5th May 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,494

THURSDAY, 5 MAY, 2016

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Anisulowo's kidnapper arrested S/West PDP leaders hold at Lagos airport en route Dubai parallel meetings •I drank only water for 6 days, she says •Senate recommends death penalty for kidnappers —P4,9

•Fayose hugs Bode George at Akure parley, meeting welcomes Ladoja back to PDP •We are the authentic leaders —Ijebu-Igbo parley —P2

2016 budget: FG picks 34 priority projects —P3

•Says Buhari may receive budget copy today 6 Kano students, 2 others die in auto crash on Ibadan-Oyo road •8 hospitalised in UCH —P35

LAUTECH hospital sacks resident doctors —P34

I am alive, hearty —Anenih —P3

Nigeria's crude production to decline by 40% in next 5 years —P12

From right, governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr Ayodele Fayose and a chieftain of the party, Chief Bode George, at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-West leaders' meeting, held at The Dome, Akure, on Wednesday.

Herdsmen: Stop inflammatory —P4 statements, northern senators tell govs •Military high command, Miyetti Allah meet

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Bakassi: Nigeria will comply with judgment —Buhari •Says over 56,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon Leon Usigbe-Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reassured that Nigeria will comply with the judgment of International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Bakassi Pennisula, adding that Nigeria is not carrying out exploitation of hdrocarbon at the Penninsula.

Buhari’s remarks came against the background of allegation that Nigeria was still accessing hydrocarbon from the Peninsula in spite of the ruling of the International Court of Justice to cede it to Cameroon.

Fielding questions after a joint press briefing at the end of the Cameroonian president, Paul Biya’s two-day state visit to Nigeria, he said in Abuja, on Wednesday, that a committee with members from both countries had been set up to deliberate on the matter.

He said until the committee submitted its report, Cameroon could be rest assured that Nigeria would not act unilaterally.

Buhari said: “On this issue, I will like the government and people of Cameroun to keep their minds at peace. Nigeria, we are an internationally respectful and abiding nation. Somehow there was a crisis between the two nations on Bakassi Pennisula over the hydrocarbon exploitation.

This issue is being dealt with by the International Court of Justice.

“On maritime resources, there is a committee of experts, comprising Camer-

oon and Nigeria sides. I cannot fully answer that question until after the results of this committee report gets to us and when they submit the report, I expect that with a few of us that are still around, we shall sit together and see what is the best way for the two countries. So, feel secured and be at peace.”

On his part, President Biya denied speculation that Cameroon was habouring Boko Haram terrorists who escaped justice in Nigeria, noting that the allegation was unfounded.

He assured that Cameroon was committed to ending insurgency in the Lake Chad basin.

Responding to a question, he said: “Yes, I have heard of this information. I heard

it in New York, during conferences, that Cameroon serves as basis for Boko Haram, but what can Cameroon benefit from that? Is it the ideologies? Are we going to benefit from finances?

No. It was just bad press.

Cameroon remains focused and committed to the fight against Boko Haram.”

Meanwhile, a communique issued at the end of the two-day bilateral meeting between the two leaders indicated that they had resolved to continue to work together to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.

Read by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the two presidents noted with satisfaction the successes recorded so far on the fight against the Boko Haram insur-

gency and condemned the murderous activities perpetrated by the sect.

Earlier at the dinner in honour of the Cameroonian presdient, on Tuesday night, President Buhari had said over 56,000 Nigerians displaced as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East are presently refugees in Cameroon.

He regretted that over 22,000 Nigerians had lost their lives as a result of the terrorist activities of the group.

The president assured that efforts were in top gear to rebuild the areas destroyed in the insurgency so that the displaced people could return to their homes.

Buhari said a database was being prepared on Internally Displaced Persons

(IDPs), and as soon as it was completed, they would be returned home.

He observed that the military had succeeded in checkmating the Boko Haram menace and consequently, they were unable to operate with usual impunity.

The president observed that both Nigeria and Cameroon had come a long way and had resolved to work with dialogue and live in harmony.

Buhari lauded Cameroon’s role in the multinational task force fighting against insurgency, as he noted that Boko Haram was a common enemy of the two countries.

Speaking through an interpreter, President Biya described Buhari’s trip to Cameroon last year as the turning point in the relationship of the two coun-

President Muhammadu Buhari (right), making a presentation to the president of Cameroon, Paul Biya and his wife, Chantal, at the end of their twoday state visit to Nigeria, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Troops block insurgents’ movement in, out of Sambisa forest THE Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday, said ground troops had blocked movement of Boko Haram terrorists in and out of Sambisa forest.

Buratai stated this while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after monitoring troops’ deployment at Banki junction in Borno State.

He said ongoing “Operation Crack Down’’ had been successful, as the troops were making steady progress in dismantling the remaining Boko Haram hideouts in Sambisa.

“The troops are doing very well; they had some challenges in terms of encounters with the terrorists in the theatre but that is being tackled.

“The troops are forming

a blocking force to prevent the terrorists from moving into Sambisa or coming out of the area.

“I am here to see the ground forces and how they are doing; so far so good, but there is tremendous operation going on presently inside the main Sambisa forest,’’ he said.

He also said he was at Banki to confirm the movement of troops and equipment and to observe the situation in the “theatre.’’

Buratai said the location of troops at Banki junction was significant in the military operations to restrict movement of the insurgents from outside the country through Cameroon or Chad.

“We were together with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Air Staff in

Maiduguri where the theatre commander briefed us on the ongoing operation crack down.

“This Banki junction is a major route that links the North to the South and Iits bordering Cameroon; it is also a link to Chad Republic.

“It is a major route which the Boko Haram insurgents have been using to move between the Sambisa forest and the Northern part of the country, up to the Lake Chad waters.

“So, it is an important location which has tactical, strategic, as well as operational significance to what we are doing in this region,’’ he said.

The army chief said the ground troops, supported by Nigerian Air Force fighter jets, would continue to hit the forest until the

insurgents were eventually cleared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, the Army and Air Force chiefs met behind closed doors in Maiduguri, on Monday, to appraise the Sambisa operation.

At the end of the meeting, Olonisakin briefed newsmen and expressed satisfaction with the operation.

NAN reported that the Sambisa forest operation, tagged: `Operation Crack Down’ commenced with ground and air forces on April 27, 2016.

ties.

He hoped that Chibok school girls who had been in Boko Haram’s captivity for over two years, would regain their freedom, as he promised that Cameroon would continue to provide refuge to Nigerians who needed it.

Biya called for more consultations to improve the economic relations between the two countries, saying: “We are at the beginning of a new era in the relationship between our countries as evidenced in our discussions today and the agreements we signed today. I am delighted.”

el-Rufai signs bill banning hawking, begging in Kaduna GOVERNOR Nasiru elRufa’i has signed into law the bill prohibiting hawking and begging in Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the bill, passed by the state assembly, had attracted criticisms from residents.

The bill, signed on Tuesday, by the governor, would, however, come into effect from September 2016. el-Rufai told a delegation from UNESCO, UNICEF and USAID, during the signing of a partnership agreement to boost the education sector that every child in the state must go to school.

“This morning, I signed a bill that prohibits street hawking and begging in Kaduna State.

“From September 2016, every child, between the ages of six and 15, must be in school, not on the street hawking or begging, otherwise the parents must be prosecuted and sent to prison.

“We have taken this step to give impetus to the Universal Basic Education Act which makes basic education in Nigeria compulsory,” he said.

Rivers elections petition tribunal relocates to Abuja THE Rivers Election Petition Tribunal on re-run in the state sitting in Port Harcourt, has relocated to the High Court in Apo, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,

by Mr Sirajo Gusau, the secretary to the tribunal.

“I am directed to inform

the general public and all lawyers concerned that the election tribunal has been relocated to the High Court Apo, Abuja, FCT with immediate effect.’’

Gusau, however, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that he was not in a position to disclose what informed the relocation.

NAN recalled that the elections petition tribunal that handled petitions that arose from the 2015 general election was also relocated to the FCT. Sources said the relocation might have been informed by insecurity.

Gusau said the secretariat had received 10 petitions from politicians, but did not give details.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

2016 budget: FG picks 34 priority projects Leon Usigbe - Abuja

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HE Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, unveiled 34 critical projects which the Federal Government will focus on, as a matter of priority in 2016.

The projects are contained in a document presented by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to the meeting of the council, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa..

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who was joined by her Information and Culture counterpart, Lai Mohammed, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Also at the briefing were Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Khadija Bukar Abba.

Zainab Ahmed said the 34 projects were arrived at with clear deliverable targets and were grouped into four broad objectives, including security/policy governance, diversification of economy, succour for vulnerable Nigerians and relating the economy through investments.

She said: “Our ministry’s presentation was introducing to council for discussion priority economic activities that we need to undertake to ensure that the purpose for which the 2016 budget was made which is to stimulate the economy, to create jobs for our teeming youths and to extend support to the poor and very vulnerable is realised.

“We presented 34 strategic priority programmes that need to be realised within 2016. Each of these projects have very clear deliverables and targets and indicators which will be measured to ensure that the respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) deliver on what we committed to implement.

“These 34 specific areas are grouped into four major objectives. The first is policy, governance and security, second, diversification of the economy. The third is creating support for the poor and the vulnerable and the fourth is reflecting our economy through investment.”

She said the 34 priority projects had been approved for implementation by FEC, while the Ministry of Budget and National Planning had been given the responsibility to track and report to the council on the performance

of the key prority areas on quarterly basis.

Noting that the projects were categorised into six thematic areas, she added: “There is policy, governance and security and one item from that is to achieve and maintain a capital spend minimum of 30 per cent in an annual basis starting from 2016. The objective of doing that is to reflect the economy and enhance employment generation capacity for the productive sector.

“Another area is to achieve

an appropriate exchange regime, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is leading this particular action. The objective is to achieve a predictable exchange rate by the end of 2016.

“There is also a target for us to increase low interest lending to the real sector.

The focus is to achieve an interest rate that is single digit, maybe nine percent and the purpose is to increase output and growth.

Again the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment

along with CBN are taking action on this.

“We also have a target to maintain a stable debt management strategy so that we can optimize the local and foreign debts that we have and the Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office will be taking action on this.

“On the thematic area of diversifying the economy, we plan to implement measures to achieve self sufficiency and become a net export of certain number of

agricultural produce the first one being rice.

“We plan to attain self sufficiency in rice production by 2018, in tomato paste 2016 and also increase local production of maize, soya beans, poultry and livestock.

The deadline for these will be announced later in the year.”

The minister added that there are plans to expand the agro allied sector to intensify local production of cassava, cocoa, cashew nuts, fruits and sesemi seeds.

From left, deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; Governor Ibikunle Amosun; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Adenrele Adesina and the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Bimbo Ashiru, during a press conference to unveil the third edition of Ogun State Investors’ Forum, held at the Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Furthermore, she said: “There is also plan to make use of 5,000 hectares arable land in 12 River Basin Development Authorities and to utilise 22 dams for commercial farming by prospective investors and the objective is to extend farming so that it can become and all year round activity and that there is productivity all year round.”

She revealed plans to rehabilitate 5,000 primary health centres in 5,000 wards in 2016, noting that the objective is to deliver affordable health care services to Nigerians as closed as possible to their homes.

Speaking on the budget, Ahmed expressed the hope that the National Assembly might begin the process of transmitting the clean copy to the president since they have ironed out that gray areas.

Ahmed added: “On the 2016 budget, I must say the executive and legislature have worked very hard putting things together, reviewing the details of the budget and it is at its final stage.

“So may be between today and tomorrow, the National Assembly will start the process of transmitting the details to the president.”

Oba of Benin: Funerals to be forbidden in Benin Kingdom until...

As Odigie-Oyegun, Urhoghide condole with royal family Banji Aluko - Benin City BURIAL rites for the late Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Erediauwa, who recently joined his ancestors, will soon be announced by the Benin Traditional Council (BTC).

From the day of the announcement of the burial rites for the departed monarch till the day of the burial, there will not be any funeral rites in the entire Benin Kingdom.

The Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, who made the announcement at the Benin palace on Wednesday, therefore, called on all those who have funeral ceremonies to do so before the announcement of the Oba’s burial rites.

“All Chiefs, Enigie, Priests and palace functionaries who are entitled to wear beads as part of their normal wear, will henceforth cease to wear beads from the date of the announcement. Instead they will wear Omonorhue or white thread (Ikhian) until further notice,” the Iyase stated.

The Iyase urged all and sundry to respect the custom and tradition of the Benin

Kingdom and be law- abiding, adding that all male citizens of Benin Kingdom would as a rule, be expected to shave the hairs on their heads with effect from April 29, in obedience to Benin tradition.

Chief Igbe added that “all our friends and well-wishers, including all those who live with us and work for their livelihood within our kingdom, may wish to join us in this action,” even as he noted that markets that were shut for three days have been opened.

Meanwhile, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the first civilian governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has described the late Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa as a royal colossus, whose exploits in governance brought honour, dignity and candour into traditional rulership in Nigeria and beyond.

Odigie-Oyegun, who paid a condolence visit to HRH Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken of Uselu, in company with the Minister of State for

I am alive —Anenih Banji Aluko - Benin City with Agency Report FORMER chairman of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, has debunked rumour of his death, describing it as handiwork of mischief-makers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that rumour of demise of the PDP chieftain had filtered into his state, Edo, in the early hours of Wednesday and it had continued to trend in the social media.

The online media report-

ed that Anenih had died of cancer-related ailment in a London hospital on Tuesday night.

But the Uromi chief told NAN on telephone from London, where he had been for a while, that he was well and strong.

“If I am dead, will I be talking to you? I am in London; I am alive and enjoying myself.

“I am not going to issue any press release to debunk the rumour.

“God will punish them and I believe that they will die before me. I will be back by Sunday,” he said.

One of the online re-

Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that Omo N’Oba Erediauwa was a great inspiration to all those behind him during his civil service years.

He said their visit to the Edaiken of Uselu and other members of the Benin royal family was meant to console and reassure the Edaiken of the solidarity and support of the people.

Responding, the crown prince said he and other members of the family were touched by the immense display and show of emotional support by people.

While appreciating Chief Odigie-Oyeyun and Dr Ehanire, he solicited their cooperation and prayers of all for a smooth and peaceful transition.

Similarly, the senator representing Edo South in the National Assembly, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, in his condolence message, said the transition to eternal glory of Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa was a loss to all.

He described the late Oba’s life, works, times, service and reign as matchless in history.

ports had said that Anenih slumped on Sunday while having breakfast at his Durham Broadway London home after being recently discharged from hospital.

Similarly, PDP , Edo chapter, also dispelled the rumour of its national leader’s death.

In a statement in Benin, by the publicity secretary of the party in the state, Mr Chris Nehikhare, urged the public to discountenance the social media report.

Also, political associates of former Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, have denied the rumour doing the rounds that he has passed away.

However, two political associates of the elder statesman, Edo State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and a former youth leader of the party in the state, Mr Vincent Akhere, described the claims as total fabrication and handiwork of mischief-makers.

Mr Akhere, who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on phone, said he spoke with Chief Anenih on phone Wednesday morning.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Herdsmen attacks: Stop inflammatory statements, northern senators tell govs Military high command, Miyetti Allah meet Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi and Chris Agbambu - Abuja

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EMBERS of the Northern Senators’ Forum have warned governors and other leaders to stop issuing inflammatory statements on issues concerning herdsmen/farmers clash in the country.

The senators, in a statement signed by four members, said governors and leaders of the country, as well as community leaders, should stop making inflammatory statements that could further overheat the polity.

The statement, which was issued after a meeting of the Forum in Abuja, promised to nip in the bud the crisis, adding that they would soon come up with new laws to help promote the interest of northern Nigeria in particular and the country at large.

Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (All Progressives Congress (APC),

Nasarawa West), who read the communique on Wednesday, said the forum would continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari, in order to bring about even development to all sections of the country.

The communique read: “That members of the Forum shall work assiduously to enact laws and amend existing ones when and where necessary, in order to promote the interest of northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general.

“That we appreciate the steps the Federal Government had taken thus far to contain the herdsmen/ farmers clashes and call on community leaders to be careful when making statements on the issue.”

While responding to questions, Senator Adamu further said: “It is for all Nigerians. A governor is a community leader, the only difference is that he has a label called governor. If you don’t mind, in recent times, it started with the West, when elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae had very nasty ex-

perience.

“And it was attributed at the time to Fulani herdsmen. And in the end, those people were apprehended, they were not Fulanis. And this thing had been going on in virtually across the whole country. If we now say that everybody should rise and say herdsmen should leave, we will not have a country.”

The senator also cautioned against generalisation of issues about Fulani herdsmen.

He said: “We did address that issue. In Resolution 2, we said we should be careful when making statements.

If you are fair to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you will appreciate and disseminate the fact that we have tried to kill the idea that every herdsman is a Fulani man.

“As I talk to you, I have a farm, I rear cows. I am not Fulani by birth. And if you go through northern states, you will see a lot of them.

In fact, if you go to the East, you will see young men, who have assimilated with the Fulanis in their various

communities and they are involved in cattle rearing.

I was in the West when we lost the Ooni of Ife. I saw in the cause of my trip - I went by road from Abuja here - Yoruba, young men and women rearing cows.

If you go to Borno in the North-East, there are so many tribes there; one of the states with the highest number of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

“And you find that virtually every tribe there, there are people who rear cattle. So, it creates the wrong impression that everybody you see with a cow is a Fulani man.

Military high command, Miyetti Allah meet

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, on Wednesday, warned that perpetrators of violence under any guise will be decisively dealt with in accordance with rules of engagement.

He stated this shortly before a closed door meeting with some members of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders, led

Senate recommends death penalty for kidnappers Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE Senate, on Wednesday, approved a punishment of death penalty for kidnappers in the country.

The lawmakers adopted the position, following the debate on the recommendations contained in a report on kidnapping in the country by Senator Abu Ibrahim, (APC Katsina South).

During the debate, Senator Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central), suggested the recommendation of death sentence, which was adopted by lawmakers.

In his contribution, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom-PDP), regretted that kidnapping escalated in Nigeria when ex-governor and now Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige was kidnapped around 2002.

The Senate also adopted the recommendation seeking to prioritise funding of security agencies.

The lawmakers equally said that “efforts should be geared towards creating employment opportunities for our teeming unemployed youths and that security agencies should embark on

training and retraining of their personnel for effective capacity building.”

Other recommendations by the Senate included that the state governments should enact laws to enable security agencies to prosecute kidnappers and other crime-related offences in their jurisdictions.

The lawmakers further recommended that “synergy and intelligence sharing among security agencies should be vigorously pursued and that Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Secu-

rity in particular and other security agencies, should be encouraged to do more.”

The lawmakers concluded that findings point to the fact that security agencies have not been able to perform optimally due to inadequate funding to enable them procure modern technology and equipment, adding that it appeared that there were unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry among the security agencies.

The Senate also regretted that relations of the victims were always ready to pay ransom, a situation they said encouraged the criminals.

Randy lecturers risk 5-year jail term —Senate Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE Senate, on Wednesday, recommended a fiveyear jail term for morally bankrupt male lecturers in tertiary institutions, especially those who engage in sexual harassment.

The recommendation was contained in a Bill entitled “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Bill 2016,” sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo Agege and other senators.

The bill, which was read for the first time on Wednesday, recommended a fiveyear jail term without any option of fine for any one of found guilty of harassing students sexually.

Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, who spoke on behalf of 45 other colleagues, who cosponsored the bill, said on Wednesday, that the bill sought the enactment of an Act to make provisions for the prohibition of sexual harassment of students by educators in tertiary educational in-

stitutions in Nigeria and for matters connected therewith.

The senator said at a press briefing that the major intention of the bill was to restore morality, discipline and sanity between male educators and female students in higher institutions in the country.

He explained that the bill, when passed, would serve as the needed legal framework of domesticating the honour code existing between lecturers and students in tertiary institutions in Unit-

ed States of America into our own penal code here.

The bill, according to him, indicated that an educator shall be guilty of committing an offence of sexual harassment against a student if he/ she has sexual intercourse with a student who is less than 18 years of age .

The bill also indicated that an educator shall be guilty of he grabs, hugs, rubs, strokes, touches, pinches the breasts, hair, lips, hips, buttocks or any other sensual part of the body of a student.

by Senator Alkali Jajer and the national secretary, Baba Othman Nge Lzarna.

The CDS, who was represented by the Director of Administration at Defence Headquarters, Major-General Fatai Ali, warned that all persons or groups involved in the recent attacks on defenceless communities would be fished out and brought to book, no matter their political or ethnic affiliations.

According to him, “the military will not tolerate any excuse for armed men to unleash violence on innocent Nigerians whether they are herdsmen, farmers or any other armed group in whatever guise and name.”

The CDS noted that the law of the land must prevail, stressing that Nigeria was an undeveloped country and could only progress and ensure prosperity when there was peace and stability.

The CDS added that the military, in conjunction with other security agencies, would do everything possible to restore order, in line with the directives of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

Earlier, the leader of the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders, Senator Jajer, said the ugly incidents of recent days from the central states to southeastern states of Nigeria had given every one a cause for concern..

He said in Nigeria, every issue, whether security or commercial, political input comes into it, this is purely a security issue and all over the world, we are aware that as far back as 1886, in America, Oklohama Cattle

rangers, there was a crisis between those who rear cattle and those who farm on the land.

“Everywhere across the globe, Nigeria is not an exception, but we have to look at the contextual happening: what are the factors that are bringing about all these and how these factors have build up to become what we are seeing today as very ugly incidents,” he said.

Jajer noted that anybody who lived in North-East knows that annually, there were clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

“In rural sociology, there is what they call the pull and push factors. What are the pushing factors that are pushing these Fulani herdsmen, even to go to the extreme parts of the country?

When rainfall was stable in northern Nigeria, this was not happening; when forests were mapped and reserved for cattle breeders, these incidents were not happening,” he said.

However, he added that the increase in population had now wiped out the entire grazing reserve in the country; over 400 of them all wiped out and we have a population of over 20 million cows, where do you keep them?

“There is no security institution that Myette Allah has not visited in this country, because we have seen them coming, when in Yobe alone, you have about three million cows and a good part of Yobe to rear cows is Gujuba and Gulani but Boko Haram has sacked them, taken their cows and killed some of them,” he said.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

S/West PDP leaders hold parallel meetings

•Fayose hugs Olabode George at Akure parley, meeting welcomes Ladoja back to PDP •We are the authentic PDP leaders –Ijebu-Igbo parley From Kunle Oderemi, Olayinka Olukoya and Hakeem Gbadamosi

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OVERNOR of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday, said there was no disagreement between him and a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George.

Fayose, who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, during a meeting of the leaders of the party from the South-West, also said there was no grudge between him and his Ondo State counterpart, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, over the sharing of national political positions of the PDP. The Ekiti governor said what was paramount to him was how to unite leaders and members of the party in the region, in the interest of the people.

“For me and Governor Mimiko, we are one and the same on party issues. Do not mind what the newspapers are saying. As for our leaders, Chief Bode George, you can see me sitting next to him on the high table; all what you read in newspapers are just sensationalism to sell them (papers).

“We are bound to agree whether it’s convenient for us or not when it is in the collective interest of the Yoruba race and the party. Chief Bode George will forever remain our leader in the PDP. We are ready to speak as one indivisible members of the same PDP,” he said.

At another meeting of zonal executive of the party in the South-West in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, those at the meeting said they constituted the true representatives of the party in the zone.

The more than two hours parley, convened by the South-West national vice

chairman of the party, Chief Makunjuola Ogundipe, was attended by PDP stakeholders drawn from all the six states in the zone.

They described the parallel meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital by another set of PDP leaders as unconstitutional and of no effect.

At the Akure meeting, Fayose reiterated his commitment to the unity of the party in the zone and Nigeria, with a pledge not to do anything that would jeopardise the chance of the party in future election.

“I want this great party to regain its leadership position and to remain solid,” he said.

Fayose hugs Bode George Fayose, who openly embraced Chief George before the commencement of the meeting, said he would not stop criticising the ruling administration in the country until the dividend of democracy was delivered, as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari and his party.

Speaking on the occasion, Mimiko said the meeting became imperative in order to put the PDP house in order and unite all the leaders ahead 2019 general election in the country.

He added that the meeting became important when “it seems the party in the South-West was drifting and there were cacophony of voices. This is the time for the South-West to speak as one in the interest of the region, our people and our heritage.”

The governor stated further that “this is the time to get our acts together and take our rightful position in the politics of the country.

There is no alternative to our unity in the SouthWest.

“There is no doubt about it that Nigerians are waiting.

If we mess it up, a new party will emerge and become the darling of this country. We need to realise our position today. If the purpose of politics is to serve the greatest interest of the people, this is the time to come together in the South-West.

“I want to thank my brother, Governor Ayo Fayose.

Both of us have resolved that in the interest of Yoruba nation, we are coming together,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP leaders have agreed to equitably distribute the positions allotted to the zone amongst the six member states of the zone.

The positions are national secretary, national publicity secretary, national auditor and zonal executive committee.

The leaders of the party unanimously took the decision after the meeting held at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome), Akure.

The leaders, however, criticised the present administration in the country over its inability to contain the economic challenges with attendant dwindling fortunes that had reversed almost all the economic gains recorded under the last administration of PDP. In the communique of the meeting, which was read by former Minister of Youths and Sports, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, the leaders resolved” “that the time is ripe for all members of the PDP in the South-West to forge a common front and pursue a common agenda towards occupying their destined leadership position in Nigeria.

“That despite the challenges confronting the PDP, the South-West caucus has agreed to unite and confront

Report act of indiscipline by any army officer, GOC enjoins public Inaugurates general court martial

By Oluwatoyin Malik THE General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Laz Ilo, has enjoined members of the civil society to report any act of indiscipline involving any army personnel, just as he warned that the division, under his command, would not tolerate any form of indiscipline.

Major-General Ilo also said every act or manifestation of indiscipline by officers and men within the division’s area of responsibility would be decisively dealt with, while assuring that no

act of indiscipline would go unpunished.

The GOC stated this at the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan, on Wednesday, during the inauguration of the members of the general court martial.

The members are Brigadier-General Ibikunle Raji (president), Colonel Jimoh Audu, Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Elemele; Lieutenant-Colonel Aliyu Emekoma; Major James Mebiola and the judge advocate, Major Diepreye Biambo.

Describing the Nigerian Army as being professionally responsive in the discharge

of its constitutional roles, the army chief disclosed that more officers or soldiers who displayed manner that depicts indiscipline and could bring the system down would join in the trial before the court martial.

Major-General Laz Ilo

the challenges that is facing the Yoruba race in Nigeria.

“That members of the PDP have agreed to rise up beyond personal interests to confront crucial national issues that affect us as a race, especially the thriving menace of the Fulani herdsmen.

“That the meeting notes with dismay, the poor state of the national economy and feel terribly sad that the current ruling party has not demonstrated the capacity to contain the economic challenges with attendant dwindling fortunes that has reversed almost all the economic gains recorded under the PDP.”

Akure meeting welcomes Ladoja back to PDP The leaders also welcomed a former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, back to its fold.

PDP leaders at the Akure meeting included Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Jimi Agbaje, former leader of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Adeola-Akande; Chief Saka Balogun, Debo Anisulowo and Chief Jumoke Akinjide.

Others were Adeseye Ogunlewe, Adesiyan Jelili, Doyin Okupe, Senator Remi Okunrinboye, Professor Tahoeed Adedoja, Eddy Adefeso. Jide Adeniji, Tajudeen Oladipo, Bisi Jinadu and Bashir Awotorebo, among others.

We are the authentic leaders —Ijebu Igbo parley Some of the leaders at the Ijebu-Igbo meeting included PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) members such as Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun (Osun), Senator Clement Awoyelu (Ekiti), members of the Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe-led zonal executive committee, PDP chairmen from Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Ondo states with delegates from Ekiti and Lagos states.

