8th March 2016

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,452

TUESDAY, 8 MARCH, 2016

Nigeria in recession, going into depression, Agbakoba warns —P5

www.tribuneonlineng.com

No tenure extension for LG caretaker chairmen —Ajimobi

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

n150

Rescued Lagos schoolgirls back in school

Jonathan beats Tinubu, Annan, 3 others to win •As principal, parents visit Ambode African leadership award

Alleged N4bn fraud: Court —P41

—P8

—P7

sends Badeh to prison •I'm not guilty of the 10-count charge, he says

—P3

National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Olisa Metuh (left), with former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Alex Badeh, during their arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over $2.1 billion arms deal scandal, on Monday. Photo: Sunday Osunrayi

Ocholi: FG orders full investigation into crash

—P6

2 news AGF, CJN disagree over anti-social media bill

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Stakeholders reject bill at Senate hearing Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

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representative of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and another from the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) disagreed on the necessity for the passage of the antisocial media bill, being processed by the Senate.

While the representative of the AGF opposed the passage of the bill, the CJN threw its weight behind it.

Justice Clara Ogunbiyi of the Supreme Court, who represented the CJN, at the one-day public hearing by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, said the proposed Frivolous Petitions Bill 2015 was not out to gag the media.

The bill is sponsored by the deputy Senate majority leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah.

Representative of the AGF, Mr Francis Oyong, an assistant director in the ministry, said the bill would affect press freedom and freedom of expression.

According to him, certain provisions in the bill were capable of hindering quality investigation, especially as people living in areas where there were no courts would not be able to swear to affidavits and file petitions.

Other stakeholders, including legal practitioners, social media activists, civil society groups and members of the academic community who also spoke at the public hearing, rejected the proposed bill, describing it as a ploy to frustrate Presi-

dent Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

In throwing his weight behind the bill, representative of the CJN, Justice

Mahmud Mohammed, said the bill, when passed into law, would protect the interest of all.

“The fact is, there is free-

dom of expression in the constitution. It has to be within bond and not be at large. The bill is very laudable going by the fact that

it uses the words frivolous.

“The bill is not out to curb or check excesses and recklessness of all arms of government, its aim is to

From right, wife of the Ogun State governor and General Secretary of the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum, Mrs Olufunso Amosun; Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran and the co-chairman, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, during the commissioning of some boreholes donated by the governors’ wives in honour of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, at Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on Monday.

Govs’ wives donate boreholes in honour of HID Awolowo THE Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum has donated some boreholes to the Ikenne community, in honour of Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, as part of their contributions to the development of the community.

Speaking on behalf of members of the forum during the commissioning ceremony in Ikenne, wife of the Ogun State governor and general secretary of the forum, Mrs Olufunso Amo-

sun, said members of the forum decided to donate the boreholes on November 25, 2015, in honour of Chief (Mrs) Awolowo.

This, she said, was to enhance the growth and progress of the community, noting that Chief (Mrs) Awolowo would continue to be remembered as a great role model to womanhood and for the legacy she left behind.

Mrs Amosun said water

is essential to human existence, adding that without it life could be a bit challenging.

She said this was the reason the forum decided to provide potable water for the community, in order to curb water borne diseases.

Responding on behalf of the Awolowo family, chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, said the dona-

tion was in line with the good works of the Awolowo dynasty.

She appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum for identifying with the family, most especially in keeping alive the legacy of their mother.

The boreholes are located at Akindoyin Street and Mama HID Awolowo Road respectively in Ikenne community.

IPOB: Court grants FG’s prayer to protect witnesses in Kanu’s trial As parties allege threat to lives Sunday Ejike -Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted the request of the Federal Government to protect the identity of witnesses in the ongoing trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu, who is facing a sixcount treason charge, had opposed an application by the Federal Government to conduct his trial in secret.

The government had, in its application, decried that all the witnesses billed to testify against Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who are facing trial with him, had declined to appear in court.

Counsel for the Federal Government, Mohammed Diri, said the witnesses insisted that they would not

testify against the defendants unless their safety was guaranteed.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, when government was billed to open its case against Kanu, the prosecution counsel and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Diri, applied for the shielding of witnesses.

Diri informed the court that the witnesses in the suit had declined to testify, following threats from associates of the detained IPOB leader.

While opposing the application to shield witnesses, Kanu’s lawyer, Chuks Muoma, argued that the court had, on February 19, 2016, decided on the Federal Government’s request to protect witnesses, adding that if the prosecution was not satisfied with the court’s decision, it should appeal

against the order.

After listening to the submissions, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, dismissed the objection by Muoma, adding that the government’s request for its witnesses to testify behind a witness screen did not amount to revisiting the earlier ruling prohibiting the ?prosecution witnesses from wearing masks.

The court upheld the argument of the prosecution that the screen would only shield the witnesses from the members of the public present in court.

He explained that the use of the screens would not prevent the judge, the accused persons and lawyers to the parties from seeing the witnesses while testifying.

The court equally dismissed the request by Muoma that the court should discharge and acquit

the defendants because the prosecution failed to produce its witnesses to enable the trial to commence on Monday.

According to the judge, the court could only dismiss the charges against an accused person present in court when the complainant in the case was not represented in court.

He, however, added that a pre-trial demonstration of the use of the witness protection screens would be held tomorrow morning before lawyers to parties and the defendants.

The suit was adjourned till tomorrow.

Meanwhile, counsel in the matter have alleged threat to their lives.

While Kanu’s counsel, Muoma, told the court that the lives of the defence team were under threat, the prosecuting team, led by Diri,

also accused the defence lawyers and the defendants’ family members of constituting threats to their witnesses.

When the matter was called on Monday, Diri informed the court that Kanu’s lawyer had altercation with members of the State Security Service (SSS) while trying to enter the courtroom on Monday morning.

Reading from a short note he claimed was written by a staff of the SSS, Diri said the defence counsel and members of Kanu’s family were constituting threats to the lives of witnesses in the matter.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Muoma, on his part, asked the court to grant permission to Ifeayi Ejiofor, the counsel who had altercation with the SSS, to explain what happened.

Continues pg45

ensure that only facts are disseminated to the public.

“It is not meant for vengeance, but it is out to safeguard the rights and privileges in the constitution.

“It will serve the purpose of verifying the origin of a petition and provide the relationship between parties involved,” he said.

Representative of the AGF objected to the passage of the bill, saying “if this bill is enacted into law the way it was structured, it will lead to judicial condemnation.”

He further stated that “what the bill is seeking to regulate is being regulated by the law of defamation. If the bill is passed, it will violate the African Charter of People and Human Rights.

“Even if the provisions of affidavit in the bill are removed, it will still not remedy the problem.”

A representative of the Nigeria Law Reforms Commission, Mr Chibuike Okorie, told the sitting that the commission would not support the bill because what it aimed at correcting had been taken care of by the provisions in the nation’s existing laws.

He declared that certain provisions of the bill would hinder the ongoing antigraft war as, according to him, some provisions were capable of frustrating probe of internal fraud and mismanagement in the ministries, department and agencies (MDAs).

“A situation whereby a member of staff of an agency who writes a petition against a corrupt official within the organisation is required to support it with an affidavit would definitely be counter-productive.

“The demerits of the bill clearly outweighs its merits. The bill is unnecessary, having regard to the existing laws. Laws must be general not for some people,” he said.

Publisher of Breaking Times, an on-line publication, Mr Anthony Ehilebo, also spoke against the bill, saying that over 15 million Nigerians rejected the bill through the social media immediately it was mentioned in the Senate.

He insisted that the lawmakers had a duty to kill the bill, adding that the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, had also declared the bill “dead on arrival.”

Senate Committee Chairman on Judiciary and Human Rights, Senator David Umoru, however, told the sitting that the said opinion attributed to the Senate President should not be equated to the position of the Senate as an institution.

3 news

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Alleged N4bn fraud: Court sends Badeh to prison Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, remanded the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, in Kuje Prisons custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application fixed for March 10.

Before giving the verdict, Justice Okon Abang held that the motion for Badeh’s bail was not competent, because it was filed before his arraignment and the court could only have jurisdiction to hear the application after his arraignment.

The judge consequently struck out the motion, ordered the defence counsel to file a fresh bail application.

Justice Abang said proper trial of the case would kickstart on March 14, on a dayto-day basis and warned that his court would not entertain frivolous adjournment and delay.

The judge also urged the prosecution counsel to be ready with his witness in the matter.

Justice Abang had earlier struck out the bail application that was filed ahead of Badeh’s arraignment on March 2 by his lawyer.

In throwing out the earlier bail application, the court described the application as

“incompetent”, saying a bail request cannot be filed prior the arraignment of a defendant and that the court could only assume jurisdiction in a criminal matter upon the arraignment of the defendant.

EFCC alleged that Badeh, while serving as Chief of Air Staff and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, between January and December 2013, did use dollars equivalent of N1.1 billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air

Force to purchase for themselves a mansion at Maitama, Abuja.

According to the anti-graft agency, the accused person reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds

Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, granted the request of the commission’s counsel as prayed and adjourned the sitting till March 14 to report back to the commission on whether or not he had access to the leader of the movement.

It will be recalled that the commission, since it started sitting on February 22, had adjourned sitting four times.

of unlawful activity (to wit) criminal breach of trust and corruption.

The offence, the EFCC said was contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. Badeh and his company were also accused of removing from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force and did use dollars equivalent of N650 million to purchase a commercial plot at plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone Ao7 Wuse II, Abuja.

The defendants were said to have between March 28 and December 2013, in Abuja, did use an aggregate sum of N878,362,732.94 removed from NAF accounts and paid into account of Rytebuilders Technologies Limited with Zenith Bank Plc for construction of a shopping mall in plot 1386, Cadastral zone.

It was equally alleged that the defendants removed the sum of N304 million from the accounts of the NAF and paid it to Rytebuilders for the completion of the shopping mall and that he also use N260 million dollar equivalent removed from the NAF accounts and paid to one Oluwatoyin Oke through Platinum Universal Project and Construction to purchase for his son, Alex Badeh (Jnr), a duplex at No 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse, Abuja.

Meanwhile, Badeh had pleaded not guilty to the 10-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and corruption slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

riedly closed shops to seek refuge from the crossfire.

An eyewitness, a resident of Buguma, said the booming sound of gunshots sparked off pandemonium within the town.

“I was in my place of work this morning and all of a sudden, we were asked to go home as the town was not safe.

“We later confirmed that a man on a motorbike was shot dead this morning. The persons who killed him also burnt his body. He was killed around Orugbo Area of the town. I later went there to confirm the incident.

“When I got there, I saw soldiers and policemen gathered at the spot where the victim was killed, chasing

people away.

“Soldiers and armed policemen are now parading the city, conducting ‘stop and search’ on suspicious persons,” he said.

When contacted, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed the incident, but added that security agents had been deployed to the troubled area to restore peace and order.

“There was a security breach in Buguma this morning (Monday), but security agencies have intervened.

“What is paramount to us now is restoring normalcy to the area. Security agencies, as I speak, have effectively secured the area and restored order to the town,” he said.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on arrival at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal, on Monday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

Army/Shi’ite clash: JCI seeks AGF, Kaduna Attorney’s intervention Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna CHAIRMAN of Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the recent Army/Shi’ite clash in Zaria, Justice Mohammed Lawal, has sought the intervention of Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Kaduna State’s attorney general to allow the legal team of the Shi’ite access to the leader of the sect, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

He made this known on Monday, when the counsel for the Shi’ite, Mr Festus Okoye told the commission that the legal team were still not allowed to see its client (El-Zakzaky).

In his submission, Okoye told the commission of how a letter was written to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), which was to follow a meeting but it became clear that their client was not in the custody of the police.

“We then met with the Directo-General of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) on February 9 and we had a meeting with him for two hours, yet we could not see our client.

“Another meeting was scheduled for February 19, I met him and we discussed for one hour, and he told me that only three of us will be allowed to see the leader of the movement (myself,

Femi Falana and Dr Shaibu Musa).

“He asked us to see him on February 24, at 4.00 p.m. and we waited till 7.00 p.m. and we were not granted access to him and up till this moment, we have not met with our client.

“It seems to me that there are issues bordering on national security and health. I believe the national security can be managed, but the legal team of the commission

should ascertain his state of health.

“If this is ascertained, we must be given proper and unhindered access to him, because by 12th of this month, it will make it three months and he is yet to be charged to court.

“Based on this, we are not in position to properly, professionally and ethically represent the IMN, but with access to him, we can come back and properly represent

our client.”

In view of the submission of Shi’ite’s counsel, counsel for the commission, Yusuf Ali, prayed the commission to order that the AttorneyGeneral of Kaduna State and the Attorney-General of the Federation to liaise with the counsel for the commission and see to it that the counsel to the IMN was given access to the leader of the movement and get briefings from him.

continues I pg5

Mother of LG chairman kidnapped in Rivers One feared dead in heavy shooting in Buguma D apo Falade - Port Harcourt THE crisis rocking Rivers State continues unabated, as the mother of the caretaker committee chairman of Asari-Toru Local Governement Area of the state, Pastor Ilamina Jackrish, has been abducted by unknown gunmen.

Report had it that the 56-year-old woman was abducted on her way to the church on Sunday, at about 8:15 a.m. by the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, at Rumuosi, near the Oberikwe Bridge.

Confirming the abduction, legal adviser for the council chairman, Tabu TamunoDike, said Jackrish’s moth-

er was kidnapped by four armed men.

Also, secretary of the Rivers State chapter of the National Association of Local Government Association of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Samuel Nwanosike, condemned the abduction, alleging that it was politically-motivated.

Speaking on behalf of Rivers ALGON, Nwanosike, who also doubled as caretaker chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area and as the assistant secretary of the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it was done as a distraction from the forthcoming legislative rerun in the state.

“The abduction is designed to distract the chairman of Asari-Toro Local Govern-

ment Area from effectively mobilising supporters for PDP in the forthcoming legislative rerun, slated for March 19, 2016,” he said.

In another development, one man, simply identified as Alampo, was reported dead, having been caught in a heavy gun duel between hoodlums in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, on Monday morning.

The deceased was said to have been shot dead by the hoodlums, who later set his body ablaze beyond recognition.

The fierce gunshot exchange, said to have lasted lasted about one hour, set residents scampering for safety, even as traders hur-

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Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

5 news

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigeria in recession, going into depression, Agbakoba warns Says judges beg govs for fund because judiciary is poorly funded Bola Badmus and Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyi - Lagos

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ORMER president, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba, has declared that Nigeria, under President Muhammadu Buhari-led regime, is in recession already, expressing worries why the government refused to utilise the money so far recovered in its anti-corruption war, including the over N3 trillion through Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Agbakoba, who is a leading pro-democracy activist, said this on Monday, while addressing newsmen at his Ikoyi residence, on the theme: “Moving the economy forward: Talking points,” warning that if urgent steps were not taken, the country would find itself in a depression, where growth becomes absolutely nil.

“Naturally, the country has fallen in deep recession and if this continues, then we are likely to see depression, where growth becomes absolutely negative,” Agbakoba warned.

The leading legal practitioner, who noted that not a few Nigerians applauded the government’s anticorruption programme in which it was collecting monies, however, asserted that the government’s “anti-corruption saving money programme” was being used in the wrong way.

“Every Nigerian, all Nigerians would obviously applaud the government’s anti-corruption programme in which it is collecting monies, the TSA in which it has collected about N3 trillion, but for them not to use the money is what surprises me.

“So, the anti-corruption saving money programme is in my view used in the wrong way. So, you save money by saying let’s plug all the loopholes, but it looks negative.

Agbakoba, who said all was not lost as the government appeared to know and understand the country’s economic terrain, enjoined it (government) to begin process of reinflating the economy by getting Financial Services Sector (FSS) right, creating jobs while stimulating small businesses, reviewing Public/ Private Sector Economy, among others.

According to the former NBA president, getting the Financial Services Sector (FSS) right would involve

limiting the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and creating a Financial Services Agency (FSA), saying the CBN was currently overburdened and should focus more on lending, interest rate and exchange.

On job creation and stimulating small businesses, Agbakoba contended that if the government was able to get the FSS right under the CBN, jobs would be available, pointing out that “jobs can only be created when we have a vibrant manufacturing and real sector.

“Currently, the manufacturing sector is in a comatose state with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria constantly complaining of the need to reduce the cost of doing business.

“Small businesses are hindered because of absence of capital, they cannot easily access loans from banks.

Interest rates are high and banks are shy to lend because of the problem of bad debts, exacerbated by inefficient regulatory environment,” he said.

Speaking further, the leading human rights activist called on the government to review the country’s Public/ Private Economy and bring about a strong Public/Private Sector framework, noting that while Nigeria’s state owned public enterprises were often ineffective, China’s model appeared very effective.

This was just as he declared that the privatisation escape route Nigeria was often eager to employ had not been successful, pointing out that so far none of the privatised entities in Nigeria could serve as a model.

According to him, “public sector economy is not properly defined in Nige-

ria. Whilst Nigeria’s state owned Public Enterprises are often ineffective, China’s Model appears very effective.

“The privatisation escape route that Nigeria is often eager to employ has not been successful. In fact, none of the privatised entities in Nigeria could serve as a model.

“It is urgent, therefore, that Nigeria reviews her public/private economy.

Government must control the overarching sectors of the economy. There is need for a strong Public/Private Sector Framework.”

Following allegations of corruption levelled against two senior lawyers and judges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, has attributed poor funding of the judi-

ciary to the menace.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) member said many judges were in financial difficulties and cannot meet most of their needs.

Agbokoba said this in Lagos, at a briefing on“moving the economy forward,” in which he recommended the unbundling of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Agbakoba said it would be difficult to blame a poorly paid judge, whose mother had a terminal illness for asking for help from friends.

“You don’t expect that a judge whose mother is dying would be thinking about Code of Conduct. I don’t think so,” Agbakoba said.

The SAN said due to lack of proper funding, even chief judges also begged governors for funds, adding that such problems

would persist, so long the judiciary was underfunded.

He recalled the case of a Supreme Court justice, who retired and disclosed in her valedictory speech that she had no home because there was no money to build a house of her own.

Commenting on the charge filed against a senior advocate (SAN), Dr Joseph Nwobike by the EFCC, Agbakoba said it was important to examine the underlying causes of why a judge would ask a lawyer or a friend for financial assistance.

According to Agbakoba, poor funding of the judiciary manifested in chief judges going to governors to seek financial assistance.

Agbaboka also added that the anti-corruption fight was yielding results, but the CBN needed to be unbundled if the economy was to be stimulated.

Nigeria’s membership of Islamic coalition not religious —Foreign Affairs Minister Urges media to be ‘responsible’ Leon Usigbe - Abuja NIGERIA’s membership of the Islamic countries coalition against terror being put together by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with giving the country an Islamic identity, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyama, has assured.

Reacting to reports which emerged at the weekend, following a broadcast of an interview granted by President Muhammadu Buhari to Aljazeera,where he disclosed that Nigeria had signed up to the coalition, the minister blamed the media for not being “responsible” enough in the presentation of their reports.

He was speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with Buhari, in Abuja, on Monday.

The minister said rather than dwell on the religious perspective, the media ought to be more interested in the objectives of the coalition.

Onyeama observed that terrorism was a global phenomenon and Nigeria was ready to support any move to deal with it.

He explained that the Islamic countries were uncomfortable with the perception that terrorism was Islamic and consequently, wanted to show that this was not the case.

