2nd November 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,624 WEDNESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Reps halt moves to revisit CCT Amendment Act —P4

Grazing law:

Nigerian Tribune

Fayose, Miyetti Allah leaders meet —P32

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N150

Drama as Appeal Court judges withdraw from Ondo PDP case

—P5

Senate rejects $29.96bn loan request, Presidency reacts

—P2

•Ambassadorial list escapes rejection, as Saraki overrules colleagues TODAY'S SPECIAL

How to care for your car battery

THE last thing you need is a car that won’t start because the battery is dead. You can avoid that expensive service or tow charge (and the worry of being stranded!) by carrying out a 10-minute seasonal battery check along with a few maintenance tips.

Continues pg 4

Mother, 3 children, 2 neighbours die after amala meal in Kogi —P6

Nigeria hails US-based doctor for successful operation on unborn baby —P3

From left, Globacom ambassador and music star, Chinedu Okoli a.k.a. Flavour; Globacom Brand Specialist, Miss Nkiru Orji; Head of Usage and Retention, Globacom, Mr Sola Arowogbadamu; popular vocalist, Ego Ogbaro and the Senior Manager, Devices and Partnerships, Globacom, Mr Odafe Akerejola, at the launch of Glo Borrow Me Data and re-launch of three other products by the network in Lagos, on Tuesday.

Niger Delta leaders meet —P39 Buhari, make 16 demands

•Want ownership of oil blocs, relocation of oil companies headquarters to region

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news

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Senate rejects Buhari’s $29.9bn external loan request

•Ambassadorial list escapes rejection as Saraki overrules colleagues Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

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HE Senate, on Tuesday, rejected the plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow an external loan to the tune of $29.9 billion as part of the 2016 to 2018 external borrowing plan.

The senators, at the Tuesday plenary, unanimously rejected the planned loan without putting forward official reasons.

This was just as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters(Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said the Presidency would soon send the necessary attachments.

He said the Senate had done its job, but that the executive, which, he said, was preparing the needed details would soon forward the necessary documents.

He added that the executive was of the view that the documents would be needed at the committee stage, but that the senators, in their wisdom, decided to look at it at the plenary.

Indeed, the senate did not provide opportunities for debate as the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, only put a statutory question to his colleagues on whether the request for the loan received last week should be considered by the chamber.

Immediately the Senate President put the question through, the chamber erupted with a resounding ‘nay.’

The rejection meant that the letter from the President could not be immediately referred to the senate committee for legislative consideration.

The loan request was listed on the Senate’s Order paper for Tuesday.

Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, moved a motion that the request be considered by the Senate and his motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

Senate President Saraki, who presided over the sitting, then raised the question on whether the Senate would consider the communication.

But Senator Dino Melaye interjected through a Point of Order and took the floor.

He was on his feet when he was cut short by Saraki who told the chamber that he had already put the question before Melaye’s point of order.

Through a voice vote, the chamber erupted with a huge ‘nay.’ Unsure of what

had happened, Saraki put the question again and the chamber replied him again with a resounding ‘nay.’

The Senate President then ruled in favour of the ‘nays’ and turned down the loan request.

It was gathered that the lawmakers rejected the loan request because of the failure of the presidency to provide details of the borrowing plans.

It was also gathered that while the letter from the president indicated that the 2016 to 2018 borrowing plan was attached with the letter dated October 20, no document was attached to the letter.

Besides, sources in the Senate said the last paragraph of the president’s letter was re-

questing the Senate to grant an “anticipatory approval” of the loan, even when the details of the borrowing plans were not available.

The president’s letter had read in part: “Given the emergency nature of these facilities and the need to consolidate the peace and return the region to normalcy and considering the time it will take to get National Assembly’s approvals, it has become inevitable to request for the National Assembly leadership approval pending the consideration and approval of the 2016 to 2018 borrowing plan by the National Assembly to enable us to distribute these funds immediately.”

Sources in the Senate insisted that there were no

political undertones in the decision to reject the president’s request, adding that the letter by the President did not include any attachment even when it stated so.

“There is no attachment to the letter. The president did not attach the breakdown as well, there is no way we can consider such a request,” a source said.

Another source said: “the president has so far also failed to send the Federal Government’s 2016 to 2018 borrowing. That is something that should have been sent That ought to have been sent first for consideration and passage before the loan request.”

The president’s loan request had forwarded a request to the two chambers

of the National Assembly seeking an approval to enable the government to borrow $29.96 billion to finance infrastructure projects that cut across sectors and the devastated North-East.

Other sectors billed to benefit from the loans included agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation, poverty reduction through safety net programmes and governance programmes.

But speaking to newsmen after the consideration, Senate Leader, SenatorNdume, said the motion was defeated on technical grounds.

He said: “I was shocked.

I think it was defeated on technical grounds. I will try and reintroduce it again. We must not throw the baby and

From left, Editor-in-Chief/Managing Director, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Mr Edward Dickson; guest of honour, Prince Diran Odeyemi; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Crown F.M, Osun State and guest lecturer, Mr Abel Abiodun Akintaro and the Head of Department, Classics, Professor Folake Onayemi, at the sixth Biennial Constative Leventis Memorial lecture, held at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Tuesday.

PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Govt advised to include rhetoric, logic, creative thinking in varsity curriculum

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

THE Federal Government has been asked to include rhetoric, logic and creative thinking as subjects in the curricula of Nigerian universities and also ensure that it is a compulsory course for students in the faculties of arts, social sciences and law, in order to prepare them for leadership positions either in public service or the private sector.

The government was also urged to introduce citizenship education in the curricula of tertiary institutions to instill moral discipline and good character in the students to justify the degrees they get, as education without moral is a failure.

This call was made by Mr Abel Akintaro, in Ibadan, on

Tuesday, while speaking as a guest lecturer at the sixth Biennial Constantine Leventis memorial lecture organised by the Classical Association of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan, at the Conference Centre of the University.

Akintaro also asked that the government should encourage proprietors of private institutions and other flourishing firms to be socially responsible to the Nigerian society by contributing freely from their vast resources to the development of their communities and also put in place a programme to train newly-elected politicians in the art of governance with copious ethical contents before they assume office.

“No country or community

can survive by relying on government for the provisions of social amenities alone,” he said, adding that “education today in Nigeria is basically theoretical and is not functional as it should be.”

According to him, if education was not beneficial to the society, it was a waste and education should be based on functionalism and skills acquisition in every area of life; preparation for adulthood, morals, transmitting culture and social responsibility since “education is not an end but a means to an end.”

Also speaking, the chairman of the lecture and the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Mr Edward Dickson,

stated that the lecture could not have come at a better period in the history of Nigeria, as the country was at present facing crossroads in the education sector, adding that the problem of education in the Nigerian society was deeper than envisaged.

He explained that there was a disconnect in the system which had forced education in Nigeria and the people into a peculiar situation, citing the recent riot by secondary schools in Oyo town, the intention to mobilise 85, 000 corps members out of the qualified 250,000 and the inability to vote in leaders that would make policies and decisions that would favour the people into office as examples of how things had gone wrong in the country.

the bath water away. It ought to have been referred to the relevant committee, but because of the omission of some things, it wasrejected.

“We expect them to include the things. There is nothing to worry about. We will do what is right. We will look at it on the basis of merit. We will do this as the best way we can. Those things that are necessary will be included.”

Meanwhile, the list of 46 non-career ambassadors sent to the Senate by President Buhari narrowly escaped being rejected in the Senate on Tuesday.

Only a quick move by Senate President Saraki saved the day for the nominees, as the Senate President had to overrule his colleagues who had voted ‘nay.’

The lawmakers, smarting from the rejection of the $29.9 billion loan request also sent in by the President, had moved to reject further consideration of the ambassadorial list sent to the Senate a fortnight ago.

The question put by Saraki came barely 10 minutes after the senators had rejected the loan request.

Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, had moved the motion seeking the consideration of the list of non-career ambassadorial nominees.

And as it happened with the loan request, the Senate President put the question with the chamber returning a resounding ‘nay’ .

The chamber immediateky became rowdy and Saraki had to restore order.

After the return of order, Saraki put the question once again, with the lawmakers again echoing ‘nay.’

An apparently shocked Senate President, however, paused for a few seconds and then ruled in favour of the ‘aye,’ thus saving the ambassadorial list.

Though some senators protested the ruling, Saraki immediately proceeded with the business of the day.

Sources in the Senate said the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to address the lopsided appointments in the career ambassadorial list informed the bid to reject the list.

Senators have similarly in July protested the submission of the list of 47 career ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate.

The current list containing non-career nominees also omitted Imo State and the FCT.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

S’Court Chief Registrar is new NJC secretary Mahmud holds last council meeting as CJN Lanre Adewole -Lagos

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S exclusively reported by the Nigerian Tribune, the chief registrar of Supreme Court, Mr Ahmed Gambo Saleh, has been appointed the new

secretary of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He emerged the winner of an interview conducted

by a panel put in place by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) on October 19.

Nigerian Tribune had reported him as the favourite for the job, as 16 applicants participated in the interview.

FJSC has, therefore, forwarded his name to NJC for confirmation, as required by the constitutional

EFCC uncovers alleged N18m transaction

by Justice Ajumogobia Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja MORE trouble seems on the way for Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia, who is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside some judges, over their alleged involvement in corrupt practices.

A reliable source in the commission informed the Nigerian Tribune that the anti-corruption commission had uncovered yet another bogus financial transaction made by Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

After failing to honour invitation of the anti-graft agency for two consecutive days, Justice OfiliAjumogobia eventually turned herself in at the Lagos office of EFCC about two weeks ago.

According to the source, in the course of its investigation, the anti-graft commission stumbled on N18 million wired to a foreign account by Ofili-Ajumogobia from her domiciliary account, for the purchase of a property in the United Kingdom (UK).

Nigerian Tribune learnt that Justice Ajumogobia, a judge at the Lagos division of the Federal High Court, owned up to the money, but claimed it was a loan obtained privately from a family friend.

“The ‘family friend’, who is a chairman of an oil and gas company from where the funds emanated, has been invited by the commission for questioning.

“So far, he had told operatives that the money was an assistance he rendered her,” the EFCC source, who did not want to be named, said.

It was learnt that upon further investigation, EFCC investigators gathered that the loan facility allegedly given the judge by the socalled family friend, as claimed by both of them, did not have any formal agreement or documentation as to how and when the repayment would be made.

The oil and gas company chairman, according to the source, was telling EFCC investigators the extent Continues pg34

From left, Non-Executive Director, Adetola Atekoja; MD/CEO, Ifie Sekibo; Chairman, Akinsola Akinfemiwa and the bank’s Company Secretary, Olutomi Ojo, all of Heritage Bank, at the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank, in Lagos, on Tuesday.

provisions governing the appointment.

The council is starting its monthly two-day meeting today, which will be the last for the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and council chairman, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

At today’s meeting, which is for appointments, Saleh is expected to be confirmed as the new council secretary.

Appointment of new judges for the National Industrial Court is also on the agenda at the meeting.

On Thursday, sanction of judges and the cases of seven judges being investigated by the council are likely to be considered.

Meanwhile, the most senior deputy chief registrar of the apex court, Hajo Sarki, is tipped to become the new chief registrar.

If appointed, she will be the second female chief registrar in the history of the court.

Nigeria hails US-based doctor for successful operation on unborn baby THE Federal Government has commended a United States (US)-based Nigerian surgeon, Dr Oluyinka Olutoye, who successfully removed tumour from a baby in her mother’s womb.

In a statement in Abuja, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said Nigerian government

and people were proud of Olutoye.

In a statement signed by her media assistant, Mr Abdurrahman Balogun, on Tuesday, Dabiri-Erewa noted that Olutoye and his partner, Dr Darrell Cass of the Texas Children’s Hospital, carried out the operation on a 23-week-old foetus in US. “The baby, Lynlee Hope,

who suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma, was removed from her mother’s womb, operated upon, and returned to the womb.

“The baby got healed and continued to grow until she was finally delivered at 36 weeks,” the statement read.

She stated that President Muhammadu Buhari received the news of

Dr Olutoye’s feat with excitement and fulfilment and was looking forward to meeting him.

The special assistant commended Nigerians in the diaspora for their roles in projecting Nigeria’s good image, adding that “Nigerians in diaspora are a huge potential, playing greater role in all sectors. Dr Olutoye’s feat is one of such

7 accused judges entitled to fair hearing —CJN THE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed, has said the seven judges, like all other persons, are entitled to a fair hearing as stipulated in Section 36 of the constitution.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the CJN was quoted as stating this in a letter sent to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in a statement issued on Tuesday, in Abuja,

by Mr Timothy Adewale, SERAP Senior Staff Attorney.

The letter, dated October 26, 2016, was signed by H. S. Sa’eed, Senior Special Assistant to the CJN. Mohammed’s remark was in response to SERAP’s request that he as chairman of the NJC should take over the cases of the seven judges from the Department of State Service (DSS).

The CJN stated that there were clear constitutional provisions relating to the power of any individual, institution or arms of government which must be adhered to.

He said the NJC could neither handover corrupt

judges to law enforcement agencies for prosecution nor recover proceeds of corruption.

He also explained that the NJC could merely make actionable recommendations upon its findings, as it had always done.

Mohammed said in the exercise of its constitutional mandate, the NJC had enacted the Judicial

Discipline Regulations, 2014.

This, he said, was to ensure that petitions were received, investigated and addressed as appropriate.

According to SERAP’s report, 64 judicial officers had been disciplined in the last five years.

“The seven Judges, like all other persons, are entitled to a fair hearing as stipulated in Section

36 of the constitution. As such, it will be presumptive and indeed pre-emptive to sanction the said judges without exhausting the proper procedure for their removal,” Mohammed stated.

The CJN also stated that with the support of wellmeaning Nigerians and SERAP, a transparent, fair and equitable justice system would be attained.

testimonies.”

Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigeria was working on a national diaspora policy guideline geared toward regulating all engagements with all Nigerians in the diaspora.

According to her, Nigerians in the diaspora were of much importance to the growth and development of the country.

She appealed to other Nigerians in the diaspora to do their best to give the country a positive image, adding that President Buhari was determined to enhance the welfare of all Nigerians at home and abroad.

Olutoye received his medical degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, in 1988 and Ph.D in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, US, in 1996.

Senate cautions FG on implementation of N500bn social intervention fund FG already spent N80bn without explanation —Senate leader Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja THE Senate, on Tuesday, cautioned the Presidency over the management of the N500 billion social intervention fund appropriated for in the 2016 budget.

The lawmakers, who considered a motion by Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, asked the Federal Government to carry the lawmakers along in the implementation of the programme, adding that the government must guide against possible mismanagement of the fund.

The adoption of the

motion coincided with a declaration by the Senate leader that a huge amount of N80 billion had already been taken out of the N500 billion fund without explanation.

Ndume, while moving the motion, entitled: “The need to avoid mismanagement of the N500 billion social intervention funds,” said the Senate should be concerned that the implementation of such a huge programme is now being carried out in the same manner as the other failed social interventions funds like the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme

(SURE-P), adding that the programme lacked proper framework which led to the failure of previous programmes.

The Senate, however, disclosed that to avoid the pitfalls of the past intervention schemes, the Federal Government should incorporate manual registration of beneficiaries from all local governments and wards in the country, as against general online registration platforms being used.

The Senate also called for framework that would ensure no one was marginalised, whether as

a result of where he comes from or location.

The Senate also advised that a clear channel of accountability for implementation of the programme must be created and be audited on a continuous basis, while the processes are presented to the National Assembly.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in his remarks after adoption of prayers of the motion, tasked the Senate committee on poverty alleviation to interface with all agencies to be used by the executive in the programme implementation for needed success.

4 news

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

How to care for your car battery Continued from front page

Clean the cables First clean the top of the battery and any corrosion from the cables using a tablespoon of baking soda, a cup of water and a nonmetallic brush. Flush with cool water. Now disconnect the cables, starting with the negative one to prevent your wrenches from arcing on a nearby ground. Loosen the battery cable clamp bolts and gently give them a twist. Use a cable puller if they’re stuck. Never pry on the battery posts.

If you have a side post terminal use a 5/16-in. box wrench to loosen the cables. With the cables removed, further clean off the corrosion around the battery terminals and cables with a post cleaner.

Check the level of the electrolyte If the battery needs water, use clean, distilled water and don’t over fill the cells. Gently pry off the covers of the battery cells. The water and acid mixture in the battery (electrolyte) should be about 1/2 in. deep or to the bottom of the fill hole.

If it needs water, use clean distilled water, being careful not to overfill the cells, and then inspect the battery case for cracks. If you find a crack, replace the battery. If you added water, let the water mix with the electrolyte for a few hours before the next step.

Check the condition and charge of the battery Test the electrolyte in each cell with a hydrometer. To test the electrolyte in each cell, squeeze the ball and draw the solution into the tester. Carefully hold the tester level and write down the reading. Squirt the solution back into the same cell. The testers are calibrated assuming a battery is at 80 degrees F. Add .04 to each reading for every 10 degrees above 80 and subtract .04 for every 10 degrees below. If you get a cell reading that differs from the others by .05 or more, replace the battery. A fully charged battery should have a reading of 1.265 or higher. If all the readings show fair or low (1.200 is low) but are consistent, recharge the battery.

To drop in the new battery, first remove the cables Remove your battery hold-down clamp. Disconnect the negative cable first, then the positive. Note: Always replace the battery with one that has a higher rating than the original.

Always wear eye protection and rubber gloves when working on batteries, and never smoke around them!

Replace the battery Use the heavy-duty strap to carefully lift out the old battery Tie a heavy-duty strap to the ears on the side of the battery and gently lift it out. Be careful; battery acid is dangerous.

Don’t drop it. Once the battery is out, clean the battery tray and replace it if it’s badly corroded. Batteries are heavy and need solid support!

Reinstall the clamp and cables Carefully lift the new battery into place. Connect the holddown clamp, then connect the cable to the positive terminal first and the negative last (for negative ground systems).

Smear a little petroleum jelly onto the terminal before fastening the cable clamps to the posts. The grease will help slow corrosion. Most batteries are at least 75 percent charged when you buy them and should be ready for you to start your car and drive. Check with your supplier to see if your new

battery needs charging before you use it.

Telltale signs of a low or failing battery Your headlights look dim at idle and then brighten when you rev the engine.

The starter turns slowly, barely starting the car. But you may have alternator wiring problems that prevent the battery from fully charging. If that’s the case, schedule a service appointment. Check your fan belt. If it’s loose, frayed, cracked or glazed, have it serviced or replaced.

A low battery can also be caused by frequent short trips, as well as too many accessories left on or added.

Look for a purchase date chart on the battery (it may be handwritten). The battery case will also have a decal stating its expected life, such as 60 or 84 months. If it’s near the end of this expected service life, replace it.

Courtesy: www.familyhandyman.com

Reps halt moves to revisit CCT Amendment Act Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

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TTEMPT to revisit the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act amendment passed earlier by both chambers of the National Assembly, on Tuesday, failed at the House of Representatives.

At the resumption of the plenary on Tuesday, the House Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, had canvassed for the suspension of the rules of the House to revisit the amendment.

While citing Section 1 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Gbajabiamila

argued that the constitution prevailed over any ambiguity in any act, especially as the senate was trying to harmonise the CCT Act. According to Gbajabiamila, “the House has been a House of the people and we have never been detached from the opinions of the public. It is not under your speakership (Honourable Yakubu Dogara) or our membership that the House will lose its integrity.

“When we discovered that the clauses are infractions to the constitution, we should put our breaks and reconsider it.”

In his own contribution, Honourable Kingsley

Chinda moved a counter point of order citing Order 9 Rule 6, saying it was “impossible to revisit a resolution passed by House and concurred by the Senate, except the right processes were followed.

While ruling on the matter, the speaker said: “It should be fixed on notice, so everyone will be prepared and we will have ample time for it. For us to suspend the rules of the House to revisit the amendment, it is like an ambush.”

The amendments to the Act are as follows.

It amended Section 3 of the Act thus: “Upon complaint(s) of any breach or where it appears to the

bureau that there is a breach of the provision of this Act, the person concerned shall be given particulars of such non compliance or breaches to explain before any reference to the tribunal.”

“This implies that the CCB cannot immediately refer a matter to the CCT without giving a public officer a notice.

Section 1 (4) which was expunged and replaced with “the chairman and members shall serve for a term of five years subject to renewal for one further term only.”

Section 4 (2) was amended to substitute the word “president” with “the national assembly” as the one to confer powers on the bureau and the tribunal.

5 news

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Appeal Court panel withdraws from Ondo PDP case From Sunday Ejike and Hakeem Gbadamosi

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HE crisis rocking the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead the November 26, 2016 governorship election in the state, on Tuesday, assumed a different dimension as the three-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal washed off its hands from all the appeals relating to the state governorship election.

The three Justices bowed out of the cases, following a petition written by a factional chairman of the PDP in the state, Prince Biyi Poroye, who alleged that the Justices had been compromised.

In the petition dated October 31, 2016, addressed to the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the petitioner alleged that Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State had boasted in the public that he and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had settled the Justices on the panel with N350 million.

The petition was copied President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the Court of Appeal panel itself.

Poroye, who swore to an affidavit evidence to buttress his allegation, said he believed that the Justices had been compromised because the presiding Justice, Jummai Hannatu Sankey, was prone to corruption, saying that Justice Sankey, who was presiding over the panel, had been sick for the past five years and, as such, “became very poor and prone to corruption.”

Poroye further alleged in the petition that Sankey was transferred from Yola, where the appellant, Eyitayo Jegede, was practising Law for the past 15 years and that when the Justice arrived in Akure Division, Governor Mimiko boasted that he catered for her to the tune of N100 million.

In the circumstances, the petitioner demanded the disbandment of the panel on the ground that his side would not get justice from the panel.

The PDP factional chairman also faulted the composition of a special panel to hear a pre-election matter, saying there was no reason for the Appeal Court president to have done so since the appeal was not time bound.

When the matter came up on Tuesday for definite hearing of the substantive appeals, Justice Sankey drew the attention of parties in the matter to the petition and demanded to know whether the panel could still go ahead with the matter in spite of the petition, supported with

an affidavit of evidence.

Counsel for Jegede, Chief Wole Olanipekun, said he was taken aback by the development and that he was not copied the petition, which he described as most embarrassing, unfair, unfortunate and ungodly because the Justices had not taken any step to suggest any likelihood of bias.

He said if any party should complain, it was his client, whose right had been aborted because of the removal of his name as a candidate of the PDP on the list by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Olanipekun warned politicians not to destroy the judiciary for their parochial interest, because the judiciary remained the only institution that was the corner stone and foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.

He appealed to the Justices to refer the petition to the appropriate security agent for investigation and punitive action.

Counsel for the petitioner, Dr Alex Izinyon, in his own reaction, said he was speechless because he had no inclination of the petition and was not consulted by his client before writing the petition.

Izinyon asked the court to invite the petitioner to the court room to explain the rationale behind his petition and to make clarification on the petition.

In his words: “Let me say it here that I have been caged by my client in his bid to make caricature of the court.

The court must be protected and allowed to do its job.

“I have come here to do my job in accordance to the law, I do not know how the court will react to this petition, but I stand by you, justices of this court because I do not have any evidence that you have been compromised.

“I am not a party to the petition and I am ready to go ahead with the case. This petition is an embarrassment to me. It is a slight to me and I do not stand by the petitioner.”

Attempt to produce the petitioner in court was abortive as he was said to have fled the court immediately the issue of the petition was raised.

Justice Sankey said: “Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it.

Why did he run out of court when he has the audacity to append his signature on the shameless petition and the affidavit. 99 days is for the thief, only one day is for the owner. It is painful that the petitioner use my ailment predicament to insult me, to allege that I am a poor judge, sick for five years and prone to corruption.

“I am ready to carry my illness on my shoulder, but it

is unfair for the petitioner to make my sickness an issue in his petition”.

In her ruling, Justice Sankey said, ordinarily, since no fact had been placed before the court to establish a case of likelihood of bias and since lawyers in this matter have all denied knowledge of the petition.

“We would have been minded to ignore the petition, but it is a settled law that when a case of likelihood of bias is raised in a petition, it has to be looked into, even if the petition is frivolous.

“We consider it necessary to disqualify ourselves from all petitions in respect of Ondo PDP governorship matters.

We hereby step down from this matter and the case files are to be returned of this court for re-assignment to another panel”, she said.

as the judicial contraption of Abang cannot hold. We also call for the immediate arrest of Biyi Poroye who made those wild allegations and also swore to an affidavit on them to substantiate them, failure of this, is to confirm that he and his group enjoys the support of the Presidency in this dastardly action.

“We call on our members to be calm and patient as this time shall certainly pass away. Those who have chosen to be irresponsible and callous to the extent of destroying a party they profess to belong will certainly contend with history one day soon.”

Development disturbing —Ondo PDP

Following the reassigning of the suit filed by the Ahmed Markarfi faction of the PDP in Ondo State, over the candidature of the party in the forthcoming election, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Tuesday, described the development as another antics to waste time.

Fayose, who stated this during a radio programme in Akure, expressed optimism that the development would not affect the chances of the party in winning the governorship election in the state, saying the will of the people shall prevail.

He said: “I am not surprised because this is their stock in trade but things will not continue like this, because 24 hours is a long time in politics, I want to believe with this development, there will be light at the end of this tunnel.

“A number of people are behind this in order to buy time, but darkness will not prevail over light. Keep the hope alive and I am sure Nigerians can read between the lines.”

He described the crisis within the party as a phase that would end well, but called on the members of the party in the state and their supporters not to sleep or get distracted by the distraction of Jimoh Ibrahim to secure and contest the governorship ticket of the party through the back door.

Fayose, who specifically said Ibrahim was not a member of the party, condemned the injustice perpetrated by the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce Ibrahim on the party as the party’s standardbearer in the forthcoming election.

Fayose has said that the INEC, under the present APC-led Federal Government has

Following the withdrawal of the Appeal Panel from the suit over the authentic candidate of the PDP in Ondo State, the party, on Tuesday, described the development as disturbing.

The party stated this in a statement issued by its Publicity Director, Ayo Fadaka, who noted that the withdrawal, which was predicated by the specious and unproven allegations of corruption and other sundry charges by the Jimoh Ibrahim group against the panel, was designed to prevent the panel from carrying out justice.

Fadaka, in the statement, said “It follows a curious path of blackmail and ambush that Jimoh Ibrahim and his allies have come to be noted for since they took on the job of killing the PDP in Ondo State.

“We must not lose sight of the fact we are clearly in the majority in Ondo State. Our strength lies in our votes and no court, no litigation, no delay tactics can determine the direction and beneficiary of your votes.Hold on tight to your votes and we are sure that at the end of it all, our candidate will emerge as Governor of Ondo State come November 26, 2016.

“At this point it is important to underscore the fact that the challenge that confront the PDP today emanates directly from the APC that has obviously recruited a platoon of boot lickers and fifth columnists within the Party to execute hatchet jobs designed to destroy the party. This group of people under the leadership of Jimoh Ibrahim are the ones that are throwing darts at the heart of the party.

“We, however, want to declare that as long as there are distinguished judges in Nigeria, we will get justice

Antics to waste time over governorship candidate will fail —Fayose

demonstrated to Nigerians that their votes will never be allowed to count any longer, adding that, “INEC has become an extension of the APC and Aso Rock Presidential Villa.”

According to the governor, it was the prerogative of political parties contesting in an election to nominate or elect their candidate, saying “ I don’t know Jimoh Ibrahim as a member of the PDP and I am sure the truth will soon be known.”

He said Ibrahim was being positioned to destabilise the party in the state, but said “Jimoh Ibrahim will never be governor of Ondo state. God detests spoilers, God detest people who, for reasons best known to them, are agents of destabilisation and by the grace of God, he will not succeed.

“It’s unfortunate, very sad that Jimoh Ibrahim is destabilising the party at this period of time. I don’t know Jimoh as a member of PDP.” He lamented “democracy in Nigeria has suffered a serious setback,” adding “If the cabal in the APC-led Federal Government believed that

they had defeated the PDP through their manipulation of the electoral process, they should be reminded that they can never defeat the people.”

He queried: “How can someone hold primary election in Ibadan, Oyo State, without INEC’s involvement to become candidate of the PDP in an election holding in Ondo State, while INEC will drop the candidate who emerged through a primary election monitored by the commission in Akure?

“This is not democracy, INEC said they did not recognise Jimoh Ibrahim’s election, now you say he’s the candidate. What is it that has changed?

“Isn’t this development a vindication of my position that other political parties and stakeholders are now contesting election against INEC?” Fayose, while speaking on his romance with some opposition APC, said “I am a PDP member and I will not embark on anti-party activities. Some of them are my friends but I cannot work for their party.”

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Metro...

Nigerian Tribune

crime, security, court

Woman, 3 sons, 2 others die after amala meal Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

N

O fewer than six people, including a mother, her three sons and two of their neighbours on Tuesday died in Ogaminana area of Okene in Kogi State after eating a meal made from cassava flour.

Three of the deceased were said to have died on Monday, while there remaining three died at a quick sucession at the Okene General Hospital.

The Public Relations Officer of the Adavi Local Government Area, Mr Abdulhamid Salahudeen, who informed newsmen about the incident, said the first set of victims died in their house.

He put the ages of the dead five children to be between 9 and 15 years, while the age of the female adult victim, the mother, could not be ascertained.

Salaudeen said the mother had, last Sunday brought the cassava flour (white amala) from her farmland at Ohuepe village which is about 30-minute drive from Ogaminana.

He said the woman prepared a dinner from the yam flour for herself and

other members of the family, while she also gave her neighbours part of the food.

It was gathered that the woman and two of her sons were the first to die, as they

developed severe stomach pain over the night, which later resulted in their death.

Salaudeen, however, added that neighbours who sensed that the sudden

deaths may be due to the cassava flour dinner quickly rushed the remaining three children who also ate the food to Okene General Hospital where they died in the

early hours of Tuesday.

According to him, the management of the said local government believed that the cassava flour was poisoned.

32 arrested for flouting governor’s order in Abia Celestine Ihejirika - Umuahia

Suspects involved in drug trafficking, cocaine and cannabis sativa paraded by the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the FCT Command, Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

Police Sergeant paraded for robbery in Abia Celestine Ihejirika - Umuahia

A police sergeant, Mathew (surname withheld) attached to the Department of Operations, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was among other 21 suspected criminals paraded by Abia State Police Command for robbery, cultism, fraud, vandalism and kidnapping, among other vices.

During interrogation, he confessed that he was arrested by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state for aiding and abetting criminals in the area, while he also confessed he committed the crime with one Sergeant Isah (surname withheld) attached to 48 PMF Ahods, whom he said was at large.

Also police operatives attached to Central Police Station Aba, following a

He also said the incident had been reported to the police for proper investigation.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Anya, could not confirm the incident, as he said the command was yet to be briefed.

tip-off, arrested the following suspected armed robbers and cultists-- Friday, Chukwuebuka, Chimaobi, Chidiebere, Chukwuemeka, Emmanuel and Ndubusi (surnames withheld) at Emeka Street, Aba, for robbing and dispossessing one Ezeugo Ogbonna of his valuables and cash worth N60,000 on October 28, as one suspected Onyekachi (surname withheld) who led police to arrest his gang.

Two suspected fraudsters, Collins and Fidelia (surnames withheld) was arrested by same Central Police Station Aba. According to the suspects, they specialised in faking and forging vehicle licence certificate of insurance, proof of ownership and other sensitive government documents, thereby defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

On arrest of suspected gang of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), transformer vandals--Okoroafor, Christian and Ukaoma (surnames withheld), police said, were arrested in Isalangwa South, in collaboration with the vigilante group at Umueze Nvosi on October 20.

Other four suspected cultists also arrested were Aigbemen, Udu John, Charles and Okoye (surnames withheld). They were apprehended with the effort of other security outfit attached to Covenant Polytechnic, Aba, just as another set of three suspected robbery gang—Kenneth, Sunday and Chinweikpe (surnames withheld) who specialise in robbing motorists and house-breaking within Obehie and its environs were also arrested.

Items recovered while paraded by the state Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, included three locally-made double barrel short guns, five live cartridges, machete and Techno phones.

Other items were fake and forged vehicle docu-

ments, typewriter, two rolls of heavy armoured cables, hack saw, fetish charm, cocaine, among other things.

Oyebade urged the public to continue to give useful and timely information to police, assuring that there would be no hiding place for criminals in Abia State.