Others were Senator Buruji Kashamu, Honourable Segun Adekoya, Honourable Segun Odebunmi, Chief Jide Damazio, Honourable Muraina Ajibola and Chief Kola Balogun, Dr Ade Dosunmu, Chief Semiu Kukoyi, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi and a former Ekiti deputy governor, Abiodun Aluko.

In his opening speech at the Ijebu Igbo meeting, Chief Oyedokun, who presided on the occasion, said the presence of the party elders, members of the BoT and other top organs and power blocs within of the party unequivocally confirmed the legitimacy of the session.

He noted that they had been called unprintable names over their stance on the decision of PDP NEC to zone chairmanship to

the North-East, declaring as totally untrue that they compromised or sold out on the interest of the zone.

He said rather than being called traitors, the SouthWest leaders that represented the zone at the centre should be commended for not only defending the interest of the zone, but for also securing three strategic positions for the zone.

He alleged that those behind the Akure meeting had plans to seek elective offices or facilitate the emergence of their proxies, just as he stressed the need for a gradual generational power shift.

The convener of the zonal meeting, Chief Ogundipe, described it as the only authentic one, since it was convened in line with the constitution of the party and attended by all the core stakeholders cutting across all the state chapters in the zone.

Ogundipe declared that other parallel meeting held elsewhere was illegal, saying “there is only one nationally recognised zonal committee of this party at the South-West zone, led by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe and ably supported by my secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu, so there couldn’t be any other meeting elsewhere.

The only meeting I know is the one that I convened and is holding here in Ijebu-Igbo today.”

He said the outcome of the meeting of which chairmen of the state chapters and representative of SouthWest PDP caucus in the National Assembly fully expressed their support and confidence in the zonal leadership, would be communicated to the PDP highest decision-making organ of the party, In his address to the delegates, Senator Kashamu restated the commitment of the South-West to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff leadership as PDP national chairman.

He said the meeting was called by the Chief Ogundipe-led zonal leadership as a follow-up to the resolutions

made at the South-West PDP stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan, on March 30.

In a communique signed

by Chief Ogundipe and the PDP zonal secretary, Chief Aotemolu, the leaders ruled out the possibility of the South-West being marginalised in the party, given the key national offices zoned to the area.

In the communique issued later, “the meeting commended the vision and selflessness of the national zoning committee, under the chairmanship of Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State.

“That the PDP South-West is one and indivisible family working for the actualisation of the dreams of the party as articulated in the vision of the founding fathers.

“The meeting agreed that the South-West, as it is presently operating, is not playing and cannot play a second fiddle in view of what accrued to the zone -national secretary, national auditor and national publicity secretary.

“To this end, the meeting enjoined every leader, youth and woman to support the party for a better share of the positions in the not too distant future.

“The meeting noted and resolved that since the zonal executive committee members were elected on October 11, 2014, their tenure will elapse on October 11, 2018.

Therefore, this meeting resolved to support the existence of the zonal executive till October, 2018.”

In the meantime, Chief Ogundipe has said the South West was backing the ambition of the acting national chairman as substantive chairman to give way for equity and justice.

“The issue of Ali Modu Sheriff is a forgone conclusion. We are the custodian of the constitution of this party.

We said it from the onset that the best way to play this politics now is to allow the North-East to complete its term and that is two years,” he said.

Abductors of A/Ibom monarch’s wife, children demand N100m ransom ABDUCTORS of wife and four children of the paramount ruler of Esit Eket, Edidem Ubong Assam, on Wednesday, asked for a ransom of N100 million.

The victims were abducted on Friday in the palace in Akpautong, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the abductors had contacted the family and demanded for the ransom to release the captives.

A source close to the family

who pleaded anonymity, said “the kidnappers have opened up for negotiations for the release of the monarch’s wife and children.

“There is tension and anxiety in the palace. The kidnappers of the monarch’s pregnant wife and children have demanded N100 million ransom before their release.”

The source added that the kidnappers were not ready to bargain the price while talking on phone with members of the royal family, adding that they even issued threat.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Tearful Oshodi traders beg Ambode not to demolish Olorunsogo Market Chukwuma Okparaocha SCORES of traders at the popular Olorunsogo Market in Oshodi area of Lagos have called on the State Government to drop its plans to carry out the planned demolition of the market, saying the move is capable of destroying the means of livelihood for no fewer than 500,000 residents.

The worried traders which included men and women of diverse age groups, including elderly ones, some with tears streaming down their faces, insisted that their shops were legally acquired and the activities being carried out their on daily basis had helped to profitably mop off the streets of Oshodi, youths who could have otherwise been engaged in all sorts of criminal activities.

Rising from a forum in Ikeja, which was organised by the traders in conjunction with a civil

The suspected traffic robbers

We do morning/night shifts, exchange teams — Traffic robber • 14 arrested, charged

Olalekan Olabulo

A

suspected member of a traffic robbery gang, popularly known as One Chance in Lagos State, Henry Ate, has told the police that the different gangs in the state operate on shift basis.

The 48-year-old armed robber told the police that some of them operate in the morning, while others operate in the evening. He added that most of them rest in their different hotels in the afternoon while members of the different gangs in the state know one another, including which gang operate at any particular location.

14 suspected members of traffic armed robbers were recently arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), after one of them had earlier been arrested.

Six of the suspects were picked up at hotels in Ajegunle, where they confirmed they normally lodged while others were picked up during operation at different bus stops along Mile 2 - Oshodi and Oshodi-Iyana Ipaja route.

The one-chance robbery suspects are identified as: Akeem Fatai (42), Jerry Nwokoro (24), Olayinka Tadius (29), Lucky Thompson (36), Stanley Augustine (31), Ubah Kenneth (25) and Henry Ate (48).

Confessing to the police, one of the suspects, Henry Ate said, “As at the time we were arrested, more than half of us had gone out for morning shift operations. Seven of us were picked up at various bus stops in Oshodi – Mile 2 route while in operations. We know ourselves. We have no other jobs than this. It’s what we live on,” he added.

He also disclosed that, occasionally, the teams interchange members, emphasising that predominantly, every one chance team needs a driver, a conductor and a picker, who seats mostly in the last seat of the bus.

“During operations, we pick only few passengers, maybe two to four. We dispossess them of their belongings, drop them and go our way but we don’t push them down while on motion,” he emphasised.

He also revealed that whenever he was not operating with his gang members, he operate alone at Shoprite, Alausa and gov-

rights group, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), the traders faulted the government’s claim that the market was never approved by the State Government, a claim the traders insisted was synonymous with giving the dog a bad name so as to hang it.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, the Head of CLO’s Campaigns and Strategy, Mr Chijioke Odom, brandished several photocopies of documents which he said bore proof to the fact that the market was duly approved by the administration of ex-Lagos State Governor, Mr Bola Tinubu, in 2006, who gave the approval through the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

“This market was duly constructed by the Oshodi/Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) under specifications as contained in the approved plan. The market has various designated facilities like lavatories, adequate parking space, so where does the government’s idea of wanting to build a modern market in place of the existing one come from?

This market has everything any modern market can have,” he said.

ernor’s office routes picking pocket.

The arrested pick-pockes are: Habib Nurudeen (17),

Oyemi Ilesanmi (23), Kenneth Okojie (30), Chinedu Uzubi (24), Ajakaiye Christopher (26), Samson Uwa-

neze (23) and Wasiu Kazeem (24).

Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

The family is using the suit to ask for an order setting aside the terms of settlement dated December 17, 2004 and consent judgment in Suit No. ID/2118/2000 on the grounds of fraud and misrepresentation of facts and forgery, an order setting aside the terms of settlement and consent judgment of February 7, 2005 entered in Suit No. ID/1116/2004, on the grounds of fraud and misrepresentation of facts and an order setting aside the purported terms of settlement and consent judgment in Suit No. ID/747/99, on the grounds of fraud and misrepresentation of facts as same was never entered into or never in existence as the matter was struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.

In an amended statement of claim dated March 3, 2016, filed by his lawyer, Bolaji Mustapha, the claimant averred that the 5.708 hectares covered by Survey Plan No. LS/D/LKJ 1876 was ex-

cised to it by the Lagos State government from their orig-

inal plot measuring 54.856 hectares.

Chukwuma Okparaocha

release any impounded motorcycles came for the release of a ‘Boxer’ motorcycle that was impounded to have contravened the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 at Oshodi, Lagos,” he said.

Adebayo added that, “When questioned on why he impersonated as an Army Captain, Edem said he has been parading himself as an Army Captain for over eight years out of poverty and collecting money from innocent people who had cases with Nigeria Police and Nigerian Customs, and that he had deceived many Divisional Police Officers in Lagos State on different cases where he had collected millions of naira.”

The Agency’s image maker said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, had been briefed about the matter and had since directed that the suspect be charged to court.

Monarch sues govt, others over land dispute THE Oloto of Otto, Oba Ganiyu Odesanya, has filed a suit against the Lagos State government and seven others over a disputed 5.708 hectares of land situated at Oke-Alo, along Ilupeju, Gbagada/Oworonsoki ExpressWay in Lagos, asking the court for a declaration that the Oloto Royal Family is the owner and entitled to a Statutory Right of Occupancy over the land.

In the suit delineated ID/8383/14, instituted on behalf of himself and his family, the monarch is asking for some court orders and declarations.

Those joined alongside the Lagos State government in the suit are Mukaila Olajide Oseni (For himself and on behalf of Adams/Esu Family); Chief Lasisi Arubo (For himself and on behalf of Alase Family and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the Commissioner, Ministry of Housing respectively.

I have been a fake Army Captain for 8 years — Suspect

LAGOS State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) on Tuesday apprehended a fake Army Captain, Gorge Edem, who claimed to be residing at Flat 11, Block 2, Intelligent Quarters, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo area of the state.

Public Affairs Officer of the Agency, Mr Taofik Adebayo, said in a statement, that Edem was arrested at Alausa headquarters of the Task Force, and paraded by the Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi.

According to Adebayo, the culprit had come for the release of an impounded motorcycle that was arrested at Oshodi by both police and paramilitary officers attached to the Agency.

“Edem who doesn’t know the Agency’s policy not to

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

south-westnews Anisulowo’s kidnapper arrested at Lagos airport enroute Dubai 9

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

I drank only water for 6 days, she says Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

F

ormer Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, who regained her freedom on Tuesday evening, having spent six days in abductors’ den, said she was only on water for the period of her captivity.

She made this known at the Government House, Isale-Igbein, Abeokuta, when she was brought by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulmajid Ali, to meet the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at 10.09 p.m.

The governor, who was on ground in company with his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa and other top government functionaries to receive his colleague at the National Assembly from 2003 to 2007, was full of joy that Anisulowo was rescued unhurt.

The ex-lawmaker, dressed in a peach lace material, could not also hide her joy, when she sighted Senator Amosun, as she hugged him and said “thank you, my governor.”

When asked to narrate her ordeal, Anisulowo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said “I’m short of words, but I want to thank the governor and also thank God. I want to thank His Excellency, for all the effort you have put in with the security agents.

“I know the courage you have and the spirit to fight to the end and that was what kept me in the bush, there.

“I have an assurance that with the security agents that you have, you will work it through. I thank God.” While speaking, Governor Amosun appreciated the personal intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, on the incident.

He equally thanked all security agencies in the state for their effort in ensuring Mrs Anisulowo’s release, while expressing confidence that with modern day equipment, the Police, Army and DSS would perform greatly in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

He described the rescue of the victim as a huge success and that the feat would bring down the act of kidnapping in the country.

The governor said though the kidnappers demanded for a sum of N200 million as ransom, no kobo, according to him, was paid to

secure Anisulowo’s release.

He said, “I have always argued that our security agencies can work, unless they don’t want to. We need to give kudos to God and thank our security people.

This indeed is a different experience for me; I see the extent to which our security agencies can go.

“I don’t want to sound immodest, but I want to thank Mr President and the IG, the Army and the SSS. They created a war room and everybody was communicating everyday. Like I said, I don’t want to sound immodest, but truly, the way they have resolved this is amazing.

“I want to place on record that the IG personally got involved, the AIG, the Commissioners of Police of Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Kwara, and of course, all the commandants of the Nigeria Army in each of those states. All of them got involved. Indeed, the State Security Service in all of the states that we mentioned were all involved. At all times, they were being briefed.

“We spoke with her and with them. They were moving from one place to the other and they did that wonderfully well. Believe me, it was a pleasant surprise that technologically our people can do what they did.

“If they give them necessary equipment, they will work wonders. It is a huge victory. I think the issue of kidnapping will go down a bit, with what they (security agencies) have achieved.

“I think it is a big shame that we find ourselves in a situation where we should not be. Young people that are supposed to be working, demanding ransom of N200 million. They even said because I got involved they increased it from N100 million to N200 million. They insisted from the second day that their ransom is N200 million.

They said they had wanted to collect N100 million and I told them that they will face the law, and that it is in their interest to release her.

“They even threatened me and every other person.

They said they will teach me, the IG, the Brigade Commander and all others lesson. They were abusing everybody on phone, but we thank God the way it is resolved. All glory to God. “I can say it authoritatively that no kobo was paid to them. Of course, we did all that we were supposed to do. They reduced the ransom to N150 million, we asked them to come

and take, but they did not come. We didn’t pay a kobo to anybody. We thank God that she is here live and direct.”

The state CP also appreciated all other top security agents in the state for the synergy that existed among them while the rescue operation lasted.

He confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the hei-

nous act and promised that they (suspects) would be properly investigated and charged to court accordingly.

The CP told the governor that the kingpin was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, while fleeing to Dubai, adding that another person was also arrested in connection with the crime.

Ali said, “I want to thank

the Brigade Commander, the state Director of the Security Service as well as the IG for all the support. We have moved virtually all our technical equipment from Abuja to Ogun State.

“We traversed over three states and we continued to look for them, luckily, they gave up. The pressure was much on them. The helicopter patrol was another different thing entirely. We

Felele residents protest irregular power supply

By Tunde Ogunesan

HUNDREDS of residents of Felele area in Ibadan South East Local Government Council on Wednesday morning shut down all roads leading to the area in protest of maltreatment by Ibadan Electrical Development Company (IBEDC), over inconsistency billing, irregular supply of electricity and bad public relations, among others.

The residents who had earlier protested through the major street in the area and IBEDC headquarters, Capital Building, along MKO Abiola Road, Ibadan, last Monday, informed Nigerian Tribune that they decided to come out to alert the public of their predicament.

The protesters, mainly youths, blocked the major road leading to the community from Challenge end of the main road, with five police van stationed in the community to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Two of the protesters who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune; Peter Oluwabukunmi and Sola Adesina, informed that they could no longer stomach the maltreatment meted to them.

According to Oluwabukunmi, “our case is pathetic because we have been badly maltreated by power administrators in the city.

Over 16 years ago, from their days as NEPA, PHCN and till today as IBEDC, these people have not been treating us well. We rarely get light in the area, we’ve been permanently condemned to crazy billing and to cap it all, the staffers of the company don’t see us as regular customers.

“We had it on good authority that they deliberately cut our lines irrespective of your status because they considered Felele as their strong point to generate more revenue, despite irregular supply of electricity.

“Imagine a regular monthly bill of between N10,000 and N18,000 depending on houses while two rooms apartment get 146 units per month and four flats get just 23 units.

“This fight has been on for so long, but it became worse around two years ago. On my own part, I made personal effort to see how best to resolve the issue without degenerating to this level. But today, our people decided to come out for two reasons; to inform

the public of what IBEDC is taking us through and ensure that, at this point, the matter is resolved once and for all.”

In his contribution, Sola Adesina added that five days ago, members of the PCRC held a meeting with IBEDC staff where they were told that the residents must write an apology letter before there would be any redress.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Uzomezie Philippa Amarachukwu now OKONKWO PHILIPPA AMARACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Eli Juliet Uzoamaka now NWANVOH JULIET UZOAMAKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Cyril Mary Boma now MRS ALIANDU FIELD-MICHAEL BOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Nigerian Tribune

are grateful to the people of the state because they have confidence in the security agencies.

“I want to tell you that for the first time, the synergy that we set up here was so marvellous that we shall continue to relate with ourselves on daily basis. We are grateful that Mama is back to us alive.

“We have the assurance that nobody will come to Ogun State and try anything with us. We have made some arrest. The kingpin has been arrested.”

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Bello Omolade Florence am the same person as Bello Omolade.

Henceforth, I wish to be know, called and addressed as BELLO OMOLADE FLORENCE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ezeokoye Chibuzor Nkeiruka now MRS NWANKWO CHIBUZOR NKEIRUKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Eze Chidimma Perpetual now GODWIN CHIDIMMA PERPETUAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

10

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

11

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

businessnews Economy suffered more woes in April 12

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

•As most indices on CBN’s Purchasing Managers’ Index decline Sanya Adejokun -Abuja

W

ITH oil prices still low in the market, budget 2016 impasse continuing, inflation rising and foreign exchange crisis not abating, the Central Bank of Nigeria has disclosed that the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined significantly further in April 2016.

The Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing PMI Report on businesses is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives.

Of the 11 criteria upon which the indices are based, CBN reported only one indicating positivity while all the others indicated a decline.

The Manufacturing PMI dropped to 43.7 per cent in April 2016, compared to 45.9 per cent in the preceding month.

“This implies that the manufacturing sector declined at a faster rate during the review period. Of the sixteen manufacturing subsectors, twelve recorded decline in the review month in the following order: furniture & related products; paper products; primary metal; electrical equipment; computer & electronic products; printing & related support activities; fabricated metal products; plastics & rubber products; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; petroleum & coal products; chemical & pharmaceutical products and food, beverage & tobacco products.

“The remaining four subsectors however recorded expansion in the following order: appliances & components; cement; nonmetallic mineral products and transportation equipment,” the report indicated.

Production level index for manufacturing sector continued its descent for the fourth consecutive month, reaching 42.7 per cent in April, which was a faster rate than that recorded in March 2016.

Under the category New Orders, the apex bank reported that index dropped to 41.8 per cent also indicating a decline.

The index has been on the decline for four consecutive months. The eleven subsectors that recorded declines in new orders were: paper products; primary metal; furniture & related products; computer & electronic products; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; plastics & rubber products; printing & related support

activities; fabricated metal products; cement; chemical & pharmaceutical products and food, beverage & tobacco products.

The electrical equipment and petroleum & coal prod-

ucts sub-sectors recorded no change. The remaining three sub-sectors recorded growth in new orders as follows: appliances & components; transportation equipment and nonmetallic

mineral products For the fourteenth consecutive month, employment level index recorded a decline. In April, it recorded 42.0 percent, indicating a decline.

“The employment index declined at a faster rate when compared with the level in March 2016. Of the sixteen sub-sectors, thirteen recorded declines in the following order,” CBN said.

From left: Mr Aigbe Clement; Mr Toluwaloju Arogundade; Mr M. Olatinwo; Dr Folarin Otesanya and Mr Adebiyi Adewale, during the commissioning of the newly renovated block of classrooms at Liberty Academy Secondary School, Odo-Ona Elewe, Ibadan, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Staffs (Ibadan Branch) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Intervention Project on Wednesday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Nigeria’s crude production to decline by 40% in next 5yrs Olatunde Dodondawa -Texas THERE are strong indications that Nigeria’s crude production may decline by 40 per cent in the next five years if the challenges confronting the contracting cycle, cash calls arrears and joint ventures (JV) funding are not addressed immediately.

Speaking at the ongoing

Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, the Managing Director, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr Austin Avuru, argued that production from the JV has declined rapidly from 2.2million barrels per day (bpd) to 1.2 million bpd due to poor JV funding.

“Go and check production records, you will discover

that JV production has declined from 2.2 million bpd to 1.2 million bpd. The only reason we are still doing 2 million bpd is that deepwater production made up for the gap.

“In the next five years, our deepwater production will also be declining and the real impact of poor funding of the JV will start to manifest when as a nation, we

EFCC quizzes Sterling Bank MD Chima Nwokoji-Lagos OFFICIALS of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, stormed the corporate head office of Sterling Bank Plc in Lagos.

The EFCC officials were said to have interrogated the bank MD, Mr. Yemi Adeola, over the operations of the lending institution for about two hours.

However, sources from within the bank described the visit as a routine exercise that did not warrant any unnecessary attention.

The EFCC’s visit to Sterling bank is coming on the heels of a visit to Fidelity Bank Lagos head office on Tuesday by the officials of the compliance unit of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of the investigations into a $115m trans-

action made in the run-up to presidential elections last year.

Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo, has been detained by the EFCC since Wednesday, last week.

On Tuesday, the agency claimed that it had secured a court order that empowered it to detain the Fidelity Bank boss while investigation progressed.

will producing not more than 1.6 million bpd. So we must begin to address the challenges by doing the right thing,” he said.

When asked about the right thing that can be done to salvage the situation, he started by urging the government to design a structure that will give each JV sufficient operational and financial independence.

“JV today is a producing venture and if the minority is able to fund its shared operation from its revenue, why wouldn’t the majority party be able to do same.

The structure of the JV and the JV agreement allows for the self-funding mechanisms. Once their budget is approved for the year, it will require no new legislation other than the Minister and the Group Managing Director of the NNPC to have the courage and allow the JV to be self funding autonomy,” he said.

N90bn unclaimed dividends: Shareholders task SEC on CAMA review

SOME shareholder groups on Wednesday in Lagos called for review of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) in view of unclaimed dividends piling at the capital market.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the committee being proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the

issue should be quickly constituted.

Director-General of SEC, Mr Mounir Gwarzo, recently said that the commission would soon set up a capital market committee to tackle the N90 billion unclaimed dividends matter.

Mr Boniface Okezie, President of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) told NAN that

the committee, when set up, should amend Section 383 of CAMA to address the issue.

Okezie said that the committee should initiate a bill to the National Assembly to seek review of the 12-year old statute-bar placed on that section of CAMA. “We should not be talking about statute-barred now; dividends should be claimed

at any given time.

“The stock of unclaimed dividends will continue to increase in the market unless Section 383 of CAMA is amended,” he said.

The shareholders’ president also urged SEC to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on acceptance of dividend warrants into both savings and current accounts.

Nigerian Tribune

el-Rufai appoints Flour Mill boss as Kaduna Investment Agency’s Vice Chair KADUNA State Government, Nasir el-Rufai, has appointed Flour Mills boss, John Coumantaros as vice-chairman of its investment promotion agency, KADIPA. This follows the adjudged successful Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest), held in the state recently.

A statement from the government explained Coumantaros’s company alongside Deputy Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala, had helped realise the investment goals of the Kaduna State government.

Other members of the KADIPA board are Farida Dankaka, Adama Jibrin, Abdulkadir Idris Mayana, and Samaila Barau Maigoro.

As part of the further institutionalisation of KADIPA, the government announced the appointment of an executive team for the agency.

Leading the team as Executive Secretary is Gambo Hamza, with Hafiz Bayeroheading investor relations and Hadiza Hamza public-private partnerships and privatisation. The finance and administration function will be led by Shizzer Bada.

The state government also announced the constitution of the boards of four other agencies. These include the Kaduna Facility Management Agency (KADFAMA), the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) and the Kaduna State Bureau of Pensions.

Ease of doing business: World Bank rates Nigeria higher ATTEMPTS by the Federal Government to improve the ease of doing business have yielded positive results as the country climbed a step higher in the latest ranking by the World Bank.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report released by the World Bank on its website showed that Nigeria moved from 170th position in 2015 to 169th out of 189 economies.

According to the report, there is improvement in protecting minority investors and registering property compared to 2015.

However, it noted that there has not been improvement in dealing with construction permits, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

13

editorial

M

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The Ekiti seven

ANY people in Ekiti State were recently thrown into a mourning mood when news broke of the tragic demise of seven of their compatriots in a ghastly motor accident at Doka, Kaduna State, along the Abuja-Kaduna road. The seven people, six doctors and a driver, were among the twelve doctors and a driver from the state who were reportedly travelling in an 18-passenger bus to Sokoto to attend the 56th annual general conference and delegates meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).The remaining six doctors escaped death but sustained injuries of varying degrees. One of the survivors of the accident, John Akinbote, lamented that some of his dead colleagues would have survived if they had received immediate medical attention at the scene of the accident and at Doka General Hospital in Kaduna State, to which the victims were initially evacuated.

At Doka hospital, there allegedly were no medical officials to attend to the victims; the only nurse who was on duty could not provide any medicaments to resuscitate two of the seven critically injured victims who were still alive, even with one of the surviving doctors offering to handle the treatment. It was terrible.

Lately, the country has lost many citizens to road accidents, especially on the Lokoja-Abuja-Kaduna axis. The alarming frequency of occurrence of carnages on the road with the attendant fatalities calls for special attention. Very recently, on March 6, 2016, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), died in a road accident. Incidentally, the accident that claimed the lives of seven victims from Ekiti State reportedly happened around the same area where Ocholi, his wife and a son were killed. That is an indication that the axis ought to be treated by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as a black spot requiring intensive patrols.

The FRSC team allegedly had no trained personnel and facility to administer first aid to the victims on the spot or in transit to the hospital. This is very shameful. The federal and state governments are therefore enjoined to heed the call of the NMA that well equipped and functional ambulances be provided on major road across the country, in addition to ensuring that all health facilities in the country are well resourced and are in a state of readiness to handle emergencies.

The FRSC seems too incapacitated to effectively carry out its functions of preventing accidents and saving the lives of victims on Nigerian roads. For instance, when it became clear that the Doka hospital in Kaduna State had nothing to offer the accident

victims, the FRSC’s reaction to a survivor’s suggestion to take the injured victims to a hospital in Kaduna was that there was no fuel in the rescue van. The said survivor had to offer to buy fuel in the car on their way to Gerard hospital in Kaduna in order to get medical attention to the injured that were still alive. This is an unpleasant narrative about a federal agency that has been in existence for a while, and saddled, among others, with the delicate responsibility of saving the lives of accident victims.

The FRSC has attributed the cause of the accident to speeding, the same reason given for the mishap involving the late minister.

This may be the case for two reasons. One, many Nigerian motorists have the tendency to go overboard whenever they are privileged to travel on a good road, which is a rarity in this clime. The other reason is insecurity which makes some drivers to exceed speed limits, particularly on the LokojaAbuja-Kaduna road which is notorious for kidnapping, abduction and armed robbery. While we note the increased level of effectiveness in the operations of the FRSC, we urge the agency to design a more proactive way of reining in dangerous driving, especially on the known black spots that should ordinarily deserve special attention.

We also urge the FRSC to step up its road safety sensitization campaign to all road users, with special focus on some motorists who drive as if they are immune to accidents. These drivers include those of public officials, trade unions, student unions, big corporations and security agencies. This category of drivers should be specially trained and made to understand that the supposed importance of their organizations within the economy is no reason for impunity. This responsibility is in the areas of improved and exemplary conduct on the road and proper and regular maintenance of their vehicles in order not to endanger their lives, those of the members of their organizations and other road users, or tarnish the image of their employers. The FRSC should also ensure that appropriate sanctions are meted out to motorists who break traffic rules without regard to the status of their employers.

It is sad to observe that at a critical time like this, virtually all the media houses have rested their road safety campaigns. We urge them to diligently resuscitate the campaign, particularly the one admonishing motorists on speeding. The death of the Ekiti seven is painful and agonizing, just as that of the many more before it. One of the good things the nation can do to the memories of the departed is to ensure that carnages are reduced to the barest minimum on Abuja-Kaduna road and indeed on other roads across the country.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

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yournews

•Royal presence!... PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Towards stigmatising corruption NIGERIA will never develop unless we stigmatise corruption. As it is now, most Nigerians who occupy political offices, or those who have access to government fund see such as an opportunity to become rich.

The government alone, however, cannot fight corruption without the support of the people. Everyone must know that occupying any office is not an opportunity to enrich oneself, but an opportunity to serve. Nigerians must learn to start demonising those who have stolen our commonwealth.

We should be able to castigate them, and shame their families at the community and religious levels.

If we don’t do this, then we will never win the war against corruption.

The onus is now on Nigerians to join the war against corruption so that we can have a better society.

