10th February 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,433

WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

I'm not in supremacy battle with any Oba —Ooni —P2

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Ondo LG election: PDP denies imposition

Nigerian Tribune

N150

We can no longer pass 2016 budget in Feb —NASS

•Says padding is affecting NASS work on budget —P8

—P43

DSS arrests 400-level student recruiting for ISIS in Kano •Bursts terrorist cell linked to ISIS in Daura •Breaks network of kidnappers in Oyo, Osun, others

—P4

Simeon Achuba sworn in as Kogi deputy gov •Journalists barred from inauguration —P14

Presidency orders stricter checks on VIP cars in Villa —P13 Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (right), presenting a souvenir to the German President, Mr Joachim Gauck, during his visit to Governor's Office, Lagos, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Lent begins today —P2

Wike influenced S'Court judgment on Rivers election —Peterside •His allegation, aimed at inciting Presidency against Rivers people —Wike

—P7

2 news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Olunloyo, Awe, Oyebola call for review of Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system

MINENT scholars and personalities have called for an urgent review of the Ibadan chieftaincy tradition to encourage younger, educated and influential men to ascend the exalted throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland. They bared their minds at a symposium organised by the Oyo State government, in continuation of a weeklong activities for the funeral of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, at the Trenchand Hall of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan. A former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ismael Olalekan Alli, who represented the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the event, said the symposium was put together to celebrate the late Olubadan. The event, which had “issues in Ibadan Traditional Chieftaincy System” as central theme was chaired by Emeritus Professor Olu Akinkugbe, while Professor Adedotun Ogundeji spoke on the life and times of the late monarch. An Ibadan senior chief, Lekan Alabi, also spoke on the topic of

the day. Those who spoke in favour of the review of the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system included a former governor of the old Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo; a former Editor of Daily Times, Chief Areoye Oyebola; and a renowned Historian, Professor Bolanle Awe.

Oyebola, who said he had close relationship with four Olubadans, noted that the Olubadan chieftaincy system was fraught with complexities that had made it impossible for any Olubadan to reign for too long. He said it was not in the best interest of modern

Ibadan city for a prospective Olubadan to wait for more than 35 years after becoming a Mogaji before becoming an Olubadan, since they must climb the 23 promotional steps on the rung. He said: “A situation, where you have more than 200 Mogajis waiting in

line to become Olubadan and to make the matter worse majority of these Mogajis are not educated and competent enough to rule over a big city like Ibadan calls for a review. “Some don’t have the means and knowledge. I want to call for a review that will make it impossible for

From left, Chief Theophilus Akinyele; Chief Areoye Oyebola; Professor Bolanle Awe and Dr Omololu Olunloyo, on the occasion. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

I’m not in supremacy battle with any oba —Ooni As his grandmother dies at 104 Oluwole Ige - Osogbo AGAINST the backdrop of statement credited to the palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom, that no traditional ruler in Yorubaland is greater than the monarch, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), on Tuesday, said he was not interested in engaging in supremacy battle with any Oba. He said what was paramount to him was the need

to foster unity and healthy development among the Yoruba and the entire nation. Speaking through his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, Oba Ogunwusi said “my agenda on the throne of my forefathers is to explore measures through which the collective interest and genuine unity among Yoruba can be enhanced. “This informed my resolve to build bridges of harmony among Yourba obas.

I am resolutely committed to how Yoruba ethnic group can restore its glory and pride position among other ethnic inclinations in Nigeria and don’t want to be dragged into supremacy contest or join issues with anybody. . “The statement credited to the Alake of Egba did not emanate from me. We, in Ile Oduduwa, have always seen and regarded our people in Benin Kingdom as part and parcel of Oduduwa House.

Lent begins today CATHOLICS all over the world would today mark the 2016 Ash Wednesday, signalling the beginning of the 40-day season of Lent. This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Gabriel Osu. In the statement, Osu said: “In Catholic churches all over the world, the faithful are expected to receive ash on their foreheads today as a sign of repentance. “During the Lenten season, Christians are encour-

aged to intensify prayers, observe abstinence, fasting and alms giving. “They are expected to draw nearer God through constant prayers, forsaking their sins and being at peace with fellow men. “It is also serves as a reminder that we all came from ash and would someday return to ash. “Here in the Archdiocese of Lagos, the faithful would be led into the Lenten season by the Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Adewale Martins at the Holy Cross

Cathedral.’’ The director of communications added that the Lenten observance should not just end during the season, but “continue for the fruit to germinate and bear more fruits in our daily lives.’’ Osu enjoined all Nigerians to also use the period to pray for lasting peace and development in Nigeria. Also, a website, www. christianity.about.com says “Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter.

They are our brothers and sisters, coupled with historical facts to backup this position. “About three years ago, attempt was made by some people to upturn history during the launch of a book, which stood historical facts on its head. If the position espoused in the media is aimed at distancing our people in Benin from the SouthWest and Yoruba, so be it. We still identify with them as our kinsmen, regardless of the attempt to change the course of history.” Meanwhile, the paternal grandmother of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Queen Mariani Adeyemi Ogunwusi, has passed on at 104. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs to Ooni, Comrade Moses Olafare. According to the statement, “Ile Oodua announces the glorious transition of Queen Mariani Adeyemi Ogunwusi the paternal grandmother of Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan

Ogunwusi (Ojaja II). “Survived by her only surviving son, Prince Oluropo Ogunwusi and 12 grandchildren, the king’s grandmother, who had earlier lost her second child, Prince Isaac Olufemi Ogunwusi and her husband, Prince Olaobaju Joseph Ogunwusi in 1995 and 1998, respectively, died at exactly 4.30 a.m. in her house at Ile-Ife, at the ripe age of 104 years. “It’s noteworthy to state that the late Queen Ogunwusi, fondly called Mama Alaso, might have had the premonition of her death, as she had in the last one month been placing kabiyesi, Ooni’s picture on her chest either while sleeping or sitting always and quoted as saying ‘God, I thank you for making me alive to witness a dream of over 40 years. I am now ready to return to you in heaven for an eternity and be able to tell my husband of this manifestation of our 1974 dream’.” Her remains will be interred during the final funeral activities already fixed for 22nd and 23rd of April by the family.

such people to become Olubadan. What I can advise the Olubadan-in-Council to do is to assess the current Mogajis and separate those who are not competent to become Olubadan. “Make them advisers to the Olubadan and remove them from the chieftaincy lines. Baales should henceforth, nominate young, educated and successful men of between 35 and 40 years to become Mogaji. To wait for 35 years before becoming Olubadan and reign for a few years, is not in our best interest.” On his part, the former governor said the Olubadan chieftaincy tradition, Chiefs Law and Subsidiary Laws were replete with contradictions and obstacles that needed urgent review, in order to make ascension to the Olubadan throne problem-free. Olunloyo insisted that the Olubadan chieftaincy promotion was not without rancour as widely believed, given the contention by the Seriki and Iyalode chieftaincy lines to be accorded due recognition. He said: “No government can legislate on the issue of traditional chieftaincy because of the principle of separation of powers. There are six obstacles in the way of an Olubadan until the laws are reviewed. Some of these obstacles are in the Chiefs Laws and some are in the Subsidiary Law. “The system is semipromotional. There was this Akinyo crisis when the late Oba Akinyele wanted to become Olubadan. In fact, what the law even says is that the Olubadan-inCouncil can choose from the four most senior chiefs in any line, not necessarily the most senior. “Something must be done to reduce the lines and the rung of the ladder. We also need to remove all obstacles in the chiefs law. The current Olubadan-designate is qualified to ascend the throne. The Supreme Court judgment the Seriki line is relying upon to stop him is an unenforceable law, as Chief Afe Babalola will say.” Despite its touted uniqueness, Awe said the Olubadan traditional chieftaincy needed to be rejigged to encourage younger men to become Olubadan. She said: “But I want to say that reform should take into cognizance the Iyalode line, in order to take care of women. Women should not be relegated.”

3 news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Arms deal: Offenders should face firing squad —NATFORCE DG

•Asks OBJ to call Ezekwesili to order over BBOG •How $47m was disbursed during PDP convention, witness tells court Adetola Bademosi and Sunday Ejike - Abuja

HOSE found guilty of the N2.1 billion arms deal fraud and other corrupt practices should be made to face firing squad, the Director-General (DG), National Taskforce (NATFORCE), Dr Emmanuel Osita, stated on Tuesday. He said the former National Security Adviser (NSA) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and his allies committed an unforgivable offence, thus should be severely punished. The DG stated this in Abuja, at a briefing, insisting that the nation should no longer tolerate corrupt practices, even as he urged Nigerians to wholly support the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration. He blamed the incessant loss of lives and property of civilians and military in the North-Eastern part of the country as a result of insurgency to corruption. He said: “Corrupt officials should face firing squad. So, we are of the opinion that Nigerians should support Buhari. If Buhari fails, that means Nigeria has failed. “This is our only opportunity. Corruption saga is our main problem in Nigeria. If we do not fight it now to a standstill, we are in trouble.” Dasuki is being tried with a former Director, Finance and Administration, Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Babakusa and two companies Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Holdings Limited - on a 19-count charge on money laundering and criminal breach of trust. According to him, Nigerians are comfortable with the present prosecution of the former NSA, among other corrupt officials. Osita added that other looters of the treasury should also face same punishment. The DG, who appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call former President Olusegun Obasanjo to order, said as an elder statesman, he should play an advisory role rather than heat up the system. “His eight years rule never created jobs, but rather promoted crime and corruption.” On the Chibok girls, he

said the former Education Minister, Obi Ezekwesili, could proceed to Chibok to find the missing girls. “There are people who sit in Abuja here singing bring back our girls, it should not be a music that people dance to on the streets. Anybody can go to Chibok and bring back our girls. You can go to Sambisa or Chibok and bring back our girls. It is not using it to make money as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and you are sitting here. “Buhari was not in power when our girls were adopted. It was an inherited problem and he is telling everybody to keep calm that he is going to do his best. It is not something somebody can do over night, if they can

do it overnight, Ezekwesili can go to Sambisa and tell Bokoh Haram, ‘give us our girls’. So, I am calling on Obasanjo to call Ezekwesili to order. They should stop causing problems in Nigeria,” he said. In arelated development, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC), Junaid Sa’id, on Tuesday, told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, how a total sum of $47 million was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and disbursed to members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, for the purpose of the party’s presi-

dential campaign. Sa’id, an investigative officer with the anti-graft agency, led in evidence by the prosecution’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that the commission, in the course of investigation, discovered how the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under Colonel Sambo Dasuki’s leadership withdrew $47 million for PDP’s campaign activities. He said “it was at that period that Dasuki withdrew the $47 million from the CBN, which was shared to members of the party for the presidential convention. The commission traced the $2 million paid to Destra Investment Limited belonging to Metuh. “It was four days after the

disbursements that Chief Metuh gave the money to his then wealth manager, Nneka Nicole Ararume”, the witness told the court. Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, the witness said Metuh had written in his statement that the monies he received from the Office of the former NSA was for campaign activities as approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan and for the payment of his personal debt. He added that about N77.5 million was allegedly paid to one CMC Connect for campaign publicity for the PDP, while N25 million was giving to one Abba Dabo, an aide of former Vice President Namadi Sambo

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima (middle), inspecting houses being constructed for victims of insurgency in Tamsokan, during an assessment visit of Kaga Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

for the same purpose. He also told the court that the National Women Leader of the PDP, Kema Chikwe, got N5 million from the said money, while the chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, received the sum of N21.7 billion. The prosecution witness also told Justice Abang that N500 million was paid in two tranches to a company, Daniel Ford International, by the PDP spokesman for the purchase of a landed property at Banana Island in Lagos State. The witness said investigations revealed that the former NSA had, on November 27, 2014, made a N10 billion withdrawal from the CBN and converted same to $47 million, which was shared to some PDP party members at its national convention. When asked if there was any documentary evidence to substantiate his testimony, the witness said there was no documentary evidence, because the whole transaction was based on physical cash. After his testimony, the prosecution counsel, Tahir, told the court that it was closing its case, after eight of the prosecution witnesses had testified since the trial begun. The prosecution had earlier told the court that they had about 18 witnesses. The trial judge who had earlier admitted all the documentary evidence as exhibits adjourned the case till February 18 for the defence to open its case.

Budget ‘scam’ a national embarrassment —Fayose Says Buhari should withdraw, re-present 2016 budget Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to save the country of what he said was “national embarrassment being caused by the 2016 budget he presented to the National Assembly.” Governor Fayose said in a statement on Tuesday, that President Buhari could do this by “formally withdrawing the budget and re-presenting it.” Fayose, in the statement signed by his Special Assistant on Pubic Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, said “the president should ad-

mit that there were avoidable errors in the budget and since he is human and not immune to errors, he should simply do the needful by presenting a new and credible budget to the National Assembly.” He made attribution to what he said was “a revelation by the Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole, that the proposal drawn up by his ministry and submitted to the budget office had been doctored” and the minister’s allegation that “foreign” appropriation different from what was submitted had been imported into the proposals, was “the height of national embarrass-

ment.” According to the statement, “while addressing the Senate Committee on Health during its budget defence session on Monday, Professor Adewole had stunned the senators when he said: ‘We have to look into the details of the budget and re-submit it to the committee. This was not what we submitted. We’ll submit another one. We don’t want anything foreign to creep into that budget. What we submitted is not there.’” Fayose said: “The minister went further to say that in the revised budget as re-submitted, N15.7 billion for capital allocation

was moved to other areas and that there was nothing allocated to public health and family health.” Governor Fayose, therefore, said: “Last week, we were told that the Senate discovered a sum of N10 billion questionably smuggled into the budget of the Ministry of Education for an allegedly questionable sub-head. “Also, we were told of the existence of a budget mafia in the Presidency that was said to be responsible for the embarrassing allocations in the budget. “Before now, we were told that a total of N3.87 billion was allocated for capital projects at the State

House Clinic alone, over N700 million more than capital allocation to all the 16 federal teaching hospitals combined. “Now, a whole minister has come out to say that budgetary provision for his ministry was forged. “If under a president that says he is fighting corruption the budget of the country got missing and we are now being told that the budget being considered by the National Assembly has been forged, one cannot but be afraid that there is possibility of Nigeria being forged one day, after the original must have gone missing.”

4 news DSS arrests 400-Level student recruiting for ISIS in Kano

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

•Bursts terrorist cell linked to ISIS in Katsina •Breaks network of kidnappers in Oyo, Osun, others •Arrests suspected mastermind of Falae’s kidnap Chris Agbambu -Abuja

HE Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested one Abdussalam Enesi Yunusa, a 400-Level undergraduate student of Federal University of Technology, Minna, for allegedly recruiting in Kano for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This was as the service intercepted a budding extremist cell affiliated to ISIS in Daura township of Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State. The arrest of Yunusa was sequel to available intelligence which indicated his terrorist antecedents and covert drive to indoctrinate and recruit susceptible youths in the country. Prior to the arrest, the suspect was alleged to have completed arrangements to embark on a journey to join an ISIS terrorist training camp in Libya, with other Nigerians whom he recruited for the organisation. The recruits included Muhammed Rabiu, Yahaya Momoh Jimoh and Zainab Sunday. In a statement from the DSS, signed by Tony Opuiyo, the suspect is studying for a degree in Information and Media Technology. He said he had been subsequently radicalised and became a member of an extremist cell currently undergoing terrorist training in Libya. “He listed one Aminu and Ibrahim Jihadi (Nigerien), as other ISIS agents operating in Nigeria and the West African sub-region,” the statement read. “One Ibrahim Mohammed Daura, Zaharadeen Salisu and five other elements of the proscribed extremist group, Ansaru, were arrested by the Service. This group was discovered in an active stage, as its members were already coordinating themselves for attacks in Katsina and Kano states. “In the same vein, on January 22, 2016, one Obansa Salami, Ejide Tijani aka Abu Uwaise II, Mohammed Rabiu aka Ubida II, Zainab Mohammed and Abdulqadir Salisu Ahmad were arrested in Kano by this Service, while migrating to Libya, with their immediate families, including infants, in a bid to join ISIS. This group was apprehended after painstaking monitoring of its network and plans.

“On January 29, 2016, the Service arrested Mohammed Aliyu Ndako in Kwara State. Ndako is a 17-year-old undergraduate student of a tertiary institution in the state. He was arrested sequel to credible intelligence on his plans with one Abdulkadir Salisu Ahmad a.k.a Daddy Tall, another student in Kano State, to carry out coordinated lone-wolf attacks on selected populated targets in Nigeria, preferably worship centres or recreation

venues. “Suspect had hitherto been communicating with foreign extremist elements, while sourcing online terrorist training and support. “Within the window of these tactical operations, between the month of December 2015 and February 2016, the Service burst the network of syndicated kidnap gangs spanning different regions in the country, especially Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, FCT, Oyo

and Osun states. “Foremost in this line, was the arrest of a gang of five kidnappers, Abubakar Hassan, Usman Musa, Usman Adamu and Idrisa Babangida Ahmadu at Ife junction, Osun State, on February 3, 2016. “On February 5, 2016, the fifth member of the gang, Saidu Isyaku was arrested at Ojoo area, Oyo State. Six AK-47 rifles, five magazines and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from these kidnappers. This

gang has been active in the South West axis of the country and were at advanced stages of kidnapping high value targets for huge ransom, before they were intercepted. “Another breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping was the killing of Abubakar Mohammed (aka Buba), and an unidentified member of his group, on February 8, 2016 close to Jebba Medical Centre, Jebba, Kwara State, by security operatives as they

DSS foils attempt to hack, steal N4.5bn from TSA Chris Agbambu -Abuja THE Department of State Security (DSS) has arrested a group of fraudsters who had concluded plans to hack the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) domiciled in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, in order to steal N4.5 billion from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). In a statement from the DSS, signed by Tony Opui-

yo, “the gang was led by one Sunny Okoh, a hacker, who worked in collaboration with the trio of Uwem Udo Ekpo, a Chief Program Analyst in the OAGF, Maxwell Ekene, a retired security operative and Dozie Egwu, based in Malaysia and who is now at large. “The suspected fraudsters intended to use a software they had sourced and codes released to them by Ekpo to hack government accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and

defraud the government of this huge sum. “It is instructive to note that a credibility problem would have arisen over the TSA policy if these hackers had succeeded in their plan and thus lend credence to the critics of the policy that it ought not to have been introduced and implemented. “For the avoidance of doubt, the suspects have been handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and prosecution. “It is pertinent to state

that these successes were recorded as a result of proactive and credible intelligence offered by members of the public, sister security agencies and other stakeholders. “This service wish to state that it will continue to deploy every means necessary within its statutory mandate, and armbit of the law to ensure the security and safety of all law-abiding residents and citizens wherever they reside,” the statement read.

tried to escape during a shootout with security operatives. “Mohammed was a notorious kidnap kingpin known for his brutality and various acts of lawlessness. It is disheartening that this criminal and his men had terrorised, to no end, residents of the South West zone. He was also linked to the kidnap of the elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, in Ondo State. “In the wake of deliberate vandalism of oil pipelines by criminal elements in the South-South region, the Service arrested one Nengi Samuel Ikiba aka Kockman Abula, a notorious pipeline vandal on January 27, 2016, in Bayelsa State. Ikiba confessed to vandalising several pipelines in the state, including the 24” Agoda/Brass Oil pipeline at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. “The modest success of the Service in its support to the Federal Government to achieve its desired economic objectives and stability may also be noted,” it added.

Ex-CDS, Badeh, detained, faces further interrogation EFCC raids Abuja residence of Bayelsa king Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja FOR the second day running, on Tuesday, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was interrogated by the panel set up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission is investigating some serving and retired military chiefs recommended for further investigation by an audit committee set up by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) to audit arms procured by the Nigerian Airforce and the ONSA between 2007 and 2015. Badeh, who honoured the commission’s invitation on Monday, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, spent the night in EFCC custody, while his interrogation resumed on Tuesday. The former CDS had, last week Wednesday, come to the Abuja office of the commission, only to be told to go and come back on Monday. A source told the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday that the former Defence chief was confronted with documents relating to arms procurement and certain statements made by some

of the indicted officers in the ongoing investigations. The source further informed that the anti-corruption commission might, any time from now, arraign the officers in court, having made some in-road into the investigation instituted on presidential directive. It was gathered that the investigating panel was actually waiting for Badeh to come and state his roles in the arms scandal, adding that the panel had compiled documents and other evidences against some officers to be docked in court. It was, however, not certain as of the time of filing this report if Badeh would be granted administrative bail to allow him go home and be reporting at the commission for further action. An inside source, however, expressed doubt over the possibility of the former CDS being allowed to go, saying that the skepticism was based on the fact that for two weeks now, a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, was still being held by the commission. Meanwhile, operatives of the anti-graft agency, on Monday, raided the Abuja

residence of the traditional ruler of Opume community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Chief Johnny Turner. Nigerian Tribune learnt on Tuesday that the traditional ruler, who was said to be an associate of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was not at home as of the time of the raid, but operatives carted away some documents from the house. A source informed that the raid might not be unconnected with the ongoing investigation into the arms fund, which was allegedly spent to fund the re-election bid of the former President Jonathan. In another development, the commission, on Monday, arraigned three persons, Joseph Lah Leh, Nwinunu Sorbari and Emenike Henry before Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N4.5 million. Their arraignment, according to a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Tuesday, by EFCC’s Head,

Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, followed a petition sent to the commission by Uzoma Obilor, Managing Director/CEO, Bikpak Limited, alleging that one of his business associates, Kenule Kukang, sometimes in May 2012, brought a proposal for getting contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and then introduced him to the first accused person, Lah Leh, who claimed that he could help the petitioner secure the contract. Obilor further alleged that he was shown a tender, which Kukang, who also claimed to be a special assistant to one L.F. Ntoue, his in-law and board member representing Federal Ministry of Finance in the NDDC, confirmed to be genuine. Thereafter, Lah Leh allegedly demanded for N5 million from Obilor to start the processing of the contract, which was paid in three installments of N2.5 million, N2 million and N500,000 with a Standard Chartered Bank cheque No.00000151. The petitioner further alleged that after he had made the full payment, the first accused person, who was accompanied by Sorbari,

the second accused person, gave him a contract award letter. Worried by the incessant threats and harassment for more money by the accused persons, the petitioner then visited the NDDC to verify the award letter, which was found to be fake. However, all efforts by the petitioner to get back his money were unsuccessful. When the charges were read to the accused persons in court, they pleaded not guilty, following which the prosecution counsel, M.T. Iko, asked for a trial date. However, the defense counsel, O.C. Wechie, prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail. Justice Agomoh granted the accused bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties, according to the judge, must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12, while the other must be a blood relation who must be verified by the prosecution and court bailiff. Justice Agomo adjourned till March 15 for trial and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

news Fashola can’t run power ministry like he ran Lagos —CACOL

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Ayomide Owonibi-OdekanyinLagos

HE Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, on Tuesday, decried the recent hike in electricity tariff by the Federal Government. According to CACOL, the increase would amount to a corrupt practice to force the tariff increase on people. “We note that in spite of public outcry against any hike, the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing superintended upon by Mr Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos State, has gone ahead to illegally impose a tariff hike on electricity on Nigerians for services not rendered to them. This is flagrant and audacious corruption in a situation where the Federal Government claims to be fighting against corruption and illegality. “Mr Babatunde Fashola should be told that the ministry he superintends over is not meant for the kind of antics that he got away with in Lagos State when he was governor,” the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr Debo Adeni-

ran, said. According to him, it was the nation’s electricity firms and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that owed Nigerians money and apologies for not rendering adequate services that they received money for and continued to receive

money for. “Therefore, we reject this hike in electricity tariff in totality. We demand that power supply should be made available and accessible to all and a billing system that will be transparent, reasonable and commensurate with consumption should be pro-

vided. “The DISCOs and NERC can take a cue from the telecommunications sector by providing meters; fixing the cobweb-like cables that dangle over the heads of people,” the CACOL boss said. Adeniran stated further that the demand by the

electricity distribution companies for cost reflective tariff so as to remain in business should be placed side by side with effective service delivery, after which the issue of tariff increase can be discussed. “Until we fix our power sector, all the talk about the industrial revolution

FG vows to sanction truants in civil service Clement Idoko-Abuja

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, during the minister’s budget defence, at the National Assembly, on Tuesday.

45% increase in electricity tariffs will violate UN ruling —SERAP SOCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised the Minister of Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to “ensure that regulatory authorities are not allowed to get away with 45 per cent increase in electricity tarrifs by promoting compliance with the November 2013 ruling on the matter by two UN special rapporteurs.” This followed a nationawide protest on Monday by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) against the increase in electricity tariffs, demanding an immediate reversal of the hike.

In a statement signed on Tuesday, by SERAP’s executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “Nigeria is an important member of the UN and have voluntarily accepted its Charter and treaties. Therefore, any effort to increase electricity tarrifs should be guided by the recommendations by the UN and dialogue with organised labour and other stakeholders.” The organisation noted that, “The United Nations published the Joint Letter of Concern sent to the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan in which they expressed concerns that “access to

electricity (and regularity of supply) is a significant problem in Nigeria,” and raised eight questions for the government to answer within 60 days.” The letter, with reference No NGA 5/2013, dated 26 November 2013, and signed by two special rapporteurs, expressed concerns that “at the end of 2012, Nigeria, with a population of about 160 million people, only generated about 4,000 megawatts of electricity, which is 10

THE Federal Government has said it has concluded

•Says Nigeria presently broke

Kola Oyelere-Kano

THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development ,Chief Audu Ogbe, has said the reality on ground was to invest heavily in agriculture or the future of the country will be in a jeopardy, saying “Nigeria is presently broke.” “We thank God we are broke now because it is time to think. When there was too much money from oil, we could not think, now there is no money from oil, we are coming down to a

reality, which is agric, and may be later, solid minerals,’’ Ogbeh said. This country spent about $1.3 billion a year importing milk and milk products that money belong to us.We import from Newsland ,UK and other foreign countries,’’ saying, however, that there was no reason we could not produce enough milk for ourselves to drink. “Excessive importation has caused Nigeria a big disaster,” he said. Chief Ogbe made this known on Monday, in Kano, during his three-day

times less than some other countries in the region with less population.” The UN special rapporteurs argued that “all beneficiaries of the right to adequate housing should have sustainable access to energy for cooking, heating and lighting. The failure of states to provide basic services such as electricity is a violation of the right to health.” The rapporteurs, Ms. Magdalena Carmon, special rapporteur on ex-

treme poverty and human rights and Ms. Raquel Rolnik, special rapporteur on adequate housing, sent the letter following a petition lodged last year by a coalition of human rights activists, labour, journalists and lawyers led by SERAP. The petition alleged that increase in electricity tarrifs would “have detrimental impact on the human rights of those living in poverty in the country.”

FG set to employ relatives of victims of immigration recruitment stampede

We must invest in agric to avert future jeopardy

—Ogbe

plans and creating jobs and wealth for Nigerians, will just be mere talks and a waste of time. All hands must be on deck to make sure Nigerians have stable electricity supply. “We, therefore, urge the activist community, the masses, the labour movement and all that abhors exploitation and oppression to rise and resist the demonic and unjustifiable hike in electricity tariffs. We must move against the ‘change’ we did not vote for, to protect our being, and the struggle for a humane society,” the statement said.

visit to Kano, while speaking with the state governor, Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. His words: “The country import everything, from tooth pick to tooth paste, from wheat to rice, sugar to tomatoes.Everything is coming from somewhere else. Our women and farmers produce tomatoes that are wasting by the roadside. Something is wrong, we have to correct it.’’ He, however, commended the state governor for his pragmatic approach to irrigation.

plans to employ families of dead victims and other injured persons of the 2014 immigration recruitment stampede. The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau, told newsmen on Tuesday, in Abuja, shortly after defending the budget of his ministry before the Senate Committee on Interior, that the ministry would soon issue employment letters to those affected. “We have decided that we are going to finally take them on board, so very soon, we will issue them their letters of employment. “We have a committee that is looking at the

overall exercise and on the other aspects, we will take decision later. “There is a presidential directive and we are implementing that directive, so yesterday we took a final decision on that. “They will get their letters of employment as soon as possible. “It is now for the board to sit down and organise the process, we want to ensure that the process is transparent so that nobody can criticise it in the future,” he said. The minister stated that the ministry would, at a later date, also look into the case of others who participated in the recruitment test.

THE Federal Government has expressed concern about truancy in the Federal Civil Service and has vowed to severely sanction workers caught in the habit of reporting late to work and leaving their duty posts at will. Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has accordingly ordered all the Federal Ministries to ensure that attendance registers are kept to be strictly monitored. She spoke on Tuesday, in Abuja, where 12 dedicated officers were rewarded with letters of commendation and a laptop each during the meeting of the Body of Permanent Secretaries. Oyo-Ita noted that when she took over as the Head of Service of the Federation, some of the key issues identified as major hindrances to effective service delivery were lack of punctuality, absenteeism and truancy. The Head of Service said she was excited that on the December 30, 2015, when she paid an unscheduled visit to Phase 1 of the Federal Secretariat for on-thespot check on the workers, the 12 committed officers being rewarded were found at their duty post as early as 8.00a.m. She said: “In the past, emphasis was laid on late comers, but we think that those who are doing well should be rewarded.” She added that the decision to publicly reward them was to encourage others to be more committed to their assigned duties while at the same time stir up patriotism in them and the zeal to perform their work. “I gave an instruction that all ministries should maintain an attendance register, so we will be looking into that soon and those who are habitual late comers will be dealt with accordingly,” the Head of Service said.

news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Wike influenced S’Court’s judgment on Rivers election —Peterside His allegation, aimed at inciting Presidency against Rivers people —Wike Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

HE last is yet to be heard about the concluded litigation on the Rivers State governorship election, as Honourable Dakuku Peterside of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of influencing the outcome of the judgment of the Supreme Court. Peterside, who was the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 election, made the accusation while addressing a press conference at the state party secretariat, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday. Reacting, Governor Wike said the essence of Peterside’s allegations were aimed to further incite the presidency and the Nigerian Armed Forces against the people of Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region. Addressing newsmen, late Tuesday evening, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Austin TamGeorge, also said the allegation was “a cynical reaction to his electoral and judicial defeats. He surely would not win any victory by diverting attention.” It will be recalled that the apex court had, on January 27, upturned the verdicts of both the election petitions tribunal and the Court of Appeal which nullified the then disputed governorship election in the state and upheld Wike as the winner. Peterside also accused the governor, with his recent comments, of becoming a threat to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and also warned him to desist from insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies. The APC governorship candidate said although he had accepted the apex court ruling, the utterances of Governor Wike, especially his statement at a thanksgiving service, last Sunday, seemingly gave credence to doubt being expressed in the public space about the judgment. “Many a Nigerian continues to wonder why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Wike’s supporters went on wild celebration across Rivers State, as early as 9.00 a.m. on the day of judgment, even if the actual verdict was handed down at about 6.20 p.m of that day. “It clearly suggests that they might have been in the know of what the judgment would be, long before the Supreme Court pronounced it. “This is coupled with sev-

eral comments, especially on the social media some three weeks earlier, such as “Thank God there will now be no need for a rerun.... It is surely ending at the Supreme Court, etc, etc. “Credible information confirmed that Wike had earlier confessed to some persons of having met one of the justices of the Supreme Court in Mbaise, during an important burial, another at Owerri in a hotel and yet others in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, respectively. These justices were in the panel that decided the matter in Wike’s favour,” he said. “However, the most striking revelation by Wike is contained in his account at the thanksgiving service last Sunday. He obviously stunned his audience and the watching world when he confessed that when it came to the judges, Dr Peter Odili and the wife, Justice Mary Odili (a justice of the Supreme Cout), were his advisers. “This simply confirmed his earlier statements that he had contact with the justices, after several attempts to reach the Chief Justice of the country failed. “It is, therefore, obvious that the decision of the Supreme Court on the Rivers State election was not a product of justice, but rather a product of compromise and orchestrated contrivance to legalise electoral violence and rigging and, in turn, reward injustice. This calls for serious introspection by our judiciary and judicial officers,” he said. He also described as a threat to INEC and “others,” the governor’s warning that anybody who planned to rig the forthcoming rerun in the state would be treated as robbers. He said despite his having accepted the Supreme Court judgment but with mixed feelings, Governor Wike, while addressing civil servants in the state, after the verdict, allegedly threatened to deal with INEC personnel in the state in respect of the rerun. “Anyone who plans to rig an election is an armed robber and should be treated as such. If you are coming to rig an election in the state, first prepare your will before embarking on the journey. Inform your wife or husband and go ahead to say your last prayer,” he quoted Wike to have said. The APC governorship candidate also accused the governor of not respecting President Muhammadu Buhari for saying that not even those he described as Boko Haram soldiers can stop him from preventing any rigging

of the rerun. Peterside said Wike dared Buhari by allegedly saying “if you like bring your Boko Haram soldiers to Rivers State, I will enter INEC office on election day, let me see who will push me out.” He said such a statement clearly demonstrated the person of Wike as “someone lacking in respect, patriotism and character of being a councillor much more a state governor in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Let me draw the attention of Nyesom Wike to the fact that it is most callous of him to demonstrate such level of denigration on the gallant officers and men of the Nigerian military who are putting their lives at risk every other day to safeguard the Nigeria state and citizens when he referred to them as Boko Haram soldiers.” Denying all the allegations, the commissioner said Peterside and APC did not ever truly accepted the Supreme Court verdict in the first instance, adding that their true reaction could be found in what transpired during Peterside’s recent meeting with the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in Abuja. “At that meeting in which Dakuku Peterside was inciting the president and the people of Nigeria against the peoples of the Niger Delta and the government and people of Rivers State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said ‘I still find the judgment on the Rivers State governorship election totally astonishing.’ “Chief Odigie-Oyegun then proceeded to announce that the Supreme Court would be probed for doing their work simply because verdict was not given in favour of Dr Peterside. “Dr Peterside and his APC have not accepted the Supreme Court verdict and would do anything to destroy the Supreme Court and the integrity of its justices for daring to uphold existing jurisprudence. “The attack on Governor Wike, who merely warned that nobody should come to Rivers State to rig elections, is contrived to misinform and create confusion so that APC would, as promised by their national chairman to Peterside, forcefully intervene in Rivers State by means of election rigging, in order to win all the seats up for re-election in the state House of Assembly, with a view to impeaching Governor Wike. “Governor Wike is not the first politician to have warned against the conse-

quences of election rigging. The president and Commander-in-Chief had himself used strong language to warn against election rigging when he said in the course of campaigns last year that: ‘God willing, by 2015, something will happen. They either conduct a free and fair election or they go a very disgraceful way. If what happened in 2011 (alleged rigging) should happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.’” he said. Tam-George also denied that Governor Wike threatened INEC personnel or any other person, adding that only riggers and potential riggers should, therefore, be worried about the statement of the governor. He said the statement was rather aimed at bolstering INEC’s ability to conduct free and fair elections, which “Peterside and Rotimi Amaechi are determined to undermine so that APC could win one oil-producing state.” He described Peterside as a pathological liar for claiming that Wike had made a revelation of the Supreme Court judgment, describing the allegations as scornful,

demented and laughable. “Why then did Governor Wike lose his appeal to the Supreme Court on the proper venue where the Rivers State governorship election petition tribunal should sit? “After all, the distinguished Justice Mary Odili was on that panel of the Supreme Court and Governor Wike lost the appeal. Then, there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the Supreme Court.” On the issue of violence in the forthcoming rerun in the state, the information commissioner said Governor had never preached violence but rather chose to sacrifice his ambition for the people of Rivers State. He said Governor Wike had never insulted President Buhari and was in full support of the fight against corruption, adding former Governor Amaechi and his co-travellers were rather known for abuses and invectives on former President Goodluck Jonathan without any words of caution by the APC leadership. He said “It must be observed that Governor Wike’s commitment to the fight against corruption is total, complete and unequivocal.