THIRTY-TWO people have been arrested by members of task force squad on environmental sanitation in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State for flouting governor’s order.

Confirming the arrest to Metro, the transition committee chairman of the area, Chief Atuleogwu Nwogu, declared that those involved must undergo various punishments to serve as deterrent to others.

According to the council boss, it was callous on the part of individuals trying to test the might of authority in the state, warning “enough is enough.”

Speaking on last Saturday’s environmental sanitation exercise, Chief Nwogu noted the October sanitation exercise was a huge success compared with previous months.

The council chairman warned that Abia State government was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the state remained among clean states in the nation, as he appealed to residents not to test the might of the government any longer.

Court sentences man to 7 strokes of cane for stealing N9,500 alcoholic wine A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced a 26-year-old man, Frank (surname withheld), to seven strokes of cane for stealing N9, 500 worth of alcoholic wine from a hotel.

The Upper Area Court judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, also ordered Frank to clean the court premises and warned him to

desist from committing crime.

Frank was convicted on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.

The prosecutor, Donaldtus Abah, told the court that Stanley Emmanuel of Karibu Hotel, No. 32, Ladoke Boulevard Way, Garki 2, Abuja, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on October 21.

Abah said the defendant, a former staff of the hotel, entered the wine bar of the hotel and stole two big bottles of Medowels Gin, one bottle of Red Label gin and one bottle of Andre wine all valued at N9, 500.

He said the offences contravened sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

Frank pleaded guilty, but prayed for leniency.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik

08116954633, 08078891950 e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Gun duel with police claims 3 in Warri Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

T

HREE robbery suspects fell to the superior fire power of the police during a gun duel last Sunday in Warri, Delta State.

Metro gathered that operatives of the Anti-Robbery Squad from A-Division under the Warri Area Command, received a distress call that robbers were operating somewhere on the Warri/Sapele Road.

The robbery suspects, a witness said, had earlier robbed one Ozeiro Frederick, at his Infinity Bar & Restaurant situated on No 4, Ighogbadu Road, Warri.

Ozeiro was said to have been robbed at around 2.00 p.m. before the police received a distress call at 3.30 p.m.

The sum of N300, 000, three handsets and other valuables were allegedly collected from the hotelier at gun point.

After the successful operation at the bar, the three robbery suspects, who used a tricycle for the operation, fled.

But the victim, with an unusual courage, Metro gathered, entered his ve-

Felled robbery suspects and items recovered from them.

hicle and traced them to Agbassa junction, between Warri/Sapele Road.

It was when the victim was at Agbassa junction that he was said to have alerted men of the anti-robbery squad, who gave the suspects a hot chase and a gun duel ensued, leading to the death of two, while the third escaped.

A senior police source, who declined identification

20-year-old truck driver diverts, steals N3.8m worth of beer A 20-year-old driver, Adebayo (surname withheld), who allegedly stole 10 pallets of big Stout valued at N3.8 million from Cryslad Group of Companies, a haulage company, was on Tuesday granted temporary freedom as he was granted N3.8 million bail.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties as part of the bail condition.

The Magistrate, Mr T.O. Shomade, said the sureties must be gainfully employed and also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State govern-

Cleric rearraigned over alleged child defilement THE police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, re-arraigned a cleric, Reverend Father Anthony Ochigbo, charged with defilement of a 10-year-old girl.

Ochigbo appeared before a FCT High Court in Maitama, where Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf adopted the bail conditions previously given him.

The rearraignment was due to the transfer of the case to Baba-Yusuf from Justice Olukayode Adeniyi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Ochigbo was arraigned before Adeniyi on August 30 during court vacation.

NAN also reported that Adeniyi granted the cleric bail in the sum of N2 million naira and two sureties, who must be on Grade

Level 14 and above in public service.

The prosecution counsel, Mr John Ijagbemi, submitted on Tuesday that 44-yearold Ochigbo of the Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, sexually

abused the girl on August 15.

He said that Ochigbo had unlawful sexual intercourse with the child in the church, in contravention of the provisions of Section 31(1) of the Child Rights Act, 2003, and punishable under Sections

32(2) of the Act. Ochigbo, however, pleaded not guilty.

His counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi applied for his bail and prayed the court to allow him continue on the existing bail conditions.

7 killed in Ondo road accident Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

NO fewer than seven people lost their lives in a road accident in Anurin village on the Akure-Owo Road in Ondo State, while 13 others were seriously injured.

The accident which involved a Peugeot J5 with registration number BKK 424XA and a truck belonging to the Nigerian Army with registration number NA 1087 BO5.

An eyewitness stated that

the accident was caused as a result of reckless driving on the part of the J5 driver who was on top speed and the driver of the truck who failed to observe the traffic rules on vehicles which broke down on the road.

He explained that the accident which occurred about 2.00 a.m. was caused by the Nigerian Army truck which broke down on the road and the J5 rammed into it in the middle of the night.

The eyewitness stated that

the seven victims died on the spot, while other surviving victims were taken to the hospital.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said the accident occurred as a result of reckless driving on the part of the vehicles that were involved and said that the command had not been able to know the identity of the victims involved in the accident.

because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said one cut-to-size pistol, the tricycle used by the suspects, one live cartridge and two expended cartridges were recovered from hoodlums.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, could not be reached for confirmation as she was said to be on vacation.

Objecting, Ijagbemi submitted that the cleric was rearraigned, and the court could give fresh bail conditions.

The case had been adjourned till January 31 for substantive trial.

Joseph confirmed that the accident occurred at about 2.00 a.m. on Tuesday, saying “the army truck, driven by one Sergeant Ashima Abdullahi broke down and parked beside the road when the bus rammed into it at that midnight.”

He, however, said the remains of the victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while the injured were also receiving treatment at the hospital.

ment.

Adebayo, who pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing, resides at Agege area of Lagos.

The prosecutor, Inspector Raji Akeem, told the court that the accused and some others now at large, committed the offences on October 10 at Guinness Nigeria Plc, Ikeja.

He alleged that the accused was directed to deliver 10 pallets of big Stout to a customer, but diverted them to another location.

Akeem said when the customer did not get the beer, she called the company and was told that they had been delivered to her warehouse.

“When the company interrogated the driver, he told them that the customer told him to drop the goods at an open field close to their warehouse.

“It was later discovered that the driver had planned with some other people to steal the 10 pallets of Stout.

“The driver was apprehended and taken to the police, while his co-conspirators are still at large,” he said.

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 409 stipulated two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

The case was adjourned till November 14 for trial.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

10

businessnews

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

DISCOs project revenue shortfall of N809bn by December

T

HE Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) on Tuesday projected that the electricity market revenue would record an N809.8 billion shortfall by December.

Mr Sunday Oduntan, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, ANED, disclosed this at a news conference by the association in Lagos.

Oduntan said the project-

Concessionaire to invest $2.7bn in Onne Phase 4B facility

ed shortfall was based on the non-cost recovery nature of the tariff.

He said within the last three years that the sector had been privatised, the DISCOs had been operating at a loss.

He said that due to the delay in the implementation of Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO ll) covering from December 2013 to February 2016, the DISCOs recorded a N12.8 billion shortfall.

The executive director said that government had not fulfilled its commitment to the agreement it signed with the investors during the privatisation of the sector in 2013.

According to him, government has promised the investors that there will be cost reflective tariffs from its inception as specified under the Performance Agreement.

“This never happened as customers were politically frozen and collection losses removed in 2015.

“Sculpting or under-recovery of cost will result in N164 billion revenue shortfall, for the period of 2016 through 2018 and delay in reflecting costs means a growing increase in deficits.

“Government promised an increased access to gas supply, but presently, there is little or no improvement

in gas supply due to pipeline vandalism resulting in an average of 50 per cent reduction in generation.

“It also promised that full loses would be recognised in tariffs but presently real loses are higher than what is contained in tariffs due to non-payment of electricity bills by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

“The generation level, which was expected from 2014 to 2016 to be between 5,000 megawatts and 7,000 megawatts, is now between 2,000 megawatts and 3,000 megawatts due to gas pipeline and transmission wheeling constraints,” he said.

Oduntan also refuted the submission by Alhaji Aliko Dangote that investors who invested in power sector did so without an understanding of what they were venturing into.

“It will be difficult for anyone to suggest that people, seasoned and successful investors, who committed over N650 billion, did so without knowing what they were doing.

“It is fair to state that inefficiencies, corruption and limited information associated with the defunct PHCN are still a challenge to the sector operating under the present privatization arrangement,” he said.

Tola Adenubi - Lagos THE concessionaire handling the Phase 4B area of the Onne Port Complex development Area in Rivers State, Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited, has revealed that it is set to invest over $2.7bn in the development of the facility.

Speaking while hosting the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, the General Manger of the Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tonye Apiafi said that Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited, as Concessionaire and investor, is investing over US$ 2.7 billion in Phase 4B of the Onne Port Complex.

According to Apiafi, “the project includes the dredging and reclamation of a total of 600 HA of swampland, construction of 2000M of Jetty for Berths 12-19 and construction of over 3500M Jetty for port facilities including fabrication & construction yards.

“In addition, Phase 4B project includes the construction of an inner channel and turning basin for vessels, stacking areas, a 6000 cubic meters capacity water distribution system and construction of roads networks in in excess of 15,500 meters.”

Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos THE Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) has exonerated all distribution firms in the country insisting that they have performed above expectations.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the Executive Director, ANED, Barrister Sunday Oduntan, stated that “anyone who has followed the privatisation of the power sector would recognize that the sector has been bedevilled by a number of challenges.

“The challenges include absence of cost recovery regime, regulatory uncertainty, non debt payment by customers, limited access to finance and ga supply limitations including vandalisation.”

On lack of capital injection, he argued that most generation assets were sold outright while discos assets were structured on 30-70 percentage equity and debt split.

Capital Oil increases loss by 99% in 9 months Dr Eruani Azibapu, President Azikel Group (left), shakes hands with Mr Ian Anderson, at the contract signing ceremony for the construction of Azikel Refinery, which took place in Texas, United States, recently.

Azikel refinery to commence operations in 2018 ONE of the private refineries licensed last year, Azikel Refinery, is gearing up to start operation in 2018.

Towards this end, the company has awarded a contract to a Texas, United States of America based company, Ventech Engineering LLC, for the manufacturing and construction of a 12,000 BPSD hydroskyming refinery for the production of variants of LPG, petrol, kerosene, aviation fuel, diesel and heavy fuel oil.

Azikel Refinery was represented at the paper signing event by its President, Dr Eruani Azibapu; Director of Investment and Strategy, Mr Richard Howarth, and the Operations Director, Mr. Presley Asemota.

The Ventech team was led by its President/CEO, Ian Anderson. Others with him were the Vice President, Scott McClary; the General Counsel, Laura Hotard, and the Business Development Manager, Mr Brian Swientonioski.

The event, which took place in Texas, was witnessed by representatives of banks, export credit agencies, US businessman and organizations as well as the Nigerian community.

Speaking at the ceremony, Anderson assured that Ventech’s usual high degree of professionalism would be deployed in the construction of the Azikel Refinery, with the objective of ensuring that the specifications of the products from the refinery meet international

We have enough gas for 20 generations —NGC COMMUNITY Relations Officer, Nigeria Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC), Mr Antaih Violin, said Nigeria’s gas deposit would last for 20 generations.

Violin said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday on the sidelines of ongoing 10th Nigerian Gas Association International Conference and Exhibition.

ANED exonerates discos over poor performance in power sector

He described Nigeria as a gas nation, saying that the country had gas in abundance.

He said that the country had continued to sell gas to Ghana and other neighbouring countries, adding that the transaction had been sustained because Nigeria had enough gas.

“In a lay man’s term, the NNPC subsidiary has enough gas for use domestically and to sell. There is

abundant gas and shortage is not a problem.

“Nigeria is a gas nation, it has gas in abundance. If we can conveniently give gas to Ghana and other neighbouring countries, imagine what we have in our reserves.

“Shortage is not a problem for the NGPTC. We have more than 1.85 trillion cubic feet and that is enough to last 20 generations.

“So, there is no question of gas running out. It’s a

question of what will we do with it? With this conference I am optimistic that we will have a policy that will restructure the gas sector,” Violin said.

He explained that with the unbundling of the gas sector

by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into NGPTC and the Nigeria Gas Marketing Company Limited, more revenue would flow into the nation’s coffers.

standards.

While speaking about the funding of the project, Mr Ade Dada, a US-based Nigerian, said funding had been secured from Exim Bank, Export Credit Agencies and EPC Project Finance.

He added that the construction of the Azikel Refinery would create immediate economic stimulus in Nigerian economy. “It will also create immediate employment during the construction phase and long term employment during the operation,” he said.

Azikel Group, which is the sponsor of Azikel Refinery through Azikel Petroleum, is committed to the creation of employment, industrialization of Nigeria and its sustainability.

The Group is into dredging, aviation and power generation through which it has created a lot of employment opportunities.

Azikel Power, which is part of Azikel Group, was recently granted an on-grid power generation licence of 500MW.

Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba - Lagos MANAGEMENT accounts for the nine month period ended 30th September 2016 of Capital Oil Plc has shown a 99 percent increase in loss after tax of N43.5 million from N21.9 million reported for the same period of 2015.

The indigenous downstream oil major also reported a 28 percent decline in revenue that stood at N650.1 million from N808.5 million in 2015.

Furthermore, cost of sales declined by 21 percent to N594.4 million from N753.4 million as selling and distribution expenses reduced 52 percent to N21.4 million from 44.5 million.

In spite of prudent measures undertaken by the company to reduce cost, as evident in salaries and wages that also dropped 39 percent to N18.1 million from N29.4 million and administrative and overhead cost 9 percent reduction to N74.1 million, from N81.6 million recorded in 2015, the company recorded an operating loss of N57.9 million, 452 percent higher than N10.5 million reported as operating loss in 2015.

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businessnews

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

2016 budget: FG releases N753bn to MDAs As DMO says $29.9 loan is to address infrastructure deficit

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

T

HE Federal Government has so far released a total of N753,633,667,464 to Ministries, Departments and Agencies out of the 2016 budget.

A release by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday showed that this was the sum released by the government as of October 31.

This represents 11 per cent of the N6.8trillion budgeted by the government for the year.

According to the release, the highest allocation of N312,511,048,789 went to ‘others’, for which no breakdown was provided.

This is followed by Ministry of Power, which has so far been allocated N209,246,760,165 and Defence which got N69,512,363,730.

Other allocations are Transport, N30,540,042,428; Water Resources, N25,201,857,951; Interior, N21,210,059,596; Health, N18,472,539,524; Health, N18,472,539,524 and Education, N16743,672,981.

The Ministry of Niger Delta got N8,161,196,486; Science and Technology N6,861,349,721; Mines and Steel N3,360,000,000; and Petroleum N2,413,847,044.

The budget, which had a crude oil price benchmark of N38 per barrel and an estimated daily crude production of 2.2million barrels, also had a deficit of N2.22trillion which the government planned to finance through local and multilateral loans.

Although the price of crude has rallied above the $38 benchmark, the country has been finding it difficult to meet its crude production target because of the activities of militants in the Niger delta region.

This has negatively impacted the ability of the government to raise rev-

enue to finance the budget. It has consequently resorted to raising loans to finance the budget.

While efforts are on to get loans from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the Senate on Tuesday turned down a request by the Federal Government for a $29.9billion loan to finance critical infrastructure between 2016 and 2018.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo,

on Tuesday, provided clarifications on the proposed $29.9bn foreign loans request submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

The DG, while speaking on a Channels TV, explained that the loans, which cover a period of three years, would help in addressing the biting infrastructure deficit in the country.

According to him, “When you are in this kind of economic situation, you have to decide where you want to

start addressing the problem. You then come to the conclusion that the most critical point to start is to deal with infrastructure problem. If you deal with infrastructure problem, the cost of power will be lower, the cost of transportation will be lower, and the cost of most other services will be lower.”

According to him, one of the features of the proposed loan is the low concessionary nature of the interest rate, which has an average interest rate of 1.5 per cent. This arrangement dif-

Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba - Lagos THE equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange started the month of November on a bright note as lead index added 0.12 percent to close at 27,252.48 basis points.

The improved performance was prevalent on strengthened investors sentiments as market breadth closed with 17 gainers to 16 losers.

Eterna Oil Plc led the gainers chart with 9.96 percent appreciation to close at N3.09 per share, Okomuoil followed with a gain of 9.18 percent to close at N47 per share, while Red Star Express Plc advanced 5 percent to close at N4.20 per share.

Unity Bank and Learn Africa Plc added 4.76 and 4.29 percent each to close at 66 and 73 kobo respectively. Other gainers include Dangote Flour, FBN Holdings, FCMB, Guinness, Skye Bank, and PZ.

Naira extends gain over dollar From left, Managing Director, Broadmind Importer and Exporter Limited, Mr Ashade Adebayo; with Mr Olawoyin Olaniyi of the FCMB, during a training programme organised for cashew nuts grovers and traders in Ibadan.

VON refutes claims of economic sabotage THE Volkswagen automobile group of Nigeria (VON) has refuted claims by the chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Hope Uzodinma, to the effect that the company was sabotaging the country’s economy.

A press statement by the Managing Director of the VON Automobiles, Tokunbo Aromolaran on Tuesday, 1 November, 2016 said that the company strongly refutes

allegations of any economic sabotage or any other form of non-compliance or wrong doing in its business operations.

According to the statement, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, in company of about 30 people comprising senators, officers of Nigerian Customs Service, pressmen and police officers descended on the VON premises on Friday 28 October 2016 without prior notification.

“They were given free ac-

cess to our plants and warehouses and found nothing other than what you would expect to see in an auto assembly plant - an inventory of vehicles assembled awaiting delivery. We also confirmed that applicable duties were paid at the ports when the components were imported into the country.”

The statement said “VON is a company that has collaborated with several multinational automotive giants in

Broadmind importer & Exporter educates Cashew Farmers, traders on quality control IN its determination to boost quality control in the cashew export market, Broadmind Importers & Exporter Limited has concluded a day meeting on harvest and post-harvest handling of Cashew nuts with cashew farmers, suppliers and trade in Nigeria.

The event which was held in Ibadan last week, rallied Cashew nuts farmers, suppliers and agents from Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Kogi among other state.

fers from previous loan arrangements with the Paris Club of creditors, which came with floating interest rates as high as 18 per cent.

He also explained that the facility will help revive infrastructure like railways which will smoothen movement of heavy goods across the country.

He stressed that tackling infrastructure deficit would force down costs of goods and services on the long run, explaining that the development will have a significant impact on the price level in the economy.

NSE Index adds 0.12% as Eterna Oil, Okomuoil, Redstarex lead gainers

Speaking during the educative session, the Chief Executive Officer of Broadmind Importer and Exporter Limited, Mr Ashade Adebayo who was stunned by the attendance said the company took the bold step to encourage stakeholders in the business to improve in the quality of their products.

According to Adebayo, the seminar is to encourage farmers, agent and suppliers on

good quality control for a better market pricing and gains.

“For us to maintain a good quality for the international market, we have to work together with the value chain which include the farmers and those trading in Cashew Nut. “Not that we don’t have good quality of Cashew nuts in Nigeria, but the harvesting and post-harvest process is poor.

“So in our capacity as the

link between the producers and the end users of the products, we need to set our record straight in seeing that we get the right quality required by the buyers.”

The CEO who said the company is targeting 9000 metric tonnes for the next export, explained that the meeting was initiated to build a strong relationship suppliers to ensure that every bottleneck that will reduce ourchance of achieving the set goal is avoided.

bringing foreign investments and technology into Nigeria, thereby setting the foundation for the country to become the region’s leader in automotive industry.

“Having invested in the largest capacity for assembly of vehicles in Nigeria, VON prides itself as a responsible and committed organisation, sincerely dedicated to the country’s economic development.

“Governed by a strict compliance framework and business ethics, VON has not and never will engage in any activity that would sabotage the economy in any manner whatsoever.

“The Volkswagen assembly plant is a duly licensed facility, approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Automotive Council, Ministry of Trade and Industry and other relevant authorities. The plant has been inspected several times by Federal Government officials, National Automotive Council, SON Nigeria and others from time to time.

THE Naira on Tuesday extended its gains against the dollar across the Forex market.

The nation currency gained N4.06 at the interbank market to close at N304.75, from N308.81 posted on Monday.

At the Bureau De Change window, the naira was sold at N385 to a dollar, CBN controlled rate, while Pound Sterling and Euro traded at N565 and N504 respectively.

Naira gained three points at the parallel market to close at N465 to a dollar against N468 posted on Monday.

Also, Pound Sterling and Euro closed at N560 and N510 respectively.

Traders at the market said that liquidity at the market was being boosted by the weekly sale of Forex

by Travelex and First Bank of Nigeria.

Travelex, a licensed International Money Transfer Operator, had been selling the proceeds of Diaspora remittances to BDCs for over a month.

Travelex and FBN have been working hard to ensure that liquidity challenges in the North and some other South-South states was reduced by selling Forex in these areas.

12

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

BROADMIND IMPORT AND EXPORT LTD ORGANISES A DAY MEETING WITH LOCAL CASHEW NUT TRADERS AND FARMERS IN NIGERIA FOR PROPER HANDLING AND BETTER PRODUCTION

The secretary, Broadmind Import and Export Ltd, Mrs Lawrence Opeoluwa, giving her welcome address.

The Business Development Officer/Agro-business supervisor, Miss Owoeye Idowu, conducting training on harvesting and Post-harvest handling of Cashew nut for the cashew suppliers and farmer in attendance.

The Managing Director of Broadmind, Mr Ashade Adebayo and his wife, Temitope, during the session.

From left, The Managing Director, Broadmind Import and Export Ltd, Mr Ashade Adebayo and the General Manager, Mr Bamifewe Thomas, during the session.

From left, The Branch Manager of the FCMB, Agodi Branch, Mr Yusuf Olalekan and the MD of Broadmind Import and Export Ltd, Mr Ashade Adebayo.

Members of the management and staff of Broadmind Import and Export Ltd in a group photograph with cashew nuts suppliers and farmers in attendance.

Gift sharing and interactive session with the suppliers and farmers of cashew nuts in attendance.

Group photograph of Management and staffs of the Broadmind Import and Export Ltd.

13

editorial

O

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Still on tolling of federal roads

N Tuesday, October 25 this year, the Senate passed a motion raised by Senator Suleiman Nazif (APC/ Bauchi North) backing the proposed reintroduction of toll collection plazas on federal highways across the country. In his motion, Nazif had noted that the deplorable state of Nigerian roads could be addressed with revenue generated from the collection of toll. In adopting the motion, the Senate however promised to synergize with other relevant bodies to study the policy and find effective and efficient ways to carry out the policy in order to generate more funds for road maintenance.

The precursor to the Senate’s move actually came in December last year when the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disclosed that the Federal Government would re-introduce highway tolling to raise additional funds to finance road infrastructure and ensure efficient road maintenance. Fashola had stated: “Maintenance would be our watchword. We are setting up a robust maintenance regime to keep our highways in good shape. This shows that tolling is necessary to support government funding. So, it will not be too much if we ask every road user to pay a little to augment government funding for road maintenance. It is eminent commonsense for us to find that money. We will use technology; so if you don’t pay cash, you will pay by tokens or tickets and the money will go to the right place. We will manage that fund properly and we will hold those who we put there to account.”

To be sure, the planned reintroduction of the policy 12 years after it was abolished by the Federal Government raises serious questions about policy formulation and implementation, and indeed governance, in the country. For instance, the question can be asked whether the government is merely taking the Nigerian people for a ride with its policy flip flops. This is because toll gates across the country were demolished at great public cost in 2004 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, on the strength of the argument that roads should be maintained from revenue generated from fuel pump price increase.

Admittedly, though, this was not the only factor. Obasanjo also took the decision out of exasperation with the failure of the managers of the toll plazas to meet up with the projected revenue. Initially managed by civil servants in the 70s, the toll gates were later turned over to private contractors in the 90s when the late Major-General AbdulKareem Adisa served as

Minister of Works. However, this did not significantly arrest the corruption in the sector. By the time civil rule returned to the country in 1999, the toll gates had actually become a big public embarrassment, having served for too long as centres of sleaze. But instead of evolving better options to manage the situation, and in a manner recalling military rule, the Obasanjo administration hit on a drastic solution.

However, even though the Federal Government has now abolished the fuel subsidy regime altogether, the vagaries of the global oil market has tended to limit its access to ready funds. And so it is returning to highway tolling. Still, coming in the middle of a recession and the consequent unemployment and general misery among the populace, it is no wonder that the plan to reintroduce the policy 12 years after it was abolished has been roundly criticised by the House of Representatives and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) as well as many critical voices in the polity.

It must be noted that the opposition by many Nigerians to the planned reintroduction of toll gates in the country is not predicated on ignorance of the importance of highway tolling in an economy. Certainly, Nigerians are aware that toll plazas are meant to generate revenue for road maintenance.

Because of the importance of roads to a modern economy and given the funding challenges with which government is often confronted, tolling roads provides a ready stream of revenue with which repairs can be guaranteed. Indeed, the ongoing Lagos/Ibadan expressway is, on completion, going to be tolled. Again, the presence of security operatives at the toll plazas would no doubt enhance safety on the nation’s federal highways.

However, Nigerians have for far too long been daily confronted with the challenges of bad roads, and the situation has not abated. As we warned in our previous editorials, tolling bad roads amounts to inflicting misery on a badly misgoverned populace. Thus, if the Federal Government is sincere about its new plan, it must first give proper attention to the nation’s federal roads. It must also consult widely with relevant stakeholders before implementing the plan.

That would afford Nigerians the opportunity of making inputs into the policy for the overall good of the nation.

We believe that tolling is the way to go. But the Federal Government must ensure that it does a thorough job, in order to win the trust of a skeptical public. The factors that led to the abolishment of the tolling system by the Obasanjo regime must not be allowed to recur.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

editor

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

by the full name and address of the writer.

On the forthcoming Ondo guber election

I

N a few weeks, another important election will be taking place in the country, as Ondo State decides on November 26, 2016.

Of paramount importance to all is the feverish pitch which election situations have been subjected to lately, no matter the level and gravity of such election. What has elicited greater anxiety is the idea of staggered election which has almost come to stay in Nigeria’s democratic firmament.

This largely accounts for the reason why political thugs and party supporters have been imported from one state to another to display all forms of loyalty and associated atrocities which could have been avoided if elections were to be conducted simultaneously across the states in the first place. This is in addition to the colossal cost of deploying these loyalists as well as the attendant friction and loss of lives which come with such scenario, in some cases.

While I call on the INEC

and indeed, the National Assembly to come up with a courageous legislative framework that can stem the tide of staggered elections, by bringing all states to the same democratic pedestal, so that politicians can mind their businesses in their respective states on election days, rather than stoking trouble in other states.

Coming back home, there is no doubting the fact that forthcoming Ondo State gubernatorial election has started to generate palpable fears and apprehension.

It is against this backdrop that I advise our electoral umpire, INEC, to use the just-concluded Edo governorship election as a test case and work-in-progress, to address the observable lapses in order to redeem its waning image this time round. Particularly, I was amazed watching live the result collation exercise after the Edo election, where the Returning Officer excused himself and his fieldmen for break, only to come back much later, the fol-

lowing day, to continue the exercise, which should have gone uninterrupted. This gives room for suspicion.

Again, the fact that both the Returning Officer and

his various Collation Officers were deployed from the same institution is another step susceptible to collusion and compromise, even though there is no law

against that.

As a matter of necessity, the above highlighted drawbacks should be addressed

by INEC so as to relieve Nigerians of high incidence of

inconclusive elections and cost of unnecessary litigations.

•Tony Anaele, Ijagemo, Lagos State.

Governor Fayose was in the saddle when Ekiti clocked 10 years, and for him, history is repeating itself now that Ekiti has clocked 20. This has a significant meaning from the spiritual perspective. However, as we celebrate Ekiti at 20, it is now time for Ekiti indigenes to jettison whatever political differences they may seem to polarise, and join hands with the leader God has chosen to lift the

state up for the benefit of all.

A house that is divided against itself will not stand. We will all bear the brunt should we fail to make Ekiti first in all our dealings, and this I pray to God will not be our portion. I wish us all happy celebrations.

Celebrating Ekiti at 20 ON October 1, 2016, Ekiti State clocked 20 years, having been carved out of the old Ondo State on October 1, 1996 under the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

The case of Ekiti is akin to a child whose parents expected him/her to become a prosperous individual in future in order cater to their needs.

Though the parents may not expect the child to have all the good things of life at 20, there should be clear manisfestations, at least, that the child may either go wrongly or rightly in life.

Albert Einstein said: “A life not examined is not worth living.”

Governor Ayodele Fayose, aligning with this philosophical assertion, has been doing all within his

powers and the available resources to liberate Ekiti from pervasive underdevelopment.

This, the governor started to manifest during his first term when he scored firsts in virtually all spheres, in his bid to make Ekiti great, mindful of the fact that he has a date with history.

He is the first Ekiti son to rule the state for a second term as a governor. Again,

•Dalimore Aluko, Ekiti State.

Oyo govt should explore tourism potentials It is with a great patriotism that I write to urge the Oyo State government to fully explore the cultural tourism potentials in the state. For some time now, cultural tourism has not been seen as a means to

generate revenue. The sector has always been underutilised and so many of our cultural potentials are in bad state.

However, it is commendable that the Oyo State government, through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, has taken the bull by the horn with its recent exploit to promote cultural tourism in the state.

No doubt, the sector is

a viable economic earner for those that develop and promote. I, therefore, want to urge the state government to fully explore the potentials inherent in the sector.

The government should not just leave it at the promotion level, but go steps further to make it beneficial to the state and the entire citizens.

•Sade Idowu, Ojagbo, Ibadan.

Attention, Osun CP I want to appeal to the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, to give more logistic support to the Ikire Divisional Police Officer (DPO) so as to enable him to tackle the criminals terrorising the people of Ikire, as well as vehicles that ply the Ibadan-Ife Expressway.

Precisely on August 22, 2016, around 11:20pm, the Ikire DPO, SP Oke Samson, and his team rescued the passengers of a commercial vehicle from a four-man armed robbery team. It is surprising that the robbers were in the same vehicle travelling on the road, but they somehow managed to bring the vehicle to a halt, while robbing the passengers.

After robbing the passengers in the commercial bus, they dropped them off, while absconding with

the vehicle. It was, however, the intervention of the Ikire DPO and his men that brought the incident to an end with the arrest of the robbers.

Armed robbery operations are becoming common on the Ife-Ibadan Expressway, and it is important that the police authorities in both Oyo and Osun give more support to policemen in towns around this route.

It is also important that commercial bus drivers search their passengers well before they embark on their trips.

However, I want to commend the Ikire DPO who returned the sum of N500,000 to the victim of the robbery after the arrest of the criminals.

•Olawale Sarafadeen, Ikire, Osun State

opinion Accountability and the demons in Aso Rock 15

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

By Ikeogu Oke

R

EUBEN Abati’s widely published piece, “The Spiritual Side of Aso Villa,” deserves very critical attention for its implication for accountability. That implication, which I consider harmful, is that it creates grounds for anyone who has operated and may operate from Aso Villa, our country’s seat of power, to argue their exoneration for any wrong attributable to them on the grounds that the Villa, as Abati would have us believe, is a place where “the forces of darkness” hold sway and control the actions of its inhabitants.

Indeed, if we accept that people act under the influence of such forces which they cannot resist, why hold them accountable for their actions even by law, which considers acting under duress – in this case the duress of demons – as a basis for the exculpation of an accused person?

So if we asked the first tenant of the Villa as Head of State why he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election, an act many consider wrong for the attendant economic waste and injustice to various stakeholders, he would be justified to respond that he couldn’t have acted otherwise considering the influence of such malevolent forces. And if it were possible to prosecute one of his successors posthumously over the loot being recovered offshore and said to belong to him, and ask him why he would engage in such rapacious plunder of the public till while in office, he could argue for his acquittal with a response that those “forces of darkness” made him do it.

And if we continued to blame the first occupant of the Villa as civilian president for the disruptive “third term” project and some other wrongs linked to him while in office – like the corruption of the politics of a certain state with violence for which a renowned writer rejected a national honour he gave him – he might overturn our justification for blaming him by claiming that he acted under the influence of the same “forces of darkness.” And if we were to criticise one of his successors whose Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy was quoted as having said that the government under him lacked the political will to save for our country’s future, he might tell us it was the same evil forces that prevented him from saving, and sue for our understanding.