•Mohammed Bagudu, 0703943575

Still on herdsmen’s attacks

P

ERMIT me to use this opportunity to call on our security agencies, particularly the military and police, that they have failed in the discharge of their responsibilities with the continued killings of innocent people by herdsmen across the country. It is unfortunate that police

did not arrest the leader of the Fulani herdsmen The military and police should wake up to their responsibilities, thereby curbing the excesses of these herdsmen; one thing is sure, no group has the monopoly of violence. We should not wait until the situation degenerates terribly before we take the

necessary steps.

At the moment, everybody is angry, and it is high time something was done urgently.

However, one of the ways through which we can curb the incessant attacks is for government to make a law banning grazing.

Grazing cattle is causing serious setback to our crop

Curbing Nigeria’s population explosion I want to appeal to the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, to do more to curb Nigeria’s population explosion. At 180million people, the country is over-populated, considering the infrastructure we have on ground.

If nothing is done on time, by 2030, Nigeria is predicted to be the fourth most populous country in the world, and we can only imagine the effect of that on our bad infrastructure.

In order to save the situation, the government should start orientating Nigerians on the problems over-population could bring to the country. Gov-

ernment should also let the people know, particularly those who are not learned, the benefits of having the right number of children.

When a family has few children, the children will be well-taken care of. They

will be able to afford the basic things of life, while relying less on government to provide their needs.

•Oladejo Taiwo, 08035505314

production. Many farmers have lost millions of naira after cattle grazed on their farmlands.

Therefore, I want to call on members of the National Assembly, particularly those from the Southern part of the country not to support the grazing bill which some sections of the country want to use to legalise the activities of the herdsmen.

Agriculture should be practiced the way it is done abroad. Owners of the cattle should rear them in enclosed spaces so that they don’t affect other people’s means of livelihood.

Cattle business is big business all over the world, and one of Australia’s rich-

FG, increase minimum wage now I want to support the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that it is imperative for the Federal Government to increase the minimum wage from N18,000 to N56,000. We are experiencing a tough economic situation, and the price of basic items have gone up

astronomically.

Apart from food, rents, transport fares, among others have also gone up, and the current N18,000 minimum wage can no longer sustain Nigerians.

I hope President Muhammadu Buhari will accede to the request of

the NLC and order the increase of the minimum wage to N56,000.

This will, therefore, go a long way in easing the pain of this tough economic period.

•Tinuke Omideyi, 08030461538

est people rear only cattle, so it is high time we focused on breeding the cattle in enclosed spaces.

•Festus Idoko, 08097324106

Overhaul Eagles now IT is high time the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) overhauled the Super Eagles.

With the exception of one or two players, there is lack of commitment among the players.

We cannot continue to blame the NFF every time the team fails; the players should also share in the blame.

I want Nigeria to build the future Super Eagles around home-based players. These players want exposure, and they will give their best while playing for the country. Alreadymade stars hardly do give their all while playing for fear of sustaining injuries.

•Idayat Kassim, 08094309160

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opinion

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Sit-tight African leaders and vanity of life

By SOC Okenwa

P

OWER has an enthralling effect on African politics and politicians. Many a President never imagined life outside power. That is why graceful retirement or resignation is somewhat something of a ‘taboo’. After unleashing series of terror on the populace, committing assassinations, looting of the treasury and other sundry crimes with impunity fear of the unknown, post-presidency, tends to grip them leading to sittightism. Change at the very top seldom happens because we tend to worship our leaders — sometimes forcibly or helplessly. You see a President behaving like a god or demi-god marshalling the state instruments of coercion to rape democracy and device anti-democratic means to remain perpetually in power against the popular will of the oppressed populace. Yet, the ultimate struggle for Africa and Africans remains one of political emancipation, total freedom from this evil breed making life hell on earth for ‘owners’ of the very power they use and abuse.

History is replete with the exploits of African tyrants (living or dead) who came onto the scene and left same in a blaze of infamy. The continent is littered with graves of millions killed by the brood of vipers in power at different epochs from the east to the west, up north down south. But little or no lesson has ever been learnt of the transience of power and the mortality of man. Man, being a stubborn political animal, some politicians often attribute their power conquest, by hook or by crook, to divine favour but one wonders if the Almighty is partisan in any power struggle.

The Mugabe muddle in Zimbabwe represents the very worst illustration of a life presidency. The good old Bob, 94, is still trudging on without any plan for a successor or succession. Robert Mugabe obviously wants to drop dead in power and we cannot but wish him ‘goodluck’ in his (mis)adventure in Harare. He has ‘killed’ the Zimdollar and the economy is in shambles with the opposition led by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) openly protesting the power longevity of Mugabe and the

dire consequences on the daily lives of Zimbabweans.

But Mugabe is impervious to such tantrums of “Western stooges”. Long live Bob but save your people from further misery. There is time for everything including that of retirement!

As the historically defeated apartheid regime in South Africa brought out the very beast in the white man (especially the Afrikaans) so did the grisly genocide in Rwanda produce the very beast in the black man (especially Rwandans). On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Juvenal Habyarimana (the then President of Rwanda) and his Burundian counterpart, Cyprien Ntaryamira, was shot down over Kigali leaving no survivors! What happened thereafter was horrible to say the least. Close to a million people (mostly minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus) were slaughtered over the next three months in an organized mass killings that had all the definitions of a genocide. Millions fled across the borders as the hate-inspired rampaging youths and armed gangs and security forces unleashed a wave of terror that shook the foundation of the nation leavings orphans and victims in almost every home. What really happened to the presidential flight

that was blown over and crashed was never made known officially but sabotage was not ruled out. Today President Paul Kagame, a minority Tutsi, is in power for decades providing quality leadership and healing the wounds the genocide left behind.

Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the independence President of Cote d’Ivoire, died in office after a protracted illness associated with old age. He had ruled for 33 uninterrupted years but he was a great leader from all indications.

Captain Thomas Sankara was a revolutionary leader who made the terrible mistake of trusting his friend and second-in-command, the deposed President Blaise Compaore. Compaore, the Brutus, stabbed him in the back by organising his brutal elimination via a bloody coup d’etat. Burkina Faso post-Sankara had to live with the state terrorism of Blaise for 27 years until he was chased away into exile two years ago. Sankara’s ghost still haunts those behind his execution. Today Compaore has become a fugitive who prefers abandoning his nationality for naturalisation in Cote d’Ivoire than going back home to face multiple charges bordering on murder, looting, disappearances and other illegalities.

Lansana Conte ruled Guinea with iron fist for decades.

Even when he suffered stroke, getting paralysed in the process, he refused to quit having been bitten by the power bug. When he was hobbled out of power to the grave Guineans were subjected to another dose of the military Jackboot.

General Sani Abacha’s reign in Nigeria will also not forgotten. He bared his fangs early enough by consolidating power and using brute force to maintain order. In the end, he died in office. There are many more African leaders who, because of power, had perpetuated themselves in power.

The marked and unmarked presidential graves across Africa reminds us instructively of the collective mortality of man from Adam. They serve as reminders of the vanity of our struggles for fortunes, power and entitlement.

•Okenwa lives in Cote D’Ivoire.

Of tobacco, forex and effective regulation

By Nkemdilichukwu Nwadike THERE are strong indications that the Nigerian economy is tottering, as evidenced by the significant depletion of the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, which many have attributed to the sharp decline in global oil prices. The diminishing financial inflow from oil has seen the nation’s forex reserves thin out. Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves dropped from $31.459 billion in July 2015 to $27.870 billion in March 2016.

This development has ignited concerted calls for the regeneration and diversification of the nation’s economy through the revival of local industries. Recently, there was an outpouring of patriotic zeal on the need to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods in a bid to shore up the value of the naira. To this effect, the media has been awash with the hashtag BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira, a slogan used for the campaign. The campaigners seek to sensitise Nigerians to embrace locally produced goods while discouraging heavy reliance on imported products and the consequent depletion of scarce foreign exchange. It is hoped that by patronizing local businesses, foreign exchange will be reserved for only essential purchases.

Interestingly, the campaign has caught the attention of the Senate. The upper legislative house is presently working on the procurement bill, which seeks to bolster local production of goods and, in turn, grow consumption by mandating government agencies and offices to patronize Nigerian products.

As the Senate settles down for business, one area which it must critically examine is the impact of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) on the nation’s Forex reserves. The ETLS is the main ECOWAS operational tool for promoting the West Africa region as a Free Trade Area. One of its objectives is the “establishment of a common market through the liberalisation of trade by the abolition, among member states, of customs duties levied on imports and exports, and the abolition among member mtates, of non-tariff barriers.” Often times, manufacturers have hidden under the garb of the ETLS to

import products that are, and can be, locally produced in the country, thereby further putting strains on Nigeria’s ailing forex reserves.

As lofty as the ECOWAS trade treaty may be for the economic integration of the sub-region, it must be said that local economic interest should not be sacrificed on the altar of regional interest. It will be inexpedient to give precedence to regional interest over local needs, considering the fact that the country does not have enough forex to meet all its local demands at this critical period.

A few months back the media was awash with advertorials of the alleged entry, last year, of leading tobacco manufacturer, Philip Morris International, into the Nigerian market where cigarettes are locally produced. Phillip Morris, whose West Africa production market hub is in Senegal, only allegedly imports cigarettes into Nigeria thereby evading statutory taxes and levies that local producers pay. In addition to this, the advertorial alleged that the entry of the global leader in tobacco production is in total disregard of the provisions in the Tobacco Control Act (TCA), which sets stringent conditions for all intending operators to do business in Nigeria’s tobacco industry.

This action constitutes a breach of a key provision of the TCA in Section 29, which stipulates that anyone importing cigarettes should register with or obtain a licence from the Ministry of Health written by the Health Minister and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among other statutory bodies. Regrettably, this condition was, last year, circumvented by PMI who took advantage of the delay in the appointment of a minister of health, to obtain its licence from only SON to import five brands of cigarettes through its subsidiary, Philip Morris Interna-

tional Nigeria Limited.

It was alleged in the said advertorials that the subsidiary, which was registered as a company in December 11, 2014, was certified by SON in May 2015 to import the following brands, Marlboro, Marlboro Gold, Chesterfield Mint Burst, Chesterfield Blue and Bond Street. It secured approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance to import 122 million units of cigarettes and has since increased the quota. This transaction has been described by health experts and industry watchers as in breach of the TCA. It has the potential of nullifying efforts at regulating the industry, reversing recent successes made in stemming illicit trade in tobacco and promoting youth access to cigarettes. Besides, it also questions the wisdom in licencing a foreign manufacturer of a product whose local production sufficiently meets local demand.

Another point worthy of note is that there are huge socio-economic benefits in the localization of production.

A strong nexus exists between the tobacco industry and the agricultural sector, which has a high potential for employment creation.

Like tobacco, there are locally available products that have come under forex pressures and have been threatened by smuggling activities but with renewed drive for re-industrialisation of the country have started turning around their fortunes. An example that readily comes to mind is the local tomato paste industry where local production has been given a boost. Only recently, leading local tomato paste manufacturer, Erisco Foods Ltd, opened a new factory. If the Federal Government is really keen on diversifying the economy and growing the non-oil sector, in which agriculture is a critical part of, this is one area that it must pay close attention to. Also, efforts must be intensified by the appropriate authority to protect the local tobacco industry and other interventions aimed at localizing production of goods. It is only by so doing that the economy will be saved from tottering into a recession and further depletion of forex will be halted.

•Nwadike sent this piece from Lagos.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

Perm Sec seeks training for hospitality, tourism staff Adetola Bademosi-Abuja PERMANENT Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs Ayo Adesugba, has called for principles and modalities that would enhance the training of manpower resources for hospitality and tourism in Nigeria.

Her call came as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) disclosed that the country still lacks the required skilled manpower to meet global standards in terms of tourism and hospitality.

According to her, only 15 per cent of those employed in the hospitality industry have professional training, even as she stressed the need to develop not only the quality requirements for staff, but also improve their education quality.

Adesugba stated this in Abuja at a one-day validation workshop on national occupational standards for hospitality, travel and tourism trades that there has been a continued geographical spread of tourism to all parts of the world which, as a result, made many countries, especially the developing ones, to develop tourism as a viable engine for socio-economic development.

She noted that the urgent need to build a resilient and dynamic economy had been a major challenge in the country.

In its own, ILO stated that despite the fact that the country had lot of potentials in the sector, the skilled man power was not enough.

The country director of the organisation, Mr Dennis Zulu, while speaking at the event, noted that not only would this attach quality to the sector, but would also provide the necessary expertise needed in the industry in no time.

He said: “Nigeria has a lot of opportunities in terms of tourism and comfort to world and raising a national occupational standard in the training of people in the industry is important.

“Despite having a lot of facilities in terms of tourism, Nigeria still lacks the trained human resource to be able to provide services that global tourists prefer.

“So, having a national occupational standard ensures that there is quality attached to the training, but I think in few years to come, Nigeria will have the trained staff in hospitality business.”

Mallam Bello

Revenue: FCT minister grilled over MoU with FIRS JacobSegunOlatunjiandKolawoleDanielAbuja

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has grilled the minister of the territory, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, over the recent agreement with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to collect taxes for the FCT administration.

The Herman Hembe-led committee, which had summoned Mohammed to ex-

NATIONAL Commandant of the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC), Ambassador Dickson Akoh, has disclosed that the Corps would engage over 800,000 youths when the National Assembly eventually passes necessary law supporting its operations.

He spoke during a public hearing on the Bill for an Act for the establishment of Nigerian Peace Corps organised by the interior committee of the House of Representatives.

According to him, the opposition by the

plain why the FCT administration went into such an agreement when there was an Act establishing the FCT Inland Revenue Service, raised eyebrows over what it described as apparent breach of the law where the administration relinquished such a role to the FIRS. The lawmakers pointed out that the FIRS, as presently constituted, could not collect up to 50 per cent of taxes across the country and wondered why it should be saddled with an additional responsibil-

ity by the FCT administration.

It, however, advised the administration to ensure a smooth transition between the it and the service when the administration’s collector got eventually established.

While responding, the minister explained all that the ministry did was to continue with what it met on ground as FIRS had been collecting taxes for the administration long before he came to office last year.

Reps threaten to probe ITF, Pencom JacobSegunOlatunjiandKolawoleDanielAbuja THE House of Representatives has threatened to probe both the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the National Pension Commission (NPC), and warned management of the two agencies to stop extortion small and medium scale enterprises under the pretext of issuing them necessary certificates of compliance, which will enable them to

Peace Corps to employ 800,000 youths JacobSegunOlatunjiandKolawoleDanielAbuja

Herman Hembe

Nigeria Police to their establishment was borne out of police’s fear for a competitor both in operation and in government’s financial disbursement.

He noted that the excuse which the police gave the committee was the same the force gave during the National Assembly debate for the setting up of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) years ago.

Akoh, however, told the committee that Peace Corps was not advocating arms, saying that it did not believe that arms was the solution to the insecurity in Nigeria today.

qualify for contracts-bidding.

The Wole Oke-led House Committee on Public Procurement handed down the warning in Abuja when the management of the ITF, led by its acting managing director, DicKson Onuoha, appeared before it over a petition written by an Abujabased legal practitioner, Mr Audu Samuel Ibrahim, on discriminatory implementation of Pension Reform Act 2014 and the Industrial Training Fund over the years.

Though the management of the Pension Commission was absent at the hearing, the committee chairman declared that it was illegal to collect huge sums from SMEs either in arrears or in advance and thereafter issue them the needed certificates without following the law.

“The management of the Pencom is absent from this important hearing. We will get them. This warning is real and not a joke. The ITF Abuja has been turned to an illegal business centre where series of extortions are going on. It is either the staff are using touts as intermediaries to dupe members of the public or the staff themselves are doing it directly,” he said.

According to him, “the acting managing

director of ITF should make it a duty to find out what is going on at that office and put a stop to the illegal act immediately.

It is not going to be business as usual.

“You need to sit up and work with the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The Agency has all the necessary data on all companies in the country through remittances and better still the Corporate Affairs Commission,” he said.

Crew 1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@ yahoo.com 08030947856 2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo. co.uk 08034412281 3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782 4. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@ gmail.com 08182214290 5. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@ gmail.com 08054501406

17

Thursday, 5 May, 2016 With Adewale Oshodi tribunearts@yahoo.com 08054005323

At 3rd Odeyemi lecture, stakeholders stress need for diversification

By ADEWALE OSHODI

T

HE need to diversify the Nigerian economy was the focus of the third Chief (Dr) John Agboola Odeyemi Annual Lecture, which was held at the Natural History Museum of the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, Osun State, last week.

The lecture, with the theme, Harnessing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage for National Development, was delivered by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Bamitale Omole, in his remarks, admitted that the annual lecture was to honour a great support of the university “Dr Odeyemi is a worthy supporter of the university; he is a contributor to national development through nature and culture, and this lecture is coming at a time when everybody is talking about the need to diversify the economy.

“Our natural and cultural heritage could be harnessed for the country’s development, but how we will go about it is what this lecture will tell us,” Professor Omole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Omolayo Ajayi, said, while urging other well-to-do individuals to emulate the philanthropic gestures of Dr Odeyemi.

While also speaking on the occasion, the Director of the Natural History Museum, Dr Adisa Ogunfolakan, in his welcome address, saluted the philanthropy of the celebrant, Chief (Dr) Odeyemi, who he described as the backbone of the museum.

“It is because of Dr Odeyemi’s support, not just for the Natural History Museum, but for the university as a whole, that made us honour him with the annual lecture,” Dr Ogunfolakan said, while admitting that the theme for this year’s lecture came at the right time because of the current economic situation.

“The present situation in our country calls for sober reflection — our dependence on crude oil has brought us to where we are today, but there must be a way forward, and that is why this theme was chosen,” Dr Ogunfolakan said, while stating that the museum, which was established in 1974, has as part of its objectives the need to conduct research into the vast natural and cultural history of the country.

While also speaking, the chairman on the occasion, Professor Jide Alo, lamented the country’s over-reliance on oil, saying there were other areas the nation could focus on.

“Apart from the natural resources that we have in abundance, we can also benefit from our cultural heritage; from our food, to the way we dress, our cultural

From left, veteran journalist, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi; the celebrant, Chief (Dr) John Agboola Odeyemi; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; guest lecturer and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, at the event. sites, among others; these are tangible components of the economy which we can generate stable income from.

“A good example is the Osun-Osogbo festival, which brings in people from all over the world, and we have many of such cultural festivals across the country,” Professor Alo, said, while lamenting the gradual take-over of our culture by foreign cultures.

In his lecture, Dr Fayemi first charged governors in the country to explore the mineral resources in their states as a way to boost their finances rather than run to the Federal Government every time they are broke.

The former Ekiti State governor also charged communities and groups to come together to form ventures, thereby mining the resources in their localities.

“One thing about mineral resources is that it is evenly spread across the coun-

Apart from the natural resources that we have in abundance, we can also benefit from our cultural heritage.

try, unlike oil, and this makes it possible for every region and every state to bring something to the national table.

“Before the advent of oil, Nigeria had a clear plan for mineral resources, agriculture and others, but oil made us lazy, and everybody went to sleep.

“To stress the importance of minerals to the economy of other countries; in South Africa, mineral resources is about nine per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while it is 34 per cent to the GDP of Botswana, but in Nigeria, it is a mere 0.34 per cent, and this shows we still have a long way to go, but we have a mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari to turn things around, and as a result, the government will continue to work with governors in order to make it easier to access the mineral deposits in their domains.

“So if we can generate revenue from our natural resources, we can do same from our cultural heritage.

“Whether it is mining resources, agricultural lands, tourism sites such as Osun Osogbo, or eternal values that have acted as a compass for our choices, our heritage has not been fully utilised,” Dr Fayemi said.

In his brief remarks on the occasion, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called on those in positions of authority to always give hope to the youth as they are the future of the country.

The Ooni said leaders in the country should always lead by example as they are being watched by the youth.

“We should work towards building a

country where our youths will see hope; it is unfortunate that we have lost moral in this country, but it is high time we retraced our steps.

“Lost moral in our society is the reason crime is on the increase, and it is the duty of everyone to contribute positively to the political, social, economic and cultural revival of the country “So if we are talking about cultural heritage, moral is also part of it; when we have people who have embraced the values of our culture, then we will have less crime in the society, and that is a form of national development,” the Ooni said.

Jungle Book roars at US box office DISNEY’S The Jungle Book has topped the North American box office for the third consecutive week, taking $42.4m (£29m) according to early estimates.

The reboot of the classic Rudyard Kipling adaptation has reaped $684.8m (£468.5m) globally since its release last month.

The Huntsman: Winter’s War managed takings of only $9.4m (£6.4m) in its second week of release.

Feline action comedy, Keanu, took third slot with a modest $9.35m (£6.39m).

Comedy Mother’s Day had a weak debut, with takings of $8.3m (£5.6m), despite featuring stars including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Piracy, funding: Book publishers seek govt’s help

By KATE ANI

T

HE Association of Independent Publishers, Nigeria (AIPN) has called on governments at all levels to take measures that would help in turning around the fortune of the publishing industry in the country, especially in the area of funding.

The association made the call last week at a press conference held in commemoration of the 2016 World Intellectual Property Day. The AIPN National Chairman, Mr Ayotunde Opakunbi, who addressed the conference, listed the problems presently bedevilling the book publishing sector to include piracy, poor power supply, lack of fund, high taxation, corruption and declining reading culture.

The national chairman stated that it was imperative to declare a state of emergency in the book publishing sector, as books play a fundamental role in individual and national development.

“If a country is to progress in all spheres, she must promote book development through publishing. Most publishing houses are confronted with inadequate fund and all the policies of government to

POEM

Oh grass, how delicious!

The taste of fresh growth lofty swivel of green ham washed down powerfully with drainage water-----when even the regular sources dry up seized by the Zaragosa curse what a ready snack what a ready sandwich of a crazy-choice generation what a tasty lunch for everyone save the aroma of urine there’s enough grass for every soul yeah enough, damn enough grass for ladies and gentlemen all entered the Zaragoza train Dementia luxuriates in whoredom flesh after flesh and grunting in e-inns the land wastes the land rots even the silent cannot rest in peace for grave is the curse that struts the land —ABIODUN AWOLAJA

•From left, winner of 2014 Professor Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, Mr Akin Bello; Publicity Secretary (AIPN), Chief Akeem Ajibade; National Chairman, Mr Ayotunde Opakunbi; General Secretary, Mr Dele Akinbode and the Treasurer, Mrs Olanike Olatawura, during a press conference organised by the association last week. PHOTO: KATE ANI provide fund for businesses exist on paper only,” Opakunbi said.

Describing perceived poor quality of books in recent times as a reflection of

paucity of fund, Opakunbi said books which could have been published with quality papers and in colour were now

usually produced with cheap papers in order to save cost.

He also advanced piracy as “very criminal act that bedevils publishing,” calling for strict anti-piracy laws so that perpetrators could be brought to justice.

He, however, commended the National Copyright Commission for its efforts at ridding the industry of piracy.

Also speaking, the AIPN Publicity Secretary, Chief Akeem Ajibade, called on governments and banks to provide loans for registered book publishers, just as he urged the Federal Government to stabilise the exchange rate “so that we can buy papers from abroad at normal prices.”

The 2014 winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, Mr Akin Bello, decried poor reading culture in Nigeria today.

“After competing with 173 others all over Africa, I have not been able to sell 1,000 copies in a year. If a prize-winning book cannot sell a thousand copies, what happens to other ones that didn’t win prizes? I am even afraid of giving it away for free because people might dump it on the shelves rather than reading it.

How national museum celebrated International Day for Monuments and Sites

By ARAMIDE SHANU THE Director-General of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdullah, has charged Nigerians not to abandon their traditional sports, saying they are part and parcel of our heritage as a people.

Mallam Abdullah stated this in a message during this year’s International Day for Monuments and Sites.

With the theme of this year’s event being, “Heritage of Sports,” Mallam Abdullah said traditional sports like wrestling, boxing, Abula (ball game), Ayo (seeded game), Aaring (billiards), horse racing, among others, have a way of projecting our national image, while also sustaining our heritage.

“I, therefore, want to urge Nigerians that as the world becomes a global village due to technology, we should not abandon our cultural heritage, particularly the sports,” Mallam Abdullah said.

In his remarks on the occasion, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, a Director in the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stressed the importance of indigenous sports to the development of the country.

Dr Olanrewaju said there are several sports that are indigenous to different races and tribes in the country, and this is what the National Museun is trying to project at this year’s event.

“We want to encourage local communities and individuals in Africa, and Nigeria, to consider the projection of our cultural heritage to the survival of the race.

“At a time when we are hearing about the extinction of some races, we need to continue to project our cultures, and part of it is the traditional sports that we have.

“We need to protect and conserve our culture for the benefit of our coming generation,” Dr Olanrewaju said, while

•Participants at the event enjoyed themselves playing a traditional Yoruba game. admitting that part of the objective of the event was to celebrate the role of sports in the improvement of human life through

the recognition and enhancement of specific types of monuments and sites across the country.

Trailer for new Star Wars movie, Rogue One, released THE first trailer for the new Star Wars movie, Rogue One, has been released.

The one minute, 38 seconds teaser reveals new look stormtroopers and details about the lead character played by British actress, Felicity Jones.

At the beginning of the trailer, she states her name as Jyn Erso, and is described as “reckless, aggressive and undisciplined.”

Rogue One tells the story of a group of rebel fighters on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star.

The film, out in December, is the first in a series of on-screen adventures exploring

stories outside the core Star Wars saga.

After a montage of images of stormtroopers under attack, Jones’s character states: “This is a rebellion, isn’t it? I rebel.”

Erso is briefed on her mission, over images of the Death Star: “A major weapons test is imminent - we need to know what it is and how to destroy it.”

The film is directed by Briton Gareth Edwards, whose previous movies were Godzilla and Monsters.

The cast also includes Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whitaker and Riz Ahmed.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

education

Editor: Laolu Harolds 08111845016 tribune.education@yahoo.com

Buhari to youths: The change we

desire begins with you

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has urged youths in the country to uphold the tenets of patriotism in national service, saying this would help drive the change philosophy of the federal government.

He made the call on Friday during the swearing-in of the NYSC Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu, Ogun State.

The president’s message was delivered by Mr Afolabi Afuape, Ogun State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, who represented the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Buhari commended the resilience of Nigerian youths to serve in the scheme despite the various challenges confronting the nation, including insecurity in some parts of the country.

“This is cheering news for the government currently scouting for Nigerians with zeal and determination to join in selfless service to the nation. Government places high premium on the youths; and corps members under the NYSC scheme will be used to drive the change philosophy.

“On the part of this administration, we are determined to make huge investment in the NYSC programme to check the infrastructural deficit in the scheme due to dwindling resource allocation.

“The seemingly intimidating obstacles should not dampen your zeal to make the desired sacrifice to serve your fatherland towards national growth and development.

“I enjoin you to be selfless in all your activities both in camp and at your places of primary assignment thereafter. The change we desire begins with you,” Buhari said.

The president in his speech expressed sadness at the poor state of the economy inherited by his administration, including the increasing unemployment amongst the youths.

“The collapse of industries and the eventual overbearing pressures to grab public jobs has put the nation in a sorry state, employment-wise.

“That is why this administration is anxious to recover illicit wealth to channel them into productive economic venture to absorb thousands into employment,” he said.

Buhari urged corps members to embrace the remedial strategies put in place by public and private institutions dedicated to prepare for self-employment post-service.

He said the NYSC Community Development Service should create a platform for them to impact

positively on their host communities while charging them to imbibe contentment and shun negative social vices.

Similarly, Mr James Afolayan, the Ogun NYSC State Coordinator, said the scheme would continue to complement the efforts

of the state government in the areas of education and healthcare delivery.

“We will continue to deploy corps members to all identified areas of needs, especially the rural communities where we shall implement advocacy pro-

grammes of interest,” Afolayan said.