It is on record that, upon assumption of office, he instituted a commission of inquiry with judicial approval. “That commission’s report has been given approval in a government White Paper. One of those indicted is Mr Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State. “The governor merely condemned a fight against corruption that abrogates the rule of law, is one sided and is obviously targeted at political opponents. These are concerns that all Nigerians are freely expressing. Why pick on Governor Wike?” he said. He also said the governor never referred to the Nigerian soldiers as Boko Haram, but merely alluded to the fact that even if the soldiers, hardened and experienced by their fight against Boko Haram, were brought to assist APC rig elections in the state, they still would not be able to defeat the will and resilience of the people.

news We can no longer pass budget in February —NASS 8

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Says budget full of errors, padding Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

HE Senate and the House of Representatives committees on Appropriation said on Tuesday that the plan to pass 2016 budget this February has run into a hitch. Chairmen of the two committees, who briefed newsmen in the Senate wing of the National Assembly, said that the budget document as presented by the executive was full of errors and padding. Senator Danjuma Goje, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation and Honourable Abdumumin Jubril, who spoke at the joint sitting, said that the plan to pass the budget on February 25 is no longer

feasible. The lawmakers said that it became imperative to explain to Nigerians that the committees of the National Assembly have been having a tough time collating the errors and padding injected into the budget. According to the lawmakers, the committees have been battling inconsistencies in the figures plus some funds deliberately padded into the budget document. They stated that the imbalance from the capital allocation and controversies concerning the entire figure of the budget made it impossible for the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the budget as planned on February 25. Senator Goje said: “We are here in connection with the ongoing processing of the

2016 budget defence and because these two committees are the ones saddled with the production of the final copies of the budget that would be passed by the two houses for onward submission to Mr President for his asset and subsequent implementation.” Honourable Jubril who also spoke at the venue said that the observed imbalances in the budget have affected the consideration at the National Assembly. He said: “Because of the observed instances that are being reported from the beginning of the budget submission, there are a lot of controversies surrounding the budget. We feel that we have to come here, interact with you, make some clarifications so that Nigerians

Amnesty programme may collapse over low budgetary allocations —Presidency Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

THE Presidency on Tuesday raised alarm at the fate of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, saying that the budgetary allocation to the programme was meagre. Special Adviser to the Presi-

dent on Niger Delta/Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul T. Boroh (retd), in a letter submitted to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta on the budget allotted to the programme, said that only N20 billion was allocated to the programme in 2016.

FG to spend N44.5bn on 1,973 blocks of 7,068 housing units nationwide Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

THE Federal Government has proposed the sum of N44.5 billion for construction of 1,973 blocks of 7,068 housing units in the 36 states and Abuja for 2016. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola who dropped the hint while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Power, Works and Housing, maintained that the focus of the ministry’s (Housing) 2016 budget is to integrate it to overall national budget framework designed to boost infrastructure and create employment opportunities. According to him, “the major highlight is to the proposed construction of 1,973 blocks of 7,068 housing units in the 36 states and Abuja at the estimated cost of N44.5 billion, representing 67 per cent of the total proposed capital expenditure. The minister also gave the ministry’s capital budget for 2016 to be N66.1 billion as against the sum of N1.6 billion appropriated in 2015. Mr Fashola, while addressing the committees on the ministry of works bud-

get, stated that the ministry would ensure the completion of major roads that were near completion by the former President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

He said that the proposed N20 billion is grossly inadequate, compared to the N64 billion proposed by the ministry. Boroh stated that a huge number of the 30,000 exNiger Delta militants currently under going training overseas would be affected and recalled if only N20 billion was approved. The special adviser said: “In view of the foregoing, I urge you most sincerely to consider an upward review from the proposed N20 billion to N64,824,488,493.27 billion for the sustenance and re-integration of exagitators in the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the 2016 fiscal year.”

will know the correct situation of things regarding the 2016 budget. “We designed a timetable for the consideration and

passage of the budget and that we will pass the budget on February 25, but as you are all aware, a lot of issues have come up and even the

executive arm of government has also come out to accept the fact that there has been a lot of errors in the budget.”

Clement Idoko - Abuja

the issue was sorted out as it was confirmed to be a typographical error under the budget to basic education sub-sector. Senator Masi who frowned at Nigerians travelling to study in mushroom universities in some African countries, said that Nigeria has began to get it right with the initiative of the research and education network. She said that as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the NgREN initiative would be further exposed to the members of the National Assembly, to fully engage all stakeholders and ensure adequate

funding and support for maximum delivery of its services. Masi added that the National Assembly would continue to support more initiatives on rescuing and reviving the lost glory of the Nigeria education sector. Speaking on the benefits of NgREN, the Coordinator of the Programme in NUC, Dr Joshua Attah, said that the network has helped to reduce bandwidth cost from $1,260 mbps spent monthly by each university to about $50 per mbps every month. Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, said NgREN was the first to become operational in West Africa and its broadband is next to MTN.

Nigerians spend $2bn on school fees abroad annually —Senate committee

THE Chairman, Senate Committee on Higher Education, Senator Binta Masi, has revealed that Nigeria currently spend over $2billion dollars annually as capital flight on education abroad. She disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, during the official connection of the Federal University of Lafia (FUL) to the Nigeria Research and Education Network (NgREN), while she also clarified that the N10 billion allegedly padded in the 2016 budget by the Federal Ministry of Education, was discovered to be a typographical error. The senator added that

...Decries feeding one inmate with N200 daily Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

THE Senate, on Tuesday, described as unacceptable the practice of earmarking only N200 for the feeding of one inmate daily The Senate informed that its findings have indicated that N130 is actually spent to feed each inmate per day. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada, who made this

Udume promises adequate funding for military operations in North-East James Bwala - Maiduguri

THE Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that the National Assembly will ensure that the needed funds to prosecute the war against insurgents are made available to the military. Ndume, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, said the nation is however presently bedevilled with dwindling revenue which

has affected the pace of the war effort on the insurgents. He said: “When we came on board, we discovered there were shortfalls that needed attention in order to improve the performance of our military. We found out that we need to boost their morale especially by paying their daily allowances.” The Senate Leader said: “Even in the current budget, we have decided to

provide for the military whatever they need to prosecute this war. We have asked questions whether there are specific provisions for prosecuting this war in the present budget and we got positive answers. We were not totally satisfied with it and insisted that the provision going into the prosecution of the war should not be lumped together and that it should be under one heading.”

IDPs: Dogara again seeks UK’s support for resettlement Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has again solicited Britain’s support in resettling people displaced from their communities due to attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East of Nigeria.

Speaking when he received Britain’s Minister of State, Baroness Joyce Anelay, in his office on Tuesday, Dogara urged Britain to consider convening a special aid conference for rebuilding of the North-East as recently done for the victims of civil war in Syria. He added that as members of the global community,

the displaced Nigerians deserved global security and support. Dogara also thanked the minister for the tactical training and retraining of troops. Responding, Baroness Analey noted the speaker’s request and promised that she would convey his message to her home country.

known during a budget defence session with the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Danbazau, added that his committee will take up the issue with relevant authorities. According to him “N200 per inmate per day is unacceptable. If you look at it you are actually feeding each inmate with N130 per day. “When you remove Value Added Tax, contractors’ profit and other corporate

services, the N200 comes to about N130 to feed one inmate in a day. “It is inhuman to feed a human being with N130 in day. What can anybody use N130 to buy? With N130, no inmate can come out of the prison better.” The lawmaker insisted that feeding of inmates is one area the committee wanted the ministry to introduce a major improvement, saying “we want the inmate to come out better than they went in.”

...Vows to increase allocation to EFCC NASS, Amaechi seek audit of airports remodelling project Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

THE Senate on Tuesday vowed to increase budgetary allocations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in view of the anti corruption war of the current administration. Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, stated this when the committee hosted the Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, who appeared before the committee for budget defence. Magu had told the Senate Committee that the budget of his agency was reduced from the proposed N11.2 billion to N4.4 billion by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, adding that the proposed budget was inadequate, translating to a reduction of N9.2 billion. He also said that his com-

mission planned to recruit 750 additional personnel. Senator Utazi told Magu that since the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration was already enjoying local and international support, the Senate would back the war by increasing the budget. The senator also said that the Senate would support the completion of the permanent headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja, adding that the agency needed to move away from its rented apartment within the city centre. In another budget defence, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma and the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, jointly pledged to carry out an extensive audit of the remodelling exercise on the nation’s airports.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Lagosmetro Frankfurt, Lagos for sister-city relationship

•Lagos, centre of business, creativity in West Africa — German President

AGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, expressed the desire of his administration to partner with the Federal Republic of Germany in the areas of power, transport, technology and development finance to bring about a quantum leap in establishment and sustenance of businesses in the state. Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja while playing host to the President of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck, said he was also favourably disposed to a sister-city relationship between Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria and Frankfurt, the commercial hub in Germany, especially in the area of financial ser-

vice sector. He said Lagos, being a commercial hub and the fourth largest economy in Africa with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is bigger than those of 41 countries in the continent combined, and Frankfurt, a major economic hub in Europe should explore a work-

ing relationship in terms of massive financial service that would be mutually beneficial to the two cities. While stating that the parameters for high return on investment abound in Lagos, Governor Ambode said ever since assuming office, he has deliberately put in place measures to en-

courage foreign investment, adding that he had also invested massively in ensuring the safety of lives and property both of Nigerians in Lagos and foreigners. “I must recognise quickly the volume of German investments that we have in Lagos and I must quickly recognise what it means to us

because ultimately it is about creation of jobs for our people and where we see a situation where we have willing partners and by the demonstration of the number and quality of businessmen that you have brought in this delegation, I am assured that we would have so much to do together as we proceed.”

Mobile court: Arrested driver struggles with officers, escapes trial AN errant driver was early Tuesday arrested by LASTMA officials at the old Lagos Toll Gate for allegedly obstructing traffic as enforcement of the new traffic laws commenced. The driver, in an apparent bid to prevent his arrest, struggled with the traffic officials and created a scene in the process. Magistrates attached to Mobile Courts in Lagos State, however, waited all day without any traffic offenders to prosecute. This is just as the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the State Task Force on Environmental and Other Related Offences have cleared Oshodi of traders and vehicles to ensure free flow of traffic. Lagos Metro investigations revealed that apart from the one or two arrests by operatives the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the police did not arraign any driver before the court. The commander of RRS, Olatunji Disu, who spoke with Lagos Metro after a monitoring exercise, said that the drivers complied with the state traffic law.

Lagos Assembly moves to end land grabbing menace THE Lagos State House of Assembly has begun making moves to put an end to the menace caused by land grabbers, who are said to be making life difficult for would-be house owners in the state Therefore, the House has promptly set up a committee, which is expected to come with proposals on how the problem can be tackled. Speaking on the development, Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, said during plenary on Tuesday that the committee should report back to the house within a month and come up with a bill on land matters in the state. According to him, the committee would be chaired by the Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Sanai Agunbiade, while other members include Honourables Rasheed Makinde, Saka Solaja, Tobun Abiodun and Jimi Mohammed.

Other are, Honourables Lanre Ogunyemi, Rotimi Olowo, Tunde Braimoh, and the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Olumuyiwa Jimoh. The development comes as a follow up to a report on a land-related issue which was presented by an ad hoc committee chaired by Honour-

able Oludayo Saka-Fafunmi. Obasa also noted that the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA) and Lands Bureau ought to be cautioned in the way their officials handled land matters in the state. “I discovered that there are no laws backing these parastatals and their officials act with impunity. It is our

responsibility to decide what to be done in the state and restore sanity into the system. “An ad hoc committee should be formed to revisit allocation of lands made in the state in the last two years including reclamations and come up with the necessary bills that will help our state on land issues,” he said.

Human rights lawyer died from knife wounds not bullets — Police Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A witness, Inspector James Adetoye in an ongoing trial of Oluwaseun Oladapo who allegedly murdered human rights lawyer, Kunle Fadipe on Tuesday confirmed that the police took photographs of the body and that the deceased did not have any pellet wounds on him rather he had several knife wounds. Adetoye, who tendered the photographs before an Ikeja High court as exhibits admitted before Justice

Oluwatoyin Ipaye that his team was involved in the investigation into the death of the Fadipe and the photographs tendered by the prosecutors were part of the evidence against the defendant. He added that the photographs were not taken by members of the police forensic team. Adetoye also told the court under cross-examination that the deceased did not have any pellet wounds, confirming that no pellets

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Body of 6-year-old killed in Badagry mishap recovered Olalekan Olabulo THE body of the last member of the family that was involved in the Badagry boat mishap, last weekend, has finally been recovered. The body was that of a girl, said to be around six years of age, who was among the two people that lost their lives in the incident. Two people, including the recovered body were initially missing after the incident before one of them was recovered on Sunday. Lagos Metro gathered that the girl was one of the passengers of the capsized boat, who were not putting on life jacket, when the accident happened. It was further gathered that the body was recovered by local divers, who were assisted by operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LSEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency.

Why Bariga residents can’t access Gbagada hospital — Lawmaker

A dilapidated water tank turned billboard for placing banners at Oshodi. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Chukwuma Okparaocha- Lagos

Nigerian Tribune

were extracted from his body. He further told the court that the defendant, Seun Oladapo was shot in the leg by the estate’s security guards not by the police as speculated when he was trying to over power them. He further affirmed that Oluwaseun was not in pain when he gave his statement as alleged saying, “The defendant was taken to our clinic for treatment and he was a bit okay before statement was taken from him.”

Bola Badmus THE Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Rotimi Abiru, has lamented the poor state of infrastructure, especially roads, in Bariga, being generally below sea level, calling on the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to consider the area as one of the priorities that needs the urgent attention of his government. This was just as he equally appealed for the construction of a pedestrian bridge for the use of people of Bariga, who needed to obtain medical attention at the Gbagada General Hospital. “Most members of my constituency in Bariga are facing serious challenges to access the hospital as a result of no pedestrian bridge in the area,” he said. Abiru representing Shomolu Constituency II made the call while speaking with Lagos Metro, recalling that even the World Bank, in its report, affirmed that Bariga was one of the blighted areas in the state, which needed huge resources to address.

businessnews

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

MTN fine: FG ties settlement to ‘payment of substantial amount’ By Bode Adewumi

HE Federal Government has said that MTN Nigeria must pay a “substantial amount” of N1.04 trillion imposed on the mobile phone company for non-registration of 5.2 million subscribers before its out-of-court settlement request can be accepted. The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said unless MTN pays the undisclosed “substantial amount”, both parties cannot negotiate the settlement deal requested by the mobile phone company, Technology Times reports. Shittu spoke at the A4AI Stakeholders Forum held in Lagos yesterday night. He said that government’s stance was informed by MTN’s alleged past volteface on the matter. “They have to pay a substantial amount”, Shittu says in reference to last month’s request by MTN’s decision for an out-of-

court settlement in the lawsuit the mobile phone company filed against the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) that imposed the fine. Last month, MTN surprised watchers of the unfolding developments surrounding the fine when it asked the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to settle out of court with the Nigerian government, in a lawsuit it filed challenging the authority of the telecoms regulator to impose the punishment. “MTN was in violation

of laid-down rules, but the previous government didn’t do anything about it”, Shittu says in tracing the background of alleged infractions by the mobile phone company. After the sanction imposed on MTN by the current administration, over allegations that it did not register over five million subscribers, which was not only a breach of SIM Registration rules, but also posed serious security risks to Nigeria, the Board of the mobile phone company was later to tender a written apology, Shittu

told journalists at the media parley.

The Minister further adds that while these talks were underway between the two parties, “their Board came to meet me further to say that they wouldn’t be able to pay the fine.” Shittu says that while government was committed to ensuring that companies operating in the country abide by the rules, he was quick to add that the intention was not to “kill MTN, because they are a Nigerian company.”

According to him, the government was mindful that the Nigerian business unit of South Africa’s MTN Group, MTN Nigeria, employs Nigerians and this came into consideration in weighing the options to resolve the fine impasse. Again, the Board was to return to say that the company risks collapsing if it were to pay the fine, the Minister says he was told when the mobile phone company’s top brass returned to him on the protracted fine talks. This time around, “I said that they must write a let-

NSE close on marginal gain of 0.02% Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

TRADING on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a slight increase in value as market capitalisation closed at N8,247.544 billion compared to N8,246,171 billion of Monday, representing 0.02 per cent increase. Also the share movement indicator, All Share Index appreciated by adding 3.99 to close trade at 23,981.09 basis points. Sterling Bank Plc made the lead of the gainers for Tuesday trade on the Nigerian Bourse as it adds 14 kobo to close at N1.85 kobo per share representing 8.19 per cent lift on its share value. Unilever Nigeria Plc’s share price also advanced by 4.99 per cent having gained N1.59 kobo to N31.84 per share. Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc increased its share price by 4.82 per cent or N6.99 kobo to close at N152 per share, while Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc closed at N1.85 per cent gain at N1.85 kobo. On the flip side, UACN Plc led with 4.93 per cent having shed N1.03 kobo off its share price to close at N19.86 kobo per share. Fidelity Bank Plc lost 4.76 per cent of it share value to close at N1.20 kobo per share while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated followed closely with 4.46 per cent decline to close at N15 per share.

From left: Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Senator Sam Egwu; Managing Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), Chris McAllister; Chairman, BATN Foundation, Chief Kola Jamodu; the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Rilwan Akiolu; Special Guest of Honour, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; and The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during the formal opening of BAT’s West Africa Head office, in Ikoyi, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

CIRDDOC tasks Nigeria on budget transparency •Scores Ekiti, Lagos, C/River high on transparency By Ruth Olurounbi

STATE governments in Nigeria have been tasked on institutionalising spaces for effective public participation in budget processes, establishment of legislative hearings at which the public can testify on their states’ budgets, establishment of formal mechanisms such as participating budget and social audits, for the sakes of transparency and accountability in governance. A group, the Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre

(CIRDDOC), on Tuesday, also charged that the procurement processes in states should be regulated by the legislation for open, competitive and transparent processes. The group, saying that the major challenge of the budget system in Nigeria had been lack of transparency and public participation, wondered how projects ensued from such budgets could be sustainable. Dr Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, WARD C, a stakeholder

and researcher involved in the report, in his keynote speech, at the launch of the 2015 Nigerian States Budget Transparency Survey Result, said “if the budget is not open, it will be pretty difficult for people to own it, and when people feel they do not own government’s projects, then monitoring such projects and bringing government to accounts becomes a problem. Then we begin to ask ourselves, how do such projects and the budget system that produces them become sustainable?”

Naira falls to N313.5 to dollar on parallel market Chima Nwokoji-lagos

DESPITE closing at N199.40 to the dollar on the interbank market on Tuesday ,around the peg rate of N197 to the dollar, the naira eased to N312 in the afternoon and closed the day at N313.5 on the parallel market against 310 a dollar on Monday. While some traders at-

tributed the sharp fall to market sentiments arising from comments made by the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (now Emir of Kano), Sanusi Lamido on foreign exchange (forex) policy of the apex bank, others said the local currency was only reacting to dollar shortages in the country based on the principle of demand and

supply. Sanusi was quoted on Monday by the Financial Times of London as having said that President Muhammadu Buhari, risks exacerbating the country’s economic woes and undermining his government’s achievements on security and corruption by endorsing exchange rate policies that are doomed to fail.

Oby Nwankwo, Executive Director, CIRDDOC, while charging the government, said “the budget, the document that seeks to impact on the general public should be available and accessible. Such document should also be gender sensitive and gender responsive. “Evidence shows that when citizens have access to information and opportunities to participate in the budget process, they are able to improve the decisions made about what to spend public money on and the quality of how the money is spent. That means that the allocation of scarce public resources is more equitable and effective.” The group, in the report which compares the performance in all 36 states, indentifies best practices and recommends how state budgeting and procurement systems can be more open and participatory scored Ekiti, Lagos and Cross River high on public participation, openness and transparency in the states’ budgetary processes.

Obasanjo inaugurates BAT’s head office By Wale Olapade

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the inauguration of British American Tobacco Nigeria head office, which is located in Ikoyi, Lagos, as a major milestone and also a testament to government’s efforts geared towards attracting foreign direct investment. Tracing the return of BAT to Nigeria, which began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the company in 2001, Chief Obasanjo said that BAT was among the first companies that heeded his government’s invitation to invest in Nigeria. Praising the role of the private sector in economic development and jobs creation on Tuesday at the inauguration, Obasanjo, who was the chief guest at the event, highlighted the important role that companies such as BAT play in the country, saying: “Almost a decade and a half after the signing of the MOU, we are again at BAT to witness another milestone. I’m particularly delighted because this head office building showcases faith in Nigeria and BAT’s continued investment in Nigeria.” One of the major benefits of democratic rule is the relative stability the country enjoys, in addition to engendering an environment conducive for businesses to thrive, said Chris McAllister, Managing Director, BAT Nigeria. Listing the objectives of the MOU BAT signed with the Federal Government to include the development and expansion of a fully vertically integrated tobacco industry; the building of potential for regional exports; significant increase in both the quality and quantity of tobacco grown and establishment of an independent foundation to address rural economic development, McAllister said that the company has continued to fulfil its obligations to Nigeria. “As an economic development partner, we believe that by highlighting and celebrating the values and attributes that are unique to the Nigerian nation, the private sector can assist the government to achieve its global objectives. We are an ideal model of how, if properly structured, foreign direct investment can spur economic development,” he said.

businessnews

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FG meets power stakeholders, approves power purchasing agreement •As Eko DISCO promises to eliminate ‘crazy billing’ in two years Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

HE Federal Government has met with stakeholders in the power sector and has approved new power purchasing agreement in order to improve power generation. The meeting which was chaired by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday, was the second monthly meeting among stakeholders with the aim to monitor progress in power sector development and address almost immediately the challenges faced by any stakeholders. According to the communique issued at the end of the meeting, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, the regulator approved the power purchase agreement between Paras Power and

No time limit for BVN registration —CBN

Eko Disco for embedded generation supply to willing customers, effective from 12th February 2016. The AES Power Plant, Egbin Power Plant and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company who were represented at the highest levels, also agreed to meet

on Thursday 11th February to complete the on-going negotiations with a view to supplying gas to AES power plant. Addressing the interface issues while submitting and discussing on-going plans to review and resolve the issues, the Transmis-

sion Company of Nigeria (TCN) also identified 51 issues to be resolved affecting supply in areas like Alaoji, Sokoto, Ahoada, Damaturu, Gbarain, Calabar, Afikpo, Nsukka, Okigwe, Ihiala, Ayede, Ikeja, Ajah, Lekki, Kebbi, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Makurdi,

Kainji, Kafanchan, Otukpo, Hadejia, Wudil, Kumbotso, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Daura, Abuja and Maiduguri. On its part, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) presented their plans, which are expected to add significant gas

Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle), and Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC/NIPP) (left), being conducted round the transmission and distribution facilities at the Alagbon Transmission and Distribution Complex, during the second monthly meeting of the minister with sectoral participants in the power sector at the Alagbon Transmission and Distribution Complex, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday.

Chima Nwokoji-lagos

THE Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has reiterated that the door is still open for customers of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) who are yet to enroll for Bank Verification Number (BVN) to do. This is even as fresh facts emerged on Tuesday that a total of 31,972,086 existing customers of DMBs in Nigeria have not registered for BVN and has been barred from withdrawing money from their accounts,though deposits can be made into the accounts. Making this revelation yesterday at the 2016 Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Ibadan, Oyo State Director, Banking and Payment System Department, CBN Mr.Dipo Fatokun said that as at February 7, 2016 a total of 23,343,954 customers have enroled for BVN while over 28,303,332 customers’ BVN, out of 55,316,040 customers in all the banks in Nigeria has been linked bank accounts. Meanwhile the deadline for the Bank BVN enrollment for Diaspora bank customers has been extended to June 30,2015. This followed the expiration of the January 31th, deadline earlier fixed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

From left: Programme Officer, Integrated Water Resource Management, OXFAM Nigeria, Eyong Sunday; Sustainable Development Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Osita Abana; Country Director, Concern Universal Nigeria, Tim Connell; Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa; Country Representative, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Michael Ojo, and Communications Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Olayinka Edmond, at a media briefing on their partnerships on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes on Monday in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

House c’ttee on transportation commends NRC on safe train control initiative Tola Adenubi-Lagos

THE Senate Committee and House of Representative Committee on Land Transport, on Tuesday, commended the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) over its safe train control initiative which allows the corporation to monitor train movement across the country from a control room. This is even as the contractor behind the project bemoaned the lack of payment from the Federal Government in

the last 12 months. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday during a combined National Assembly Committee’s oversight visit to the NRC headquarters in Lagos, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Olugbenga Ashafa said contrary to speculations, rail transport is not dead in Nigeria. According to him, “you can all see that from what we have seen so far, great effort has been put into the NRC to ensure that rail system of transport comes

alive. Of particular interest is the safe train control initiative which allows the corporation to monitor trains all over the country. “This is in line with international best practise and must be commended. We have not gotten there yet, but I must say they have taken the right step in the right direction. “We know their constraint, but I must say they need to come up with the right Initiative, particularly in this period that we are considering the 2016 bud-

get. Funding is one aspect that is affecting the NRC, but if they make a strong case, some concessions could be put n place for them to get on with their laudable project.” Meanwhile, the contractor handling the safe train control initiative, Gear Group, a South African based consortium bemoaned the lack of payment from the Federal Ministry of Transport towards the completion of the train tracking system.

supplies for power generation. The sector expects an addition of 220mmsfcd by the end of Q1 of 2016, and 785 mmsfcd by the end of Q2 of 2016 cumulative. The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) presented a solution for power sector liquidity issues which involved the development of a Power Sector Liquidity Bond to cover validated present and future liquidity gap until 2018 and the Central Bank of Nigeria is committed to immediate resumption of disbursement of the balance of the N213 billion facility previously approved but suspended. At the meeting, all the Distribution Companies also agreed to improve customer service delivery by strengthening the operations of their customer centres and providing dedicated phone numbers to ensure consumer complaints within their jurisdictions are promptly responded to. Meanwhile, following the shutting down of all electricity distribution companies (Discos) across the country by the labour unions over hike in electricity tariff, on Monday, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco) has vowed to eliminate estimated billing system in next two years. The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eko Disco, Dr Oladele Amoda, told Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday that the company was committed to eliminate crazy billing by investing over N55billion on procurement of smart meters and Maximum Demand meters as agreed with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in the Performance Agreement. Amoda said “we have commenced metering since taking over two years ago. Contrary to what people are saying outside, especially the labour union that we are not metering our customers but preferred to continue with estimated billing. Billing customers on estimation does not pay us at all because in the process, we underestimate their bills. That’s why we have ordered for meters in large quantity. “What you are seeing right now is about 10,000 smart meters at this warehouse; we have other meters in some other warehouses.”

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

13 news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Presidency orders stricter checks of VIP cars in Aso Rock Leon Usigbe - Abuja AGAINST the backdrop of recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, the Presidency has raised the prospect of unscrupulous elements using cars with tinted glasses to launch attacks on the Presidential Villa, Abuja and has, therefore, ordered

a stricter checks on such vehicles coming into the premises. An internal memo dated January 26, with reference number “C-in-C/CSO/ LTU/558 and signed by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President, Bashir Abubakar, expressed worries that people were driving into the Presidential Villa in cars

with tinted glasses and refusing to lower their car windows to be properly checked by security agencies. It particularly regretted that staff, especially security personnel in the Villa, were using the excuse of driving Very Important Persons (VIPs) to justify their failure to lower their tinted windows at security check-

points, reminding them that most high profile terror attacks were carried out with hijacked vehicles and vehicles with tinted glasses. The memo, therefore, directed heads of units/departments to advise personnel working under them to always subject themselves to security checks. Entitled: “Use of tinted cars

around the Presidential Villa, Abuja,” the memo read: “It has been observed that some staff of the Presidential Villa driving tinted cars, especially security personnel are in the habit of refusing to wind down their windscreen for security checks before driving into the villa. “It is most worrisome that some of them used the ex-

Court declines Kanu’s application for release of British, Nigerian passport Sunday Ejike - Abuja FEDERAL High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed an application filed by the the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, for the release of his British and Nigeria passports, which are in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS). The trial judge, Justice James Tsoho, dismissed the oral application by Kanu’s

counsel, Chuks Muouma, asking the court to release the two passports on the ground that they would not be needed by the prosecution since they were not listed as part of exhibits to be tendered. The judge, who dismissed the application for lacking in merit, insisted that the fact that the items were not listed as possible exhibits did not foreclose the possibility of their being latter used by the prosecution as exhibits.