And for those wrongs for which we may feel justified in blam-

ing our leader to whom Abati apparently alludes with the remark, “No Nigerian President should be in spiritual bondage because he belongs to all of us and to nobody,” he may deflect our blame by attributing them to the “spiritual bondage,” and ask us to bear with him, rather than take responsibility for such wrongs.

However, the most intriguing thing, for me, is that “the forces of darkness” said to plague Aso Villa do not prevent its occupants at the top from desiring to exhaust or extend their tenures in office. One of them, on leaving office, said he was stepping aside, implying his intention to step back in someday as he tried to do by trying to run for president. Another military Head of State like him sought to transmute into a civilian president, having set up sham political parties which a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice famously described as “the five fingers of a leprous hand.” Does that mean they would rather prolong their torment by those “forces of darkness”?

Another sought to wangle for himself an extra term in office.

And yet another fought probably the most bitter and divisive election in our country’s history apparently to remain in the company of the same evil forces that had tormented him and his aides for almost six years.

Then think of this: in most cases they parted ways with the said “forces of darkness” with better stories to tell about their personal finances. Yet we are expected to believe that the forces, if they exist, are not being maligned as unkind to them.

Here, for the avoidance of doubt, is a summation of Abati’s views to which I respond: “When Presidents make mistakes, they are probably victims of a force higher than what we can imagine. Every student of Aso Villa politics would readily admit that when people get in there, they actually become something else. They act like they are under a spell. When you issue a well-crafted statement, the public accepts it wrongly. When the President makes a speech and he truly means well, the speech is interpreted wrongly by the public. When a policy is introduced,

somehow, something just goes wrong … Those mistakes don’t look normal … I am therefore convinced that there is an evil spell enveloping this country. We need to rescue Nigeria from the forces of darkness. Aso Villa should be converted into a spiritual museum, and abandoned … I am tempted to suggest that this is indeed a country in need of prayers …The President … can make wrong decisions based on the cloud of evil around him.”

All the wrongs Abati attributes to “the forces of darkness” can be rationalised or explained in existential terms. For instance, if a president appoints his speechwriters based on primordial considerations rather than merit, and in spite of their questionable competence, then he may end up with speeches marred by embarrassing flaws including plagiarism, on which his critics may pounce.

I think Nigerians are already praying in excess, alas with hardly any proof that our prayers are being answered, unless we do not pray for the good life and a united, just, peaceful, prosperous, well-governed and corruption-free nation. If prayers could generate revenue, Nigeria could be the richest country in the world. Though a very prayerful nation, we import a wide range of goods from an atheist, prayerless nation like China without seeming to ponder what gives a nation that doesn’t pray such an edge of productivity over one that prays.

My favourite definition of prayer is by the American philosopher and transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson. He says, “Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view.” It is like reckoning that we cannot pray a bridge over a river with folded hands; but with the right knowledge of bridge building and effort we can build a bridge over a river even without praying. Nor can we pray ourselves to economic prosperity amid unbridled corruption and a poor work ethic.

Or expect our prayers to be answered if misaligned with our actions, like praying for peace while fomenting crises.

I believe we can overcome “the evil forces” in Aso Villa with positive and patriotic action. And if we abandon the villa and build a new one, can’t the same forces relocate to the new one and haunt its inhabitants such that they continue to make wrong decisions that derail our collective destiny?

•Oke, a poet and public affairs analyst, lives in Abuja.

Rejection of political appointments: A new departure?

By Ayo Olukotun

“I rejected the appointment because my hands are full” –Dr. Usman Bugaje, October 26, 2016.

“Sir, I, Najatu Mohammed, wish to thank you so much for considering me worthy of being appointed the Chairperson of the Federal University Dutse. It is however unfortunate that I was not consulted before the appointment was made. I also regret that I have to use the same medium to announce that I cannot accept the appointment.”

–Hajiya Najatu Muhammed’s open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, February, 2016.

THE opening quotes sourced from two influential Northern politicians, who publicly rejected political appointments under President Muhammadu Buhari, appear to signal a fresh departure in a polity where the lure and brazen hustle for office have gone gaga. That, at any rate, is my preliminary reading of the recent rejections of political appointments. Recall, for example, that shortly before Buhari commenced his tenure last year, the Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, complained that he was inundated with and revolted by a deluge of office seekers shadowing him, in order to leverage his closeness to the then President-elect.

So, the unseemly jostle for public office is a well-known debility of our political system, dating several decades back. But before anyone can run away with a possible exaggeration of the problem, it should be stated that there is nothing illegitimate about wanting to serve one’s fatherland; indeed, it is an honour to be so invited, or to push oneself forward, in the event of not being invited. Obviously, public office is the political oxygen of the profession of politicians; once a politician loses public office and remains in the shadows for a considerable length of time, he or she tends to go into oblivion.

But then, what would be wrong with political oblivion, or losing public office, if one had a thriving secondary career as a fallback? That may be the crux of the problem in a circumstance where the political class is out on a limb, because there is nowhere else to go, and because the gap in privilege between those who hold public office, and those who do not is obscenely wide, often scandalous.

Taking the recent rejections, some of them hardly polite, it can be argued that the positions offered are hardly substantial, especially when we take into account that those involved can be regarded as heavyweights. In the case of the 46 non-career ambassadors, for example, those who rejected their nominations, namely, a former National Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Usman Bugaje, and a former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, these can be regarded as heavyweights, for whom ambassadorial appointments should have been offered, in consultation with them. More so, that offshore appointments of this nature are often considered political banishment from the scene of action, for those who have ambition to occupy high political office. Remember, in this connection, that after Prof Jubril Aminu showed his inclination for the Presidency, it was arranged that he should be offered an ambassadorial position. The joke that made the rounds, at the time, was that his political opponents had finally found a way to put him on a long political sabbatical, far away from the main chance which he sought.

So, for someone like Bugaje, who has failed to secure his party’s endorsement for the governorship of Katsina State, and had also failed to secure a ministerial position, having lost it to someone from Buhari’s hometown, an ambassadorial appointment could be read, either as an insult or an arranged political obscurity, to bury his prospects. The same thing can be said of Tallen, who pleaded that she will need time to be with her ailing husband, and that as a believer in political equity, she did not want to take a position, which should have been offered to someone from another part of the state than her. Nigerian politicians are not famous for minding the interest of other ethnic or sub-ethnic groups, when it comes to political appointments, and Mrs. Tallen’s second reason must be read as a manifestation of exceptional political charity.

Another politician who has, with characteristic restraint, not rejected the ambassadorial nomination, but who may feel that it is below his ken and contribution to the party, is Olorunimbe Mamora, who served Lagos State, and the nation in the successive positions of Speaker, state House of Assembly and Senator.

The undervaluation of this statesman is a matter for another day.

But to return to the issue at hand, it is regrettable that appointments continue to be announced by media without consultation with the appointees. This does not say much for the sense of purpose and deliberateness of the current government, and is clearly a carryover of the military tradition in which people were appointed, and sacked, with immediate effect on national television. Even if the President cannot himself make these consultations, his close aides ought to be able to, so that the whole thing does not look like shots in the dark. For example, in the case of Prof. Akintunde Akinwande, Chairman-designate of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, who did not show up for the Senate screening, the claim that he was not consulted, if true, is a poor advertisement for our sense of judgment, considering the importance of breaking the national jinx on electricity. In other words, both the stature of the appointee, who has now apparently declined, and the nature of the assignment, indicated a more organised and systematic approach, than was the case.

On a broader note, the tone and character of administration under Buhari, will benefit from more thinking through, more deliberateness, less randomness, and more synergy, among the various departments of government. The test of whether the recent rejections constitute a salutary departure, in a political culture of ungainly hustle and ugly haggling over appointments, will come, when several more Nigerians, in nobility and decency, reject ministerial nominations. That kind of edifying departure will also include the courage of public officials to resign, when they are embroiled in scandals, or when they disagree on principle with their principals.

Overall, however, the growing habit of turning down political appointments, when offered inappropriately and without consultation, should be encouraged and nurtured, for these are the very values that make governance edifying and rulebased.

•Olukotun is a professor of political communication.

16

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

inside

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08065167178

nigerdelta

Chairman representing Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, Chief Favour Izoukumor, and members of Kokodiagbene community, during the inauguration of the market.

Trading ongoing in one of the market stalls.

Kokodiagbene community complete N20m modern market Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

M

EMBERS of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, have completed a mega modern market abandoned about 15 years ago.

The market, with 40 lock-up shops, was started by oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), but was abandoned midway to rot away.

All efforts exerted to complete the market through the state and local governments were unsuccessful until members of the Ijaw community, led by its chairman, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, took the bull by the horn to pull resources together to complete the project.

Speaking at the inauguration of the market tagged Coastal Mega Market, on October 26 at Kokodiagbene, Comrade Mulade thanked everyone who graced the occasion, noting that the market was built by SPDC over 15 years ago, but later became an abandoned project.

He bemoaned how the abandoned project had denied the oil-rich community of its right to social infrastructural development.

According to him “We are very happy to see the official opening of this project, this project is over N20 million, this is something the state and local governments can easily do, but we the inhabitants have to save our own lives, and that is why we embarked on this project totalling 40 shops.”

He opined that if government’s desire for peace in various coastal communities in the Niger Delta must be achieved, it must prioritize infrastructural development in the region.

“Our call is that government should do the needful to bring peace to the Niger Delta region; government cannot say we need peace in the Niger Delta whereas it’s not

doing its own part to allow peace to reign.

“This is the mainstay of the Nigeria economy; you cannot tell us to provide enabling environment to exploit oil and you refuse to develop the place,” Mulade retorted.

He called on government to do the needful by developing coastal communities and contribute effectively to the development of all areas where oil multinationals operate in the federation in order to arrest restiveness.

“We are calling on government and its agencies to come to our aid; we contribute a lot, 250 barrels of crude oil per day is not a joke; so let government do the needful; we are not supporting violence; we are not supporting vandalism; we condemn it because we don’t like it, but we are saying government should do the needful to allow peace reign,” the environmental activist pleaded.

On his part, chairman representing Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of DESOPADEC, Chief FavourIzoukumor, said the commission was looking forward to ensur-

ing proper social amenities across oil producing communities in the state.

He tagged the harsh economic downturn

in recent time as one of the reasons for the non-commissioning of projects in oil producing areas in recent time.

‘We need development not military houseboats’ ebenezer adurokiya-warri The Federal Government has been reminded that what the Ijaws of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West of Delta State desire is infrastructural development and not military presence in form of houseboats.

The Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-corruption Crusade (FHRACC), expressed this worry in a statement signed by its president, Alaowei Cleric Esq. He said the move to station houseboats in the kingdom would be counterproductive amid the ongoing dialogue with elders and leaders of the region.

According to the rights activist, “The renewed deployment of troops to the Niger Delta region while the Federal Government is proposing to dialogue with the stakeholders in the region is a clear contradiction of the government’s resolve to address the issues in piecemeal.

“The military garrison in the region particularly in the Gbaramatu Kingdom is uncalled for except the Government wants to use force to cow the representatives into doing its bid at the proposed dialogue.

What sense does it make for the military to station a military houseboat at Oporoza waterfront in the Gbaramatu Kingdom?

Recession : Youths advised to embrace agriculture Anthony Ubong - Calabar CROSS River state APC governorship candidate in the 2015 general election, Mr. Odey Ochicha has advised youths in the country to embrace opportunities in agriculture as a way of cushioning the effect of the economic recession bedevilling the country.

Ochicha who spoke in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune noted that the best and only solution to the current economic crisis was for the youths to engage in profitable ventures as a way of supporting the efforts of the federal government in the diversification of the nation’s economy.

He maintained that, the culture of Nigerian graduates always wanting to secure white collar job had contributed greatly to the alarming rate of unemployment in the

country.

The APC Chieftain advised that at this critical state of the country, every well meaning and patriotic Nigerian should think of how they could help government rather than the achaic politics of “Pull Him Down” .

According to him, “Nigeria is going through a stage that resquires the support of everybody that mean well for this country to contribute in one way or the other to support the strong will of the federal government to diversify our economy.

The youths especially have a critical role to play here. The culture of every graduates, even those who studied agriculture wanting to secure an office job won’t help us therefore, young people should take advantage of the opportunities the recession is presenting and embrace agriculture.

“The bible says every development is a blessing, this recession could just become and is actually a blessing in disguise for us”.

He, however, commended the Niger Delta militants and the federal government over the recent breakthrough in the dialogue which has seen some militants surrendering their weapons.

Ochicha stressed that the incessant blowing up of oil facilities over the past few months has contributed in no small measure to the economic difficulties facing the country at present.

“We need to be sincere to ourselves; the activities of militants in the Niger Delta has contributed heavily to our dwindling economy. So I commend the federal government and elders from the zone who have been able calm the boys down,” he said.

17 insidenigerdelta

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Bayelsa communities in dispute over oil location Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa

C

RISIS has continued to brew between Ibou community and Eminama and Dorgu-Ewoama communities all in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over a disputed oil location situated at Ibou forest and Iyallakiri in the coastal communities.

The people of Ibou community in their submission averred that the oil location belongs to them; and warned Adikima and Abbi family to desist from unlawful claim of the oil location in the area.

Sequel to the tussle over the oil location, while Adikima and Abbi family of Eminama and Dorgu-Ewoama had written petition to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil/gas to restrain Ibou community from claiming ownership, in a swift reaction the Ibou family said that the petition and petitioners are misguided, mischievous, unfortunate and misleading to maliciously claim that the land/oil location belong to two principal landlord families of Adikima and Abbi of Eminama and Dorgu-Ewoama communities.

Continuing, Ibou family described their claim as untrue and blatant lies to mislead the public and government, even as they urged government not to deal with them to avoid possible breakdown of law and order in the council pertaining to iyallakiri creek oil location.

Representative of Ibou, Chief IpogolanyoDaw-Feghawari, Elder James EasuOsomu, comrade Solomon Igabo, Edison Isele and Oworidigitere submitted that the land in question has existed for over 120 years and has never being in dispute nor disputed by anybody ex-

cept for the seven members of the said families of Adikima and Abbi because they are misinformed.

Continuing, they posited that the two families acted in ignorance and greed to have laid claim to what does not belong to them, even as they alluded that they were not surprise that Adikima and Abbi did that to deceive the government and public in order to achieve ill-gotten wealth at the expense of real ancestral owners.

The Ibou community submitted that they believed in peace because it was the

foundation for meaningful development in any community; and that they (the Ibou community) were ready to defend their heritage if pushed to the wall.

The Ibou family said they were aware of plan to take what belonged to them

by Adikima and Abbi through the back door, but they would resist it with everything, including their blood.

To this end, the elders of Ibou community reiterated their call to government and the public to disregard the purported claim by the petitioners (Adikuma and Abbi family).

70-year-old traditional ruler loses building, property to fire Anthony Ubong - Calabar THE village head of Akugom, Assiga New Town in Yakurr local government area, Chief Michael Alibi, has appealed to the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to come to his aid following a fire disaster that razed his entire building.

Speaking with newsmen at Assiga New Town, Chief Alibi also appealed to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to provide relief materials to save his family from the current hardship occasioned by the inferno.

The 70-year-old monarch who stated that the appeal had become imperative following the monumental loss suffered as a result of the incident noted that apart from razing the entire building, the fire also destroyed property worth a million naira.

Chief Alibi who could not as at press time ascertain the cause of the fire, stated that the inferno came to him and the entire household as a surprise.

He however thanked God that none of his family members died in the fire.

At the moment, Chief Alibi and his family are being accommodated by one of his neighbours.

Ogiame Ikenwole, the Olu of Warri in a group photograph with some recipients of the Chieftaincy titles at the Olu Palace in Warri at the weekend. PHOTO: EBENEZER ADUROKIYA

Royal father seeks relief materials for windstorm ravaged school Anthony Ubong - Calabar THE Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been called upon to come to the aid of Ayiga Community Secondary School Okodong, Yakurr local government area, which was hit by a windstorm recently The clan head of AssigaAfrekpe, Ova UsangInyangUsang, who made the call while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in his palace on the impact of the devastating windstorm, stated that property estimated at millions of naira was destroyed

by the violent storm.

He explained that six classroom blocks, staff quarters and the principal’s office were de-roofed by the windstorm.

The clan head lamented that the natural disaster had hampered the accommodation of the students and described the development as pathetic.

He noted that the windstorm had exposed the students and teachers to untold hardship due to the magnitude of the devastation and appealed to the state government to assist the school to recover from the great loss.

The clan head further noted that the school needed total renovation and the provision of boreholes to alleviate the current hardship faced by the students and teachers.

He also appealed for the posting of security men to the school to protect it from vandals.

Ova Usang lauded the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, for the appointment of indigenes of the area in his government and the promotion of staff of the school, pledging the support and loyalty of the people of the area to the governor to enable him actualise his dream for the state.

Your conferment, call to duty—Olu of Warri ebenezer adurokiya-warri THE Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, last weekend, in his palace in Warri, Delta State, told newly installed chiefs from the Warri kingdom to use their titles to serve the people.

“Your installation is a call to service. Don’t hesitate to share your wealth of experience and other meaningful opportunities at your disposal in advancing the progress of this kingdom,” the First Class monarch noted.

Recipients who ascended the ranks of Warri kingdom’s chiefs included renowned lawyer and Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT), Edward Ekpoko, who was conferred with the title of Toruweju of Warri kingdom.

A daughter of the kingdom, Sen. Daisy Danjuma, wife of Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, also received the title, Agura Iwere of Warri.

Oil industry top player and Chairman, Lee Engineering and Construction Company, Dr. Leemon Ikpea of Edo State also got the title, Odowagbon of Warri.

Dr Ikpea, surprisingly, became the first non-Itsekiri to benefit the conferment of titles under Ogiame Ikenwole.

Other recipients were Tunde Ikoturoh, who was conferred with Ugo of Warri, alias Ugo Ni Were and Fred Edegbele who became the Ikenuwa of Warri kingdom.

The Olu of Warri charged his subjects to live peacefully among themselves and their neighbours.

Acknowledging the same peace message from governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Ogiame noted that “I am happy that this is coming from the mouth of the governor. That is what I have been preaching and today out neighbors are living more cordially with us.

Uvwie chiefs and some of our Ijaw brothers are here to celebrate with us today.

They will not come if we don’t all want peace.”

Okowa during his speech declared that the time had come for all Deltans, irrespective of whatever differences, to embrace peace without option in the task of building a sound future for the state.

Dignitaries at the Aghofen Palace, Warri, at the 5th phase of the conferment of

chieftaincy titles on various persons by His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu Warri ahead of his first coronation anniversary next month, included husband of one of the recipients, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, former NDDC boss, Timi Alaibe, PDP candidate for the just concluded Edo governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former foreign affairs minister, Chief Tom Ikimi.

Others included National Secretary, APC, Sen. Osita Izunaso, Nollywood icon, Emeka Ike, Prof. Nesin Omatseye and famed television personality, Chief Julie Coker as well as former Bendel state administrator, Brig. Gen. Tunde Ogbeha, the Enogie of Uromi kingdom and Capt. Hosa Okunbor, among others.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

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

Some of the Emirs at the event.

Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari at the event.

By Wale-ojo Lanre

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HE rich cultural heritage and tradition of Borgu people were on display at the weekend during the coronation of Haliru Sanni Muhammed Dantoro, Kitoro IV , as the new Mai Borgu, the leader of the entire Bussawa Emirate.

Apart from the cultural drums and dance by various cultural troupes, the dressings and beautiful displays during Durbar (Horse Ride) with other traditional events that featured at the occasion made it more thrilling and memorable.

During the coronation which lasted for three days, New Bussa, the headquarters of the emirate witnessed unprecedented number of visitors including traditional rulers, from all over the country, top government functionaries, captains of industry among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari, a turbaned chief of the emirate was represented by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Musa Bello and Hon. Abu Bawa Bwari, Minister of State, Ministry of Solid Minerals while Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu was also represented by a delegation led by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North) Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and others.

Sokoto State Governor, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Oyo State Senator Abiola Ajimobi were also represented, former military governor of Niger State, Colonel Lawan Gwadabe and Ambassador designate, Honourable A Ahmed, officers from Nigeria Army, Immigration, Navy, Civil Defence Corps, Air Force, Nigeria Police and other military and paramilitary agencies were also represented at the occasion.

Royal fathers present at the occasion included, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, represented by a powerful delegation, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’aad Abubakar III, Emir

The new Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Muhammed Dantoro

Emir of Borgu promises cultural –tourism revival at installation A new dawn in the Emirate —Tinubu

of Kano Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Attah of Ighala, Agabaidu Idakwo Ameh-Oboni II, Jaja of Opobo, Emir of Auchi Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Oloye Gbadamosi, Dean of Gabor, HRH Benjamin Okechukwu, Keagborekuzi 1, and others.

The Nigeria National Park Service led by Abdullahi Hussain, the Acting Conservator General, Nigeria Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), CBAAC, National Orientation Agency and other agencies of government on Culture and Tourism related were also present at the occasion. The National Park Service mounted a colourful and elaborate exhibition on the ground where the fauna and flora of the kingdom were showcased Borgu Kingdom which spread across Niger, Kebbi, Oyo, Benin, Kwara and Benin Republic was an ancient and historical kingdom that was established in the 7th century by Kisra who migrated from the present day Iran and has been ruled by over 300 emirs till date.

Apart from the valued and well guided rich cultural heritage and tradition, the Kingdom is also endowed with great tourism potentials which has not been fully utilised for the economic advantage of its people, but it is hopeful that with the emergence of Haliru Dantoro as Mai Borgu it is going to be a new dawn as he in his speech emphasised on the need to collaborate with the government and other private investors to transform the kingdom economically.

Borgu Kingdom houses one of the biggest dams in Africa, Kainji Lake which is the power generating house for Nigeria, Wild Life Park, Old Bussa and many others which makes it one of the great hubs for cultural, historic

and eco tourism.

In his emotional laden speech, the new Emir said “I will do my best with the support of my people and the government to take Borgu Kingdom to greater heights.

Our doors are opened to investment in tourism and other businesses that will enhance the economic advancement of our people.

“Borgu is noted for religious tolerance, security conscious with good accommodating spirit, a unique feature which has been part of us since the creation of the kingdom and we will not in any way negate the principles of our founding fathers, but rather continue to project and promote the great ideological vision and agenda of our progenitors.”

Corroborating Mai Borgu’s claim on tourism, the executive governor of Niger State, Alhaji Sanni Bello in his speech noted that the kingdom is the tourism hub of Niger State and Nigeria and pledged that his government in his effort to transform the economy of the state will continue to develop tourism and agriculture as key sources of economic development.

The Jagaban of Borgu, Senator Tinubu who was represented by Senator Buhari congratulated the Borgu Emirate for having a young visionary king to tend the affairs of the people.

According to Senator Buhari “ The Jagaban of Borgu, Senator Ahmed Tinubu who is here in soul and spirit, but who could not be here physically urges all Borgu indigenes and scions of the Emirate not only to support the new Emir, but to pray and wish him well because a new dawn has come.”

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tourism

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Hospitality Watch lauds Lai Mohammed over non attendance of London Travel Market

By Wale-ojo Lanre THE Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has been commended on his decision that Nigeria will not attend this year’s London Travel Market which is scheduled for November 7 to 9, 2016 in London.

In a release made available to Tribune Tourism Magazine (TTM) by Hospitality Watch, the only Non Governmental Organisation in the tourism sector pointed out that “It is gratifying to see the Minister of Information and Culture living up to his avowed promise which he made that, he would not commit Nigeria into attending just any fair or foreign shows just because Nigeria should attend. This is a testimony of the fact that this present government is not in for mere showbiz, but earnestly in to save Nigerians and Nigeria from economic perdition and destruction.”

In the release signed by its President, Prince Adeoye Martins Aderinwale. The group noted that “We are in harmony with the thought of the minister who has considered the this time in point when Nigeria needs all the fund at home in consolidating domestic tourism, short space of time for preparation and untimely release of fund which is occasioned by the economic recession not to embark upon what could be a show of shame in London.”

He described the decision of the minister as “Apt patriotically, sensible and reasonable. A decision which can be taken by only those who genuinely love the nation at heart.”

Prince Aderinwale said “ By this decision of not attending the London World Travel Market at this point in time is a clear indication that the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari is not only sincere with the mandate of repositioning Nigeria for global advancement, but ready and willing to give the tourism sector a new face.”

He pointed out “this also showcases the seriousness and integrity of the present administration as a government which is not wasteful, vainglorious and one with distinctive clarity of purpose.”

“This is a clear departure from the practices of the past when ministers and their director – generals will just attend any fair or foreign exhibition shows without considering what will be the benefits to Nigeria and Nigerians. “Thus

ITB Berlin: New hall concept adapts to a changing market BY reorganising the hall sections and reallocating hall space at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show ITB Berlin (8 to 12 March 2017) has taken travel industry changes into account. “In recent years there has been an increase in demand for more floor space and twotier stands for certain markets which up to now we have been unable to satisfy. Several display halls already have waiting lists. By reorganising the halls to suit the market, we are now able to meet this demand”, commented David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin.

The new hall concept makes it possible for the fastgrowing markets of the Arab states to enlarge their displays. There is now a better concentration of markets, which makes it easier for trade visitors to plan their visit. The major tourism destinations in the Mediterranean, including France, Gibraltar, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain, as well as Serbia and Hungary, have relocated to the entrance areas in Halls 1.1 and 2.1, directly next the South Entrance. The United Arab Emirates have moved to a new central location in Hall 2.2.

Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and newcomer Saudi Arabia are in Hall 4.2 as of 2017. Central America and the Caribbean are now directly next door in Hall 22, with South America in Hall 23. Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia and Poland had already moved to Hall 15.1 at ITB Berlin 2016, where they can be found again next year.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

This is a clear departure from the practices of the past when Ministers and their Director – Generals will just attend any fair or foreign exhibition shows without considering what will be the benefits to Nigerian and Nigerians. the minister deserves kudos for this patriotic decision and responsible thinking.

Prince Aderinwale said ‘We are not condemning attending foreign fairs or exhibition which of course we must do, but this must be done under the premise of the thinking of the minister which is based on, level of preparation, availability of fund , time of preparation, economic psyche of the nation and whether it will be beneficial to all . And without all these considerations rising to level of significance, attending any fair will amount to nothing but a stupendous jamboree which this nation cannot afford now. Thanks to the insightfulness and robust sense of patriotism of Alhaji Lai Mohammed.”

2016 pilgrimage: NCPC signs agreement with two carriers THE Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has signed an agreement with the air carriers that have been selected to participate in the 2016 Christian Pilgrimage Exercise. The signing ceremony took place at the NCPC corporate headquarters in Abuja recently.

The Chairman of NCPC, Primate Nicholas Okoh in his address admonished the air carriers to respect the agreement and avoid court cases because NCPC represents the church and would fulfill its duties of meeting up with the agreement. He stated that the carriers should ensure that the aircrafts are in good shape in order to ensure the safety of pilgrims as the Federal Government has elected that pilgrimage must provide for the safety of Nigerians who embark on this exercise.

In his remarks at the event, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev. Uja Tor Uja, intimated the selected air carriers that the commission is set to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims get the best treatment and comfort they deserve and as such he charged them to live up to expectations.

According to him, “NCPC is not indebted to any air carrier and as such the favour should be reciprocated”.

He further urged them to ensure that Nigeria’s identity should be reflected in every activity related to this exer-

cise even to the souvenirs that would be distributed during the pilgrimage operations.

Rev. Uja informed that Christian pilgrimage has reached a time when it would provide returns for the country. His words: “we have come to a time where Christian pilgrimage must provide a platform for tackling crime and providing returns for the country”.

He further enjoined Nigerians especially the youth to see Nigeria as a great country where great things abound rather than searching for greener pastures in other countries.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu affirmed that her duty is to represent and serve the people. Her words: “I am here to ensure that Nigerians get what they deserve”. She stressed that the air carriers should not jeopardize the agreement and should try to ensure a long lasting relationship between the two parties.

The air carriers selected to participate in the pilgrimage operations are: AtlasJet Nigeria Limited and IzyNigeria Limited. Atlasjet is a Turkish Airline and IzyNigeria Limited is a Nigerian brand.

From left, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Uja Tor Uja; Chairman, NCPC, The Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh; Executive Director, Atlasjet Nig. Ltd. Mr Filiz Ercument and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, standing are NCPC Legal Unit staff, during the signing of the MOU.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

anchor

Tunde Alao

m:08025602831 e:tunalao@yahoo.com

property

Absence of data, hindrance to housing provision in Nigeria —Experts

Tunde Alao - Lagos

F

OR close to six years, the song from stakeholders in the housing sector has been that housing deficit in Nigeria is 17million, and till date, this position still remains the same.

Just about a month ago at the 2016 World Habitat Day, held in Lagos, speakers, still held to this figure which a senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who was also a guest speaker at the event, described as inaccurate figure, due to lack of census and veritable data from research.

Arguments by the observers are whether Nigeria as a nation has conducted any census in the past 16 to 20 years where actual population has been established, or whether every policy of government is just a projection based, or whether those in charge of housing delivery conducted separate census from which 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria becomes article of faith.

Speaking recently on the importance of shelter among human needs, after food and clothing, UHHABITAT Representative in Nigeria, Kabir Yari, harped on the need for adequate data to get things right as far as housing provision is concerned. “‘Housing At The Centre’ which formed the theme of just concluded world habitat day was chosen to create awareness and highlight the importance of decent housing to individuals and society at large. It is also to draw attention the plight of low income earners with regards to access to adequate and affordable

Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing

housing.

“As towns and cities continue to grow leaps and bounds, the requirement for housing increases,” he said, adding that “Nigeria is said to have a deficit of 17 million housing units and providing for this huge backlog is our challenge both to the government and its citizens.”

Another puzzle is the believe that in Nigeria, about half of the total population lives in the urban centres of which 60 millions live in informal settlement often not adequately planned and with a deficient public utility facilities and services.

Question still being asked again is: what is the total population of which half is living in the urban centre, and what are the numbers of these 60 million people could be found across the 36 states made up of the federation? Take for example, the figure of those in Lagos, Benin, Ibadan or Kano?

Reacting to the issue, former President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Waheed Kadiri, identified other problems associated with inadequate housing provision, though slightly related to non-availability of reliable data.

Kadiri identified massive population growth, uncontrolled rural-urban migration, rapid increase in household formation and aerial expansion, especially, in places like Lagos, Port Harcourt, or Kano.

Other factors he identified included revocation of right of occupancy, rising land and rental values, import minded living, change of use, for example, converting residential homes to offices, warehouses, places of worships, among others.

“However in all these, the truth is that low income earners have not always been part of the equation by property markets which is predominantly controlled by the elite,” he said.

To the immediate past Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Toyin Ayinde, there is the need to know the population of the prospective house owners in each state to effectively determine the housing needs, the house types required, among other factors.

“As far as I’m concerned, the case in our country is like a head of family that doesn’t know the number of his children, how would he be able to meet their needs?

“Besides, does it mean that for the past five years, both governments in every states and private developers do not build houses, no matter the number and if they had, how many are they?

“What is the population of the younger people five years ago and how old are they now? What are the housing demands in each states and what is the purchasing power of the would-be house owners? We need to get

the right data on the sundry questions or else, we will just continue to dance in the dark”, said Ayinde.

Notwithstanding, the general consensus is that housing is only being adequate when it guarantees security of tenants, saddle with adequate public utilities and services affordable, habitable, accessible, carefully adequate and satisfying.

As for definition, it was observed that definition of adequate housing by the UN Habitat is a big challenge, particularly to a developing country like Nigeria.

Aerial view of Lagos

FG demands urgent global action on sustainable urban development THE Federal Government of Nigeria seeking urgent global action(s) capable of providing a sustainable solution to address the menace, in an effort to provide solutions to the multifaceted problems associated with urbanisation in the country.

Among others, population explosion in these countries, coupled with the attendant socio-economic problems are the harbinger of crime, unemployment, poverty, hunger and general insecurity, which are issues confronting the developing countries.

Speaking at the just concluded Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat 111) Ecuador, Delivering the Nigerian Statement, signed by President

Muhammadu Buhari, Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, noted that there it is an increasingly urgent necessity to provide secure and sustainable way of life for the 21st century population.

According to him, governments cannot afford to fail their people; neither can they afford to fail their peoples including the future generations, noting that such global action had become an increasingly urgent necessity if the 21st century was to provide a secure and sustainable way of life for the growing global population.

