1st June 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,513

WEDNESDAY, 1 JUNE, 2016

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Makarfi resumes as PDP caretaker chairman today •As Police grant party's request to reopen office

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Buhari launches Ogoni clean-up tomorrow —P4

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We are not privatising our schools —Oyo govt

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Nigeria's Barkindo may become OPEC Sec Gen —P12

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How to solve Niger Delta problems, by Atiku —P2

•Says selling 10% of NNPC's shares would have raised $20bn for region's development Reps amend CCB/CCT Act •Strip president of power of appointment —P4

FG orders arrest of ex-ministers with unauthorised diplomatic passports —P8

From left, Executive Director, Dangote Group, Halima Aliko Dangote; Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima; President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; board member, Dangote Foundation, Mrs Angela Adebayo and the CEO, Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, during a courtesy visit by Governor Shettima to the Corporate Office of Dangote Group, in Lagos, on Tuesday.

Disarm pro-Biafran activists, IGP orders AIGs, CPs —P2

2 news Disarm Biafran activists, IGP orders Chris Agbambu -Abuja, with Agency Report

OLLOWING attacks on police officers engaged to restore public order in some states of the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of the country by agitators for Republic of Biafra, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has directed Assistant Inspectors General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in the affected area to disarm members of the group operating firearms immediately. The IGP noted that the targeted attacks on police personnel, who had been performing their statutory duties in the most professional and civil manner since the latest resurgence disorder, portrayed the activists as having crossed the threshold, in what he described as their misguided attempt to test the common will of the country. While condemning the killing via a statement, Arase also directed the ar-

rest of any member of the group found in possession of firearms and bring him/ her to deserved justice. He directed that all activists arrested in connection with the killing of the policemen should be charged to court for murder. The Nigeria Police said it would continue to diligently work towards eliminating any threat to internal security and assured Nigerians of its commitment to their safety and security.

day. Enwerem said some MASSOB members were arrested for wrongful assembly and marching,

causing public disorder, panic and disturbing the peace of the state. He said the group embarked on the march

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

without any previous information or permit from the police, describing their action as an embarrassment.

Normalcy had, however, returned to Owerri, as residents were going about their normal duties and businesses.

Police investigate MASSOB march in Owerri The police are currently investigating the march by members of MASSOB in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Monday, with a view to prosecuting culpable persons. Police Public Relations Officer of the command in Imo, Andrew Enwerem, made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri, on Tues-

President Muhammadu Buhari with National Political Adviser of Jordan, Mr Manar Dabbas (left) and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, as President Buhari receives in audience Mr Dabbas, at the State House, on Tuesday.

Police arrest, arraign 17 suspected MASSOB/BIM members in Enugu , Abia How to stop militancy in Niger Delta, by Atiku It has come to stay —MASSOB From Jude Ossai and Anthony Ubong THIRTEEN people suspected to be members of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Biafrans Independent Movement (BIM), on Tuesday, appeared before an Enugu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly participating in the last Monday pro-Biafra protest in Enugu. The suspects were arrested by the police on Monday, at Edinburgh Road, Enugu, during a protest marking the 50th anniversary of Biafra. In the suit number 245c/2016, the suspects were charged for belonging to an unlawful society called MASSOB, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495(a) of the criminal code cap 30 vol.11 laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004. The Igbo activists were also alleged to have, among other things, taken part in an unlawful assembly on May 30, for actualisation of the sovereign state of Biafra and thereby, committing an offence punishable under section 106 of the criminal code cap 30 vol.11 laws of Enugu State. All the suspects pleaded not guilty to each of the charges. The trial Magistrate, E. N. Alukwu, adjourned the case till June 23 for hearing. Also in Abia, the police, on Tuesday, said four proBiafra activists arrested during the celebration of Biafra anniversary on Monday, in

Umuahia, would be charged to court. The command’s spokesperson, Mr Ezekiel Onyeke, told the NAN in Umuahia that the suspects would be arraigned today. Onyeke warned that the command would, henceforth, clamp down on any group that threatens the peace in any part of the state. NAN reported that proBiafra agitators converged on the popular city centre, Isi-gate, on Monday, for a prayer session to commemorate the declaration of the defunct republic. They were dispersed by a detachment of armed policemen with teargas, which led to stampede and arrest of some members of the group. Meanwhile, MASSOB has restated its resolve to continue agitating for the cre-

ation of a sovereign Biafra state through non-violence means, saying it had come to stay. Zonal leader of MASSOB, Samuel Okah, who stated this during a rally held by the group in Ikom, Cross River State, said the rally was in commemoration of the 1967 declaration of the sovereign state of Biafra by then leader, Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, which could not be actualised through violent means, but could now be achieved through non-violent means. The rally attracted a large crowd, as members came from different parts of the state, wore uniforms, waved Biafran flags and walked from the Ikom Stadium to the New Okomo Layout in the town. He said instead of violence,

members had decided to change their approach, by learning to agitate for their request through a roundtable negotiation dialogue, which was the most effective means of bringing about political and social emancipation. According to Okah, the Biafran State was not only for the people of the South-East as erroneously thought by some people, but also the people of the South-South, who shared the same destiny and aspiration with the people of the South-East. He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the yearnings of the people of Biafra and allow them to go, since all indices point to the fact that Biafra state had come to stay in the minds and hearts of majority of the people of the region.

FORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, proffered solution to the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta, conselling that the issue must be handled with care. He also urged Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari a ``pass mark’’ for his efforts in the first year of his administration. He made the call in Abuja, at the launch of a book entitled: “We Are All Biafrans,’’ written by Chido Onumah. According to Atiku, who was chairman on the occasion, unless the Niger Delta issue was resolved, Nigeria might not get electricity soon. “I think the Niger Delta should be handled with a ‘stick and carrot’ approach. In 2007, before I ran for president seat, I met with various stakeholders on the

Ekweremadu condemns killings in the South-East Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja DEPUTY Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday, condemned the killing of members of the Movement for the Actualisation of The Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), who marked the anniversary of the declaration of Biafra by the late Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu, on Monday. Ekweremadu, who moved a motion to that effect, citing Order 43 of Senate Standing Rules 2015 as amended, said the report-

ed killings of young men and women by security operatives in parts of the South-East, all in the name of quelling disturbances, was condemnable. The Deputy Senate President said what happened in the South-East on Monday was bloodbath, adding that it was time to end the killings. He further noted that the country had recorded so much bloodshed in various parts of the country in past, as such security agencies must apply caution in quelling perceived disturbances in any part of

country whatsoever, so as to prevent young men and women from being sent to their untimely graves. He said: “Those of us who had the opportunity of looking at the papers this morning would know that most of the newspapers had front page stories of bloodbath in the South-East. Yesterday, I had a number of calls about the disturbing clash between youths in different parts of the SouthEast, South-South and security agencies, leading to the death of many people, both the young men and security personnel.

“I would like to use this opportunity under Order 43 to say that the security agencies must apply caution in trying to quell disturbances. We have had so much of bloodbath in this country under different circumstances and we cannot continue to lose our young men, because the future of this country belongs to them. Though the motion was not debated, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who presided over the sitting, said it was necessary that actions were taken on the matter.

Niger Delta issue and they came up with a policy. “Part of the recommendations was that the ministry be moved to the Niger Delta and not Abuja. We have had administrations that did not do their homework on the Niger Delta. “If I had won, I would have sold 10 per cent shares in the NNPC; that will give me 20 billion dollars which would build infrastructure for the Niger Delta, but we will always end up with accidental leadership. “Bring peace and development to the Niger Delta then they will stop blowing up pipelines. Then, we will get gas and then power can be stable, but until then, we will not get it,” he said. Speaking further, he said of the five areas the Buhariled administration pledged to face, he had accomplished two and should be encouraged. “He promised to look into issues like power, insurgency, unemployment, corruption and diversification and if you are to take two out of five, you can give him a pass mark. “He has dealt with corruption and Boko Haram. For power, give him time,’’ he said. Other recommendations he gave for a better Nigeria were “a smaller, leaner Federal Government with reduced responsibilities. This means devolution of powers and resources to states and local governments. “State and local governments should control educaContinues pg 10

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Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Reps amend CCB/CCT Act •Strip president of power of appointment •Reduces tenure of chairman, members to 5-year renewable period Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

T Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, flanked by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed (left) and a former Head of Interim National Government and chairman on the occasion, Chief Ernest Shonekan, at the 14th maritime seminar for judges, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Buhari launches Ogoni clean-up tomorrow Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will launch the Ogoniland clean-up tomorrow, it has been disclosed. This was contained in a statement issued by Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, Head of Corporate Affairs unit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday. It stated that the Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed, confirmed the date when she visited Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of the state, to inspect an oil spill clean-up demonstration. The statement quoted Mohammed as saying that the president had given assurances that the area would be cleaned-up in fulfilment of his electioneering promise to people of the Niger Delta. “I can confirm that President Buhari will visit Ogoniland on June 2 to kick-off clean-up of oil spills in the area as recommended in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report. “Buhari would return to Ogoniland where he inaugurated a fish pond in 1984 where the once flourishing pond regrettably had been destroyed by oil pollution. “The Federal Government is coming back to restore the ecosystem to what it used to be and as such restore the peoples’ source of livelihood,” she said.

NDA threatens to destroy international oil companies Members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have vowed to destroy international oil companies and their indigenous counterparts if they fail to heed their warning to quit the region. The group, in a statement

on Tuesday, said “to the international oil companies and indigenous oil companies, it’s going to be bloody this time around. “Your facilities and personnel will bear the brunt of our fury, which shall fall upon you like a whirling wind.” The group also dared Mr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, for being handicapped in helping his people from the siege laid on Gbaramatu communities by soldiers, saying he had already soiled his hands with the Federal Government during the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan. Members of the group also told the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) carrying out cordon and search in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State to square it with them and not vulnerable children and women in the kingdom. In a statement entitled: “Tompolo before your very eyes your people are suffering,” signed by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo and sourced from its website late Monday night, the group said the military was deceiving President Muhammadu

Buhari to believe that they were prosecuting the war against the avengers. It described the act of men of the JTF Nigerian Army as guilty of “the greatest act of cowardice,” adding that this fight, “we believe, is against the Avengers and not the innocent villagers of Gbaramatu Kingdom. “The Niger Delta is made up of seven states, it is therefore, very funny to lure us to halt our well-planned line of actions that will shock the whole world by harassing innocent villagers,” the statement further read.

Army lied on arrest of our members -Avengers Following the purported arrest of 10 suspected members of the rampaging NDA, the group has come out to deny the claim by the Nigerian Army. The group, in its Twitter handle, @NDAvengers, on Tuesday morning, said none of its strike team was in the kitties of the Nigerian troops. The tweet read: “@NDAvengers: Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of 10 @ NDAvengers boys by Nigeria

military. “None of our strike team has been arrested; it’s all a lie.” The group also denied the killing of any Nigerian troop as widely claimed by the military, warning that if the Nigerian Armed Forces are actually ready for a combat, they should first confront them. Contrary to the news that only three soldiers died last weekend after they drowned in Bayelsa State, the militants had also claimed that no fewer than 50 troops actually lost their lives. NDA, which made this known on its Twitter handle: @NDAvengers, on Tuesday, said the Chief of Army Staff deployed personnel on a suicide mission because they lacked amphibian training to navigate in the creeks. The group said but for the swift help of local fishermen, the death rate would have reached 100. It accused the army chief of selling a dummy to President Buhari that its members were killing soldiers. “This is our stand: we have not killed soldiers. If we do, we will claim responsibility because we take proud and responsibilities in all we are doing. That is our code,” the NDA’s tweet read.

We are ready for Niger Delta Avengers in Lagos —CP

Dispels invasion rumour Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos THE Lagos State police command has dispelled the rumour that the Niger Delta Avengers had invaded Ikorodu area of the state. The police urged residents of the state to go about their business without any fear, stating that the police in the state had the capability to deal with any invaders. The state police boss, Fatai Owoseni, while briefing

newsmen during the parade of robbers arrested in the state in the last one month, described the news of the invasion of the militants as a mere rumour. Owoseni admitted that the police and other security agencies were aware of the rumour and quickly added that the security agencies were all working together to curtail any invasion into the state. The police boss stated

that as part of the efforts to assure the people of their safety, the police invaded Ikorodu on Tuesday and arrested about 200 cult members. He said the police were ready to deal with any invasion by the militants or any other group. He promised to ensure a continuous raid on the Lagos communities, as parts of the efforts to rid Ikorodu of criminals.

HE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, stripped the president of the powers to appoint members of staff of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting corrupt public officers. Rather, the House empowered the National Assembly to now appoint members of the Bureau, as prescribed in amendment of section 4(2) of the CCB Principal Act, which was adopted and passed by the House at the Committee of the Whole. The House also approved the new provisions in section 1(4) which provides that “the chairman and members shall serve for a term of five years subject to renewal for one further term only,” thereby deleting the initial provision that “the chairman and any member shall vacate office upon attaining the age of 70.” The amendment also conferred the power on the National Assembly to exercise disciplinary control over the chairman of the Bureau. The report, entitled “An Act to provide for the establish-

ment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal to deal with complaints of corruption by public servants for the breaches of its provisions,” also compelled the Bureau to give particulars of any areas of infringement (non-declaration of assets) to the public officer in question the privilege of responding. According to the new provision in section 3(e): “Upon complaints of any breach or where it appears to the Bureau that there is a breach of the provisions or this Act, the person concerned shall be given particulars of such non-compliance or breaches to explain before any reference to the Tribunal.” Also the House adopted the amendment of section 10(1) that a public officer “either by himself or through another person” shall not ask for or accept any property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties. It will be recalled that the National Assembly had embarked on moves to amend the CCB/CCT Act, after the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was arraigned at the CCT.

Establishment of national shipping line underway —Amaechi MINISTER of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said the Federal Government is marshalling out ways of encouraging the establishment of a national shipping line, to ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials in the maritime industry. Amaechi also said the Federal Government was making efforts at improving business in the country’s maritime sector, especially in the areas of establishing a deep sea port for modern mega ships, as well as the establishment of dry ports such as the Kaduna inland dry port, among others. Amaechi spoke in a keynote address he delivered at the 14th maritime seminar for judges, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, a parastatal under his ministry, in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI). According to the minister, “the present administration is looking into ways of encouraging the establishment of a national shipping line to ensure maximum exploitation of the potentials in our maritime sector. “The Federal Government is doing a lot towards improving on the ease of doing business in Nigeria, especially in the maritime sector. “The effort towards trade

facilitation includes modernisation of transport infrastructure, such as establishment of deep sea ports to attract the patronage of our seaports by modern mega ships and the establishment of dry ports such as the Kaduna inland dry port and others all over the country to decongest the seaports and facilitate expeditious evacuation of cargo from the seaports among others.” While also suggesting that maritime laws should be made compulsory courses in tertiary institutions, Amaechi called on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to consider the creation of a maritime or admiralty division in the Federal High Court to specially handle maritime cases. In his address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and chairman, board of governors of the NJI, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said the seminar had contributed immensely to deepening the synergy between the judiciary and the maritime sector. In his own remarks, chairman on the occasion and former head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the NJI for a healthy collaboration towards nation building.

5 sport Assets declaration: Lack of quorum stalls hearing of Saraki’s appeal

Sunday Ejike - Abuja EARING in the appeal filed by Senate President Bulola Saraki, against his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), was on Tuesday stalled following the inability of the Justices of the Court of Appeal to form the constitutionally required quorum to hear the case. Only three justices of the appellate court sat as

against five justices required by law to sit on the appeal, which was scheduled for hearing, on Tuesday. As a result of the development, the presiding judge, Moore Adumein, adjourned further hearing till Thursday (tomorrow). In the appeal, Saraki is challenging the jurisdiction of the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal to try him on the criminal charges, preferred against him by the Federal Government. The charge borders on his

Suspected herdsmen kill 2 in Kaduna NO fewer than two persons have been killed in an attack by suspected herdsmen in the early hours of Tuesday, at Ninte Village, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The chairman, Interim Management Committee of the council, Mr Bege Katukah, told newsmen that two persons lost their lives, while property, including houses, were burnt during the attack. Katukah said although, most of the villagers had deserted the village to neighbouring Zankan Village for safety, security personnel had been deployed and the affected area combed. He assured the people that government would not relent in its effort toward combating such ugly acts, adding “we will ensure that lives and property are secured as it is government’s primary responsibility”.

The chairman urged youths in the area not to take laws into their hands and condemn any form of reprisal attack. Meanwhile, NAN reported that the villagers, including women and children in their numbers could be sighted leaving to neighbouring villages with their belongings for safety of their lives.

MainOne partners Radware on robust DDOS mitigation MAINONE, the premier connectivity and data centre solutions company in West Africa and Radware, a leading provider of cyber security and application delivery solutions, have announced their partnership to offer service providers and enterprises an outsourced Managed Security Service. The service is specifically targeted at deploying the Distributed Denial of

PDP needs total overhaul —Akin-Deko By Nurudeen Alimi A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Akintayo AkinDeko, has advocated a total overhaul of the party. Akin-Deko, who is the convener of Majeobaje Movement, a socio-political group that focused on promoting the South-West interests and good governance in Nigeria, noted that he decided to work with like minds to restore PDP to greatness and give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a vigorous opposition. “I commend the decision of the generality of PDP party members that met in Abuja and Port Harcourt, last Saturday and opted to set up a caretaker committee to direct the affairs of the party. What made this happen was the discreet networking by trusted par-

alleged false/anticipatory declaration of assets, money laundering, operation of foreign accounts while in office as the governor of Kwara State and allegation that he collected salaries as a governor, four years after his tenure had elapsed. The senate president, through his legal team, led by a former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi is praying the appellate court to set aside a ruling the tribunal delivered against him on March 24. In the said ruling, the tribunal held that it has the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine the case against him. The two-man panel tribunal equally declined to stay further hearing on the matter to await the outcome of the appeal. Meanwhile, the Federal Government, through its lawyer, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, also filed a crossappeal against the ruling of the tribunal.

ty elders and the patience of PDP grass root members.” He said that the party’s journey back to power has just begun, saying:”The caretaker committee still needs to be harmonised, the party register of members must be updated and congresses must be organised to elect new leaders from wards up to the national level. “At the end of it all, the PDP caretaker committees led by Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi and Professor Jerry Gana, must midwife a new National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Council (NEC), that excludes any individual whose integrity is in question and who does not share our founding members vision of justice, integrity and selfless service,” he said.

Service (DDOS) attack detection and mitigation solution to safeguard the security of critical corporate customers on its network. The Radware DDOS mitigation service, which will be deployed within the MainOne Tier III Data Centre facility in Lagos, MDX-I, will provide bestin-class managed enterprise applications and network security against DDOS volumetric attacks, SSL Based attacks and application layer attacks which have plagued financial institutions across the continent at an increasing rate over the past year. “Africa has experienced an unprecedented increase in sophisticated DDOS attacks across industries, including financial services, oil and gas, manufacturing and e-Commerce. “As the DDOS landscape continues to evolve, with stronger, more sophisticated attack methods, enterprises need to not only proactively protect themselves but also provide a scalable means of remediation and we are investing to make the best solutions available to our customers”, said MainOne’s Chief Information Security Officer, Chidinma Iwe. According to Radware’s Vice-President, Cloud Services Business, Haim Zelikovsky, MainOne had identified an opportunity to address a pertinent issue facing enterprises in the region.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

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Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

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‘We bought fake Naira notes in Aba to spend in Lagos’ Opeyemi Owoaseye

hesiaba Ifeanyi and three others suspects have been arrested for engaging in fake money distribution and were paraded on Tuesday, at the Ikeja police command headquarters. Ihesiaba Ifeanyi explained that his elder brother, Hope gave him some of the money, and that he was arrested where he wanted to buy call credit to make some calls. He further explained that it was when he got to the police station that he informed his elder brother who he was arrested. Ihesiaba Hope older brother to Ifeanyi regretfully said, “This is the first time I will be doing it, I gave N8, 000 original notes to somebody in Aba market and I was given fake 18 pieces of N1, 000 notes in exchange. “If I had known, I won’t have done it. I am into laundry business where I stay in Lagos.” One of the suspects, Chioma Udubi a 26- yearold lady from Abia State who was arrested alongside the suspects said that she did not know anything about the case. She stated that Ifeanyi is only her boyfriend and she went to his house to visit him that

The suspects and the items recovered from them. PHOTO: OPEYEMI OWOASEYE

was how she was arrested. Another suspect, Simeon Joseph, a 29-year-old man from Benue also explained that he didn’t know any-

thing about the case, and that he only went to visit Hope, who happened to be his friend. The police Public Rela-

tions Officer, Dolapo Badmus explained that investigations are going on about the case and the truth of the matter will be unveiled.

Herbalist dupes banker N2.5m to make money ritual Opeyemi Owoaseye

An herbalist, Seyi Ade, has confessed how he duped a banker, simply identified as Lekan of the sum of N2.5 million. The 33-year-old said he told Lekan, who worked in one of the banks on the Victoria Island area of Lagos, that the money was for a special soap. He said he deceived his victim that the soap, when kept in a box for two days would produce a lot of money but the money magic failed, leading to a petition to the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), in February. The operatives were said to have trailed and arrested the suspect at his base in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. The suspect, who spoke with Lagos Metro at the

Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja on Tuesday, said he was initially selling herbs to Lekan before he asked for help for money ritual. He said, “I have known Lekan for a long time now and he is my customer. He was initially patronising me for herbs for his pile problem but he later approached me for help for money ritual, saying the money he was making in the bank was not enough for him. I said I could do it if he could give me N2.5 million. He brought the money and I gave him soap. I told him to keep the soap in a box. I said after two days, he should check the box and he would see a lot of money. “He did that, but it failed, he then reported to the po-

lice, who then arrested me.” The suspect, who claimed to have been into the job since 2011, said he operated in a syndicate, and explained that he got N500,000 from the money the victim paid, while the rest of the money was shared among the group members. “I was initiated into this job by my brother. My wife, whom I have divorced after a disagreement, is not aware

I am doing this. I was doing this because after I finished studying Business Administration in 2002 in Polytechnic of Ibadan, I couldn’t get any good job,” he added. The Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, advised members of the public to be wary of those they transact business with, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court at the end of investigation.

The fake herbalist, Seyi and items recovered from him. PHOTO: OPEYEMI OWOASEYE

Agent uses fake rooms to swindle accommodation seeker Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A 48-year-old estate agent, who allegedly conned an accommodation seeker of N400, 000 has been arrested and charged to court. Ayo Adegoke, who professed to be an estate agent allegedly collected N400, 000 from one Mrs Glady Mersis, under the pretext of helping her secure a room and parlour self-contained apartment. Prosecuting Inspector, Essien Ndarake told an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court that the accused committed the offence on May 8 at Dopemu Road, Agege. “The accused collected the money from the complainant to help her get an apartment,’’ he said, noting that the complainant approached the accused who claimed he was an estate

agent for accommodation. Adegoke showed the complainant a vacant room and parlour self-contained and the complainant paid for the rent. “After payment, the accused was nowhere to be found. The complainant went to the apartment the accused showed her but discovered that the accused was not in charge of the vacant apartment,” Ndarake said. The prosecutor said efforts made by the complainant to retrieve her money proved unsuccessful as Adegoke refused to pick the complainant’s calls. The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and the Magistrate E. Kubeinje granted him N50, 000 bail with one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned till June 23, for mention.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Ejigbo pepper sodomy: Final witness listed for June 16 Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday fixed June 16 for the prosecution to close its case in the ongoing trial of 10 people charged with sodomy and assault of two women and a minor at Oba Morufu Market, Ejigbo. The prosecution led by Mrs Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the court that “My Lord, we are requesting a short date for adjournment in this matter, we have only one more witness who is going to give a brief testimony.” Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, in a short ruling, granted the request of the prosecution and adjourned the case to June 16. “This case is hereby adjourned to June 16 at noon for the prosecution’s final witness.” Earlier, ASP Olabisi Adejumo, a policewoman attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in her testimony, narrated the role played by the market leader, Isiaka Waidi, in the incident. “As a member of the investigating team, I acted as an interpreter when getting the statement of the first

defendant (Waidi). I visited his house with members of my team while executing the search warrant and also recorded his statement. “The defendant claimed that he was only at the crime scene at the beginning of the assault on the victims and that he left to go for a meeting at Alausa. Our investigations revealed that his claims were not true as he was also in custody six months during the investigation.” The market leader, Isiaka Waidi, 61; Buhari Yusuf, 22; Abdullahi Haruna, 20; and Saheed Adisa, 29, are standing trial for the alleged torture and sodomy. Others are Lateef Tijani, 37; Ahmed Adisa, 65; Azeez Akinosun, 36; Jimoh Busari, 50; Adekunle Adenuga, 38; and Oloruntoyin Dauda, 46; the woman leader of the market. They are facing a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty. The defendants, who are alleged by the prosecution

Lagos records 4,035 rape, child abuse cases Bola Badmus

Lagos State government said it had in the last one year handled a total of 4,035 cases ranging from rape, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, defilement, divorce, matrimonial issues and child’s custody and maintenance. This was just as it vowed not to shy away from prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence crime no matter how highly placed in the society. The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, while speaking on the activities of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the last one year. “As we all know the issues of gender violence, violence against children and all forms of inhuman treatment against the less privileged has been a very critical issue for Governor Ambode. Right from when he was sworn in, he had said that this issue was going to be something he would pursue with passion and diligence. He has since then given support to the DSVRT, Office of Public Defender (OPD) and all other related agencies, including the Police Force to fight this scourge in other that it should be eliminated,”

the Attorney General said. He added that, “No matter how highly placed you are in the society, if you commit any domestic violence crime, Lagos State will go after you and prosecute you in court.” According to Kazeem, the statement government, through the agency, equally handled a total of 192 cases, saying 89 out of them had to do with domestic violence cases, 62 involving defilement while 18 cases were in respect of rape. He said six attempted rape cases were equally handled, with 10 having to do with child neglect, while seven were in respect child abuse cases, adding that all the 92 cases were presently being heard in court. He said agencies of government, including DSVRT, OPD and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), among others, had been mandated to ensure that while perpetrators of the act were brought to justice, victims of domestic violence were given succour towards their rehabilitation. “All the victims of sexual assault received medical attention from Mirabel Centre and State Hospitals, and so far, 50 of such cases were charged to court,” he said, adding that the DSVRT would on Friday, June 3, hold a free clinic for victims of domestic violence, rape at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat.

to be members of the Odu’a Peoples Congress (OPC),

had allegedly tortured with pepper and sodomized Mrs

Ajoke Agomo, her daughter, Nike Salami and her step

daughter, Juliana Agomo, over alleged pepper theft.

8 news FG orders arrest of ex-ministers, others with unauthorised diplomatic passports

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

As Immigration CG warns officers against corruption Clement Idoko -Abuja

HE Federal Government has ordered that all former political office holders, including exministers and retired public servants, with illegal possession of official and diplomatic passports should be arrested for prosecution. New Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Muhammad Babandede, conveyed the Federal Government’s directive to zonal coordinators and

state comptrollers of Immigration on Tuesday, at his maiden meeting with them in Abuja. Babandede also warned officers and men of the service against involvement in corrupt activities, saying his administration would pursue zero- tolerance to corruption, in line with the stance of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the order for arrest of the unauthorised holders of the documents followed earlier publication for re-

turn of official/diplomatic passports by former political office holders and retired public servants. He said such people were no longer in the eligibility list and that their continued illegal holding of the documents was in clear contradiction of Section 10 of the Extant Immigration Act, 2015. “I am, hereby, directing that unauthorised holders of such passports be arrested at the airports and other points of entry and departure. Efforts will be made

to trace such unauthorised holders in their given addresses,” Babandede said. He disclosed that so far, 158 diplomatic passports and 130 official passports had been retrieved. The new Immigration boss, who read riot act to officers and men of the service, warned against extortion of passport applicants at various borders and check-points in the country. According to him, “heartless Immigration officers set illegal check-points at hinterland, to bully and extort

money from citizens already devastated by Boko Haram insurgency. I will not accept this service to be the second grade of Boko Haram.” He said what was happening in the liberated territories in the North-East was most disturbing to him, adding that he would set up an anti-corruption squad and zonal coordinators and comptrollers would be held responsible for any infraction within their areas of jurisdiction. Babandede condemned, in strong terms, what he called “returns,” an organised crime in law enforcement, saying he would not accept blood money from anybody. He said: “All zonal coordinators and state comptrollers must put an end to this to provide a comfortable environment for operatives. We will also do our best to send the limited resources for operations to avoid operatives funding legitimate job with corrupt monies.”

