified as it is highly oil-dependent in foreign earnings and government revenue.

Records from CBN show that petroleum oil accounted for 97.28 per cent of the value of exports during 2000 to 2013 and 77.8 per cent of foreign earnings during 2001 to 2010, and 74.4 per cent of government revenue during 2000 to June 2014.

What is happening today according to him, happened in 2001 but the question is whether the country has leant any lesson.

Adedipe’s concern is that CBN is unlikely to withstand the persistent pressure to devalue, in view of silence by economic team, except the president.

This view is opposite to that of other financial analysts, including Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Bismarck Rewane, and Mr Jurgen Hecker, a Francebased financial expert and media trainer.

The duo have called on the CBN to devalue the naira as one of the likely responses to the realities in the global oil market.

They strongly believe that Nigeria must devalue its currency now that the required proportion of devaluation is still small and what it will cost the country will be manageable, because further delay will require even greater proportion and greater cost to the economy.

To Hecker, now that the price of oil is going down, it posses a problem in terms of current account deficit, and serous drop in revenue. As such, a devaluation would make the currency more realistic and might cause new industries to come up, because the issue of diversification would be taken serious so that the country could export more as its exports become - cheaper.

Specifically, Hecker said countries are gradually phasing out fixed exchange rate regime, because “ if you fix the rate, then you should have the means to defend it. But with globalization of the financial markets, nobody has that power any more.”

Hecker observed that based on how markets work, his perception from the outside was that Nigeria did not have the required foreign exchange reserves to continue to defend the naira.

“In other words, it has lost the battle. It would have been better not to start the fight in the first place. For you to have started, you should be certain that you will win. I see that defending the local currency is a traditional practice here. But I guarantee you that the market will continue to be toughened and toughened again, until there is not a single dollar left in the treasury. That is quite obvious,” the financial expert submitted.

In Rewane’s analogy, it is better to amputate a decaying leg when the tumor has not reached knee level than to delay and amputate the same leg when the tumor has crossed the knee.”And the worst is to get so confused that the wrong leg is mistakenly amputated,” the economist argued in favour of devaluation.

Reality of declining oil price Many stakeholders are worried that the decline in oil prices is already testing the 2016 budget assumptions.

Head of Research and Investment, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Ayodeji Ebo, said “falling oil prices which translates to reduced foreign exchange earnings as well as lower revenues for the government have stressed the Balance of Payment (BoP) position of the country as well as the assumptions under which the 2016 budget was

Nigerian Tribune

President Muhammadu Buhari drawn up.”

Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude price dropped from an average of $114/ per barel (bbl) in 2013 to $42.49 December 2, 2015 and $28.95 on January 2016. The above means that $13.54 per barrel has wiped out. In there outlook for 2016, these are the figures given by global rating agencies that predicted what oil price will cost: Goldman Sach ($20pb), Morgan Stanley ($22.50),Barclays($37), JP. Morgan ($31.50).

Some visible impacts A 2016 report by Afrinvest made available to the Nigerian Tribune showed that the resolve of the CBN to maintain the contrived stability in the FX market by placing restrictions on imports, freezing liquidity in the interbank market and easing domestic condition to stimulate output growth have not generated much result as Nigeria’s trade balance was negative in all but one month in 2015 (aggregate trade deficit was US$5.6bn

Real income is on the decline with rising inflation, rising unemployment rate, declining industrial production, slowing wholesale/retail trade and significant drop in capital importation.

in 2015 from a surplus of US$15.6 billion in 2014).

“Non-oil capital inflows have also dropped due to the high macroeconomic risks, thus external reserves has continued on a downward trajectory (declining 2.6 per cent year to date to a 10-year low of US$28.2 billion).

“Consumer prices have felt the pass-through of the lower exchange rate with inflation rate (9.6 per cent in December) above the CBN’s allowable band of 6.0-9.0 per cent,” the report stated.

Real income is on the decline with rising inflation, rising unemployment rate, declining industrial production, slowing wholesale/retail trade and significant drop in capital importation.

What to do Advising companies, Adedipe said making clear-cut choices about how to compete and be unique in the market is important.

“We all compete for space, resources and relevance, whether your organization is profit-seeking or not-for-profit, make also a clear definition of your strategy and business model. Ensure that how you do what you choose to do will translate into income and profit,” he said.

On how Individuals should respond he said “nothing remarkable happens until someone has paid the price for it. This now is the time for all the stakeholders of Nigeria to pay the price.”

To another stakeholder and former CBN Deputy Governor, Tunde Lemo, advises government to trim down its size. According to him, when oil price was high and there was free dollar, Nigeria had 36 state governments sharing the dollars. The country also has two chambers,but now that there is no free dollar, it is wise to take a second look at these.

To Moses Tule, every country affected by developments in the oil market is go-

Oil slump effect on some countries A slump in oil prices has hammered the national currency of some countries that are dependent on oil since last year.

Norway relies significantly on crude exports to finance its government. Meanwhile, the country’s currency krone, is down 17.48 per cent for the year against the U.S. dollar.

In 2015, a downturn in commodity prices and economic data pushed the New Zealand dollar down 12.21 per cent against the U.S. dollar. The poor fate of the New Zealand dollar can be attributed to a sharp decline in dairy prices.

In 2015, the currency of South Africa has declined by 32.31 per cent against the U.S. dollar thanks to declining commodity prices and exposure to slowing growth in the Chinese economy. South Africa is the most industrialized nation in Africa, but it relies on China as its top export destination. In November 2015, South Africa’s central bank raised interest rates to counter fears of inflation.

The Russian economy is heavily dependent on oil-and-gas exports, and these commodities account for more than 50 per cent of the nation’s social budget. Declining oiland-gas prices have pummeled the ruble.

The ruble is off 18.03 per cent against the greenback in 2015. Further challenges lie ahead for the Russian economy. The nation had prepared its 2016 budget with expectations of $50 per barrel prices.

The Canadian dollar slipped to an 11-year low in September 2015 as weakening oil prices weighed down the global commodity-producing nation. The Canadian dollar went down 19.49 per cent against the U.S. dollar in 2015. The currency’s downturn is linked directly to the fact that oil and related petroleum products are the country’s chief export.

In 2015, the Aussie dollar is off 11.01 per cent against the U.S. dollar. The Australian economy is another financial powerhouse that is heavily dependent on commodity exports. But unlike Canada, which relies heavily on petrochemical products, Australia’s economy is boosted by the exports of metals and agricultural products.

Falling oil and other commodity prices have dampened the Brazil’s long-term outlook. The nation’s currency, the real, is off 47.40 per cent against the U.S. dollar, and inflation is above 6 per cent on the year.

Brazil’s economy was once expected to evolve into one of the world’s most advanced and industrialized economies. But the nation’s continued reliance on resource development and a lack of political reform fueled conditions that produced a sharp economic downturn and falling national currency.

23

Monday, 1 February, 2016

+ entrepreneurship quote

If you want to reach a goal you must ‘see the reaching’ in your own mind before you actually arrive at your goal. – Zig Ziglar

10 ways to deal with failure

+

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Ruth Olurounbi

m:0811 695 4637 e:ruth.olurounbi@tribuneonlineng.com t:@Olurounbi

group

3 reasons why visualisation is important to you —P24

By Davina Ngei

I

don’t like failure, and I can assume that you don’t either.

Not only is failure painful and humiliating, it usually means that the return on our time, effort, and money is zero. Unfortunately, as much as we hate failure, it is guaranteed. In fact, the only way that you can avoid failure is if you do not push yourself in any way.

So what happens next? How can you prevail in times of failure? Well, the easiest answer is to learn from your mistakes. Each failure is a lesson for greatness, and an opportunity to inch closer to success.

When you fail it falls upon you to get back up. This is not easy, and sometimes you will need a helping hand.

That is why I have come up with ways to remain motivated after failure, so that you can get back up as soon as possible.

Take time to heal emotionally Failure is often heartbreaking, and you won’t get over it in a day. So if you have just lost out on a big idea, failed on your product launch, been fired by a big client, or filed for bankruptcy, know that you won’t feel bright and cheery for a while.

But until you get to the point that you are fully healed, I urge you to smile. Life is not easy and it cannot be controlled, but be happy with your small victories as you try and get up from a huge failure.

Remind yourself that there is no success without failure If you want to succeed at anything, you need to remind yourself that you will fail several times before getting to that point.

Keep this at the forefront of your mind each time you hit an obstacle or fail completely. And if you feel too afraid to experience the inevitable failures that accompany success, remember that the alternative is a lifetime of ‘what-if’s.’

Learn from your mistakes and use them to master your art Every time your mistake leads to failure, you have the unique opportunity to view your strategies and methods, and tweak them until you get your intended outcome.

So if your mistake was having too few

trained employees, next time ensure that you have a larger number of trained employees. Some of the best lessons you will learn as an entrepreneur will come from your failure, rather than your success.

Once you are comfortable making and accepting mistakes, then you will have

the ability to learn the skills that are vital to master your art.

The best thing that you can do each time you fail is to learn from your mistakes. If you screwed up don’t let that be your excuse to give up.

Continues on pg32

24

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Monday, 1 February, 2016

E k a a b o We l c o m e S a n u d a Z u w a

OGUN STATE WELCOMES MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria

CELEBRATING

40 PROJECTS 40 @

Indeed, Ogun State has come of age since the initial baby steps of 1976.

The pioneering and visionary leadership of thirteen past Governors and resourcefulness of the people have combined to position Ogun as a true frontier State in Nigeria.

Today, Ogun State is making another quantum leap in the areas of: Education with 7 Model Schools Health - 2 Modern Hospitals Agriculture/Industrialization-5 Farm Projects; 5 Shopping Malls/Workshops Housing - 4 Housing Estates Infrastructural Development - 10 Six-lane Roads; 7 Flyovers For this Landmark anniversary, Ogun State Government celebrates with the Inauguration of 40 Legacy Projects spread across its 3 senatorial districts.

His Excellency

Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON, FCA Governor, Ogun State

Muhammadu Buhari

GCFR

President, Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria

OGUN STATE: Proud Heritage...Promising Future

25

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tribunebusiness

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The moral burden of budget deficit financing by borrowing

By Wale Bolorunduro

E

very business has its own hazard. A banker or financier is always faced with moral hazard, which is amplified whenever he has to source debt to fund projects or budget deficit associated with public financing. The moral burden ranges from the purpose of the loan to the burden of repayment on the populace, especially the future generation of the country.

The minister of finance can source loan but how is he sure the utilisation will be towards programs or projects that will generate economic activities that can be ring fenced towards future payments of the loan.

He is not also sure that the projects will result into revenue earning assets, which will catalyse the economic growth or deliver jobs that will pull out substantial percentage of Nigerians out of poverty.

The exchequer is challenged seriously, when he does not have fiscal control or when the budget function of government is not under his control. A situation, we currently have, in which budget department is no longer under the federal ministry of finance.

This can lead to a long drawn debate because different model operates under different economic jurisdiction. However, this is not the sermon for the present write up. The issue will have to be elevated at another time for all Nigerians to see.

President Muhammud Buhari had presented the 2016 budget proposal of N6.08 trillion to the joint session of National Assembly with a plan to finance the deficit of N2.2 trillion by borrowing N1.84 trillion from domestic and foreign sources.

Our focus should be on the issue of functionality of the budget and how it can deliver the change highly desired by the Nigerians.

Specifically, the domestic borrowing will be N984 billion, while N900 billion will be from foreign sources.

The debate generated after the presentation of the budget is whether the budget is based on Keynesian theory or not. There was also an excitement about non oil source funding the budget irrespective of the fact that this source is just about 15 percent of the 2016 projected revenue.

Other topical issues generated are the level of capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure and the expenditures devoted to the running of government.

Other mundane budget rituals have dominated the academic and industry spaces, as well as the drink joints in the country.

Of late, the needless debates have shifted to disappearance of budget and reappearance of budget or the change of expenditure figures and other rituals without the change of budget baseline figure.

The budget disappearance argument does not help the country because it is mere procedural, which a good relationship between executives and legislators should be able to handle.

Our focus should be on the issue of functionality of the budget and how it can deliver

the change highly desired by the Nigerians.

It took the Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Christine Largarde to visit Nigeria and focus the debate. Despite being diplomatic, she elevated the budget issues to a 50 feet level above the ground, boom!! At the risk of being misconstrued as attention seeking, the issues need to be discussed by all Nigerians.

First, is the availability of such debt financing, its sources and sustainability. The argument is not whether the country has headroom to borrow or not because Nigeria has the capacity, when you compare the debt to GDP ratio of some countries such as Japan which is at 224 per cent, Italy at 128 per cent, USA at 107 per cent, France at 95 per cent, UK at 90per cent; South Africa at 44 per cent, india at 66 per cent; Brazil at 61 per cent; kenya at 50 percent ; Ghana at 68 percent. Nigeria is at 17 per cent, which means, there is still headroom for. Nigeria to raise additional debt financing and the basis for the optimism expressed by the people in charge of financing of 2016 budget.

The domestic borrowing of N884 billion will have to come from domestic capital Continues on pg27

27

tribunebusiness

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Govt’ll have to seriously market the debt instrument Continues from pg26

market and someone could easily assume that this may not pose much challenges provided that the monetary policies of CBN during the year create market stability and bond yield that are favourable for domestic investors.

However, it is doubtful this will attract foreign investors, who will rather wait for their naira devaluation expectation to be met first, before bringing in their funds. The giddiness of the foreign investors is underscored by their concern on the liquidity of the foreign exchange market, which among other factors has led to the delisting of nigeria bonds from the JP Morgan Emerging Market Index.

Therefore, the local investors will have to bail out the government, if it has to realise its plan to finance the deficit through domestic borrowing. The Nigeria banks are very liquid and with huge amount of cash and near cash amount on their balance sheet. The cash reserve positions of these banks will also support the domestic borrowing but the moral issue is that this route will “crowd out lending” to the private sector and it will perpetuate high cost of borrowing in the system.

The other major domestic investors are Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). As at October last year, the PFAs held N2.8 trillion in FGN bonds equivalent to about 56 per ccent of their assets under management (AUM) indicating the additional potential to snap more FGN bonds, when issued.

Also, last year, the Debt Management office (DMO) offered N858.220 billion bonds and ended up allotting N998.740billion, showing the high demand and patronage of government securities by domestic investors.

However, the current level of the existing FGN bonds and repayment could become a major constraint to the 2016 debt financing; for instance, the holders of the August 2016’s FGN bonds with a face value of about 560 billion Naira will have to be repaid this year.

The N900 billion or its $4.5 billion equivalent foreign borrowing is where “the rubber meets the road” considering the fact that the country could only issue 1Billion Euro Bond during its last sovereign bond outing despite the “better than now” foreign exchange earning capacity of its economy then, and the level of the cash reserve, then. Foreign investors will price these risks into the terms of the bond.

It will be interesting to see if the country can raise up to $2 billion or 1.5 billion euros under its foreign bond issuance program to finance 2016 budget deficit and also it will be interesting to know the borrowing terms.

The implication of such is that the nigerian corporates, who will subsequently approach the international bond market will take serious “whack” to attract monies under very steep terms.

Therefore, the country will have to look in the directions of the multilateral and bilateral development finance partners with favourable borrowing terms. This will take time for an economy that needs cash in the immediate and for optimal application of such funds to the sectors that deliver maximum positive impacts on GDP and that are capable of creating jobs. Where such sources are bilateral, the providers of funds, mostly insist on export backed credit, in which the foreign countries handle the projects and brings in materials, equipment and labour.

Such export credit facility does not deliver maximally on job creation to the borrower.

The transparency and competitiveness of the procurement processes are also hin-

Udo Udoma, Budget and Planning Minister dered, a possible reputational risks for a government that wears the “anti corruption toga”. Unless, there are existing pipelines of such funding, the sheer size of $4.5 billion will be gruesome and almost impossible to raise or access from the international debt market. The government needs to start building the network of supports and begin to come up with deal “sweetener” to boost the debt issuance program and to improve the credit worthiness of the country. The sweetener will be in addition to the debt service reserve account created by the previous minister of finance and may have to come at a price.

Second, the debt servicing of such borrowing will have to be considered with its long term sustainability. A situation, where the people will wake up one day and say “Oh God, how did we get here” should be avoided. Already, there is a provision of about N1.4 trillion in 2016 budget to fund debt service reserve account and for the payment of the obligations that will fall due

The country will have to look in the directions of the multilateral and bilateral development finance partners with favourable borrowing terms

this year. This is huge, when you compare the percentage to the total revenue of 2016 budget, it is about 25 per cent. It is currently greater than the non oil revenue, which is about N820 billion. It means our debt service coverage ratio based on non oil revenue is less than 1.0 (<1.0x) and if the ratio is adjusted for free cash, it could be less than 0.75x. It means if oil dries up or becomes $20 per barrel, we may have challenges servicing our debt without crowding out the critical and mandatory expenditures of government.

The debt to GDP ratio, could be favourable but the revenue to GDP ratio of Nigeria is one of the least in the world. It is the non-oil revenue to GDP ratio of the nation that matters specifically, the revenue accruing to the government from the internal economic activities of the country. Currently, the non oil revenue to GDP ratio of about one per cent is way below the average for the countries in our peer group.

Our fiscal strategy on medium to long term must address this revenue penetration ratio and other salient issues. The investors or creditors will like to see these and no matter how complex they may be, the government official must explain in simple and clear terms to Nigerians in a manner that will make sense to the generality. As Jega has observed during the presentation of the keynote address of the celebration of Biodun Jeyifo’s 70th birthday, “we should constantly strive to meet the challenge of understanding matters in their complex dimensions and then present them in simple terms for others not as professionally trained, or intellectually endowed as ourselves, to comprehend. Simple folks need to understand even complex matters in simplified terms amenable to easy comprehension. It must be one of the required roles of radical intellectuals to endeavor to make this happen (2016)”.