The minister noted that

the coalition was keen to demonstrate that terrorists were not speaking for Islam, as there was nothing in Islamic teaching that encouraged terrorism.

Asked to react to the reservation expressed in some quarters on Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition, he said: “What I say first of all is that you guys in the media have to be more responsible in the way you present news.

First and foremost, get your facts right.

“It has nothing to do with religion as far as Nigeria is concerned. We have to look at what the objective is. We face terror challenges and its a global phenomenon.

“Unfortunately, the problem we have today is

that some of the terrorists groups are claiming some of the things they are doing is in the name of a particular religion and it is clear to everybody that this is not the case which is obviously a concern to people of Islamic faith and Islamic countries that their religion should be so abused.

“So, there is naturally a tendency to show that this has nothing to do with Islam. Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Islamic countries, Islamic people want to be seen as being in the forefront of the battle against these terrorists to show also that it has absolutely nothing to do with religion.

“That’s what this is all about. So, we are support-

ing every move to achieve this, to disabuse people’s minds that some of these terrorists are speaking in the name of Islam or are Islamic or that there’s anything about Islamic teaching that somehow condones these barbaric actions.

“I think it’s something we should all get together and we should all support whoever is working towards it.

And that’s what this coalition is for, to show too that we are a Muslim country, we are Muslims and these people do not speak for islam, have nothing to do with Islam.

“Most of the victims of these people are Muslims if you look at it. So, that’s what it is.

“It has nothing to do with Nigeria, Christianity, Islam. I think the media should really get the main message across.”

Buhari had told the international television outfit that Nigeria had joined the coalition, despite earlier statement from the Presidency that he had turned down the invitation.

The president had been asked whether Nigeria was part of it and he answered: “We are part of it because we’ve got terrorists in Nigeria, that everybody knows which claim that they are Islamic.

“So, if there’s an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it, as we are casualties of Islamic terrorism.”

Buhari names ex-Lagos dep gov, Orelope-Adefulire, SSA SDGs Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as his Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Monday, recalled that Mrs Orelope-Adefulire served as deputy governor of Lagos State in the last administration and was an accomplished politician with many years of experience in

public service.

“She also served as Com-

missioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Allevia-

tion in Lagos State,” the statement added.

Alleged N4bn fraud: Court sends Badeh to prison continued from pg3

Badeh, who failed to secure an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, last week, for his release from the EFCC detention was arraigned on Monday before Justice Okon Abang by the anti-graft agency.

The Federal Government, through the EFCC, had on February 29 filed

the 10-count charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, a company believed to be owned by him.

The charge, dated February 26 and endorsed by Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Legal, EFCC specifically accused the former Defence Chief of unlawfully using funds meant for the Nige-

rian Air Force to purchase landed properties in choice areas of Abuja, between January and December 2013, while serving as Chief of Air Staff.

His counsel, Samuel Zibiri, made an attempt to argue his bail application, which the court held was premature, in view of the fact that it was filed before the arraignment.

6 news Ocholi: FG orders full investigation into accident Crash caused by tyre burst —FRSC Clement Idoko - Abuja

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HE Federal Government has ordered full investigation into the cause of the auto crash, on Sunday, that claimed the lives of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, his wife and a son, on Kaduna/Abuja Expressway.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has however, disclosed that preliminary investigation into the incident indicated that the crash

...His death a colossal loss —Orji Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia North senatorial district in the senate,, has regretted the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr James Ocholi, his wife and son, in a motor accident on Kaduna/Abuja Expressway, on Sunday.

Senator Orji said the nation had lost not only a perfect gentleman and a leader but also a woman of virtue and a sound tomorrow’s leader.

Describing Ocholi’s death as a colossal loss, Orji said, “We will miss him because he was not only a role model but a nation builder, a nationalist and a selfless politician, may his soul rest in perfect peace. His death came at a time the nation needs his contribution.”

...It’s great loss to Nigeria —Peterside The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), inthe 2015 general election, in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has described the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Chief James Ocholi, as a great loss to the country “Nigeria has lost a patriot and statesman. Mr Ocholi, evidently, was a rare politician, who was passionate about service to humanity. He brought into politics, his piercing intellect, fear of God, humour and conciliatory disposition and always working for the common good. His death has depleted further, the ranks of progressive politicians.

“I am also aware that at the Nigerian Bar, where he distinguished himself as a knowledgeable lawyer, he was a role model and advocate of best practices.”

was due to tyre burst, which led to loss of control and somersaulting of the vehicle.

Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, had accordingly ordered a full scale investigation into the crash, to be carried out by FRSC Accident Investigation Team.

Oyeyemi, equally commiserated with President Muhamadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the immediate family of Ocholi Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Mr Bisi Kazeem, in a statement on Monday, said the Corps Marshal addressed a section of members of the press on Monday, in the aftermath of the crash involving the minister.

Oyeyemi noted that the death of the minister in the crash was a tragic incident that challenged FRSC to step up its campaigns against carnage, saying he was personally touched.

He said he would work with relevant stakeholders to develop appropriate strategies that could address future occurrence.

He confirmed that three lives were lost in the incident. While the minister and his son died instantly, the wife later died at the Doka Hospital near Kaduna.

The Corps Marshal disclosed that as soon as the crash occurred, FRSC rescue teams were mobilised from the Ambulance Point

and Unit Command, at Doka and Kateri respectively, to the scene where they carried out the rescue activities.

He said the corpses were conveyed to the National Hospital, Abuja, by the personnel of FRSC, where they were deposited.

“I have already ordered a full scale investigation into the causes of the crash to determine what led to the ghastly crash in order to prevent future occurrence,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal has disclosed that with the unfortunate incident, FRSC is more determined to work with the sxecutive and members of the National Assembly, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to workout appropriate modalities for ensuring crash-free roads, saying training and retraining of government drivers is part of the immediate measures being taken by the FRSC to avert convoy crashes in the country.

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

news Jonathan wins African leadership award 7

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Beats Anan, Tinubu, 3 others

F

ormer president Goodluck Jonathan beats Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year, 2015.

Jonathan also defeated Strive Masiyiwa, founder, ECONET Wireless; Tony Elumulelu, chairman of Heirs Holding; Akinwumi Adesina, president, African Development Bank and Koffi Anan, former

United Nations secretary general.

This was disclosed by Cletus Wortoson, former, Pro Tempore president of the Liberian senate and chairman of the 2015 African Leadership Person of the

Year selection committee.

In a letter to the former president, Wortoson said: “There is no one best suited at the moment than your Excellency, to advise the continent’s leaders on the merits of good governance

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, signing the condolence register for the late Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi, at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, in Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

I paid Justice Nganjiwa for cases he brought as my lawyer —Ricky Tarfa Lanre Adewole-Lagos Embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ricky Tarfa, on Monday, explained the circumstances leading to him sending money into the bank account of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court.

He denied any underhand dealings with the judge.

In a statement emanating from his chambers, Tarfa disclosed that the judge used to be a lawyer in his chambers and had to benefits from accruals on the briefs he facilitated for the chambers when he was his associate.

He noted that the chambers deemed it fit not to cheat Nganjiwa out of his sweat, despite becoming a judge, hence the decision to make his cut of the proceeds of the briefs he brought available to him.

He decried the alleged media trial embarked upon by the prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Tarfa said this style of investigation and prosecution was evident in the fact that despite the commission’s fresh charge against him being everywhere in the mass media, a copy was yet to be served on him.

In the statement by signed by the head of chambers, Ricky Tarfa and Co., Mr John Olusegun Odubela, reacting to the fresh 27-count charge, it was noted that “the Chambers” have course to once more react to the malicious trial by media of Rickey Tarfa by the EFCC. “Trial are never won on the pages of newspapers, the airwaves and on online platforms,” it said.

Odubela added that the recent 27-count charge allegedly filed against Tarfa

by EFCC was laughable, because as of the time of issuing the press statement,

he was yet to be served with the charge.

On the allegation of falsification of age, he noted that “celebrations of milestone of birthday of Mr Rickey Tarfa have always been in the public do-

main.”

The statement further stated that as law abiding organisation, it would never be involved in any act in contravention of the law of the country.

Woman donates pension to Buhari’s graft war Leon Usigbe-Abuja A pensioner, Mrs Rose Arabameh Julius, has donated her entire monthly pension of N10,000 to support the President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption.

According to a statement issued on behalf of presidential spokesman

by Abiodun Oladunjoye, in Abuja, on Monday, Mrs Julius, who retired as a cleaner from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, also promised to contribute N1,000 every month out of her pension towards the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

and enduring democracy.”

“Your popular mantra of ‘one man one vote’ and ‘my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,’ is a message that must be preached loud and clear on the continent, hence our endorsement.

“It is with great pleasure that I bring you the news of your selection as the African Leadership Magazine Person of the Year, 2015.”

The committee applauded Jonathan for his “uncommon characteristics” in deepening democracy in Africa. “In adopting you as our choice, we placed a very high premium on your commitment towards deepening democracy on the continent – a characteristic which is uncommon among most African leaders at the highest level today.

“Chief among the many factors we considered was your efforts towards promoting good governance in Africa through the promotion of free and fair elections across the continent.

“Your recent assignment to Tanzania received accolades and international acclaim, because you discharged the responsibility most creditably.

“The board is fully persuaded that you have served your country, Nigeria, meritoriously, conducted a free and fair election, in which you lost and yet conceded defeat, a development seen by many in the continent as historical.”

The award has been previously won by Liberian president and Nobel prize winner, Johnson Sirleaf; former president John Kuffour of Ghana; Mo Ibrahim of the Mo Ibrahim foundation, Oba Otudeko, chairman Honeywell Group, and lawn tennis goddess, Serena Williams.

Jonathan also became the first African leader to win the Martin Luther King human rights award.

Yobe deputy governor in auto crash, escapes unhurt THE deputy governor of Yobe State, Abubakar Ali, was on Monday, involved in an auto accident along the Kaduna-Kano expressway.

A witness, Sunusi Abdul, said that the incident occurred in Daka-Tsalle town, in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, along the expressway.

“The SUV he was travelling in had a head-on collision with a Toyota Avensis vehicle,” Mr Abdul said.

Fortunately, the deputy governor’s vehicle did not

somersault, but the Toyota car was badly damaged and some of its occupants injured.”

Mr Abdul, who said the accident occurred around 9:30 am, added that he also narrowly missed hitting Mr Ali’s car.

He said the deputy governor’s convoy later continued its trip to Kano.

Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred around 1 p.m. when a vehicle on high speed hit the deputy governor’s official car.

According to a witness who preferred anonymity, Aliyu’s convoy had made a brief stopover at the town during which the incident happened.

He said that the driver of the private vehicle was trying to avoid a mad man who was loitering on the road.

“It was in the process of avoiding the lunatic that the driver of the vehicle lost control and hit the official car of the Deputy Governor.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mr Aminu Umar, con-

firmed the incident.

“The incident happened but it was a minor one because there was no loss of live and nobody sustained any injury.

“The Deputy Governor was on his way to the Government House, Kano, to condole with Gov Abdullahi Ganduje over the death of his mother.

The accident happened a day after the Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi, his wife and son died in a crash along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

Nigerian Tribune

UIAA Lagos branch elects new leaders THE University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Lagos Branch, at a general meeting held on Saturday, March 6, 2016, elected new members of the state executive committee that will run the association for the next three years.

A statement by the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Anthony Ebigie, indicated that the Congress, which produced the new executive was in fulfilment of Articles 7 and 9 of the Association’s Constitution and in conformity with the resolution of the 167th National Executive Council Meeting held on December 12, 2015 which directed that state branches whose executives have outlived their tenure conduct elections for new members.

After Saturday’s elections, Sina Odugbemi emerged chairman of the branch, with Comrade Michael Popoola Ayayi as the secretary. Other members of the newly constituted executive include Salau D.F. as first vice chairman; Omokemi Olayode, second vice chairman; Stephen Adeyanju as treasurer and Francis Ogunbowale as Legal Adviser.

Others include Joy Golden as social secretary; Adebisi Adewale, financial secretary; Anthony Ebigie as PRO and Otunba Stephen Ogundipe, ex-Officio1 among others.

In his acceptance speech, the new state chairman said his desire was to reposition the association to its rightful place in the scheme of things and to drive development policies that would help impact positively on the nation’s premier University.

Odugbemi also urged all members of the association to be fully dedicated in the new desire to unite the entire University of Ibadan alumni resident in Lagos.

Chancery International School holds maiden inter house sports THE maiden edition of the Inter-house Sports of Chancery International Schools and the Chancery College comes up today, March 8, 2016. The schools are located at plots 12 and 14, Alewi Crescent, No 6, E.O. Adeleke Avenue, Providence Estate, Aafin Iyanu, Ologuneru, Ibadan.

Four houses, namely Peace, Charity, Grace and Faith, will be competing among themselves. Other invited schools will be participating. The activities will start by 9a.m. at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

8

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Lagos

Gunmen on okada kill man in midst of friends Olalekan Olabulo There was confusion around Jaladugbo area of Ikorodu on Sunday night as a resident of the area was hacked to death by suspected cult members.

The deceased, simply identified as Sunshine, was with some of his friends, when his assailants invaded the area. It was gathered that the suspected cult members arrived on a motorcycle and shot sporadically to scare away residents, before shooting their target.

The gunmen reportedly quickly escaped from the area with another round of sporadic shooting.

Palpable fear of reprisal has since gripped residents of the area, who expressed worry that the colleagues of Sunshine might want to avenge his death. The residents also decried the increasing menace of cult members in Ikorodu, who, according to them, have become a major security threat.

A resident of Ikorodu, who simply identified himself as Femi said “nobody is sure if Sunshine was a member of any of the cult group or not but the manner of his death suggested that he belonged. He was the only one that was killed before the guys escaped with their motorcycles.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the image maker in charge of the police command, Dolapo Badmus, failed as calls to her mobile phone lines were not answered.

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (right), exchanging pleasantries with the Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Ephraim Ademowo; while Justice George Oguntade retd and Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Lagos Mainland Diocese, Most Reverend Adebayo Dada Akinde, watch, during a thank you visit by the Governing Council of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu and the parents of the rescued students, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday.

Rescued Babington schoolgirls back in school

Olalekan Olabulo with Agency Reports

T

he three school girls who were rescued from their abductors resumed studies on Monday at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Agunfoye-Lugbusi, near Ikorodu, Lagos State, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

An administrative staff member of the seminary, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN at the school that the girls had joined their schoolmates for revision classes ahead of their examination starting next week.

“The girls are back in school and they are also preparing for their forthcoming examinations.

“This week is for revision and examinations will com-

•Anglican bishops, principal, parents laud Ambode

mence fully next week,” he said.

A correspondent of NAN, who visited the school, reports that some parents who withdrew their children following the abduction had begun to return them there.

Mrs Bola Odu, a parent who returned her children to the school, told NAN that the incident was a lesson for other school authorities to beef-up security around their premises.

Odu also advised them to always carry out proper screening and profiling of those to be employed as teaching and non-teaching staff.

“I have a boy and a girl in the school and I have returned them after the kidnap incident was resolved.’’

Another parent, who

Unique Community Development Association residents of Magboro, Ibafo, Ogun State, protesting prolonged electricity blackout in their area, on Monday.

pleaded anonymity, advised school authorities to prioritise security in schools for the safety of their pupils.

NAN reports that there was a beef-up of the security in and around the school.

NAN also reports that three female students, who were kidnapped by gunmen from the junior seminary at about 8p.m. on Feb. 29, were rescued by the police on March 6.

Welfare, security of Lagoons paramount — Ambode Anglican Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Mainland Diocese, Most Reverend Adebayo Dada Akinde on Monday commended the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, saying the prompt, positive and practical response of the government contributed largely to the success story of the safe rescue of the three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu.

Akinde who led other bishops of the Anglican Church, Principal of the school, Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi and parents of the three rescued female students stated this during a “thank you” visit to the governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

He said he and his team deemed it fit to come and appreciate the role played by the state government in the wake of the abduction of

the students from the school on February 29 and particularly the role of Governor Ambode.

“It was a most traumatic moment and sad for us as proprietors. Today we are thanking God for his intervention that a most unfortunate and traumatic event ended on a joyous note.

“All three pupils are now safe in the custody of their parents, they have been reunited. Your response was prompt, positive and practical.

“Your contribution is most overwhelming, you have shown yourself to be a passionate leader that is interested in the well being of the citizens. We sincerely appreciate your efforts,” Bishop Akinde said.

Also speaking, Principal of the school, Venerable Adeyemi said they were grateful for the support encouragement and prayers they received from several quarters while the ordeal lasted, adding that with the security apparatus put in place by the state government, it was game over for those who have taken to crime in Lagos.

One of the parents of the recued girls, Venerable Ayo Olusan said they were relieved with the return of their girls, saying the prayers offered by Nigerians and the prompt effort of the state government played a huge role towards the rescue of the girls.

Responding, Governor

Ambode said the incident was a test of the government’s commitment to the security of lives and property in the state. “Seven days ago, the unthinkable happened, but again, we give all the glory to God that seven days after we are able to pride ourselves that one of those principal duties that you have charged this administration with is what we have just proved.

“We took it personal, not because it was a private school, not because it was far away from the metropolis, but because we all decided to say that if it were our own child or children, are we going to sit down?

That is the real focus of what this administration is all about. For everything that happens we put ourselves to imagine that if it were us, what would be said about our actions and inactions.

“We are very grateful to God for giving us that opportunity to prove that the welfare and well being and the security of the people of Lagos is what is paramount to us as an administration.

“It’s just for me to reiterate that the security of lives and properties is of paramount interest to this administration, we will do anything to make sure that the security of lives and property is sustained, is enhanced, because at the end of the day that is the only way we can grow the economy of Lagos,” Governor Ambode said.

9

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

metro

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Mile 12 crisis: Lawmakers call for

investigation of soldiers Chukwuma Okparaocha- Lagos

MEMBERS of the Lagos House of Assembly have called for the investigation of soldiers stationed at the Mile 12 market in Lagos, which was the centre of mayhem and killings last week.

Led by the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the lawmakers on Monday, wondered why soldiers who had been in the business of guarding the market since 1999 allegedly went AWOL as killings and maiming were carried out by warring residents for hours.

Lagos Metro recalls that some of the soldiers were even said to have aided the warring residents from the North which gave them an upper hand in the mayhem.

While commiserating with the family of those, who lost their lives in the incident, the House said it totally condemned the killings as well as the attitude of soldiers, who they said did little to prevent the crisis.

The Speaker, who also described the incident as a disagreement among “brothers,” added that the state government should summon courage and political will to

get to the root of the issue.

“Soldiers have been stationed at the market since 1999, yet they have not been able to solve the problem.

There is a police station there, what did the DPO do, when the incident occurred?” he asked.

“It is a market without structure; we can move the market to another place if we can provide an alternative. We should look at a new planning, as we cannot have such a market at the centre of a megacity,” he said.

He emphasised that the matter should be investigated and that the military men should be investigated since they could not do anything about the matter before it got out of hand.

He also suggested the provisions of CCTV in markets in the state.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers called for the relocation of Mile 12 and Owode Onirin markets from its current location to a more conducive place.

Segun Olulade representing Epe 2 said this had become necessary because lives were lost on regular basis whenever there was crisis in the market.