Apart from the passports, other items which Muouma sought to be released to the IPOB leader, who is currently in detention at Kuje Prison, alongside his two co-accused were cash sums of $2,200 and N87,000. Justice Tsoho adjourned the case till February 19 for the hearing of an application by the prosecution for protection of its witnesses. The judge, before adjourning the case, granted the request by the defence lawyer to the effect that rela-

Ooni’s security aide shot dead in Ife by robbers Oluwole Ige - Osogbo TRAGEDY struck in Ile-Ife, on Tuesday, when one of the security aides attached to the private residence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), located at Parakin Quarters, was shot dead by suspected robbers. Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered that the security aide, who was an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was said to have been shot while attempting to buy a recharge

card for his cellphone. Credible sources informed Nigerian Tribune that the robbers, said to be coming from an operation, shot him repeatedly before he eventually died. According to one of the sources, the bandits, who also made away with the gun of the deceased, shot sporadically into the air to scare residents of the area. The NSCDC officer was said to have died on the spot before he could be rushed to Obafem Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, for

medical attention. Confirming the killing, spokesperson of the NSCDC command in Osun State, Mr Wale Folarin, said “it is true one of our officers attached to the Ooni’s palace was shot dead by some unidentified persons in front of a private residence of the Ooni. The killers went away with his gun. He died at the OAUTHC hospital Ife. “We have arrested three suspects in connection with the crime and investigations continue, as the command will get to the root of the matter.”

FG may recover $300m from US —Minister Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja MINISTER of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed on Tuesday that staff of the ministry would, henceforth, liaise with foreign countries in efforts aimed at recovering looted funds. He told the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs that officials of his ministry were on the verge of recovering $300 million from the United States State of New Jersey. The minister, however, did not give details of the said recovery. The minister, who stated this while appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday for a budget defence ses-

sion of the ministry said the ministry was making frantic efforts to recover looted money from foreign countries in conformity with the stance of government on corruption. He said that Nigeria’s missions abroad would serve as watchdogs for loot recovery from foreign countries. He added that the Nigerian government had entered agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from getting a list of all properties owned by Nigerians in the UAE. The minister promised that the foreign affairs ministry would liaise with the National Assembly towards achieving the best results in the overall interest of the country. Giving a breakdown of

the 2016 budget, he said that N50 billion was allocated to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, N33 billion was proposed for running of foreign missions; with N13.5 billion going to the ministry and N3.5 billion allocated to the agencies under it. Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, also said during the session, that the high cost of running foreign missions was becoming worrisome, adding that the ministry must immediately address the situation. He said: “We all know that change cannot be overnight. However, Nigerians are worried as to why 70 percent of the budget will be used to fund five per cent of the entire country’s population.”

tions of the accused persons be allowed in the court room subject to security screening and the capacity of the court room. Kanu, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu are being prosecuted on a sixcount charge bordering on treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences. Justice Tsoho had, on January 29, denied Kanu and his co-accused bail and ordered that they remained in custody at the Kuje Prison, pending the period of their trial. The judge, in rejecting the accused persons’ bail application, held that they were not entitled to bail, as they

failed to challenge the allegation by the prosecution that they would continue to commit the alleged crime for which they were being prosecuted if granted bail. Kanu was in the custody of the DSS from the time of his arrest in a Lagos hotel on October 14, 2015 till January 20, 2016, when he was transferred to Kuje Prison on an order of Justice Tsoho , shortly after he was arraigned alongside two others. The Federal Government is accusing Kanu of plotting to split Nigeria, by creating a Biafra Republic with SouthEast, South-South states and parts of Kogi and Benue states, as component units.

cuse of either driving official cars or driving VIPs to justify their acts. “This act which is not in tandem with standard security drill and procedure poses serious threat to the safety and security of the Villa. “It is important to note that the insistence of security operatives at the pilot gates to properly screen vehicles coming into the villa whether tinted or not tinted, official or unofficial is not out of place. “Therefore, there is need for all to subject themselves and their vehicles to security checks as the case may be, so as to prevent unscrupulous elements from exploring the situation to launch attacks on the Villa. “More so, that most of the major attacks by terrorists groups on high profile targets around the world are being carried out using hijacked vehicles or vehicles with tinted glasses. “Heads of units/ departments are to advise personnel working under them to always subject themselves to proper security checks and not take the duties of security personnel for granted.”

news Achuba emerges Kogi deputy gov 14

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Kwara teachers suspend strike

Security bars journalists from covering inauguration

Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

HE Kogi State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, confirmed the appointment of Honourable Simon Achuba as the deputy governor of the state. The confirmation followed the submission of his name to the legislative arm

by the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. It will be recalled that the supposed deputy governor, James Faleke, rejected being a deputy to Bello following which the governor was inaugurated without a deputy on January 27. The speaker of the assembly, Momoh Lawal, who read the letter at the re-

sumed sitting of the house, said the governor had exercised his right under Section 191(3c) of the 1999 Constitution. The house, which later dissolved into committee of the whole house under the chairmanship of the speaker, thereafter, commenced the screening of the nominee.

The member representing Bassa state constituency, Sunday Shigaba, who moved the motion for the confirmation of the nominee, however, said he should be allowed to take a bow and leave the chambers. Seconding the motion, the member representing Igalamela/Odolu state con-

Damilola Abigail Oguntola, flanked by her parents, Mr and Mrs Soji Oguntola, during her induction ceremony into the physiotherapy profession for the B. Physiotherapy 2014/2015, held at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

Lagos govt to commence feeding of public primary school pupils

THE Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Mr Lanre Ogunyemi, said the state government would soon begin to implement its ‘A-meal-a-day’ programme in public primary schools. Ogunyemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the programme was a campaign promise of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmaker said the state government was sincere about implementing it. “I am aware that the state government is making efforts to dot all the ‘I’s and cross all the ‘T’s. “We are sure that in a couple of months, the state government will start the programme,” Ogunyemi told NAN, while he commended the Kaduna State government for blazing the trail regarding it. He said the Federal Government would collaborate with state governments to execute the programme. According to him, the Federal Government will provide 60 per cent of the cost while each of the states will complement it by contributing 40 per cent. He said the intervention of the Federal Government

would alleviate the financial burden that the states might likely incur from implementing the programme. Ogunyemi, however, debunked criticisms from some quarters that the funds meant to implement the programme should have been expended on providing infrastructure in schools. He said that such infrastructure would be of good use when the children that would use them were emotionally stable to learn. “What profit will it be if

we put the infrastructure in place and the environment is conducive to learning but the pupils do not have the psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing to learn? “All the requirements are interwoven: As we provide infrastructure for the schools, we must also see to the wellbeing of the pupils that will use the infrastructure. “A child should be adequately and emotionally stable to be able to acquire and retain knowledge. “A child, who is not well

fed, who can hardly take one square-meal per day from the parent is bound to be frustrated at school.” “Such is not likely to imbibe knowledge,” Ogunyemi said. The lawmaker said the programme was a laudable one that would help the nation to produce a crop of responsible future leaders. NAN recalled that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had said that the government’s feeding programme in public primary schools would start this year.

Biola Azeez - Ilorin stituency, Friday Sani, said Achuba would be a pride to the people of the state. According to him, there was no reason to question the former deputy speaker of the same assembly. The speaker, however, expressed the readiness of the legislators to work with the governor in his effort at driving the change agenda in the state. Speaking after his confirmation, Achuba said he was ready to contribute his quota to the development of the state. He said, “The people should expect development they have never seen before.” Meanwhile, security operatives attached to the Kogi State Government House, on Tuesday, prevented journalists in the state from covering the inauguration of the deputy governor, Simon Achuba. The plain cloth and uniformed men at the entrance of the banquet hall of the Lugard House, in Lokoja, ordered journalists, mainly members of the correspondents chapel out of the reception of the hall. The newsmen had rushed down from the House of Assembly complex to the private residence of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, where he is using as office only to be directed to the banquet hall of the Government House. However, the armed security men, who had initially screened the journalists at the reception, later ordered them out of the hall, claiming that the event was not for coverage. The security men claimed they had an instruction from the above that the inauguration was not meant to be a public function. One of the security men said, “if the programme is meant for coverage, it would have been held at the Township Stadium.”

Cross River gov, deputy, commissioners slash salaries Anthony Ubong - Calabar CROSS River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has voluntarily slashed his monthly salary by 80 per cent in order to accommodate the growing number of political appointees in the state. This is even as his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu and the 28 commissioners in the state also slashed their monthly emoluments by 20 per cent. Since he took over the mantle of leadership, Ayade has made over 300

appointments including 28 commissioners and numerous special advisers and special assistants, apart from other personal aides. Commissioner for Information, Mrs Rosemary Archibong who disclosed this to newsmen at the NUJ Press Centre in Calabar, on Tuesday, said it was part of the resolutions taken at the State Executive Council meeting which was held on Monday. Archibong, who was in company of other commissioners, said the decision

was meant to expand government in order to provide others with the opportunity to contribute their quota in driving the vision of the governor. “The sacrifice being made by the exco members was intended to generate enough money to pay others as the governor continues to expand his government. “His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade, has a vision to accommodate every segment of our state and has taken the lead by voluntarily slashing his salary by 80 per cent. The

Nigerian Tribune

deputy governor has also slashed his salary by 20 per cent; so all the commissioners decided to toe this line by slashing their salary by 20 per cent in view of the harsh economic realities. The commissioner said the governor purpose to expand the government in order to accommodate as many people as possible. “On our part, we have to support him and this demands sacrifice which we believe this donation will go a long way in achieving,” the Commissioner said.

THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State wing, has suspended two-month strike embarked upon by teachers in public primary and junior secondary schools. It will be recalled that the NUT had called its members out on an industrial action following non-payment of four months salaries. The state government had settled part of the salary arrears owed the teachers, while the strike lasted over two months. Speaking on the development, the NUT chairman in the state, Comrade Abubakar Musa, said the strike was suspended for only three weeks. Musa said the decision was to enable teachers participate in a biometric data screening being planned by the government. He was optimistic that the biometric data would help in fishing out ghost teachers in the state. He directed the striking teachers in all the 16 local government areas of the state to make themselves available in their respective schools for the biometric data. “The Kwara NUT is just suspending the strike for three weeks to allow teachers undergo biometric data to actually determine their number,” he said.

Okojie visits JABU THE Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, recently paid an unscheduled visit to Joseph Ayo Babalola University to ascertain progress and see first-hand, the level of its academic activities and infrastructural development. While he toured the infrastructural facilities, he expressed satisfaction at the level of development in JABU. The executive secretary used the medium to call on industries to assist private institutions to develop. He observed that the Federal Government has already created the enabling environment that would ensure their success and urged the private institutions not to relent in aiming to achieve world-class status. He also advised the university management to innovatively raise funds Okojie informed the university management that the board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) had been reconstituted to include two members each from federal, state and private universities.

news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

NCPC signs agreement with lottery operators THE Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has successfully signed an agreement with three Lottery operators for the Christian Pilgrimage Lottery Scheme. The Chairman of NCPC, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, during the signing of the agreement, at the NCPC corporate headquarters Abuja, charged the lottery operators on the need to be accountable, sincere, and transparent in the discharge of their job. He explained that the Lottery Scheme was important against the drop down in oil prices and dwindling economy. He added that it is a way forward for the Commission. He further explained that NCPC has plunged into lottery in order to save the Federal government the cost of pilgrimage, yet keep it alive. In his words, “We have resorted to this as a way of creating more resources to keep pilgrimage alive.” He urged the operators to put in their best and handle the job to the glory of God by being sincere, accountable and transparent. He added that what NCPC is doing should project greater sincerity than other agencies so that people will not find any justifiable reasons to harass the Commission. In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary informed that both agencies: NCPC and National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) had met last year to sign a MoU towards the success of the Lottery Scheme.

WAEC fees protest: 7 students remanded in prison Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

Chairman, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), His Grace, the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh (left), with the Executive Secretary, NCPC, Mr John Kennedy Opara, signing the contract with lottery operators of win a trip to Israel, at NCPC corporate headquarters, Abuja, on Monday.

Military officers rush to declare assets Chris Agbambu-Abuja

S the deadline given to senior military officers to declare their assets expires on Sunday, officers are making last minute rush to meet the directives. Officers, were sighted on Monday, in large numbers at the Code of Conduct Tribunal to collect the asset

declaration forms. Also officers, who had earlier collected the forms, were seen in High Court registries in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) swearing to the declaration of assets. The chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, directed all senior Army Officers to declare

THE Police Service Commission on Tuesday said that its chairman, Sir (Dr) Mike Mbama Okiro, a retired Inspector General of Police (IGP), did not at any time appoint anybody to be Secretary to the Commission. The commission said it had at its 14th plenary meeting held on December 16, 2015 appointed, Mr Emmanuel Ibe, a seasoned administrator and Director, Administration and Finance of the Commission, as its Acting Secretary. In a statement signed by the head, press and public relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission said the appointment was sequel to the vacuum created by the deployment of the Commission’s former Secre-

plied with if such officer wants to remain in service. The source added that by next week it will now be the turn of junior officers to declare their assets. The source stated that there is nothing strange about the declaration of assets since it is a constitutional provision for all public servants.

NMA demands arrest, probe of officer who shut medical doctor in Imo Soji-Eze Fagbemi-Abuja

THE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has written the Inspector General of Police (IGP); and demanded immediate arrest and probe of the police officer who fired the gun shot that injured a medi-

cal doctor, Bede Azudialo, during the peaceful protest of its state Chapter in Imo State. Besides, the association demanded that both the police officer and the commander, who ordered the firing “of the near fatal mis-

Police service commission absolves Okiro of fraudulent appointment Chris Agbambu-Abuja

their assets within two weeks or face the wrought of military discipline. Following this directive, all the officers started making frantic efforts to beat the deadline of Sunday. Informed military sources, disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that the Chief of Army Staff’s directive must strictly be com-

tary, Mallam Aliyu Bisala to the Ministry of Trade and Investment. “It is instructive to note that Mr Ibe was appointed on acting capacity pending whenever Mr President appoints a substantive Secretary or confirms his appointment,” the statement noted. It said, “The appointment was also done so that the activities and programmes of the Commission would not unnecessarily be hampered by the vacuum. “The appointment of Mr Ibe has not violated the Constitution of Nigeria as the Commission in Plenary has the powers to appoint an Acting Secretary which does not in any way infringe on the powers of Mr President to appoint a

substantive Secretary for the Commission at any time. “Sahara Reporters stories on the Acting Secretary being a target of a petition to EFCC on selling of Police appointments for cash and masterminding a phony land deal are mere recycled tissues of lies. “The petition to EFCC quoted by the publication and dated January 25, 2016 contains basically the same allegations bandied since 2012 and which had been handled by a competent court of justice that dutifully acquitted and discharged Mr Ibe, the acting secretary. “The management of the commission has taken all the required steps not only in the appointment of Mr Ibe as Acting Secretary but in the running of the affairs of the Commission.

sile that injured our member, Dr Bede Azudialo, be identified and subjected to appropriate action according to the law.” In the letter dated February 9, 2016, the NMA also insisted that the hospital bills incurred in the course of his treatment should be borne by the so-identified officers. In the letter signed by the President of NMA, Dr Kayode Obembe and the Secretary Genetal, Dr Adewunmi Alayaki, the association condemned the Police action despite the fact that the association had earlier sought and got the permission of the Police. The letter read: “The national secretariat of the noble association is aware as we gathered that the officers of the association in the state sought and got the cooperation of the state command of Nigerian Police Force to enable them embark on the peaceful demonstration without violence or rowdiness should infiltrators from members of the public join the group. “NMA is therefore in shock that an orderly procession of unequivocally identifiable members of the medical profes-

sion, who have previously sought and gotten the assurance of protection from the police, could be so assaulted with tear gases and other forms of brutality leading to the infliction of a deadly injury to the head of one of them.” It added: “In the light of the foregoing therefore, NMA as a law abiding professional association wishes to state unambiguously that the draconian, vindictive and violent action meted out to our members who were simply bemoaning their fate in the face of the mistreatment they are subjected to by Imo State government stands condemnable before all men and women of good conscience. “All expressed as well as conceived threats against the executive and other members of NMA in Imo state be withdrawn immediately and their safety guaranteed as law abiding citizens of Nigeria are entitled to. “The erring officer and/ or the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police should offer an unreserved apology to Dr Azudialo, Imo state chapter of the NMA and Nigerian doctors in general.

NO fewer than seven secondary school students arrested for allegedly unleashing terror on the workers of Orisun FM Radio station, Ile-Ife, last week Thursday, were on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrate Court. The students were protesting refusal of Osun State government to pay their West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) fees for failing to make four credit passes during their mock examination. The arrested students are; Ayodele Michael (18), Adeleke Sodiq (18), Adisa Sefiu (16), Adebisi Jamiu (16), Olatunji Segun (16), Ayoh Festus (16) and Chioma Anuoluwapo (16). Presiding Magistrate, Olusola Aluko ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison pending a formal bail application by their counsel The Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Elisha Olusegun, informed the court that the accused persons and others who are currently at large committed the offence on February 4, 2016 between hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at Ile-Ife, Osun State. Olusegun added that the suspects conspired and unlawfully destroyed Oduduwa College sliding library window, hall building roof and gate which value are yet to be known before heading to Orisun Radio station, where properties worth millions of naira were also vandalised. Magistrate Aluko did not allow oral application of their counsel, Mr Dauda Oyewole as he ordered the counsel to file a formal bail application. Aluko thereby ordered that the first and second accused be remanded in custody at Ilesa Prison while third to seventh accused be remanded at Corrective Centre, Osogbo. He, thereafter, adjourned the case till March 1, 2016 for mention. He further alleged that the accused willfully and unlawfully destroyed a Toyota Camry car with registration number OS 46 A42, Nisaan Primera Wagon car with registration OS 38 A42, Toyotal Hiace bus with registration number OS 45 A42 belonging to Orisun FM.

news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

17 ABUAD students arraigned, remanded in police custody •Parents demand apology from ABUAD management Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

IXTEEN students of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), who allegedly caused damage to property in a violent protest on Sunday night/Monday morning, have been arraigned before an Ado Ekiti magistrate’s court. The 17 suspects, including one female, were arraigned on Tuesday, on a six-count charge of rioting, possession of firearms and malicious damage. Prosecuting officer, Mr Caleb Leranmo, a Police sergeant, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Monday, at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti campus. Leranmo alleged that “the accused conspired to commit rioting, possession of fire arms, possession of military camouflage uniform and

damaged several property of the school.” He said some of the accused were Ajayi Ayorinde, Dina Adamu, Yusuf Mubarak, Tayo Olabiyi among others, saying what they did contravened Section 516,451 and 109 of the criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. All the accused pleaded not guilty to the allegation when the charges were read to them. Counsel for the accused, Mr Chris Omokhafe, prayed the court to grant bail to the accused, and contended that all the offences that were charged with were all

bailable offences. Meanwhle, parents of some of the students of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), who were detained by the police for allegedly participating in violent protest in the institution on Sunday night have demanded apology from the management of the institution. Some of the concerned parents claimed in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Tuesday, that “their children and wards were unjustly detained at the Criminal Investigations Department of the police headquarters and at various police stations in the

state capital.” The concerned parents, who didn’t want to be named, held that “the indiscriminate arrest of their wards and the way they were clamped in detention with rogues and hard criminals is not only a breach of their rights, but the highest point of wickedness and naked display of power.” A university that was supposed to be a custodian of these children cannot be embarking on indiscriminate arrests of innocent students and detaining them with criminals. This is not fair and we demand unreserved apology from

the management. However, the Head of Corporate Affairs of the university, Mr Tunde Olofintila, who refuted the allegations, and said the management would address all these allegations on their merits. Olofintila said: “Many of the students are back and are writing their examinations now. Those suspected to have participated in the protest were arrested and those found not to have been culpable were released immediately. So the issue is about security and only the police can say what modality used to arrest them.”

Fulani/Tiv crisis: Benue gov orders police to arrest offenders

IN its resolve to identify with the grass roots, the All Progressives Congress(APC) has translated its Constitution into three Nigerian local languages. The languages are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. The party will launch the local versions of its constitution on February 16, in honour of its first interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande. A statement by Mr Israel Akande said: “The translation, which is modeled and structured after the original Constitution, will further enable party faithful to understand the principles governing the party and other sundry issues. “The public presentation of the translated constitution of the APC into three major Nigerian languages (Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo), which has been dedicated to its first highly-respected interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, will take place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on February 16, 2016.’’

LAUTECH holds international conference

Johnson Babajide-Makurdi

DISTURBED by the incessant attacks of Fulani herdsmen on communities in Benue State, the state governor, Chef Samuel Ortom, has directed security agencies to arrest those who perpetrated the recent clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Tarka and Buruku Local Government Areas of the state. He gave the directive at a meeting he held with the two groups and traditional rulers from the affected places. Ortom, who regretted the clash between the factional groups which resulted in the death of 12 persons, directed that traditional rulers from the affected areas should produce suspected killers of a herdsman while the police should arrest a Fulani herdsman from Awe Local Government in Nasarawa State who killed a farmer, as well as all those who caused the recent clashes. The governor gave one week deadline for the arrest, and ordered that the native doctors who claimed to have fortified the suspects be produced by the royal fathers of the affected communities, and vowed to sanction the royal fathers if they failed to produce the suspects.

APC honours Akande, translates constitution into 3 languages

Members of staff of the Nigerian Tribune born in the month of February cutting their birthday cake, at the Tribune boardroom, Imalefalafia, Ibadan. PHOTO: D’TOYIN

Ibadan Poly declares lecture-free days to mourn dead students •One victim buried Tuesday By Oluwatoyin Malik

FOLLOWING the death of some staff and students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, in a lone accident on OyoIbadan Expressway on Monday, the management of the institution has declared lecture-free days till Friday, February 12. This was as one of the victims, Yaya Raji, was

buried on Tuesday morning according to Islamic rites. Disclosing this to the Nigerian Tribune in response to enquiries made, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Soladoye Adewole, said the suspension of academic activities was to mourn the departed members of the polytechnic community.

He also disclosed that some of the injured students had been treated and discharged after series of tests to ensure that they had no internal injury. Adewole confirmed that all of those injured were taken to the University College of Ibadan (UCH), Ibadan, saying this was done to ensure that they got the best of treatments.

2016 budget: Senate meets NLC, TUC, other CSOs tomorrow Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE leadership of the eighth Senate is set to meet the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in an interactive session to get their observations on and input into the 2016 Appropriation Bill now being considered by the National Assembly. The meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, according to a statement from the media office of

the Senate President, is to make all legislative activities of the National Assembly open to all Nigerians. This maiden edition, however, is meant to create an opportunity for CSOs to contribute and align ideas with that of the National Assembly in passing an inclusive and implementable budget for all Nigerians. During the session, which is billed to commence by 2.00p.m, at the National Assembly, is to afford the participating CSOs the op-

portunities to make their observation and input into the ongoing 2016 budget, being considered by the National Assembly. The statement added that: “For the first time in the history of the National Assembly, the leadership of both Houses agreed on implementing a legislative agenda they set for themselves which will cover all various forms of partnerships, collaboration and cooperation with civil society organisations (CSOs).”

The PRO added that only three of the students were still on admission, stating further that one out of them, who was critically injured, had been taken for surgery. He disclosed that the institution’s management, under the leadership of the Rector, Professor Olatunde Fawole, had made money available for the students’ treatment. Adewole also said the management had got in touch with some of the families of the accident victims, adding that some of them had already expressed their readiness to collect the bodies of the deceased. He expressed the institution’s appreciation towards the Divisional Police Officers of Moniya and Sango Divisions, the Area Commander, Agodi and the state Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for their prompt response and support in evacuating the injured students to hospital for medical attention.

THE Department of Management and Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH), will today commence its maiden three-day International Conference, with the theme: “Institutional Frameworks, Building and National Development.” According to a statement by Pastor Mark Debo Taiwo, on behalf of Professor Owolabi Usman, the conference chairman and Head, Department of Management and Accounting, LAUTECH, the conference would take place at the Senate Chamber of the university, followed by an MBA, MPA, and PGD Alumni Reunion Dinner on Saturday. Professor I. A. Adeyemi, Vice Chancellor, Bells University Otta; Professor Kabir Dandago, Commissioner for Finance, Kano State, and Professor P. O. Olomola of the Department of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, are expected to deliver keynote addresses. The conference will be declared open by Professor A. S. Gbadegesin, the Vice Chancellor, LAUTECH.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere aka Ali Baba • He is a Nigerian veteran stand-up comedian.

FUNOLOGY

• Alibaba Akporobome was born in Warri, Delta State, on June 24, 1965.

CHURCH BOY

• He attended Ojo Primary School and Comm a n d Secondary School both in Lagos. He furthered his education at Ibru College, Agbarha-Otor. From there he proceeded to Bendel State University now known as the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma where he studied Religious Studies & Philosophy.

SEGELUULU

• After discovering his comic talent in his 3rd year at the university and acquiring his degree from Ekpoma in 1990, he relocated to Lagos to start his stand-up comedy business. • Ali has been a professional stand up comedian for the past 22 years. He was featured on CNN’s African voices in 2015 and has received several awards.

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

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

18 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

A case for uninterrupted power supply

F Nigeria can achieve uninterrupted power supply, then it will impact positively in the development of the country. As at the last

time, we were told that Nigeria is generating about 4,000MW of electricity for a population of 180million people, when South Africa has about 30,000MW for

54million people. The difference in these two situations is clear. We may be the largest economy in Africa, but this is just on paper; it has not translated to better lives

On Donald Trump’s loss in Iowa ALTHOUGH Donald Trump has lost the first caucus election in Iowa, there is still a long way to go before determining who will be the Republican Party’s candidate for the November US presidential election. Before now, the businessman had been leading in all the polls, and everybody thought he would win, but out of the blues, Ted Cruz came out on top in Iowa. Many people are now heaving a sigh of relief that Trump, who has been disrespectful of other

races and religions, might not be the candidate after all. In many of his speeches, Trump had shown his hatred for Africans, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, Muslims, Sikhs, among others, and many people were afraid he would make life unbearable for them if he ever became the president. As said earlier, he is still leading in the polls despite his second position in Iowa, I just hope voters in the remaining caucuses will look at the decision of Iowa voters and elect an-

other candidate other than Trump. Trump’s candidature will be divisive all over the world, and he could bring about a third world war with his eccentric behaviour. Americans should look at people’s apprehension all over the world concerning a Trump presidency and elect a less-eccentric character. •Modupe Ajayi, Ita Elewa, Ikorodu, Lagos.

for our people. Nothing stops the country from generating as much as 100,000MW of electricity considering the alternatives available to us today. But do we think we can overcome the power crisis when some influential people in the society are behind the import of generators into the country? All these boils down to corruption in the system, and until we find a way to tackle this evil, we will never achieve anything tangible. We need to look at the Chinese model to tackle corruption, and that is, who ever is guilty of corruption is sent to his death in a matter of weeks. It is when we are able to do this that those who have held this country by the jugular can release it for us to prosper. Having said this, I hope the Muhammadu Buhari

administration can focus of generating enough electricity so that uninterrupted power supply can become a reality. With this, jobs will be

created, and less crime will be committed. •Wisdom Adjei, Asaba, Delta State.

Rivers guber tribunal: Let’s respect Supreme Court justices THOSE who have been accusing the Supreme Court justices of being unfair in their judgment in the Rivers State governorship election are definitely enemies of the country. Since the judgment was pronounced favouring Mr Nyesom Wike, political activists alligned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have gone on televisions, radios, newspapers and on social media to criticise the ruling. I keep wondering why these people feel okay with judgments that favour the APC, but cry foul when it favours the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

It is unfortunate that the APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, even did not believe the apex court’s judgment was fair enough. The seven judges are people of integrity, and there was nothing the PDP could have done to influence their judgment. Our politicians should, therefore, not allow sentiments to becloud their sense of reasoning. It is only the judiciary that can save the country from lawlessness and politicians should not interfere in its decisions. •Dr Jeremiah Galong, Jos, Plateau State.

PDP, offer vibrant opposition to the APC I am not really happy with what is happening in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent times. Since the party lost the presidency last year, it seems it has lost its heart. Now, we have strong members who can revive the party decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC). As if that is not enough, we now have many top members fighting for the chairmanship of the party. When the party lost the presidency, I thought it would mount a tough opposition to the APC, but what we are seeing at the moment is nothing to write home about. Apart from Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, nobody seems to be a strong critic of the government, and when nobody or party criticises the government, then our democracy is flawed. It is high time the PDP put its house in order so it

can offer a vibrant opposition to the current ruling party. It is now that the PDP can start to rebuild for it to be well-positioned for the 2019 general election. I also want members to stay put in the party instead of decamping to the party in government. Nobody takes politicians who decamp at will serious. In actual fact, the APC has said it would not offer decampees any serious position or assignment, particularly when founding members are yet to benefit from the party’s rise to the presidency. As a result of this, I hope PDP members can come together and work out ways towards reviving the party. They owe Nigerians the responsibility of being a great opposition party. •Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

editorial

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The alarming rate of kidnapping

E have had cause to comment on the phenomenal growth of the kidnap ‘industry’ and its farreaching effects on social and economic life in the country. What has continued to be a major source of worry is that the kidnappers have upped their ante. The scale and frequency of abductions convey the impression that the criminals have been outpacing the security agencies on which the public relies for an answer to the serious problem. In some parts of the country, there is a perpetual climate of fear that the kidnappers can strike anytime and anywhere. The criminals have also been making forays into some other parts of the country at chosen intervals. Kidnapping, at the initial stage, was associated with militancy because it started in the Niger Delta region. It was generally construed as a reaction to the degradation of the environment in the process of oil exploration and exploitation. The primary targets and constant preys were the foreign nationals working with oil companies which routinely paid ransom to get their staff released. The general impression was that those involved resorted to kidnapping to get their own share of the oil wealth. The abduction of people for ransom has for long ceased to be a Niger Delta experience. Like a contagion, it spread to the South-East where it also became a major security problem. It was seen, particularly by unemployed youths, as a business with vast possibilities that could be widely explored. It became so pervasive that Anambra State under former Governor Peter Obi enacted a legislation that prescribed death among other punishments for a kidnapper. Houses in which victims of kidnapping were kept were pulled down. As in the case of rape and paedophilia, the National Assembly is yet to pass a law on the grievous crime of kidnapping. The extant provision of the criminal code, which prescribes a punishment of ten years’ imprisonment for anyone who “unlawfully imprisons any person”, is widely believed to be inadequate in addressing the menace of kidnapping. Although some states have passed laws that prescribe stiff penalties for the offence, the kidnappers have continued to be on the prowl. Apart from the question of adequacy of laws and condign punishments for kidnappers, there is the need for preventive measures by the security agencies. The rate at which kidnapping, like metastasizing cancer, has spread to other areas from the South-South is a clear indication

that the criminals are ahead of those expected to keep them in check. It is an unwholesome situation that should be quickly reversed. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has of late been speaking about efforts to horn the skills of his officers and men for the daunting security challenges they have to contend with. He has spoken about training programmes for police personnel in the United States, Italy and Egypt. He recently declared open in Abuja, a training programme by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency. Our fervent hope is that the benefits of the skillsenhancement initiatives will, in no distant date, begin to manifest in the individual and collective security of Nigerians. The recent abduction and subsequent murder of the traditional ruler of Ubulu-Uku in Delta State should be a source of worry and embarrassment in a country governed by law. The public demonstration by traditional rulers in Imo State over the kidnap of one of their colleagues was an unusual spectacle. It should send the security agencies back to the drawing board to work out appropriate strategies on how to ensure the safety of lives and property. Nigeria attained the unenviable status of being one single country that accounted for 25 per cent of global kidnapping in the year 2015. At the 18th African Reinsurance Forum in Mauritius, the African Insurance Organisation said Nigeria was the “kidnap -for- ransom capital of the world”. The kidnappers used to lie in wait for their would-be victims in lonely places after studying their movements over a period of time. They now have the effrontery to invade people’s homes and forcibly carry them away. They have no respect for age, profession or status. An elder statesman, a prominent lawyer, front-line journalists, a retired army general, a renowned thespian and other notable citizens have, at different times, been victims of abduction. Kidnapping has become a thriving and lucrative pursuit for those who have embraced it a means of livelihood. The constant denial of ransom payment by the police has not altered the fact that the kidnappers are having a swell time in their illicit business. The victims and their relations and friends, who have been coughing up the money know the truth. Even the outside world knows. For how long will these outlaws continue to outwit the police and other security agencies? Armed robbery has for long become a way of life in Nigeria. Kidnapping should not be allowed to rise to the same pedestal.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo CON (1915 - 2015)

Chairman Rev. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran Co-Chairman Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177 South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

Snr. Manager (Advertisements) Kayode Titiloye Sales Manager Omotayo Lewis, Ph.D Consultant/Director Segun Olatunji, Ph.D

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna. Ikeja Marketing Office. Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

Contact: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com or call:08055069471, 08116954630

opinion

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Towards repealing the monetisation policy By Eric Teniola

PART from the issue of oil subsidy, no other subject has enraged and infuriated Nigerians more than the issue of the jumbo salaries and allowances of the members of the National Assembly. Yet in spite of the anger, the salaries and allowances are licit under the monetisation policy of the government, which was implemented in 2003. It is the monetisation policy that enabled the former Senate President, David Mark, to buy so cheaply the official residence of the Senate President at Apo in Abuja, a house that should be a national heritage. Ditto for the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, who bought the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives also at Apo at giveaway price. If we talk about the jumbo salaries and allowances for the legislators, what about top civil servants who earn their jumbo salaries for life, and the governors and former governors, who also earn their jumbo salaries and entitlements for life. Since we adopted the presidential system of government, we can not run away from its excesses, or its shortcomings. The jumbo salaries and allowances of the members of the National Assembly and the security votes of the governors are part of the excesses we are talking about. They must be curbed in the light of the dwindling fortunes of the Nigerian economy. What is monetisation? Monetisation is the quantification in monetary terms of those fringe benefits which government used to provide for its workers as part of their conditions of service. Such benefits include residential accommodation, chauffeurdriven cars, residential furniture, utility services, etc. The proposal came from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and it was debated in the National Assembly and passed into law as ‘Certain Political, Public and Judicial office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc) Act 2002. Monetisation was clamoured for by civil servants, as conveyed in the Communiqué of the Re-orientation Workshop for Directorate Level Officers in the Federal Civil Service read to the President, Olusegun Obasanjo on January 14, 2002. The Organised Private Sector (OPS) and a number of government agencies and parastatals have adopted monetisation of benefits for quite some time now, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I note also that the university system has its own list of monetised fringe benefits and allowances.