Nigeria and the international supporters will need to see and understand the Debt

sustainability plan backing up the budget deficit financing. Government will need to explain the impact of the borrowing on the long term basis and the projected improvement to the fiscal position of the country.

Third, the issue of the cost of borrowing will also need to be addressed. It is expected that the cost of borrowing will be high considering the current US Government plan to exit the quantitative easing regime and the attending increase in interest rates. Our economy has also lost the foreign exchange earning capacity as a result of the dwindling price of crude oil in the international market and the current accretion of our foreign reserve by our uncontrolled appetite for importation, while dollar inflow dwindles too.

Government will have to market the debt instrument seriously and think of additional incentives to the investors.

Fourth, it will be interesting to see if our fiscal controls are in place and if they are effective to block loopholes in revenues. President Mohammed Buhari stance on corruption is apt at this time and we are blessed as a nation to have him at this crucial moment.

The challenges here are that the independent sources of revenues from corporations such as NCC, NPA, NIMASA, etc are backed by laws that make their substantial revenues to be “retainable”, while only operating surpluses are transferred into federation accounts in many cases. Only Supreme Court can pronounce those laws as “unconstitutional” and make their entire revenues payable to the federation accounts.

There is urgent need to address this issue.

Fiscal control should go beyond blockage of revenues to expenditure control. The cost of governance (personnel, overhead, pensions) must be controlled in such a way as to allow minimal “slack” in the expenditure. Our capital expenditures should be carefully plan to target real sector with maximum response on growth. The priority should be given to capital expenditures, which generates local jobs and the desired local production with minimal capital or foreign exchange outflow.

The procurement processes across the agencies of government should be transparent, fair and deliver value for monies. The moral hazard under debt financing is that the managers of the economy will have to ensure that the projects and programs financed by debt generate economic activities that can be ring fenced into the revenue base and that the projects are fully implemented to become assets with earning capacities. Pundits have always argued that the debt financing should be projects specific to fast track the infrastructural development of the nation.

The argument against total infrastructure development is that it consumes foreign exchange reserves and it takes time to complete, especially in a country, where the iron/steel industry is yet to be developed and with high cost of cement regime. Nigeria as a prodigal child has missed the opportunities of building its infrastructures and developing its steel industry, when it had huge foreign reserve.

Therefore, in choosing the infrastructure to develop, the priority should be given to the fundamental ones that will support the real sector, which is capable of generating growth. The managers of the economy will carry the moral burden for the rest of their lives, if the debt financing does not deliver economic activities that lead to increase in revenue and economic growth to sustain the debt and its servicing on long term basis.

•Bolorunduro, PhD, is a former Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget in Osun State.

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

moneymarket

Stamp duty: More banks give notice, as FG targets N66.1bn

T

HE number of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) serving notices to customers that they have activated the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive on the imposition of N50 stamp duty charge on some payments is increasing.

Joining a few other banks in compliance, the United Bank for Africa in a notice to a customer last week said it commenced the collection from January15, meaning there will be some back charges on customers’ accounts.

A charge of N50 will be slammed on electronic transfers and teller deposits from N1,000 and above.

Nigerian Tribune checks confirms that the Federal Government is targeting an additional N66.1 billion revenue this year from stamp duty of N50 on bank customers for money received into their accounts.

The 2016, 2017, 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper as captured in the 2016 Budget under the non-oil revenue section, shows that the Federal Government projects to make N66.1bil-

Godwin Emefiele , CBN governor

the stamp duty is only payable by receiving accounts, while those exempted include payment deposits or transfers by self to self whether inter or intra bank. Also exempted are withCBN Rates as at 1/7/2016 drawals or transfers Currency Buying Central Selling (NGN) from saving ac(NGN) counts.

US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 However, the NiPOUNDS STERLING 285.9861 286.7138 286.7138 geria Employers EURO 212.8364 213.3794 213.9223 Consultative AsSWISS FRANC 195.7651 196.2645 196.7639 sociation (NECA), YEN 1.6681 1.6723 1.6766 insists that chargCFA 0.3056 0.3156 0.3256 ing N50 per eligible WAUA 270.7026 271.3931 272.0837 transaction in accordance with the YUAN/RENMINBI 29.7953 29.8716 29.8716 provisions of the RIYAL 52.1762 52.3093 52.4424 Stamp Duties Act DANISH KRONA 28.5989 28.6716 28.6716 and Federal GovSDR 271.3228 272.015 272.7071 ernment Financial FGN Bonds CBN Bills Regulations (2009), Date of Auction 5/15/2003 Date of Auction 5/15/2013 would not only Security Type CBN Certificate Security Type CBN Certificate worsen the poverty Tenor 91 Tenor 3 Year level in the counMaturing On 91 Maturing On 91 11/13/2003 180 try, it would also, 11/13/2003 180 2/20/2003 180 2/20/2003 180 increase the burden 180 11/21/2002 180 11/21/2002 on firms.

9/19/2002 86.81 9/19/2002 Calling for its re82227 Amount Offered (N 82227 Amount Offered (N mn) mn) versal in a stateSubscriptions (N mn) 37767 Subscriptions (N 37767 mn) ment, NECA argues Tot. Successful (N 9.0000 - 15.5400 Tot. Successful (N that the power to admn) mn) 17019 Net Sales (N mn) 17019 Net Sales (N mn) minister the Stamp Range of Bid Rates 50000 Range of Bid Rates 11 Duties Act is within Successful Bid Successful Bid Rates Rates the purview of the Marginal Rate 0 Marginal Rate 0 Commissioner for True Yield True Yield Stamps as provided for in Section 6 of NITTY NIBBOR the Act, and not NiTenor Rate (%) Tenor Rate (%) Change (%) 1M 3.1188 0.31 ▲ geria Postal Service, -0.17 ▼ O/N 0.8817 2M 3.1269 0.17 ▲ NIPOST or CBN and 3M 4.5403 0.02 ▲ 1M 7.9286 -0.39 ▼ that the Act did not 6M 7.0935 0.18 ▲ 3M 9.1406 -0.39 ▼ make the affixing of 8.1447 -0.30 ▼ 9M postage stamp man6M 10.4241 -0.56 ▼ 12M 9.6088 -0.69 ▼ datory, neither did Yield change NIFEX the Act specify the Offer Change Spot($/N) Bid 28-Apr-16 4.43 4.47 0.00 3.93 3.96 0.00 (%) 28-Jul-16 6.97 7.22 0.57 6.47 6.68 0.56 value to be a N50 0.00 ↔ 199.0000 199.1000 19-Jan-17 8.29 8.29 -0.42 7.79 8.43 -0 postage stamp. lion from stamp duty alone.

It also projects that the revenue would grow to N71.8 billion in 2017 and to N78.5billion in 2018.

Meanwhile, UBA clarified that

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Chima Nwokoji

m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

weeklyreview Money Market Financial System liquidity opened at a high of N626.3billion last week Monday due to the CBN foreign exchange (FX) intervention auction refund of N126.7billion last Friday. This led to a moderation in Open Buy Back (OBB) and Overnight (O/N) rates on the first trading day of the week to 0.7 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively. However, due to provisions made by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on Wednesday ahead of another FX auction, naira liquidity (N131.2bn) was sapped in the financial system, causing money market rates to rise to record highs of 8.7 per cent (OBB) and 9.3 per cent (O/N).

According to Afrinvest, Net inflows into the system on Thursday stemming from maturing Open Market Operation (OMO) bills worth N331.0billion and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation of N186.0billion raised system liquidity on Thursday, as OBB and O/N rates crashed to 0.8 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively while average Nigeria Interbank Offered.

Rate (NIBOR) settled at 7.5 per cent from 10.2 per cent recorded on Wednesday. Dealers said despite the need of the CBN to spur real sector lending in the economy through increased liquidity, its continuous OMO mop-ups have signalled the opposite as the Apex bank further mopped up N131.5billion on Friday.

Nevertheless, rates remained at low level with the OBB, O/N and average NIBOR closing at 0.8per cent, 1.2 per cent and 7.1 per cent from 3.3per cent, 3.7 per cent and 8.8 per cent respectively.

Consequent on the reduced market liquidity, Treasury Bills (T-Bills) market was generally bearish last week. After closing at an average of 5.7 per cent on Monday, rates in the Treasury Bills (T-Bills) market trended higher on most trading days to settle at the week’s high of 6.0 per cent by Thursday.

Foreign Exchange Review and Outlook The changes and illiquidity level that characterize the foreign exchange market continued last week. The first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting was held during the week and against consensus expectations that the Committee would pronounce an adjustment to the naira exchange rate, the MPC left the rate unchanged at N197.00/US$1.00.

Given that an adjustment would have helped improve confidence of foreign investors in the Nigerian market as increasing capital inflows and forex liquidity aid cushion the declining external reserves, the unwavering stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) led to an increase in bureau De Change (BDC) rate to N300 (relative to N297.00/US$1.00 before the meeting) although the interbank rate was unchanged at N199.7/US$1.00.

Whilst there are compelling arguments for a devaluation of the local currency given the plethora of issues pressuring domestic macroeconomic stability, it appears there is no near term respite in sight as the CBN remains unflinching in its refusal to devalue.

This is further compounded by statements credited to fiscal policy officials, suggesting there would not be a devaluation (undermining the independence of the CBN).

In the interim, dealers from Afrinvest West Africa observe that the pressure will likely persist this week as market players continue to exploit the arbitraging opportunities in the spread between the interbank and the BDC rates.

Bond Market Review and Outlook There was slightly low level of activity on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) bonds market last week; as average yields rose across all but one benchmark bonds, inching 7 basis points (bps) higher to close at 10.8 per cent.

Afrinvest analysts attributed the marginal increase in yields to retention of monetary policy rates at the last MPC meeting which held during the week. After settling at the week’s high of 10.9 per cent on Monday, average yields fell to a week low of 10.7 per cent on Thursday possibly due to buying interest from pension fund administrators (PFAs).

A closer review of the FGN bond yield curve during the week indicated sell-pressure was higher on shorter term instruments as the benchmark APR 2017 rose 30bps week on week (W-o-W) while the JUL 2017 and AUG 2017 non-benchmark bonds rose 28bps apiece.

Nevertheless, traders expect a bullish open this week. They also expect month end positioning by PFAs as well naira refund of unmet demand at the FX intervention auction to bolster buy sentiment of sovereign bonds.

Nevertheless, dealers from Afrinvest noted, “we are of the view that buying interests would remain tapered by monetary policy instability and medium-term expectation of a tighter monetary policy.”

29

Monday, 1 February, 2016

capitalmarket

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

m:08057336640 e:kehinde_07@yahoo.com

Financial service industry increases equity by 0.38% Stories by Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba-Lagos

T

rading on equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), last week closed on a positive note as the financial service industry deposited N5.5 billion increasing overall equity turnover by 0.38 per cent.

The NSE All-Share Index and market capitalisation appreciated by 0.38 per cent to close the week at 23,916.15 basis points and N8.225 trillion, respectively in contrast to 23,826.50 basis points and N8.202 trillion of the preceding week.

Similarly, all other Indices finished higher during the week, with the exception of the NSE Insurance Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index that declined by 1.60 per cent, 0.44 per cent and 1.47 per cent respectively, while NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

A turnover of 1.133 billion shares worth N9.463 billion in 16,680 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This was in contrast to a total of 2.177 billion shares valued at N10.753 billion that exchanged hands in the preceding week in 21,471 deals. The financial services industry led the activity chart, measured by volume, with 954.328 million shares valued at N5.533 billion traded in 9,797 deals; thus contributing 84.23 per cent and 58.47 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The conglomerates Industry fol-

Forte Oil proposes N3.45k dividend, posts N5.8bn profit

The Board of Director of Forte Oil has announced that it has approved a dividend payment of N3.45 kobo per share to its eligible shareholders, as it post N5.79 billion profit after tax deduction.

Forte Oil, in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said at the Board of Directors’ meeting held on Thursday, January 28, a resolution was made of the payment of N3.45 kobo dividend per share, which was subject to the approval of shareholders and appropriate withholding tax deduction.

According to the notice jointly signed by the Chairman, Femi Otedola and General Counsel/ Chief Compliance Officer, Akinleye Olagbende, on behalf of Forte Oil, the approved dividend payment would apply to the bonus shares to be issued to its shareholders.

The company, in its audited 2015 financial statements and accounts, approved by its board members, posted a 30 per cent increase in its profit after tax for the year ended December 2015 against N4.5 billion recorded in 2014.

However, revenue dropped by 26.8 per cent from N170.1 billion of 2014 to N124.6 billion in the end of December, 2015.

Basic earnings per share of Forte Oil for 2015 stood at N4.11 kobo, an increase of 86.8 per cent compared to N2.20 kobo of 2014.

lowed with 71.954 million shares worth N248.280 million in 926 deals, while the third place was occupied by the consumer Goods industry with a turnover of 41.964 million shares worth N2.180 billion in 2,999 deals.

Zenith International Bank Plc, United

Bank for Africa Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. led the top traded equities, measured by volume accounted for 429.024 million shares worth N4.278 billion in 4,658 deals, thus contributing 37.87 per cent and 45.21 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

38 equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 33 equities of the previous week. 29 equities depreciated in price, lower than 32 equities of the previous week, while 123 equities remained unchanged, lower than 125 equities recorded in the previous week.

Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (left) and Mr Patrick Ilodianya, Managing Director, Skye Shelter Fund Plc at the Closing Gong Ceremony at the exchange, recently.

Shareholders urge FG’s intervention in capital market Shareholders has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the nation’s capital market by providing share loans to the tune of N500 billion.

Shareholders under the aegis of Renaissance Shareholder Association of Nigeria made the appeal during its first quarterly meeting held last week.

The president of the association, Ambassador Timothy Olufemi, while briefing the Nigerian Tribune on the outcome of the meeting during the weekend, said the stock market was presently not liquid as it had lost a huge sum of five trillion naira in the past seven year thus the dire need of the Federal Government’s intervention.

He explained that to boost the confidence of local investors, the country’s capital market need long term investment, noting that if the FG could intervene through share purchase loan to the tune of N500 billion for the next 10 years the market would be secure.

“You need to intervene through the players. Not that you give money to the operators, but go to the players; that is those who own the market. Intervene through the investors who are going to put in the money. Give them access to loans so that they will be able to come to the market.

“We need long term investment. If the FG can intervene through share purchase loan as we suggested, the money will be there for at least 10 years, nobody will be able to sell those shares for the next 10 years so that the market won’t be in trouble again for the next 10 years,” Olufemi said.

He however noted that the interest rate of

such loan should not exceed a digit number, saying that the Federal Government should help the economy by promoting the capital market through local participation.

According to him, there was the need to bring back local investors’ confidence as foreign participation wouldn’t promote the nation’s capital market.

Seplat projects 23% cut in revenue Seplat Petroleum Development Co. has projected a revenue drop of at least 23 per cent for year 2015 due to tumbling oil prices, saying it remained focused on controlling costs in the lower oil price environment.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria-listed companies said in a trading update that it expected to report a second consecutive annual drop in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015, of between $550 million to $600 million. This compared with revenue of $775 million in the same period in year 2014.

Revenue of the company fell despite net production rising to 43,372 barrels of oil equivalent a day, up 41 per cent on the

year and ahead of guidance.

The company said it was currently operating at around 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day with strong production rates in both oil and gas.

“Production strength, with past investment strategies translating into the up -tick in output, provides some cushion to lower oil pricing and our gas business takes on additional importance by providing a revenue stream that is de-linked to the oil price,” Chief Executive Officer, Austin Avuru said.

He added that “with a growing consensus that low oil prices are set to remain for at least the near term, we remain focused on what is in our control and steps we can take to maximise profitability.”

Stock of the week CADBURY Nigeria Plc made the top gainer of the week as it’s share value appreciated by 36.79 per cent amidst sell offs.

The company closed trade on Friday at N19 against N13.89 kobo it traded at the beginning of the week, adding N11.36 kobo to its share value, having as it traded 428,359 shares worth N16.179 million in nine deals within the week.

As of Friday, January 29, 2016, market capitalisation of Cadbury Nigeria Plc stood at N35.7 billion.

30

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

labour NLC holds stakeholders’ forum, NEC meeting over critical national issues SOJI-EZE FAGBEMI, who attended the stakeholders forum and crucial National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held in Lagos, reports on the outcome of the meeting and critical decisions taken by the congress to confront major national issues.

T

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its President, Ayuba Wabba, converged on Lagos to take a position on major national issues confronting the workers and Nigerians in general. The twin-event, which took place at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, was to mobilise and sensitise the members and marshal a plan to effectively react and confront the issues.

First was the stakeholders’ forum on fuel subsidy and petrol pricing, which Comrade Wabba said was targeted on how to intervene in the regulation of petroleum prices.

The stakeholders’ forum preceded the NEC meeting.

In his opening remarks, the NLC president said as an organisation that has stood to represent the masses, the congress should not continue to fold its arms on some of the policy pronouncements of the government.

Wabba regretted that some of the gains made in the past have gradually being deluded, adding that “as a movement, as a people, we stand in the gap to represent Nigerians, so we should continue to engage the process, and we can only do that on the bases of creditable information. We have put this section together to sharpen our skills and also prepare us effectively to respond.”