Members of Campaign for Democracy and Women Arise for Change Initiative, demanding justice over the killing of Mrs Comfort Udom by a policeman, Mr Museliu Aremu, as his trial resumed in Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Protest in court over killing of nursing mother by police Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin DR Joe Odumakin, President of the Women Arise for Change Initiative, a non -governmental organisation, staged a peaceful protest at the premises of the

Fire razes Wuraola House, Allen, during seminar Olalekan Olabulo THE popular Wuraola House on Allen Avenue area of Ikeja in Lagos State was early Monday destroyed by fire.

Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the fire incident, which raged for more than two hours.

Fire fighters were still battling to completely put out the fire as of the time of filing this report.

The fire was said to have started from an electrical fault from one of the companies in the three-storey building. A large part of the topmost floor of the building was destroyed in the fire incident.

An eye witness, who simply identified himself as Sunday told Lagos Metro that some officials of one of the companies on the topmost floor were trying to put on their power genera-

tor, when the fire started.

“The company was organising a seminar for some people and they were trying to put on the generator, when the fire was noticed,” Sunday added.

Combined efforts of occupants of the building to put out the fire failed as it con-

tinued to spread.

Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe confirmed the fire incident.

He stated that the fire was growing very big, when the fire fighters arrived the scene and that they were able to prevent it from spreading beyond the topmost floor.

Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court over the alleged murder of a housewife, Indongesit Udom who was shot, last year, by a policeman.

The protest which started at the court premises spread to some streets in the area where members of the group sang solidarity songs and condemned any form of extra-judicial killing by the police.

While marching on the streets, they carried and displayed placards to pass across their message.

Disclosing the reason why they were in court, Odumakin said they came to show solidarity with the surviving husband of the victim, Godwin, who was

also shot by the police, and to support the four children left behind by his late wife.

She also said they want justice for the victim and also campaigning against brutality and extra-judicial killings of innocent citizens by the police.

Odumakin commended the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, for their intervention in getting justice for the victim’s family, adding that they should do more.

She said Godwin and their children, Blessing, Mary, Abraham and Elijah, need to be compensated and rehabilitated from the

National U-20 invitee killed with broken bottle Gbemi Solaja A 22-year-old man, identified as Adebayo Hammed, has been remanded in prison for allegedly murdering one Onawo Samuel, a footballer, by stabbing him on the left side of his ribs with broken glass.

A Prosecutor, Inspector, Godwin Agoi, narrating how the suspect allegedly murdered the victim said the victim was an upcoming and successful footballer who was well known

in the area and was about to join the under-20 national team until the ill fated encounter.

According to him, Samuel who was well known in the area was passing through Oyemekun Bus stop, Agege when Adebayo, the accused, and others now at large stopped him and demanded money from him.

He said the touts who seemed to be familiar with him teased him about his growing up and pleaded with him to give them

money since he was aware of their predicament and the country’s economic conditions, moreso, the fact that he was one of them before he became a well known footballer.

Agoi said the victim met his untimely death when he refused to give them money, telling them that he had no money on him.

He said the suspect got angry and then pulled out a bottle stabbing Samuel on the left side of his ribs.

The Police alleged that

the suspect confessed to stabbing the victim in the left side of his rib on the 15th of January.

Adebayo is facing a two count charge of murder and conspiracy before an Ebutte Metta Magistrate Court.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Ajibade ordered that the victim be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending the Directorate of Public Prosecutions advice She adjourned the matter till April 23, 2016.

trauma they are passing through.

It would be recalled that Idongesit Udom and her husband, Godwin, were shot by a policeman identified as Musliu Aremu over their refusal to pay him N2, 000 bribe, last year.

Aremu reportedly, using his AK47 rifle, shot the couple who were in a tricycle with their four children on the way home from a church. During the attack, Godwin sustained serious injury and his wife Idongesit died on the spot.

Aremu was serving at Isheri Oshun police division when the incident happened. Following the incident, he was arrested and dismissed from the police.

He was also charged before Ebute Metta Magistrates’ court where he was remanded in prison custody pending the DPP’s advice.

The DPP’s report directed that Aremu should be arraigned and prosecuted for murder and attempted murder at the High court under the Criminal Code. He was remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi after he was taken to court.

When the matter came up on Monday, the Magistrate, Mrs Bolashade Botoku further adjourned the matter till April 25, 2016.

10

businessnews

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

It’s time to diversify economy, export to West Africa —Dangote Chima Nwokoji and Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin-lagos

B

USINESS tycoon and President of the Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote has called on the Federal Government to come up with appropriate policies that will speed up economic diversification at this moment when the price of oil has fallen.

He stressed that this is the right time for government to come up with right policies because if this is not done now, the country might miss the opportunity that the present economic situation presents.

Dangote, who retained his position as Africa’s richest person and was listed the 51st richest person in the world in the Forbes 2016 world’s billionaires list, made the call at the 2016 Nigeria Economists Summit themed “The dawn of a new day?” The two-day summit is holding between March 7 and 8, 2016 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

According to him, “this is the right moment to pursue diversification of the economy which we have been talking about. Sometimes, crisis is also an opportunity and you just have to have faith, key into the opportunity and keep pushing.”

He urged Nigerian companies to take advantage of the opportunities in the West African sub-region as a market, adding that there is a population of 320 million in the sub-region to feed, so the market is big.

“Our projects are mainly import substitution. We are working to be self-sufficient. What we need is consistency in terms of policy.

By 2020, our population would be over 200 million people and it doesn’t make sense to continue to go to the central bank to collect forex to import goods for over 200 million people.

We need to work towards being self-sufficient. Nigeria’s exports are actually very competitive. We don’t have to export goods from here to East Africa. We can export to west Africa,” he said.

Dangote expressed fears that once oil gets back to $80 per barrel, Nigeria would go back to the same misbehaviour of massive consumption without savings and paying lip service to diversification.

To the billionaire, fall in oil prices is not a curse.

There are some areas people are facing serious challenges and there are some they are not. It all depends on business model.

According to him, if a

company or country’s business model is to import 100 per cent, definitely such a company or country would be facing challenge because the inflow of foreign exchange is not where it used to be a year and half ago.

“Then, we used to receive about $3.2 billion on monthly basis, but today, we are receiving just about $1 billion,” Dangote stated.

In the next five years he said, “we would grow one million tonnes of rice. Do we have the market? Of course there is market locally. Nigeria imports rice officially and unofficially almost 2.8 million tonnes

of rice. “Majority of it comes from the borders.

You know we have very porous borders.

If somebody has a business, I think he would be more interested in running the business, than being involved in round-tripping,” he emphasized.

In the same vein, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe said Nigeria have a lot of manufacturers that rely on forex for their raw materials and they are going through tough times.

However, he believes like Dangote that there are still opportunities.

“I think it is time for us to move towards importsubstitution. But I think we need to do things to support the supply side of forex and liberalize the market. Even for those who have to source their raw materials locally, there is a value,” he said.

Meanwhile, FSSC, a world leading Food Safety certification and standards organisation has certified Dangote Sugar Refinery.

The FSSC 22000 Certification which is a standard fully recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) comes on the heels of other standards already obtained

by the refinery which include ISO 9001:2008, ISO 22000:2005 and ISO OHSAS 18001:2007.

Speaking on the accreditation, the Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Abdullahi Sule, noted that it is of the Sugar Refinery’s strategic drive to meet its customer’s needs.

“We are using good manufacturing practices, enhanced food safety culture and management systems, as well as to sustain its frontline position in the sugar sub-sector in line with internationally accepted practices and standards,” he said.

“The certifications will see to an increased consumer confidence in the Dangote Sugar brand, help eliminate production loss time in its refinery, and ultimately see to the realisation of an increased market share, with increased patronage by existing and prospective customers who have been eagerly awaiting the achievement of the FSSC 22000 certification by Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, “ he said.

Equities market resumes gaining streak, adds 0.27% Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

From right, Mrs Funke Osibodu, MD/CEO, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC), Engr. Ashok Srinivas Acharya, Chief Technical Officer and Dr Abu Ismail Ejoor, Executive Director, Commercial, during a media parley held at the company’s head office in Benin, Edo State, recently.

Finance minister calls for private sector capital to bridge infrastructure gap THE Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, on Monday, said there was need to embrace private sector capital to provide additional impact for government spending to bridge the infrastructure gap.

In a statement released by her Special Assistant (Media), Festus Akanbi, the minister was quoted as saying that the country was at a stage of reforming the process for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

She said the aim was to provide a seamless pathway to attract much needed private finance and operational inputs to service delivery.

According to her, private capital will bring more than financial resources, discipline and best practices.

Adeosun said it would also create a benchmark

against which the utilisation of public money could be measured.

She added that it was important to link the fiscal housekeeping initiatives that the country had for a wider economic strategy.

The minister said questions around the focus on corruption and the elimination of ghost workers, controlling inefficient spending and preventing revenue leakages needed to be evaluated.

She, however, said this should be in the context of how it impacts on Nigerians’ ability to stimulate the economy.

“We have been increasing our level of borrowing annually, and much of that is used to fund recurrent spending.

“Indeed in 2015 just 10 per cent of spending went to capital items. We spent more on travel, training and stationery than on

roads.

“No nation has ever developed with such consistent underinvestment in capital.”

On global commodities’ downturn, she said the manner in which governments had intervened to protect their economies had been diverse and innovative.

The minister said what was abundantly clear was the fact that the previous consensus about what was best for the global economy was rapidly changing.

“There is a concerted move towards individualism rather than collectivism.

“The new global economy is that each nation must painstakingly work out the best path to follow.

“For Nigeria, we believe that the best path to follow is to invest in infrastructure that will unlock the potential in the non oil sec-

tors,” she added.

According to her, the country can transit from being a commodity economy to an industrialised and regionally dominant one.

She said oil was important but clearly not enough citing Iran as recent and relevant example of a country living without oil.

“The sanctions that embargoed Iran’s oil led to the development of robust petrochemical and other export industries that enabled the country to survive.

“Iran survived without oil, made tough decisions and is now being feted by investors as the next growth economy.

“The focus of our economic policy is to redress the infrastructure deficit, unlock the rich diversity in the economy with a determined and focused turnaround programme.

TRADING at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, on Monday, continued the on the bullish trend of last week as All Share Index appreciated by 0.27 per cent to close at 25,890.94 basis points.

Market turnover however closed negative as volume declined by 27.49 per cent against 19.03 per cent decline recorded in the previous session.

Market breadth closed negative as 20 gainers against 12 losers, an improved performance when compared with Friday outlook.

Analysis of the price movement showed that Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc led other gainers with 9.88 per cent increase in its share value to close at N1.89 kobo as against N1.72 kobo.

Sterling Bank Plc’s shares increased by 7.36 per cent representing 12 kobo to close at N1.75 kobo per share, while International Breweries advanced by 90 kobo or 4.96 per cent to close at N19.05 kobo.

Mansard’s share price advanced to N2.14 kobo having added 10 kobo or 4.90 per cent.

Oando Plc also appreciated its shares value as it closed at N3.66 kobo or 4.87 per cent compared to N3.49 kobo.

On the laggards table,Union Dicon Salt Plc took the lead having lost 59 kobo or 4.98 per cent from its share value to close at N11.25 kobo per share.

Vitafoam Plc depreciated in shares value to N4.15 kobo as it lost 21 kobo or 4.82 per cent, while Ikeja Hotel Plc’s share price declined to N2.60 kobo after shaving 13 kobo or 4.76 per cent.

Also Dangote Sugar Plc lost 21 kobo or 3.55 per cent to close N5.70 kobo as against N5.91 kobo.

11

businessnews

Otunba Subomi

Balogun

@ 82

Tuesday, March 8 , 2016

O

TUNBA (Dr.) Michael Olasubomi Balogun, CON, a High Chief and Prince of Ijebuland, a holder of numerous professional, academic and traditional titles, with a national honour to boost his array of laurels, is 82. The quintessential banker, entrepreneur par excellence and man of style has every reason to be thankful to the Almighty God. As family, friends and associates roll-out the drums to celebrate a man who has impacted so much on the different facets of life in the country, it is a befitting tribute to highlight the practical demonstration of his belief in God’s hands in his affairs, and the indisputable proof that he is, indeed, a pencil in the hands of his creator.

Otunba Balogun is a rare breed. He was born to Muslim parents, but he is a Christian who has not forgotten his religious roots.

He demonstrated his penchant to dare from childhood, the same character trait that has seen him succeed in everything he sets out to do, including where others failed.

He was just 13 when he took the bold step to convert to Christianity, while at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, though without resistance from any quarter, thanks to an educated mother who did not see anything wrong in such a major decision by a teenager who would normally not be considered capable of making an informed decision, especially on an issue as sensitive as religion.

His decision to embrace Christianity at an impressionable age enabled him to be a follower of Jesus Christ, which explains why the religion has become his life. Now out of the limelight of banking, if he is not involved in one philanthropic gesture or the other, he is engaged in his favourite pastime of studying the scriptures to know more about God and God’s purpose in life. He found out, many years ago, that the more he studied about God, the more he knew Him, and the more God impacted on his life. It is the reason he considers himself a man with a special place in God’s heart.

Two examples of God’s rare intervention in his life would suffice, incidentally, interventions at no other place than His place of worship. When Otunba Subomi Balogun indicated interest to be the secretary of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) where he worked, a very powerful Nigerian swore he could hold the position only over his dead body. The statement turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, for, the man died in the first military coup of January 15, 1966, while his preferred candidate who got the job died in an accident shortly after assuming office.

A chance meeting with an Indian General Manager of NIDB in the premises of the Cathedral Church of Christ on Marina, Lagos, revealed to him that the office of secretary would be re-advertised. He applied for the job and got it, even when many did not give him a chance.

Again, in the premises of the same church in November, 1979, on learning that then Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was going to worship in the church, Otunba Balogun and his wife planned an ‘ambush’ for the nation’s number two citizen and his wife. As the number two couple walked down the aisle, the daring Subomi Balogun broke security cordon to pull on the cloth of the Vice President, while his wife did same to Ekwueme’s wife, much to the shock of onlookers and security operatives who moved to prevent him, but were restrained by the Vice President.

Right there, in the church premises, Balogun demanded from Dr Ekwueme the banking license he applied for, and succeeded in getting an invitation to Dodan Barracks, the then seat of power, which began the process that led to the issuance of the license to start First City Merchant Bank.

His effort to establish the bank itself was considered a mirage, since private ownership of a bank at that time was unheard of.

But Otunba Balogun relied on God to do the impossible.

It would be an understatement to say that God has been extraordinarily kind to

Nigerian Tribune

At 82, the staunch Christian has no other wish than God’s mercy for more years on earth...

Otunba Balogun in all his endeavours, and has guided his path in his 82 years on the planet. God gave him the vision to establish a financial institution that would grow, like the acorn seed, into an iroko with numerous branches. God gave him a wife, Olori Abimbola Adetutu Balogun (nee Ayoola) that has been a pillar of support throughout his life’s journey. God gave him children who have done credit to his name and reputation.

His love for white colour symbolises purity, which is indicative of his closeness to God, something he is very proud to talk about. He wears only white, and is usually decked in traditional attires, to reflect his current status in the traditional institution that he represents. This is a departure from his days as a banker, when his trade-mark business suits were part of his identity. Indeed, the doyen of banking is credited with compelling wearing of suits by bankers. This love of white manifests in his choice of white-coloured cars, including the most exotic automobiles money can buy. His eye-popping mansions in Ikoyi and Ijebu Ode are also painted white.

At 82, the staunch Christian has no other wish than God’s mercy for more years on earth, to enable him to repay His kindness through philanthropy. A beneficiary of God’s blessings, his greatest wish is to spend the rest of his life as an instrument of blessing to others. It is the reason he considers contribution to the growth of religion an appropriate channel through which to serve God. He has made contributions to Christian and Islamic causes a top priority.

Though a devout and practicing Christian, Otunba Balogun has not forgotten the religion into which he was born. In a rare show of open mindedness, tolerance and demonstration of the fact that all religions worship the same God, he has made numerous contributions to various Islamic causes, prominent among which is an endowment of an annual award of scholarships to the best students at the Muslim College, Ijebu Ode, in honour of his late father who was a devout Muslim.

The Iye Subomi Scholarship, a scholarship programme he instituted in honour of his mother, targets Christian and Muslim students as beneficiaries. His contributions to the propagation of Christianity in his native Ijebu land, Ogun State, Lagos State where he resides and Nigeria as a whole are too numerous to mention. But unlike the Biblical prophet that is without honour at home, Otunba Balogun has been deservedly given his due recognition by the Christian community in the entire Ijebu land. On March 9, 1997, they installed him the Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians. Otunba Balogun organises an annual Christian crusade (popularly known as Adura Odun in Yoruba language) in his Ijebu Ode home every first week of January which is preceded by an annual Christmas Carol in same venue every year. They are occasions when the low, mighty and people of Ijebuland, including the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, CFR, gather in Otunba Tunwase’s Court-the residence of Otunba Subomi Balogun to thank, glorify and pray to the Almighty God for His mercies, prosperity and sustainability of the Ijebus at home and in diaspora.

The best prayer for the iconic banker and philanthropist at this moment of celebration is the one he says each day he wakes up to behold God’s manifold expressions in his life – more years to do God’s work.

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Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

agriculture Why farmers are yet to adopt GMOs Stories by Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

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ENETICALLY Modified Organisms (GMOs) is a science of moving a material of inheritance from another or related organism into another one so that the organism will behave in that manner of that particular inheritance of that organism.

This means that a gene of growth can be transferred to cotton seed, which will make the cotton if planted, will grow beyond its normal size and maintain the same quality.

Also, that organism has the ability to behave the way that trait which is known as gene that has been moved to perform that particular function in the organism that is intended to have been modified.

But the argument is whether the particular crop will still be healthy for consumption, as the gene is modified or if the environment could be affected as a result of genetic modification of seeds.

The Director General of National Biosafety Management Agency, Rufus Ebegba, explained that the aim of setting up that agency was to ensure that the modern biotechnology used in producing the GMOs were done in a way that is safe for human consumption and

the environment.

He said explained that the use GMOs are yet to start in Nigeria because some farmers and Nigeria still doubt that the process could be healthy.

“There is nothing you do in this world that does not involve some kind of fears, so technology cannot totally be said to be safe or otherwise until it is proven otherwise,” he said.

He explained that economic reasons could contribute to why some people were still afraid to embrace the technology.

“There are so many reasons why people are afraid of this technology, one is that it is new, another one is you will agree with me that with economic reasons, there have been conventional methods of breeding and other production of these materials and suddenly a new technology comes in these chemicals you are supposed to be using, you discover that those chemical companies are out of market,” he explained.

According to him, before GMO is used in the country, it must have gone through series of tests, analysis and risk assessment to ensure its good for human consumption.

“Before any GMOs either produced in this country or imported into this country, we shall sieve it to ensure that it pass through our checks, risk assessment will be car-

ried out to analyze it.

“We already have a GMO laboratory for detection and analysis so we will test and check that whatever you are claiming that you put inside the organism is exactly the same and it does not have any adverse impact in the environment.

“We shall also ensure that these GMOs are equivalent to the conventional. So Nigerians should be rest assured that the agency is prepared,” he said.

Speaking on if Nigeria have GMOs currently in the market, the DG said

Before GMO is used in the country, it must have gone through series of tests, analysis and risk assessment to ensure its good for human consumption.

that Nigeria is free of GMOs in the market, but by 2018, GMO cotton would likely be introduced in Nigeria from Burkina Faso.