“The economic and health imperative to plan for people-cantered societies and sustainable cities is no longer a luxury, but an increasing urgent necessity if the 21stCentury is

to provide a secure and sustainable way of life for the growing global population,” he said.

Acknowledging that it would not be easy to embark on any significant development given the rapid growing urban population, Fashola, who noted that there were inherent opportunities in the challenges of urbanization, added that with political will and with the New Urban Agenda as blueprint, the world could secure a sustainable future.

“It will not be an easy task, neither will the turn-around come quickly, but we strongly believe that through strengthened political will and intelligent planning, we can improve the lives of millions with the New Urban Agenda as our blueprint and road-map to a sustainable future,” he added.

Lagos partners private investors on N60b Adiyan water treatment plant THE Lagos State government has said it did not plan to privatise the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), saying all its planning to do is to involve private sectors participation in building water treatment, a component that

Gushing water

is said to be capital intensive.

Speaking at the monthly briefing of his ministry’s activities, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Samuel Adejare said government is in talk with a private investors who will construct new water treatment plant at Adiyan Phase 11.

According to Adejare, what people are misinterpreting to be privatisation of Lagos Water Corporation was the involvement of private investors who will provide the plant, saying the need for PPP initiative was informed by the cost of such plant that may not be feasible for government to undertake.

“Initial cost of the plant was put at N54b, but in view of the cur-

rent economci reality, over N60b would be required and this is beyond what government can shoulder.

“This is just like 30 percent of our annual budget and it doesn’t make sense to commit such amount to a sub-sector of a social amenity when other sectors such as health, education, security and others are seeking attention.

“So, the most wise decision is to look for an investor who will then recoup his money by charging reasonable rate from consumers”, said Adejare, who argued that the N5 rate LWC is currently charging is unrealistic if quality water is expected to be provided.

The commissioner also hinted that the State Executive Council (EXCO) had approved the construction of another plant in Odomola area of Epe Division.

The plant, he said at completion would serve Victoria Island, Ibeju-Lekki axis, noting that water would be tapped from Osun River to serve the plant.

Calling for the strengthening of UN-Habitat as the focal point for its effective implementation and review, the minister added, “we must collectively agree on the common principles that will guide our response to the challenges facing human settlements and ensure that we embark on a path of sustainable urbanization over the next two decades, as aptly captured in the New

Urban Agenda.”

He also noted that the decisions arrived at the Ecuador Conference would have long-term consequences for cities, and their dwellers, as well as for the wider issues of human sustainability and the quality of life of future generations.

“Indeed, as the world waits in anticipation for the outcome of this landmark Conference, we cannot afford to fail our Nations.

We cannot afford to fail our peoples. In fact, we must not fail the future generation.”

On the benefits and opportunities derivable from functional and sustainable urban centres, Fashola, who said they were already evident, pointed out that as crucial engines of growth for the economy and concentrations of activity and places of connectivity, creativity and innovation, “cities offer a multiplier effect for the development of their surrounding areas.

“Urbanisation can help to jump-start industrialization and manufacturing, which in turn can result in a host of other productive and economic development processes. The occurring rapid urbanization must therefore be exploited to unlock its economic potentials, and provide a solution for rapid transformation of our urban centres,” he said.

According to him, “this Habitat lll Conference presents this precise opportunity. It is for us a reminder, and a call to action on our obligations if our cities are to be properly positioned to play a meaningful role in achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and other internationally agreed instruments aimed at creating productive lives for the growing number of urban dwellers.

Reports unveil modern causes of project failures, offer solutions ISSUE of project failure has been of great concern to experts in the construction industry in view of its devastating effects on lives and property.

Project failure is not limited to Nigeria, or other developing nations, but the menace is also raising it’s ugly head in the advanced economies, but with different causes.

To average Nigerian, the basis for project failure that include road, building and other infrastructure is rooted in corruption, professional incompetence in some cases, dearth of qualified personnel, unavailability of genuine building materials and official bureaucracy and lethargy, among others.

However, reports by eminent project management experts expand further by listing the causes, types and symptoms of project failures, among other revelations.

In his report, Tom Carlos, a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and member of the Sacramento Valley PMI Chapter, noted that in a perfect world every project would be “on time and within budget.” But reality (especially the proven statistics) tells a very different story.

According to Carlos, it’s not uncommon for projects to fail, even if the budget and schedule are met, one must ask “did the project deliver the results and quality we expected?”

True project success must be evaluated on all three components, otherwise, a project could

be considered a “failure.”

“Have we ever seen a situation where projects begin to show signs of disorganisation, appear out of control, and have a sense of doom and failure?

“Have you witnessed settings where everyone works in a silo and no one seems to know what the other team member is doing? What about team members who live by the creed “I’ll do my part (as I see fit) and after that, it’s their problem.

“Even worse is when team members resort to finger-pointing. Situations similar to these scenarios point to a sign that reads ‘danger’.

And if you read the fine print under the word ‘danger’, it reads, “your project needs to be brought under control or else it could fail.”

“There are many reasons why projects (both simple and complex) fail; the number of reasons can be infinite. However, if we apply the 80/20 rule the most common reasons for failure can be found in the following list: “Poorly managed undefined objectives and goals; lack of management commitment; lack of a solid project plan; lack of user input; lack of organisational support; centralised proactive management initiatives to combat project risk and poorly defined roles and responsibilities.”

He listed others to include inadequate or vague requirements, stakeholders’ conflict, team weaknesses and unrealistic time frames, among others.

Approval of N740m compensation by Ambode excites LFZ communities

By Tunde Alao - Lagos IT was excitement galore as hundreds of land owners in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFZ), as the news of N747m compensation was approved

by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The total sum of N740,461,432.00 as compensation for host communities of Parcel B comprising Yegunda, Abomiti and International Airport site of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), was approved, thus, put an end to agitation by the affected land owners.

“We are happy that we have Ambode as governor at this critical time when many of us are old and our only means of livelihood appeared gone. But as fate will have it, acquisition of the land turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we collect the compensation, our children are in best position to take gainful employments as factories and other businesses continue to grow,” Chief Bakare Adeyemi, a community leader in the area said.

The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Rotimi Ogunleye, who announced the approval by the governor, said the development was in line the commitment of the Ambode administration to engender a sustainable cordial relationship between the host communities and investors in the LFTZ. Ogunleye, who addressed the media alongside the Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, Dr Tunde Sodade, among others, said ever since coming on board, Governor Ambode has put in place a more holistic view of the issue of compensation to the host communities, adding that remarkable progress had been recorded in that regard.

He said already, modalities were being put in place to ensure hitch-free payment of the approved N740 million, adding that the payment would be effected with immediate effect.

Ogunleye said the compensation exercise was a continuous process, revealing that N65 million was paid early this year for land owners affected by the ongoing Dangote projects which included petrochemical plant, gas project, fertilizer and refinery project capable of refining 650, 000 barrels of oil per day.

“Let me reiterate once again, the commitment of this administration to Community Social Responsibility (CSR) and its readiness to continue to heed the yearnings of our people in the areas covered by the LFTZ and its complementary projects. I also need to assure both local and foreign investors that all our projects in the corridor are fully on course and as an administration; we are fully committed to them,” he said.

Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State governor

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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

Total reiterates commitment to Nigerian Gas Association

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OTAL Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNL) has reaffirmed its support and commitment to the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) as the independent platform to push gas industry issues and advance the development of the sector in a transparent manner.

Addressing the executive council members of the NGA who were on a courtesy visit to the company, Nicolas Terraz, Managing Director and chief executive of TEPNL, stated that “As one of the founding shareholders of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) and having supplied gas feedstock to NLNG since 1999, Total is at the forefront of gas utilization and monetization in Nigeria”.

Terraz said that Total’s operation in Nigeria is 40 percent gas while the remaining 60 percent is oil adding that the company will continue to make significant investment in the country as “Nigeria is a country where we can see a long term growth”.

The Total Chief executive said that despite the lull in the industry, “Total’s commitment remains very

strong and we are working very hard to remain efficient to adapt to the $50 per barrel era”.

Terraz said that even though times are hard but

there are things that can be done without spending money. Some of the steps include proper definition of the Production Sharing Contact (PSC) terms for

gas and promoting “willing buyer-willing seller” which will enable investments in the sector.

Bolaji Osunsanya, President, NGA, in his remarks

From left: Dada Thomas, First Vice President, Nigerian Gas Association (NGA); Nicolaz Terraz, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Total E & P Nigeria; Bolaji Osunsanya, President, NGA and Patrick Olinma, Council Member, NGA, during a visit of the council member of the NGA to Total E & P Nigeria Ltd corporate office in Lagos, recently.

Osunsanya said that NGA is a broad based association that pushes sector critical issues to stakeholders in a non-partisan way that is devoid of self-interest. Amongst the critical issues that the association is currently canvasing include positioning gas as the new resource pride for Nigeria, shoring up gas reserves and re-visiting the Nigerian Gas Masterplan.

“The issues we put on the table as at 2008 for the gas master plan all require revisiting; be it fiscal terms, regulation, pricing or tax terms. For us as an association, that will be the challenge going forward”, Osunsanya said.

In a statement signed by Debo Fagbemi, Publicity Secretary of NGA, the industry is expecting a full participation of Total and its staff in the forth-coming bi-annual international gas conference in Nigeria organised by the association which he termed as the “biggest gas gathering in Africa”.

N2.1trn lost to Niger Delta militancy, vandals in 2016 —FG THE Federal Government has stated that Nigeria has lost N2.1trillion ($7billion) to Militancy in the Niger Delta region and operations

of vandals.

NNPC, said from January 2016 till date, the government lost $7 billion (N2.1 trillion) to the activ-

ities of militancy groups and oil pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta region.

The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National

Cross River govt urges power firm to embrace hydropower technology THE Cross River State Government has urged private power firms to embrace hydropower technology and build power plants in the state to boost its economy.

Governor Ben Ayade stated this while receiving the representatives of Buoshishi International Limited, a private firm that plans to build a 300-kilometer transmission line in the state.

Gov. Ayade implored the company to explore the use of current technology in hydropower to generate electricity, as the state boast if 126km of Atlantic coastline stretching.

“You have no business going outside Cross River State because the state has

congratulated Total for its accomplishments in the gas sector and expects further “huge blowout for total in the Nigerian Gas space”.

the right environment, it has the right character, it has the right people, and it has the governor who comes from a business environment.

“As a state, we actually have 182kva transmission station from Odukpani to the northern part of the state. However, the transmission route is going through the new 260km superhighway and our concept is to gradually shift the entire state into the superhighway route because that is where all the factories, new cities are being built, so what you will do is to build this transmission lines knowing that most companies are planning to relocate to Cross River,” he said.

“Our business with you is to create a synergy that can enable you to evacuate power from Odukpani to the northern part of the state.

However, the national power plant transmitting power to northern part of Cross River State from Abakiliki has been dysfunctional with most of the conductors weak and poor, substations not working, resulting in huge loss of power across the transmission circuits, and so the people of northern part of the state have for the past seven years not been having light.

This new line will indeed be a great boost to the socio-economic live of the people,” he said.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of

Buoshishi International Limited, Ambassador Yahaya Abdullahi Mohammed, stated that “We were attracted to Cross River State because of the investors’ friendly environment the state offers, which is near zero crime rate as well as the governance style exhibited by Senator Ben Ayade.

“We are ready to build a 300km transmission lines spanning from the southern to the northern part of the state under a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement. We are to provide the required technical know-how and funding and in doing this, we will prioritize our recruitment of both skilled and unskilled to favour Cross River indigenes.

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated this during a Retreat of 2016 Fiscal Liquidity Assessment Committee.

In a presentation titled: “Global Oil Prices, Militancy and Terrorism and its Impact on Government Revenue in Nigeria”, Dr. Baru said that apart from security challenges in the region, politics, judiciary, oil prices and production cost continued to impact negatively on the oil industry.

“Over 7000 b/d of crude oil has been lost due to vandalism this year. A bulk of the loss is from JV assets.

This implies that 60 per cent of oil production lost is NNPC-FGN equity. At an estimated price of $45 per barrel, the total 2016 revenue loss to the Federation Account translates to about $7 billion.

“This is money that the government could have used to achieve major infrastructural milestones. This loss is equivalent to a new 7,000MW power plant; new 350b/d refinery; over 30 per cent of National budget; and a new

1,700-kilometre pipeline.”

However, Dr. Baru argued that the NNPC has concluded plans to increase the security of oil and gas assets, improve its community social responsibility and the Amnesty programme.

Moreover, following major decline in Federal Government revenue, Dr. Baru argued that, on behalf of the Federal Government, the NNPC planned to renegotiate terms of production sharing contract with International Oil Companies to shore up government revenue base.

“The NNPC will renegotiate terms of Production Sharing Contract with deep offshore operating companies because, with the current agreement, only 17.7 percent of total revenue comes to government,” he said.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said that the ministry had succeeded in reducing Federal Government’s monthly wage bill from N165 billion to N142 billion by eliminating 33,000 ghost workers.

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Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria Senate backs expansion of NLNG’s Train7 Chevron MEMBERS of Nigeria’s 8th Senate have backed the expansion of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) via the company’s Train 7 project. This was made known by the Chairman Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the NLNG facility in Bonny recently.

Akpan explained that the proposed Train 7 expansion programme has the potential to add an estimated 18,000 new jobs, adding that it will reinforce the company’s position as a major player in the global energy market.

“To achieve this we must sustain our output to be able to maintain profitability,” Akpan said.

He promised that his committee will do all in its power to sustain the NLNG legacy and encourage the entrenchment of the company’s business model in other parts of the Nigerian economy.

“I am particularly happy with what I have seen and heard today, and I will be glad to have your comprehensive presentation slide to share with other members of the Upper Chamber to keep them better informed. The Senate resisted calls for the sale of government equity

in Nigeria LNG because we believe that Nigeria LNG is the most successful Oil and Gas venture in the country,” Akpan said after NLNG’s General Manager Produc-

tion, Tayo Oginni made a business presentation.

Other members of the 11-member Senate Team including Senators Bassey Albert Akpan; Barna-

the NLNG model and assured NLNG’s Senior Management of their continued support to promote and sustain the company’s successful operations.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Oil Limited, Dada Thomas (left) welcoming the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu to the opening of the 10th International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), in Abuja on Monday. Middle is the president of NGA and Managing Director of Oando Gas and Power, Bolaji Osunsanya. PHOTO: NAN

25-year old Nigerian to receives Global Women Petroleum & Energy Club award THE Chief Executive Officer, Dreg Waters Petroleum & Logistics Ltd., Damilola Owolabi, will receive the 7th Global Women Petro-

leum & Energy Club Award for Africa at the 23rd Africa Oil Week/Upstream Conference which comes up on November 4, 2016 in Cape

DISCOs reject call for privatisation reversal by Dangote THE Association of Nigerian Electricity Distribution Companies (ANEDC) has described the call for a reversal of the privatised power sector by the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as reckless.

The Federal Government had on Sept. 30, 2013, following the privatization process initiated by the Goodluck Jonathan regime, divested its shares from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The company was divided into separate companies or entities called Local Electric Distribution Companies or Local Distribution Companies (LDC). Each company is responsible for handling electricity distribution in each state or region. In May 2016, the structure of the companies consisted 11 distribution companies (DISCOs), six generation companies (GENCOs) and one Transmission company (TCN), all being regulated by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of the ANEDC, Mr Sunday

bas Gemade; Rose Okoji; Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi; Danjuma Laah; Francis Alimikhena; Matthew Urhogide; Abubakar Moallahyidi, also commended

Oduntan, however, condemned Dangote’s view in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

The business mogul had called recently for the reversal of sales of facilities in the power sector when he featured as a guest lecturer at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau.

He had said the sector’s privatisation by the Federal Government was done wrongly and suggested that it should be reversed in the national interest. Dangote said challenges in the sector had persisted in spite of the privatisation. He had also stated that the new owners lacked understanding of the sector.

Reacting to the suggestion, Oduntan said it was too early for Dangote to conclude that the privatisation of the sector was a failure, noting that the sector was just three years post–privatisation.

He said the decades of rot in the sector could not have been eradicated in just three years, adding that the entire value chain was commit-

ted to improving electricity in spite of the challenges.

Oduntan said Dangote’s call was hinged on his earlier unsuccessful bid in 2013 to become a major player in the privatised sector.

He also said the business man had been a major beneficiary of government’s privatisation policy over the years.

“Dangote wanted to take over this business but he failed in 2013. He is a good man, but it is surprising that someone like Dangote is calling for re-privatisation of the power sector; he is a product of privatisation.

“He is what he is today because of privatisation because he bought government properties.

“If the power sector receives half of the backing Dangote has gotten from government in this country, there would be light.”

On the Senate’s resolution to stop the N309 billion electricity bond to the sector, Oduntan appealed to the upper legislative chamber to re-consider its decision, given the challenge of liquidity in the sector.

Town, South Africa.

The award is given in recognition of rising and significant role of women, in global oil, gas and energy.

Global Women Petroleum & Energy Club is part of the suit of clubs and networks of Global Pacific & Partners, a leading advisory firm in the world upstream industry, established over three decades ago, with distinctive portfolio.

The Clubs and Networks act to connect corporate and state players, to facilitate critical industry interests and deal flow in the global upstream, providing unique global networking forums and allied social programmes for companies, governments and national oil companies within the worldwide industry and across the value chain.

As a respected brand with trusted reputation, it is built on a global track record in global oil, gas and

energy. Established in 2001, it launched two major conferences, one on Women and Energy in Africa, which held in Johannesburg, and another on Global Women in Oil and Gas, which held in London.

Dreg Waters, which is run by Damilola Owolabi, is dedicated to helping clients secure licenses and permits for oil and gas operations in Nigeria, clearing of petroleum products into the country, leasing of marine equipment and supplying of manpower to organisations.

Widely known for her undaunted passion to deliver value-adding services that promote oil and gas businesses in Africa, Damilola takes pride in the capacity of her company to provide clients with all the necessary information, documentation, products and manpower they need for successful operation.

The award conferment is

records $1.3bn Q3 net income GLOBAL oil giant, Chevron has recorded $1.283 billion net income for the third quarter 2016 and the company said the earnings reflected an improvement from the previous two quarters.

Total revenues dropped to $30.14 billion for the third quarter, from $34.32 billion in the year-ago period. Still, the sales figure slightly beat the Zackscompiled average analyst estimate of $30.06 billion.

In comparison, for the second quarter this year, Chevron had booked a net loss of $1.47billion thanks to the continued oil price depression. This was down from a profit of $571 million for the second quarter of 2015.

For the third quarter, Chevron’s earnings in the upstream business jumped to $454 million, up from $59 million for the third quarter last year. U.S. upstream operations booked a loss of $212 million, which was smaller than the loss of $603 million for the same period in 2015. Chevron attributed the smaller U.S. upstream losses to lower operating and depreciation expenses, and lower tax items.

International upstream earnings rose to $666 million, compared to $662 million for the third quarter of 2015, on the back of lower expenses and higher natural gas sales. In the downstream business, Chevron’s total earnings dropped to $1.065 billion from $2.211 billion.

The company’s cash flow from operations in the first nine months of 2016 fell to $9.0 billion from $14.9 billion for the same period last year.

Chevron said that it was increasing its quarterly dividend to $1.08 per share, up from $1.07 per share for the second quarter, boasting that it has increased its annual dividend payment for 29 years in a row.

ConocoPhillips completes sale of exploration blocks offshore CONOCOPHILLIPS on Monday announced it has completed a transaction for the sale of its shares in ConocoPhillips Senegal BV, which holds a 35 percent interest in three exploration blocks offshore Senegal. The total sales price of the transaction, which is between the subsidiaries of ConocoPhillips and Australia’s Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (ASX: WPL), was approximately $440 million, including net

customary adjustments of approximately $90 million.

“We are pleased to complete this transaction with Woodside,” said Matt Fox, executive vice president, Strategy, Exploration and Technology.

“We experienced a transparent and cooperative relationship with the Senegalese government and appreciated their support throughout a very successful exploration and appraisal

campaign. By completing this sale we are progressing our broader exit from deepwater exploration, which will further increase our capital flexibility and reduce the cost of supply of our portfolio.”

The three offshore exploration blocks, Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore, had a net carrying value of approximately $285 million as of Sept. 30, 2016.

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PoliticsNews

Reps to INEC: Conduct all pending rerun elections in Rivers, Anambra

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HE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, in Abuja, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all pending rerun elections into legislative positions in Rivers and Anambra states.

This followed the unanimous adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor and five others, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

Moving the motion, Ogor said that INEC’s inability to conduct re-run elections in the two states had denied the people their constitutionally guaranteed right to representation at the National and State Houses of Assembly, saying this has “by extension led to a denial of the peoples’ right to participate in

critical national issues that have come for deliberation including national appropriations.”

According to Ogor, INEC’s failure to conduct the elections violates section 48 of 1999 constitution which provides that the Senate shall consist of three senators from each state and one from the FCT. “It also violates section 49 which provides that the House of Representatives shall consist of 360 members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible.

“The above constitutional provisions are mandatory, thus failure to comply with any of them is unconstitutional.

“The Court of Appeal in December 2015 ordered that re-run elections be conducted within 60 days but INEC has consistently refused to do so.

Accord Party’ll lead third force coalition —Ladoja

As party inaugurates new executives

By Dare Adekanmbi

NATIONAL leader of Accord Party and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on Tuesday, said his party would lead the coalition to mop up all opposition parties into a big third force political platform.

He made this known during the inauguration of state and local government executives of the party at a ceremony held at the party secretariat in Ibadan.

The Osi Olubadan, who aligned with the view expressed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) are not in the best of shape, said it had become imperative for Accord and others to provide a credible alternative platform to the two.

The former governor said he and others were working hard to bring about this and consequently bring about a Nigeria of their dream, a land of abundant life for the citizenry where the basic necessities of life like water, electricity, good roads would not be negotiable.

He stressed the need for

the political leadership across the country to be selfless and put the wellbeing of the citizenry above personal gains.

Ladoja charged the new executives of the party to be fair to all councillorship and chairmanship aspirants and ensure that only people’s choices emerge.

He tasked the aggrieved members to return to the party to support the efforts of the leaders and the party officers to win the 2019 election beyond reasonable doubt, wondering why there would be a parallel state congress when such was not experienced at the ward and council congresses.

Leader of the Accord caucus in the state House of Assembly, Honourable Kehinde Oloya, pledged the loyalty of the state eight lawmakers from the party to Ladoja and the party.

He tasked the new party officers to emulate the honesty of the former governor in their dealings with members of the party and charged them to deliver their constituencies to the party in the council elections as well as the 2019 elections.

He said that apart from the elections conducted by INEC on March 19, 2016 in only four out of 12 federal and few state constituencies, there were no elections in other places.

“While almost all states are adequately represented in the parliament, Rivers continues to be unrepresented due to INEC’s delib-

erate neglect and refusal to conduct outstanding elections in the state.”

Contributing to the debate, the House Majority Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said the call became necessary in view of the need to safeguard the country’s democracy.

“This country is under-

represented and there are obvious shortcomings in the constituencies where the elections are not concluded,” Gbajabiamila said.

Ruling on the matter, Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, referred the motion to House Committee on Legislative Compliance

and Electoral Matters.

According to him, the committees will ensure that INEC concludes elections in Rivers and other states where elections are not concluded.

The committees were mandated to revert to the House within two weeks with a confirmed date for the elections.

From right, vice chairman Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Adesoji Akanbi; chairman Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator James Manager; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Honourable Abubakar Bawa Bwari, during the oversight visit of the senators to the ministry in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Ondo 2016: AD to challenge Oke’s eligibility in court THE controversies rocking the Alliance for Democracy (AD) over the candidature of Chief Olusola Oke as the governorship standardbearer of the party in the Ondo State governorship election took another turn on Tuesday as the party’s the party’s national legal adviser, Mr Kehinde Aworele, has threatened to go to court to challenge Oke’s elegibility as the party’s candidate.

Aworele, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said Oke did not meet the party’s requirements to contest on its platform.

“Although, there is a pending suit before a Federal High Court in Akure, which I do not want to pre-empt, as the national legal adviser of AD, I will challenge Oke’s eligibility to contest on the platform of our party in court anytime from now.

“Obviously, for anybody to contest on the platform of AD, the person must have spent a minimum of 10 weeks as financial member, the requirement Oke did not meet.

“Besides, the process of presenting such candidate must be tabled at the quorum of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party and not just by three leaders as they did in his case.

“Chief Olusola Oke is a

senior lawyer; he should go and read the party’s constitution and should not be deceived by few leaders.

Personally, I have nothing against him, but he cannot not join the party through the back door,” he said.

Aworele alleged that the

party had been factionalised since Oke joined it on Oct 3.

The AD National Organising Secretary, Mr Ibrahim Abdollah, had in a communiqué after the party’s NEC meeting on Oct. 14 in Akure, said the party was unaware of Oke’s candidature.

Minister cautions pro-Biafra agitators Jude Ossai - Enugu

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has advised Biafra agitators to sheathe their swords and follow constitutional means, saying violence counter-productive to their dream.

Onyeama who spoke to newsmen shortly after a meeting of the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in Enugu, noted that though it was a fundamental right for any person to seek self-determination, such person or group should be rational in pursuing its agenda.

According to the min-

ister, the Biafra agitators have their representatives in the National Assembly, as well as state Houses of Assembly, where they ought to channel their grievances.> “As it is, those leading the agitation are not speaking for Ndigbo, as they do not have the mandate of the Igbo race to do so. What they need to do is to embrace dialogue through their representatives at the National Assembly and in their states rather than violence and provocations at all times,” he advised.

He also called on Nigerians, including SouthEast extraction, to keep supporting President the

administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that the government had the capacity to tackle the present challenges facing the nation.

Onyema explained that the administration had put necessary mechanism in place aimed at addressing the current economic recession.

Earlier in his remarks, the convener of the meeting and chairman of the party in the state, Dr Ben Nwoye, assured the national leadership of the APC that the state chapter was working assiduously to defeat the governing Peoples Democratic party PDP in the state in 2019.

25 politicsnews

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Ambode tasks Senate to revisit bill on special status for Lagos

By Moses Alao

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HE governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, appealed to the Senate to revisit the bill seeking a special status for Lagos, noting that the passage of the bill would translate to economic prosperity and well-being of Nigeria.

The bill, which clamours for one per cent allocation to Lagos from the revenue accruable to the Federal Gov-

ernment, was rejected by the Senate earlier last month.

But speaking in Lagos during a visit to him by members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, who were in Lagos to perform oversight function on federal institutions, Ambode maintained that Lagos being a cosmopolitan city and the economic capital of the country should be assisted by the Federal Government to address infrastructure

challenges confronting it.

He noted that considering the fact that Lagos used to be the federal capital and “is home to every tribe in the country,” the passage of the bill by Senators should be viewed from the point of its importance to the country, and not just to Lagos.

While clarifying the essence of the bill, the governor said: “it only seeks one per cent special allocation from the revenue accruable

to the Federal Government,” adding: “If we are able to do that, you can imagine what we would have done 25 years ago based on the understanding of gentlemen that Lagos would not be left behind or forgotten.”

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Senator Yerima, commended Ambode for the massive development going on in Lekki, especially the Lekki Deep Sea Port situated at the Lekki Free Trade Zone,

among other massive projects across the State, adding that the Senate would support anything that has to do with Lagos being a small Nigeria.

He specifically assured that the Senate would revisit the issue of the special status for Lagos, noting that as the former capital of the country, everything should be done to support the state.

“Lagos is not only for Lagosians. If you look at Lagos, it has been the national capital

Yoruba youths protest, demand Oyegun’s resignation

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, flanked by Senator Ahmed Ogembe (left); Senator Ben Uwajumogu (second left); Senator Isiaka Adeleke (third left); Senator Abdullahi Gumal (third right); Senator Obinna Ogbu and Senator Sam Anyanwu (right), during a visit to the governor by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

Mimiko not involved in Ondo protests, we merely exercised our rights —Coalition

By Abiodun Awolaja A group, Ondo Coalition for the Advancement of Democracy (OCAD), has debunked some media reports that the protests in parts of the state following the substitution of the name of Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with that of Jimoh Ibrahim, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was instigated by the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

In a statement by its coordinators, Mr Obafemi Taiwo and Mr Kunle Adeyemi, and made available to Nigerian Tribune, the group

stated that Mimiko had no hand in the protests, which it described as a spontaneous reaction to the injustice meted to the state by INEC. “We are quite amused by the fact that anyone would think that the people of Ondo State would wait until someone of high personality prods them before they express their total rejection of someone bent on forcing himself on the state as a governorship candidate riding on the shoulders of divisive and hateful elements who are well known to be enemies of the state over time.

“When we received the news of that unfortunate

name substitution by INEC, we immediately mobilised our members throughout Ondo for action, and because ours was a noble cause, the response and support we received from all and sundry including members of the NURTW, students, traders etc, as evidenced in the turnout, was a

THE Secretary-General of a pressure group, the Peoples Equality Congress, Mr Zaphaniah Yohanna, has called on Nigerians, especially the Northern elite, to embrace calls for restructuring of the country.

He made the call in Kaduna while addressing youth leaders from the northern states.

He backed calls for re-

structuring by some prominent citizens such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Nigerian Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; a pan-Yoruba group, Afenefere and a the Igbo nationalist organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo.

Yohanna said: “If the present structure of governance

is remodeled to reflect the concept of fiscal federalism that was negotiated for at the pre-independence constitutional conferences in London by the great heroes and founding fathers of our nation, the North that has durable solid minerals such as iron ore, gold, diamond, uranium as well as massive land mass and population can grow faster than its present pace of development.”

pointer to nothing else but the fact that Ondo people would not tolerate injustice.

“Nobody would become our governor through the backdoor,” it said.

OCAD added that although the protest was hijacked by some unknown elements at some point, it had no doubt that it was hugely successful.

THE Ogun State Youth Agenda (OSYA) has called on the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to support the Ogun West Senatorial district aspiration to produce the state governor in 2019.

The demand was made by the convener, Debo Aroboto, during the inauguration of the state executives of the group, in Abeokuta.

Aroboto noted that the senatorial district had not produced a governor since the creation of the state over 40 years.

This, according to him, will put behind the alleged marginalisation of the area.

He, however, said that the group was not in support of any political parties, but concerned with the fact that the district in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice must be allowed to produce the next governor of the state.

He said: “Since 1976 when Ogun State was created, Ogun West has not had the opportunity to produce the governor. Both Ogun East and Ogun Central zones have produced governors twice each.

Ondo 2016: Don’t be intimidated, NGO tells INEC THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has urged the Independent National Electoral

‘North will develop faster through restructuring’

By Austin Ebipade

Group to Amosun: Let Ogun West produce your successor Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta

By Tunde Ogunesan SCORES of members of the National Committee of Yoruba Youths (NCYY), on Tuesday, demanded the immediate resignation of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John OdigieOyegun.

The demand was contained in a formal letter submitted to the zonal secretariat of the South-West of the party at Alakia, Ibadan, signed by the national president of NCYY, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi and entitled “an open letter demanding for the resignation of Chief Odigie-Oyegun as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The letter was received on behalf of the zonal secretary.

The group, according to the letter, advised Oyegun to heed the earlier call by the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu demanding for his resignation.

According to the letter, “the National Committee of Yoruba Youths (NCYY) wishes to demand for the immediate resignation of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

and up till this moment, you find people from all states of the federation earning living here and so anything we do for Lagos, we are not doing it for Lagos alone and I will call Lagos a mini Nigeria. So, by the grace of God, we are going to look at the bill again,” Yerima said.

On the resumption of hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers in the past few days, Yohanna urged the Federal Government to intensify the process of dialogue with genuine agitators that were ready for negotiation/dialogue in order to avert further escalation of violence and its negative impact on the recessive economy which the government is tenaciously working hard to reflate.

Commission (INEC) not to be intimidated by politicians ahead of November 26 governorship poll in Ondo State.

National coordinator of the body, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, gave the charge in a statement in Abuja, on Monday.

He said that INEC should strive to ensure that the election was credible and transparent in spite of the perceived intimidation by some politicians and their parties.

According to Onwubiko, the commission could not afford to compromise, especially as it already had credibility problems following complaints from the Sept.

28 Edo governorship poll.

He described the allegation by a politician, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, that an INEC official demanded one million dollars bribe from him as “sensational’’, and urged the commission not to distracted.