Buhari meets South-East politicians Leon Usigbe -Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) with members of the South-East Change Group, led by Senator Ken Nnamani (third left), during the visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday. With them is the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari (third right).

ASUU suspends 3 months strike in Nasarawa varsity Godwin Agwam -Lafia THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) chapter, has suspended its three months industrial action to resume full academic activities. The university’s chapter of ASUU embarked on an industrial action three months ago, to press home their demand for their earned allowances, review of the university’s law, review of promotion guidelines, among others. Speaking to newsmen in Keffi Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday, the ASUU chairman of the university, Dr Theophilus Daniel-Lagi, said the union suspended its strike, following the payment of 20 per cent (N162 million) out of the 40 per cent total Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) owed by the institution. “Now that we have received the alert of our Earned Academic Allowance, we are, hereby, suspending the strike

and urging the state government, through the management of the institution, to fulfill its promises as contained in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the management and the union in the interest of the education sector,” he

said. The ASUU chairman appreciated members of the public for their cooperation and understanding during the period of the strike, saying it was in the interest of the institution and education in state.

Reacting to the suspension of the strike, the registrar of the university, Alhaji Dalhatu Mamman, thanked the union for suspending the strike and assured that a resumption date would be announced by the institution’s management today .

17 million people were accessing life-saving anti-retroviral medicines in 2015 —UNAIDS By Sade Oguntola AN estimated 17 million people were accessing lifesaving anti-retroviral medicines at the end of 2015, with an additional two million people gaining access over a 12-month period, new UNAIDS report, entitled: ‘‘Global AIDS update 2016,’’ has said. The new figures, released on the heels of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level meeting on ending AIDS taking place in New York, said the extraordinary scale-up of anti-retroviral treatment since 2010

by many of the world’s most affected countries had reduced AIDS-related deaths from 1.5 million in 2010 to 1.1 million in 2015. The report was launched in Nairobi, Kenya, one of the countries showing the most remarkable progress in expanding access to antiretroviral medicines and reducing the number of new HIV infections. While global coverage of anti-retroviral therapy reached 46 per cent at the end of 2015, the report indicated that the gains were the greatest in the world’s most

affected region, Eastern and Southern Africa, where coverage increased from 24 per cent in 2010 to 54 per cent in 2015, reaching a total of 10.3 million people. In South Africa, 3.4 million people had access to treatment, followed by Kenya with nearly 900 000. Botswana, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe all increased treatment coverage by more than 25 percentage points between 2010 and 2015.

FORMER Senate President, Ken Nnamani, on Tuesday, led a group of South -East, under the aegis of SouthEast Change Group, for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the presidential villa in Abuja. With him were leading members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the zone, including its National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunanso; National Treasurer, Chief George Moghalu; National Vice-Chairman (South-East), Emma Eneukwu; former Chief Executive of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Austin Edeze, Uzoma Obiyo and Cosmas Maduba, among others. It was not clear why they met with the president as they declined to speak with State House corespondents when approached after the meeting. But it was learnt that they might have come to press for more political appointments for members of the APC in the South-East, who had a sense of marginalisation under the present administration.

Bill seeking loans for students pass 2nd reading at Reps Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja THE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed for second reading a bill seeking to ensure the provision of loans for students for the pursuit of their education to higher levels. The House leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, who sponsored the bill, disclosed that it intended to provide easy access to higher education for Nigerians by the provision of loans from the Nigerian Education Bank. He stated that the loans should be interest-free as Nigeria was blessed with abundant natural resources to tap from and ensure steady education for future generations. According to him, “education is a right and not a privilege for Nigerians. Students’ loans speak volume, it is a lasting legacy to be bequeathed to future generations.”

Corruption allegation against former LG chairmen false Isaac Shobayo -Jos APPARENTLY REACTING to the statement credited to Governor Simon Lalong that he dissolved the former local government chairmen based on corruption charges against them, the former chairman of ALGON and chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government, Honourable Emmanuel Loman, said the statement wasn’t only false, but misleading. Governor Lalong, during his interaction with journalists, at the weekend, had stated that the dissolution of the chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was based on corruption charges against them found in the hand-over note from his predecessor. Speaking with newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Honourable Loman said the greatest mistake Governor Lalong made was the dissolution of the 17 elected council chairmen of the state. According to him, the state governor, being a trained lawyer, with a promise to uphold the rule of law, went ahead to do so despite court injunction.

9 news Kogi assembly crisis worsens as army officers escort G5 to sitting

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

PDP, Bello bicker over assembly crisis Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja

HE crisis rocking the Kogi State House of Assembly got messier on Tuesday, as members of the G5 sat amidst tight security despite the judgment of a Federal High Court that nullified the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Momoh Jimoh Lawal. The members, who were led into the chamber by the factional speaker, Umar Imam, were heavily protect-

ed by men of the Nigerian Army allegedly drafted from the Army records in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. The members of G15 have, however, raised the alarm over alleged assassination attempt on their lives, alleging that their quarters were invaded by gunmen who shot sporadically for over 30 minutes on Monday. The members of the G15, led by Lawal, had stayed away from the assembly, following the intervention of the Assistant Inspector

General of Police in charge of zone 8 and the Commissioner of Police in the state, who advised both groups not to sit to avert violence as both groups have adjourned their different sittings till today. But the G5 were said to have stormed the assembly complex at about 1000a.m and were accosted by policemen drafted to maintain security at the gate of the complex. The military men that led them to the complex were

said to have paved way for their entrance following which they sat and deliberated on some issues affecting the state. Umar, in his address to the members, described the action of the G15 that sat last week as unlawful, calling on their respective constituencies to recall them and replace them with ‘‘better persons.’’ The member representing Ankpa 1 state constituency, Ahmed Muhammed, moved a motion condemning what

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar (left), with the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mr Segun Awolowo, at a lecture on supporting economic transformation in Nigeria, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Fashola, Fayemi, Ogbe, 2 others absent at NBA annual review of democracy Ademola Adegbite -Abuja FIVE serving ministers, on Tuesday, shunned the State of the Nation Conference tagged: “One Year Review of Democracy in Nigeria- Rule of Law, Economic Growth, Security and Anti-Corruption War,” organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to review the activities of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last one year. The ministers, who were conspicuously absent included Minister of Power, Housing and Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, his counterparts from Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, as well as Finance, Mrs kemi Adeosun and Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu. They were absent and none of them was represented at the programme. The conference, according to the NBA president, Mr Augustine Aleghe, was not intended to condemn the present administration, but to contribute their

own quota to the development of the nation. Aleghe noted that the effort of the Federal Government in the last one year was to be evaluated in areas like the rule of law, economy and anti-corruption which was the front burner of the present administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, “this forum is not to criticise the

Federal Government and it is not the forum for praise singing anybody, rather it is an opportunity to review the steps taking so far by this administration and identify its positive steps. We are also to proffer suggestions on how to build on its positive steps. We are also to draw attention to where adjustment is needed. “That is why we are here

today. We are going to talk about the rule of law because it is important for any nation to grow. Economy is another important area which we want to talk about because a hungry man is an angry man. Security and warfare is the primary responsibility of the government. The military is here, they will tell us how far they have gone in fighting insecurity.”

INEC schedules Edo, Ondo voter registration for June 22 THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Continous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise for Edo and Ondo States from Wednesday, June 22 to Sunday, June 26 this year. According to the Commission’s Decision Extract issued on May 26 ,this year, signed by the Director, Commission’s Secretariat, Ishaku A. Gali, and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday,the Commission has also scheduled Monday, June 27 as the

conclusion of Claims and Objectives. The CVR exercise is to precede the two governorship elections for Edo and Ondo, scheduled for Saturday, September 10 and Saturday, November 26, this year respectively. The commission is to give Notice of the Edo Governorship election today) in line with Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended)which “ provides that the Commission shall give the notice of a governorship election not later

than ninety (90) days before the election”. In a related development,the Commission on Tuesday said that it was committed to concluding the suspended elections in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano states which were disrupted by violence not later than 31st July,this year , provided that all necessary consultations and activities leading to the elections were concluded timeously and that conditions were conducive enough for the conduct of the elections.

he called desecration of the house of assembly, urging the assembly to take punitive measure against the G15 to forestall further occurences. Meanwhile, the Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to call to order Governor Yahaya Bello, over his undue interference in the affairs of the state House of Assembly. The state PDP, in a statement signed by the Director, Research and Documentation, Achadu Dickson, blamed the governor for the lingering assembly crisis, saying he was working with the G5 to cause crisis. The party lamented that despite a Federal High Court ruling in favour of the G15 lawmakers, for the reinstatement of the purportedly impeached leadership of the Honourable Lawalled assembly, the governor, working in connivance with the Group of 5 lawmakers, were given protection and allowed into the hallowed chamber by heavily-armed soldiers and policemen to hold sitting. The PDP frowned on the alleged shooting by thugs at the residences of the state lawmakers in the early hours of Tuesday, arguing that it was yet another impunity of the state government taken too far.

Kids rescued from burning building in Benin Banji Aluko -Benin City SOME brave residents of Good Samaritan Street in Uselu quarters of Benin, on Tuesday, rescued two kids of the same parents trapped in a burning building. Fire reportedly gutted the building located at 1, Good Samaritan Street of Uselu quarters in Egor Local Government Area of the state when no occupant was in the apartment. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but a tenant in the house, Queen Rotimi, said she was called from the market that the house was on fire. Men of the Edo State Fire Service, however, successfully put out the fire before it spread to the ground floor. The rescued kids could not speak to the press after they were rescued as they were terrified.

I never promised to refund N5m to EFCC —Madaki

THE outgoing chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Mr Joel Madaki, on Tuesday, denied media reports that he promised to refund N5 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Madaki’s name was among those listed to have received money from former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, for the 2015 presidential campaign. Madaki, in a statement issued in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, said he never made such promise to the EFCC. “I never promised to return the N5 million. “What I said was that if it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that the N5 million is from the presidential campaign fund and when it is discovered that it was not used for that purpose, then the Adamawa PDP secretariat and myself shall arrange to refund.” Madaki acknowledged that he received N450 million as campaign fund for the state, but said the money was delivered to a “disbursement committee” at the Government House, Yola.

UI Muslim community donates N3m items to IDPs By Tunde Ogunesan THE Muslim Community, University of Ibadan, donated items which included clothes, shoes and food items worth N3million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials, at the school mosque, on Tuesday. Handing over the items to the representatives of NEMA, Lagos zone, the Chief Imam of UI mosque, Professor Mufutau Oloyede AbdulRaman, said the gesture was a necessary step in right direction for the community to express love to their brothers up North. Professor AbdulRaman said: “the Muslim community deems it fit to share in the plight of our people who are being punished because they are our brothers over there.” The South-West zone of NEMA, Mr Sulaimon Yakubu, who was represented by Mr Seyi Aina, who received the items on behalf of NEMA, said the “once the items get to the Lagos office, they will know where to put them.”

10 news No going back on electricity tariff — FG

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

•Tariff reversal will worsen power crisis —Fashola •FG protecting power firms —NASS Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

HE Federal Government, on Tuesday, insisted that there was no going back on the recently approved 45 per cent increase on electricity tariffs. Minister of Power, Works And Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who spoke on behalf of the government while appearing before the Joint Senate Committee in Power, Employment, Labour and Productivity, said that any attempt to reverse the 45 per cent increment would spell doom for the power sector. Fashola, who was accompanied to the public hearing by the acting chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Anthony Akah, further insisted that available facts at the government’s disposal showed that we heard that adequate consultations were made among the stakeholders before the NERC approved the increment. He also said that it was hasty to condemn the power privatisation process consummated under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. He also denied insinuations that the Federal Government was over defending the 45 per cent tariff regime, adding that the variables in the power value chain were all critically examined before the increment was announced. Fashola also said that the current power crisis being

experienced in the country was attributable to activities of some militants, whom he said were carrying out economic sabotage. The minister said: “Let me say again with all relevances and for the purpose of those who will benefit from this public hearing, that today, there is no PHCN anymore and we must migrate, because we have moved on from it. “As minister, I inherited a power sector, where government’s interest had been illegally sold and, therefore, I don’t control how power is distributed, I don’t control how power is generated, as it was possible to do in the past. “They are now largely private businesses, except those where government now has some minority shares and so, government is now minority shareholder in businesses where it was majority shareholder and we can only exercise collaborative pressure to get things done, but things must be done now on a commercial basis. “Government’s control is limited and it is largely exercising regulatory activities through the NERC, which sets the tariff; so my interventions here would be largely to express why I support what NERC has done and to help amplify my understanding of it. “The DISCOS were making it very clear to us that if we did not give them the market reflective tariff; it means that government would have to carry the continuing cost that accumulated in the region of about

Police grant PDP’s requests to reopen office Makarfi to resume Wednesday From Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja THE police, on Tuesday, reopened the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, allowing staff back to their office, following a request from the Board of Trustees (BoT). The detachment of armed policemen which had laid siege on the premises for nine days, was withdrawn, even though some of the personnel were left there to keep eyes on things. However, only a few staff showed up for work on the first day of opening the office, as most of them were unaware that they could be allowed access on Tuesday. Those who came were thoroughly identified before they were allowed into the premises. Secretary of the BoT, Chief

Ojo Maduekwe, confirmed to reporters that the party requested the police to reopen the office to enable the staff to resume work. He was scheduled to address the staff Tuesday afternoon, but it was pushed to Wednesday, since not many staff were aware of the reopening. Maduekwe said: “We (BoT) requested for police to unseal the place so that workers can resume work.” With the reopening of the office, the national caretaker committee of the party, headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, is expected to resume work on Wednesday. The fate of the former national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who is still claiming the post, despite the decision of the national convention to institute the caretaker committee, is unknown.

a trillion naira.” According to him, the reversal carried out in 2015 in the sector was mainly for political reasons, adding that the decision significantly increased the nation’s debt in the sector. He added: “We are not insensitive to Nigerians owing to their challenges. We are looking for the best way to solve what had become an over 60 years problem, since 1950, when Electricity Company of Nigeria was first created.

“One of the reasons it (tariff) has to go up was that a major component, a significant number of our power plant depends on gas. Out of about 26 power plants we have, only about three are hydro. “We were heavily dependent on gas, people were exporting gas because gas was selling outside the country at $4 and it was selling for domestic use at $1. Government reviewed that price to a total of $3.” Acting NERC chairman,

who also spoke before the Senate Joint Committee, said a painstaking process was embarked upon by the commission before decisions were taken. He also said that the Labour unions, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), were involved in the negotiations that led to the increment. Representatives of the TUC and the Comrade Joe Ajaero-led NLC, Comrade Chris Okonkwo, however,

submitted that the nation’s electricity supply was better off before the tariff hike than now. Many of the lawmakers, who also spoke at the hearing, said that the power situation in the country was lamentable, as they also asked the government to desist from protecting the power firms. They also asked minister and heads of agencies to rise to the challenge by restoring the people’s confidence in the power sector.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (right) and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at the ministerial breakfast meeting, organised by the Ministry of Environment, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Tuesday.

PDP members defect to new Peoples Mega Party Leon Usigbe -Abuja FACED with internal crisis, many members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the newly formed Peoples Mega Party (PMP), which inaugurated its new national administrative headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday. National chairman of the party, Chief Perry Opara, who made the claim, said the party had resisted attempts by moneybags from other political parties to hijack the party. PMP is seeking registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as one of the recognised political parties in the country. The PMP leader also declared that some members of the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had made similar advances to the PMP. Opara said: “Five days ago, a group of PDP members came here to say they are defecting to the PMP. “PDP professionals’ forum has also declared for the PMP, while some aggrieved members of PDP stakeholders forum in Abuja also defected to the PMP.” According to him, the initial outing of the party in

Abuja, some rich politicians had been approaching the party leaders with tempting offers to take over the party. He told them, however, that the party was not for sale as the vision behind its formation was to have a platform that young Nigerians could use to contest elective offices in future. Chief Opara pointed out that one of the major attractions of the new party which differentiated it from others was its policy of bottom-top

approach that gave ownership of the party to the people at the lowest level. Speaking on the issue of high nomination fees charged by political parties in the country, Opara said: “We are going to reduce the cost of elections so that young professionals can have opportunity to contest.” He assured that the “hidden powers and individuals behind the PMP will be unveiled in the next seven weeks,” to put to rest specula-

tions over the sponsors of the new party. In his remarks on the occasion, chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the party, Alhaji Husseini Abubakar, commended the national chairman of the party for resisting attempts by some moneybags to buy over the party. He said: “Chief Perry Opara would not want moneybags to hijack the party. Many have been coming, but he has been turning them down.”

How to solve Niger Delta problems, by Atiku Continued from pg2

tion, health, agriculture, roads and other infrastructure. “A true federal system will allow the federating states to keep their resources, while the Federal Government retains the power of taxation and regulatory authority over standards. “The result will be a political and governmental system that empowers local authorities and gives them greater autonomy to address peculiar local issues, while enhancing accountability and contributing to the general good of the country. “Such a robust federal system will reduce the tensions that are built into our current overcentralised sys-

tem,’’ he said. The former president also preached autonomy for states, a tax-centred revenue base, enhanced, diversified economic activities and productivity, in order to enlarge their tax bases. He also proposed an end to the indigene-settler dichotomy, there should be creation of a state police to complement the federal police and help in the fight against crime. He called for a restructuring of the country, saying “Nigeria is not working as well as it should and part of the reason is the way we have structured our country and governance, especially since the late 1960s. “The Federal Government

is too big and too powerful, relative to the federating states. That situation needs to change and calling for that change is patriotic. “We must refrain from the habit of assuming that anyone calling for the restructuring of our federation is working for the break-up of the country. “An excessively powerful centre does not equate with national unity. If anything, it has made our unity more fragile, our government more unstable and our country more unsafe.’’ He said restructuring would promote healthy rivalries among the federating units and local authorities, “thereby making us richer and stronger as a nation.”

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016 11 businessnews Nigeria records negative trade balance of N184bn By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

IGERIA recorded a negative trade balance of N184.1 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2016. It will be the country’s first negative trade balance since data collection began in 2008. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, attributed the development to falling exports. The report stated that the total value of trade at the end of the first quarter of 2016 stood at N2,723.9 billion, which represents a decline of N793.5 billion or 22.6 per cent compared with the N3,517.4 billion recorded in the preceding quarter. According to the NBS, “The steep decline in exports brought the country’s trade balance down to – N184.1 billion, or N548.7bilIion less than in the preceding quarter.” The NBS stated that the development arose due to a sharp decline in both imports and exports. “Exports saw a decline of N671.1 billion or 34.6 per cent, while imports declined by N122.4 billion or 7.8 per cent.” Year-on-Year analysis shows that the country’s exports dropped by N1,395.2 billion or 52.3% against the export value recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015. The structure of Nigeria’s export trade is still dominated by crude oil exports, with the contribution of crude oil to the value of total domestic export trade amounting to N821.9 billion or 64.7 per cent.

Expatiating further, the reports states, “Nigeria’s import trade stood at N1,454.0 billion, at the end of Q1, 2016. This was 7.8 per cent less than the value recorded in the preceding quarter 1,576.4 billion.” Further comparison with the corresponding quarter of the preceding last year, showed a decrease of N273.7 billion or 15.8 per cent.

The report added, “The structure of Nigeria’s import trade was dominated by the imports of machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuel, and chemicals and related products, which accounted for 34.7 per cent, 17.4 per cent, and 14.7 per cent respectively in 2016. “These commodities contributed the most to the

BUSINESS mogul and former governor of Abia state, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has disclosed plans to float a 12,000 hectare integrated farm, valued at over $400 million. According to Kalu, the farm, to be located in Abia State, will, when fully operational, create jobs for thousands of Nigerians, enhance food security and boost the export potential in the agricultural value chain. He made this known at the weekend when he paid a courtesy call on the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie. He added that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Chinese Nexim Bank, as well as Sign Ocean Company of China have been tipped to support the project. He commended the Chinese envoy for his roles in

accounted for N378.4 billion or 26.0 per cent of the total value of import trade in Q1, 2016. Other commodities which contributed noticeably to the value of import trade in the period under review were mineral products at N263.0 billion (18.1 per cent), and products of the chemical and allied industries at N137.0 billion (9.4 per cent), vehicles, aircraft

From left: Head Operator Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Lolade Shonubi; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge; President, Samsung Electronics Mobile Communications, DJ Koh; Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Muhammad Siddiqui and Vice President, Samsung Electronics, Sunghyuck Yoon, during Samsung team’s visit to MTN Nigeria.

FG, World Bank to review Nigeria’s privatised mining enterprises —Fayemi THE Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, says the World Bank is working closely with the Federal Government to review the country’s privatised mining enterprises. Fayemi, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the

collaboration was with a view to making the privatised enterprises functional. He said the bank would also help Nigeria exploit its minerals to achieve its planned diversification of the economy. “We are also working with them (World Bank) to take a clue from them from what obtains in other

Kalu to float $400m farm in Abia By Kate Ani

value of import trade in Q1, 2016, whereas commodities such as crude inedible materials, oils, fats & waxes, and beverages & tobacco, contributed the least, accounting for 1.5 per cent, 0.8 per cent, and 0.6 per cent respectively,” the report added. “Import trade by section was dominated by the imports of boilers, machinery and appliances, which

strengthening the diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria throughout his tenure and expressed optimism that his successor will follow in the same tradition. According to Kalu, the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to China will usher in positive developments in various sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, manufacturing and shipping. “It was good having you here and we hope that other Chinese Ambassadors will work very hard like you. I also hope they will build on the relationship you have established with the government and the people of Nigeria. “I believe that the Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have a lot to learn from each other. We are going to have a big poultry and field

mills. We are in discussion. “Once we are done with the drawings, we will make an application to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Abia State Government and the Chinese EximBank,” he said.

jurisdiction in terms of legal and regulatory framework and to help us review all of the privatised assets. “We have assets in mining that have been privatised. What is really happening to them now? “Katsina Steel Rolling Mill is there, Jos Steel Rolling Mill is there, Oshogbo steel Rolling Mill is there, Itakpe is there, Delta is there. “What is the asset? All of the assets that we have privatised may not have been under our government, but Nigeria has privatised them. “What has happened to them? What is their status now? How do we take it forward?

“So, we are working with BPE. BPE has just given me an analysis of the status of the privatised assets. It is now up to us to decide. “We sold this to you 10 years ago and you have not done anything with it. “What is in the law that will allow us to hold you accountable for what you have bought that you have not utilised in the interest of the Nigerian people. “It not just enough for you to purchase an asset and then you go to sleep.” Fayemi said the World Bank would also assist the ministry to establish a Chamber of Mines in the country to involve big players in the sector.

‘We’ll continue to professionalise HR practice in Nigeria’ Akin Adewakun-Lagos

THE Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has again assured stakeholders of its commitment to regulating Human Resource practice in Nigeria, by taking steps that would always enhance the practice in the country. Speaking at the 22nd induction ceremony of 584 new members into the nation’s HR fold, in Lagos, the President and Chairman of Council of the institute, Anthony Arabome, explained that one of the

ways the institute planned to achieve that is by issuing out practitioners’ licence. The licence, which is in addition to their professional certification, he stated, allows the inductees to operate as HR professionals in the country. While commending the inductees for meeting the institute’s rigorous requirements, both at the Examination and Practitioners’ route, the CIPM boss however charged them to be good ambassadors of the Institute by upholding the tenets of the

HR profession, at all times, through their conduct and strict adherence to the high standards of professionalism in the workplace. He described the growth the institute had recorded in the area of membership in the past 48 years, as a demonstration of its enduring commitment to producing highly trained Human Resource Management (HRM) professionals and ensuring continuous promotion of excellence in the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills by practitioners.

Nigerian Tribune

and parts thereof; vessels etc at N127.8 billion (8.8 per cent) and base metals and articles of base metals at N105.1 billion (7.2 per cent),” the report said. At the end of the quarter, the import trade classified by broad economic category, revealed that industrial supplies not elsewhere classified ranked first with N404.4 billion or 27.8 per cent. This was followed by capital goods and parts with the value of N370.1 billion or 25.5 per cent, and fuels and lubricants with N244.2 billion or 16.8 per cent. Nigeria’s import trade by direction showed the country imported goods mostly from China, with an import value of N345.5 billion or 23.8 per cent of total imports. This was followed by the United States at N127.1 billion or 8.7 per cent, India with N89.4 billion or 6.1 per cent, Netherlands with N73.8 billion or 5.1 per cent and United Kingdom with N61.4 billion or 4.2 per cent of total imports.

CBN cashless CardExpo to focus on new innovation, retail payment By Segun Adebayo

AS the annual CBN Cashless CardExpo Africa gathers momentum, Organisers of the Cashless CardExpo have assured participants of a swirl time as the two-day event will focus on the future of retail payment and e-commerce and how innovation will drive the process. In a statement issued by the organisers, the conference and exhibition which will hold on June 14-16 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State, will also focus on new users and service delivery strategy that will deliver the future of retail payments and e-commerce. According to the statement, top retail payment and e-commerce experts will provide strategies on how to position and enhance businesses to guarantee their position in the ever chnaging retail and e-commerce industry. “The CBN cashless card Expo Africa Exhibition continues its tradition of showcasing the most exciting development in the payment industries.” “What a variety of new innovation technologies, it’s never been more important to keep pace with industry developments.” “With banks, payment companies and other industries as well as new entrants as they are vying for their place at the centre of eco-system,” the statement added.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016 12 businessnews Market Fall in crude price: NAPIMS owes joint venture capitalisation dips 0.85%, partners over $7bn Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

HE Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dafe Fejebor, on Tuesday lamented the drop in the price of crude oil globally saying that the ugly development was responsible for the Agency’s indebitness of over $7billion to its Joint Venture Partners (JVPs), the sum of $7 billion Fejebor said contract agreements with joint venture partners which predate the current economic downturn put the NNPC and NAPIMS at a disadvantaged position without the option of renegotiation that would provide a winwin situation for all parties. He made the submission in Abuja before the House of Representatives joint committees on Petroleum Upstream and Public Procurement investigating the $260million contracts award which is now a subject of disagreements between oil servicing companies such as ESSO, Tilone and NAPIMS. According to him, “given the fluctuating nature of oil price which is currently between $30 to $50 per barrel, we are having difficulties meeting our obligations to our JV partners. We are indebted to the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to the tune of about $7 billion which we are trying to find a way of paying”.

The House earlier in the year mandated its committee on petroleum (upstream) and public procurement to investigate an alleged $260 million “illegal” contract by National Petroleum Investment Management Services NAPIMS. Although, the subject matter in contention according to the House resolution was for four single source contracts for projects in ExxonMobil’s Usan Deepwater Project, at a

total value of $260 million without any form of tendering process, the proceeding on Tuesday revealed three different contracts involving four companies - namely; Tilone Subsea Limited, Exxonmobil (ESSO) Nigeria Limited, GMT Limited and Temile Ventures Limited worth $70milion each. The bone of contention presented before the joint was took a new turn when Tilone Subsea

Procurement Act”. He told the committee that his company was originally given the contract for a duration of 5 years which was extended by 3 more years and approved by the then President Jonathan in 2010. He pointed out that even the NNPC in its advertorial in Guardian Newspaper of January 15th 2016 admitted the fact that the contract awarded to GMT Ltd was illegal and lacked due process approval.

From left: Shina Atilola, Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Sterling Bank Plc; Jones Onyereri, Chairman, House Committee on Banking and Currency and Senator John Enoh, Chairman, House Committee on Finance, at the Nigerian Economic Stakeholders Summit, held in Abuja.