The NYSC official said the orientation exercise, which commenced on Wednesday, April 27, had a total of 1,736 corps members registered in Ogun, comprising 800 males and 936 females.

15-year-old wins Lagos ICT competition Naza Okoli - Lagos

Buhari

15-YEAR-OLD Emmanuel Olamide Makinde at the weekend emerged winner at the National ICT Olympiad (Lagos State Finals), defeating nine others also shortlisted for the final.

In its first edition, the competition, which is designed to test secondary school students’ knowledge of information and communication technology, was restricted to Lagos State. Subsequent editions, the organisers say, will feature students from the 36 states in Nigeria, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Makinde, a student from the Sacred Heart College,

Lagos, polled a total of 94 points out of 100, while his closest opponent, 16-year-old Daniel Tomisin Oluwalana, from Chrisland Schools, VGC, Lagos, scored 91 points.

The third position went to 17-year-old Lawrence Okegbemi, a student from Igboowu Senior School, Mushin, Lagos, who scored 88.

National Coordinator of the Olympiad, Mr Adedeji Gbadeyanka, said the finalists were chosen from a total of 5,166 students from 1,765 schools in Lagos State who originally applied for the competition.

Makinde won a cash prize of N100,000 and a laptop. He will also benefit from a scholarship worth N100,000 to be administered by NIIT, Lagos, one of the major sponsors of the competition.

FCE Kotangora graduates 10 sets at convocation FG restates commitment to teacher education Adelowo Oladipo - Minna A cumulative 11,056 new graduate teachers representing 10 sets from 2005 to 2015 took part in the 26th to 35th combined convocation ceremonies of the Federal College of Education, Kontagora, Niger State, last Saturday.

The provost of the college, Dr. Nathaniel Odediran, listed acute shortage of funds as one of the reasons for the prolonged delay in graduating the students.

In his speech at the event, the executive secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Professor Monday Joshua, expressed concern at the development, but said he was convinced the graduates are of good quality, given the monitoring the commission had carried out in the college in the past 10 years.

The federal government, at the event, reiterated its commitment to teacher education because of its belief that no nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said in his address: “It is a statement of fact that education can only thrive under a peaceful atmosphere, social justice and equity. It is, therefore, mandatory for all stakeholders to work assiduously towards ensur-

ing qualitative teacher education in all our colleges of education in Nigeria.”

Adamu Adamu noted that despite what Nigeria is going through at the moment in terms of insecurity, prevalence of corruption, kidnapping and child abuse, the incumbent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is poised to move the nation towards greatness in all spheres of life.

He said Nigeria will do better if teachers and teachers’ trainers embrace discipline and engage in

the business of quality teaching.

The change agenda of the present administration will be highly successful if teachers produced for this country are productive and committed to an attitudinal change that will consolidate the gains recorded in bringing sanity to the country.

The minister also said that the ministry on its part would do its best to support the college in sustaining the qualitative education it had already attained.

He thereby challenged the graduating students to be worthy am-

bassadors of the college through hard work and discipline in order to positively impact the young people in the country.

“As you graduate today, I urge you to shun all forms of vices, violence and other unpatriotic acts that could lead to the disunity of our great country. I also enjoin you not to allow yourself to be dragged into issues of ethic rivalry or tribal sentiment, as these negate the spirit of harmony and unity the country needs at this point in time,” the minister stated.

Children at an IDP camp at Yola, Adamawa State.

Provost, Federal College of Education, Kontagora, Niger State, Dr. Nathaniel Odediran (right), representative of the Minister of Education, Professor Monday Tommy Joshua; registrar, Mrs Aisha Bukar and the Best Graduating Student, Abraham Baba Zhiri (left), at the convocation of the college, last week.

education UNILORIN turns out 48 new medical doctors 20

Biola Azeez - Ilorin

T

HE University of Ilorin has conducted professional initiation of 48 newly qualified medical doctors.

Speaking at the 32nd professional initiation of the Batch B of the 2016 medical graduates, the registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Abdulmumin Ibrahim, who was represented by the Director, Kwara State Hospital Services, Dr Zinat Saadu, tasked the new medics on the principles of firmness, fairness, justice and mercy in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Charging the new doctors to be guided by the ethics of the profession, the MDCN chief said, “Your profession is service to humanity… above all, in whatever you do, whatever you say, say so with honour and dignity. In life, it is not how much money you make that matters; it is not how much connection you have that matters; it is not even how many degrees you earn that matters. What matters ultimately is what happiness you have given to the next person.”

In his opening remarks, the vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, represented by the deputy vice chancellor (academics), Professor (Mrs.) N. Y. S. Ijaiya, noted that medicine is not an easy discipline.

Lamenting the huge disparity in the ratio of medical doctors to the over 170 million Nigerians, the vice

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

chancellor said, “Nigerians need as many doctors as they can get. So, as tough as the course is, we still need more doctors to man our hospitals. This is why we are happy today that we are contributing more doctors to the medical facilities of Nigeria and to humanity.”

The provost, College of Health Sciences, Professor

NIGERIA and the State of Palestine have commenced discussions on series of bilateral cooperation on education between the two countries with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed soon.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made this known in Abuja, when he received in audience the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Saleh AS’AD Saleh Fhied, who was on a courtesy call.

The envoy during the occasion presented a proposal for a memorandum of understanding to the minister for consideration and approval by the Nigeria’s gov-

taining the development of the college.

Professor Johnson disclosed that plans were under way to introduce a wider spectrum of healthrelated disciplines in the college, including Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiography and Dentistry.

“The comprehensive

equipment and functional sustenance of our Clinical Skills Laboratory is a feat that has now become the 21st century MDCN and NUC-prescribed benchmark for clinical training in Nigeria,” he enthused.

While pointing out that there have also been tremendous developments in the area of infrastructure

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, receiving a proposal for an MoU from the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, HE Saleh ASAD Saleh FHIED, during a courtesy visit to the minister, recently.

made possible by the judicious and appropriate deployment of the Needs Assessment Fund from the federal government, Professor Johnson suggested that the recently completed 6.5km connecting road between the college and the main campus should be christened ‘Ambali Avenue.’

He acknoledged the graduating class as the ‘Primus Inter Pares’ or first among equals, as, according to him, “they are undoubtedly unique in their own way for their avowed battle against mediocrity, quiet diplomacy, constructive unionism and a penchant for wanting to leave indelible legacies.”

He enjoined the inductees “not to hesitate to flaunt (non-arrogantly though!) the soundness of your training in this medical school, as one that is truly qualitatively comprehensive and nulli secundum (second to none!).”

In a goodwill message, the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara State Branch, Dr Abubakar O. Ayinla, represented by Dr (Mrs.) Durotoye Idayat, welcomed the new medics to the association and urged them to imbibe high ethical standards of practice.

Why Nigerian varsities must adopt Buhari’s diversification agenda —FUOYE VC Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti THE vice chancellor of the Federal University, OyeEkiti, Professor Kayode Soremekun, has inaugurated a committee to see

Nigeria, Palestine mull bilateral cooperation on education Clement Idoko - Abuja

W. B. R. Johnson, commended the new doctors “for successfully passing through the difficult ‘land mines’ of medical training of our college and emerging at the ‘end of the tunnel’ unscathed.”

He lauded the unprecedented commitment of the vice chancellor towards ensuring the growth and sus-

ernment.

Adamu, in his remark, assured Ambassador AS’AD of the readiness of the federal government to strengthen ties with the State of Palestine through closer cooperation in the area of education.

He stressed that the bilateral agreement to be signed soon would help strengthen relations between the two countries.

The minister also promised to ensure that students of the State of Palestine were given access to study in Nigeria universities.

Earlier, Ambassador AS’AD appealed for educational support for Palestinian students to enable them study in diverse fields in Nigerian universities.

to the establishment of a new Faculty of Pharmarcy in the university, just as he charged his colleagues across the country to look inward and devise initiatives for revenue and employment generations.

He said on the occasion of the inauguration of the seven-man committee, headed

by Professor Adebayo Lamikanra, a Professor of Pharmacy, in Oye-Ekiti recently, that looking inward would help the individual universities and also complement the diversification agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Professor Soremekun, who took over from Professor Isaac Asuzu as the vice chancellor of FUOYE a few months ago, said the university was set to establish a mechanised farm to make the university “a food basket and food security zone of the nation.”

He expressed delight at the conditions of the host town of the university, which he described as “a goldmine for the establishment of farm in the university,” adding that “the current economic situation in the country calls for

all tertiary institutions to go into other business ventures.”

Professor Soremekun said: “When I came on board, I looked round and found that we are sitting on goldmine. This town’s very expansive land and good soil is what we can deploy for mechanised farming to provide employment for professionals from these institutions and ensure that we

attain food security.

“President Buhari is looking for alternative ways to provide employment for jobless graduates and other productive Nigerians and universities, as engine rooms of the economy, must key into this agenda.”

The head of the committee and Professor of Pharmacy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Professor Lamikanra,

said the convocation of the committee was “meant to prepare grounds for swift take off of the faculty.”

Lamikanran, who described Pharmacy as “very expansive course,” added that “what the university intends to do is to put all structures in place and get accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) before students are admitted.”

Provost urges youths to shun cultism, imorality The provost of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, in Oyo State, Professor Kamoru Olayiwola Usman, has advised students of tertiary institutions to shun cultism and other vices that could truncate their academic activities.

Professor Usman gave the advice in Oyo while speaking with newsmen after a lecture organised by the Shafaudeen Women Association, Jobele, Oyo branch.

Usman affirmed that FCE (Special) Oyo is noted for its high educational and moral standard, and

that no student of the college has ever been caught in any act of violence since he assumed duty as the rector of the college.

He described as untrue an allegation that one of his students was involved in a recent protest that led to the closure of the University of Ibadan, insisting that a member of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) fingered in the protest was not from his college.

Professor Usman commended Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen In Islam World-

wide, for his commitment to the growth of education and religion in Nigeria, saying “his crusade against injustice and corruption makes him a distinct religious leader.”

Earlier, Olagoke, who spoke on ‘Millenium Global Economic Problem and Nigerian Political Challenges: Effects on Motherhood’, canvassed the domestication of bills on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, through the National Assembly and the various states’ House of Assembly to empower women.

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UNILORIN ASUU: One union, two chairmen

Controversy has surrounded the status of the University of Ilorin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since its suspension by the national executive of the body more than 10 years ago. But recently, two factional leaderships of the union emerged, one led by Usman AbduRaheem, purportedly ‘endorsed’ by the institution and the other by Kayode Afolayan, backed by the national executive of the union. BIOLA AZEEZ spoke with both men. Excerpts:

ASUU national has always been one-sided — Dr. Usman AbdulRaheem

G

IVEN ASUU’s antecedents, it’s been difficult to believe there’s a local chapter of the union on the campus. For these nearly two decades, are you saying conditions been so perfect there have been no grievances?

We’ve been like this for about15 years; and for that period we’ve managed ourselves internally. But ASUU (national) doesn’t want to agree that there’s a local arrangement. They believe that the executive that went on exile and were dismissed that time are still our executives after 15 years – even when they are not on the ground. And we are saying that you recognise our existence.

Unfortunately, ASUU at the national level has always been one-sided, even when the crisis was brewing. The support (national) ASUU gave to that executive that time was what led us to where we are today; because when an executive is in power, you are representing the majority of your congress.

You are not representing yourself. You are not supposed to have your opinion. It’s the opinion of the congress that’s supreme.

So, when an executive insists that it has an opinion over and above the congress, there is a problem. And that’s exactly they did.

They wrote their own opinion above that of the congress and submitted it to the visitation panel – including that all appointments made by Professor AbdulRaheem Oba since 1997 to 1999 should be reviewed, which included our appointment who are members of your own congress. How can you be using our own money to fight us?

So, the congress was divided; majority went and signed that they were not part of ASUU again. It was not even administration that time; it was between executives and congress. Instead of retracing their steps, they wrote a number of demands to administration that time, while administration selected what is welfare and addressed them.

It left what was disciplinary. For instance, somebody went on sabbatical leave for one year but didn’t return for three years. He was claiming money in two places. And the administration said ‘come back or be sacked’. ASUU said they should not recall them. They said they go on strike on that basis. Administration now said if you go on strike on this matter, we would sack you.

And 95 per cent of staff said they wouldn’t be part of that strike.

Right or wrong, if you are the chief executive of that union and 95 per cent of your congress say ‘don’t go’, do you still have to proceed? They proceeded on that strike – only 44 of them out of 560 people! And they were sacked. ASUU national blamed us for not supporting them, even when we warned them. There was no time ASUU national came and said you the congress, or you the executive, what’s your grievance or your position? So, the congress and the executive remained divided. Thus, (university) administration took the advantage of that; and that was what led to the 44 sacked lecturers. The scenario leading to the sack of another five lecturers that were sacked again happened during that same semester exam. Some of them came to say the exam would not hold because some people had been sacked. Imagine five people in a multitude of students. For disrupting academics and examinations, they were added; and that’s what became ‘ASUU 49’.

But that’s behind us now. They have come back to the system, but they cannot

remain the executive. One person doesn’t make the executive; executive is a group of people. Only one person in that executive is remaining on this campus today; and that’s the chairman.

There was a reported inauguration of new UNILORIN ASUU executive recently.

That’s not known to us. We saw them doing it, but nothing has changed. Those guys have been parading themselves as ‘acting this’ and ‘acting that’ for the past two years; nobody appointed them. Their national body just came to formalise it. It has been like that before. In 2009, 2013, they did same; it failed.

So, there’s possibility that this will also fail.

What exactly is this ‘transparent process’ UNILORIN lecturers are demanding from the national body, for the reintegration to be effected?

The transparent process is simple. Ask the majority to choose their leader; don’t impose minority. If discussion and negotiations we had were carried through, it will end in a popular election. And in a popular election, no single man in the other group can get one vote because they are just 11.

When they canvassed for two weeks, they had 32 people. In this university, there are 1,386 lecturers. So, what can 32 do? The national ASUU insisted that they are going to hand over to that same minority group.

That was how the negotiation was truncated. They would now say the negotiation failed, and they’d still want to hold election by force. What are we saying? There are seven court cases since 2001. Remove them so we discuss freely. People have been expelled; call them back so they can be part of discussion. You said no. Even if you cannot do all that, remove court cases, at least to be on same page. You said no. Nothing has changed. I joined the university in 1997, and I was part of all the issues that transpired in that crisis. I contested in the ASUU election that brought Oloruntoba Oju in 1999. So, I’m no stranger. All these guys that are now in the so-called new executive joined the university in 2013 or 2014. What do they know about this?

Where do you pay your dues as a union?

We don’t have any check-off dues; we pay administrative dues. Senior lecturer to professor level is N1,000. Other lecturers pay N500. And we’ve used the money to build and equip our ASUU secretariat here. We have 10-room hostel, 15-room shops; we have our vehicles.

UNILORIN has experienced unprecedented academic calendar for nearly two decades now. What do you think is responsible?

That’s true, but many things can actually puncture academic calendar of any university. For instance, internal crisis or collective crisis. The union had taken the lead in fighting some collective causes, but because UNILORIN had its own problem that led to the sack of some activists, it did not allow the branch to take part.

Many people outside don’t even believe there’s a local chapter of ASUU at UNILORIN. What led to this ‘docility’?

You know when the sack happened, what the university authorities did was to gather some people, especially people who lost election at the time the union was on ground in 2001. So, when unionists at that time were eased out of the system, they were the ones that took over the union; and of course, they are working with the administration. I wasn’t in the system when that purge happened, just like all of us in the executive now. That’s why we felt ‘enough is enough’; we have to join the national body this time around.

Talks on the reintegration of UNILORIN back into the national body have been on. What are the conditions NEC gave UNILORIN which have not been met?

There are no conditions. ASUU is a union of intellectuals and we do our things according to the rules of law as enshrined in our constitution. On their own, they didn’t follow constitution. When the immediate past chairman of the union, who was one of those sacked, returned, the union wrote the vice chancellor, because the union doesn’t replace its officers when there’s crisis until that crisis is resolved or through another election. But they won’t want that done and the union took them to court at the NIC. The NIC had also nullified the election of the last local ASUU before the present one at that time. But the university tolerated them. The union set up various committees to facilitate dialogue and move on. But they would say they wanted to go and consult with some people who put them there. They are the ones now giving conditions to the union by telling the union to withdraw all court cases before discussion. And the union said no, come to dialogue table first. At a time they pretended they were coming, at Ogbomoso; they sent a letter through their present chairman that union should withdraw all court cases, and NEC should revert itself by bringing back those that were expelled.

And the union said no; it doesn’t work that way. At the last NEC in UDUS, the NEC gave a date for election which was communicated to them. They pretended they were going to cooperate. After a while, they said their secretary died. So, a day to the time they would install them, they brought out a memo and put on the agenda: ‘Transition’.

Everybody thought they wanted to discuss about the late secretary. There, people at the congress held at 10 am during exam, decided to nominate. Thus, the national felt the union had been taken for a ride for too long and said we should go ahead with our programme. That’s how I emerged the chairman.

Why would the national body get involved in the local election, since the ban has not been lifted yet?

‘There’s a culture of fear and intimidation in the system’ —Dr. Kayode Afolayan

By asking the branch to go for an election, it showed the ban has been lifted. The administration has been tolerating them.

Administration has nothing to do with the union. The group the VC is speaking for is a clique of less than 20 using administrative power to hold the university to ransom.

The VC knew about our election.

By forming a ‘parallel government’ now, so to say, are you not justifying the claim of those who say that ASUU is not happy with the existing peace and stability on that campus?

Peace is relative. What we have in UNILORIN is a graveyard peace. When the national delegates came, the VC had to mobilise gun-wielding securitymen at the gate, in an academic environment, to prevent the national body from entering the campus. There’s a culture of fear and intimidation in the system. They mount propaganda to hide decay, lawlessness and abuses in the system. ASUU is not against peace on campus; but if there are issues to sort out, we sort them out. We are out to ensure the goal of best practices in academia and students’ excellence.

What’s your group promising in better development of the school?

Our goal is to ensure fairness, justice in the system, that academic environment enjoys best practices and that students do very well. We are like police of the system.

The best and the most successful VCs in the country are friends of ASUU. Against claims and counter-claims of existence of your inauguration, what’s your position?

Usman AbdulRaheem group has been declared illegal by the National Industrial Court in Lagos. He was part of Wahab Egbewole ‘exco’ that could not legally hand over to anybody on account of the NIC ruling, which subsists. We knew they were not going to allow our members to enter the campus that day. They were waiting for the buses, but the members that were key to the election had already entered. The election took place. If anyone thinks there was no election, they should petition NEC. The way the VC handles it will show the way to the future. If he wants to sack, we are ready and prepared because he should not be seen supporting a wrong group. You can’t have local ASUU with no charter.

education No fraud in Osun College of Education —Provost

22

By Laolu Harolds

T

HE management of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun (now Adeyemi Oyedotun College of Education) has denied the allegation of financial impropriety and embezzlement making the round in some quarters.

The provost of the institution, Professor Isaac Oyewole, told newsmen that the allegation is being peddled by enemies of progress and some disgruntled elements who are not comfortable with his administration.

He admitted that some officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) had visited the polytechnic to request for some documents in respect of an ongoing project, based on a petition written to the commission by some indi-

FCE Okene collaborates with UI on degree programmes

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

viduals, but that the antigraft body had not come out with its verdict on the investigation.

Professor Oyewole, who maintained that his administration is against corruption and illegal activities, said all forms of corrupt acts by both the academic and non-academic staff of the institution have been halted since his assumption of office.

He explained that his administration has put in place measures to prevent corrupt acts on the part of the staff, and that the institution has put in place a Quality Control Unit to assess publications by lecturers.

Oyewole said: “Some officials of the ICPC recently visited the institution and requested for documents in respect of a project going on in the institution. The visit

by the ICPC (followed) a petition written to the commission on a project going on in the institution.

“We are law-abiding people, and we shall not commit any atrocity to rubbish our integrity and that of the institution. The college is rated high and this is evident in the approval given to all our projects by both the state government and the Tertiary Education Trust

Fund.”

He said the recent closure of the institution was due to a peaceful protest embarked upon by some students due to the suspension of their second semester examination.

According to him, the delay in payment of lecturers’ peculiar allowances triggered the protest as the lecturers refused to release the questions for the semester

Kogi Poly to invest N450m in agriculture Yinka Oladoyinbo Lokoja

Cross section of new students of the degree programmes of the Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, during their matriculation ceremony held in the School of Arts and Social Sciences new auditorium of the college.

Yinka Oladoyinbo Lokoja AUTHORITIES of the Federal College of Education, Okene in Kogi State, have expressed their commitment to the collaboration with the University of Ibadan in the quest to produce quality degree holders in education.

The provost of the college, Dr Iyela Ajayi, said this at the fourth matriculation of the undergraduate students in affiliation with the University of Ibadan, where 229 students participated.

According to him, the affiliation with the premier university in Nigeria had been a rewarding experience that had further enlarged the opportunities available to the students and lecturers of the college.

Dr Ajayi said the programme, which started three years ago, had produced graduands that are capable of competing with their colleagues from any part of the world.

He added that the first set of the programme that were admitted in 2012 had completed their courses as the affliation with the university had made the programme to undergo tremendous growth, expansion in student population, academic courses and infrastructure.

examination.

But all the matters that led to the protest have been resolved by the management, he said, adding that the institution will soon be reopened for commencement of the second semester examination.

Principal of the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State, Mr Abiodun Fabiyi, receiving the keys of an 18-seater bus from the leader of 1988 set of the school’s Old Students, Mr Austin Egbemhonkhaye, last weekend.

FGC Warri alumni donate bus to alma mater Ebenezer Adurokiya Warri OLD students of the Federal Government College (FGC), Warri, set of 1988, last weekend donated an 18-seater bus to their alma mater.

The leader of the 1988 set, Mr Austin Egbemhonkhaye, while presenting the gift to the principal, said they had only come to fulfill the promise they made to the school some

years back.

He pledged that they would do more for their alma mater, urging all old students to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the school.

Egbemhonkhaye said this was necessary because government alone cannot do everything, and that old students should support the school in any way they can to take the alma mater to a greater height.

The elated principal of

the college, Mr Abiodun Fabiyi, said “I want to use this opportunity to thank you all. The Ministry of Education is appreciating what you have done; the children are calm, and we want to believe that you will do more.”

Representative of the pupils, who is the outgoing Head Boy, Master Oghenetega Igbori, expressed joy and inspiration at the kind gesture of the old students.

“I am glad about the bus

presented to the school.

This is a good work the old students are doing, and we are sincerely happy about it. They have inspired me to do something good like this tomorrow. We are grateful about it.”

Dignitaries at the occasion included the Desk Officer, Unity Schools, South-South zone, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, Mrs U. A. Okafor; delegates of the alumni set of 1977, among others.

FOLLOWING the dwindling revenue from oil into the Federation Account, the authorities of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, say they will invest the N450 million grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to boost agriculture in the state.

The rector of the institution, Alhaji Isa Mohammed, who disclosed this at the matriculation of the newly admitted students into the institution, said the money would be spent on the School of Agriculture, Itakpe campus, of the polytechnic.

He said the fund would be used to develop the agriculture department of the school and also create opportunities for students to engage in agricultural activities that could improve food production and import earnings of the country.

The rector noted that the institution would continue to lead and participate in developmental and intellectual activities that would enable the students contribute to the emancipation of the people.

Addressing the 3,110 matriculating students, Mohammed said the management was ready to provide conducive environment for them to carry out their academic activities and accomplish their mission in record time.

He, however, warned them against anti-social behaviours like theft, indecent dressing, examination malpractices, drug addiction, fighting, among others, adding that the institution has zero tolerance for such.

“You are, therefore, warned in your own interest to desist from all these.

You are to run away from all appearances of evil, failing which you will not only be expelled but will be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution,” he warned.

23

Thursday, 5 May, 2016 Editor:

health

Sade Oguntola sadeboguntola@yahoo.com 0805 506 9260

D

als, cold can trigger airway hyper responsiveness, in which the airway becomes excessively sensitive and may predispose to asthma. However, the mechanism of this is not well understood.

OES asthma really exist?

Asthma is a well known disease. In fact, it is one of the commonest non-infectious diseases of childhood. About five per cent of people globally have asthma. Its incidence varies from 5 per cent in some countries to as much as 28 per cent in others. In Nigeria, we talk about 10 to 15 per cent of people having asthma.

Asthma is a disease that affects both the young and the old, including pregnant women and all races. There are cases of asthma that start in childhood till age 15. Also, late onset or adult-onset asthma does occur.

It is said that certain food items like eggs, cow milk, fish, food colouring, preservatives and peanut serve as asthma triggers or make asthma worse in some persons?

Why is this so?

What could be allergic to someone may not be allergic to the other person. Some of these products may induce allergies, but not necessarily asthma. However, in those that are allergic, they could develop problems ranging from mere sneezing, runny nose, anaphylactic shock, to full blown asthma.

So, just as an allergy can trigger an attack, persistent allergy may worsen an attack. However, there is also the possibility of some individuals becoming less sensitive to these allergies after some time.

Does it that mean that babies cannot have asthma?

Well, we are not sure of this because asthma in babies might behave like a condition called acute bronchiolitis. So, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose.

When asthma is severe, can it kill, is it deadly?

Severity of asthma can vary from mild, moderate, severe, to life-threatening. A severe asthma is one whose symptoms of cough, breathlessness, difficulty in breathing and chest tightness persist despite the use drugs that should relief the condition in the patient.

Severe asthma is a big cause of fatality all over the world. It suggests that the asthma has not been tamed, and that the individual is losing control. It can lead to life threatening asthma, respiratory failure or even death. As much as possible, we do not want this to happen.

Is there anything individuals can do to prevent dying from the severe form of asthma?

First, the patient should be aware of things that show that his asthma is getting more severe. The symptoms of asthma that are not controlled include persistent shortness of breath; breathlessness even while lying down; chest tightness; agitation, confusion, or inability to concentrate, persistent coughing and wheezing.

When asthma triggers such as dust, dust mite, pollens, environmental changes like cold and thunder storm easily aggravate asthma, that shows that the condition is not controlled.

Again, if an individual who was recently admitted for asthma was not properly treated, such a person also stands a higher risk of developing severe asthmatic attacks.

Older persons can also develop severe asthma because of poor adherence to asthma medications. Over time, the airway changes become more severe due to inadequate treatment. Other factors that can make one prone to severe asthma include poor knowledge about asthma, emotional state, and stressful conditions.

Two, you need an instrument called a Peak Flow Meter(which is used to monitor asthma control), to determine the severity of your asthma. This meter is to the asthmatic what the sphygmomanometer is to the hypertensive or the glucometer to the diabetic.

In addition, working together with the doctor, the asthmatic needs to have a written health management plan to know

In your practice as a physician, will you say that asthma cases are on the rise in Nigeria?

No doubt, awareness on the disease is on the rise. In the past, people that wheeze and cough were taken to have tuberculosis or infection. But with the increasing awareness of the condition, people are getting to know more about asthma. Unlike before when all our focus was on winning over infectious diseases, now, we are having to battle with the non-infectious diseases, one of which is asthma.

‘Menses, ice water intake can trigger asthma’

As the world turns its attentions to asthma this week, Professor Gregory Erhabor, immediate Past President, Nigerian Thoracic Society and Governor, American College of Chest Physicians, in this interview with SADE OGUNTOLA, describes the disease as a deadly but treatable condition on the prowl. Excerpt: when asthma is not controlled and what to do in that instance. All these would help avert problems that may arise when asthma is not controlled.

Third, in addition to the use of drugs that can help to quickly relieve asthma symptoms during attacks, the asthmatic needs to know his asthma triggers and avoid them as much as possible. They should also be placed on anti-inflammatory drugs. These are drugs that can help to keep the airway stable between attacks.

The most important thing is not just the opening of the airways which occurs with the use of asthma relief medications, but also keeping the airways stable even in between attacks.