He charged INEC authorities to ensure that the independence of the commission was not compromised, adding that it should focus on improving on what happened in Edo. Onwubiko added that the commission should not to be cowed by antics of politicians, saying that the emergence of Eyitayo Jegede as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state complied with the Electoral Act.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA Prince (Dr.) Samuel Adedoyin (The Prince of Commerce)

FUNOLOGY

• A native of Agbamu, a small agrarian village near Oro, in Kwara State, was born in Lagos State in December 1935.

• He attended St. James School, Ilorin, Kwara State, but after his Standard Four, he went back to Lagos at the age of 11, where he joined his father, who then traded in bicycle parts, tools and some other wares.

CHURCH BOY

• He belongs to the group of people with the ragsto-riches story. Today, his story has defied his background to put him in the league of Africa’s super rich.

• He became a millionaire at age 24.

• At the age of 30, he registered Doyin Investments Nigeria Limited.

SEGELUULU

• Today, he is an apostle of industrialisation in Africa. Prince Adedoyin is a philanthropist, a diligent, shrewd and innate businessman, who commenced his exploits with petty trading, but has now expanded into manufacturing, real estate, banking, hospitality, energy, among others.

• One of his subsidiaries recently won an accolade for being the best seasoning manufacturer in West Africa.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216,

Minister assures of funds to complete Abaji water project Christian Okeke

M

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),

Musa Bello, has given assurance that his administration will make funds available to complete the multi-million naira Abaji water project.

He also assured that his administration would work towards the completion of some of the on-going projects of the defunct Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) in satellite towns of the territory.

He, however, said that reports made available to him contrasted with what was on ground regarding

the Abaji water project.

Speaking while exchanging views with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess AdejokeOrelepe-Adefulire in his office, the minister said that from the reports made available to him, most of the works at the project site were already completed, especially as about 90 per cent payments were made on the project.

He however acknowledged that the initial challenges faced on the project were within the framework of funding.

“Apparently there were challenges. Some others did not pay on time as they were supposed to pay,” the

minister said.

Bello told his guest that, “we will partner with you and have this project completed within the available resources and any other projects that are outstanding. We will prioritize and see how we move on; we need to showcase what a Federal Government agency is able to do here in Abuja so that we can use it as a benchmark and we can also use it as a means of putting pressure on states to comply with your requirements.”

Speaking earlier, the presidential aide stated that Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets were set last year to build on the achievements recorded on the MDGs.

NBS seeks support for survey on women, children Sanya Adejokun

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Musa Bello (right) with the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Yahaya Isa, when members of the association visited him in Abuja, recently.

Texaco, NNPC donate library to school Ademola Adegbite TEXACO Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited, in conjunction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has donated a well-equipped hybrid library to Government Science Secondary School Dekina, Kogi State to support infrastructure development in the school.

The donation was also part of the contributions towards improving standard of education and achieving manpower development in the country.

Director of DW and PSCS Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited, Mr. Jeffry Ewing, who spoke on the gesture at an event in Abuja said that about 122 indigenes of the state have earlier benefited from medical and engineering professional

scholarship.

Represented by Manager, Public Affairs, Lagos, Mr. Sam Otonye, he said that the firm’s corporate belief was that education remained a veritable tool for personal and societal growth.

He said, “We are motivated to partner with both the Federal and state governments to improve facilities and faculties of education because we acknowledge that government alone cannot bear the burden of providing quality education for our youths.”

Receiving the donation at the ceremony, Governor Yahaya Bello said the project was essential in checkmating literacy in the state.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, a representative of Chevron, UmaruRibadu, noted that the firm had

built 25 chest clinics as well as 23 hybrid libraries and 32 science laboratory complexes across the country.

Also speaking, the Group General Manager (GGM) of National Petroleum Investment Management Services

(NAPIMS), a subsidiary of NNPC, Dafe Sajebor, represented by the manager, Public Affairs Division (PAC), Ahmed Laminu, identified manpower development as a crucial aspect of investment.

NATIONAL Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has appealed for support for the ongoing national survey on maternal and infant mortality rate as well as violence against women and children.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) State Officer, Rakiya Mohammed, who spoke during a tour of some enumeration areas in the territory for the survey lamented that some expected-respondents showed apathy to the exercise.

Fashola, Swedish minister hold talks on infrastructure devt Christian Okeke MINISTER of Power, Works and Housing, BabatundeFashola and the Swedish Minister of Trade and European Affairs, Mrs. Ann Lind, have held talks in Abuja on investment in infrastructural sector of Nigeria.

During the meeting, Fashola underscored the readiness of the Federal Government in partnering

with investors who showed interest in the sector.

He noted that the sector was critical to both social and economic survival of the country and said that Federal Government aimed at partnering with the Swedish Government on programmes that would lead to economic recovery.

According to the minister, building confidence through transparency, good governance and ac-

countability were key factors for any business environment.

Fashola observed that the country had market big enough to accommodate any serious investor and assured that there could never be a better time than now to invest in the country.

He, however, noted that emphasis would be on investments that encouraged local production of goods.

She noted that the exercise was a multi-indicator cluster and householdbased survey designed to assess the situation of children and women as it affects health, education, child protection and HIV/ AIDS. According to her, the survey would also measure educational development and nutritional status of children, in addition to their access to water and sanitation.

The NBS officer said that the survey equally intended to provide up-to-date information on the situation of children and women in the country, strengthen national statistical capacity and contribute to the improvement of data and monitoring systems.

She disclosed that 37, 440 households would be surveyed in the three-month exercise that would be concluded by mid-December, noting that each state and the FCT had already been broken down into 60 enumeration areas while 16 households each would be surveyed in the states apart from Lagos and Kano.

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

FCT Minister expresses worry over prevailing domestic violence Christian Okeke

M

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Musa Bello, has expressed dismay over the high rate of domestic violence in the territory.

NEITI expresses fear over funding for 2016 budget

He said that such unfortunate incident should have no place in the nation’s capital.

Speaking when the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) led by its Regional Vice President for Africa, Laraba Shuaibu paid him a visit, the minister disclosed that

Abuja had one of the highest incidences of domestic violence in the country.

He, however, disclosed that the FCT administration had been using its Social Development Secretariat to wage war against it.

Bello called on FIDA to help enlighten the grassroots on the dangers of do-

mestic violence.

He equally stressed the need for out-of-court resolution of land disputes in the territory.

He said, “As much as possible, we will like you to encourage people to look at alternative ways of resolving land disputes because at the end of the day, everybody wins and

the city wins more because development is accelerated.”

He went further to say, “For us as a city, any plot of land allocated and not developed does not add value to us because any development you do, there is a chain of multiplier effect within the society and the economy, because you will generate employment and create business transactions.”

Ademola Adegbite NIGERIA Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has expressed fears that implementation of 2016 budget might face challenges following disbursements from the Federation Account to the three tiers of government which dropped by 30 per cent in the first half of 2016.

A new report by NEITI showed that the sharp drop in the revenues might negatively impact budget implementation across the three tiers of government in 2016, increase the size of budget deficits and deepen the debt burden.

With the sharp drop in the allocations, the governments might be unable to fund their budgets in 2016 unless they resorted to borrowing, the report said.

The report signed by ObiageliOnuorah and titled, “FAAC Disbursements in First Half of 2016 and Possible Implications” indicated that revenues shared to the Federal, States and Local Governments were less by over N800 million from N2.89 billion in 2015 to N2.01billion in 2016.

“Total disbursements to the Federal Government fell from N1.23 trillion in the first half of 2015 to N854 billion in the first half of 2016. This represents a 30.9 per cent decline.

Total disbursements to states fell by 30.5 per cent from N1.009 trillion in the first half of 2015 to N701 billion in the first half of 2016. For Local Governments, allocations from FAAC dropped by 26% from N580.63 billion to N429.43bn,” the report said.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Business Tycoon, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the 2016 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum held in Lagos, at the weekend.

NOSDRA adopts new technology to tackle oil spill Ademola Adegbite

NATIONAL Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has adopted a new technology to tackle the menace of oil spillage in Nigeria.

The technology, according to the agency, would assist in rapid response to oil spill and prevent further degradation of the environment.

Minister of Environment, Aisha Mohammed, who spoke at a national workshop on oil spill note that the use of oil spill modelling techniques in predicting the direction of spilled oil in the marine environment was quite a laudable innovation.

She described it as a tool which presents a very valuable opportunity for both oil spill pre-

paredness and response activities.

Hajia Mohammed, whose message was delivered by the Director General of NOSDRA, Peter Idabor, restated the Federal Government’s commitment in completing the Ogoni land clean-up exercise and extending such to other parts of the country

FEDERAL Ministry of Science and Technology is to partner with China to train about 7, 000 Nigerians on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and digital switch over.

Chairman of Innoson Group, Chukwuma Inno-

cent recently led a Chinese investment group including the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, China, Lin Baoja, who also doubles as Chairman, Shandong Broadcasting and Television, to Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in his office in Abuja where the deal was sealed.

He said, “We have a number of models ready to be engaged. We can use three and two dimensional models to look at the oil spill movement on the surface or underneath the water surface, as well as model how the oil changes overtime. That has key impact on the response strategies you want to employ.”

Economy: Ministry of Water Resources flags-off empowerment scheme Adetola Bademosi-Abuja FEDERAL Ministry of Water Resources has launched Graduates Farmers Empowerment Scheme as part of government’s efforts to revamp agricultural sector to build the economy.

Flagging off the scheme

Ministry of Science and Tech partners China on ICT, digital switch over Ademola Adegbite

affected by oil spillage.

She decried the activities of militants and other illegal acts that negatively affected the environment.

Also speaking, leader of the modelling team, Liam Harrington disclosed how his team intended to assist with rapid response to oil spill through cutting edge technology.

Speaking, Onu state that the partnership would further strengthen economic relationship between both countries.

On his own part, Chukwuma noted that Nigerians would benefit tremendously in the project as the set-up boxes would be produced locally.

piloted by Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, stated that the government was committed to a nationwide pilot scheme that would be undertaken by all the 12 River Basin Authorities as well as the 109 senatorial districts.

He added that the strategic plan would boost food production, create jobs and sustain economic development.

Adamu said that the beneficiaries that would be trained in various agricultural activities would subsequently be empowered through other government intervention programmes to establish their own agric

ventures.

He said, “This arrangement would create a multiplier positive impact on the economy through improved food production and employment generation.”

He urged beneficiaries and stakeholders to ensure that the potentials inherent in the programme were properly utilised.

Speaking, the Managing Director of Anambra-Imo River Basin, Patrick Okereafor, stated that the pilot scheme would be replicated in other senatorial districts of the state.

“The integrated farming activities will grow into a value-chain system leading to agro-allied processing industries similar to Songhai Model,” he said.

FG apologises to FCT indigenes over exclusion in appointments Ademola Adegbite- Abuja THE Federal Government has apologised to indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory for their exclusion in appointments made so far by the current administration.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir David Lawal made the apology on behalf of the government on Monday when he received in audience, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Baba Yunusa, The Ona of Abaji and Chairman, FCT Council of Chiefs.

Lawal, admitted that the FCT indigenes were not adquately repressnted noting that the omission was not deliberate and that the situation would be corrected during future appointments.

He explained that he would bring the omission to the attention of President Mohammadu Buhari.

A statement by the Director, Press, SGF Office, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, in Abuja said the Royal Highness specifically, complained about the exclusion of FCT indigenes in the reconstitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Universities, the composition of the Federal Executive Council and more recently, the nomination of non-career ambassadorial nominees.

Yoruba monarchs meet with Buhari’s spokesman in Abuja YORUBA traditional rulers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs led by His Royal Highness, Oba (Dr) Olusegun Salau have met with presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, at the State House where they commended the ongoing war against corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari.

They said that the laws must not be bent for any offender in the overall interest of the country.

The monarchs expressed satisfaction that the many problems facing the country were being progressively tackled by the administration.

The royal fathers pleaded for patience with the administration in its determination to fix the country for the betterment of all.

They said, “There are many problems at hand to be solved including unemployment, insecurity, decayed infrastructure and economic recession and we believe that once corruption is tackled, the country will be fixed within shortest time based on the integrity and honesty of Mr President, President Buhari.”

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Wednesday, 2 November , 2016

Oyo LG chairmen’s tenure extended for 2 months As Assembly passes Administration of Criminal Justice Bill into law

By Wale Akinselure

A

GAIN, the Oyo House of Assembly, on Tuesday, approved the extension of the tenure of caretaker chairmen for the 33 local government areas in the state for another two months.

The latest extension, as requested by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, followed the expiration of an earlier three months extension which lapsed on October 17.

On why the Assembly granted the request, the speaker, Honourable Micheal Adeyemo, said the development was to prevent a vacuum in local government administration, adding that the extension did not run into the February 2017 stipulated time for local government election.

He, therefore, expressed firm belief that the local government election would

hold, as scheduled.

Furthermore, the Assembly approved Ajimobi’s request to appoint five additional special advisers.

With a view to ensuring speedy and efficient administration of criminal justice in the state, the Assembly also passed into law the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2016.

The bill sponsored by Honourable Micheal Adeyemo, Abdulwasi Musah, Solomon Akande and Muideen Olagunju, addresses withholding charge, provides for compensation for victims rather than just conviction and mandates that

the police should not obtain statement from an arrested person without the presence of a lawyer.

The chairman, Committee on Judiciary and Justice, Honourable Olukayode Akande, added that the law recognises suspension of parole for a defendant serving a sentence, where it is established that the person had improved in character, upon a condition that such person will not commit an offence again.

The law in parts provides that, “Where a woman found guilty of a capital offence is pregnant, the sentence of death shall be passed on

her execution shall be suspended until the baby is delivered and weaned.

“Where a convict ,who in the opinion of the court had not attained the age of 18 years at the time the offence was committed is found guilty of a capital offence, sentence of death shall not be pronounced or recorded but in lieu of it, the court shall sentence the child to life imprisonment or to such other term as the court may deem appropriate in consideration of the principles in section 402 of this law.”

“A police officer making an arrest or to whom a private person hands over the per-

son arrested, shall immediately record information about the person arrested and an inventory of all items or property recovered from the person arrested.”

With a view to reintroducing Higher School Certificate (HSC) and Advanced Level (A level) programme in public secondary schools in the state, the Assembly has mandated the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology to meet with relevant stakeholders on why the HSC and A level was not operating and the possibility of returning the programmes to public schools.

Please reopen shut schools, PTA begs Oyo govt CHAIRMAN, Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA), Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Michael Akinpelu, has appealed to the state government to reopen the schools shut down recently in the area.

Speaking during a stakeholders' meeting summoned by the chairman of the local government area, Mr Akinpelu said the call became necessary, in view of the need for the students to continue with their academic pursuit.

Mr Akinpelu, who apologised on behalf of the students to the state government over their unruly behaviour, promised that such would never occur again.

Earlier, the chairman of council, Mr Azeez Ojetunde, had urged parents and school heads to inculcate discipline in their children.

Ojetunde, at a meeting with principals of secondary schools, local inspectors of education, PTA and security agencies, expressed his displeasure over the recent riot, adding that destruction that followed the incident was inimical to development.

He advised the parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord and also urged principals to report any threat to peace to the security agencies.

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (middle), performing the ground breaking of the Polaris-Pacesetter Free Trade Zone, a partnership between the state and a Chinese conglomerate, located on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

No plan to reintroduce school fees in Osun public schools —Aregbesola GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Tuesday, said it was not true that the government was planning to reintroduce payment of school fees in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The governor said this while playing host to newlyelected executive members of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), in Osogbo, the state capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the state government was operating the free education policy in its public primary and secondary schools.

Aregbesola said that education in the state still remained free, in spite of the harsh economic condition facing the state and the country.

The governor said that qualitative and functional education, particularly, at the lower level, was very important and must not be neglected and abandoned by any responsible government.

He said the state government would continue to give education priority, regardless of the shortage in alloca-

tion and the economic meltdown in the state.

Also speaking, the deputy governor, Mrs Titi LaoyeTomori, who doubles as Commissioner for Education, said that government never asked parents to pay fees for their children in public schools in the state.

According to Laoye-Tomori, the state government, in agreement with parents and guardians, only introduced

a school infrastructural maintenance levy to ensure proper maintenance of all the newly-built schools in the state.

“We did not also ask any of our pupils or students to pay tuition fees, as being speculated around the state.

“We have only directed that all the pupils in the elementary schools should pay N2000 in three tranches per annum.

“The pupils in this category will pay N1000 for the first term, and N500 each, for the second and third terms.

“For Middle School, they are to pay N3000 in three tranches, per annum.

“The students in this category will pay N1000 for each of the three terms, while High School students are to pay N6000 per annum at N2000 per term.

Recession: YCE urges Buhari to apply palliative measures Bola Badmus- Lagos YORUBA Council of Elders (YCE) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently evolve palliative measures to cushion the harsh effects of economic recession being experienced by majority of Nigerians across the country.

The YCE gave the charge during a visit to one of its founding fathers and former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, at Ilupeju, Lagos The chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the group, Mr Francis Akinikawe, who led members on the visit,

said the call became imperative as the economic down turn had worsened the poverty level among many Nigerians, who on daily basis, continued to lament its effects.

Akinikawe, however, suggested that the various measures adopted by the government to end the recession should be harnessed to make them effective.

Another member of the group, Chief Aremu Akindele, who also spoke, expressed concern that youth unemployment was increasing, adding hat a conducive environment should be created to encourage local and

foreign investments.

Akindele, who was the former chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, charged South- West governors to embrace economic integration in order to unite and liberate their people from the shackles of poverty.

He contended that doing so, would enable Yoruba overcome the incursion of armed herdsmen and any other attempts to trample on the right of people of the zone.

“A united Yoruba will overcome the incursion of armed herdsmen and any other attempts to trample on the right of our people,” he said.

Oyo govt reaffirms stand on MoU with labour unions

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

OYO State government has reiterated its commitment to the letters and spirit behind its agreement with labour unions, reiterating that it has not and does not intend to renege on any of the terms in the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on the payment of workers’ salaries.

The state government further expressed surprise over the statement credited to the labour unions that the government intends to reduce state workers’ salaries and the six-month arrears by 50 per cent.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, in a statement, stressed that officials of the government and labour union representatives have been meeting regularly to discuss and seek solutions on the way forward on payment of salaries and clearing the outstanding six months. At no time did government say it would pay only 50 per cent of outstanding and current salaries.

According to him, “Government is really surprised over the statement. Indeed, we are taken aback because the conversations during our meetings never went in that direction. Given the consistency of robust and comprehensive discussions by a standing committee, it is unfortunate that labour will react publicly to a non existent matter."

TRACE commences towing of vehicles on highways in Ogun THE Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun says it has begun towing of vehicles parked indiscriminately on the highways in Sango-Ota and its environs.

The TRACE zonal commander, Mr Ajibade Adekunle, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday, in Sango-Ota. Adekunle said that his office had been inundated with many petitions by road users on hazard posed by parking of the articulated vehicles on highways in OjeOre, Ilogbo roads and other places.

He said that the dual-carriage ways in the areas had been turned to single lane.

Adekunle decried the nonchalant attitude of motorists, especially, the drivers of articulated vehicles, who park their trucks indiscriminately to obstruct free flow of traffic.

"We can no longer tolerate accidents that could have been averted and injuries being suffered by innocent people due to reckless parking of vehicles on major roads,” he said.

news Agric workers protest in Kwara 30

Biola Azeez - Ilorin

W

ORKERS of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Kwara State have protested alleged maltreatment by the authorities of the establishment.

Speaking with journalists during a protest rally tagged anti-corruption rally in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the state chairman of Agriculture and Allied Union of Nigeria (AAUN), David Ehindero, called on the Federal Government to investigate budgetary funding and spendings by the authorities of the establishment.

The leader of the group also said that government should fight corrupt civil servants, who he said, had devised new means of enriching themselves.

"Our protest is to save the Lower Niger River Basin so as not to die. We are only trying to protect the Lower Niger River basin and ourselves. No Nigerian loves Nigeria more than anyone else.

We are suffering because of corruption. President Muhammadu Buhari should come to the grassroots. We are only trying to protect Nigeria because we are praying our children should work here.

"I want to say that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has done well in the fight against corruption. Unfortunately, corruption, like Amoeba, is changing shape and civil servants and politicians are fashioning another way out into corruption. Their strategy is changing. Unfortunately, for President Buhari, his form of fighting corruption is still the same strategy. He is not aware that civil servants and politicians have devised new strategy to corruptly enrich themselves. Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and parastatals have become the targets of corrupt people.

"In the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority and Niger Basin, generally, billions of naira have been

sunk into its activities. We can see the interest of President Buhari on River Basin in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the money is being diverted by corrupt people. It is going down the drain and there is nothing to show for it.

"President Buhari needs to

change tactics because the statistics they are giving the president is faulty. They are deceiving him even with the budget statistics.

"They are saying that they have budgeted so much for agriculture but if you check, large chunk of it is budgeted

Wednesday, 2 November , 2016

for infrastructure.

"Budget for agriculture should be targeted at farmers. The money should not be used for building secretariats and constructing roads across the ministry’s parastatals. The percentage that is supposed to get to farmers

From left, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the deputy Inspector General of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, at the launch of 'Change Begins With Me' campaign, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Change agenda not politically motivated —Lai Mohammed Chris Agbambu-Abuja THE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday, said that the change agenda campaign, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, on September 8, was not politically motivated nor with religious or ethnic colouration.

He said the campaign was for all Nigerians.

Addressing senior police officers, at a monthly officers meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the minister noted that the main objective is to achieve a paradigm shift in the way things are done.

According to him:"Contrary to the misconception in certain quarters, this campaign was designed to start from the very top, right from the president, the vice president, ministers and other top government officials, then, down to all Nigerians. " He noted that those who

have said that the campaign is aimed at saddling only the ordinary citizen with any burden have been unduly hasty as they should have waited for them to roll out the campaign.

The minister said, that:"on the invitation of the Inspector-General of Police, we are here today to formally present "the change begins with me" to the police hierachy.

This is very important because the police, by virtue of its duties, is a critical stakeholder in this campaign."

Addressing the Senior officers later, the IGP, lamented that the general discipline in the force is not encouraging and warned that serious actions will henceforth be taken against indiscipline in the force.

He urged the officers to find ways in their zones and commands of committing Nigerians to tackling serious crimes all over the country as efforts are ongoing course to address the welfare needs of officers and men through the provision of barracks

ucts at a formal launch at the Globacom headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, the company explained that one of products, Borrow Me Data, is entirely new, while three of them were repackaged.

The repackaged products are Double Free Tomorrow, 11k/s for All and IDD packs.

In the Glo Borrow Me Data offer, subscribers can borrow data airtime of up to 2GB in cases of emergency when they have no data or in cases of unsuccessful subscription bundle activation due to low balance.

Sola Arowogbadamu, Glo-

and affordable houses.

The IGP emphasised the need for synergy with other security agencies, and consequently, directed all Command CPs to set up joint operation centres as a means of boosting synergy among other security agencies.

Also, he directed that the CPS should ensure that members of the eminent persons hold meetings every three months in their area of jurisdiction to look into issues of security and other related matters.

FG to establish ICT university

By Tunde Ogunesan THE Federal Government has concluded plan to establish the first Information Communication Technology (ICT) University in Nigeria ,within the next three months., This was disclosed by the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, while featuring on a quarterly ra-

dio programme, guest of the month by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ibadan zonal office, on Tuesday The university, according to Shittu, will be an off-shoot of an existing ICT based- institute, Digital Bridge Institute currently in operation at six centres across the country.

Speaking on the topic,

Borrow Me Data, 11k/sec tariff, 2 other products now on Glo network GLO subscribers can now borrow data credit, get 200 percent of all call, SMS and data spend and enjoy heavily reduced call rate on local and international calls in the newly launched Glo products.

The products, Borrow Me Data, 11k/s for All, Double Free Tomorrow and New IDD Packs, were designed and innovated by Globacom to give its teeming subscribers more value for money and to make their experience on the network more enjoyable.

While unveiling the prod-

and have direct impact on agriculture is less than 20 per cent", he said.

Ehindero, who said that some officials heading the parastatals and ministries are on acting capacity, added that they engaged in unethical activities to get confirmation."

bacom’s Head of Usage and Retention, in his opening speech during the launch said that eligibility for the offer depends on the length of time a customer has been on Glo network and his average monthly data usage. By dialling *321# subscribers will be prompted and the real time Data credit will be sent to all eligible subscribers in line with the stated eligibility criterion. The customer will repay the Data credit whenever airtime recharge is made.

For the repackaged Double Free Tomorrow, the offer gives back to the subscriber

two times the value of whatever is spent on calls, SMS or data in a day to use for free the next day. The value of airtime used in a day is calculated and the customer is credited with double the amount by 12 midnight the next day.

Globacom said the bonus can be used for practically anything including browsing or calls and SMS to Glo and non-Glo lines. The bonus can also be used for International calls to popular countries such as US, UK (fixed), Canada, China and India and is available to existing and new prepaid subscribers.

“Harnessing the potentials in the communications sector for sustainable development”, Shittu said “it is time to leverage the bountiful opportunities in the communications sector to generate additional revenue for government.”

He added “the dominant issue now is how to harness the potentials in the communications sector for sustainable and over all national development. We all know that ICT is now re- defining how we live, how we do businesses, how services are delivered both in terms of government to government; as well as between government and citizens.”

He added that “One critical thing that we, perhaps, hope to do before the end of the year, is to establish an ICT University in Nigeria.

“By the grace of God, it will be the first of its kind in the continent of Africa.

“We currently have what we call Digital Bridge Institute. It has six campuses- in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Owerri, Yola and Benue States.

FCSC boss bags integrity, reforms award Clement Idoko - Abuja THE chairman of Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deaconess Joan Ayo, has been conferred with the honour of African Child Prize, 2016, for the integrity and reforms she introduced into the public service in Nigeria.

The deputy director, Head of Information, at the commission, Dr Joel Oruche, said this to newsmen in a statement on Tuesday, in Abuja, that the award was presented to Joan Ayo by the African Child Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO),based in Nigeria.

He said the award, which took place in Accra recently, was sequel to her having satisfied the requisite nomination and voting in the search for African Child Prize by the board of examiners.

African Child Foundation has prominent Africans like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Patrick Igbigbi and Prof.essor J. O. Enaohwo, as members of its advisory board.

Obateru for burial THE remains of the late educationist and community leader, Chief Alaxander Omotoso Obateru, will be laid to rest at Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Saturday.

There will be a Christain Wake-keep at St. James Catholic Church, SaboOke, Ilorin, Kwara State, tomrrow (Thursday), by 400pm, while a commendation service will hold at the same church on Friday, by 800am.

Burial service will hold at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Eruku, on Saturday, by 10 .00am, followed by interment at the church cemetery.

A seasoned educationist, Dr Obateru, who had a teaching career spanning over 40 years at primary, post primary and tertiary institutions, was a pioneer teacher at St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo and the pioneer principal of Idofian Grammar School, Kwara State, among others . He held the chieftaincy title of Bobagunwa of Erukuland.

He was survived by a wife, Chief Alice Omoyeni Obateru, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many relations.

Chief Obateru

31 news

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

60% of road crashes in Ogun caused by articulated vehicles —FRSC

T

HE Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Clement Oladele, in Ogun, said about 60 per cent of road accidents in the state were caused by drivers of articulated vehicles.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Oladele made this statement known on Tuesday, when he paid a courtesy visit to members of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun Council, in Abeokuta.

He explained that, most of the accidents that happened on the highways in the state

were due to excessive speed, which could have been avoided.

According to him, though, Ogun is blessed with highways; it is however, among the 10 most dangerous highways in the country, going by road accidents recorded in recent times.

He said that some of the highways included Lagos / Ibadan, Lagos /Abeokuta, Abeokuta /Sagamu and Odeda /Ibadan.

The sector commander said that, 32 road traffic crashes were recorded in the state in August and it rose to

47 in September.

Oladele expressed the commitment of the command to get to the root, because of the high rate of road crashes in the state.

“We have a platform which state that; for every operator that has minimum of five vehicles, it must register with road safety and annually, we certify them.

“When you don’t meet the basic requirements, we decertify you.

“We recognise that almost 60 per cent of these crashes that cause death, were caused by these articulated

vehicles, so, we want to get to the root, so as to address it.

“The FRSC has started to remove abandoned vehicles; we have to ensure that there is no obstruction that can cause road crashes.

“We want to leave the township patrol to the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), so as to face where most of the crashes are happening.

“We want to mobilise our strength and face the highway but that does not mean that occasionally, when we see issues that happen in the town,

we won’t attend to them.

“We will try to see how we can empower TRACE, for it to become bigger, stronger and to be able to tackle the urban challenges.”

Oladele said that FRSC in Ogun had prepared a strategic document, which would be driven by the people, to reduce road accident and loss of lives on the highways.

He said that the document would have the inputs of all stakeholders, adding that the governor would be fully involved, to devise means on how to make the roads safer.

Govt charged on proper maintenance of engineering infrastructure

By Nurudeen Alimi GOVERNMENT at all levels has been called upon, to embrace good maintenance of engineering infrastructures in Nigeria.

Immediate past chairman, The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan branch, Mr Raufu Atanda Salawu, gave the charge while delivering a paper titled: Good Maintenance Culture as Panacea to Sustain Engineering Infrastructure in Nigeria, during the 22nd Arokodare Memorial Lecture, organised by the Ibadan branch of the NSE, which held on Monday, at the Faculty of Pharmacy Auditorium, University of Ibadan.

Salawu, who noted that poor maintenance has been a major cause for slow pace of growth and development in Nigeria, said, it is also one of the apparatus which aids corruption: “The poor maintenance culture of Nigeria’s engineering infrastructure, gives rise to corruption on the part of the led and the leaders.

“People in the corridor of power and civil servants take advantage of incessant breakdown of public facilities, to siphon public funds for private purposes hiding under shady and fictitious contracts.”

He also attributed poor maintenance culture to low standard of education in the country. “A common adage says “The youths are the leaders of tomorrow” but with the current dilapidated education infrastructure in Nigeria, One can be tempted to ask “where are the leaders of tomorrow.”

From left, President, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association, Dr Edgar Amos; deputy governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo; former vice president and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar and the President, African Veterinary Association, Dr Faouzi Kechrid, at the sixth AVA/53rd NMVA annual congress, in Enugu, on Monday.

Economic diversification must be anchored on modernisation —Atiku FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said, while economic diversification is essential to development, Nigeria and indeed African countries should not also ignore the necessity of modernisation in economic activities.

Speaking at the African Veterinary Association and Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association joint Congress, in Enugu, on Monday, the former Vice President, who was the chairman of the occasion, said if African leaders diversify economic activities without modernising them, they would not achieve the desired objectives.

According to him, diversification without modernising “won’t go far. If we diversify sources of government revenues but continue to concentrate too much power and resources in central governments, we won’t go far in achieving freedom and development in advancing our societies.”

He also expressed fears that; “if we diversify our economies but still let the state dominate economic activities, as a major investor and competitor against the private sector, we will be unable to unleash our people’s productive and entrepreneurial energies.”

The Turaki Adamawa explained that, African countries should not only advocate for a return to agriculture, but also seek to promote agricultural practices that are in sync with the modern times.

“I think we need some clarity in our definitions and

prescriptions on this issue.

When we say that we need a return to agriculture, do we mean the ancient agriculture that we have practiced for so long, or the modern science and technology driven agriculture with its enormous productivity” Atiku queries.

CCB Act amendment has nothing to do with Saraki’s trial —Ndume SENATE Leader, Alhaji Ali Ndume, said amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act had nothing to do with ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Reacting to the debate which the issue has generated among Nigerians, Ndume told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, that the National Assembly had no particular interest in the bill.

“It is insulting on us to say that we are doing the bidding of Saraki, because laws

are not made in retrospect.

“If we make a law today, it cannot immediately invalidate the existing laws on the same issue,” he said.

He said that the main concern of the National Assembly was to make the organisation more effective in its functions.

“The amendment focused mainly on two things: that is the age of the chairman of the CCB and the number of persons to be appointed as members of the bureau or the tribunal,” Ndume said.

He added that, other issues in the amendment of

the Act were secondary to the main ones, pointing out that the Bill for the amendment “did not even emanate from the senate.”

“Nigerians should know that the bill emanated from the House of Representatives; our own duty was just to concur.

“Since I became the Senate Leader of the 8th Assembly, I made a proposition that all bills coming from the house must not be allowed to suffer set back, so, we look at those bills every Thursday for consideration,” he said.