In other to ensure effective implementation of the policy, the Presidential Committee on the Monetisation of Fringe Benefits in the Public Service of the Federation was set up by former President Obasanjo on November 11, 2002, under the chairmanship of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette (CFR). Following the submission of the Committee’s Interim Report to the president, and its subsequent adoption by government, a circular detailing the newly monetised fringe benefits and the modalities for their implementation was issued on June 27, 2003, with July 1, 2003 as the commencement date of the programme. To sensitise the states on the implementation of the programme, an interactive session was earlier organised on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 to enable both the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to intimate Secretaries to State Governments (SSGs) and Head of Civil Service of the States (HCSS) in the 36 states of the Federation with modalities for the implementation of the monetisation policy. Suffice it to say the states objected to the implementation insisting that they could not afford it. On November 27, 2003, Chief Ekaette told members of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos under the headship of Professor Lai Olurode that “ Monetisation as a public policy reform must be appreciated in the context of other reforms each of which plays complementary roles with the new overarching economic development strategy of the Obasanjo administration called NEEDS (National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy).”

In spite of the objection by the states, the Federal Government went ahead and implemented this policy on October 1, 2003, and that policy is still on till today. The monetisation policy was given legal teeth with the passage and coming into the effect of the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc) Act, 2002, which was extended by circular to cover all Federal civil servants. The law took effect from July 1, 2003 for the designated political, public and judicial office holders, while it was extended, with somewhat modified rates of benefits, to Federal civil servants with effect from October 1, 2003. At the time of his departure from office in 2007, Chief Obasanjo was shocked to find out the magnitude of the monetisation of the legislators and the jumbo salaries they were to earn. He refused to sign the bill, leaving it for President Umaru Yar’adua who signed it eventually in order to please the legislators. That’s where we are now. This issue cut across party lines in the National Assembly for they are all united for it. The monetisation policy, a policy that was meant to solve problems, has now created more problems. It is like a monster now. The question now is, can we afford the monetisation policy? The answer is no. It will be unfair to talk about the jumbo salaries and allowances of legislators as a result of monetisation policy in isolation without talking about other public officers benefitting from this policy. Cutting salaries by half as announced by President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is a good step. I doubt whether members of the National Assembly will follow the president’s example, no matter the pressure. In fact, they will tell the president that they have not come to Abuja merely to pass bills or endorse unworkable resolutions. As for these members of the National Assembly and other public officers benefitting from the monetisation policy, national sacrifice has to wait. All that the president should do is to call a meeting of the stakeholders, including governors, legislators, Nigeria Labour Congress, public discussants, religious leaders, market women and other bodies, and insist that government can no longer sustain the monetisation policy of 2003. In the interim, the president should withdraw the circular on monetisation, and if possible, he should ignite a national debate on the issue, after all he is our moral guide. •Teniola, a former Director at The Presidency, lives in Lagos.

OYSCATECH: From monotechnic to polytechnic By Opeyemi Olawore THE Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, formerly, Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora, was established about a decade ago with the mandate of providing middle level manpower for agriculture, coupled with the need to provide technical knowledge and skill in agriculture, necessary for industrial, commerce and economic development of the state. The effort received accolades from within and outside the state as another pace-setting initiative of the Oyo State government going by the historic and leading role the state had played in agricultural development before the oil boom. That notwithstanding, the scope of the institution was further broadened with the change in the nomenclature of the College from monotechnic to a polytechnic status, following the amendment of the law establishing the College by the Oyo State House of Assembly and assent given to it by the Executive Governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on November 21, 2014. By this singular act, the College now provides both agricultural and technological education and also offers training in the fields of social sciences. For instance, the College now runs Computer Science and Science Laboratory Technology. Statistics, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, Local Government Administration, Office Technology Management, Food Technology are being introduced in addition to agricultural programmes. Since inception, the College has been pursuing its vision of becoming a leading centre of excellence for agricultural training through the training of youths who will be able to provide jobs for themselves and others and become agents of food sufficiency. This vision is further encapsulated in the motto of the College, which is ‘training for innovations, food sufficiency and self employment.’ The College, in terms of facilities, constructed enduring physical infrastructure for both teaching and learning, some

of which include; feedmill, cattle kraal, animal clinic, poultry, piggery, fish farm, apiary section, food processing and clothing and textile unit. Others include; library, students farm plots, the College ICT centre with over 350 computers, Central Research Laboratory equipped with sophisticated and modern equipment for analysis and academic research among others. Little wonder why the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in 2012 rated the College as one of the three best monotechnics among 37 other colleges of Agriculture and related dDisciplines in Nigeria. Having realised that the country is confronted with the problem of youth unemployment, the College has positioned itself as the last hope for the youth through fundamental, practical, vocational, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship education and training that it offers the students in various fields of agriculture. This is another pointer that agriculture has a chain of businesses and opportunities to create wealth for individuals and the nation at large considering the current economic challenges that Nigeria is confronted with due to the dwindling funds from oil proceeds. It is, therefore, the policy of the institution that all its students, irrespective of their course of study, must undergo farm practice, vocational and skill acquisition, as well as entrepreneurship education in areas like bee keeping, animal husbandry, horticulture, food processing, clothing and textile which

encompasses; tie and dye, knitting, garment making and laundry. Other areas include; maintenance and repair, welding and fabrication, crop and poultry production, computer training, plumbing, carpentry, cosmetology, fish farming among others. Interestingly, these vocational programmes are also made accessible to members of the public including retirees who are looking for areas of investment, in form of short term certificate and part- time programmes. To the glory of God, the College which started its academic programme in 2008 with 120 students has graduated not less than 2,300 students at National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) level while the HND graduands of the school have been partaking in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Besides, the College through its ICT centre, now has CBT Centre, wherein CBT training and tests are offered to JAMB candidates, students and youths within the host community, while the College also offers consultancy services to investors in the fields of agriculture. The College has been fulfilling its tripartite function of teaching, research and service as it offers extension services, free training to farmers within the community like the recently concluded workshop on integrated fish farming, farmer-tofarmer training on apiary, distribution of vitamin A cassava stems to farmers and a host of others. There is no gainsaying, therefore, that the College is a major player in the area of job creation, that is, food sufficiency and self employment, and this is happening because of its crop of dedicated staff and the dynamic and committed management team under the leadership of the Provost of the institution, Professor Gbemiga Adewale. •Olawore is OYSCATECH’s Public and Alumni Relations Officer.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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

The lounge

The bedroom

The bar

The Luxury of DeXambdra Hotel Ado-Ekiti By wale Ojo Lanre

OSPITALITY business in Nigeria today especially in the area of hotels and accommodation has over the years improved with trending and exquisite taste which sets standards for other similar business across Africa continent and beyond. Hotels are not longer built for mere passing the night or accommodating a weary soul and body, men of taste and quality have considered these when planting hotels for discerning buyers. Luxurious, cosy, splendidly posh and fascinating hotels are no longer exclusively located in big cities of Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin City and Port Harcourt. The fact is that the so called less cities are harbouring magnificent hotels and guests houses which are ran better, have uncommon facilities and take care of customers better than the ones in the so called cities. One of such classic hotels is DeXambdra International Hotel planted in the capital city of Ekiti State, in a serene and secured environment within the heartbeat of the state capital, Ado Ekiti. It is one hotel which is defined to offer all the hospitality expectations of a visitor or buyer with equanimity of excellence, personal satisfaction and dream experience. The quadrangular setting of the hotel with balconies coupled with its architectural balancing of the fittings,

fixtures and colours tell that efforts would have been expended on the interior. The beauty of the hotel does not lie on the gorgeousness of its design neither does it rest on the facilities, but essentially in the first impression created by the staff who overwhelmed you with courtesies as if you have met severally before. According to the Chairman, Mr Alex Olugbenga Bankole “DeXambdra International Hotel is an answer to the hospitality gaps in the state. It is uniquely designed to offer the utmost service to all segments of hospitality and hotel buyers. We have injected customer’s satisfaction into its planning, construction, facilities fitting, marketing, customer’s relations and location. It is one hotel which gives no room for customers’ dissatisfaction. This is because we are here to offer satisfaction par excellence “Entering into DeXambda Hotel is adventure to heaven especially at night when all the golden well placed illumination are on.” Each room has a unique character in terms of beddings, facilities, painting and fittings all with testimony of good, standard and quality consideration that can guarantee every lodger home away from home. It has 68 exquisite rooms which range from executive deluxe rooms and a presidential suite with a parking space that can conveniently accommodate 120 cars. It has an executive bar stocked with local and intercon-

The living room

tinental liquor and beer and a banquet hall that can accommodate between 400 and 750 guests depending on the sitting arrangement. According to Mr Bankole “Our aim is to give our entire customers royal treat and a place they can call their home. Two things are paramount, good services and security of life and property and we cannot negotiate these. We have the best chefs on ground that are trained and well horned in both local and intercontinental dishes garnered from working experience at local and intercontinental hotels and resorts.” He revealed “We are impressed by the response and traffic since we commenced business with only 68 rooms and we are going to increase our rooms to 100 very soon with additional open bar which will take over 250 customers at a given point.” If the rooms are exquisite , the Presidential Suite is an exercise in splendour, extreme comfort and unequalled attention to luxury and taste. Each of the rooms in the suites are adorned with oak tree varnished Royal bed and facilities only found where a president lives. “The presidential suite is fitted with separate swimming pool, bar for visitors, duplex for drivers, guards and assistants.” The presidential suites of DeXambdra hotel has an exquisite five rooms ensuite including two spacious living rooms equipped with state of the art interiors, reading corner, kitchen with all necessary and modern tastefully materials. The suite also has a mini bar, water safe, element preventing walkway, standard swimming pool and 4 driver apartments. The hotel has different local and continental dishes with and homely, diligent and hardworking staff. Commenting on the hotel , Mr Toyin Ayoola , a popular TV presenter in Ekiti State in describing DeXambdra Hotel said “it is an answer to the quest of having the best service oriented and comfort dwelling hotel in Ekiti State . It is a new concept and you can only feel it by experiencing it. Dexambdra Hotel is it.”

tourism

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

When Cuba ambassador toured Ife Says “I feel as if I am in haven”

From left, Olo Omidan Bata; Anu Lady Ekwe; Ambassador Melva Pereze De Trejo; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and Mrs Miriam Morales Palmero, at the palace, Ile-Ife.

The Cuban embassy team and some OAU students at the Oduduwa Hall, OAU, Ile-Ife. By wale Ojo Lanre

HE globalisation of Ile – Ife, the cradle of Yoruba land as an epic centre of cultural – tourism destination being engineered by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 is getting international acceptance and response as the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria Melva Pereze De Trejo led his wife and accompanied by the Secretary of the Cuban Embassy, Mrs Miriam Morales Palmero on a two – day tour of the ancient city. The two – day tour which was facilitated by Motherland Beckons, a concept initiated and being propelled by Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye which encourages African in Diaspora to visit , see their root and stay in their father’s land, served this purpose as the Cuban team was not only thrilled, felt at home, particularly delighted by the spectacular cultural reception organized for the touring team by the Palace and overwhelmed by the robust interaction with the brilliant and youthful Ooni Ojaja 11 . “I am happy. I feel happy. I feel fulfilled. I am just feeling as if I am in heaven. Ife is home. The Ooni is cool, brilliant and youthful,” said the Ambassador. It is not that His Excellency Carlos E Trejos was not familiar with the culture and tradition of Yoruba people which he claimed were his great grandparents and the founding father of Cuba, but his direct encounter at the cradle and ancestral home of the people made his visit more worthy and interesting. His first point of call was the palace of the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi where he was dazzled with royal treatment and interacted with dignitaries including traditional rulers, high chiefs, Secretary to the Osun State

From left, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, president, Motherland Beckons; Ambassador Melva Pereze De Trejo and his wife; Dr Benjamin Ogunfolakan and Mrs Miriam Morales Palmero, at the Museum of National History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

government Sikiru Adeoti, President La Campagne Tropicana, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye and scholars from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife . Apart from the palace, Otunba Akinboboye conducted the proponent of Motherland Beckons an organization championing the reunification of Yoruba in the Diaspora with their ancestral home also conducted the Ambassador to other historical places: Ongoing Ife Grand Resort, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife where he visited the Ife Museum of National History, Oduduwa Hall and Martins Aworinlewo Odeyemi Museum of Antiquities and Contemporary African arts. At the Ife Museum of National History, Ambassador Carlos was taken round the site by the Director of the Museum, Dr Benjamin Ogunfolakan who revealed to the Tribune Tourism Magazine that the visit will further strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Cuba, “ The significance of this visit are numerous it is not just a visit, it is a visit that I believe will further strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Cuba. Already we have a working relationship but his coming here will make the mutual benefit more robust and beneficial”. “The meetings I have with the Ooni and other people in Ile Ife are fruitful , I visited many interesting places from which we can now depart for stronger and better cooperation in the future , the people here are very friendly I felt more at home , I enjoy the music, dance and other thrilling entertainment and hospitality at the palace and other places we went to during the tour,” the ambassador said . While at Oduduwa Hall of OAU, the 71-year-old Carlos and his team were delighted to interact and take pictures with the students who were at the open lecture theatre

where he also advised them to ensure they use the knowledge and skills acquired at the University for self employment and engagement. During the welcome reception organised in his honour at the palace, H.E Carlos who gave his name as Omowale and his wife intermittently danced to the beautiful rendition of Abubuola Cultural Troupe, Olo Omidan Bata, Anu lady Ekwe, Ewo, Osirigi, Dolapo Ijala Ode and the Sango display thrilled not only the ambassador, but all the guests including the Ooni Ojaja who applauded the display. His imperial majesty wore a smiling look throughout, he was happy to have Ambassador Carlos few weeks after the Brazilian Ambassador visited him at the palace, which to him signified the beginning of success of his clamour for unity and promotion of Yoruba race as the Yoruba people in the Diaspora particularly in the South America countries where Cuba and Brazil were included are coming in with a renewed spirit to continue the relationship and cultural exchange with the indigenous Yoruba in Nigeria in such a way that it would be mutually beneficial. Ooni Ojaja pointed out , “ I am happy that people are retracing their steps back to their ancestral home , it is a good development which should not stop, I want to thank the Ife – In – Council for supporting me and my agenda for Yoruba race, the vision I have for the race is a task that must be achieved. We have to promote our language, culture and tradition. God deliberately created this race as a light to the world and we must do everything to unite the race, to reconnect our people back to their Continues pg23

tourism As Ooni commends Olukere on Olosunta festival 23

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, has commended the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, Komolese 11 for his agrarian commitment to the promotion of the Olosunta Festival in Ikere Ekiti, the second largest town in Ekiti State . Ooni Ojaja made this commendation while receiving Oba Obasoyin, who paid him homage in his palace at Enuwa, in Ile–Ife, on Thursday, 28 January, 2016.

The Olukere of Ikere who was accompanied by the Obaloran of Ilode, Ife, the traditional Oba of the source of the Ikere people before migrating to the present site in Ekiti said that it became necessary for him to come, pay homage, visit his royal father and give account of the traditional assignments and activities in Ikere Ekiti to the Ooni of Ife, the Imperial head of Obas in Yoruba land.” The Olukere disclosed to Ooni Ojaja that he has not been found wanting at making sure that the celebration

Oba Obaloran of Ilode, Ile-Ife, Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, Ooni of Ife and Olori Obasoyin at Enuwa Palace, Ile-Ife.

World largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Sea to sail June 5

Nigerian Tribune

of Olosunta Festival which signified the soul of Ikere Ekiti as a town is done the way it should be as laid down by the tradition and founder of Ikere. “Kabiyesi, my coming home to Ile–Ife, the palace with the Oba of the source where the people of Ikere Ekiti migrated to their present abode, is a testimony that we the Ikere are not only here to congratulate you, but also assure you of our support, commitment and readiness to keying to your cultural–tourism promotion of Yoruba land.” Olukere Obasoyin, revealed how he has single handedly rekindled and reignited the zeal and enthusiasm of participation in Olosunta Festival in his people and gone many miles to make the celebration of the Festival a global event. “Kabiyesi, for the past three years, I have raised the bar of Olosunta Festival from the local level to a global participatory status which attracted thousands of tourists and foreigners to Ikere-Ekiti. And today, our effort is being blessed by having you as the Ooni who has a worldwide view and globalised concept of the potentialities in celebrating and enhancing our cultural activities and festivals in our domains.” Ooni Ojaja who commended the Olukere pointed out that Olosunta Festival in Ikere Ekiti occupies a conspicuous page in the book of cultural festivals and tourism assets in Yoruba land which would be included in the festival calendar in Yoruba land. He lauded Oba Obasoyin for his cultural activities so far since he ascended the throne of his forefathers, particularly by consistently adding value and enhancing Olosunta festival and promised to support him in the effort of realigning the festival with the source and international cultural fora.

When Cuba ambassador toured Ife Continued pg22

RUISE buyers and sellers are in happy mood all over the world as the most beautiful cruise ship ever built, harmony of the Sea is set to sail between 5 and 7, 2016. Mrs Victoria Soluade, Chief Executive Officer, Soltan Travels and Tours Ltdmedia who broke the news to tourism buffs, cruise buyers and sellers in her, Eti–Osa way, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos office, revealed that Harmony of the Sea “is one of the most luxurious cruise ships ever built in contemporary times. It is an adventure in opulence, posh, classy and in all things splendour.” Mrs Soluade whose company, Soltan Travel and Tours is credited to be the best in cruise tour package, said that Harmony of the Sea has been completed but only undergoing necessary certification. She disclosed that the ship would make her pre-inau-

gural sailing on June 5–7 in Barcelona, Spain and would be attended and witnessed by selected press and dignitaries all over the world . Mrs Soluade disclosed that Harmony of the Sea which is at present at the STX France shipyard, Harmony of the Seas (previously known as Oasis 3) will be slightly larger than 5,400-passenger sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, carrying 5,479 passengers. Measuring 227,700 gross registered tonnes, Harmony of the Seas will be 2,418 GRTs larger than Oasis and Allure, as well as just over two metres longer. It also will be 20 per cent more fuel efficient than its sister ships. Onboard, Harmony of the Seas will feature a mixture of first-introduced-on-Quantum- and Oasis-class experiences, as well as brand new additions, including the line’s first ever waterslides.

Next-week

OPU tasks South West governor on cultural tourism studies and Yourba subject in schools

Children must be considered in tourism package — Prince Kayode Oni

root and to let the race take his position in the comity of nations and race in the world.” Oba Ogunwusi who acknowledged the efforts of some traditional rulers and people in promoting Yoruba culture said “the visit of Cuban Ambassador and other people is a clear signal that Eledumare is with us in this agenda and we are going to succeed especially in showing the world the uniqueness of our culture and tradition and unity of the race which is my topmost agenda.” The host, Otunba Akinboboye while introducing the guests to the Ooni commended Ife-in-Council for supporting the agenda and vision of Ooni Ojaja. “the coming of the Ambassador of Cuba. Brazil and other people that have come and will come to Ile Ife is not for fun, they are here to pay homage and further cement the relationship with the cradle of Yoruba race. In their countries, they cherish and value our culture and tradition, in the past they have been making moves of reconnect, but now, we will ensure they are fully involved so that the cultural exchange between us and their countries and Yoruba race stand to benefit a lot in this relationship “With the vision of his imperial majesty, there is no doubting the fact that Yoruba race will have its lost glory restored and the multiplier effect of its unity will positively affect the whole world, Our Cuban friend here has assured of a smooth and direct relationship with the Yoruba nation which Ooni is the traditional and spiritual head.” Akinboboye concluded his address with a call on the traditional rulers and chiefs and other custodians of customs and tradition to support the agenda of the Ooni Ogunwusi and also ensure they encourage and support any activity that will promote culture and tourism in their domain.” Yoruba land is one of the best race in the world, we are not only blessed with great people, we are also blessed with potentials and resources that can boost economic activities in our communities. For instance Ile Ife is like a sacred city which should be developed for spiritual and economic benefit like Mecca and Jerusalem”.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever. — Leonardo DiCaprio

Actor and UN Messenger of Peace

Ecopreneurship:

Making money by saving nature By Doyin Adeoye

WHILE there are entrepreneurs, others create businesses with the intent of saving the environment, they are ecoprenuers. From recycling to house cleaning, consultancy and production of organic beauty products, there exist many ecofriendly business ideas that revolve around saving nature. Solar energy There has been a lot of focus on solar energy in recent years. Many state governments are now investing in this field, with many working on ways to convert their waste to energy. One good way to make money while also save the planet is to get involved in solar energy production. Also, with the increase in demand for solar energy comes the need for more hands in relation to installation, maintenance and repairs. Engineers in solar technology are beginning to get known, and with little or no competition, it is a business idea that pays really well. House cleaning Getting involved in house cleaning, especially environmentalfriendly home cleaning services can be profitable. Many Nigerians, especially the working class, are often too busy to care for their environment. So having a classy and standard cleaning service brand will not only bring in profit, but also help people keep their homes clean. Composting Why throw your waste out when you can convert it to useful and fertile compost? Any organic matter, including cooked waste food, can be converted to compost. Organic fertilisers are in high demand by people who have already embraced the green revolution, and tapping into this can be profitable. Recycling Recycling is probably the fastest growing eco-friendly business at the moment. Although recycling

may be on the high side for someone who has a small startup capital, collection of waste is relatively cheaper. While partnering with companies on collecting their waste is a plus, it is however, becoming a very highly competitive industry. Consultancy Although going green has become more popular in recent times, many people who are interested in it still do not have the knowledge or idea of how to go about it. You can assist people with consultancy services and get paid for it.

ecoscope

tries. Over 90 per cent of air pollution in cities in these countries is attributed to vehicle emissions brought about by high number of older vehicles coupled with poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate infrastructure and low fuel quality,” a UNEP report said.

with Doyin Adeoye

m:08058130577 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

Tackling major environmental issues of our time

A landfill

Dead fishes float in a Chinese river as a result of pollution.

How to reduce your carbon footprint Replace light bulbs with CFL bulbs: Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs can last up to 15 times longer and use up to 8o per cent less energy than regular light bulbs. However, it is important to remember that some fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. So when you are buying your bulbs, look for ones with a label that says low-mercury. Unplug your phone charger: According to the United States Department of Energy, appliances consume a significant amount of electricity even when they are switched off. Ever notice how your phone charger can get hot with no phone on it? Use a laptop instead of a desktop: Laptops can use up to 80 per cent less energy than a desktop. Avoid black trash bags: Because of the black pigmentation, these trash bags cannot be recycled. A better option is to use white trash bags and the best option is of course, none. Shift gears sooner: If you drive a manual, shift into a higher gear as soon as you can. On most cars this would mean before 2,500 rpm, but on diesel it would be before 2,000 rpm. If you do this right, you will find yourself saving some gas because your engine is maintaining a higher speed without working as hard. Culled from greenwikia.com

By Doyin Adeoye “What about sunrise; What about rain… What about killing fields… Did you ever stop to notice; The crying earth the weeping shores? What have we done to the world; What about flowering fields… What about animals…”

HEN pop legend, Michael Jackson released the track, ‘Earth Song,’ in 1995, which overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare, not many envisaged that a time would come when environmental issues would be at the fore of global discourse, and attract a major global concern. That time is now. Two decades after the release of the song, the situation has deteriorated, with global environmental issues becoming more alarming as the years go by. Over four decades after the first Earth Day in 1970, there still exist many environmental concerns for communities around the world to address. From global warming, to overpopulation, water and air pollution, waste management and deforestation, among other issues, our environment is constantly changing.

Gas flaring

Overpopulation With human population growing like never before, overpopulation is probably the most pressing environmental issue the world is currently facing. The list of problems associated with this increase includes shortages of resources, war and social conflict, overcrowding, as well as the health and survival of Trees being cut down other species. mines and “As of July 1, 2015, the total number of other sources is also a major concern. living humans on earth was 7.349 billion,” the With the population growth is also an United Nations Department of Economic and increase in the demand for food production Social Affairs, Population Division reported. and since the arable land in many of the Nigeria, for instance, has a population of over overpopulated regions is limited, farmers then 170 million people. Overpopulation, no doubt, triggers most of the begin to cultivate nutrient-poor areas that are not very suitable for farming. In other cases, other environmental issues. As human populadeforestation occurs as forest area is burned tion increases, so does the demand for natural resources. While tackling inaccessibility to clean and converted into pasture. A study by the United Nations Environment water remains a global issue, addressing water Programme (UNEP) Global Environment pollution from individuals, factories, open Outlook which involved 1,400 scientists and five years worth of work to prepare, found that “Human consumption had far outstripped available resources. Each person on earth now requires a third more land to supply his or her needs than the planet can supply.” Pollution Air, water, soil and noise pollution are issues that cannot be overemphasised as they create a great deal of global threat. While air pollution occurs when there is an emission of gases and toxins into the air we breathe, water pollution is caused by oil spills or waste products being released into lakes, rivers, and other water bodies. Noise pollution on the other hand, occurs

when sound goes beyond the recommended limit. Noise from aircraft, vehicles and even religious centres, among others, are harmful to the environment. According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), seven million people across the globe died as a result of both indoor and outdoor air pollution in 2012, with one in eight of total global deaths, a result of air pollution exposure. The UNEP estimated that more than one billion people are exposed to outdoor air pollution annually, with urban air pollution linked to up to one million premature deaths and one million pre-native deaths each year. “Urban air pollution is estimated to cost approximately two per cent of GDP in developed countries and five per cent in developing countries. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in increasing urban air pollution in major cities, especially in developing coun-

a in Lagos A densely populated are

Deforestation With forests covering about 30 per cent of the earth’s land, if the current rate of deforestation continues, it will take less than 100 years to destroy all the rainforests on the earth. Creating a global concern, many forests have been destroyed in order to make the land available for other uses. Between 1990 and 2005, the rate of deforestation has averaged about 13 million hectares a year, occurring mostly in tropical countries. “We are now losing about 200 square kilometres, an equivalent of 18,100 soccer playing fields, daily,” the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN REDD) said. “The loss of forests releases carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The forestry sector, mainly through deforestation, accounts for about 17 per cent of global greenhouse emissions, making it the second largest greenhouse source after the energy sector,” it added. An estimated 18 million acres of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Besides resulting in the loss of habitat for many species, deforestation also aids climate change, because trees absorb the greenhouse gases that fuel global warming, so cutting down trees in the forests, in turn aids global warming. Waste Disposal Besides the diverse health effects associated with improper waste disposal, the threats it poses to the environment cannot be overlooked, as waste management activities across many nations, especially the developing ones are just emerging. From solid to organic and industrial waste, waste that ends up in water bodies negatively change the chemical composition of the water. According to a report in January 2016 produced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the world’s oceans may have more plastic debris than fish by the year 2050. Consistent waste disposal on some sites also harms plants when they take up the contamination through their roots. Besides this, when humans eat plants and animals that have been in contact with such polluted soils, there can also be negative impact on their health, hence, the spread of some diseases. Global warming Climate change has grown to become the defining challenge of our generation. Occurring as a result of a rise in global warming due to increase in temperature of atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries, Africa is basically at the receiving end of the impacts of climate change. Given the continent’s geographical position, coupled with the limited adaptive capacity, Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 projected that by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people in Africa are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change. In the same year, yields from rain-fed agriculture in some countries could reduce by up to 50 per cent, and this in turn would further have an adverse effect on food security in the continent.

Kenya launches Green Universities Network MORE than 160 participants from Kenyan higher education institutions last week attended the launch of the Kenya Green University Network (KGUN), which is aimed at including environmental and sustainability practices into the curricula, campus designs and research projects of Kenyan universities. Speaking at the launch of KGUN, a joint initiative of the Commission for University Education (CUE), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said that Kenya is seeing fast progress in higher education. “With the increase in student enrolment, there is more reason, challenge and opportunity to integrate

sound environmental practices and knowledge-sharing into the higher education fabric. Many Kenyan universities have already recognised sustainability demands and have responded in ways that are worth sharing. They are investing in greener campuses, greener curricula, and ways of engaging staff, students and community,” Steiner said. Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities of Kenya, said that the network marks the beginning of long-term cooperation between 70 universities in Kenya that will address sustainability issues through the adoption of low-carbon strategies, mainstreaming environmental sustainability across the curriculum, and engaging with community and other stakeholders at various levels.

Is climate change driving the spread of zika virus? TRANSMITTED by mosquitoes, the Zika virus is spreading at an alarming rate across countries and scientists in Brazil suspect that global warming is exacerbating the problem. According to the Climate News Network, last year was the hottest on record, with temperatures for the first time about 1°C above pre-industrial levels. But in some parts of Brazil, average temperatures rose between 3° and 5°C, according to data from the Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. The abnormal warming of the Pacific caused by El Nino contributed to this. Studies by Brazilian scientists show that the Aedes egypti mosquito has spread to 80 per cent of the country, an area of 6.9 million square kilometres, four times larger than a

decade ago. Paolo Zanotto, a virologist at the University of Sao Paulo’s Biomedical Sciences Institute, is co-ordinating a network of laboratories studying the Zika virus. “We have noticed that dengue has spread to areas that were previously too cold for it, like the south of the country. The number of mosquitoes is increasing, their area of activity is increasing and contact with populations who have never before had contact with dengue is increasing. Global warming is probably collaborating with its spread to previously free areas,” he said. Christovam Barcellos, a geographer at the Fiocruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, said: “We have noticed that dengue has spread to areas that were previously too cold for it, like the south of the country.”