But why do people come down with asthma?

Asthma is due to an interplay of the gene and environment. Individuals with a family history of asthma or some forms of allergies are more likely to have asthma. It

includes allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic conjunctivitis. So, when the genetic predisposition meets with the right environmental conditions or triggers, it can create what we call the airway hyper responsiveness.

A trigger can vary from weather conditions such as thunderstorm, cold, house dust, pollens, exercises, certain food items, drugs like aspirin and some occupational conditions. For some people, cold water may be the trigger.

Menstruation and other stressful conditions may induce asthma in some individuals. And so, a patient has to study his own asthma to detect his own allergies.

Why will drinking cold water or taking your bath with cold water trigger asthma?

Some people have experienced asthmatic attack after taking cold water, taking anything cold or exposed to cold weather.

It is also known that in certain individu-

SEX, SEXUALITY&YOUR HEALTH

NATURAL HEALTH

Avocado pear leaf effective for treating hypertension Page 26

Reasons you should have more morning sex!

Page 26

African women cooking with firewood are said to expose their babies to smoke. How has this contributed to asthma incidence in children?

Use of firewood releases biomass, and chronic inhalation of biomass, especially in women, can lead to chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD), which is also another form of airway disease and not necessarily asthma. Nonetheless, the incidence of hyper responsiveness which may mimic asthma is higher in those who have chronic obstructive airway disease. But cooking with wood itself is not one of the factors that cause asthma.

However, this is not to encourage African women to continue to cook with firewood in this 21st century when there are better and cleaner cooking fuels. So, the earlier they start to use cleaner fuels, the better for their health, that of their children as well as the environment.

Mosquito is rife in our environment and people resort to the use of mosquito coils. How healthy is this for asthmatics?

Burning mosquito coils sometimes can cause skin rash, asthma irritation and so on. That is why people are advised against its use because in people that are allergic to it, it could cause irritation of the skin, the eyes and of the airways. And especially in asthmatics who are predisposed to irritation of the airways, it is usually advisable that they do not use it. If they have to use it at all, it should be just for what it is meant for and they should avoid close contact with it.

How accessible and affordable are drugs for asthma in Nigeria?

All over the world, treatment of asthma could be expensive but it is cost effective because it ensures no loss of productivity and that day-to-day activities are not affected. Initially in Nigeria, the problem was availability of the drugs, but these have changed. There is now a wide spectrum of drugs for their use.

24

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Dr. Ben Ajayi 0805 400 5447

you-and-eye@gmail.com

What is this thing called retinoblastoma?

W

HEN Austin was found to have an unusual glow in one eye at five months of age. It was diagnosed as retinoblastoma. The tumour was still confined to the interior of his eyeball and appeared like a cat’s eye at night. At the time it was only visible at the distance in one eye.

I recall his mother asking me, “What is this thing called retinoblastoma?” “It is a rare type of eye cancer affecting children under the age of five years,” I replied. Her face was blank. So I knew she didn’t really comprehend what I was saying. Perhaps I was lucky she didn’t. She definitely would not have been able to handle the bundle of information and could have fainted!

So I politely requested that she should go home and ask Austin’s father to see me.

As expected, within an hour, both father and mother were in my office, anxious to know what retinoblastoma was and what could be done to help their first child. Was the dream they had nursed and shared for the past one and a half years about to crumble? Why is life so blatantly unfair? I asked myself in empathy with his parents.

“Why should their joy turn into sorrow?”

I quickly went through the events as related by Austin’s mother just before and during her pregnancy and after the birth of her son. She had done all she needed

to do during pregnancy and had had a full term normal delivery. At birth, the attending paediatrician had told them all was fine with the little boy. They had held the naming ceremony with pomp and pageantry.

“Retinoblastoma can affect one or both eyes. If it affects both eyes, it’s usually obvious before the child is one year old. I have to put him to sleep to enable me examine him properly to know if the other is involved and how bad it is,” I told his parents.

“There are two types of retinoblastoma.

One type is hereditary and is passed from parent to child. This usually affects both eyes and occurs in one out of 10 cases.

The second type of retinoblastoma is non-

Retinoblastoma can affect one or both eyes. If it affects both eyes, it’s usually obvious before the child is one year old.

heritable. It is responsible for seven out of every 10 new cases and usually only one eye is affected.”

I put Austin to sleep examined the two eyes. The verdict was devastating for his parents – both eyes were stuffed with cancer cells – almost to the bursting point.

“Both have to be removed,” I said with finality. Austin’s father’s feet wobbled. I helped him to his seat and preached a little sermon to make him see reason and accept the decision. ‘No,’ he said and left in a huff. For a long while they disappeared, moving from pillar to post seeking alternative treatment.

Austin was to reappear several months later. The tumour had gone out of the eye balls into his orbits. The eyes are now replaced by unsightly big bulges where the eyes once stood. He was looking very ill and miserable. Could the end be near? I struggled with my emotions as I examined him. Why has his father kept him away for so long? Why has he foisted this suffering on his son despite all the advice?

Now, Austin’s father was now remorseful and was on his knees begging us to do anything we could do to his little boy’s life.

It was now beyond ordinary surgery and more technically difficult. Additional radiotherapy was also needed and at the end

only one out of ten such cases at this stage usually survived. He had the necessary intervention and Austin’s progress has been phenomenal. He has lived to tell his story.

Despite having no eyes he can do nearly everything that a sighted person can do.

He wants to read Mass Communication in the University.

This a true story. Both father and son had waived the confidentiality clause so that other parents could learn from it. “I nearly lost him by refusing to accept the verdict of his doctors until it was almost too late. We must learn to accept the will of God in our life and never lose hope when the unusual happens. Please publish the story with the pictures and all,” he had said, as he handed me a fat album containing pictures before surgery and after surgery and radiotherapy. But not just for want of space are the pictures not published but because it is better to see today’s Austin.

“The sun in the sky” as he calls himself, is always with a smile on his face, intelligent, strong, confident and handsome and ready to face the future. You can help him achieve a brighter and independent future by contributing to his education. Augustine Akpeji – Zenith Bank Account No. 211 072 9996

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

ivf &you

info@nordicalagos.org

0700 6673422

Recent advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART) II Continued from last week

IT can also be used to avoid sickle cell genotype among couples who carry the sickle cell gene or to avoid such chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome for instance among those at risk like women of advanced age undergoing IVF with their own eggs.

The compatibility genetic test (CGT) can be used even among fertile persons to determine genetic compatibility in rare genetic diseases. This can influence decision to get married, bear children or have IVF and PGS or to reconsider source of gamates for ART. Secretomics and metabolomics assess products in culture media released by embryos instead of biopsying embryos for information. They are non invasive unlike biopsies. Protein profile in secretomics is predictive of implantation and pregnancy potential (ubiquitin). In metabolomics nitric oxide metabolites indicate blastolation rates.

Time lapse imaging using special incubators with built in cameras observes early embroyogenesis and growth pattern in real time, predicts embryo development potential and maybe useful in selecting embryos. Images are saved and displayed in a computer screen and easily visualised without opening the incubators and disturbing the embryos.

Blastocyst transfer is becoming the preferred stage of embryo transfer in IVF practice with benefits of fewer em-

bryos transferred and reducing multiple pregnancy rates. At the same time, it has been shown to give better success rates.

Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA) test is a test for determining endometrial receptivity because right now studies are shifting towards the thinking that there is a specific time that the endometrium is best receptive to the embryo.

Non invasive Analysis for Chromosomal Examination (NACE) is a blood test on maternal blood to determine chromosomal abnormalities in growing foetus. It is non invasive compared to other tests like chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. Results from this test may suggest changes of approach in ART and help to prevent miscarriages in future pregnancies.

Analysing Product of Conception (POC) using Array CGH helps to determine abnormalities in products of conception following a pregnancy loss and hence may help prevent recurrence.

Sperm retrieval/selection /analysis techniques have improved. Testicular

sperm Aspiration (TESA) and Percutaneous Sperm Aspiration (PESA) are means of getting sperms directly from the testes or epididymis respectively in men with obstructive azoospermia and who will otherwise have been condemned to use of donor sperms or adoption.

Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI) and Physiological Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) are techniques in selecting the best sperms by assessing their appearance (IMSI) or function (PICSI).

They have significantly improved success rates particularly in male factor infertility.

Sperm aneuploidy testing (SAT) and DNA fragmentation tests are tests that have been developed to test integrity of sperm DNA and give more information on expected sperm function or fertilisation potential and remedies.

Some French scientists claim they have grown human sperm in the laboratory.

There may be potential benefits for infertile men and young cancer patients, as the

Blastocyst transfer is becoming the preferred stage of embryo transfer in IVF practice with benefits of fewer embryos transferred and reducing multiple pregnancy rates at the same time.

French team say in vitro cells look like the real thing.

Cytoplasmic transfer is an assisted reproductive technique whereby cytoplasm from a donor egg is injected into an egg with compromised mitochondria. Mitochondria, enzymes and energy sources without genetic material are transferred (carried in the cytoplasm) from one oocyte to an abnormal one, for example, in low responders, older women, recurrent pregnancy loss/miscarriages.

This is however not as successful as egg donation but one advantage is that the woman uses her own genes. It was first used successfully in 1997 by Jacques Cohen an embryologist. An estimated 40 babies have been born. It can results in what some call 3 parent babies (Father, Mother and donor mitochondrial DNA).

Will donor and recipient mitochondrial DNAs clash? This is one of the various questions needing answers as far as this technique is concerned. It has been banned in the U.S, Australia and Britain.

In conclusion, the field of ART is still advancing as we speak. Techniques are being refined and new ones are being designed and tested all in a bid to improve the outcome of ART which is primarily to take a live, healthy baby home and secondarily to meet other choices and needs.

As ART advances we must however be careful not to derail from the primary purpose as we move towards ‘designer’ babies and other ethically controversial technology and techniques.

25

healthnews

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Nigerian roads rife with drivers with epilepsy —Expert

By Sade Oguntola

A

medical expert, Dr Morenikeji Komolafe, has called for enforcement of the law that ban people with epilepsy from driving, saying they 3pose danger to other road users.

Komolafe, who gave the charge at the International

Epilepsy Day celebration at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife Osun state, said despite doctor’s caution on its danger, many people with epilepsy are unwilling to follow the no-driving rule.

The neurologist, who declared that epilepsy was a common problem in Nigeria, said “ we have commercial drivers who are

epileptic. I have seen one who drives a trailer that later changed to working in the motor park.

“Recently, a commercial motorcycle rider, what is popularly called okada, who develop epilepsy said he was about buying a commercial vehicle that he would be driving to sustain his family.

“He had seizure twice

when carrying people on his okada. Even in the OAU campus, we still see some of them driving. So this is a big problem.”

Komolafe described epilepsy as a common problem in children, saying that it accounts for three to five per cent of all emergency admissions.

The expert, who said epilepsy requires that it be

promptly recognised and treated, declared that the condition is sometimes caused by infections, head injury, tumour, illicit drug use and stroke.

“Between October 2015 and January, 2016, about half of persons with hemorrhagic stroke had epilepsy, a study at the hospital found,” she said.

Although the disease could be genetic in some cases, she said its treatment is always aimed at preventing seizures, brain damage and complications of the condition such as organs damage and hypotension in the affected individual.

Also, Dr Michael Fawale, a consultant neurologist at the event cautioned medical doctors from quickly pronouncing anybody has having epilepsy.

Fawale said “once an individual has a diagnosis of epilepsy, you will find that people’s attitude to him

just change, so because of this, we need to be very careful.”

The expert, describing epilepsy as a tendency to have recurrent, unprovoked seizures, said in Nigeria, many people with the condition do not come to the hospital.

He said: “In sub-Saharan Africa, and indeed Nigeria, up to 90 per cent of people who have epilepsy in the community have never been diagnosed and treated. So we need to let people know that epilepsy is treatable.

“In fact in about 70 per cent of cases, with one or two drugs, which are not expensive, the epilepsy will resolve. They can live normal lives while continuing to take their drugs. Epilepsy is like other chronic disease like hypertension and diabetes because it is treatable, though in most cases, it is cannot be cured.”

Why dental problems in Nigeria is changing —Expert

From left: Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole; the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), recently, in Sokoto

Prevent spread of diseases from animals to man, farmers told

By Sade Oguntola NIGERIAN farmers have been urged to ensure good farm practices to prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans.

Dr Efie Belleh, a veterinarian, gave the charge at the first Vanguard Pharmacy Farmers forum on “General Management Approach to Bacterial Diseases of poultry,” in Ibadan.

Belleh said Colibacillosis and Salmonellosis were two common bacterial diseases of poultry that are transmittable also to man all over the world.

These diseases, she said represent serious animal welfare concern and risk to public health, adding that they have been consistently associated with food-borne illnesses in most countries of the world.

Given the economic importance of these diseases that cause morbidity and mortality in poultry, she said a better understanding of these diseases will help the farmers in continuing to make progress in reducing and eliminat-

ing them from the poultry flocks, thereby reducing potential hazards to the public health posed by these bacterial diseases.

According to the veterinarian, “mere faecal contamination of egg may result in the penetration of E. coli through the shell and may spread to the chickens during hatching. That is why such things as proper housing hygiene, disinfection and washing of hands among other things are important practices.”

To prevent contracting these diseases, Belleh asked

poultry product consumers to always wash their hands carefully before and after food preparation and after toileting; avoid eating raw or undercooked poultry; wrap fresh meats in plastic bags at the market to prevent fluids from dripping on other foods and ensure the correct internal cooking temperature especially when using a microwave.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer, Vanguard Pharmacy, Mr Taofeek Odukoya said the outfit decided on the farmers forum given the outfit’s involvement in both

human and animal medicines.

Odukoya saying that Nigeria should be able to meet its poultry needs when the right inputs are provided, said this starts with getting appropriate information to both producers and consumers of poultry products.

He added, “Diseases that spread from farm to humans and vice versa must be taken more seriously even as we take poultry production more seriously.

It is our joint responsibility to ensure that we remain healthy.”

DECADES into the introduction of dental care into Nigeria, a dental expert, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, has remarked that dental problems in Nigeria had witnessed a change from predominantly gum diseases to tooth decay .

Ogunbodede, former provost, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, who spoke at a seminar presentation on “History of Dentistry in Nigeria”, in Ibadan said tooth decay cases were on the rise because of the increase in consumption of refined sugar.

The don said tooth decay was not an issue decades ago because Nigerians were eating natural foods and not sweetening drinks and foods.

The dental expert, who said the pattern of dental problems had completely changed by the 1970’s, said Nigeria in curtailing increasing cases of dental problems, including tooth

Ondo residents converge for Boska pain-free day Newton-Ray Ukwuoma - Lagos MAJOR Painkiller Company, Dexa Medica makers of Boska, at the weekend launched a Pain Free Day initiative in Ore, Ondo State. The programme attracted hundreds of local residents of the Odigbo local government area, who came out in their numbers to receive free medical services and donations.

The Pain Free Day programme provided the grounds for the health experts to educate the community on critical health practices and dangers and residents received free body system check-ups and prescriptions at the one-day programme.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Boska Brand Executive, Kafayat Moradeyo, ad-

monished residents on the need to maintain stress-free life-style during parched conditions.

She cited a recent research conducted in Lagos that found that engaging in strenuous activities especially during the hot weather can trigger sudden breakdown in health, emphasising the importance of frequent water intake and medical check-ups for

healthy living.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, she said, “We’re committed to improving consumer’s health because health is an important part of one’s life and should be taken seriously. This high level consumer’s response today shows that this sort of programme is most beneficial to our consumers.”

decay, needs to keep pace with global oral health practices.

According to him, “We need to keep abreast of development in other parts of the world. When we act in isolation, we may think that we are doing the best, but we may be offering Nigerian services that are below standard; services that are no longer acceptable in other parts of the world.”

While Nigeria may not be able to manufacture dental equipments that it needs, Ogunbodede said onus lies on the country to maintain the ones it had.

“It is terrible that we do not have any maintenance culture and those are part of the issues we need to address even in our hospitals. It is a major challenge as far as Nigeria is concerned,” he said.

The dental expert, who remarked that many dental professionals were not as devoted to the profession like in the past, highlighted challenges against dental services to include poor funding, obsolete facilities, fake and substandard drugs, dearth of specialist in some areas of dentistry, outdated dental curriculum and absence of linkages with world class institutions.

He emphasised the need for Nigeria to also look into its history of dentistry with a view to learning some lessons for ensuring a more vibrant dental health care services for the country.

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Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Avocado pear leaf effective for treating hypertension

natural

health

By Vera Onana

T

HE World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Alma-Ata (1978) declaration in Primary Health Care (PHC) paved way for the official recognition of traditional medicine as a source of primary healthcare. Since then, healthcare delivery has tremendously improved with the combination of phytomedicine and orthodox medicine in most part of the world, especially in Africa.

Recent studies have shown that plants are an embodiment of important chemicals, which are bioactive in nature and are mostly essential to health. Among such groups of chemicals are carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins, dietary fibre, minerals, amino acids, prebiotics, and phytoestrogens.

Persea americana of the family Lauraceae, is the botanical name of the plant that bears avocado pear as fruit. This plant is among such plants that contribute to health improvement due to the fact that they contain some important chemicals. The avocado pear is a well known plant in West Africa and Nigeria. The fruits are edible while the bark, leaves, stem and roots are used as local medicine against diseases. In Nigeria, the fruits are gathered for household use or for sale in local markets.

The avocado seed oil has several health benefits, including weight control. Its leaves have also been reported to possess analgesic abilities. The edible part (fruit) is very popular in vegetarian cuisine, as a substitute for meat in sandwiches and salads, because of its high fat content. It is high in valuable,

health-promoting fats.

Also, the avocado seed has diverse application in ethno–medicine, ranging from treatment for diarrhoea, dysentery, tooth-

Total cholesterol level in subjects and other biochemical parameters showed a significant alteration after the administration of liquid extracts of avocado pear leaf.

ache, intestinal parasites, skin treatment to beautification. It has also been reported by researchers to be effective against hepatotoxicity, inflammation, cancer and hypertension.

A recent study conducted at Achiever’s University, Owo, Nigeria by Matthew Olaniyan on the “Effect of Liquid Extract of Pear Avocado Leaf (Persea americana) on Plasma Levels of Aminotransferases, Cholesterol and Total Bile Acids in Hypertensive Patients”, published in the American Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, reported the medicinal importance of raw liquid extract of avocado pear leaf in the treatment of hypertension in humans.

The study, which was carried out in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, Nigeria, was

designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the liquid extract of pear avocado leaf in the treatment of hypertension.

According to the study, 50 newly diagnosed hypertensive human subjects with abnormally increased plasma cholesterol and high blood pressure levels, all of whom were aged 45 and above and had, never in the past, been treated with any form of hypertensive medication were recruited from Saki-East and Saki-West Local government areas of Oke-Ogun, Northern part of Oyo state and exposed to the liquid extract of avocado pear plant.

However, before exposure to the treatment, their blood samples were taken and analysed for total cholesterol level and other biochemical parameters for hypertension both before and after the treatment.

The results as reported by Matthew Olaniyan stated that “total cholesterol level in subjects and other biochemical parameters showed a significant alteration after the administration of liquid extracts of avocado pear leaf.”

This study, thus established the effectiveness of liquid extracts of avocado pear leaf in the treatment of hypertension.

The leaves of avocado pear, according to natural health experts, can be cut into pieces, dried and made into tea for the management of hypertension and increased heart beat rate.

Also, the avocado fruit is very nutritious and contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals including potassium, heart friendly monosaturated fatty acids and fibre.

sex,sexuality

&your health With Monica Taiwo

strictly adult teenagers, adult & geriatric sexual well being

08187754992 (sms only) taiwomonica@gmail.com

Reasons you should have more morning sex!

HAVING sex only at night is like only having sex in your bed or only having sex if the lights are off and it could be boring.

But getting it on in the wee hours of the morning is not just a way to break out of your sex routine, it actually has a lot of physical and emotional benefits. So why don’t you try this out and pep up your sex life!

Below are reasons why early morning sex is good for you.

What better way to start the day?

If what you do at the beginning of your day sets the tone for the rest of it, then having an orgasm is pretty much the best possible way to usher in another 24 hours of life. Having sex in the morning can make you feel upbeat for the rest of the day. Because this act releases oxytocin, also known as the cuddle hormone which makes you feel more connected with your partner and more loved. These warm feelings will stay with you throughout the day, or at least throughout the morning.

It allows you to stay in bed just a little longer.

I am sure everyone agrees with this.

Staying longer in bed means more cuddle with your partner which is actually good for you as stated above.

In the morning you won’t feel bad being too tired for sex like at the end of the day.

For those of us in long-term relationships, sex no matter how mind-blowing tends to fall to the bottom of A list of todos. Getting it on in the morning gets your sex routine out of the way so you won’t feel guilty or lame for having sex before you sleep off.

It won’t actually make you late for work.

You and your partner probably want to shower anyway, so cut down on time by showering together and get dirty before you get clean. For the best water sex position, bend over while he enters from behind. Avoid slipping and falling by holding onto a wall or shower door.

It keeps you healthy.

Morning sex can actually strengthen your immune system by boosting your levels of IgA, an antibody that protects against infection.

He will last longer.

Men’s testosterone levels are highest in the morning after they have recharged with hours of sleep. This means that not only will your man be at his horniest when he wakes up but he will be less

likely to fall prey to the only one-minuteman syndrome. When a man has higher testosterone and is well-rested, he has

more energy during sex. That energy will help him last longer. So you can be lazy, while he does all the work.

27

Thursday, 5 May, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

Ogoni crisis: Why Wike is after me —Abe Senator Magnus Abe is the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the yet-to-be rescheduled senatorial rerun election in the Rivers SouthEast. He speaks on the crisis rocking Ogoniland, among other issues. DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE, brings excerpts:

Y

OUR name is being mentioned as part of the people allegedly heating up the polity as controversy rages over the suspended legislative rerun poll in parts of Rivers State....

How am I heating up the polity?

You reportedly said in one interview that your party is tired of being attacked always and that your members should resort to self-help if they are attacked again...

I made a statement that our people should defend themselves and that they should not allow themselves to continue to be killed like rats. That was what I said.

Now, before I made that statement, how many people had been killed and where in that statement did I ask any of my supporters to take up guns and go and attack anybody? If somebody tells you to defend yourself, is the person telling you to attack anybody? If I didn’t tell you to defend yourself, are you not smart enough to defend yourself, whether I say it or not? How does that overheat the polity? People are getting killed every day and I said defend yourself where you can.

But we have been doing our bit, talking to the other side too.

You need to do that. This whole thing that is going on in this country, we don’t need to run away from it. A lot of the people who have been killed in this state really have no business dying and it could be you; don’t exclude yourself. A lot of you (journalists) seem to think this is a problem only just for the politicians, but a lot of people who are not politicians have lost their lives in this process. We are a society; what affects one human being fundamentally in this way could also affect any of us and it is affecting all of us. So, I don’t know how you people can sit down in the face of this kind of thing because you are the ones now playing politics. You should come out boldly; you are journalists.

People are talking about the Ogoni crisis, particularly the division in the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) What is the division in MOSOP? Where is the division in the organisation? What has that got to do with the killings? If people do elections, are people supposed to be killed? Is this the first time we are doing election? Is this the second time we are doing election? Is that how elections have been before? Is that what election should be? You, as a journalist, why can’t you go out, investigate what is happening, talk to people, look at issues and events and see what is wrong and ask the society to do the right thing? We can do that. Journalism

should not always be about quoting another person; you find out the facts.

If Senator Abe is the person creating the problems, dig into the fact and write it down. What was the origin of this problem? Was it not when Governor Nyesom Wike woke up and said: “Ok, stop Senator Abe by all means?” Now, soldiers are carrying out raids, recovering arms across the state, everywhere. Even, two days ago, at Lagos Bus Stop, soldiers were attacked and one of them was killed. In all these places, is there anywhere they have hanged it on any politician?

But how come the very day this thing happened in Ogoni; before the thing even finished happening, that very day, my office was burnt? The next day, the governor, who already released a statement that he authorised the army to go and recover arms across the state, was back in Ogoni, calling my name and saying it was Senator Abe who brought the soldiers. Am I a soldier? Do I have control of soldiers? Are the soldiers ghost? Why can’t you go to Bori Camp [2 Brigade] and ask them why did they went there and who sent them?

And does it even make sense for you to start telling people in the village that it is Senator Abe who sent soldiers? That is an incitement, you know.

You know practically everybody in the present-day PDP. What makes you a threat or what are they afraid of and do you think you can win in your senatorial district?

Listen, everybody, even the deaf and dumb, as well as the blind knows that if there is an election in the Rivers SouthEast Senatorial District, I will win. This whole thing is being orchestrated. Ok! The last time we were to have an election, how come it was PDP that blockaded the entire district and will not allow one material to move from anywhere? Why did they do that? Even with that, they will not allow the materials to leave the INEC office.

How come they did that?

And the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kenneth Kobani, was arrested in Gokana. All the youth corps members would have died, but for the grace of God. They threw dynamites into the INEC office, in the midst of all those small children (the youth corps members) who were INEC ad-hoc staff during the election. Nobody talks about any of these things; all that was not inciting!

That was a place where everybody expected that, at some point, we could go there, and then you go and plant children behind the place with guns. Who were they waiting for? What did they bring guns there to do? All of you were here when the governor kept saying anybody who rigs election should be killed. And then these

Abe children came out; they were given materials by INEC and then somebody came out to say that the materials they had were fake. Has he not sentenced them to death, in keeping with the threat of the governor?

I kept asking, who will have the power to decide who is rigging election?

Now, he came out and said the materials issued to them are fake; they were to be used to rig election for Senator Abe. Am I INEC? Am I the person who issued the materials? Okay, if those ones issued are fake, where is the original? Nobody is condemning all these things, but you people do come and ask me questions...

You are yet to answer the question; why are you a threat?

You see, I am the most harmless person in this whole game; penknife, I don’t have.

I am the most harmless person in this whole game; penknife, I don’t have. All I have been doing consistently in my politics is trying to bring people together.

All I have been doing consistently in my politics is trying to bring people together; trying to bring progress to the society and just telling the truth. Now, you hear people sitting down to say, ‘Oh, UNEP Report, they are stakeholders and all that’. But, we were looking for stakeholders in this report; we were begging people. Now, they are saying they are calling some people and not calling some others. But, the day we were to bring [President Muhammadu] Buhari to come and collect the report, if you had begged 10 people, nobody would come. They were shooting at people who were coming there. Nobody has asked all these questions. All of a sudden, Magnus Abe is the problem. They think they use this thing to deceive the Ogoni people for us to kill ourselves and sell our birthright.

But, they will be surprised.

There was also the rumour that, before the 2015 elections, you agreed with Governor Wike that you would join PDP and be given a senatorial ticket, but that you reneged.

Was there anything like that?

You know, at a certain stage in your life, you don’t even bother responding to certain things. I was in PDP; I left the paryy.

If I had wanted the PDP senatorial ticket, okay, granted that the rumour you are talking about is correct, I didn’t take it.

I’m in APC but I never reached an agreement with anybody to take PDP senatorial ticket. I was approached, yes and I said it clearly that I am not interested. I did not leave PDP because of the Senate.

28

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Abe not popular in Rivers —Nwanosike

S

ENATOR Magnus Abe accused Governor Nyesom Wike as the mastermind of the crisis rocking Ogoniland, with the aim of scheming him out of the way ahead the legislative rerun election in Rivers South-East Senatorial District. What is your take on this?

The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, can never be associated with the violence that is happening in Ogoni because Rivers people are aware of the activities of Senator Magnus Abe and all that has happened in Ogoni since February. It is a thing of shock that somebody who had got to the level of being a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will talk without regard to the Constitution of Nigeria and respect for the National Assembly which he is struggling to go back to.