Nigeria’s Barkindo may become OPEC Sec Gen Olatunde Dodondawa with Agency Reports

THERE are strong indications that Nigeria’s former Group Managing Director (GMD), Muhammed Barkindo may become the next Secretary General of Organization of Petro-

leum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Reuters had quoted three sources who have confirmed that Barkindo is being favored by the group to Libya’s Abdullah al-Badri, who was elected acting secretarygeneral in December until

Local car assemblies supply 75,000 new vehicles DIRECTOR-GENERAL, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Aminu Jalal, said local assemblers of vehicles contributed 75,000 units to Nigeria’s automobile market in 2015. Jalal, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the figure represented 75 per cent of estimated 100,000 new vehicles that made it into the market during the period. “Last year, the assembling plants did over 75,000 vehicles, made up of both locally assembled units and concessionary imports. “You know that assembly plants are not only producing, but are also importing fully built units (FBUs) as an incentive as provided by the auto policy.

through its Managing Director, Mr. Stanford Tassie alleged that the logistic contract duly approved and given to his firm was unlawfully terminated by NAPIMS and given to GMT as against the provision of the Public Procurement Act as well as the Nigerian Local Content Act. According to him, “GMT Energy Resources was illegally awarded the same contract which negates the provision of the Public

“This means that they supplied 75 per cent of the estimated 100,000 new vehicles that entered the market in 2015,’’ he said. NAN reports that the auto policy allows local assemblers to import FBUs at 35 per cent duty without levy for cars, and 20 per cent duty without levy for commercial vehicles. The concessionary FBU import is in proportion to their local production, while the tariff on those inputs will increase as local manufacturing capacity strengthens. Jalal predicted a drop in local production output in 2016 as a result of the current foreign exchange scarcity, which he identified as the major challenge facing the sector. “A lot of the assembly plants are minimising

their operations because they are finding it difficult to source foreign exchange to import their raw materials,” he said. “This is the major challenge we are currently facing, but you know it is not limited to the auto industry; all manufacturers are affected.’’

the end of July after serving full terms. Barkindo led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 2009 to 2010. OPEC oil ministers will meet on Thursday in Vienna. The consensus of all members - which in the past has sometimes been elusive - is required for the appointment of a new Secretary-General. The former GMD, NNPC was nominated in March 2016 by the Federal Government after failure of the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, to secure the vote of the members who eventually settled for the extension of the tenure of al-Badri on an interim

basis. Barkindo had previously served as Acting SecretaryGeneral of OPEC in 2006, and was GMD of the NNPC from 2009 to 2010. Federal Government official and some delegates of OPEC at the March meeting put Barkindo’s name forward to compete with Angola nominee who is also contesting for the post. The secretary general isn’t a decision maker at OPEC like Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali al-Naimi, for instance, but Badri had played a key role in brokering agreements and bridging differences between the cartel’s fractious members on production policies.

Jaiz Bank appoints new MD, declares N794m profit Sanya Adejokun and Ademola Adegbite-Abuja

THE Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Jaiz Bank Plc on Tuesday approved the appointment of Hassan Usman a substantive Managing Director to run the affairs of the Bank subject to the approval of Central Bank

of Nigeria (CBN). The bank declared a N794.2 million profit before tax for the year ended December 2015 as against N126.8 million realized in 2014. The board of directors of the bank had recommended Usman following a rigorous selection exercise where seasoned

Islamic Bankers within and outside the country were screened and interviewed. Usman is taking over from Mahe Abubakar who has been acting since December 2015. Hassan is not new to this position as he had previously acted as Managing Director in 2013.

lose N426bn

Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

THE equities market closed on a southward trend, as the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE ASI) depreciated by 4.26 per cent to close at 27,671.08 basis points, compared with the 0.09 per cent appreciation recorded previously. Its Year-to-Date (YTD) returns currently stands at -3.39 per cent. Market breadth closed negative as Trans-Nationwide Express Plc led nine gainers against 41 losers topped by Zenith Bank Plc at the end of trading session, an unimproved performance when compared with previous outlook. Market turnover closed negative as volume declined by 46.08 per cent against 4.54 per cent decline recorded in the previous session as investors traded 335,057,305 shares in 4,301 deals. First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc were the most active to boost market turnover as the financial institutions contributed 50.57 per cent to the turnover with 167,444,730 shares.

Sterling Bank, LEAP Africa partner on funding businesses for growth Chima Nwokojji-Lagos

STERLING Bank Plc and LEAP Africa, a leadership development and nonprofit organization, are partnering to organize a forum with a focus on how Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) can attract funding to run sustainable businesses. Speaking on Tuesday, at a press conference held at the bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, Executive Director, Finance and Strategy at Sterling Bank Plc, Abubakar Sulaiman said the CEOs forum is crucial to businesses because different funding options will be brought to the table. SMEs promoters he added, will be taught step by step processes and requirements for getting each category of funding. According to Abubakar, the bank’s focus is in training entrepreneurs to the level where they can build structures that can on their own attract funding.

editorial

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The tomato scourge

HE skyrocketing prices of some staple food in markets across the country suggest the imminence of food crisis which needs to be addressed seriously and urgently. For instance, the price of tomato, one of the most prominent vegetables on the menu of many Nigerian households, has hit the roof tops. With tomato selling for more than six times its price a few months ago, it has largely become unaffordable to the average household in Nigeria. The other parts of Nigeria that rely on the North for the production of tomato had initially thought that the scarcity and dramatic surge in the price of tomato was a response to the then unofficial hike in petrol price which happened contemporaneously. However, it emerged that the issue was a supply side problem occasioned by the assault of a pest on tomato farms in the North. The offending pest is tuta absoluta, which scourge has worsened the tomato production and supply situation in the country. Unfortunately, production was already being assailed by the effect of climate change in the far North and insurgency in the North East; and both circumstances have reduced yield and acreage under cultivation.This pernicious insect, also called tomato Ebola because of its swift devastating effects on tomato farms, reportedly produces larvae that mine the leaves, burrow into the stem and the crops, ripe or unripe, until the entire plant is destroyed. Farmers in the Kano and Jigawa tomato production belt having about 17,000 hectares of tomato field have reported a loss of over 80 per cent of their crops due to the assault of tuta absoluta. In Kaduna State where the government has declared a state of emergency on tomato production, losses in just two local government council areas out of 12 that produce tomato were estimated at one billion naira. Regrettably, this is probably the situation, if not worse, in the tomato growing states of Gombe, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano and Plateau. It is so bad that the Dangote processing plant in Kano has suspended production because of scarcity of fresh tomatoes; its main raw material. This is a sad development which the country’s tottering economy can ill-afford. The real concern is that at the best of time, the 1.8million metric tons annual production falls short of local demand put at 2.3 million metric tons but this short fall has now been exacerbated by this disease condition. Even when it is reckoned that the processing plants have reined in the 50 per cent annual production loss due to the absence of storage facility, the situation is still grave. The implication is that at a time the country should be facilitating increase in production through provision of high yielding and disease resistant seedlings and

or encourage farmers to put more acreage under cultivation, it is battling with pest control. Even then, government response to the menace is anything but proactive. Currently, the country would appear to have no solution to the veritable danger that tuta absoluta poses to tomato production. Available information indicates that the Federal Government is awaiting advice on ‘appraisal of the situation and a figure on cost of treatment’ from a team of experts it promised to commission. Similarly, the Kaduna State government is awaiting its officials sent to Kenya to share experience with the country’s experts on the control of the destructive pest. It is to the credit of Kaduna State,though, that it has taken the threat posed by the tomato blight with the seriousness it deserves while the attitude of the other five states appears to be that of reprehensible indifference. It should be noted that while agriculture is essentially a private business, all the tiers of government have a duty to facilitate production through extension services, availing farmers with recent and value-adding research findings and improved technology. Even in the core capitalist states like the United States, there is Agricultural Support Programme instituted to help private farmers in the ordinary course of their farming business and not only in times of disasters. The issue is that there seems to be no co-ordination of activities and productive interface among the critical stakeholders in the agriculture sector in the country. If there had been active official support and regular interface with farmers, the risk posed by the pest could have been mitigated by local experts before it festered. It is a shame that after 25 years of Universities of Agriculture in the country, the existence of numerous Agricultural Research Institutes and reputable faculties of Agriculture in the nonspecialised universities, Nigeria is still seeking pest control solution outside its shores. Nevertheless, whether from within or outside the country, we urge that an effective antidote be found to the menace of tuta absoluta and any other impediments to profitable commercial production of tomato in Nigeria. And in this context, it is imperative that stakeholders appreciate Nigerians’ expectations: immediate eradication of tuta absoluta from tomato farms in the country, ensuring that scarcity of tomato becomes history and that the price is affordable to the average citizen, and seeing to it that the shut processing plants are reopened to resume production at full capacity. These done, then the negligent public officials may be forgiven for the avoidable embarrassment and pain caused by the lingering tomato crisis in the country.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo. com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the

Agricultural revolution: Time to make a bold move

ENOWNED physicist, Albert Einstein, once quipped, “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.” A careful consideration of Nigeria’s current economic meltdown reveals the truth behind this aphorism and why serious attention must be paid towards diversifying the economy. In recent times, the country’s forex reserves have dropped below $30 billion as at January, 2016, and the currency has continued to lose value as the gulf between the parallel market and official rates of the naira to the dollar widens further. Crude oil accounts for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, 35 percent of GDP, 75 percent of government revenue and has become the sun around which everything revolves. With the fall in oil prices, and with no commensurate cut in produc-

tion, Nigeria now finds itself in an economic bind. How did we get here? The reasons include: overdependence on oil and non-diversification of the economy. But this was not always this case; agriculture used to be the nation’s principal foreign exchange earner in the early 1960s. The current state of agriculture in Nigeria is only a shadow of what it used to be, but it can be said that there are encouraging signs of improvement. It is common knowledge that about 80 percent of Nigerian land is arable and has produced major crops, including beans, sesame, cashew nuts, cassava, cocoa beans, groundnuts, kolanut, maize (corn), melon, rice, millet, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains and rubber, among others. For many decades, the sector has been underfunded and not received the attention it deserves. As such, small holder farming forms a large percentage of the sec-

tor within Nigeria. Poor farming methodologies, lack of access to finance, post-harvest losses due to lack of storage facilities, unreliable power supply, poor transport infrastructure and unattractiveness of farming in terms of returns for many young people are some of the reasons why agriculture has remained on the back burner of our national life. However, we believe that with its status as the larg-

est employer of labour in the country, its huge potential to become a major foreign exchange earner and help boost the nation’s revenue base, now is the time for everyone, government, citizens and corporate organisations to take serious look at the sector, even as the nation moves away from over dependence on oil. It is heartwarming to see that several corporate organisations have picked up

the gauntlet in the drive to give agriculture the oxygen it needs to thrive. Some of the strategic quick wins which all stakeholders must participate in include, building the capacity of farmers, as skills development has been recognised as a critical factor to help farmers increase yields and boost productivity. Also enhancing the value of farmers via closer collaboration and association to facilitate the uptake

of new technologies, such as warehousing and transportation, and identify better market intelligence solutions. Lastly, easy access to finance is an important fulcrum for the agricultural revolution we desire. As such, the legal and institutional framework which these farmers need as leverage to obtain finance must be firmly entrenched. •Adekunle Smart, Lagos.

Rebuilding Ogun through housing HOUSING, as it is commonly said, is one of the basic necessities of life. The need for shelter is as important as life itself. Human beings, since ages, have been committed to craving for housing as none else could be substituted for it, even though housing deficit abound in many parts of the country. Naturally, part of the dream of every man is to become a house owner, even the hierarchy of needs, as postulated by Abraham Maslow is: ‘After food comes shelter.’ To be a landlord or landlady, as every house owner, is usually referred to, is one of the determinants of being successful. Now, the present administration in Ogun State, since it came on board in 2011, has demonstrated serious commitment to mending the need for housing in its rebuilding mission. Apart from the construction of Orange Valley Es-

tate, the first gated estate in the gateway state, the Senator Ibikunle Amosunled administration has added more than expected to its feathers in its quest to providing housing for all. The AAK Degun Workers Estate, HID Awolowo Estate, among others, have been put in place to meet the yearnings of the people. One thrilling revelation about government’s plan for occupants of these estates is the preference for people who will live there and not those who will visit once a while. The state government, through the Ministry of Housing, has been able to record significant achievements by completing almost all uncompleted projects in some of the existing housing estates in the state, and this would further open up the state and make it attractive for investors. •Ismail Oladipo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Nigeria’s dwindling economy OUR economy is weakening everyday, and we need to ask ourselves where we are going in this country. We cannot continue to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for our economic woes, rather, we should blame our past leaders for not diversifying our economy when we had money. I could remember that a former Head of

State once said Nigeria’s problem was not knowing how to spend our wealth. Now, we are suffering for not being creative enough over the years. Crude oil is no longer a valuable resource in the world, as more countries are discovering oil everyday. This is the reason we have the glut, which has, therefore, brought down

the price of oil. Now, despite the fact that the government has removed fuel subsidy, our economy is still contending with lack of access to forex; the attacks on oil installations is also not helping matters, as the country now loses over $27million per day due to the destruction. Having said this, the so-

lution to our problem is that we should abandon foreign-made goods altogether; it may be difficult to do, but it can be done. We should work towards curbing our imports, particularly petroleum products, which I know we can refine at home. •Vincent Ebuka, ebiksvince@gmail. com

opinion

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Contrasting narratives on Nigeria’s image By Ayo Olukotun

HE two quite different events, one in Washington DC, the other in London, suggest that if Nigerians are fantastically-corrupt, they also are demonstrably brilliant — Tiwa Olugbade, May 11, 2016.

Cameron made his controversial remark at the time he did, we get a couple of answers ranging from a newspaper columnist, Abimbola Adelakun’s afro-pessimist stereotype of a pervasively corrupt Nigeria to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s argument that Buhari started it all by “demarketing Nigeria” through constantly referring to it as a heavily-corrupt country. There is another dimension to the matter, however, as a close reading of British newspapers in the last one month suggests. Early in April, the UK-based Telegraph came down hard on Buhari’s reformism by alleging that his government is “misusing British funds to persecute political opponents.” British funds in this context refer to the funding given to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as British aid to Nigeria’s security infrastructure to more effectively combat Boko Haram. The Telegraph’s article quoted a senior United States official as saying “there is no doubt the growing strength of Boko Haram is because President Buhari is far more interested in settling scores with political opponents than concentrating energy on defeating terrorists.” It went on to lament that Nigeria had taken on some of the features of a police state. In a quick rebuttal, the Presidency decried the article as “full of inaccuracies and betrays a shocking sense of ignorance of Nigeria and the ongoing war against terrorism.” In other words, there are international resonances in the global public sphere about some aspects of Nigeria’s reformism. To be sure, Nigeria should not need to be bound by the opinions of Western leaders but it must take them to account especially as it depends on the West in critical areas. Although adversarial and irritating, Cameron’s comment can be used to refine and redefine Buhari’s anti-corruption strategies by addressing criticisms made of it both at home and abroad. The government can also consider a wider strategy of institutional reforms in order to free

Two recent events of global resonance, one at Howard University in Washington DC, the other at the London venue of an anticorruption summit provide contrasting narratives of Nigeria’s image abroad. Recently, at Howard University, in the full glare of the world, 43 Nigerians out of a total graduating class of 96 clinched the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Astonishingly, for a nation starved of good reports, 16 out of the 27 award winners are Nigerians, reinforcing a recent observation by distinguished Political Science Professor, Richard Joseph, that Nigerians are one of the highest achieving immigrant groups in the United States. The second event, indicated in the opening quite sourced from Tiwa Olugbade, a Professor of Pharmacy at the Obafemi Awolowo University, was triggered by reference to Nigeria by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in the course of a meeting with Queen Elizabeth just before an anti-corruption summit that “Nigeria is fantastically-corrupt.” The scathing remark, although moderated subsequently in the course of a conversation in the House of Commons, sparked widespread consternation coming as it did when President Muhammadu Buhari had already arrived in London for both the preparatory Commonwealth meeting and the anti-corruption summit being hosted by Cameron. Regarding the obviously undiplomatic statement by Cameron who, given his involvement in the recent Panama Papers scandal, is not exactly an exemplar of probity; Buhari’s pregnant riposte that what he needed was not an apology but for Britain to assist Nigeria in recovering assets looted by Nigerian politicians is statesmanlike. It broaches, without directly making the point that Britain, as indeed other Western countries are complicit in the stashing away of huge fortunes in British and American banks, by Nigeria’s monumentally-corrupt leaders. There is growing evidence that corruption is on an increasing scale in Britain and other European countries as a recent report inaugurated by the European Union testifies. That notwithstanding, the fact that corruption is a matter of scale suggests that, as many have observed, Cameron’s remark is in substance correct even if highly undiplomatic. If we raise the question why

it from fixation on particular cases and individuals belonging to the opposition. The second narrative constitutes an elixir because it puts Nigeria in the global spotlight by showcasing the aptitude and distinction of students who bagged a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, several of them winning awards at Howard University. Given that the degree is a professional postgraduate one in Pharmacy, the event signals the coming of age of a Nigerian technocracy in the US. As known, Nigeria has the highest enrolment of university students from Africa in the US, a trend which has been accentuated in the last five years. For example, two years ago, one-quarter of Black students at the Harvard Business School were of Nigerian ancestry, while Nigerians increasingly feature in diverse areas of human learning and achievements. In other words, the Nigerian bustle and achievement orientation are increasingly released in the propitious, knowledge driven climes of the Diaspora. The challenge, however, is to leverage on this development to fast track Nigeria’s entry into modernity as the Chinese and Indians have done. There is the additional challenge posed to the Nigerian project, namely, how to build a motivational environment where the Nigerian dream can be actualised. The current situation where dysfunction in our educational system has turned Nigerians who can afford it to migrants abroad should be reversed. We should aim at building systems which attract nationals of other countries rather than become the site of a haemorrhage of talents abroad. All too often, potential stars in our country are frustrated out of the ladder of success by an inclement environment, just as it takes too much heroism to stay on course or make a mark. A topical illustration of this disabling trend is the ripple effects of the raising of the price of petrol by over 100 per cent, to N145 per litre recently by the Buhari administration. Whatever the merits of this high jump, it will become more difficult for Nigerians who are already browbeaten to survive. We cannot expect outstanding achievement, innovation and productivity where the country increasingly resembles an economic war zone. In conclusion, the two narratives on Nigeria, one sobering, the other uplifting, suggest that more attention and better imagination need to be paid by the current government to governance and the welfare of the people. The anti-corruption struggle, noble in intention, must be re-imagined and reinvented while we should pursue policies that will optimise Nigerian productivity, not just abroad, but at home as well. •Olukotun is a professor of Political Communication.

Bindo: Keeping windows of opportunities open in Adamawa By Stephen Adeoshun

CONFLICTS have been synonymous with human existence since the beginning of history. The present Nigerian experience and specifically, the devastating effect of the Boko Haram conflict on the North Eastern states of the country, especially Adamawa, requires both national and international efforts for reconstruction and development. It was reported that over 500,000 people, about 14 per cent of the population of 3.7 million, were displaced in Adamawa State, with a roll-over effect on production, agriculture and family life. An estimated 80,000 are in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. The conflict resulted in emotional, physical and psychological damages in adults and severe traumas in children, and as a result, the urgent need for recovery, re-integration, reconstruction and counselling cannot be over-emphasised. Mrs Binta Mohammud, a resident of Jimeta, in Adamawa State, saw it all, and she explained that, “during the conflict, I saw fear and despair on the faces of soldiers and children alike; there was uncertainty everywhere, but now, Senator Bindo has brought peace, development and most importantly, hope. Senator Mohammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindo was sworn in on May 29, 2015 as the seventh executive governor of Adamawa State. On assumption, he had to contend with an empty treasury, Boko Haram conflict, internal tribal conflicts, floods, as well as national and global economic slowdown. With over 80 ethnic groups and three contending religions, the immediate priority of Governor Bindo at inception was peace and security, reconstruction and development, and creating sustainable economic opportunities. Upon all, Senator Bindo knew he had to keep windows of opportunities open for all the citizens. Therefore, he formed an all-inclusive government and worked with security agencies and the traditional institution to main-

tain peace. This was followed by massive infrastructural development, especially road reconstruction and rehabilitation. The state used aerial satellite photography to identify the channels of delivery and major arteries of commerce. Major roads, inter-connecting roads and bridges were built, these include; Waurre Jebbi Road, Farro Water-Motor Park Road, Karewa Ring Road, 23km Borrow-Demsa Road, FGGC-Malkoli New Road, Yola by-pass, among others. Gov Bindo needs the roads, as his plans for agriculture and industrialisation requires an effective transport network, comprising of roads, rail network and a cargo airport for export of fresh agricultural produce. The state has a development plan adjudged by international observers as realistic and achievable. The objective is to make Adamawa State the economic hub of North East Nigeria and Cameroon. So, to create sustainable economic opportunities, the state intends to look inwards, particularly towards micro, small and medium enterprises as the green shoots for growth, reconstruc-

tion and development. In the area of agricuture, a lot can be achieved in the state; for example, in 2013, agricultural production in California was valued at $46.7 billion, with $13.7 billion generated through exports. America’s largest agricultural producer and exporter employs about 348,900 people and over three million through the value chain. Adamawa has an arable land mass of 39,712kmsq, and it can achieve an agricultural production of about N500 billion in the next four years. Adamawa just spent N3 billion on fertilizers for farmers and has commenced soil sampling to enable farmers to know the appropriate crops to plant in their fields; it is also training farmers in modern and mechanised agricultural techniques. The state has also taken appropriate steps in providing affordable housing; in a report by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Adamawa State contributed a total of N2.7 billion to the NHF scheme, and the FMBN has in turn invested a total of N2.8 billion in supporting the provision of affordable housing in the state. This was for the construction of 500 housing units which had already been completed and sold to NHF contributors in the state. There is also another EDL of N800 million for additional 240 units which is being finalised. This has contributed to the creation of about 8,500 jobs in Adamawa, and has also provided affordable mortgage loans of about N1.18 billion to 833 beneficiaries through the Adamawa Savings and Loans Limited. The North East states, especially Adamawa, need the support of both national and international organisations and governments in their post-conflict reconstruction and development, as well as the prompt passage of the North-East Development Commission Bill. However, in Adamawa, Governor Bindo is still making tremendous progress. •Adeoshun sent in this article via stephen@solomonglobal.co.uk

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

tribune cartoons

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

D. O. Fagunwa

FUNOLOGY

• He was born in OkeIgbo, Ondo State in 1903. • He studied at St. Luke’s School, OkeIgbo and St. Andrew’s College, Oyo, before becoming a teacher himself. • He was a Nigerian author who pioneered the Yoruba language novel.

CHURCH BOY

• In 1938, entering a literary contest of the Nigerian education ministry, Fagunwa wrote his Ògbójú ode nínú Igbó Irúnmale, widely considered the first novel written in the Yoruba language and one of the first to be written in any African language. Wole Soyinka translated the book into English i n 1968 as The Forest of A Thousand Demons.

SEGELUULU

• Fagunwa’s later works include Igbo Olodumare (The Forest of God, 1949), Ireke Onibudo (1949), Irinkerindo ninu Igbo Elegbeje (Expedition to the Mount of Thought, 1954), and Adiitu Olodumare (1961). • Fagunwa remains the most widely-read Yorùbá-language author. • He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1959. • Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa died on the 9th of December, 1963, at age 60.

THERE ARE 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE CARTOONS BELOW. THE DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE MARKED IN B

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

inside

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

nigerdelta

Joy, as Navy restores sight, gives free healthcare in Warri Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

T was joy galore last weekend at Ugborikoko in Warri, Delta State, when personnel of the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri Naval Base, brought medical succour to hundreds of residents having health challenges. The event was at the instance of the Diamond Jubilee of the force which celebration began simultaneously in all commands across the country last week and ended on Tuesday. The naval medical personnel, led by Commander SM Tasiu, who represented the Commander, NNS DELTA, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, generously carried out a health audit in the areas of eyes, blood pressure, sugar level and blood for hepatitis and HIV, among others on participants free of charge. Various drugs for different ailments including malaria were also prescribed and administered to patients after medical examinations were carried out amid soft music provided to relax their minds. The new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral MS Garba, who monitored the exercise in the command, said the gesture was on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee of the force. He added that it was part of the Navy’s Corporate Social Responsibility to its host communities across the country. “What we are here to tell the public is that ours is not only war, but also activities and programmes reaching the poor to provide medical assistance, which we call ‘motua,’ “ Commodore Garba noted. One of the joyous beneficiaries, 78-yearold Peter Kushemaya, said: “I’ve not been seeing clearly for long now, because when I look at people, I see them faintly.” The septuagenarian, who was tested, treated and offered a pair of suitable eye

The Naval medical personnel carrying out health audit on residents of Warri. glasses at no cost, expressed joy at the gesture of the Navy. “We are very happy that the Navy people

THE Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has called on the Federal Government to introduce a N17,000 monthly stipend scheme for each of the Bakassi returnees to alleviate their sufferings. It could be recalled that the oil rich Bakassi peninsular was ceded to Cameroon in 2007 and over 10, 000 Nigerian returnees rendered homeless.

CREW

Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt 08078891924 lasep09@gamil.com Ebenezer Adurokiya -Delta 08060113609 ebenezeradurokiya@gmail.com Banji Aluko - Edo 08067030572 adebanjialuko@yahoo.com Alphonsus Agborh 08035838703 Austin Ebipade - Bayelsa austinebipade@gmail.com

have come to help us, we are very much happy. May God bless them,” Sir Kushemaya prayed.

Insecurity killing businesses in Niger Delta —Total DMD Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt DEPUTY Managing Director of Total E and P, Port Harcourt District, Mr Nicolas Brunet, has declared that insecurity, occasioned by killings and kidnappings, is forcing businesses to close shops in the Niger Delta region. He made the disclosure in his keynote address at a stakeholders’ meeting with

Niger Delta youth group demands N17,000 monthly stipend for Bakassi returnees Anthony Ubong-Calabar

have come to treat us. Most of us are sick of eye problems; we could not see, we are just managing to see and now that they

National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Jator Abido, who made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar, stressed that while the returnees waited for a permanent resettlement place, it was necessary for the Federal Government to pay them monthly stipends to enable them cater for themselves. He, however, alleged that following the current insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country, government had shifted attention to the zone abandoning the displaced persons for several years Abido further stated that while the Federal Government was considering paying N17,000 monthly stipends to each person displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, it was also pertinent to do same to the Bakassi returnees He explained that the group would not relent in the struggle for justice for the people of the Niger Delta region He, nevertheless, advised the Niger Delta avengers group to embrace peace and stop the incessant attacks on oil installations in the region According to him, destroying those installations might impede development in the country

offshore communities in Rivers State at the company’s head office in Port Harcourt, last week. He expressed regrets that the activities of criminal elements in the oil-rich region and Rivers State in particular were exposing the area to underdevelopment and unemployment. Speaking through the Advisor, Community Affairs and Development, Mr Charles-Edward Anfray, the Total DMD said insecurity was forcing businesses and investors out of operations in the area. He said insecurity had worsened the unemployment crisis, adding that the activities of militants, especially the Niger Delta Avengers, were having a direct impact on the economy of the people and the nation at large. “The security situation in our communities is dire, extraordinarily difficult and very challenging for us as members of the communities and, most importantly, for businesses. “The consequences are glaring to us all. Businesses are packing out of our communities and in Rivers State. No new ones are established due to the daily news of these disturbing events in the state “These are the main causes of unemployment, because businesses that will generate employment are going out and closing shops. It is now very important for us to directly link the consequences of the restiveness in our communities to the lack of job opportunities for youths. “The issues highlighted above have snowballed into the direct negative economic consequences, namely poverty and unemployment in our communities”, he said. Brunet also disclosed that the level of attacks on Total’s facilities was negatively

affecting its operations in the area, adding that its wellheads, pipelines hydrocarbons were being vandalised by unknown individuals in the area. “Today, I will share with you three main concerns in our relationship and partner. It is my hope that these issues shall be seriously considered and addressed for our mutual benefits. Brunet however said the oil giant would commence a business programme to address the issue of unemployment in the state and urged the people to accept the new programme as it would drastically reduce insecurity. He said the new business programme would tackle unemployment among youths and that it was in line with the quest of the company to diversify in its affairs, since oil was no longer lucrative. Responding to the address, one of the representatives of the offshore communities, Mr Enyinda Chike, thanked the Total for the meeting with the stakeholders, adding that such was a novel approach to company and community relation.