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

anchors

energy

Tunde Dodondawa

m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

The power sector was finally privatised on November 1, 2013, when all the 11 distribution companies (Discos) and the six generation companies (Gencos) were handed over to private owners. The entire privatisation process suffered another hitch when the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was not privatised, but retained by the Federal Government, which later employed the services of a consultant, Manitoba Hydro of Canada to manage the TCN. The decision not to privatise the transmission company later manifested to be a great error when efforts by the privatised Gencos to improve generation are met with system collapse each time they generate above 5000 megawatts (MW). By implications, it means until transmission capacity of the entire network is improved upon, the dividends of power sector privatisation may never be enjoyed by the Nigerian masses. Controversies trailing MYTO 2.1 The Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), according to NERC, is holistic and scientific approaches to correct pricing of electricity and ensure a fair and cost-reflective tariff regime, which will sustain the present operators while at the same time attract investment into the sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The key principles of cost reflectivity and affordability were taken into consideration in evolving the new tariff regime. The MYTO further provides for continuous reduction in transmission and distribution/retail losses. Revenue earned by operators is made dependent on achieving these performance improvements,â&#x20AC;? NERC said. However, MYTO methodology provides a 15-year tariff path for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Following the amendment of the MYTO 2.1 tariff order on April 1, 2015, the fixed charges which were eliminated with slight adjustments, were made to achieve cost reflective tariff. For the purposes of the present tariff review, some factors that were considered included the level of Aggregate Technical, Collections and Commercial (ATCC) losses for each Disco, exchange rate, inflation rate, generation capacity and gas price. However, when the regulator, NERC, mandated all Discos to meter their customers within 18 months, the commission was silent on the performance agreement it signed with the Discos, which states that all Discos must meter 500,000 customers in five years. This means an average 100,000 meters must be rolled out annually based on the MYTO methodology.

Nigerians and the new electricity tariff

Attempts by the Federal Government to increase electricity tariff have been met with stiff resistance in the past by the labour unions. However, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) may have taken advantage of the change mantra to review the tariff, having realised that policies by the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari hardly face criticisms. In this report, OLATUNDE DODONDAWA examines the cause of the current energy crises in Nigeria.

T is a fact that the electricity sector had suffered from lack of investment, since late 1980s to early 2000 when the civilian administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo initiated various policies aimed at attracting investment in power sector and boost power generation capacity for the country. Some policies were formulated ranging from National Independent Power Plants (NIPPs) to signing into law the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, and the es-

tablishment of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in October 2005, among others. The power sector reform suffered its first major hitch when late President Umaru Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Adua, on assumption of office, declared a state of emergency in the power sector. The sector was in a docile state until former President Goodluck Jonathan initiated a roadmap to power sector reform in October 2010.

Challenges of CAPEX regulation It is obvious that the government must regulate the activities of the power sector stakeholders despite the fact that the sector has been privatised. However, there seems to be conflicts in the policies of the regulators. For instance, the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) which all the 11 Discos can invest should not be more than N50billion annually. The N50billion as CAPEX is divided based on grid allocation formula for each Disco. For instance, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), says it cannot invest more than N4billion annually as CAPEX. Power supply from the grid is distributed in the following quota to the Discos: Eko-11 per cent, Ikeja-15 per cent, Ibadan-13 per cent, Kano-8 per cent, Abuja-11.5 per cent, Port Harcourt-6.5 per cent, Enugu-9 per cent, Benin-9 per cent, Kaduna-8 per cent, Jos-5.5 per cent, and Yola-3.5 per cent,. The Discos would require huge capital investment to meter their customers. But a ceiling is placed on how much they can invest and the regulators, want them to meter all customers within 18 months, it might remain a pipe dream for it to be achieved. Arguments by labour unions against tariff review labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have kicked Continues on

P27

energy

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Stakeholders urge FG to stop selling equity crude StoriesbytundeDodondawa - Lagos

HE Federal Government has been urged to stop exporting its equity crude and refine locally because they said it is more profitable to refine locally than export the crude and import only few products like premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol, Automobile Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise called diesel, HouseHold Kerosene (HHK) otherwise called kerosene and few others like Aviation. Speaking at the monthly technical meeting of National Association Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), former Managing Director, Conoil Plc, Mr Ebo Omosola, argued that petrochemical is where the profit is and who says Nigeria must export its crude. If the refineries should work, this country will make more profit than export crude oil. The government must respond to this problem quickly.” He stated that with the entry of Iran into the crude oil market, crude export is becoming less attractive. “If you produce the crude, where is the market to sell? Iran is back, Saudi Arabia is not relenting, Russia and United States (U.S) are also pumping, so where is the market? The U.S has stop crude export for over 40 years and they consumed all they have been producing all these years and even imported some. Nigeria is not addressing

•Decry 53% shortfalls in JV the problems of drop in crude prices as it did in the past. “We need improved metering and monitoring of what goes into the pipelines. We don’t know what goes into the pipelines. People are announcing figures of what was the cost to vandalism, but they have not been factual. The government must do more to meter oil flow stations,” he said. “The reality is that crude oil price may not go beyond $45 per barrel. In the last

50 years, crude oil price was highest in the last five years. Now that the reality has set in, companies must reduce operating cost to stay afloat and re-negotiate with contractors. It is obvious that crude swap is the biggest damage to this country, and maybe it is time for the government to stop selling its equity crude, but rather produce locally and value.” Meanwhile, the President-elect of NAPE, Mr Abiodun Adesanya, in his presentation decried 53 per

cent drop in NNPC cash calls payment to JV operations between 2005 and 2015. According to him, “the drop in cash calls obligations by the NNPC has led to a 62 per cent drop in JV production that is masked by Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs). It also played a part in decline of crude oil production from 2.3 million barrels per day to 2.1 million barrels per day in over the same period. “Non-performing loans are ubiquitous. About N5 trillion in loans granted to energy firms in 2012 and

2014 might be impaired. Falling oil price has a direct impact on the economy. Downsizing and job losses in the upstream sector locally and internationally; In fact, about 120,000 direct and indirect job losses in Nigeria. On the renewed security satiations in the Niger Delta, he said it should be a source of worry for stakeholders because immediately after the last election, violence, insurgency, security threats, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping and hostage taking including

Nigerian Tribune

proliferation of the refineries have resurfaced.” He urged the Federal Government to address low reserve replacement ratio and increase national reserve to 40 billion barrels in order to achieve national production of 3 million barrels per day. “Government to focus on stabilising production which should include identify low hanging fruits that require low cost work-over/ remedial operations. Reduction in capital expenditure will come from reduced spending on exploration and facility construction. “Embrace gas development; identify distressed or underperforming assets by isolating asset which may be falling short due to investment assumptions that no longer hold true. Focus on high performing assets to maximise production,” he concluded.

GlaxoSmithKline, SBF commence negotiation over new acquisition deal

From left, Operations officer Hassan Abdul; Executive Director Research, Olurotimi Oduntan and Technical Assistant, Akin Akinpelu all of Association of Electricity Distribution Company (ANED) during a media briefing in Lagos.

As labour kicks against new electricity tariff Continues from pg26

against the implementation of new tariff structure and called for the suspension of the new tariff implementation. They threatened to picket all Discos if new tariff is not suspended. The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said that labour would mobilise workers and civil society groups to protest and picket all the electricity distribution companies should the federal government implement the tariff as scheduled on February 1. “We reject the tariff increase, based on the fact that due process was not followed according to the law. Organised labour and civil society groups were not consulted. There has also not been a significant improvement in the power supply situation since it was privatised,” he said. He argued further that the Discos promised to provide pre-paid meters for its consumers within 18 months, but had not met the expectations of the people. On his part, the TUC President,

Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, urged NERC not to implement the new tariff until there is a substantive improvement in the electricity supply situation. “If by February 1, the Federal Government implements the policy, we will shut down all DISCOs. There should be an increase indicated in service delivery, before the proposed new tariff,” he said.

Reaction by stakeholders The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Electricity Distribution Companies (ANED), Mr Sunday Oduntan told Nigerian Tribune that the Discos are willing to invest in meters, if allowed by the regulators. He said investors are willing to take the risk and invest in the power sector, but regulation of the capital expenditure makes this impossible. Moreover, he challenged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of conserving energy. According to him, “Nigerians should learn to conserve energy. It

is injurious to the system to waste energy because we can barely generate enough. If we are to power the whole of Nigeria, we will need like 160,000 MW, but because that is a tall order, we must conserve what we have.” “In Africa, Kenya and Uganda have gone through exactly what we are planning to do and today things are going well for those countries. Chad has the highest tariff while Gambia has the lowest tariff followed by Nigeria with second lowest tariff. “What I can assure Nigerians is that the tariff will go down in 2018, because the tariff will only go up for the next two years and after that it will go down. “If you want good services, we need to have a tariff that will be of market value. If you don’t have a market value or appropriate pricing, you cannot sell the product in a viable way. If we do not have this tariff now, we will be back to the dark ages,” he said. Conclusion Every effort must be channelled

towards improving transmission network in the country in order to encourage investment in power generation. About two years ago, former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the government later realised that retaining the TCN in the hands of the Federal Government was a mistake and assured that the government had commenced framework to privatise the transmission company. Except that is looked into and re-activated by the current Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, achieving stable power supply will continue to elude us as a nation. Therefore, the Federal Government should be blamed not to have privatised the TCN which continues to frustrate effort to improve power supply. The NERC should also consider relaxing the CAPEX directives and see if the much needed investment can be channelled towards ensuring adequate metering of energy consumers.

FOLLOWING the inability of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc and Suntory Beverage & Food (SBF) Limited to conclude the initial $2.1 billion deal initiated in 2013, the two firms have renewed negotiations over a new deal. According to GSK Nigeria, it has received a non-binding offer from SBF for its drinks business comprising the bottling and distribution of Ribena and Lucozade and part of the Agbara manufacturing plant. GSk noted that while its board is considering the offer and expects to make a decision after the appointment of its professional advisers and negotiation with SBF, any potential sale would be subject to shareholders and regulatory approvals, noting that until the sale is completed, the drinks business would belong to GSK Nigeria and “business as usual” would be maintained. Under the initial agreement which was expected to have been finalised in 2013, GSK wants to increase its holding in the Nigerian subsidiary to 80 per cent from the current 46.4 per cent, in a bid to improve the company. However, the price to exit became an issue as Nigerian shareholders insisted that the current price at the stock market should prevail, rather than the initial proposed price of N48 (18p) per share.

energy

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Oando Marketing harps on capacity building among auto-mechanic Tunde Dodondawa with Agency Reports AS part of its commitment to consistently improve technical skills amongst auto mechanics, Oando Marketing Plc, a leading petroleum distribution company in sub-Saharan Africa, recently graduated its second stream of 200 mechanics from its Oleum Academy, in continuation of its training programme aimed at harnessing the potentials of auto-mechanics in Nigeria. The graduands, who cut across diverse backgrounds, were awarded the Oleum Academy certificates accredited by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). In a statement by the company, the programme which was designed to support the diversification of the economy is vital to the development of the nation, breeding self-reliance and entrepreneurship amongst technically-oriented individuals. It is in its second year, after having successfully graduated 100 auto-mechanics in its first stream. “The participants, who undergo a highly rigorous selection process were admitted into the three-month training programme and are exposed to a well-designed training curriculum developed in partnership with a well-renowned mecha-tronics training arm company, Automedics as facilitators;. “The syllabus combines classroom and onsite training methods, with special emphasis on auto diagnosis and repair, usage of modern diagnostic tools, mecha-tronics, and advanced training in automotive electrical systems, lubrication knowledge and application,” it stated. The initiative is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), to bridge the skills gap in the nation, focusing on the automotive industry whilst improving their social status

and relevance in their communities through training and skills upgrade. “This programme also equips them with internationally-recognised technical and life skills for their benefit and that of the nation as well. As the automobile industry constantly advances, and the demand for efficiency, exper-

tise and customer experience increases, there is a need for mechanics to upgrade their skills and keep abreast on industry trends and the ever-changing consumer market space. “To empower them through a constructive and rewarding engagement with the lubricants consumer

Opeyemi Bello thanked Oando Marketing Plc for the opportunity to be able to improve his skills and expand his technical knowledge. According to him, “this has opened my eyes to a lot of things, now I can work on different cars and models and give the right solutions to my customers. I am so

glad that I was a part of this; I have learnt a lot.” Aside the over 1,000 onsite trainings organised by the Oando Marketing across Nigeria, an additional 250 auto-mechanics have been trained in the Oleum Academy. Amongst these are 20 female mechanics who also graduated from the Oleum Academy. The company also stated that safety is central to its operations; therefore, it is imperative that professional handlers of automotive are well-equipped to provide optimal services are delivered to enhance national growth and security. The Oleum Academy is one of the initiatives we have designed to give back to the society.

Crude price decline:

Practitioners urge Nigeria on transparency

From left; Acting Company Secretary, Adeoye Ajidaun; Chairman Kolapo Lawson and Managing Director, Doyin Adeyinka , all of Acorn Petroleum Plc, during the company’s extra-ordinary general meeting in Lagos.

Chevron reports Q4 loss of $588m CHEVRON Corporation has reported a loss of $588 million for fourth quarter of 2015, compared with earnings of $3.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014. According to statement from the oil giant, foreign currency effects increased earnings in the 2015 quarter by $46 million compared with an increase of $432 million a year earlier. Full-year 2015 earnings were $4.6 billion compared with $19.2 billion in 2014. Sales and other operating revenues in fourth quarter 2015 were $28 billion, compared to $42 billion in the year-ago period. “Our 2015 earnings were down significantly from the

previous year, reflecting a nearly 50 per cent yearon-year decline in crude oil prices,” said Chairman and CEO John Watson. “We’re taking significant action to improve earnings and cash flow in this low price environment. Operating expenses and capital

will act as a catalyst for accelerating the reshaping of our business. “We look forward to delivering the benefits of the combination as quickly as possible following completion.” Van Beurden will be closely watched once the deal completes on February 15. He has promised huge cuts in spending and jobs, including culling three per cent of the combined 100,000 workforce. He will also now proceed with the sale of more than £20 billion of assets, which he has said he will sell by

spending were reduced $9 billion in 2015 from 2014, and I expect similarly large reductions again in 2016. In addition, asset sales proceeds were $6 billion in 2015, with additional sales planned for 2016 and 2017. “Improved refinery reliability allowed us to

capture the benefits of a favourable margin environment and post excellent downstream results for the year. We continued to reshape the downstream portfolio with well-timed asset sales and good progress on petrochemical investments.

Acorn Petroleum to raise share capital by 200% THE Shareholders of Acorn Petroleum Plc have approved the increase in share capital of the company by 200 per cent at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM), from N1.5billion to N4.5billionn. The event which took place on January 28, 2016 at Oakwood Park Hotel, Lekki

Shell, BG £36bn mega-merger gets shareholders’ nod ONE of the largest takeovers in history finally got the go-ahead at the weekend, after BG Group shareholders followed those at Royal Dutch Shell in approving the £36billion deal. At a meeting in London, 99.53 per cent of BG shareholders voted in favour, a day after 83 per cent of Shell investors approved the deal that was first announced last April. Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden said “BG adds attractive deep water and integrated gas positions and

market and the Oleum brand, a Mechanic Oleum Reseller Enterprise (MORE) initiative was also inaugurated, designed to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of the mechanics, and deepen product usage and breed proximity with users,” the company said. One of the beneficiaries,

2018. Cost savings are pencilled in at £2.5 billion. Shell and BG will both reveal their full-year results next week. The takeover of BG comes nearly two decades after the company was created out of British Gas. BG Chief Executive, Helge Lund, who joined BG just weeks before the merger was announced, will step down. Shell Executive, Huibert Vigeveno, who has been heading integration planning, will become transitional chief executive.

Peninsular attracted large number of shareholders. According to resolution of the EGM, the shareholders approved for an increase in share capital of Acorn Plc by 200 per cent by the creation and addition thereto of 6bn (six billion) ordinary shares of 50kobo each to the company’s existing share capital, which they claimed will help to reposition the company for strong competition in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. The Acting Company Secretary of Acorn Plc, Mr Deoye Ajidahun said “The new shares will rank parri passu with the company’s existing ordinary shares. The shareholders in a special resolution also approved the amendment of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company to reflect the current share capital of the company by altering Clause (5) of the Memorandum of Association and Clause (3) of the Articles of Association. This resolution shows

that the authorised share capital of the company is now N4.5 billion divided into 9bn ordinary shares of 50kobo each.” According to the resolution, the shareholders directed the board that the altered Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company should be filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). On this ground, the board of directors was granted the approval to raise additional equity capital via the issuance of up to 3 billion ordinary shares of 50kobo each at the price of between 50kobo and 85kobo per share in the company’s unissued share capital by way of a private placement/special placement. The resolution states that the approval is offered mainly to new identified/ target investor(s) at a date and upon such terms and conditions to be determined by the directors and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

OIL and gas companies in Nigeria have been urged to increase the transparency level of their business operations as part of strategies to survive the crude oil price fall. The Managing Director of PennWell International, Mr Glenn Ensor, stated that from a strategic point of view, Nigeria need to continue the process of doing business in a transparent manner. Speaking at the sideline of the just concluded 2016 Offshore West Africa (OWA) Conference in Lagos, Ensor suggested that in addition to doing business in a transparent manner, developing fields in Nigeria need to control their cost in the face of falling oil price. He explained that companies need to control their cost of production in order to make profit to survive the current industry crisis. Ensor admitted that cost control for International Oil Companies (IOCs) in Nigeria is going to be a technical and strategic challenge. “For developing fields, the watch word is cost control. Companies need to bring down the price of oil at which they can obtain profit and survive. That is going to be a technical and strategic challenge for the industry,” Glenn Ensor said. As Iran prepares to commence production and supply of crude oil into the international market couple with low demand from China, Ensor said oil price will remain low for a while. Commenting on America shale gas, Ensor said it has proved to be remarkable resilient and flexible by bringing down their cost structures to stay in the market.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

Pyrates confraternity does not exist in schools — NAS President

56 chapters across the globe. People should go online to clear any misconceptions about the organisation. We do outreaches in schools to let people know what we stand for and any group that purports itself to be pyrates should be arrested. We do not have pyrates on campuses.

In this interview by WALE AKINSELURE, the international president, National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Ifeanyi Onochie, bares it all about the activities of the association. Excerpts:

HEN you emerged president of NAS in August 2014, your goals included raising humanity to the highest level of fulfilment and attaining a just, progressive and egalitarian society. To what extent have you been able to realise these goals? In the last 18 months under the current leadership, the organisation has been able to achieve its set goals. We have had several interventions in virtually all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. We have had interventions that deal with socio-political issues; we have had interventions on health and in education. In our various local chapters, we replicate these programmes in all the local chapters. The aspirations and dreams of the administrators of the association do not end at that. As things evolve, we change our strategies. We try to accommodate for example, Lassa fever. This bothers a lot on advocacy. The Lassa fever problem has to do with personal hygiene, environmental situation. Inasmuch as we want to wade in, we think the best approach is advocacy. We should let the people know the primary causes of these health issues. As the problems unfold, we come up with strategies to tackle them. Even, we have continued our “votes count” exercise which we had shortly before the 2015 general exercise. We are monitoring politicians who promised to do one thing or the other. On our website, those issues are captured. Overtime, we take stock of what the elected public office holders promised to do and tell Nigerians what had been achieved. It therefore becomes the duty of the people to make these elected office holders accountable. And this would inform people’s choices in the next election. Your creed includes fighting social ills and conformist degradation. What ideals does your organisation’s creed promote? The creed is referred to as the four compass points. The core of the four compass points is humanistic ideals which you referred to in your question. What we get is fulfilment of our actions and interventions for humanistic ideals. The founding fathers formed this organisation in 1952/53 session at the University College, Ibadan, to fight for the “powerless”; people who could not fight

Ifeanyi Onochie for themselves in the then society. These humanistic ideals make us different from being just an organisation that focuses on philanthropy. Humanitarianism is different from philanthropy. That is the departure that Pyrates Confraternity has from some other organisations. We want to act and act in the best interest of the others. Also our second level of our seven order creed is “All before self”. Attaining a just and egalitarian society is the ideal. We are the conscience of the society making effort to attain these ideals. The Rotary Club also carries out similar programmes. Does the confraternity work, in some way, in sync with the Rotary Club? I read in the media about interventions that the Rotary Club carries out. Whoever is making a sacrifice to make a difference for community is great. Many are still surprised that we intervene in communities. We have been doing this for many years yet people have certain misconceptions about our activities. Our cardinal point is to keep doing what we do. We have done interventions that some say such project is meant for government but we cannot continue to

wait for government; rather we should take considerable action. If Rotary and many organisations or individuals that make a difference for the weak in the society, such persons should be praised. All these efforts are towards attaining a just society. We have communication professionals among us, but we just keep at doing what we do rather than engage in massive publicity. What do I have to do to become a member of your association? The primary qualification to become a member is your NYSC discharge or exemption certificate. Every year, the intake process comes up. We stream the advertisements on our website. You log on to our website (www.nas-int.org) and go through a registration process, where you are to fill in certain information that will be requested. We communicate to you afterwards to tell you to go to certain place to do certain things. It will interest you to know that we run online examinations for new and aspiring members. It is done globally on a particular day, and at the same time. People would learn a lot aside from just knowing about the confraternity when they log on to our website. We have

What are we publicising about this? That a pyrate has done what he has interest in doing? There is no crime called cultism...

But we have some groups in schools who claim to be pyrates. We do not have pyrates in schools. When we have our medical missions among other projects, people are convinced to know what the pyrates confraternity truly stands for, not what they think. Sometimes, the problem we have is that, some Nigerians have a fixed mindset about the organisation. They assume the association is a cult because they do not take time to find out. We are not hiding the fact that we are pyrates. A pyrate is someone who having identified the ills militating against the attainment of a just society, shows resolve to combat them and joins hands with like minds to do same. What are we publicising about this? That a pyrate has done what he has interest in doing? There is no crime called cultism and the society’s approach worsens the situation in our tertiary institutions. For example, a man rapes a girl, we call it cultism; that is rape. It is a criminal offence contained in the penal code. Some people refer to such rape case as cultism. That is why such person cannot be charged to court. We usually would have a situation where such person is arrested, the parents secure bail and the person is released. There is nothing in our penal code about cultism but the society has a lazy approach to this. So, if students are caught for rape, armed robbery, battery, you face the law. There is no law for cultism. The National Association of Seadogs has branches world over. It is only in Nigeria that there is the issue of cultism associated with the organisation. We have a pseudoreligious thinking that removes us from the issues. If there is criminality, let us deal with it frontally. Let us not create these togas that remove from the issues. It is only the branches in Nigeria that carry out medical missions because the government is failing. The NAS insignia is a skull and crossed bones. How does this represent the intent of the organisation? It means caution, that is, people should be cautious as they approach a dangerous bend. People use swords to represent the confraternity. It is as simple as that. It is not as simple as that. What caution do you refer to? The insignia metaphorically means danger but we are confronted with societal ills. Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi once said that corruption fights back when we fight it. People have lost their lives in fighting societal ills because the powers that perpetuate or reinforce these ills are strong. The skull and crossed bones apart from telling us that we are all ash and bones also Continues on pg30

features

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

At launch, AG Mobile prioritises job creation, business growth From left, Boni Obieze, Chief Executive Officer, Ringo Communications, Tayshira Santamaria, Executive Head of Marketing (global), AG Mobile, and Craig Herr, Sales & Product Manager, AG Mobile, during the media launch of AG Mobile in Nigeria, recently.

By Paul Omorogbe

HEN Tayshira Santamaria, Executive Head of Marketing (Global), AG Mobile was to begin her presentation at a media launch in Lagos recently, she remarked that PowerPoint slides were not enough to tell the AG Mobile story that she knew all too well. The story was on how an African entrepreneur decided to make a difference in the mobile communications space by deciding to become an original device manufacturer (ODM) for Africans by Africans. The entrepreneur in this story is Anthony Goodman, a South African. And his sojourn into the business in 2007 has led to the manufacture of over 60 different models of AG Mobile beyond Goodman’s native country of South Africa to eight other countries in Africa. The company which began as AG Cellular changed its name to AG Mobile in 2010. The company which prides itself as one of the longest standing African ODM, recently decided to make its entrance into Nigeria. AG Mobile has introduced four Android

powered devices, namely ‘Zoom’, ‘Boost’, ‘Style’ and ‘Ghost’ which is the company’s flagship device, all of which are already on sale in the country. According to AG Mobile CEO, this development forms part of the brand’s expansion strategy to provide more Africans with affordable, quality products while investing in markets that offer mutually beneficial opportunities. “As a proudly African brand we believe that we will bring great value to Nigeria. We’ve started by building relationships with wellrespected brands such as MTN, Etisalat, Ringo and Jumia, creating employment opportunities, and supporting the networks’ objectives to advance Nigeria’s connectivity from 2G to 3G.” Goodman continues, “While our initial marketing roll-out covers Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano, our reach is national. We’re also completing the installation of our first retail space at the Ringo Arena in the Computer Village in Lagos and will be rolling-out similar outlets where customers can experiment with live devices before they purchase them. Any repair issues will be administered at an in-country repair centre.” However, according to Santamaria, this

venture is more than just about selling phones and making profit. “Knowing Nigeria is a competitive market, we took our time before coming here. We are a very sensitive about quality and products that last. “We want to build a sustainable business and become wholly involved

We plan to be very involved in creating jobs for people and creating business opportunities. We will teach people how to run their businesses and give them the right tools.

Nigerian business. In a short time, we will establish an office and create jobs through our agencies. We plan to be very involved in creating jobs for people and creating business opportunities. We will teach people how to run their businesses and give them the right tools,” Santamaria said. The marketing head stated that this would be possible because the company was driven by an entrepreneurial spirit which is epitomised in its founder. She said the company was interested in growing entrepreneurs in the country because their success as a company was based on strategic partnerships. Such partnerships include MediaTek, a partnership which Goodman says is responsible for high-level functionality of AG Mobile devices. Others are MTN, Etisalat, Ringo and “other independent dealers across the country.” “We are a very entrepreneurial brand and can react quickly and give customers what they need,” Santamaria noted. Goodman concludes, “With good initial sales and a growing following on social media we’re confident that AG Mobile will find its way into the hearts of Nigerians, just as it has across the African continent.”

‘People have misconceptions about us’ Continues from pg29

means that we should be concerned with what we do to help the needy. In confronting societal ills, one confronts forces that could lead to one being harmed. So, one has to be cautious in doing that. If a dangerous organisation is trying to mask its purpose, we probably would use a dove. In the Christian bible, Lucifer is referred to as angel of light. We are not about luring people in or giving them misconceptions. From the first day of the organisation, the founders choose the motive of the organisation. We wear the skull and crossed bones and still remain relevant to the society. It is not about the toga. The skull and crossed bones mean more than danger. The skull also represents intellect; the head as the seat of the intellect. The logo of the confraternity coloured in red, black and yellow is a skull positioned between the two cross bones. To the ordinary undiscerning observer, it portrays

danger thus the perception of members as men of danger. The logo was a deliberate choice of the original seven. Its real essence is to remind all members and all on those on whom the organisation might impact of what we all would be reduced to in the final analysis. The lesson is while in body, flesh and spirit, do whatever you can for the sake of humanity. In the end, skulls and bones will not be differentiated. It is what we do and who we become that we will be remembered for till eternity, long after the bones and skulls are reduced to dust and ashes. Discipline is our watchword. Togas are like facades. It is not about what people think we are but what who we actually are. People should come join us and see the reality of the organisation. People should scratch beyond the surface, perceptions. They should dig deep beyond the beautiful or dangerous surfaces to get to the core question which is, what are you doing for

the society? Do your members believe in the teachings of Christianity and Islam? We have members who attend all kinds of churches, whether Catholic or Redeemed. Some of our members are pastors and imams. We also have traditionalists, atheists, Muslims. Our Muslims observe their five prayers daily. NAS is a nonreligious organisation. Religion is divisive. The core mission of this organisation is national integration. We have different beliefs but we are one when we want to make a difference for humanity. How do you love God who you do not see if you do not love man that you see? What matters is what we do for humanity while we live on earth. Moreover, we, as members of NAS, bear names that do not reflect our religious or ethnic groups.

How does the Buhari administration help in the NAS’s drive to attain a just and egalitarian society? The Buhari’s anti-corruption stance fits in perfectly into the mindset and operations of the National Association of Seadogs. One of the greatest champions of anti-corruption in Nigeria is Professor Wole Soyinka, who is a pyrate. What we expect from Buhari is to ensure that the broken infrastructure is rebuilt. We expect education is remodelled and strengthened; we expect that social services for the common good are restored. We expect that Nigeria will be a better place for everyone. We hope that Buhari will deliver a just and egalitarian society to Nigerians. However, Nigerians should not leave all the task of rebuilding the country to Buhari alone. Every Nigerian should in their own personal communities be committed to making Nigeria a better place.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Furore as govâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kinsman emerges Taraba Speaker SYLVANUS VIASHIMA looks at the variegated issues trailing the election of a new Speaker for the Taraba State House of Assembly, Honourable Mark Useni.

Useni

HE Taraba state House of Assembly recently reconvened after almost two months of adjourning sine die and elected Right Honorable Mark Useni, as the new Speaker to fill the vacuum created, following the nullification of the election of the former Speaker, Right Honorable Abel Peter Diah, by the Court of Appeal sitting in Yola last year. The election has thrown up a lot of controversies in the state, as the heads of the three arms of government (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) are now from the same senatorial zone, with the state governor and Speaker coming from the same local government thereby creating a major imbalance in the polity. For those who are familiar with the politics of Taraba, Honourable Mark Useni is a very familiar factor. He holds a PhD. in Mass Communication from the Benue State University, and has served variously

Ishaku

For the first time in the history of the state, we have the governor, Speaker and the Chief Judge of the state coming from the same zone. In fact, the governor and the Speaker are even from the same local government, the same tribe, same religion, same chiefdom and the same neighbourhood. as the chairman of Takum Local Government; commissioner, among other capacities. He is a three-time member of the state House of Assembly representing Takum ll state constituency and the Speaker of the 7th Assembly in the state.

His combination of natural intellect, acquired experience, advanced education, youthfulness and golden heart, obviously stand him out as a veritable candidate for the speakership of the House at this time that the state economy desperately needs

to be repositioned on the path of sustainability. However, one of the issues that seem to have gained ascendancy from the emergence of Right Honourable Useni as the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly is the fact that both he and the governor are from the same local government. This, to many stakeholders in the state, negates the principles of an unwritten agreement that the machinery of government is spread across the various sections of the state in the interest of fair representation. The mutual agreement is also designed to ensure that no particular group or section feels slighted by virtue of being excluded from the scheme of things. It was on this strength and thinking that the governorship of the state was zoned to the Southern Taraba in the first place, giving rise to the emergence of Governor continues pg32

politics&policy

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

The question of power sharing continued from pg31

Darius Ishaku, of the PDP. Since the governor is from the Southern Taraba and the deputy from the central, the Speaker would be chosen from the Northern zone of the state. Many contend that it would have been in tandem with the principle of power sharing and balance in the state. This is more so, considering the fact that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Josephine Tuktur, is also from the Southern zone, though. The state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Hassan Ardo Jika, described the election as the “height of impunity that should be condemned by all sane persons.” He alleged that it was a deliberate conspiracy by the authorities to domesticate and concentrate power to the Southern part, so as to cripple politicians from other parts of the state. “For the first time in the history of the state, we have the governor, Speaker and the Chief Judge of the state coming from the same zone. In fact, the governor and the Speaker are even from the same local government, the same tribe, same religion, same chiefdom and the same neighbourhood. “Taraba is a multilingual, multi-religious, and diverse cultural heritage. In the interests of fairness, these seats are usually zoned to various sections so that everyone is carried along. But, now we have the governor, Speaker and Chief Justice from the same tribe, same local government, same zone and literally from the same family. Is Taraba State government and governance now a family affair? This is the height of impunity that every sane person should condemn in the strongest terms for the sake of posterity,” Ardo said. He further alleged that this was part of official plans to strip other parts and sections of the state of political relevance and influence. Another APC chieftain, Mr Yakubu Adamu, described the development as an indication of official insensitivity to the concerns of the people. He stated: “Ishaku is in power today but he should remember that he will not always be there. If other people, who held that position before him decided to also take over all the positions as he has and given same to their brothers, I’m sure he wouldn’t find it funny. He is talking about unity of the state, but is this how he intends to entrench it?” In a swift reaction to the allegations, the Speaker Right Honorable Useni stated that the legislative arm of government was independent of the executive and that the decisions of the arm were not influenced by the Chief Executive. He noted that the House comprised members from all the zones and the various sections of the state and that the opposition APC also had about a third of the members. So since the House unanimously voted for him, there was no reason for people to start raising issues. “The House is made up of members from all the political, tribal, religious and zonal sections in the state. My nomination was even from a member from a different zone all together. If the people have confidence in my competence to lead them for a time, I don’t see why people should be complaining. “Besides, the legislative arm of government is independent of the executive, and

Diah

the fact that the person leading that arm is from Southern Taraba is not enough reason for me to decline the confidence reposed in me by my colleagues,” he said. The spokesperson of the governor, Mr Sylvanus Giwa, dismissed the allegations of executive interference as “baseless and the figment of some idle persons, who lack what to invest their time into and as such have resorted to working so hard to tarnish the good image of the governor and to frustrate the rescue mission of the governor.” But, if the governor were in control of the House as alleged and wanted to have his kinsman man the seat so as to domesticate or ‘Takumise’ governance in the state, what then was the rationale behind the delay of almost two months after the election of the former Speaker was nullified? Was the delay necessary? A member of the House, who spoke to Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, claimed that the governor initially did not want the house to reconvene until the outcome of the rerun election so that

if Abel Dia (the outgone speaker) wins, he would just resume and continue as the Speaker as though he was never away. However, there was increasing pressure from the media and the opposition so an alternative arrangement had to be made. There are others however, who believe that the fear of the outcome of the Supreme Court was responsible for the decision of the governor to insist on having his brother as the Speaker. The argument from this school of thought is that, the governor is afraid that he may lost at the Supreme Court to the APC candidate Senator Aisha Alhassan, and so has to plant someone from the zone as the Speaker who would ensure that the zone retains the seat at all cost and watch his back. According to a PDP chieftain Mr Dogara Imam, “the Supreme Court could be funny at times and it will be a grave mistake on the part of the governor if he does not make alternative arrangements in case things go wrong at the end of the day.