“We are not unaware of the fact that GMO cotton may likely be in this country, because Burkina Faso introduced to the northern part of the country and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that all GMOs that is brought into this country are certified before they are brought in, if anybody is caught smuggling GMOs, the person will face the penalty.

“GMOs go through rigorous processes before they are released, these cottons we are talking about, have been released in other countries, and they have been using them, but what we are look at is to register the gene, that is the materials that have been put inside the cotton so that the applicants is still going to pass through other processes, meet other government regulatory agencies, the GMOs cotton will officially be released in 2018.

“Releasing them does not mean that they will just put them all over the place, there are still going to be terms and conditions so that those who don’t want GMOs, it is going to be a matter of choice, it does not mean that GMOs cotton has been released and other cotton will be phased out, it is like have various commodities, you decide which one

you want,” he said.

According to him, that the agency has carried out sensitisation exercise to farmers and Nigerians to enlighten on GMOs. “Our responsibility is to sensitise Nigerians and farmers on GMOs and on how to use it. We ensure that GMOs does not get to the farmers if it’s not safe. There are a lot of sensitization going on about GMOs. “Officially, we do not have GMOs in Nigeria except the ones which are for experimental purposes, we have the ones for experimental purposes, we have the cowpea which is being tried in the field, it is resistant to insects.

“Then we also have Sorghum which have been modified which contains iron, zinc and protein and also vitamin A, these ones are under confinement, very strict, regulatory measures are being put in place, we also have that of cassava under confinement in Umudike,” he added.

He revealed that developing GMOs takes a very long time of about seven to 10 years, and if at the process of producing it or testing it, the process fails, it will be started afresh again.

Speaking on the side effect of using GMOs, Ebegba said that the agency was working to avoid side effects, that’s why risk assessment, is carried out before their release.

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infotech

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Bode Adewumi

m:08055001765 e:bodekafi@yahoo.com

Outsourcing: Catalyst to businesses growth

all over the world —Eleso Mr Ademola Eleso is the Chairman, ConSol Limited, an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company that is focused on outsourcing business. He speaks with BODE ADEWUMI on the economic gains of outsourcing business in Nigeria, as well as the company’s 10-year experience in managing customers’ service operations.

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hat are some of the company’s achievements in the 10 years of its existence?

The most substantive achievements for us in 10 years are in public safety and emergency operations. We can lay claim to our contributions, alongside the governments, especially the Lagos State government and the Lagos Sate Security Trust Fund, for entrusting us with the emergency services of the state and the testimony is that we have gone from handling a few thousand calls per month to over five million calls per month for emergencies.

We help to dispatch close to 10,000 Rapid Response Squad (RRS) vehicles across Lagos State every week, to address robbery incidences in the state. We have also helped in dispatching close to 300 ambulances every week to help Lagosians who are in the state of need. Although, I will say we have achieved so much in the areas of public safety and emergency, it is equally not enough and we hope to do more in those areas, because there are more emergencies in the state that need more interventions.

Are there challenges for ConSol in doing business in the last 10 years?

There are challenges, no doubt, which I will like to classify in three stages. The first stage is the challenge of infancy, which was at the beginning of our journey as a company. At the beginning, it was a challenge for us to get people to understand our proposition. At the beginning, people found it extremely difficult to entrust a third party with their customer information and access to their customers, because they never believed that the third party could treat their customers as kings.

So, that became a challenge for us in getting to service the customer base of organisations and it took a while and extra efforts on our side to convince organisations that we could handle their customers perfectly well in such a way that they could focus on their core business and still keep their customers intact.

After we were able to convince up to five organisations, which was a difficult task to achieve, several other organisations came to us and signed business deal with us to manage their customer base, and this was so because our outstanding performances with the first few customers we had, helped in attracting more customers to our business.

The second challenge was that of the internal ambitious corporate managers, who see outsourcing of core business operations as a loss of power and control to the manager. This of course, posed some challenges for us to win over such man-

agers who have such apprehensive notion.

It took us time to convince them that by outsourcing some aspects of their business, they could have the time to focus on their core business and achieve high productivity as well as quick returns on investment.

It took them time to understand that they could set tougher targets for third party than they could set for themselves, if they outsource their business.

The third challenge is the issue of running a business in the most cost effect way, giving the infrastructural challenges in the country, such as power generation and distribution, a situation that forced us into spending so much on diesel to power our systems and that of our clients.

ConSol is known for three core operations such as contact solution management, enterprise solution management and consulting; how do these three operations play out and how are you able to manage them successfully?

We clearly have three areas of operations, known as the contact centre operations, the enterprise segment and the consulting segment. With the contact centre operation, we are able to build call centre operation for our clients, or help them in managing existing contact centres. Some clients have the money to build their own contact centre, but will invite us to use our expertise in managing the centre for them.

We also build such centres for clients, depending on the customer, and in such case, we deploy the technology and manage the facilities, depending on the client. Again, some clients outsource the business to us and allows us to manage the business from own established contact solution centres. In such cases, we will ensure that the customer service agents that we employ on their be-

Outsourcing cannot be a threat to business as painted by many, because outsourcing actually helps to create jobs and boost revenue base of business owners.

Eleso half will manage the business perfectly.

For the enterprise solution, we handle more of technology deployment in managing contact solutions for clients. We support many organisations and we use our expertise to deploy the best technology for their operations.

We partner technology companies to deliver technology solutions for our enterprise customers that will protect their database from hacking, thereby addressing the issues associated with cyber security.

Our enterprise solution supports e-Commerce business and makes online transaction secure and profitable. Our enterprise solution enables easy access and navigation on a particular website, thus, enabling customers to have faster and safe transactions on such websites, without any form of delay.

The consulting aspect of our business is to offer expertise services that are technology based when our services are needed.

ConSol is involved in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), but there is a general belief that outsourcing cuts jobs and creates unemployment.

What is your take on this?

Outsourcing cannot be a threat to business as painted by many, because outsourcing in itself, actually helps to create jobs and boost revenue base of business owners. Outsourcing could only be seen as promoting job cuts, if the jobs are exported out of the country, to

countries where the job will be managed by experts over there. But a situation where the experts manage the outsourcing job within the country where the job originates from, by employing people from that particular country, could actually drive business profitability and employment generation.

We are in Nigeria, handling outsourcing jobs from various organisations and we are employing Nigerians as agents to handle the job, which of course is a boost for the organisation and the Nigerian economy.

ConSol in the last 10 years became one of the largest sources of outsourced call centre agents in Nigeria and a supremely efficient single-site contact centre complex, employing hundreds of contact centre agents, serving multiple clients in West Africa.

There is a general belief that customer care centres do not address the needs of customers as prompt as possible. How do you intend to address this issue?

The key to resolving customers’ frustrations at call centres is at the core of ConSol operations, because we believe in people, processes and technology. If these three core values are met by call centre operators, they will make their customers happy by attending to them in real time.

We will continue to create more value for our customers by providing first class call centre services that deliver on customer satisfaction, while reducing costs.

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Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria remains best haven for telecoms investors —Danbatta Stories By Bode Adewumi

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ITH over 107 per cent teledensity for voice segment of telecommunications services already achieved in Nigeria, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta recently assured International and potential investors that Nigeria remains a sure haven for ICT investments.

Danbatta spoke during a panel discussion in Barcelona, Spain, on the topic ‘Is Closing the Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa Myth or Reality.’

He assured the International Community that the NCC’s eightpoint agenda has been carefully packaged to cushion all aspects of investments, especially “as we move to the next frontier of ICT revolution – broadband for internet connectivity” The panel discussion was a part of the Regional summit for Sub -Saharan Africa at the just concluded, Mobile World congress (MWC) by GSM Association, in Barcelona, Spain.

Danbatta told the panel which was moderated by Nigeria’s Shola Taylor, who is also the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) that the NCC has put

Smile expands services, launches in Kaduna, Onitsha, others IN a deft move designed to avail more Nigerians of its famed “Super Fast and Super Reliable” 4G LTE internet services, Smile Nigeria has extended its services to the city of Kaduna in Kaduna State, Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State.

By this action, Smile has ensured the availability of true 4th Generation Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) broadband services for the inhabitants of these three vital and strategic cities.

Deploying the 4G LTE which is the latest, most advanced and most flexible global technological standard for wireless data communications, and represents a big change when compared to older technologies such as 3G, Smile’s network coverage has remained a great delight to its customers.

“The network expansion that saw us in three major Nigerian cities almost at a go reaffirms our belief in Nigeria and our determination to serve Nigerians,” Smile’s Chief Marketing Officer, Alero Ladipo said.

“Our goal is to provide Nigerian broadband internet users with speed, quality, reliability and simplicity.”

in place the agenda to encourage investors.

“Two of the prominent goals are related to deployment of infrastructure for broadband and efficient utilisation of Spectrum to benefit all Nigerians in all the regions,” he said.

He told the audience which in-

cluded the Secretary General of African Telecommunications Union (ATU), Mr Abdoukarim Soumaila, Deputy Minister, Telecoms and Postal Services for South Africa, Proessor (Ms) Nlengiwe Mkhize, Meg. Charles-Horn (Africa mobile Networks), Shiletsi Makhofane (Ericsson Sub-saharan Africa), Mr

Mortimer Hope, Director Africa for GSMA, Alan Marcus (World Economic Forum) and Nkateko Nyoka of Vodacom Group among others, that the NCC will keep fate with the National Broadband Plans and in line with this, the country now has seven zones and each zone will have one operator

which will deploy broadband services to every part of that zone.

So far, two infrastructure licences have been issued for Lagos and North Central Zones including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the process for issuing licenses for the other five zones has begun.

From left, Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (WTEC), Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi; Intel She Will Connect Ambassador for Nigeria, Titilope Sonuga; Marketing & PR Manager West Africa at Intel Corporation, Adim Isiakpona; Founder of TechHer, Chioma Agwuegbo and Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Iyadunni Olubode, at Intel’s Social Media Week Masterclass tagged, ‘Overcoming The Digital Divide In Her Shoes’ in Lagos, recently.

‘Why digital transformation is important to businesses’

Pre-registration for Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge opens

THE ultimate aim of digital transformation should be the ability to adapt to any future digital innovation, but in Nigeria, though innovation are applauded, the level of integration to drive business growth is still low.

Senior Manager Technology, Accenture, Mr Akintunde Sawyer, who shared insight on how digital transformation is changing the way the people work and live, dur-

AFTER months of speculations, Samsung Electronics West Africa, has announced that its latest flagship phones in its long line of Galaxy devices will be available for pre-registration in Nigeria from March 1st, 2016. The smartphones on offer are the alluring Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge available in 32GB with expandable memory slot of 200 GB. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director of Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung, said that Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge represent the new galaxy of unlimited possibilities.

“Samsung did not just redefine these devices but also re-imagined what they could do based on the feedback from the people who use them, and what they need most from the devices. Our customers are the inspiration for any innovation. These devices do not only look great but feel great as well and comfortable to hold. They are sleeker with smoother edges and lines,” added Revmatas.

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were first unveiled on February 21st at the Samsung Unpacked event held at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), Barcelona, Spain. The Galaxy S7 has a 5.1-inch display screen, while the Galaxy S7 edge has a 5.5-inch screen. They both feature Super AMOLED display, allowing for clearer videos and images with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 (Quad HD).

ing the just-concluded Social Media Week, said for many people, the term digital transformation is still widely misunderstood and poorly integrated into businesses.

According to the tech expert, there is maximum value from digital technologies such as social media, cloud computing, mobile technology and big data analytics saying reinvention of business practices is needed on a general

Financial inclusion: CBN licenses Innovectives as super agent THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted an approval-in-principle (AIP) to Innovectives, a leading provider of secure and affordable transaction channels for the unbanked and underbanked members of the public, to operate as a Super-Agent in the Nigerian financial services system.

With this license, Innovetives would leverage on the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS)’ switching infrastructure to enable inter-scheme Cash-InCash-Out (CICO) at all its agent locations.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Innovectives, Mr Emmanuel Agha, said the CBN expects the company and its partners to deploy, operate, and manage a robust, efficient, interoperable agency banking and mobile financial payment network with

selected retail outlets operating as agents under the framework as approved by the CBN. According to the CBN’s Regulatory Framework for licensing Super-Agents in Nigeria, the Super-Agents shall be responsible for monitoring and supervising the activities of the agents; have information on the volume and value of transactions carried out for each type of service by each agent.

The CBN said this volume and value of transactions should be made available to the principal; monitor effective compliance with set limits and establish other prudential measures in each case and take all other measures such as onsite visits and ensure that agents operate strictly within the requirements of the law, guidelines and the contract.

scale in business organisations.

He further pointed out the key actions that businesses leaders and policy must take to exploit the growing digital economy, improve their economic opportunities and drive new productivity and growth.

“First, they need to prioritise digital investments based on value opportunities. Second, compete using an industry-specific digital strategy by being clear on which platform, what roles, and which data are fundamental to compete successfully in their industry. And third, create the right environment for digital transformation,” he said.

He advised business leaders and policy makers to understand areas that need improvement, so that they can recalibrate their digital skills, digital technologies and digital accelerators to enhance productivity and output gains across the economy.

“The power to connect digital size, scale and outcome lies with businesses, industry sectors and government. With smarter investments, digital resources, technologies and assets can have a positive influence on competitiveness and help economies and industries drive greater, more sustainable value,” he said.

According to a research carried out by Accenture, digital investments can act as a growth multiplier in the coming years.

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Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

brands& marketing Why we are launching Morning Fresh Kitchen make-over promo —MD, PZ Cussons

anchor

Akin Adewakun

m:08054683584 e:akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk

Managing Director, Family Care Unit, PZ Cussons, Mr Alex Goma, in this chat with AKIN ADEWAKUN, insists that contrary to claims in some quarters that the recently-launched Morning Fresh Kitchen make-over promo is a response to competition’s threat, the company is only using the three-month reward initiative to celebrate and acknowledge the loyal support of consumers to the product over the years.

But there is this information that you are coming up with this promo as a response to a particular competing brand eating deep into your share of the market, and that the promo is a way of bringing back your customer, how true is this?

We are the dominant brand; we are still number one in the market. We are trying to ensure that we reward consumers and at the same time grow our market share. It’s a relationship that we have with the consumers and we are trying to ensure that we keep that relationship and make Morning Fresh remain top of mind for them. We believe the leadership position that the brand occupies in that market segment today was made possible by the consumers because they have continued to patronize the brand.

One is surprised that you are stepping up your marketing tempo at a time many companies are cutting down on marketing budget, what makes the Morning Fresh make-over promo imperative in the first instance?

It is a promotion that we have designed to help us reward our loyal consumers. As you all know, Morning Fresh is the number one dish washing liquid in Nigeria. Since we launched it, we’ve brought in innovations.

We’ve introduced formula that has given it a different fragrance. We’ve also come in with anti-bacteria. And in this tough time, we believe we have to do something to reward the consumers. Basically, the promo gives consumers the opportunity to win different prices, ranging from kitchen equipment to the big prize of getting your kitchen made up, to the tune of one million naira.

There is the insinuation that the promo must have eaten deep into your purse, would you want to let us into how much you have invested in the promo?

I can’t give you the exact details of how much has been invested, but I think you can work out the mathematics when you look at the number of prizes that we are going to give and the value of those prizes. Don’t forget that aside the major prizes, there are actually a lot of other smaller prizes. But to actually get it to work, means that you have to invest in the technology, you have to ensure that the auditing of the promotion is right. And most of all, you have to ensure that the people will get their reward in due course. So I can’t give you figure to what it is, but I’m sure you can work out what the value of all these would be.

What strategies are you putting in place to ensure that the promo gets to every of your customers in Nigeria?

We have a wide distribution network and our products are available all over the country. Basically it’s about you buying two packs. The mechanics is simple; there is a

Goma panel that you scratch. You then send the code that you get back to the centre, and that is how you enter for the promo. So we made it easy using technology to enter for the promo.

How do you hope to handle the case of a consumer who lives in a shared kitchen, winning the ultimate prize of the promo, which requires you having such lucky consumer’s kitchen made up?

It’s going to be such consumer’s choice.

We’ve given the consumer the prize. Just like some of the other promotions that we’ve done in the past, when we offer the prize, and there is an option for the consumer

because such prize is not the best for the consumer, we’ve always been flexible. The fact is that the consumer will get a kitchen make-over that will be worth a million. If at the end of the day, we believe that the best thing for the consumer, based on conversation with the consumer, is to apply that in a different manner that is what we will do.

We currently have a promo with Premier and Olympics where we send people to the United Kingdom and give them the opportunity to watch a match. Some have not been able to get visa and co and we’ve substituted that with prizes that, at least, meet their needs. But at the end of the day, you will get rewarded.

Is the code consumer is sending this number to, toll-free?

Once you send the code to the particular number, it’s supposed to reimburse the consumer the cost of the SMS. So it shouldn’t be at any cost to the consumer, and if at all, at a very minimal cost.

NIPR boss charges govt on policy marketing THE President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Rotimi Oladele has charged governments at the different levels to always ensure that the people are actively involved in their policy making process to enable such policies properly resonate with the citizenry.

Making this charge in Lagos recently, at an interactive session with the members of the Brands Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), the NIPR boss attributed the failure of some laudable government policies in the past to the fact that the cit-

izenry that would be the direct beneficiaries or victims of such policies were always kept in the dark when such policies were being made.

According to him, laudable as the then Peoples Bank Project of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was, it died a natural death because the people who were at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder that should have been the direct beneficiaries of the policy could not even access the funds.

He argued that if such policy had been properly marketed, with the people

actively involved in the policy-making process, the project, he argued, would have survived till date.

‘Policies are like products.

For a brand owner to be able to come up with a

product that will fly in a particular business environment, the brand owner must find out the type of product the people really want. Unfortunately what we find out is that policy

marketing is zero in Nigeria, that is why you will see a state government digging boreholes in communities that are in dire need of schools,’ he argued.

While charging brand

writers on the need to challenge consumerism in the country, Dr Oladele noted that unless this was done, service industry would continue to be badly managed in Nigeria.

Again, OMD emerges Gunn’s most creative media agency FOR the 10th consecutive time, one of the nation’s creative agencies, OMD, was again awarded Global Agency Network of the Year by the Gunn Report for Media.

The Gunn Report for Media is the industry standard for evaluating media creativity, innovation and effectiveness. The report

summarises media agencies’ overall performance from January to December 2015 based on the results of global, regional and national media award contests spanning most markets in the world. Most importantly, it recognises the vital role media agencies play in today’s highly competitive and fragmented communic-

ations landscape.

“The recognition of creativity through awards is important to our agency culture at OMD. It is not only a critical measure of our performance, but also a reflection of how much harder we are pushing ourselves and our media partners to better our work year over year.

And we know that award

winning campaigns deliver better ROI to our Clients who expect us to go the extra mile every time. To achieve this 10 times in a row, acknowledges our global commitment and common ambition for sharper insights, smarter ideas and stronger results,” said Mainardo de Nardis, CEO, OMD Worldwide.

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Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

StarTimes’ subscribers to enjoy price slash AHEAD of the Easter celebration slated for 25th through 28th March, popular digital TV platform, StarTimes Nigeria has announced a slash in the price of its highest bouquet known as Unique (on digital terrestrial) and Super (on digital satellite platform) to enable more Nigerians enjoy digital TV entertainment with family and friends especially during the holidays.