But what I want to say clearly is that Wike has no business and has not contributed an inch to the crisis happening in Ogoniland. Rather, he has been doing his best to see that Ogoni people are liberated from shame; liberated from oppressive rule of men like Senator Abe who believe that they must continue to remain in power at all cost. We have the history of Senator Abe; it is not today that he started. I can bring facts to you here, starting from when he went to the state House of Assembly to when he became the state Commissioner for Information and a senator. He has never won any election; it is on record. Abe, even when he went to the Senate, lost the election in his local government area in Gokana. Go and check the result in INEC.

But is it true that the governor directed his supporters to stop Senator Abe at the legislative rerun election by all means?

What did Governor Wike say when he went to Senator Lee Maeba’s 50th birthday? He said Maeba’s celebration will not be complete if the Ogoni people did not give him their support to ensure that PDP won in his senatorial district (Rivers SouthEast). This is on record; the media were at the event. He said, even if Lee Maeba is not a candidate in the election, he was supporting Olaka Nwogu to represent PDP in that senatorial seat.

Is Abe saying he wants to cajole Wike to campaign for him? If Wike campaigns for him, that is anti-party and the party will hold to that. What is wrong in the governor requesting for support from the Ogoni people, who came out in their large multitude that day to welcome him; a man who has done well for Rivers people; a man who they willingly gave their votes to lead them and manage their economy? He said: “My people, if you believe in me, Nyesom Wike, and if you believe in Lee Maeba, please assist Lee Maeba and other Ogoni people to make sure that PDP wins the senatorial seat in the forthcoming election.” There is nothing wrong with that statement; there is nothing inciting in that statement.

All those stage-managed issues that he claimed that they tried to assassinate him on Save Rivers rally was to gain sympathy from the then Governor Rotimi Amaechi so that the former governor could award him the governorship APC ticket of the state.

As soon as he lost that ticket, Rivers State was on fire. I am challenging him to make public the record where Governor Wike instructed his supporters to, by all means, stop him in the rerun election. Otherwise, he will never get that opportunity to represent Rivers South-East in the Senate. You cannot take the people for granted all the

Honourable Samuel Nwanosike is the assistant publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. He responds to some issues raised by Senator Magnus Abe. DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE, brings excerpts:

Nwanosike time. As said by the late Bob Marley, every day the bucket goes to the well; one day, the bottom of the bucket will go in and it will not come out. You can fool some people sometime, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

He also alleged that the governor admitted that he authorised the army to go to Yeghe and other parts of Ogoniland to clear the arms in circulation, only to later turn around to deny the military invasion...

For crying out loud, the governor, up till this moment as we speak, has continued to say that he is out to fight crime and criminality in Rivers State. I just left office as the caretaker committee chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area. When I was taking the oath of office, the governor gave us two major charges: one, that we should go

and make sure we fight crime and criminality in our local government areas. Secondly, he said we should make sure there was proper environmental sanitation and keep the place clean. If that man does not mean well for Rivers people, he would not give us such charges.

The governor, till this moment, is still standing by his support for the Nigerian Army, Police and other security agencies to make sure that crime and criminality are curbed and that the loose guns on the streets are withdrawn from the hands of people who are not authorised to carry gun.

But what the governor will not support is that the security agencies will go and carry out security functions without following laid down rules and regulations. As guaranteed by the constitution, we have the roles of the police and we have the roles of the

The governor, till this moment, is still standing by his support for the Nigerian Army, Police and other security agencies to make sure that crime and criminality are curbed and that the loose guns on the streets are withdrawn.

army. We know when the army can come in; we know their bounds.

What will baffle you is that the man Senator Abe is talking about has been in existence in that local government area all these days when Abe was in the Senate and when he was the SSG. When Senator Abe was in charge of what they called the fight against cultism when Rotimi Amaechi came to power in his first term, it is on record that it was the Office of the SSG that managed the security operations that happened then.

Amaechi said it clearly when we went for a Town Hall meeting at the Civic Centre that all the money used to fight against cultism in Rivers State was through the Office of the SSG. Abe was the SSG at that time and Solomon Ndigbara was alive. Solomon Ndigbara, at that point, was also involved in the struggle for the Niger Delta liberation. Why didn’t Senator Abe, who was fighting all the criminals in Rivers State and even outside the state, fight Ndigbara then?

Are you now saying Senator Abe was wrong when he accused the governor of hobnobbing with known criminals, especially Solomon Ndigbara?

That is exactly what I am telling you. That is the crux of the matter here. The governor has no time hobnobbing with Ndigbara.

How can he say Ndigbara sleeps in the Government House? The same Senator Abe said Nidigbara accompanied the governor when he visited Yeghe when Ndigbara’s house was brought down by the Nigerian Army in the first attack. Everybody in Rivers State knew it was a lie; Ndigbara cannot be with the Commissioner of Police when the latter had declared him wanted. So, who is deceiving who here? Are we small children?

I know you press men, when you see the truth, you know the truth. The question you should ask him is that, at what point did you disagree with Ndigbara? When you have all the powers; you are from Gokana, Ndigbara is from Yeghe which is between Khana and Gokana. He was under your nose but at that point, you are comfortable and he was not a problem. Ndigbara had said it openly (it was on YouTube) that Senator Abe and Barry Mpigi approached him to come and join APC and he said he is not going to join the party; that he is not a politician but a freedom fighter and he wants the betterment of his people; that he does not want to be involved in politics. They now said because he didn’t want to be in politics, they will make things difficult for him.

Senator Abe said even the blind knows that he will win election in the Rivers South-East, any time, any day How can he win election? For instance, he is bragging that he won election in Opobo. How can he win when the unit results showed that Olaka Nwogu won? The collation result is showing that you won Olaka but the law of the land recognises unit results. That is what the Electoral Act says.

When we get to the tribunal, we will sort out that one. What was the crux of the matter? The SSG, Kenneth Kobani, said on the day of the rerun election, that ‘we want to see the original copies of the result sheets before the material can be distributed. I am the SSG and a stakeholder in this election.

But nevertheless, you as the electoral officer, the law says you are in charge for this process and not the military. If you think that what you are showing us today is what your office gave to you as original, sign on top of it and take responsibility.’ But, the electoral officer said he was not going to sign.

29

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Shola Adekola

m:0803 365 4818 e:sholanig@yahoo.com

crucial moment 0803 365 4818

With Shola Adekola

Before almighty aviation fuel marketers kill Nigerian airlines

From left: The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Med-view Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole; Chairman, Dana Air, Mr Jacky Hathiramani and former General Secretary, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON),Captain Mohammed Joji at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) meeting with the AON on debt reconciliation and payment held at the NCAA headquarters in Lagos, recently.

Lagos Airport records 12.8% cargo movement increase —NBS Stories By Shola Adekola - Lagos

T

HE Murtala Muhammed Airport has been rated as the airport with the highest cargo movement in the fourth quarter of 2015.

This is just as the airport has also recorded 12.8 per cent increase in cargo movement when compared to the third quarter of 2015.

In a data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Lagos airport also recorded a total of 89.5 per cent of cargo movements across the country in the last quarter of 2015.

NBS, said that whereas the third quarter of 2015 saw a year on year decline of 13.9 per cent, the fourth quarter saw a year on year increase of 12.8 for the airport.

The bureau of statistics released to the public, said that the third quarter of 2015 saw a quarterly increase in the weight of cargo to pass through Nigerian airports of 724,792 kilogrammes or 1.8 per cent, to reach 41,636,713 kilogrammes.

NBS added that this was followed by a larger quarterly increase of 6,169,663 kilogrammes (14.8 per cent) in the fourth quarter, to reach 47,805,737 kilogrammes.

This it said contrasted the previous year result in which there was

a decline in the weight of cargo movement between the third and fourth quarters.

The bulk of the weight of cargo to move through Nigerian Airports it declared went through MMA in Lagos in the second half of 2015.

The data added, “This airport accounted for 91 per cent and 88.2 per cent of the weight in the third and fourth quarters; the decline in the share between these two periods is in spite of an increase in the weight of cargo to move through MMA of 14.8 per cent.

“The decline was mainly the result of a large increase in the weight of cargo to pass through Kano airport between these peri-

Knocks for NCAA over flight cancellations, delays KEY players in the country’s aviation sector have apportioned blames to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as a reaction to the recent roll out of flight delays and cancellations caused by the domestic airlines between January and March, 2016.

Available statistical data as revealed by the NCAA through its portal indicated that the domestic carriers within the three months delayed flights 8, 478 times and

FAAN working towards getting best terminals —Dunoma THE Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma has announced that the authority was working towards getting the best terminals for airport users across the country.

Speaking after commissioning the aviation white house constructed by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) at the Lagos airport as part of activities to mark the May Day celebration, Dunoma said a lot has been done to improve on safety of both the airlines and passengers at airports.

ods. Whereas in the third quarter of 2015 the weight of cargo to pass through Kano was 1,681,772 kilogrammes, this rose by 2,474,862 kilogrammes (147.2 per cent) to 4,156,634 kilogrammes in the fourth quarter.

“As a result, Kano significantly increased its share of cargo between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015, from 3.3 per cent to 7.7 per cent. Port Harcourt also saw an increase over this period, from two per cent to 2.7 per cent, as despite a year on year decrease in the weight of cargo moved of 4.6 per cent, this decrease was considerably less than for Abuja (16.3 per cent) or Calabar (44.4 per cent).”

According to the FAAN boss, work on the air side in some airports have been completed which he said can be attested to by the pilots that use the facilities.

Dunoma explained that passengers will soon start experiencing better facilities as soon as the new terminals were put into use noting that work has reached advanced stage.

On the construction of cargo airports in some designated states, the FAAN boss explained that some equipment for the cargo airports have arrived but for paucity of funds it has slow down the pace of work.

cancelled flights 281 times.

But in their reactions, some industry players have taken a swipe at the regulatory body for failing to use the same energy used to reel out the volume of flights delayed and cancelled without stating the reasons why these flights were cancelled or delayed.

According to the key players; “If the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) decides to publish delays and cancellations, it should also publish the root causes. If they do not publish root causes, then it is all window dressing. No airline wants to delay flights as it sells speed of travel and every airline wants to be 90%-100% full capacity but sometimes the environment the airline operates, the circumstances all militate against it and so root causes need to be broken down so everyone knows that sometimes it is not up to the airlines alone.

“Pilots and crew can be the cause of a delayed flight, but so also can the regulator, sometimes the aircraft needs inspection and the airline has to wait for the inspector before it flies that constitutes a delay.

IT was a welcome development recently when the news filtered in that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and his counterpart in aviation, Hadi Sirika are working together to ensure uninterrupted supply of aviation fuel to airline operators in the country.

Kachikwu who made this known when his aviation counterpart paid him a courtesy call, said, although the supply and distribution of the commodity also known in the aviation parlance as JET A1 was outside government control, as it has since been deregulated, a meeting of aviation fuel importers would soon be held to address how to guarantee uninterrupted supply of the product.

Kachikwu while saying the refineries in the country were not producing aviation fuel for now, but promised to put in efforts in due course to provide the enablers that would ensure local production in the near future, declared: “The immediate action point for now is to meet with all the importers of aviation fuel, to understand the consumption patterns, and also look at their cost to ensure that they are not profiteering excessively.”

This a good development coming at a time when the domestic airlines are struggling to remain in business because of the harsh environment they are operating in.

There is no doubt that the issue of the non availability of Jet A1 and the cut throat price at which the various marketers have been selling the commodity has continued to be the bane of airline business in Nigeria.

It is no more news that the price at which the marketers sell the product has been adjudged the most expensive in the region with foreign airlines shifting their patronage from Nigeria to neighbouring African countries like Ghana where they get the same commodity far cheaper.

Unfortunately, many of the domestic airlines have continued to operate under this hostile condition with aviation fuel taking between 45 per cent and N60 per cent of their cost of production.

What baffles stakeholders in the country’s aviation sector is that while this unfair treatment in the hands of the oil marketers has continued for years, the subsequent governments that should have waded in showed no much interest but at the same time preach private investments.

The only time a little effort was made was during the time of Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah when she set up a committee to look into why the commodity was that expensive and not always available.

Until she left the office, nothing was done and the suffering continues till now.

It is on record that many of the domestic carriers are often forced to either cancel or delay their flights as they find it tough to even get the Jet A1 to buy even still at the high price.

It is therefore at this juncture that the Crucial Moment is commending the effort of the ministers particularly Kachikwu for making this ongoing effort to look into the reasons why the oil marketers have continued to hold the airline operators to ransom.

For sure, the airline operators will remain grateful if this monster can be tackled and even the traveling public will not forget the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari as the the first to relief the domestic airlines of this burden which will automatically make air travel more seamless on the domestic scene.

However, there is no reason why the country’s refineries cannot produce aviation fuel since the same government has gone far in making sure the same refineries produce other petroleum products.

Equally, the excuse that the supply and distribution of JET A1 was outside government control because it has been deregulated is not accepted.

In any part of the world, no government will say it does not have control over how its oil sector transacts business with other sectors.

A government that has been appealing to investors both locally and internationally to come and invest in the country must not stop at any length to encourage those who are willing to do so despite the obvious economic hardship here and there.

Many of the domestic airline owners have paid dearly for daring to venture into airline business in the country and therefore, rather than being made to regret, the government should try to make the environment more comfortable for the business.

In making the airlines more comfortable, Nigerian traveling public will enjoy immense benefit as the airlines will provide better and cheaper services; meaning an increase in the volume of Passengers’ traffic with more money for the airlines and the government in return.

30

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tola Adenubi

m:07068476673 e:adenubiadetola@yahoo.com

Customs impounds N13.1m worth of poultry products

From left: Vice Admiral, Ibok Ete-Ibas, Chief of the Naval Staff and Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), during a visit of a delegation of NIMASA to the Naval Headquarters recently.

OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Customs Service, headquarters anti-smuggling compliance team based in Ogun State has said that it has impounded frozen poultry products estimated at about N13,165,200.

An Assistant Comptroller of Customs; Mr Shittu Abdulmaruf, while commenting on the seizure in a statement made available to newsmen by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, disclosed that one of his patrol teams intercepted a long trailer with registration number AGL 53 XF suspected to be carrying frozen poultry products along the busy Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu Expressway.

He stated further that his operatives, out of curiosity, insisted

FG loses N13bn at Lagos seaports in 2016 Q1 Stories by Tola Adenubi- Lagos

T

HE Federal Government has lost N13 billion in Customs revenue at the Lagos seaport in the first quarter of 2016. This is even as the volume of vessel call at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) continues to nosedive due to unfavourable government policies that have driven importers away from the nation’s seaports.

Disclosing this recently during a stakeholders’ meeting in Apapa Lagos, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Willy Egbudin, stated that his command collected N61.7 billion as revenue between January and March 2016, thereby recording a deficit of N13 billion when compared with the N74.71 billion the command collected in the corresponding period in 2015.

Egbudin further complained that vessel call at the Lagos Ports Complex has dropped and as a result, revenue collection by the service has dipped.

“If revenue collection continues to drop in flagship command of the Nigeria Customs Service, I wonder how other commands will get their own revenue. Apapa Area Command is the flagship of Nigeria Customs Service and if revenue generation from Apapa is going down, that means revenue generation as a whole to the Customs will go down. That is why we the stakeholders and the officers in Apapa command must fashion out a way of improving on its revenue,” he said.

He also noted that the command placed a higher premium on the

monthly meeting, urging the stakeholders to come up with ideas, suggestions and innovations on how to improve on revenue generation.

Egbudin also reemphasised the need for officers and men of the service and other key stakeholders in trade facilitation to uphold integrity in their line of duty, stressing the need for honest declaration in the clearing procedure of consignments.

He said integrity on the part of the operators will bring about improved revenue collection, calling on the stakeholders to look inward on how improve on revenue collection.

The premier command boss added that the situation in 2015 was quite different with what is obtainable recently, adding that more cargoes were imported in the corresponding year. He urged

importers and their principals to embrace honest declaration in order to assist the command collect more revenue.

“Even when these vessels come in, they come with scanty number of containers; bulk cargoes no longer come the way they used to, because some of the items have been denied by the FOREX policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Egbudin stated.

on conducting physical examination on the truck; which revealed that the truck had 2,438 cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products, concealed with 22 pallets of Maltina drinks. He gave the value of the frozen poultry products alone as N13,165,200 only.

“Despite several entreaties to smugglers for a rethink on their illicit activities, they are still adamant as they have continued to engage in illegal importation in their bid to circumvent the trade policies of the Federal Government. “it is disheartening that people do not bother to weigh the consequences of their actions before embarking on them,” Abdulmaruf stated.

The Customs Assistant Comptroller also added that his team, in less than 20 hours thereafter intercepted another truck ladened with imported shoes and canvas along the tollgate end of Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway.

According to him, the truck has been deposited at the Customs House, Ibadan, where 100 per cent examination will be conducted to ascertain the quantity and status of the consignment. The team leader solicited the support of Nigerians in the fight against smuggling and promised that the identity of informants would be jealously guided, so as not to endanger their lives.

Inland waterways control: Enactment of LASWA, an illegality —NIWA THE Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Muazu Sambo, has described the enactment and establishment of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) as an illegality.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune in an exclusive interview, the NIWA, Lagos boss stated that repealing the NIWA Act and es-

tablishing LASWA is an illegality on the part of the Lagos State Government (LASG).

According to him, “Lagos State claimed that the NIWA Act was wrong and that was why they repealed it. They claimed that as far as the waters in Lagos were concerned, they are interstate waterways and therefore under the control of the state government. The

LASG interpreted section 315 of the constitution wrongly.

“However, whenever there is a conflict on interpretation of legislative provision by arms of government, it is the judiciary that decides.

On 28 March, 2014, a Federal High Court delivered a judgment stating that it is the Federal Government that has jurisdiction over the inland waterways and all activities

Federal Ministry of Transport populated by inexperienced hands —ANLCA NATIONAL President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu has said that majority of the staff at the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) are inexperienced and are lacking in what it takes to move the transport sector forward.

Shittu who was speaking at a public event in Lagos last week alleged that the oldest staff in the ministry is less than 10 years in service and they do not have a grasp of the ministry, especially as regards maritime.

Shittu charged the Minister of transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi to urgently gather professionals in the private sector, as well as retired officials of the transport ministry who had put in long years of service, with the aim of charting a road map for the ministry.

He noted that several committees were set up during the last administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, with recommendations that were never looked into or implemented. The ANLCA President charged Amae-

chi to set up a committee to harmonise the recommendation of the committees and come up with a summary that the ministry can implement.

“I always believe that when you get to a new place, you need to look back and see what has been done before your arrival, before you start charting a road map. The Transport Ministry today has the highest number of committees set up within three years more than committees set up in other ministries, what has happened to reports of those committees?”

that take place on the waterways, including the commercial activities of dredgers and transporters.

“The judgement also stated that the Lagos State government has no power under the constitution to repeal the NIWA Act, as they did and created the LASWA. “The court took consequential orders restraining the agencies of the Lagos State government, namely; the Waterfront Infrastructure Ministry and LASWA from having anything to do with regulating the commercial activities of dredging operators as well as water transporters.

“The Lagos State government has appealed the judgement since September 2014. However, all what LASG did was to sought for the Federal High Court Registry to move the file to the court of appeal.

“After the file was moved to the court of appeal, LASG did not pursue the case afterwards. No court processes was served on anybody.

It is obvious that LASG is not keen about pursuing the appeal.

“When a litigant is not keen on pursuing an appeal, it appears that the litigant is scared he might lose the court case.”

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news

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Reps move to overhaul electoral laws Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel

T

he House of Representatives, on Wednesday, set machinery in motion to overhaul the electoral process in the country to, among other things, make provisions to cover the lacuna in the event of death of a governorship candidate anytime before the conclusion of an election.

The House is also planning to include the use of card reader as part of the Act and clearly specify the tenure of office of the Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the new dispensation .

It is equally trying to amend the electoral act of 2010 to empower election tribunals and courts to declare candidates who scored the second highest votes as winners of elections when the tribunal or court holds that the win-

ner of the election is unqualified for the election ab initio.

Another amendment on the electoral act before the House for second reading also dwelled on ensuring that all political parties are gender sensitive and to eliminate all forms of discrimination in all political parties.

The House also wanted to increase the amounts permitted as maximum election expenses to be incurred by candidates standing for elections.

The amendments to the electoral laws were sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, Honourable Karimi Sunday, Honourable Edward Pwajok, Honourable Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, Honourable Olatoye Temitope and Honourable Raphael Igbokwe.

Another bill to alter the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended

to provide for electronic voting sponsored by Honourable Edward Pwajok was also passed for second reading .

Honourable Gbajabiamila, while leading debate on the bill, said the amendments being sought was to strengthen the electoral laws in the country.

On his part, Honourable Leo Ogor said the concept of electronic voting should be introduced to the electoral system instead of the use of card reader.

The Whip of the House, Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the bill should also make provision for the office of the vice president, even deputy governor, saying any of them could die.

The bill, after passing second reading, was referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters and Judiciary by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara.

Digitisation: FG okays subsidy for set-top boxes Chris Agbambu, Taiwo Adisa and Christian Okeke-Abuja

THE Federal Government has approved high subsidy for set-top boxes needed for effective migration from analogue to digital broadcasting in the country.

Whereas the actual cost for each box is about N10,000, each buyer is now expected to pay N1, 500 per box.

Also, to ensure a smooth roll-out in Jos, Plateau State, the Federal Government is giving out 200,000 boxes free of charge to citizens.

On its own, Plateau State government has agreed to buy 300,000 boxes for its residents to support effective take-off.

Disclosing this in Abuja, at a news conference, the Minister of information, Lai Mohammed, noted that after the successful roll-out in Jos, the government was currently moving to Abuja and then Lagos.

He noted that the Jos digital switch-over ceremony was the culmination of a roller-coaster journey that started in 2004, when the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), The UN Specialised Agency for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), adopted Resolution 1185 on the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

The minister recalled that since then, Nigeria had missed two deadlines to transit from analogue to digital, in addition to

missing a number of selfimposed dates for the pilot scheme. “But after six months of uncommon commitment and dedication by

the stakeholders, we finally switched on digital broadcasting in the city of Jos, which was chosen for the pilot scheme,� he said.

Thursday, 5 May, 2016 33 news Sanction states over mismanagement of bailout funds, NUT asks FG FG committed Clement Idoko - Abuja HE leadership of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to adequately sanction some states alleged to have mismanaged and diverted the bailout funds made available to them for payment of workers’ salaries.

The union has also issued a fresh warning to all the state governors that owed their teachers, to take urgent steps to offset same in order to avoid industrial disharmony.

The NUT secretary general, Mr Obong Ikpe Obong, n a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja, said the union was alarmed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC’s) report that some state governments mismanaged and in some cases, diverted their bailout funds to other areas different from what they were meant for.

“It is, therefore, our view that such state governments be adequately sanc-

T

tioned to check such untowards behaviour in future.

They should also be forced to source for funds and pay their teachers and indeed, all workers in line with the spirit and intendment of the bailout funds,” he said.

Obong, particularly, ex-

pressed dismay over what he described as the systematic exclusion of teachers in the payment of salary from the 2015 Federal Government bailout funds given to state governments.

He said the national leadership of the union rejected

the treatment metted out to teachers by some governors in favour of other workers in their various states.

He said NUT will not stand aloof and watch continuous maltreatment and gross insensitivity towards teachers’ plights by some

Niger govt begins TSA implementation Adelowo Oladipo - Minna IN an attempt to ensure transparency and accountability, the Niger State government has started implementing the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Governor Abubakar Bello, dislosed this on Tuesday.

He said this while declaring open the 11th Northern Zonal District Accountants Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), in Minna, the Niger State capital.

He said the state had also adopted the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), as the 2016 budget document was prepared in compliance with global standard.

Governor Bello, who

spoke through his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, said his administration is ready to promote IPSAS by providing adequate staff and funds needed to guarantee successful implementa-

tion.

“In Niger State, we have gone far in becoming fully IPSAS compliant; as our budget document is already fully IPSAS compliant and effort is ongoing

By Tolu Olamiriki THE clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Salisu Abubakar Mailcamura, has said that Nzeh Mada festival of Akwanga, in Nasarawa State, will continue to promote peace, unity and understanding among the people of the state.

The clerk of the National Assembly said this in Akwanga, as a special guest of honour during the grand finale of the festival with

Police extends deadline for tinted glass permit, firearms licence THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has again, extended the deadline for the revalidation of tinted glass permit and firearms licence from May 31 till July 31.

Arase gave the order in a statement issued by the Acting Commissioner of Police, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, the Force Public Relations Officer, on Wednesday, in Abuja.

According to the statement, Arase directed all commissioners of police in states to stay enforcement of the law on tinted glass permit and firearms licence until the expiration of the deadline.

It stated that the revali-

dation of tinted glass permit was free of charge.

The statement warned policemen against extortion and harassment of motorists over revalidating their permits and licences, adding that the exercise was free of charge.

It urged members of the public yet to obtain the automated tinted glass permit and firearms licences to complete the necessary formalities for them to key into the electronic platform.

The statement said that Arase reassured the public of the commitment of the force to the provision of 24-hour security for the teeming citizens of the country.

transaction.

He is, therefore, urging the Federal High Court to hold that Sections 293 and 294 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, relied on by the EFCC, deals with criminal offences attracting capital punishment and not

the theme: “Celebrating natural gift, on Wednesday.”

Mailcamura, however, urged Nigerians to give priority attention to the development of agric as a strategic approach towards solving the current economic problem in the country.

“The time has come for the nation to go back to land or face the prospect of perpetual dependence, hunger, backwardness and

financial crimes.

He is also praying the court to hold that the attempt by EFCC to force him to implicate the former president, is contrary to Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

deprivation,” he said.

While saying that the founding fathers of the nation effectively made use of agric resources to provide free education, road, healthcare delivery services, job creation as well as establishment of industries, he said that there is the need to convert hills, mountains and valleys at Mada into tourist centres to engage the people in productive ventures.

He said the people of the area have been tradiitonally and historically friendly and commended them for their hospitality, loyalty as well as resourcefulness.

The people, however, commended the clerk of the National Assembly for his leadership qualities, adding that he is a patriotic democrat.

to youth employment —Presidential aide

THE Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Youths and Students Affairs (SAPYSA), Nasir Adhama, has expressed government’s commitment to reduce unemployment rate in the country, saying it will provide a conducive atmosphere for youths to engage in productive ventures.

While he charged youths in the country to be selfempowered, he said the current administration is working towards creating a conducive atmosphere for young entrepreneurs.

Adhama said this when his office hosted the first Youth Employability Skills Interactive session, in commemoration of the 2016 Workers’ Day. He urged stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to adopt one youth, one mentor approach to create more jobs.

“Nigeria, today, is at a very critical moment where many of its youth s are either unemployed or unemployable due to lack of skills that is needed to perform certain tasks. It is for this reason that the president has accorded great priority to youth employment.

For copies of Dipo: Bisi: Musa: Morisson:

CALL

A cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Azibaola Robert, on Wednesday, urged a Federal High Court in Lagos, to restrain the Economuc and Financial Crimes Commisaion (EFCC), from issuing a remand warrant against him.

Robert filed the suit onWednesday, through his lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, challenging his unlawful detention.

Joined as respondent in the suit is the EFCC. Robert is praying the court to stop the respondent from applying for a new remand warrant against him from any court in Nigeria, adding that such attempt was a ploy to keep him in

custody indefinitely.

In his affidavit of facts, the applicant said that he was commissioned by the Federal Government to execute an assignment to network with all stakeholders for the purpose of preventing oil pipelines vandalism, oil bunkering and crude oil theft.

He claimed that the assignment was duly executed upon payment.

According to the applicant, on March 23, he honoured an invitation to the Abuja office of EFCC but to his suprise, he has been kept in custody since then.

Robert is claiming that under Section 8 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, he should not be arrested or prosecuted for any civil contract or

to ensure publication of IPSAS compliant financial statements. We have also implemented the TSA system, in order to ensure transparency and accountability.