Mr Nicolas Brunet, Total MD

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

by Wale Ojo-Lanre 0803 349 0986 waleojolanre@gmail.com

Use music to promote cultural tourism values

could also trigger the curiosity of visiting”. Oba Ogunwusi tasked Olamide to steer clear of “brazenly lewd lyrics which add burden of corruption to the moral latitude of the youths, but use your talents and musical prowess to challenge immorality and spark off the challenge of reasonableness among the teenagers. The Ooni prayed for Olamide “The blessing of the God of songs which has been showered on you by God Almighty will not dry off. Your star shall shine and shine and shine. And no one will be able to cover your sunshine.” Oba Ogunwusi also commended Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye , President Atunda Entertainment who facilitated the visit of the renowned rap crooner to the palace for his “insatiable urge and passion at not only developing talents, but exposing them for international visibility and reference.” In his response, Olamide who was visibly elated said that he was short of words but “I thank God for making this day a reality. Going by where I was coming from to where I am today, being blessed and acknowledged by His Imperial Majesty is a testimony that every child counts. It is a testimony that each of us should not bury our talent. It is a testimony to the fact that failure or success in life depends largely on the will of God; coupled with temerity of purpose and hard work. I don’t know what to say to my Baba, the Ooni Ojaja 11 of Yoruba race who has not only told me what I don’t know about my music, but also told me what to do I solemnly affirm that I will do it all. I thank Ambassador Akinboboye for this and grateful to Ooni Ojaja 11 who will live longer and not only at registering the names of these sites in the achieve far, far better than minds and memories of the teenagers especially, but his fore fathers.”

—Ooni counsels Olamide Badoo By wale Ojo Lanre

HE Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi has counselled Adedeji Olamide, a.k.a Badoo, the world renown Nigerian music rapper to amplify and boost the tunes of his music with traditional instruments and inject traditional melodies which enhances the socio- cultural and tourism heritage of the Yoruba in particular and Nigeria in general in his rhyming lyrics The Ooni Ojaja said rap music “which is your forte is urgently needed not only by the Yoruba race alone, but by Nigeria as a nation because of its being a potent instrument of passing messages in the form of rhythmically intonated poetry in which words and language are frequently and exceptionally poetic”. Ooni Ojaja added “In fact, your brand of music can be employed to help teenagers comprehend the Yoruba Language, help in its application and development of our language skill. It is also an instrument to sell the cultural tourism heritage of the race for the teenager to embrace, cherish, appreciate and preserve”. Oba Ogunwusi who welcomed the young talented Nigerian music rapper to his palace in Ile – Ife on Monday commended Olamide for “ stoking and refining the golden talents sowed in you by God Almighty which you have been putting into use in adding refreshing value into the rap and dance melody of the music sector”. Oba Ogunwusi pointed out “You are a pride of the Yoruba race. You have stylishly entered into the rap – hip hop music world and tilted its scale of balance by maintaining excellence benchmark which is not only plausible but enviable. You have in excellent form filled the vacuum which would have been left in place after the death of an older rapper.” His Imperial Majesty said “In honesty, your music is magical, it enchants, it attracts, it ignites the passion of liveliness, and it appeals to the rhythm of the heart. It feeds the soul and ensures that its lethal kills the spirit of boredom, banishes the aura of dullness, extinguishes tension out of the body system and revives muscles for proper functional exercise “. This is why I consider you and others in the music industry as significant partners in the vision of revitalising and resuscitating of the Oduduwa Heritage and tourism potentialities”. Ooni Ojaja said, “Imagine if you Olamide,

Ooni Ojaja II praying for Olamide Badoo

has a release which raps some notable tourism sites in Yoruba and in Nigeria, this will go a long way

NBL Promotes Yoruba Tradition with Goldberg Fuji t’o IN its bid to promote culture and tradition of Yoruba through music, Nigeria Breweries Limited is holding hunting for the best talent in Fuji music in Yorubaland. The selection party which was themed, Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam was held in major cities and towns across the five States and five people have been selected from each location to participate at the semi final stage. According to statistics available, about

1000 fuji musicians participated in the auditioning while 20 lucky participants were selected to participate at the first stage which was tagged election party out of which five winners will emerge to participate in the next stage which is the semi final. Nigerian Breweries Talent hunt is a platform to showcase and promote talented musician and encourage budding artists and through this platform many hopes have

been redeemed. One of the winners of past editions simply identified as Okiki while encouraging participants at Ilesa selection party said,” I participated for three years consecutively before God crowned my effort in 2015, and one of the things I noticed during the trying years was that the more I participated in the competition, the more I get encouragement and improvement in my style of music”.

tourism

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Christine Barbier is Miss Seychellees 2016

Governor Samuel Ortom (second right), his wife (right), the new NCPC boss, Reverend Tor Uja (second left) and his wife. (left).

Governor Ortom congratulates NCPC new boss GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said that the appointment of Reverend Tor Uja as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) would usher in total reconciliation for the church. He disclosed this in Makurdi during a courtesy call on him by the NCPC boss and his management staff. In the words of the number one citizen of Benue State, “Let this appointment be a new beginning for the people of Benue State”. Governor Ortom further described Reverend Uja’s appointment as the final onslaught on the enemies of the church in the state. He affirmed that Uja is a very diligent, hard working man of God whose appointment to head the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission was divine. He stressed that men and women of Benue State have the capacity to contribute to national development. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Reverend Uja thanked the Governor for receiving him and his team at very short notice. He informed Governor Ortom that he was in the state so that he would join him to appreciate the Lord for his appointment. Rev. Uja also told the governor that his prayers and other noble activities in the state activated his recent appointment. The NCPC helmsman added that one of his reasons for visiting Benue State was to meet with the home church to tell them that his appointment was for collective good of the church and the people. He emphatised with the Governor over the recent security challenges facing the state which has claimed the lives of innocent souls. He explained that NCPC was primarily put together to organise pilgrimages to Israel, Rome and Greece and other holy

Bam “This programme is put in place to encourage our tradition and culture through fuji music which is only in Yorubaland and I want us, I mean we fuji musicians to support NBL in their bid to lift fuji music to another level”, he concluded. The selection party continues this week in Ado Ekiti, Akure, Ibadan, Oyo and the crew will visit some prominent traditional rulers in Oyo State.

sites around the world. Reverend Uja reiterated that the commission runs four pilgrimages in one year which includes youth pilgrimage which provides opportunity for skill acquisition. He explained that he would want the youths to participate actively in agriculture. He appealed to the Governor to assist the people to participate massively

in pilgrimages and to continue to sponsor Christians to go on holy pilgrimage. The NCPC boss stressed the need for the commission to organise a special pilgrimage for the state executive members. Reverend Uja called on all Benue people to support the administration of Governor Ortom as he equally enjoined them to engage in productive venture.

eTN awards Turkish Airlines for seat handle eTN Publisher Juergen Thomas Steinmetz nominated Turkish Airlines for the Honest Travel Award. Juergen recently flew on an Airbus A330-300 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines, and came upon this unique item that made his trip from Istanbul to to Tbilisi, Georgia, so much more enjoyable. According to Steinmetz, it was the icing on the cake for an airline that has most likely the best service in the region anyway. eTN awarded Turkish Airlines for having a simple device in the form of a handle on the back of each businessclass seat that made the journey more comfortable. As Juergen settled into his seat, he noticed a leather handle nestled within the back portion of the frame of the seat in front of him. The handle is there to use to lift yourself out of your own seat so you don’t have to grab onto the headrest of the

seat in front of you and disturb that passenger. Also, you don’t have to strain and contort your back to stand up. Steinmetz said: “I found this quite inventive. I had never seen this on any other aircraft before, and I’ve flown on a lot of airlines. It was such a relief for passengers like me (ahem… middle-aged) to have this clever “why didn’t someone think of this before?” device available to make my journey just a little bit easier. And for this simple and innovative seat design addition, eTN is awarding national carrier Turkish Airlines the Honest Travel Award for coming up with a solution to a nagging problem when flying. The eTN Honest Travel Award is not about rating how “luxurious” something is. It is more about how much something is appreciated or different. Anyone can nominate a hotel, destination, attraction, airline, a person, a cruise, or a restaurant based on a best moment or experience.

ELEGANTLY dressed in a beautiful blue evening gown, 24-year-old Christine Barbier smiled and walked gracefully, waving to the cheering crowd at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles, minutes after she was crowned as the country’s new beauty queen recently. The new Miss Seychelles...another world, who hails from the district of Cascade, also went home with three other titles. She won the Miss Sports, Miss Talent and Miss Personality titles. Miss Barbier is an accounts assistant and her wish is to one day become a successful businesswoman. Lianne Barbe who comes from the Island of Praslin, was crowned first princess and also Miss Photogenic. The 19-yearold also won Miss People’s choice title. Samiya Albert, is this year’s second princess. The 18-year-old who is from Pointe Larue wore a long glittering ivorycoloured evening gown, which the judges voted as the best evening wear. Sophie Rosette, who was among the six finalists was the contestant who won the nest effort award for her beauty with a purpose project. The two other contestants who were in the final were Samira Nicoire and RitaMaria Durup. Among those present at the event were the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange, the principal secretaries of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Anne Lafortune and Benjamine Rose, and the chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board. Other girls who took part in the pageant this year were Hemma Hoffman, Anais Nourice, Juanita Porice, Camilla Spivey, Ruth Bonte and Kimberley Anacoura. Members of the jury were Miss Seychelles 2006 Wendy Boniface, chief executive of the Seychelles Trading Company Veronique Laporte, tourism entrepreneur Angie Williams-Leiss, the chairperson of the Round Table Seychelles Abison de Giorgio, the chief executive of Noussira enterprise Noussira Daman, director general in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Transport as well as the managing director of Maven, Kosta Todorovic. During the pageant, the girls paraded in their casual and beach wears as well as their evening gowns before the six finalists were choose.

20 with Doyin Adeoye

m:08038000394 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

FG to mitigate adverse effects of oil, gas on bio-diversity, ecosystems Ademola Adegbite- Abuja

Crosss section of dignitaries at the launching of EBAFOSA Nigeria.

EBAFOSA committed to ensuring synergy between food security, sustainable environment —National President change and its effect on the environment and agriculture on the continent, the United Nation’s arm, EBAFOSA was formed following the Second Africa Ecosystems Based Adaptation (EBA) for food security conference convened by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in collab-

oration with the African Union (AU) Commission and partners in July 2015, where 1200 delegates from Africa adopted the Nairobi Action Agenda and the Constitution, which gave birth to the first ever EBAFOSA. EBAFOSA serves as the continental policy platform to fos-

ter and nurture partnerships through branch formation in each African country. Some African countries have since launched their programmes. In Nigeria, the theme for the launch was: ‘Re-shaping Nigeria food security and climate resilience through EBAFOSA.’

HE Federal Government has reiterated its efforts towards sustainable management of wetlands in Nigeria and the preparation of a National Wetlands Management Policy, which would expectedly incorporate a system of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and environmental monitoring so that adverse environmental impacts could be foreseen and eliminated. Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, made this known during the stakeholders’ roundtable on Environmental Impact Assessment review for oil and gas sector, held at 3Js Hotel, Utako in Abuja.

UNEA-2: Governments agree to landmark resolutions to drive stainability agenda HUNDREDS of key decision makers from all over the world, gathered at the second session of

the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in Nairobi late Friday, passed far reaching decisions

WaterAid Nigeria integrates menstrual hygiene management in WASH interventions WATERAID Nigeria has called for cooperation with the education and health sectors, as well as those working in reproductive and sexual health to ensure girls are prepared for the onset of menstruation, so that they can care for themselves in a dignified and hygienic way, and to dispel the myths and taboos that often accompany menstruation. According to the international organisation, girls’ needs around menstruation have been neglected by health and education systems around the world, and this has led to inequality in education and missed opportunities for girls. While commemorating the world’s third Menstrual Hygiene Day, WaterAid Nigeria noted that menstruation is an important issue, yet it is shrouded in silence because of deeply rooted taboos and negative social norms. Held every 28 May since 2014, the Menstrual Hygiene Day affirms the urgent need to talk about periods and break the silence, taboos and negative social perceptions around menstruation. It focuses on doing

Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man. —Stewart Udall

ecoscope

Stories By Doyin Adeoye PRESIDENT of the Africa Ecosystems Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA), Nigerian National Branch, Mr Oyesola James Oluwagbemiga, has reaffirmed the arm’s commitment to ensuring that there is synergy between food security and sustainable environment in the country. Oyesola, in a interview with Ecoscope, noted that the national branch has been able to achieve a lot, especially with local farmers in the country. “We have been able to move from the advocacy level after the launching and we are now in stage two, which is focused on registering Ecosystems Based Adaptation (EBA) farmers and EBA producers. And we now have many unions involved. “The essence of the awareness is to make farmers and producers understand that the food they produce should be EBA-compliant, because most of these inorganic foods have adverse side effects such as cancer. So we advise farmers to produce organic foods, because if they are assured that if they produce organic food, it will get sold and attract more premium, they will be attracted to it. So we are going through the unions to build the structure,” he said. In its bid to tackle climate

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

something about the women and girls in the world without access to safe water and a safe toilet to manage their menstrual cycle. In his remark, Dr Michael Ojo, WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Representative, said: “In some communities in West Africa, women and girls are not allowed to use water sources and latrines during menstruation, the very facilities they need the most during this time. We must move away from the dichotomy of placing value on menstruation as a sign of fertility, celebrating the birth of new life and at the same time excluding women and girls and making them social pariahs during their time of menstruation. There is simply no logic to it whatsoever.” WaterAid Nigeria had recently carried out a study in Benue, Bauchi and Plateau states, to explore and understand existing menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices. And the study revealed deeply rooted attitudes and myths surrounding menstruation, including the belief that a menstruating woman or girl is cursed and possessed by evil

spirits and brings bad luck. Such beliefs, unfortunately, result in restrictions being placed on girls and women during their menstruation, including exclusion from attending religious services, schools and the likes. Dr Ojo added “Over half of the girls interviewed in our study said that they only learned about menstruation after their first experience. So when we talk about MHM, it is more than providing sanitary pads. It is really about helping young girls and the people around them, the men in their lives: fathers, brothers, husbands etc., to have the information awareness and the knowledge around this issue. “It is about helping girls to have the confidence to manage their hygiene safely and with dignity, and also to ensure that wherever they are, whether at home, school or even in other public places, that provision is made for them to be able to manage their menstrual periods safely and hygienically and for the products to be collected and disposed effectively.”

on issues such as marine litter, illegal trade in wildlife, air pollution, chemicals and waste, and sustainable consumption and production, which are an integral part of the global action needed to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement. Held at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi between Monday, 23 May and Friday, 27 May, the UNEA-2 focused on addressing a number of

the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, as well as offering solutions that would help the world tackle some of the most critical issues of our time. In his remark, UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner said, “The environment has always been and will always be, at the heart of humanity’s prosperity. World nations recognised this in 2015 with global accords, such as the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

Mrs Mohammed, whose message was delivered by the Director of Environmental Assessment, Mr John Adesanya Alonge, explained that the event showcased the expanding collaboration between the Wetlands International Africa (WIA) and the Ministry of Environment towards the protection of the wetlands. According to her, “we have so far had three collaborations since 2011, starting from the launch of the Non Governmental Organisation’s Sustainable Livelihoods and Biodiversity Project (SLBP), which was aimed at sustaining and restoring wetlands in the Niger Delta, with strong livelihoods, environmental and social considerations.” She added that the Federal Government would support WIA to convene the stakeholders roundtable on EIA review for oil and gas sector in the Niger Delta, as it was important to carry out EIA so as to mitigate the adverse effects of the oil and gas industry on the bio-diversity and ecosystems of that economically and ecologically important area of Nigeria. The minister said the ministry, in its efforts towards protecting its wetlands, planned to designate more wetland sites of international importance, in addition to the 11 existing ones, for conservation and sustainable use as well as sensitising the public to sustainable use of wetlands. Mrs Mohammed then announced that the ministry had

commenced the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report

which recommended the designation of Niger Delta as a wetland of international importance.

ACCORDING to a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), climate change is fast becoming one of the most significant risks for world heritage sites. Tilted: ‘World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate,’ the release revealed that many heritage sites across the world are becoming vulnerable to changes in the environment, especially with the increasing temperatures. Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, Mechtild Rossler, said “Globally, we need to better understand, monitor and address climate change threats to world heritage sites. As the report’s findings underscore, achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to a level well below two degrees Celsius is vitally important to

ecofact

Amina Mohammed, Environment Minister

Diseases now emerging from altered environment, poor sanitation —Experts EXPERTS have warned that diseases are now emerging and reemerging as a result of poor hygiene and sanitation practices, as well as due to recent changes in our environment. This was made known at a symposium with the theme: ‘Environment, Engineering and Emerging Diseases in Nigeria,’ which was put together by the Nigeria Network for Awareness and Action for Environmental health (NINAAFEH), the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan (UI), to mark the 80th birthday celebration of Professor Paul A. Oluwande. Held at the College of Medicine’s Auditorium, experts at the event highlighted the risks emerging and reemerging diseases pose to the

country and how better policies, collaboration among researchers, as well as intensive environmental awareness among individuals, can be used as tools to address the issue. In a lecture titled: ‘Nigeria Environment and Emerging Infections,’ President, Nigerian Academy of Sciences, Professor Oyewale Tomori, said that diseases will continue to emerge and remerge unless we change our attitudes to the environment. “Diseases emerge and remerge from altered environment, poor sanitation and low standard of hygiene. Lassa fever in Nigeria for instance is not new. It dates back to over 40 years. In mid-January 1970, some patients in Jos had severe, acute febrile illness, clinically similar to cases of Lassa fever as first seen at Jos in February

1969. And by mid-February 1970, there were 26 suspected cases, some of them mild, with 10 deaths. “So the emergence and reemergence of some diseases depend on the changes in the environment. It is important that every individual keeps their environment clean, because cleanliness starts with each individual. So caring for our environment will make things better,” he said. Former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi A. Bamiro, while speaking on the theme: ‘Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development,’ called for collaboration between researchers across various fields, as this he said, will contribute to getting the best result in researches.

World heritage icons at risk from climate change —Report

“It is pertinent to note that while research towards deepening knowledge in a relatively narrow field is welcome, it is in the area of applied research that researchers are expected, almost invariably, to cross the boundaries towards addressing practical developmental problems, such as found in environment and health. “Collaboration in the university system will boost researches and to further encourage this, we need to keep engaging ourselves and make people understand that some of these collaborations will pay us. You must go beyond your discipline to achieve some things,” he said. The celebrant, Professor Oluwande, who is the Deputy Director, NINAAFEH, is also the first Public

Health Engineer in Nigeria and perhaps in West Africa. The third speaker, Dr Elizabeth Oloruntoba, in a lecture titled: ‘Sanitation, Hygiene and the Emerging and Reemerging Infections,’ said that health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), have been confirmed to be intrinsically related and must be recognised as preconditions for and outcomes of sustainable development. According to her, human behaviour, human demographic change, human susceptibility to infections, climate and changing ecosystems, breakdown of public health measure, as well as urbanisation, among other factors, are contributing to the emergence and reemergence of infections.

GIRAFFES are African even-toed ungulate mammal. They are the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs and its distinctive coat patterns. Here are some fun facts about giraffes: •Giraffes only need five to 30 minutes of sleep in a 24-hour period. •Giraffes’ gestation lasts 400 to 460 days. •A giraffe’s spots are like human fingerprints: no two individual giraffes have exactly the same pattern. •Giraffes are already extinct in at least seven countries in Africa. •50 per cent of giraffe calves do not survive their first six months due to predation from hyenas, leopards and wild dogs. •A group of giraffes is called a tower.

protecting our world heritage for current and future generations.” According to the report, 31 natural and cultural world heritage sites in 29 countries are vulnerable to increasing temperatures, melting glaciers, rising seas, intensifying weather events, worsening droughts and longer wildfire seasons. It also documented climate impacts at iconic tourism sites, including Venice, Stonehenge and the Galapagos Islands, and other world heritage sites such as South Africa’s Cape Floral Kingdom; the port city of Cartagena, Colombia and Shiretoko National Park in Japan. According to UNEP’s head of the Responsible Industry and Value Chains Unit, Elisa Tonda, “World governments, the private sector and tourists all need to coordinate their efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to protect the world’s most treasured cultural and natural resources from the impact of tourism activities.”

•Before mating, the female giraffe will first urinate in the male’s mouth. Then male giraffes determine if the female is fertile by tasting their urine. •Giraffes’ tongues grow up to 21 inches (53 cm) in length.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

with Tunde Dodondawa m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

Oil and gas sector one year after On May 29, 2015, when this administration was sworn in, many stakeholders has hoped for better performance through policies that would make the sector globally competitive. OLATUNDE DODONDAWA takes a look at the sector in the last one year.

OLLOWING the swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stakeholders waited for about six months before Dr Ibe Kachikwu was announced as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources having earlier been announced as the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in August 2015. Kachikwu, on behalf of the government, promised pipeline security, effective subsidy management, rebranding of NNPC and improved investment in the oil and gas sector, having in mind that he was coming from a private sector. While the processes were ongoing, the nation was faced with the worst petrol scarcity in history. The scarcity started few weeks into the new administration. The scarcity was worsened by suspension of fuel importation by major marketers who claimed they had and outstanding of N620 billion from previous administration. The scarcity lasted for months until the outstanding debt was paid to marketers. In January 2016, price modulation mechanism was introduced which entails the adjustment of pump price of petrol to reflect price of crude oil in international market. Consequently, prices dropped from N87 per litre to N86.50 per litre. Despite this, petrol scarcity persisted and characterised most part of 2016 until May 11, 2016 when the Federal Government announced removal of subsidy and a price band of N135-N145 per litre. Kachikwu, during the announcement, stated that any Nigerian entity is free to import products subject to existing quality specification and other guidelines to be issued by the regulatory agencies. No provision was made for subsidy in the 2016 budget, signaling the end of subsidy regime in Nigeria. Crude oil price decline the N6 trillion budget for 2016 was benchmarked with crude price at $38 per barrel and at an output of 2.2 million barrels per day. However, for almost half of the last century, oil prices have oscillated between multiple boom and bust eras. Crude consuming countries have cheered at low oil prices, while commodity-dependent economies like Nigeria have cringed at the mere thought of dwindling oil prices and its consequent dire socio-economic consequences. Nigeria still relies on crude oil sales for about 80 per cent of its revenues and 95 per cent of its foreign exchange and any idea towards diversification is almost immediately jettisoned with any upswing in oil prices. The global crude oil market is currently faced with a glut of crude oil (a drastic improvement in shale gas technology and the re-entry of Iran and possibly Libya into the supply market). Additional pressures from the economic slowdown in BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and an associated reduction in global oil demand have led to historic dip in oil prices. Also, the world’s largest producers of oil (Russia and Saudi Arabia) are disinclined to cut back on supply due to pressures to finance their national budgets. In response,

President Buhari on November 27, 2014, the organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held its 166th annual general meeting in Vienna and made a historic decision to allow the global market determine the price of crude oil. This effectively meant that OPEC was abandoning its usual approach of protecting ‘price’ but choosing ‘market share’ protection. This ‘inaction’ from OPEC has also significantly contributed to the decline in crude prices todate. The OPEC basket of crude has faced a downward trajectory and even hit lows of $29 in January 2016 from the highs of over $100 per barrel in mid-2014. Last week, crude price hit recent high in 2016 at $50 per barrel and there seems hope of crude price rising again. Resurgence of militancy in Niger Delta Resurgent militancy in the Niger Delta has threatened the country’s OPEC quota of 2.2 million barrels per day. Nigeria’s daily crude oil output hovers around 1million bpd due to attacks on Nembe 1, 2 and 3 gas and crude trunk line that links Brass and Bonny. The pipelines belongs to Agip and Shell Corporation. The Avengers had launched several attacks on oil and gas infrastructure since February 2016, demanding a sovereign nation of the Niger Delta people. The group said its aim is to cripple Nigeria’s economy while demanding the secession of the Niger-Delta region. What the government must do Notwithstanding the seemingly inauspicious times ahead for Nigeria, which loses significant revenues with every dollar fall in oil price, it clearly is an interesting time, laden with opportunity, for the country’s mono-product

Nigerian Tribune

and import dependent economy. According to Oyeleke Banmeke, Senior Manager, Resources Group, Accenture Nigeria, “Although the country faces numerous challenges in the short-term, it can overcome these challenges with deft economic management. In reality, globally, upstream oil and gas operators have responded to the dwindling crude prices through various cost-cutting measures, leading to production slow-downs, staff layoffs and delay or outright shelving of major investment projects. Conscious efforts need to be made to support cost reduction and improve/create a healthy cash flow position with a view to ultimately improving margins. “It is noteworthy to mention that Nigeria has one of the highest oil production costs among other producing nations. The operators will have to carefully reassess both planned and ongoing capital projects, eliminating non -value adding activities and generally revalidating the business case for these projects in light of current realities. Operators would also need to prioritise turnaround and preventative maintenance to increase equipment uptime and decrease costs of equipment repairs, service providers and contract labors. “Across the industry, contractual agreements will be renegotiated (with core and non-core suppliers) with a view to driving costs down. The need to outsource non-core or select back-office functions will reverberate once again across the industry.” Furthermore, Banmeke stated that the time to reform the industry in now. “As NNPC serves as the primary authority providing steer for Nigeria’s petroleum industry, curbing the internal excesses within the corporation is a critical requirement for industry-wide development. “NNPC needs to be repositioned for operational efficiency, optimised returns and transparency and accountability. Also relevant is the proposed unbundling of the organization to create a new partially privatized and commercially focused National Oil Company (NOC). Brazil (Petrobras) and Malaysia (Petronas) have recorded success stories in creating commercially-focused and technically-competent NOCs. “The PIB remains the single most important legislation that seeks to introduce transparency and accountability in the Nigerian petroleum industry as it proposes institutional restructuring, a new fiscal & policy framework and gas sector reforms. Still awaiting passage since the last administration, the current proposal is to re-present the PIB as a split bill; the anticipation is to ensure passage in tranches. “The failure to ratify and promulgate the PIB has consistently wilted the flow of investments in the oil and gas sector. In the long term, such decline in investment will likely pose consequences such as loss of jobs, decline in replaceable reserves and further revenue decimation. Currently, Nigeria’s daily oil production rate is stalled at 2.1mmbbl/d but passing the PIB will attract the significant investments required for the industry to move closer to achieving the 4mbpd production target by year 2020. In recognition of these consequences, a push-through of the PIB is advised in order to curb the evident losses and unleash the positive multiplier effects in other sectors of the economy.” He said another important point is developing local capacity and bridging the technical/non-technical skills gaps in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. “Efforts must be geared to ensuring local players in the industry are well-positioned to play a more active role across the entire value chain (particularly the upstream sector). Bottlenecks such as funding constraints and technical skill gaps must be urgently addressed to ensure indigenous participation and contributions. The Government’s key priorities should be strengthening the local content requirements to safeguard the interests of local companies as well as investing further in building local capacity to ensure that greater revenue generated from the oil and gas industry is retained within the country,” he said. Moreover, the decline in crude oil prices not only shocked many industry analysts, but has also not yielded the expected effect on the global economic growth. It is assumed the price has bottomed out and the only way now is an upward trajectory. It is not yet eureka as oil prices have only just begun to recover and the current price is just slightly over the budgeted crude oil benchmark ($38 pb). The short to medium term priority for the government should be strengthening industry-wide transparency, accountability and institutions. Over the same time horizon, the oil and gas operators should continue to focus on measures to survive the current low oil prices in a sustainable manner as there is a limit to how far oil operators can continue to cut costs without ultimately adversely affecting its production and reserves base.