Between March 1 and April 30, 2016, Unique or Super bouquet, the highest Pay TV package on StarTimes with about 120 channels, will have its monthly subscription rate reviewed downwards by 25 per cent, with both existing and fresh subscribers enjoying the reduced rate during the period.

Meanwhile, the pay TV Company’s ongoing Extra Special offer will also run till April 30. The “Extra Special offer allows existing subscribers recharge on any bouquet before due date and get rewarded with extra viewing

days free in multiples of the number of months paid.

Marketing Director, Mr Oludare Kafar, explained stated that StarTimes is committed to offering subscribers quality television entertainment with strong considerations for affordability and easy accessibility.

“We are offering subscribers a 25 per cent reduction on the Unique or Super bouquet to enable more subscribers access our highest bouquet and get maximum entertainment for less during the Easter period,’ he stated.

Kafar added that StarTimes is committed to offering subscribers the best in class of digital entertainment for maximum viewing pleasure on a very affordable platform.

“We will continue to engage our subscribers for great moments of exciting entertainment with our array of over 100 great channels consisting of movie series, sports, news, children’s programs, fashion and religion,” said Kafar.

Peak Milk signs on top artistes for TV campaign POISED to further strengthen its brand positioning while maintaining its leadership in the dairy market, Peak milk, has signed on top Nigerian artistes in its current Television campaign.

The artistes, Yemi Alade, Inyanya, Selebobo, Olamide and Tekno are the quartet who collaborated to produce the Mama Oyoyo song, sponsored and commissioned by the leading dairy brand for its new Television campaign.

Speaking on the new initiative, Senior Brand Manager, Peak Milk, Miss Oluwaseyi Ayesa, said the new initiative was informed by the need to celebrate Mothers who are central to the family.

“We came up with this new song, for our brand’s Television campaign as a way of making the society to appreciate Mothers and what they do in the lives of every individuals and nations,’ she stated.

She explained further

that the brand took a step further in celebrating mothers by introducing into the market a special limited edition packs for its products emblazoned with affectionate and emotive words like Love You, Thank You and Sweet Mother.

Peak milk, she said, has always been on top of the pack and will continue to occupy this position in terms of innovation and creativity. She added that since its introduction into the market over six decades ago, the brand had continued to grow in status and equity despite the vagaries in the Nigerian market.

She attributed the brand’s soar-away success in the market to its singular focus on nourishing Nigerians with quality dairy nutrition in order to reach their Peak and continually exploring ways to stand out of the crowded shelf by connecting with its consumers through every stage of their lives.

From left, Managing Director, CAP Plc., Mrs Omolara Elemide; Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr Ladipo Lewis; President, Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Ms. Titi Ogufere and Marketing Manager, CAP Plc, Mr Dominic Oladeji during a special briefing of professional bodies on the 2016 Dulux Colour of the Year (Monarch Gold) held at the CAP Plc. office in Ikeja, Lagos.

Monarch boosts good governance with N250m professorial chair

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HE desire for good governance both in public and private sectors of the nation’s economy, received a huge boost over the weekend in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, as the town’s monarch, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona endowed a professorial chair with the sum of N250m at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye, Ogun State.

Announcing this at an international press conference held at the monarch’s place, Oba Adetona, explained that the endowment had become imperative in

order to arrest the dwindling leadership qualities that the nation had continued to experience both in its private and public sectors in the past few years.

According to him, the leadership qualities exhibited by the nation’s founding fathers at that time had become glaringly lacking in the day’s set of leadership, a factor he argued, had been responsible for the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s economy.

He expressed the hope that the grant which would be invested and which would have its proceeds channeled towards en-

hancing good governance, quality education, research, mentorship and community engagement, would go a long way in enhancing quality leadership in the country.

“Education has a pivotal role to play in the quality of governance. So I decided to lend my little support in this area, being a royal father. So I make this move with high hopes that it will help the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye start a production-line of leaders who will be molded for good governance,” Oba Adetona revealed.

The monarch however

called on friends and acquaintances to support the endowment and ensure that it is kept in perpetuity.

While thanking the Awujale for the kind gesture, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Saburi Adejimi Adesanya, described the endowment as being in sync with the Institution’s philosophy of seeking to give useful learning to its students, in order to encourage them cultivate a worldview that facilitates not only the continuous pursuit of academic and moral excellence, but also developing competence.

NB Plc assures trade partners of exciting business year Picks best distributor for 2015 AFTER a fulfilling and rewarding business relationship in 2015, brewing giant, Nigerian Breweries last weekend in Lagos, has assured its teeming trade partners of a more rewarding business year in 2016, even as the company rewarded some of trade partners spread across the country.

In the exciting contest, Ken Maduako from Nnewi in Onitsha marketing zone beat two others, by selling more than five million crates of beer in his zone in the year, to emerge the company’s best distributor for 2015.

Ifeoma Chukwuka Nigeria Limited, who won the last two editions of the Award, clinched the second position ahead of

Magulf Global Enterprises who came third.

The award ceremony which held in Lagos was in honour of distributors and key transporters of the company who excelled in the cause of their business partnerships with Nigerian Breweries Plc in 2015.

The company’s Sale Director, Hubert Eze, expressed the company’s gratitude to the trade partners for staying with the company, stating that the award, which was preceded by a Distributors Business Meeting, was conceived to recognise and reward the excellent performance of the company’s distributors and transporters for the year 2015. The award ceremony, he added,

also provided the platform to evaluate the previous year’s business performance and communicate new business strategies to distributors.

He disclosed that despite the challenges in the operating environment, the company did well and achieved many milestones that called for celebration.

“Our partnership was not built for today, but built for the future.2016 will be challenging too, but we believe we Nigerians; we are happy people, and we are going to win again.

At the end of the year, we will gather not to talk only about the difficulties but our victories,” he told the trade partners.

The awards which was in ten categories included:

National Volume Champion; National Volume Champion (first and second Runner Up), Regional Champions; Regional Volume Champion, first Runner Up; Regional Volume Champion, second Runner Up. Other categories were: Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved btw 1m and 1.99m cases); Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved btw 2m and 2.99m cases); and Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved 3 m cases and above.

Prizes carted home by the lucky distributors included: Brand new Man Diesel truck, Mitsubishi Canter trucks; Mitsubishi L200 double cabin; Forklifts; Sound proof generating Sets and other prizes.

37

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

property

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Chukwuma Okparaocha

m: 08038984495 e: chukscop2005@gmail.com

Gap between house owners, non-owners still widening —Experts

Time for govt to gainfully use N5bn-worth abandoned properties in Lagos StoriesbyChukwumaOkparaocha-Lagos

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UCH has been said about scores of abandoned properties that sprawl various parts of Lagos. The worst cases are multimillion magnificent buildings that ‘adorn’ the popular Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island.

On the last count, Tribune Property’s investigations put the number of those abandoned properties at no fewer than 10, but strangely though, the lion’s share of the properties that fall into this category are buildings that used to serve as liaison offices of various states in the country.

It will be recalled that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was officially moved to Abuja from Lagos by the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, after the botched Gideon Okar coup in 1991.

The abandoned buildings, whose value estate survey and valuation experts, have succinctly put at N5 billion, needless to say are in a deplorable condition, as evident in their sagging roofs and faded paints, as well as various house accessories that are fast falling off.

Property experts have indicated that not only are the properties fast losing their values, the state governments who own them are equally losing a fortune as those properties could as well be converted into other economically

viable ventures such as offices or hotels.

Based on Tribune Property’s investigations, while some of the state government, perhaps acting on professionals’ advice, have sublet their liaison houses to other users, especially those in the business of hospitality, thereby ensuring that there is a continuous return on investment on such properties, many other state governments are yet to follow suit.

The worst in the series are properties that can be found in the popular Oduduwa House, which is jointly owned by Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States.

Based on physical observation made, many of them are fast facing partial collapse, a development that has made property valuers not to stop wondering why each state government concerned has chosen the path of neglect and wastefulness, especially since they are supposed to still be in charge of the management of those buildings.

Experts in the nation’s built environment, who are trained to bring out the best out of properties, have however not hidden their bewilderment at the high number of such uncompleted and abandoned projects. They have therefore pointed to a number of factors as being responsible for this ugly development.

These factors, according to the experts, include high cost of land

acquisition, poor mortgage facilities, high cost of labour as well as the ever increasing prices of building materials, among others.

Experts have also underpinned lack of professional advice on issues bordering on costs, planning as well as cost control as other major reasons for the numerous uncompleted or abandoned infrastructure and buildings found across the country.

When commenting on this unwholesome trend, in a chat with Tribune Property, a property consultant and President of EAAProid, Ltd, Mr Toju Emiko, revealed that poor planning, as well as not taking cognisance of proper costing and valuation, were some of the underlying factors responsible for this ugly trend.

Mr Emiko, who is also a member of Senate of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Lagos State branch, noted that before embarking on any project, adequate preparation based on costs and valuation must be made.

Similarly, Director of Ridge Surveyors, Mr Bode Araba, noted that lack of planning was solely responsible for any abandoned project or building in the country.

“It is not good for the economy of any nation to have abandoned projects. It shows lack of planning and it cannot be found in advanced countries where things are done with proper planning and where things are done in such a

way that no capital project is tied down in any form. At every point in time, there must be fluidity in the system and currency must be encouraged. Anything other than this shows that there is stagnancy in the system,” said Mr Araba.

When condemning the abandonment of any facility including projects and buildings in the country, a past president of the Nigerian Institute of Architect (NIA), Mr Tunji Bolu, once declared that it did not bode well for the economy of any nation when properties or infrastructural amenities that should be used to generate revenue for individuals, corporate bodies as well as government (by means of tax), were abandoned.

“When a piece of property is abandoned, often it means that amount of money is tied down doing nothing and wasting away. It is only in a country like Nigeria that such buildings, apart from their strategic locations; their quality and purposes of construction can be abandoned like that without the government being overly bothered or concerned,” he remarked.

When preferring the way forward, Mr Bolu submitted that “the owners of such buildings should find a way of letting/renting them out to interested members of the public or institutions,” while also insisting that the Lagos State government should be decisive in taking over such buildings so as to prevent possible calamity.

THE gap between those who own homes and those who don’t continues to widen, and will continue to do so unless the government takes concrete and meaningful steps in tackling the housing needs of the citizens of the country.

This was the view of an expert in housing and property development based in Lagos, Mr Amadi Adiele, in a chat with Tribune Property, recently.

“The gap between those who are house owners in Nigeria and those who don’t have houses is very wide, and sadly, the gap continues to widen with time.

This is largely due to the disposition of the government to housing matters in the country.

“It is unthinkable to have a government whose schemes are largely designed to take care of only a small fragment of the populace.

“Most of the schemes put in place by the government are so elaborately designed that the conditions surrounding them can only be met by influential people in the society, what about the low income earners who are more in population than the high income earners?” Mr Adiele queried.

He further added that reduced schemes that should, for example, take care of the housing needs of up to 3,000 Nigerians only meet the need of just a little above half of that because such schemes are designed to take care of just a handful of people.

He insisted that government schemes, unlike the private ones, should be meant to make smaller units of land available with a view to enabling low income earners to become house owners.

Another expert, Mr Adetutu Simeon, corroborated this idea, but he attributed the current housing shortage the nation is facing partly due to poor infrastructural development, which according to him, creates a limitation on where people could build houses.

“The problem of infrastructure is aggravated by the way estates are planned whereby large plot allocation denies six families the opportunity of owning homes in every one hectare,” he argued.

38

property

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘Construction bank, intervention fund will enhance growth of housing sector’ StoriesbyChukwumaOkparaocha-Lagos

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RESENCE of construction bank in the country will aid the growth and development of not just its housing and construction sectors, but the entire national economy as a whole.

This was the information gathered by Tribune Property based on a recent report made by seasoned Quantity Surveyor and ex-president of the Association

of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr Segun Ajanlekoko.

According to Mr Ajanlekoko, an effective construction banking system in the country will cater for the need of various vital sectors of the nation’s economy, thereby making Nigeria to be at par with some other nations of the world such as Singapore and South Africa.

“It is strongly recommended that

a Construction Bank should be established to cater for the funding needs of the vital sector, in line with what obtains in countries such as Singapore and South Africa,” said Ajanlekoko, who further added that, “We support the establishment of a Nigeria Construction Industry Commission to serve as one stop agency to coordinate and manage the construction indus-

try.”

Also when speaking about the built environment generally, Ajanlekoko, who is also a quantity surveyor, insisted that the nation’s Land Use Reform should be fully implemented.

“Nigerians should have easier access to rural and urban lands,” he stated, while also calling on the government to institute the setting

up of stakeholders’ project implementation committee that will ensure quick delivery of affordable types and units to end users and not to speculators.

“Government should also ensure the prompt release of the Housing Intervention Fund recently introduced by removing all system bottlenecks for the impact of this initiative to be felt,” he said.

Raumplus harps on quality products to engender growth of furniture industry THE Managing Director of Raumplus, an international interior and furniture design company with its operations in Nigeria, Mr Adeyanju Adelakun, has urged industry operators to focus on customer satisfaction and top class quality to further engender development for the industry.

According to him, the furniture industry needs to raise the bar to provide quality interior furnishing that will not only meet customers’ expectations but also surpass them.

Adelakun underscored the need to continuously engage customers as part of the strategic efforts to build a virile and vibrant furniture industry in Nigeria.

“The homes and property business in Nigeria demands that the furniture industry places a high premium on quality service delivery. It is also desirable to identify the specific needs of the clientele in order to determine the their taste and provide tailor made service that meet their lifestyle and status. The interior furnishing of any property should to a large extent compliment the beauty and aesthetic designs of the building,” he said.

Adelakun said for the Nigerian furniture industry to compete favourably with its counterparts globally, it should pay attention to innovation and creativity which he said were key ingredients that would distinguish the industry.

“The industry needs a robust and vibrant action plan to attract patronage and creativity is desired to exceed customers expectations,” he said.

Adelakun said Raumplus was aligning with the lifestyle of Nigerian consumers with the unique styling of its furniture design for homes.

According to him, individual solutions for living rooms and workplaces require flexibility in utilisation, diversity when it comes to design and well-engineered technique.

Flood: Lagos residents urged to respect state’s urban planning laws LAGOS residents have been urged not to set aside the state’s physical and urban development plans, so as not endanger peoples lives and property, especially as the rainy season draws near.

Mr David Setonji, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development made this known in Lagos, while urging residents living in flood-prone areas to vacate for the safety of their lives and property.

David told newsmen that the step had become necessary as the rainy session commenced in the state.

According to him, residents should respect the government regulations on physical planning before erecting structures.

He said: “We are appealing to all residents to build according to plans, obey the regulations on physical planning.

“Some houses have drainages around them blocked with refuse, this is a suicidal action because it may lead to an unforeseen disaster as the rainy session becomes heavy.

“Some people sweep in their houses and throw it in the drainage to block it. When there is a serious downpour everywhere is flooded. So let the people try and keep their drainage system around

them.

“It is better for builders to plan to prevent future disaster. A situation whereby you build without adherence to government specifications is a suicidal mission.”

He pleaded with residents to conform with the rules as laid down by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to ensure a well-laid out urban de-

velopment.

The lawmaker said that committee would work with the committee on environment and to curb all preventable losses in the rainy session.

David said that the law would take it cause if any resident flouted the government regulations on physical planning.

“Existing laws are enough to

ensure that people who do not conform with the regulation were treated properly “Some build few distance away from the canal while many build at the verge of canal.

“We should conform with the rules, it is all for our interest to protect ourselves and property.

Whatever government is doing is for our interest,” he said.

OPIC orders demolition of illegal structures in Agbara Estate

By Joseph Ajayi

THE Special Adviser / Managing Director, Ogun State Property & Investment Corporation (OPIC), Mr Babajide Odusolu, has directed the enforcement team of the organisation to embark on a full scale demolition exercise of all structures illegally built on lands in OPIC Estate, Agbara/Igbesa.

The team had previously marked for demolition structures built on such illegally acquired lands and others flouting the Corporation’s allocation and planning regulations.

The managing director gave this order during an official tour of OPIC Estate, Agbara /Igbesa where he inspected area 1 (Jubilee Park/ residential area), Areas 2 and 3, and the Agbara – Ijanikin lagoon

link.

He bemoaned the activities of illegal occupants and private estates, block making industries and illegal trailer parks which had become serious revenue leakages and economic sabotage in the state.

“Purchasing government lands from ‘land grabbers and speculators’ is economic sabotage”, he said, adding that one of the cases investigated revealed that a suspect who ought to have paid N400 million to the government coffers chose to patronise the fraudsters, paying just 10 per cent of what was due to the state.

He lamented that despite the efforts made via the mass media to warn and educate the public and the ’land grabbers’ to desist from encroaching on government lands, they were adamant. He, however,

stressed that victims of illegally acquired land and structures, who might be found to have acquired the land unknowingly, would be accommodated on punitive terms, but those found to have intentionally opted to defraud the government would be apprehended and handed over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.

In another development, occupants who were on the land for one form of economic activity or the order have been advised to approach OPIC for registration to avoid confiscation of properties, production materials and eventual prosecution.

According to him, those who refuse to register their economic activities while on the lands shall equally be treated as economic saboteurs.

39

nigeriansmournocholi

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

FG may immortalise him —Ngige Soji-Eze fagbemi - Abuja

T

he Federal Government may immortalise the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, who died along with his wife and son in a motor accident, on Sunday on Abuja - Kaduna Expressway.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said this when he spoke with journalists after signing the condolence register opened in honour of the late minister of state, at the ministry, in Abuja, on Monday.

Ngige also declared one day mourning and a work

Wada, Awoniyi condole with Kogi people Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada and his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, have commiserated with people of the state and especially, the immediate family of the former Minister for Employment Labour, and Productivity, James Ocholi, over the sudden demise of the legal luminary.

He described his death as a big loss to the Igala nation in particular and humanity in general.

In a condolence message signed by his media aide, Mr Jacob Edi, the former governor extolled the virtues of the departed politician and urged people to emulate his footsteps.

He said his death occurred when he was most needed adding that his transition would leave a big gap in the country’s political space.

Wada urged the people of Kogi State and other Nigerians not to be dismayed by the incident, describing death as an unavoidable end of all mortals and wished the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the

free-day for the staff in the ministry, on Monday.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had been dully notified, adding that Ocholi might be immortalised by the Federal Government because he died in active service.

Asked if there is any plan to immortalise him,

the minister said: “Yes, The Federal Government will work out something.

I have written officially to notify the president about his transition and I believe the Federal Government will work out something because he died in active service. This is the second time the country is losing

...A monumental loss —Saraki Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja The senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Monday, expressed deep shock over the demise of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Chief James Ocholi, his wife and son in a road accident on Abuja/ Kaduna Expressway, on Sunday.

Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the tragic death of such a “promising Nigerian” like the late minister as a colossal loss to the current administration in particular and the country at large.

The senate president condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the governor and people of Kogi State, leaders and

people of the North Central zone and the immediate family of the deceased, over the unfortunate incident.

According to him: “I still recall when the late Ocholi appeared before the Senate to be screened and confirmed as minister a few months ago. He was not only full of life, he came across to me as a man of great ideas and accomplishments.

“He was very articulate and brilliant in his presentation and gave good account of himself as Senior Advocate of repute.

“His death and that of his wife and eldest son, is a colossal loss to me, his immediate family, the people and government of Kogi State, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the entire country,” he stated.