The legislative arm of government is independent of the executive, and the fact that the person leading that arm is from Southern Taraba is not enough reason for me to decline the confidence reposed in me by my colleagues.

“The arrangement is that if the Supreme Court orders a rerun election, the Speaker who is a brother and a trusted friend of the governor, should be the one to take charge of the state and conduct the election. That way the party’s interest would be adequately protected. “If however, the court orders that Aisha be sworn in directly, we still need a strong person as the Speaker who can quickly mobilise and make sure that she is impeached as soon as possible and once that is done, the Speaker, who is from the Southern zone would now take over power thus retaining the governorship to the South.” Again, Mr Giwa has dismissed this argument, saying the governor was optimistic of winning at the Supreme Court and so had no need for a Plan B as that is absolutely unnecessary. But the emergence of Useni as the Speaker now has a far reaching effect on the political structure of the state. According to David Mase, other parts of the state will never trust the southern zone with power again since they have e shown how greedy they are. “Some of us were clamouring that power should be shifted to the south since the North and central zones have already had their own share through Nyame and Suntai respectively. Now that this is done, they are making us look like foolish people. They now have the governor, Speaker, the Chief Judge of the state, and most of the juicy appointments. “It then means that the unwritten agreement that the key position be spread across board is now breached and so others would also follow the precedence he now sets. The political structure is completely destroyed and a precedence of winner takes all is set. “All the major projects are also going on in Takum. Is it now a Takum affair? This is morally and politically wrong,” he said. But, Mark Useni has much to offer the state. According to the Speaker, the unity of the House and the entire state is paramount. That is why he is back as the Speaker. Taraba State House of Assembly needs to be united to come up with legislations that will foster development in the state. That is what I started during the 7th Assembly and this is the opportunity to consolidate on it. That is my major concern. That is my mission. I believe in a House that is not divided along party lines but that is firmly united in its resolve to move the state forward. “Like every other arm of government, we are also challenged in a number of ways but since we don’t execute projects per se, we would move on. I know there are some people who are bent on frustrating any genuine effort to move the state forward but we would surmount all the challenges,” he said. The Speaker however assured that the autonomy of the House was intact, as it would not tolerate executive interference. He promised that they would work together with the executive to actualise the ‘rescue mission’ of the governor. Beautiful as the vision of the Speaker might be, many stakeholders in the state have raised teasers on why both the governor and Speaker should come from the same area. They have asked questions continue concerning the twin issue of zoning and sectional interests.

33 politics&policy

Wednesday, 10 February , 2016

Nigerian Tribune

As Reps beam searchlight on NRC’s contract controversy KOLAWOLE DANIEL, in this report, captures some of the activities of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating alleged N1 trillion railway contract scam.

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Reps

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport

HE need for the legislative arm of government to be more responsible and responsive to its constitutional role in the current political dispensation cannot be over-emphasised. The amalgam of critical issues that has been thrown up in the political circle has made more compelling the necessity for members of the National Assembly to be more alive to their oversight function. While a number of the reports of probes/investigations carried out by the legislative arm are begging for decisive action, startling claims of immunity by some actors in the last political dispensation have put the arm on the spot, in the opinion of some Nigerians. The House of Representatives has taken another bold step at charting a new dawn in the Eighth National assembly. Last week. It commenced an investigative hearing through ad hoc committee set up to unravel how more than N1 trillion was expended on rail rehabilitation, purchase of coaches, spare parts and materials for the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC). The House inquest was sequel to a motion sponsored by Honourable Solomon Ahwhinawi, calling for a probe of the contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of rail tracks, standard gauge, bridges, coaches, wagons and locomotives between 2010 and 2014 amounting to N1 trillion. The seriousness attached to the exercise by the House was not in doubt as the committee clearly outlined the fosu and primary goal of the assignment. The chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Honourable Johnson Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma emphasized that the exercise was not meant to witch hunt anybody. He declared: “The probe was not in any way designed to rubbish any Nigerian, but primarily to let Nigerians know how their taxes are being spent.” Three former chairmen of corporation: Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and Senator Ladan Shuni, were drilled by the panel. Each of them denied any involvement in the alleged contract scam in the NRC. So, they advised the committee to beam its searchlight on the Federal Ministry of Transport and the leadership of the corporation. On his part, Baraje gave a detailed account of his stewardship based on the briefing he got from the au-

thorities at the Presidency in the last political dispensation. “The NRC board under me never awarded any contract. The records are there. There was only board meeting and one emergency board meeting under my leadership. “When the Managing Director told me that all the contracts had been awarded and that the board had no role in contract awards, I set various committees for oversight functions for the proper execution of the contracts. “The former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, sent me to the NRC to ensure and provide a functional rail system in the country, but I was rendered redundant and I have to resign as the Chairman of the Board. I was a toothless bulldog; I couldn’t cope. They appointed consultants attached to each contract awarded. “The various committees I set up for the supervision of the jobs performed very well. I was at the point of collecting their reports for study and as well interacting with the projects consultants when I resigned my appointment due to frustration” he stated. Similarly, Alhaji Tukur, while addressing the committee, said his board did not award any contract. According to him, four board meetings and one emergency were held during his tenure as the chairman of the board. To buttress his point, he urged the panel to go through the minutes of all the meetings, saying

The probe was not in any way designed to rubbish any Nigerian, but primarily to let Nigerians know how their taxes are being spent.

it would discover that nowhere were contract issues mentioned. He promised to make the minutes of the board meetings under his chairmanship available to the committee on request. For Senator Ladan, he pointedly told the panel that the situation in the corporation was worrisome, but that he was helpless while in the board of the corporation. He said: “I am on oath; we were not happy about the happenings in the NRC then, but we cannot help the situation.” He disclosed that he was a member of the board, but only became the chairman when Dr Haliru Bello, the then helmsman was appointed minister. To the best of his knowledge, he said no single contract was awarded. He stated that necessary information to get to the root of contracts awarded, names of the companies, values, completion stages and the amounts already paid out to the contractors had been provided by the invited former chairmen of the NRC and urged the committee to rely on such information. When it was his turn, another former chairman of NRC Dr Mohammed Haliru Bello, admitted to signing documents in the ongoing contract scam being investigated. But he said that he only signed agreements and not contract papers. According to him, the contracts were in fact awarded by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and not by him or his board. He also said that Section 22 of the Procurement Act exempted the board of the NRC from contract matters, adding that his board was only involved in oversight functions of contracts as approved by the FEC, which led him to sign agreements but not contracts. He asserted: “That would have been against the law. I signed agreements not contracts. I cannot recall all the contracts I signed, I’m 70 years old. The decision-making was in the hand of the tender board.” The Managing Director of the NRC, Engineer Seyi Sijuwade, also appeared before the committee. He denied any wrong doing in the award of contracts. He equally denied having any connections with a company called ESR Nigeria limited. Engineer Sijuwade said he knew the engineering firm but that he was not in any way linked to its owners or management. The panel, however, raised the alarm that most of the letters sent to the contractors that handled the projects were returned undelivered. Therefore, the chairman of the committee, Honourable Agbonayinma then asked the MD of NRC to ensure that the contractors appeared before the committee since he knew the contractors. According to Honourable Agbonayinma,“You are dutybound to produce the contractors. They are nowhere to be found. They are not faceless, but yet they cannot be reached. You gave them the job, so you should produce them. We are holding you responsible. “You are all innocent until proven guilty, late) President Umaru) Yar’Adua, and Jonathan tried to fix the rail, but their efforts have not produced results. It is only Nigerians that can fix Nigeria; we need to make up,” he stated. The committee also faulted the award of rail contract to Costain Construction Company, claiming that the firm lacked the competence in railway projects. But, the NRC boss replied that Costain went through due process and was found competent by the approving authority, Federal Executive Council (FEC), and being a reliable company, it has successfully completed its project. The committee chairman also questioned the rationale for an alleged request by the NRC to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for a return of N2 billion to the corporation’s pension fund. However, the managing director and others members of his team denied the allegation. He denied making such request to either the AGF or the Minister of Finance to return any pension money to NRC.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

maka nd’igbo Ohanaeze hails S/Court over sack of Anambra NASS members Suzy Oruya -Onitsha THE Igbo apex ruling body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, at the weekend in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, hailed the sack of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators and eight House of Representatives members from the state by the Supreme Court, adding that the apex court verdict served PDP well. Reacting to the sack, the Anambra State chairman of Ohanaeze, Elder Chris Eluemuno, said “it is a welcome development in the sense that PDP, especially in Anambra State, has been doing things with impunity”. “At every election, they will bring out three candidates at the same time and the three will contest for the same position and at the end of the day, one candidate will be given all the votes to the disadvantage of other political candidates. “This will teach them a lesson, there are certain things you don’t do, it is pure political rascality.” he stated. He stated further: “I am happy that the Supreme Court has stopped that PDP rascality in the state”. “PDP in the state has done it severally and got away with it; so this will teach them and other parties a lesson”, Eluemuno posited, adding “every time PDP comes up with a list of three or four candidates, it is usually a deliberate act so that one person will win. With this, they should sort out their problems before presenting a candidate next time,” he added. It will be recalled that the Supreme Court, last week, sacked Senators Andy Uba representing Anambra South, Uche Ekwunife representing Anambra Central and Stella Odua from Anambra North, stating that Ejike Oguebego –led Executive of PDP was the recognised one in the state and not the one led by Ken Emeakai that produced the sacked Senators. The verdict also sacked House of Representative members from the state who emerged through Emeakai’s executive.

Drug war: NDLEA begins sensitisation in Enugu —pg35

The Managing Director, Kisley Mega Vision, Mr Ubenyi Kisley Amechi (middle), cutting the cake to mark the second annual shareholders conference.

Tackling youths unemployment in Igboland Jude Ossai - Enugu

HE 2nd annual stakeholders conference of the Kisley Mega Vision held in Enugu last Saturday, February 6, 2016, has come and gone, but the memory still lingers on in the minds of many Coal City dwellers who were in the forum. Maka Ndigbo, which was at the summit, observed that youth unemployment was the main thrust of the stakeholders’ meeting as it cut across age, class and profession. The “De Dome Event Centre”, right in the heart of Enugu metropolis, the venue of the occasion, was filled to the brim. Speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of Kisley Mega Vision, Kingsley Amechi Ubenyi, said he ventured into the business to reduce poverty in the land, adding that the level of unemployment in the South-east zone had become a serious threat.

Fake products: NAFDAC goes tough in Enugu —pg35

Ubenyi stated that his decision to establish the company was borne out of the passion “to impact on societal business stereotypes, adopt new ways of wealth creation, poverty alleviation, idea development and marketing. The philanthropist further stated that within a spate of four years, he had employed no less than 2000 youths, thereby reducing the number of youths on the streets and unemployment rate. He added that “the company is also involved in upcoming youth empowerment projects through the media and other partners. “The main aim of this objective is to be closer to the masses as much as we can. In that regard, the company has expanded from one branch to about seven new branches across the federation within four years. “We need support from the government, organised cooperative and private organisations to help us alleviate poverty in major areas because we are creating wealth, employment and human capital development. “We pray government, the bank of industry and cooperative societies to help us access interest free loans that will help us improve our society and better the nation”. Earlier, the chairman of the event, Chief Nnadi, described Ubechi as “a source of

hope and respite for Nigerian youths”. He noted that “the company is doing what government could not do; he has empowered no less than 2000 youths and we know the multiplier effect of such in Enugu State here and the country at large. “You know how difficult it is to secure loan, but here in Enugu State, we have a young man who is assisting youths to set up businesses without asking for collateral. All that is required from you is to come up with a business plan. “So, he has essentially done so much towards reduction of unemployment, reduction of crime and creating a safer Enugu State”. Highlights of the event were the cutting of the conference cake, unveiling of Ksley Mega Micro Finance Bank, award presentation, and lecture on “Financial Life Cycle” by the ICT business consultant.

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

35 makand’igbo

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Group moves crusade against sexual, gender violence to South East Jude Ossai -Enugu

NARGUABLY, Enugu, the Enugu State capital is the heart beat of Igboland having been the former regional headquarters of the defunct Eastern region. Little wonder, the Coal City has been playing host to many local and international conferences, seminars and workshops. Last week, between Monday and Friday, the DFID-funded organisation called the Justice For All (J4A) took its crusade against sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) to Enugu. The venue of the workshop was Nike-Lake Hotel located at the outskirts of the City. Speaking to Maka Ndigbo, the manager of Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, Bernie Ryan, explained that the workshop was aimed at improving skills to address sexual and gender based violence in the southeast zone. She said that the participants were given lectures on forensic medical examination and counselling, stressing that at the end of the day, they would be better equipped on the task of addressing the sexual and gender based violence in the country. The Programme Officer, J4A, Oluwatoyosi and the Component Manager, Godwin

Odo, also noted that the Justice For All had supported the establishment of two sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Lagos and Enugu States through the provision of grants to local civil society organisations (CSOs). According to them, the Justice For All had been operating in Nigeria since September 2010, pointing out that the programme was active in a wide range of intervention areas that aimed to contribute to improved personal security and access to justice for all Nigerians. “Any survivor of rape or sexual assault can go to a SARC to access forensic examination, emergency medical treatment, counselling and assistance in accessing and negotiating the legal and judicial service. SARC services are provided to the client free of charge by specially trained doctors, nurses and social workers”, they said. They recalled that in September 2015, J4A supported training in forensic medical examination and counseling for 35 doctors, nurses and counsellors from Jigawa, Niger and Kano states, adding that they were now equipped with the necessary technical skills and best practice for handling cases of sexual and gender based violence more effectively within a state-run-SARC or under their respective state health ministry.

The Enugu workshop, they said, was a second round of forensic medical examination and counselling training for 46 doctors, nurses and social workers from Zamfara, Yobe, Kaduna, Enugu, Ekiti, Cross-River and Akwa Ibom states. One of the participants, who gave her name as Dr Nene Andem, a consultant in Family Medicine, said she was satisfied with the level of training she got from the workshop, adding that she was going back more equipped to tackle the issue of sexual

and gender based violence in the society. Some of the challenges facing the war against sexual and gender based violence include culture, poverty and ignorance, stressing that there was the need for more enlightenment on the matter. “Some family members of victims of sexual abuse and gender based violence do not want to report the matter to police and this makes it difficult to pursue the case. Some of the victims do not want to be stigmatised”, she added.

Participants at the seminar.

Drug war: NDLEA begins sensitisation in Enugu Jude Ossai -Enugu THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has decried the high rate of illicit drug trafficking in the Southeast zone and other parts of the country, eliciting the help of the people in the war against the illegal business in the zone. Commander of the Enugu State Command, Barrister Anthony Nkem Ohanyere, who made the call when he and his management team paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Honourable Edward Uchenna Ubosi, said that the drug war was a war for all because of its adverse effect on the citizenry. Ohanyere also said that they embarked on the courtesy visit to elicit the support of the legislative assembly in the drug war because as members of the House and representatives of their people,

NDLEA officials in a cannabis farm.

they would be heard when they talked against drugs. “The purpose of my visit with my management team is to elicit your support in the drug war. It is a thing that is not unknown to anybody. “The drug war is a war for all. It is not for NDLEA alone, but a war for all. That is why we need the support of the House for the war,” Ohanyere points out. He said his organisation was doing everything possible to salvage the youth who indulged mostly in the consumption of illicit drugs to be better citizens in the society. According to him, “the education of the youth does not end in the classroom alone but the training they get from homes”, pointing out that most parent didn’t know that their children and wards got involved in drugs, whereas some were

negligent to their duties as parents.” The NDLEA boss, therefore, posited that if prominent people like members of the Assembly joined hands in the war, the youth were likely to listen to them more than the officials of the agency. “Most parents are not diligent in the upbringing of the children. We believe that if you use your good offices to drum the need for the youths to steer clear drugs, it will bear fruit. “If prominent people like you, the speaker, talk about drug abuse, the youths are likely to listen. When prominent people like you talk about drug abuse, they are bound to listen more than when we talk about it as professionals,” Ohanyere reiterates. He noted that drug abuse was a peculiar problem and that it was a sickness whose treatment was expensive and better prevented than cured, adding that the children of the rich and the poor indulged in the drug abuse and were being brought to them for rehabilitation. “Because of the seriousness of the abuse and to combat the war effectively, they divided the state into six area commands to ensure effective coverage “, he added. Speaker of the House, Ubosi agreed with the NDLEA boss that the drug menace was a serious one that ought to be tackled by all. Ubosi said the House was ready to partner with them in the fight and lamented that some youth hated to work, but preferred luxurious life. “This issue of drug is a serious

Drugs seized by NDLEA. one. We are ready at any time to partner with you. We hold town hall meetings in our constituencies

and we shall use them to educate our youth on the adverse effects of drugs,” Ubosi concluded.

Fake products: NAFDAC goes tough in Enugu Jude Ossai -Enugu DETERMINED to stamp out production of fake and adulterated drugs in Southeast zone, the National Agency for food and Drug Administration and control (NAFDAC) on Thursday sealed off a popular cosmetic shop in Enugu. Disclosing this to newsmen in Enugu, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC Ikechukwu Okoye, said the enforcement team of the agency visited the company at Abakpa Nike, adding that the manufacturer, Kelvin Eze, was allegedly faking some products by labeling them made in England, America and USA whereas the products were being produced at Abakpa Nike near Enugu. He was also accused of not registering the company. But Eze denied that he ever faked any product even as he agreed that he had commenced the process of

registering the products with the agency. He said the name of the product belonged to him but he wrote overseas label to attract people to hs product. Some of the products included body cream, shampoo, hair cream, hair conditions treatments. However, NAFDAC coordinator said the agency would sanction him by closing down the factory stressing that Eze was using two shops for the business, adding that one was for office and the other was where he produced the products. Okoye urged members of the public to inform the regulating agency with a view to stemming the tide of illegal production of drugs. “When we get the information and address of manufacturer of fake drugs we will come with law enforcement agents and pick them.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

inside

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

nigerdelta

Fire, miscreants wreak Ogbe-Ijoh market Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

ATTHEW had a store where he had mounted six tailoring machines to carry out his fashion designing job. With nine children from two wives to cater for, Matthew had to augment his trade by stuffing his store with tailoring materials for sale in order to get additional proceeds. But his dream of remaining relevant by being a dutiful husband and father to his wives and children was caught short on the very last day, indeed last Sunday, of January 2016. He was in his church at Udu road when his phone rang and was informed that his store was on fire. Before he could cover the distance from Udu to Ogbe-Ijoh near Warri Main Market, the inferno and some hoodlums had done their worst! While some of his wares worth over N1.5 million were swiftly carted away by hoodlums, whose pastime is to take advantage of every bad situation to worsen it, parts of his wares were razed by the ruinous fire. Another victim, Mrs Esther Oyinbo, had just recovered from a casual walk to the gate of heaven when InsideNigerDelta arrived the scene of the inferno on Sunday evening. She was circled by sympathisers who had just forcefully fanned her back to life. Dejectedly seated in front of the ruins of her store, hot tears rolled down her chubby cheeks. She had just lost goods worth about N5 million. Her store, a warehouse of provisions and assorted drinks, was still emitting thick smoke, reminding passersby of a place that used to be a centre of attraction to customers. A widow and breadwinner of the family, Mrs Oyibo’s means of livelihood from which she catered for no fewer than 12 children, caved in to human-orchestrated disaster! “My shop full well well. Na me dey feed my family. Ha! I go pay school fees of my children. Dem be 12. Some dey university. I dey for God hand. Make government help me make I no die,” Mrs Oyibo lamented inconsolably. Matthew and Mrs Oyibo are just two of several traders that have been rendered

Relics of the burnt shops at the market. Inset: Market leader, Mr Alex Kimakhi. hopeless by the inferno that rocked OgbeIjoh Market on Sunday. The duo could not ascertain the cause of the fire, but of what essence will the discovery serve when fire outbreak in the market has become an annual ritual! In January 2014, one occurred, same to January 2015 during which a graduate of the Delta State University Abraka, who had strived to keep body and soul together through the sale of dried fish, after effort to get a job proved

abortive, was return to square one. There were various versions of what likely went wrong last Sunday. Why should it always be Sunday when traders would be worshiping their God after a harrowing week? Some respondents said it was an electric spark that ignited the fire which was subsequently aided by the unusual prevailing harmattan weather. Others some simply said it was a human error. Ogbe-Ijoh Market is also a den of miscre-

ants whose main pastime is to drink, smoke weeds and womanise day by day. It is located besides Warri river, standing directly opposite Ogbe-Ijoh community. In essence, if the traders had even hoped to find some of their wares untouched by fire, the hoodlums, who do not go to church for whatever reason on Sundays, would frustrate such effort. This is because no sooner do they hear of a shout of fire outbreak than they dash in and break into choice traders’ stores in the name of rendering some help only to loot and ferry their spoils across the river! At the jetty of the market also, young boys engage in transport business to communities in the creeks with their boats. Alongside the transport business are several illicit and illegal activities enjoying great patronage from other youths in Warri and environs. For instance, substandard fuel - petrol, kerosene and diesel - from illegal refineries in the creeks are ferried to the markets in kegs and sold there in wooden stores.

CREW

Dapo Falade -Rivers 08078891924 lasep09@gmail.com

A victim, Mrs Esther Oyibo

Scavengers having a field day

Ebenezer Adurokiya -Delta 08060113609 ebenezeradurokiya@gmail.com

Issues as Echoes from journalists Delta Education —pg36 appraise Summit —pg36 Oshiomhole’s govt

Banji Aluko - Edo 08067030572 adebanjialuko@yahoo.com Austin Ebipade - Bayelsa 08065400743 austinebipade@gmail.com Alphonsus Agborh 08035838703

37 insidenigerdelta

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Issues as journalists appraise Oshiomhole’s govt Banji Aluko-Benin City

T is often said that no category of professionals has a better understanding of the workings, challenges and even secrets of the society than journalists. Not even civil servants, political office holders, members of the civil societies or police have as much interaction with every spectrum of the society as a journalist. From the regular interaction with the rich, the poor, civil servants and political office holders to the constant friendship with a common man on the streets, police, civil societies, the lawmakers, lawbreakers, executive, judiciary, lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, market women and artisans, a journalist has got it all. No wonder the bourgeoisie feared them despite the obvious class difference and the politicians do not joke with a journalist. The event in focus was the maiden media roundtable put together by a former Edo State correspondent of the Nation Newspaper and Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, John Mayaki. The event, which was the first of its kind in the state, was organised under the auspices of the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa with the theme: “The Media Practitioner’s View of Edo State under Governor Adams Oshiomhole”. It had in attendance more than 70 journalists from various media organisations working in Edo State. According to Mayaki, the essence of the convergence was for journalists to review and appraise Governor Oshiomhole’s seven-year-old administration as it prepares to exit this year. Another goal of the forum was to allow practicing journalists make projections into the future of governance

in Edo State. Justice was indeed done to this as a panel of seven discussants, all practicing journalists in Edo State, critically x-rayed, reviewed and appraised Oshiomhole’s seven-year-old government tenure and made projections into the future of governance in the state. Their verdicts were an admixture of satisfaction and less satisfaction for the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration. The panelists, after expressing their viewpoints, observed that Edo State, prior to Adams Oshiomhole’s assumption of office on November 12, 2008, was characterised by general despair and despondency; and near-total decay of public infrastructure. They also observed that ‘god-fatherism’ phenomenon had virtually held the state hostage and so negatively impacted on governance, thus hindering socio-economic growth in the pre-Oshiomhole years. That was not all. Members of the panel noted that the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration had succeeded in upgrading the benchmark for infrastructural development in the state with particular references to road construction/rehabilitation, drainage and erosion control via the Benin Water Storm Project as well as the multi-million naira Queen Ede, Auchi and Ekewan gully erosion projects. Also remarkable to the panelists was the provision of modern classrooms, otherwise called “Red Roof” in primary and secondary schools across the state. They also talked about electioneering process, noting that the Adams Oshiomhole’s “one-man one-vote” mantra has changed and improved the face of electioneering process in the state. They applauded the government for its efforts at keying into the Federal Government’s UBE counter-part funding scheme

that has improved the standard of education in the state with particular reference to the improved facilities and increased performance rating of Edo State in national examinations. The panelists said Gov Oshiomhole had reasonably restored the people’s confidence in government through people-oriented and purposeful policies and programmes. There were some knocks for the Adam Oshiomhole’s administration anyway. Some members of the panel noted that the Oshiomhole administration had not done much to improve on workers’ welfare through payment of approved salaries and allowances, especially for pensioners as evidenced by the series of protests in the state over the years. The healthcare policies of the incumbent Edo State governor were also described as not far-reaching enough as they seem to pay more attention to tertiary health institutions to the

detriment of the primary healthcare institutions which are closer to the people. The panelists said that the Oshiomhole’s government did not devote much resource to human capacity development in commensurate terms with infrastructural development in the state since capacity development is the basis to any government’s desire for speedy socio-economic development. The forum will, however, not conclude with a resolution as the panelists resolved that political parties should re-align their manifestoes and policy plans and programmes ahead of the state governorship election to be in tune with people’s desires, aspirations and expectations. They also demanded that leaders of political parties should make credibility, personal integrity and unquestionable pedigree of candidates as a crucial factor to be considered during party primaries.

Edo State correspondent of the Daily Sun, Mr Tony Osauzo; former chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (My Nasamu Jacobson; and Mr John Mayaki at the event

Echoes from Delta Education Summit Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba “Education should not be totally free. The funding should be done by the government, private sectors, communities, philanthropists and parents as contained on National Policy on Education. “This will reduce the burden on government and enhance closer monitoring” This was the position of the Forum of Chief Inspectors of Education in Delta State at the just concluded state education summit held in Asaba, the state capital. The submission was also the conclusion of most stakeholders at the summit who spoke on challenges of education in the state, nay in the country frowning also the proliferation of higher institutions and consequently advised against it just as approval could be granted if they are to be self sustaining. Among the stakeholders were erudite lawyer and founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), who chaired the occasion; Professor Pai Obanya, a renowned educationist and emeritus Professor of University of Ibadan; Professor John Okpako Enaowho of University of Port-Hacourt and Dr Tony Urhobo, a distinguished athlete of repute. The gathering of the academic icons at the two -day summit was to find solutions to the myriads of problems militat-

ing against the leapfrogging of education in the state. Before now, the state was in search of reforms and seeking to align its educational system with global practices where children were active learners and teachers creators and mentors. The state also desired an educational system that could empower students with the requisite and entrepreneur skills for business, trade and commerce as products of the system remained handicapped. Rather than becoming creators and inventors, the graduates look on to government or few private enterprises for gainful employment. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state, while declaring the summit open, presented a data of pupils and students’ population in public and private basic and secondary schools. “There are 1113 public primary schools with a total enrolment of 370,611 while the number of public secondary schools, inclusive of the six functionary technical colleges, stands at 446 with 262,422 students. “There are three polytechnics, colleges of education and a university owned by the state government”. Aside from this, the number of privately owned schools stands at 2306, comprising 1548 nursery and primary and 758 secondary schools. According to the governor, the state

government introduced free education in 2007/08 academic year adding that till date, there was no fee charged in any public pre-primary, primary and post primary schools in the state. However it does appear, Okowa enunciated that the state government had reached a crossroads in the education sector as it is currently plagued by funding gaps necessitated by the demands placed on systems struggling to cope with increased enrollment, decaying infrastructure, obsolete curriculum, outdated teaching method and general falling standard in the quality of education. “But there are challenges. On top of that list is the ever expanding education budget amid the deepest downturn in the economy we have experienced in recent time. We have to build new schools, equip existing ones, accelerate digital learning, attract and train competent teachers and enhance the overall learning climates of our school. “The third challenge we must address is the urgent need for parental involvement in the public school system”. Among other objectives aside from funding, the summit was meant to facilitate the emergence of an educational system anchoring on teaching excellence and renovation and reviving school sports and developing a robust service learning components in curricular.

For Chief Afe Babalola, represented by Professor Israel Aroloye from his university, the standard of education began to fall especially with the advent of the military when schools were deprived of adequate funding, old infrastructures not replaced and teachers who previously were well remunerated, but suddenly became over worked and under paid. The icons submitted that many state universities were not much better than secondary schools. “The bitter truth which politicians do not want to hear is that until 1999 ours (Nigeria) remain the only country where education is funded absolutely by government. “Nigerians have been made to believe that all they have to do is to sit at home, produce children and donate them to the government to nurture, maintain, train and educate. “Nigerians want free medical treatment; subsidised food, good roads, cheap electricity, free water and free education. “The pertinent question which most people never addressed is how much individual should pay for education and the extent to which government must subsidizse, if not totally fund it.” Afe Babalola cited instances in Canada, USA and Japan where fees are not only high, but state university given the freedom to set their own tuition levels.

news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

500,000 teachers: Minister walks out journalists at committee’s inauguration ..As FG is to spend N240 billion annually on payment of teachers Clement Idoko, Abuja

HE Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, on Tuesday, walked out journalists covering the inauguration of the ministerial committee on actualisation of the proposed recruitment of 500,000 teachers by the Federal Government. Trouble started when he inaugurated the committee without giving details of the composition of the committee, including the number of members and perhaps its chairman as well as timeline within which to submit report.