Emefiele

ONSTANT power supply remains a major challenge to the Federal Government of Nigeria. In the mist of this challenge, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, May 2, 2016, at the University of Ibadan, said the government was planning to generate 7, 000 MW of electricity within the next 18 months. This promise has raised stakeholders’ expectations, just as Mr Osinbajo said the nation was faced with the problem of conveying gas to the power plant, adding that the pipeline, which remained the easiest method, was frequently facing vandalism. His confidence in meeting the target was based on the fact that, “Early in the life of this administration late last year and early this year, power generation was possibly at its best. “Nigeria, for the first time was actually generating 5,000mw, which was the first time it will happen in the history of the country.” It is in view of this that stakeholders believe it is only when 7,000 mw of electricity is achieved that President Muhammadu Buhari’s bigger target of 10,000MW by 2019 can become a possibility. And these can only be realised if the administration develops strategies to increase available generating capacity by addressing the challenges of gas supply, transmission and vandalism. One of the critical factors needed to scale these hurdles facing the sector has been finance. Hence, the CBN in its developmental role, thought it wise to step in. CBN-NEMSF The Central Bank of Nigeria in a bid to reduce the problems of liquidity in the sector, initiated a N213 billion Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (CBN-NEMSF). This was a follow up to commitments it reached with other stakeholders to address debts owed by generating companies to gas suppliers. According to the apex bank, the first disbursement was effected on February 12, 2015 to industry participants. One year into the progamme, the sum of N64 billion or 30 per cent of the facility was disbursed to 18 participants as follows: five distribution companies (N41.06bn); seven generating companies (N18.46bn); six gas companies (N5.24bn). These companies committed to using the funds to upgrade/refurbish their equipment and acquire new ones so as to improve service delivery. The facility was given at 10 per cent interest rate and repayment has commenced. Commending CBN’s timely intervention, the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Dr Victor Udoh said, “We appreciate what the CBN and the Federal Government has done for our industry. Before the intervention of the apex bank, there was liquidity problems. “Today, with the money received from CBN, we can evacuate up to 200mw of electricity. The money was effectively and judiciously utilised and I believe, our colleagues in the entire value chain are doing the same.” Among beneficiaries of the latest fund are three Distribution companies (Discos); 14 Generating companies(Gencos); one Service Provider and six Gas distribution (Gascos) to further address the challenges of the sector. The earliest beneficiaries of the special CBN power sec-

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Great expectations as CBN keys into 7,000MW electricity target The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently disbursed a total of N55.456 billion to 24 electricity distribution and generating companies as part of its N213 billion Nigerian Electricity Stabilisation Facility to the power sector. CHIMA NWOKOJI examines stakeholders’ expectations, the impact of the fund and how it can facilitate Federal Government’s target of generating 7,000 megawatts of electricity by 2017. tor intervention facility include the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc, which received cheques valued at N5.16 billion and N11.36 billion respectively. In the same vein, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, at the event said there was need for all stakeholders in the power sector to continue to work as a team to end perennial supply in the country. Fashola expressed optimism that the challenge faced in the power sector would be resolved, especially when all stakeholders like CBN throws their weight behind the project. The minister further explained that the CBN-NEMSF is a stabilisation fund that will be repaid over a 10-year period. “One of the problems we are having is gas. Some people have developed a mindset of vandalising gas pipelines. Let me say it very clearly that it doesn’t help this country. It does not help their communities and it doesn’t help their people. “Breaking oil pipelines increases pollution, so, let us be very clear about it. This is a time that the federal government had embarked on a clear clean -up programme and perhaps, this is the most inclusive programme and we must all support it,” he emphasised. Status review of NEMSF CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele at the signing ceremony in Lagos said the latest deal brings total disbursements to the Discos to N49.73 billion (91.7 per cent); gencos N54.29 billion (62.5 per cent), gas companies N15.73 billion (36.9%) and service providers N0.46 billion (1.7 per cent). “With today’s event, the total disbursements under the initiative will be N120.2 billion, representing (57 per cent) of the total amount earmarked,” the governor disclosed. He added that the Intervention has enabled the Elec-

“One of the problems we are having is gas. Some people have developed a mindset of vandalising gas pipelines. Let me say it very clearly that it doesn’t help this country. It does not help their communities and it doesn’t help their people.

Fashola tricity Distribution Companies (Discos) to provide bank guarantees to Nigerian Electricity Bulk Trader (NEBT), purchase of over 171,071 units of meters comprising both maximum demand and single phase meters. For instance he said, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) alone acquired 62,021 energy meters with the facility within the period. Rehabilitation of over 332kms of 11KV lines and 130km of 0.45KV lines; 70,310 No 500 KVA transformers procurement and construction of 34 new distribution substations and acquisition of 1 mobile injection substation under confirmed permitted utilization by the initiative. A further review of the fund utilisation and reports of impact by beneficiaries revealed that the intervention resulted in the restoration of a total of 905MW of power into the grid as a result of facility turn around maintenance, contribution of over 25 per cent of the annual capital expenditure budget for the sector. Specific reports from Generating Companies revealed that there was execution of capacity recovery programs in three hydro power stations as follows: Intake under water repair project, overhaul of Unit four and compliant metering/supplementary protection at shiroro dam; overhaul of 2G6 at Jebba Hydro and rehabilitation of three units at kainji Dam under permitted utilisations of the facility. A total of 300MW capacity increase was reported as a result of fund utilisation towards rehabilitation of both plants. Records from the apex bank show that Rehabilitation of seven Gas Turbines at three major thermal Power Plants namely Geregu, Transcorp Ughelli, and Ibom Power Plants were carried out. New entrants into the scheme are two Distribution companies (Benin and Jos) and eight generating companies that include two IPPs (Agip/Okpai and Shell) and six NIPP plants (Alaoji, Geregu, Ihovbor, Olorunsogo2, Omotosho2 and Sapele2). Renewed hope from power ministry The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola is looking at the big picture. To him, once the current challenges confronting the power sector are fixed, Nigeria will be able to generate 12,000 megawatts of electricity, The minister said in spite of the challenges, the country’s power sector still possessed the capacity to advance its power generation, transmission and distribution potentials through other energy supply sources. “There are many perspectives to do this. The country has today the capacity to generate at least 12,000 MW. If we fix all what is not working in the industry, including building any new power plant, the country would be generating close to 12,000 MW,” he said. According to the minister, meeting that target has been difficult because out of over 140 turbines, only about half has been able to get gas to work with. Echoing the vice president’s views, the minister said the nation’s power generating capacity, reached 5,000 MW before the recent spate of vandalism of gas pipelines, adding that the industry was already heading towards another milestone prior to the recent outages as a result of the blow up at the Chevron oil platform.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Edo gov: New posers over APC ticket The decision of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Kenneth Imansuangbon, to join Edo governorship race is sure to upset the calculations in the inner core, writes Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA.

Will the Central Senatorial District secure the ticket? What happens to Edo South which is poised to pick the slot even in the rival PDP?

EFORE now, the expectation had been there among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the race for the party’s ticket was closed. Though there are aspirants on the line, a number of stakeholders had the feel that some anointments have been effected and that everyone in the race was just a partaker. The indication had been there that the hierarchy in the APC was disposed to a particular candidate that the ticket was almost certainly reserved. The party’s hierarchy were said to be disposed to the Chairman of the State’s Economic Team, Chief Godswin Obaseki, but there is also the incumbent Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, believed by many to be a grassroots politician; a former Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie; a former Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogienmwonyi; and the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the 2012 election, General Charles Airhiavbere, as well as Comrade Peter Esele, who also hails from Edo Central. The entrance into the race of two former Chieftains of the PDP, Chief Kenneth Imansuangbon and former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor last week is however threatening to upset the APC’s applecart. Osunbor was dethroned by the courts after his initial victory in the 2007 election and had since joined the APC. Imansuangbon, an educationist, who runs the Pacesetters group of Schools in Abuja, is however bringing to the race years of his experienced political maneuvering which he earlier put at the disposal of the PDP in the state. At the national secretariat of the APC on May 18, where Imansuangbon obtained the Expression of Interest form in respect of the forthcoming Edo governorship election, the politician expressed his confidence at securing the ticket, notwithstanding the indication that the ticket was already in the kitty of one of the contenders. Imansuangbon, a lawyer told the National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Senator Osita Izunaso that being the number one person to pick the form is an indication of his impending success in the race. He stated that his nomination would restore the lost primacy to Edo in the areas of sports, human capital development, economy and social welfare. He denied insinuations that the APC in Edo was a divided house, adding that the party was united and ready to ensure that the umbrella of the PDP remained politically torn to pieces. He said: “I am the number one person to pick the form and God willing I will be the number one person throughout the general election. I have been consistent since 2004 because basically I believe that the people of Edo state need experienced person to create jobs and address other issues. All my life I have been committed to creating jobs. Since the 25 years I left university, I have been creating jobs and that is my cardinal objective when I take over from Adams Oshiomhole. “Secondly, my duty would be to strengthen our school system. Our school system is very weak. Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done his best but that is not where we want to be as a people. I am well-equipped as an educationist to make schools work and give teachers hope and restore their pride. When I come in, school would be very interesting to students in Edo state. “Thirdly, we would go back to till the land. I will boost agriculture. I will be the chief farmer in Edo state. I will take everybody back to farm. We will create farm industries. There will be rice plantation in Auchi, Agenebode to be precise and other reverine areas across the three senatorial districts.” The aspirant further stated that in the area of security, “rather than arm the Police, he would “arm the young ones to be in the farm,” adding that his government would be sending at least 1, 000 youths to Thailand to understudy their rice farming system with a view to replicating same in the state and exporting the produce to different parts of

governor at the end of the election. Imansuangbon was an aspirant for the same office in the state when he contested the 2007 election on the banner of the PDP. Even before the 2007 election, the Edo Central politician had been a known face in the politics of the state. Though he operates from Abuja, he has remained over the years, in touch with the grassroots of the people in the state. Besides, Imansuangbon, a former Edo state governor, Oserhiemen Osunbor, also declared his intention to join the governorship race. Like Imansuangbon however, Osunbor is a lawyer, indeed a Professor of Law, who had ruled the state for close to two years before his tenure was terminated by the Court of Appeal. Osunbor told newsmen in Abuja that he was joining the race on popular demands, adding that his tenure recorded tremendous success that endeared him to the people. He said: “I also fought for the accreditation of 30 out of 31 degree awarding courses in the Ambrose Ali University. Since governance entails continuity, Oshiomhole continued with my legacies and I promise to continue from where he stopped.’’ On the all important question of whether the incumbent Governor has an anointed candidate among the aspirants, Osunbor said: “At a meeting in March, Oshiomhole publicly declared that he had no anointed candidate and I believe him even if you don’t.’’ The entry of the duo means the ante of the political battle ahead of the APC primaries is heightened, whether this would be a plus or minus for the party is a matter the stakeholders would determine in the course of time. But the coming of Imansuagbon, especially, has raised some quick questions: will the Central Senatorial District secure the ticket? What happens to Edo South which is poised to pick the slot even in the rival PDP? How does the entry of Edo Central aspirants resonate with the stakeholders? While investigations revealed that the entry of the former governor may not have enjoyed widespread following among the stakeholders, the coming of Barrister Imansuangbon is said to be causing ripples within the APC. Sources indicated that apart from Odubu, the deputy governor, Imansuangbon is the other aspirant with large grassroots following and that his experience on the field, having participated in previous primaries even as a member of the PDP could come in handy. But his entry has thrown up some other issues within the ranks of the APC. There are issues whether the party would zone the ticket to Edo South where most of the contestants hail from. There is also the question whether popularity of the candidates would determine the winner and where a popular candidate is schemed out, whether the fortunes of the party would not be at stake. Though the leadership of the APC at the national level is said to be concerned about what becomes of the party in view of the huge battle ahead of the primaries, the scenario appears to be in a flux. The political reality in the state appears to be driving the ticket in favour of Edo South, which has some 56 per cent of the voting population, but there is the contention that with the entry of an experienced contestant like Imansuangbon, a candidate from Edo Central could just win the primaries, thereby throwing the race for the governorship quite open. Right now, only three of the ten aspirants on the ticket of the APC are from the Central Senatorial District. Another emerging question is what happens if Edo Central has to contend with Edo South for the main governorship contest and how does that affect the political fabric of the sate going forward? The contention among some stakeholders however remains that a popular APC candidate would easily cement the cracks in the party and that members would work collectively regardless of the zone that wins the primaries.

Imansuangbon

Airhiavbere the world. When asked how he would source the funds to finance for his programmes if elected, in view of the state of indebtedness of the state, the lawyer said that his administration would plug all revenue leakages and that having been in the private sector for years, funding would not be a challenge to his government. He told the party he was on a mission to improve on what Oshiomhole has done so that the state could be made better for generations yet to come. When the aspirant was asked to address the issue of zoning of the gubernatorial seat in the state he declared that he was not an apostle of zoning, but a believer in the need to get responsible and credible people into political offices. He praised the leadership of the APC for providing a level-playing field for all aspirants, adding that if the spirit of fairness continues, he will be declared

politics&policy

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos, no-go area for PDP, others —Ikuforiji Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji is the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and holds the record as the Speaker with the longest reign in Nigeria (2005 -2015) till date. In this interview with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, he speaks on fuel subsidy, President Muhammadu Buhari’s first year performance, and governance at various levels in Lagos state. Excerpts:

Ikuforiji

N 2012, you were one of the people that kicked against the removal of subsidy based on the argument that the Federal Government must stop the importation of crude oil and build local refineries. What is your stand now on the issue? I still stand on the fact that government, either directly or indirectly must create an enabling environment for private investors to come into the system. More local refineries should be built for us to process our crude oil for our domestic use. I don’t belong to the school of thought that expects manna to drop from heaven. There are no two ways about it; we need to restructure this economy. We need to face our problems squarely and effectively tackle them. We have been scratching this issue on the surface for too long. The issue of fuel subsidy is a thing that should have been laid to rest. If anybody says government must not remove fuel subsidy and we should just continue with the way we have been doing things, that person is only fooling himself. If we want to move forward as a nation, we need to prepare our minds for the pains. There will be initial pains, but the gains will definitely come. There is a lot wrong with the way we are managing our economy and social settings right now and all these need to be addressed. This is the only country I know where you don’t have good roads, but there is a high number of luxurious cars. This is the only country I know where a man who is on a monthly salary of N50, 000 wants to ride a car of N5m. The madness has to end in this country, and we should not continue to deceive ourselves. All these anomalies should be addressed and this is the only president (Buhari) who has what it takes to straighten things. Why then do you think Nigerians protested when former President Goodluck Jonathan attempted the removal in 2012? When you ask the masses to bear the pain of adjustments, but those who are supposed to lead by example are busy amassing wealth at an ungodly rate, siphoning the wealth of the nation into private pockets, you cannot expect the people you are leading to be happy. President Jonathan may have carried out little changes here and there, but it is common knowledge that the people who surrounded him were busy milking the nation dry. That was the trouble then, which made Nigerians rise in protest in 2012. On Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari

marked one year in office. How will you describe his performance so far? Looking at the last one year of the Buhari administration, I think it has been a year of positive developments. The president came in at a time the nation was slipping down the valley of no return; I think that has been arrested by the president. He has introduced discipline into the polity. President Buhari’s sincerity is not in doubt. While I agree that quite a number of our compatriots are groaning because of the economic hardship, the problems were inherited over a long period and solution to them cannot come overnight. Things had become really bad before Buhari came into office as president. He came in at a very tough period in Nigeria’s socio-economic history. Within a few months of his mounting the saddle of leadership of this nation, the price of the major product that we have, which is the crude oil, dropped significantly to about $20bpd. So, one can say, that President Buhari is divinely chosen because if for any reason, any other person had mounted the saddle of leadership aside Buhari, with the type of characters we have had as leaders in the recent past, then all hope would have been lost. I believe the hardship Nigerians are experiencing will be for a while because the president and his team are working assiduously to arrest the situation. Yes, expectations are high and that makes it so difficult for the

administration to be scored high. Unfortunately, there are only dwindling resources at the disposal of the government to meet the immediate needs and expectations of the people All in all, we are hopeful and I personally believe that President Buhari will help restructure our economy and a better foundation will be laid for our economy to take off. Corruption allegations were leveled against you during your tenure as Speaker though you were acquitted. Do you think you could have done much more if not for the distractions? The truth is, despite the distractions, I did all that was expected of me as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I will continue to glorify God for all we were able to do within the period that I led the House. As for forgiveness, God is the all-forgiving. There is nothing people have done that we cannot forgive. I leave the rest to God. In this life, no matter how much you try to bring a man down, if God sustains him, the best thing for such a man to do is to thank God and forge ahead. I bear no grudge against anyone and I don’t even think anyone is responsible for whatever happened to me. What I learnt from my scripture is that no leaf will fall from a tree without the knowledge of the Almighty. As a co-contestant with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the Lagos APC governorship primaries in December 2014, how will you describe his performance so far? Governor Ambode’s performance has been wonderfully excellent. He has performed creditably well to the admiration of Lagosians and his party, the APC. In fact, if I am to assess him today, I will score him very high. The transformation he has carried out in Lagos has been extraordinary. The reason for this is very clear. It is because he is well prepared for the job. I don’t believe in average performance. I like achieving outstanding results and the honest truth is that, I personally did not foresee Governor Ambode doing as much as he has done in the last 11 months. He has really surprised me positively. He is going into the nooks and cranny of this state to bring development closer to the people and he is tackling issues headlong like a true leader should do. The most surprising thing is that he is doing all this without making noise. He is not bragging, making empty noise or using the media to bamboozle the people about what he has done. Critics may say anything they like, but if you look around, can you count the number of local roads Ambode fixed in the last few months? Just consider the electrification of Lagos through the Light Up Lagos Project. This has significantly reduced the crime rate and returned nightlife to Lagos. Also, look at the issue of security. Just before the last administration in Lagos wound up, we started seeing traces of security breaches here and there. But our governor came in and tackled the issue headlong by giving the necessary equipment to the security agents and everyone can see how relatively secure Lagos has become. And he is not resting on his oars. Look at the various projects commissioned by the Vice- President, especially the gadgets to be used by security agents for the safety of Lagosians. To me, that is the number one responsibility of any government because when there is security and the environment is well lit at night, nightlife will return. This will in turn have a positive effect on the economy. The night economy is one of the things we have not been exploiting and Lagos used to be a veritable ground for night economy. The local government election in Lagos State will be coming up soon. Given the events that transpired in the 2015 elections in state with the APC losing some seats to the opposition; do you see the same repeating itself at the council level? Don’t forget that general elections have their characteristics, while local elections also have their characteristics. When you are conducting elections at the national and state levels, the variables at play are quite different from the variables at play in the local government election. Yes, we lost a few seats both in the House of Assembly and the House of Representatives to the opposition, mainly the PDP, but some of the variables that made that happen are no longer there today. I am sure that without bias, every resident of Lagos will agree with me that Governor Ambode is a performing governor. Recently, he even instructed local government chairmen to rehabilitate inner roads and ensure that they are powered with streetlights. Local government councils depend on the performance of the state governor.

This is the only country I know where you don’t have good roads, but there is a high number of luxurious cars. This is the only country I know where a man who is on a monthly salary of N50, 000 wants to ride a car of N5m.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Why APC must stop PDP this time —Olabimtan

Honourable Victor Olabimtan, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, is a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and former commissioner, representing Ondo, Edo and Ekiti states in the Federal Civil Service Commission. In this interview with DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE, he speaks on his ambition.

HAT exactly do you want to do differently if elected governor? One, I want to run a government that is classically transparent and good; a government where the principle of fairness, equity and justice will always apply. The leaders of tomorrow are the youths. At the end of every election, they are always neglected and/or given insignificant positions like special assistants or personal assistants. They should be commissioners, chairmen of boards and parastatals; they should be everything, even deputy governor. The same goes for women. That is why we have made it succinctly clear that our government is going to be 50-50; 50 per cent for those who are 50 years and above and the other 50 per

Olabimtan cent for those who are 49 years and below. And in all position of our government, 40 per cent shall go to our women. I also want to prove that not all politicians are liars. That is one of the main reasons we, VOICE (Victor Olabimtan Initiative for Change Emancipation), produced our manifesto, christened My pact and contract with the good people of Ondo state, so that people can see something to hold on to as a bond between us and them. This is a clear departure from the usual norm where

politicians merely talk about their aspirations without telling the people what they can or hope to do in government. We have a blueprint on how to make the sun shine brightly again in Ondo State. By the grace of God and with the support of the people, our manifesto will be implemented to the letter and Ondo state will be better for it. The state needs a bridge builder as a governor. Do you see yourself in this mould? A bridge builder is someone who can work his way across people, across diverse purposes and bring everybody together for the good of all. As far as this race is concerned, I am not being immodest, but I think if you are looking for a candidate that cuts across all bridges, that candidate is Olabimtan. The youths, women and elders love me. In my dealings with everybody during my journey so far, despite my imperfections, I have been fair to everybody and they know and love me. Looking at Ondo as a whole, I can say that I am a candidate (I won’t say I am the only one) that all the parties can trust. Be you APC, AP, PDP, SDP, LP, anybody. The civil servants in the state consider me as one of them and they relate with me as such. The youths understand what God has used me to do for some of them. The elders appreciate my humble contributions to the betterment of our society. All the sections of the society are accessible to me and I am equally accessible to all. These, therefore, are building bridges. I has not been controversial in anyway. Not too rigid and I believe that, for us to

develop, we need other people outside of Ondo State. We have a shoreline that has not been tapped in the state. We cannot do it alone; we need Lagos, we need Ogun and we need the Federal Government. We need to liaise with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry if we must develop our seaport. That is the issue we have. In a case where we have a governor who has an axe to grind with someone who can help him, such a governor will rather remain helpless than go to his enemy for help. I have no axe to grind with anybody. Therefore, approaching anyone won’t be an issue for me because I am free with all. This is what building bridges is all about; I can connect Ondo State with the federal and any state government. I have worked with both Ondo State and the Federal Governments, and I know where we need solutions to our problems. The race for the governorship of any state, no doubt, requires a lot of money? It is known worldwide that deprived people are the ones who think more, plan more and act development more. Take the nation of Israel, for instance, they are on an island and the island is a desert. Yet, they export food to almost all the great nations of the world. Because you are deprived, it makes you to use your initiative to the maximum. We sit down and consider ideas and we use our initiative; we sit down and plan on how to use the little we have to get better results like those people spending millions. That is why we are ahead of them.

Most gov aspirants now are dishonest —Alade A United States-based Attorney, Dele Alade, is governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. He speaks with HAKEEM GBADAMOSI on his ambition. Excerpts: AS at the last count, about 52 aspirants are seeking APC ticket. Don’t you see this a potential time bomb for the party ahead the governorship election in the state? This is democracy and the beauty of democracy is seeing people to aspire and compete to serve their people. Firstly the large number of aspirants in the party is a testimony that APC is a party to beat in this state. It shows that the wind of change is blowing in the state and I’m happy so many aspirants persuading people on why they must vote for APC to have a better governor than what we have now. I think two ways under our constitution through which a candidate can emerge. It could be through consensus or primaries; the two methods are backed up by the APC Constitution. I can tell you that presently, there is no arrangement for consensus candidate and the party has not zone the ticket to any senatorial district. Everybody is free to go out and persuade the delegates to vote for him or her. Our leaders may step in at the end of the day to prune the number of aspirants and call all the contend-

ers, and a candidate might emerge through that means. Most of the time our leaders knew better than us, they know the party and most of us though they may not be correct sometime but most of the time they are correct. I believe that a credible candidate who would fly the flag of the party in the November 2016 governorship election to rescue the state will soon emerge I believe that President Muhammadu Buhari needs people like him who share his objective to really deliver the people of our state . But I want you to know that the process to pick our candidate for the governorship election in the state will be free and acceptable to all. YOU are an Akure indigene and there’s agitation from your people that power should shift to Akure, despite belonging to the same senatorial district with the current governor. What’s your view on this Without any hesitation that I am hundred per cent in support of the Akure agenda. It is time for an Akure indigene, son or daughter, to be the governor of Ondo State. I believe in merit and we have so many qualified people from the town who can govern the state. I hope that my party will look into that give Akure people a chance, since the creation of this state, and since this democratic regime, Akure has not had the opportunity to produce the governor. Do you have regret for supporting the present government, because you said you decided to drop the case filed against the late Governor Segun Agagu because of Dr Olusegun Mimiko then. There was no regret. We knew Agagu then,

achievement because I can see some states bragging about prompt payment of their workers salaries; it’s not an achievement. That’s why they continue to oppress the people thinking they have achieved something with payment of salaries. Most of the people aspiring to be governor now are only interested in stealing money. An ordinary commissioner or council chairman will become a billionaire in six months and we don’t ask question. We need to change our perspective on the way we see leadership, as public service should be seen as sacrifice. We should guard against corruption by making political offices attractive to only honest politicians. They should be meant for those who really want to serve and make sacrifice for the betterment of the state, country and the people in other words, politics should not be seen as a money-making venture. The media too have a role to play on this, otherwise our people will continue to languish in poverty.

Alade so we were looking for somebody better than him. That’s what’s happening in Nigeria, our people are just corrupt, wicked and have no regard for lives of the common man. So, at that time when we supported Mimiko, we believed he would be a better alternative and my leaders supported him and based on the respect I have for my leaders, I succumbed to their advice that I should not join suit with Agagu then. But Mimiko has been a big failure, I understand he has not been able to pay salaries for the past five months. Some believe payment of salaries is an

As a leader of APC in Diaspora, what effort did you make to its success in the last election? The APC abroad contributed a lot to the success of APC during the last election. The party is less than three years old and I appreciate the sacrifice of our pioneer chairman and national leader to bring the party to where it is today. It is not an easy task for an opposition to ‘dethrone’ a ruling government. Before the election, APC abroad went to the White House and delivered letters to President Barrack Obama on political developments in Nigeria. We also went to the United Nations and delivered letters over the plan to postpone the elections, which they eventually did.

Wednesday,1 June, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featurestribune@yahoo.com 08111845048

Misdiagnoses: When medical

errors become fatal

That the average Nigerian, rich or poor, is at the risk of medical misdiagnosis would be stating the obvious. From self-medication, to quack pharmacists and doctors, and even negligence of healthcare personnel, the consequences of medical errors include brief health challenges, gradual health deterioration, and sometimes, sudden death. KEHINDE OYETIMI examines the concerns as it relates to medical misdiagnosis.

hen Mrs Adeleke, as she preferred to refer to herself, narrated her story to Nigerian Tribune, her mien was a mix of emotions and it took real concentration to determine that she was trying really hard to keep a straight face throughout the interview. It had been a year since she lost her only child, barely five years after she lost her husband, and for a woman in her forties, she seemed to be at breaking point. She adjusted her sitting position, wiped her face with her handkerchief for the umpteenth time, averted her eyes from the interviewee, and proceeded with her story. “If anyone had told me that when I was barely 45 that I would have lost a husband and a son, I would probably have cursed the person. I lost my husband five years ago to an accident, and I took it as God’s

will. It was said that he was rushed to a hospital but before he could be treated, he passed on. Ironically, he was a doctor. I keep trying to imagine what he must have gone through in those last moments, but who am I to question God. I feel so alone,

like my life has ended. However, Akin’s case was different. He was so vibrant, full of life, and was nice to a fault. He was my rock, my everything, after we lost his father. Do you know he would have graduated barely months after he died?” she

If anyone had told me that when I was barely 45 that I would have lost a husband and a son, I would probably have cursed the person.

stated. On how Akin died, Mrs Adeleke said that he was being treated for malaria when the situation went awry. According to her, he had been having headaches on and off that day, and his temperature was quite high. “He was on a brief break from school, and he had gone to play football in a stadium nearby. Before ten, he had complained of feeling a little feverish. When he got back, he complained of a recurring headache, and I took him to a hospital. The medical personnel on duty took his temperature and told us it was fever, and started treating him for malaria. He couldn’t really explain what was wrong with him, because he was a little dizzy. By the next day, he was in pain, and had started throwing up at intervals. It wasn’t until I was holding him close, trying to rub the sweat from his face, when I noticed the bump on his head. Two of his friends were with me, and after prodding them with questions, they told me he had fallen and hit his head when they were playing football. According to them, he simply got up, shook his head and said he was fine. He complained Continues 28

features

Wednesday,1 June, 2016 hand, the errors could arise from the doctor or the lab.” The cultural, religious connections According to respondents who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, many Nigerians do not really understand the concept of medical misdiagnosis or negligence, and more are not even aware that if a doctor is found culpable, he/she can face litigation. People like Mrs Adeleke, have simply left their fate to God, and are not the least bit interested in such matters as it would simply be a reawakening of bitter memories. People as such would simply say ‘it is as God wants.’ There is also the issue of cultural implications in which some not-readily explained deaths are attributed to some form of ‘spiritual attack,’ especially if initial diagnosis becomes different from the eventual consequence of the error.