He listed fuel subsidy, workers’ retrenchment, non-payment of salaries, increase electricity tariff and anti-labour practices in Imo State, as those issues that are strategic for the session to look at in the best interest of the country.

The congress after the sessions, took a critical position on the issues in contention, where Wabba assured that Nigerians will begin to see radical changes from the organised labour in response to government’s major policies.

On the issue of fuel subsidy removal, the congress observed that in spite of government’s promise to Nigerians that it would not remove subsidy on petroleum products, government is attempting to remove subsidy through the back doors in the form of price modulation.

The congress, therefore rejected attempts to remove subsidy on petroleum product, noting that it is illegal and unjustifiable as due process was not followed. It stated that subsidy removal will not add any value to the economy, but rather, it will create more hardship for Nigerians, especially the poor and the weak.

Accordingly, the congress resolved that all moneys recovered from looters of na-

Wabba tional treasury should be invested in building new refineries and revamping the existing ones, while refineries must be made to work to optimal capacity in order to meet local need.

It also warned that Nigerians should not be made to suffer for the sins of those who mismanage the economy by way of imposing higher prices through subsidy withdrawal and other anti-people policies.

Most importantly, the NLC resolved to embark on an immediate programme of sensitisation and mobilisation of Nigerians across the country for a better Nigeria; work with and engage in struggle in partnership with all the stakeholders, particularly the Civil Society allies.

Congress is worried that governors are singling out workers for punishment in the circumstance of economic downturn, while it is rewarding political appointees.

Wabba, who read a communique issued after the meeting said the congress will henceforth commence the process of strategic sensitisation and advocacy through the publication of the papers presented at the stakeholders meeting on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

Speaking on the issue of electricity tariff, the NLC described as “illegal, unfair, unjustifiable and a further exploitation of the already exploited Nigerians, the 45 per cent increase in electricity.”

The congress expressed its strong and unalloyed support for government’s war on corruption. Corruption, according to Comrade Wabba is not just a national malaise that afflicts virtually every fabric of our national life, it has all but crippled the nation and accordingly requires a national action.

Congress observed that the list of the corrupt as expressed in the $2.1 arms contract scandal underscores the extent of the rot in the system. Congress notes that this could just be the tip of the iceberg. Accordingly, congress resolved that those on the list of $2.1 billion scandal should apologise to Nigerians for their shameful act.

“In spite of the fact that corruption is fighting back, government should explore all lawful means to ensure that the looted funds are recovered and the culprits prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

The congress also resolved that government should beam its searchlight on other sectors of the economy such as road contracts, with a view to recovering every kobo not accounted, while it also called on state governments and local governments to join

the war on corruption.

It equally resolved that corruption laws should be strengthened and corruption cases speedily dispensed with, as is the case with election petition cases.

The congress noted that a combination of the after-effect of years of fiscal indiscipline, mismanagement of resources, unacceptable electioneering spending, corruption, policy reversals, unproductive borrowing, falling crude oil prices and serious issues of internal security has dealt a blow to the economy.

Comrade Wabba said in the face of inflation, the collapse of naira, and being an import-dependent country, the implications for the ordinary Nigerian are enormous. He noted that the cost of living has risen, while the purchasing power has dropped and jobs are being lost.

The congress observed that in most states, salaries and pensions are not being paid regularly in spite of the well-thought-out bail-out fund program by the Federal Government. This, according to Wabba, has thrown workers and their families into great hardship and embarrassment.

Congress noted that as a response to this economic downturn, the IMF, World Bank and neo-liberal Economists are putting pressure on the government to further devalue the naira, as well as raise the VAT; while governors and some private-sector employers on their part are considering mass retrenchment with Imo State leading the negative way.

“Congress believes that neither non-payment of salaries nor mass retrenchment is an acceptable option in the circumstance.

Congress holds the view that at difficult moments like this, reflationary measures should be adopted to empower workers and stimulate the economy.

“Congress is worried that governors are singling out workers for punishment in the circumstance of economic downturn, while it is rewarding political appointees even when the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission has declared such payments as illegal,” the NLC president added.

He urged governors and private sector employers to toe the path of honour and not retrench workers. He also advised them to do all that is necessary to pay salaries and pensions regularly; and warned that non-payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities will be catastrophic not just for workers and their families, but the entire country.

The congress, therefore, resolved that any state governor who violates the sacred duty of regular payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions will incur the wrath of workers.

It also resolved to mobilise to any state that retrenches workers because workers should not be made the scape goats of the downturn in the economy. It regretted that the benefits of political employees are not touched, but are paid regularly huge sums that are not even approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

31

Monday, 1 February, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

New constitution: How feasible this time?

N

IGERIA is often ranked among the most ethnically heterogeneous countries in the world.

In fact, it occupies the 18th position coming after India, the largest democracy in the world. While the United States comes third, all the countries that make the top 10 are on the African continent.

As a matter of fact, in Africa, Nigeria ranks 17th in the list of countries rated by ethnic and cultural diversity, with Papau New Guinea leading the pack, followed by Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, Cameroun, Togo, South Africa, Republic of Congo and Madagascar. Another strand or denominator that seems to bind those countries is that they operate the federal system of government. It is only in a few instances that there is a variant of the monarchical arrangement, especially in Papau New Guinea.

In effect, many of them run a federal system of government, an arrangement in which there is a clear demarcation of power between a strong national government and constituent states. According to experts, the system is most suitable for the countries given their ethnic diversity. Whereas India and Switzerland, Canada and even Madagascar have been able to achieve relative political stability through the mechanism, Nigeria has been battling with returning to the path of an appropriate constitutional framework to propel it to a nationstate. Thus, more than 16 years after the country restored civil rule, the subservience of states to the centre remains. This is spite of three attempts made to review or amend the military-midwived 1999 Constitution, tailoring it towards the fundamentals of federalism.

Under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration from

KOLAWOLE DANIEL writes on the renewed move by the National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution as amended 1999 to 2007, a whooping sum of N40 billion was expended in the enterprise of evolving the kind of constitution that the Nigerian people deserve. Another humongous figure went into a similar project in the life of the Eighth National Assembly, only for the final report to be put in abeyance.

Perhaps, the most far-reaching and pragmatic effort was witnessed during the life of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. But the dualpronged move only ended in a stalemate as the report of the National Conference organised by his administration has been in abeyance after his exit from power in May 29, 2015. Similarly, the report of the Joint Committee of the National Assembly submitted to the President was mired in a major controversy.

Apparently, the country seems back to the strating block on the issue of evolving the kind of constitution that could best address the diversity and heterogeneity of the country. Both the Senate nd the House of Representatives have initiated fresh moves towards retooling the 1999 Constitution to address the grey areas, which many stakeholders in the Nigerian project claim constitute an albatross for the country in its quest to make meaningful progress. Many have raised concern about the latest effort by the lawmakers, in view of the futility that trailed previous exercises that gulped huge resources that could have been channelled into other

critical sectors. Others have wondered why efforts at amending or reviewing the constitution should become a vicious circle under every federal administration, except Umaru Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aduaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, since 1999, as those contentious issues that the exercise was designed to address are increasingly becoming stubborn growths. There are others who believe that the whole exercise was more of an ego trip by the political elite, as many of them see the existing political structure as highly beneficial to their aspirations, as opposed to the collective will and wish of the stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

Somehow, the Speaker of the House, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, attempted to address some of those teasers when he inaugurated a special 50-member ad hoc committee on the review of 1999 Constitution.

He specifically urged the members of the committee not to begin a fresh process but to continue from where the 7th Assembly stopped in order to save cost.

The chairman of the committee is the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun. It also consists of all the nine principal officers of the House with one member each from the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as special representatives for women. Dogara listed the major assignment Continues on pg32

32

politics&policy

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Back to the starting Block?

Continued from pg31

of the committee to include working on the 4th Alteration Bill started by the 7th Assembly; processing all other proposals for further alteration of the Constitution, as may be necessary on behalf of the House, or as referred to it by the House.

He said: “We must avoid the temptation of starting afresh. A lot of public funds were spent in processing the botched 4th Alteration Bill and we think that it would be a disservice to this country if the work of the 7th Assembly on this matter is completely jettisoned. The House of Representatives, in particular, consulted the Nigerian people widely, leading to the Peoples’ Public Sessions that took place in 360 federal constituencies of Nigeria, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders.”

Earlier, the deputy Speaker, Honourable Lasun Yusuff, who was represented by the House Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, charged the committee members to ensure that they amended all the areas of the 1999 Constitution that have hindered the effective and efficient governance at its various levels.

Aside the deputy Speaker and the Minority Leader, other members of the committee are Ado Garba Alhassan, Umar Buba Jibril, Pally Iriase, Leo Ogor, Umar Barde Yakubu, Chukwuka Wilfred Onyema, Binta Bello, Sunday Karimi, Funke Adedoyin, Zephaniah Jisallo, Gyang Istifanus Dung, Abubakar Chika and Emma Udende.

Others are J. G. Gaza, Sani M. Abdu, Aisha Jibir Dukku, Zakari Y. Galadima,.

Mohammed Nur Sheriff, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rimande Kwewum Shewulu, Alhassan Bala Abubakar, Abubakar Hussaini Moriki, Sunday Marshall Katung, Rabiu Garba Kaugama, Hon. Mohammed Ali Wudil, Hon. Adullahi Umar Faruk, Hon. Murtala Isah, Nkem Uzoma Abonta, Eucharia Azodo, Nwazunkwu Chukwuma, Kingsley Ebenyi, Jerry Alagbaoso, Diri Douye and Henry Okon Archibong.

Also on the list are: Bassey Eko Ewa, Daniel Reyenieju, Nnam Obi Uchechukwu, Akpatason Peter Ohiozojeh, Babajimi Benson, Yinka Ajayi, Isiaka Ayotunre Ibrahim, Kehinde Agboola, Olemija Stephen, Segun Ogunwuyi, Asabe Vilita Bashir, Onyemaechi Joan Mrakpor and Stella Ngwu.

Meanwhile, Honourable Lasun has expressed the panel’s readiness to accommodate any issue that comes up while the exercise lasts. Lasun explained that it had become imperative to give the executive good laws that would help it to carry out the duties of good governance through the amendment of all obsolete laws in the constitution.

2014 Confab report The fresh move by the National Assembly is coming amidst a sustained clamour by some individuals and interest groups for the implementation of the 2014 Confab report. They are convinced that those opposed to the document do not mean well for the country, as the report contains far-reaching recommendations that were arrived at through unanimity among the more than 400 delegates drawn from across the ethnic groups, geopolitical zones and key stakeholders in the country. They believe that the 2014 conference was unique in so many ways, one of which was the fact that the delegates took cognizance of the reports of similar conferences in the past, as well as the constitutions that

the country had operated before now.

Nonetheless, some forces have remained opposed to the implementation of the Confab report. Ironically, some prominent members of such groups were delegates who played most visible and key roles that culminated in unanimous decisions reached on the knotty issues that almost created a stalemate during the conference. Some Northern leaders under the aegis of Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF) and led by a former member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Kumalia, said it would be wrong to implement the report of the conference. Instead, the northern leaders, who are mostly former political office holders, advocated a fresh conference that would take into cognisance the challenges facing them and proffer solutions to them.

The confab that lasted for five months had the backing of many groups and individuals, and advocated a restructuring of the nation. It exhaustively debated critical isles as devolution of power, political restructuring and forms of government, national security, environment; politics and governance, law, judiciary, human rights and legal reform. Others include social welfare, transportation, agriculture, society, labour and sports, public service, electoral matters, foreign policy and diaspora matters, land tenure matters and national boundary, trade and investment, energy, religion, public finance and revenue generation.

Though some individuals have questioned the feasibility or rationality of a couple of the recommendations of the 2014 confab, a number of the germane ones include creation of new states. It also recommended that states willing to merge can also do so based on certain conditions.

Bukola Saraki

Resource Control/Derivation Principle/Fiscal Federalism The Conference noted that assigning percentage for the increase in derivation principle, and setting up Special Intervention Funds to address issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas ravaged by insurgency and internal conflicts as well as solid minerals development, require some technical details and consideration. The conference therefore recommended that the government should set up a Technical Committee to determine the appropriate percentage on the three issues and advise government accordingly. Thus, it recommended an increase in the level of derivation from the present 13 per cent to 17 per cent in the interim pending the report of the expert commission. Massive and urgent programme of development of infrastructure and human resources

Yakubu Dogara

The fresh move by the National Assembly is coming amidst a sustained clamour by some individuals and interest groups for the implementation of the 2014 Confab report.

of the Niger Delta should be embarked upon by the Federal Government.

er percentage so as to ensure accelerated development of all parts of the country.

Public finance/revenue allocation It recommended that the sharing of the funds to the Federation Account among the three tiers of government should be done in the following manner: Federal Government – 42.5 per cent, state governments – 35 per cent and Local Governments 22.5 per cent; that the percentage given to population and equality of states in the existing sharing formula be reduced while that assigned to the Social Development sector be increased to a much high-

Forms of government The conference recommended the Modified Presidential System, a homemade model of government that effectively combines the presidential and parliamentary systems of government.

The president shall pick the vice president from the Legislature. The President should select not more than 18 ministers from the six geo -political zones and not more than 30 per cent of his Continues on pg33

33

politics&policy

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Key recommendations of 2014 Confab

of crimes by the anti-graft agencies and the courts.

Continued from pg32

Land Tenure Act It recommended that the Land Tenure Act should be retained but it should be amended to take care of those concerns, particularly on compensation in Section 29 (4) of the Act to read “land owners should determine the price and value of their land based on open market value

ministers from outside the Legislature. Reduce Cost of governance by pruning the number of political appointees and using staff of ministries where necessary.

Legislature and power sharing/rotation It recommended a Bi-cameral legislature, but with elected members of the legislative arms of all the tiers of government should serve on part-time basis. Also, the Conference recommended that presidential power should rotate between the North and the South and among the six geo-political zones while the governorship will rotate among the three senatorial districts in a state.

Religion The conference recommended that there will be no government sponsorship of Christian and Muslim pilgrimages to the holy lands. It also resolved that churches and mosques should begin to pay tax to government.

Local Government It recommended that local governments will no longer be the third tier of government. The federal and states are now to be the only tiers of government.

States can now create as many local governments they want. The Joint State/Local Government Account be scrapped and in its place the establishment of a State RMAFC with representatives of LG and a Chairman nominated by the governor. The Constitution should fix the tenure for Local Government Councils at three years. The Conference recommends the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions Immunity Clause/independent candidacy It recommended that the controversial immunity clause contained in Section 308 0f the 1999 Constitruion should be removed if the offences attract criminal charges to encourage accountability by those managing the economy. Again, it recommended that every Nigerian who meets the specified condition in the Electoral Act should be free to contest elections as an independent candidate.

Governance It recommended the creation of the office of the Accountant General (Director-General) of the Federation as a distinct and separate office from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government.

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation shall oversee the accruals of revenue into and

President Muhammadu Buhari disbursement from the Federation Account as and when due; and shall administer these funds as required by the Constitution, while the office of the Accountant General of the Federal Government shall oversee the accounts of the Federal Government.

Anti-corruption The Confab recommended that a Special Court should be established to handle corruption cases, in the light of undue prolongation in the trials and prosecution of corruption cases in the regular courts. A non-conviction-based asset forfeiture law should be enacted with broad provisions to deal with all issues of proceeds

Reservations The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) expressed reservation about the conference, though a number of its key members attended the conference. However, ACF national chairman and former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, was recently quoted as saying the group would soon meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the 2014 confab report.

“I was the chairman of the northern delegates to the 2014 national conference, so I can tell you anything about it. But I cannot tell you whether President Muhammadu Buhari will implement the confab report or not. I can only speak about it if we meet with Buhari on the report. And we will soon meet him,” he stted.

But, the pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other mass based groups in parts of the country have declared that the implementation of the report holds the key to most of the challenges facing the country. They have cautioned against any attempt to dump it because of all the key resolutions touch on the fundamental issues confronting the Nigerian federation.

Since 1999, the National assembly and the Presidency have consistently raised hope among Nigerians yearning for a truly federal constitution by setting the necessary machinery in motion towards the attainment of the ultimate goal. But, many stakeholders seem to be adopting a wait-and-see attitude over the current effort by the lawmakers. Will the promise of the lawmakers be fulfilled this time?

Maikasuwa and NASS bureaucracy

By Ibrahim Biu

THE re-appointment of Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa as the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), not too long ago did not come as a surprise to those who are close to this hard working and dedicated technocrat. Maikasuwa has no doubt become one of Nigeria’s much talked about and enigmatic bureaucrat. His assignment as a Permanent Secretary and Clerk of the National Assembly has made him into a well-known figure in Nigeria. Maikasuwa’s name means different things to different people depending on which divide you are.

Even before he became CNA in 2010, Maikasuwa’s profile had already generated avoidable controversy when in 2007 while he was still at the National Institute for Strategic Studies Kuru, in Jos Plateau state. His appointment as Clerk to the House of Representatives was rejected.

In rejecting Maikasuwa’s appointment at that time the then Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, had referred to what he described as Maikasuwa’s legislative inexperience, a position which was outrightly rejected by well meaning Nigerians as a lame excuse.

Another issue which brought Maikasuwa to the limelight was the recent inauguration of the 8th National Assembly which produced Dr Bukola Saraki and Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, respectively, even though the issue later turned out to be a bit controversial due to the selfish actions of some lawmakers and their supporters. Thank God the issue has been amicably resolved now and the assembly has moved ahead in its work as witnessed by the passage of many motions, bills and even the national budget last week.