Shola Adekola - Lagos Former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has lamented the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr James Ocholi, who died alongside his wife, Blessing and first son, Joshua, in a motor accident on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, on

Sunday.

The former governor, who described the late minister as a committed patriot, whose contribution to national development was remarkable, having served in different capacities in the public and private spheres of life.

In a statement signed by

PDP condoles with Buhari, FG From Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja THE national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, has condoled with the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari on the tragic death of the Minister of State for Labour, James Ocholi, his wife and son in a car crash, on Sunday.

A statement on Monday, in Abuja, by the national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said Sheriff on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, noted that the sad development came to PDP as a huge shock and prayed

Victor Oye, expressed his condolences.

“We deeply regret the sudden death of Chief Ocholi and members of his family, wife and son, on the busy Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

“That they died in such a tragic and impromptu manner, particularly, now that their services to the nation are most needed, made the losses immeasurably painful.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Monday, said the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, James Ocholi, was a great loss to the country.

A statement by the association said: “The NBA notes with sadness, the tragic and unfortunate demise of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr Ocholi, in a motor accident on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Sunday.”

The statement noted that the fact that the minster died along with his wife and son, made the entire incident more painful.

According to NBA, Ocholi, was a devout Christian, perfect gentleman, an astute legal practitioner and a member of the National Executive Committee of NBA. Ocholi, the statement added, dedicated his life in

...He was a committed patriot —Kalu

God to grant eternal repose to their souls.

The party also commiserated with the minister’s

family, praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

...One tragedy too many for Nigeria —Mark Taiwo Adisa - Abuja Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has described the death of Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi , his wife and son, as one tragedy too many for Nigeria.

Mark, in a statement in reaction to the tragedy, said that the death of Ocholi had robbed the nation of a very vibrant, articulate, progressive and

...Death tragic —APGA THE All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has described the sudden death of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Chief James Ocholi, on Sunday, as tragic and painful.

In a statement to commiserate with the Kogi State and the Federal Government, as well as the Ocholi family, in Awka, on Monday, the national chairman of the party, Dr

a minister of state, I think in 1982, the country lost a minister of state who went to São Tomé.”

He said the ministry would take care of the remaining members of Ocholi’s family and the staff of the ministry, who sustained injuries in the accident.

Sunday Ejike - Abuja

“We pray God to grant their souls rest and the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the fortitude to bear the loss,” it said.

The party, however, called on the government to endeavour to put the nation’s highways in good shape and called on concerned agencies to ensure that drivers on the highways adhere to the speed limit and avoid other forms of recklessness.

fertile mind.

The former senate president said the late Ocholi was a foremost legal luminary and an administrator per excellence who, he said, was determined to bring meaningful development to the country.

The statement indicated: I mourn and indeed, share the grief of the untimely death of our Minister of State, Labour and Employment. It is worse that Ocholi died along with his wife and son. This is strange and indeed, sad. Kogi State has lost a patriot , Nigeria has lost one of its finest, fertile and brightest minds.

“We shall miss his frank, honest, patriotic and uncommon disposition to the ideals of nation hood.”

Mark said the late minister left a legacy of hard work, honesty, unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood which , according to him, should be the guiding principle for every right-thinking Nigerian.

his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “the demise of the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr Ocholi, his wife and son is tragic.

“Nigeria has lost a thoroughbred professional, who was committed to impacting the society positively. He was easygoing, humane and charismatic. he said “It is, indeed, painful that Ocholi, his wife and son died in such a devastating circumstance.”

Kalu urged his friends, political associates and family, especially members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to take solace in the fact that Ocholi will be remembered for his forthrightness and patriotism.

Nigerian Tribune

...He was an astute lawyer —NBA selfless service to the nation and humanity, adding also that, “Little wonder, he was appointed minister

by President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his modest achievements and sterling qualities”.

Ocholi, NBA said, contributed immensely to the growth and development of the nation during his short stint as the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity.

...His death shocking —Ex-Defence minister Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure Former Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, on Monday, described as shocking and unbelievable the sudden death of the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, in an auto accident.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the former minister, who expressed regret over the death of Ocholi that died with his wife, son and driver along Abuja/ Kaduna Expressway, on Sunday.

Kayode who said the late minister was his colleague in Abuja branch of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) said that the man died when Nigeria needed him most.

He said: “Please, accept my condolences on the passage of Ocholi, his wife and son. May God console and comfort all of us.

...Death shocking, inexplicable —Senator Adeyemi Taiwo Adisa - Abuja Former chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, has described as shocking and inexplicable the death of the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, who died alongside his wife and son in an auto crash, on Sunday.

Senator Adeyemi, in a condolence message made available on Sunday, said he was deeply touched at the demise of a detribalised Nigerian, whom he said, saw everyone from Kogi State, as his brother.

He said the late minister was being looked upon as one of the citizens of Kogi State, who could lift it above lack and deprivation

in the future.

According to the senator, the late minister got the support of all segments of Kogi State, when he was named as a minister because he was good to all in the state.

He said that the late minister died at a time when the state and the country needed his intellect most.

The condolence message read in part: “The death of Mr Ocholi came to me and the entire people of Kogi State as a rude shock .

“He was a bridge builder and his work cut across the entire state. He was one of our rising stars, who could have helped to develop the state. He was a man of intellect, integrity, enterprise and was bubbling with great qualities.”

south-westnews Workers, doctors ground Ogun with strike 40

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Striking workers misguided —Govt Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

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OVERNMENT activities were grounded in Ogun State on Monday, as workers in the service of the state complied with the directive of the Joint National Public Negotiating Council (JNC) to embark on indefinite strike.

Labour leaders stormed one of the entries leading to the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, as early as 8.00a.m., preventing workers from going into their offices.

The labour leaders insisted that the state government reneged on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with workers sometimes in January, hence the need for them to shun work.

The entire secretariat was deserted by workers while the few top civil servants were seen at their duty posts.

Reports obtained across the 20 council areas in the state had it that local government workers also obeyed the strike order.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the General Secretary of JNC, Comrade Olusegun Adebiyi, described the level of compliance as impressive, and that the strike would not be called off until government fulfil its own part of the agreement.

JNC had on Sunday declared an indefinite strike over the failure of Ibikunle Amosun-led government to respect the MoU signed by tripartite group in January, 2016 He said further that the strike is total and final as both public primary and secondary teachers also abandoned their classes.

Pupils and students were turned back following the strike while courtrooms were under lock and key.

Adebiyi said the labour union had at different times met with the state government on issues affecting workers which according to him yielded no positive results.

“We talked about over four years of contributory deductions made from workers’ salaries, seven months of deductions, non-payment of gratuities which was last paid in October 2012. These are our demands and government must oblige us before we call our workers back to work.”

He recalled that JNC had marathon discussions with the state government prior to the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state last month and that government promised to address the issues within 21

days.

“On that day, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government that all our demands will be met. We even pleaded that two months, out the seven months deduction, be remitted. Government promised to make the remittance within 21 days..”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State

government, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the “group of striking workers are unpopular and misguided.”

Adeoluwa said the state is one of the few in the country that receives least allocation but pay highest wages to its workforce.

The SSG added that the

state received N1.2 billion and the local governments N1.7 billion from the federal allocation in the month of February while the entire wage bill was put at N9 billion.

The state government wondered what the real motive of the striking workers was and whose interest they were serving in calling the

ill-advised and unpopular strike.

“We are at a loss as to what this small and unpopular group of workers in the state civil service really wants to achieve as Ogun is currently one of the few states in the federation that is able to pay workers’ salaries as and when due, in spite of the current economic downturn.”

Members of Ife Klub 1 presenting a commemorative plaque, as grand patron, to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at his palace, on Sunday.

NMA asks Osun doctors to discontinue negotiation with govt Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

DOCTORS in Ekiti State under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have asked their counterparts in Osun State to discontinue further negotiation with the state government as a result of the government’s announcement of their sack recently.

The NMA, Ekiti State branch, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, while condemning the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, over the sack of the doctors in the state’s civil service, charged its members in the state to discontinue any negotiation plan with the governor until the sack it described as “draconian and obnoxious” is reversed.

The doctors, in the statement signed by their branch chairman, John Akinbote, also charged Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to implement “the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) to all doctors across board.

Akinbote said it was “rather unfathomable that a governor could act extra-

judicially by sacking the doctors with intention to replace them with local doctors in this 21st century.”

He said: “It is disheartening that the striking doctors, whose ego, personality and confidence have been seriously battered over the years as one of the least paid in the nation, were incessantly threatened with sack until the unfortunate and unacceptable implementation on February 19,

2016.

“It is suicidal and genocidal to accept the collection of half of the discouragingly poor and abysmally low salary by the doctors in Osun.

“The immediate reversal of this discourteous action becomes necessary in order to allow for continued dialogue which will ultimately find a lasting solution to the unpalatable impasse.

“This our demand becomes necessary in order to forestall the impending

worsening of industrial harmony in the health sector in the state, because the South-West doctors as well as the nation are ready to show deserved solidarity for our wrongly disengaged Hippocratic brothers.”

Akinbote urge Aregbesola to have a rethink, reminding that such actions had failed in other states with dire consequences on the health sector and the popularity of such government.

Lassa fever: Ogun govt reopens, certifies hospital safe

By Gbenga Olumide

THE first two contacted hospitals by the Lassa fever victim, who later died at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, have been reopened and certified safe for people to use.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, disclosed this during a visit to the Central Specialist Hospital and Rubee Medical Center in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.

Ipaye, in a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Adeniyi Akinbobola,

said the step was necessary to disabuse the mind of the public against stigmatising the hospitals and members of staff, adding that the World Health Organisation Standard of fumigating and decontaminating were strictly adhered to by the state government in the process of carrying out the exercise.

Appreciating the medical directors of the two hospitals for managing the situation well, Dr Ipaye said if not for the pro-activeness of the two hospitals in informing the state Ministry of Health, the matter would have gotten out of hand, hence putting many innocent lives at risk.

“I want to call on the general public to continue patronising the two hospitals as they have been certified to admit patients and provide good healthcare to the people of the state,” the commissioner said.

While appreciating the state governor for the quick response on the matter, the Medical Director, Central Special Hospital, Dr Akin Olusunmade, said the hospital would continue to give the best quality healthcare services to the public, saying the hospital had been certified safe for public use after being shut and decontaminated for over one week.

Nigerian Tribune

Ekiti govt disburses N447m as ‘welfare loans’ to 1,885 workers Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

EKITI State government has said that it has disbursed N447,410,000 as housing, land and vehicle loans to 1,885 workers in the state’s public service.

The Head of Service in the state, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, disclosed this while speaking at a forum in Ado Ekiti, recently.

Dr Faseluka said “the disbursement of the loans was aimed at cushioning the effect of the current economic recession on the workers.”

The Head of Service explained that N210,550,000 was disbursed as housing and land loans to 1,112 beneficiaries between October 2014 and January 2016 while N236,860,000 is currently being disbursed by the office of the state’s AccountantGeneral to 773 beneficiaries after proper screening.

He described the welfare packages as “morale-booster for workers” noting that “the regular disbursement of the loans is in line with the commitment of Governor Ayo Fayose to the welfare of workers.”

Fijabi donates to family of quintuplets

By Olawale Olaniyan

AS part of his humanitarian service to members of the community, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibadan South-West/North-West Federal, Honourable Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, last Sunday, visited the parents of a set of quintuplets born at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan recently.

Fijabi, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Telecommunications, donated cash, foodstuff, baby nets, cloths and a motorcycle to the family.

Speaking, Honourable Fijabi said the gesture was not about politics but a genuine love for the new-born babies.

“I am really concerned about the plight of the family, and that is why I am showing love to them,” Fijabi said.

The couple, Alfa Yusuf and Risikat Ewenje are expected to shuttle with the bike between their Apete home and UCH where three of the babies are currently under intensive care.

“I’ve tried to see this couple ever since the woman discovered she would be having quintuplets after a series of scan at the Adeoyo State Hospital, and this is what made me to make up my mind that I would assist them,” he said.

41

south-westnews

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

No tenure extension for LG caretaker chairmen —Ajimobi

By Wale Akinselure

W

ITH a mandate to deliver quality and selfless service to their constituents, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Monday, inaugurated caretaker chairmen for the 33 local governments in the state for four-month tenure.

Especially, he declared that the tenure of the chairmen would not be extended beyond the stipulated period to allow for the emer-

gence of democratically elected council chairmen.

Speaking at the event held at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, Ajimobi said quality service delivery was the only selling point for the new appointees who may stand in for the upcoming elections.

He said the state government would provide a level playing field for all candidates and would not impose any candidate on the electorates.

While assuring government’s support for peopleoriented programmes, he

warned that any chairman who failed to align with the repositioning agenda of the state government would be kicked out.

“There would be no extension for local government chairmen. After four months, we will go for elections unfailingly. We should run the government as an effective organisation and our product is quality service. We must establish a solid foundation for our repositioning agenda. Anyone who fails will be kicked out. I will not allow anyone

to fail this administration.”

Furthermore, he besought the chairmen to provide infrastructural facilities for the welfare of their constituents towards delivering purposeful governance to the people at the grassroots.

Acknowledging the underutilisation of the vast arable land in the state as well as the need for an agrarian revolution, he charged the chairmen to meaningfully engage the unemployed youths in their constituencies in integrated agricultural ventures.

While calling for forbearance and endurance in view of the prevailing economic downturn, Ajimobi warned the chairmen against jamborees and excessive spending.

He also called on the grassroots to change their mindset about the duty of local government chairmen to the people.

“You must have legacy projects. The grassroots must change its mindset.

They must stop seeing local government chairmen as philanthropists; as Father Christmas,” he said.

Some of the new Chairmen are Wasiu Olatunbosun, Ibadan North West; Opeyemi Salami, Akinyele; Idris Nojeemdeen Abass, Ibadan South East; Yekeen Popoola, Irepo; Saheed Alaran, Iseyin; Adelore Atanda, Ibarapa East; Orelope Kolawole, Oluyole, Lukman Anwo, Afijio; Okeniyi Gbolagade, Atiba; Ogundeji Olusola, Atisbo; Ademola Adewuyi, Egbeda; Yinka Akinbode, Ibadan North; and Lekan Afuye, Ibadan North East.

NURTW charges commercial drivers over alleged kidnapping

By Tunde Ogunesan

A cross section of the transition committee chairmen of the 33 local government areas in Oyo State, during their inauguration by the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the Executive Chambers, Governor’s Office, on Monday.

Provocation made me to kill 10-year-old girl —Suspect Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

A private school teacher, one Mr Umoren, on Thursday, confessed to the killing of 10-year-old Precious, in Esugbo, Itamerin area of Ijebu-Ife, last Thursday.

Umoren, who until the time of the crime was a class teacher at a nursery and primary school, told newsmen when he was paraded by the Police with six others, at the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), Magbon, Abeokuta, that he was provoked by the verbal assault from the grandmother of the victim and one of her children.

The state police commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, said that the victim was the granddaughter of the proprietor of the school.

The suspect, a 52-yearold, Akwa Ibom-born, regretted his action, saying he did not know what came over him.

The father of four claimed that his employer owed him four years salary and that his monthly wage bill was N7,000 and not N4,000 as reported.

He said: “That morning, I was holding a cutlass which

I used to cut canes in the bush to discipline the pupils, and the girl (Precious) and her mother spoke some words to provoke me.

I used the machete to cut her head.

“I never knew what came upon me. It was when I had carried out the act that I regained my senses. I regret my action.”

Also paraded were six suspected kidnappers who

were arrested around Sagamu-Ijebu Ode axis, who were responsible for the kidnapping of an expatriate in Lagos and 87-year-old man, Chief Modiu Rabiu, at Atan, Ijebu Ode. Ali said, “The suspects collected N2.7 million ransom from the 87-year-old man. They were on their way to kidnap another expatriate in Ijebu Ode, when the men of SARS swooped

on them. They had allegedly confessed to the crime.

Members of the gang were Mahama Godwin, Lucky Oba, Saheed Bilesanmi, Lucky Peter, Seun Oladimeji and Segun Arigidi, who’s the owner of the canoe alleged being used for bunkering and kidnapping.

A 25-year-old Mukhtar Umar, suspected to be a fleeing member of Boko Haram, was also paraded.

Olubadan commends Ajimobi, royal fathers THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Olasupo Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has commended the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, for their roles in ensuring the success of his installation and coronation which took place at Mapo, in Ibadan, on Friday.

Oba Adetunji noted that he was overwhelmed with joy by the generosity of the spirit displayed by Governor Ajimobi who is also the Aare Atunluse of Ibadanland. He was full of praises to the Professor Taoheed Adedoja-led Olubadan Advisory Com-

mittee for planning a grand reception and royal banquet for him at Ibadan Recreation Club last Saturday.

He expressed deep appreciation to all dignitaries from different walks of life who graced the occasion, particularly the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Imo states.

“I am honoured and humbled by the overwhelming presence of brother monarchs from different parts of Nigeria,” he said.

The gathering of royal fathers at the Olubadan coronation is widely believed to be the largest concentration of monarchs in

any coronation in Nigeria in the recent time.

Among those present at the occasion were Alaafin of Oyo, Ooni of Ife, Oba of Lagos, Alake of Egbaland, The Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Ilorin, Oluwo of Iwo, Ayangbunre of Ikorodu, Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Olugbon of IleIgbon and host of others.

He also commended the religious and spiritual leaders, artisans, market men and women, the media and security agencies.

He prayed to God that his reign would witness unprecedented peace and progress for Ibadanland.

OYO State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde, a.k.a. Fele, has ordered all commercial drivers in the state to ensure compliance with the order of the state government to ensure that their vehicles are branded in the state official transport colours.

Alhaji Oyerinde made this known while addressing some members of the union at their Olomi state headquarters, Ibadan, recently, over alleged kidnapping and other criminal activities involving taxi cabs popularly known as Micra in Oyo State.

Oyerinde said it has now become an offence for anybody to use vehicles for commercial purposes without due registration or painting it in the official colour as directed by the state government.

He said reports of kidnapping by criminal drivers for theft and rituals have reached the state executive and that the union is poised to rid itself of criminal elements.

According to him, “people in the state should look out for commercial vehicles with official painting of white with blue stripes to board and also report any suspicious activities involving any of our drivers or vehicles to the police.”

Nigerian Tribune

Olofin of Ilisan Remo, Oba Sonuga, dismisses sex scandal allegation Bola Badmus - Lagos

THE Olofin of Ilisan Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Mojeed Olufemi Sonuga, on Monday, dismissed the sex scandal allegation against him by some unnamed persons, describing the allegation as pure blackmail.

He said he had already contacted his lawyers on the matter for necessary legal redress.

Oba Sonuga’s reaction was contained in a statement signed by the chairman, Ilisan Development Association (IDA), Dr Waheed Osinowo and made available to newsmen in Lagos.

It will be recalled that a national newspaper (not the Nigerian Tribune) had reported that the monarch allegedly had sex with a disabled female indigene of the town and aborted the pregnancy.

The monarch, while distancing himself from the allegation, urged Ilisan sons and daughters to continue to maintain the peace, saying he had always stood up for all that was good and lawful which had remained his integral part till date.

“Ordinarily, I would not have reacted to the allegation but for the fact that my silence may be misconstrued by those who may not know me and what I stand for.

“In all my years as lawyer, even in the United Kingdom, I have always stood up for all that is good and lawful and this remains an integral part of me till date,” he said.