Nzeh Mada Festival, weapon of unity —N/Assembly clerk

Jonathan’s cousin sues EFCC over illegal detention Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos

state governments.

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on assumption of office, offered bailout funds to state governments to enable them offset backlog of salary arrears owed workers.

08078892049 08078892199 08078892268 08076690014

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Ajimobi donates 400 uniforms to pupils of burnt school

By Wale Akinselure

G

OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Tuesday, donated 400 uniforms to pupils of Ifesowapo Community Primary School, Boluwaji, Ibadan.

The gesture was in fulfilment of his commitment to attending to the plight of victims of the February 14, 2016 fire incident that occurred in the school.

While handing over the uniforms to some of the pupils, he reiterated his commitment to rehabilitating the school structure which was torched in the inferno and providing necessary furniture in schools across the state.

In particular, Ajimobi urged the pupils to reciprocate the gesture with improved academic performances, while asserting government’s commitment to revamping content and character in educational

Lagos signs agreement for establishment of DNA forensic centre Bola Badmus - Lagos

LAGOS State government has signed an agreement for the establishment of a DNA Forensic Centre in the state.

The centre, when fully established, would aid investigation on domestic and sexual violence cases, boost family and paternity proceedings, help in identifying victims of natural and man-made disasters and also be a tool for the judicial system.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, disclosed this on Wednesday, while speaking at the official signing of the agreement between the state government and ITSI Bioscience LCC in Alausa.

Kazeem said that the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre (LSDFC) was a unique forensic technique that was now being used all over the world, pointing out that it was aimed at achieving the growing DNA needs of criminal investigation.

“I am certain that the Lagos DNA forensic laboratory is going to be another unique solution to fighting crime in our quest for a safer and secure Lagos,” he said.

He said the signed agreement was in fulfilment of the state government’s plan to establish a DNA Forensic Centre in the state to facilitate prompt and effective prosecution of criminal activities.

institutions in the state.

He also urged parents not to toy with the education of their children by ensuring regular attendance of their wards in school, regardless of the financial challenges they might be facing.

“Parents should influence their children to be

great in life. I also had a humble background but I was committed to be great in life. Anyone of you can become governor, president, doctor or whatever you want to be. Regardless of the challenges faced by parents, they must not toy with the education of their

children.”

“The present administration is determined in its commitment to revamp and reposition the content and character of our educational institutions, in order that they may be truly fulfilled in their mission,” he said.

Chairman, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school, Mr Inaolaji Olowe, urged the state government to see to the reconstruction of the burnt building as well as look into the reconstruction of a new building for the school, as promised.

From left, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Oluyole Local Government, Oyo State, Mr Kolawole Orelope; Governor Abiola Ajimobi and pupils of Ifesowapo Community Primary School I and II, Sanyo, Ibadan, during the personal donation of school uniforms to the 400 pupils of the school by the governor, in Ibadan, on Tuesday.

Monarch kicks as protesting FETHI workers attack palace Ido-Ekiti indigenes march against violence in community Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

THE Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde IloriFaboro, has expressed anger over the attack on his palace by some protesting workers of the Federal Teaching Hospital, IdoEkiti (FETHI).

The workers had said they were protesting against the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Lawrence Ayodele Majekodunmi and were calling for his removal from office.

The Olojudo met with indigenes of the community on Wednesday, in his palace and had called on the protesting FETHI workers to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign in the hospital and the community, just as he decried the protest and the violence visited on his palace.

He also charged the workers not to allow criminal elements to hijack their protests to cause chaos in the town, saying his palace was attacked on Monday, April 25, during the violent protest by FETHI workers.

The royal father expressed regret that the protesting FETHI workers also hijacked the highway and held up traffic for several hours during the protest; a situation which he said brought social and commercial activities to a halt.

Some Ido indigenes marched in protest against the violence from the palace to FETHI gate, where community leaders appealed to the hospital workers to return to their work and embrace peace.

They said all they demanded from the workers was “peace and nothing more” and charged them “not to turn Ido-Ekiti to a battleground.”

President of Ido Progressive Union (IPU), Jomo Olofinlade, expressed the

sympathy of the community to the management and workers of the hospital, following the death of two of its doctors in an accident recently and prayed that “such an evil won’t happen again.”

He, however, regretted that the town had always been in the news for wrong reasons with incessant strikes and shutdowns of the health facility, saying, “Certain disgruntled group is always in the habit of fomenting trouble since Ayo-

dele became CMD.” Olofinlade said: “The vandalism of the Oba’s palace is totally unacceptable to the community. The disruption of the social life of the town and threatening of lives is beyond bounds.”

If anybody is tired of working in Ido Ekiti, he should peacefully resign and go back to his hometown. The town will no longer take kindly to anybody who wants to give us a bad name or truncate medical operations for selfish reasons.”

LAUTECH hospital sacks resident doctors Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

SOME members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo, were on Wednesday, sacked by the management of the hospital.

This disclosure was made during a press conference by the president of the ARD, Dr Adeyinka Owolabi, in Osogbo.

He contended that the association would resist the sack and intimidation from the management over the matter, stressing that no stone would be left unturned in fighting for the rights of the sacked members of ARD.

According to Owolabi, “Sincere attempts from outside to intervene in the crisis were resisted by the state government. The state government and their representatives have taken to blackmail, intimidation and unjust victimisation of our members.”

He continued, “Residency training is guided by policies, which are not peculiar to our hospital here alone.

The sacking of some of our members here is unjustly done. They did not follow the due process. They have sacked them on paper, but I can assure you that we cannot allow it to see the light of the day. They have prepared the letters, but we would resist it.”

When confronted to give

the actual number of resident doctors that were sacked, Owolabi said he could not ascertain the number due to the seven months old strike embarked on by the doctors, observing that insincerity of the government had stalled the suspension of the industrial action.

When contacted, the Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH, Professor Akeem Lasisi, confirmed the sack, explaining that those affected had overstayed the duration of their residency programme.

He said the sack followed the forensic audit carried out in the hospital, adding that it was not targeted at the resident doctors alone.

Nigerian Tribune

Bowen varsity inaugurates diagnostic centre

By Kehinde Adio THE visitor, Bowen University and the president, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend (Dr) Samson Ayokunle and other principal officers of the university led by the vice chancellor, Professor Mathews Ojo, inaugurated medical diagnostic centre and female surgical and private wards at the University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, on Tuesday.

Addressing newsmen on the occasion, the vice chancellor, said that the university had committed a sum of N160 million to put in place the medical infrastructure to boost medical health care services of the university.

He said that more structural medical facility projects are ongoing in compliance with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria set bench mark for standard university teaching hospitals in Nigeria.

He said: “By the special grace of God, we have procured about N200 million worth of medical equipment and all other necessary medical test diagnostic facilities for various ailments to set the centres into operations within a short time.”

‘Nigeria needs peace to develop’

By Seyi Sokoya

DIFFERENT civil-rights’ activists, who took turn to speak in a two-day summit organised by the Journalists For Democratic Rights (JODER) in conjunction with Ford Foundation, West Africa Regional Office, were unanimous in their voices as they identified peace as the only way through which Nigeria can witness meaningful development.

The summit, entitled: “Promoting Peace, Democracy and Stability in Nigeria through the Media, Socio-Cultural Institutions and Youth Driven Community Based Groups,” was held at Berkeley Hotel’s mini Conference Room, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Some of the notable speakers at the event which drew participants from the six geo-political zones included, the Secretary of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun; the National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adam, among others.

news 6 Kano students, 2 others die in auto crash on Ibadan-Oyo Expressway 35

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Oyo govt to pay bills of 8 injured victims Kola Oyelere-Kano

S

IX students of Karaye Unity School and Kano Kapital School, a driver and coordinator of a national quiz competition in Kano State, on Tuesday, lost their lives in an auto crash at Iroko, on the IbadanOyo Expressway.

According to a statement signed by the deputy governor, who also doubles as the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, the state government on Wednesday, in Kano, said the deceased students were on their way back to the state from Lagos, where they had represented the state at a national quiz competition.

“On behalf of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his deputy and Commissioner for Education, Professor Hafiz Abubakar condoles with the families of the students who were involved in an accident on Tuesday, on the IbadanOyo Expressway while on a mission to represent Kano in the National Quiz Competition in Lagos.

“Information available indicated that three students

of Unity School, Karaye and three from Kano Kapital, as well as a driver and coordinator of the competition lost their lives in the accident,” the statement said.

He also disclosed that the state government was making arrangements for airlifting of their corpses to the state for interment.

“Meanwhile, families of the affected students have been duly informed about the unfortunate incident

and the arrangements.

“May Allah grant the souls of the deceased Jannatul Firdausi and those who sustained injuries speedy recovery,” the state government said.

In a related development, the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, pledged that he would pay the bills of the eight surviving Kano students involved in a motor accident at Iroko, on the Ibadan-Oyo Ex-

students reportedly died on the spot, while nine others were brought to the emergency unit of UCH. “One of the nine brought into the hospital is dead, remaining eight at present receiving treatment. I am here to visit them as a parent, who cares.

“These are our children, whom we must always care for and I am assuring you that we will take care of the bills,” the governor said.

pressway, on Tuesday.

Ajimobi made the pledge on Wednesday in Ibadan, when he visited the victims at the Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

He told newsmen that the students had travelled from Kano to Lagos on an excursion but had a ghastly motor accident at Iroko near Fiditi while returning to Kano.

Ajimobi said seven of the

Brief GOMERM Impartation Service GOD’S Mercy Revival Ministries will hold its monthly prophetic impartation service tagged: “From Victim to Victor time for Anointing to Reign and Dominate” at Mercy Revival Centre, 25/33, Alake Lakonko Street, Off Ikotun Idimu Road, Ile Epo bus stop, Ikotun Lagos, on Sunday, May 8, at 9:00a.m.

Host is the General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi and others.

Pastor Akanbi

Abandoned babies A male child of about 12 years old was rescued on February 9, 2012 at Iyaganku area, Ibadan.

Scene of the fire incident caused by petrol tanker at A.A. Rano filling station, Kano, on Wednesday. PHOTO: KOLA OYELERE

12 injured as explosion rocks Anambra market NO fewer than 12 persons sustained varying degrees of burns following an explosion which rocked a settlement known as Kara Market on Atani Road, Ogbaru, near Onitsha, in Anambra.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra, DSP Ali Okechukwu, said on Wednesday, in Ogbaru, that the explosion was caused by fuel stored in a jerry can for future use.

“The explosion was not a bomb as being speculated by people. A jerry can of petrol that was brought to the settlement exploded around the area and some people sustained varying degrees of burns.

“They were taken to various hospitals and are currently receiving treatment.

No death was recorded,” Okechukwu said.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, he said police had taken control of the situation, and advised people to stop panic buying and storage of fuel because of the danger of such practice in the event of an explosion or fire incident.

Okechukwu put the casualty figure at 11.

However, an eyewitness and leader of the settlement,

Mr Sabo Mohammed, told NAN that the incident occurred at a restaurant in the market at about 8:30 p.m on May 3.

Mohammed alleged that the explosion might have been from a bomb brought into the market by an unknown person.

“An unidentified boy walked into a restaurant with three jerry cans, demanding for food and left almost immediately without eating the food, leaving the jerry cans behind.

“Some minutes later, one of the jerry cans, exploded

leaving many people injured.

“The victims had severe burns that you cannot even hold their skin to carry them to hospital,” Mohammed said.

Another eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, described the incident as “unfortunate”.

The source said the victims were taken to five hospitals

3 die in Kano fire explosion Kola Oyelere-Kano

NO fewer than three persons allegedly lost their lives, while six vehicles were burnt beyond recognition when a petrol tanker discharging fuel at A A. Rano Filling Station close to Central Hotel Roundabout in

Kano, was gutted by fire on Wednesday.

According to an eyewitness, the fire incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. when the tanker was trying to discharge about 55,000 litre-capacity fuel, to an underground tank at the filling

Water tanker crushes 2 school kids to death in Ilorin, injures 1 Biola Azeez- Ilorin

A water tanker has reportedly crushed two school children to death, and also seriously injured two others at Ipata area of Ilorin, on Wednesday.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 11:00 a.m, was caused by brake failure of the truck, which made the vehicle to ram into the school children walking along the road leading to Ipata Market.

It was also gathered that

one of the children died on the spot, while the other later died while being attended to by Good Samaritans at the scene.

Eyewitness account also disclosed that the third child sustained serious injuries, and was said to be receiving treatment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), while the fourth kid escaped with minor injuries.

The state sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Sunday Maku, who confirmed the incident, said investigations had com-

menced into the accident.

It was also gathered that a melee ensued as the youth around the area destroyed the vehicle beyond repair while the driver was said to have escaped the mob action.

Eyewitness account also said the children were JSS 1 students of the Government Day Girls’ Secondary School, Oke Suna, Ilorin, who were said to have been sent on an errand by one of their teachers to buy milk in the Ipata Market located around the school.

namely: Good News Hospital and Chioma Clinic both in Ogbaru; Toronto and Borromew hospitals in Onitsha, and the General Hospital at Asaba, Delta State.

station.

However, it took the combined efforts of over 20 fire fighting trucks, mobilised from the state Fire Service Department, the military and private companies, to put out the fire, which lasted for over four hours.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that fire fighting vehicles from the state fire service, Nigeria Airforce, Dantata and Sawoe, Central Bank of Nigeria, Standard plastics, Viva poly were deployed as they took turn in battling the combustion.

According to the eyewitness, three persons within the vicinity of the incident instantly lost their lives in the explosion. ‘‘There was pandemonium as motorists and pedestrians scampered for safety,” he said.

The timely intervention of rescue workers prevented the manager of the filling station, Alhaji Balarabe from attempting to leap into the inferno.

A baby girl of about 9 months old was found at Ojoo area, Ibadan, on April 6, 2016.

ANYBODY with useful information that could lead to contact with the abandoned children’s parents or relatives, should please, contact the Principal, Social Welfare Officer, Ibadan/Ibarapa Zonal Social Welfare Office, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State or the nearest police station.

36

communitynews

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

Engage in self-help projects, Olu of Ilaro advises Yewa communities olayinka olukoya-abeokuta

COMMUNITIES in Yewaland have been enjoined to engage in self-help projects to develop the socioeconomic status of their respective areas.

The advice was given by the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle,

during the handover and commissioning of an ultra-modern security outpost, constructed by the Chief Kayode Odunaro-led Oroona Ilaro Festival Plan-

ning Committee.

The security post was handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The traditional ruler said

community development could no longer be shouldered by government alone, hence the need for all and sundry to engage in selfhelp projects to develop

their areas.

"There is a saying that charity begins at home.

Nobody will build a home for you, you have to start before somebody else can

Aladja/OgbeIjoh clash: Okowa sets up committee ebenezer adurokiya-warri

IN view of the fragile peace enveloping the warring communities of Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh, the governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged both communities to nominate two representatives each to be part of a committee that will resolve the age-long boundary dispute between them.

Okowa gave the directive on Tuesday when he met with the people and traditional rulers of both communities in Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

The governor said the committee would meet with the state government’s committee to be headed by the Delta State surveyor-general.

Aladja, a community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, shares boundary with Ogbe-Ijoh.

Both communities have been engaged in boundary dispute for many years, the latest being the one of March 24, 2016 which allegedly led to the burning of buildings in Aladja, while many people were injured and/or displaced.

Governor Okowa asked the communities to present the documents they have in relation to their boundaries, adding that ‘’the surveyor-general, who has the mapping of the state, would be constituted into a committee along with others.” ‘’After listening to both sides and looking at their records as we have in the mapping of the state, the committee will now go into proper delineation of the boundary between the two communities. ‘’I believe that the committee will do justice to the state issue, they will do the proper delineation of the boundary,” Okowa assured.

He urged the people to maintain peace and have respect for the peace process agenda of the state government.

From left, Mr Joseph Adebayo (Emure), Mr Ajewole Owolawi (ijero), Alhaji Dauda Ajise (Ado), Mr Olowo Joseph (South-West), Mr Ayo Oladimeji (Ilejemeje), Mrs Lara Bayode-Ayeni (Ikole), Mr Alaje Toyin Samuel (Ise-Orun), Olasanmi Taiwo (Ekiti West) and Mr Peter Daramola (Efon), all Exchairmen of local government areas of Ekiti State, at the inauguration of projects executed by Governor Ayodele Fayose, at the weekend.

Call Ajagungbale to order, monarch begs Ambode, CP bola badmus-lagos

A

traditional ruler in Lagos, Oniwerekun of Iwerekun land, Oba Tajudeen Afolabi Elemoro, has appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to urgently wade into the invasion of his parcel of land in Ibeju-Lekki by those popularly called Ajagungbale.

The royal father, who made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in his palace, added that the invasion amounted to contempt of court, as the matter was under litigation.

According to him, the parcel of land is situated at Oke-Odo Elemoro village (Parcel B), Ibeju Lekki and measures approximately 33.228 hectares.

He said the matter is right now pending before Hon. Justice K.O. Alogba of the High Court of Lagos State for which an interlocutory injunction had been granted restraining the defendants, their agents and privies from further selling or trespassing on the land, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Elemoro urged the governor and the police commissioner to urgently step into the matter and arrest the breakdown of law and order and call the Ajagungbale to order.

"I want his (Ambode) assistance on the issue of Ajagungbale; the land was given to us by the Lagos State government. We have all the complete documents. We have gone to court over the issue, still the Ajagungbale went on the land.

The Elemoro, while recalling a sad incident, said the

Ajagungbale recently denied him the opportunity of burying his daughter, one Risi Mayeigun Elemoro, on her landed property as the mourners were chased away.

Elemoro maintained that the

land belonged to him having inherited it from his forebears. He called on those laying claim to it to go to the Lagos State Land Bureau as well as the survey department to find out the real owners.

"I am calling on Governor Ambode who has invested so much on the security of life and property to send his representatives to the affected land. It is close to the place I live,” the Elemoro said.

Project execution: Fayose has supassed his predecessors—Former LG chairmen by gbenga olumide

FORMER local government chairmen in Ekiti State have commended the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, for his commitment and determination to better the lives of the people in spite of the lean purse of the state government.

The leader of the ex-chairmen, Alhaji Dauda Ajise, gave the commendation at the weekend, during the inauguration of projects executed by Governor Fayose in Ado, the state capital.

Ajise, who is also a former Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ado Local Government Area, said the achievements of Governor Fayose in less than two years in office had surpassed those of his predecessors.

He added that they were solidly behind Governor Fayose because of his unique leadership, qualities, transparency and passion for the good of the common man.

While condemning those who criticize Fayose whenever he speaks on issues affecting the general public, Ajise said: “Fayose’s criticisms are constructive and aimed at checking the excesses Federal Government. In a democracy like

ours, there must be a strong opposition which Fayose represents. His criticisms has been at the centre. Indeed, his cristicisms have kept the government on its toes.”

They also charged the

Federal Government to take the issue of security as a priority, saying “going by the present government’s promises during campaigns Nigerians must be sleeping with their two eyes closed but the reverse is the case.”

Oke-Odan killing: Assembly summons area comptroller of customs by gbenga olumide

CONCERNED by the spate of incessant killing of innocent people by officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service on Idiroko-OkeOdan Road in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, the state House of Assembly has invited the Area Comptroller of Customs to appear before it on Monday.

The Speaker, Honourable Suraju Adekunbi, issued the invitation in response to the complaint by the member representing Yewa South state constituency, Honourable Julianah Akintayo, over the recent killing of two persons.

Adekunbi, in a release by the Head of Information

of the state assembly, Mr Lawal Jamiu, said the invitation became imperative considering the fact that the killing of innocent people by men of the Customs Service had become a regular occurrence at the border area, adding that there was need to protect the sanctity of human lives.

Earlier in her presentation under personal explanation, Honourable Akintayo had reported the case of the killing of two persons at OkeOdan on Idiroko- Road by men of the Customs Service who were pursuing smugglers.

According to her, the rate at which innocent people living in border areas were being killed by men of the service while pursuing smugglers called for concern.

help you. I want to appeal to our people in Ilaro and Yewaland that they should come together to develop our communities. Government will do its best but a lot still depend on us.

"So, what we are doing here today is a demonstration of the fact that government alone cannot shoulder all community development issues. That is why we have said that the Oronna Ilaro Festival committee should ensure that, it set aside something for community development projects at the end of its tenure," the monarch added.

The tenure of the Odunaro-led executive which was saddled with the responsibility of organising Oroona Festival in the last four years had ended with the coming on board of a new committee headed by the Registrar of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Alhaji Rafiu Akinola.

Governor’s aide charge C’River warring communities on peace anthony ubong-calabar

The Special Adviser to the governor of Cross River State on Community Relations, Signor Omang, has urged warring communities of Inyima in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state and Onyadama in Obubra to shun further hostilities and embrace peace.

It will be recalled that the two communities had clashed over ownership of farmlands, leading to the death of some natives of the communities.

Omang, who made the call during separate visits to the two communities, said land matters could best be addressed through dialogue and not violence.

The governor’s aide, who decried the wanton loss of lives and property during the clash, called on traditional rulers and leaders of the communities to call their people to order.

He threatened that government would not hesitate to withdraw the certificates of recognition of traditional rulers in the areas if they fail to bring the situation under control.

Omang said: “As a tourist state, such skirmishes are unnecessary as they scare away investors. The state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has been toiling day and night to take advantage of the enormous economic potential of the state.”

37

Thursday, 5 May, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Donald Trump becomes presumptive Republican nominee

Kenyan Police foil anthrax attack linked to IS group

Main rivals, Kasich, Cruz drop out of presidential race

D

onald Trump has gone from long-shot contender to the Republican party’s presumptive nominee for president with a crushing win in Indiana.

Governor John Kasich of Ohio, a moderate voice who tried to portray himself as the adult in the Republican primary field but failed to win any state but his own, is ending his long-shot quest for the presidency on Wednesday, according to two people briefed on his decision.

America first.”

Trump won at least 51 of 57 possible delegates awarded in Indiana, according to the Associated Press news agency delegate tracker. His victory in the state pushed him to 1,047 delegates of the 1,237 needed to clinch the nomination, compared with 153 for Kasich.

Cruz had 565 delegates before suspending his campaign.

“This phenomenon is just amazing,” Peter Mathews, a political analyst, told Al Jazeera. “Trump seems to have got free television time.

Mr Kasich’s departure, a day after Donald Trump’s victory in the Indiana primary, leaves Mr Trump as the only candidate remaining in the Republican race. His closest challenger, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, dropped out Tuesday night, New York Times said.

Addressing jubilant supporters at Trump Tower in New York after romping to his seventh straight statewide victory, the real estate mogul promised them: “We’re going to win in November, and we’re going to win big, and it’s going to be

Wildfire forces evacuation of entire Canada’s Fort McMurray

The canadian city under fire attack.

The entire population of the Canadian city of Fort McMurray was ordered to leave their homes late on Tuesday as a massive wildfire swept through Alberta province’s oil sands region.

More than 80,000 residents were ordered to flee after an earlier evacuation order was extend-

ed to tens of thousands more people as flames continued to make their way into the city.

Al Jazeera reported that no casualties have been reported but damage has been extensive, with petrol stations exploding and a hotel and one of the town’s many motor home parks going up in flames,

local media said.

The air over the city was thick with black smoke.

“All of Fort McMurray is under a mandatory evacuation order,” Alberta emergency services said, after previously indicating that the northern edge of the fire was “growing rapidly.

otherNEWS

Donald Trump.

He got an estimated $1bn of free time during the election.”

Trump’s immediate challenge is to unite deep fissures within the Republican Party as many party loyalists are appalled at his bullying style, his treatment of women and his signature proposals to build a wall on the border with Mexico and deport 11 million illegal immigrants.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus called Trump the party’s presumptive nominee in a tweet and said, “We all need to unite and focus” on defeating Clinton.

The former reality TV star himself called for unity in a speech at a victory rally that was free of his usual bombast and flamboyance.

Calling Indiana a “tremendous victory”, he immediately directed fire at Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

“We’re going after Hillary Clinton,” he said. “She will not be a great president, she will not be a good president, she will be a poor president. She doesn’t understand trade.”

Egyptian journalists’ union cordoned off in crackdown Egyptian riot police have cordoned off the headquarters of the journalists’ union and limited access to the building in an escalating standoff following a raid on the premises and the arrest of two journalists.

According to Al Jazeera,

hundreds of journalists rallied on the steps outside the union headquarters on Wednesday, chanting “Journalism is not a crime!” and demanding the dismissal of the country’s Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar.

The protests are the lat-

UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura. PHOTO: EPA.

est in a series of demonstrations against the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, which has banned virtually all protests and carried out a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent.

Police severely restricted access, banning non-

union members from entry, as well as some residents and people who came on work errands to the surrounding area.

Foreign journalists were allowed entry only after approval by several levels of officers, up to the rank of general.

At least 20 people have been killed in a Syrian government air strike on a hospital in the city of Aleppo as the United Nations warned that a delicate ceasefire was crumbling.

The attack on the Al Quds hospital on Wednesday killed several medical staff and other civilians, including Dr Wasem Maaz, one of the last remaining pae-

diatricians in the rebelheld part of the city.

At least 14 of those killed were staff and patients for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the medical aid group, which supported the hospital, said.

Rescue workers were pulling bodies and survivors from the rubble of the building in the Sukkary neighbourhood the fol-

Kenyan police say they have foiled a terrorist plot by a group believed to have links to so-called Islamic State. The group was allegedly planning “large-scale” attacks intended to kill innocent Kenyans. Suspects include medical experts who police say were planning to launch an attack using the biological agent anthrax.

Kenyan police have arrested medical intern Mohammed Abdi Ali, his wife, and her friend for their alleged involvement in an East African terror network.

“I believe that we have upped our game, in terms of collection of intelligence,” said George Musamali, a security analyst for East and Central Africa.

“Because this was a very, very big breakthrough on the part of the intelligence agencies in Kenya, and this includes the national intelligence services, the Kenya police and also, people from the military intelligence. It shows that right now, the intelligence units are working together and they are well-coordinated,” VOA reported.

Police say the foiled plot included plans for a biological terror attack using anthrax, an infectious bacterium that spreads rapidly once spores get into the body.

They say the attack, planned for April 29, was to be on a similar scale to the Westgate Mall assault of September 2013, in which 67 people were killed.

Kenya’s Odinga: I won’t run if commission not reformed Opposition leader and former Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has said he will not participate in elections next year if the country’s electoral commission is not reformed.

Odinga told Al Jazeera’s Head to Head in an interview that he was worried about the potential for violence to break out during the poll, adding that there would be “no reason for us to participate” if the commission was not overhauled.

Police fired tear gas at Odinga and other opposition members when they marched on the commission in the capital Nairobi last month in a protest call-

Raila Odinga.

ing for it to be dissolved.

Next year’s elections come a decade after violence erupted in the aftermath of a disputed election in 2007, killing 1,300 people and forcing 650,000 from their homes.

Odinga ran for president then and later said the result was fixed.

Journalists in Egypt protesting against the government crackdown. PHOTO: REUTERS.

Drought-hit Zimbabwe sells off wild animals lowing morning on Thursday and witnesses told Al Jazeera the number of dead was likely to rise.

Pictures showed rows of bloodied and charred bodies covered in plastic sheets. The images were too graphic to be published.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Damascus, Pawel Krzysiek, a spokesman for

the Red Cross, said: “There is no neighbourhood (in Aleppo) that has not been touched by the recent fighting.”

“This should not happen,” he said, adding that the number of medical facilities left in the city had already been not sufficient to handle the more than two million people in the city.

38

Thursday 5 May, 2016

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

A player of the Methodist High School, Ibadan (right) shields the ball from his opponent from the Ibadan Grammar School, during the memorial game played on Wedneday, in honour of the late Nigerian international, Rashidi Yekini at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. IGS won 3-1. PHOTO: BAMIGBELU ADEMOLA.

Lulu awards N10m scholarship to 14 student-footballers FORMER President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has awarded academic scholarship to 14 student-players to continue their education at FOSLA Academy Karshi, Abuja.