Jigawa receives N2bn agric loan —Commissioner Adamu Amadu - Dutse THE sum of N2 billion agricultural loans allocated to Jigawa State, for rice and wheat production for the dry season, by Federal Government, has been paid into the Jigawa State government’s treasury, for disbursement to farmers, under the AnchorBorrower Programme.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Kabiru Ali, while speaking to newsmen in Dutse, on Tuesday, said, government had made available 250,000 hectares of farmland, for the beneficiaries of Anchor-Borrower programme across the state.

Alhaji Ali explained that, the Anchor-Borrower programme kick started at a time the Cluster Programme came to an end.

According to him “the N2 billion agricultural loan approved by the Federal Government for the AnchorBorrower programme, was under the watch of the state government for farmers who have been registered and complete all the conditions of getting the loan.”

Bank Director to construct 2.7km road in Federal University Gusau Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna THE Executive Director, public sector of the First Bank, heading all the 19 Northern states of Nigeria, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, has pledged to construct 2.7 kilometre road, in Federal University Gusau, in Zamfara State.

He said the 2.7 km road will cost N225million, including the construction of drainage in the university.

Lawal made the disclosure, while fielding questions from newsmen in Gusau, on Tuesday, at the venue of stakeholders meeting organised

by Zamfara State government, on how to move the state forward.

According to him, the construction of the road would ease transportation at the permanent site among the students and staff.

“It is our collective responsibility to map out mechanism in moving the state to the next level, and I want to use this medium, to appeal to our wealthy individuals and other national business moguls from the state, to contribute their quarter to reduce the level of abject poverty and unemployment that bedeviling the state.”

news Grazing Law controversy: Fayose, Miyetti Allah leaders meet in Ekiti

32

Sam Nwaoko, Ado -Ekiti

F

OLLOWING the controversy and tension raised by the Ekiti grazing law and its implementation, Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body of cattle rearers in the country, have met in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The meeting, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, was meant to iron out gray areas in the enforcement of the grazing law in the state, especially the tension raised by the inauguration of Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) last month.

This is just as the governor said he is not against the interest of Fulani people or any other ethnic group in the country.

The meeting, which took place at the Government House, had the Ekiti State executive of MACBAN and representatives from across the local government areas in the state in attendance.

The governor expressed happiness at the decision of the leaders of MACBAN to contact the state government instead of listening to rumours being peddled around by the opposition.

“I have nothing against you or any other ethnic group. Nobody should bring politics into this matter. If a Yoruba person destroys your property I will defend you too. Lead-

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

ers are not supposed to discriminate and as a leader, I don’t discriminate.

The law of the land is not against anybody who obeys it but those who flout it. It is people destroying other people’s farms that are

causing this problem.”

The Ekiti State MACBAN chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Nasamu, commended the governor for his frankness and openness.

He noted that the meeting had disabused the

THE Nigerian Army has affirmed its resolve to continually be on top of security situation in the country amid all security challenges confronting us as a people.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony of a four-day 2 Division Nigerian Army’s operational planning cadre inauguration, held at its headquarters, Odogbo, Ibadan, on Tuesday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major-General Kasimu Abdulkareem, said “effective contigency plans and regular collective training were our essential mission critical requirements towards dealing with multifaceted challenges rife in our area of responsibility.”

He also stated that “the

were also not in support of cows destroying people’s means of livelihood.

He added that being part of the patrol teams, his members would be able to detect herdsmen with ulterior motives.

From left, Ekiti State Chairman of Meyatti Allah Cattle Rearer Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mallam Muhammad Nasamu; Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and a member of the association, Mallam Abubakar Seidu, during a meeting between the governor and the association, at the Government House, in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday.

8 insurgents blow themselves up at Borno checkpoint

By Chris Agbambu and Bodunrin Kayode

TROOPS of the Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed at a checkpoint in Gubio, Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, at about 9:15a.m, on Tuesday morning, foiled a suicide attack on Gubio town by eight Boko Haram terrorists.

The suicide bombers, the

Nigerian Tribune gathered, came in a Bedford Pick-Up van primed with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) including suicide vests, and attempted to force their way through the checkpoint, after emerging from a bush path to join the road to Gubio town.

They, however, met a stiff resistance from troops, who insisted that the vehicle be

Adequate planning, requisite for combating security challenges —2 Division GOC

By Olaronke Jaiyeola

minds of his members about wrong information being circulated by some people about the governor and the state government.

The Ekiti MACBAN Secretary, Alhaji Zaiyanu Mohammed, said his members

synergy this seminar aims to achieve is fundamental to our survival, as we are now confronted by non-state/assymetric warfare, meaning challenges/warfare which are alien to our operations.

“We now have more of intra-state as against inter-state conflicts experienced as against what was obtainable some over two decades ago, ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, cultism to herdsmen\ farmers clashes.

“Therefore, the division is more ready to effectively protect our national interests within opportunities presented by the changes taking place in the wider environment and the need to train individually and jointly with other security architecture stakeholders.

“This is premised on the

fact that operational efficiency could be achieved in the domain of operational activity that functions through collaboration and partnership with relevant agencies.”

In his own address on the occasion, guest of honour, the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, represented by Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr Segun Abolarinwa, appreciated the military for a job well done in collaborating with the state government in maintaining peace in the state.

“We are particularly grateful to you for your traditional roles and much more, your renewed roles of battling insurgency, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and most recently, cattle rustling.”

thoroughly checked.

Acting Director Army Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said the suicide bombers resisted and blew themselves up by detonating one of the suicide vests, killing all the eight Boko Haram terrorists on board.

“The suicide bombers who came in a Bedford Pick-Up vehicle primed with Improvised Explosive Devices including suicide vests, attempted to force their way through the checkpoint but met stiff resistance from troops who insisted that the vehicle be thoroughly checked.

“It was at that point that the suicide bombers refused the search by blowing themselves up, after detonating one of the suicide vests, killing all the eight Boko Haram terrorists on board,” the Army spokesman said.

Meanwhile, troop of the 8 Task Force division had commenced an operartion code-named operation “Hard terrorists hiding in remote areas of northern Borno State, along Nigeria – Niger Borders”.

The Army spokesman said as the operation progresses, troop have also cleared pockets of insurgents from their hideouts in Momo and Tunshe villages around Merte General Area Borno State.

According to him, the troops rescued 19 women, and 19 children held hostage in Dumbe Village by the terrorists.

He diclosed that during the rescue operation, the troops neutralised six Boko Haram insurgents, while others fled with gunshot wounds, leaving behind 22 motorcycles, flags and other items.

We still have 32 IDP camps in Borno —NEMA THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said there are 32 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno in spite of recent return of some persons to liberated communities.

The North-East Coordinator of the agency, Malam Muhammad Kanar, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Maiduguri.

Kanar said 16 of the camps were located in Maiduguri, while 16 were cited in some local government areas.

He said the number of displaced persons in the camps in Maiduguri ranged from 120, 000 to 130, 000.

“We still have 32 camps in the state; 16 of the camps are in Maiduguri, while 16 others are in the local government areas, which we call satellite camps.

“The number of persons in the 16 camps in Maiduguri fluctuates between 120,000 and 130,000; sometimes it is 120,000, sometimes it is less depending on the situation,” Kanar said.

He said the number of IDPs in satellite camps was 400,000, adding that no fewer than 1.2 million IDPs were also staying with relatives in the communities.

He said the agency had been striving hard to provide welfare for the IDPs wherever they were located.

“We have gone far in the management of the camps; we have graduated from central cooking system which was problematic, to dry ratio system which has been successful.

“What we do is to supply the required food items for the feeding of the IDPs to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) every month in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that we have,” Kanar said.

Boko Haram: NURTW warns drivers against highway passengers THE Borno State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), on Tuesday, warned drivers against picking passengers on the highways but only at designated motor parks.

It said this was to avoid bad elements that could cause havoc after boarding their vehicles.

Malam Bello Maduganari,

the state chairman of the union, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Maduganari said all commercial transport operators and drivers must also ensure proper scrutiny of both passengers and their luggage at various motor parks, before embarking on any trip.

“Henceforth, members from the 87 units in the state capital must always check the identification cards of passengers before conveying them.

“Some of the members of our union had fell victims of the unfortunate circumstances while others had been killed because of the lackadaisical attitudes of some drivers,” he stated.

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Wednesday,2 November, 2016

ABUAD: An example of something growing out of nothing

From right, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Aare Afe Babalola, his wife, Modupe; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Aladesanmi Adejugbe and another traditional ruler, during a visit to Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti.

By Tunde Olofintila

E

XACTLY one week after the world congregated at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), to celebrate its 7th Founder’s Day and 4th Convocation Ceremonies, it was another celebration on Friday, October 28, 2016 when the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and other royal fathers, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Aladesanmi III, visited the six-year old university.

Dressed in immaculate white apparel with a golden crown and a golden staff of office, the Ooni, a man of royalty, who has been bitten by the bug of hunger and thirst for the unity of the Yoruba nation, strolled into Alfa Belgore Hall amidst a tumultuous and rousing welcome by people from different rungs of the ABUAD community, who were at their sartorial best.

After the exchange of pleasantries and the razzmatazz associated with the upbeat event, the frontline Royal Father, who said he was more than impressed with what he saw in the six-year-old university, described ABUAD) as a typical example of “something growing out of nothing and becoming great within a very short time of its existence.”

Oba Ogunwusi commended the Founder and Chancellor of ABUAD, Aare AfeBabalola (SAN), whom he described as forthright and straightforward personality for his vision in establishing the university and taking it to a very high pedestal in six years, and for the rousing welcome the Babalolas and the entire university community organised in his honour.

His words: “ I have been reading about Aare Afe Babalola in the newspapers for many years now, but today, I will tell him something he doesn’t know: he has been one of my mentors. He is a very forthright and straightforward Ekiti man. Future leaders should take a study on what Ekiti

is and what makes it what it is today, the Fountain of Knowledge.”

He added: “I have equally noticed that it is not money that drives this great man, it is passion and a clear vision, a passion for excellence and a vision so clear that it cannot be mistaken. I then asked him why this vision and he told me somebody has to do it, someone has to bell the cat.

“Aare Afe Babalola told me how he planted a tree 25 years ago and how he has now started reaping a bountiful harvest thereof.”

He thanked Yeye Aare Modupe Babalola for her support for the vision, stressing that her name which has already been etched in letters of gold can never be erased.

Addressing the students, who turned out in their thousands to catch a glimpse of him, the Ooni who said his visit to ABUAD was another memorable day for him, and a great honour to address “great leaders of tomorrow”, urged them to plant a tree now, like Babalola did 25 years ago and nurture it into fruition, stressing that there is no short cut to success.

Affirming that the students have what it takes for them to have their destinies shaped and nurtured in ABUAD, Oba Ogunwusi said: “Your Founder planted at tree 25 years ago and he is reaping the harvest today. Each of you should plant a

tree today and nurture it because there is no short cut to success. There is a process for everything.

“Just look at the way the sun rises and sets. Look at the way the moon shines.

Look at the way the rain falls. There is a process that cannot be short circuited.”

He urged the students to identify people who could shape their lives, and have plans of what they want to grow in their souls, how happy they want to become in future and how fulfilled they want to become in future and work assiduously towards attaining those goals.

The Oba, who declined to sit down, but elected to stand up, to address the students because of his philosophy of life and his love and respect for the younger ones, said: “I have a very simple philosophy of life and that is the fact that I have a lot of respect and love for people coming behind me. I accord them greater respect and honour than those in front of me because only God knows what those coming behind me will become.

“There is only one Supreme Being who knows tomorrow. Nobody, but God Himself, knows the future of the beautiful and handsome faces I am seeing here today.

But I know there are future presidents, governors, wives of presidents and great engineers that will transform this country here, future leaders that will turn around the future of this country.”

I have equally noticed that it is not money that drives this great man, it is passion and a clear vision, a passion for excellence and a vision so clear that it cannot be mistaken

He therefore advised them to put themselves together, conduct themselves very well, be of good character and put up very clear action plans because people will look up to them as leaders in future.

In his remarks, Oba Adejugbe described the Ooni as “the Ooni of our dream, who has been visiting the hot spots in Yorubaland in search of peace and unity.” “ No wonder then that on January 17, 2016, Oba Ogunwusi visited Oyo Alaafin, embraced the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, the first of such in 79 years, thus thawing the near four decades of thick and foggy ice of impasse between the two powerful and leading thrones in Yorubaland. He has equally visited the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, the Ogunsua of Modakeke and many others, preaching the gospel of peace and unity.

In his comments, Babalola, who donned his trade mark hat and flashing his ubiquitous smile, described Ooni’s visit as an important day in the life of his university, the life of the nation and in his own life as he was receiving in audience a Royalty, who believes in oneness and unity of the Yoruba nation and demonstrating it in action and not in mere words.

He commended the Ooni for choosing to visit the Alaafin, embracing him, thus resolving the supremacy tussle between the two frontline Obas which no one, including the courts, has been able to resolve in decades.

“This is the type of leaders this country needs. When a man thinks about how to change the world and he demonstrates it through the way he relates with others, including students, such indeed is a true leader. I salute you sir,” Babalola said.

He thanked the Royal father for his words of commendation and encouragement for his family and the university, stressing that he would continue to strive to raise a new generation of leaders and build a new Nigeria.

34 news

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016 TITILAYO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Titilayo Hannah Kolawole am the same person bearing Titilayo Owoeke. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as TITILAYO OWOEKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

ANIMASAUN

I, formerly Mr Animasaun Debo Ayobami now MR ADELANI DEBO MOSES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEOYE

From left, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu; National Commissioner, INEC, Professor Antonia Simbire and another National Commissioner, Alhaji Baba Shettima Afo, during a meeting with Senate Committee on INEC, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI.

2019: Nigerians in diaspora to get voting rights if... —INEC boss Senate passes vote of confidence on commission Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

A

HEAD the 2019 general election, chairman of the Independent NationalElectoralCommission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, on Tuesday, hinted that Nigerians in the diaspora may be granted voting rights in their host countries if the National Assembly could amend the current Electoral Act ahead of time.

Professor Yakubu dropped the hint on Tuesday, while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NonGovernmental Organisation, who were on oversight to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The INEC boss stated that the commission, under his

leadership, would work closely with the two chambers of the National Assembly to deepen the nascent democracy, by ensuring that Nigerians living outside the country were given rights by the law to participate in the nation’s democratic processes, as obtained in the other countries of the world.

According to him, “INEC believes these set of Nigerians living in disapora should have the rights to vote.

Nigerians are in everywhere in the world and they are contributing their quotas to the development of those countries. Majority of them have been demanding for their rights to vote, so as to contribute to the development of the country.

“But as we are now, Nigerians in diaspora still

have to come home to register during the voters’ registration exercise and to come again during elections, that is in line with the provisions of the current Electoral Act. To enfranchise them however, the Electoral Act has to be amended,” he said.

This came as the committee passed a vote of confidence on the electoral commission under the leadership of Professor Yakubu, based on exemplary performances since constituted last year.

Speaking, the chairperson of the committee, Senator Rose Okoh, said the committee came purposely to interface with the commission on how Nigerians of voting ages living in diaspora could be incorporated to vote in the 2019 general election, or in the future elections in Nigeria.

We’ll sustain harmonious relationship with Labour unions —Ambode As Lagos recognises 18 public servants LAGOS State government, on Tuesday, recognised 18 public servants with

EFCC uncovers alleged N18m transaction

by Justice Ajumogobia Continued from pg3

of his relationship and involvement with the fund, which was said to have been wired into Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia’s personal account sometimes in 2012.

The judge was already a sitting judge of the Federal High Court as of the time the transaction took place.

Ofili-Ajumogobia had, in March this year, been sanctioned by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for some judicial infraction.

The council directed that she be prevented from being promoted to the Court of Appeal or any ad hoc judicial appointment until her retirement.

exceptional capabilities at the state 2015 productivity order of merit awards.

This came as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode pledged a continuation of the spirit of harmony and peaceful co-existence existing between the state and all trade unions.

The governor, who gave the pledge at the award ceremony, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, added that the collaboration would continue, despite the challenges of global recession and unstable foreign exchange markets.

Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, who represented him, Governor Ambode reiterated that the harmonious labour relations among all unions in the service was being nurtured and sustained through the vehicle of the State Public Service Joint Negotiating Council.

He noted that the strides achieved so far by the present administration

since it assumed office was as a result of the synergy and cooperation of the government and the public service system.

The governor emphasised that the conferment of the state productivity award on no fewer than 18 public servants was another opportunity to celebrate the state public service for its efficient and effective interpretation while implementing government policies and programmes.

He congratulated the awardees for standing heads and shoulders taller than their peers, even as it was widely acknowledged that Lagos public service is one of the “Top 5” in Africa.

Governor Ambode called on others not to rest on their oars but to continue the good work.

Earlier in her welcome address, the state Head of Service, Mrs Olabowale Ademola, had said the award symbolised recognition and meant to spur public servants to higher productivity.

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Adedolapo Sinmiloluwa now MRS OLADEJO ADEDOLAPO SINMILOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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GTBank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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ABUBAKAR I, formerly Abubakar Dahiru now ABUBAKAR TAIRU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AJIKE I, formerly Ajike Alaba Dorcas now AJIKE ALABA OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODUKOYA I, formerly Odukoya Adenike Muyinatu now ODUKOYA ADENIKE FELICIA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

ORIYOMI

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH: I, formerly Oriyomi Titilayo Layiwola now LAYIWOLA TITILAYO OLAYEMI. My correct date of birth is 3rd December, 1969.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SAEED

I, formerly Saeed Salaudeen and Salaudeen Saheed now SALAUDEEN SAEED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IBRAHIM I, formerly Ibrahim Aisha now BUKAR IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

KOLAWOLE

I, formerly Miss Kolawole Iyabo Ruth now MRS FARINMADE IYABO RUTH. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

ADEDIRAN

I, formerly Adediran Olusegun now ADEDIRAN OLUSEGUN OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

OBADARA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Obadara Waheed Abolade am the same person bearing Waheed Muritala and Waheed Abolade Obadara.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OBADARA WAHEED ABOLADE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

BASHIRU I, formerly Bashiru Taibat Bukky now ABISOLA TAIBAT BUKKY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUSAMI I, formerly Olusami Suudi Lamidi and Olusami Suudi Biodun now OLUSAMI SUUDI ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKANDE I, formerly Akande Lasisi Ogunkunle now TIJANI AZEEZ OJIBU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEOYE

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Florence Tope now MRS ORUNDUYI FLORENCE TOPE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

MAKINDE

I, formerly Miss Makinde Oluwatoyin Thereza now MRS JEJE OLUWATOYIN THEREZA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKEEM I, formerly Akeem Wahab Alubankudi now AKEEM OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AJIBOYE

I, formerly Miss Ajiboye Grace Olayemi now MRS ADELOWO GRACE OLAYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

BADIRU I, formerly Badiru Saheed Olalekan now BADRU SAIDI OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGUNNIYI I, formerly Ogunniyi Omolara Taiwo now ANJORIN OMOLARA TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016 ARIBABA

KAZEEM

LONGE

OYELAKIN

OMOTOSO I, formerly Miss Omotoso Opeyemi Mary now MRS AJADI OPEYEMI MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ASUNI I, formerly Asuni Eniola Adeola now ASUNI ADEOLA RUKAYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AYOADE

IBRAHIM I, formerly Ibrahim Akeem Alade now IBRAHIM AKEEM ADEOTI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLULADUN

I, formerly Miss Aribaba Abimbola Esther Olubunmi. now MRS KAREEM ESTHEROLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My correct name is Kazeem Wulaimot Iyabo and not Kazeem Kehinde Wulaimot. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyebode Rahamat Olaide now MRS AROWOLO RAHAMAT OLAIDE. My correct date of birth is 19/2/1984. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

DENIS I, formerly Denis Akpan Nyah now INI AKPAN NYAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

GAFAAR

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Abokorere Kazeem Ajibola am the same person bearing Tiamiyu Kazeem Ajibola. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ABOKORERE KAZEEM AJIBOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss AdenugaAbel Adewunmi now MRS ELEBIJO ADEWUNMI OREOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bashir Rukayat Opeyemi now MRS SAHEED AAKIB RUKAYAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Gafaar Muibat Salewa now MRS AKANGBE MUIBAT SALEWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeleke Lydia Abosede now MRS BALOGUN LYDIA ABOSEDE . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ariwola Sarafatu Adenike now MRS RASHEED SARAFAT ADENIKE . All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeleke Sukurat Ayobami now MRS IBRAHIM SUKURAT AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid.

Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyesan Temitayo Abiodun now MRS ADEWALE TEMITAYO ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, hereby declare that, my full name is Akinro Oluwaseun Kunle and not Akinro Oluwaseun Olakunle as mistakenly written on my bank account. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as AKINRO OLUWASEUN KUNLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Alfa Abdulsalam Saheed Opeyemi now OPEYEMI SAHEED OLAMIMO. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Akindele Omosalewa Moromoke now MISS LAWAL OMOSALEWA MOROMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and general public take note.

I, formerly Ajibola Taiwo Oyewole now AKINJINMI TAIWO OYEWOLE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Gbenro Tunrayo Yemisi now ADEGBENRO MOTUNRAYO OLUYEMISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ige Abiola Olufunmilayo now MRS OYINLOLA ABIOLA OLUFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Oladokun Omotayo Emmanuel, formerly Olamiju Omotayo Emmanuel now OLADOKUN OMOTAYO EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note and to whom it may concern.

I, formerly Miss Ayeni Elizabeth Monisola now MRS ADETOYE ELIZABETH MONISOLA. All former documents remain valid. Seap Microfinance Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jecolia Yakuna Audu now MRS JECOLIA ROSE TIMOTHY AJAS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Oni Omolayo Mercy am the same person bearing Oni Omolayo Anuoluwapo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ONI OMOLAYO MERCY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ibrahim Nanahauwa Orewa now MRS. ABDULMALIK NANAHAUWA OREWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Onovoh Sunday am the same person as Onovoh Sunday Chiprize.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ONOVOH SUNDAY CHIPRIZE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oluwaseun Rukayat Akindeji now MRS OLUWASEUN RUKAYAT AMEH MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

WILLIAMS I, formerly Williams Adekunle Pedro now ADENIJI NURUDEEN ABDULAI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IKUEMONISAN

I, formerly Miss Okanlawon Esther Anike now MRS OKOKPAWEI ESTHER ANIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Omowumi Dorcas Jacob now OMOWUMI DORCAS BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Solomon Ugwu Fidelia now MRS ALEX FIDELIA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Afoakwa Andria Isioma now MRS. SHABI ANDRIA ISIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Okeyode Margaret Adekemi now MRS. OGUNNIYI MARGARET ADEKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Oluladun Amoru now KAMORUDEEN OLULADUN AGBEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADELEKE

ALFA

ADEGBENRO

AYENI

OLUWASEUN

JIMOH I, formerly Jimoh Abiola Moshood now OLUSOLA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEGOKE

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: Adegoke Idayat Temitope was written on my National Card instead of Adegoke Temitope Idayat and I want to be known and and addressed as ADEGOKE TEMITOPE IDAYAT. My date of birth is 27th August, 1987. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

FAKANDE

I, formerly Miss Fakande Margaret Abimbola now MRS OLABISI MARGARET. All former documents remain valid. The Authority concerned and general public take note.

ADEBISI

I, formerly Miss Adebisi Olaitan Aminat now MRS OYELOLA OLAITAN AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank, EcoBank and general public take note.

ADEBIMPE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adebimpe Jadesimi am the same person as ADEBIMPE AKINLEYE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

ABOKORERE

ADENUGA-ABEL

ADELEKE

OYESAN

AKINDELE

IGE

JECOLIA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ikuemonisan, Adebanke Nimota am the same person bearing Ikuemonisan, Adebanke Nimota and Ikuemonisan Adebanke Adepeju. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as IKUEMONISAN ADEBANKE NIMOTA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

AJAO

OYEBODE

BASHIR

ARIWOLA

AKINRO

AJIBOLA

OLADOKUN

OKANLAWON

OMOWUMI

OGUNLADE

I, formerly Miss Ogunlade Kehinde Gladys now MRS ADEYEYE KEHINDE GLADYS. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

HAMMED

I, formerly Miss Longe Damilola Yejide Efe now MRS ODEWOLE DAMILOLA YEJIDE EFE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODEH I, formerly Miss Odeh Grace Adiya now MRS OGBU GRACE ADIYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ESANJU

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Esanju Omolola Abebi am the same person bearing Omolola Esanju, Akande Omolola Abebi and Moses Omolola Abebi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ESANJU OMOLOLA ABEBI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

AWOSOLA

I, formerly Miss Oyelakin Anuoluwapo Mary now MRS. ADEGBENRO ANUOLUWAPO MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADESINA

I, formerly Adesina Aderonke Nike now ADESINA TINUADE RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONOCHETA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Onocheta Rebecca Fiyinfoluwa am the same person bearing Onocheta Rebecca F. and Onocheta Fiyinfoluwa. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ONOCHETA REBECCA FIYINFOLUWA. My correct date of birth is 03/03/1991 and not 03/03/1987All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

IGOKI

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, my name Ayoade Abiodun Abayomi was mistakenly written as Ayoade Abayomi Abbey. That, my correct name is AYOADE ABIODUN ABAYOMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

OYEBADE

I, formerly Awosola Emmanuel Akin now AKINOLA AKINDOYIN EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Igoki Justinah Ibironke now ADEMUJIMI IBIRONKE JUSTINAH. All former documents remain valid. Unity Bank, UBA and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyebade Abiodun Oyefunke now MRS. ORUNSOLU ABIODUN OYEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Teaching Commission and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ayeni Olabisi Olayinka am the same person bearing Ayeni Janet Olayinka. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as AYENI OLABISI OLAYINKA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aladesulu Nurat Kikelomo now MRS ABDULAZEEZ NURAT KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid.

General Public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omotosho Busayo Mary now MRS. AKINOLA BUSAYO MARY. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

AYENI

LADEPO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ladepo Iyabo Modupe am the same person bearing Iyabo Modupe Oladepo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as LADEPO IYABO MODUPE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. TESCOM, Oyo State, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

BELLO

I, formerly Bello Tawa Olajumoke now OLADIPUPO OLAJUMOKE SUCCESS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONI

SOLOMON

BELLO I, formerly Bello Abiola Mistura now BELLO ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AMSAT

ALADESULU

ATOYEBI

OMOTOSHO

AKINLOYE

I, formerly Atoyebi Kafaru now ATOYEBI GBOLAHANMI DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Hospital Management Board, Osogbo and general public take note.

I, formerly Akinloye Jimoh Abefe now ADEKUNLE JIMOH ABEFE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Franca Erezi Eguanuku now MRS FRANCA EREZI JOSEPH UKUEDOGHO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Julius Calistus Dumbiri now KENYINWAYE CALISTUS DUMBIRI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FRANCA

ABDULMALIK

AFOAKWA

OWOLADE

I, formerly Miss Owolade Kemi Mary now MRS. ADEWALE KEMISOLA MARY. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

PROPHET

JULIUS

ONOVOH

OKEYODE

ATANDA

I, formerly Miss Atanda Rofiat Dasola now MRS.OLATEJU ROFIAT DASOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General Public take note.

ANIFOWOSE

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly Hammed Yaya now AHMED YAYA A . All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, formerly Amzat Ridwan Sijuade now AMSAT RIDWAN SIJUADE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Magnus Chima Azoke now AZOKE CHUKWUMA MAGNUS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Fakola Hannah Mojisola now ODUBANJO HANNAH MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oladele Folasade Adeola am the same person as Oladele Folasade Folusho. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLADELE FOLASADE ADEOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ogunsola Ajayi Abiodun am the same person as Ajayi Abiodun Oluwasola. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OGUNSOLA AJAYI ABIODUN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Pastor Oladokun Folorunso Moses now OLADOKUN MOSES. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Ibraheem Abdulahi Akinkunmi now IBRAHIM ABDULAHI AKANJI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, GTBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Abubakar Surajudeen Olatunde now BAKARE SURAJUDEEN OLATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Emessiri Chinyerem Grace and GRACE ADEHOR CHINYEREM EMESSIRI now MRS ADEHOR GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Femi Opayemi now OLADOSU FEMI EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH: I, Fahad Yakubu Muh’d hereby state that my name was mistakenly written as Yakubu Mohammed. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as FAHAD YAKUBU MUH’D. My correct date of birth is 17th March, 1996 and not 17th March, 1995. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Salami Abdulnafiu Olalekan am the same person as Abdulsalam Kunle Nafiu and Abdulsalam Nafiu Kunle. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI ABDULNAFIU OLALEKAN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Oladejo Kayode Opeyemi now OLADEJO KAYODE OPE. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayinuola Mercy Damilola now MRS AKINNIYI MERCY DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH: I, Yusuff Suleiman Abdul wish to state that my correct date of birth is 1/10/1960 and not 28/10/1956. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajao Monsurat Odunola now MRS ILUGBO MONSURAT ODUNOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

QUEEN I, formerly Miss Queen Mordecai Wolugbom now MRS QUEEN MORDECAI OMODU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PASTOR

FAHAD

MAGNUS

IBRAHEEM

SALAMI

FAKOLA

ABUBAKAR

OLADEJO

I, formerly Prophet John Sunday Ilivieda now JOHN SUNDAY ILIVIEDA. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

OLADELE

EMESSIRI

AYINUOLA

I, formerly Miss Anifowose Maryam now MRS RAUF MARYAM. All former documents remain valid.

Zenith Bank and general public take note.

OGUNSOLA

FEMI

YUSUFF

36

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

OLADIMEJI

BALOGUN

ADIGUN

I, formerly Adigun Shina Abiodun now ADIGUN SHINA JAMIU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKINLOSOTU

ADARAMAJA

OYELAMI

I, formerly Miss Akinlosotu Ganiyat Ibukun now MRS SOLIU AKINLOSOTU GANIYAT IBUKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adaramaja Omobolanle Aminat now BELLO OMOBOLANLE AMINAT COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

RE-ARRANGEMENT OF NAME: I hereby declare that my correct names are Oyelami Olubunmi Morishade and not Oyelami Morishade Olubunmi.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYELAMI OLUBUNMI MORISHADE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Disamu Olaoluwa Akinwumi now MR. OLALEKAN OLAOLUWA AKINWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I hereby declare that the correct spelling of my name is Adeyemi Nasiru Idowu and not Adeyemi Nasirudeen Idowu.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI NASIRU IDOWU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Uju Sylvia Mgbako now MRS. UJU PAUL OTU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ariyo Oluwasola Emmanuel now WOYE O L U WA T I M I L E Y I N OLUWASOLA. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunduyile Temitayo Titilope now MRS. AYOOLA TEMITAYO TITILOPE. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Ezeokeke Blessing now EZEOKEKE BLESSING IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Folarin Kehinde Mary now MRS OJENIRAN KEHINDE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Fakayode Olugbade now FAKAYODE MICHAEL OLUGBADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Kapelaye Yusuff Abiola am the same person as Moshood Yusuff Abiola and Yusuff A. Kapelaye. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as KAPELAYE YUSUFF ABIOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bamigbala Agnes Bolatito now MRS AKINLEYE AGNES BOLATITO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Eshilonu Uchechi Goodness now MRS. DANIEL UCHECHI GOODNESS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Oyekunle Dorcas Oyenike now KOLADE DORCAS OYENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Emmanuel Monday that my name was wrongly written as Emmanuel Sunday. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL MONDAY. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayomikun Adenike Oginni now MRS AYOMIKUN ADENIKE OLANIYAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Adebimpe Abiodun Muqtar now ADEBIMPE ABIODUN ADEKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Oyekunle Tomi Oyekanmi now OYEKUNLE OLUTOMI OYEKANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Monehin Omolara Abiodun now OYELADE OMOLARA ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Tajudeen Gazal Adedeji now KASALI ADEDEJI TAJUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Laila Barbara Salami am the same person bearing Laila Barbara JohnsonSalami. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as LAILA BARBARA JOHNSON-SALAMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyeniyi Kafilat Oyefunke now MRS. LAWAL KAFILAT OYEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Adeleye Ibiyemi Ibironke (Nee Otun) now MRS. AKINDURO IBIYEMI IBIRONKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Agboade Ruth Kehinde now MRS OLANIYAN RUTH KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Mamanwanyi Nikenna now MRS LAWAL CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alowolodu Kehinde Adebola now MRS ADEWA KEHINDE ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ademola Sarah Moradeyo now MRS ADEGOKE SARAH MORADEYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Local Government Education Authority, Oriire Local Government, Ogbomoso and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oladimeji Mathew Omoniyi am the same person bearing Oladimeji Omoniyi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OLADIMEJI MATHEW OMONIYI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Balogun Fatimat Abiodun now BALOGUN KHADIJAT AFOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rasaq Ajoke Sakirat now MRS. MAKINDE AJOKE SAKIRAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Bukola Beatrice Alabi Korede now BUKOLA BEATRICE KOREDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akano Rachael Tolulope now MRS. OLALEKAN RACHAEL TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mr. Adeoye David Taye am the same person as Mr. Idowu Taye Samuel.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MR. ADEOYE DAVID TAYE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojo Aderiyike Rhoda now MRS. ADENIYI ADERIYIKE RHODA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Moradeyo Damilola Halimat now MRS. ADELAJA DAMILOLA MORADEYO. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Salami Waheed Sekoke am the same person bearing Salami Waheed Bayo.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as SALAMI WAHEED SEKOKE and my correct date of birth is 5th January, 1972. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adelakun Oluwatobi Adewumi now MRS ODEKUNLE OLUWATOBI ADEWUMI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB, Ogbomoso South LGUBEA, Arowomole and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Victoria Nne Agbakwuru now MRS. VICTORIA NNE AKPOGUME. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

RASAQ

ADEOYE

SALAMI

VICTORIA

ADEBIMPE

OYENIYI

ALOWOLODU

OLANIPEKUN

BUKOLA

OJO

ADELAKUN

ESHILONU

OYEKUNLE

ADELEYE

ADEMOLA

YUSUFF

AKANO

MORADEYO

FOLARIN

OYEKUNLE

MONEHIN

OJEDIRAN I, formerly Ojediran Ojo now OJEDIRAN MICHAEL OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid.

Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

ADEWUMI I, formerly Adewumi Shakkyrah Adeola now ADEWUMI SHAKKYRAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AHMED

DISAMU

ARIYO

FAKAYODE

EMMANUEL

TAJUDEEN

AGBOADE

RAUF

ADEYEMI

OGUNDUYILE

KAPELAYE

AYOMIKUN

LAILA

MAMANWANYI

OJEDIRAN

UJU

EZEOKEKE

BAMIGBALA

MURITALA

I, formerly Muritala Abiodun Hammed now MURITADHOR ABIODUN ABDULHAMID. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KAZ

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Kaz Daniel Salami am the same person bearing KAZ DANIEL JOHNSONSALAMI. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as KAZ DANIEL JOHNSONSALAMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

RAFIU

I, formerly Rafiu Jimoh now AKANDE JIMOH and my date of birth was wrongly written as 1204-1975 instead of 01-01-1985.

All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

BAMIDELE

I, formerly Bamidele Salam Babatunde now BAMIDELE A B D U L S A L A M BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Rauf Sabitu Akanni now MUSA SABITUDEEN. My date of birth is 01-01-1991 and not 21-06-1993. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ojediran Ojewale now OJEDIRAN OLALERE MOSES. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ahmed Wale Afuwape now AFUWAPE HAMMED ALAO. My correct date of birth is 01-01-1960 and not 01-10-1960. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Babalola Damilola Dorcas now BABALOLA DAMILOLA ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rabiu Temitope Cathrine now MRS ADEWALE TEMITOPE CATHRINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alao Adijat Toyin now MRS ADENIRAN ADIJAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olujide Olubunmi Oladimeji am the same person bearing Olujide Bunmi Oladimeji and Olujide Olubunmi Oladimeji. That I wish to be known and addressed as OLUJIDE OLUBUNMI OLADIMEJI. All documents bearing Olujide Bunmi Oladimeji remain valid. General public to take note and to whom it may concern.

BABALOLA

RABIU

ALAO

I, formerly Miss Olanipekun Bukola Hannah now MRS OMONIYI BUKOLA HANNAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Yusuff Olabode Musendic now YUSUFF OLABODE MUZENDIC. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

I, formerly Abodunrin Olusola Hannah now SOBODU OLUSOLA HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akintonde Funmilola Juliana now ASANBE FUNMILOLA JULIANA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Oladunjoye Oladeinde Yetunde now OLADEINDE YETUNDE ASABI. All former documents remain valid. Commercial Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Kabir Alabi Imran now ALABI KABIR ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank and general public take note.

I, Manu Chienyewa Celestina formerly known, called and addressed as Manu Celestina Taiwo now wish to be known, called and addressed as MANU CHIENYENWA CELESTINA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Diamond Bank, general public and to whom it may concern take note.

I, formerly Miss Joseph Oluwaremilekun Esther now MRS. OLAYIWOLA O L U WA R E M I L E K U N ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Soroye Omobola Omotoke Hannah now MRS. ASORO OMOBOLA OMOTOKE HANNAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Omolara Ayorinde now MRS OMOLARA ALABI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olasoji Foluke Mosun now ADEPOJU FOLUKE MOSUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olanrewaju Opeyemi Olajumoke now MRS MUDASHIRU OPEYEMI SALMOT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Raheem Muinat Jumoke now MRS LAWAL MUINAT JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Esther Oludamilola Amos now MRS ESTHER OLUDAMILOLA AKINOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bello Adeyinka Kikelomo now MRS OCHUI ADEYINKA KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinyemi Oluwaseun Florence now MRS FOLARIN OLUWASEUN FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: I, Arowolo Tope Olalekan, that my name was wrongly written as Arowolo Sulaiman Olalekan. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AROWOLO TOPE OLALEKAN. And my date of birth is 1st January, 1975. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajala Abiodun Omoyeni now MRS OLADITI ABIODUN OMOYENI R. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odunayo Rukayat Olubukola now MRS MUSTAPHA RUKAYAT OLUBUKOLA ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odedina Temidayo Christianah now MRS AKINRANTI TEMIDAYO CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Muoghalu Nneka Maryanne now MRS AKUBUE NNEKA MARYANNE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oladepo Oyebunmi Anifat am the same person bearing Badiru Anifat Oyebunmi.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BADIRU ANIFAT OYEBUNMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank, Access Bank and general public to take note.

ABODUNRIN

JOSEPH

ESTHER

MINABORAE

AKINTONDE

SOROYE

BELLO

TITILOLA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: This is to confirm that Goodie Minabo Ibru and Goodie Minaborae Ibru refer to one and same person. All documents bearing either of the two names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss. Titilola Aanuoluwapo Abe now MRS. TITILOLA AANUOLUWAPO PETERADEGOKE. All former documents remain valid. general public and authority concerned take note.

I, formerly AwotayoJohnson Ayobami Adesina now AYOTAYO AYOBAMI ADESINA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odewande Waliyat Bola now MRS. MUSTAPHA WALIYAT OMOBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AWOTAYO

ODEWANDE

OLADUNJOYE

OMOLARA

AKINYEMI

RAFIU I, formerly Miss Rafiu Aishat Folashade now MRS AKEEM AISHAT FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLOWOYO I, formerly Miss Olowoyo Titilope Agnes now MRS OLUWABIYI TITILOPE AGNES. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

KABIR

OLASOJI

AROWOLO

ODEDINA

ADEGBOLA

I, formerly Adegbola Kemi now ADEPEJI ADEKEMI BADIRAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MANU

OLANREWAJU

AJALA

MUOGHALU

AFOLABI

I, formerly Mrs Afolabi Fadese now MRS FADESO ABEKE AKALA. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

OLUJIDE

RAHEEM

ODUNAYO

OLADEPO

AKOSILE

I, formerly Miss Akosile Oluwafunmilayo Christiana now MRS OLORODE O L U F U N M I L A Y O CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

37

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

foreig naffairs

08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Moroccans continue protest over death of fish vendor

US election: Trump now leads Clinton

in latest national poll

D

ONALD Trump has leapfrogged over Hillary Clinton in the newest national ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll.

Trump is now 1 point ahead of his Democratic rival, earning 46 per cent of likely voters’ support, compared to Clinton’s 45 per cent, news agencies report.

This is a shocking reversal from just nine days ago, when Clinton was 12 points ahead.

Then Trump was being bombarded by accusations from women of sexual misconduct, including groping and kissing without their permission, while Clinton

looked to be smooth sailing to the White House.

But even before Friday’s revelation written by FBI Director James Comey in a letter to congress, that more conversations from Clinton’s secret server had been discovered – the Democrat was losing ground and the race was tightening.

By Sunday, one week after the daily tracking poll launched, Clinton was ahead by just 1 point, and now she’s behind The Donald by the same.

Voter enthusiasm for Clinton, a metric she’s struggled with all year, had finally topped Trump’s on

October 22, but has again dipped below.

Trump leads Clinton by 8 points in voter enthusiasm with 53 per cent of likely voters saying they’re very enthusiastic about voting for the billionaire, while 45 per cent said that of Clinton.

Nine days ago, Clinton was at 52 per cent and Trump at 49 per cent.

Trump’s 1 point lead nationally is within the poll’s margin of error as the race is, as ABC’s pollsters put it, “exceedingly close.”

Trump has only bested Clinton once before in this survey, topping her by 2 points in late May after he closed up the Republican nomination.

She would clinch the Democratic nomination in early June and then be endorsed by her primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, in mid-July.

Pollsters also warn that voter preference taken a week out doesn’t necessarily predict who’s going to win the race.

A week before the elec-

Palestinians demand UK apology for Balfour declaration

Mandela Foundation rebukes Zuma, joins calls for leadership change THE foundation set up to guard the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela on Tuesday blamed South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma for the “wheels coming off” Africa’s most industrialized nation and urged a change in political leadership.

Since coming to power in 2009, Zuma has survived a string of corruption scandals almost unscathed. But South Africa has had to bear the cost of his antics as investors worry about its political stability, business climate and rule of law.

Jacob Zuma

The non-profit Nelson Mandela Foundation, whose board consists of ten prominent South African academics, politicians and journalists, called on the African National Congress (ANC), the liberation movement once headed by Mandela and now led by Zuma, to change its leadership.

“We call on the governing party to take the steps necessary to ensure that the vehicle of state be protected and placed in safe and capable hands,” it said in a rare statement entitled: “Time to account for crippling the state.”

Zuma’s spokesman did not answer a phone call by Reuters seeking comment.

Several ANC members have called for the 74-yearold to quit but the ANC’s top echelons have backed him. In August municipal elections the ANC suffered its worst losses since taking power when apartheid fell in 1994.

tion four years ago, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was 1 point ahead of incumbent President Barack Obama.

Obama would go on to win.

The same scenario played out in 2004 with Democrat John Kerry, now Obama’s secretary of state, 1 point ahead of incumbent President George W. Bush.

Bush beat Kerry in the popular vote by more than 2 points, after losing the popular vote to Al Gore four years before.

MOROCCANS protesting over the gruesome death of a fish seller have vowed to continue demonstrating until the full truth surrounding his death is known.

Mouhcine Fikri, 31, was crushed to death in a rubbish truck on Friday, as he reportedly tried to protest against a municipal worker seizing and destroying his wares.

“We want them [the authorities] to know that the children of this region want to end the oppression,” said Faysal Awssal, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights.

People here want respect for the people of Al-Hoceima. People are [politically] aware. We want an investigation that determines what happens,” he told Al Jazeera.

Nourredine el-Maalem, 47, another activist in AlHoceima, said that people were not only demanding a thorough investigation that will bring justice to Fikri, but also a change that will prevent these things from happening in the future.

Balfour’s promise to the Zionist movement was just one in a series of conflicting pledges made to Jews and Arabs, says British Palestinian author Karl Sabbagh .

PHOTO: Getty Images

PALESTINIAN activists have launched a campaign calling on the British government to apologise for the Balfour Declaration, which pledged a homeland for the

Jewish people in historic Palestine nearly a century ago Aljazeera reports.

At a launch event at the House of Parliament last Tuesday, Palestinian groups

and their supporters blamed the plight of the Palestinian people on the legacy of the pledge and wider British colonialism in the region.

If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the British parliament will have to consider debating the subject.

Baroness Jenny Tonge, an independent member of Britain’s upper house of parliament, said pro-Palestinian MPs from across the spectrum would push the issue regardless of what happens with the petition.

“There will be people in the House of Commons and the House of Lords who will be

raising the issue all through the next year,” Tonge said.

The activists, backed by the Palestinian diplomatic mission in the UK, intend to pressure the British government in the lead up to the hundredth anniversary of the pledge in November 2017.

In 1917, in a letter to Lord Rothschild, the head of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, British foreign secretary Arthur James Balfour, promised support for a homeland for Jews in Palestine so long as existing communities in the area were not “prejudiced.”

Rape videos for sale in India IN this industrial northern state, you can buy footage of a woman being raped for the price of a cheap meal.

Al Jazeera found several videos that appeared to depict rape for sale across the state. They cost from Rs 20 to Rs 200 (30 cents to $3) and are transmitted to a customer’s mobile phone in a matter of seconds.

The faces of the women are visible in these films.

Their voices are clear. The attacks on them are brutal.

In Meerut, a city in western Uttar Pradesh, an area mostly known for the manufacturing of sporting goods, local contacts indicated that the movie files, marketed as “rape videos”, were available in nearby villages.

With shopkeepers cautious about selling them to nonlocals, one local man in the village of Incholi - roughly 15km from Meerut - agreed to buy one and show it to Al Jazeera.

Shahnawaz, who declined to use his real name, said

Footage of rape can be purchased for as little as 30 cents [Al Jazeera]

that the videos are not generally made with the intention of being sold on the open market. Still, he’s heard a lot about them.

“They make it to blackmail the victims [of rape] ... so that they don’t go and file a

complaint in the nearest police station,” Shawnawaz explained.

Sometimes, he said, the videos are stolen from the perpetrator’s phone when he takes his device to a shop for repairs.

38 communitynews

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Kogi gov assures rural communities of even development yinka oladoyinbo-lokoja

K

ogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has assured the people of Takete Ide Amuro of Mopamuro Local Government Area of the state of even development under his administration.

The governor, who made the pledge at the 2016 Takete Ide Day, said his government is out to make life meaningful for people in rural areas.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, the governor said his government was prepared to spark a revolution in rural development through good roads, potable water, quality education and healthcare services.

He said: “My administration is already investigating the abandoned road projects linking OrokereTakete-Aghara communities. We are committed to ensuring the completion of the road and I want to assure you that something will be done soon.

“My government will make rural life worthwhile through effective implementation of the blueprint of our new direction agenda. I felicitate with my Director-General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo and the entire people of Takete Ide as I call on them to continue to support our government.”

Both the Olude of Ide,

Oba Philip Ebilakun and the President, Takete Ide Progressive Union, Samuel Orumbe, thanked the governor for appointing one of their sons, Fanwo as his Director-General on Media, pledging the support of the community

their farm produce.

In his comments, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral, Donor Agencies and Special Projects, Mr Ibrahim Adoga, called on youths in the state to key into empowerment pro-

grammes in agriculture and other skill acquisition programme in order to create wealth and become employers of labour.

Fanwo, on his part, thanked the governor for supporting the community.

A collapsed bridge at Abatakan, Ojoo axis of the old Ibadan-Oyo Road in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State begging for government’s attention. PHOTO: TUNDE ADEGBOLA

LASG, traders agree on redevelopment of Mosafejo market bola badmus-lagos

Leaders and traders at Mosafejo Market in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State

Environmental infringement: 10 houses in Surulere to face prosecution The Department of Environment in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State, at the weekend, served over 10 houses in Surulere area notices to appear before the court for constituting hazards to the environment.

The Sole Administrator, Surulere Local Government Area, Mr Sheriff Balogun, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, during the sanitation exercise.

Balogun said that the environment department had served the respective houses and owners of some cars parked on the streets, notices to evacuate them.

NAN reported that

to the governor and his government.

They, however, called on the governor to come to their rescue in ensuring the completion of the Orokere-Takete-Aghara Road to facilitate the movement of people and

some houses on Rufai Street, Makinde Street and Oladehinde Street, in the council area, were affected.

“We usually go around the streets during sanitation exercise with officers in the environment department of the council.

“We have been able to discover a shop built on top of the drain which is not allowing water to flow in Rufai Street.

“We were able to discover leakages of sewage which can also cause environmental pollution.

“We have been sensitising residents of Surulere constantly and the majority of them have been able to realise the importance of living in a clean environment,” Balogun said.

have agreed with the plan of the state government to redevelop the market.

The traders and market leaders gave their words while speaking at a stakeholders meeting with officials of the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development at Alausa.

The people said they were in support of the plans of the state government to regenerate Oshodi and by extension, Mosafejo Market into a standard transport interchange and more befitting market.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Anifowoshe Abiola, while speaking at the meeting, said it is necessary to redevelop the area based on the commencement of the urban regeneration of Oshodi by the state government.

He said the state government was planning to transform the area into a world class central business district.

He urged traders to embrace the plan, saying, “when completed, you will realise that the value of your business and your quality of life would have improved tremendously.”

In her remarks, the Iya-Oja, Mrs Esther, Kehinde told Nigerian Tribune that the market executive members have agreed with the state government on the redevelopment plan, pointing out that there was no resentment from the traders.

While assuring that the traders would cooperate with the state government to ensure the success of the project, Mrs Kehinde thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the decision to compensate the shop owners after completion.

Seaman’s Schnapps upholds culture at Olojo Festival by bode adewumi

Seaman’s Schnapps, Nigeria’s leading Schnapps brand has affirmed its traditional role as the number one prayer drink at the recently concluded Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun Sate to celebrate “Ogun”, the god of iron, who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba race.

The event which held between October 8 and 17, 2016 saw the Seaman’s team led by its Senior Sales Manager, West Region, Mr. Adewale Ogunyemi to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to pay homage to the revered monarch.

Ogunyemi presented the Seaman’s Schnapps to the Ooni, which the Kabiyesi used to offer prayers to the gods on behalf of the people and the land.

Seaman’s also promoted Yoruba tradition of offering gifts on visits to the palace by presenting branded gift items and Seaman’s product range to Oba Ogunwusi and palace chiefs Speaking to newsmen, Ogunyemi said Seaman’s Schnapps is the original prayer drink that has affinity with the celebration of culture and tradition, which Olojo Festival is primary.

He further pointed out that the brand took part in engaging the people with its famous Ayo Olopon contest during the festival at which winners were rewarded with fabulous gifts.

Gbaramatu traditional council decries downgrading of varsity by FG ebenezer adurokiya-warri

Members of the Traditional Council of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have condemned the downgrading of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko to a mere polytechnic.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, had informed the Federal Government during the presentation of a book entitled: 7 Big Wins to Grow the Oil Sector in Abuja, that the embattled degree awarding Maritime University had been taken over by his ministry and converted to a polytechnic that will be awarding di-

plomas.

Acting Secretary of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who spoke to journalists in Warri on the issue, described the action as vexatious and degrading.

He said: “We find this presentation and plan annoying, disturbing, disgraceful, insulting and dehumanising.

“The issue of the Okerenkoko Maritime University was supposed to be a Pre-Niger Delta and Federal Government parley agenda which was part of the low hanging fruits that Federal Government was supposed to deal with, so as to build trust before the Niger Delta leaders and Federal Gov-

ernment discussions.

“But to our surprise, without consultations, the Federal Government had gone ahead to take a decision reducing the university to a petroleum ministry-run polytechnic that would award OND and HND certificates.

“Whatever would have gone wrong with the Maritime University that made the Federal Government to reduce the status of the university to a polytechnic is what any serious-minded Niger Deltan and Gbaramatu man, in particular cannot understand.”

Gbenekama said his people had rejected the plan, calling on the Federal Government to rescind the decision in order to avoid unrest in the area.

39 news

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

N/Delta leaders meet Buhari, make 16 demands

Want ownership of oil blocs, relocation of companies headquarters to region Clement Idoko -Abuja

E

LDERS from the Niger Delta region, on Tuesday, presented 16-point demand to the Federal Government, as lasting solution to the lingering crisis and degradation of the environment in the oil rich region.

The elders, under the auspices of the PAN Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led by a former information minister, Chief Edwin Clark, met with President Muhammadu Buhari and other officials of government in the ongoing negotiation efforts to restore tranquility to the region.

Militants and other interest groups in the region had been skeptical of dialogue and engagements with the Federal Government, saying such hardly produced tangible results.

Among their demands are presidential amnesty programme, law and justice, effect of increased military presence in the region, plights of internally displaced persons, the Ogoni clean-up and environmental remediation, the maritime university issue and key regional critical infrastructure.

Others are security surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure, relocation of administrative and operational headquarters of international oil companies (IOCs), power supply, economic development and empowerment, inclusive participation in oil industry and ownership of oil blocs, restructuring and funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), strengthening of the Niger Delta ministry, Bakassi question and fiscal federalism.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the parley was a frank conversation on how to end the crisis in the region.

“We had a privilege of having a meeting chaired

by President Muhammadu Buhari. A meeting with Niger Delta stakeholders, led by Chief Edwin Clark and Chief Alfred Diette Spiff.

Four governors were in attendance, one represented.

“Series of ministers were also in attendance. It was largely a courtesy call to bring to the front burner the issues of the Niger Delta and the concerns and we spent time hearing from the Niger Delta leaders in terms of their areas of concern and what they believe the Federal Government should to bring down pressure amd stress in the area and to bring down militancy to the barest minimum, if not eliminated.

“It was fairly good, fairly civilised dialogue between all the parties. I did make a speech in terms of what the Federal Government direction should be. The president gave his ideas in terms of what his thought processes were. I think it is a frank conversation. It is the beginning of a process.

“We had over a hundred representatives. So, it was a very well attended function.

Opinions given were very honest, very frank. But I think at the end of the day, we exchanged enough thought processes to go back to the drawing board to begin a process of work,” he said.

He noted that ceasefire declared by the militants as a result of the commitment of the Federal Government to dialogue had yielded positive result, saying “we are at 2.1 million barrels production.

That’s substantial. That would not have happened without efforts that went behind through the royal fathers and leaders, through the militant leaders. A lot of behind-thescene engagements had taken place and will continue to take place.”

Kachkwu said the president was happy to receive the stakeholders from the region, adding that “he will want to dig into the root causes of the problem in order to find a lasting solution.”

He explained that the oil companies’ representatives were not at the meeting because it was that of the leaders from the region.

Clark, in his remark,

disclosed that the meeting was organised by Kachikwu and the elders, who have had the authority of the militants and various interst groups to negotiate for them.

He said although there were many factions of interest groups in the region, these were collapsed into a group called the PANDEF which he now chairs.

“We invited all the interest groups, so what you see today is a combination of all the interest groups,” he said.

Clark debunked as untrue, impression by some media organisations that all was not well between the Niger Delta leaders and the Federal Government, adding that the meeting with the president went well.

At the meeting, which also had Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, the traditional ruler of Amayanabo of TwonBrass in Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, disclosed that PANDEF presented a 16-point document to President Buhari.

King Alfred was flanked by Kachikwu; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Clark, Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru, among others.

The traditional ruler said it was disheartening that the headquarters of most oil companies were not located in the Niger Delta, adding that as a result, the region was denied all development and associated benefits that would have accrued to it from their presence.

“It is, therefore, imperative

for the international oil companies to relocate to their areas of operation. This move would create a mutually beneficial relationship with the host communities,” he said.

The king, who presented the document to President Buhari on behalf of the stakeholders, said these demands were among 16 others requiring the president’s action.

Ontheamnestyprogramme, the elders decried that out of the five components of the disarmament and retrieval of weapons from the ex-militants, only the disarmament and demobilisation component was being implemented.

They noted that tensions over the fate of the Niger Delta amnesty programme was as a result of lack of genuine exit strategy.

They wanted the programme reviewed, to reappraise its core mandate and to provide a robust exist strategy, in order to transit recipients into jobs, effectively integrate them and few the of dependency on stipends, so that their new-found skills would be of benefit to themselves and larger community.

On the issue of law and justice, the elders said in view of the insecurity situation in the region, a number of pending law and justice issues regarding some aggrieved groups and individuals were yet to be resolved.

According to them, increased in military presence

had resulted in invasion of communities, displacement of persons, harassment and other firms of human rights abuse, while they demanded that government halted the escalation of tension in the region.

The elders also wanted relevant government agencies to take urgent measures to meet the immediate needs of those displaced by upsurge of insecurity in the region.

On the Ogoni clean-up and environmental remediation, they wanted government to speed up the exercise and urged the government to enforce zero gas flare deadline.

They also wanted the devastating effects of coastal erosion and lack of effective shoreline protection for the coastal communities tackled urgently, while asking the Federal Government to commission a region-wide credible assessment of the impacts of crude oil pollution of the environment in the region and undertake to enforce environmental laws.

The elders also asked the Federal Government to ensure prompt take-off of the Niger Delta Maritime University and completion of East-West road and the full implementation of the rail project designated to run through the Niger Delta region to Lagos.

On the issue of security surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure, the elders demanded that pipeline surveillance contracts given to the

President Muhammadu Buhari, flanked by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (second left); Chief Edwin Clark (second right) and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta, during a meeting with President Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Sexual harassment: Shettima to request deployment of female detectives to IDP camps FOLLOWING recent reports about some officials sexually harassing female internally displaced persons, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has revealed his plans to write letters requesting the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Security, the National Agency for Prohibition

of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all IDP camps in the state, to spy on culprits and bring them to book.

Speaking at a courtesy call by a delegation from the National University Commission (NUC) on tour

of ongoing infrastructure at the proposed Borno State university, in Maiduguri on Tuesday, Governor Shettima said deployment of undercover agents would be a measure in addition to the urgent need for investigation of the report by the Human Rights Watch.

“I would want these detectives to report their

findings to their security establishments and whoever is found wanting should be picked up without notifying me, so long as there is verifiable evidence to prosecute him or her.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am tired of applying the element of persuasion in handling the issues of IDPs, we need to wield the big stick,” he said.

communities rather than individuals.

On restructuring and funding of the NDDC, the elders noted that this would ensure it refocused as a true interventionist agency to respond swiftly to the yearnings of the grassroots of the Niger Delta.

The elders also demanded that Niger Delta ministry should be adequately funded and strengthen to fulfill the purpose for which it was created, noting that the era of abysmal funding should end.

On the Bakassi question, the elders recommended a comprehensive resettlement plan, including development for the host communities and displaced population, to reduce the risk of making them into a stateless people while expressing the support of the region on the call for true federalism.

The president, at the meeeting, sought ways to end militancy and the sabotage of oil infrastructure in the region.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, said President Buhari, who did not read from a prepared speech, “pitched a vision of unity and progress for the country in which peace reigns.”

He said peace, security, investment and prosperity are linked together, adding that “if we give peace a chance, investors will come here to invest. Nobody will invest in an insecure environment.”

In his speech, Buhari said the problems his administration found on the ground were many, as illustrated in collapse of oil prices, inability of 27 of the 36 states of the federation to pay salaries, absence of savings to fall back on and having to deal with an elite who did not seem to care, adding that all these made his government to conclude that “life as usual is no longer affordable.”

In welcoming the 16-point request presented for negotiation by the Niger Delta leaders, President Buhari said he was still expecting reports from officials he had instructed to review the implementation of the amnesty programme, to determine where government fell short so that amends could be made.

The president said the service chiefs were putting together their own assessment of the militancy situation, saying “when I have these reports, including this one (just presented), we will revisit the situation (in the region) to ensure that we succeed this time.”

He, however, cautioned the leaders of the region that they had more to do than anyone else to bring peace to the region, given the influence they had on militant groups.

SIDELINES

NO 16,624

N150

WEDNESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, 2016

One Olexander Turin has changed his name to iPhone 7 (i Phone Sim) and won the device during a promo by an electronics store in Ukraine. Perhaps, at 20, Turin will soon realise there is more to a name than the luck of bonanza.

Ranieri revived my scoring power —Musa N

IGERIA star, Ahmed Musa has said he got a lot of assurances from Leicester City manager, Claudio Ranieri, before he started scoring in the English Premier League.

Musa has scored in his club’s last two league games (against Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur) after going without a goal in his first five matches.

“The manager told me ‘don’t worry, just keep working hard and it will come’ and finally it is coming,” said the Foxes’ £18 million signing from Russian champions, CSKA Moscow.

His equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend earned Leicester their first away point of the season and the former Kano Pillars player says he believes the spirit that drove ‘The Foxes’ to an unlikely Premier League conquest is steadily coming back.

“From the game at Tottenham, the spirit of last season is coming back and we are working very hard for that,” he said.

“My goal [vs Tottenham] was very important, it was our first point away from home this season.”

Tonight’s UEFA Champions League matches

Monaco vs CSKA Moscow Dortmund vs Sporting L/Warsaw vs Real Madrid Sevilla vs D/Zagreb Tottenham vs Bayer Juventus vs Lyon Copenhagen vs Leicester Porto Club vs Brugge

2018 World Cup qualifer:

We can withstand Eagles —Soudani •As Algeria name squad against Nigeria

Pepsuzi Aluko, Nigerian Paralympics medallist beaming with joy after she collected the latest edition of motorised scooter from Senator Osita Izunazo, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, where the latter gave out equipment and several aid materials to people with disabilities as part of activities marking his 50th birthday and the 11th anniversary of KPAKPANDO FOUNDATION.

ALGERIAN striker, El Arabi Hillel Soudani believes the Desert Fennecs can withstand any level of opposition from Nigeria’s Super Eagles on November 12, saying they are very confident of a good result in Uyo. Both countries clash at the Godswill Akpabio International

Inter Milan sack coach Frank de Boer INTER Milan have sacked coach Frank de Boer.

The Nerazzurri have lost five Serie A games — including Sunday’s 1-0 reverse at Sampdoria — and are on the brink of elimination from the Europa League after two defeats from three games.

Youth team coach, Stefano Vecchi, has taken Inter training — with former Swansea boss, Francesco Guidolin among the candidates to replace De Boer.

A summer of heavy spending was expected to bring with it a title challenge this season.

Reports in Italy said De Boer was to be fired during a phone call with the club’s Chinese owners.

The Suning Holdings Group bought a majority share in the club in June and has acted quickly with the side languishing in 12th place in Serie A.

Stadium, Uyo, otherwise known as the ‘Nest of Champions’ in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

“We conceded a draw at home against Cameroon and allowed two precious points [to slip away],” Soudani told Croatian reporters ahead of his club side, Dinamo Zagreb’s Champions League match tonight.

“The next match will take us in Nigeria, who come from a victory in Zambia. So we know that our mission will be very difficult, but if we can come back with a good result, our chances will be revived.

“We’re really confident. We will prepare thoroughly in Nigeria and we will see what will happen,” added Soudani, who scored

his side’s goal against Cameroon.

Meanwhile, the Fennecs have called up 18 foreign professionals, including Leicester City stars, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, as well as Sofiane Feghouli of West Ham for the match.

Also named for the match are Yacine Brahimi from FC Porto, Nabil Bentaleb of Schalke 04 as well as uncapped Bordeaux midfielder Adam Ounas, who has changed his international allegiance to Algeria after he featured for France at age-grade level.

Newly-appointed coach, Georges Leekens named the squad on Tuesday morning with a proviso to include five players from the domestic league after the country’s Super Cup.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 2/11/2016.

Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

By DIPO OGUNSOLA ) 08116954641 ogunsolaoladipupo@yahoo.com

I'm up for the serious-minded —Fatai Amoo

Nigeria vs Algeria:

Mahrez avoids Musa aboard flight

How Keshi won me over for Nigeria —Troost-Ekong I won't allow my kids to play tennis —Serena Williams

Beasts of fortune:

Fighter-rams as gold mine

2

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Nigeria Professional Football League WITH OLAWALE OLANIYAN 08170772333

I’m available only for serious teams —Amoo

N

IGERIA Olympic team assistant coach, Fatai Amoo has said he’s ready to join any serious-minded club in the country ahead of the 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The ex-international who coached Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan between 2009 and 2011 has been linked up with a return to the Oluyole Warriors said it was a mere rumour Speaking with Tribunesport from Abuja, where he’s undergoing a CAF

A Licence coaching course, Amoo, a member of the Samson Siasia-led crew which guided the Dream Team to the bronze at the recently-held Rio 2016 Olympics, said he is prepared to handle any side that shows enough seriousness to engage his services.

“I’m ready to join any serious-minded team in the country. I am ready to impart knowledge to my players, that is why I’m in Abuja for CAF A Licence class which is the university of soccer, the first time it is holding in Nigeria where we have the likes of Kadiri

Ikhana, Okey Emordi, Samson Siasia, Ladan Bosso, Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote.