But when journalists covering the event asked the Minister on the details, he simply retorted angrily and ordered the journalists to leave the venue immediately to the consternation of all those in attendance at the inauguration. Anwukah said: “I have said the press can now leave! I have not called for questions from the press. If you can have the patience to wait after the meeting then you can ask your questions. Please, leave!” Prof Anwukah, who represented the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, at the inauguration of the committee, had reeled

out only terms of reference and areas to be considered by the committee leaving journalists guessing if he had prepared for the inauguration of the committee. He also said that the Federal Government has yet to find a suitable name for the project, which he said might be in partnership with the state governments. Meanwhile, the Minister revealed that it would cost the Federal Government over N240 billion yearly to pay 500,000 teachers that would be recruited for basic education in Nigeria. He said the employment of the 500,000 teachers would address the short-

Ekiti election: Nigerians should ignore Falana —Fayose As aide blames Fayemi for pry school teachers’ woes EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has described human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN, as someone whose comments on national issues, especially the ones involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, are selfinterest induced, saying; “a lawyer of his standing should be concerned about his credibility and be consistent on issues.” He said Falana should purge himself of his personal hatred for him and stop crying about over his failed attempts to govern Ekiti State, adding that; “Even in his Ilawe-Ekiti polling unit, he could not convince his own people to vote for the APC during the election. Was it because he was prevented from voting by anyone?” Falana was reported to have said that the June 21, 2014 governorship election won by Governor Fayose was fraudulent and that the governor had no immunity against criminal prosecution. However, speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and News Media, Lere

Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “It is obvious that because of the present political expediency, Falana has forgotten what he said in the interview he granted The Punch newspaper, which was published on July 15, 2014. “Therefore, since he has allowed his memory to be taken over by political hypocrisy, it is necessary to remind him that he said categorically in July 2014 that the governorship election was not rigged. Meanwhile, as a section of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ekiti chapter, began a two-day warning strike, protesting the nonpayment of the outstanding of the state’s primary school teachers in 2014, on Tuesday, Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has explained issues leading to the inability of the government to pay outstanding salaries of some workers in the state, particularly that of the primary school teachers. In a release by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor also made some clarifications on the controversy

trailing the withdrawal of salaries erroneously paid into the accounts of some workers in the state. Adelusi said that it is not true that the state government withdrew two months’ salary already paid into workers’ bank accounts. He explained that the government was supposed to pay November 2015 salary only since two months allocations are combined to pay a month salary, but the service provider, which the government engaged to shoot salary into workers’ bank accounts erroneously, shot two months’ salary into the account of certain workers depriving payment of November salary to some workers. Adelusi, who was reacting to the furore generated by the error committed by the service provider, said it was only a month salary that was withdrawn from the accounts of those workers who had been paid two months’ salary. Said he: “I wondered why the Ekiti APC could make issue out of what has not deprived the workers their legitimate salary.

Oluwole Ige, Osogbo

spector Fagboyin Abiodun, informed the court that the accused committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Law of Osun State. Though, the presiding Magistrate, Olusola Aluko, sentenced Kabiru to six months jail term with the option of N5, 000, the convict, who could not pay the N5,000 fine begged for mercy. However, as the prison warders were taking Kabiru to the prison, a Hausa man who was passing by

on the road heard his cry and subsequently assisted him to pay the fine. Kabiru was discharged after the payment.

Court sentences teenager to 6 months imprisonment for stealing mattress A Magistrate Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Tuesday, sentenced a 19-year-old, Abdullahi Kabiru, to six months imprisonment for stealing mattress worth N8, 000. Shocked by the court’s verdict, Kabiru, who pleaded guilty to one-count charge of stealing burst into tears, lamenting that he thought the mattress was no longer useful because of the way it was dumped outside. The Police Prosecutor, In-

age of teachers in public basic education and reduce the number of unemployed graduates in Nigeria. The Minister of State who was later learnt to be the chairman of the Committee,

CHANGE OF NAME

said “if each teacher is paid N480, 000 per year and you multiply by 500,000 teachers that is N240 billion. He disclosed that the Federal Government has proposed N40, 000

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alalu Helen Memunat now MRS ADARAMOLA HELEN MEMUNAT . All former documents remain valid. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olukoya Mojisola Olayinka Esther now MRS OLAFARE OLAYINKA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Omobolanle Rasheedat Falola now O M O B O L A N L E RASHEEDAT BAMIJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Shittu Victoria Iyabo now MRS SHITTU MORILI IYABO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bolaji Rafiat Adewumi now MRS OLAWALE RAFIAT ADEWUMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayodele Oluwafunmilayo Comfort now MRS AKINLEYE O L U WA F U N M I L A Y O COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akinpelu Deji Ayoola now ONASILE SESAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oyekangun Olaide now BADMUS SAHEED OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. Sumal Foods Limited, Crusade Pension, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

monthly salaries for each of the teacher to be recruited, which by calculation amounted to about N240 billion per year to be spent on salaries of the teachers.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Chibuzo Emmanuel now JOHNSON NDUBUISI EFOAGI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Nike Yemisi Ajibola now AWOFIRANYE OLUWAYEMI MORENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oluremi Olaoye now OLUREMI OLAOYE MORAKINYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayantola Shakirat Kemi now MRS BADMUS SHAKIRAT AYANTOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Kazeem Gbolahan Ayomide Khalid now KAZEEM OMOGBOLAHAN TOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Damilola Abosede Ogunsina now DAMILOLA ABOSEDE ORABIYI OGUNSINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Babatunde Kehinde Haleemah now MRS HALEEMAH KEHINDE B. LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Akintola Olatunde Samuel am the same person bearing Olatunde Oladipo now wish to be known and addressed as AKINTOLA OLATUNDE SAMUEL. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Morakinyo Deborah Oluwabunmi now MRS OMOLEYE DEBORAH OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

I, Raji Kafayat Salewa am the same person as M. Ganiyu Salewa K. and Raji Tawa Omokeji. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RAJI KAFAYAT SALEWA born on 25th day of June 1982 not 11th Day of May, 1980. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adekunle Grace Oluseyi now FASANYA GRACE OLUSEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunyinka Eniola Racheal Feyisayo now MRS AYEGORO ENIOLA RACHEAL FEYISAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayomide Mary Ayoola now MRS. AYOMIDE MARY OMOTOSO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olorunkemi Tunmise Esther now MRS. ADESHINA TUNMISE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Alakinde Elijah Olabode now ALAKINDE EBENEZER OLABODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Hamzat Mariam Kofoworola now MRS. ADEPOJU MARIAM KOFOWOROLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adegoke Olamide Miceal now ADEGOKE OLAMIDE MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Laiyem Laide, Alaka Olaide Rasheed now ALAKA LAIDE RASHEED. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc., Sterling Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Awe Rachael Alaba now MRS. OLATUNJI RACHAEL ALABA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adamu Mosunmade Victoria now MRS. AKINTOROYE MOSUNMADE VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Samat Odunayo now MRS. AHMED SAMAT ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Monica Loveth Eshokhai now MRS. MONICA OGUNLEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Etile Ruth Grace now MRS. NURUDEEN RUTH GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ms Borisade Deborah Ifeoma now MRS. AKINSOLA DEBORAH IFEOMA IKEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Oniyelu Christopher Bola am the same person bearing Oniyelu Bayo Lucas. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ONIYELU BAYO LUCAS. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Muhammed Afeez Ayomide now MUHAMMED AFEEZ AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olaniyan Bashirat Olaide now MRS. BANKOLE BASHIRAT OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB Oyo State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajao Iyabode Adewumi now MRS. SERIFAT IYABODE LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Amenrior Monica Onyenmhen now MRS. OTUNUYA MONICA ONYENMHEN OTUNUYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Sonubi Babajide Emmanuel now SONUBI OLAJIDE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ekesili Onyeka Malachi now EKESILI CHARBEL ONYEKACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as Sunmonu Akanbi Bello Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ALHAJI USMAN AKANBI BELLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adewopo Opeyemi Esther now MRS. OWOLABI OPEYEMI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Yemi Peace Olasimbo now MRS. FOLAYEMI TITILOLA OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as Lammed Saheed Abiodun. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as LAMIDI SAHEED ABIODUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Rasheed Afeez now AARE AFEEZ ADISA. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Faturoti Oluwabukola Benita now O L U WA M U S A N M I OLUWABUKOLA BENITA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Omotayo Opeyemi now ADESEKO EBENEZER OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc., Stanbic IBTC Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Adeola Yetunde now MRS. OGUNYEWO YETUNDE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank of Nig. Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aremu Lydia Oluwabukunmi now MRS. OLUWAGBENGA LYDIA OLUWABUKUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Olagoke Abimbola Abolaji now MRS. OLAGOKE ABIMBOLA HAIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayeni Fatimat Tosin now MRS. AYENI FATIMAT AKINADE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. John Livinus Ndubuisi now MR. CHIBUIKE JOHN LIVINUS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Fadeyi Bose Doyin now MRS. OGOOLUWA ATINUKE ADEDOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Saheed Babatunde Olorunosebi now RASHEED SAHEED IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB and general public take note.

40 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omisope Gbekeloluwa Omolara now MRS ADESOKAN GBEKELOLUWA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okedeji Oluwatoyin Agnes now MRS UDOH OLUWATOYIN AGNES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Moses D. Olubunmi now MRS MARTINS D. OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Anyanwu Princess Amarachi now MRS AGBONTALOR PRINCESS AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Salami Sariyu now SALAMI FELICIA MOJIRAYO. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fatanmi Oluwakemi Elizabeth now MRS AYANBUNMI OLUWAKEMI ELIZABETH All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinpelu Mariam Eniola now MRS ADEMOLA MARIAM ENIOLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Zainab Omolade Adewumi now ZAINAB ADEWUMI TIJJANI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oyelowo Taiwo Dauda now OYEDELE TAIWO DAUDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesanya Adeyinka Adeyemi NOW MRS SANYA ADEYINKA ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mahammed Yaro now MUHAMMED YARO. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Taofeeq Latifat Toyin now MRS KAREEM Latifat Toyin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Arimoro Ajewole Titus am the same person as Arimoro Titus Adeniji. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ARIMORO AJEWOLE TITUS. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Federal Ministry of Education and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odeleye Titilayo Abidemi now MRS BABALOLA TITILAYO ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Akinwale Seun Funmilayo now MRS OLALERE SEUN FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Akanni Victoria Olayemi now MRS LAWAL RAMAT OLAYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Onyekaonwu Pasmartin Calvin now IKEKPEAZU PETER NWABUNWANNE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Akinyimide Babatunde am the same person bearing Olayimide Babatunde. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AKINYIMIDE BABATUNDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olorunfemi Kikelomo now MRS ALADENUSI KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Tessy Ndidi Nwosu now TESSY NDIDI ANYANWU. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogechi Roseline Igweze now MRS OGECHI ROSELINE EZEKWE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, formerly Miss Olarewaju Olayinka Ayo now MRS FAGUNWA OLAYINKA AYO. All former documents remain valid. Canadian Embassy, Federal University of Technology, Akure and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunniyi Roseline Ayomiposi now MRS JEJENIWA ROSELINE AYOMIPOSI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Oluwagunwa Oluwamuyiwa Lawrence now MR FAGUNWA OLUWAMUYIWA LAWRENCE. All former documents remain valid. Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, United Bank for Africa Plc, FUTA Branch and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Bamidele Sunday now MR BAMIDELE SUNDAY OLA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oni Folasade Omoladun now MRS SANNI FOLASADE OMOLADUN. All former documents remain valid. The Polytetechnic, Ibadan, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Oluwabunmi Tawa now MRS ADEYEMI TAWAKALITU OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aturamu Ibukunolu now MRS RUFAI IBUKUNOLU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Odedeyi Bukola Abiola now ODENIYI BUKOLA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olayiwola Rahaman Oladimeji now ABDUL RAHAMAN ABDULRAUF. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Mrs. Mary Bello am the same person bearing Mrs Mary Oboro. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Saliman Anifat Omotayo now MRS SALIMAN AJIBOLA ANIFAT OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc (IBEDC) Oyo Business Hub, Sawmill Area, Oyo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olowe Mayowa Adenike now MRS EMMANUEL MAYOWA ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayoade Rebecca Funmilola now MRS AKINSELOYIN REBECCA FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ojo Helen now EDWARD FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Okeoghene Omoudu Bluff now OKEOGHENE OMOUDU JAMES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesola Oluwagbemisola Olaitan now MRS AKINBODE OLUWAGBEMISOLA OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Akinola Olawole Abiodun now AKINOLA OLAWOLE DAVID. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akadiri Alaba Omolabake now MRS ADEBOWALE ADEBAYO ALABA OMOLABAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Azeez Bolaji Balogun am the same person as Azeez Mistura Bolaji. I want to be known and addressed as AZEEZ BOLAJI BALOGUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc, Ikirun and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Evwiekpamare Diemiruaye Beauty now MRS UGBOMA DIEMIRUAYE BEAUTY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Adeagbo Titilade Temitope am the same person as Adeagbo Titilade Ruth. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADEAGBO TITILADE TEMITOPE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Dantala Yusuf now DANTALA YUSUF ADAM. All former documents remain valid. U.B.A. Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adedoyin Oluwafunke Christianah now MRS DUNSIN ADEDOYIN OLUWAFUNKE CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mikoyo Ese now MIKOYO JOVITA ESE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Tajudeen Opeyemi Naheemot now SOGE OPEYEMI NAHEEMOT. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olowookere Titilayo Joy now MRS BODUNDE TITILAYO JOY. All former documents remain valid. Osun State SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyokun Abiola Gbemisola now MRS OLAJIDE ABIOLA GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ifedapo Opapa Club wishes to be named and called BUSARI MORUFU OLATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojo Oluwabanke Omolara now MRS ODEDEYI OLUWABANKE MONICA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Funmilola Esther now MRS OLUWOLE FUNMILOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, NBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Funmilayo Faith Oke now MRS. FUNMILAYO FAITH SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oluwapemi Dorcas now ALAO DORCAS OLUWAPEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ebuteiwa Mekanjuola now MRS OROFIN MEKANJUOLA EBUTEIWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Ojo Racheal Taiwo now MRS. OLAJIDE TAIWO RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinsanya Olufunke Moyosola now MRS ELUMADE OLUWAFUNKE MOYOSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Afolabi Azeez Oluwaseun now MR AFOLABI OLUWASEUN AYOOLA. My date of birth was wrongly quoted as 29th September, 1989 instead of 29th September, 1990. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss. Ilesanmi Stella Oluwakemi now MRS OYELEKE STELLA OLUWAKEMI All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alade Blessing Oyebanke now MRS OLANIYAN BLESSING OYEBANKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dr. Miss Dada Rachel Omolola now DR MRS OGUNSANWO RACHEL OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid. VCN, NVMA UI PG School, FUNAAB, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fakunle Nike Funmilola now MRS ORIMAYE NIKE FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ajediti Bosede Anuoluwapo am the same person bearing Makinwa Bosede Anuoluwapo. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AJEDITI BOSEDE ANUOLUWAPO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Stanbic IBTC, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayokanmi Tawa Abiodun now MRS OYEDAPO TAWA ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogundare Grace Omowumi now JESUTOFUNMI GRACE OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. The Management of Skye Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

My name is Nureni Oyewole Raimi Born on 28th day of November, 1992 and not Raimi Nureni Opeyemi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs. Joy Olutosin Adejare now MRS JOY OLUTOSIN OROPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Abioye Taiwo Tope now MRS OKETAYO TAIWO TOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Onalaja Olusanya Jonathan now ONALAJA OLUSANYA DARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odukale Olayide Ayosubomi now MRS BADEMOSI OLAYIDE AYOSUBOMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, wish to state that my name is Rufus Kelvin Osaze and not Dele Osaze Kelvin as stated by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akintaro Omolewa Aina now MRS ADESINA OMOLEWA AINA. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Osun State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Zuwera Idriss now MRS ZUWERA HARUNA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Stanley Obe Oreva now OBE DICK OREVA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Atiku Rukayat Adejoke now MRS ELEGBEDE RUKAYAT ADEJOKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omidiora Oluwaseun Olajumoke now MRS IYIOLA OLUWASEUN OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Zakari Usman now HUSSAINI ZAKARI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Keystone Plc, GTBank Plc, Eco Bank Plc and general public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, wish to state that my names are ABDULRAHAMAN BADMUS and not Badmus Rahaman. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adetunbi Adenike Clara am the same person as ADETUNBI ADENIKE AJOKE. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADETUNBI ADENIKE CLARA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, Koyi Moradeke Oluwafunmilayo my name was wrongly written as Koyi Moradeke Ogunmoroti. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as KOYI MORADEKE OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Folaranmi Kazeem Yussuf now YUSUFF ATANDA AYILA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

I, formerly Miss Famujimi Omolola Feyisayo now MRS ADEBOBOLA OMOLOLA FEYISAYO. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Bankole Babatunde Niniola now SALAUDEEN AFISU NINIOLA. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ikwani Princess Ugo now MRS OKOCHA UGO IKWANI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

41 news NDLEA boss promises to intensify war against drug barons

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Shola Adekola -Lagos

HE chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Colonel Mohammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has promised to intensify the war against drug barons in the country. Abdallah, who had been busy with budget defence for the agency in Abuja, has reported at the national

headquarters of the NDLEA in Lagos, with the inspection of infrastructure to determine areas of critical attention. The NDLEA boss,who vowed to incapacitate drug trafficking organisations, assured staff of improved working conditions. “Drug barons must be immobilised. Drug trafficking is a serious transnational organised crime capable of undermining national security and development.

The agency shall adopt new strategies in preventing illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse. The image of our country must be protected from the inimical activities of drug cartels. Staff welfare shall be improved and adequate logistic support provided for drug control operations. While acts of compromise shall not be condoned while measures will also be put in place to make corruption unattractive.” he said

The NDLEA chairman, who was accompanied by the Director General, Mrs Roli Bode-George, directors and principal officers at the headquarters ,minced no words on his determination to rejuvenate the agency for optimum performance. “I have taken time to study about the agency and I appreciate the challenges of inadequate funding. Drug control is one of the priority concerns of Mr President and I hope to

leverage on this robust political will in dismantling drug trafficking organisations. The agency will maximise the benefits of intelligence-led policing in prosecuting the drug war” he said. While assuring officers of better days ahead, the NDLEA boss, however, charged officers to be dedicated to their duty saying: “I want you to expect better days ahead in terms of improved working conditions. However, you must remain dedicated to duty. Your loyalty and commitment must first be to our country. Understand that your assignment is important to the peace, safety and development of our country. Any act of indiscipline shall be treated in accordance with the rules of engagement,” he added.

Ekiti lawmakers are model for others to emulate —Afe Babalola From left, Principal Manager, Human Resources, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Osogbo region, Mr Remi Oyetade; Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State command, Alhaji Tajudeen Balogun; General Manager, TCN, Osogbo, Mr Bede Opara; second in command, NSCDC, Osun State command, Ezekiel Aselebe and the General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Osogbo, Mr Mayowa Adewole, during TCN’s visit to NSCDC, Osun State command headquarters, on Tuesday.

Oshiomhole inaugurated CBN, TETFUND projects in AAU, PDP insists Banji Aluko -Benin City

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State, has maintained that projects commissioned by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), were those funded and completed by donor agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the TETFUND, promising to open a can of worms on how the university has been mismanaged. The management of the AAU, had in an advertorial, demanded public apology from the Edo State chairman of PDP, Dan Orbih, over comments attributed to him that Governor Oshiomhole, was commissioning projects that were not funded by his government in the institution. Speaking in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, during a sensitisation tour of the party, Orbih said he stood by his earlier statement made on AAU, pointing out that the proper thing was for the management of the university to give credit to who was due. “I’m not disappointed

because it is expected of the university’s management to defend their master. To go to the public and pretend that those project were executed by the Oshiomhole-led administration is, however, a disservice to the university community. “I challenged the management of AAU to publish the list of projects that were funded by the CBN through intervention fund

and the TETFUND. We know that the renovation and furnishing of the Law Faculty and the moot court were funded by CBN intervention fund. Orbih said instead of developing the university, Governor Oshiomhole was using the resources of Edo State to build a university for himself in Iyamho, adding that at least, five departments in the university, namely Architecture,

Microbiology, Chemistry, Psychology and Material and Production Engineering, failed accreditation due to poor funding. He said just before the 2012 governorship election, Governor Oshiomhole announced that he was releasing N1 billion to the university to complete the administrative complex but the building has remained uncompleted till today.

PDP’ll produce next gov in A/Ibom —Akpabio IN a veil notification of the opposition in Akwa State, that the next governor of the state would be produced by the ruling paty, Senate Minority Leader and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Saturday, declared that his party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will produce the governor of the state in 2019. The senate minority leader stated this while speaking at a rally held in his honour and his successor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, by the people of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, over

weekend. “When I came to you in 2006, I told you God’s will should be done and you the people of Akwa Ibom agreed with me and God’s will was done. In 2011, I said God’s will should be done again, you agreed with me and it was done. In 2015, I pleaded with you to allow God’s will to be done again and again, you all made it happen. I will come back to you in 2019 and demand that God’s will should be done again, and again and again and I know it will happen.” Akpabio, also took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC), in

the state over its lose at the Supreme Court, maintaining that the party in its court litigations, demanded judgment instead of justice, which is basic rights of citizens. While lauding the Supreme Court for transparency, justice and fairness, he said the court demonstrated boldness in its move towards independence of the judiciary in the country. He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for allowing the Supreme Court a conducive judicial atmosphere for the discharge of its recent judgments in the country.

ERUDITE lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has described members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, as models that should be emulated by lawmakers in other state Houses of Assembly in the country. Afe Babalola made this remark when a delegation of the House, led by the speaker, Honourable Kola Oluwawole and his deputy, Segun Adewumi, paid him a solidarity visit over the vandalism of some properties of the institution at the weekend. According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the speaker, Stephen Gbadamosi, on Tuesday, the lawyer cum educationist, noted that the visit to the university was the first of its kind by any House of Assembly leadership in the state, adding that it was a sign that members of the House were true representatives of the people who identified with situations of their constituents. “Your visit to our institution over this incident shows that you are lawmakers that represent the interest of your constituents. Lawmakers in other states of the federation must emulate you. As representatives of the people, law makers should share in both the grieves and joys of their constituents. That is what you have demonstrated by this visit which is the first of its kind by any House leadership to this school,” he said.

Foster father of man killed by lawyer-wife buried in Osun Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

THE remains the Pa Yahaya Ajanaku, foster father of the late Adelowo Oyediran, the man allegedly stabbed to death by his wife, Yewande, was, on Tuesday, interred in Gbongan, Osun State. The development came as Oyediran’s family contended that Yewande had no history of mental disorder that could warrant her weird action, which allegedly culminated in the death of Adelowo. Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that Low, who would be buried on February 26, is a step brother to the late controversial Lagos pastor, Elijah Iretiola Ajanaku of Christ Revival Victory Chapel International, who died in 2014. Speaking to journalists at the family house of Ajanaku during the burial of Yahaya Ajanaku, the eldest son of the late octogenarian, Pastor Ojelade Ajanaku, lamented that since consummation of their marriage, Yewande never visited Gbongan. He said the last wish of his late father was that Lowo’s killer must be punished. It will be recalled that Lowo’s foster father, upon hearing the new of his death, developed complications, which resulted in his death on Monday.

Ex-minister cautions Akwa Ibom gov against opposition Iniobong Ekponta -Uyo

STILL basking in the euphoria of his hard-won victory which was re-confirmed by the Supreme Court, the former Minister of Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien, has cautioned Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, against opposition in the state. In the wake of the ruling which gave Governor Emmanuel the nod to govern the state, having secured valid votes in the contest, the governor was quick to extend his hands of fellowship to the opposition, asking them to join hands in his administration’s quest to rebuild the state. But Chief Essien faulted the hasty move by the governor to extend an Olive branch to the opposition, saying that an open invitation to those who opposed his mandate was tantamount to mixing sour grape with good fruits.

42 news

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

VC calls for varsity/ community security committee

THE Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, OyeEkiti, Professor Isaac U. Asuzu, has canvassed for the establishment of a University/Community Security Committee to ensure continued peace between the university and its host communities. Speaking while receiving the chairman of Oye Local Government Area, Honourable Omotayo Ogundare in his office, the university don disclosed that with a university population of about 4,000 staff and students interspersed within two communities of Oye and Ikole, there was an urgent need to inaugurate this committee, which he said, would nurture existing peaceful co-existence between the two communities and provide pro-active steps to nip threats in the bud. He disclosed that due to inadequate hostel accommodation in the university, students have had to rent apartments and live with the host communities. This, he said, has had its downside as occasional skirmishes had been reported, adding that there had been reports of students beaten up and even some female students sexually harassed. He disclosed that as an instance, a major showdown was averted, and therefore called on the local council executive to use his reach and office to facilitate this committee for the good of all. Speaking earlier, the chairman disclosed that he had just assumed office and so considered it appropriate to familiarise himself with his immediate environment. Reports, he said, had it that peace was reigning in Oye, adding that he was desirous of having it sustained, as he had been charged to ensure a crisis-free polity.

Ikenne total recovery crusade

From left, members of the House of Representatives, Honourable Amiru Tukur and Honourable Ayo Omidiran; Speaker, Iraqi Parliament, Dr Salim Al jabouri; Honourable Nasiru Sule Garo and Honourable Muhammad Gudaji, at the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries (PUIC) conference in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq , recently.

Epidemic looms as water scarcity hits Minna Adelowo Oladipo -Minna

EARS of an outbreak of an epidemic gripped the residents of Minna, Niger State capital, on Tuesday, as scarcity of potable water hits the metropolis and its environs. Water scarcity in Minna and the surrounding communities was coming on the heels of unfulfilled promises made by the incumbent All Progressives Congress administration in the state, at its inception on May 29, 2015 to make treated water available to the citizens. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, on assumption of office declared a state of emergency on the provision of water, adding that the people had been subjected to hardship by successive governments in the state. Further checks by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the recent hardship

confronting the residents of Minna and its environs, was occasioned by the prevailing annual dry season in most towns and cities without alternative measure put in place like Niger State. It was also reliably gathered that most sources of water like well, streams and a few boreholes had dried up because of the intensive dry season being currently experienced

Vaccine not designed for pregnant women — Lions Club Sam Nwaoko -Ado-Ekiti OVER 500,000 children between ages nine months and five years, were immunised during the first tranche of Integrated Measles Campaign in Ekiti State. Experts and sundry stakeholders in the five-day campaign in the state, had rated the success to be “very high and couldn’t have been less than 95 per cent.”

Kidnappers demand N300m ransom HAJIYA Belli Manu, mother of the Taraba State, deputy governor, Alhaji Haruna Manu, was on Tuesday, kidnapped by unknown gunmen at her hometown of Barkin Kasuwa area of Mutum Biyu town in Gasol Local Government Area of Taraba State. The incident occurred at about 9.30 p.m. on Monday night when the gunmen invaded the family house, shooting sporadically and killing one person in the process.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph said the command was working assiduously to ensure the victim was released unhurt. Efforts to contact the deputy governor for comments proved abortive as his lines were not going through. A family member who pleaded anonymity, told the Nigerian Tribune that “we were at home peacefully when we heard some gunshots and discovered that they were gunmen with the aim of kidnapping our

probable outbreak of diseases in the state. Observers in the state, however, have expressed doubt over the present administration’s commitment to finding lasting solution to some problems in the state, noting that the immediate past government of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu in 2009, declared the year’s budget ‘year of water’ .

Integrated measles campaign: Half a million children immunised in Ekiti

Taraba deputy gov’s mother kidnapped Sylvanus Viashima -Jalingo

in the northern part of the country. Scarcity of potable water in Niger State, the Nigerian Tribune learnt, always comes with outbreak of diseases like cholera and measles which could arose from heat generated from severe dry season, a situation which often put the people of the state, especially residents in the state capital, in real fear of

mother. They shot and killed someone in the house in the course of the sporadic shooting, before whisking mama away. It is a most unfortunate incident. At first we thought they were armed robbers.” Meanwhile, kidnappers of Hajia Belli Manu, on Tuesday night, contacted the family demanding a ransom of N300 million for her release. According to family sources, the kidnappers made the contact on Tuesday evening to request for the ransom, but declined comments on whether or not they would pay the ransom.

The District Governor of District 404B-2, Lions Club International and a stakeholder, Dr Funke Adebajo, attributed part of the success recorded in the measles campaign to the training organised for the 4 Region chairpersons and other participants from the district, before the commencement of the awareness programme. Adebajo also said customised materials, such as Tshirts, exercise books, pencils and other items were distributed to the children by the club in support of other efforts by UNICEF, WHO and Ekiti State government, to boost awareness for measles vaccination. Clarifying that the programme was not concentrated solely in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Adebajo said the children were drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state. The District Governor also used the opportunity to correct the statement made by one of the members, during the awareness campaign for the vaccination campaign, to the effect that pregnant and nursing mothers would

be vaccinated during the programme and that any child, who refused to take the vaccine would suffer polio. Adebajo clarified that this pronouncement had no basis in medicine, for there is no correlation between measles vaccine and polio, adding that no pregnant woman was inoculated with the vaccine during the programme. “We apologise to members of the public for this misinformation and misrepresentation, because it must have caused disquiet in some quarters. The Speaker is not an expert and the statement was not intended to mislead the public or create myth around the vaccine.” Adebajo enjoined mothers to bring out their wards who are ages nine months to five years for future exercises. The Lions Club explained that no child ineligible for the vaccine received it anywhere the state, saying it would work with the other relevant stakeholders to create necessary awareness among mothers and nursery and primary schools in the state.

THE 13th edition of the Ikenne total recovery crusade kicks off from Thursday, February 11 to Sunday, February 14, 2016, at 5.00p.m every evening, at the Obafemi Awolowo Square, Ikenne. According to information from the Secretary of the Local Organising Committee, The Reverend Dr Kayode Olusola Odubela, this year’s event will have Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as its special guest of honour. The main speakers are Reverend A.B. Ayanlowo of the Divine Life Assembly, Sagamu and Reverend Kayode Kolawole of the Life Assembly, Ibadan, who will also be anchoring the Ministers Conference, being part of the event. A choir competition among the choirs in the land, started on Monday, February 8, 2016 while the winners will be rewarded as part of the grand finale of the event, on Saturday, February 13, 2016. Dr Tokunbo Awolowo- Dosumu will be launching the edition of the ITRC Magazine on Thursday, February 11, 2016. The visioners, Reverend E.O Adebajo recalls the faithfulness of God over the successes of the past event, expressing the confidence that the lord will take the land and its inhabitants to greater heights in the incoming years.

Marblecast Poverty Foundation donates to Ikoyi prison AS part of its service to the nation building, a Lagosbased non-governmental organisation (NGO) Marblecast Poverty Foundation recently visited Ikoyi Prisons where it donated relief materials to inmates. Speaking with newsmen during the visit, the foundation’s director of projects, Prince Israel Akintola expressed satisfaction over the warm reception and appreciated the efforts of the prison authorities at ensuring the rehabilitations of the inmates. He stated further that the foundation would be looking into the demands of the inmates cutting across training sponsorship of more inmates on how to produce fast foods and juice, repair of computers, recharge cards, among other entrepreneurship skills.

43 news Ondo LG election: PDP denies imposition

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Hakeem Gbadamosi -Akure

GAINST speculations of alleged imposition of candidates in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the April council election, the party, on Tuesday, denied the allegation, saying that all the candidates went through primaries organised by the party The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon Banji Okunomo, stated this while reacting to allegations from some members of the party over the local government election primaries. Okunomo said all the noise about the imposition of candidates for the local government was designed to cause distraction for members of the party in the state. This was corroborated by the state government which said that the elected candidates were never imposed by the party leaders across the state. Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the state Information Commissioner, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said there was no imposition in the just concluded primaries of the party in the state, but explained that the party instructed the party leaders across the state to meet and come up with a candidate that is acceptable to all in all local governments. Akinmade explained that the party decided to come up with such idea in order not to create bad blood within the party and its members saying, “many of them would have spent a lot of money on posters and some other things and this might affect the fortune of the party. “The party instructed the leaders to go to their local government and come out with a credible candidate which will be acceptable to all the people in the local government. What we are trying to do is to look at the minimal option in terms of risk. “There was no imposition but in politics when some interests are not met, people make some noise but in PDP we have our own in-house conflict resolution mechanism that will resolve this. People are happy and excited over the results.” He however, said that the outcome of the election will not affect the chances of the party in the election, saying PDP and its leaders would leave no stone unturned to win the council election in the state, not-

ing that the party remains a party to beat in all elections. Akinmade also noted that the people of the state were excited over the local government election and have shown interest in participating in the process that would lead to electing their leaders at the grassroots. He appealed to all the aggrieved members of the party not to dump the party over the result of the local government election

primaries urging them to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship saying, “in politics you cannot win all the time.” Similarly, the PDP chairmanship candidate for Akure South Local Government Area, Hon Adebayo Alarapon, also explained that his emergence as the party flag bearer was after a free and fair primary election. Alarapon said he emerged as the winner of the pri-

maries after defeating two others aspirants of the party in keenly contested primaries saying there was no iota of truth in the rumour flying around. The candidate said the election was conducted by the party leaders from the local government who were exempted from voting, saying that the 22 delegates who voted during the election were from 11 wards within the local government.