From the onset it could be said that Maikasuwa’s style of administration has been a unique and an all-inclusive one, with individual officers being delegated with specific responsibilities which they were held accountable for, due to Maikasuwa’s liberalized nature of administration

Salisu Maikasuwa of the Assembly’s bureaucracy. He has succeeded in redefining work ethics which has ultimately led to increased productivity and efficiency in the assembly.

As a team leader Maikasuwa had, since he assumed duties as the CNA, introduced far reaching administrative reforms to enable him and his team to successfully implement his reform agenda of the assembly’s management which has been described as the first of its kind since 1999 when democratic activities fully came back in the country.

The reforms have positively impacted on both the workers and on planned projects. This style of leadership has

endeared him to his subordinates and peers alike apart from putting smiles on the face of over 5,000 workers of the assembly through the interactive sessions with the bureaucrats. It is also clear that this strategy has made it possible for the Maikasuwa team to record positive changes in its assignments as could be seen all over the place especially in the way the bureaucrats interacts with the public on all official issues such as due process, rule of law, first come first serve, formal regulations compliance and merit which have been prioritized in line with the CNA’s determination to offer quality service to the nation.

Apart from the introduction of welfare packages for his staff for effective mobilization, Maikasuwa’s administrative ingenuity played out prominently when he successfully organized the entire civil servants to be proactive and much more competent as required by the lawmakers.

This is due to Maikasuwa’s experience, administrative savvy and maturity in worldly affairs.

Maikasuwa’s wide exposure, life experience, open door policy and transparent interactions at all levels especially on controversial issues and other related activities has compelled his traducers and even critics to agree with his policies as most of the projects being undertaken are there for people to see on ground. No wonder Maikasuwa’s efforts have pushed him this far thereby enabling him to break another record at the assembly’s management in service of democracy since 1999.

Maikasuwa’s current five-year stewardship is indeed another record of silent achievements of sort as no other CNA has recorded such a feat according to assembly sources who have also expressed the belief that the current assignments are preparing Maikasuwa for higher national assignments with time. A recent encounter with the team leader in Abuja enabled this writer to appreciate the passion and compassion of a technocrat determined to do his best with service to the nation and to humanity.

Biu sent in this piece from Kuje, Abuja.

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politics&policy

HE dust raised by the recent bloody clash in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, between members of two pro-Biafra groups, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of the Biafra (MASSOB), is yet to settle in the polity. The clash occurred as a result of the supremacy battle engaged in by the groups while protesting the continued detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government. Interestingly, while doing battle with one another, members of both groups had joined forces while attacking perceived opponents of the Biafra agitation.

For instance, they have came down hard on former President Olusegun Obasanjo who, while presenting a paper entitled: “Resurgent Biafra Agitation: Born in Error, Ignorance and Frustration,” at a public discussion on Biafra, organised by Nextier Advisory in Abuja, had said that Biafra was a dead issue, arguing that “No rightthinking person who has experienced the horror of war will ever agitate for more war. Nigeria cannot afford to go from Boko Haram insurgency to any other insurgency under any guise.”

MASSOB, through its Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, speaking in Enugu, noted that the struggle for the actualisation of Biafra survived, despite persecution by Obasanjo’s administration, including the alleged killing of about 1000 MASSOB members at Umulolo, Okigwe, in Imo State, on March 29, 2003, alleging that Obasanjo attempted to bribe MASSOB leaders with ‘bags of money’ to abandon the struggle. MASSOB/IPOB members also berated the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma who, said the Igbo did not need Biafra, but massive infrastructural development in the South-East, coupled with “justice, fairness and equity” by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. On a conciliatory note, however, members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) had insisted that only through dialogue could the pro-Biafra agitators be made to drop the idea of a Biafran state.

Indeed, the curious aspect of the sit-at-home order by the pro-Biafra movements was that not many people in all the five states in Igbo land obeyed the directive, not to talk of states outside the South-East zone. In Enugu State, the situation was calm, except in Abakpa-Nike axis where there was a little skirmish over an attermpt by proBiafra demonstrators to barricade the major road. Security operatives were on hand to nip in the bud the planned protest in the Coal City. Already, eight persons suspected to be members of MASSOB promptly appeared before an Enugu Magistrate Court for allegedly being caught in an illegal assembly, capable of causing a breach of the public peace.

When the case was called, they pleaded not guilty to the change, and were remanded in prison custody while the case was adjourned to February 10. The state Police Commissioner, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, said that the suspects would face prosecution for conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

To the Police boss, in spite of the warning by the state police command that some group of persons were agitating against the prosecution of Nnamdi Kalu at a court in Abuja, some “misguided fellows” in their numbers still went ahead to assemble at Naira Triangle Enugu on Monday with flags and other materials designating Biafra.

This, he said, “attracted the prompt attention of the officers and men of the command and following the failure of the said persons to disperse after being so requested by the police, a number were arrested in the process while others fled.”

However, reports from Anambra indicated that tension heightened in the state and might likely snowball into other Igbo states, following a fresh threat by the leadership of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) that it would continue the current struggle.

The newly appointed BIM Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, at a press statement in Onitsha, Anambra State, shortly after a joint special meeting of BIM/ MASSOB in Rumuekini community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, said the body BIM had observed that because of good governance in Switzerland, many decades after the country gained independence, no region had ever indicated its interest to break away.

The statement hinted that the Biafran leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, started MASSOB single handedly in his house at Agunlejika Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos, on September 13, 1999, knowing it was the only panacea to the marginalisation of Ndigbo and their brothers in the South South zone.

BIM insisted that Ndigbo and Niger Delta people did

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Biafran agitation and the divisions within...

Against the backdrop of the recent clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), JUDE OSSAI highlights the impact of factionalism on the agitation in the South-East geopolitical zone.

IPOB members during a recent protest not deserve Biafra if the new nation is not better than Nigeria, stressing that the current struggle for Biafra was premised on the idea that certain principles which had been beneficial to America, Israel and Switzerland would be borrowed by BIM. The statement also noted that BIM had, since inception, resolved to follow the non-violent methods adopted by the Indian nationalist leader, Mahatma Gandhi to the end, and ruled out its leader, Uwazuruike out of any form of political leadership either elective or appointive.

Be that as it may, a lot of factors might have led to the failure of the pro-Biafra movement to make impact in the zone during the sit-at-home order. Although some Igbo political elite share the sentiment canvassed by the leadership of MASSOB /IPOB in pursuing an egalitarian society, the fear of losing government political patronage hinders them from declaring their support in the open.

Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who was at the time in Dublin City University, where he had gone to receive the award of international outstanding leadership from the Deputy President of Dublin City University, had, through his Special Media aide, Louis Amoke, advised the people of the state to ignore the threat by MASSOB and IPOB to stage a protest in all the states of the Southeast zone, which the people complied with.

Traditional rulers were also on hand to ensure that their youths subjects did not engage in any activity that could undermine the existing peace and tranquility in the state.

It was also learnt that the polarisation of MASSOB between Chief Uwazurike and Kanu may have undermined the movement of the separatists in recent times, as both factions have no trust in the other’s leadership. Thus, they are losing loyalists each passing day.

It was also learnt that the polarisation of MASSOB between Chief Uwazurike and Kanu may have undermined the movement of the separatists in recent times, as both factions have no trust in the other’s leadership.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

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Monday, 1 February, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features

The Zika virus

Zika virus:

The carrier

Should Nigeria worry?

Against the background that Nigeria had once diagnosed patients with the Zika virus, now that it has resurfaced and is spreading rapidly, from Latin America, reaching into the United States of America and Canada, with estimated cases expected from Africa, KEHINDE OYETIMI examines the intricacies surrounding the disease, which spreads through mosquito bites, Nigeria’s preparedness, and the concerns raised, especially regarding mosquito-prone areas such as Nigeria.

W

HEN results of a scientific research, titled “Zika virus infections in Nigeria: Virological and seroepidemiological investigations in Oyo State” written by A.H. Fagbami, and undertaken at the Virus Research Laboratory, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, was published in the Journal of Hygiene in 1979, not so much was thought of it by the Nigerian government at the time, especially as the research indicated that the virus was unlikely to become a pandemic.

According to the results of the research, “Two Zika virus isolations were made from 10778 heparinized blood specimens collected between 1971 and 1975. One was obtained in July 1971 from the blood of a male child aged 21/2 years. The second was made in May 1975 from the serum of a 10-year-old boy in Igbo-Ora (Fagbami, 1977). The two virus isolations were obtained in early and peak rainy seasons - the first patient had mild nondescript febrile illness and no other clinical details were obtainable. The second patient reported with fever, headache and body pains.

“The present survey showed that Zika virus immunity is prevalent among Nigerians;

40 per cent of persons tested had neutralizing antibodies. Since 50 per cent of Zikaimmune individuals tested had monotypic Zika N antibody or antibodies to Zika and one other flavivirus, the immunity reported in this study cannot be attributed to immunological cross reaction within the flavivirus serogroup. Sera containing monotypic antibodies were found more frequently among the younger age groups. Persons in this group are less likely to have multiple flavivirus infections, which are often responsible for broad heterologous cross reactions.

The results of the haemagglutination inhibition test showed that HI antibodies to Zika and related viruses were prevalent among Nigerians, 69 per cent of persons tested were positive. It has been shown that neutralizing antibodies develop earlier than HI antibodies (Southam, 1956). The detection of Zika neutralizing antibody in sera of persons negative for flavivirus HI antibody suggested that such persons probably had had recent Zika virus infection.

Apart from the serological evidence of Zika virus activity in Nigeria, previous (Moore et al. 1975) and the present virus isolations from human blood further confirmed the active transmission of this virus infection

in the country. Although only a few isolates were obtained in past and present studies, the demonstration of a high rate of immunity to the virus in all the areas studied and elsewhere (Boorman & Draper, 1968; Macnamara et al. 1959) suggested that Zika virus infection is more widely spread. The low isolation rate may be attributed to the fact that infected persons often present with mild, nondescript illness and it is conceivable that such cases may not report to hospital clinics.

Clinically Zika virus infection is manifested by fever, headache, body pains and rash (Simpson, 1964; Moore et al. 1975).

In the present investigations, similar manifestations were observed in the two patients from whom the virus was isolated. In Nigeria and many other developing countries, malaria is the common cause of febrile illness (Downs, 1975). The similarities in the clinical presentation of malaria and many arthropod-borne viral infections often result in misdiagnosis especially in places where laboratory facilities are lacking. Although clinical Zika virus infection is mild, the high prevalence of immunity in Nigeria has some epidemilogical significance. It was shown by Fabiyi & Macnamara (1962) that better antibody response was

found in persons without preimmunization flavivirus antibody following yellow fever vaccination. The high percentage of persons immune to Zika virus and other flaviviruses may influence the outcome of a yellow fever immunization programme. It was also shown by Henderson et al. (1970) that such immunity to heterologous flaviviruses might even modify the course of yellow fever infection. Yellow fever is known to be endemic in Nigeria; severe epidemics have been reported in several parts of the country (Carey et al. 1972; Monath et al. 1973; Fagbami et al. 1976). However, there had not been any documented outbreak of this disease in the areas studied. The high prevalence of antibody to Zika and other related viruses might contribute to the absence of yellow fever in these areas. Zika virus has been isolated from Aedes africanu89 (Dick et al. 1952; Weinbren & Williams, 1958). In Nigeria the isolates were obtained from A. luteocephalus (Lee, 1969). This mosquito is a forest Aedes species; however, the immunity to Zika virus has been demonstrated in all the urban communities studied. It is probable that other species of mosquitoes, Continues on pg36

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

Global alert raised over Zika virus Continues from pg35

possibly A. aegypti, play an important role in the transmission of the virus in Nigeria.”

Fast forward over 35 years later, the world is currently on red alert regarding the same Zika virus, which, is largely regarded as a danger zone for pregnant women.

With the spread of the disease across the borders of Latin America, with countries such as the United States and Canada declaring patients infected with the disease, it becomes necessary to wonder, if Nigeria shouldn’t as well step up its efforts towards ensuring that the disease doesn’t constitute another major scare, as it did with the recent case of Ebola virus, especially considering the fact that Nigeria already has a history with the same Zika virus.

Victim recounts experience According to ABC News, “there are currently 36 people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, including four pregnant women – two in Illinois and one each in Washington DC and New York.

Those infected are spread across 11 states and Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All of those infected contracted the virus outside of the U.S. before returning, according to health officials.”

Lizzie Morales told ABC’s Houston station KTRK-TV her experience with Zika virus.

“You have no strength or energy to sit down. You just want to lay down and sleep.

Christmas Eve, I was scratching my chest. I had bumps on my lips, eyes, ears,” she said.

According to Professor of Biology at Georgetown University, Dr Peter Armbruster, and published by ABC News, “It is very likely an infected traveler from French Polynesia that traveled to Brazil was likely the source of the Brazilian invasion. Whether it is someone associated with the [World Cup], we do not know for sure.”

Women urged to stay off pregnancy till 2018 An outbreak of the disease in Brazil led to an alert by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in May 2015. The U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel alert for 24 countries and territories where the virus transmission is ongoing. Those countries and territories are: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa.

Also, reports by Al Jazeera stated that El Salvador’s vice-minister of public health, Eduardo Espinoza, last week, told women who were already pregnant to stay covered outdoors to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

“We’d like to suggest to all the women of fertile age that they take steps to plan their pregnancies, and avoid getting pregnant between this year and next,” he said.

There is no need to panic –FG As part of efforts to ensure that the disease doesn’t miraculously resurrect upon Nigerian shores, especially for a country that is still working assiduously towards “rolling back” malaria, also spread through mosquitoes, the Federal Government over the weekend, issued an alert about the outbreak of Zika virus disease and subsequently directed that Nigerians, especially pregnant women, be restricted from travelling to Latin America for now until the situation improves.

Professor Isaac Adewole, Health Minister According to the directive which called on the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to include Zika virus diagnosis as part of ongoing efforts to manage the Lassa fever outbreak in the country, said anyone coming from any of the Latin American countries undergo interrogation at the various ports of entry to rule out possible carriers of the virus and ensure that the situation can be kept in check.

According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Boade Akinola, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, was quoted as saying that “there is no single case of Zika virus infection in the country and there is no need to panic,” just as he noted that the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to monitor the situation and update Nigerians on further developments.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised a global alert because the disease has affected about 23 countries in Americas especially in Latin America. At the moment, there is no cure or vaccine for Zika virus infection.

“The Federal Ministry of Health hereby advises a travel restriction especially by pregnant women to Latin America for now until situation improves. In addition, we have directed the NCDC to include Zika virus diagnosis as part of ongoing effort to manage Lassa fever outbreak in the country,” Adewole stated.

Continuing, the Federal Minister for Health stated that “Nigerians should be vigilant and report promptly any case of unexplained fever that lasts more than 48 hours, especially in those that travelled to Latin America recently, to health care professionals. Nigerians working at various ports of entry into the country should interview anyone coming from any of the Latin

We’d like to suggest to all the women of fertile age that they take steps to plan their pregnancies, and avoid getting pregnant between this year and next

American countries for evidence Zika virus symptoms.”

Virus known to circulate in Africa – WHO While reports of the disease’s findings had begun to creep stealthily into media reports as at May 2015, when the first infection was reported, with recent findings, according to the WHO, there has been an increase in infected persons, especially in Brazil, as health authorities reported an increase in Zika virus infections as well as an increase in babies born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil, with investigations revealing that there may just be a link between both, although other potential causes are still being investigated.

According to the WHO fact sheet, as published on the organisation’s website, “Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for two to seven days. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites. The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.”

The Zika virus, according to the WHO report, was “first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. It was subsequently identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. During large outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil in 2013 and 2015 respectively, national health authorities reported potential neurological and auto-immune complications of Zika virus disease.

“Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus.”

Diagnosis, symptoms, and prevention According to WHO, “Zika virus is diagnosed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and virus isolation from blood samples. Diagnosis by serology can be difficult as the virus can cross-react with other

flaviviruses such as dengue, West Nile and yellow fever.

While there is no readily available vaccine to prevent the disease, preventive and control measures recommended by the WHO are, “relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people. This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets. It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.”

The WHO also calls for special attention and help for those who may not be able to provide adequate care for themselves in preventing the disease such as children, the sick or the elderly. In case of an outbreak, the WHO advises that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers. Travellers are also encouraged to take basic precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Treatment and further action According to various health organisations and research scientists, Zika virus disease usually presents minor symptoms and as such requires no specific treatment and plenty of rest, consumption of more fluids, as well as recommended treatment for pain and fever can be adopted. However, in the event that the symptoms become worse, patients are advised to seek further medical care.

The WHO is supporting countries to control Zika virus disease through defining and prioritising research into Zika virus disease by convening experts and partners; enhancing surveillance of Zika virus and potential complications; strengthening capacity in risk communication to help countries meet their commitments under the International Health Regulations; provision of training on clinical management, diagnosis and vector control including through a number of WHO Collaborating Centres; strengthening the capacity of laboratories to detect the virus; providing support for health authorities to implement vector control strategies aimed at reducing Aedes mosquito populations such as providing larvicide to treat standing water sites that cannot be treated in other ways, such as cleaning, emptying, and covering them; preparing recommendations for clinical care and followup of people with Zika virus, in collaboration with experts and other health agencies.

Government at all levels, stakeholders in all sectors of the economy, as well as Nigerians in general have their work cut out towards preventing the future generation, seeing as the disease has especially heavy consequences on pregnant women. It would be almost impossible to cut off all connections with foreign countries, especially in the face of major business investments currently being secured by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, collaboration with nations to fight corruption as well as foreign aid in the efforts to successfully wipe out insurgency.