The former FCT Director of Sports who announced this on Monday said the students which comprises 10 boys and four girls would resume with other fee paying students in the next academic session.

“This programme is an annual one where we select some players who are naturally endowed in the game of football to continue their academics in FOSLA Academy, while at the same time pursing their football career.

These students are among the very few that have the

FIFA celebrates late Rashidi Yekini

By Olawale Olaniyan

T

HE Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) yesterday remembered former African Footballer of the Year, the late Rashidi Yekini four years after he passed on.

FIFA on its website paid glowing tributes to the Kwara State-born player who emerged the first player to score for Nigeria at the World Cup. “Nigeria’s record goalscorer (37 goals), Rashidi Yekini ensured his name went down in the history books when he scored the Super Eagles’ first ever FIFA World Cup goal at the 1994 finals in the USA in the 3-0 group stage win over Bulgaria.

“FIFA.com looks back on his memorable goal and subsequent celebration.

Yekini who played for several clubs in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Switzerland, could hardly believe he had scored and spontaneously grabbed the net, shaking it in celebration.

“The photo of the 58-time Nigerian international captivated the world and even today the former striker, who in 1993 was the first Nigerian to be voted African Footballer of the Year, remains a respected figure in the global football family.

“Rasheed Yekini was one

of the best players at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA,” said former FIFA President Joseph Sepp

Blatter when he learned of Yekini’s death. “Against Bulgaria he scored Nigeria’s first ever FIFA World Cup

goal, a strike that will earn him a place in the annals of Nigerian football. He will be sorely missed.”

... As Ibadan Grammar School wins memorial game THE Ibadan Grammar School on Wednesday hammered the Methodist High School, Ibadan 3-1 in a game played at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, to mark the fourth memorial anniversary of the late Nigerian international, Rashidi Yekini.

Yekini, it will be recalled, died on May 4, 2012.

The IGS boys led 2-0 at half time with goals from Vincent Akinfemiwa and Ajao Wasiu, while on resumption, Ajao earned a brace to put his side on 3-0 lead, before Adetula Elijah, scored the consolatory goal for the Methodist Boys.

Before the match, the Rashidi Yekini Foundation (RYF) managed by the counsel to the late foremost Nigeria striker, Jubril Mohammed, had presented football kits and jerseys to the two schools through the invited guests.

Mohammed said the RYF will continue to celebrate and immortalise the legendary striker through various football programmes.

Chairman of MFM FC of Lagos, a Nigeria Premier League side, Mr Godwin Enakhena, in his remarks urged RYF to make the burial site of the fallen soccer star a tourist attraction,

just as he promised to make the dream a reality.

Enakhena, who also graced the memorial match noted that the exploits of Yekini, will continue to be celebrated given his invaluable contributions to the growth of Nigerian football.

Former Shooting Stars goalkeeper and product of Ibadan Grammar School, Zion Ogunfeyimi, ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju and Chairman, Oyo State House Committee on Sports, Honourable Fatai Adesina, were also among the dignitaries, who graced the event.

opportunity to benefit from the school’s academic scholarship. They are expected to resume next academic session, starting from JSS1,” he said.

Lulu stated that “the students were selected from football tournaments that were organised in Kogi State and FCT among which 50 players were se-

lected to partake in the final stages held in Abuja; and at the same time took part in the school’s common entrance examination.

It was after that, the best 10 were selected among the boys, and four among the girls. These students would now join other fee paying to begin next academic session”.

Pillars beaten in Kano again KANO Pillars again lost right before their teeming fans at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, in the Nigeria Premier League 1-2 to Enyimba in a rescheduled match day seven game played on Wednesday.

Pillars, it will be recalled, under the same coach, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, lost last season to visiting Nasarawa United to lose the 12-year-old record of home invincibility.

Skipper Rabiu Ali put Pillars ahead after 20 minutes,

before midfielder Nzube Anaezemba restored parity in the 51st minute.

Central defender, Ike ThankGod grabbed the match winner for Enyimba eight minutes from time to force Pillars out of their ‘slaughter slab’ in sad mood.

Enyimba goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai on his first return to former club, Pillars did not complete the game as he was forced out by injury in the 83rd minute.

Iwobi in race for’Goal of the Month’ NIGERIA youngster, Alex Iwobi has seen his name go up as one of the nominees for the Arsenal goal of the month for April.

The 20-year-old forward has experienced a meteoric rise in the Arsenal first team, especially in the second part of the season, which has seen him start theGunners’lastsevenPremier League games, with two goals to his name.

The Iwobi goals came against Everton at Goodison Park on March 19 and against Watford at the Emirates on April 2, and it is the latter that has been nominated for the Arsenal ‘Goal of the Month’ for April.

However, he has six other scorers and 10

other goals to slug it out with in the month under review.

He recently signed a contract extension worth £30,000 a week with the club he has been with since the age of seven.

Iwobi

GOC, Ilo charges new Tiger Golf Club exco to be proactive

By Olawale Olaniyan THE General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major-General L.C Ilo has charged the new executives of the Tiger Golf Club (TGC), led by Dr John Dongo to be proactive in their assignment.

Ilo, who is the Patron of TGC disclosed this when he received the new executives of the club who paid him a

courtesy visit in his office on Wednesday.

He charged the new captain of TGC to bring his experience to bear on lifting the club to greater heights.

“I know the challenges before you are very enormous as I don’t want you to be a routine Captain or leader. You have to bring your experience to bear, in ensuring that you make a difference from others.

“Golf is a social game, there is a lot you can do by bringing

quality members who have more to offer and lift the club and that is what has distinguished Ikoyi Golf Club, Ikeja Golf Club, IBB Golf Club just to mention a few.

“I’m very optimistic that if you have the likes of Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Frank Uwalaka, I believe they can meet you all your needs,” Ilo said.

He noted “transparency is another thing that moves any club forward, a leader must be

transparent as leadership is call to service, work with the spirit of given not taken with a good project that will distinguish from a man of yesterday and tomorrow.”

In his address, Captain Dongo thanked the GOC for his usual support, just as he sought the support of the GOC in getting some equipment into the club.

He also implored the GOC to charge his men to embrace golf.

Other members of the executive on the entourage are Vice Captain, Brig. General EAP Undiandeye; Second Vice Captain, Mr Wale Osungbohun; Lady Captain, Mrs Oyin Omajuwa; Secretary, Lekan Ajayi; Treasurer, Alfred Amubioya, Competition Secretary, Gabriel Eneware, House and Bar, Colonel Timothy Antigah, Course Officer, Hammed Hamid and Handicap Officer, Honourable Muyiwa Laniyan.

39

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2014 – 20x 29x 40x 44xxx 16x 2015 – 20x 31x 38x 44xxx 17x 2016 – 19x 30x 36x 44xxx 18f Annual week 43 nos of draws in 2014 and 2015 was scheduled on position of Tottenham.

2014 – 14x 15x 29xxx 11x - 9drs 2015 – 09x 19x 29xxx 12x - 10drs 2016 – X X X (13x – 11)drs. Follow the Experts winning instruction for your sure Nap – N70, 000 = Seventy thousand naira only. 07065292905.

NAZAR MASTER PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS

The leading pools company in Oyo state and environs, NAZAR Master Pools Company Limited, Ibadan continued its superlative performance to the Aussie Season with big dividends last week.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to TRIBUNE POOLS during the week.

According to the pools company, “We have continued to excel among pools companies by paying big dividends on our Treble Chance coupons. We implore stakers, agents, collectors and others stakeholders to continue to patronize our odds. We shall never disappoint them and would continue to reap big harvest to the oncoming Aussie season.”

INNOCENT NAP (08095602590) = 12 NAP 13

AUSSIE SYSTEM. BOOKLET= N30, 000 WINNER MEMBERSHIP GROUP A. N50, 000 4 special draws N6, 000 Wk 43 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH 12. 13 4 special draws N6, 000 Wk 44 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP 4 special draws N6, 000 Wk 45 NO NAP NAP NAP NAP WITH NAP NAP Two Bankers N3000 Wk 43 NO NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP Stakers try to get Innocent 4 Special Draws this wk 43 cost N6, 000 Two Bankers cost N4000. Send MTN Card 08095602590 the game will be sent to you by text message = 08095602590.

OBINYAN ASSURES BETTER DEAL

The indomitable 12X kingpin and the chairman managing Director of king and George group of forecasting papers.PRINCE EHI WILLY OBINYAN assures better deal (19X20)pg 3 as done it again .

The shot pointer page 3 late news of late pair is very reliable that got 2 games in weeks 20, 22, 34, 37. And other impressive weeks. Study all his fortune papers thoroughly and win.

He therefore enjoined winning desired stakers to buy and study is fortune papers for regular winning the group of paper are Pools telegraph, Zeters pools guild, Shoot pointers, Murphy sports, the New Dream and Final Result.

ISREAL BAIL OUT 09085713800 – PAY POINT. 07X 23X 44XXX 04X

ANOTHER BUMPER WIN AT ISREAL BAIL OUT RESCUE PAY POINT.WINNER ABODE. WEEK 42 WIN ON=07X 44: 23X36:=04X S&S = STOKE &STEVENAGE. C&C = COLCHESTER & CAMBRIDGE. UTD ALT = MAN.UTD PAIR MAN.CITY OH YES we quoted 9draws and 9draws were played with no 11=All thanks to God and our winning source with 3weeks to the end of the season. You can still have a new song(next level)millionaires place after the bail out.

N50,000 = TEXT MESSAGE WINNING PROJECT ONLY.

TRIPLE OFFERS 16 – 23 (08035324990)

It’s time to begin to wave bye to the outgoing English and Scottish football season which mean different thing to different people as all football season does. Some people may not want the season to end while to some others, it is a good ridance to a bad rubbish.

Whatever or however we view it, the Lord remains the Lord!

Let us increase our handwaves with a draw from coupon Nos 16 & 23 this weekend. Add the duo to our 1Bk and have your 2/3.

Our 1Bk still sells for only N1, 500. 00, 2 Draws cost N3, 000. 00 and 3 Draws sell for N10, 000. 00 on 08035324990.. be a constant winner!

OLA – CITY SET FOR AUSSIE SURE OF WEEK 46, WEEK 47, WEEK 48

Week 43 Pairs 8xxx 24xxx Phone 08140575314, 08085005634 The compiler of Ola – City International assures stakers and readers of Thursday Tribune of his 3 fixed Draws for Aussie week 46, week 47, week 48 cost N10, 000 cash eash week which will surely get all correct.

Interasted stakers to pay their N10, 000 cash to firstBank Plc in the name of Olafenwa R. Ola – City Account Number 3033318854 and collect the sure draws on phone after confirmation of your payment phone 08140575314, 08085005634. Pair 8xxx 24xxx.

MBA EXPERT (08104694618) 7XX34

Coupon pools number 7 is yet to draw in RED color settings.Ironically.wk.07 matches played at the weekend of 29th/30th August 2015 was the big beginning of Red Premiership to sky bet 2 are return leg of week 23 matches. No doubt week 43 is the last Red, the myth surrounding the elusiveness of draws at no 7 must be broken to end season on a promising note against the coming Aussie. Congrats.

MADAM DE MADAM. END OF THE SEASON NAPS.

WEEKS – 42, 43 AND 44 (08023329191) STOKE/SUNDERLAND 3 WKS WIN NAPS Week 42= 19x 30x 44xxx – 07x Week 43= X X X - 03x 08x Week 44= X X X - 07x 09x.

Congratulations to all clients that benefitted from our week 42 starting of our Annual 3 weeks end of the season Naps.

In 2015 we had Chelsea & Man. Utd as 3 standing pair that ended 2015 season. we are now at it again. Call Mr Joshua for your winning instruction= N30, 000 only.

AKIN MR AKIN = 07067202291 (16 MUST 22).

NORWICH – NEWCASTLE AWEAY NO 1.

WINNING – SCHEDULED = NAP. Norwich away No.1 in weeks 33 and 42 9drs – Week 33 – COLCHESTER – 22X 30X 44XXX 35X 9drs –Week 42 – COLCHESTER - 23X 30X 44XXX 36X NOW NEWCASTLE AWAY NO 1 WEEKS 25 & 43 10drs – Week 25 – X X X – 16X 10drs – Week 25 – X X X – 16X No 2 ways to it, your winning is confirmed this week after a while break,#25,000 assured winning NAP. Good luck.

JOSEPH NAP -08167278061 (16XX26) JUBILATION AGAIN AT JOSEPH SURE NAP

Huddersfield and Doncaster on same digit AND in every week of 3s =DONCASTER is always a sure tip. Please don’t compare your winning chances to 2016 AUSSIE. Join the winners –N25,000 .Good luck.

MODUPE (08033566694) 06X 18X 20

Call for details.

HOPE NAP & CO 08107128449.

BANK ON NO 18 PAIR NO 45.

The whole world will step aside for the people who knows where he or she is going as no one can stop him or her.

Wk 43 Red is a special wk of the year while wk 44 is another week of blessing in pool industry. Call Hope Naps & pay to first Bank Plc Account No 3088328923 in person of Mr. Gbadebo Stephen. Call and win.

DR. SANJ IN FAREWELL – 07038878227 OFFER – 12 – 18 – 25 – 33 – 34= XXX Pair of the week Nos. 22x 46xxx for one. Call for details.On internet bettings. Goodluck FRED WISDOM NAPS MADE STAKERS = 07088103080 7X 23X 30XX = 19XXX BANSLEY 2 WEEKS CALCULATED NAPS. Confirmed from your records as directed by our Oversea Experts. (PROMOTERS CRUX).

Wk 41=Bansley=20+7= 27xxx Wolves – 11x Week 42= Bansley= 23 + 7= 30xxx Wolves – 19x Another winning directives Naps for weeks 43 and 44. To bid farewell to 2015/2016 English/Scottish season with Unregrettable N50, 000= MAGIC KINGDOM – 08056753098/07085060512 NAP – 30X 31X 32X PAIR 28 AND 34 Congrats our 2 weeks end of the season Nap starts now with the above games. Final Nap cost N25, 000= Payable Balogun Kamoru Adesina FCMB. No 0279550010 Wema Bank no 0206965116 or GT Bank no 01155005082. Win without doubt.

ARMSTRONG NAP – 08154836338 WOLVES AGAIN ON BAR NO 22X. Refrence to current last quarter of the season winning statement from week 34 to 44.

Week 38 – 05x 13x 35xxx= 09 Week 39 – 09x 32x 33xxx= 10x Week 43 – X X X = 11x Final win at Armstrong Naps= N25, 000= Goodluck.

SHADOW 08087670776 22 PAIR 32 Your finacial problems will be solving this week 43 if you are not master na lie. My 3 Nap draws and I hot pair cost N5, 000 MTN recharge card.

I promise you hundred percent winning on pool betting this week 43.

Please don’t miss it.

THE – LILIES 08086944509 (41 MUST 42) 3 unfaking jackpot x5 await all our fans to magic the end of the season call today and make sure you grab the 3 Jackpot x5. Send N1, 500 MTN card end the season with big jackpot 41 must 42.

18XXX 19 SIR – BRAKA 08179776633 Grab our 3 Napable Draws plus the above pair sends N1, 000 Glo Card for the 3 Draws.

MANCITY SYSTEM 08135888720= 22 NAP 25 3 Wks operation END OF SEASON RELEASE, WINNER MEMBERSHIP AUSSIE 2016 N50, 000 AUSSIE SYSTEM BOOKLET N30, 000 4 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 42 No 7x 19x 30x 39x 4Special draws N6, 000 Wk 43 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with Nap Nap 4 Special draws N6, 000 Wk 44 No Nap Nap Nap Nap with Nap Nap Two Bankers N3000 Wk 42 No 19x 30x Two Bankers N3000 Wk 43 No Nap Nap Pair Nap Nap Stakers try to get MANCITY. 4 SPECIAL Draws this Wk 43 cost N3000. Twos bankers this wk 43 cost N3,000.

SIR MICHEAL NAP 4 PAIR 14 (UNFAILING PAIR) 09091874579 All is set again this week for all our customers to win heavily, Based on the setting that got 4xx, 9xx, 36xx 3/3 last week, and the pair 13f, 23xx, making 4/5, though the pair was free, on our publication last week, one banker is also selling from the pair. The weekly release cost N15, 000.. 00 call for the acct No a mode of payment.

MAGIC EXPERT EXCEL AGAIN 4/5 CONGRATS TO OUR PREVIOUS WINNERS! 08160742266 (2x BEST 18x)

Week 43 guaranteed Nap= 3/3 plus above pair cost N20, 000 only.

MAGIC implore his clients and all pool lover to register for 2016 Australia season @ N150, 000 and get a free system key booklet. Wish you all more joy and fruitful staking.

EDITOR’S PLACE

16XX 46XX

WEEK 43 STATUS

FORTUNE DONOR DONATES 16 – 34 – 39 – 23/43 TO BID FAREEKO — 07 AND 11 TO 22 WELL TO RED COLOUR COUPON – (08099111828) Your hand working and selfless fortune donor is glad to round up the red colour L K O – 04 with a scintillating performance on 16 – 34 – 39 – 23/43 for 4 sure draws on SUNDAY -05, 06,09, 23 Saturday.

TO 34, 47, 48, 49.

You will all do yourself a good deal if you use the games as advantage to usher in the ensuing Aussie season. Do not doubts as doubters usually lick fingers. Next ENOUGH IS ENOUGH TEXT week games on sure colour sequence cost N30, 000.00. You have been told. We MESSAGE OF WRITE UP WITHshall start to pick calls on Sunday evening to recive your encomiums and booking OUT ADVERT IS REGARDED VOID. on 08099111828. You have really won!

PLACE YOUR ADVERT FOR EFACHIEVER INTER FECTIVE PUBLICATION OF YOUR 08034097902 (38X 39X) FORECAST. THANKS Welcome back to Nigeria. Week 42-48xx POOLS EDITOR plus 3 others.

The compilers of achiever inter & Co. have JACOBSON AUSSIE MANAGER: 07065292905 declared operation no mercy to pools promoters with the yearly original authentic PRE AUSSIE WINNING PROJECT DESIGNED TO ENRICH STAKERS life keys. Pools stakers should therefore TO 2016 AUSSIE (WIN BIG). Our 10\12 wks Aussie directives winning statewait for the system booklet which will be ment cost N1million-participant fee. WK. 42 - 19X 30X 36XX 44X – 18F. published in week 43 as senf off games for Another Annual week 43 scheduled win at Jacobson. Stakers libration manthe English Season. Remember our last ager. N70,000 (Seventy thousand naira only). Read our advert for details. year wk 43 released 4 games to the end of the season that scored 3/4 on numbers. FRED WISDOM – 07088103080: We are on Tabulation, CalculaThis week 43 No 38 must 39. N60,000. tion and Compilation of draws as we did in weeks 41 & 42 NOW our weeks Good luck.

43 and 44 naps is irresistable. JOIN THE WINNERS AFFAIR. WELCOME.

NO ADVERT NO WRITE UP

END OF SEASON RELEASE WK 42,43,44.

DRAW COMMANDER TWO BANKERS N3,000 VOL I WK 43 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

WK 42 X19X X30X PAIR X39X X44X SEND MTN CARD TO

08095602590

WK 44 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

BEST ENGLISH MAGIC TWO BANKERS N3,000 VOL I WK 42 X23X X44X PAIR X36X F37F

WK 43 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP

JOINTLY 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25,000. WK 42 NO 19X 23X 30X 39X = 4/4.

SEND MTN CARD TO 08095602590.

WK 44 NAP NAP PAIR NAP NAP SEND MTN CARD TO

08095602590

VIC DESTINY WINNING STAR XXX CONGRATS! CONGRATS!! CONGRATS!!! GSM: 09099813819.

TO WIN, CALL 09099813819. JUST TWO WEEKS TO GO. WEEKS 42 & 43

WEEK 42 NAP 7X 23X 30X PAIR 6F 8F WEEK 43 NAP NAP NAP = 3/3 PAIR 18X 32X RELIABLE NAP COST N15,000. AUSTRALIA MEMBERSHIP COST N160,000. PLEASE CALLS ONLY. NO FLASHING. NO WEEKEND CALLS. THANKS.

LOVE BEST = N4000 TWO BANKERS N4,000

MOVE FORWARD = N4000 TWO BANKERS N4,000

WK 42 WK 43 WK 44 WK 42 WK 43 WK 44 X23X NAP NAP X19X NAP NAP X39X NAP NAP X36X NAP NAP 4 SPECIAL DRAWS N25, 000 WK 43 NAP NAP NAP. SEND MTN CARD=09038460009 & 08166222529.

ISREAL BAIL OUT WINNING CONTACT – 09085712800

Unlimited winning sensation at Israel Winning Contact. Welcome again to the WINNERS’ forum. TEXT MESSAGE WINNING ONLY.

HOPE NAPS & CO – 08107128449 ( BANK 18XX45) Congratulations with 3 wks to the end of the season your winning is assured at Hope Naps International as directed by our Overseas Experts. Call&win. Payment to Gbadebo Stephen. A. First Bank acc number 3088328923. Wk 43 -N10,000. GOOD LUCK. NJOROGE MR ASSURANCE IS BACK. (08177474535) = 11XX13.

CONGRATULATIONS – WEEKS 43,44,45.

3 weeks to 2015/2016 English season farewell NAP. In preparation for Aussie 2016 winning directives from Melbourne/Sydney in Australia.

Week 43. X X X - 11X13X Week 44. X X X - 17X18X Week 45. X X X - 30X42X At Njoroge your winning is our pride. Welcome to the assurance winning family -N25,000 = now!. Congratulations as you call and win. Good luck.

SIDELINES

NO 16, 494

N150

THURSDAY, 5 MAY, 2016

In the past three editions I have responded in part to the article published in the Tribune Newspaper on private universities written

by Mr. Laolu Harold.

I

N his article of 11th March, 2016, Mr. Harold said: “Nigerian Tribune gathered that almost all private institution often go cap in hand to approach parents for assistance. They appeal to parents they know are very rich for assistance”... “For some of the faith-based universities, there are special individual in the owner churches that donates very huge amount of money regularly. Some of these universities are also said to leverage on the magnanimity of the big time entrepreneurs, chief executives of banks and other high-net rich individuals for high funds”.

HOW SUCCESSFUL UNIVERSITIES ARE FUNDED As I stated last week education requires funding. Government cannot fund education alone therefore universities worldwide have overtime involved numerous ways of sourcing funds such as donations, endowments, professional chairs, gift. All these are also as old as education. Most successful universities have utilized these means of funding to great effect. I do not see why Nigerian universities cannot or should not follow suit.

FUNDING OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA In Nigeria,public universities derive their income virtually from only one source which is “allocation from the government”. In the case of private universities, the source of income consists of grants from the founder, school fees and donations from well-meaning individuals. Unfortunately, the funding of education generally in Nigeria whether public or private has been extremely poor.

In 2014 the total allocation of 89 federal higher institutions was N336,570,071,309.

If converted to dollars at N199 it would come to $USD1,691,306,891 which would still be far belowthe annual revenue of only one private university in the USA. OPERATING REVENUES OF SELECTED UNIVERTIES IN THE USA 2014/2015

OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D, D.Litt

With the scenario at the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday, where the hallowed chamber became a hollow battle front as a result of an impeachment saga, extending the list of the now-too-many ‘street fights’ by ‘honourable’ lawmakers across the country, it is clear that martial arts, street fighting and gidigbo should be parts or requirements for being elected into legislative houses.

afeonthursday

aareafe@gmail.com

Private universities: The hope of Nigeria’s tertiary education (4) UNIVERSITY 2014 2015 HARVARD (est. 1636) $4,408,665,000 $4,525,550,000 PENNSYLVANIA (est. 1740) $6,610,000,000 $7,119,997,000 PRINCETON (est. 1746) $1,566,267,000 $1,621,075,000 COLUMBIA (est. 1754) $3,842,982,000 $4,020,887,000 BROWN (est. 1764)

$ 771,305,000

$808,665,000 YALE (est. 1701) $3,116,099,000 $3,297,677,000 CORNELL (est. 1868) $3,321,027,000 $3,514,390,000 DARTMOUTH (est. 1769)

$981,000,000 $1,000,000,000 STANFORD (1885) $5,100,000,000 $5,500,000,000 Nigeria 89 higher institutions $1,691,306,891 converted at N199 = N336,570,071,309 $1,711,787,695 converted at N199 = N340,645,751,305 The fact of the matter is that the staggering revenue of the nine selected private universities stated above was due to the generous donations, endowment and gifts from selfless Americans. See the donations, gifts and endowment earned by three selected private universities in 2014 and 2015: 2014 2015 Harvard $1,691,253,000 $1,735,151,000 Yale $1,860,662,000 $1,911,920,000 Stanford $1,181,396,000 $1,291,747,000 Given the above, it will be asking the public universities in Nigeria to perform the impossible and or compete favourably with any of the top universities in the world without donation from the people.

Harvard, the oldest of the nine selected universities is 380 years old while Stanford the youngest is 131 years old. The oldest public university in Nigeria is only 68 years old while the youngest is about a year old. This simply shows that Nigerian universities can at best be described as toddlers which still require time, effort and resources to grow. Universities whether public or private like any other enterprise need time to develop and break even.

If the young shall grow, the young private universities in Nigeria must emulate the older universities in the world. They must enlist the interest of the rich and selfless Nigerians. It is uncharitable to condemn or ridicule them merely because they appeal to the rich to donate to university education.

The Stanford University example Stanford University is a classic example of the importance of donations and gifts to a university. Stanford, a co-educational and non-denominational institution was established in 1891

by Leyland Stanford former governor of and US Senator from California with an endowment of $USD5million which is about $USD132million today. The university is one of the top fund raising institutions in the country and became the first university to raise more than a billion dollars in a year. The alumni association founded many companies including google, yahoo, Microsystems, Instagram and generate more than $USD2.7trillion in annual revenue equivalent to the 10th largest economy in the world. It is the alma mater of 30 living billionaires, 17 astronauts, leading producer of members of US Congress, produce 60 Nobel Laureates etc.

The lesson Stanford University teaches us is that Nigerians particularly the rich must contribute generously to education as is done all over the world.

Comment from Readers It is unarguably true that Mr Harold views and conclusions are highly flawed because they are ill balanced. What is also true is his perceived lack of understanding of the prevailing economic circumstance that is affecting all facet of human endeavour in the world around, educationally and/or otherwise. But it is out of sort for you, Aare Afe Babalola to misconstrue his although “ill balanced commentary” as an intention to ridicule and scandalise private Universities in Nigeria As you have asserted earlier and with the undeniable proven records, the hope of tertiary education in Nigeria rest squarely on the shoulders of private Universities, no Nigerian with a sound mind can dispute this fact. .Steve Onogbo, an ardent reader of “afeonthursday” writes from Agbor Delta State Authors: Your contribution is appreciated. However, intention gathered from a document is a matter of interpretation.

Watford ready to sell Ighalo — Consultant AT last, Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo will be allowed to leave Watford this summer if the offer is right, Watford sports consultant, Nicola Salerno has disclosed.

Ighalo, has become the toast of many clubs after scoring 20 goals which aided Watford’s promotion last season from the English Championship to the Barclays Premier League.

The former Udinese forward

has also scored 14 goals this season for the Hornets in the top flight, a feat which has continued to earn him offers from other EPL clubs.

“Everything will depend on what offers we get for Ighalo,” Salerno said.

“He is an extraordinary player who could interest a lot of clubs. He has done really well this season, scoring so many goals.”

This development may ignite battle for his signature between Arsenal and Manchester United, according to Africanfootball.com.

Ighalo is also eyeing three more goals in the English Premier League this season to beat Yakubu Ayegbeni who remains Nigeria’s alltime scorer with 16 goals in a season (2003) for Portsmouth FC.

Ighalo (left) during a premier league game against Liverpool.

NPFL Result Pillars 1 Enyimba 2

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. 5/05/2016.