Tracing the genesis of the issue, the monarch said though he knew the lady allegedly involved, his relationship with her never went beyond the level of occasional financial assistance.

Oba Sonuga recalled that when the rumour initially started flying around, a powerful delegation of Ilisan sons and daughters met the mother of the lady who declared that her daughter was not even pregnant, pointing out that those who were close to Ilisan or associated with the town knew well the sponsor of the malicious story.

“For those who are close to Ilisan or associated with the town, the sponsor of this malicious story is well known.

“The aim is to blackmail me into doing what is unlawful and I have insisted that as a lawyer and custodian of Ilisan culture and tradition, due process must be followed.”

42 news Ohanaeze chieftain blasts DSS over Umeh’s arrest

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Suzy Oruya -Onitsha

C

HAIRMAN of Ohanaeze in Anambra State, Chief Chris Eluemuno, has condemned last week’s arrest of former national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and candidate of the party in the forthcoming Anambra Central Senatorial election, Chief Victor Umeh, by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Chief Umeh was arrested at his Aguluzuigbo residence, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, by the security operatives and released the following day, over allegation of sponsoring activities of MASOB and IPOB. While condemning Umeh’s arrest at his Nkweke Ezunaka residence, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Eluemuno asserted that it was wrong to have arrested an “innocent man” without proper investigation into the matter, stressing that in civilised countries such sensitive matters would have been secretly investigated by the secret service, before engaging in the arrest of suspects.

“No innocent person should be made to suffer over a seemingly frivolous petition written by another person because of politics.

I advise the security operatives to carry out proper investigation before arresting people as it is done in civilised countries. Let civility take its cause in their arrests and investigation,” he said.

Chief Eluemuno warned Igbo political elite to desist from carrying their selfish ambitions too far by witch - hunting one another, saying, “I condemn the idea of writing false and frivolous petitions against one another because of one’s political ambitions. It’s been carried too far. I know that at the end of the day, the

truth will emerge without Ohanaeze’s intervention.”

He warned that national interest and that of Igbo nation should be given priority before personal inter-

est.

“That Victor Umeh is supporting IPOB or MASSOB or even sympathetic to their cause is not an offence. It constitutes an offence when

implicated in intelligence reports, but are still parading the streets of the North and Abuja. Have they been arrested or punished?” he queried.

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (right), receiving ‘The Experience’, a photo documentary book on Babcock University from the President/ Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Ademola Steven Tayo, at the 2016 national summit/ fourth international colloquium by the Centre for Human Security, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, to commemorate Obasanjo’s 79th birthday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Ekiti PDP Reps caucus condemns DSS invasion of state assembly SIX members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the Ekiti State House of Representatives have condemned last week’s Friday invasion of the state House of Assembly by armed men of the Department of State Service (DSS), describing the invasion as “criminal desecration of the scared hallowed chamber which must be condemned by all lovers of democracy in the world.”

The House of Representatives members also admonished the DSS to stick to its constitutional roles of protecting Nigeria against domestic threats by assisting other security agencies with enough intelligence.

In a release issued on Monday, by the House of Representatives members, Kehinde Agboola (Ekiti

North I), Thaddeus Aina (Ekiti North II), Ayo Oladimeji (Ekiti Central I), Olamide Oni (Ekiti Central II), Segun Adekola (Ekiti South I) and Akin Awodumila (Ekiti South II), and made available to journalists, they reiterated their support for the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, describing him as “the emerging face of opposition politics in Nigeria.”

They accused the Presidency of the DSS to torment the government and people of Ekiti State because of Governor Fayose’s critical stance on the Buhari’s government, saying; “Any attempt to muscle opposition in a democracy is a direct invitation to anarchy.”

The statement read: “We condemn in strong term, the last Friday invasion of

Gunmen kidnap Kano lawmaker’s stepmother, demand N50m ransom GUNMEN have kidnapped an aged stepmother of Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Doguwa constituency.

Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kanok, on Monday, said the hoodlums abducted the woman on Sunday in Ririwai town, near the notorious Falgore forest.

The forest serves as den for cattle rustlers and other

he is found to be financially subjected to their cause or aiding their activities. Those sponsoring Boko Haram are known.

“Some of them have been

criminals.

“My stepmother, Hajiya Hafsat Abubakar, was in her room when they invaded the house,’’ he said, adding that the abductors had since demanded for N50 million ransom from the family.

When contacted, the Police Commissioner, Mr Muhammad Katsina, confirmed the incident and disclosed that four suspects had been arrested.

“We have arrested four

persons in connection with the issue and they are helping our investigation.

“Their intention was to kidnap the member,’’ the police official said.

He said that the command’s anti-kidnapping squad was already combing the Falgore forest to rescue the elderly woman.

The police boss claimed that the kidnappers were Fulani men engaged in cattle rustling.

the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex and we call on other lovers of democracy in the country to rise against this emerging tyranny which is threatening to jeopardise democratic governance in the country.

“The constitutional mandate of the DSS is security matters and intelligence gathering for the protection of senior government officials like the President, Vice President, Governors, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and others.

“We, therefore, wish

to warn that Ekiti State should not be included in the comity of PDP controlled states that the APC-led Federal Government intends to destabilise because the people, who overwhelmingly elected Ayodele Fayose as their governor, are always ready to defend their choice.

“We also wish to express our solidarity with the state House of Assembly and the 26 PDP members. They should know that they are not alone in this battle to sustain democracy in Ekiti State, we are with them.”

Kidnap attempt on mother of CCT counsel untrue —Kwara police command Biola Azeez -Ilorin KWARA State Police Command has described as untrue a report that mother of the prosecuting counsel to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr Rotimi Jacob, was receiving threat messages from unknown persons in the state.

The report had linked the purported threat with the alleged hardline posture of Mr Jacob, who is prosecuting the case of the Senate President before the CCT. Hearing on the matter involving Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State, before the tribunal, had been rescheduled for Friday, March 11, this year.

The report also alleged that there was a grand design by “some unknown persons” to abduct the woman believed to be residing in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, as a bargain for prosecution of the matter.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the report remained the figment of imagination of the writer, adding that Kwara State remained one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

LUTH begins free glaucoma screening March 8 IN commemoration of the 2016 World Glaucoma Week, the Guinness Eye Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is set to provide free glaucoma screening to the public from March 8.

A statement signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Kelechi Otuneme, said the screening would commence from 9:a.m. to 3:p.m. on March 8 and March 9, at the Guinness Eye Centre, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos.

A website, www.glaucoma.org, defined glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, as a complicated eye disease which, after damaging the optic nerve, leads to a progressive and an irreversible vision loss.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the World Glaucoma Week is a joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association.

Police parade abductors of senator’s mother, 18 others in Delta Alphonsus Agborh –Asaba DELTA State police command has arrested 10 suspected robbers and five kidnappers in the last two weeks of February, 2016.

Four suspected cultists were also arrested with 13 cartridges recovered, according to the state commisssioner of police, Alkali Baba Usman.

Among the paraded suspects in Asaba, was the abductor of the mother of Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Emmanuel Okob, I who was arrested at Oriwue junction Ovwian, in Udu Local Government Area of the state, while five others are still at large.

The victim was said to have been dropped off by her captors at Trimble village in the creek, on February 29, as a result of pressures mounted on the hoodlums by the police and the Waterways operatives.

The commissioner of police said Oyibo Shell, Efe Sosolobia and Ambrose Omoriyi were arrested at Oghara, after they had abducted Prince Onovirighose on February 23, collected N1million ransom and later killed the victim.

43

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Queen disapproves same-sex marriage in UK

T

HE Queen did not approve of the legalisation of samesex marriage, the Daily Mail revealed on Monday.

Report said while in favour of civil partnerships, as a woman of deep Christian faith she took a different view on the legislation allowing same-sex couples to “marry,” She expressed her frustration to a friend at the height of the controversy, but admitted she was powerless to intervene, saying: ‘I can only advise and warn.’

The friend said: “It was the “marriage” thing that she thought was wrong, because marriage ought to be sacrosanct between a man and a woman.”

It is the first time her anxiety over the controversial issue has become known. The revelation is among the insights in a ground-breaking series starting in the Mail on Monday to mark her 90th birthday next month.

Following extensive interviews with courtiers past and present, friends of the Queen and family members, we can also reveal one of her most senior former aides believes it was a mistake not to lower the Buckingham Palace flag after Princess Diana’s death – and that he is convinced the Queen now shares this view.

The Queen has also changed her attitude towards Diana to one of grati-

Queen Elizabeth

tude.

She turns 90 on April 21, and events to celebrate her remarkable reign – she became Queen aged 25 – are

Adolf Hitler

RAY Tomlinson, the inventor of email and the man who picked the @ symbol for addresses, has died aged 74.

“A true technology pioneer, Ray was the man who brought us email in the early days of networked computers,” Raytheon spokesman Mike Doble said in a statement confirming his death.

Doble said Tomlinson died on Saturday morning but he did not know if he was at home and did not have a confirmed cause of death.

Tomlinson worked in the company’s office in

ISIS plans to attack UK to wage war on Western lifestyles, police warn THE Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is planning an “spectacular” attack on British soil, and unprecedented numbers of women and teenagers are being arrested to stop one, the United Kingdom’s top antiterror officer warned on Monday.

Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, according to Mail Online, has said the terror group is ‘trying to build bigger attacks’ around the world and the UK is one of its number one targets.

After the devastating series of suicide attacks on Paris last year where 130 died, a similar plot in Britain is a ‘natural next step’ for the terror group, he said.

The Met officer said that while in the past few years

Adolf Hitler indulged in sickening sexual fetishes — US intelligence report ADOLF Hitler indulged in sickening sexual fetishes and even made his own niece act them out, it has been claimed.

A psychological profile compiled by United States spies revealed the Fuhrer was a coprophiliac, someone who gets sexual pleasure from faeces.

He reportedly forced his

being organised up and down the country, including an official pageant at Windsor Castle.

The Mail’s series – The

Unknown Queen – unearths fascinating fresh insights into one of the most written-about women in the world.

It explores what she really thinks of the Duchess of Cambridge’s family, the Middletons, and her surprisingly saucy relationship with Prince Philip.

We reveal how the Queen clung to the hope Charles and Diana could be reconciled, but eventually her ‘deep love’ for her eldest son led her to pave the way for him to marry Camilla. Other revelations include:

Ray Tomlinson, email inventor, selector of @ symbol, dies at 74

niece Geli Raubal to engage in disturbing sex acts.

Mail Online said the claims are the latest to emerge about Hitler’s sex life after reports that he had a tiny penis and did actually only have one testicle.

They were made in a report called “A Psychological Analysis of Adolph Hitler: His Life and Legend” which was compiled by the U.S. intelligence agency to find out what made him tick.

The report’s author, Dr Walter C Langer, discovered the Nazi leader’s bizarre fetish after gathering evidence from informers, it was reported by The Daily Star.

Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The tech world reacted with sadness over the passing of Tomlinson, who became a cult figure for his invention in 1971 of a program for ARPANET, the Internet’s predecessor, that allowed people to send person-to-person messages to other computer users on other servers.

Thank you, Ray Tomlinson, for inventing email and putting the @ sign on the map,” read a Tweet from Gmail’s official Twitter account.

“His work changed the way the world communicates and yet, for all his accomplishments, he remained humble, kind and generous with his time and talents,” Doble said.

ISIS militants

the Islamist group has called on would-be jihadis to attack police and the military, their plots are now broader “plans to attack Western lifestyle.”

He said: “In recent months we’ve seen a broadening of that, much more plans to attack Western lifestyle, and obviously the Paris attacks in November.

“Going from that

otherNEWS

narrow focus on police and military as symbols of the state to something much broader. And you see a terrorist group which has big ambitions for enormous and spectacular attacks, not just the types that we’ve seen foiled to date.”

He added: “You see a terrorist group that whilst on the one hand has been acting as a cult to use propaganda to radicalise people

Militants attack Tunisian forces near Libyan border, 50 killed

DOZENS of Islamist fighters stormed through the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan near the Libyan border on Monday attacking army and police posts in a raid that killed at least 50 people, including civilians, the government and residents said.

Local television broadcast images of soldiers and police crouched in doorways and on rooftops as gunshots echoed in the center of the town. Bodies of dead militants lay in the streets near the military barracks after the army regained control, Reuters said.

Presidential election: Benin counts votes as Boni Yayi steps down BENIN began counting presidential votes after an election on Sunday to choose a successor to President Thomas Boni Yayi, who is stepping down after two terms, leaving 33 candidates to compete for power in the West African country.

Leading the field is Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, a former economist and invest-

ment banker backed by both Boni Yayi and the main opposition Democratic Renewal Party, Reuters said.

By relinquishing power as mandated by law, Boni Yayi stands out from leaders in countries such as Burundi, Rwanda and the Congo Republic, who have circumvented limits on their time in office.

to act in their name ... you also see them trying to build bigger attacks.”

Mr Rowley, who is the national policing lead for counter-terrorism, said that ISIS is trying to get supporters who have received military training in Syria into northern Europe to stage attacks.

Ray Tomlinson

6 injured in blast at Somali airport SOMALI police said six people were injured on Monday in an explosion at a central Somali airport.

In a report by DPA/NAN, the police said in Mogadishu that the bomb suspected to have been concealed in a laptop, went off at the entrance to Beledweyne airport as security officials were screening travellers.

An officer explained on con-

dition of anonymity that the laptop was in a suitcase with a printer.

He said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The officer recalled that in February, a bomb planted by Islamist group al-Shabaab blasted a hole in the side of a passenger plane that was in the air, causing the suspected bomber to fall out.

Armed men kill 12 in Central African Republic ARMED men killed 12 people in villages in Central African Republic, local officials said on Sunday, in the first violence since FaustinArchange Touadera was confirmed as president last Tuesday after an election many hoped would help end attacks.

Reuters said the attacks took place near the central town of Bambari and were likely linked to livestock

rustling or an inter-ethnic dispute involving the Peuhl, or Fulani, ethnic group, the officials said.

The violence did not appear directly connected to the political, communal and religious killings involving militia groups that since 2013 have left thousands dead, forced many more to flee their homes and left the northern half of the country effectively partitioned.

44

communitynews

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Nalende, Oritamerin communities, others protest hooliganism

By Joseph Ajayi

I

MAMS, pastors, market men and women and elders of Ibadan North-West communities comprising Nalende, Ayeye, Oritamerin, Mapo, Idikan, Abebi, Agbede, Opoyiosa, Sapati, Oniyanrin and environs have condemned what they termed hooliganism by youths in these areas.

The people, who protested against the acts, by hoodlums in the communties, who break into shops and steal wares belonging to market men and women and frenetically use and display cutlasses, carried placards to the Tribune office on Wednesday to appeal to the state government to help stem the ugly tide.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Imam Ismail Bayonle, said all imams, pastors, market men and women and elders of the communities concerned, in unison, rejected the acts of hooliganism by the youths, saying for that reason, they wanted the sale and consumption of both Indian hemp and alcohol banned in these communities just as they equally demanded a stop to carnivals

of any sort through which the hoodlums perpetrated heinous activities in the

communities.

Bayonle, who said they (the communities) had

met with the Commissioner of Police on the matter and that the commissioner

helped in deploying police to the areas for a few days, lamented that after the departure of the deployed police, the area boys came out in full force to unleash mayhem in the communities.

He appealed, on behalf

of the communities, to the state government to help find a lasting solution to the problem as the youths brandish cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons to frighten residents of these aforementioned areas.

Ogun govt to launch mobile clinic

Protesters from Ibadan North-West communities in Tribune House, condemning the activities of area boys, in their communities. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Stop criminals from using your community as hideout —Army Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

COMMUNITY leaders in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have been enjoined to stop criminals from using their communities as hideouts to carry out their nefarious activities.

The Commandant-General of Riverine Security, (Coast Guard of the Federation), Commander Bibi Oduku, gave the charge during a joint patrol of the

creeks of Niger Delta by officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Riverine Security.

He said the patrol was to enlighten community leaders on the need to support government’s efforts in checkmating crime by unmasking criminal elements living among them.

Oduku also charged them to report suspected vandals and sea pirates to security agencies, especially officers of the JTF and Riverine Se-

curity closest to them.

He added that security is everyone’s business and, therefore, people should be sensitive to what goes on in their environment.

Oduku reminded the community leaders of the visit of the Commander of JTF, Operation Pulo Shield, Major General A. G. Okunola, who has promised to leave no stone unturned in his resolve to rid Niger Delta of all forms of criminalities.

IN its bid to bring quality healthcare service delivery to the doorsteps of the people, the Ogun State government has revealed its plan to launch mobile clinic services in the state, particularly in rural areas.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, made the disclosure at the rounding-off ceremony of the February 2016 Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) in Ifo Local Government Area.

Dr. Ipaye also revealed that the present administration would renovate two health centres in the local government area, adding that Ifo General Hospital would be given a face-lift.

He added that the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS) also known as ‘’Araya’’ would be relaunched in the council area.

In his address, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ifo Local Government

Area, Dr. Lukman Kiadese, noted that the council is one of the largest local government areas in the state with quite a number of health facilities, noting that the immunisation programme would add value to the health of the people.

He solicited more of such health developmental programmes in the local government area.

In his goodwill message, the Olu of Ifo, Oba Samuel Oladipupo, represented by Chief Lawal Adebeshin, appreciated the effort of the state government towards making quality healthcare service delivery accessible to the people of the state and Ifo Local Government Area in particular.

He also advised mothers and caregivers in the council area to always take advantage of health programmes put in place by government.

I am the authentic Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan —Anozie Alex Anozie was installed as the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland in 1997, a position he has held since then until recently when his position was challenged by another factional leader of Igbo community in Ibadan. In this interview by SEGUN ADEBAYO, Anozie insists that he remains the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland based on a court judgment.

W

HAT do you understand about the crisis rocking Eze Ndigbo in Ibadan as you were said to have been told by the Olubadan in Council to stop parading yourself as the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland?

It was reported that a law chamber wrote to say that the Olubadan in Council banned me from parading myself as the Eze Ndigbo. There is no truth in the report at all and that publication was so embarrassing to me and devastating to my people. My people are not happy as we speak because of the embarrassment the report has done to us.

As far as I am concerned, nobody ever said I should stop parading myself as the Eze Ndigbo. By the way, the court has ruled that I am the only authentic head of Igbos in Ibadan, and the court ruling was sent to Tribune and other newspapers.

Which arm of the court ruled in your favour?

The High Court ruled in my favour and there is no other higher court that has vacated that ruling up till now. The court told the other man, Obi to stop parading him-

self as the Eze Ndigbo. The court said I am the one in that position and nobody else should parade himself as the Eze. When was that judgment given and how did the case get to court in the first place?

The judgment was given on February 18, 2014. The other people from the Obi side were parading him as the Eze Ndigbo, but I was made the real Eze Ndigbo since 1997

by Ndigbo in Ibadan and Oyo State. Over 137 town units in Ibadan and Oyo State from all the Igbo speaking states from Nigeria gathered and gave me the title Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo State, which is their right. So, the case got to the court and it discovered that we had done the right thing. The court ruled in our favour. The other people came up about four years ago when they went to the South East and invited the traditional rulers to Ibadan. The people told them lies when they came, but unfortunately for them, they did not bother to hear from our side; they only worked on what they heard from the other side. They did everything they wanted to do and went back. But as a law abiding citizen and lover of peace, we went to the court. We presented our case in the court and asked the court to tell us who is right or wrong.