Also, major sporting events as well also brings nations together, and with Nigeria’s improving performance, however minute, on a global scale, it is therefore necessary for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the disease doesn’t become another damning migraine for a nation that has enough battles with terrorists, militants, rats, mosquitoes, among other negative distractions.

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news

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Ondo to commission 26 projects to mark 40th anniversary

It’s leading in healthcare delivery —UHC director Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

O

NDO State government, on Sunday, said that no fewer than 26 special projects will be inaugurated this month to mark the 40th anniversary of the state and the seventh anniversary of the present administration in the state.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, who is also the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Akin Adaramola who disclosed this during a press conference in Akure, the state capital, said the double celebration would be done on a lowkey pedestal because of the prevailing socio-economic situation of the country.

Adaramola, who stressed the significance of the double celebration, noted that “40th is indeed a very significant turning point in the annals; likewise seventh, which both have physical and spiritual import for life, development and sustenance.”

The chairman said the celebration would kick off with a special broadcast by the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, while the governor and member of his administration will travel across the three senatorial districts to commission and inspects life changing projects.

Adaramola said the broadcast is to reconnect and bond the people of the state, with a display of photo exhibition to rekindle the nostalgic experience of the past as it links with the present.

He said the photo exhibition would also tell the story of the strides, leadership successions, trajectory of development, political emancipation, socio-economic transformation among others He said some distinguished dignitaries of the state will be honoured during the celebration as a form of recognition towards the development of the state while a former United States of America ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carriington, is expected to deliver a public lecture.

Ondo State was created on February 3, 1976 by the then Head of State, Muritala Muhammed, from the old western state The state has witnessed 15 different governors at the helms of affairs with the present governor as the 16th governor of the state.

Meanwhile, the Project Director of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

Policy Forum at the Chatham House and an internationally recognised expert in Progressive Health Financing, Robert Yates, has described Ondo State as a leading light in the healthcare delivery system

in the country.

Yates stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the opening ceremony of the Ondo State Council on Health 2016, held at the International

Conference and Event Centre, with the theme: Post MDGs: Sustaining health gains, social protection for the poor; challenges and prospects.

He said “With the higher

levels of political commitment, public spending and better governance, Ondo is outperforming other states in Nigeria. With a 7-8 per cent budget share, it is providing universal free

Ogun at 40: Cleric tasks Amosun on youth employment, agric Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

FORMER Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Most Reverend Jasper Peter Akinola, has tasked the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to look towards the direction of addressing youth employment and agricultural development in the future interest of the state.

Akinola in his sermon at the 40th anniversary thanksgiving service in commemoration of the creation of the state, held at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, on Sunday, said the state has invested heavily in infrastructural development at the detriment of agriculture and youth unemployment challenges.

The service was attended by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; wife of former president, Mrs Bola Obasanjo; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun

Gbadebo; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Suraj Adekunbi; Chief Judge of the state, Honourable Olatokunbo Olopade; past and present public servants in the state, among others.

The cleric said the attention given to infrastructure in the state ought to have been shared among other major sectors, admonishing the governor to generate adequate resources to cater for the needs of the people.

He urged the governor to follow the footsteps of the Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in engaging the youths in things that would make them productive.

Primate Akinola said the

celebration was an opportunity for the state to take stock of all that he had been achieved within the period under review, maintaining that the state is blessed with natural and human resources.

He said, “Let us thank God for the past and present governors that have contributed to the development of the state, especially Senator Ibikunle Amosun for the unprecedented infrastructural development.

“This celebration gives us opportunity to take stock.

How have we fared so far?

In terms of giving, God has blessed us naturally and in term of human resources.

How do we judge ourselves as we take stock of what we have achieved in the last 40 years?

Anxiety as Kogi Assembly elects new Speaker tomorrow Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

AS the Kogi State House of Assembly resumes tomorrow, anxiety has continued to mount over the fate of the Speaker of the House,

Honourable Jimoh Momoh, as he is expected to relinquish the position.

Momoh, representing Okene II in the assembly, is from the same town with the newly inaugurated gov-

Bello pleads for patience, states commitment to development Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

KOGI State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday, pleaded with the people of the state to be patient with his government as he is set to address the long years of rot in the state with his “New Direction” blueprint.

He said the blueprint is anchored on the change manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which aimed at bringing development to every sector of the society.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, expressed the readiness of the governor to address the issues of workers’ salaries, dilapidated roads and a lack of clear-cut policy direction on agriculture and healthcare delivery as well as tourism, sports and integrated approach for industrialisation.

“We must, as a people, begin from today to generate adequate resources to cater for our needs. The oil money is fast disappearing.

Ogun must begin to generate adequate resources to cater for the people.

“Today, we have assembly of youths who are jobless. If these unemployed youths come together to fight their cause, they will bring down this nation. The state has invested heavily in infrastructure but much still need to be done in other areas,” he added.

Governor Amosun, in his short remarks, acknowledged the issues raised by Primate Akinola and promised that his administration would address them in the overall interest of the state.

healthcare for pregnant women and children under five and has reached MDGs 4 and 5.”

He called on the Federal Government to emulate the state government’s model in the health sector, saying “Ondo’s success could be a model for Nigeria.”

Speaking during the programmes, the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said his government is committed to make the state the best administered in the country in term of health delivery and welfare of the people.

Mimiko recalled that the basic health indices of the state were considered to be the worst in the entire South-West at the inception of his administration, due to relatively high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity but said pregnancy no longer becomes death sentence in the state.

He said “Pregnancy was akin to a death sentence because of limited access to specialised health care services for women and children. Much of the deaths were due to preventable and treatable complications and diseases.”

Bello assured the people of a comprehensive programme that will engage women and youths in the state to drastically reduce the rate of employment, urging the citizens to support his government to achieve the laudable plans.

Meanwhile, the governor has said contrary to widespread insinuation, that he had not opened any facebook account or twitter handle.

He said the clarification

became imperative in view of recent floating of fake social media accounts in his name by unscrupulous individuals to defraud the unsuspecting public.

“As an IT-compliant governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello will no doubt, deploy the social media for information and social activities in his drive for a better Kogi State. Official accounts will be made public when launched,” read the statement.

ernor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and has to quit to ensure equal representation of the three senatorial districts of the state.

The speaker, who is from the Central senatorial district of the state, was however said to have agreed to resign as speaker to pave the way for the election of another person from either the western or the eastern senatorial district.

The development had, however, led to agitations from members that are from the two senatorial districts as they were said to have started lobbying for them to be elected speaker.

Already, two members from Kogi East, the Chief Whip of the House from Igalala-Mela/ Odolu constituency, Honourable Friday Sani of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Awujale fetes Buhari COMING on the heels of the visit of Ooni of Ife, Oba Alayeluwa Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, last Friday, the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Alayeluwa Sikiru Kayode Adetona, will on Monday host President Muhammadu Buhari to a private luncheon at the Awujale Palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

President Buhari will be paying a working visit to Ogun State to partake in activities commemorating the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Gateway State. 40 projects have been lined up by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for commissioning.

This is the first time that

President Buhari will be hosted to a luncheon by any traditional ruler in Nigeria since he became president on May 29, 2015.

The royal fathers in Ijebu land, Otunbas, members of the Council of Chiefs and select personalities are expected to grace the occasion.

and the deputy speaker, Honourale Ali Akuh, from Omala state constituency were said to have shown interest in the seat.

Also from the Kogi West Senatorial District, Honourable Michael Kolawole also of the PDP representing Kabba/Bunu state constituency has indicated interest.

Nigerian Tribune however learnt that Kolawole might be favoured for the position because the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have concluded plans to pick the deputy governor from the Eastern senatorial district of the state.

He is also said to be enjoying the support of the majority of the members of the house.

It was gathered that while the immediate past governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada, supported Sani for the position, Wada’s predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, was said to be backing Akuh.

Wada’s support for Friday Sani may however not be unconnected with his loyalty to the governor when he was in government, while Idris’ support for Akuh was said to be because they are kinsmen and he was his personal assistant when he was the governor of the state.

38 news

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Boko Haram killed 1,637 herdsmen in Borno —ACBAN chairman

C

HAIRMAN of Al-Hayah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigerian (ACBAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Mafa, has said 1, 637 herdsmen were killed in various attacks by Boko Haram sect in Borno State, with torching of many Fulani tents and hamlets.

Ibrahim disclosed this on Sunday to journalists in Maiduguri, while lamenting the death toll of herdsmen inthe six-year Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State,

comprising 10 council areas.

He said since the Boko Haram insurgency, the cattle breeders association had lost over a million livestock in the state to attacks by the terrorists.

This, he said could have been used to ‘finance and sustain’ Boko Haram insurgency, despite the blocking of fuel and food supplies by the military.

“We also lost about one million livestock, comprising 146,399 cows, 54,374 goats and sheep, among

others,” said Mafa on rustled livestock.

Mafa further disclosed that members of the association also lost 395, 605 sacks of grains to the terrorists.

He, however, commended the military for its efforts in fighting the terrorists, in spite of the difficult desert and forests terrains in the North-East sub-region of the country.

He appealed to the military to explore the possibilities of deploying more

BBOG names victims of latest Chibok attack Adetola Bademosi - Abuja THE BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group, on Sunday, released names of victims of the latest attack carried out by the Boko Haram terrorists on Chibok.

Spokesperson of the group, Sesugh Akume, in a statement issued in Abuja, revealed how soldiers and infants were killed in the gruesome attack.

It read: “Our sources in Chibok have relayed the names and identities of all the victims: 15 deaths (including that of soldier of the

Nigerian Army). Some died on the spot, others eventually and 49 were injured, some in critical state.

“Two of the victims of the attacks are cousins of Aishatu Musa, one of our 219 missing Chibok girls. Both are daughters of Mutah Adamu Ntikawar. One died on the spot, the other is in a critical condition presently.

“Below are the names and communities of the victims killed: “Peter Tusha (Kuburmbula); Hajara Mutah (Pemi); Mainta Fali Kulfa (Likama);Awa Wantha (Kwada Bila Girma);

Boko Haram: Over 85 killed in Dalori —Villagers continued from pg2

It is gathered that the terrorists were on reprisal attacks on members of the Civilian JTF when they launched the attack on Dalori village through Yale, another village close to Maiduguri.

While people were running for safety towards Gomari Kerkeri village, three female suicide bombers were intercepted in their attempt to make their way into the crowd, but got blown up. The military had prevented the insurgents

from penetrating Dalori Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, which prompted detonations of IEDs by the suicide bombers.

The State Emergency Management Agency’s zonal coordinator, Mr Mohammed Kanar confirmed the figure, saying the 62 other people sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Maiduguri.

He also said the death could rise as other rescue organisations were involved in providing aid to the victims.

Aluko not worthy of response from sane minds —Fayose’s aide continues pg38

“Also, the APC bad losers in Ekiti State should know that it will take more than recruiting and paying a disgruntled Aluko to discredit an election adjudged by both local and international observers, including the United States government as free, fair and credible. They will probably need to pay INEC to tell Nigerians that an election it conducted, in which an incumbent governor lost in his own local government was not credible.

“As per his claim that $37 million was given to the gov-

ernor for the election, the governor got financial support from various sources, as it is usual of anyone contesting election and it is not for him to begin to advertise in the media the level of support the governor received from individuals, corporate organisations or groups.

“However, if money belonging to the APC is missing and they suspect that the money was stolen by Dr Goodluck Jonathan to fund Ekiti State governorship election, they can approach the Economic nad Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

Athawa Kollo Yahi (Kwada Bila Girma); Yankye Wantha (Kwada Bila Girma);Garba Bulama (Likama); Hamman Dabal (Bamzir); Kuma Barka (Garu Line Mission); Ali Abana (Likama); Mallum Fali’ ka (Whuntaku); Kollo Sule (Bwalakila); Mohammed Sule (Bwalakila); Ba. Galang Bulama (Whuntaku).

“The victims injured are Abdullahi Musa Birma (Likama); Ba Nkye Yaga Butu (Garu); Falmata Tella; Mohammed Ali; Bulama Zaman; Kuva Batah (Garu); Yaga A. Smai (Garu); Daniel Thumur (Likama); Jummai Kalau (Whuntaku); Mohammed M.C.; Dauda Garba (Garu); Mohammed Bukar (Dambo’a); Jacob Fali’ka (Whuntaku).

“Others are Habiba Usman (Kwada); Dauda Musa (Garu); Maji Dzakwa; Hauwa Dauda Ali (Garu); Zaki Wavi; Yana Mutah (Pemi); Ngiladar Fali (Whuntaku); Margret Moses; Alhaji Mohammed; Abba Abaji; Lydia Tella (Kautikari); Bukar Akawa; Kuma Woi; Dinnah Yakubu (Garu); Yunana Madu (Shikarkir); Ba Taru Abana (Garu); Zara Mustapha (Whuntaku); Pogu Kurdiya (Garu); Modu M. Kauji (Garu); Dibal Dunya (Mifa); Alhaji K.(Likama); Aji Mallum (Garu); Lydia Philip; Madu Maigana; Yahaya Ibrahim; Ba Fali Madu; Abigaial Pogu.

“Others are also Mustapha Maina; Musa Dawa Dauda (Garu);Kyeri Tella (Garu);Kolo Goni (Likama); Uwani Kachalla (Garu); Saraya Daniel Mustapha (Whuntaku); Raina Madu(Garu); Bulama Wassa (Whuntaku); Wadir Buba (Whuntaku),” the statement read.

It further stressed that while condolences had since been pouring in, “it is important to note that whereas others have sent in their condolences and recommitted partnering to tackle the insurgency, we are yet to receive or see any statement by the Nigerian government on this matter.”

troops to remote communities to checkmate Boko Haram attacks and terrorism.

“I’m also appealing to the Federal and Borno State

governments to consider assisting the cattle breeders in their rehabilitation and resettlement programme for terrorism victims in the North-East,” he said, add-

ing that President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Kashim Shettima should come to the aid of cattle breeders ameliorate their sufferings.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Shittu Bilikisu now MRS AUDU BILIKISU ADEJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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40

news

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Why we insist Seriki chiefs should produce next Olubadan â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Chief Fakunle

By Tunde Ogunesan

a

Seriki chief in the Olubadan line has disclosed that for two main reasons; historical leg and legal leg, they are the next in line to produce the next Olubadan after the passing away of the late monarch, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I. This position was stated in a press statement entitle: "The bases of claim of the Seriki Chiefs to produce the next Olubadan of Ibadan after the death of HRM Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I,"made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by Chief Olalekan Adisa Fakunle, on behalf of the Seriki line.

Chief Fakunle stated that their claim was founded "on two legs, which are the historical leg and legal leg."

According to him, on the historical leg, "this leg is predicated on the fact that Seriki's have produced Olubadan's and Balogun's since the foundation of Ibadan and even up till modern times. In the past and up till comparatively recent times, Seriki's have produced people who rose to the highest traditional chieftaincy offices in Ibadan, as they have produced people who rose to become Olubadan, Ba-

Dickson's aide abducted in Rivers DapoFalade-PortHarcourt

Captain Henry Ungbuku (retd), an aide to Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, was, on Sunday morning, abducted by unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, in Rivers State.

Ungbuku, the Special Adviser on Aviation to the Bayelsa State Governor, was abducted as he was about leaving the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Light House Parish, Iwofe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, after service.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the abductors of the Bayelsa governor's aide had laid siege to the church as early as 8.50a.m, waiting for their victim to come out at the end of the service before pouncing on him.

An eyewitness said the unsuspecting Ungbuku came out of the church some minutes after 10.00a.m and was stopped by the hoodlums, as he drove out of the premises of the church.

logun and other High traditional chieftaincy office holders."

Listing Seriki chiefs like Aare Latosa, Baale Akintayo, Baale Irefin, Shittu, Olubadan Okunola Abasi, Balogun Ibikunle, Balogun Ajobo and Aare Latosa who became the supreme ruler of Ibadan in 1871, Fakunle stated that "it is clear from history that those who have been claiming and clamouring that it is an aberration for Seriki chiefs to rise to become Olubadan" got it wrong historically.

On the legal reason, Chief

Fakunle said "Seriki chiefs found this requirement as rather a strange innovation, contrary to the native law, custom and tradition of Ibadan," hence, they began immediately "to agitate for the removal of this proviso by appealing to the Olubadan and the traditional chiefs in Ibadan to see to its removal.

"When all their appeals then fell on deaf ears, the Seriki's proceeded to court by instituting Suit No. 1/313/88 against the Olubadan and all the other chiefs in Ibadan, in 1988.

The case went to trial and

the Seriki chiefs led evidence, called five witnesses and tendered copious archival documents in support of their case and they closed their case, they appealed to the plaintiffs (the Serikis) to settle the case out of court.

"The terms of settlement was prepared and signed by the Olubadan, the Balogun and the Otun Olubadan as representing all the traditional chiefs in Ibadanland and their counsel who also executed the terms of settlement."

He added that the terms of settlement was filed

in court, stating that on December 1, 1989, "the High Court pronounced judgment on it and gave judgment in terms of the provision of the terms of settlement executed by all the parties before it."

From the content of the judgment, Fakunle said the "1959 Ekerin Balogun which requires simultaneous vacancy in the Ashipa and Ekerin titles before the Seriki can be promoted to Ekerin Balogun has been amended by clauses II and III of the consent judgment" for three reasons.

Why Akure must produce next Ondo gov

By Moses Alao

Legal practitioner and social commentator, Leo Ekpeyong, has added his voice to the ongoing argument on the clamour by Akure people to produce the next governor of Ondo State, noting that other four divisions in the state should give peace a chance by allowing Akure to produce the next governor.