‘Doctors, lab results, and even patients

contribute to misdiagnoses’ Continued from 27

of a slight headache, so they told him to go home and rest, which he did reluctantly, because they were teasing him about his threshold for pain. That was when I knew something was up. “I asked for a transfer and the doctor in charge of the health centre – it was a private clinic – was not very cooperative at first. I insisted and two days after, we took him to another hospital. They ran some tests and found out that he had a head injury. By then he had become disoriented and was very uncomfortable. In less than one week, after that fall, he passed on.” Not all fevers are malaria –Prof. Onwujekwe Clinical negligence, usually based on assumptions and the unwillingness of the doctors to go the whole length to determine the actual cause of an illness, can lead to complications. In the case of Mrs Adeleke, according to medical doctors, the fault was based on misinformation and the doctor’s negligence. Mrs Adeleke had told the doctors that he had been complaining of fever since he returned from school, and he had usually treated for malaria whenever he was on break, so the doctor could simply have assumed that it was the usual malaria symptoms. Mrs Adeleke’s position is supported by the declaration of Professor Obinna Onwujekwe of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, according to a new study in the scientific journal Plos One, an extract of which was published on VOA News. According to Onwujekwe, “Most people [in Nigeria] wrongly assume that all fevers are malaria. So once you have a fever, you’re most likely to get a malaria drug without diagnosis. That is wrong. Not all fevers are malaria.” ‘Drug makers’ profits contribute to medical errors’ Onwujekwe’s position is based on the activities carried out by health workers, in which they prioritise sale of drugs over correct diagnosis of illness, as exempli-

fied in malaria. According to the study, in spite of the availability of Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT), many Nigerian health workers do not use it. The study compiled data from 5,000 people across 40 communities in Enugu State, and concluded that drug sellers, sometimes do not trust the test results and at other times, put profit ahead of patients. “They want to make money. I mean, if somebody comes with fever and they say go home [because you don’t have malaria], well, they lose money. Because of that, there’s a lot of waste. Drugs are wasted [and] quite a lot of money. If the test says it’s not malaria, they don’t believe the test.” Noting the consequences of prescribing the drugs for a wrong illness, he notes that: “There are so many consequences. Other illness can cause real damage, which may even lead to death. That’s one. Then, there’s the high economic cost for society. And they’re wasting the drugs. Then, number three; it can be development of resistance to malaria parasites if the drugs are not used properly.” ‘Misdiagnosis in itself doesn’t equate malpractice or negligence’ Dr Tolu Okedere, Registrar in Radiology at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, cites a number of factors responsible for misdiagnosis. “A number of factors contribute to the issue, such as a patient that may be conservative with the truth about the whole story behind their conditions especially if

they have been practising self medication. Doctors aren’t magicians. Some disease conditions are relatively new or may not have classical symptoms. There is the issue of the level of experience of the attending doctor. Doctors who are older in practice are less likely to misdiagnose. Also, incompetent laboratory personnel could give the doctor wrong or unreliable result leading to misdiagnosis. Wrong laboratory results may be as a result of poor diagnostic support equipment,” he stated. Dr Anderson Anuforo, Medical Officer at Emabel Hospital, Aguda, Lagos State, in an interview with Nigerian Tribune stated that arriving at a diagnosis involves three stages, which include: “History taking, where the symptoms of the disease are discussed, questions asked and answers given; physical examination to elicit clinical signs, and investigations to confirm the tentative diagnosis made from the first two,” noting that “errors from any of these stages could result in a misdiagnosis.” According to him, “Misdiagnosis in itself doesn’t equate malpractice or negligence. The latter two are ethical offences. Malpractice has to do with intentionally doing the wrong thing, while negligence has to do with knowing what to do and not doing it. These actions are far more technical than I’m making them sound. I’m actually over-simplifying them. Patients could manufacture symptoms or leave out an important one. That could lead to a misdiagnosis. On the other

The public from time-to-time should be encouraged to report any case of suspected negligence and medical errors in order to have documented evidence on the rate of occurrence.

Who takes responsibility? The study of F.N. Chukwuneke of the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, entitled, “Medical incidents in developing countries: A few case studies from Nigeria,” cites six cases involving medical negligence, errors and misdiagnosis. According to him, “Countries have different standard and regulations in medical practice with formation of several regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC) in Nigeria and Health Professions Council of South Africa. The duty of these bodies is to protect members of the public by ensuring that doctors and other health care givers are properly qualified that they perform their services to patients with competence and diligence, and that they observe at all times high moral and ethical standards while attending to their patients. A legal duty exists whenever a hospital or health care provider undertakes care or treatment of a patient. This duty is, therefore, breached when the healthcare provider failed to conform to the relevant standard of care resulting in injury or death. When a practitioner acts in a manner that is contrary to the generally accepted standard of professional care it consists negligence because it negates the rule of optimal care for the patient.” While Dr Okedere proposes availability of good laboratory support which will aid improved diagnosis, Dr Chukwuneke calls for legal and legislative measures to be put in place, and urges clinicians “for the sake of obligation should ensure that they maintain the highest standard of patients care in their practice.” He also observes that “there is a need to emphasise early medical ethics training for health care professionals at the undergraduate level, as well as promoting and organizing workshops to constantly keep them well-informed. The public from timeto-time should be encouraged to report any case of suspected negligence and medical errors in order to have documented evidence on the rate of occurrence. This in turn will help the health policy makers and medical regulatory body (NMDC) to understand the extent of the health problem and finding out the best method to reduce the rate of occurrence in the health care sector.” Misdiagnosed patients can sue--Lawyer Speaking on the possibility of suing for damages by a patient wrongly diagnosed, Mr Lawrence Oyedoyin, who is a lawyer, told Nigerian Tribune that, “A patient wrongly diagnosed can sue and get paid for damages. The hospital or health centre can be dragged to the law court. There are cases of such. The evidence, however, must be convincing.”

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016 Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

maka nd’igbo

Honourable Onah( 4th left), government representatives as well as staff of FIT Consult Limited in a group photograph on the land for the proposed 'Heliu Residences'

The yet-to-be developed independence layout in Enugu

Ugwuanyi unveils Heliu residences to stem housing problem Jude Ossai - Enugu

BVIOUSLY, a simple list of immediate "basic needs" is food (including water), shelter and clothing. However, modern lists emphasize the minimum level of consumption of 'basic needs' as not just food, water, clothing and shelter, but also sanitation, education, and healthcare. To stem housing problem in Enugu

metropolis, the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has called for investors (both foreign and local) to embrace the Public-Private Participation (PPP) of his government's policy on housing scheme. Maka Ndigbo observed that one of the first callers for the shelter programme of the Ugwuanyi’s government is a company called “FIT Consult Limited”, now set to open up a new independence layout christened “Heliu Residences”,

along Enugu/PortHarcourt Expressway. Conducting newsmen round the new independence layout which has 120 hectares of land last week, the state Commissioner for Land and Urban Development, Honourable Solomon Onah, said the project would be the first since the creation of the state, adding that it would gulp about N3.5 billion to put infrastructure in the area. Honourable Onah maintained: “It is

Enugu House of Assembly promises to pass Child Right Bill Jude Ossai - Enugu THE Enugu State House of Assembly has promised to pass the Child Right Bill after its retreat to review the contents of the document. The speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Edwin Ubochi, stated this during a two-day legislative retreat for the House members on Domesticated of Child Rights Bill in Enugu. Honourable Ubochi said that although the Bill had passed first reading, the retreat was convened to look at the bill for a detailed understanding of the contents

and why it was turned down by the 5th Assembly. "We wish to know why the bill was turned down and also to have an overview of the bill page after page for a robust understanding and to enable the House pass it, hence the invitation of the representatives of the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) he stated". Ubochi said that they had the notion that some sections of the bill prohibited certain rights of the parents from bringing up their children in the real traditional ways they should be trained, saying that the retreat was for the House to understand ev-

Industrialist set to provide 3,000 jobs for Anambra youths Suzy Oruya - Onitsha AN Anambra-based industrialist, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, has concluded arrangements to set up a maize farm in Achala Umuchu, Aguata Local Area of the state to provide jobs for no fewer than 3000 youths in the area. He disclosed at his home town, Umuchu while conducting a team of Agriculture experts from Republic of Benin, led by Mr Masline Howssou Yemaline . Ezeemo, who is also the proprietor of the Orient Feed Mills and Farm, maintained that Agriculture remained the solution to the country’s employment challenges. He urged all tiers of government to invest in agriculture in order to address the food problem of the country as well as youth unemployment. He said that the maize farm would serve as a complement to feed the 50,000 birds in his poultry farm. “We have bird poultry where we can raise our old layers and broilers for table meat and our fishery. The corn will be a major constituent of the feed for the ani-

mals and we are targeting to employ 3, 000 youths in the farm. “We chose corn for this land because the land has been fallow for over 15 years and that is why we started constructing the 3km road down to this place. We are tarring the road so that vehicles can pass through this place when it rains”, he said. “My major reason for establishing this farm is to contribute my own quota in assisting government to realise its agricultural agenda as source of youth employment . He said the farm would enhance food security, human capital development, increase in internally generated revenue and poverty reduction, among the citizens He regretted that the country had not maximally harnessed this aspect of her economic potential. Ezeemo urged the state government to assist him by asphalting the road leading to the farm. He said: “As an individual, I’m not supposed to spend a dime on road construction, but I am forced to do that to keep our operation going”.

ery aspect of the bill before the passage. In an address, the Enugu State Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Peace Nnaji, commended the state House of Assembly for its determination to pass the bill into law. Nnaji noted that the misconception in some quarters about the Child Rights Law and how it would make the children not to be respected and submissive to their parents were misleading and untrue. Her words: "Law states clearly the duties and obligations of children, their parents and vice-versa. In other words, the law would be domesticated in tandem with the cultural values and norms of our society. It is the only documents that guarantee children's survival, development, protection and participation. The UNICEF Chief of Enugu Field Office, Charles Nzuki, in a good will message, said the retreat represented a significant milestone with promises to improve laws, policies and overall system to promote the guarantee survival, development and protection of all children in Enugu State in line with standards enshrined in the United Nations Convention on Rights of a child. Nzuki emphasised that the bill provided an opportunity for legislative reform to comprehensively codify human rights, child right and laws on circumstances pertaining civil situations and conflicts with the law. According to the Chief of Enugu Field Office, some of the standards include child right to grow up in a family environment, have name and be registered. Children in conflict with the law have a right to be treated in a manner which takes into account the child's age and the desirability of promoting the child's re-integration into society etc.

going to be constructed in partnership with a consortium of local and international companies led by FIT Consult Limited”. According to him, Governor Ugwuanyi, in his unique understanding of poverty alleviation and economic development, had taken critical lessons from the road map of development of other nations which were once at low level of development. “Nations such as China and UAE are shining examples in this 21st Century as well as older countries like Britain and Germany which had undergone massive rehabilitation of both their physical and economic infrastructures after the second world war”, he added. “I wish to note that since the creation of Enugu State on August 27, 1991, no new area has been developed in a proper manner, with full modern facilities until now. Indeed, such an area has not been developed anywhere in the South East of Nigeria: Great things are, therefore, set to happen in the Coal City of Nigeria and Enugu State at large”. Onah said the project was a PublicPrivate Partnership, whereby the state government is contributing the land required while the Consortium will develop the infrastructure, so that the Serviced Plots can be made available for individual development. He explained that the much needed revenue would come from the sales of the plots, stressing that it would also provide job opportunities for the teeming youths of the state. “Enugu State will soon become a giant construction work yard that will certainly bear a new face lift, within the next 24 months. Let me state that this government expects that more PPP projects of this nature will assist in bringing rapid economic development to the state and, indeed, reduce poverty as this will be a grand route to job and wealth creation in the state.”

CREW Jude Ossai-Enugu-South East Bureau Chief 08052817955 Joe Nwachukwu- Owerri 08033271227 Suzy Oruya- Onitsha 08063653735

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016 30 south-westnews Ekiti gets new We are not privatising our schools —Oyo govt SA

•NUT leads protest to stakeholders’ meeting today By Wale Akinselure

HE Oyo State Government has addressed fears in some sections of the public over the policy to allow individuals, alumni and missionaries to take over the running of the state’s public schools, assuring that no teacher would be retrenched. The state government also maintained that that the policy was neither aimed at privatising nor selling schools, but rather targeted at returning and ceeding some schools to interested missionaries, communities, stakeholders, in the overall public interest. Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Communications and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, addressing journalists, over the heated issue, said government did not intend to relinquish its responsibilities but was compelled to embrace Public/Private partnership in improving educational institutions in the state. Further elucidating government’s stand, Layinka said engaging stakeholders in the running and management of public utilities, like schools, not only enabled government to devote resources to other areas but also guaranteed sustainability in the management of public infrastructure. Noting proposals from missionaries, Layinka averred that government would consider ceeding out schools based on the spread of government secondary schools in the area, the total population of students in the area, commitment and capacity of the intending owners. “Government is not a doall, know all institution. It is a representative unit of the collective society. The concept of public/private partnership is not invented by Oyo State, not even in Nigeria. It is a global phenomenon to begin to look at the possibility of engaging other stakeholders to participate in the running and management of public utility. One of the key issues of public interest is sustainability of the management of public infrastructure and we have seen how our dwindling resources and lack of capacity within government has mortgaged public interest. PPP, therefore, has become imperative for governments because of the current state of the economy and we are aware of the limited resources available to government. “This is not a privatisation programme. It is a

process of returning and ceeding some schools to interested owners and stakeholders, especially, to missionaries, communities, based on clearly stated criteria that are in the public interest. The Oyo State government will never mortgage the interest of its people for any reason. Everybody and stakeholders must be rest assured that this is in the public interest. “No teacher will be retrenched on account of this policy. Every teacher in the school that will be

eventually seeded will have an option of going with the new owner or staying with the Oyo State teaching service commission. No teacher is being forced to stay with any of the ceeded schools.” According to Layinka, the clamour for a return of schools had resonated over the past 40 years and the decision to get others involved in the running of schools had become more imperative this time when resources available to government were inadequate.

On notions that the state government put the cart before horse, he said negotiations and consultations over the issue had continued overtime, while another bout of negotiations was to hold today. The Nigerian Union of Teachers, Oyo state chapter will today lead a protest to the venue of the stakeholders meeting, that is State Secretariat, Ibadan, to demand a reversal of government’s policy. It would be recalled that the union in an advertorial noted that allowing other

individuals or groups to run schools apart from government portended grave consequences for the education system of the state, especially heaping unbearable burden on the masses. The union held that the recent move by the state government amounted to a sojourn back to the days where school owners charged exorbitant fees, failed to give quality education to students, employed unqualified teachers and allowed religious discrimination in pupils’ enrolment.

parliamentary matters

THE Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has approved the appointment of Honourable Alexander Adeojo as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Parliamentary Matters. The appointment of Adeojo resulted from the resignation of Hon Samuel Oyedele Ajibola from that position. In a statement on Tuesday, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the appointment of Adeojo takes immediate effect. Meanwhile, the governor has thanked Ajibola for his meaningful contributions to the administration and development of the state while he was Special Assistant, Parliamentary Matters to the Governor. The governor also wished him the best of luck in his future political endeavours.

Ondo 2016: Rep member drums up support for APC victory

From left, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Mr Basiru Olarenwaju; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr Yomi Layinka and the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Ronke Mokanjuola, at a news conference on the returning of schools to the missionaries in Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Ogun govt announces passage of Olota •Rites commence Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

THE Ogun State government on Tuesday, announced the passage of the Olota of Ota, in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government, Oba Moshood Alani Oyede. This was contained in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Dayo Adeneye, that the state would sorely miss the fatherly role of the traditional ruler. Government in the statement described the late

monarch as an educationist and community leader, who worked for the development of Ota town and Ogun State in general. Nigerian Tribune recalls that the late monarch joined his ancestors last Thursday, May 26, during a brief illness at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Oba Oyede, a first class traditional ruler in the state, was said to have spent 19 years on the throne of his forefathers.

The statement said,”The Ogun State government hereby announces the demise of His Royal Highness Alayeluwa Oba Moshood Adetoro Alani Oyede, the Olota of Ota. “Baba, in his life time, was an educationist and community leader, who worked tirelessly for the development of Ota in particular and Ogun State in general. He will be sorely missed for his fatherly role and wise counsel. “May God grant the royal

Homeowners’ charter document, legal instrument —Amosun Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

THE Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Tuesday, declared that the Homeowners Charter document has become a legal instrument forthwith. He gave the declaration at the presentation of Certificate of Occupancy (CoO) and other title documents to another batch of 1,000 beneficiaries, at a

ceremony held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Amosun represented by his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, said the presentation, which was the 12th edition since the scheme was inaugurated in December, 2013, said all professional disputes with government on the scheme had been resolved.

He said, “Kindly note that the document issued under this Homeowners’ Charter programme is as authentic as any documents issued from the Bureau of Lands and Survey. “The professionals in dispute with the government with the HOC have come to terms with the professionalism applied to the creation of the documents.

family, the Olota in Council and his subjects the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.” Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko, said the remains of the monarch would arrive in Ota on Tuesday (yesterday) and that markets would be shut for seven days. The commissioner said the late monarch, aged 73, was a retired school principal. He said, “starting from yesterday (Tuesday), the passage rites of the Olota of Ota will commence, as his remains would arrive today. “The rites will last for seven days, and all markets will be shut in honour of the departed monarch. “He taught in Ansar-uddeen College, Sango High School, Aiyetoro Comprehensive High School among others, before he retired as a Principal.”

AS the governorship election is drawing nearer in Ondo State, a House of Representatives member from Akoko South East and South West Federal Constituency, Honourable Babatunde Kolawole, has called on the electorates in the state to support APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial election slated for November this year. According to Hon Kolawole, voting APC into power is the only solution to the PDP maladministration and misrule in Ondo State. Said he, “I want to tell my good people of Ondo State that if APC candidate is voted in as governor come November this year, apart from the fact that the administration would be run transparently, corruption and other forms of political criminality would also be a thing of the past. “For example, go to all the APC controlled states and see how best their governors are performing with their zero tolerance for corruption and other forms of fraud at the government levels. Talk of the fulfillment of all the electioneering campaign promises, none of the APC governors is found wanting. So, if the same APC government is brought to Ondo State and with all the resources God has blessed us with, definitely our state would become the best state in the federation.”

south-westnews

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Unpaid salaries: Ondo workers begin indefinite strike today Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

HE leadership of Organised Labour in Ondo State on Tuesday directed all workers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike from today (Wednesday) over the non-payment of their five months salaries. This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the leaders of various workers union in the state which included the chairmen and secretaries of the Joint ne-

gotiating council (JNC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). The statement, which was jointly signed by chairmen of the state NLC, Bosede Daramola; JNC, Sunday Adeleye and TUC, Ekundayo Soladoye and their secretaries, urged workers to stay away from their offices. The leaders expressed disappointment over the inability of the state government to attend to the plight of the workers, saying that

non-payment of workers’ salaries between January and May, 2016, had negative impact on the lives of the workers and pensioners in the state, economically, socially, psychologically. They said in the statement “it has become unbearable that workers have not received salaries for the past five months at a stretch.” The workers lamented that “the non-payment of salaries have negatively affected workers and pensioners economically, socially, psychologically and

health wise. They also noted that the development had affected the health of some of the workers and pensioners, saying the labour unions could no longer bear the pains. The organised labour also frowned over the inability of the state government to honour an agreement earlier reached with the leadership of the workers in the state on the payment of two out of the five months salaries before the end of work on Monday.

However, the union said teachers in the state would be exempted from the industrial action to allow secondary school students, who are currently writing NECO examination to continue with the exercise during the indefinite strike. The leaders of the organised labour called on all workers in the state to stay away from their offices while hospitals, public schools, state owned media organisations would be shut down during the industrial action. “That workers in Ondo State can no longer bear this situation in view of untold hardship suffered by these workers. “In view of the above, all workers are hereby directed to embark on an indefinite strike action as from today (Wednesday) June 1 until further notice,” they said.

Oluwo urges govt to give room for youths

From right, Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; representative of the National President,Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mr Enyi Ben Eboh and the President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Mr Umaru Aliyu, during the 20th anniversary of Nigerian Institute of Architects, (NIA), Osun State chapter, at the Multipurpose Hall, Local Government Service Commission, Abeere, Osogbo, on Tuesday.

Workers’ strike: Ekiti PDP, APC trade words Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State have exchanged words over the ongoing strike by civil servants in the state over their unpaid salaries and allowances. The PDP in a statement on Tuesday said the APC was meddling in the matter and claimed that its statement on the strike was “a confirmation of the insinuations that the APC has infiltrated the ranks of labour unions in the state and is fuelling the crisis.” The PDP in the statement by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Jackson Adebayo, said “the position and language of the APC on the strike had exposed the opposition party and its complicity in the strike. The APC even threw caution to the wind by turning itself to the mouthpiece of the labour unions and demanding for what was not included in the workers’ demand list.” But the APC in the state, through its Publicity Secretary, Chief Taiwo Olatunbo-

sun, said no amount of propaganda would prevent the workers from getting their legitimate pay. Olatunbosun, who said the APC was reacting to allegation that the party was behind workers’ resolve to embark on strike to demand for their five months salaries and other allowances, including payment

of pensions arrears, said “what Fayose is doing by calling out drivers to join PDP protesters against civil servants is a desperate act to kill workers’ resolve to earn their legitimate wage for a decent living.” While condemning the governor for “rail-roading drivers into a scheme to break NLC’s ranks and

discredit state workers,” Olatunbosun said, “Drivers have no business with workers’ strike because they don’t take salary from government. Drivers should see Governor Fayose’s attempt to manipulate them into a protest against the civil servants as working against their own interest.

Guber poll: Ondo uncovers plot to use court to create PDP faction THE Peoples Democratic Party’s government of Ondo State has uncovered plot by some people to use the judiciary to cause panic and anxiety in the state ahead of the November 26 gubernatorial election. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, in a statement issued in Akure, on Tuesday, said the people who are known to be working for the opposition in the state are plotting to get a favourable court order against the PDP in the state to pave way for its factionalisation. Giving details of the plot,

Akinmade said a meeting was held recently outside the state, where a committee was also carved out with a mandate to ensure everything was done to stir the peace being enjoyed in Ondo PDP and destabilise it. According to the Commissioner, “at the meeting, the committee was given two weeks ultimatum to come up with a workable plan that will guarantee the destabilisation of the party in the state ahead of the November election. He said the committee thus came up with the idea of creating a faction in the

party, using the judiciary, following which a member was mandated to shop for a lawyer who will be able to get a judge to do the job Another meeting to that effect was also held on Monday, he said. Insisting that the adversary’s plot would fail “like the similar one carried out before the last state Assembly election failed,” Akinmade called on the Chief Judge of the federation to caution judges in the country and warn them against issuing judgments capable of further endangering the fragile peace in the country.

THE Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, on Tuesday agitated for inclusion of youths in the governance of the country to give room for more dynamism and development in all aspect of the sectors. The monarch made the agitation at this year’s Children’s Day he organised for school pupils of Iwo and its environs at the Sport Complex of the Bowen University, Oke-Odo of the town. Oba Akanbi described involvement of youths in governance as a tool to accelerate the rapid development of any given society, adding that, it would as well advance the country’s rapporteuring relationship with other advanced countries in terms of latest innovation. The royal father, who argued that, if youths were well engaged, criminal acts and other nefarious activities in the county would be reduced, charged government to create employment opportunity for them to be more productive in the society. He attributed them to engine room and life wire of any given setting that if well engaged and judiciously made use of would make positive impact in the development of the country. In his speech entitled: “Making Positive Use of Youthfulness,” Oba Akanbi stressed that, any nation that neglects its youths would be under developed in all sectors.

Nigerian Tribune

Aregbesola expresses concern over persistent stormy rainfall Oluwole Ige - Osogbo GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Tuesday, associated incessant stormy rainfall being experienced in the country to the much talked about negative impacts of man on the environment. He made the observation during a courtesy visit and the opening ceremony of the Osun Architects’ Sustainable Information Synthesis Forum in Osogbo. While attributing much of the destruction of the global ecosystem to anti-nature activities of human beings, Aregbesola said “it is these human activities that have led to the worse state the global climate has receded into, manifesting in the harsh weather and incessant natural disaster that the world is witnessing today.” He averred that even though nature is calm, it does not respect human beings and as such could be devastating in form of protest against unconscionable human activities. Expressing fear over imminent danger ahead, Aregbesola appealed to all stakeholders in the fight against climate change to sensitise people on the need to engage in reasonable activities, just as he canvassed for a serious commitment to the greening of the environment by planting multiple trees where one is felled. According to him, “let me call our attention to the danger - or is it tragedy the whole world faces today with our climate. Have we paused to ask ourselves why we have stormy rainfall constantly? It is either we experience this wild storm before or during rainfall and we go about as if this is a normal occurrence. No! We are today at the mercy of the nature and it is human activity that has led to this worse climatic conditions we now experience.” Aregbesola also expressed his worries in the inability of the professional body to come up with a suitable material for building plan 56 years after the exit of colonialism. He also lamented that over two decades after the continent’s contact with the European and 56 years after independence, Nigerian architects have yet to come up with a policy on which material is best and suitable for building plan. Earlier in his remark, the President of Nigerian Institute of Architecture (NIA), Mr Tony Oliver-Braid, an architect, has described Osun as a very unique state in the whole of the country.

news

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Religious violence claims 4 in Niger, security agencies restore peace Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

HE 31 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Minna, on Tuesday, said that the religious violence which claimed four lives in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday has been brought under control. Major Njideka Agwu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Officer (APRO), told newsmen in Minna, on Monday, that the army, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have restored peace in the area. “At about 6.00p.m. on Saturday, 29 May, 2016, one Mr Methodus Emmanuel, a 24-year-old trader based in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State was attacked and killed by a mob in the town over allegation of posting a blasphemous statement about Prophet Muhammad on social media. “Three other persons including personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also lost their lives. “Troops of the 31 Artillery Brigade of One Division, Nigeria Army, quickly intervened and restored law and order while a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed in the town,” she said. Agwu stated further that a church, one house and a shop were razed, while 25 other shops were looted by some unidentified suspected hoodlums when the violence erupted. She stressed that the hoodlums embarked on further violence Monday morning, looting shops and blocking the Lagos–Kaduna road, a major highway connect-

ing Northern and Southern parts of the country. The APRO said the army made some arrests in connection with the incidence and suspects handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution. She said that the army

and other security agencies had commenced confidence building patrols in all the nooks and crannies of the area towards restoration of lasting peace. “As part of measures to deescalate tensions and ensure a lasting peace in the town,

AS controversy continued to trail the idea of grazing reserve as a panacea to the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers across the country, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has debunked the insinuation that grazing reserve is the initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari. Governor Lalong stated this in an interactive session with journalists over the weekend as part of the activities marking his one year in office. He said the idea of grazing reserve was mooted by the previous administration, adding that the present administration is not embracing it to placate the Fulani as being speculated in some quarters. “The idea is not for Fulani

would continue with its non violence approach to maintaining peace in the area. She warned that the army would not take it kindly with any unscrupulous person who may attempt to visit violence on law-abiding citizens.