Alarapon explained that members of the party who threatened to leave the party for the opposition have concluded arrangement before the party’s primaries, saying they remained in the party to destabilise the party. He appealed to all the aggrieved members to join hands with the leadership of the party to ensure victory for PDP in the forthcoming local government election.

From left, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs Ayo Adesugba; member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Femi Odekunle; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; chairman of PACAC, Professor Itse Sagay and the Executive Secretary of PACAC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, during the visit of PACAC to the minister, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN.

2011 post election violence: Some Northern govs diverted funds meant for victims, CAN alleges Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has alleged that some governors in the region had diverted funds meant for victims of 2011 post-election violence. The Christian body made the allegations at the end of their National Executive committee meeting in Kaduna, on Tuesday. In a 10-point resolution signed by the chairman of the communiqué drafting committee, Elder Danladi Yarima, it noted that the funds were not judiciously used. The CAN called on the Federal Government to carry out a comprehensive investigation on how the funds were used since the country belongs to all Nigerians. The Northern Christian body also expressed worry about social, economic and political backwardness of the region, saying that it was because all relevant stakeholders were not being carried along in the affairs of developing states in the North. The communiqué noted that it was the people’s agitation that led to the constitution and conveyance of the

2014 national conference, calling on the Federal Government to implement the report of the Conference in order to address recorded injustices across the country. However, Christians are called upon to engage in prayer and fasting as enjoined in the Bible, so that God will intervene in the nation’s problems. The communiqué reads in part, “Funds released by the Federal Government for payment of compensation to many of the victims of the

2011 post-election violence have not been paid to those affected. ‘Some Northern governors have converted such funds to some other use due to their intolerance of the prospective predominantly Christian victims. “Churches, shops and homes that were destroyed have remained unrepaired. “Even some governors that were willing to disburse the funds completely abused the whole process to the detriment of the Christian

victims. “We call on the Federal Government to carry out a comprehensive investigation of how such funds were used. ‘This nation belongs to all of us. Every person’s fundamental human rights must be guaranteed no matter such person’s tribe, religion or political inclination. “We, in Nigeria, must learn to have respect for the dignity of every human being created in the image and likeness of God.

Ijebus are Nigerian Jews —Don By Tunde Ogunesan and Tunde Adegbola INDIGENOUS people of Ijebu land in Ogun State have been described as Nigerian Jews. This position was confirmed by Dr Fatai Olasupo of the Department of Local Government studies, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, while addressing journalists at the Press Centre, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Iyaganku, Ibadan. Speaking on his paper, “Ijebu Jews, nay Nigeria Jews,” Dr Olasupo said he embarked on a research

to confirm the existence of Jews in Ijebu land following the declaration by the paramount ruler of Ijebu, the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during his 70th birthday in 2006. According to Olasupo, the Awujale stated that “we are the Jews of Africa.” Olasupo said Oba Adetona’s revelation that Ijebus “are the Jews of Africa” encouraged him to embark on research which eventually led him into writing a paper titled “Black Africans Jews: The Nigerian question and the lost 10 tribes of Israel- A comparison of Igbo and Yoruba claims to Jewish and Judaic tradition,” published

in 2014. The book, Olasupo said attracted reactions from concerned Jews- Shai Afsai and Alena Djima. He said “of all ethnic or tribal people in Nigeria claiming to have Jewish link, only Ijebus have so far provided strong and proven evidences of this. “One, the paramount ruler of the Ijebus, Oba Sikiru Adetona, confirmed this. Not only that, Awujale of Ijebu land also categorically stated that Shekiris, segments among Igbos, Benue and Kanuris migrated from Ijebu land to the areas where they are present today.

Sokoto to model transport rules after Lagos traffic law Chukwuma Okparaocha -Lagos LAWMAKERS from the Sokoto State House of Assembly have visited the Lagos State House of Assembly to learn more about the traffic law of the state with a view to using knowledge gained to formulate their own laws. Led by the chairman of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Transportation, Hon Sanni Yakubu, the lawmakers said that they were motivated by the successes of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Lagos State Traffic Law, which they said would help them to work on their own proposed traffic law. According to Hon Yakubu, the lawmakers from the Northwest state decided to visit Lagos State because of its “viable” traffic laws which meant there were a lot of things that could be learnt from them.

Why union leaders shunned nationwide picketing exercise in Abia —Factional NLC chairman Celestine Ihejirika -Umuahia THE Abia State factional chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Uche Christopher Ezekiel, has attributed the present polarisation within the organised labour in the state to the perceived low turnout of workers to the Monday’s nationwide picketing exercise of Distribution Companies in the state. Reacting to the exercise in Umuahia, Tuesday, Comrade Ezekiel welcomed the exercise but regretted that the exercise did not go well in the state. “The exercise was welcomed, but it did not go well, because of certain issues that affect the labour in the state, all the industrial unions did not come out as our custom to participate in the picketing simply because the man who took the mantle of leadership, Comrade Uche Obigwe, was not welcomed and was not duly approved for his election to be the chairman of NLC in the state, therefore all organised labour were absent from the exercise.

communitynews

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

Appeal Court nullifies nomination of Jimoh Oloyede as Aresaadu of Iresaadu

By Tunde Ogunesan

HE lead judge of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, Justice Mudashiru Nasiru Oniyangi, has nullified the emergence of Jimoh Oyeyemi Oloyede as the Aresaadu of Iresaadu in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, in an appeal case file CA/1/291/2002. The unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Dongban Mensem, Mudashiru Nasiru Oniyangi and Nonyerem Okoronkwo of the Court of Appeal, on December 11, 2015 also set aside the judgment of the Oyo State High Court dismissing the claim of the appellants delivered on April 4,2000. The trio of Princes Adeyeye Oyerinde, Adegbola Oyerinde and Oyeyemi Oyerinde, for themselves and on behalf of Sunloye branch of Osunbiyi ruling house, as appellants had approached the Appeal Court to set aside the decision of the Oyo state High Court, sitting in Ogbomoso and delivered on April 14, 2000. The respondents in the case, according to the ruling obtained from the office of the Registrar, Court of Appeal, Ibadan, are the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III; Secretary, Surulere Local Government Area, Jimoh Oyeyemi Oloyede; governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Attorney-General of Oyo State, Prince Bello Oloyede (for himself and on behalf of Osunbiyi ruling house, excluding Sunloye branch), Chief Salami Amoo (for himself and on behalf of other Aresaadu kingmakers) and Surulere Local Government Area. The appellants, who are principal members of Sunloye branch of Osunbiyi ruling house of Aresaadu, the others branch being Idowu branch, Latilewa branch and Okunola branch are said to be entitled to the exclusion of other mentioned branch to present a candidate for the vacant tool of of Aresaadu Chieftaincy as by the native law and custom of the Aresaadu. The branches rotate the Chieftaincy among themselves. According to the appellants, “it was the turn of Osunbiyi ruling house to fill the vacancy which the other branches had got their turn in this order of rotation: Idowu, Latilewa, Sunloye and Okunola. “That when pursuant to a letter written by the second

respondent (Secretary, Surulere Local Government Area dated October 11,1996 to the Osunbiyi ruling house requesting it to present candidate to the kingmakers of Aresaadu within 14 days, the Osunbiyi ruling house fixed a meeting for October 22,1996 and the second respondent (Secretary, Surulere Local Government Area) was present as an observer. However, when the head of Osunbiyi ruling house called on the head of Sunloye branch to present their chosen candidate

of Sunloye branch for the vacant stool, the second respondent insisted that as many candidates as possible must be nominated by reason of which majority of the members of the ruling house protested and walked out but the meeting went on after which the minute of the meeting was prepared by the secretary of the ruling house wherein he stated that nine candidates emerged and the names of the candidates were forwarded to the local government. The first respondent (Oba Ji-

moh Oyewumi) as well as the second respondent, but nonetheless and without investigating the merits of their petitions forwarded the names to the kingmakers, the kingmakers however in view of this breach of the custom refused to sit for almost two months and when the second respondent threatened to appoint, it warranted the kingmakers to eventually appoint the third respondent, hence the suit at the lower court.” The appellants then sought an order from the

Court of Appeal setting aside the said judgment of the lower court and entering final judgment in favour of the plaintiff. In his ruling, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi considered three clauses as being germane to the case. The clauses are: “there are two ruling houses and the identity of each ruling house is Emiolu and Osunbiyi, two; the order of rotation in which the respective ruling houses are entitled to provide candidate to fill successive vacancies in the Chieftaincy are Emiolu

These electric cables that have fallen off an electric pole in a residential area in Akobo, Ibadan, pose considerable risk to residents.

Ogun transport unions urged to embrace insurance policy OGUN State government has charged transport unions in the state to embrace the newly introduced welfare insurance policy. The General Manager, Ogun State Parks and Garages Development Board (PAGADEB), Alhaji Ayo Ogunsolu, gave the charge in Abeokuta at a one-day workshop organised in conjunction with Capital Express Assurance Limited with the theme: “Welfare insurance and benefits to transport operators in Ogun State.” Alhaji Ogunsolu, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr. Lola Sotola, noted that it had become imperative for transport unions operating in the state to adopt the welfare insurance policy as it would create an avenue for them to receive instant response in times of need, adding that it was an opportunity to save for the future. “It is imperative and pertinent for transport unions in the state to adopt the insurance policy so as to save for the rainy day,” Ogun-

solu said. Also speaking at the event, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the welfare insurance policy was a good innovation . Adejobi urged transport unions in the state to flush out bad eggs among them, adding that commercial motorcyclists who are in the habit of putting on ear-

rings and dreadlocks pose threat to the security of the state. “How can a man, an okada operator wear tattoos, dreadlocks, put on tattered or rugged jeans, wear earrings? It doesn’t speak well of you; it is even wrong traditionally because it is not in tune with our culture. In most cases, we arrest such people,” he said. Earlier, the National

Head of Marketing, Capital Express Assurance Limited, Mr. Mathew Ogwezhi, disclosed that N60 would be deducted daily from intending clients’ accounts to avail the insurance company the opportunity to insure clients against circumstances beyond their control, adding that transporters should at all times ensure that their vehicles are road worthy.

Insufficient water: Rice farmers cry out to river basin authority Kola Oyelere-Kano

THE Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Kano State chapter, has called on the HadejaJama’are River Basin Authority to come to the aid. of the association by supplying enough water to their farms, saying that insufficient water supply to irrigation sites could affect their output. The organising secretary of the association in Kano State, Alhaji Isah Bawa, made the request while

speaking with newsmen recently. “We are making the call because of what the farmers are passing through. We want the river basin authority to bail us out of the situation. “We need enough water to water the farms as we are no longer in the rainy season, he said. But when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the authority, Alhaji Salisu Hamza, said the authority was always alerting farm-

ers through their various associations whenever there was the problem of water supply to the sites. Hamzat, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director, Alhaji Abdu Dahiru, complained that some farmers were always reluctant to pay water charges. He urged the farmers to pay water charges promptly to enhance the authority’s services, adding that the authority would continue to support farmers to boost dry season farming.

(present ruling house) and Osunbiyi, and clause three, the person who may be proposed as candidate by the ruling house entitled to fill a vacancy in the Chieftaincy shall be, (a) members of the ruling house and (b) of the male line only.” Justice Oniyangi said the clause squally prescribes the mode of nomination, noting that, “it clearly prescribes that the ruling house whose turn it is to present a candidate shall meet and nominate who would be presented by the head of the family to the kingmakers. “The ruling house whose turn it is would meet and nominate a candidate to the kingmaker. Therefore, the meeting scheduled for October 22, 1996 consequent upon the letter by the second respondent (Secretary, Surulere Local Government Area), exhibit one is for the fulfillment of clause five and clause III. That is to say the male members of the ruling house whose turn it is to fill the vacant stool would meet and nominate one out of them and, thereafter, the head of that ruling family would in turn present the name of the SINGLE candidate to the kingmakers. That provision does not allow for a plural nomination but a single nomination. “The act of deliberating and selecting out of the nine candidates purportedly forwarded by the Osunbiyi ruling house and the selection of the third respondent (Jimoh Oyeyemi Oloyede) by the kingmakers is void and of no effect. I accordingly declare that the nomination of the third respondent, Jimoh Oloyede, violated the provision of clauses five and of the Aresaadu Chieftaincy Declaration 1989. I also declare it void, illegal and a gross violation of the custom of Iresaadu. “On this note and since the process of nomination by the ruling house whose turn it was to nominate and produce a candidate to fill the vacant stool is rocked by a void and non complaint procedure, the emergence of the third respondent as the Aresaadu was irregular, in breach of Aresaadu Chieftaincy declaration, the chief law, the custom and tradition of Iresaadu and is illegal, invalid, null and void.” He then ordered that the ruling house whose turn it is to nominate a candidate for the vacant throne should set in motion forthwith the process of nominating a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Aresaadu of Iresaadu.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

US military seeks to prepare Africa for shifting terror threat

FRICAN forces began a United State-led counterterrorism training programme on Monday in Senegal, amid what a U.S. commander said were rising signs of collaboration between Islamist militant groups across north Africa and the Sahel. The annual “Flintlock” exercises started only weeks after an attack in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou left 30 people dead. The assault on a hotel used by foreigners raised concerns that militants were expanding from a stronghold in north Mali toward stable,

Western allies like Senegal. Al-Qaeda (AQIM) fighters claimed responsibility for the attack, one of increasingly bold regional strikes in the Sahel, a poor, arid zone between the Sahara Desert and Sudanian Savanna that is home to a number of roving militant groups. Brigadier General Donald Bolduc, commander for U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, told reporters Monday that increased collaboration between militant groups meant they have been able to strike harder in the re- Senegalese soldiers take part in the opening ceremony of Flintlock, gion. anti-terrorism training in Thies, Senegal. PHOTO: AP

North Korea nuclear:

Plutonium reactor ‘restarted’ NORTH Korea has restarted a plutonium production reactor that could provide a stockpile for nuclear weapons, US intelligence chief James Clapper says. He also said the North had taken steps towards making an intercontinental ballistic missile system. It comes days after the North launched a longrange rocket, which critics say is a test of banned missile technology. Last September Pyongyang said its main nuclear facility at Yongbyon had resumed normal operations. The reactor there has been the source of plutonium for its nuclear weapons programme.

9 dead, scores injured in Germany trains crash

The scene of the accident. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES AT least nine people were killed and scores more injured, police say, after two passenger trains collided in the German state of Bavaria. The head-on crash happened near Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km (37 miles) south-east of Munich.

The transport minister said the trains had crashed into each other while both travelling at around 100km/h (62mph). Emergency teams, some winched in by helicopter, worked for hours to free casualties from the wreckage. Chancellor Angela

otherNEWS

Merkel said she was “dismayed and saddened” by the crash. Regional police said in a tweet (in German) that nine people had been killed and 100 injured, 50 of them seriously. The drivers of both trains and two train guards were

among those killed, police said. The trains’ operator said both trains had partially derailed and were wedged into each other. The cause of the collision is not yet known. German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who visited the scene, said it was a “horrifying sight”. “The drivers’ cabs of both trains are wedged into each other. One side of one train is completely torn open. The other train bored into it,” he told a news conference. He added: “The site is on a bend so we have to surmise that both train drivers had no visual contact before the crash and therefore crashed into each other largely without braking.”

Artur Fischer, inventor extraordinaire, dies at 96

Artur Fischer

ARTUR Fischer, a German inventor trained as a locksmith, held more patents than Thomas Edison, and among his more than 1,100 patents are the wall anchor you have probably used to hang pictures and mirrors and the first synchronized camera flash. Fischer died Jan. 27 at his home in Wal-

dachtal, Germany, The New York Times reported Monday. He was 96. “What Bill Gates was to the personal computer, Artur Fischer is to do-it-yourself home repair,” German magazine Der Spiegel said a year after Fischer won the prestigious European Inventor Award, a lifetime achieve-

ment prize from the European Patent Office. His first big breakthrough was the flash, purchased by the camera company Agfa, inspired by his inability to photograph his young daughter indoors — his insight was to synchronise an electric flash with the camera shutter.

Finance Minister: IMF will delay aid to Ukraine until political fog clears THE International Monetary Fund will not give more aid to Ukraine until it becomes clear that, in the event of a government collapse, the next government would follow through on promised reforms, the country’s Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko said on Monday.

Ukraine has been waiting since October for the IMF to dispense more aid as part of a $40 billion package. The aid is contingent on the war-torn country making its economy more competitive and reducing corruption. The patchy performance of Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk’s government in implementing reforms, coupled with domestic politi-

cal squabbles, have delayed the disbursement of a third tranche worth $1.7 billion. The government is reeling from the shock exit of its economy minister last week, and Yaresko’s comments underline the extent to which the political crisis engulfing Ukraine threatens to derail its relationship with foreign creditors.

IMF boss, Christine Lagarde

Sundar Pichai. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Google boss becomes highest-paid in US THE chief executive of oversaw the development of Google, Sundar Pichai, Gmail and Google Maps. has been awarded $199m He previously worked in (£138m) in shares, a regula- engineering and product tory filing has revealed. management at Applied It makes him the highest- Materials and as a managepaid chief executive in the ment consultant at McKinUS. sey & Company. Mr Pichai became chief exThe top 10 highest ecutive of the search engine paid US chief giant following the creation executives of 2015 of its parent, Alphabet. The founders of Google, 1. John Hammergren, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, pharmaceutical firm have amassed fortunes of McKesson: $131.2m $34.6bn and $33.9bn, ac- 2. Ralph Lauren, founder cording to Forbes. of fashion house Ralph Mr Pichai, 43, was award- Lauren: $66.7m ed 273,328 Alphabet shares 3. Michael Fascitelli, real on 3 February, worth a total estate investment trust of $199m, according to a fil- Vornado Realty: $64.4m ing with the US Securities 4. Richard Kinder, energy and Exchange Commission. infrastructure firm Kinder The new award of shares Morgan: $60.9m takes Mr Pichai’s total stock David Cote, conglomervalue to approximately 5. ate Honeywell: $55.8m $650m. Mr Pichai’s share award 6. George Paz, pharmaceuservices firm Express will vest incrementally each tical Scripts: $51.5m* quarter until 2019. In other words, full control over the 7. Jeffery H Boyd, travel tourism website Priceshares will pass to him on a and line.com: $50.2m* gradual basis. The Google chief execu- 8. Stephen Hemsley, US ce firm Unittive joined the company health insuran edHealth Group: $48.8m* since 2004, initially leading product management 9. Clarence P Cazalot, on a number of Google’s Marathon Oil: $43.7m client software products, 10. John C Martin, biotech including Google Chrome] company Gilead Sciences: $$43.2m and Chrome OS, as well as being largely responsible Source: Forbes magazine. for Google Drive. He also

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Oyo House c’tee visits 3SC’s Ijebu Ode camp By Dipo Ogunsola HONOURABLE Adesina Adeniyi will today lead members of Oyo State’s House Committee on Sports to the Ijebu Ode camp of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan where the team is currently having a pre-season sessions . Adeniyi, who is the Chairman of the Committee, told Tribunesport that the occasion will afford members to know updates on team’s preparation for the next season and review outstanding issues that affect the team. “We are going to Ijebu Ode to ascertain the level of the preparation and to clarify what we have heard

Zidane right man for Madrid job —Ancelotti CARLO Ancelotti has backed Zinedine Zidane to succeed at Real Madrid and believes his former assistant has all the qualities to become a great coach. Zidane replaced Rafael Benitez as Madrid manager last month, and has guided the club to four wins and a draw in his five games in charge, scoring 19 goals in that time. And Ancelotti feels the former France and Madrid midfielder has great potential as a first-team boss. “The best thing you can say about Zidane is that he doesn’t have experience, just like when I started coaching or my professional playing career,” the ex-Madrid boss said. “Zidane has everything you need to be a great coach. He has the ability, charisma, personality and knows football inside-out. He has the profile of a Real Madrid coach. “A coach succeeds by working hard to ensure his players give their all. Zidane has that charisma and personality, meaning his players will respond well to him.” Los Blancos currently sit four points behind league leaders Barcelona after 23 matches, though the Catalan side have a game in hand over them. Madrid’s next game is at home to Athletic Club, who are sixth.

about the team. We understand that some players are claiming 16-month salary arrears, while some allege that they are being paid half salaries. We need to confirm everything we have heard. Such a thing should not happen in the Shooting Stars. Some players left the club at the end of last season and we want to know how much the club made from the sales of the players.” Adeniyi explained that no lawmakers will meddle with the affairs of the team but that the committee wished that the team returns to the pride of place it belonged. “Nasarawa United, with due respect is never a traditional team. The team was relegated but bounced back to earn a continental ticket in the Nigeria Premier League. That is a big challenge to all of us if truly we have a big team in the Shooting Stars.”

3SC squad last season. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

Glo Premier League:

Fans should expect more this Season —LMC Chairman By Niyi Alebiosu

HAIRMAN, League Management Company (LMC) has come an expression of deep appreciation to fans of the Nigeria Professional Football League

(NPFL) Clubs for their support all through the 2014/15 season season and a pledge to offer more in all aspects of the league’s organisation in the 2015/16 season which kicks off on Sunday, February 21. Dikko spoke on the heels of the successful NPFL Super 4

tournament which held over two rounds with the first leg in Kaduna and the last leg concluded in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State last Friday. He said the fans were the most valuable assets of the league in the last season as they succeeded in repossession the league.

time African champions have prepared adequately to expect good result at their opponents den the 5,000 seats Buikwe Bunamwaya Stadium, Wakiso Town. “We will certainly pick good result against Vipers right there at their backyard to make the reverse fixture clash in Nigeria a lot easier.

“Nigerians can go to sleep with both eyes closed that we will never disappoint them in the championship. “We had decent preparations helped greatly with the just concluded Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super 4 tournament in Kaduna and Uyo. “We are in high spirit and ready to deliver the goods at the appointed time, I’m confident we will come back home with good result. “We know the Ugandan side will not come cheap but we have told ourselves we must pick good result from the clash. “We want to recreate the side’s performances in same competition in 2003 and 2004 respectively,” said Udoji to supersport.com. The People’s Elephant departed the nation’s shores on Tuesday to Kampala for the crucial match at the weekend.

CAF Champions League: No mistake against Vipers —Udoji ENYIMBA captain, Chinedu Udoji has said his side will not disappoint against the Ugandan opponent, Vipers SC. The Nigerian champions will be the guests of East African side at the weekend clash in the preliminary round of CAF Champions League. Enyimba defender said the two-

Leicester will be difficult to stop —Ozil MESUT Ozil has warned it will be “incredibly difficult” for Arsenal to beat Leicester City when the two sides meet on Sunday. Leicester beat Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday and moved five points clear of the Gunners and secondplaced Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table over the weekend. Ozil, who scored in the 2-0

victory over Bournemouth last Sunday, has called on his side to stop Leicester’s “unbelievable wave of euphoria”. “It’ll be incredibly difficult to stop them,” Ozil told SID. “They were up 3-0 at Manchester City after 60 minutes. It’s brilliant what they accomplish with their team. “You have to have the greatest respect for that. Our job is to at

least for now get Leicester off this unbelievable wave of euphoria. “That Leicester lead the Premier League by this margin in February is one of the biggest surprises in the European top flights in the past few years.” Arsenal sit third in the Premier League, level on points with Spurs but with an inferior goal difference, and can close the gap on Leicester to two points on Sunday.

According to Dikko, “the success of the last season goes down to the fans, together, we repossessed our league and we will do more to keep our league together”. He said fans should expect more this season in the area of tightened security, players’ welfare, media coverage, governing rules implementation and improved atmosphere at games. “Fans should expect more when the season starts on February 21. We will work to ensure safety at match grounds for fans, match officials and the players as all the groundwork done last season with the office of the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will be implemented to tighten security before, during and after games”, the LMC Chairman assured fans. On players’ welfare, Dikko said learnings from the last season will be put into use to prevent a recurrence of the magnitude experienced. “We are putting place with the clubs some safeguards that will reduce if not eliminate the problem of indebtedness to players by their employers. This is the reason we are asking the clubs to provide financial guarantees as part of their licensing requirement and above all, the LMC will ensure the implementation of Rules and Framework which has been updated to take care of some of the observed lapses of the last season”.

Wednesday, 10 February, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

MALE body building tournament to hold in Ibadan

Large crowd of Marathoners on starting line at National Stadium to commence the maiden edition of Access Bank Lagos City International Marathon on Saturday in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Access Bank Lagos Marathon:

Turnout excites Olopade

•Says success turning point for athletics in Nigeria

HE former commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun State and Chief Executive Officer, Nilayo Sport Management Limited Bukola Olopade has described as the beginning of positive

changes in athletics, the turn out of athletes at the Access Bank Lagos Marathon held over the weekend. Also, Olopade whose sport agency firm Nilayo Sport Management. Limited facilitated the Access Bank La-

gos Marathon commended the state governor, Ambode for the support and commitment to the event s qell as the President, Athletics Federation if Nigeria chief Solomon Ogba for the wisdom he exhibited to endure success of the event last hosted in 1983 and his business partner Miss Debowale Sangosanya of Act Marketing for the effort put in place to endure that the event recorded no hitch. According to the president, Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, the turn out if athletics

both local and international indicated that there is new era in athletics in the country and assured that the event will be an nnual one thr will bring about the best of athletics in marathon. Olopade, who expressed Access Bank Plc for the sponsorship enjoined other corporate companies to support sport at one level or the other, noting that “with corporate bodies support for sport in the country, the game will develop svwrlm as the athletes themselves.We

should realise that government alone cannot, so there is need for all to support sport sponsorship for the development of the game and empowerment if the Youths.” Speaking further, Olopade believes that with the success recorded at the marathon, it will be the beginning of better days for athletics in the country as many Nigerians now take to sport as it showcase the image of the country at international level. He thus assured that the next edition will be bigger and more organised.

THE first edition of the MALE Strongman Bodybuilding Tournament is set to hold in Ibadan with participants coming from all over of Nigeria. Promoter of the tournament, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of MALE Integrated Water Well Drilling Company, Mr. Michael Ale, told CorporateSport on Tuesday in Ibadan that the idea was to engage the strength of the Nigerian youths in competitive venture where they would be able to showcase the result of their body building effort. He said apart from the first prize of N1m for the overall winner, there were other consolation prizes for all participants. He said, Drilling job demands a lot of strength and you must be healthy. This competition is a way of projecting drilling values and promoting the strength and health of our youth, who have made resolute effort to stay clean, healthy and fit. The competition will have international outlook but for the maiden edition, we are having the competition in Ibadan. To qualify for the tournament, participants must possess good physique and evidence of good health certified to by relevant medical body. “We are working in collaboration with sports medicine professionals who will help screen candidates.” The idea is to ensure that apart from good health and impressive body physique, there is no traces of drug use as such vice could mar the

All set for GOtv Boxing NextGen Search

Olopade

ALL is set for the GOtv Boxing NextGen Search following the availability of registration from at the secretariat of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), under whose auspices the event is being organised. According to Mr. Remi Aboderin, NBB of C General Secretary, interested boxers can pick of the forms at the secretariat within the National Stadium Complex

in Lagos. “The forms are available and at no cost. The search is open to boxers from all parts of the country. This is an opportunity for young boxers to get into the professional category,” Aboderin said. GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, billed to hold in Lagos between 17 and 18 February, is being organised to raise a new crop of profes-

sional boxers, especially by facilitating entry into the professional ranks by amateurs. The event, which is being held in partnership with the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame, is billed for the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame Gym, Olatilewa Street, off Lawanson Road, Surulere, Lagos. It will feature sparring sessions by registered boxers, who will be assessed over the two days

by accomplished coaches who will select the most promising participants. Boxers selected after the sparring sessions will be eligible to attend a sports/medical seminar at the Old Skool Restaurant, National Stadium on 19 February. Successful boxers will also enjoy free medical examination as well as payment for their boxing licences by the sponsors, GOtv,” he said.

SIDELINES

NO 16,433

N150

WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2016

The United Nations has called for the repeal of laws banning pregnancy in countries affected by the Zika virus. This is a noble and wise call. How can men stop being men and women stop being women just because of Zika? If none of HIV, SARS, Ebola, Lassa fever, bird flu, etc, could stop reproduction, neither will Zika!

Quadri, Assar seeded at ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup AFRICA’S best table tennis players, Egypt’s Omar Assar and Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri are top seeds at this month’s ITTF Africa Top 16 holding in Khartoum, Sudan. In the seeding released by the Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Assar, who is the highest raked African player in the World is seeded number one and Quadri who recently moved to 37 from 48 in the world is seeded number two. Assar’s compatriot, El-Sayed Lashin is seeded number three while Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu is number four. The continent’s most decorated table tennis athlete, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola is seeded number five and the France-based star is aiming for his seventh Olympics appearance at the Olympics Qualifying Tournament. In 2015, Assar claimed three continental titles with two of them at the expense of Quadri. Like Assar, Dina Meshref who is the number one seed in the women event. The Egyptian duo started 2015 in the best possible manner by winning the respective Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events at the ITTF-African Senior Championships on home soil in Cairo. Later in July they emerged successful at the ITTF-Africa Senior Cup in Yaoundé, before in September completing the trilogy of titles at the African Games in Congo Brazzaville.

U-17 Women W/Cup qualifier

I don’t know anything about S/African ladies —Flamingoes coach

Rasheedat Ajibade, Flamingoes’ striker.

HEAD of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup African qualifier, Nigeria’s U-17 women team head coach, Bala Nkiyu has said he is in the dark over the strength of the South African ladies. Flamingoes will host their South African counterparts in Abuja in March for the first leg final clash of the African qualifying race for 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.

Nkiyu said the key to success in both legs of the qualifiers is adequate preparations which is ongoing right now in Abuja. “I do not know anything about the South Africans but that will be taken care of as we progress to the match day. “Right now, we must continue doing the needful which is intensifying preparations for the crucial clash. “We have advantage of playing

first at home so we must put our acts perfectly right to achieve convincing result. “Of course, the second leg in Johannesburg will certainly be tough but we could soften the ground with good performance right here at our backyard. “All the players called for the match are in camp as at Sunday we allowed the players to unwind from the tedious trip, and has commenced training on Tuesday and

take it up from there to matchday. “We want to be at the World Cup in Jordan at the expense of South Africa and we must work hard to achieve the lofty dream,” said the Plateau United head coach to supersport.com. The Nigerians pummeled their Namibian counterparts 9-0 on aggregate while South Africa got World Cup qualifying bye over Zambia to pave the way for crucial matchup.

IAAF, CAA to build high altitude training centre in Jos By Niyi Alebiosu

Quadri

A High Altitude Athletics Training Center is to be established in Jos Plateau State. This is contained in an agreement signed in Lagos at the weekend by the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung and the President of the Confederation of African Athletics, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum as well as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s President, Dr Solomon Ogba. On the occasion, the CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum stressed the need for Africans to develop their own athletes by setting up structures and facilities that will enhance and

develop athletes on their own continent. “We have already set up a High Performance Training Center in the University of Port Harcourt. We intend to set up another one in Jos for the middle and long distance runners because we have seen that we need to prepare our athletes in Africa. When you send them to UK, in few months they change nationality and easily become British citizens. Even their coaches don’t support our athletes because they want their own to win. So, this is why we need to set up our own facility for long and middle distance runners in Africa to develop our own athletes” Malboum explained. In his response, the Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon

Dalung thanked the CAA President for his passion in promoting African sports and enhancing the prospects of African youths. He enumerated the role of sports in national development. “Sports is one of the strongest weapons of promoting development in Africa. The only thing that can provide gainful employment for youths and engage them is sports. With the support of the government, I have discussed with officials in South Africa that there is a need for us to strengthen the Council of Ministers meeting and begin to identify the relevant issues that will move African sports forward and also give Africa a comparative advantage to compete with other countries of the world.”

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 10/2/2016.

Dalung