Ekpeyong, who came to limelight, following a petition against former Governor Godswill Akpabio, over alleged corruption while in office, in a statement made available to newsmen, on Sunday, noted that it was not encouraging that despite Akure division having the largest voting strength, as well as being the state capital, apart from its other humongous contributions to the political,human capital and socio-economic development of Ondo State, it has never produced the governor of the state.

"Respect and honesty with regards to zoning and equity will go a long way in reducing political tension, acrimony, bitterness and violence in the polity."

Pa Ojutiku for burial Thursday Scene of the fire incident at Ogbe-Ijoh market, Warri, Delta State, on Sunday.

Wailing as fire razes over 200 stores in Ogbe-Ijoh market Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

Goods worth millions of naira, were, on Sunday afternoon, lost to a midday inferno at the notorious Ogbe-Ijoh market, in Warri, Delta State.

No life was lost in the incident, but traders who lost a great fortune to the inferno, cried their hearts out amid the harsh economic reality pervading

the nation.

Traders, many of them widows, who were relishing the Sunday worship in their various churches, rushed to the market when their phones rang.

This is barely a year after a similar fire outbreak rendered traders economically bankrupt on the stalls at the right hand side of the bridge dividing the market.

Situated in a coastal region of Warri, a part of

the market also serves as a jetty where people ride on boats to Igbe-Ijoh and other adjourning communities.

The market plays host to over 200 large and mini stores harboring a potpourri of goods and wares including foodstuff, motor and boats spares parts, tailoring materials, cloths, among others.

When Nigerian Tribune visited the site on

tion and the focus on other areas of agriculture.

Aregbesola, while meeting with Cocoa Produce Merchants in the state at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo, stated that with new cocoa development initiatives in the state, there would be a new cash inflow, making the economy of the state prosperous.

He explained that the state had gone further in her bid to boost cocoa production and agriculture with the signing of a Memo-

randum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the development of agriculture and production of massive food production as alternative to reliance on oil sector.

The agreement, according to Aregbesola, involved releasing of 204.39 hectares of land in Ago Owu Farm Settlement to IITA for the purposes of conducting research and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices.

We have identified 60 million active cocoa trees in Osun â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Aregbesola Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has said his government has identified 60 million active cocoa trees in the state, saying the crop and other prominent farms produce have great capacities to turn around the economy and fortunes of the state if pursued with renewed vigour.

He said his administration would leave no stone unturned to make the state great again, hence the recent investment and research into Cocoa produc-

Sunday evening, thick smoke still bellowed from the rubbles, even as scavengers had already taken position, making do with carcasses of metal objects from sowing machines.

It was gathered that the fire began at about 2:00p.m when traders were in church.

A crowd of sympathisers were seen in groups bemoaning the situation, just as curses were being rained on "invisible" personalities believed to be demanding annual ritual of burnt offering from the traders.

Men of the fire service in Warri were said to have arrived late yet with no water to do the job.

It was gathered that by the time men of the fire were reinforced with another loaded truck, much damage had been done.

Chairman of the traders association, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alex Kimaki, attributed the inferno to a spark in electricity supply in the market, but an eye-witness ascribed it to sabotage.

A former secretary of the Federal Union of Native Administration Staff (FUNAS), Pa Vincent Adereti Ojutiku, will be buried on Thursday, February 4, 2016.

Ojutiku, a renowned senior civil servant, died on January 4, in Lagos, and was aged 97 years.

He will be buried at the Ikoyi Cemetery after a funeral service to be held at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos.

During his lifetime, the late Ojutiku had worked in the Ministry of Communication where he was selected to head the newly-established Accounts department of the Ministry of Communications in Enugu. He then worked in the Ministry of Economic Development.

He had also served as the Deputy Secretary of the Federal Union of Native Administration in the early 1940s.

Ojutiku was born into Orunto-Obalufe chieftaincy family of Ifewara-Ile-Ife in Osun State.

The late Ojutiku served the Holy Trinity Church in Lagos, as a lay reader, teacher, organist, choirmaster, civil servant, church secretary, accountant and Chairman and member of several church committees between 1958 and 1979.

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

Obat Oil denies diversion of N1.2bn subsidy fund, closure of tank farm by EFCC

T

he management of Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited on Sunday denied reports alleging it diverted N1.2billion subsidy fund and described the publications as not only “malicious but orchestrated to disturb its business.”

The company also urged the public to disregard rumours making the round that its tank farms had been sealed up by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

A statement signed by the Head of the Legal Department of the oil company, Mr Seun Bakare and made available to the press on Sunday said, “We take exception to any malicious publication and slander orchestrated by certain people in a bid to disrupt our business. For the avoidance of doubt, EFCC did not close our depot facility. We were only invited because of the petition and lies being spread by the Managing Director of Petrocam Trading Nigeria Ltd, Mr Patrick Ilo. “We urge the public to disregard the misinformation peddled in the false and malicious publications as well as desist from propagating same, in their best interests.

Bakare said it was unfortunate that Ilo could stoop so low to the extent of feeding the public with falsehood and attempted to denigrate the personality of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Frederick Obaretu Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo, who was not part of the business transaction.

Bakare said while it is true that Obat Oil had business transactions with Petrocam that failed to implement the transaction according to the terms and agreement, Obat Oil will not succumb to blackmail when Petrocam had refused to allow the accountants of the two companies to reconcile their accounts.

According to the statement, “The transactions which gave rise to the false reports and the spurious claims from which they have sprung have already been submitted to the court’s consideration and ordinarily should not be the subject of discourse or advertorials.

Petrocam “However, Trading has gone out of its way to lodge false complaints against us and set in motion a sequence of events that have been widely reported. We are therefore constrained to protect our professional goodwill, integrity and reputation by putting out this publica-

tion.

“Sometime in 2014, Petrocam Trading approached Obat Oil for a business transaction with Petrocam making an offer to finance the importation of PMS through its bank, Sterling Bank, for Obat Oil. Both parties signed a service agreement to commence the transaction and Petrocam did undertake the importation of 15,000 Metric Tons of PMS in lots either by its own resources or through its bank.

“During the course of the business transaction and

at conclusion, Petrocam failed to fulfil its obligations under the service agreement. For instance, Petrocam paid N3 per litre of the allocation as opposed to the agreed sum of N5 per litre. This was the first act of breach displayed by Petrocam Trading.

“Despite our efforts at attempting to get the issue of the outstanding payment resolved while and the same time hoping that business could still be done with Petrocam, the business relationship broke down. We invited Mr Ilo

for reconciliation on several occasions to enable parties reconcile their accounts based on the transactions and resolve issues but he declined.

“Rather than agree to our invitation for joint account reconciliation, Mr Ilo and Petrocam Trading curiously obtained and published our UBA statement of account without our consent, permission or authorisation.

“While Petrocam thrived in its default of the Service Agreement by failing

to make full payment for the petroleum products it loaded, it instituted an action on November 19, 2015 before the Lagos State High Court in suit No. LD /1411CMW/2015 seeking sundry reliefs including injunctions.

“In that suit, Petrocam lay claims to the Subsidy, Forex differentials and accrued interest being expected from the Federal Government as payments for 17 transactions/importations belonging to Obat Oil, of which Petrocam participated only in six.”

Ayefele charges Olubadan designate to make Ibadan great The Chairman of Fresh FM, Ibadan, Dr Yinka Ayefele, MON last week, visited the Olubadandesignate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, at his Popoyemoja palatial residence, while charging him to use everything at his disposal to make the city of Ibadan great.

According to a release signed by his publicist, David Ajiboye, the renowned gospel singer further urged the royal father to use his new position to unite all Ibadan sons and daughters, irrespective of religious or political affiliations.

“Kabiyesi, I have come here to pay homage to you as one of your children and an important son of the soil.

Senator Folarin pays glowing tribute to Adewusi

Members of Oluyole Club of Lagos, Nigeria, led by their president, Professor Niyi Oshuntogun (fifth left), during their condolence visit to Oba Samuel Odulana’s palace, at Monatan, Ibadan, recently.

Tax fraud: EFCC arrests FIRS Regional Director Group urges commission to investigate CBN’s $7bn loan to bankers

ByYejideGbenga-Ogundare The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Deputy Director in the regional tax office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), over allegations of abuse of office, extortion and bribery.

The anti-graft agency arrested the tax chief following a complaint about an attempt to extort a University

proprietor of the sum of N5 million.

He and a woman, names witheld, were alleged to have approached the chancellor of a private university, Baze University in Abuja, Senator Ahmed Datti, on January 27, 2016 and had given him a tax assessment of N20, 029, 496.00 through a letter of intent and the school paid this sum in order not to flout the law.

Trouble however started when Senator Datti asked for the assessment certificate and the duo refused to oblige him. Instead they were alleged to have demanded for a further N5 million as gratification and all efforts to make them see reason fell on deaf ears.

Consequently, Senator Datti wrote a petition to the EFCC where he was advised to play along. He

Eruwa Chief Imam crisis: Selection committee chair appeals for calm

By Adewale Oshodi THE Eruwa Chief Imam Selection Committee Chairman, Prince Rasheed Oyedokun, has appealed to those jostling to succeed the late Chief Imam of the town to be civil in their acts, while allowing the rule of law to prevail.

Prince Oyedokun stated this after supporters of some candidates for the vacant post disrupted a press conference meant to brief members of the Muslim community in the

town about the process to be taken in selecting a new Chief Imam.

Apparently irked by the disruption of the press conference which was scheduled to hold at the Eruwa Central Mosque, Prince Oyedokun said the committee would meet again in order to fashion out the way forward in the selection process.

“We used to have four contestants — Alhaji Jelik Belah Shittu, Alhaji Mudashiru Adedeji, who have

been screened out, and for the remaining two — Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkareem Olore and Alhaji Dauda Ajegbe — we are in the process of screening them, but the manner in which some supporters disrupted the whole process does not speak well enough.

“The Selection Committee, therefore, wants the contestants to be driven by the fear of Allah, as He is the only one who can bring one to positions of authority,” Prince Oyedokun said.

then delivered marked N5 million to the Deputy Director through the woman in a sting operation. Ojora, who was arrested after she collected the N5m confessed and the trail led the EFCC to the tax chief.

The houses of the suspects were searched by operatives of the antigraft agency and implicating documents were recovered while investigations into the matter continue.

Meanwhile, a coalition, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) soft loan of $7 billion granted to a consortium of bankers in 2006.

In a petition sent to the anti-graft agency and signed by the coalition’s chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC stated that nine years after the disbursement of the soft loans to the banks, no public report or account has been rendered by CBN on the $500 million given to each of the banks.

Former senate majority leader and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, has commiserated with the family of late Sunday Adewusi, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), whose demise took place on Tuesday, at the National Hospital Abuja, at the age of 80.

He described late Sunday Adewusi, as a patriotic and credible Nigerian, who served his fatherland with utmost faith and loyalty.

Folarin lamented the exit of Adewusi as a colossal loss not only to the people of Oyo State, but to Nigeria at large because of his valuable contribution to national development.

He also described his era as police IG as a robust one that took the Nigerian Police to a greater height.

His death painful —Adibi

By Nurudeen Alimi A former member of the House of Representatives and immediate past caretaker chairman, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Honourable Temilola Adibi, has described as painful, the death of former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Adewusi.

Adibi, a one-time Chairman of Lagos Airport Hotel Limited, noted that: “No matter how old a person is, none of his family members and associates will wish him or her dead. Chief Adewusi’s death really saddened my heart, but I take solace in the fact that he lived a purposeful life and served his fatherland meritoriously.”

news Buhari pledges improved budgetary allocation to women issues 42

Leon Usigbe-Abuja

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has promised that his administration will continue to guarantee the economic rights of women, by increasing budgetary allocation to projects

by Federal Government ministries, agencies and departments, specifically targeted at improving the lives of women.

He gave the assurance while speaking at the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union ( AU), on Saturday night in Addis Ababa.

President Buhari asserted that the Federal Government under his watch, has demonstrated its commitment to the rights of women, by appointing women of proven integrity to key positions within the cabinet.

"We have increased the budgetary allocation of ministries that have direct bearing on the lives of women, particularly health and education, with greater emphasis on girl-child education.

"As you all know, the terrible activities of the Boko Haram sect led to destruc-

Monday, 1 February, 2016

tion of thousands of lives and property in the North Eastern part of Nigeria, displacing millions from their respective homes, most of whom were women and children and are now at various IDPs camps across the country.

"In order to fully restore and protect their rights, government is in the pro-

cess of massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of the affected victims in the North Eastern part of the country, with the ultimate goal of restoring normalcy in full to that region, as well as improving the well-being of the affected persons," Buhari said.

Buhari welcomed the

AU’s decision to declare the year 2016 as the 'The Year of Human Rights in Africa with Special Focus on the Rights of Women."

He said Nigeria has amply demonstrated its commitment to issues relating to the rights of women, by upholding several human rights treaties and conventions specifically targeted at

women.

"In guaranteeing the economic rights of women, the Federal Government of Nigeria is embarking on massive employment programmes that will promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), in order to provide succour to our teeming women and youth populations,’’ he said.

Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Honourable Ayodele Obe (right), decorating the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (left) with Parliament Lapel. With him is Honourable Adetayo Adekunle (middle), in Akure, recently.

FG rolls out plans to mitigate global warming, increase renewable energy Collins Nnabuife-Abuja Plans are in top gear by the Federal Government to green Nigeria and mitigate the environmental impact caused by global warming and desertification.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, when the Republic of Korea Ambassador, Mr Noh Kyu-duk paid her a courtesy call in her Mabushi office, Abuja.

Speaking, the minister stated that by transiting to green economy, the Federal Government intended to create an enabling environment for more inclusive growth while protecting the environment harzards.

“The transition to a green economy will benefit the country through increased sustainable development, poverty reduction, job creation and environmental conservation amongst other benefits.”

According to her, greening Nigeria will also give rise to increased renewable energy in line with the nation’s Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP)

which seeks to account for 10 per cent of Nigerian total energy consumption by 2025.

“Investing in renewable energy will promote infra-

structural development as energy will become readily available and more efficient,” she stated.

She noted further that globally, countries are mak-

ing greener efforts, adding that Nigeria as the giant of Africa and blessed with a practical President as Muhammadu Buhari cannot afford to be indifferent. As a

result, she said the ministry would readily collaborate with countries such as the Republic of Korea with vast experience and operates a green economy.

'Benue lost 800 secondary school teachers in three years' Johnson Babajide-Makurdi NO lesser then 800 secondary school teachers have been lost in the last three years in Benue State.

The Executive Secretary, Benue State Teaching Service Board, Mr James Pine, who disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, at the weekend, said the teachers were

lost to death, retirement and transfer of service.

Pine explained that secondary schools in the state, as a result, are now short of teachers and inadequate infrastructure which he

lasu vc bans sale of handouts Naza Okoli - Lagos The newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Lanre Fagbohun, has directed all lecturers in the university to desist from selling handouts and “substandard lecture publications” to students, according to a statement by the school, at the weekend.

Fagbohun, who said defaulters would be made to face the consequences, added that members of staff would be encouraged to report any of such cases as

soon as they are discovered.

“Those who are desecrating our institutions must stop. “We will not allow exploitation of our students with shady substandard and unmeritorious materials.

Self-publication of materials that are substandard will henceforth not be allowed.

“We will encourage whistle-blowing and we will protect whistle blowers. If you package shady materials and sell to our students, we will know and we will show up,” he said.

According to the press release, arrangements had

been made to set up a committee which would be known as “Quality Assurance Committee (QAC)”, for this purpose.

“The Professor of Environmental Law, stated that a Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) will be put in place to assess all submitted materials for publication against set benchmarks,” the statement read. “This according to the vice chancellor, is to ensure the publication of standard materials from the university... circumventing the process would have consequences”

said, had affected performance of secondary school students in the state.

According to Pine, “From 2012 to date, the board has lost close to 800 teachers through physical deaths, retirements and transfer of service which has greatly hampered teaching and learning in public secondary schools in the state.”

He maintained that in order to boost the performance of students at secondary level, the board, according to him, had made request for employment of about 500 teachers.

"Immediately I resumed office, Governor Samuel Ortom directed that the board should properly be put in place to know the actual number of existing and non-existing teaching staff, so that we will ascertain the correct number of vacant teachers."

Ozekhome’s book for launch Feb 9 Sunday Ejike-Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, will on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 present a keynote address at the historic presentation of a book, "Zoning to Unzone: The Politics of power and the power of politics in Nigeria".

The presentation of the book, written by a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, will hold at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

The book, according to a statement by the author, seeks to address several pressing historical and contemporary national issues in the country.

He said issues like federalism, zoning, rotational presidency, federal character, resource control, devolution of power, presidentialism, minority rights, and virtually everything about Nigeria’s political development and trajectory, from amalgamation till date, are adequately discussed in the book.

"This book launch, at which President Muhammadu Buhari will present the keynote address, could not have come at a more auspicious time than now, given the evolution of our statehood and the emerging change mantra."

NGO advocates go-green environment Biola Azeez - Ilorin A non-governmental organisation, "i bet invest in me Nigeria" (iBIM Nigeria), has distributed plant and flower seedlings among residents of Kwara State, as part of planned activities to control the effect of climate change and encourage green environment.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme tagged: ‘go-green walk’, taken across parts of Ilorin metropolis, at the weekend, the convener of the exercise, Mr Opekun Adewale, said that tree planting is the best activity to reduce increasing level of atmospheric carbon dioxide and high level of heat.