How long was the case in court?

The matter was in the court for almost two years and by then, the Obi man was already parading himself as the Eze Ndigbo. At the end of it all, the court ruled that Dr Alex Anozie is the authentic Eze Ndigbo with seven points of arguments. The court ruled

everything in my favour and asked Obi to stop parading himself. As I speak with you, they have not got any stay of execution to stop that judgment or contradict it. When somebody now said the Olubadan in Council said I should stop parading myself as the Eze Ndigbo. We had a press conference and addressed this issue. The journalists that came here that day went to meet with the secretary to the Olubadan in council and the man said there was nothing like that. He said the council did not authorize any statement asking me to stop parading myself as the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland.

They said they didn’t give any order to Alex Anozie. They said they knew I won at the High Court and the other people have appealed the Judgment. He said they should allow the court to finish the case.

What do you think is causing the division among Igbo people in Ibadan?

The truth is that some people do not believe in due process and they believe that money is everything.

Is your position a tenured one?

My position as Eze Ndigbo is for life. I will cease to be the Eze until I am no more.

Nobody can take over from me until I am dead. The moment an Oba is crowned or established by the community, he’s going to occupy that seat for life until he’s no more alive. Then, the town will arrange another Eze. Their gathering is illegal and I believe the court is handling that. These people have so done it that they tried to cause confusion all over the world to see if the use of Eze Ndigbo could be scrapped, but the

Ezes in Diaspora refused because we have registered the Eze Ndigbo title with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja. We all answer Eze Ndigbo. We have Eze Ndigbo Kano, Abuja, Lagos and even Ghana. Even in Washington and Canada.

I am the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan, Oyo State.

45 news

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

We will assist Glo to become an Octopus —Shittu

Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, on Monday, declared that Nigeria owed national telecoms operator, Globacom, a debt of gratitude for liberalising the country’s telecommunications space.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the management of the company at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, the minister said Globacom broke the jinx in the industry and made telecom services available to the vast majority of Nigerians.

He added that Globacom had also introduced many innovations in the industry, which had aided the telecoms revolution in the country.

“Nigeria owes a debt of gratitude to Glo and we shall support you until you become an Octopus on the African continent. Given what you have done in Nigeria, I am not surprised that Glo is conquering Africa now. I urge you to continue to play your role and Africa will continue to show appreciation to you for liberating the space for telecommunication services,” Shittu stated.

He used the opportunity to

IPOB: Court grants FG’s prayer to protect witnesses in Kanu’s trial Continued from pg2

Ejiofor, while explaining, accused operatives of the SSS of trying to kill him, when he went to intervene in a dispute between members of Kanu’s family and staff of the SSS. He said at the scene of the disagreement, he was told that the SSS staff were blocking Kanu’s family members from entering the court.

Ejiofor told the court that the SSS operatives at the scene insisted that they would only allow three additional family members of Kanu to join those already in the court room.

He, therefore, prayed the court to take note of the threat to his life by the operatives of the SSS and urged the court to take note of the threat to his life, adding that “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”

Justice Tsoho, who noted that events had taken a different dimension from what was expected, added that if the parties to the matter felt threatened, the case might as well be handed over to the celestial order to resolve.

The matter was thereafter stood down for 30 minute to enable parties to determine the way forward.

make a case for coverage of emerging rural areas.

“There are so many new settlements around where GSM connectivity is not available at all and people still have to travel long distances. I appeal to Glo to investigate this very quickly and take steps to remedy the situation.

“This may not be peculiar to Ikorodu; I know that many new communities are growing in leaps and bounds and such situations exist.

He requested Globacom’s support for technological hubs and connectivity centres government is building in several cities such as Ibadan, Katsina and later in Bayelsa, Plateau and other states.

From left, Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Globacom, Mr Ashok Israni; Head, Finance and Regulatory, Globacom, Mr Michael Toluhi; Head of Operations, Globacom, Bisi Koleosho; Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu; Head of Globacom Delegation, Mr Adewale Sangowawa and the Head of Technical, Mr Sanjib Roy, during the visit of the minister to Globacom’s head office, Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, , on Monday.

Sheriff’s tenure as national chairman to end May 21 —PDP Party NEC sets up committee on zoning, others Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

T

HE National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved its scheduled national convention to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It will take place in May 21 when the tenure of the national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, will come to an end with the election of a new members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The decision to take the convention to Port Harcourt was part of the resolutions reached at the 69th NEC of the party, which took place at its national secretariat in Abuja, on Monday.

Nine governors, including Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, were in attendance.

According to a communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by Senator Sherrif and the national secretary of the party, Professor Adewale Oladipo, which was read by the national chairman, the meeting deliberated on critical issues as they related to the party and the nation.

The communique indicated that NEC approved the timetable for the party’s congresses and national convention with the congresses commencing on Saturday, April 23 and culminating in the national convention on Saturday, May 21.

NEC also approved the party’s guidelines for congresses and the national convention.

According to the communique, NEC, after exhaustive deliberations, approved the extension of the tenure of office of all organs of the party at all levels until the conduct of congresses and national convention.

This, however, did not

apply to Edo and Ondo states.

It said NEC approved the setting up of four special committees in preparation for the national convention - the national convention committee, reconciliation committee, zoning committee and finance committee.

The communique also said NEC considered erosion of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights and personal liberty of Nigerians, especially key leaders of the PDP by the APC-led Federal Government and resolved to condemn “the incessant harassment, maltreatment and unlawful incarceration of PDP leaders at various levels by government-controlled law enforcement and prosecution agencies.”

It condemned the March 4 invasion and raiding of Ekiti State House of Assembly and subsequent arrest and continued detention of four PDP members of the assembly by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) “on trumped-up charges.”

NEC, therefore, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP members of the Ekiti House of Assembly by the DSS. It resolved to stand in solidarity with all Nigerians whose fundamental rights as citizens were being infringed upon by the Federal Government.

The PDP NEC called on the international community and all civil rights organisations worldwide to take note of the denial of fundamental human rights, abuse of liberties and freedom of individuals; and the rapid descent of Nigeria into totalitarianism.

It, however, condoled with the Federal Government and the Kogi State govern-

ment over the death of the Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi and resolved to send a high-powered delegation to condole with his family.

It congratulated all its members who won in their reruns, including former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Speaking at the opening session of the meeting, Deputy Senate President,

Ike Ekweremadu, said the party would provide credible opposition and ensure that the government of the day did not degenerate into totalitarianism.

In his remark, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said the PDP had continued to enjoy the confidence of Nigerians, going by the number of elections

it hasd won recently.

Other governors present at the NEC meeting were Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Kelechi Igwe (deputy governor, Ebonyi).

Akwa-Ibom, Cross River and Abia governors were absent at the meeting.

46

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

K

A Z Y G U R T midfielder, Evelyn N w a b u o k u and former Bobruichanka striker, Ijeoma Obi joined the Super Falcons camp last Sunday as numbers of invited players swelled to 27 in preparations for the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWC) qualifiers.

Aside Nwabuoku and Obi, Cecilia Nku, Osinachi Ohale, Ugo Njoku, Joy Jegede and Joy Bokiri are among top home-based stars already in the camp.

The reigning champions resumed camp on Monday ahead of their second round qualifiers against either Senegal or Guinea next month.

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons assistant coach, Ann Chiejine expressed delight at the turn out of invited players for the qualifiers.

The former Falcons’ goalkeeper said everything has been in order since the seven-time African champions resumed camp last week.

“We are happy with the turn out of players right now. We have 27 players in camp and there has been no problem so far as we pray there won’t be any hitch.

“We have been on light training but commenced full training session on Monday, at the FIFA Goal Project of the Abuja National Stadium twice daily,” Chiejine told thenff.com.

Chiejine stated that she is equally excited at the response of the foreignbased players for the national assignment.

“We got in touch with the clubs of the foreignbased players and their responses are favourable.

The clubs have agreed to release them to join us as soon as possible,” said the former COD Ladies and Flamingoes coach.

The 27 players in camp: Ibubeleye Whyte (Rivers Angels), Sandra Chichi (Bayelsa Queens), Christy Ohiaeriaku (Osun Babes), Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Inneh Queens), Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars), Osinachi Ohale (Rivers Angels), Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons), Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels), Chisom Henry (Sunshine Queens), Ayomide Ojo (Police Machine), Joy

Amogelang Motau, Bantwana’s captain.

South Africa U-17 girls arrive today Nwabuoku against Sweden during the last World Cup in Canada.

AWC qualifiers:

Nwabuoku joins Falcons camp Jegede (Delta Queens), Gladys Akpa (Sunshine Queens), Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Kazygurt, Kazakhstan), Martina Ohadugha (Rivers

Angels), Osarenoma Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens), Ginika Nkeoma (Bayelsa Queens), Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons), Chioma Wogu

(Kogi Confluence), Winifred Eyebhokia (Nasarawa Amazons), Chinaza Uchendu (Nasarawa Amazons), Loveth Ayila (Rivers Angels), Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens),

Victoria Aidelomon (Bayelsa Queens), Abibat Agbaji (Confluence Queens), Ijeoma Obi (Sunshine Queens), Emueje Oghiagbevha (Delta Queens).

FG redeploys Yakmut to ministry of Niger Delta Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja THE Federal Government might have begun the implementation of the recommendations of the Orosanye committee on restructuring of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as they affect the National Sports Commission (NSC) as the DirectorGeneral of the commission, Alhassan Yakmut, has been re-deployed to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

The Orosanye committee, it was learnt, recommended the reversion of the NSC to a department under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Yakmut, who was until his redeployment to the Niger Delta Ministry the most senior official in the sports commission.

Tribunesport gathered on Monday that the the former Director

of Grassroots Sports Development in NSC, who assumed duties as DirectorGeneral of the commission on April 20, 2015 in acting capacity following an alleged face-off between the then DG, Gbenga Elegbeleye and the then Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo, will be assuming as the Director of Special Duties in his new posting.

As of the time of his redeployment, Yakmut is currently in Brazil as a member of a ministerial team on an inspection of facilities Team Nigeria will be using at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games later in the year.

The ex-national volleyball player, Yakmut holds a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo

University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, after obtaining his first degree in Physical and Health Education from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1982.

He was a one-time sole administrator of Plateau State Council in 1993 before transferring his service to the federal service, which he joined as a director in the NSC.

SOUTH Africa’s U-17 Women’s national team, Bantwana, is due to arrive in Nigeria today for the crucial third round, first leg tie of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Nigeria’s Flamingoes.

The match holds on Saturday at the National Stadium, Abuja.

Bantwana will be looking to qualify for their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup after bowing out to Zambia in the final round of the previous qualifiers in 2013.

South Africa automatically qualified for the third round of qualifiers after Zambia pulled out of the competition ahead of their matches against Bantwana in January this year.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will hold from September 30 to October 21, this year in Jordan.

Sokari begs Siasia for Rio Olympics invitation

FORMER Enyimba midfielder, Kingsley Sokari has apologised to coach Samson Siasia, over his behaviour, which led to his exclusion from the team which won the U-23 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Senegal last year.

Sokari, who plays for Tunisian side, CS Sfaxien said he regretted his action, as he looks forward to returning to the Dream Team which is preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“The three of us (including Nzube Anaezemba and Daniel Etor) didn’t train on the day the incident happened. The coach was upset and called for a meeting later that day and asked us to leave the camp.

“Looking back now, I know I made a big mistake and I apologise profusely to the coach, my team-mates and the fans.

“It is always an honour to serve the country and I hope the coach forgives me and gives me another

chance.”

Sokari who featured for the Flying Eagles at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand told Supersport.com.

It will be recalled that eye brows were raised when Sokari was left out of the squad for the A F C O N 2015.

Sokari

47 tribunesport Kolo Toure turns first African to make 300 EPL starts

Tuesday, 8 March, 2016

Iwobi makes start list in FA Cup clash with Hull

Iwobi

IVORY Coast international, Kolo Toure last weekend became the first African to reach 300 Barclays Premier League starts.

The Liverpool defender was involved from the blast of whistle in a 3-0 win over brother Yaya Toure and his Manchester City team-mates.

Toure, made over 300 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal before moving to the Citizens - for who he played over a 100 times - and eventually to Liverpool.

The centre-back made his 350th Premier League appearance, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last Sunday.

Toure, who played over a 100 times for his country, will now be eyeing 500 appearances in all competitions for English clubs.

N

IGERIA international, Alex Iwobi is in line to start for Arsenal in today’s FA Cup tie against Hull City.

Arsene Wenger has included the 19-yearold Iwobi in the match day squad and he could now make his fifth start for ‘The Gunners this season.

The Arsenal manager, Wenger has rated the Nigerian star highly saying he is a potential Arsenal great.

“He’s a creative player who has a high work rate and team spirit. Overall, he’s a player who develops very well. He has a big passion for the game. He can score, he can play on the flanks or through the middle,” Wenger said of Iwobi.

Iwobi, boasts 10 appearances in his debut season for Arsenal, starting four times.

Three of those starts were in the FA Cup, a competition Arsenal has won for the last two seasons, where he has been fielded in an attacking midfield role.

AFN names Mozia, others for IAAF indoor championships ONE of the leading shot put throwers in the world, Stephen Mozia is in Team Nigeria track and field team to the Portland 2016 IAAF World Championships in Oregon, USA. The championships hold from March 17 to 20 at the Oregon Convention Centre.

According to a statement from Olukayode Thomas on behalf of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), sprinter Ogho-Oghene Ekwero will compete in the men’s 60m.

The trio of Erayokan Orukpe, Chidi Anthony Okezie and Adekunle Fasansi will compete in the men’s 400m.

Eva Carneiro (left) in conversation with Jose Mourinho.

Veteran jumper, Tosin Oke will compete are for the triple jump, while Patience Okon George will compete in the women’s 400m.

The men’s 4x400m team is made up of Okezie, Orukpe, Fasansi, Samson Nathaniel, Noah Akwu and Henry Okorie, while Abiola Onakoya is listed as the alternate.

The women’s 4x400m team is made up of Patience OkonGeorge, Regina George, Margret Omolara Bamgbose, Ada Benjamin, and Tamika Jameson. Margret Etim and Praise Idamadudu are the alternate athletes for the event.

Team Nigeria will be handled by Eric Campbell, Gabriel Okon, Gabriel Opuana and Daniel Etsebimimor.

Mourinho must apologise to me — Carneiro FORMER Chelsea doctor, Eva Carneiro wants a public apology from Jose Mourinho over events that led to her exit from the Blues camp.

Carneiro is taking legal action against Chelsea for constructive dismissal and arrived at a tribunal in Croydon on Monday. Should the 42-year-old doctor fail to agree a settlement with her former club, the case will be moved to a public hearing later this year.

Oke

Carneiro’s barrister, Mary O’Rourke QC, told ITV: “We’re not expecting a resolution today. The two sides are so far apart financially. And we want Mr Mourinho to make a public apology.”

Carneiro was publicly criticised and labelled “naive” by Mourinho for running into the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in Chelsea’s draw with Swansea City on the opening day of the season.

After the game Mourinho de-

scribed the pair as “impulsive and naive”.

Mourinho then stripped Carneiro of her first-team duties before leaving the club last September.

Later, the Football Association confirmed that Mourinho would face no charges over his comments towards Carneiro.

Mourinho was equally fired by the Blues last December for poor result, while Guus Hiddink took over in the interim.

SIDELINES

NO 16,452

TUESDAY, 8 MARCH, 2016

N150

Denmark has reportedly opened the first supermarket in the world that sells expired or damaged products in an attempt to minimise food wastage in that country. Perhaps, is it out of place that the measure will also provide financial relief for dog and other pet owners? After all, lunatics bank largely on leftovers mostly found in waste bins regardless of expiry date for survival.

Nigerian man killed in India over Messi/Ronaldo argument

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NDIAN police said on Monday that a man has been charged with murdering his friend after a heated argument over whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's best footballer.

They said the Nigerian national stabbed one of his countrymen to death after the two of them wrangled over whether the Barcelona star or the Real Madrid forward was better.

Police Inspector Kiran Kabadi told AFP an offence of murder had been registered against Michael Chukwuma, 21, over the death of 34-year-old Obina Durumchukwu on Sunday in the northern Mumbai suburb of Nallasopara.

The friends had apparently got together on Saturday night to celebrate Durumchukwu's birthday.

The following morning an argument over football turned to tragedy.

"The two Nigerian youngsters were discussing football players. One is a fan of Messi and the other was for Ronaldo," the inspector said.

"During the conversation a quarrel had taken place.

The deceased threw a glass into the face of the accused person. The glass broke and caused small injuries.

"After that the accused took the broken glass and assaulted the deceased person who died due to heavy bleeding," added Kabadi.

No one was available for comment at the Nigerian high commission (embassy) in New Delhi.

Messi

Egypt clash: 11 Eagles

in camp, as Siasia axes Usman, 2 others

Ronaldo

Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

Musa (left) on duty CSKA.

Leicester relaunches bid for Musa ENGLISH Premier League table leader, Leicester City, has renewed its interest in the race to sign Nigeria captain, Ahmed Musa, Russian club, CSKA Moscow in the summer.

After failed attempts to land the Nigerian attacking winger in the January transfer window, officials of The Foxes are reported to be in Russia to tie up a deal with the Moscow side for their number one target.

According to reports in England, the Foxes are ready to put around £18 million on the table to prise away the former Kano Pillars player in the summer with the like of Manchester United believed to be lurking.

Leicester is unfazed by the fact that Musa has made a come-and-get-me plea to North London club, Arsenal,

last week when he revealed that he is a big fan of the Gunners.

“I would be happy if I was wanted by Arsenal. I have supported the team since the

age of six. Nwankwo Kanu has been my idol since childhood. It will be fantastic to play for Arsenal," said Musa of his affection for the Gunners.

HOME-BASED players invited to the Super Eagles camp ahead of this month's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against the Pharaohs of Egypt have expressed confidence that they will make Nigeria proud.

This is even, as interim head coach, Samson Siasia, barred three players; defender Segun Oduduwa and midfielders Stanley Dimgba and Usman Mohammed, from showing up at the Eagles' Bolton White Apartments camp in Abuja after they reported late to the camp of the U-23 team without permission.

Eleven home-based players have reported to camp, while nine were still being expected as of the time of filing this report.

The Eagles' camp was initially scheduled to open on Sunday, but had to be shifted to Monday (yesterday) to enable the homebased players to feature for their respective clubs in the match day five of the Nigeria Premier League matches.

Their foreign-based counterparts are expected to start arriving in camp as from Sunday, March 20.

Team Media Officer, Toying Ibitoye, informed Tribunesport that the players were upbeat about making the cut for the Egypt game, adding that they were all determined to make the country proud in the AFCON qualifiers billed for Kaduna and Alexandria in Egypt.

"The players are happy to be back in camp and have expressed their readiness to make Nigeria and Nigerians proud in the coming matches against Egypt," he said.

Meanwhile, Siasia had stated that the three players barred could not be allowed into the Eagles camp for their lateness, saying that what he was looking for in the players invited for the all-important qualifiers was the right mentality.

“We cannot have those three in camp anymore.

This is very serious business and only serious-minded persons can be involved.

They reported late to the camp of the U-23 team, so they cannot be tolerated in the camp of the senior team.

“I have said it over the past few days that the right mentality would count big among the traits we are looking for in the players to feature against Egypt," Siasia said.

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