Chief Of Army Staff (Coas), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, briefing newsmen

Cattle rustlers invade Plateau, over 1,600 cattle stolen ISAAC SHOBAYO - JOS

THERE are strong indications that prevailing peace in Plateau State might be shattered following resumption of cattle rustling in some parts of the Plateau Northern senatorial district. Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that in the

past one month no fewer than 1,600 cattle had been rustled with just fragment recovered and consequently returned to their owners by men of Operation Safe Haven. An investigation in Barakin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of the state revealed that in the

Grazing reserve not Buhari’s initiative —Gov Lalong ISAAC SHOBAYO - JOS

the military is working with the local government council authorities and community leaders including the Kagara Emirate Council to pacify all aggrieved parties and build on the peace so far established,” she said. Agwo said that the army

alone, but for farmers also. With this arrangement, both the farmers and the herdsmen will be beneficiaries by way of empowerment. No state would force its people to release their lands. Each state is expected to implement it base on its peculiarities. “It would be established in three areas per state. In Plateau State, traditional rulers are interested and ready to offer their lands. Two local governments in southern zone, Langtang and Mikang, have indicated their interest. The concept is also to empower our people. The intention is not to bring Fulani to the state,” he assured He further implored Nigerians to give the grazing reserve a trial, adding that it would equally minimise cattle rustling. On the state of agriculture in the state, Governor

Lalong said the immediate past administration of Senator Jonah Jang invested N14 billion on agricultural training centres in three senatorial districts without making profit for five years.

past two weeks quite a number of cattle have been rustled and in some cases the herders killed. Governor Simon Lalong, in his interactions with newsmen over the weekend, confirmed this when he declared that quite a number of cattle were rustled in recent time in Barakin Ladi axis of the state. According to him, “the rate of cattle rustling is alarming. It is God that has been saving us from crisis. I am appealing to those behind such act to desist.” Meanwhile, Operation Safe Haven, which is in charge of security in Plateau State, has disclosed that armed men attacked

and killed one Adamu Yusuf, a herd boy while rearing his animals at sagas Boto in Langai district of Mangu Local Government Council. According to a statement signed by the Media Officer of OPSH, Captain Iweha Ikedichi, 32 cows and 22 sheep were rustled by the attackers into Fan district of Barkin Ladi Local Government, adding that OPSH had commenced investigation. The statement noted that 19 cows and 22 sheep have been recovered. According to the statement, three persons have been declared wanted in connection with the incident.

Kwara owes only N29bn —Commissioner Biola Azeez - Ilorin

THE Kwara State Commissioner for Planning, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale, has debunked any insinuation about the debt profile of the state, saying that the state currently owes N29 billion both in commercial banks and bailout fund. Speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the commissioner said that the state was in a good position to borrow if it wants. He, however, said that the state government considered

the need to meet other obligations and as such would not overburden the treasury with huge loan. The commissioner, who also said that the World Bank would give a sum of N850 million to the state government for community development projects, added that the arrangement followed payment of a N50 million counterpart funding by the government. Odewale, who spoke with his counterpart in the ministry of Health, Alhaji Suleiman Alege, described Community Development Agency (KWA-

CIDA) as a model among the 26 states participating in the World Bank scheme. They said the projects under the programme would be sited in each of the 193 wards in the state. The commissioners also said that the state had also paid N100 million counterparts funding of its health insurance scheme. “We will get N850 million from the World Bank in the next few weeks and each ward of the state will benefit between N5 million and N10 million in terms of project.’’

Police arrest 36 suspected kidnappers in Kano, rescue 25 victims KOLA OYELERE - Kano

Kano State Police Command has arrested 36 suspected kidnappers who have been terrorising innocent citizens in the state. This is just as the command said that 25 victims were rescued from the kidnappers’ den. Disclosing this while parading the suspected kidnappers on Tuesday at the state police headquarters, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Maigari Dikko, said no place for criminals in the state, hence those engaging in the shady business should have a rethink. According to him, kidnappers who were alleged to have kidnapped aged father of a member representing Sunmaila Local Government Area of the state and robbed him of N110,000 was also arrested while the victim was also rescued. Mr Maigari further disclosed that his men also arrested suspected food supplier/informant for the suspected kidnappers.

NGO donates hospital worth N30m to Agatu JOHNSON BABAJIDE - MAKURDI

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Kelly Izuwa Nwogu Vanguard (KIN), has donated N30million worth hospital to solve the medical needs of the internally displaced persons from communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. The hospital is located at Aila community, the worst hit village in Agatu by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen. The Chief Executive Officer of KIN, Mr Kelly Nwogu, explained that the project was informed by the deplorable condition of the displaced persons and that it was a mark of charity. According to Nwogu, the hospital was to be built in memory of those that were massacred by the Fulani militia, saying many of the IDPs were suffering from varied ailments that needed urgent medical attention. The businessman noted that he would liaise with foreign expatriates to bring development to the damaged Agatu areas, saying schools and other infrastructure would be built in the place. The Ada Agatu, Chief Godwin Onah, described the gesture as humanitarian and said the community would ensure that the facility is utilised to serve the health needs of the people.

news

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Tuition-free varsity education not realistic in Nigeria —KWASU VC Biola Azeez - Ilorin HE vice chancellor, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, has said that tuition-free university education may no longer be realistic by any government in the country in the face of national economic crisis. Speaking with journalists on the fourth convocation ceremony on Tuesday, the vice-chancellor said that public tertiary institutions in the country were adversely affected by the current economic recession. Professor Na’Allah, who lamented that many state governments could no longer provide annual financial subvention to their

tertiary institutions, said that the current economic situation had made tuition-free education more unrealistic. The vice chancellor, also suggested that Nigerian universities should partner banks and financial institutions to solve some of their financial challenges and embark on development projects He, however, said that the university had not abandoned any of its vis-

ions to make it a world -class institution, adding that the university had collaborated with both local and foreign institutions, organisations, foundations and individuals to access funds for human and capital development. Twenty-three students had first class degrees out of a total of 1,099 students He said the management of the institution was excited over the number of students that had first

class degrees this session. “We have 23 first class. This is over 100 per cent of what we had last year. This is an exceptional performance and it shows that our students and staff are committed to academic excellence,” he said. He said the university has strenghtened its entrepreneurship and undergraduate research units in line with its mission of producing employment creators and not job seekers.

“In the next one year, we will be planning a journal for undergraduate researchers to share our ideas with the whole world. “KWASU is also developing a solar farm to produce electricity for our library 24 hours.” On the economic challenges facing the nation, Na’Allah said Nigerian universities must urgently device means of diversifying the nation’s economy.

Don’t plunge Nigeria into crisis, Osun PDP tells FG THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State, on Tuesday, advised President Muhammadu Buhari against act capable of plunging the country into crisis, saying tampering with the constitutionally guaranteed immunity of governors would spell doom for the country. The party, in a statement issued in Osogbo, by its Public Relations Officer and Director of Research, Publicity and Strategy, Mr Diran Odeyemi, urged the president to drop the plan to impose travel ban on the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike. Odeyemi said the same Section 308 of the constitution that gives the president immunity, also provides the governors with same leverage, adding that, instead of tinkering with the idea of travel ban on the governors, if any security infraction is noticed, the president should approach the court. He recalled how the PDP Obasanjo-led Federal Government approached the court when the administration of Senator Bola Tinubu created local government areas in Lagos State, “We don’t want anything that will truncate this democracy. Attempt to strip two PDP governors of their immunity is capable of causing problems. When Mr Rauf Aregbesola, did worse things to the then President Goodluck Jonathan nothing happened to him.” The party then called on all former leaders to prevail on the president to shelve the idea, to save the country of needless tension.

From left, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; leader of the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation, Kate Osamor MP; Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Dawn Butler MP, during a visit to the Senate President, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Ex-perm sec recommends Singapore model for Nigeria’s challenges By Tunde Busari A retired permanent secretary and Director of Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), Dr Tunji Olaopa, has suggested the adoption of what he called Singapore Miracle to rescue Nigeria from its socio-polit-

ical challenges. Olaopa said this last Thursday as a guest speaker at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)-organised ‘Democracy Day’ lecture, at the Press Centre, Iyangaku, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Recalling former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s

private talk with former Singapore President, Lee Kwan Yew, the speaker said the Asian country leader shocked the inquisitive Obasanjo with the solution he adopted to rescue his country from the valley of death. “He told Obasanjo that his country identified what

RMD, Olu Jacobs, others star in Glo-sponsored telenovella POPULAR television drama series, Hush, has received sponsorship from the largest data selling network, Globacom. The company said its decision to sponsor the telenovella currently showing on Africa Magic Showcase, Channel 151 on DSTV, is in line with its commitment to supporting the arts ,especially, the promotion of time-honoured family values. The statement from the company explained that the television series would have a total of 261 episodes. The main acts are Richard Mofe-Damijo, Olu Jacobs, Thelma Okoduwa and Mawuli Gavar from

Ghana. The plot of Hush is woven around ambition, power, intrigues and emotional desires. The drama also explores the affairs between society’s elite and power shifts, which the different characters manifest as they interact with one another, Glo said. A highpoint in the telenovella is Bem’s marriage proposal to Arinola, which sparks a series of events as a result of the secrets in their respective lives, secrets that run through the backrooms of secret societies, in the judicial quarters and in the social media. It is a highly engaging drama series, which will

leave viewers thoroughly entertained. Globacom called on Nigerians to watch the drama unfold at 800 p.m. on Monday till Friday, with repeat broadcast at 400 p.m. on DSTV Channel 151. In addition to the rich entertainment value, viewers will learn how to cope with life issues in different ways, Globacom assured. “Hush presents various slices of contemporary African family life with its attendant intrigues, follies, virtues and vices. It teaches and thrills as it unravels secret after secret in the lives of the protagonists that mirrors what happens in the real world.

it had not done right which had multiplied effect on the entire nation and reversed it. What this tells us is that it is not enough to have good policy ideas or development plans, they must be matched with action,” he said. Olaopa also offered other solutions, including the need to explore the integrity capital of current leadership to evolve a new generation of truly patriotic leaders that would provide purposeful leadership with a view to moving the country forward. “There is the need to have public managers that are conscientious and purposeful who are sustained by a new system of incentives, reward and sanction that are rooted in the ideal of the great future that we are building,” he said. Besides, he said there is also the need for widespread re-orientation of national values through the launch of a cultural adjustment programmes, adding that such a step is the basis for re- engineering of fundamental governance institutions to infuse public institutions with a culture and spirituality of service.

Ogoni group lauds Buhari over implementation of UNEP report Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Ogoni Truth and Enlightenment Forum (OTEF), has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, for keeping to his promise to implement the UNEP report on the remediation of Ogoni environment. The president of the group, Mr Sobarilukaka Barisua, gave the commendation, while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, saying it was a right step in the right direction. Barisua recounted the sufferings of the people of Ogoniland, adding that they had lost many of their leaders in the course of the struggle for a better society, free from the hazardous effects of oil exploration and exploitation. He specifically listed some of the prominent Ogoni leaders, who had died in the struggle, to include Theophilus Oroge, Samuel Orage, Albert Badey, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Edward Kobani and Barinen Kiobel, among others. He said OTEF was commending the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), for recognising the inputs of the slain ‘Ogoni 4’ to the struggle, 22years after their death.

IGP inspects police shopping mall in Lagos By Tunde Busari

THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, inspected the site of Police Mall D” Oasis, a 5-star hotel and shopping mall under construction,on Monday, in Lagos The project, located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony way, Ikeja, is undertaken by the Nigeria Police Multipurpose Society Limited. It is a scheme with retail and hospitality elements to offer 6,100 square metre of leasable retail space, including a 200room hotel, which is expected to be managed by an international brand. Arase described the project as the future pride of the Nigeria Police and its contribution to the aesthetic composition of the emerging Mega-City. He said that he was looking forward for his retirement when he would love to stay in one of the floors of the hotel.

news We’re yet to recall our students —UI VC 34

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Says, ‘We’ve been having N96m shortfall since December 2015’ As unions threaten showdown •Students take to Twitter to call for VC’s sack South-West NANS demands removal of VC By Tunde Ogunesan

HE lingering crisis rocking the University of Ibadan (UI) in the last two months will soon be a thing of the past, as the management is currently putting all machinery in motion to ensure that peace returns to the university. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, made this known on Tuesday, while speaking with journalists on his six-month in office, and the challenges of governing the oldest university in Nigeria. The vice chancellor stated that having spent 39 years in the university, both as student and staff, some issues which were currently confronting the institution were perennial problems, noting that the economic situation made the current crisis worse than ever. On students’ protests, which emanated from the expulsion of a student and the arrest of some students’ leaders on Monday evening, Professor Olayinka said the school is not in session at the moment, courtesy of a decision taken by the Senate. It will be recalled that some students of the institution took to Twitter on Monday night, calling for the sack of the vice chancellor following the arrest of their leaders. The staff unions also threatened a showdown with the university administration over incomplete arrears and partly paid salaries from January 2016 to May. Before the vice chancellor’s address, the Chairman, Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr Deji Omole, had told journalists that the unions had reached elastic limit and had resolved to receive their full salaries from the Federal Government. Omole, who stated that in January this year, staff of the

institution were told to wait for the signing of the budget, before enjoying full payment of salaries, noted with dismay that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government implemented the hike in fuel price while starving workers of their salaries. He stated that the UI ASUU had told the vice chancellor to pay full salary to all members of staff in May. “Since January 2016, salaries have not been paid in full and deductions were not remitted. We have been showing understanding because we were told things will change once the budget is signed by the president but immediately after signing the budget, the president implemented increment is fuel pump price, rather than meeting our welfare needs. But when the vice chancellor called us to a meeting last Thursday, he said he received same shortfall. We have now reached our elastic limit. “We can no longer continue. That was what happened in some states and till today they have not been paid their salaries. We are putting a stop to it. Nothing is better than nonsense. Enough is enough. If the salaries and arrears are not ready, the university should not bother to pay. Why will National Assembly members collect their monies, doing little for the country, while intellectuals and masses will not be paid at all or paid-in-part?” Also, the chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Wale Akinremi, while addressing members of his association at the NISER Park, opposite the Senate Building, corroborated ASUU chairman’s claim. Akinremi stated that his members who had been receiving half salaries since December 2015 were not ready to receive same again.

He wondered why it took the management so long to understand their plight and make life better for them. On students’ protest and arrest, Professor Olayinka explained that contrary to speculations, the institution remained shut till otherwise decided by the Senate. He condemned the purported notice calling on the students to resume, describing it as “fake”. “I did not close the school, but the Senate did. There is a process in doing that, so, ignore any notice by any medium directing the students to resume. “Such notice is fake and I want you to disregard it. There is a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for next week Tuesday, at the Trenchard Hall. If the school will decide on students’ resumption, the steps in that regards will be taken accordingly by the same process that sent the students off from the campus. “On their arrested leaders, we learnt that they were inviting their colleagues for a meeting within the school premises while the Senate had ordered that they should go home. I consulted legally and discovered that there cannot be two orders. So, the security officers on duty did the job they were being paid for. “I learnt they were taken to Sango police station, and the situation also needed the intervention of the State Commissioner of Police. However, the Dean of Students Affairs is already with the CP to sort things out. I believe they would have been released now.” On the issue of unions accusing the management of insensitivity to their plight, Professor Olayinka said the economic situation in the country caused the partial payment of staff salary on 92 per cent rate and not half as being claimed by the

INEC to conclude suspended elections before July 31 THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conclude the suspended elections in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano states not later than July, 31, 2016. This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, the INEC Director, Voter Education and Publicity. ‘‘INEC hereby issues this statement drawing a roadmap to the resolution of the crises and violence which led to the postponement of the elections in the affected

areas. ‘‘The Commission has received several submissions from political parties, candidates and interest groups, and has had preliminary consultations with security agencies on the way forward. ‘‘Having considered all these, and after its own preliminary investigations, the Commission has identified the need for more structured stakeholders’ engagement by it and the security agencies, especially with key players in the affected states.

‘‘The commission also identified the need for the active involvement of organisations and groups with expertise in peace building and conflict management and resolution. ‘‘The commission also hopes that conditions will be conducive enough for the conduct of the elections, not later than the end of July, 2016.’’ ‘The Commissioner issued a road map and timeline for the process leading to the conduct of the elections and sought the cooperation of all stakeholders.

unions. He stated that the Federal Government is owing the university the sum of N782million as shortfall on personnel cost. This, he said, had forced the university not to be able to pay full salaries and remit full deductions to staff unions and co-operatives. He further noted that the drastic shortfall in the overhead cost is creating crisis of meeting utility needs of staff and students. Meanwhile, the leader-

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Ojuma Abamba Bridget Ijeoma now MRS MAMBELELOBOANABY BRIDGET IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Tolulade Adesuyi now VICTORIA OMOLADE OYEWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ademilu Adeola Deborah now ADENIRAN FUNMILAYO DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Mr Godwin Sunday Olusegun Edoo now MR GODWIN SUNDAY BABARINDE . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Lasisi Salawu now AZEEZ SALAWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Adedokun Ajibike Oluwakemi now MRS FADOJU AJIBIKE OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Phillips Omolayo Leah now MRS SHITTU OMOLAYO LEAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Oladejo Bunmi Janet now MRS OGUNYEMI BUNMI JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Abdul-Salam Bose Mary Sadiat Oladipo now OMISORE BOSE MARY SADIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Owoyemi Babatunde Jamiu am the same person as Muh Jamiu Babatunde. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OWOYEMI BABATUNDE JAMIU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

ship of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D, South-West and Joint Committee (JCC) Oyo State, have called for the immediate removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, for abuse of power. The student body, in a press release signed by the Co-ordinator, NANS Zone D (South-West and Secretary General, Ogunsola Okikiola and Oloja Olanrewaju, respectively, stated that the

union would mobilise students for a protest on a day the institution is planning stakeholders’ meeting. According to the statement! “The leadership of NANS Zone D (South-West) and NANS/JCC Oyo State, deems it imperative to state our sacrosanct positions on the nonchalant attitude, abuse of power and antistudent policies of Professor Idowu Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Lukuman Abudusalam Akanni am the same person bearing Abudusalamu Owolabi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as LUKUMAN ABUDUSALAM AKANNI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Osisanya Ifeoluwa Opeoluwa now MRS ADETOBA IFEOLUWA OPEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Bilesanmi Sunkanmi Oluwagbenga now BILESANMI SUNKANMI OLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Ajibabi Opeyemi Ololade now AGBAJE OPEYEMI OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Jimoh Moshood Alade now MR MOHAMMEDJAMIU MOSHOOD. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Ms Tiamiyu Bashirat Odunayo now MS IBRAHEEM BASIRAH ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35 CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Sakirat Ajoke Gbolahan now SAKIRAT AJOKE ADIGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I formerly Adekola Fatimol Arike now ADEKOLA FATIMAH. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Mrs Ojo Oluwatoyin now MRS OJO JULIANAH OLUSOLA OLUTOYIN. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Adebiyi Adeola Adijat now ADEBIYI ADEOLA JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Azeez Ade Semiu now AZEEZ SEMIU ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Ayinla Iyabode Salewa now MRS. OGUNMOLA IYABODE SALEWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Balogun Tokunbo Olasunbo now MRS. AKINOLA TOKUNBO OLASUNBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Yusuf Yakub Adubazi now OLALEKAN WAKIL GBOLAGADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Esther Taiwo now MRS. OLADEJI ESTHER TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Oyeleye Kemi Stella now MRS. ADEMOLA OLUWAKEMI STELLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

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I, formerly Soyinka Olatunde now SOYINKA OLATUNDE SALEEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Adefabi Idowu Musiliat now MRS. KANYINOLA MUSILIAT IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Eke Ekenna am the same person bearing Eke Ikenna. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as EKE EKENNA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Eco Bank Plc., Access Bank Plc. and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Odediran Sakiratu Abiodun now MRS. GBOLAGADE SAKIRATU ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fijabi Feyisayo Omolabake now MRS OLUKUNLE OLUWAFEYISAYO OYEBIMPE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Civil Service and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Afolami Bola Nusirat now MRS HASSAN BOLA NUSIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I Aminu Fatimo Abimbola am the same person bearing Aminu Fatima Abimbola. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as AMINU FATIMO ABIMBOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akinladenu Ojo Abiodun now OYEBODE OJO ADEYONU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Modupe Mariam Bello now MRS MODUPE MARIAM ADIGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Adagbonyin Michael now NUTESE OVENSEI MACADAGBONYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Oluwatoba Fareopo now OLUWATOBA TOLULOPE JANET. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeleke Mariam Adebola now MRS OLASUNKANMI MARIAM ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladeji Olawumi Rukayat now MRS. ONIYERE OLAWUMI RUKAYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Abdulhakeem Abdulroheem Alaran am the same person as Abdulhakeem Abdulroheem Adebare. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ABDULHAKEEM ABDULROHEEM ALARAN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Miss Ojo Kikelomo am the same person bearing Akinyemi Kikelomo and Akinyemi Mercy Kikelomo. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Adewoyin Oriyomi Muslimat now MRS. ORUNSOLU ORIYOMI MUSLIMAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Adekanmi Sola am the same person bearing Oshinsola Biodun. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OSHINSOLA BIODUN SOLA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. FCMB Plc., Access Bank Plc. and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adesina Adedoyin Comfort now MRS AJAYI ADEDOYIN COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Biliaminu Saidi Adesinan now SALAMI SAIDI ADESINAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mustapha Ganiyat Bukola now OLAOYE GANIYAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Asuquo Magdalene Ekama am the same person as Asuquo Magdalene Efe. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ASUQUO MAGDALENE EKAMA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and general public take note

I, formerly Miss Adedeji Racheal Temilade now MRS. OLORODE RACHEAL TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Christianah Olutayo Olaleye also known as Christianah T. Olaleye now MRS. CHRISTIANAH OLUTAYO ADERIBIGBE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB, Ibadan North, LGUBEA and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Moses Dorcas Oluwabusayo now MRS NIYI-GABRIEL DORCAS OLUWABUSAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oritamefa Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Total Garden and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Awegbade Bankole Matthew now HALBERT BANKOLE MATTHEW. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Victoria Adeyemo Adeola am the same person as Adeola Adeyemo Victoria. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMO ADEOLA VICTORIA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. NECO Office, JAMB Office, LAUTECH, NYSC and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Ibrahim Fauziyat now IBRAHIM FAUSAT OLAOTI. My correct date of birth is 18/01/1981 and not 08/02/1976. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Otekiewebia Lilian Temi am the same person as Otekiewebia Lilian. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OTEKIEWEBIA LILIAN TEMI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fawole Ayodeji Simiat now MRS OWOEYE AYODEJI SIMIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ilesanmi Theophliuos Sunday Ibijola am the same person bearing Theophliuos Sunday Ibijola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ILESANMI THEOPHLIUOS SUNDAY IBIJOLA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. GTbank Plc, First Bank Plc, and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

My name was wrongly written as Hamzat Afusat Oladunni and date of birth 5/6/1970. Now, I remain Amusat Afusat Oladunni and date of birth is 6/6/1966. All former documents remain valid. INEC, EcoBank Plc., Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akintayo Florence Funmilola now MRS IDOWU FLORENCE FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Popoola Abosede Elizabeth am the same person bearing Popoola Abosede Olufunke. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as POPOOLA ABOSEDE ELIZABETH. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Dennis Ikechukwu Abiodun now DENNIS IKECHUKWU NEHEMIAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Moronkunbi Olubunmi Mistura now MRS ADEGOKE OLUBUNMI MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Skye Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Ishola Azeezat Omowumi now MRS OGUNNIYI OMOWUMI AZEEZAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Asiru Mulikat Iyabo now AHMED MULIKAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ajibade Olawale Hassan now AJIBADE OLAWALE BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., Eco Bank Plc., and general public take note.

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I, formerly Kolo Umar now UMAR MUHAMMED MAFOKO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajala Bukola Omolara now MRS OLASIYAN BUKOLA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, Gabriel Friday Samuel am the same person as Gabriel Friday. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as GABRIEL FRIDAY SAMUEL. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Awofadeju Esther Abimbola now MRS BANJO ESTHER ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Famokunwa Phebean Boluwaji now MRS MAKINDE PHEBEAN BOLUWAJI. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adisa Olajumoke Abigeal now MRS. SANDA OLAJUMOKE ABIGEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Fawole Adewuyi now FAWOLE ADEWUSI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluwaseun Posi Akinkoye now MRS. OLUWASEUN POSI BELLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Eniola Oladunni Christianah now MRS. BELLO OLADUNNI CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Akinnayajo Femi Kehinde am the same person as Akinnayajo Kehinde Emmanuel. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AKINNAYAJO KEHINDE EMMANUEL. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alagbo Raimot Bukola now MRS. YUSUFF RAIMOT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly Akin Adeagbo now wish to be known and addressed as AKINLOYE ENOH ADEAGBO. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., and general public take note.

I, onyibo ifeanyichukwu henry am the same person bearing onyibo ifeanyi henry. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc., First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Godwin Emuohwo Joshua now AGOMAH EMUOHWO JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Umujagbe Jonathan Obatarhe now JONATHAN OGHENETEGA GERMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Arierhire Anthonia Oghenetekevwe now MRS ANTONIA OGHENETEKEVWE GERMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Stephen Adefioye Adejokun and/or Adefioye Adigun Adejokun wish to state and confirm that I am one and the same person bearing these names. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as STEPHEN ADEFIOYE ADIGUN ADEJOKUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Skye Bank Plc. and general public take note.

I, formerly Okhifo Blessing and William Imoudu Alafia now OFUME WILLIAM BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ofuobo Ifeakachukwu Almas now MRS IFEAKACHUKWU ALMAS NNANDO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Raufu Olowo now RAHEEM RAUFU OWOLABI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Chukwu Wele Prosper now DAVID DIVINE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

REGULARIZATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bamisaye Oluwawemimo Serah now MRS. ADELE OLUWAWEMIMO SERAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Aguda Micheal Eniola am the same person bearing Ajayi Micheal Ojo. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abajo Adefolake Ameenat now MRS. AYINDE ADEFOLAKE AMEENAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeniran Wasiu now ADEDIRAN WASIU OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Foukumo Mies now SELE BEKESU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Busari Mufutau Alagbe now BUSARI MOSES ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Toyin Sodiki now MRS. SAKIRU FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Shehu Danjuma Musa now Shehu Danladi Mohammed. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Okunola Adebolarinwa Adebola am the same person bearing Okunola Bolarinwa Adebola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OKUNOLA BOLARINWA ADEBOLA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinyemi Selimot Bukola now MRS. AHMOD SELIMOT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Toyin Oguntade Moradeke now WAHAB TOYIN MORADEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ikiyowaremi Perepor now TIEDEZI EKIEWEREMI JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladunni Oluwayomi Oladeinde now MRS. OLADUNNI OLUWAYOMI AWOLUSI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adebayo Morenikeji Sareey now SALAWUDEEN MORENIKEJI SAREEY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss ABK Adedoyin Christianah Adefesobi now MRS. ADEDOYIN CHRISTIANAH OYEFESOBI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

36 news

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Appeal Court fines manufacturers of ‘my pikin’ teething syrup N1m Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos

A R E W A Pharmaceutical C o m p a n y , the company that manufactured a contaminated baby teething mixture, My Pikin, which resulted in the death of a number of babies across the country, has been ordered to pay a fine in N1 million. The order came on Tuesday from the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal set aside the decision of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which on May 17, 2012 ordered the winding up of the company and the forfeiture of its assets. The appellate court ordered Barewa Pharmaceutical Company to pay a fine of N1 million for the offence.

The Court of Appeal, however, upheld the seven years imprisonment imposed on the company’s Production Manager, Adeyemo Abiodun, and its Quality Assurance Manager, Egbele Eromosele, by the lower court. It will be recalled that the Federal High Court had, in a judgment delivered in 2012 by Justice Okechukwu Okeke (retd), convicted Barewa Pharmaceutical Company, Abiodun and Eromosele on two counts of conspiracy and sale of a harmful teething mixture pressed against them by the

National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The Judge had then sentenced Abiodun and Eromosele to seven years imprisonment each, and ordered the winding up of their company and the forfeiture of its assets. But displeased with their conviction, prison sentence, the winding up and forfeiture orders, the company and its officers filed separate notices of appeal before the Court of Appeal, seeking to set Justice Okeke’s judgment aside.

However, in its judgment delivered in 2013, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Federal High Court on the conviction of Abiodun and Eromosele, but set aside the order for the winding up of Barewa Pharmaceutical Company. Abiodun, Eromosele and Barewa Pharmaceutical company subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court. In a judgment delivered on March 18, 2016 by a sevenman panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, the Supreme Court set aside

the decision of the Court of Appeal and ordered a fresh hearing of the case at the Court of Appeal. Justice Bode RhodesVivour, who prepared the lead judgments in the three appeals, which were read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, noted that what the Court of Appeal treated and delivered judgment on was an abandoned notice of appeal filed by the appellants. The apex court thus ordered the appellate court to hear the appeals on the valid notice/grounds of appeal filed on July 3, 2013 by the appellants.