Adewale, who encouraged people on the importance of green and clean environment, called on the state government to help facilitate clean energy to encourage healthy living.

The grand patron of the programme, Dr Raheem Usman, of the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Ilorin, lamented that only a few people knew the effect of climate change on human lives and living.

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Monday, 1 February, 2016

2015 poll: Taraba PDP aspirants kick, want refund of nomination fees

M

onths after conclusion of 2015 general election in the country, aspirants under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taraba State, have described failure of the party to hold primaries to pick its candidates, after collecting nomination fees from them as an attempt to extort on a fantastic scale worthy of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC')s investigation.

The aspirants, who gathered under the auspices of 'The 2015 Taraba State PDP Aspirants Forum,' said this after rising from an 'Inclusive consultative meeting' held in Karu, Abuja, even as they demanded immediate refund of their money.

Protem chairman of the forum, Rimamnde Bitrus Nuhu, said it was no longer a hidden fact that PDP did not conduct any party primaries in the state, stating that, "It tasks the credulity of any right thinking individual to pretend that all is well with PDP House in Taraba State."

This was just as he explained that the defection of PDP erstwhile aspirants in drove to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the last poll, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, revealed the dominant political truth in the state today.

According to him, it also

demonstrates the fact that she has since "emerged as a rallying point in the progressive endeavour to resolve all the hitherto inherent lingering contradictions which afflicts political governance in Taraba.

Nuhu, while expressing the frustration of the forum, said any attempt by the master-

minds of the existing Taraba political debacle to invert the truth, would only lead PDP playing into the hands of enemies "who do not wish the peace loving polyglot Taraban peoples well."

"And if the unpatriotic factors intend to wish away the enormous resources de-

Worried by the outbreak of Lassa fever which has led to the death of one person, while two others have been hospitalised, the Akwa Ibom State government has commenced massive enlightenment programmes.

Across the 31 local government areas, the state government has developed sensitisation platforms, using the major local dialects of Ibibio, Annang and Oron, with a view to reaching the grassroots with viable information on the disease The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong, who disclosed this in an interview at the weekend, said the measure became necessary to safeguard the populace , Ukpong had earlier inaugurated an enlarged Lassa fever intervention committee with a charge to ensure the population was sufficiently enlightened on the harmful effect of Lassa fever if allowed to reach epidemic proportion in the state.

At the weekend, the monthly state-wide environmental sanitation programme was devoted to the destruction of rodents, clearing of refuse at homes and major markets,

the principles of natural justice and fair- play.

"The aspirants collectively view the failure of PDP to hold party primaries in Taraba State after collecting such huge resources as an attempt to extort on a fantastic scale worthy of EFCC investigation," Nuhu said.

Venerable Aderemi Onajole (left), unveiling a plaque of a building donated by R.S.S. 64/68 class of Remo Secondary School Family House, during the dedication of the building, at R.S.S. Sagamu Remo, Ogun State, on Sunday. The president of R.S.S. 64/68 class, Mr Dapo Odukoya (second left) and other members of the class look on at the event. PHOTO: D'Toyin.

Lassa Fever : FG to reintroduce environmental sanitation Collins Nnabuife - Abuja The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, has said that the National Environmental Sanitation

Day (NESD), that was introduced by the Muhammadu Buhari -led administration in 1984 be resuscitated.

Speaking in Kuje, Abuja,

...A\Ibom begins sensitisation in local dialects Iniobong Ekponta - Uyo

ployed by aspirants across the board in the immediate past so called PDP primaries, they must understand that the aspirants are not prepared to do same, given the great injustices visited on them when candidates were imposed by fiat contrary to democratic imperatives and

including the Akpan Andem, Itam and major abattoirs in the capital, Uyo. The state Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr Iniobong Essien, said the outbreak of the ailment in the state has accentuated the question of clean environment and personal hygiene and urged the

people of the state to take the exercise seriously.

The commissioner, who announced the setting up of a special sanitation court to try offenders, said it was time a holistic action plan was taken to ward off the strange ailment and other forms of preventable diseases in the state.

on the occasion of the tripartite Environmental Sanitation Day, organised by the National Interministerial Committee on Lassa Fever, the minister said â&#x20AC;&#x153;the idea of designated sanitation days at states, local governments as well as markets across the country, has remained a legacy".

She added that the fact that Nigerians have voluntarily continued the practice for 32 years after it was first introduced, is a clear indication that the idea is not only sustainable but also in the overall interest

FCT commences sensitisation workshop for poultry operators As part of efforts by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ),Administration to curtail the spread of the Avian flu virus in the FCT, the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT, Administration has commenced a sensitisation workshop for poultry operators.

Declaring the workshop open, the acting Director, Administration and Finance of the Agric Secretariat, Dr Musa Aliyu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Administration, Mallam Musa Abdulkareem, reiterated the determination of the FCT Administration under the leadership of the minister, Mohammed Bello, to

promote the public health safety of FCT residents which is why he had committed resources to enable the secretariat to find both immediate and lasting solution to the situation.

He said that the aim of the workshop was to interact with relevant stakeholders in the poultry business in the FCT, to sensitise them on the need to adopt basic biosecurity measure in their operations to prevent outbreak or spread of the disease.

He expressed sympathy on behalf of Minister of the FCT with all the farms that were affected by the outbreak of the disease.

In her address, the Head, Animals Services of the FCT Agric Secretariat,

Dr Regina Adulugba ,expressed regret on the outbreak which she noted, was avoidable if the farmers had adhered strictly to standard practice in poultry management.

She disclosed plans by the secretariat to intensify the inspection of poultry farms and markets in FCT to ensure that their operation conform with acceptable standard.

She assured FCT residents that all hands are on deck to contain the situation.

According to her, since the first outbreak was reported, the Avian Flu Desk Officers in the six area councils, have been on the alert.

of the nation, her people and the environment.

She maintained that it is her â&#x20AC;&#x153;strong desire to consult with states, local governments and other relevant stakeholders to create a strong interface to bring back NESD. The minister explained that she will partner with corporate organisations, states and local governments to repackage the N E S D with a view to giving Nigerians the desirable change in the environment sector, adding that existing sanitation programmes at all levels, will be strengthened and encouraged with every necessary incentives to complement the national programme According to her, a comprehensive process of consultation, including discussions on the best practices to adopt to ensure the programme is fully consolidated, will be on the front burner at the National Council on Environment (NSE) due to hold in Lafia, Nasarawa State soon The minister said, when fully resuscitated, a Peer Review Mechanism in the sector will be initiated, aimed at determining the cleanest states, cities, local governments and markets in the country, which will be rewarded with environmental- related projects in their domain to be executed by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

BOWEN varsity organises entrepreneurship skills development training for students

By Kehinde Adio Bowen University Iwo, Osun State, has organised a three-day intensive entrepreneurship skills development training for the final year students in the institution.

The university, in collaboration with Ahead Strategy, a United Kingdom-based organisation, organised the workshop to prepare the students to be self sufficient and employable in national and global markets.

The chairman, Entrepreneurship Committee in the university, Professor Akinola Owosekun, who spoke with newsmen at the training workshop recently, declared that the workshop formed part of the university entrepreneurship curriculum where the students have direct contact with experts in different fields of the economy, home and abroad to sensitise them with what is required to function effectively even in an already saturated economy. He stressed that the training, an annual event, becomes imperative in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) directive on entrepreneurship education in the university.

Some of the experts led

by Benjamin Taiwo, from the United Kingdom, who spoke with the students during the workshop, urged them to be passionate in career of their choices and not to be discouraged irrespective of the challenges ahead of them.

Revival Church Motailatu Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Restoration Parish, Akute, Ogun State, will today start a sevenday prayer and revival programme.

The programme,tagged 'Restoration week', will be coordinated by notable clerics.

A statement by Senior Superintendent Gabriel Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II ) ,said the Patriarch and Matriarch of the church, Archbishop (Dr) Isaiah Akinadewo (Omo Jesu ) and Superintendent General Apostolic Mother Mary Akinadewo, will be honoured on Thursday and Sunday.

Special prayers will also hold at the international headquarters of the church at St Adekahunsi Motailatu Cathedral, Oke Iwosan, Ondo, Ondo State, on Sunday.

44

communitynews

Monday, 1 February, 2016

Measles: 515,531 children for immunisation in Ekiti communities Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

T

he Ekiti State Primary Health Development Agency has announced that no fewer than 515,531 children would be immunised across the various communities in the state beginning from Thursday, January 28.

The Director of Primary Health Care of the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Joshua Ileke, disclosed this at a sensitisation forum on the coming Integrated Measles Campaign targeted at children in the state.

According to Dr Ileke, no fewer than 515,531 children between ages nine and 59 months, were expected to be immunised in the exercise.

Specifically, he disclosed that the five-day immunisation programme would take place in over 300 government immunisation centres scheduled to hold between January 28 and February 1.

Ileke further disclosed that the programme will

take place in governmentowned health facilities as well as selected sites such as churches, mosques, markets and schools.

While appealing for journalists’ cooperation in

sensitising the public, Ileke lamented that Nigeria was among the countries that still had high number of measles cases in the world and ranked second in Africa.

He recalled that measles

outbreak was lower in 2014 due to aggressive campaign against the disease in 2013, adding that in 2015, however, such campaign did not take place resulting in the latest development.

While appealing to moth-

ers to allow their children to be immunised, Ileke blamed some women for their ‘I don’t care attitude’ towards the vaccine.

A UNICEF expert billed for the exercise, Dr Iyabobola Ajibola, said in a

Saraki donates N2.9m to fire victims Biola Azeez-Ilorin

A long abandoned feeder road off Oke-Ado/Molete Expressway in Ibadan. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

Olukoyi warns youths against street carnivals IN collaborating with the Osun State government to fight criminal activities in the state, the Olukoyi of Ikoyi land in Isokan Local Government Area of the state, Oba Yisau Bantale Otunla-Kodaolu 1, has warned youths in his community not to turn the celebration of annual carnivals into crisis events.

Oba Otunla gave the warning in a press statement issued after his meeting with the Olukoyi-incouncil in his palace, on Tuesday.

According to him: “Youths in my domain should not embark on any carnival that will turn to a clash instead, they should be celebrating carnivals in front of their various houses as this would prevent

them from fomenting trouble”.

The traditional ruler further said: “My community, Ikoyi, is synonymous

with peace and tranquility hence, I don’t want anything that will disrupt the existing peace in the area.

This is why I am warn-

ing youths to desist from any act capable of causing mayhem.

“Youths who want to celebrate carnivals should

The people of Mogaji Gerin community in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State have commended one of the political leaders in the state, Alhaji Toyin Sanusi, for disbursing over N2.5 million to widows and the underprivileged through his empowerment scheme.

Also, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms worth N500,000 were distrib-

do so in their various compounds and not on the streets as they used to. This development will surely avert crisis.”

Students honour council chairman for community development Biola Azeez-Ilorin

The West Africa Students Union (WASU) has conferred on the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Al-hassan Bagudu, the 2015 Kwame Nkrumah leadership award as most outstanding administrator of the year for his community development effort.

Presenting the award to

Alhaji Bagudu, the Head of Parliament of the union, Mr. Emmanuel Sobir said the aim was to promote good leadership with vision.

WASU Head of Parliament also said that the choice of Alhaji Bagudu for the award was a testimony of the dedication of a true West Africa son to the development of the continent.

He urged the awardee not to see the award as just a celebration of his achievement as an outstanding performer but as a clarion call for him not to relent in his efforts to redefine the standard of educationt in West Africa.

Receiving the award, the local government boss, appreciated WASU for bestowing on him the meritorious award and

Widows, underprivileged get empowerment in Mogaji Gerin Biola Azeez-Ilorin

statement that UNICEF was providing funding for the exercise while it is also giving active support to the Ekiti State government and other donor agencies.

It added that over 2,832 health workers distributed into 800 teams have been mobilised for the exercise scheduled to hold daily between 8.00am and 4.00pm.

The statement said the agency “solicits the cooperation of nursing mothers , market women, community leaders and head of affected schools as well as well religious leaders for the success of the immunisation exercise.”

uted free to students in the various wards.

Speaking with journalists at the event in Ilorin, the Director-General, Toyin Sanusi Empowerment Scheme, Alhaji Abdulfatai Elegede, said the gesture was borne out of the love the donor has for his people, saying that the aim was to alleviate the suffering of the people.

He, however, implored beneficiaries to use the money judiciously and not consider it as their own

share of the national cake.

He disclosed that the exercise would be a continuous one.

On behalf of ward chairmen, Alhaji Abdulmumini Jimoh of Oke-Ward 1, commended the donor for bringing succour to his people.

While calling on other political office holders to emulate the gesture in order to better the lot of the people, he promised that the beneficiaries would

would not abuse the opportunity.

The Secretary, Mogaji Gerin ward, Hajia Ibrahim, on behalf of the women, thanked the donor for putting smile on their faces.

“We, the entire women, the widows and underprivileged of Mogaji Gerin Ward wish to use this medium to express our sincere gratitude to Alhaji Toyin Sanusi for his empowerment programmes,”she said.

dedicated to the people of Kaiama and his political party, the All Progressives Congress.

Alhaji Bagudu promised that he would not relent in embarking on peopleoriented projects and further improve the standard of education to enable his people acquire qualitative education.

He noted that the award required that he should continue to exhibit patriotism, selflessness, determination and courage to enable him continue to serve as role model to younger generations.

Also speaking on the occasion, the ALGON Chairman in Kwara State, Barrister Abdul-Lateef Okandeji’s aid the award was a testimony to good governance in the state which Alhaji Al-hassan Gagudu demonstrated at the gassroot level, while appreciating WASU for the gesture.

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has donated the sum of N2.9 million for the reconstruction of shops destroyed by an inferno at Oja Tuntun in Ilorin, Kwara State about a fortnight ago.

He made the donation during his unscheduled visit to the market to commiserate with victims.

Speaking while inspecting the burnt shops, Saraki lamented the dislocation the incident had brought to the economy of the people.

He urged the traders to, henceforth, take greater caution by ensuring that all objects that could ignite fire and all electrical appliances were switched off at the close of business.

To bring immediate succour to the victims, he also made a cash donation of N500,000 to enable them meet exigencies of daily living.

Earlier, the Chairman of Oja Tuntun market men and women, Alhaji Razaq Lasoju, said the incident had brought untold hardship to the victims.

He regretted that most of the traders care for their families from the sales they make on daily basis.

Lasoju, however, expressed gratitude to the President of the Senate for his on-the-spot assessment of the damage and the donations.

He said Saraki’s visit was a demonstration of his leadership quality of attending to the needs of his people at all times.

45

Monday, 1 February, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com Some African states oppose AU peace force for Burundi —Gambian president

$1.9bn in Ebola aid not delivered by donors —Oxfam

Relatives weep as they bury a loved one suspected of dying from the Ebola virus at a new graveyard on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia. PHOTO: AP.

I

NTERNATIONAL donors have failed to deliver $1.9 billion in promised funds to help West African countries recover from the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people and decimated already weak health care systems, the United Kingdom-based charity Oxfam said on Sunday.

The remaining $3.9 billion pledged has been difficult to track because of “scant information” and a lack of transparency, the group said.

“We’re finding it hard to understand which donors have given what money, to whom and for what purpose,” said Aboubacry Tall, Oxfam’s regional director for West Africa.

The Associated Press said Oxfam called on donors and the governments of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, the three hardest-hit coun-

tries, to provide detailed information on how aid is being provided.

More than $5 billion was pledged by the international community as part of a special In-

alone through more firm commitments to specific recovery programs.”

Originating in Guinea more than two years ago, the Ebola outbreak left some 23,000 children

TENSIONS over Europe’s migrant crisis led to arrests and violence in Sweden and the United Kingdom over the weekend, with a masked mob calling for attacks on foreigners in Stockholm and clashes between pro- and anti-migrant demonstrators in the British town of Dover.

In Sweden, nearly 100 men gathered Friday night in the capital,

without at least one of their parents or caregivers, while some 17,000 survivors are trying to resume their lives despite battling mysterious, lingering side effects.

Zika could be greater health threat than Ebola

Mob calls for assaults on foreigners in Sweden, clashes at UK migrant protests

otherNEWS

Woman wait to collect water in the drought stricken Somali region in Ethiopia. PHOTO: REUTERS.

ternational Ebola Recovery Conference in New York last July. At least $1.9 billion of that “still has not been allocated to a specific country in a pledge statement let

SOME African states oppose sending peacekeepers to Burundi without its consent after it said that would be seen as an invasion, Gambia’s president said on Saturday at the start of an African Union summit, Reuters reported.

Rifts in Africa about whether to deploy the 5,000-strong force will worry Western powers and others, who fear Burundi will slide into ethnic conflict if there is no intervention.

The African Union’s peace and security council announced the plan for the force in December, but Burundi swiftly rejected it.

Protesters gather in Stockholm to show their disapproval of an antiimmigrant group’s actions. PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES. handing out leaflets calling for attacks on migrants, Stockholm police spokesman Albin Naverberg told CNN. Some of the men were wearing black clothes and masks, he said.

Reports of attacks on people from immigrant backgrounds surfaced in Swedish media and on social media, but police

said they had received no reports of assaults on civilians.

One man was arrested in an attack on a plainclothes police officer, although the officer was not seriously injured, and five others were detained for disorderly conduct, Naverberg said.

All six were released Saturday morning.

Drought tests a changed Ethiopia On a treeless plain in eastern Ethiopia, thousands of destitute pastoralists have set up camp outside the tiny village of Fedeto. Over the past six months the camp has swelled

as one of the worst droughts in decades has decimated herds, dried up pasture and made even drinking water scarce.