“Depending on the discussion, I am ready to accept offer from any management that is equally ready to engage my services,” ‘Arsenal’, as he is fondly called, said.

On plans by a report that he is set to rejoin 3SC, Amoo said: “I’ve been receiving calls on this rumour but I will like to tell you that this is not true and if I must join any team, we will need to agree on some terms”.

Nikyu returns to Wikki Tourists

Fatai Amoo

Rivers Utd eye Igbinoba, Aggrey RIVERS United are targeting 16 new players after retaining 21 others for the new season.

The Garden City side which finished as runners up at the just-ended Nigeria Professional Football League season, will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League.

Among the players retained are skipper Festus Austin, veteran goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi, Idris Aloma, Ghanaian striker Godbless Asamoah and his Ivorian counterpart Guy Kuemian.

Others are Markson Ojobo, Obomate Frederick, Hassan Babangida, Patrick Kingsley, Chinonso Okonkwo and Jaiyeola Yusuf.

Their top transfer targets include Esosa Igbinoba and Ifeanyi Nweke from Federation Cup finalists Nasarawa United, Prince Aggrey of Kano Pillars, as well as Gabriel Wassa from Niger Tornadoes.

‘The Pride of Rivers’ are due to undertake a training tour of Spain in the middle of next month.

Coach Stanley Eguma also disclosed that they plan friendly matches against clubs in Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.

Nojeem Olukokun of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) (right)with a Lobi stars defender during one of the league matches last season in Ibadan.

COACH Bala Nikyu, who guided Nigeria’s Flamingoes to the U17 Women’s World Cup a month ago, has returned to Wikki Tourists to assist Mohammed Babaganaru.

He was considered ahead of Mansur Abdullahi and Bernard Ogbe.

Nikyu said: “It is a familiar ground. I am used to Bauchi as I have worked there previously and so going back there is like visiting Kafanchan local government, where I am from.

“I pray to contribute positively to see how we can improve on the great work coach Abdul Maikaba has done at the club.”

He was at Wikki in 2007 when he assisted coach Ladan Bosso and was really in charge of that team as Bosso was mostly on national assignment with the U20 team.

Nikyu was also coach ofSEC FC from 2003 to 2005, where he took the Abuja club to the quarterfinal of Federation Cup. He guided Nasarawa United to the NPFL and has previously handled Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United.

Meanwhile, Crown FC of Ogbomoso striker, Peter Godly Michael has agreed personal terms to join Rivers United ahead of IfeanyiUbah.

Michael was Crown’s destroyer of Rangers in this year’s Federation Cup. He showed class in a recent talent hunt in Abuja organised by Norwaybased Atta Aneke, scoring in both matches he played.

A top official of Rivers United revealed the striker has agreed to join the Port Harcourt and that was why they have now applied for an entry visa to Spain, where the club will travel to for a training tour.

Tornadoes elevate Bala as new coach NIGER Tornadoes FC have confirmed Abubakar Bala as their new head coach for the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The management of the Minna outfit met last weekend where it was ratified that Bala’s performance at the just-concluded

2015/2016 NPFL season was enough to earn him the position.

Bala took over Tornadoes on an interim basis after the club parted ways with coach Abdullahi Usman Biffo.

A letter signed by the club’s management committee secretary, Ahmed Yakubu Gwam, stated that

the appointment was based on Bala’s noble performance, commitment, diligence, hard work and high sense of professionalism.

“Following the resolution of Tornadoes Management Committee (TMC) during its end of 2015/2016 football season meeting on the 30th October, 2016, you are

hereby engaged as the head of the club with immediate effect,” read the statement made available to supersport.com.

The former Lokoja FC, Bida Lions and Zabgai FC coach guided Tornadoes to the 11th spot with 49 points at the just-ended season.

Bala, who has coached Pa-

tros FC of Owerri, will commence his job as substantive head coach with the screening of players ahead of the 2016/2017 NPFL season.

Meanwhile, the management of the team also appointed Abdul-Rauf Yusuf as the chief coach of Tornadoes Feeders.

midweek

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Wednesday 2 November, 2016

Ram fighting:

Nigerian Tribune

Ram fighters keep spectators in rapt attention.

PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Nigeria’s growing passion gunning for Olympics

By Nurudeen Alimi

R

AM fighting as a sport is gaining momentum, thanks to the massive human interest it has generated in recent years.

As the rams lock horns, the gallery is charged with supporters shouting, cheering or galvanising the beasts in the contest.

Winner or vanquished, the blood flows, the beasts do not lie low, they give the contest all they have in the kitty. These are not rams for Eid meals - they are battling beasts. They are not your typical domestic animals, they are wild but they know what they are doing.

In Nigeria, Ram fighting is gaining popularity, mainly among the locals. Although it is often categorised as an act of animal cruelty, yet findings say the contests rarely result in the death of a defeated ram, as the loser is often allowed to quit the stage anytime it feels it can no longer cope.It lives to fight another day.

In some countries in Asia, Europe and some Arab countries, efforts are ongoing to bring ram fighting into limelight by regulating the rules, to ensure the fairness and welfare of the fighting rams.

In Nigeria, fighter-rams have made large investments as they are reared solely for competitions in which there are prizes as grand as automobiles for winners.

Earlier in the year, Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria (TSFN), informed that ram fighting will feature at the 19th National Sports Festival originally slated for Calabar, Cross River State, later this year. The games may now be held in Abuja.

The annual competition has been holding since it was introduced in 1997.

Last Sunday, Tribunesport was at the playground of Baptist Secondary School, Liberty-Road, Ibadan, venue of a friendly bout organised by the Rams Lovers Association of Nigeria (RLAN), Oyo State chapter, among rams from some states in the south western part of the country.

Acting Secretary of RLAN in Oyo State, Gbadamosi Adekola, said: “Initially, ram lovers were seen as nonentities, but we

thank God today that the sport has gained recognition and has been enlisted to be part of the forthcoming National Sports Festival.

I am very optimistic that one day, ram fighting will be included in the Olympics” Aside the entertainment and the competitive aspects of ram fighting, it is also a means of generating revenue. For instance, the owner of a ram with the strength of a bull may decide to sell his ram for as much as N500,000 and as low as N200,000 though he might have bought the ram for just N50,000.

Ram fighting is also an avenue for stakers to make money, because, aside the owners who have placed a certain amount of money on their rams as a form of betting, other participants who are the spectators do stake their money on the sidelines of the battle field.

As witnessed by Tribunesport, stakers placed as much as N10,000 and as low as N500 on rams.

The atmosphere, as charged as it is, gives no room for hooliganism. Winning rams and their team jubilate heartedly while the losers hope for a better day.

Some bouts ended up in stalemate, while some rams even refused to engage each other in a fight in the first instance. Just like boxing, the rams undergo the weigh-in process as fighters are measured on kilogramme basis. A pint-sized ram, however confident his mentors are, may not be allowed to fight a bigger one for the fear of inflicting injury.

The rams have nicknames such as Akube, 50-50, Lemon Plus, Oju Musu, Show, Baby, Orente, Dudu and all other sorts.

A ram owner, Afeez Isiaka, does not see ram fighting as an abuse of the animals; rather, to him, it is a healthy venture. Isiaka said: “Ram fighting enhances the well-being of rams. It is a form of exercise for them, just like humans engaging in any form of physical activity. Also, the sport has encouraged many people to go into rearing of rams either for the fun of it or to generate revenue.

I have been into this ram fighting business for some time now and I am enjoying every bit of it”.

Ola Kokonso, who brought his rams all the

way from Lagos said that: “As far as I am concerned, ram fighting is a form of entertainment which can not be quantified in any way. The reason I came to Ibadan with my rams is for them to participate and give them exposure. Exposure in the sense that if I keep them at home, no one will know their ability when it comes to fighting. It is when people see them fight that they will approach me for business, whether they want to buy them or stake their money on them during competitions. I brought two rams nicknamed Orente (30kg) and Dudu (30kg)”.

Olatokunbo Samisudeen, a ram owner from Osogbo, believes ram fighting is for a combination of business interest and personal satisfaction.

“I strongly believe that some people engage in ram fighting to derive satisfaction, I mean they just enjoy watching those rams fight and they can go to any length by investing their money. On the other hand, some people do it strictly for business purposes.

Sekewa Olayinka from Ijebu-Ode, said. “If staking is taken away from the game, I am very sure it will die a sudden death because majority of the stakeholders are betters. I

Mentors happily leading a winner out of a bout

believe ram fighting should be encouraged the more. Aside football, ram fighting is another sport which normally brings large number of people together.”

Spectators at the Baptist Secondary School playground, Ibadan, on Sunday paid N500 to gain entry into the arena.

RLAN Acting Secretary, Adekola said: ‘‘If it were to be a regular competition, the gate fee is usually N300, but in a bid to check the excesses of touts who may storm the venue, we put the gate fee at N500, even at that, you can still see that people are here in their large numbers”.

Fans came to the arena in their posh cars which were parked inside the venue and on both sides of the road. Law enforcement agents were on hand to ensure free flow of traffic during and after the event.

A spectator, Daud Adesoji said ‘‘Without mincing words, I enjoyed ram fighting. I came all the way from Akobo to be part of today’s showdown. I have this feeling that with the way things are going, ram fighting will be as popular as the game of football and will be acceptable and followed keenly by Nigerians.”

J

Badstuber (left)

BORUSSIA Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says he is looking forward to the Golden Boot race throughout the season, with FC Cologne’s Anthony Modeste currently leading the way.

“It’s not just [Robert] Lewandowski now but also Modeste, and I like that,” he added.

“At the same time, it’s good for me because i t means I’m under pressure and I’ve got to work even harder.”

He is also hopeful the return of German international Marco Reus can help spark the club to life this season.

Dortmund currently find themselves sitting in sixth place, already six points off leaders Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich defender, Holger Badstuber says he received “goosebumps” when he returned to the pitch in his side’s 3-1 win over Augsburg in the DFB Pokal.

Badstuber was making his first appearance for the German giants since February and was greeted with a resounding applause as he came off the bench for Mats Hummels.

And the 27-year-old says his return was a mo-

ment he will never forget.

“It’s pure emotion,” he told German media outlet ADR. “When the fans welcome you like that, it really gives you goosebumps. It’s unforgettable and simply amazing.

“I’ve received many welcomes like this, but I enjoy and appreciate them all. Naturally I want to repay the fans”.

Henry

FORMER Arsenal striker, Thierry Henry believes Gunners’ boss, Arsene Wenger would not suit the position of England manager due to his hands on approach.

England’s Football Association (FA) remain on the lookout for a replacement for Sam Allardyce, who was sacked after just 67 days in charge of the Three Lions.

And with his Arsenal contract set to expire at the end of the season, many have tipped Wenger to take the top job, but Henry says he can’t see it happening.

“You can never say never, but I don’t see it happening,” Henry told AFP as reported via Goal.

“I said recently that Arsene likes being on the pitch on a daily basis, and that’s not the case when you coach a national team.”

Although the FA have made it clear they are targeting an English manager to hold the position, a criteria on interim manager Gareth Southgate meets.

Wenger unsuitable for England post —Henry

PSG defender Serge Aurier in firm control of the ball.

Captain of LFC @captainofLFC Jamie Redknapp: “It’s good to see a young English player doing well.”... on Victor Moses. Ohhh Jamie...

3:48 AM - 31 Oct 2016 From The Stands @FromTStands Jamie Redknapp on Victor Moses: “It’s nice to see a young English talent getting a chance”.

Moses has 24 caps for Nigeria and is nearly 26.

Aubameyang poised for top scorer’s race

Badstuber moved by reception on injury return

THE father of FC Barcelona star, Neymar claims that Lionel Messi is the reason his son plays for the Catalan side.

Neymar Santos Sr. told Spanish media outlet Cope that the five-time Ballon D’Or winner was his son’s “idol”.

“We all know who Messi is and what he means.

He is the idol of my son and for him is a pleasure being at his side,” he said.

“He is always happy for playing together and he is playing here for Messi.”

Barcelona signed Neymar Jr. in 2013, following his successful spell with Brazilian giants, Santos FC. He has gone on to win numerous European and domestic honours in Spain.

But his father has admitted that without the examples of Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar might never have reached these heights.

“If Messi and Ronaldo never existed probably Neymar never existed too,” he said.

“The same with Pele and (Diego) Maradona, both inspired a lot of players.”

Neymar joined Barca because of Messi —Father

AMIE Redknapp’s attempt at paying Victor Moses a compliment has backfired after he mistakenly identified the Chelsea wide man as a ‘young English talent’.

Moses is in fact a 25-year-old with 24 caps for the Nigerian national team which of course makes him ineligible to play for the Three Lions side.

Almost immediately after Redknapp uttered the phrase during the Sky Sports pre-game broadcast, people on social media were not only pointing out his mistake but giving him plenty of stick for it.

Here are some of the reactions Mr Geoff Peters

?@mrgeoffpeters Jamie Redknapp calls 25yo Nigerian international Victor Moses “young English talent” Danny T. @King__Danny “Young English Talent” according to Jamie Redknapp Victor Moses turns26inDecember,heplaysfor Nigeria. .Ry @ryan9three Jamie Redknapp calling Victor Moses “young english talent” when he’s 25 and has caps for Nigeria shows how clueless most pundits are 4:22 AM - 31 Oct 2016

•Fans rap Redknapp

REAL Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has praised the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo following Madrid’s 4-1 win over Alavés at Mendizorrotza last weekend.

Ronaldo has been the subject of much scrutiny after recording just four goals in his opening nine matches, his worst start to a season since joining Los Blancos.

The 31-year-old responded in the best way possible by bagging a hat-trick against Alavés though, with Zidane hailing the forward’s onfield response.

“It is always better like this – that Cristiano scores, even better three,” he said.

“We always ask for goals from Cristiano, but he was doing very well in all aspects.

“For sure he will have another game when he doesn’t score, but he has patience.

“He showed today that with hard work he gets back to doing what he k nows – scoring goals.”

Real Madrid’s win cements their spot atop the table, but Zidane has admitted the contest was not always one-way traffic.

“That is football…if you do not suffer, you cannot win La Liga,” he added.

“Today we knew how to s u f fer, against an opponent w h o made it difficult for us.

But we kept calm heads, even through difficult moments, and that is normal in this league. “It can be tough for opponent to take, after what they did, but it was a deserved win for us.”

ANTONIO Conte believes his Chelsea side must be better if they are to be considered title contenders this season.

The Blues claimed a 2-0 away win over Southampton last Sunday, with goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa highlighting a classy display.

Although they now sit just a point from top spot Conte claimed that his plans for Chelsea were still in progress, amid a run of four straight Premier League wins.

“At this moment it’s not important for us to look at the table,” said the Italian after the match.

“We are in a good position but what’s more important is to work very hard and trust the work will improve us. Sometimes you can win a game but you don’t see it happening in the right way.

“Now, game by game, I’m seeing a lot of possibilities, a lot of positives, and I have confidence because we can improve. We can improve a lot and must improve a lot.

“For now this performance really pleased me.

I saw great commitment and work rate, with the ball and without it, and great unity. That is the right way to reach great satisfaction in this championship.

I am not thrilled

by Chelsea wins —Conte

•Shanghai SIPG boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says he will not be signing Manchester United’s 31-year-old England forward Wayne Rooney. (Sun) •Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says contract negotiations will take place with 29-year-old •Argentina forward Lionel Messi “in the next couple of months”. (Telegraph) •Manchester United and England winger Jesse Lingard, 23, is set to sign a new contract that will double his £30,000-a-week wages. (Daily Mail) •Portugal winger Goncalo Guedes is a target for United, but the 19-year-old wants to stay at Benfica until the end of the season. (Record, via Daily Star) •Lyon are set to offer a new deal to 25-year-old France striker Alexandre Lacazette, who is a target for West Ham. (Daily Mirror) •Chelsea are set to loan out Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 29, in January. (Times ) •The Blues are keen to sign Paris St-Germain’s 27-year-old Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore.

(Tuttomercatoweb - in Italian) •Real Madrid insist Gareth Bale’s new six-year deal is worth half of the post-tax £360,000-a-week sources close to the 27-year-old Wales forward claim he will earn. (Sun) •Manchester United have no intention of selling 27-year-old Armenia midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan in January. (Squawka) •Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, 29, has held talks with Paris St-Germain about his future at the French champions. (Le Parisien - in French)

Transfer rumours

English Premiership Team P GD Pts 1 Manchester City 10 15 23 2 Arsenal 10 13 23 3 Liverpool 10 11 23 4 Chelsea 10 12 22

Serie A Team P GD Pts 1 Juventus 11 15 27 2 Roma 11 14 23 3 Milan 11 3 22 4 Lazio 11 10 21 Bundesliga Team P GD Pts 1 FC Bayern München 9 18 23 2 RB Leipzig 9 11 21 3 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 9 7 19 4 1. FC Köln 9 10 18 French League 1 1 Nice 10 13 26 2 Monaco 10 15 22 3 Paris Saint-Germain 10 12 20 4 Toulouse 10 7 18 La LIga 1 Real Madrid 10 18 24 2 Barcelona 10 18 22 3 Atlético de Madrid 10 19 21 4 Sevilla 10 5 21

EUROPE’S TOP 4

German Bundesliga Anthony Modeste 1. FC Köln 11 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Borussia Dortmund 7 Robert Lewandowski FC Bayern München 7 Vedad Ibisevic Hertha BSC 6 Javier Hernandez Balcazar Bayer 04 Leverkusen 5 Italy Serie A Edin Dzeko Roma 10 Ciro Immobile Lazio 8 Mauro Icardi Internazionale 8 Gonzalo Higuain Juventus 7 Jose Callejon Napoli 7 French Ligue 1 Edinson Cavani Paris Saint-Germain 9 Alexandre Lacazette Lyon 7 Bafetimbi Gomis Marseille 6 Martin Braithwaite Toulouse 6 Mevlut Erdinc Metz 6

Spainish la liga Lionel Messi Barcelona 7 Luis Suarez Barcelona 7 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid 7 Antoine Griezmann Atlético de Madrid 6 Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia Athletic Club 5

English Premiership

Diego Da Silva Costa Chelsea 8 Romelu Lukaku Everton 7 Sergio Aguero Manchester City 7 Alexis Sanchez Arsenal 6 Eden Hazard Chelsea 5

TOP SCORERS

Saul Niguez has pledged his future to Atletico Ma drid as long as Diego Simeone remains manager.

The Spaniard has devel oped into a key figure at the Vicente Calderon in rec ent times, and has att ributed his development in the capital down to the 46 -year-old manager.

A whole host of European clubs have been linked to the young midfielder, howe ver he has expressed his desire to remain under the tut elage of the Argentine at Atletico.

“As long as Simeone is here, no, I won’t leave, ” Saul told Club del Deportista magazine.

“When a coach has faith in you as much as he ha s and gives you that confiden ce, it’s vital.

“For myself and the res t of Atletico it’s the sam e, Simeone is everything.

“He’s the person who’s bet on me since childhoo d and gave me my debut.”

Real feel better when Ronaldo scores —Zidane

Conte

5

I will remain with Atletico so long Simeone is there —Sau l

European Football

Wednesday,2 November, 2016

Moses is Nigerian, not English

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

I chose Nigeria. Here I am with Nigeria, I have no regrets at all. In fact, I’m blessed by choosing Nigeria. I have an Olympics bronze medal even before I turned 23. Nigeria has opened door for me.

In your short career with Nigeria, you have a lot of experiences with coaches in the national team. Tell us how find them?

I must tell you Nigeria is blessed with a lot of seasoned coaches. I am surprised the way they understand the game. When I joined the team, Keshi made me to play in a different way from what I was used to. For instance, it was from him that I learnt how to use the muscles of the eyes in such a way that you will have a broader view of the pitch. Keshi also taught me how to take a safe position defensively as soon as your team loses the ball; things I never knew before. By the Ekong s howing time Sunday Oliseh took off his R io 2016 over, I was already seeing bronze m edal. myself as an international but he took me to another level by his sound analysis of the strength of a team as an advantage over individualism. He took the entire team through series of integrating and exhilarating sessions. Under him, the national team is a place to be. Samson Siasia is something else.

He is so experienced that even if you are ill, his team talk is capable of firing you up. He leaves most of the job to his backroom staff but co-ordinates when things are hard at the high level.

How Keshi won me

over for Nigeria —Troost-Ekong

William Troost-Ekong is one of the Super Eagles’ new breed. Born in Holland to a Nigerian father, the Haugesund of Norway captain was convinced to pick the Super Eagles ahead of The Netherlands Oranje. He tells ANTONY UBONG in Uyo of his experience with Nigeria so far.

H

OW did you decide to play for Nigeria?

It is a short story but quite memorable. I had a call in March 2014 from an anonymous football agent who asked me to keep a date with the late Nigerian coach, Stephen Keshi at a train station in Madrid, Spain.

It was a strange call and looked quite unbelievable because the caller did not disclose his name and I did not even know how he got my phone number. However, I know this happens in football. You get a call about something about to happen and the next thing is to tell the caller to liaise with your advisors.

finding me worthy but that I was only an age grade international footballer. I had played for the Dutch U17 and U-20 national teams and that I would like to continue my education with the Dutch senior team. Keshi said he would cap me immediately for Nigeria if I could fight hard to make the Nigerian team.

He asked me to take a stroll around the Madrid Park for 15 minutes and give him my decision as he was about to connect a flight to the United States. I returned to him after 12 minutes but I could not make up my mind immediately. We parted and I wished him all the best but we exchanged phone number.

Two days after, I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a half Dutch, half Nigerian and

I knew any decision I took would be crucial to my career. When I was a kid, I watched a lot of tapes of Nigerian teams and players and was carried away by the likes of Nwankwo Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha, but I was too far from the environment. In the end I opted for Nigeria.

In other words, Keshi was instrumental in your decision to play for Nigeria In a big way. It is so unfortunate he is no longer with us. May God rest his soul in paradise. I have heard many other stories of how I came to join the Eagles, they are all credible because I later discovered that many other steps unknown to me were taken to ensure

Did you really keep the date with Keshi?

I did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be where I am now. May God bless that day.

Tell us your encounter with Keshi He was quite exciting. He thanked me for calling and told me the man who called was doing that on his behalf. He told me he needed a defender who could play the game the way he wanted and that somebody who had seen me a couple of times suggested my name to him.

He asked me what my immediate plans were and I told him I was grateful to him for

...In company with Ahmed Musa (left) and Leon Balogun.

Shares happy moment with Odion Ighalo.

You were with the Nigerian team at the Rio Olympics. A lot of unbelievable stories came out from your camp.

How did the team manage to concentrate?

It was very hard but personally, I felt this was a path I had to tread if I wanted to be a successful footballer of Nigeria. There were things I could not explain that happened but I was a fresher in Nigerian service so I had to stay focused. Fortunately, we had strong characters like Mikel Obi and Samson Siasia who were pillars of strength to the team.

Thank heavens, we had bronze to show.

In the Nigerian team, who is your best friend?

I am very close to everybody I met either in the Super Eagles or in the Olympics team.

I was impressed with the friendliness in the Nigerian camp. At the Super Eagles, I was very close to Ambrose Efe and Oghenekaro Etebo but when I got to the Olympics team, I also met fantastic people like Sadiq Umar and Imoh Ezekiel. I continue to make friends and more friends. For now, I can’t name one as the best. I keep on seeing new faces who are worthy of being kept as friends.

Now that you have chosen Nigeria, what do you hope to achieve with the Eagles I am aware of the difficulty in qualifying for the World Cup from the African zone because the tickets are just five but with big stars like Mikel Obi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Oghene Etebo, the Eagles can be counted as favourites for the World Cup. To reach the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia in the group we are will demand a lot from us. Like I said, the Eagles are friends and that is very essential as we pursue a ticket to Russia.

7

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

Over 200 golfers eye Toyota Hilux at Wuraola Ojo tourney

From left, Group Head, Retail/SME, Heritage Bank, Obioma Emenike; the torchbearers, Zainab Yunusa of Mind Builders School and Elizabeth Opawole and Favour Ojo of Readington Schools, Lagos; Divisional Head, Retail/SME, Heritage Bank, Mrs Ori Ogba and the Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs Olusola Longe-Okenimkpe and others, at the flag-off of Skoolimpics Road Show in Lagos recently.

Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Amateur series finals hot up

T

HE grand finale of the 2016 Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, corporate golf’s amateur tournament which teed off in Belek, Antalya, Turkey last weekend will end on Sunday, November 6.

Almost 8,000 guests, each individually invited by Turkish Airlines, competed in the eight-month-long qualifying series, vying for one of the just 100 available qualifying spots for the grand finale, which will this year be hosted at the five-star luxury Titanic Deluxe Belek hotel.

Finalists will contest the two-round grand finale over the adjoining Titanic Golf Club before leading 10 players progress to participate in the Wednesday pro-am of the 2016 Turkish Airlines Open, the $7,000,000 European Tour event that signals the start of the Tour’s Race to Dubai ‘Final Series’.

All finalists will also receive VIP hospitality at each day of the Turkish Airlines Open before travelling home in the comfort of business class on board one of Turkish Airlines 334 awardwinningaircraft.

The Hawtree-designed Titanic Golf Club, which boasts some of the most spectacular views of the glistening Mediterranean of anywhere on the Turkish Riviera, will offer competitors plenty of scoring opportunities but those who become complacent will come unstuck, with hazards lying in wait on almost every hole to punish

wayward shots.

The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Amateur Series, which is also backed by global sponsors, the Financial Times and Conte of Florence – the series’ official clothing

and fashion partner–offers key clients and industry experts the opportunity to network with like-minded business executives at the same time as enjoying and competing at some of the world’s most prestigious

courses. It forms part of a wider commitment to golf

by Turkish Airlines, who, in addition to the Turkish Airlines Open, also sponsor events on the Ladies European Tour and Challenge Tour.

SMOKIN Hills Golf Resort, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, arguably the number one international golf course in Nigeria, is already bubbling ahead of the 13th edition of the Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Memorial invitational Golf tournament slated for this month.

The Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf Tournament which has become a regular feature in the diary of the Nigeria golf calendar is one of the major events of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited (TNL), which has been the sole sponsor of this event in the last twelve years with the objective of preserving the memory the late Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo lived for.

The tournament tees off at the newest privately owned 18-hole golf club in the country which incidentally is owned

by Chief Michael Ade-Ojo on November 11, by professionals at 9 am while the amateur men and ladies will take to the endearing topography of the Smokin Hills on November 12.

According to the Public Relations and Advert Manager of TNL, Mrs Bukunola Ogunnusi, the sponsors have staked a Toyota Hilux for hole 13 winner as the prize for this year’s

Hole in one.

She said, “indeed, this year’s Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf Tournament promises to leave an enduring golfing experience that will be hard to miss. It is worth noting that Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, in its characteristic manner, will be sponsoring the Hole 13 with a Toyota Hilux automatic leather seat as the hole in one prize.”

Also, one of the prizes to be won at the gala night climaxing the event is the Amiable Woman of the Tournament.

This is a platform created by the sponsors to further keep the vision of the deceased for the game of golf alive. It is also aimed at continually nurturing the legacy and virtue of industry amongst women golfers.

“The prize is symbolic of the amiable nature of the departed woman of substance,” Mrs Ogunnusi added.

At least not less than 200 golfers from across the federation and neighbouring countries are expected to participate in the invitational tournament.

As usual, the Shot Gun System will be adopted for the tournament as it was in the previous three editions.

NNPC/Chevron Junior Tennis: Osewa wins, Chevron MD impressed

By Olawale Olaniyan AFRICA’S number two ranked player in the U-14 category, Michael Osewa penultimate Sunday stunned Stephen Augustine of Akwa Ibom State to win the 17th edition of the NNPC/Chevron Junior Tennis Master Championship.

It was the Ondo Stateborn lad’s first victory over his opponent after seven meetings and it came in grand style.

The championship which was initiated in 2000 has produced stars who are now representing the country at both regional and continental Junior championships.

Speaking after the game, Osewa said he’s so overwhelmed to have emerged as the the winner of this championship despite the difficult second sets.

“I am so glad to have claimed the top prize this year because this is my first final in the last three years of participation and I thank God for the victory.

“I am number two in the

rankings but my target is to become number one in Africa and in the world rankings as I am working towards it.

I believe I will be there in a very short time.

“I really appreciate the organisers for introduing this championship, this is the prime of our career and I look forward to meeting my role model, Novaj Djokovic, someday, even though people say I always play like Gael Monfils,” an elated Osewa told Tribunesport.

Meanwhile, finalist, Augustine told Tribunesport that he was shocked by the defeat.

“I was leading 5-2 in the second set and before I knew what was happening, we were tied on 6-6. In fact, this is the first time I have lost to him after seven meetings. I don’t know what came over me that I lost concentration towards the end of the game.

“The final stage was difficult for me, I was so tired and that allowed Osewa to control the game but I believe this is a big

lesson for me. I just need to move on with my career because I’m not there yet,” he said.

In his speech, Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria, Andrew Fawthrop gave kudos to the

finalists for showing their skill during the saying they will go places through their enthusiasm.

The winner of the 17th NNPC/Chevron Junior Tennis Master Tourney, Michael Osewa, with Jeff Ewing at the Lagos Tennis Club.

8

Wednesday, 2 November , 2016

sports

special

midweek

Nigerian Tribune

Countdown to Nigeria vs Algeria

Mahrez refuses seat beside Musa aboard flight

By Dipo Ogunsola

N

IGERIA’S Ahmed Musa and Riyadh Mahrez of Algeria were at the centre of mild drama on Tuesday as their club, Leicester City took a flight to Copenhagen for today’s UEFA Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen.

Both players are expected to feature for their respective country on November 12 in an African Group 2 Russia 2018 qualifier in Uyo where Nigeria’s Super Eagles play host to the Fennecs of Algeria.

‘Hi Ahmed, don’t go there, I won’t sit with Nigeria...Nigeria my enemy, Nigeria my enemy,’’ shouted the reigning EPL Golden

Boot winner Mahrez.

Club website Leicestercity.com claimed there was a general laughter from the entire team boarding the flight from the East Midlands Airport.

Musa, appeared not to get the joke clearly, having fixed an earpiece but when he realised Mahrez’s joke, he took the warning in good faith and settled for a seat beside Austrian international, Christian Fuchs.

Quite a handful of Nigerian and Algerian players ply their trade in the English Premiership and in a case related to Musa/ Mahrez hostility, Algeria’s midfielder, Guedioura claimed he would not talk with Watford Nigerian teammate, Odion Ighalo until the November 12 game is decided.

Ahmed Musa

Riyadh Mahrez

Tennis not for my kids —Serena Williams

SERENA Williams has revealed that if she were to have children, she would not encourage them to take up tennis.

The American, 35, has won as many grand slams as any woman in the Open Era but would be wary of any child of hers taking the same path.

Speaking to Sky Sports News in Nice, Williams said: “I wouldn’t put them [my own children] in tennis. I wouldn’t stop

them if they wanted to play tennis, but I wouldn’t encourage tennis.’’Serena and Venus Williams have dominated tennis over the last 20 years “I wouldn’t want the stigma of mummy Serena, I think that would be a lot of pressure and I would like for them to do their own thing and have their own name and be the best at whatever they wanted to do.”

Eagles’ W-Cup striker, Uchebo, sues club MICHAEL Uchebo, who featured for Nigeria at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, is locked in a bitter legal battle with top Portuguese Boavista over his contract.

Uchebo joined Boavista as a free agent from Belgian club Cercle Brugge soon after the World Cup in Brazil.

However, his relationship with the Portuguese club turned sour just before the new season following changes in the club management, including a new president.

A top source told Africanfootball. com that Boavista demanded the contract of the big striker be reviewed downwards including a huge cut of his 20,000 Euros-a-month salary.

“Uchebo is in court with Boavista after he was frozen out this season over his con-

tract,” revealed the source based in Portugal.

“They want him to take a huge pay cut, saying he does not merit the 20,000 Euros-a-month salary he was on.

“He has not been registered for the new season, but he is still hanging around in the Porto area and was even in the stands for last weekend’s home game against Estoril, which ended in a goalless draw.”

Last season, the 26-old former Enugu Rangers striker made 16 appearances but failed to score a goal.

For his first season at Boavista during the 2014/15 season he scored four goals in 25 league appearances.

He has also featured for Dutch club VVV Venlo.

CREW: Ganiyu Salman

Niyi Alebiosu Nurudeen Alimi

Serena Williams

Olawale Olaniyan

Oluwabunmi Ajayi