772,224 displaced children live in IDPs camps —UNICEF

NO fewer than 772,224 children registered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are living at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North East. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Emergency Specialist, Mr Olusoji Adeniyi, disclosed this on Tuesday, at a workshop on emergency preparedness organised by the fund for stakeholders in Kaduna. “Out of the number, 50 per cent of the children have no family tracing, which was causing more concern on child protection.’’ Adeniyi said some of the children were traumatised and required psycho-social attention and support to appropriately reintegrate them into the society. “Most of the children are lost out because they have lost very precious parts of their lives as a result of insurgency,’’ he said. He said the situation called for collective action from all concerned as the “children are the responsibility of everyone everywhere’’. “So, we must join hands in saving their lives and guaranteeing their future,” he stressed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by UNICEF to create awareness among stakeholders on the importance of emergency preparedness, child rights and protection.

Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (second right) and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Emmanuel Udom (right), with the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abbas Kyari (l), after a closed-door consultative meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

WHO issues stricter Zika guidelines to prevent sexual transmission THE World Health Organisation (WHO), on Tuesday, said travellers should practise safe sex for at least eight weeks, after returning from areas with Zika infections, doubling the time period that was recommended in its previous guideline. According to WHO spokesman in Geneva, new studies had shown that the virus is present in body fluids for longer than previously known. The Zika outbreak in Latin American countries including Brazil, has raised concerns among scientists and athletes about the infection risk during the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August. Zika is mostly spread through mosquitoes, but WHO noted in a new guidance document that mounting evidence has shown that sexual transmission of the Zika virus is possible and more common than previously assumed. “Men and women who are planning to conceive a child or who experienced the flu symptoms associated with Zika, should practice safe sex for no less than six months, after returning from Zika regions,” WHO recommended.

While most Zika patients recover quickly, the virus could cause brain malformations in unborn children, as well as other neurological disorders. An international group

of 151 scientists demanded in an open letter last week that the games in Rio be postponed or moved to avoid intensifying the spread of the Zika virus. WHO disagreed and ar-

gued that the best way to stem the spread was to take precautionary measures, especially personal protection against mosquitoes and practising safe sex.

Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

state constituencies’ elections inconclusive. However, worried by the continued silence of the INEC over the elections, the Igala/Bassa Consultative Forum took their protest to the commission’s office in Lokoja, the state capital, where a petition was presented for onward delivery to the INEC chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmud. Presenting the petition on behalf of the forum, Alhaji Hassan Enape, said they were in the commission to deliberate on issues affecting the people of Igala land to enable the organisation to resolve the issues immediately. According to him, while INEC had concluded elections held at the same time and after in other states of the country, the people were yet to have a voice in the senate and the state assembly as the elections re-

mained inconclusive. “As we speak, one year into the life of this administration, we Igala/Bassa people have no representatives in the Senate and two Houses of Assembly seats. The people are agitated, restive and apprehensive. To us, we are been disenfranchised. “Equally disturbing, four months after the rerun was conducted, INEC has not deemed it fit to come out categorically to tell us what is holding back the release of these three remaining rerun or conducting another election. “We strongly believe and admonished that to disenfranchise a large population like ours under any circumstance may result in anarchy and strife. Igala/ Bassa land is peaceful but how long can this tranquility be taken for weakness,” he said.

Igala/Bassa people storm INEC, petition chairman over inconclusive polls

FOLLOWING the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conclude the elections declared inconclusive in Kogi State, the people of Igala/Bassa have raised the alarm over an alleged deliberate attempt to disenfranchise them by the commission. The people lamented that over one year into another dispensation in the country, they were yet to have representatives in the senate and in two state constituencies’ seats in the state assembly. The INEC had, on February 20, conducted supplementary elections into two Kogi East and Kogi West senatorial districts, Okene/ Ogori-Magongo federal constituency and five state assembly seats, declaring the Kogi East senatorial election and Ofu and Idah

Nigerian Tribune

Invest in education, Rep member urges govts By Moses Alao

THE member representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Adedapo Lam-Adesina, at the weekend, urged governments at all levels to invest more in children’s education. Lam-Adesina stated this while presenting gift items including desktop computers, laptop computers, textbooks, school bags and mathematical sets, among other gift items worth over N1 million, to winners of his primary and secondary schools quiz/debate competitions, held at the Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, which involved over 40 public and private primary and secondary schools in his constituency. The programme, which coincided with the Children’s Day, Adesina said, was in expansion of his Omo Oloore Educational Scheme, which “is to empower and encourage young constituents to focus on education and achieve success,” adding that the development of the younger generation “remains an integral part of our political mission and legislative vision.”

Amnesty: Buhari’s plan to involve Ijaw stakeholders commendable —IYC Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

THE President of the Ijaw Youth Council World-wide (IYC), Comrade Udengs Eradiri, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to involve Ijaw stakeholders in the review of the amnesty programme for Niger Delta youths is commendable. Speaking with newsmen shortly after the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) central zone passed vote of confidence on his leadership, at the Ijaw house in Yenagoa, Eradiri reiterated that President Buhari’s resolve was a step in the right direction. He said further that the purported document circulated by few disgruntled officers of the IYC in social media targeted at thwarting the struggle, had been thrown away by the central zone and parliament because the President was not found wanting, adding that it was beyond their powers as stipulated by council’s constitution. Eradiri, who noted that the IYC is not a money-making venture but a platform to render selfless service to Ijaw people, enjoined those operating as mole to quit, in order not to pollute the struggle for resource control and injustice in the Niger Delta region.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Euro 2016 could be terrorist target, US warns

HE United States has warned that the Euro 2016 football championship being held in France next month could be a target of militant attacks. “The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists,” the State Department said. The event is being hosted from 10 June to 10 July at various venues, BBC said. France is already under a state of emergency following last year’s Islamist-claimed attacks in Paris. The near-simultaneous assaults on a stadium, concert hall, bars and restaurants left 130 people dead and many more wounded. In May, 32 people died in neighbouring Belgium when suicide blasts hit Brussels airport and a metro station. Up to one million foreign fans are expected in Paris for the tournament, which involves the continent’s top national teams. In its travel alert for US citizens, the State Department warns of the dangers of militant attacks throughout Europe. The attacks could hit

tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centres and transportation, it warns, with large events such as

Euro 2016 singled out. The warning also cites the Tour de France cycle race and the Catholic Church’s

Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, which is expected to draw up to 2.5 million visitors.

2,500 refugees drowned on way to Europe in 2016 —UNHCR AT least 2,510 refugees have died while making the perilous journey to Europe so far this year, the United Nations refugee agency said, with fears rising that many more will suffer the same fate. According to UNHCR, the figure marks an increase of 25 percent from the same fivemonth period in 2015, when some 1,855 refugees drowned.

Civilian casualties in fierce battle for Fallujah CIVILIAN casualties are beginning to mount as the battle for the Islamic Stateheld city of Fallujah intensifies. “A human catastrophe is unfolding in Fallujah. Families are caught in the crossfire with no safe way out,” said Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council. Iraqi forces have launched an offensive aimed at retaking the city. The United Nations refugee agency has received reports of civilians being killed in heavy shelling or

buried alive under the rubble of their homes. “There are also reports of several hundred families being used as human shields” by Islamic State militants, said UNHCR spokesman William Spindler. Some 625 families have managed to escape the fighting since last week. Iraqi forces are separating out and screening the men, out of concern about the loyalties of those who are leaving the city after living under IS rule for more than two years.

Civilians who fled their homes due to the clashes on the outskirts of Falluja, gather in the town of Garma, Iraq. PHOTO: REUTERS

In 2015, from January until the end of May, at least 57 people died en route to Europe, Al Jazeera stated. “Thus far 2016 is proving to be particularly deadly,” William Spindler, a UNHCR spokesman, said. “This highlights the importance of rescue operations as

part of the response to the movement of refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean, and the need for real, safer alternatives for people needing international protection.” The announcement follows the deadliest week of 2016 for refugees at sea.

At least 880 people died in one week of May 2016 as several boats capsised in the Mediterranean. PHOTO: REUTERS

Brazil teenage girl raped by 30 men speaks out A 16-year-old girl in Rio de Janeiro was drugged and raped by about 30 men, who then posted a video of the attack to social media, in a crime that has shocked Brazil. The alleged victim, her identity hidden, has now spoken about her ordeal. “I was drugged, I was very groggy, there were lots of people with guns, lots of young guys laughing and talking,” she said. According to Al Jazeera, the images were widely circulated, shocking many in the country which suffers a high rate of criminal violence towards women. The response to the

victim’s complaint has also provoked outrage. The initial police reaction has been labelled insensitive. There have also been comments, including death threats on social media, blaming the girl herself for the attack. “It not only hurt me, it hurt my soul, because people judged me, tried to blame me for something which was not my fault. They robbed me, not just in material goods, but in a physical way.” A police woman has now taken over the investigation since her predecessor was blamed for not taking the crime seriously enough.

Paris mayor announces plan for migrant camp A camp for migrants is to be set up in the north of Paris within the next six weeks, the mayor of the French capital has announced. Anne Hidalgo said that the exact location of the “humanitarian camp” would be revealed in the next few days after an inspection of possible sites. Hundreds of migrants have been camping rough in the city. Meanwhile, the death toll from migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean last week was revised upwards to 1,000. International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

Migrants seen sleeping in tents in the French capital. PHOTO: AFP

spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo gave the new figure which comes after an estimate on Sunday of 700 deaths by the United Nations refugee agency. The new camp in Paris is expected to provide both day facilities and overnight accommodation. “We are going to work extra hard on this,” the Socialist mayor told reporters.

otherNEWS

Former Miss Turkey found guilty for insulting Erdogan

Merve Buyuksarac. PHOTO: AP

A former Miss Turkey has been handed a 14-month suspended prison sentence for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan through a poem she shared on social media. She is the latest of at least a dozen Turks to face such a sen-

tence. An Istanbul court found model Merve Buyuksarac, 27, guilty of insulting a public official but suspended the sentence on condition she does not repeat the act for the next five years, local media said on Tuesday.

Buyuksarac, who was crowned Miss Turkey in 2006, was briefly detained last year for sharing the poem on Instagram in 2014. It was called “the Master’s Poem” and referred to a high-level Turkish corruption scandal in 2014.

Justice for Harambe: Mother harassed online after gorilla shot dead THE mother of a boy who fell into a gorilla enclosure at a United States zoo has become the victim of online abuse after zookeepers shot the animal dead. Harambe, a 17-year-old gorilla, was captured on video dragging the child across a moat in the enclosure. According to BBC, the

boy’s mother, identified on social media as Michelle Gregg, is heard shouting in footage of the incident. She tells her son to remain calm, after he had climbed through a barrier and fallen into the pen at Cincinnati Zoo. A Facebook post, purportedly written by Michelle Gregg, thanked “the right

people” for being “in the right place” and said “accidents happen”. Ms Gregg later became the focus of a furious online backlash after zoo officialsdefended the decision to shoot the animal. Eddie Whrnbrg wrote on Facebook: “...the zoos aren’t the problem. It’s the idiotic parents.”

Placard displaying pictorial image of the gorilla shot dead. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

communitynews

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

Olanipekun, Adewumi canvass development of Ikere community sam nwaoko-ado-ekiti

FORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has called on all indigenes of Ikere Ekiti community in Ekiti State to join hands to develop the community. Chief Olanipekun made the call while inaugurating an ultra-modern administrative building constructed at the palace of the Ogoga of Ikere by an an indigene of the community, Chief Sola Adewumi, and his wife, Oluwakemi. The legal luminary called on Ikere indigenes to avoid acts capable of breeding disunity and crisis in the community and in the state and charged them to give unflinching support to the traditional ruler, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu

Traditional ruler commends Amosun over drum festival by yejide gbenga-ogundare

THE traditional ruler of Lisa community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Nojeem Oladele Odugbemi, has described the Nigerian Drum Festival that recently took place in Ogun State, which was an initiative of the state government, as highly commendable. Odugbemi, who led the famous Lisa Igunnuko Troupe to perform at the event, said that the Yorubas have a lot to offer in terms of cultural heritage and tourist attractions both natural and man-made. “Africa came to a standstill because of Ogun State. The state is the centre of action with the well organised event,” he said. He also described the presence of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who graced the occasion with many African ambassadors as an evidence of the importance of Yoruba heritage and culture in the country. “Most of the African ambassadors shut down their offices to support the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the people of Ogun State and the Egbaland in particular,” he said. He added that the success of the drum festival is an indication that if cultural tourism is adequately developed and sustained in Nigeria, it will greatly boost the nation’s economy and create employment.

Alagbado. He said: “I want to plead with you all in Ikere, we should desist from any act of disunity. Oba Adejimi Adu, the Ogoga, is our king in Ikere. Look at the positive things that have been happening since his enthronement. It is an indication that Ikere is moving forward.” He commended Adewumi for the donation of the building to the palace and the community, saying it was “worthy of commendation.” Olanipekun disclosed that the donor had earlier built and donated an event centre to the town for nonprofit use, while he is also building a hotel to create job opportunities for indigenes. He also revealed that he had just secured a licence to establish a radio station in Ikere-Ekiti to contribute his own quota to the development of his birthplace. Adewumi, who is the Chairman/Chief Executive of Equatorial Energy, revealed that facilities in the building include offices for the monarch, his wife, their secretaries and a hall that can accommodate at least 150 people at a time, among others. He described Ikere community as “our own Jerusalem,” adding that it should be the Jerusalem of all of us indigenes of the community.

He said he was encouraged to construct the building as a way of emu-

lating the Ogoga, who singlehandedly built a new palace for the community.

THE member representing Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Akeem Adeyemi, has pledged that communities in the four local government areas under the constituency would witness more federal presence, as provisions have been made for them in the 2016 budget, for road construction, water, electricity, education and youth empowerment. Adeyemi, who stated this in Oyo, at the weekend, during a town hall meeting and distribution of working tools to 211 beneficiaries of his Ogo Oyo Vocational Training Programme, held in commemoration of his one year in office, disclosed that provision had been made for the supply and installation of five transformers; construction of two blocks of classrooms, five motorised boreholes and disbursement of grants to youths. Commenting, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi

his subjects to always seek the good of Ikere and contribute to its development.

From left, the member representing Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency, Honourable Akeem Adeyemi; Femi Gbajabiamila’s aide, Mr Wasiu Olanrewaju; Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila and the member representing Ibadan North-East/ Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency, Honourable Adedapo Lam-Adesina, during a town hall meeting organised by Adeyemi, at the Atiba Hall, Oyo, recently.

Stakeholder sponsors training of vigilante in Ogun olayinka olukoya-abeokuta

ORRIED by the level of insecurity in the country, a stakeholder, Mr Owodunni

Opayemi, has trained no fewer than 40 members of the Vigilance Service in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. Opayemi stated that the issue of security in the

‘Oyo communities will witness more federal presence in 2016’ by moses alao

In his remarks on the official inauguration of the building, Oba Adu charged

Olayiwola Adeyemi, praised the lawmaker’s resolve to develop the constituency, just as the House Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, who was in Oyo in company of Honourable Adedapo Lam-Adesina, praised Adeyemi for his versatility, courage and love for Oyo communities, which he always demonstrated on the floor of the House. Speaking on his stewardship in the House of Rep-

resentatives in the last one year, Adeyemi revealed that he sponsored motions for the completion of OyoOgbomoso Expressway, the completion of the abandoned Erelu Waterworks Scheme, the upgrade of the Federal College of Education (Special) to a degree-awarding institution and diversification of the economy through tourism and promotion of Sango festival.

oluwole ige-osogbo

challenged in Osogbo. The event, organised in conjunction with Tolaram Foundation, witnessed the distribution of 134 artificial limbs worth about N13 million. According to Ibikunle, the free distribution of artificial limbs to the physically challenged was carried out without political or religious consideration, stressing that there was need for government, corporate organisations and

country should not be left in the hands of government alone, insisting that it must be a collective effort. He said this during the presentation of certificate/ award ceremony, to the trainees at Oroona Hall, Ilaro, recently, while noting that the training and retraining of security personnel remained paramount for a well secured nation. Opayemi said the gesture was borne out of his desire to make the country a haven for all and sundry, urging the Federal Government to put a stop to the activities of violent herdsmen and kidnappers. He said: “It is important to train, re-train and provide equipment for

security personnel for optimal performance. I am interested in peace in the state. This training will be taken round allthe other council areas in the state.” He noted that members of the vigilante group know the nooks and crannies of their communities, hence the need to encourage them through training. He said beneficiaries, who were presented with certificates and badges were trained at the Sea School, Apapa, Lagos. The Commander of the Vigilante Service of Ogun State, Yewa South Local Government Area, Olaniyan Oluseyi Zacchaeus, appreciated Opayemi for the gesture.

NGO donates artificial limbs to physically challenged in Osogbo

GOVERNMENT, corporate organisations and individuals have been implored to help in turning the disability of the physically challenged into ability by providing necessary wherewithal that can make them overcome their inadequacies. The chairman of Hope and Life Foundation, Mr Niyi Ibikunle, made the appeal during the distribution of free artificial limbs to the physically

eminent Nigerians to come to the aid of this category of people. He said, “the aim of this programme is to distribute artificial arms and legs to beneficiaries and about 134 people have benefited from the programme.” While calling on Nigerians to emulate the facilitators of the programme, who are mainly Indians, by remembering people with disability, Ibikunle said many of them could still be

useful to themselves and the society with just a little help. The representative of the donors, however, observed that some physically challenged persons had committed suicide as they became completely hopeless after losing their limbs. “Giving hope to the hopeless remains the essence of human existence. The society stands to benefit much by empowering those who are considered disabled,” he added.

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

18th Milo Basketball Championship:

Cross River, Bayelsa emerge Equatorial Conference Champions

HE Equatorial Conference final matches in the boys and girls Categories have been decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe international stadium, Enugu. The curtain raiser was the girls final which featured Marist Comprehensive Secondary School, Uturu Abia State and St. Jude girls secondary school Amarata, Bayelsa State. St.Jude gilrs took control from the first quarter and never relented until the blast of the final whistle with scores at 26-11 in favour of St Jude girls high school Bayelsa. Coach Tony Nelson of Bayelsa says he will step up preparation for the National final in Asaba Delta state. ‘’I am happy my girls got the ticket to be at the National final in Asaba. We are going to intensify our training. The boys final match between Akwa Ibom and Cross river was thrilling and sensational, Government Second-

Government Secondary Schools, Barracks, Cross Rivers winner of the Equatorial conference champions of 18th Milo Basketball championship held in Enugu.

ary School Barracks Cross River was a hard nut to crack by Ritman College Ikot Ikpene, Akwa Ibom State in a well contested match, The Cross River boys took the lead in the first quarter with a 7-4 lead and recorded an 20-15, 24-23 before sealing their victory 35-32 in the final quarter. The Barracks boys Coach,

Omini Ubi, said his boys enjoyed team work, discipline and accurate shooting. ‘’We play as a team my players had good understanding and always playing to instruction’’. Apart from winning the Equatorial Conference, Captain of Govt Sec Sch Barracks Cross River state Micheal Mba was declared the Most Valuable Player

(MVP). While Odiowei Susan of St Jude Girls high school Bayelsa won the girls (MVP). Speaking after the final, Enugu State Commissioner for Sports Hon. Charles Ndukwe made the commendation at the final of the Equatorial Conference of the 18th Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship

hosted by Enugu State, Hon Charles noted that the Championship has been able to engage young talents across the country. ‘’For the past 18 years the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship has committed itself to discovering and developing players from the grassroot. The youths are kept busy with the Championship all the year round. Which has helped to reduce some social vices’’ and Government of Enugu is looking forward to host National Championship in nearest future. Also, Mr Boladale Odunlami Branch Manager-South East Nestle Nig Plc, said for nearly 20 years Milo has been at the forefront of basketball development in Nigeria through Milo secondary school basketball championship producing many top athletes in the sport, a large percentage of players in both the male and female national basketball teams today passed through the Milo championship at one points or the other.

Euro 2016, Rio Olympics live on DStv DStv has announced plans to broadcast live the 2016 Euro tournament taking place in France and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. For the duration of both tournaments, Euro 2016 will be available on SS11 (chan-

nel 231) and SS 12 (channel 232), while the Olympics will have seven dedicated channels to broadcast all the actions live. The SuperSport studios will also provide highlights and analysis of the tournaments by experts such as JJ Okocha,

Victor Ikpeba and Benny McCarthy, among several others. In addition, DStv is offering the HD Zapper decoder at N9,900 to subscribers as well as prospective customers. This offer is effective May 27, 2016.

Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport, while making these announcements in Lagos, said: “SuperSport has always been associated with quality and we pledge to always deliver world-class content to our subscribers. In furtherance to this tradition, we will be bringing the Euro and Rio 2016 tournaments live to the living rooms of subscribers, entertaining them with the blow-by-blow actions of all the matches.”

The highpoint of the event was the announcement of the price reduction of the full unit of the HD Zapper decoder “This is the lowest we have given our subscribers in the last 15 years,” said Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, Multichoice Nigeria. “The offer will take effect from Friday May 27 and will last for the duration of the Euro 2016 tournament, after which it will revert to its original price,” Mabutho added.

MTN commended on Abuja Unity Polo tourney FORMER Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, His Excellency Sani SaulawaBala, Nigerian polo ambassador and national team coach, Dawule Baba and the President of the Guards Polo Club, Senator Mohammed Kabiru Jibril were unequivocal in their commendations for MTN as they described MTN’s support for the game as a special one that has touched the lives of polo enthusiasts. Ambassador Sani, who was a special guest of honour during the polo tournament held at the Guard Polo Ground, Abuja, singled out MTN as one of the few multinational firms in the country whose investment in the game had led to the advancement of the game in the country. While describing MTN’s support for the competition as one that will promote positive lifestyles of millions of Nigerian, he challenged other organisations in the country to support the growth and development of the game. . Speaking in the same vein, Alhaji Dawule Baba, the Nigerian Polo ambassador also expressed satisfaction at MTN’s long term commitment towards the promotion of the noble game which according to him, has positively engaged the youth, while spreading the king of games across the country. “We Nigerians, polo administrators and players alike, must commend the company whose partnership has taken the popularity of the game to over twenty states across the country where polo is currently being played,” Dawule said.

2016 NNPC/Shell Cup enters semifinals stage

General Managers Marketing, Multichoice Nigeria, Mr Martin Mabutho; (left) and General Manager, Supersport, Mr Felix Awogu; (right) in a group photographs with others at the Multichoice EURO 2016 RIO OLYMPICS media fun day held at Inagbe resort.

THE quarter-finals of the 2016 NNPC/Shell Cup for All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship has produced four schools that would compete in the semi-finals next month in Lagos. The matches were concluded last weekend in four cities across the Country. At the Katsina Centre, Fosla Academy Secondary School, Abuja defeated Govcernment Secondary School, Kwankwaso, Kano state 3:2 to make their way into the semi-finals. It was a keenly

contested match as the boys from Kano took the lead on two occasions forcing the Fosla Academy Boys to come from behind to equalize the two goals and eventually scored the third and winning goal to ensure their safe entry into the last four. The quarter-final match in Ilorin between Government(Senior) secondary school, Darazo, Bauchi and Government secondary school, Gusau ended 5:3 in favour of the former while Excel Education Centre, Port Harcourt also defeated

St. Marys High School, Ifitedunu, Anambra State 1:0 in Benin to earn a smooth sail into the semifinals. The last quarter final match played in Osogbo between Asegun Comprehensive High School, Ibadan and Pakoto High School, Ifo, Ogun state saw the former running home with a 2:1 victory over the latter school. Meanwhile, the semi-finals will hold at the TeslimBalogun Stadium, Lagos on June 14th while the grand finale comes up two days after.

SIDELINES

NO 16,513

N150

WEDNESDAY, 1 JUNE, 2016

There is no going back on the 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff, the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola has told the Senate. Well, that is no surprise. It is typically Nigerian. What goes up rarely comes down.

Injury forces Ekundayo out of ABU bout NIGERIA’s African Boxing Union Champion, Larry Ekundayo, has had to pull out of his scheduled title defence fight because of injury. The ABU Champion damaged his hands during training in preparation for his scheduled titled defence In London. Undefeated Ekundayo, who won the belt in October 2015, was scheduled to defend it against the Tanzanian boxing star Saidi Mundi this Saturday 4th June in London. Speaking from his base in London Larry said: “I am bitterly disappointed not to be fighting at the weekend after all the training I’ve done. I was looking forward to bringing sporting success to Nigeria and continue to climb up the world rankings, but my team decided that I couldn’t take the risk to fight with such an injury.” Larry’s manager, Ben Gray also said: “Larry is a great boxer, but even he can’t fight a man with only one hand! Larry carry’s the hopes of a nation on his back and it would not be right to

Ideye

Ekundayo

send him into battle without giving him the best opportunity of victory”. Ekundayo will be out of action for 6-8 weeks whilst his hand heals, once this is done the bout will be rescheduled for later in the year. Speaking further, the boxer’s Special Advisor, Bimbo Folayan says “this is a very big loss to Larry considering the amount of time and effort he has put in, but I know Nigerians will support their man and join me in cheering him on when he returns”.

Tax fraud trial:

Messi absent in court

THE trial of Argentina star Lionel Messi on tax fraud charges opened Tuesday in Spain in his absence just days before Argentina’s first match in the Copa America against Chile. Messi, 28, and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 million euros ($4.7 million) of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007-09. They have been charged with three counts of tax fraud. The Barcelona court hearing the case adjourned the trial at around noon local time (1000 GMT) after considering preliminary legal questions because of the absence of witnesses who had been due to appear, including Messi’s mother Celia Cuccitini. The trial will resume on Wednesday at 10am (0800 GMT) with testimony from the witnesses and experts. Messi had planned to be in Barcelona for the start of the trial but a lower back injury he suffered during a friendly against Honduras last week prevented him from doing so, defence lawyer Javier Sanchez-Vera said. The Argentina captain was resting in his hometown of Rosario, located 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires on Monday. Messi and his father are due to take the stand on Thursday on the last day of the trial.

Ideye, Iheanacho, Ighalo score

As Eagles beat Luxembourg 3-1 By Nurudeen Alimi

HE trio of Brown Ideye, Kelechi Iheanacho and Odion Ighalo were on the scorers’ chart as the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Luxembourg 3-1 in an international friendly played at the Josy Barthel Stadium on Tuesday. Brown Ideye gave the Super Eagles the lead as he scored his first goal for the team in three years in the 36th minute, while Kelechi Iheanacho made it two 24 minutes into the second half

of the game. Vincent Thill, registered his name on the scorers chart as he scored for Luxembourg in the 90th minute bringing the scoreline to 2-1. Watford of England striker, Odion Ighalo, who came in as a substitute however made it three for the Super Eagles after he netted the winner few seconds after Thill’s goal. Coach Salisu Yusuf made six changes to the side that narrowly defeated Mali in Rouen last week as he brought on Ideye in place of Odion Ighalo,

Daniel Akpeyi for Carl Ikeme and Kenneth Omeruo for Leon Balogun. Like the Luxembourgers, Nigeria will return to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September though will not make it to Gabon 2017 after surrendering the ticket to Egypt. The victory made it Eagles’ third victory from seven games in 2016. The hosts last won a game in November 2015 when they defeated Greece 1-0 in a friendly match with Aurélien Joachim getting the lone goal.

Wike appoints Yobo SSA on Sports Development Dapo Falade -Port-Harcourt

Messi

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has appointed former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, as his Senior Special Assistant on Sports Development. The appointment was contained in a three-paragraph statement issued by the governor’s aide on electronic media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday. In the same vein, the governor also appointed Mr Chibuzor Aholu as his Senior Special As-

sistant on Financial Matters. According to the statement, both appointments were with immediate effect. It would be recalled that the former Super Eagles captain held his testimonial/centennial football match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, last Friday. The football, which drew the cream of the former and present football stars, was sponsored by the Rivers State government as part of the activities marking the one year in office of the Wike administration.

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