“We wandered for three months, losing every single ani-

THE Zika virus outbreak in Latin America could be a bigger threat to global health than the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in Africa.

That’s according to several public health experts who spoke with the Guardian and Examiner newspapers ahead of an emergency meeting of the World Health Organisation on Monday, which will decide whether the Zika threat should be rated a global health crisis.

Brazilian public health authorities are reporting an increase in cases of microcephaly, a fetal deformation where infants are born with abnormally small heads.

The incidence of the normally rare birth defect is 10 times higher than normal.

The cause is under investigation, but there appears to be a correlation between the condition and Zika infections in expectant mothers.

“In many ways the Zika outbreak is worse than the Ebola epidemic of 2014-15,” Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust, told the Guardian.

“Most virus carriers are symptomless. It is a silent infection in a group of highly vulnerable individuals, pregnant women, that is associated with a horrible outcome for their babies.”

mal apart from two donkeys,” said Saido Ahmed Keyat, a 29-year-old mother of five, whose family had boasted 200 sheep and goats, 15 cattle, eight camels and seven donkeys.

Woman’s body, 2 live monkeys found in Florida motel room A woman was found dead in a motel room in Florida, along with a note and two live monkeys, police said.

Authorities discovered the Capuchin monkeys in crates, the North Port police said in a statement.

Police, according to CNN identified the woman as Linda Marie Smith, 59, of

Arcadia, Florida. She was found Friday at a Budget Inn in North Port “There was no obvious signs of trauma to Smith’s body,” police said. “The cause of death is undetermined at this point. The medical examiner will soon conduct an autopsy.”

An incoherent man, who

was in the room with her, received medical attention and was undergoing questioning.

Police did not release his identity or what the note said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis- One of the monkeys found in sion is taking care of the crates in a Florida motel room with a woman’s body. PHOTO: CNN. monkeys.

Source: CDC, BBC

46

Monday, 1 February, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Tribunesport reporters win Oyo State Sports Media Awards

By Oluwabunmi Ajayi TRIBUNESPORT duo of Niyi Alebiosu and Olawale Olaniyan have been named the Best Sport Reporter of the year for 2014 and 2015 respectively at the Oyo State Sports Media Award held at Ayefele Music House, Challenge, Ibadan.

Speaking during the presentation of the award which had in attendance the former Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Sports, Waheed Ekun, former Super Eagles captain, Mutiu Adepoju commended Tribunesport for its dedication and uprightness in the coverage of sporting activities in the state and the country at large.

Also, Ekun, a former national and African Table Tennis champion having commended the duo of Alebiosu and Olaniyan said the Tribunesport desk is noted f o r best sport coverage

over the years adding that he was not suprised that the most glorious award goes to Tribunesport for two years consecutively.

Other winners of the award are; Eniola Afolabi of Impact Fm, who won in the broadcast category for English, Bababtunde Saheed of Fresh FM won the Yoruba Sports Presentation category, Sport Personality of the Year goes to James Odeniran who is the chairman of the Oyo State Football Association while Mutiu Adepoju, Ayo Ademokoya were also named sport personality of the year, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) was adjuged the best Club of the year, Rasheed Balogun, 3SC General Manager named Sports Personality of the Year, Odion Ighalo named the Nigeria Winner, Oyo State Sports Reporter of the Year 2014, Mr Niyi Alebiosu (third left); winner, 2015 edition, Mr Olawale Olaniyan (third right) both Best Player of the year. of the Nigerian Tribune, at the second edition of the Oyo State Media Merit Award held at Ayefele Music house, Challenge, Ibadan, on Sunday.

While reacting to the award at the ceremony, With them are other members of staff of the Nigerian Tribune.

Alebiosu, Deputy Editor, Sport dedicated the award to the mangement of the Nigerian Tribune and the entire staff of the organisation for believing in the desk and giving the reporters free hand to cover sporting activities in the land and around the globe, saying that,”I want to dedicate this award on behalf of the sports desk to the entire management staff and staff of our great company.

Djokovic beats Murray to win sixth Australian Open W

ORLD number one Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in straight sets to win his sixth Australian Open title and condemn the Briton to a fifth final defeat.

The Serb, 28, won 6-1 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to claim his sixth Melbourne title, tying the record of Australia’s Roy Emerson.

Djokovic also draws level with tennis greats Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on 11 Grand Slam titles.

Second seed Murray, 28, has now lost all five Australian Open finals he has played, four of them against Djokovic.

The Scot becomes only the second man behind his former coach Ivan Lendl at the US Open - to lose five finals at the same Grand Slam since the open era began in 1968.

He was expected to head straight to the airport after the final to return to London

and his wife Kim, who is due to give birth to their first child in the next two weeks.

Djokovic has now won four of the past five major tournaments, including three in a row, and will try to complete his career Grand Slam with a first French Open title in June.

Murray: “I feel like I’ve been here before. Congrats Novak.

Six Australian Opens is an incredible feat. The last year has been incredible. Good job.

“I’d like to thank my team for getting me to this position.

Sorry I couldn’t get it done.

Thanks for all your support during a tough few weeks off court.

“And finally to Kim, my wife, who is going to be watching at home. You’ve been a legend.

I’ll be on the next flight home.”

Djokovic: “I need to pay respect to Andy for having another great tournament.

Tough luck tonight.

“He’s a great champion, great friend and a great professional who I’m sure will have many more chances to win this trophy.

“I also wish you and Kim good luck for the birth of your child and I hope you will experience a feeling like no other before - that’s what happened to me and my wife.

I wish you all the best.”

Stakeholders laud Ambode on sports appointment

By Niyi Alebiosu

Djokovic

GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has been commended by stakeholders for the recent appointment in the sports sector in the state.

Oladele Gbajumo, General Manager of newly-promoted Glo Premier League side, Ikorodu United FC commended His Excellency, Governor Ambode for appointing Bolaji Yusuf as Senior Special Assistant, Sports Facilities/ General Manager, Sports Facilities in Lagos State.

Gbajumo noted that Bolaji Yusuf’s exeprenice and background in facility management will go a long way in helping the state to realise its potenial of providing first class sporting facilities that all Lagosians will be proud of.

In the same vein, Deji Beecroft, Team Manager, Massiah Football club noted that Yusuf’s performance and blistering record as the Facility Manager, Campos Square mini stadium and Onikan stadium shows that the governor is a sport-loving governor that has the interest of the masses at heart, hence this worthy appointment.

“Looking through the appointments made so far by Governor Ambode to steer football and other sporting matters since the inception of his administration in

Lagos shows that it is a new dawn in the cosmopolitan city in Africa.

Gov Ambode

47

Monday, 1 February, 2016

schoolsport

Nigerian Tribune

Anchor: Nurudeen Alimi oladimejialimi@yahoo.co.in 08111847089

I ran barefooted for many years as an athlete —Obanubi

Ronke Obanubi, a former 100 meters champion and former chairman, Oyo State Sports Council in this interview with NURUDEEN ALIMI shares her experience as a product of School sport and proffers solution to the problems facing the development of schoolsport.

Excerpts:

W

HAT do you think can be done to bring back the lost glory of schoolsport?

Firstly, the young ones who are the major actors must be encouraged by organising various sporting activities in schools. During our days as student athletes there was what we called NTC Cup and series of other competitions. Through this we met other athletes from outside our domain because that time there were no states, what we have then was regional government. There should be weekend competitions, iner-state competitions, inter-school competitions and so on. This will also foster unity among young ones.

What were the challenges you faced as an athlete?

One of the major challenges I faced as an athlete was the fact that I was running barefooted when I started and this lasted for many years. I started using spike shoe when I came to limelight and that was when I was representing the whole Western Region.

Can you tell us your most memorable moment?

My most memorable moment was when I went to Ghana in 1966, I ran the 100 meters and I created a new West African record, so my coach came to me and told me “Ronke you have made a new record” and I said what record? because I was thinking my time was so poor it was after then my coach told me that I should prepare to run the 200 meters and he also informed me of my father’s presence among the spectators, I was shocked because I was wondering how my father find his way to

Obanubi during her days as an athlete

good idea if all local government areas in the country have stadium, this I believe will in no small way contribute to the development of schoolsport in the country.

Federation wants Scrabble in Schools curriculum Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure Obanubi

Ghana without my knowledge but this information really gingered me to put more effort and when I ran the 200 meters I set another record and after the race I asked of my father and I was told I will see him after I finished the relay race and I said no problem. After the race, I asked for my father again and the coach told me that my father was not at the stadium that he just used that to boost my morale, I smile and I just felt it was all in my best interest.

Do you think government is doing enough to develop schoolsport?

I do not think they are doing much. Our boys and girls are not enjoying a conducive envi-

ronment for sporting activities. Look at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex for instance, the swimming pool is there has not been completed for years. We used to have a lot of swimmers during the Western Region days, they were brought from Oke-Ogun and they were very good. During that time they had their training at Premier Hotel or Recreation Club. I will suggest that government should put more effort, am not saying they are not doing well, but it is not enough. For instance most school boys and girls are interested in one sport or another but they can not afford to buy sport equipments like spike shoe and other things. The government should be able to buy enough equipments and it will be a

Schools require standard sports facilities —Owoeye

By Nurudeen Alimi THE management of Lead City High School has explained the significance of having standard sports facilities in academic environment.

Speaking during the commissioning of the sports facilities on the premises of the school situated at Jericho Ibadan, the CEO of the school, Mrs Taiwo Owoeye said the school does not want to settle for less, and that was why it took its time at ensuring that the facilities put in place meet international standard.

She described sports as a vital process of complete developmental programme

for pupils which will aid them to grow fast both physically and academically, and this can only be achieved with standard sport facilities.

“There can only be total development when all facilities needed are in place it helps children to grow fast both physically and academically, sports improves students in mind and spirit”.

Also speaking at the commissioning of the ultramodern Sport Complex which include a soccer pitch made of astro-turf, 500-seater spectators stand, swimming pool, athletic track, basketball, volleyball

and badminton court, the Chancellor Lead City University Professor Gabriel Ogunmola urged the students to make good use of the facilities in order to build a secured future in a sound mind and a healthy body.

“There are many children who are not in school due to various social and cultural factors and we must address these through the contributions of private schools. Professor and Mrs Owoeye have contributed so well in the education landscape of Ibadan and Nigeria as a whole and I’m proud of them,” Ogunmola stated.

THE Scrabble Federation of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to include Scrabble as part of extra Curriculum activities in schools across the country.

The Chairman, National Youth Committee of the National Scrabble Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Akintunde Akinsemola made this call during a two-day workshop for secondary school teachers in Ile- Oluji in Ile Oluji local government area of Ondo state .

The two-day Workshop, organised and sponsored by Mr Leke Akinyanmi of LEKOIL with the theme,”Making IleOluji a Scrabble Haven,the Beginning” was put together to groom and teach students from all the 19 schools in IleOluji on how to play scrabble.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the event, Akinsemola described scrabble as one of the tools to develop intellectual capacity of the students as well as their teachers.

He said scrabble game had in the past helped to develop intellectual prowess of students, hence the workshop was put in place saying “ the citizens of Thailand don’t speak good English, but the play scrabble, because it is part of their curriculum.

“If we do the same in Nigeria, it is going to help the students. If you know how to play scrabble, you will not make spelling mistakes, this is one of the areas that our secondary schools students are lacking and affecting their results.

SIDELINES

no 16,426

W

MONDAY, 1 FEBRUary, 2016

HAT do we know how to do? Perhaps I should reframe the question: what do we know how to do well? I think our response to either question will fetch one and the same answer: Nothing.

But let me not give the impression that I am asking a straight-forward question of anyone who bothers to read, hear me or listen to me. Let me also not give the impression that I expect a quick, clear tothe-point answer from anyone who itches or wishes to talk to me or any reader of this column.

Before I utter further words, I feel the need to say straight-away that every day by day that Nigeria puzzles me. We are the biggest black people, population-wise, in the world. We are naturally well endowed in every sense of the word. We are a plural people and society, a more than huge advantage which we ordinarily should have employed to turn our world and other worlds outside ours into one world of limitless splendour. Obviously, we have the brains and brains to do this, but how have we floundered and floundered for centuries, I mean for generations and generations without deducing meanings from the phantasms that the generationsupon-generations-floundering induced and are inducing?

Thinking about this every time generates in me sensations of vertigines. I think too much about this big-and-good-fornothing country, you wonder.

But why really am I dwelling on this thought now? Before I sat down to do this writing, I took some pretty time off my very tight schedule to catch a glimpse of the Australian Open in Melbourne. I beheld a marvellous marvel of a marvellous tennis event. In fact, year by year the event improves in an amazingly marvellous manner. And I ever wonder and wonder if we Nigerians are less human than Australians. If you know how Australia came into being as a country (or as a continent) you cannot but understand my turn of thought and deep thoughtfulness.

Didn’t we have our own Ogbe Hard Court tennis tournament in the days of

n150

A mission from the Fiscal Affairs Department of the International Monetary Fund is currently at the FCT, Abuja, reviewing Nigeria’s 2016 budget. So, is Nigeria now an arm of the IMF, or is IMF Nigeria’s National Assembly?

in&out with Tony Afejuku 08055213059

What do we know how to do? yore? What has since become of it? That beauty of a tennis event that used to bring international players to Nigeria, what has become of it? Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, erstwhile Mid-west/Bendel State governor, military and civilian, who founded Ogbe Hard Court now buried in oblivion, how is he feeling now as the Australian Open, founded and created long and long before Ogbe Hard Court was born, is still ever going strong? Are we not cleverer, richer, wealthier and positively smarter than Australians who do not have the pedigree we have?

Perhaps because we are a black people, we keep on falling from the high wall of our rich destiny when we are supposed to be flying and flying well and well in the space of modern civilization, Humanism and Humanity?

What am I up to? Name one institution of ours which we can say with an iota or dot or molecule of sincerity that we are proud of today - from the arena of sports, maybe outside the pitch of football, to that of anything else that can confirm our master-of-our-destiny status in the competing universe of Christian West, Muslim Middle East and Hindu East or Buddhist Occidentalism.

My mind dwells on the current cases of the alleged thieving thieves in our land. It is clear, very obvious that all those who clamour, who are clamouring for the majority of them or all of them do so, are

We know why our country is a bad dream: we don’t know how to do anything right or well.

doing so on account of our laws, all our laws which favour the rich. In fact, the framers of all the laws framed them to protect the rich. And when the rich appear before our judges, the laws that are set up for them proudly exonerate them. The laws only catch the poor. Or, which poor folk has even enjoyed the gains, benefits and fruits of plea bargain? Does the poor even have the opportunity to make a plea of bargain? Rule of law, very more often than not, is skewed in favour of the wealthy and people of big power. But don’t get me wrong: the law that is the law must be rich enough to protect and punish all equally without discrimination.

My mind races and races endlessly.

Our schools at all levels are schools in name only. Our hospitals everywhere are hospitals in name only. Indeed, all our institutions are institutions in name only.

We know this and more than understand what is going on.

We know why we are so poor even though we are so rich. We know why countless Nigerians are unemployed.

We know why countless youths roam the streets aimlessly. We know why almost every youth or adult wants to get out of here at the slightest opportunity. We know why everybody in power, authority, government or in this or that office or position is stealing and stealing without qualms. We know why pensioners who gave the best part of their lives to improving their country are not getting their due financially and otherwise.

We know why our country is a bad dream: we don’t know how to do anything right or well. We don’t know, we don’t know, we don’t know and we understand it all – why things are what they are: I must ask the question again: what do we do well or know how to do?

My answer: Nothing – not even how to retrieve stolen monies from all alleged thieving thieves and how to punish them to deter their would-be imitators from following their unholy steps and examples. And do we even know how to use the stolen monies to take care of Nigeria and Nigerians? The answer, the answer, has a voice that is voiceless.

If change does not help or compel change to change there will be change that will kill change – soonest.

EPL African Award: Mikel battles Ayew, Kouyate Aston Villa’s summer signing Ghanaian Jordan Ayew, Chelsea’s Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi and Senegalese star Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham are the final three in the shortlist for the African Player in the English Premier League of January.

The statement signed by awards director Tunde Adelakun explained that the month showed signs of a long and hard season for the Premier League players so far with players like Odion Ighalo and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez still proving doubters wrong as they continued sparkling form.

But, according to Adelakun, this month is ‘a tribute to the Africans who are making their own contribution in their own way, in their clubs’ trying times’.

Apart from Kouyate, whose West Ham are certainly riding high, getting impressive results against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, and an impressive away win at Bournemouth, the other two nominees are having a season to forget in their respective clubs.

Chelsea, champions of England only last season, are not having the best of times. But, as Adelakun pointed out, ‘things have taken a turn for the up for the champions, unbeaten in eight games since the departure of former manager Mourinho, but more importantly, a restore to starting eleven duties for Nigerian Jon Obi Mikel”.

Continuing, he said “Mikel has put an air of settlement in the Chelsea midfield and

we thought we should recognise his input by shortlisting him for January’s award”.

The same can be said of Ghanaian Jordan Ayew, who is having a torrid season with Aston Villa, seemingly unable to pick points to take them off the bottom of the table.

However, Ayew has been playing really well, showing signs of why he was highly rated and picked up by Villa in the summer.

In the statement, Adelakun was quoted as saying “the quality of Ayew’s skill, ability and work rate belies the position his team is on the table, but Mikel that is football”, he concluded.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Telephone: 08165728976; 08073598322. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribune.com.ng MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 01/02/2016.